August 28, 2020
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Md., Del. Now Off Quarantine List
See Page 4 • Photo by Chris Parypa
White Horse Park Saga Continues
Beach Lovers: Some furry island residents had the beach and the beautiful sunrise all to themselves last week-
end.
Photo by Chris Parypa
See Page 9 • Photo by Charlene Sharpe
Wicomico Executive Seat Still Open
See Page 20 • Photo by Bethany Hooper
Kids Of Summer Series Returns
Rare Assateague Scene: Two horses on the bayside of Assateague Island are pictured as dolphin cruise by nearby.
Photo by Tyler Horton
See Page 49 • Submitted Photo
Page 2
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
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August 28, 2020
August 28, 2020
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
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Quarantine List Removal Unlikely To Impact Fall Marketing Call
Page 4
BY SHAWN J. SOPER
MANAGING EDITOR
OCEAN CITY – Although the impact is uncertain with the calendar about to flip over to September, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut this week removed Maryland and Delaware from their mandated quarantine lists for travelers. In late June, with COVID-19 numbers still climbing throughout the country, the tri-state area placed 31 states -- designated as viral hotspots -- on a mandated quarantine list. Residents in those states who traveled to those so-called hotspots were required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon return. Maryland was added to the quarantine in late June. For many vacationers from those states, the specter of returning home to quarantine for two weeks was enough to curtail travel plans. Of course, Ocean City is a driveto destination for most travelers from New York and New Jersey, and it’s uncertain just how many visitors from those states followed the quarantine mandates or if the states even knew their residents had traveled to hotspots. In other words, it was likely an honor system for those who traveled to the designated hotspots. Anecdotally, there has been no short-
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
age of license plates from New York and New Jersey all summer, so the impact of the mandated quarantine in those states is hard to quantify. However, when the quarantine mandates were implemented in June, the resort’s hospitality industry clearly took a hit from a lack of travelers for a couple of Ocean City’s major markets, according to Ocean City Hotel-MotelRestaurant Association Executive Director Susan Jones. “We are extremely pleased to see that New York and New Jersey removed Maryland from the quarantine list,” she said. “When we were first placed on it, there were a lot of cancellations as that market represents a healthy percentage of travelers. In years past, there has been a heavy influx from those areas during the end of August as their schools went back later than others.” Ocean City Acting Tourism Director and Communications Manager Jessica Waters agreed. “Now that the travel restrictions have been lifted, we are thrilled to welcome back our visitors from New York and New Jersey,” she said. However, the lifting of the quarantine mandate this week in a couple of Ocean City’s major markets in the waning days of August does not mean there will be a major shift in the town’s fall marketing and advertising strategy.
Many of the major fall special events have been canceled or modified significantly and the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19 still remain. Earlier this month, stopping short of throwing in the towel, resort officials decided not to go after a fall marketing campaign, opting instead to regroup and utilize the advertising budget for an aggressive campaign next year, hopefully when COVID is in the rear-view mirror. That decision was based on a variety of factors, not the least of which was Maryland’s rather dubious listing on the tri-state area’s mandated quarantine list. Throughout COVID-19, Ocean City’s marketing and advertising strategy shifted almost as often as the state and federal directives changed. The strategy went from “Stay at Home” and “We’ll Be Here When the Time is Right” in the early days last spring to “Welcome Back” as the state went through the various stages of its recovery plan. The plan through most of the summer was for a fall marketing campaign focused on “Let’s Keep Summer Going.” Earlier this month, the Tourism Commission and later the Mayor and Council were faced with three alternatives for the fall marketing strategy. One option was to simply do nothing and let dysfunctional 2020 simply run its course. A second
August 28, 2020
option was to develop a full-press fall marketing campaign akin to the “Keep Summer Going” concept with a complete television, radio and digital package, but that would have come with a $480,000 price tag. The third option would be to scale back the fall marketing campaign to just the town’s digital mediums and social networking, but that would still come at a cost of around $280,000. The town’s final decision was to simply lick its wounds for 2020 and bank the marketing budget for an aggressive campaign next year, although there is a modest, low-cost campaign in the works hoping to take advantage of the online distance-learning and online working trends still prevalent. Waters said this week the fall marketing strategy had not changed with New York and New Jersey removing Maryland from its mandated quarantine list this week. “I don’t believe we will do a fall campaign this year for many reasons including the budget, COVID restrictions and business staffing concerns,” she said. “Although New York and New Jersey travel restrictions impacted our summer media campaign some, it was just a small factor in determining whether the town moved forward with a fall media campaign, which would have been the first in many years.”
August 28, 2020
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
Page 5
State Allows Larger Wind Turbine Plans To Move Forward
Page 6
BY SHAWN J. SOPER
MANAGING EDITOR
OCEAN CITY – The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) last week issued an order approving Ørsted’s use of the 12-megawatt turbines for its Skipjack offshore wind project despite Ocean City’s concerns on the visual impact off the resort coast. In the order, the PSC also admonished the parent company Ørsted for not reaching out to stakeholders, including Ocean City, on the change in turbine height, however. Skipjack’s original proposal included the use of eight-megawatt turbines, but last year Ørsted announced it was going with the GE Haliade-X 12-megawatt turbines deemed the largest commercially-available wind turbines in the world. In June, the PSC held an eviden-
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
tiary hearing on the proposed change in wind turbine size for Ørsted’s Skipjack project off the coast of Ocean City. The evidentiary hearing was called when Skipjack announced its intention to switch from the previously proposed eight-megawatt turbines to the much larger 12-megawatt turbine, now believed to be the largest commercial wind turbine available. When Skipjack moved to the 12megawatt turbine, the town of Ocean City, which, from the beginning has not objected to the project, but only wanted the turbines to be sited at a distance where they would not be visible from the shore, urged the PSC to hold an evidentiary hearing on the proposed turbine change. Last Friday, the PSC issued an order allowing the 12-megawatt turbines for the Skipjack project. Essentially,
the PSC reasoned the change in size allowed the Skipjack project to reduce the number of turbines needed for the 120-megawatt offshore wind energy project, thus reducing the impacts on the viewshed off the coast of Ocean City and potentially moving the turbines farther off the resort coast. “The commission finds that Skipjack’s selection of the Haliade-X 12-megawatt turbine is consistent with the Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act and the public interest,” the order reads. “After an evidentiary proceeding and a public hearing, the commission also finds that no further action is necessary regarding Skipjack’s turbine selection.” By way of background, in 2017 the PSC approved two offshore wind energy projects roughly off the coast of Ocean City, or technically awarded Off-shore Renewable Energy Credits (ORECs)
August 28, 2020
to the two companies seeking to develop wind farms off the coast including the US Wind project and the Skipjack project. However, with the advancements in technology, the height of the proposed turbines has increased exponentially since the original PSC approvals, prompting a request to reopen the original approval proceedings. For example, Ørsted’s Skipjack project is now committed to using 12-megawatt turbines described as the “world’s largest offshore wind turbine.” In the order released last Friday, the PSC said it did not take the decision to approve the 12-megawatt turbines lightly and acknowledged Ocean City’s concerns about the impact on the resort’s viewshed both during the day and at night. “The gravamen of Ocean City’s objection to the project, whether the eightmegawatt or 12-megawatt turbine is used, is that the turbines will be visible from the shore and may negatively impact tourism,” the order reads. “The commission takes Ocean City’s concerns seriously. Ocean City is an iconic coastal town that attracts over eight million tourists per year and there is no dispute that the 12-megawatt turbine is larger than the eight-megawatt turbine it replaces. Nevertheless, there are a number of viewshed benefits of using the larger turbine that lower the visual impact from the shore.” While the decision announced last week did not go Ocean City’s way, the PSC did admonish the Skipjack project for not appropriately including the town and other stakeholders in the process, calling the company’s efforts at outreach “meager.” “Regarding outreach to stakeholders, the commission finds Skipjack’s efforts were deficient,” the order reads. “The order clearly imposes upon Skipjack the duty to work with stakeholders, including state and local officials, to discuss placement of the turbines in a manner that minimizes visual impacts.” The PSC order also points out Ocean City has attempted to work with the project developer and has offered alternative configurations to minimize the visual impact, but the town’s other options apparently fell on deaf ears. “Ocean City raised the possibility of alternative configurations to Skipjack’s two-row proposal, such as a three-row configuration or a layout with the turbines arranged parallel to the shore,” the order reads. “Ocean City demonstrated that such an alternative could allow the project to be shifted east by up to an additional two miles, further reducing its visibility. However, Skipjack failed to consider these alternatives and, prior to the hearing, it never discussed them with Ocean City.” The PSC order suggests Skipjack’s apparent lack of communication with Ocean City through the process was unfairly rooted in the town’s opposition to the project from the beginning. “Skipjack’s defense, that Ocean City SEE NEXT PAGE
Pandemic Could Impact Sports Marketing Study Results
August 28, 2020
BY SHAWN J. SOPER
MANAGING EDITOR
OCEAN CITY – As yet another byproduct of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, it could be back to the drawing board for a recently completed, but yet unveiled, sports marketing study for the resort area. Throughout much of the last two years, resort officials have expressed a desire to pursue the growing youth sports market to expand tourism throughout the year and possibly rebrand the town’s image. To that end, the Mayor and Council in March 2019 commissioned a study to explore the feasibility of developing a potential sports complex, either indoor or outdoor, or a combination of both, to attract more youth sports events. Ocean City partnered with the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) on the $49,000 study and commissioned the private sector consulting firm Crossroads to conduct the research and prepare a report on the feasibility of devel-
… Developer Urged To Better Outreach
presented consistent opposition to the project, is unavailing,” the order reads. “Skipjack’s duty to reach out to stakeholders was not contingent on the stakeholders’ enthusiasm for the project. Ocean City is an important stakeholder whose economy is vital to the state.” The PSC also pointed to Ocean City’s support for a failed attempt at legislation mandating the project’s turbines be sited at least 26 miles off the coast. As a result, the PSC ordered Skipjack to improve its outreach with stakeholders including Ocean City. “Nor should Ocean City be punished for its lawful advocacy of a bill that would have required offshore wind turbines to be located at least 26 miles from shore,” the order reads. “Skipjack is therefore ordered to re-engage with stakeholders and to provide a status report to the commission every six months on the ongoing engagement until ordered to discontinue.” In a statement issued shortly after the PSC order was released, Ørsted announced it was pleased with the decision to allow the larger 12-megawatt turbines and promised to do better with outreach to the stakeholders. “Ørsted is pleased that the Maryland Public Service Commission approved the project’s longstanding commitment to use the best commercially-available turbine technology,” said Ørsted MidAtlantic Market Manager Brady Walker. “The project will continue to engage with all stakeholders on creating a project that all Marylanders can be proud of. We look forward to continuing our work in delivering clean and reliable energy to over 35,000 homes in the Delmarva region.”
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
oping a sports complex in or around the resort area. The study was completed last year, and the results first went to the MSA before town officials got a look at it earlier this year. City Manager Doug Miller said this week there have been discussions about the MSA and Crossroads presenting the results of the study during an upcoming council meeting or work session, but the release has been delayed. “That has it a snag,” he said. “The council had the report back in January and needed to clear it for release and presentation. Then COVID hit and we concentrated on other agenda topics, so this clearance was deferred. All the while, the Maryland Stadium Authority asked when the study would again be up for discussion.” Miller said the council recently ap-
proved the release of the sports marketing study for the resort area and informed the MSA with a request the state agency and the consultant appear at a council meeting to present it. However, because of the current sports and entertainment landscape under the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the consultant has reservations whether the findings in the study are still valid. “We recently okayed the study for release and informed the MSA with the request that they and the consultant present it at a council meeting,” he said. “They informed the consultant of this, to which the consultant responded they were not comfortable with all of their assumptions now that we were post-COVID.” As a result, the Mayor and Council have a decision to make regarding the
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validity of the study and its eventual presentation. “We are looking at two options which have not been decided on,” said Miller. “One is release the study with the qualifier that assumptions may have changed. Two is have the consultant go back and retest their assumptions. The council has to decide between the two.” It’s no secret the youth sports market, including tournaments, camps and clinics, has become a multi-billion-dollar industry growing seemingly every day and Ocean City has been exploring ways to tap into it. Some analysis has shown youth sports is now taking a major bite out of the tourism and travel market and Ocean City, with its vast lodging and hospitality resources, could become an even bigger destination outside of its peak summer season.
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Page 8
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
August 28, 2020
Restaurant Staff Acted When City Could Not
BY SHAWN J. SOPER
MANAGING EDITOR
Staff members from a nearby Dough Roller Restaurant created their own sign Friday night off a man stood on the Boardwalk for hours with a sign, which has been edited in the picture, bashing Gov. Larry Hogan. Submitted Photo
OCEAN CITY – Their hands tied by First Amendment freedom of speech and freedom of expression protections, resort officials could do little but stand back and watch last weekend as an individual boasted a large, vulgar sign directed at Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. Last Friday, the individual appeared on the populous south end of the Boardwalk displaying a large sign expressing an expletive-laced message directed at Hogan, the language on which is not suitable for print. Suffice it to say, the sign-carrying individual was not happy with the governor, and
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while the motive was not clear, it was likely directed at Hogan’s handling of the COVID crisis, possibly the mask requirement and spring restrictions on private businesses. The Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) and resort officials consulted with their legal representation and the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office and determined the sign, while clearly vulgar and inappropriate on a crowded Boardwalk in the middle of the afternoon with children present, was free speech protected by the First Amendment. The OCPD later issued a statement explaining why the sign could not be removed. “The Ocean City Police Department is aware of the large sign being displayed on the Boardwalk regarding Governor Hogan,” the statement reads. “The City Solicitor and the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office have been consulted. Unfortunately, the sign, including the profanity, is freedom of speech.” Ocean City has been down the First Amendment road before with little success, particularly in terms of some of the presentations of the street performers in years past. There is no ordinance on the books regarding profanity and the OCPD’s hands were tied with regards to the sign last weekend. In its statement, the OCPD said it shared the public’s sentiment regarding the vulgar sign, but there was little the department could do from a legal standpoint. “We share your frustrations with this and are as disappointed as you are,” the statement reads. “We support freedom of speech and expression, but do not agree with the inappropriate and offensive language used in the sign.” In 2014, Ocean City put up “No Profanity Please” signs along the Boardwalk in an attempt to curb unwelcome behavior, but there is no ordinance regarding profanity and the signs are merely a suggestion. If the individual had been shouting the vulgar message, he could have crossed the line into disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace, or even a noise violation, but there is nothing on the books about a vulgar sign. While resort officials could do nothing about the vulgar and inappropriate sign, staffers at the Dough Roller restaurant took matters into their own hands with a hastily put-together sign on pizza boxes with the message “Stop the Hate” and stood behind the offending sign. The restaurant later issued a statement praising the staff for its uplifting message. “We are so proud of our staff for standing up against such aggressive hate and foul language on our Boardwalk,” the statement reads. “Our local leadership has proven futile and we are here to represent our community and Ocean City is a positive way to move our country forward together for everyone.”
White Horse Park Legal Battle Advances
August 28, 2020
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
Judge Denies Motion To Dismiss
BY CHARLENE SHARPE
STAFF WRITER
SNOW HILL – White Horse Park residents are claiming victory after a judge denied motions for summary judgment and dismissal this week. On Tuesday, Worcester County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Long heard arguments from lawyers regarding the county’s plan to begin enforcing seasonal occupancy restrictions at White Horse Park. While the plaintiffs, a group of White Horse Park residents who have lived there full-time for years, believe the county doesn’t have the ability to begin enforcing occupancy restrictions when they’ve not been enforced for 30 years, defendants — Worcester County and the White Horse Park Board of Directors — argue that the park was developed as a seasonal community and that year-round occupancy is prohibited in its declaration of restrictions. Long denied motions to dismiss the case as well as a motion for summary judgment. “This is very well done by all of you,” he told attorneys during Tuesday’s hearing. “Your arguments are good, they’re solid. It makes it more challenging for the court.” The lawsuit was filed against Worcester County last year by a group of year-round White Horse Park (WHP) residents after the county announced plans to begin enforcing the park’s seasonal occupancy restrictions. Residents, many of whom have lived at WHP for years, were advised they would face daily fines if they didn’t abide by the park’s zoning restrictions, which don’t allow year-round occupancy. Attorney Hugh Cropper, who represents the residents, filed both an administrative appeal and a complaint for declaratory judgment. Not long after the complaint was filed, the WHP board got involved, joining the county in its effort to prevent full-time occupancy at the park. In the months since, the lawsuit and the administrative agency appeal were consolidated and motions related to each were the subject of Tuesday’s hearing. Attorney Victoria Shearer, representing Worcester County, and attorney James Almand, representing the WHP board, stressed that the park had been established as a seasonal community and that the plaintiffs were aware of that. Shearer said the full-time residents had asked the county to approve a text amendment last year that would allow them to continue living in their homes year-round. “This lawsuit is an attempt by the plaintiffs to achieve through the court what they could not legislatively,” she said. According to Shearer, the residents’ primary argument of estoppel—the principle that precludes someone from asserting a claim inconsistent with their previous conduct—was rarely if ever
applicable against government. Long interjected, asking why the county was trying to enforce the occupancy restrictions now when it hadn’t in the past. “The first thing that jumped out to me is why now?” Long said. Shearer said it ultimately didn’t matter why the county wanted to enforce the restrictions. “It may not but it’s a fair question,” the judge said. Shearer replied that issues and problems had arisen that brought the need for enforcement to the county’s attention. “The county felt a need to step in,” she said. Almand said the county initiated enforcement efforts after receiving complaints related to renters in WHP. He said year-round occupancy would change the dynamic of the park, because there would be a greater demand on infrastructure that would shift the burden to taxpayers. Almand acknowledged that the park had changed, as the plaintiffs argued, to include more than just RVs, but said that didn’t matter. “It’s not whether it’s a stick built or a tent,” he said. “It’s whether you live in either one full-time.” Almand also said that if the existing year-round residents were able to remain in the park, the board would have trouble ensuring they were the only ones who did so. “That’s a herculean task,” he said. Attorney Margaret Witherup, who with Cropper is representing the fulltime residents, told the judge that several of those residents had lived in the park for more than 30 years. In that time, they’ve built homes up to county standards and paid taxes. “For many of the plaintiffs this is their only home,” she said. Cropper said his aim wasn’t to set aside the park’s whole declaration but rather stop enforcement against the 45 people who were year-round residents in June of 2018 when the issue of enforcement first came up. Over the years, Witherup said many of the residents were told by realtors, park management and board members that they could remain in their WHP homes full-time. “The association requested, condoned and acquiesced in allowing some full-time occupancy,” Witherup said. Shearer and Almand maintained that any sort of exemption for those residents would not be fair. Long denied motions to dismiss the lawsuit as well as a motion for summary judgment, pointing out there were disputes with regard to the facts and also that he had to view the evidence in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs. He said he would reserve his decision on the motion to dismiss the administrative appeal and expected to rule on that within 30 days. A settlement hearing is set to take place in October with a trial scheduled for Dec. 15 and 16.
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Six Individuals Rescued In Ocean By Commercial Fishing Vessel
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August 28, 2020
BY SHAWN J. SOPER
MANAGING EDITOR
OCEAN CITY – Six people were successfully pulled from the water last week after their vessel caught fire about three miles off the Ocean City coast. Last Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard Maryland-National Capital Region command center received notification via VHF channel 16 from the owner of the 54-foot cruiser yacht No Filter that a fire had broken out on board and all six occupants were abandoning ship. Several other boaters in the area had also contacted the Coast Guard command center that the boat had become engulfed in flames. Coast Guard Sector Maryland-NCR issued an urgent marine broadcast and launched a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Ocean City to respond to the scene. Meanwhile, crewmembers from the commercial fishing vessel Smugglers Point arrived on the scene first after hearing the urgent marine broadcast and safely recovered all six individuals from the water. The Coast Guard Station Ocean City rescue boat arrived on scene a short time later and crewmembers safely transferred the victims to their vessel and transported them back to the station. The owner of the No Filter stayed behind to await Tow Boat U.S. crews to prepare to conduct salvage operations. All six boaters were wearing lifejackets and no injuries were reported. The Good Samaritan vessel Smugglers Point, a commercial fishing boat which harvests menhaden, was returning from fishing off the coast of New Jersey to its home port in Reedville, Va., when crewmembers heard the urgent marine broadcast. The captain and crew of the Smugglers Point changed course and headed to the area of the distressed vessel’s broadcasted coordinates, according to a release from Omega Protein, the parent company that owns and operates the Smugglers Point.
The burning yacht is pictured three miles offshore on Aug. 20. Submitted Photo
“We were in the right place at the right time,” said Smugglers Point First Mate Roger Smith, who is also a licensed captain. “We were half a mile away at the most.” The Smugglers Point crew arrived on the scene and found the No Filter engulfed in flames and six people in the water. The crew turned the 170foot Smugglers Point toward the distressed victims and deployed lifesaving rescue equipment to bring them on board. The Smugglers Point crew maintained constant communication with the Coast Guard throughout the rescue. “I’m just thankful we were able to help them,” said Smugglers Point Captain Robert Huff. “I feel like it’s something anybody in that situation would have done. I know it’s something you don’t ever want to have to do. You talk about it and have safety meetings about it and you try to have a plan for it. In my opinion, the rescue went extremely well.”
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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
August 28, 2020
August 28, 2020
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
Page 13
Work Remotely In Ocean City Messages Distributed
Page 14
BY SHAWN J. SOPER
MANAGING EDITOR
OCEAN CITY – Although there is no major fall marketing campaign in the works, resort tourism officials are thinking out of the box with a plan to encourage visitors in the fall. With the uncertainties of COVID-19 lingering, most school systems in the region and around the country are opening the fall semester in the same learnat-home virtual format they closed out the spring semester. Most colleges and universities are reopening in a virtual format as well. Similarly, many of those forced to work from home throughout the spring and summer continue to do so, even though their workplaces have reopened to some extent. For many others, working from home might be-
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
Light Campaign Started This Week
come the new norm even if the pandemic wanes. As a result, more and more people are learning and working from home or virtually anywhere they can take a computer or tablet and Ocean City is hoping to capitalize on that new trend with a “Work and Learn from Your Happy Place” campaign launched this week. Resort officials have already decided not to pursue an aggressive, and potentially expensive, fall marketing campaign this year, choosing instead to bank the advertising budget for a robust campaign next spring. However, that does not mean the town’s tourism and marketing team
has thrown in the towel on the remainder of 2020. The campaign launched this week largely through social media and email blasts, under the tag line “Turn Your Daily Grind into a Daily Shine,” encourages visitors to come to Ocean City this fall to teach their children or work remotely while enjoying all the resort area has to offer in arguably the best time of the year. Acting Tourism Director and Communications Manager Jessica Waters said the “Work and Learn from Your Happy Place” messages were being sent out beginning this week. “We spent the day doing a photo and video shoot for distancing learning and
August 28, 2020
promoting families to work and learn at the beach,” she said. “2020 has been a challenging year and COVID has brought so much uncertainty for families. What better way to turn lemons into lemonade than taking distancing learning and teleworking to the beach.” Essentially, as long as one must work or teach their children remotely, one might as well do it at the beach than at a kitchen table or home office, according to the campaign’s email blast that went out this week. “With fewer crowds and beautiful weather, there’s truly no better setting to work remotely than Ocean City,” it reads. “Bring your studies to the shore because a change of scenery and a peaceful work haven will ensure plenty of productivity ahead.” Waters said the possibilities for remote teaching and working are virtually endless in the resort. In addition to positive settings from which to learn or work from a computer or tablet, Ocean City also offers a myriad of historical, cultural and environmental opportunities for distance learning. “Parents can work and teach from a hotel room balcony, on beach chairs by the ocean or on a pier on the bay,” she said. “Not to mention, we have so many great places to learn, like the Ocean City Lifesaving Station Museum or Assateague. There is so much to offer families this fall, and although we are not moving forward with a big advertising campaign, we will continue to promote all of the great reasons families should plan fall visits to Ocean City.” The campaign encourages distance teachers and students to visit the Ocean City Lifesaving Museum or even the Harriet Tubman Park and Visitor Center on their way to the resort. There are also endless opportunities for day trips to the historic small towns around the county including Berlin and Snow Hill, for example. The campaign also encourages families to work in a physical education element to their daily teaching regimen with a wide variety of offerings from the Recreation and Parks Department, bike rides on the Boardwalk with the relaxed hours in the fall, the skate park or the various water sports opportunities. “While this year’s classrooms may look a bit different, one of the biggest benefits of remote learning is that you’re able to do it from anywhere,” the campaign’s email blast reads. “With great weather and fewer crowds, fall is a great time to bring your work to Ocean City. Bring your studies to the shore and relax at night in your happy place.” Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association Executive Director Susan Jones said the town’s hospitality industry is embracing the idea of promoting Ocean City as a fall destination to work or learn remotely. “Many hotels have already created packages around the concept of remote learning being more enjoyable gazing at the ocean rather than your kitchen,” she said. “This will allow us to expand the area we target with those messages.”
Charges Filed For Striking Pedestrians
August 28, 2020
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
Page 15
Witness Records Three Separate Incidents
BY SHAWN J. SOPER
MANAGING EDITOR
OCEAN CITY – A Maryland woman and a juvenile have been charged with allegedly throwing objects at multiple pedestrians deliberately along Coastal Highway last week. Around 3:15 p.m. last Wednesday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers were dispatched to a parking lot at 97th Street for a report of a disorderly vehicle. OCPD officers met with a victim who reportedly told police she was running on the sidewalk near the parking lot when she was struck in the back of the head with an unknown object. The victim told police a witness had observed the incident and recorded a cell phone video of it. OCPD officers viewed the video, which showed a Range Rover shifting into the bus lane and tapping the brakes. In the video, a juvenile boy emerges from the rear passenger seat window and makes a throwing motion toward the victim, according to police reports. Officers contacted the witness who told police at Winter Harbor Drive he observed the juvenile emerge from the rear passenger seat window and throw an object at a woman pushing a stroller along the sidewalk. The object landed
safely in front of the woman with the stroller. At 100th Street, with the witness still following closely behind, the Range Rover reportedly moved slowly back into the bus lane and the juvenile again emerged from the rear passenger seat and threw an unknown object at two ladies waiting at the bus stop. The thrown object fell short of the target. At that point, the witness had his passenger begin to record the Range Rover in front of them as it became apparent the incidents were deliberate and intentional. As the vehicle approached 94th Street, it moved slowly into the bus lane again and the juvenile emerged from the rear window. The juvenile threw an unknown object at the jogger, striking her in the head, according to police reports. Officers were able to identify the driver as Kristina Hampton, 46, of West Friendship, Md. Hampton has been charged with three counts each of reckless driving, negligent driving and throwing refuse on the highway, along with other traffic citations. She has been sent the citations through certified mail. The 13-year-old male juvenile from Catonsville, Md., was also identified and has been referred to the Department of Juvenile Services. Hampton and the juvenile are not related.
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Commissioners Approve More County Jail Improvements
Page 16
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
August 28, 2020
BY CHARLENE SHARPE
STAFF WRITER
SNOW HILL – Improvements to the Worcester County Jail will move forward following approval by elected officials last week. The Worcester County Commissioners voted 6-1 to approve spending more than $600,000 to complete a second phase of improvements at the Worcester County Jail. “It’s replacement of heating and ventilation that’s 40 years old,” said Bill Bradshaw, the county’s engineer. Bradshaw presented the commissioners with a $582,000 proposal from Gipe Engineering for the continuation of the phased jail improvement project that began in 2017. The work primarily includes replacement of the 1980s heating and ventilation units, replacement of corridor and office heating and air conditioning units, the addition of temperature controls and the installation of HVAC in the program area room. The project does not include the addition of air conditioning in the housing units. To support the Gipe proposal, the county will have to perform testing such as roof sampling and moisture scanning, which Bradshaw estimates will cost an additional $25,000. He said the project, which will take three to four years, would be paid for through fund balance. Commissioner Bud Church ques-
More than $600,000 in improvements to the Worcester County Jail are planned.
Submitted Photo
tioned whether there was a need for air conditioning in the jail’s housing units, which are currently not cooled. “During the heat wave we had, it was terrible,” Church said. “They were clustering them, trying to put them here, put them there. I’m concerned about that. When you’re moving inmates out of cells to put them in an area that has some cooling, you have a bunch of them, I think that’s a disaster waiting to happen.” Warden Donna Bounds confirmed that right now, the only inmate areas that have air conditioning are the med-
ical housing and intake areas. “All other units just have ventilation,” she said. Church asked if the lack of cooling could cause problems at the jail. Bounds said the temperature in inmate housing that morning had been 85 degrees. “The heat doesn’t dissipate within the facility even though the outside temperature goes down,” she said. “I do have some concerns for the inmate population. They do struggle with air flow. We have installed industrial fans to the point that we have exhausted all electrical outlets. There’s nothing else physical-
ly we can do to bring the temperature down at this point.” When Church inquired if the addition of air conditioning was possible in the future, Bounds said there would have to be more studies and that there was also the cost factor to consider. Church asked if the clustering of inmates in cooler areas could lead to a bad situation. “I have concerns for not only the inmate population but also most importantly my staff,” Bounds said. Commissioner Jim Bunting said the current proposal did not address the inmate housing units at all. “It seems like a heck of a lot of money for just replacing stuff,” he said. Commissioner Joe Mitrecic pointed out that Eastern Correctional Institution and the Somerset County Detention Center did not have air-conditioned housing units. “This is not unusual that our jail does not have air-conditioned cells,” he said. Chief Administrative Officer Harold Higgins said that in Maryland, about half of the correctional facilities had air-conditioned inmate cells. He said federal funds could not be used for air conditioning. “It becomes the entire responsibility of the county,” he said. The commissioners voted 6-1, with Bunting opposed, to move ahead with the jail improvements.
August 28, 2020
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
Page 17
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Council Extends Lobbyist Contract
Page 18
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
August 28, 2020
BY SHAWN J. SOPER
MANAGING EDITOR
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OCEAN CITY – A busy Mayor and Council regular meeting last week included a contract renewal for the town’s government relations consultant and a handful of modified special events related to the ongoing COVID19 pandemic. The Mayor and Council last Monday approved a contract renewal with government relations consultant Bruce Bereano. The consultant was first hired by the town in 2017 to provided assistance with numerous state and regional issues including the various bills in the General Assembly germane to Ocean City. For example, Bereano has represented Ocean City in Annapolis during the various iterations of the special event zone bill and the motorized special events. The lobbyist has also been at the table for Ocean City during the various hearings on the proposed changes in the turbine size for the offshore wind energy projects. His contract with the town is set to expire at the end of August and was seeking an extension for another year renewable in quarterly payments for a total of $65,000. The Mayor and Council on Aug. 17 approved the contract extension for Bereano. Mayor Rick Meehan said his services have been indispensable for Ocean City on various issues. “Bruce has been a great asset,” he said. “He provided a lot of help with the special events bill and I’m not sure we would have had the success that we did without him. As far as the wind turbine issue, he has been at the forefront of that. I think it’s important we continue that relationship for now. That continuity is important.” Also during the meeting, the Mayor and Council approved a modified Parade of Brothers event on Sept. 11 on the Boardwalk. The annual event typically starts with a parade of hundreds of motorcycles from the Maryland chapter of the Red Knights Motorcycle club from the end of the
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Boardwalk at 27th Street to the Fireman’s Memorial at North Division Street. The event commemorates the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. However, like so many others, the special event will be modified this year because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. City Manager Doug Miller explained the changes planned for this year. “They plan to revise the event this year because of COVID,” he said. “Normally, we would have 400-plus motorcycles parading down the Boardwalk. They want to not have the parade, but instead have a small, solemn ceremony at the fireman’s memorial with a couple of speakers, bagpipes and the laying of a wreath at the memorial. It will be very low-key in accordance with the state directives on social distancing and crowd sizes.” The annual Jeep Week festivities set for this weekend will also look a little different this year. From Thursday to Sunday, a parade of roughly 300 jeeps will travel down the beach from the Boardwalk end at 27th Street to the Inlet lot from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Each day during the event, the participating Jeeps will complete an obstacle course on the beach between the pier and Talbot Street. This year however, in the interest of spreading the event out and follow social distancing and other state COVID-related directives, the Jeeps will complete the obstacle course in three shifts of 100 at a time on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with just one shift planned for Sunday, the final day of the event. The Mayor and Council approved the modified special event and agreed to provide the requested support of the Ocean City Police Department, the Ocean City Beach Patrol and the public works department. The Beach Patrol will provide personnel on 12 ATVs to monitor safety along the twomile obstacle course on the beach just north of the pier.
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Former Student Publishes Book On Beloved Teacher’s Life
August 28, 2020
BY BETHANY HOOPER
STAFF WRITER
BERLIN – When a Parkside High School English teacher was murdered in 2011, former student Stephanie Fowler knew she would one day write a book about the educator’s inspiring life. Now, nearly nine years later, the local author has announced the release of her new publication, “Chasing Alice.” A synopsis for the book reads, “On Sunday, September 4th, 2011, Alice Davis, a respected and beloved English teacher at Parkside High School in Salisbury, Maryland, vanished. Her disappearance shocked the community and left her family, friends, fellow teachers, and students fearing the worst. Within days, her husband, Jess Davis, committed suicide just as the police were closing in on him as their prime suspect. Alice’s body was soon discovered in the woods near their home and the terrible crime came to a swift conclusion. But what remains? For one of Alice’s students, Stephanie L. Fowler, the heartbreaking loss of her high school mentor set her on a journey to honor the teacher she loved. Part memoir, true crime, biography, and cautionary tale, Chasing Alice examines Alice’s life, reveals the dangers of isolation and domestic violence, and seeks to preserve the legacy of a woman who touched the lives of many.” Fowler said she began writing “Chasing Alice” nearly three years after the murder of her former English teacher. As an aspiring writer in high school, Fowler said she leaned on Davis for guidance and support. “She took me under her wing and mentored me,” she said. “She nurtured my writing aspiration and also became a safe harbor for me, someone that I could come to and explain what was going on in my life.” Fowler said she kept in touch with Davis, even after graduating high school. But when Fowler returned to work after the Labor Day weekend in 2011, she was shocked to learn Davis had gone missing. “I knew right then that something really wrong had happened, something bad,” she said. “She was not the kind of person who would go missing. She was very structured, she set the pace and we all followed. She was an English teacher who loved cats and books. It was not the kind of person who would go up and missing.” When Davis’s body was found nearly a week later, and police concluded the investigation into her murder, Fowler said she was heartbroken. “It was hard to reconcile the brutality of her end with the light I knew her to be when she was alive,” she said. To that end, Fowler began working on a non-fiction piece about Davis’s life. “I knew I’d write about it, but didn’t know when or how,” she said. “It wasn’t until two or three years after the mur-
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
der that I thought maybe I could do a longform non-fiction piece. I started to do that but then I realized that there was more to the story to tell.” Fowler said “Chasing Alice” is her first full-length book, which offers insight into Davis’s life and death. “Alice loved Shakespeare, and a Shakespeare play has five acts, so I divided the book into five parts as an homage to her love of Shakespeare,” she said. “Each part is like a small vignette.” In the six years it took to write her book, Fowler examined police, autopsy and toxicology reports and talked to Davis’s sisters, friends, neighbors, teachers and former students, in addition to law enforcement personnel involved in the case. “I wanted to tell the story of who she
was. She was more than a murder victim,” Fowler said. “That was one of the reasons I wanted to write the book because every time I talked about her people would say ‘Isn’t that the teacher from Parkside who got murdered?’ I hated the fact that some people knew of her because of her worst day.” Fowler said the book also includes resources and information on domestic violence. “What if someone makes a change in their own life because they recognize something from her story? And what if her story rewrites the ending for someone else?” she said. “Chasing Alice” is set to be released in September. For more information, or to pre-order a copy of the book, visit www.stephaniefowler.net.
Page 19
The cover of the new non-fiction book, “Chasing Alice,” is pictured.
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Page 20
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
August 28, 2020
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STAFF WRITER
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SALISBURY – Salisbury physician Rene Desmarais declined his appointment to the office of county executive this week, days after being selected to fill the vacancy. On Monday, Desmarais issued a statement declining his appointment as Wicomico County executive, a position held by Bob Culver until his death late last month. Desmarais – a cardiologist with Peninsula Cardiology Associates – said his decision would RENE allow him to continue DESMARAIS helping citizens in his current capacity. “After a weekend of self-reflection and consultation with a number of close personal and professional associates, I have made the difficult decision to decline the offer to become the next Wicomico County Executive,” he said. “This decision is consistent with my lifelong commitment to the highest ethical standards in the delivery of healthcare. I believe the greatest benefit I can provide to my patients and to my friends in Wicomico County is to continue practicing medicine.” He continued, “I will continue to advocate vigorously for the medical causes important and essential to us all through my role as the Eastern Shore Group Trustee for The Maryland State Medical Society (MedChi), and the MedChi IDEA Task Force that aims to decrease biases and disparities in healthcare locally. I am humbled by the selection and grateful for the opportunity, however, my true calling remains my patients and the wellbeing of our community through my cardiology practice and being a full-time member of the Peninsula Regional Health System team.” Desmarais’s announcement came four days after the Wicomico County Council voted 4-3, with Councilmen John Cannon, Josh Hastings and Bill McCain opposed, to appoint Desmarais as the next county executive. In a special legislative session last Thursday, the council conducted public interviews with three candidates for
the position – Desmarais, state Delegate Carl Anderton and former County Finance Director Michele Ennis – before convening in a closed session to deliberate the appointment. Each candidate was given the same questions, as well as an opportunity for introductions and conclusion statements. During his interview Thursday, Desmarais said he would fill vacant positions within county government, ensure capital improvement projects are completed and use his connections with state delegates and senators to protect disparity grant funding. He also supported the construction of a behavioral health hospital, which he said could create jobs and attract other businesses. “I would attempt to grow at the same time both the health care capabilities of our community and the economic capabilities of our community,” he said. “Both of these are synergistic.” Desmarais also told the council he would advocate for transparency, communication and cooperation in his role as county executive. “This is a great community, but we see even greater potential here,” he said. Nearly half an hour later, the council reconvened in legislative session to appoint the new executive by resolution. At the outset, Cannon submitted Anderton’s name for the position of county executive. His motion, however, failed with Cannon, Hastings and McCain in favor, and Council President Larry Dodd, Councilwoman Nicole Acle and Councilmen Ernie Davis and Joe Holloway opposed. Acle then made a motion to submit Desmarais’s name for the position of county executive, which passed 4-3. The decision to appoint Desmarais as the new county executive came as a surprise to many members of the community who attended Thursday’s proceedings. In a public comment portion of the meeting, several residents expressed their disappointment in the legislative body for not choosing Anderton, who they said was the most prepared for the interview process. SEE NEXT PAGE
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… Physician Declines Appointment 4 Days After Council Vote
August 28, 2020
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
“I’m disappointed because it was very clear to everyone here this evening who the best candidate was, who the most prepared candidate was, who the most articulate candidate was,” Wicomico County Republican Central Committee Chairman Nate Sansom said. “And I do not know the reasons for why some of you voted the way you did. However, I hope your decision was your own, and I’m optimistic for the future of our county with whoever may be in leadership.” Perdue Farms CEO Randy Day added the council missed an opportunity to appoint a candidate who championed the agriculture industry. “Our largest industry, agriculture, was not mentioned in this conversation,” he said. “And you passed an opportunity to get a warrior for agriculture in this capacity.” In the days following Desmarais’s appointment, community leaders called on the county council to reconsider the process for selecting the next county executive. According to the county’s charter, the legislative body has 45 days – or until Sept. 9 – to fill the vacancy. In an open-air forum held on the steps of the Wicomico County Government Office Building Monday, Greater Salisbury Committee (GSC) President and CEO Mike Dunn told attendees the council’s decision sent shockwaves throughout the community, leading local organizations to join together and
ask the council to reconsider the selection process. “We are here today because it has become obvious in the four days since the council made its decision, as shockwaves have rattled the public, that two questions are looming rather large over the selection process,” he said. “Those two questions are ‘Why?’ and ‘What in the world just happened?’ Today, we are here as our community partners are, to talk about the selection process. Put simply, we believe it was flawed and did not serve the public well.” Dunn noted the special session held last Thursday was not broadcast live for members of the community. He added the council did not wait for the public to view the taped interviews or offer comments before making its decision to appoint Desmarais. “The council chose the next county executive within minutes of concluding the interviews and before most of the public had a chance to listen to the interviews and before those in attendance at the civic center had a chance to offer comments,” he said. “Three council members involved in the voting never said a word the entire night about why they were or were not supporting the two candidates who were nominated. This was ultimately a job interview and most of us know people who interview for jobs are not offered the job on the spot.” Dunn said the GSC recommended
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the council appoint a charter review committee immediately and allow public comments at the beginning of its next meeting on Sept. 1 before taking the next step in selecting the county executive. A petition has also begun to have the council reconsider the resolution at its next meeting. “The work now is up to the citizens of Wicomico County,” Dunn said. On July 26, Culver, age 67, passed away after a months-long battle with liver cancer. Since that time, Director of Administration John Psota has served as acting county executive.
Page 21
The county charter states that when a vacancy in the office of county executive occurs after the first 12 months of a term, the position must be filled by resolution with a majority vote of the county council within 45 days after the vacancy occurs. To that end, the council began seeking applicants late last month. As Culver was a Republican, the applicants had to be of the same political affiliation. Whoever is appointed will serve the remainder of Culver’s four-year term, which ends in November 2022.
Pines Drainage Project Scope Scaled Back
Page 22
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
BY CHARLENE SHARPE
STAFF WRITER
OCEAN PINES – Plans for a major drainage project in Ocean Pines are being redefined so improvements can still go forward despite limited funding. County officials met with representatives of the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) this week to discuss plans for drainage improvements in the area of Bainbridge Pond. They agreed to reduce the scope of the project since the county received less grant funding than it applied for. “The county continues to look forward to working with Ocean Pines and the state to ensure the grant award by the state is used to fix drainage problems in Ocean Pines,” Commissioner Chip Bertino said. “I was encouraged by comments made during the meeting
by members of the OPA board and OPA staff and expect there to be support moving forward.” Last week, the Worcester County Commissioners delayed acceptance of a $549,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Commissioners said they had concerns about the scope of the project — as just a third of the requested grant funding had been received — as well as concern about comments from OPA board members, who’d indicated that if the work was too costly the project would have to go to referendum. On Wednesday, Bertino and Commissioner Jim Bunting joined Bob Mitchell, the county’s director of environmental programs, as well as some Ocean Pines Association staff and board members to discuss the project. They agreed to adjust the scope of the project.
“We wanted to double check and make sure everybody was on the same page with having to revise the project,” said board member Doug Parks, who attended the meeting. As originally proposed, the project, which would improve water quality and flood protection through a retrofit of Bainbridge Pond, included 11 segments. With the reduced amount of funding, fewer segments will be completed. “We’re trying to determine right now which ones make the most sense,” Parks said. When asked if the OPA board was still committed to working with the county to ensure drainage improvements were made, Parks said they were collectively charting a course forward. “We absolutely need and want the county involved,” he said. “They are our partners in this.”
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County Opts To Keep Road Private
BY CHARLENE SHARPE
STAFF WRITER
SNOW HILL – County officials will not make Central Site Lane a public roadway despite a request from the Maryland and Delaware Railroad. The Worcester County Commissioners last week voted unanimously to keep Central Site Lane private. The Maryland and Delaware Railroad had asked officials to consider making the road public so federal funds could be sought for improvements to the crossing. “They’re not going to shut the railroad down because of this one private crossing,” Commissioner Jim Bunting said. Public Works Director John Tustin told the commissioners he’d been contacted by Cathrin Banks, president of the railroad, regarding the condition of the grade crossing at Central Site Lane. “Central Site Lane is a private lane. Federal funds are not allowed to be used on private property,” Tustin said. Because of that, Banks wanted the commissioners to consider reclassifying Central Site Lane as a public road. Tustin said if the commissioners did make the road public, the gates on it would have to be removed and it would be open to the public. He suggested the commissioners meet with Banks to discuss the Maryland and Delaware Railroad plans. Bunting said the railroad crossed other private lanes and he did not believe the county should open Central Site Lane to the public. Commissioner Ted Elder asked about the possibility of opening just the portion of the lane that contains the railroad crossing to the public. Tustin cautioned against that. “You’re opening up that entire stretch from 113 to the railroad tracks to the public,” he said. When asked about the issues associated with opening the road, Tustin said the county would have to cover maintenance and associated costs that are currently covered by an enterprise fund. “I certainly don’t want the taxpayers on the hook for this,” Commissioner Josh Nordstrom said. Tustin said the request to make the lane public had come because the railroad was in the process of prioritizing its projects to seek funding. “The railroad is always looking for federal funds,” he said. “Historically they’ve always had somebody else pay for their improvements.”
August 28, 2020
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Cops & Courts
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Theft, Assault Arrest
OCEAN CITY – A Baltimore man was arrested last weekend after allegedly robbing another man and assaulting a woman at a downtown apartment complex. Around 1:10 p.m. last Friday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer began an investigation into a reported robbery at a downtown apartment. Through a telephone interview, the officer learned the male victim and a friend had been given permission to stay overnight at the apartment by the resident, later identified as Paul Barton, 38, of Baltimore. The victim reportedly told the officer around 10 a.m. that same morning, he was attempting to pay his friend $400 in cash from a previous loan when Barton allegedly stepped in and took the money. The victim reportedly told police he was afraid of Barton because during previous encounters with him, Barton had bragged about his violent past including murder, according to police reports. The victim reportedly told police Barton took the $400 and put it in his own pocket, then asked the victim if he had more money. The victim told Barton he had $200 more in cash and Barton advanced toward him and grabbed at the victim’s pockets, but the victim was able to move away and left the residence, according to police reports. OCPD officers responded to the apartment near 13th Street and observed Barton standing on the porch and a female on the sidewalk in front of the unit. When the female turned away, Barton allegedly jumped from the porch and ran toward her, pinning her against a vehicle and striking her with his knee, according to police reports. Barton then allegedly threw a series of punches at the victim, who tried to defend herself from the attack. As OCPD officers converged on the scene, Barton reportedly went back into the apartment. One OCPD officer positioned near the rear of the apartment reportedly saw Barton exit a window and start running east toward Baltimore Avenue. The officer chased Barton for two blocks before the suspect was taken into custody. Barton reportedly did not have any identification and told police his name was Douglas McNeal and provided a date of birth, according to police reports. Barton was arrested for the alleged assault on the female. A search of his person revealed over $500 in cash, corroborating the robbery victim’s story. When interviewed, Barton reportedly told police he observed the money exchange between the victim and his friend and intervened and just took it. Barton reportedly said, “Man, I don’t
August 28, 2020
steal. I take,” according to police reports. Barton was charged with theft, assault and making false statements about his identity.
Chair Tossed Over Balcony OCEAN CITY – A local man was arrested on malicious destruction of property charges last weekend after allegedly throwing a chair from an apartment balcony onto a vehicle parked below. Around 8:40 p.m. last Friday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to an apartment building at 14th Street for a reported disorderly individual. Upon arrival, the officers observed Shawn Wolfinger, 20, of Ocean City, in the alley at Dayton Lane hysterically screaming expletives at individuals on an apartment balcony, according to police reports. OCPD officers interviewed a witness, who reportedly told police just before they arrived, Wolfinger picked up a chair from the second-floor balcony and threw it onto his wife’s Ford Explorer parked below. The witness’s wife told police her vehicle had been dented by the impact of the chair. OCPD officers inspected the vehicle and observed a dent about four inches long and about a half in inch deep on the front fender near the hood. The officers also observed the chair in the parking lot with the legs bent to the point it was unusable. Wolfinger was arrested on two counts of malicious destruction of property and disorderly conduct.
Assault, Disorderly Conduct OCEAN CITY – A New Jersey man was arrested on multiple charges last weekend after first dashing across the highway in front of traffic and later getting into an altercation at a bar. Around midnight last Saturday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer patrolling in the area of 28th Street observed a suspect later identified as Patrick Duffy, 32, of Plainfield, N.J., run eastbound across Philadelphia Avenue in front of multiple vehicles that had to abruptly apply their brakes to avoid hitting him. The officer gave Duffy multiple orders to stop and sit on the curb, but Duffy ignored the orders and continued running. The OCPD officer was then dispatched to another call for service. About 20 minutes later, the officer was dispatched to a bar in the 28th Street area in reference to a disorderly male and observed a reportedly intoxicated Duffy screaming profanities at two patrons. As the officer attempted to escort Duffy away from the scene, he swatted the officer’s hand away, resulting in his arrest. However, as the officer attemptSEE NEXT PAGE
... Cops & Courts
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ed to handcuff Duffy, he pulled his wrists away and resisted, despite multiple orders not to do so. He was ultimately handcuffed and charged with assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Up To His Old Tricks OCEAN CITY – A Kingsville, Md., man was arrested last weekend for the fifth time in two months after allegedly causing a disturbance at police headquarters in the Public Safety Building. Around 7:35 a.m. last Sunday, an individual, later identified as Zachary Hale, 33, of Kingsville, Md., came to the Public Safety Building at 65th Street on a white bicycle to obtain some items from his vehicle in the police impound lot. Hall reportedly rode the bicycle into some bushes and abandoned it outside the Public Safety Building. According to police reports, Hale then obtained a different bicycle and an umbrella from the impound lot and left the area. About an hour-and-a-half later, Hale returned to the Public Safety Building and got into a verbal argument with front desk civilian staff, and when he left the building agitated, he reportedly slammed the door against the wall in the vestibule, damaging the door and the wall. A short time later, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer observed Hale, now on a blue bicycle, ride across all eight lanes of Coastal High-
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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch way, causing vehicles in both directions to slam on their brakes to avoid hitting him, according to police reports. The officer in a marked police vehicle activated his emergency lights and siren in an attempt to stop Hale. Hale then rode the blue bicycle through the Public Safety Building parking lot and ditched it in the same bushes in which he had ditched the white bicycle earlier. He was ch-arged with malicious destruction of property, littering and numerous traffic offenses. According to police reports, Sunday’s incident marked the fifth time in the past two months Hale has been arrested for public disturbance violations in Ocean City.
Key Chain Injures Cop OCEAN CITY – A Virginia woman was arrested last weekend after getting evicted from a resort hotel and injuring a police officer with her keys during the attempt to take her into custody. Around 10:15 p.m. last Saturday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer responded to a hotel at 19th Street to assist with an eviction. The officer met with the hotel manager, who reportedly told police she had received multiple calls reporting disorderly conduct at a room on the third floor. The occupants of the room were standing in the lobby when the officer arrived including one suspect identified as Yessy Melia, 36, of Herndon, Va. According to police reports, the officer advised Melia that she had to gather her belongings and then leave the property, to which she replied, “I have my own rules.” The officer asked
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Melia to follow her friends up to her room and gather her belongings, to which she reportedly replied, “No, I have my own rules. You are going to lose everything. I have your picture,” according to police reports. After several minutes of back-andforth, Melia finally went back to her room and packed her belongings. The OCPD officer went with the group being evicted and assisted them in making sure they did not leave anything behind. Satisfied the room was empty, the group and the officer left the room and went to the parking lot. Once in the parking lot, Melia reportedly began yelling again that she left her $200 speaker in the room. The officer told Melia the room was checked thoroughly and nothing was left behind,
according to police reports. The officer also told Melia the room was now locked, and she could not go back inside, according to police reports. Melia continued yelling in the parking lot to the point several hotel guests came out on their balconies to see what the commotion was about. After several attempts to get Melia to lower her voice and leave the hotel property, she was ultimately taken into custody and handcuffed. During the handcuffing, Melia was reportedly holding a set of keys in her hand and refused to let go of them. Instead, she tightened her grip, causing the key chain ring to deform and it punctured the officer’s hand through his latex gloves. Melia was charged with assault and resisting arrest.
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BY CHARLENE SHARPE
STAFF WRITER
SNOW HILL – The sale of the county’s last remaining liquor store has fallen through despite a ruling from the Court of Special Appeals upholding a decision to grant the proposed buyer a liquor license. County officials confirmed this week that Kalpesh Patel, the buyer the Worcester County Commissioners agreed to sell the Shore Spirits store to back in 2017, was no longer purchasing it. The sale of the store had been delayed as the county waited for an opinion from the Court of Special Appeals regarding the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners’ decision to give Patel a liquor license in 2017. “Kalpesh Patel did exercise his contractual right to end the pending sale,” said Kim Moses, the county’s public information officer. “As you know the county won the court appeal, and sales are up at this location, so county staff are evaluating available options moving forward.” Last week, the Court of Special Appeals issued an opinion upholding the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners’ 2017 decision to grant Patel a liquor license for Shore Spirits in Pocomoke. The board’s decision had been appealed by the owner of a nearby beer and wine store, first
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to Worcester County Circuit Court and then to the Court of Appeals. While the decision from the Court of Appeals allowed the county to move forward with the sale of the property, Patel, who bid $1.2 million for the store in 2017, no longer wants to buy it. “The original agreements between Kalpesh Patel and the county contemplated the very real possibility that appeals could or would be filed to the issuance of the required liquor license,” said Mark Cropper, Patel’s attorney. “Once those appeals were filed, and due to the passage of time that has resulted, Kalpesh exercised his right to terminate the agreement and not proceed to closing.” It’s unclear whether the county will now contact others who submitted bids to buy Shore Spirits in 2017 or if the county will seek new proposals. When a request for proposals was issued in February of 2017, Patel and four others bid on the store at prices ranging from $500,000 to $1.2 million.
Two Injured In Route 611 Crash
BY SHAWN J. SOPER
MANAGING EDITOR
BERLIN – Two people were injured, including one flown to Shock Trauma, in a single-vehicle accident on Route 611 near South Point last week. Around 10:15 p.m. last Thursday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a reported crash in the area of Route 611 and South Point Road. The preliminary investigation revealed the Ford Ranger pickup truck involved was traveling north on Route 611 near South Point Road when, for reasons unknown, the vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. The driver, identified as Joshua Blank, 35, of Pittsville, was transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. A 16-year-old passenger was flown by Maryland State Police Trooper 4 helicopter to Shock Trauma in Baltimore for his injuries. The condition of the vehicle’s two occupants has not been made public. Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputies and personnel from the Berlin Fire Department also responded to assist. Investigators are consulting with the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office as the investigation continued this week. Maryland State Police are encouraging anyone with information regarding the crash to contact the Berlin barrack at 410-641-3101.
Man Charged With Assault On Officers
August 28, 2020
BY SHAWN J. SOPER
MANAGING EDITOR
OCEAN CITY – A Philadelphia man was arrested on multiple charges last week after first allegedly assaulting his sister and then battling with police attempting to load him into a transport van. Around 12:35 a.m. last Wednesday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to a motel at 16th Street for a reported assault that had just occurred. Upon arrival, an OCPD officer met with a female victim. She had been lying on a bed, drinking alcohol and listening to music with her brother, identified as Joseph Bryant, 34, of Philadelphia, who had assaulted her. The victim reportedly told police Bryant began yelling about being assaulted as a child and then struck her with a liquor bottle. The victim told police Bryant than grabbed a lamp and struck her with it, and then again with her walker. The victim told officers Bryant then fled the second-floor room and went to hide in a room on the first floor, according to police reports. OCPD officers located Bryant in a room on the first floor. Bryant was reportedly attempting to sneak out the back of the first-floor room while OCPD officers were knocking on the door. Once outside the room, Bryant reportedly began yelling and several motel guests came out on their balconies to see what the commotion was, according to police reports. Officers were able to place Bryant under arrest, but he did not go easily. According to police reports, Bryant told the officers they were going to have to carry him to the transport van and let his body go limp and laid on the ground. Officers attempted to pick Bryant up, but he continued to resist, according to police reports. Officers physically carried Bryant to the transport van and laid him in the vehicle on his back, but he reportedly braced his legs against the middle divider wall and attempted to push himself out of the van. Bryant was reportedly warned if he did not stop resisting, he would be pepper-sprayed, and that is just what happened next, according to police reports. Bryant still refused to stop fighting with police and was able to use his legs to push himself out of the van and onto the ground again, according to police reports. Bryant was on the ground when OCPD officers applied violent person restraining devices on his ankles and knees to prevent him from continuing to kick the officers. He was then loaded into the van headfirst and was transported to the Public Safety Building for processing. During the booking process, Bryant reportedly spat on one officer and kicked three others. Bryant was charged with five counts of assault, resisting arrest and failure to obey a lawful order.
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2020 A Year Of Transition For Ocean City’s Trimper’s Rides
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BY BETHANY HOOPER
STAFF WRITER
(Editor’s Note: The following story is part of a series on long-running, familyowned Boardwalk businesses.) OCEAN CITY – From her office window, Antoinette Bruno can look out and point to the exact location where she held her first job at Trimper’s Rides. During her adolescent years, she worked in a small trailer that operated a quarter pitch game. From there, she worked the “Guess Your Age and Weight” attraction, followed by a stint at the “Balloon Bust.” Now, as the park’s president, Bruno said she is eager to continue the historic business her family started more than 100 years ago, all while bringing the park into the 21st century. “Trimper’s wants our guests to come to this park and not only revisit their memories from when they were a child … but we want them to create new ones,” she said. “And we want them to be proud to walk through the doors and be proud to bring their grandchildren and want to spend hours in the park. If we’ve achieved that, then I think we’ve achieved our goals.” Since the 1890s, the Trimper family has owned and operated Trimper’s Rides and other businesses at the south end of the Boardwalk, collectively known as Windsor Resort Inc.
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
In 1893, Daniel Trimper and his wife, Margaret, opened two hotels between South Division and South 1st streets. Following a major storm in 1900, Daniel Trimper remodeled his properties after the Windsor Castle in England. Together, the two hotels, which featured a theater and amusement park, became known as Windsor Resort. In 1912, Trimper purchased a carousel from the Herschell-Spillman Company. The attraction was operated by a steam engine in its earlier days and rides originally cost 5 cents. Today, that same carousel continues to operate from the park’s carousel building and is one of the oldest operating carousels in the country. Over the years, the Trimpers continued to add numerous rides to the indoor portion of the park. And in the 1950s, the family added outdoor attractions, with new rides being added year after year from the mid-1960s to the 1980s. The family also built the Inlet Village shops and Harbour Watch restaurant in the early 1980s. Despite its many changes over the years, the park has remained in the Trimper family since its inception. Management of the park was passed down from Daniel Trimper to his son Daniel Trimper II. And in 1965, Daniel Trimper III – Bruno’s father – was handed leadership of the park, which he maintained until the early 1980s.
Trimper’s Rides President Antoinette Bruno is pictured in front of the original carousel that has been on site since 1912. Submitted Photo
“My father ran the park until the 80’s and then he lost his leg,” Bruno said. “No one in the direct lineage wanted to run the park so Dan Trimper III’s cousin, Granville Trimper, took over.” Day-to-day operations continued under the leadership of Granville Trimper’s family until last March, when the park’s shareholders – consisting of 49 family members – agreed to pursue a
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new direction. “The park was not profitable and in 2019 there was a change in the power balance,” Bruno said. “I pitched myself to the shareholders and said, ‘It’s time for a change, give me a chance.’ And they gave me a chance, and I will either fail or succeed.” While Bruno began her tenure as the park’s president in March, she said her ideas for what the park could become were years in the making. While Trimper’s Rides continues to offer its iconic attractions – including the carousel, Pirates Cove and Himalaya – the park has eliminated its paper tickets and has introduced electronic Thrill Swipe Passes. It’s also added an exciting new food outlet – Nana’s Hot Chicken. “Dan used to sit down with me and explain the profit and loss statement for the amusement park, he would explain to me how we’d make our money, and he taught me probably one of the biggest lessons that has become a very important lesson in my first summer running the park,” she said. “He said to me you can never make money if you don’t own the attractions … Over the last 40 years, the Park has been giving up the ownership of the attractions, and I believe that’s why the park was losing money.” This year, the new management team spent $600,000 cleaning and renovating the park. Bruno said Trimper’s also acquired the Himalaya, a long-running attraction not owned by the corporation. “Even in my first summer I’m making a purchase and bringing rides back to corporate ownership,” she said. “My goal is to buy a new attraction, at least one every season as we can afford to do so.” Despite her absence from the park in recent decades, Bruno said her years of experience in finance, marketing and hospitality have prepared her for her new role as president. However, her first months of leadership did not come without challenges, which included the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of a park manager. “In the hardest summer ever, I took over an $8.5 million business having never worked really in this industry since I was a child,” she said. “I had to figure it out, and I lost some key players at the very beginning.” Regardless, Bruno said the team pushed through the late spring and early summer, taking advantage of the park’s closure to make improvements and implement social distancing and strict cleaning practices. Since March, Trimper’s has also added a concert series, weekly farmers markets and karaoke nights, among other things. “Everything we’ve tried to do here is to invite the community into our venue and provide a safe space that people can have fun, that we can put smiles on peoples’ faces – because that’s our job – and create memories,” she said. “We’re all about creating memories.”
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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
OSV Area Restricted For Turtle Hatchlings
August 28, 2020
BY SHAWN J. SOPER
MANAGING EDITOR
ASSATEAGUE – Short-term beach closures in the Over Sand Vehicle (OSV) area of Assateague Island National Seashore are in effect while officials anxiously await hatchlings from three federally-protected loggerhead sea turtle nests. A closure of the OSV at the kilometer 20.5 marker went into effect last week and remained in place this week as National Park Service (NPS) officials await hatchlings to emerge from the first of three loggerhead turtle nests. When the hatchlings emerge, the tiny sea turtles will make a mad dash to the sea. The dash is fraught with natural dangers including predators ready to scoop up the hatchlings, so the NPS is taking every step possible to ensure possible man-made factors don’t add to the peril. To that end, the purpose of the full beach closure in the area of the loggerhead nests is to reduce tire ruts, eliminate the risk of driving impacts to the tiny hatchlings and minimize light pollution near the nest sites. According to Assateague Island National Seashore officials, the hatchlings are sensitive to light sources at night such as vehicle headlights and even beach bonfires. The young sea turtles can become disoriented enough that they exhaust their limited energy resources crawling in the wrong direction. Disorientation can also occur when the hatchlings don’t have a smooth access to the ocean and get caught in tire ruts. All seven species of sea turtles are listed as either threatened or endangered and are protected worldwide through an agreement between 170 countries. Loggerhead turtles are listed as threatened, meaning they could cross over to the endangered species list if careful conservation measures are not taken. Assateague Island National Seashore officials are going to great lengths to protect the three loggerhead nests ready to hatch at any time. As hatch time nears, signage goes up in the area of the nests in advance to allow the wind, rain and surf to obliterate any tire ruts along the hatchlings’ path to the sea. After locating a freshlylaid nest, staffers place a wire screen over the site with holes small enough to prevent predators from reaching the eggs, but large enough to allow the tiny sea turtles to emerge and make their dash to the ocean. Just before hatch time, the full beach closure goes into effect to prevent potential impacts from vehicles and pedestrians and eliminate light pollution that can disorient the hatchlings. The window for that hatch and associated closure of that section of the OSV is one to two weeks.
RIDE THE B ANYWHERE IN OCEAN CITY
August 28, 2020
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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
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August 28, 2020
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Wicomico Solar Regs Discussed
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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
BY BETHANY HOOPER
STAFF WRITER
SALISBURY – A discussion on solar development in Wicomico County highlighted a council work session last week. Land use and real estate attorney Ryan Showalter met with the Wicomico County Council to discuss the county’s role in solar development months after Councilman Bill McCain first proposed zoning regulations for solar energy systems. “I’m not here to advocate for any particular position necessarily,” Showalter said last week. “Mr. McCain asked me to provide general background information to you about utility-scale solar in the state of Maryland and the role of state and local governments under the current regulatory structure.” In May, McCain brought the issue of solar development in rural areas to the council’s attention, arguing the importance of having regulations in the county’s zoning code before major solar energy projects came to Wicomico. Showalter’s presentation to the council last week highlighted Maryland’s standards for renewable energy. He said those standards required state electric utilities to obtain a certain percentage of their power from renewable sources, or to buy renewable energy credits to offset the use of nonrenewable power.
In Maryland, he noted, the General Assembly has required 14.5% of power to come from renewable energy by 2030. “If you assume 100% of the new solar to be used in the state of Maryland will come from ground-mounted, not rooftops … we need about 38,000 acres of new land-based solar,” he said. Officials have noted the Eastern Shore’s rural landscape makes it an ideal location for utility-scale energy projects. But McCain noted Wicomico was one of the only Eastern Shore counties without zoning codes to address solar development. “We don’t have to reinvent the wheel when there are seven or eight other counties here on the shore that have done this,” he said. “We can pick and choose what works best, and what works best for us.” Showalter noted different counties have taken different approaches to zoning. While some have developed overlay zoning districts or special exception requirements, he said, others have established project caps or have prohibited solar development on lands with other important uses such as farmland, forestland and historical sites. He added that the Public Service Commission – charged with reviewing and approving new electric generation projects – must also consider the coun-
Obituary
BERLIN – Shirley Ann Donaway, age 79, died on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020 at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin. Born in North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Marshall and Rhoda Harrold. She is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years, Everett Donaway, and children Jeanette Fay Gaunt and her husband Richard of Parsonsburg, Johnney Ray Donaway of Ft. Meyers, Fla,. and David Lee Donaway of Berlin. There are six grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and three great-greatgrandchildren. Preceding her in death were children, Michael Allen Donaway and Myrna Kay Reid, and siblings, Bernice Brown, Beatrice Walls, Joe Harrold, Jonah Harrold, Wayne Harrold, Marvin Harrold, and Faymon Harrold. Also surviving are two sisters, Cathy Colborne of Reliance ty’s position on local solar development. “It doesn’t require the Public Service Commission to implement local zoning, it doesn’t require them to defer to local zoning, it doesn’t even require them to accept or follow local zoning,” he said, “but it does require that they do give due consideration to the local
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and Pat Smith of Federalsburg. Mrs. Donaway had been a homemaker and poultry grower. She was an active member of Pathway of Christ Church in Whaleyville. Shirley was a home body who enjoyed working in her yard and spending time with her family. A funeral service SHIRLEY ANN was held on Monday, DONAWAY Aug. 24 at the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Pastor Mark Phillips officiated. Friends were able to call to the service. Interment followed in Dale Cemetery. A donation in her memory may be made to the Burbage Funeral Home to help defray the family’s final expenses. Letters of condolence may be sent via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com. government perspective …” Councilman Joe Holloway questioned the urgent need to develop local solar regulations. “Should we wait to see where the state is headed on this, or is this something we should rush into?” he said. Showalter said he believed it was better to have regulations in place that address size, scope and aesthetic concerns before solar developers come to Wicomico. “I’m not opposed to regulations,” he said. “And frankly, having more clarity upfront that’s reliable and applied consistently is better for everybody, better for the public and better for the developers.” Officials pointed out that there hadn’t been too much concern for solar development in Wicomico, citing transmission capacity issues and land fragmentation as major factors. “A lot of our farms have been divided over the years,” McCain said. “So it’s hard to find that uninterrupted, 400- or 500-acre cleared tracts of land that’s isolated …” But Councilman Josh Hastings said he was eager to see Wicomico County address solar development. “One way or another we are moving as a society toward renewable energy, and that’s not going to stop,” he said. Councilman John Cannon also agreed to exploring regulations. “A lot of companies coming here want to know what the playing field is,” he said. “I think it’s important to establish that to a certain degree.” After further discussion, the council agreed to revisit the issue with the county’s planning and zoning department at a future work session.
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Page 35
A Third Generation Lawyer, Lover Of Lacrosse, Hopkins Blue Alfred James O'Ferrall, III
BERLIN – Alfred James O'Ferrall, III died on April 20, 2020. Better known as Mickey, he was born on Jan. 5, 1933, the son of Alfred James O'Ferrall, Jr and Elizabeth Woodward Cook O'Ferrall. Mickey grew up in Ten HIlls and attended St. Bernadines, played football and lacrosse at Mt. St. Joseph High School (Class of 1950) and at Johns Hopkins University, (Class of 1955). He was commissioned Second Lieutenant under the R.O.T.C. program at Hopkins and served from March, 1956 through March, 1958 as an anti-aircraft artillery officer (NIKE). He was honorably discharged in 1963. When he returned from the service, he attended the University of Baltimore School of Law in the evening, working at the family law firm O'Ferrall and O'Ferrall during the day. Mickey was a third-generation lawyer in the firm started by his grandfather, Alfred, Sr and his brother, John; then Mickey's father and his brother Jack. From June, 1962 until February, 1965, Mickey was an Assistant State's Attorney for Baltimore City. From June, 1966 until November, 1971, he served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland. He was proud of the fact that during this time he submit-
OBITUARY
ted four cases to the Supreme Court of the United States, two appearing before the esteemed court and two written briefs and won all four. During this time he also prepared Bills for the Maryland Legislature, two that interested him the most was a revision of the Maryland Law concerning incarceration of individuals who were unable to pay fines or costs; and the creation of the Inmate Grievance Commission. On November 25,1971, Alan H. Murrell, the newly appointed Public Defender for the State of Maryland appointed Mickey to be the "first" Public Defender for District #1, Baltimore City. For the last 5 weeks of 1971, Mickey, Joseph Touhey (Anne Arundel County) and Alan Murrell, put together the first statewide Public Defender System in the Country. There were cities in other states with Public Defender Systems, but none state-wide. In April, 1973, Alan ALFRED JAMES appointed Mickey as Deputy Public Defender O’FERRALL, III for the State of Maryland and he continued in this capacity until 1991. Mickey was actively involved in Boy Scout Troop 1000 at Cathedral School, teaching cooking and even going on camping trips, not a fan of the camping
but loved to cook. Known for his cooking he was raffled off to cook dinner in the winner’s home several times to raise money for various organizations. He also chaired the after school athletic program and coached lacrosse and soccer, served on the Parish Council and was Head Chef of the Pancake Breakfast for 13 years. He was a Lecturer/Assistant Professor of Law at Villa Julie College for 15 years and a member of the faculty at Dundalk Community College in their Legal Assistant Program from September of 1977 until June of 1983. In September of 1991, Mickey moved to the Eastern Shore and was an Assistant Public Defender in the Salisbury office and then moved to the Snow Hill office and retired from there at age 65 in 1998. Joel Todd, then-State’s Attorney for Worcester County, invited Mickey to join the office briefly in 1997 and Mickey retired from there in 2015 at the age of 82. Mickey loved the law, he researched it, read it and worked at it since he was a little child going to work with his father. Mickey also loved lacrosse and football, he bled Hopkins Blue. So much so he wanted a few of his ashes to be spread at the goal posts on Homewood field. That is until his son, David, pointed out that it is artificial turf now and they would just vacuum him up. His love of
lacrosse followed him to the Eastern Shore where he enjoyed the Beach Lacrosse program and following Stephen Decatur’s High School team, whom his grandson, Josh played and his granddaughter Ciara. Another endearing name he was known by was Kiki. His eldest grandchild, Joshua, dubbed him that at an early age for the inability to say Mickey. Mr. O’Ferrall was a larger than life man in size and personality, but he had a soft spot for his grandchildren. There wasn’t a piece of lacrosse equipment not needed for his grandson Josh or his granddaughter Ciara, nor were there too many American Girl dolls for his granddaughters Ciara and Grace. Mickey is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sandra Lee O'Ferrall, nee Brinker; his dearly loved children, David Michael O'Ferrall (Kristin) and Michelle Elizabeth O'Ferrall; and his adored grandchildren, Joshua Patrick O'Ferrall, Ciara J Thumma and Grace Elizabeth O'Ferrall. Mickey is also survived by his sister, Retired Judge M. Kathleen O'Ferrall Friedman of Baltimore. He was preceded in death by brother Joseph Michael O'Ferrall and sister Elizabeth Marie O'Ferrall Knight. A memorial will be celebrated at a later date due to the pandemic.
School Board Fields Council’s Questions On Reopening Plans
Page 36
BY BETHANY HOOPER
STAFF WRITER
SALISBURY – Questions about student instruction, teacher accountability and school bus contractors highlighted a discussion between county leaders and school board officials last week. In a meeting of the Wicomico County Council last week, members of the Wicomico County Board of Education met with county leaders to answer questions surrounding the school system’s recovery plan for the coming academic year. “This plan has been finalized,” Superintendent Donna Hanlin said, “but we do consider it a working document and we will tweak things as we move along.” Earlier this month, Hanlin presented the school system’s recovery plan for the academic year, which will start vir-
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tually this fall. While the school system will focus on remote learning for the first semester, Hanlin made it clear to the county council last week she hoped to reintroduce larger groups of students into buildings by October. “While we announced this is for the first semester, we hope it will be the worst-case scenario,” she said. “We all want our children back in school, but we will do so when it’s safe to do that.” During a public comment portion of last week’s meeting, students and parents made a plea with county leaders to have high school seniors be among the first groups of students back in school. Some parents noted the proposed virtual learning plan for high school students conflicted with dual enrollment courses at Wor-Wic Community College. When asked to address those con-
cerns last week, Hanlin said scheduling for dual enrollment courses would be handled by school guidance counselors. She encouraged families to call the schools with scheduling questions. “Guidance counselors are working with students and families to make sure their schedules are set up to allow for that travel time and that opportunity to go to Wor-Wic,” she said. While he acknowledged the seniors’ desires to spend the last year in school, Wicomico County Board of Education Vice Chair Gene Malone said the school system’s decision was made in an abundance of caution. “It was safety,” he said, “and we just have to move forward and see how it goes.” Hanlin noted the recovery plan included periods of in-person instruction for career and technology education, spe-
August 28, 2020
cial education, English language learners and gifted and talented learners. “One of the groups I’m particularly concerned about and may be next in our thinking would be our youngest students, our prekindergarten and kindergarten students,” she said. Councilman Joe Holloway said he had heard concerns about teaching locations. He asked how the school system would handle educators who didn’t want to return to school buildings. “I’ve heard concerns from teachers about going back into the classrooms,” he said. “What happens if a teacher is called back and they say they’re not going to go?” Hanlin replied school administrators would work to accommodate staff. “Teachers are being required to commit to where they’re teaching, so they can teach from an alternative location,” she said. “If they have an underlying health condition, for example, they can teach from home.” Holloway also asked if the school system had considered offering virtual instruction on nights and weekends for students of working parents. “We have talked about recording classes to give parents that opportunity,” Hanlin replied. “We haven’t come to a decision yet because we really want that interaction in a classroom setting with all students and a teacher … You also have the legal aspects of recording class.” Hanlin noted some parents have opted to form learning pods – in which parents share teaching and monitoring duties – while others are exploring childcare options. She said the school system was also exploring partnership opportunities with community organizations. “We’re also working with other community leaders to look into childcare possibilities where organizations are assisting in that way,” she said. “It’s a really real challenge.” Councilwoman Nicole Acle asked how school officials were handling bus contracts for the coming fall. “Would funds be transferred somewhere else?” she said. Hanlin said the school system continues to explore opportunities that would support the bus drivers. “We don’t want any bus contractor to lose their livelihood, to not be able to pay for their bus, but there has to be a balance of using taxpayer dollars responsibility and also utilizing our bus drivers as much as we can in other ways …,” she said. “We are looking not only at bus drivers, but at every individual staff position and repurposing the job or looking for ways to keep people solvent while using taxpayer dollars efficiently and prudently.” School officials said families with questions or concerns about the recovery plan should contact their schools. “We want to hear what’s working and what’s not working, and we will continue to tweak the plan based upon what’s in the best interest of our students …,” Hanlin said. “I’m sure it will continue to evolve.”
Ocean City Jeep Week Returns With Modified Daily Events
August 28, 2020
OCEAN CITY – Though parts of it may look different, Ocean City Jeep Week is underway once again. “By its nature, Jeep Week is a socially-distanced event. Jeeps drive down the beach, they run the sand course, and they enjoy the obstacles at Jeep Jam, all within the confines of their own vehicle,” said event director Brad Hoffman. “Obviously it’s a different climate this year. We have taken that into account and made major event updates and changes to make sure our participants, staff, and team are all safe. We will be implementing new polices this year to due COVID-19 that adhere to city- and state-mandated guidelines.” Events began on Thursday and run through the weekend with beach crawls every morning, from 29th Street to the Inlet, from 7:30 am until 9:30 am. “We will be implementing safety measures at our air-up stations to ensure proper social distancing and cleaning protocols are followed,” said Hoffman. “We will ask participants to remain inside their Jeeps during the staging of the beach crawl, and at the end of the beach crawl. If they do need to exit their vehicles, they need to adhere to social distancing. Mask wearing will be requested when social distancing is not possible per Ocean City guidelines.” Among the highlights of the event are the daily Jeep Jam events at the MAYS Complex in Pittsville featuring a trail ride and an obstacle course as well as a sand course, sponsored by KICKER. Times can be found on the Jeep Week website. “Another edit this year is we will not be allowing spectators at our Jeep Jam event in Pittsville. That event takes place Thursday through Saturday, and only participants and staff will be allowed,” said Hoffman. “The KICKER Sand Course is the same. They enjoy the course and its mild sand obstacles right on the beach.” Throughout the weekend, the main vendor area for the weekend will be at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. “We have put policies in place to socially-distance, to adhere to state COVID-19 guidelines, and to allow the Jeep
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Page 37
Among the highlights of the Ocean City Jeep Week are the beach sand course in Ocean City, above left, and the Jeep Jam in Pittsville. Photos courtesy of Live Wire Media
participants to interact outdoors in a safe way with participating vendors,” said Hoffman. “Some of the biggest names in the industry will be there, like KICKER, i.g. Burton, TrickTrucks, Audio Works, Falken, Quake LED, General
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Fenwick Property Owners Seek Court Order Over Enforcement
Page 38
BY BETHANY HOOPER
STAFF WRITER
FENWICK ISLAND – A group of Fenwick Island property owners have filed a petition in Superior Court demanding the town enforce its code. Seventeen plaintiffs seeking a court order requiring Fenwick Island to enforce itscode filed a petition for writ of mandamus in Superior Court last week. The action comes three months after attorney William Rhodunda issued a letter to the Fenwick Island Town Council on behalf of several property owners concerned about an outdoor bar with the
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potential for live or recorded music at the new Fenwick Shores hotel. The petition asserts an outdoor deck and pool bar on the second floor of the hotel is a violation of numerous sections of the Fenwick code. “Fenwick has failed to enforce the Code by permitting the Sands Hotel: (a) to have a bar, (b) to have a bar not connected to a restaurant, (c) to have a bar area in any outside service area, (d) to have an outside service area more than three feet above ground level, (e) to have music or entertainment on an outdoor deck on the top floor of the hotel, and (f) to have a large outdoor deck bar
August 28, 2020
and entertainment area on the top floor of the hotel …,” the petition reads. “The foregoing are violations of the Fenwick Code and violations of Fenwick's duty to enforce the Code.” In 2018, developer Spiro Buas demolished the aging Sands Motel and built a new hotel in its place. Fenwick Shores, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton, will be a 65-room boutique hotel. To allow alcohol service for his hotel guests, Buas applied with the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner (ABCC) for a hotel liquor license back in March. The application also seeks a patio permit and a variance to permit live entertainment, external speakers, a paging system and a wet bar on the secondfloor patio of his property. Since that time, several property owners have voiced their objections to the developer’s variance request and argued the town code did not allow for an outdoor bar. The town, however, has taken the position that the outdoor bar is a hotel amenity, meaning it had no control over where the bar would be located. According to the town code, “no bar … shall be allowed in any outside service area.” Town officials have pointed out that the town code specifically addresses bars and bar areas under the section heading “restaurants,” not “hotels,” making Buas’ variance request a permitted use. In his letter dated May 22, Rhodunda threatened legal action against the town
on behalf of his clients. The petition filed in Superior Court last week names plaintiffs who live near the new hotel, as well as those who have been long-time residents of Fenwick Island – including former council member and mayor Peter Frederick and former council member Roy Williams. When contacted about the petition this week, both Town Manager Terry Tieman and Mayor Gene Langan declined to comment. But in a letter written to Rhodunda in June, the town’s attorney, Mary Schrider-Fox, addressed the legal threats, highlighting a similar case from 1995 in which Rhodunda was involved. “As one of the attorneys involved in that matter, I trust you don’t need to be reminded that a Delaware court will not direct municipal officials to exercise their discretion in a particular manner, such as determining whether or not a zoning violation exists and determining whether to prosecute any such violation,” she wrote. Moving forward, the town council has scheduled an executive session on Aug. 28 to discuss the pending litigation. Councilwoman Vicki Carmean said she would continue to request a public meeting, which she believes could have led to a different outcome for the town. “I proud to live in this community and I’m proud of this group of people who support open government,” she said. “I think everybody thought they would roll over, but they didn’t.”
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Worcester moves early voting site to ocean city
August 28, 2020
OCEAN CITY – The Maryland State Board of Elections announced last week it has approved Worcester County’s request to use the Roland E. Powell Convention Center as its early voting center. Due to the pandemic, the Gull Creek Senior Living Community, the former early voting center in Worcester County, could not confirm the building would be open to the public by October due to COVID-19 restrictions. Consequently, the election office began its search for a facility that met the early voting law that states a location must be within 10 miles of 50% or more of the county’s registered voters and allow enough room for social distancing. The convention center’s bayfront ballroom met all the requirements. The State Board of Elections also approved changing the dates of early voting to begin Monday, Oct. 26 and run through Monday, Nov. 2 including Saturday and Sunday and changed the voting hours of early voting to 7 a.m.-8 p.m. each day. Ballot drop boxes will be available outside the convention center and at the local Board of Elections office in Snow Hill. The ballot drop boxes will be available to the public 30 days prior to Election Day for voters preferring to vote by mail but wish to not mail their voted ballot. In addition, the Worcester County Board of Elections will use vote centers for Election Day. The board plans to have four vote centers located in the county (Pocomoke, Snow Hill, Berlin and Ocean City) where voters can go to any vote center to cast their ballot in person. All vote center locations will be announced soon. Specimen ballots will be mailed in October listing the early voting center and vote center locations.
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Page 39
Boggs commended:
The Worcester County Commissioners presented a commendation to former Commissioner Judith O. Boggs, a founding member of the Worcester County Commission for Women (CFW), for being named the 2020 Woman of the Year by the CFW. She received this honor from the CFW for her extraordinary accomplishments and for her commitment to improving the lives of area residents. Boggs is pictured in front with daughter Wendy Gary; and, back, Commissioners Chip Bertino, Jim Bunting, Josh Nordstrom, President Joe Mitrecic, Vice President Ted Elder, Bud Church and Diana Purnell.
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South End Liquor License OK’d
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BY CHARLENE SHARPE
STAFF WRITER
SNOW HILL – A Pocomoke store will be able to add liquor to its inventory after a lengthy hearing with officials last week. The Worcester County Board of License Commissioners (BLC) voted last week to approve a request from Marlin Market, located on Route 13 in Pocomoke, for an upgrade in its license to allow the sale of liquor as well as beer and wine. While some board members were initially hesitant to approve the request after hearing opposition from another Pocomoke business, BLC member Marty Pusey spoke in support of the application. “We cannot consider competition alone in order to deny an application,” she said. Attorney Hugh Cropper, representing Marlin Market, told the board last week that the store’s owner wanted to add liquor to its inventory in order to meet demand from the public. He said the store, which opened in 2018, had seen its business increase steadily as the population had grown and traffic by the store, which sits near the Virginia line, had increased. One of the store’s employees said the majority of the store’s customers, many of whom were travelers passing through on the highway, asked if the market sold liquor.
August 28, 2020
“Unfortunately we have to turn them away,” she said. The store’s accountant told the board that its revenue so far in 2020 was 18% higher than it had been during the same months of 2019. Several area residents spoke in support of the license application, as did Jeremy Mason, city manager of Pocomoke. “I do believe there’s enough business to go around and Marlin Market would be set on its own geographically,” he said. The connections of Don’s Seafood, however, argued otherwise. The restaurant, which has a retail liquor store, is also located on Route 13 in Pocomoke. Attorney Joe Moore, representing Don’s Seafood, questioned Marlin Market staff regarding the store’s management and finances and also said Pocomoke’s population declined between 2018 and 2019. Moore pointed out that Mason had testified at another liquor hearing in 20SEE NEXT PAGE
Former Fenwick Police Chief Indicted BY BETHANY HOOPER
STAFF WRITER
FENWICK ISLAND – A Delaware grand jury has indicted former Fenwick Island Police Chief William Boyden on charges of official misconduct and falsifying business records. Earlier this month, Boyden was charged with one count of official misconduct and one count of falsifying business records for his alleged role in submitting false reports to the Delaware Council on Police Training, according to the indictment. Specifically, the grand jury indictment charged Boyden with official misconduct for “submitting reports to the Delaware Council on Police Training (COPT), and indicating falsely that he had been certified in firearms, which allowed him to remain in his capacity as Chief of Police,” the court document reads. The indictment also charged Boyden with falsifying business records for submitting false reports to the COPT regarding his firearm certifications and qualifications. The COPT is a state agency that establishes employment, education and training qualifications and standards for police officers and applicants. The court document states the alleged offenses occurred on or between Feb. 3, 2014, and March 4, 2020, during his tenure as Fenwick Island police chief. Both charges are class A misdemeanors, which carry a penalty of one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,300. Boyden, a 17-year member of the Fenwick Island Police Department, left his post as the agency’s police chief earlier this spring. Acting Police Chief John Devlin did not return requests for comment this week.
… Pocomoke Store Can Add Spirits After Lengthy Hearing August 28, 2020
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17 that Don’s Seafood adequately met the liquor needs of Pocomoke. Mason answered that the town had recently seen an increase in new home construction as well as an increase in highway traffic and so he’d changed his mind. “I think there’s plenty of need to go around,” Mason said. Moore argued that it was the BLC’s responsibility to consider the effect a new license would have on existing license holders. He also said he didn’t believe it was the board’s job to worry about public need in Virginia. “It’s our position that it is not the obligation of the Board of License Commissioners for Worcester County to determine whether or not the need of folks in Accomack County, Virginia are favored by issuance of a Worcester County license,” Moore said. Moore also submitted the transcript of the 2017 hearing he’d asked Mason about into evidence. He said the transcript, in which residents testified against a new liquor license in Newtowne Plaza, showed that there was not public need in Pocomoke, which was a small area. “If chickens drank liquor there’d be a need in that (Marlin Market’s) location,” he said. “There is absolutely nothing between my client’s location and the location they’re suggesting is a need …. My position is this neighborhood has no neighbors in it.”
Cropper, however, said testimony from that hearing was irrelevant because it was three years old and related to a store five miles away. Furthermore, the BLC had disagreed with those who had testified and granted the license in that case anyway. He stressed that Marlin Market was outside the town of Pocomoke and needed a liquor license to serve its clientele, which came from places like Stockton, Girdletree and Route 12. “Are you going to consider the rights of those folks and give them a choice, in this time of coronavirus, decentralize, and give them a choice for another place to go, a more convenient place?” Cropper said. “Or are we just going to say everybody’s got to go to Don’s Seafood and crowd in the 600-square-foot liquor store?” He added that he did not share Moore’s belief regarding the board’s consideration of public need outside Worcester County. He said the county’s economy benefitted when outsiders spent money here. “I think we encourage people in Virginia to come here and spend money, create jobs, create economy,” he said. After listening to the more than two hours of testimony, BLC member Charles Nichols said he was struggling to see why Marlin Market needed liquor. “Not having liquor certainly hasn’t hurt in my mind,” he said. When he made a motion to deny the
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license request based on the fact that the public need was being met, BLC member Marty Pusey said she was opposed. She spoke on behalf of granting the license. “I think there’s been a change in the population in the last three years,” she said, adding that the southern end of the county had gotten busier as a result of NASA and the traveling public. BLC Chairman William Esham, referencing Moore’s assertion that the board should consider the needs of Worcester County, asked BLC attorney Tom Coates for guidance. Coates said the board should consider all public need, includ-
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ing that of transients. “Public need is your overriding decision maker,” Coates said. Esham asked Nichols if that would change his mind. “It possibly could,” Nichols said. “I really am scratching my head on this Virginia stuff.” Esham pointed out that when granting Ocean City licenses, the board was certainly considering non-Worcester County residents when it referenced public need. Nichols agreed to pull his motion and the board voted 3-0 to grant the license request.
Local Launches New OCMD Life Clothing Brand
Page 42
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
August 28, 2020
BY BETHANY HOOPER
STAFF WRITER
BERLIN – Quality apparel. Simple designs. Superior customer service. For Founder Steve Cooper, that’s what makes his new lifestyle apparel brand, OCMD Life, unique. Earlier this year, Cooper launched a new apparel company featuring designs that embody the character of Ocean City. “I wanted to create apparel that people would be proud to wear all the time,” he said. Cooper, a small business owner based in Lewes, Del., said he began OCMD Life earlier this year, when businesses were mandated to close in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Like a lot of people, when the coronavirus came it shut things down for me, so I had to evaluate what I could possibly do with my business, which wasn’t really much because I was in a growth period with that …,” he said. Cooper said he soon began exploring other business opportunities. It was this research, he said, that led him to an available domain name for OCMD Life.
A model shows one of the custom hooded sweatshirts available through the new OCMD Life apparel brand, founded by Steve Cooper, pictured below with wife Alex.
Submitted Photos
“I started researching online apparel,” he said. “I thought, ‘Let’s just try it. I have time sitting at home, so might as well.’” Cooper said he started off by launching Lewes Life, an apparel brand that celebrates the First State’s coastal town. From there, he introduced OCMD Life. “I’ve been in this area about 18 years,” he said. “I grew up in Maryland.
So I know what Ocean City’s about, I know what Maryland’s about, and even the Delmarva lifestyle. Those beginning months I just spent researching that more and getting a feel for it and connecting with other people online.” In those earlier months, Cooper said he developed a logo and created designs that capture the spirit of Ocean
City. Images featured on OCMD Life apparel include the hard shell crab, a surfboard and a marlin. “We try to keep it fashionable and simple,” he said. Cooper noted OCMD Life sells Tshirts, hoodies and hats for men, women and children, as well as stickers, travel mugs, bags and framed photographs taken by Cooper himself. “We are even going to do custom socks, which is something I thought would be fun to do,” he said. Unlike the T-shirts sold around the resort, Cooper described OCMD Life apparel as clean and simple. “We’re really trying to bring a lifestyle vibe to Ocean City with clean, quality apparel,” he said. Cooper also credits his wife, Alex, for helping him with some of the designs. “Part of the reason why my designs are simple is because that’s how I am,” he said. “But I need a woman’s touch on some of this stuff too, so she helps with that.” Items from OCMD Life are sold exclusively online, but Cooper said he is open to exploring partnerships with local retailers in the future. For more information, visit www.ocmdlife.com or any of the company’s social media pages. Shipping is free for purchases over $50, and those who sign up with an email address will receive 10% off the first order. “We definitely take pride in the quality we have, our designs, as well as our service too …,” Cooper said. “If there is an issue, we will get it taken care of as soon as possible.”
Stop The Bleed Kits Donated To Beach Patrol By Woman, Group
August 28, 2020
BY SHAWN J. SOPER
MANAGING EDITOR
OCEAN CITY – Thanks to one woman’s passion and a donation from a philanthropic group, the Ocean City Beach Patrol (OCBP) is now trained and supplied with another critical lifesaving technique. A few years back, after a rash of multiple-casualty events around the country, a new Stop the Bleed initiative was launched to train members of the general public how to quickly treat bleeding wounds before first-responders arrive on the scene. Of course, the OCBP is well-versed in so many life-saving techniques including CPR and the treatment of back and neck injuries, but staffers had never received the Stop the Bleed training. OCBP Captain Butch Arbin told the Mayor and Council this month his charges were now all trained in the Stop the Bleed techniques, thanks to the initiative of a local woman whose own life was saved by a quick-thinking bystander when she was involved in a serious accident in New Jersey. Arbin explained Deborah Dopkin, a Maryland resident and Ocean City property owner, was struck by a bus in New Jersey a few years back and a bystander quickly applied tourniquets to gaping wounds on her legs, techniques that are now essential to the Stop the Bleed initiative. Arbin said Dopkin did ultimately lose both of her legs, but the quick action of the bystander saved her life. Arbin said Dopkin contacted the OCBP last summer to find out if Beach Patrol staffers had received the Stop the Bleed training. “Her personal story created the passion to have first-responders trained and equipped to provide training to control severe life-threatening bleeding,” he said. “As an Ocean City property owner and Maryland resident, Deborah wanted to encourage the Beach Patrol to provide the same life-sav-
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ing along its beaches.” With Dopkin’s help, a conference call was set up including representatives of the Maryland Trauma Committee, Johns Hopkins, Shock Trauma and the Maryland EMS director. Following that conference call, Ocean City Emergency Services Director and Arbin agreed the Stop the Bleed training should be provided to the beach patrol staff. “In February, using instructors from the Ocean City Fire Department and Peninsula Regional Medical Center, all of our leadership personnel received the training,” said Arbin. “Before the start of the summer, all 200 of our employees were trained in the Stop the Bleed techniques.” Arbin said the next step was to purchase the Stop the Bleed kits, which is where the Hogs and Heroes Maryland Chapter 8 stepped in. Chapter President Steve Hannon contacted the OCBP to ask how the organization could help. Arbin said he told Hannon about the Stop the Bleed training that had been completed, but the beach patrol still needed the kits. Hannon mobilized his organization, which agreed to purchase and donate the Stop the Bleed kits to the Beach Patrol. Arbin said the training has been completed and the Stop the Bleed kits are now available at every street along Ocean City’s beaches. During a work session this month, Arbin thanked the Hogs and Heroes for stepping up and donating the Stop the Bleed kits to ensure the resort’s entire beach is covered. “At all 10 miles of Ocean City’s beaches, we will have someone trained in these life-saving techniques just moments away,” he said. Council Secretary Mary Knight also thanked the Hogs and Heroes for their magnanimous donation. “That’s very admirable,” she said. “We all need to thank the Hogs and Heroes for their generosity.”
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County Recognizes 19th Amendment
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Pictured at last week’s proclamation presentation were, front from left, SCCC members Joy Braun, co-chairs Susan Buyer and Linda Linzey and Vicky Wallace; and, back, Commissioners Chip Bertino, Jim Bunting, Josh Nordstrom, President Joe Mitrecic, Ted Elder, Bud Church, and Diana Purnell. Submitted Photo BY CHARLENE SHARPE
STAFF WRITER
SNOW HILL – A proclamation by the Worcester County Commissioners recognized the 100th anniversary of the passage of the amendment that gave women the right to vote. The commissioners last week issued a proclamation declaring Aug. 26, 2020, the Centennial Celebration of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. “We celebrate this landmark victory in American democracy, recognizing the decades-long struggle of women’s suffrage supporters who organized, marched, petitioned and picketed to champion the voting rights of women,” Commissioner Diana Purnell said. Purnell said Aug. 26 marked 100 years since the passage of the 19th amendment, which prohibits state and federal government from denying voting rights to citizens on the basis of sex. She and her fellow commissioners presented the proclamation to representatives of the Suffrage Centennial Celebration Committee of Worcester County.
Members of the committee thanked the commissioners for the proclamation. “You have chosen to recognize the sacrifice of all the women who’ve fought for more than seven decades to win the vote,” committee member Linda Linzey said. “Coincidentally today marks exactly 100 years since Harry T. Burn the youngest member of the Tennessee legislature cast the deciding ‘yes’ vote ratifying the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. With Tennessee in the ‘for’ column, the 36-state threshold for ratification was achieved. Eight days later, on August 26, 1920, women achieved their franchise when the 19th amendment was certified into law.” Committee member Susan Buyer also voiced her appreciation of the recognition. “The passage of the 19th amendment came as a result of a long, arduous, self-sacrificing 72-year struggle on the part of the suffragists but we need to remember today that it was an important milestone but just a milestone in the struggle for voting rights for all Americans,” Buyer said. “That struggle still continues.”
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Forever In Memory Of Our Founder, Dick Lohmeyer (May 25, 1927-May 5, 2005) The Dispatch, Serving Greater Ocean City Since 1984, Is Published By Maryland Coast Dispatch Inc. Weekly On Friday Mornings MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Md. 21811 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd. Berlin, Md. 21811 PHONE: 410-641-4561 FAX: 410-641-0966 WEBSITES: www.mdcoastdispatch.com www.facebook.com/thedispatchoc J. STEVEN GREEN Publisher/Editor editor@mdcoastdispatch.com
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The Maryland Coast Dispatch (USPS #015125) is an official and legal newspaper for Worcester County. Periodical postage paid at Berlin, Maryland, and additional mailing offices. The Maryland Coast Dispatch, 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin, Md. 21811, is published weekly on Friday mornings, 52 weeks a year. Subscription rates are $75 per year, $55 for six months. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Maryland Coast Dispatch, P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Maryland 21811. Maryland Coast Dispatch offices are located at Route 346 and Graham Avenue, Berlin, Maryland.
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August 28, 2020
Jeep Week, Bike Week Decisions Vary Greatly HOW WE SEE IT
Too many parallels are being drawn between this weekend’s Ocean City Jeep Week being held versus next month’s Ocean City BikeFest/Delmarva Bike Week being canceled. Though both special events are forprofit operations, there are few similarities between the two events. The bike events are massive in crowds compared to the Jeep weekend events. Though both are successful events packing an economic punch for the resort area typically, the concerns expressed about the events being treated unfairly by Ocean City are unwarranted. The reality here is the bike week festivities were canceled because the event’s primary revenue source – ticketed music concerts – could not be held due to the pandemic rules and regula-
tions against gathering size. Without the revenue from the national acts who headline the weekend, the promoter had no choice but to nix the entire event because the expenses were too high. It’s an understandable decision, one made by the special event organizer. Conversely, the pandemic restrictions – such as social distancing and limits on crowds – have little impact on this weekend’s gathering of Jeeps. The Jeep events are much smaller scale and can easily be held by nature of the movement associated with the individual activities. Fees are charged to participate in any event, such as the sand jam, beach crawl and obstacle course. In fact, each passenger in each vehicle pays to participate in the activities. Unlike its motorized companion in Septem-
ber, Jeep Week can still be a financial success while working through social distancing and other requirements. Special events are organized to make money. When it’s not possible for the organizer to reap a profit, such as with bike week, the event must be canceled. When there is money to be made, as in the case of Jeep Week, the event will be held. This is the key element of any special event notwithstanding the pandemic implications. It’s important to understand the events are granted approval to occur by the Town of Ocean City because they each involve public property and resources, but town officials did not make the calls on whether BikeFest or Jeep Week could be held under health guidelines.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Hogan Right To Insist Ballot Must Be Requested Editor: With all the hysteria surrounding the U.S. Postal Service and its potential involvement in our election in November, I thought it might be a good idea to talk to someone with experience, someone “on the ground” so to speak. So I contacted a friend who recently retired from the USPS. I asked him to tell me the facts and give me his perspective. His first comment was that the reforms Postmaster General DeJoy is trying to put in place are desperately needed – that the system, like most bureaucracies, is bloated and inefficient at the management level and incredibly wasteful with taxpayer money and has been that way for years. He also told me that removing mail receptacles is a standard procedure (several years ago the USPS removed dozens of mail receptacles in Ocean City because they were not being utilized). This happens all the time all over the country. He also said it’s a normal thing to disable mail sorting machines. The Postal Service has, over the last several years, seen its business drop dramatically, almost entirely due to email, and more recently, due to the COVID shutdowns. There is nothing nefarious in removing (or moving) mail receptacles or getting rid of unneeded equipment. So all of this hysteria is just not based in fact. I’ll tell you something that we should be hysterical about, though. How many people know that both of the postal worker unions, the American Postal Workers Union and the National Association of Letter Carriers, have donated to the campaign of and endorsed Joe Biden? Don’t you think that would be quite a conflict of interest to have these postal workers handling millions of ballots?
Another issue - no matter what the media says, mail voting is not the same thing as absentee voting. In absentee voting, the voter requests a ballot and it is mailed to him or her. The type of mail voting the Democrats are pushing is having the Boards of Election just mail ballots willy-nilly to everyone on the voter rolls, including all of those dead people and those who have moved. So what happens to all of those unclaimed ballots? I am glad Governor Hogan has insisted that those who do not want to vote in person must request a ballot. I have no doubt that, by the time this letter hits our local newspapers, this will all be old news and there will be another “crisis” situation that is all Donald Trump’s fault and that we must make sure he is not re-elected or it’s the end of the world. I wonder if people ever get tired of being treated like little children who can’t think for themselves? Carol Frazier Ocean Pines
Focus On Restoring Freedoms Editor: The Ocean City Council's discussions of wearing, or not wearing, masks is growing tiresome. The media's constant number touting is meaningless. Those who do not question or research information have been successfully and hopelessly frightened. The hospitals, as they always do, are taking care of the ill. Now the council is trying to decide whether a mask should be worn when a person is exercising on the Boardwalk, because of the "spit and sweat" that emanates. Wait, what? Isn't that the purported reason for a mask, to stop that emanation? The ma-
sk is not about you, remember? It's to protect everyone else. I, for one, have had enough. Anyone who feels threatened because of age or their health issues should stay home. This is not life in a free country. The easy acceptance of such a draconian measure is truly troubling. Instead of questioning the legality and effectiveness of wearing them, people are searching online to find masks that coordinate with their outfits. The grownups in charge should be using their energies and power to pressure our governor to restore the freedoms that he so easily took away. Instead, they are scrambling to cancel and revise planned events to suit these unconstitutional restrictions. Businesses are stressed and dying. People are sinking farther into debt and depression. The fun and spontaneity have been sucked out of our lives, and summer is now over. I, of course, have to shroud up to be allowed to buy food for my family. Other than that, I go nowhere. I am sure that there are people thinking that I am just being stubborn, and I am not adapting, or maybe I just don't get it. Or, maybe I do. D. Elliott Berlin
Support Wind Farm Decision Editor: I was pleased to see that Maryland’s Public Service Commission has approved Ørsted’s use of 12 megawatt turbines for the Skipjack Wind Farm. That brings use one step closer to delivering clean energy to 35,000 homes in the region. Not coincidentally, the Town of Ocean City just committed to pay lobbyist Bruce Bereano $67,000 in taxpayer SEE NEXT PAGE
August 28, 2020
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
money to assist their efforts to stop offshore wind (OC Council renews contract with lobbyist Bruce Bereano, 8/20/20). By this time next year, the Town will have paid Mr. Bereano $267,000 over four years to lobby against offshore wind, according to State Ethics Commission filings. The town has yet to make public how much they have paid Prince George’s County lawyer Tim Maloney or viewshed expert Robert Sullivan in their efforts to stop these offshore wind projects. The Town should make public how much taxpayer money they have spent on all outside consultants in an attempt to stop offshore wind. There is more good news on offshore wind: the University of Delaware this summer released a study showing that 90% of beachgoers say wind turbines 20 miles offshore would not detract at all from their beach experience and another 10% said the turbines would actually improve their beach experience. The Skipjack Wind Farm would be at least 21 miles from shore. Maryland wants offshore wind. It means good jobs for the Lower Shore, clean energy for our homes and businesses, and happy beachgoers. Jared Schablein Pittsville (The writer is the chair of the Lower Shore Progressive Caucus.)
Funding Sources Questioned
Editor: In 2009, the Mayor & City Council (M&CC) passed Ordinance 2009-17, stating that the land mass at our Wastewater Treatment Plant on 64th Street was at capacity. It added that any new improvements, increased hydraulic capacity and additional enhanced levels of treatment needed would require additional land. The ordinance authorized the M&CC to purchase or condemn a vacant tract of land located at 200 64th Street, adjacent to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Information available through the Maryland State Archives, reveals a recorded document identified as “CONSENT INQUISITION”, dated 6/15/10. This document found in Worcester County Land Records, with case title “Mayor and City Council Of Ocean City, Plaintiff v. Oceanbay Shopping Center Limited Partnership, Defendant”, states “THAT the parties have agreed on Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) as the amount of damages which the Defendant will sustain by reason of the taking, use and occupation of said property,…”. The document further states “THAT the purpose for which said land and property above described is sought to be condemned is as set out in Ordinance 2009-17…”. In 2010, the M&CC passed two separate Bond Ordinances for the acquisition of the property. Both bond ordinances indicate that the bond proceeds were for the acquisition of property being condemned pursuant to Ordinance 2009-17. The first bond ordinance ad-
Between The Lines
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opted in June of 2010 authorized a bond sale in the amount of $5.1 million. It was passed just eight days before the Court awarded the $5 million in damages to the Defendant. However, that bond sale never took place. Where did the $5,000,000 come from to acquire the property? In September of 2010, a second Bond Ordinance was adopted authorizing the M&CC to issue and sell $18,105,000 in bonds. Along with the acquisition of 200 64th Street, this bond sale was also to fund a variety of public works projects, along with expansion, repairs & improvements to the Convention Center. However, this bond ordinance was not adopted for at least two months after the property was acquired by the Town; and the actual bond sale did not occur until mid-November of 2010, over four months after ownership transferred. If funds were not available until November, where did the $5,000,000 come from to settle with the Defendant months earlier? It has been over 10 years since the M&CC acquired this property, and they have never utilized the land for their stated intended purpose of expanding the Wastewater Treatment Plant. And now, as part of the massive, major, and expensive renovation project at the 65th Street Public Works Complex, otherwise known as the “Campus Plan”, the M&CC have recently built a ground level parking lot on the property at a cost of $2 million, of which the Maryland Transportation Administration paid half. With the cost of acquisition at $5 million, and the interest accrued on its assigned debt thru early August, 2020 at over $2 million, and the Town’s portion of construction costs at $1 million; this combined $8 million dollars makes this one very expensive parking lot. What is also curious is the fact that FY10 Budget Amendment #2 adopted in September of 2010, reveals that a Bond Issuance in the amount of $6,453,899 was added to the Wastewater Fund as a budget amendment. Where did that money come from, when the Bond Sale was not held until November of 2010? If, in fact, the original intent of the condemnation ordinance was to acquire the land for the Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion; and if, in fact, the Wastewater Fund paid for the acquisition and has financed the debt service with interest all these years, then the Campus Plan should reimburse the Wastewater Fund for the land now used as a parking lot. After all, it is only fair to those of us who pay our wastewater bills. Vincent dePaul Gisriel, Jr. Ocean City
Expanding Our Reach. Broadening Our Commitment.
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By Publisher/Editor Steve Green
For some restaurants in the area, the ability to sell carryout liquor drinks with their food orders, or by themselves in some cases, has been a huge financial help. It was especially helpful last spring when carryout-only was enforced for a couple months. Known as an ally of the liquor industry in general, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot yesterday discussed with the Restaurant Association of Maryland during a Zoom meeting his intentions to ask Gov. Larry Hogan to extend off-premise alcohol sales indefinitely. There is no time limit currently on this allowance, but it was largely thought it would end whenever Hogan lifted the state of emergency. While typically not allowed under nearly all licenses, restrictions were eased in mid-March when the lockdown began allowing restaurants and bars to sell alcohol, including bottles and packaged goods as well as mixed drinks, with carryout orders and delivery. Franchot said he would like to give the General Assembly an opportunity to make the relaxed liquor sales rules permanent. “These are sensible reforms, I believe, to Maryland’s outdated alcohol statutes, and I believe these temporary changes should be made permanent,” he said. “It’s why I’ve asked Governor Hogan to allow these changes to remain in place through the 2021 legislative session, which would give the Maryland General Assembly an opportunity to memorialize these changes into law.” Franchot added, “This is just one of many strategies we must adopt to keep this sector up and running. Every restaurant, bar or tavern that closes has a ripple effect on suppliers, vendors, business partners, employees and the larger community that benefits from their presence. Let’s be aggressive and innovative here.” It’s going to take something drastic to truly rev up south Worcester County tourism. Whether a riverboat at a price tag of $500,000 is the answer is a big unknown. It’s a risky proposition, and more information is surely needed on whether the returns will be worth the investment. In other places, riverboats have been used for gambling trips, special events like proms and fundraisers and dinner cruises. All these excursions would come with a user fee and could potentially bring people to Snow Hill and Pocomoke who would normally never venture so far from the beach. Though the commissioners had concerns, including whether this operation should be run by a private enterprise, it was encouraging to see them not shoot down the concept entirely. It needs more study, but it will take something huge to bring commercial life to the south end of the county. As Tom Perlozzo, the county’s director of recreation and parks, tourism, and economic development, said, “The riverboat stern wheeler concept checks all the boxes… It’s ownable, it’s unique, it can advance the mission of the southern end of the county, it’s definitely buzzworthy.” It’s certainly worth a deeper dive. The Ocean City Mayor and Council believes $65,000 a year for a lobbyist to work Annapolis lawmakers is a worthy investment. This decision came last week and in the same month the council told the police department it could not use available dollars in its budget to purchase a mule vehicle for the Boardwalk. This council continues to amaze with its inconsistency and strange votes. Ocean City is well represented in Annapolis with two lawmakers calling the resort home in Delegate Wayne Hartman and Senator Mary Beth Carozza. These are unnecessary dollars being spent. City officials say they are concerned about finances associated with an economic downtown from COVID-19, but they are guilty of doubletalk and insincerity nearly every week. If they were truly concerned about money, this contract renewal would have been debated and discussed. Instead, the council voted unanimously with little comment from the typically verbose lot. Additionally, an argument could clearly be made the funding given to the lobbyist has not borne enough results in recent years. In extending his contract for another year, city officials said the lobbyist has been a huge help with efforts to oppose current plans for larger wind turbines off the coast as well as with toughening a special event zone bill. I would argue there has been little success to marvel over with these efforts. Ocean City has struck out on every single aspect of the wind farm process, including this week when the state’s Public Service Commission said the larger turbines were fine offshore. Additionally, the special event zone bill was a local courtesy bill the first time it was introduced and easily passed. When the city returned the next year to pass a more restrictive bill, it got nowhere fast. It took two years for the legislature to approve those tougher measures. This is hardly money well spent. The Berlin Town Council meeting set for Aug. 25 did not happen this week as planned. A message posted on the town’s social media account said, “This meeting has been canceled due to a lack of agenda.” While it’s hilarious on one front, I find it difficult to believe there are no matters the town appointed officials have to discuss with elected officials. The council only meets every other week. The timing was interesting, as a few political hopefuls in October’s election jumped on the matter on social media and used it as an example for change.
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The Adventures Of Fatherhood By STEVE GREEN
ack to school time is entirely different than most years. A familiar feeling, however, is the mixed emotions that comes with it, but the reasons why have changed. I am always sad to see summer end, but typically come late August I’m ready for the kids to get back in school and return to a healthy routine. While Beckett heads back to in-class learning next week at Worcester Prep, Carson will be working virtually for at least the first few weeks at Berlin Intermediate. Though I wish they were both going back to in-school learning, there are an ocean of practical issues for the public school system to work through before that’s possible due to the volume of students, transportation and limited space inside the school buildings. Another complication for all schools – whether returning to school or continuing online learning – is the sensibilities of the teachers. In my house, we have been thinking a lot about our teacher friends, who I’m sure have a range of thoughts and feelings about returning to school amid health and safety concerns and/or having to resume teaching through the computer again. It’s natural for all teachers, no matter their plans, to be torn and struggling with mixed feelings. The fact is everyone is in the same boat. It’s a sea of gray right now in so many facets of life. Some are nauseous over returning to school, while others are thrilled to get their kids back learning in a traditional setting in a safe fashion. Some are frustrated over more virtual learning and juggling work responsibilities, while others feel secure believing home remains the safest place. While I am all for returning the kids and teachers to the classroom so long as it can be done safely, such as at Worcester Prep where smaller enroll-
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ment, flexibility with class size and abundant infrastructure accomplishes the goals, I understand many parents as well as teachers are hesitant. I came across an interesting article online this week on the subject of teachers. It was a letter to teachers on understood.org by Amanda Morin, a former teacher, early intervention specialist and author. Here are parts of the piece. Dear Teachers, I want you to know that you are seen and you are valued. You may not be listed as essential workers. But you are essential. … This isn’t what you signed up for, and yet you’re doing it anyway. You’re putting together distance learning plans. You’re adapting your teaching in the blink of an eye. I know you miss your students, the classroom community, and the culture you cultivated. I know how much your students mean to you — how they become “your kids” year after year — and how much you love seeing them light up when they learn something new. Don’t worry. Your students are still learning something new. Here are a few other things you should keep in mind during this time. 1. You’re still teaching. Even though it may not feel like it sometimes, you’re teaching. Right now our kids are learning social-emotional skills that no curriculum could account for. … You’re finding ways to connect with your students and their families, even as you’re trying to take care of yourself and your own family. Our kids are learning empathy and compassion from you — a skill we’re all learning and practicing right now. 2. You’re creating history. You’re the first teachers to tackle a challenge like the one we’re facing now. Years from now, 2020 will be re-
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membered as the year we all learned how to live life at a distance from each other and continue to function as a society. Pause a moment and realize that what you’re doing matters. It matters not just for the students you have in your classes today, but also for the future. You’re part of large-scale systemic change and are making history. 3. You may be grieving the loss of “normal.” This is the time of year when you tend to see your class come together as a unit that knows how to work together, learn together, and laugh together. For now, it’s OK to cry together, too. (Or on your own.) A teacher I know told me that her fourth-grade class has been without each other for too long. If you’d all known that goodbye would be the last for the year, maybe you would have hugged a little longer or high-fived more often. It’s OK to grieve those hugs and high-fives. 4. You have expertise. You’re learning new ways of presenting information and trying to make it so that all students can access it. You’re figuring out what teaching looks like when “school” has become “schooling.” … You have a place in our kids’ lives. Whether they’re groaning about doing the work you’ve assigned, anxiously awaiting a phone call from you, or gleefully trying to get your attention during your virtual class meeting, it’s because you matter. Teachers, parents can’t replace you. You are essential. Take care of yourself. Be well. Try your best. And thank you for being there. (The writer is the publisher and editor of The Dispatch. He and his wife, Pamela, are proud parents of two boys. This weekly column examines their transition into parenthood and all that goes along with it. E-mail any thoughts to editor@mdcoastdispatch.com.)
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August 28, 2020
Christopher Stedding, 14, in Ocean City
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
Kids of Summer
Noey Worden, 9, in Fenwick Island
Colby, 9, and Gavin Cooper, 6, in Ocean City
Page 49
Caitlyn Crockett, 11, on Chincoteague
(Part 1)
It’s our pleasure to produce the 14th Annual Kids of Summer photo series, featuring little ones of all ages, from near and far, enjoying all that comes with the summer season. If you would like your child(ren) featured in this space, there’s still time. Just email us your photo(s) at editor@mdcoastdispatch.com or mail to P.O. Box 467, Grace McCormick, 4, Cam McCormick, 6, Maren Kerley, Berlin, Md. 21811 with the child’s name, 5, Jace Kerley, 7, Joie Muhlada, 7, and Maxx Muhlada, 4, in Ocean City age and location.
Cassie Gaumont, 17, Jessie Boult, 17, and Sylvia Johnson, 17, in Ocean City
Katelyn Brown-Sandoval, 7, in Ocean City
Colton Mann, 4, Makaila Keenan, 11, and Julia Mann, 7, on Assateague
Patrick Francis, 13, in Ocean City
James Hudson, 1, in Ocean Pines
Gavin Mann, 11, in Ocean Pines
Jake Rhinecker, 3, in Ocean City
Rebecca Rhinecker, 7, in Ocean City
Alayna Head, 11, in Ocean City
Carter Pulley, 15 months, on Assateague
Aden Tyhacz, 7, in Ocean Pines
Timothy Stedding Jr., 17, and Arieanna Stedding, 11, in Ocean City
Thomas Vaughan, 2, on Assateague
Ryan Mann, 14, in Ocean City
What You Need To Know About OC’s Surfing Streets
Page 50
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
August 28, 2020
GUARDING THE BEACH
BY DAMIEN SANZOTTI
SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH
OCEAN CITY – Ever wonder where you can surf in Ocean City? Due to large beach crowds from Memorial Day through Sunfest (end of September), surfing is only permitted in designated areas during the beach patrol’s operating hours of 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Seven days a week there are two rotating surfing beaches. On weekdays there is also a third surfing beach set up in the inlet area. The two rotating surf beaches move two blocks south each day. Based on the current rotation, a specific street block would not have the surfing beach on the same date for over 20 years. If your family stays on 10th Street the second week in July every year, and the surfing beach were to be on 10th Street this year during that week, it would not happen again for the next 20 year. It will be on every beach a couple of times ev-
ery season but during a different time of the season. This really isn’t too much to ask to share this wonderful resource with the surfing community. The third surfing beach operates Monday through Friday and is always in the same location starting at the south rock jetty at the end of Ocean City and extending 150 yards north. This area was picked because it is usually not crowded on weekdays. FurDAMIEN thermore, it is not safe SANZOTTI to swim close to a rock jetty and often has a wave break that surfers like. On certain days when inclement weather affects Ocean City, the beach patrol may allow surfing. This decision is made daily with the input of supervisors on the beach. If there are low numbers of people on the beach, and the weather is poor and not predicted to improve, the surfing ordinance may
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be modified as long as there is no electrical activity (lightning/thunderstorms in the area). There are also other factors taken into consideration when making this decision. On days of inclement weather, you can ask any SRT on the beach if the surfing ordinance has been modified, or call beach patrol headquarters at 410-289-7556. Also, in 2013, the beach patrol began a surfing notification service which allows you to receive alerts when the surfing rules have been modified allowing surfing on all beaches. If you are interested in receiving this service, please visit our website to sign up. Members of the beach patrol called surf beach facilitators (SBFs) are assigned to work at the surfing beaches and wear green or yellow uniforms so that they are not confused with the Surf Rescue Technicians (lifeguards). The SBF makes sure the operation of the surf beach runs smoothly. They make sure surfers stay within the des-
ignated area, while also educating the public and making sure they do not swim in the surf area. The SBFs begin their work day at 9:30 a.m., a half hour earlier than the rest of the patrol. To further facilitate the smooth operation of the surfing beaches the SBF will go to the next day’s surfing beach (two blocks south) to inform the beach patrons that the following day their beach will be the surfing beach. Just added in 2020, are new signs that are placed on the beach at the stairs or beach access, explaining the rules of the surf beach. If there are no surfers and the beach is “open” to swimming, the SBF’s will assist the surrounding SRT’s with ordinance enforcement, until one or more surfers arrive and the beach becomes an exclusive surfing area again. (The writer has been with the beach patrol for 17 years and is currently a sergeant. He is a physical education teacher at Berlin Intermediate School.)
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August 28, 2020
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
Page 51
OCBP ALUMNI OF THE WEEK
Al Kempski: Practice Makes Perfect (Editor’s Note: The following is a series on the men and women who have spent their summers protecting all those who came to Ocean City for fun and safe vacation.) OCEAN CITY – Growing up in Wilmington, Del., Al Kempski could have easily found himself vacationing somewhere along the Jersey Shore. But as with so many of the men and women who find themselves guarding the beaches of Ocean City, a chance encounter would change the direction of his life and lead Kempski to a four-summer career with the OCBP. After graduating from high school, he had enrolled in the University of Delaware. Among the people he met there was Bill Baker, who not only was living in the same dorm as Kempski, but was also an officer on the Ocean City Beach Patrol. It was 1977 and Baker was impressed by Kempski's dedicated swim schedule. "I would swim everyday with Bill. He recommended I write to Captain Craig and request a tryout," Kempski remembered. Always on the lookout for new tal-
ent, especially when it came with an endorsement by one of his officers, the captain wrote back and offered Kempski a test date in May. Kempski continued on his swim regimen, unaware of just what an OCBP test in May would be like. It is hard to describe the toll that swimming in ocean waters with temperatures hovering in the low 60's can have on the body. When Kempski took the test, it wasn't just a matter of swimming from the rock pile to the pier in 10 minutes or less. It was a series of runs and simulated rescues, over and over, designed to weed out anyone not willing to give everything they have. Kempski showed up for "the Alaska swim with 50 other freezing applicants. Passed. Exhausted and elated." Kempski loved the job and the camaraderie of the patrol. "The OCBP was and is a very special, merit based organization. Everyone is an equal. You always have each other’s back," he recalled. Each summer he got better at his job
Al Kempski is pictured with his fellow beach patrol colleagues. Submitted Photo
and when he started his third season in 1981, he was promoted to crew chief. He taught his guards to trust their instincts without hesitation. It was better to go in early for a rescue than to wait until it became a disaster later. This philosophy of guarding worked well for him stationed in front of the densely packed beaches of "condo row" in the north, where crowds of thousands would routinely show up on any given day. It was on these packed beaches that
HERE’S MY CARD For More Information, Contact Pamela Green PHONE: 410-641-4561 • FAX: 410-641-0966 EMAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@MDCOASTDISPATCH.COM
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Kempski would face his biggest challenge. "The worst rescue happened after Labor Day in 1981. Guards were so far apart you needed binoculars to semaphore with the next guard. There was a hurricane off the coast,” he remembered. “It was sunny and the water was churning huge waves with rips everywhere. It was one of those 20-plus pull (rescue) days. Three men were caught in a rip about 500 yards south and they were being pounded by the waves. By the time I got to them they were face down, bobbing for air. We were 30-40 yards offshore. I swam and got two of them on my buoy when the third man grabbed me from behind in a head lock. A wave crashed on us and we went under. Somehow he let go. I hit bottom with my feet and pushed up to the surface. I put them all on my buoy and pulled them to the shore where their wives and families met us with towels and tears." Kempski would guard one more summer before heading off to join the "real world,” but not before teaching his guarding techniques to at least a dozen future crew chiefs. Al Kempski currently lives in the DC metro area and works for the FDA. He's been married to his wife, Janine for 34 years, and they have two sons.
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Page 52
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
August 28, 2020
August 28, 2020
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
Page 53
with Scott Lenox We had a little rain and a day or so of wind, but otherwise it was another absolutely beautiful week of weather and another great week of fishing. The last five-day tournament of the offshore season went off without a hitch with the 2020 MidAtlantic Tournament where we saw some big fish including three 800pound class blue marlin. The ocean going party boat fleet is still seeing the best sea bass fishing in almost 20 years and they are also sending anglers home with bonus mahi, which is always nice. Flounder were caught over ocean structure with some bigger fish showing up, and back bay flounder fishermen saw good fishing in some clean water conditions. It was a great week for anglers in the area so let’s get to the recap. The 2020 MidAtlantic Tournament had 183 boats competing for over $4 Million in prize money and there were some really big stories to come out of the event. The most prestigious prize of the tournament is heaviest white marlin and that was won by the crew of the Blood Money with Captain Anthony Pino at the helm. That was one big story, but the biggest story of the week came out
of the blue marlin category where there were three 800-pound class fish weighed. First place in the blue marlin category was a huge 815-pound blue marlin caught by the crew of the Griffin, second place in the blue marlin category was another huge fish of 803 pounds caught by the crew of the Is That So out of Cape May, NJ and third place in the blue marlin category was a 489 pound blue caught by the Salty Tiger. These three fish were all very impressive, but the biggest story of the week came from a 791-pound blue marlin caught by the crew of the Shark Byte that was ultimately disqualified. On Tuesday, the crew of the Shark Byte pulled into Sunset Marina with what could be the first qualifying blue marlin for the 2020 MidAtlantic Tournament. Tournament officials noticed a large piece of flesh missing from the blue marlin’s tail and began an inquiry. After speaking with the crew and watching cockpit video, it was determined that while the big blue was on the gaff a large shark took a bite out of the tail. Yes, a shark bite behind the Shark BySEE PAGE 54
The crew of the Griffin out of Sunset Marina won top honors in the blue marlin category in last week’s MidAtlantic Tournament with this huge 815-pound blue.
Submitted Photos
Page 54
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
August 28, 2020
Top left, Chrissie used live sand fleas to land two tasty sheepshead while fishing the north jetty sea wall. Top middle, Captain Anthony Pino and the crew of the Blood Money won the white marlin category in last week’s MidAtlantic Tournament with a big 91-pound fish. Top right, Captain Chris Watkowski and mates Ayrton Pryor and Jacob Bialik put this group on a blue marlin release, two white marlin releases and some mahi on a nice trip offshore. Above left, Big Bird Cropper and his buddy Scott used Bird’s Roy Rig to land a limit of bluefish and a keeper flounder. Above right, this crew had a great time catching a bunch of mahi on the Morning Star with Captain Monty Hawkins. Opposite page, top left, Mary Schema from Sinking Springs, Pa. caught this 24-inch, 5-pound flounder on board the Judith M with Captain Eric Shoaff. Opposite page, top right, Captain Tony Battista of Saltwater Adventures put this duo on a pile of nice flounder up to 23 ½ inches while fishing some Ocean City Reef Foundation numbers. Opposite page, middle left, I got to fish with the Angler with Captain Chris Mizurak on a great day that included a bunch of sea bass and some nice flounder up to 5.25 pounds. Opposite page, middle right, this rare lookdown fish was caught on board the Morning Star with Captain Monty Hawkins at the helm. Opposite page, bottom left, this big doormat flounder was caught on board the Fish Bound with flounder slayer Captain Kane Bounds and mate Kevin Twilley. Opposite page, bottom right, six fat yellowfin tuna were hooked by this crew of three while fishing with Captain Dan Stauffer of the Fin Chaser.
. . Fish In OC
FROM PAGE 53 te. IGFA rules state that the following situation will disqualify a fish: “Mutilation to the fish, prior to landing or boating the catch, caused by sharks, other fish, mammals, or propellers that remove or penetrate the flesh.” Though the big blue marlin had already been gaffed, the IGFA mutilation rule kicked in. Because the fish’s ability to fight to its full physical capacity had been impacted before it was boated, tournament directors made the difficult decision to disqualify the fish. It was disappointing to say the least, but it makes for a great headline, “Shark Byte Disqualified by a Shark Bite.” Offshore fishing for marlin, tuna and
mahi has improved with warmer water temperatures and charter boats are now deciding whether to troll for marlin, tuna and mahi or to chunk for tuna. Trolling the offshore canyons is producing several white and blue marlin releases with even a few sailfish releases and some nice tuna, mahi and even wahoo have been caught as well. Boats deciding to chunk butterfish are doing it inshore of the canyons at the hot dog, hambone and Massey’s Canyon with some nice yellowfin tuna being caught in the 50-60-pound class. There are also a million “bailer” sized mahi in the canyons under weed lines, poly balls and floating debris that can be enticed with small cut bait like ballyhoo, squid or bloodline. Speaking of “bailer” sized mahi, the ocean going party boat fleet has been catching a ton of them as well. Fish in the 3- to 10-pound range can be found inshore as close as five miles and the party boat and inshore charter boats
have been taking full advantage of it. Ocean bottom fishing for sea bass has been excellent all summer long and some of the best I’ve seen in all my time in Ocean City. Usually this time of year sea bass fishing slows to a crawl, but this year that has not been the case. Boats are still catching limits of keeper sea bass up to 4 pounds on trips and mahi and flounder are making these trips extra special. Bare hooks with squid, clam or Gulp will do the trick, but some of the larger fish have come from jigs. I was on a recent trip on the Angler where jig master Ken Yuen had his limit in just an hour and a half. Back bay flounder fishing has been good in the clean water conditions that we’ve seen over the past few weeks. There are a lot of throwback sized fish, but if you use live bait like bunker, spot or mullet you’re more than likely to catch a keeper over 16 1/2”. I was on a trip with my buddy Dale Timmons using our
Fish in OC Doormat Destroyer live bait rig with live bunker and we had three nice keepers of 19 1/2, 20 1/2 and 23 ¼ inches, respectively. Fish deeper water with bigger baits now through November. You’ll have less bites on bigger baits, but the fish will be bigger as well. We are moving into one of my favorite times of year here in Ocean City with some of the best fishing of the year yet to come. We should see a terrific white marlin bite in the canyons sometime in September and inshore fishing will get nothing but better as we move through the fall. I’ll bring it all to you here and in my daily fishing report the Daily Angle at www.FishinOC.com Until next week, tight lines. (The writer is the owner of Fish in OC and host of Ocean City’s fishing television show Hooked on OC. He has worked in the fishing industry and been fishing the waters in and around Ocean City for over 25 years.)
August 28, 2020
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
Page 55
Page 56
Who’s Where When BUXY’S SALTY DOG/DRY DOCK 28 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy.
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
August 28, 2020
Best Beats On The Beach
CLARION HOTEL 410-524-3535 • 10100 Coastal Hwy. Lenny’s Beach Bar & Grill: Friday & Saturday, Aug. 28 & 29: Stephen Anthony, Noon-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Aug. 28-30: On The Edge, 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Aug. 31- Sept. 3: DJ Dusty, 4 p.m. COCONUTS BEACH BAR & GRILL Castle In The Sand Hotel 37th & 38th St. • 410-289-6846 Friday, Aug. 28: Darin Engh, Noon-4 p.m.; Monkee Paw, 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29: Top Shelf Duo, Noon-4 p.m.; Top Dead Center, 5-9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30: Copper Sky, Noon-3 p.m.; Lauren Glick Band, 4-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31: Josh Pryor, Noon-3 p.m., Bob Wilkinson & Joe Smooth, 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1: Cotton Wanderings, Noon-3 p.m.; Lime Green Band, 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2: Keri Anthony, Noon-3 p.m.; Chris Brunn Duo, 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3: Cool Change, Noon-3 p.m.; Full Circle, 4-8 p.m.
ON THE EDGE Clarion/Lenny’s Beach Bar: Friday-Sunday, Aug. 28-Aug. 30
KINGS RANSOM Crawl St. Tavern: Friday, Aug. 28
LAUREN GLICK BAND Downy Oshun: Saturday, Aug. 29 (duo) Coconuts Beach Bar: Sunday, Aug. 30
FULL CIRCLE Seacrets: Monday, Aug. 31 & Wednesday, Sept. 2 (duo) Coconuts Beach Bar: Thursday, Sept. 3
JOE SMOOTH & BOBBY WILKINSON Coconuts Beach Bar: Monday, Aug. 31
OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS Seacrets: Tuesday, Sept. 1
CORK BAR & GRILL Wicomico St. & Boardwalk 410-289-6921 Sunday, Aug. 30: TBA, 3 p.m. CRAWL STREET TAVERN 19 Wicomico St. off the boardwalk 443-373-2756 Friday, Aug. 28: Kings Ransom, 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29: Lennon La Ricci & The Leftovers, 6 p.m. Every Tuesday: DJ RobCee, 10 p.m. Every Sunday: DJ Wax, 10 p.m. DOWNY OSHUN 120th St. Bayside 410-670-8025 Friday, Aug. 28: Everett Spells Saturday, Aug. 29: Lauren Glick Sunday, Aug. 30: Josh Pryor Every Thursday: Otto Grundman & Friends PICKLES PUB 410-289-4891 8th St. & Philadelphia Ave. Friday, Aug. 28: The Rogue Citizens Saturday, Aug. 29: Natalie Davis Band Sundays & Wednesdays: Beats By Skyler Every Tuesday & Thursday: Beats By Wax SEACRETS 410-524-4900 49th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Aug. 28: Benderz Duo, 4 p.m., Shake, Shake, Shake Duo, 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29: Cherry Crush Duo, 4 p.m., Kono Nation Duo, 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30: Nowhere Slow Duo, 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31: Full Circle, 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1: Opposite Directions, 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2: Full Circle Duo, 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3: John McNutt Duo, 4 p.m.
NATALIE DAVIS BAND Pickles Pub: Saturday, Aug. 29
DJ ROBCEE Crawl Street Tavern: Every Tuesday
BEATS BY WAX Pickles Pub: Every Tuesday & Thursday Crawl Street Tavern: Every Sunday
DJ DUSTY Clarion/ Lenny’s Beach Bar: Monday, Aug. 31 -Thursday, Sept. 3
STEPHEN ANTHONY Clarion/ Lenny’s Beach Bar: Friday & Saturday, Aug. 28 & 29
OTTO GRUNDMAN Downy Oshun: Every Thursday
EVERETT SPELLS Downy Oshun: Friday, Aug. 28
The Dispatch Classifieds
August 28, 2020
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
$15/Week For Minimum Of Five Lines • $2 Thereafter Per Line Display Classified Ads: $20/Week Per Column Inch (Contract Discounts Available)
SUN N FUN MOTEL NOW HIRING
MAINTENANCE/HANDYMAN: Large OC Association looking for full-time person to join the on-site staff. Competitive wages and benefits. Resumes can be emailed to dwilson@legumnorman.com or faxed to 410-723-0676 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– LIVE IN ASSISTANT: Mature, kind, female. Aid experience helpful, but not necessary with right person. Private room, 2 days off, small salary. Basic meal prep and light housekeeping. Must be clean and responsible. Call Wanda for appointment. 302-462-6111. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– FT ADMIN ASSISTANT/RECEPTIONIST: Monday – Friday. Team Environment. 410.213.1554. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– EXPERIENCED CLEANERS: Must have cell phone and own transportation. Great opportunity and pay! 443-880-0525 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION WORKERS: Must have valid DL. Reliable transportation to work. Call 410-641-2177. The Moore Companies, Berlin, MD. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– REGISTERED DENTAL HYGIENIST: Small, friendly dental office, FT or PT. Email resume to dentistryinthepines@gmail.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––
CARPENTERS & CARPENTERS HELPERS Must have : Tools, Trans, Driver’s License
Hiring All Positions
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We are now hiring for full time tow truck drivers in the Ocean Pines and Clarksville / Selbyville areas. Must be experienced. Great Pay & Benefits!! Call: 443-497-0465
NOW HIRING FOR ALL POSITIONS WE PAY MORE - $13-$15 PER HOUR! PLUS SEASONAL AND YEAR END BONUSES
SEE OUR JOB LISTINGS ON INDEED Or Apply In-Person at: 106 32nd St, Ocean City, MD, (410) 289-5762
APPLY IN PERSON Mon-Fri 9am-4pm 29th St & Baltimore Ave.
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Part-Time Custodians
Worcester Preparatory School, a coeducational college preparatory day school serving over 400 students in grades PK-12, is currently seeking PT custodians to clean school buildings daily from 5 p.m – 8 p.m. CJIS Background Screening required. EOE
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•STUCCO & EIFS MECHANICS •CARPENTERS •CONCRETE BLOCK •COATINGS SPECIALISTS •FLAT CONCRETE •CONCRETE REPAIRS •PT WELDER •COMMERCIAL CAULKING •WINDOW & DOOR INSTALLERS •WAREHOUSE HELP (DRIVER’S LICENSE REQ’D) Experience Preferred. Tools, transportation & a valid driver’s license are a plus. Competitive benefit package available. Please apply in person at 11935 Hammer Rd, Bishopville, MD, or apply online: http://allstatesconst.com/delmarva-renovations-careers
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Over Night Front Desk Room Attendant Houseperson Laundry Attendant Maintenance Server Cashier Barista Looking for experienced personnel with customer service skills. Must be flexible with hours. Email resume to jobs@carouselhotel.com or stop by and complete an application at the Front Desk. We require satisfactory pre-employment drug testing and background check.
Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 11700 Coastal Highway Ocean City, MD 21842 EOE Work With the Best Ocean City has to Offer ... We Invite You to be a Part of our Family!
Year Round - Full/Part Time ~SERVERS ~BUSSERS ~HOSTESS ~POOL ATTENDANT ~DRIVER ~GRILL COOKS ~DISHWASHER ~WAREHOUSE CLERK ~ROOM ATTENDANT ($13/HOUR) ~LAUNDRY ~HOUSEKEEPING HOUSESTAFF ~SECURITY GUARD EXCELLENT BENEFITS! FAX RESUME & SALARY REQ. to: 410-723-9109 Online at www.clarionoc.com APPLY IN PERSON Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m. CLARION RESORT FONTAINEBLEAU HOTEL 10100 COASTAL HWY. OCEAN CITY, MD. 21842 EOE M/F/D/V
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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
Classifieds WORCESTER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Community Health Nurse I & Community Health Nurse II Temporary Positions Duties include but not limited to providing community health nursing services in assigned programs to individuals and/or families in the community, using the nursing process. Services provided include, but are not limited to immunization services, other clinical services as identified, and providing public health guidance/education. Must possess a current license as a Registered Nurse from the Maryland Board of Nursing. Valid driver’s license required. Background check & drug screening required.
Please send resume and cover letter by September 11, 2020 to Debora Farlow, 6040 Public Landing Road Snow Hill, MD 21863, e-mail debora.farlow@maryland.gov or fax to 410-632-0064.
The Dispatch
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or disability. Appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request by calling 410-632-1100 ext. 1221
Legal Notices LEGAL RATES
Legal advertising rate is $7 per column inch. Deadline for all legal advertising is Tuesday at noon. For more information, call 410-641-4563 or fax 410-641-0966.
THIRD INSERTION
RAYMOND D. COATES JR, ESQ. COATES, COATES, & COATES, P.A. 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY SUITE 300 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18374 To all persons interested in the estate of MARJORIE A. DROOGAN, ESTATE NO. 18374. Notice is given that EUGENE J DROOGAN JR, 238 TRUMBAUERSVILLE ROAD, QUAKERTOWN, PA 18951 was on, AUGUST 04, 2020, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MARJORIE A. DROOGAN, who died on JULY 16, 2020, with a will. Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.
All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 4TH day of FEBRUARY, 2021. Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not pre-
sented 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 14, 2020 EUGENE J DROOGAN JR Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x, 8-14, 8-21, 8-28
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MICHAEL B MATHERS ESQ. WEBB, CORNBROOKS, WILBER, VORHIS, DOUSE & LESLIE, LLP PO BOX 910 115 BROAD STREET SALISBURY, MD 21803-0910
August 28, 2020
RENTALS
COMMERCIAL
SERVICES
UPDATED 2BR/1BA APT: Beautiful historic downtown Berlin, MD, walking distance to shops and restaurants. $1250/mo with first and last month’s rent due at signing along with a $1250 security deposit. No Smoking. No Pets. Call (410)-641-2111, ask for Jessica.
OFFICE/RETAIL SPACE FOR RENT: 1,100SF, Main St., Berlin. Easy on-ground level access, plenty of parking. $1,275 per mo. incl. CAM + all utils. 410-641-0128.
Ceja’s Landscaping & More!
––––––––––––––––––––––––––– OCEAN CITY WINTER RENTALS: Security deposit and references required. Contact us at Liz@homewatchdelmarva.net or 410-641-5470. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– WEEKLY RENTALS: Time & Tide Condominium. Efficiency and 2BR units with full kitchens. Pool. 2605 Baltimore Avenue. Oceanside near boardwalk. Price Reduced. $800-$1100/week. 410-218-5249. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– WINTER RENTAL: Downtown OC. 2BR/2BA furnished apartment. Wifi & Cable TV included. $700/month + utilities. No smoking or pets. 410-202-6353.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SMALL OFFICE—MEDICAL SPACE FOR LEASE: 10031 Old Ocean City Blvd, Berlin $395 per mo. Util.’s incl. Multiple spaces available 443-856-5241. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– WEST O.C. OFFICE/RETAIL SPACES AVAILABLE: 1 OfficeRetail and 1 Warehouses. Plenty of Parking. 443-497-4200. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– OFFICE FOR RENT: Millville/Ocean View area. Approx. 950sf. Professional Office. No CAM fees. Easy access from Rt. 26, Central Ave., Cedar St., Reba Rd. Beautiful grounds, ample parking, front and rear. 717-989-5365. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– UPSCALE MIDTOWN OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 2,130 sq.ft. No CAM fees. 443-880-2225.
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NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18354
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.
To all persons interested in the estate of WILLIAM ELLIS ADAMS, ESTATE NO. 18354. Notice is given that MARY REGINA ADAMS, 11221 BEVERLY STREET, BISHOPVILLE, MD 21813 was on, AUGUST 21, 2020, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of WILLIAM ELLIS ADAMS, who died on JUNE 8, 2020, with a will. There was a prior small estate proceeding. Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney. All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 21st day of FEBRUARY, 2021. Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers
Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 28, 2020 MARY REGINA ADAMS Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x, 8-28, 9-4, 9-11
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MARC A. APPEL, ESQ. 455 MAIN STREET REISTERSTOWN, MD 21136 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18391 To all persons interested in the estate of BARBARA L. GREENSPUN, ESTATE NO. 18391. Notice is given that MARC A. APPEL, 455 MAIN STREET, REISTERSTOWN, MD 21136 was on, AUGUST 18, 2020, appointed Personal Representative of the
•YARD MAINTENANCE •PAINTING •POWER WASHING 410-251-3425 410-202-2545
YARD SALES BOUTIQUE LIQUIDATION & YARD SALE: Sat/Sun 8/29-30. New merchandise incl. clothing, accessories, grooming, gift sets, purses, jewelry; plus gently used household decor, costume jewelry and toys. 8605 Caribbean Drive, Little Salisbury, OC. Masks please! –––––––––––––––––––––––––––
estate of BARBARA L. GREENSPUN, who died on JULY 30, 2020, with a will. Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney. All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 18TH day of FEBRUARY, 2021. Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills. Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch
The Dispatch
August 28, 2020
Legal Notices
LEGAL RATES Legal advertising rate is $7 per column inch. Deadline for all legal advertising is Tuesday at noon. For more information, call 410-641-4563 or fax 410-641-0966.
Date of Publication AUGUST 28, 2020 MARC A. APPEL Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x, 8-28, 9-4, 9-11
Do You Know 7000 People Get The Dispatch’s Daily Buzz Every Day? Sign Up At www.mdcoastdispatch.com And Get Local News Each Day.
FIRST INSERTION
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.
MARIANNA BATIE ESQ. LAW OFFICE OF MARIANNA BATIE 9748 STEPHEN DECATUR HIGHWAY, SUITE 112 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18401
To all persons interested in the estate of ROBERTA KAY REYNOLDS, ESTATE NO. 18401. Notice is given that CYNTHIA M. REYNOLDS, 12 SEVERN RIVER ROAD, SEVERNA PARK, MD 21146 was on, AUGUST 24, 2020, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ROBERTA KAY REYNOLDS, who died on MAY 23, 2020, with a will. Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.
All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 24TH day of FEBRUARY, 2021.
Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwispe delivers
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 28, 2020
To all persons interested in the estate of JOHN PHILLIP LANSINGER, ESTATE NO. 18402.
CYNTHIA M. REYNOLDS Personal Representative
Notice is given that JEFFREY PHILLIP LANSINGER, 60 RENWICK AVENUE, STATEN ISLAND, NY 10301 was on, AUGUST 24, 2020, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JOHN PHILLIP LANSINGER, who died on AUGUST 6, 2020, with a will.
True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x, 8-28, 9-4, 9-11
FIRST INSERTION
C GREGORY COBURN ESQ. 6806B COASTAL HIGHWAY OCEAN CITY, MD 21842 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18402
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 24TH day of FEBRUARY, 2021.
Page 59 Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension
provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills. Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 28, 2020 JEFFREY PHILLIP LANSINGER Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x, 8-28, 9-4, 9-11
CHECK OUT
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ONLINE E-DITION mdcoastdispatch.com
Page 60
Smiling behind the masks were Donna Reid, Lori Wroblewski, and Rusty Ruszin of OC Recreation Boosters at a Thursday Night Sunset Park Party Night Concert.
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
People
By Jeanette Deskiewicz
FEATURING THOSE HELPING CAUSES IN THE RESORT AREA
The crowd was up and moving their feet during a Thursday Night Sunset Park Party Night concert featuring local favorite Randy Lee Ashcraft & The Saltwater Cowboys.
In Society
August 28, 2020
Ocean City Beach Patrol members Emily Hegarty, Amity Kollar and Kyle Zgorski talked about water and beach safety to attendees of Sundaes in the Park.
Proud mama Allison Cornish joined her children Erica Morton and Justin Purnell at Berlin Peach Day to recruit mentors and mentees for the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore.
The Thursday Night OC Beach Dance Parties took place all summer long with the hard work of the Special Events Department, including Dave Roman and Brenda Moore.
The rain didn’t stop 94.9 KHI DJs Chrissy Auker and BK from getting the crowd moving during the weekly Thursday Night OC Beach Dance Party.
Kutt Productions provided the lighting and sound for this summer’s Thursday Night Dance Parties with Ryan Brown helping out owner, Gaither Burnett earlier this month.
Taylor House Museum Vice President Hope Palmer and President Melissa Reed gave out fans to visitors at the hot Berlin Peach Day.
It wouldn’t be a Berlin Peach Day without Buckingham Presbyterian Church’s peach pies being sold by Lindsay Owens and Gloria Gubosh outside the church.
Fun activities at Sundaes in the Park include sand art and hair wraps organized by Triscina Beebe and Joan Wankmiller of Ray’s Wraps.
August 28, 2020
Chris Parypa’s Photo Of The Week:
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
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Each week staff photographer Chris Parypa is tasked with submitting a photo from his vast library to be featured in this space. Above, the pier Ferris wheel is pictured early in the morning last weekend. To purchase any of Parypa’s photos, click over to www.chrisparypa.com.
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Horoscopes
ARIES (March 21 to April 19): This could be the time to try soothing whatever bad feelings might be lingering 'twixt and among colleagues, friends or family members. But be sure you do so without favoring any side. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): An idea is only an idea until you put that clever Bovine mind to work to develop it from concept to substance. This could lead to something rewarding, both emotionally and monetarily. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): The early part of the week could have some disconcerting moments, but approaching them with a calm, unruffled attitude goes a long way toward helping to get things nicely settled down. CANCER (June 21 to July 22): Getting used to change continues to mark much of the week. But accepting what you have to do makes adapting that much easier. A welcome visitor could turn up sooner than expected. LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22): Learning how to live with a decision is a challenge, but one you Leos and Leonas could really enjoy. You'll also be pleased to see your social life take that upsurge you've been hoping for. VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22): Use your perceptive Virgo instinct to help you see the positive aspects of what, at first, appears to be a disappointment. You could find that it proves to be quite the contrary. LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22): Your ability to maintain a balance between
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
sense and sentiment once again helps you sort through apparently conflicting choices and ultimately arrive at the right decision. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21): Before you seek the advice of colleagues about a potential career move, you might be better off getting counsel from someone who won't be affected by the choices you make. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21): It can be a challenging week for some relationships if the normal give-and-take flow changes with one side doing most of the giving and the other the taking. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19): A new opportunity could bring with it much anticipation along with some anxiety. Take time to sort out your options as well as your emotional considerations. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18): Are you sure you have all the facts you need to let that matter move to another level? Don't be rushed into a decision unless and until you feel it's the right thing to do. PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20): Pace yourself as you prepare to take on that more demanding project. Be careful not to let your energy reserves drain away. Take time to relax with people close to you. BORN THIS WEEK: You have the ability to see both sides of a situation. You would do well as a counselor or a judge. © 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.
Things I Like ...
vanishing
OCEAN CITY
August 28, 2020
WITH BUNK MANN
Ocean City’s first hotels were located in what today is the area from S. Division Street to 3rd Street. The original Atlantic (1875), Seaside (1877), Congress Hall (1878) and the Plimhimmon (1895) were famous in their time but all are gone now, lost to fires over the years. Lumber for the old hotels was milled in Salisbury and transferred by barges across the Sinpuxent Bay where it was carried to the building sites by horse-drawn wagons. Most of those early structures were covered by cedar shake siding and much of downtown Ocean City contained cedar shake well into the 1970s. Rooms in the early hotels were small and had few of the comforts that we enjoy today. Each contained a bed, a pitcher and wash bowl and a chamber pot for nature’s needs. Some featured a common bathroom on each floor, but private baths were still in the future. An amenity most welcomed in hotels of that age was a big front porch with rocking chairs. In the years before air conditioning, catching the ocean breeze was a necessity as well as a pleasure and a shady porch was the best place to be. To purchase one of Bunk Mann's books, click over to www.vanishingoc.com. Photo from a 1906 postcard
The Dispatch Crossword Puzzle
By Steve Green
Quiet weekends
A beautiful sunrise on an offshore fishing trip Close NBA playoff games
Watching a house building process Clear sky beach days
OC’s new double Ferris wheel skyline A smooth remodeling job
Clothes that don’t wrinkle easily Big crabs for dinner
When the Internet comes back after being down Using cash when possible
ANSWERS ON PAGE 48
August 28, 2020
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
August 28, 2020