2/24/2023 Ocean City Today

WAYNE LITTLETON

Man who came up with popular BIT Prom Night retiring after 22 years of service – Page 47

Restaurant industry fights tip credit bill

Measures would eliminate minimum wage calculation using tips plus hourly rate

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) A dual-filed bill making the rounds in the Maryland General Assembly could have lasting effects on the Ocean City hospitality industry and whether patrons will continue to tip their servers.

The bills — SB803 and HB1256 — seek to eliminate the tip credit that allows employers to apply a portion of an employee’s tip total to their hourly rate to reach the standard minimum wage level. They would do this by ending the $3.63 rate tipped employees now receive by installing a $15 minimum wage in 2027.

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116

Fatal house fire in OP

Eight companies provide assistance to Pines dept.

By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer

(Feb. 24,2023) The house fire that erupted at 116 Seafarer Lane in Ocean Pines Tuesday night resulted in the death of the occupant, Timothy Jay Cooper, 62, and injuries to three firefighters.

According to Joe Enste, public information officer for Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department, Cooper’s spouse was not home at the time of the fire.

Neighbor Clay Pollard, who spotted the fire and called 911, said, “I went out to check the mail. I walked out in front of my house and saw a red glow and I looked up and said to

See MAN Page 23

The minimum wage in Maryland is $13.25 per hour right now and is set to reach $15 per hour in 2025.

“We are absolutely opposed to this,” said Susan Jones, executive director of the Ocean City Hotel-MotelRestaurant Association. “For several reasons … Primarily, because the restaurant industry has certainly had a lot of disruptions to how it does business over the last couple of years. This will just continue the disruptions. Really, what it’s forcing restaurants to do is go (further toward) technology and prepared foods like pre-made entrees and salads (which could) eliminate (the positions that prepare those items). All this legislation continuously thrown at them are really means to find ways to do things with fewer employees.”

See RESTAURANT Page 4

Wanna buy an ice rink?

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) The new Worcester County Commissioners majority will not be deterred in its intent to sell the county’s portable ice rink.

In a 4-3 vote, the commissioners agreed to put the rink out for bid to sell it outright through a sealed bid process.

While the intention behind the selling the ice rink is to recoup as much money as possible from what the majority of commissioners — Chip Bertino, Jim Bunting, Caryn Abbott and Eric Fiori — consider a failed county venture, the county will be able to choose to whom the rink is sold.

Commissioners Joe Mitrecic, Diana Purnell and Ted Elder opposed the measure.

The vote came on the heels of a last-ditch effort from Mitrecic to collect narrative proposals from Worcester County entities to whom the county might donate the rink.

“This rink was paid for by the citizens of Worcester County,” Mitrecic reasoned. “It should be used by the citizens of Worcester County. (I’d like to see us) accept a narrative of what these people interested in (the county) would do with it, how they’d utilize it and figure out the best use moving forward and donate to them.”

Bertino said that the taxpayers

See COUNTY Page 4

PHOTO COURTESY CLAY POLLARD

Fire rages in a home at

Seafarer Lane in Ocean Pines, claiming the life of its occupant.

Ocean City hopes to expand Winterfest of Lights in 2023

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(Feb 24, 2023) The displays that surrounded Northside Park for this year’s Winterfest of Lights have been tucked away for less than two months, but tourism officials are already eyeing opportunities for 2023.

“What I really wanted to focus on this time is that Ocean City has a ‘holiday fun destination for the entire family’ concept,” Special Events Director Frank Miller said recently of this year’s festivities. “We talked about this in the past as well but this is really the year to bring this together.”

Miller shared his vision for the Christmastime display, and details of several other events, with members

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of the city’s Tourism Commission at a meeting Feb. 6. Staff members began teasing a desire to expand and upgrade Winterfest before Christmas last year. Since its inception, the holiday festival has consisted mostly of light displays at Northside Park from Thanksgiving through New Year’s.

Along with the return of the tram that used to cart spectators around to view displays before covid hit, staff members are looking at several other enhancements for Winterfest that span the entire town this year.

Miller and Tom Perlozzo, the city’s director of tourism and business development, garnered inspiration from Schellville Christmas Village in Rehoboth, and plan to incorporate

See SPRINGFEST Page 6

Ocean City Today

As members of the MarylandDelaware-D.C. Press Association, we subscribe to the following code of ethics:

• Seek the truth and report it.

• Minimize harm.

Treat sources, subjects, colleagues and members of the public with respect.

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The primary obligation of ethical journalism is to serve the public.

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Reporters must take responsibility for the accuracy of their work and respond quickly to questions about accuracy, clarity and fairness.

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Crowds gather for the opening night of the 2022 Winterfest of Lights in November. City officials are looking to expand the festivities for 2023 to include more elements throughout the resort.

Restaurant industry argues against tip credit measures

Continued from Page 1

Jones added that she sees this as a reduction of opportunity for workers who want flexible schedules such as high school students and moonlighters.

“It’s eliminating those positions,” she said. “Tip positions in general reward people for hard work and giving great customer service. This will eliminate the ability to control their own salaries.

“It will no longer reward hard work and that’s just not fair, in our opinion.”

Sponsored by Del. Veronica Turner (D-Prince George’s) in the House of Delegates and Sen. Arthur Ellis (D-Charles) in the State Senate, the legislation aims to address what advocates of these measures see as economic disparities in the hospitality industry.

Action Network, an organization that describes itself as an “open platform” that enables people to organize for progressive causes, supports the legislation and says on its website that those disparities fall hardest on

women and people of color.

“Ending the practice of counting tips as part of a server’s compensation for minimum wage purposes will have a number of benefits for both servers and the restaurant industry as a whole,” the website states. “Servers will have more available for their and their families’ needs. Servers will have more money to spend at local establishments. Restaurants will avoid the significant bookkeeping expenses associated with the payment of different wages for different employees.”

Amy Thompson, executive director of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, said this bill, locally, will harm the people it aims to protect.

“If you think about people who get a summertime job in Ocean City, they are making way more than the minimum wage,” Thompson said. “If the employees are being legislated out of tipped ways, restaurants will change their business model (which will lead to fewer jobs).

The first bill hearing is scheduled for March 2.

County puts ice rink up for sale

Continued from Page 1

paid for the ice rink and thus there may be an expectation that they’ll be reimbursed somewhat, perhaps with the money going back into the county’s treasury.

Mitrecic agreed that, yes, the taxpayers bought the ice rink, but it’s now the commissioners who are taking it away.

“Their expectation, if we were concerned about the county taxpayers, we should keep it and let the county people use it,” Mitrecic said. “At least if we donate it to a county entity it’ll be used by county people moving forward and they can continue to utilize their investment, so to speak.”

The commissioners did have a list of interested parties, however, and

only a handful were organizations within the county.

According to a memo from county procurement officer Nicholas Rice, the Ocean City Tourism Department, the Town of Berlin, OCDC and Jolly Rogers are interested. Others included the City of Salisbury, the Town of Ridgely in Caroline County and the Town of Ocean View in Sussex County, Delaware are also interested. Bunting said that there is a way for the ice rink to stay in the county if someone is intent on buying it.

“It was taxpayer money, it was partly my money, and I think we need to get something back for it and put it up for sale,” he said. “If people want it bad enough, we can accept or turn it down.”

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‘Glitch’ shows incorrect tax revenue from OC restaurants

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) A signficant reported bump in food tax revenues in Ocean City from 2021 to 2022 for the month of November was ultimately too good to be true after officials discovered a flaw in the way the numbers were reported.

“We had a glitch in our research engine that skewed the numbers wrong,” Director of Tourism and Business Development Tom Perlozzo said in an email this week of a report that showed the city was up $100,000 from one year to the next.

“All of council and members of the tourism commission are aware of the situation that occurred,” he continued. “We were not up $100K.”

According to the numbers Council President and Tourism Commission Chairman Matt James reported at a meeting on Feb. 13, which Perlozzo did not attend, the food tax revenues for November were down $80,000 from 2021 to 2022.

James was reading the minutes from the commission’s last meeting on Jan. 9 and corrected the number. He said at the time that he was unsure of the reason for the change, but believed it had something to do with a mistake in the way the city’s destination operating system, Zartico, figured out the totals.

Zartico was hired in July 2021 to collect data on who comes to Ocean City, where they travel from, where they stay, where they go in town, and how they spend their money to help staff members better plan and market events and issue services.

According to a report from the company in December, officials used three data sets – geolocation, credit card spending and events — to formulate the numbers.

And while most of the data showed increases in revenues, the food tax revenues came up short.

Perlozzo said the number, which he shared during the Jan. 9 meeting, was the only one that was reported incorrectly.

Springfest, PBR, more updated

Continued from Page 3

some new ideas into the 2023 Winterfest offerings.

Miller said he does not want the resort to compete with Schellville, which is a free, all-age holiday village complete with all types of amenities. He envisions a unique alternative in Ocean City, but to make it happen, community assistance is needed.

“We’re going to ask local businesses and organizations to come to the table with small events, promotions, specials, packages, so we bring this under one holiday umbrella for 2023,” Miller explained. “In addition to that we’re going to look at not only having Winterfest as the anchor event for that 40-plus days from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve, but we’re also going to bring the convention center into that mix.”

He said the 41st Street “hub” can feature everything from small events on specific days or weekends to nonprofit fundraisers offering services such as gift wrapping leading up to Christmas Day.

Miller also said a large private “anchoring event” may also be coming to the south end of town during that time.

Susan Jones, the executive director of the Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, said private businesses also have holiday offerings that could be incorporated. For example, she said the Holiday Inn on 17th Street decorated trees with different themes this year that could have been promoted with Winterfest and other city holiday offerings.

Miller agreed that all of that can be advertised as part of the new plan.

“There is no doubt there is a myriad of opportunities that already exist that we’ve done for years that are just not marketed through the resources that we have available to us,” he said.

Miller also gave commission members an update on Springfest, set May 4-7 this year.

So far, Friday May 5 will have a Cinco de Mayo theme, with a Kentucky Derby theme set for May 6. Ticketed concerts will feature Shadows of the ’60s, A Tribute to Motown on May 4; Collective Soul May 5; and Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives May 6.

A Professional Bull Riding, or PBR, event is returning as well for its second year the first weekend in June. Miller said it is now officially called the Seacrets PBR Ocean City Classic after the organizers snagged a local sponsorship. Miller added that the organizers are expecting 5,000 people a day for the shows set June 24.

Rumors were also cleared up regarding the cancelation of this year’s Corvette parade and show in Ocean City.

“The Free State Corvette Club felt they were short on key people that would help build and plan that event,” Miller said. “That’s the primary reason they have pulled the plug on 2023.”

Miller said he had heard talk that the town officials were trying to push out the event, but assured that is not true, and that the organizers are eyeing a return in 2024. The event is typically held one day in October and features Corvette owners from all over displaying their classic cars.

Dave Bahlman, the chief revenue officer for destination operating system Zartico, presents results of a data study to members of the city’s Tourism Commission on Dec. 12. The company reported in January that the city’s food tax revenues from November 2021 to 2022 were up $100,000, but there was a glitch in the search engine that showed that the numbers were actually down $80,000, which staff corrected earlier this month.

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Resort exhibition driving laws could be approved statewide

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) Legislation brought about by Ocean City’s push to curtail reckless driving during the tuner car rallies that used to pop up every fall is headed for implementation on a state level.

House Bill 208 is a revised version of a bill introduced last year that weakened the resort’s unique special event zone laws. The newly developed bill aims to crack down on engine-revving, donut-

turning nuisance drivers with strict penalties such as license revocation and car impoundment.

“As you know from last year, this is a problem we’ve been dealing with for quite some time but it anecdotally seemed to get worse during the pandemic,” the bill’s sponsor, Del. Mary Lehnman (D-21), said of the statewide exhibition driving problem during a legislative hearing on Feb. 9 in Annapolis.

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See STATE Page 8

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Two classic cars drive along a road in Ocean City during a Cruisin’ event in 2019. Elements of laws the town has put in place during these types of car events through special event zones may become state law though a bill making its way through the legislature this year.

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Ocean City bus, tram driver numbers look ‘strong’

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) The number of people interested in driving Ocean City buses and trams this season is more promising now than in mid-February last year, signifying an early positive outlook for recruitment.

At a Transportation Committee meeting last week, Transit Manager Rob Shearman reported that the department has received 2023 season applications for 40 bus drivers and 16 tram drivers, which exceeds the num-

for ’23

bers reported at the same time last year.

He said the number of bus driver applicants, most of whom are returning, is a “strong showing.” Tram driver recruiting is also ahead of last year, with half of last year’s crew returning and a healthy pool of applicants in the mix.

In the face of a serious decline in driver applications for both divisions since the pandemic hit, city officials instituted hiring incentives and higher

See APPLICANT Page 10

State bill inspired by success of resort laws

ter County came to this committee because exhibition driving had become such a problem on Coastal Highway and asked the legislature for the unique ability to make exhibition driving a must-appear offense,” she continued.

The problem had become so bad, that Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan said he was discouraging tourists and residents from coming to Ocean City during the late September pop-up event.

“When have you ever heard the mayor of Ocean City tell people not to come to Ocean City? That’s how dangerous it was, that’s how concerned we were,” Meehan said during the legislative hearing.

He and Police Chief Ross Buzzuro traveled to Annapolis to advocate for passage of House Bill 208, which has been referred to a committee and awaits second reading.

The bill is a statewide version of local legislation enacted through the creation of special event zones that have been put in place for the pop-up and other driving

event weekends.

Lehman said legislators and officials across Maryland were impressed by the success of Ocean City’s laws, which included forcing the pop-up rally to Wildwood, New Jersey last year, and attempted during the 2022 session to recreate the effort statewide.

Meehan said during a Police Commission meeting on Feb. 13 that the effort missed, though, by unintentionally weakening the resort’s laws. After letting state officials know, the bill was vetoed and brought back for tweaking this year to correct the language.

“They supported the veto because they did not realize what it did to the Ocean City bill and that it wasn’t going to be as effective with the state bill,” Meehan explained.

The new bill cracks down on offenders who participate in races or speed contests and engage in exhibition driving on any highway or private property that is used for public driving.

It would mandate court appearances for offenders; assess eight points for of-

fenses that result in no bodily injury and 12 for those with bodily injury; assesses high fines; and give police the ability to impound vehicles on the spot if they are determined unsafe or driven by someone with a suspended or revoked license.

Meehan assured members of the Police Commission that the bill would not interfere with any of the other regulations within the resort’s special event zone laws.

Lobbyist Bruce Bereano was among the law enforcement and community representatives who testified in favor of the bill during the House hearing, urging legislators to support it and not change anything in the revised version.

“Please leave what we have intact … What you did with the language that was on the books in Ocean City, that was working and successful … make that statewide,” Bearano said.

Other speakers pointed out how dangerous and disruptive exhibition driving is in communities across the state, including College Park, Silver Spring, Rockville and Annapolis. They pointed out a recent event where a driver was doing donuts on the bay bridge, and videos were shown of cars zooming loudly around parking lots and driving erratically through busy intersections as spectators videotaped and blocked traffic.

Speakers repeatedly expressed con-

cerns about drivers blocking roads to emergency vehicles and first responders, resulting in their inability to respond to urgent situations.

The bill, which has both Democratic and Republican co-sponsors, is crossfiled as Senate Bill 147.

Another piece of legislation that would crack down on an element of exhibition driving is House Bill 1130, crossfiled as Senate Bill 229, which aims to establish a noise abatement monitoring system for vehicles.

The legislation, if passed, would create a civil ticket for cars that exceed a certain noise level as determined by a “noise camera.”

The citation would be similar to those issued for speed camera and red light violations, which assess fines and can be contested in court but do not require inperson appearances and do not assess points.

According to one speaker pushing for the passage of the bill at a Senate hearing in early February, loud exhausts typically accompany the types of modified cars involved in exhibition driving and encourage excessive speeding. Other legislators and public speakers agreed that loud exhausts are both disruptive and dangerous.

The bill has been referred to a committee and awaits second reading.

Continued from Page 7

An Ocean City bus driver sits in his bus at the terminal near the inlet. Early assessments show more applications have been received for bus and tram drivers for the 2023 season than there were at this time last year.

AGH: Vaccine still best protection from covid

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) Despite a recent study that found immunity from past infection is more effective than covid vaccines in some patients, local hospital officials are not suggesting that as an alternative to getting the shot.

Heather Snyder, the director of quality and infection prevention at Atlantic General Hospital, said in an email this week that despite natural immunity offering some level of protection for several months, there are risks involved with that approach to protection.

“Covid infections vary in severity, with some individuals getting mildly ill and others being hospitalized or passing

away,” Snyder said. “Because of this variability, vaccination remains the safest way to ensure ongoing immunity against COVID. Current local hospitalization trends support this unpredictability, with AGH seeing a ‘mixed bag’ of cases, both vaccinated and not.”

She added that people with comorbid conditions, such as high blood pressure, respiratory issues, and kidney problems, are most at risk of hospitalization from covid.

“Those unvaccinated individuals hospitalized, within this subset of the population, are most likely to die from covid,” Snyder said.

As of Tuesday, AGH had just two covid inpatients, both vaccinated, be-

tween the ages of 64 and 68.

A report published recently in “The Lancet” used data from 65 studies from 19 different countries and concluded that protection from past infection against re-infection of covid from preomicron variants was “very high even after 40 weeks.”

Overall, researchers determined that effectiveness of infection was more than 78 percent against severe disease, namely hospitalization and death, for all variants, including omicron BA.1.

Vaccine boosters are still offered for anyone who wants them locally, with patients six months and older eligible for bivalent boosters at least two months after completion of their primary series’

or latest monovalent booster doses.

“This includes those who have received Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, or Johnson and Johnson initially,” Snyder said. “Both the covid primary series and bivalent booster remain available at AGH RediScripts and other local pharmacies.”

Snyder added that the pharmacy was forced to close recently for a short amount of time due to a ransomware event at the hospital that forced all networks offline. The interruption limited access to vaccines, however Snyder said shots remained available to hospitalized patients who wanted to receive them and other area pharmacies still provided vaccines and boosters.

Applicant numbers up from mid-Feb. of ’22

Continued from Page 8

seasonal wages that Shearman said have helped bump up the applicant totals going into the 2023 season.

“The numbers here are all looking pretty good and I think that’s a combination of the incentives, … the wages coming into this season, and some really good … job fair advertising,” he said.

According to the city’s job posting, pay for seasonal bus drivers starts at

$20.50 and all applicants are required to have a commercial driver’s license. In response to a question from Councilman Tony DeLuca, who sits on the Transportation Committee, Shearman said he hopes to hire at least 60 drivers for the summer.

For the Boardwalk trams, which start running for Springfest on May 4, hourly pay for drivers starts at $15.91. Applicnats are not required to have

CDLs. The department started last season with nearly all of the 25 desired drivers, but after a few weeks many of them had quit and staff had to go back to the drawing board to hire more.

Shearman cautioned Transportation Committee members that attrition is common, especially in the tram division, and told them to keep that in mind when assessing the number of drivers.

“I know that was a big problem last season so we’re going to be closely monitoring that,” Shearman said.

Numbers reported last week show that the department has applications for six bus driver supervisors, all of whom are returning; five dispatchers; and one bus tech for the season.

A total of 12 tram conductor applicants, most of whom are returning, are also counted so far for this year.

Eagles Landing Golf Course flood project set for FY25

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) After years of coastal flooding disrupting operations at Ocean City’s Eagles Landing Golf Course, remediation efforts have made it to the top of the City Council’s funding list.

If all goes as planned, the $2.85 million project at the course off Route 611 will be initially financed through municipal bonds and completed in fiscal 2025.

Tidal flooding has for years plagued holes 7,8,9,10,17 and 18 at the course, at times forcing closures resulting in lost revenues.

Golf Superintendent Joe Perry, who announced his retirement at a Recreation and Parks Committee meeting last week, said during a council work session Jan. 31 that the course experienced more than $70,000 in lost income for a fourand-a-half-day closure in October 2019.

Flooding occurred again in October 2021 during the annual Swing for Youth tournament, which Perry said is one the course’s biggest events.

Floods have also caused damage to other parts of the course, which Perry demonstrated with a video of saltwater running into the irrigation ponds and contaminating the water used to

irrigate the course.

“If infrastructure improvements are made, we can remedy that problem,” Perry said.

Council members gave the flood remediation project a ranking of 2 last year in the five-tiered project ranking system used to determine where to allocate capital improvement project funds. This year, they ranked it a 1, or “critical.”

“If you’re asking me, I consider it a need,” Perry said.

The project was initially set for completion in two phases in fiscal 2024 and 2026, but Parks Superintendent Susan Petito told council members during a work session last week that officials decided to change the timeline a little.

“It’s still a critical project it’s still really important but what I’d like to do is the entire project in FY 25,” she said. “ … There are lots of good reasons for us doing that. One, is it gives us another fiscal year to be able to bank some money, bank some fund balance so we can support what we anticipate the revenue losses to be shown when we close the golf course.”

Staff members are asking for the cost of the project to be included in a city bond issue, but they said the

See USER Page 12

Lois James d.d.s.

PHOTO COURTESY TOWN OF OCEAN CITY

Tidal flooding on Oct. 19 at Ocean City’s Eagles Landing Golf Course off Route 611 forced closure of the course for four-and-a-half days. A more than $2.85 million flood remediation project set to address these types of events at the course in fiscal 2025 with help from city bond funding.

User fees to pay back project cost

Continued from Page 11

money will be paid back with user fees.

The city-owned course is a moneymaking venture and mostly self-sustainable, although council members have allocated funds to help with some maintenance costs.

In spring 2020, they budgeted $4,500 to complete an initial golf facilities assessment. Architectural firm McDonald Design Group completed the plan, which provided guidance to address the tidal flooding issues and looked at the overall footprint from a design and infrastructure perspective.

The following spring, the full flood remediation plan was included in the 2022-26 capital improvement plan with the 2, or “very important,” rating.

The assessment also included $500,000 in user fee funds for what officials referred to as pay-as-you-go renovations. Perry likened the work to “freshening up the kitchen and bathroom” when you have a decadesold house, as the golf course is 32 years old and in need of some basic maintenance work. The projects include improving drainage, updating the fairway and greens, and working on the ponds and aesthetics.

Right whale speed zone extended

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Fisheries have extended a voluntary slow zone for boaters off the coast of Ocean City after scientists detected endangered right whales in the area.

The regulations, which strongly suggest that vessel operators reduce speeds to 10 knots or less or avoid the area altogether, were previously in effect from Feb. 7 through Feb. 22. But whales detected last week through an acoustic monitoring buoy set up 22 miles off the coast of Ocean City has extended the directives to March 3.

Investigators with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have been monitoring the existence of the endangered baleen whales since the buoy was placed, and reported the detection last week.

The NOAA speed zones are voluntary programs that federal officials use to notify vessel operators to slow down to avoid right whales. The zones specifically apply to vessels 65 feet long or more, but all sizes of boats are encouraged to follow the rule. Research shows that slowing down to 10 knots or less can help protect right whales from vessel collisions.

Officials with NOAA are also in the process of implementing a mandatory speed zone during certain times based upon the migration of right whales along the coast. The new rule, which has been criticized by members of the local boating community, is still awaiting official implementation.

According to the latest North American Right Whale Consortium report card, 340 right whales existed in the North Atlantic in 2021.

The number shows what officials called “a continued decline for the species” that has been occurring since

2017. In that year, 78 dead whales, including right whales and humpbacks, were reported on the East Coast.

The data showed that the baleen whales have been experiencing what is known as an “Unusual Mortality Event,” which resulted in more than 14 percent of the population either dead or seriously injured over that time period.

According to NOAA’s report, entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes are the two primary causes of right whale mortality and serious injury.

The data also showed a concerning future outlook, as fewer calves were born in 2022, with no first-time mothers in the group.

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Coastal contemporary directly on the St. Martins River. 3BR/3BA-2 Primary BRs, 1 down and 1 up. New 30 x 10 Sunroom w/great views. Separate office room off laundry room. 1 car detached garage. 30 x 6 dock recently resurfaced. Large Living room w/vaulted beamed ceiling. Spacious kitchen w/bar seating for 4 guests plus desk and pantry cabinets built in. Newer upper Primary bedroom has 15 x 9 walk-in closet w/2 doors, bathroom w/dbl sinks and slider to wonderful balcony. 3-sided fenced rear yard w/8 x 10 shed. There is a Worcester County public boat ramp just a few miles away. A must see if you always dreamed of enjoying this view.

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PHOTO COURTESY CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM RESEARCH INSTITUTE North Atlantic right whale Half Note and her calf, sighted in January 2022 off the coast of Georgia. A voluntary speed zone set to end this week has been extended through March 3 off the coast of Ocean City after right whales were detected in the area.

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Residence incentive program still successful

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) A pilot program designed to entice more year-round homeowners to the resort is still going

strong and has generated roughly $250,000 in incentives and more than $5 million in property improvements since its inception.

Ocean City’s primary residence in-

centive program, or PRIP, was established in 2020 to give financial incentives to homeowners who met specified criteria. The program offered two perks: a building permit fee waiver of up to $7,500 for new or substantially improved homes, and a real property tax rebate of up to $2,500 over a period of five years for new primary owners.

The program was created in fiscal year 2021 to extend into fiscal 2022 and included a look-back period that allowed applicants from the previous fiscal year, July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, to also take advantage of the benefits.

Last May, Planning and Development Director Bill Neville updated council members on the program, which at the time had 28 approved applications for a total $145,851 in incentives. Council members opted to extend the program another two years, through fiscal 2024, and Neville brought the council up to day on the details last week.

He said 10 more applicants were approved, including two new homes, in

Correction

the last period, to bring the incentives total to $250,000 on more than $5 million in property improvements.

He said the new residents have also provided “new energy, new volunteerism and activity in the town.”

“Everybody I spoke with is very appreciate of council’s efforts to making housing more affordable in town,” he said.

Neville added that, upon the mayor and council’s request, he made sure the applicants were all legitimately primary residents and not cheating the system in some way to receive the incentives. He checked the assessment database and other sources and said just three applicants are awaiting official approval.

Mayor Rick Meehan was pleased with the numbers and thanked Neville for performing the check.

“We wanted to make sure everyone was in compliance,” he said.

No changes were made to the program during last week’s presentation, and Neville said he will return next year to see if council members want to extend the program again.

A story in the Feb. 17 edition about the State Highway Administration funding Walk Smart ads in Ocean City incorrectly stated that the agency was allocating $100,000 for the campaign. While that is the program total, the Maryland Highway Safety Office is only providing $50,000.

The story also stated that city officials would be responsible for recreating the artwork for the campaign, but that is also incorrect. Now that the state is involved in the program again, SHA’s artwork will be used.

Homes are shown on a street in Caine Woods off of 142nd Street in Ocean City.

County recording ‘read’ receipts for zoning hearings

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) Worcester County will now have certified confirmation every time a property owner receives notice of a zoning appeals case for an adjacent property.

In a 7-0 vote, the county commissioners confirmed on Tuesday the move that county officials hope gives the county an extra layer of protection in cases when residents must be notified when a project under review could affect their property.

The cost will be covered by the recipient of the notice.

In a presentation to the commissioners, Director of Development, Review and Permitting Jennifer Keener said that the typical process for such cases is to take out advertisements in local newspapers 15 days in advance and install a “bright orange sign” on the property itself that describes the case, the request and the date and time of the hearing. The county also sent notices via standard, first-class mail to this whose property touches the property in question is across the street from it or even across a body of water from it.

“We tend to err on the side of caution if a property is just slightly off the boundaries,” Keener said.

She added that in the last six months of 2022, her office sent “well over 400” such notifications. Depending on the case, there could be anywhere from three to 50 “adjoiners,” she said.

“We don’t get too many people complaining that they haven’t received their mail,” Keener said. “Anybody that we did get, they were notified, they’ve come to the hearing, they’ve seen (the notice) another way. My recommendation is to keep it the way it is with first-class mail. But I’m happy to do whatever.”

Commissioner Jim Bunting, drawing on his experience on the Board of Zoning Appeals, said it wasn’t uncommon for people to stand up at meetings and say they never received a notification.

Commissioner Eric Fiori asked what proof the county retains to document that it sent a notification, to which Keener said that her department keeps a form replete with contacted individuals and their information. Staff signs that affidavit and puts it on file.

Keener said her main concern with going with the certified mail option is what the county does if a delivery isn’t made, especially if a signature is required.

“A lot of us work during the day and to have somebody have to go to the post office to sign if they missed it or pick it up, that may cause additional delays or concerns that they didn’t get the notification,” she said.

Fiori said regardless, it’s not fair to the adjoining property owner if they’re unaware of a “major commercial or resi-

RV and motor home show bill hits snag in Annapolis

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) The push to expand the annual OC RV Show to allow out-ofstate dealers to participate met some resistance in Annapolis last week after a rival promoter testified against it.

The bill, which Del. Wayne Hartman said still has many proponents, addresses the current law which allows for two shows statewide for in-state dealers. Both those shows occur in Timonium, and the owner of those shows opposed expanding the Ocean City show.

Hartman said disclosure of that fact did not occur during testimony.

“Basically, he has a monopoly on (RV and mobile home shows) in the state of Maryland,” Hartman said. “(We might) narrow it down to be a Worcester County bill so it’d only impact our county as far as hosting additional shows. We’re trying to find some consensus and maybe move the limit to four shows to try to appease these other interests and make it more palatable.

Hartman said it’s possible they limit

out-of-state dealers to display only, meaning they wouldn’t be able to take any deposits are make any purchasing agreements at the shows.

“I’ll share this information with (Sen. Mary Beth Carozza) so they can learn from what we experienced in our hearing and go from there (before the Senate’s) at the beginning of March,” Hartman said.

Hartman was also looking forward to a hearing that occurred earlier this week for a bill that would allow promoters of special events in Ocean City to obtain temporary liquor licenses in their name, effectively removing the city from the process and further limiting its potential liability.

One concern with that bill is from nonprofit organizations that help staff these events, Hartman said, and whether this bill could affect their involvement in lucrative events.

“One of the conditionals they can make is to keep the nonprofits in there because it’s a good source of fundraising

See CAROZZA Page 18

Certified mail for BZA hearings

Continued from Page 15

dential project” happening near them.

“I do think that should halt the public hearing on a development project,” Fiori said. “I don’t think that’s fair if they didn’t see it in a newspaper … Electronic delivery confirmation would take the burden of proof that we mailed everything out, take it off an individual staff member and put it on the US Postal

Correction

In a story in the Feb. 17, 2023 edition about Ocean City’s Transportation Committee expressing concerns about city government’s new transit ad contractor, the former contract’s name was incorrect.

The name of the company is Vector Media, not Vector Marketing.

Service. I think that is a good practice moving forward.”

Mitrecic said he had no problem at all with the current system, but at every BZA meeting he’s witnessed, “the first thing out of (every opponent’s mouth) is that they didn’t receive their notice.”

“If you want to bring to a halt a hearing because somebody says (they didn’t get a notice), we’re going to have planning and zoning meetings tied up for the next 50 years,” he said. “Although I don’t disagree with the certified mail, that’s the way many of the towns in Sussex County do it, so I think it’s probably the best way to move forward, but as far as people saying they don’t know anything about it, that’s usually the first thing they say.

“It’s incumbent upon them to pay attention to what’s going on. It’s posted right next to them or across the street. They should know.”

Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan, second from left, second row, and Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall, second from right, were in Annapolis with other mayors from around the state to participate in the Maryland Municipal League Conference. They are joined by Del. Wayne Hartman, center, first row, and Sen. Mary Beth Carozza, center.

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) The Worcester County Commissioners discussed the following during their Feb. 7 meeting:

State’s attorney vehicle

The commissioners approved the purchase of one new 2022 Ford Explorer for the State’s Attorney Office for $41,600 from Hertrich Ford in Pocomoke. The car will be assigned to a new position associated with the Vulnerable Adult Task Force, according to a memo to the commissioners from County Procurement Officer Nicholas Rice.

Pocomoke Library

Worcester County Library Director Jennifer Ranck updated the commissioners on the progress of the $9.35 million, 13,000-square-foot Pocomoke Library project.

Current designs have the library featuring a community room, children’s library, adult library and young adult area. Other amenities will include a history room, two small meeting rooms and a “maker” space for craftspeople.

Ranck’s memo to the commissioners said the library was “deeply appreciative” to see $2.2 million for the library in the proposed state capital budget for FY2024 and will continue applying for ad-

ditional funding in FY2025.

Ice rink

The commissioners tabled a discussion about what to do with the countyowned portable ice rink, instructing county departments to return with proposals at the next commissioners for how they would donate the rink.

Investigator vehicles

The commissioners approved the purchase of two new 2023 Chevrolet Traverse SUVs for $30,459 apiece to replace two vehicles assigned to the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Bureau

of Investigation.

With key fobs included, the total comes to $62,868, according to a memo from Rice. The vehicles will need “minimal” equipment because they will be used for investigators and not patrols, according to the memo.

Length of Service Award

The commissioners approved a modification to the Length of Service Award Program for volunteer members of the county’s chartered fire companies and ambulance companies.

According to a memo from chief Administrative Officer Weston Young,

Continued

from Page

(for them) when they supply the labor for the different (events),” Hartman said. “They’re just concerned they could lose that opportunity.”

On the Senate side, Carozza voted against Gov. Wes Moore’s nominee for Secretary of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, Vincent Shiraldi. She was joined by her fellow Republicans on the Senate Executive Nominations Committee.

Carozza brought up Shiraldi’s stance

on juveniles — which she described as treating 25-year-olds as if they were juveniles and closing juvenile detention facilities — and expressed concern that Shiraldi could make an out-of-balance system even worse.

“Public safety is job number one, for all of us involved, and we talked a little bit about the balance, and I have to tell you many of my constituents believe that the balance right now in society, between rehabilitating the offender and protecting the general public, is out of whack,”

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Carozza said to Shiraldi, according to a statement from her office.

Carozza also testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week in support of her bill that would require a person charged with reckless or negligent driving which contributed to the death of another person to appear in court.

The current law stipulates that if someone is charged with reckless or negligent driving — regardless of the outcome — they do not have to appear in

court. They’re charged with a misdemeanor and fined and can make their way through the entire process without ever seeing a courtroom.

Todd family have served OC for over 60 years

By Steve Price Contributing Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) This week in our “Volunteer Spotlight” we have the opportunity to identify yet another “legacy family” — a family serving the residents and visitors of Ocean City with their unselfish dedication to the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company for three generations.

Gold Badge member William “Bill” Todd joined the volunteer fire company on Oct. 15, 1963.

When asked his reason for joining the volunteer fire company, Bill replied, “If you can help me, I want to be able to help you when needed.”

His commitment to the community was continued by his son, Mike Todd, a Life Member of the volunteer fire company.

Mike Todd Jr., (Bill’s Grandson) currently serves as 2nd Assistant Chief for

the OCVFC. Sue Todd, (Bill’s wife) had been recognized for her life-long dedication to the Ladies Auxiliary of the OCVFC especially her commitment to the OCVFCLA ‘s annual fundraiser – delicious oyster fritters served at the Ocean City Sunfest.

Bill and his wife retired after 48 years in the plumbing and fuel oil business perhaps best known for their OC Service Oil Company located on Stephen Decatur Highway in West Ocean City.

He also enjoyed participating with fellow firefighters in local fishing tournaments as a member of the “Bailey’s Hookers” surf fishing team.

During his 40 years of active service to the OCVFC, “Bill” served in a variety of positions in the OCVFC, including the following: captain on several Engine/Pumpers and as an engineer.

He also served many years as a mem-

ber of the board of directors including two years as vice president of the organization.

Engineer Todd recalls the numerous large building fires on the Boardwalk in the 1970s and ’80s as the most significant events of his firefighting career.

Bill was proud to serve as a volunteer firefighter in Ocean City with the opportunity to help others during their time of need.

He says his greatest accomplishment was simply to be recognized by his peers and his community for his dedication to the volunteer fire service.

We thank Engineer Todd for his many years of service and commitment to the safety of his neighbors and visitors to our community.

For membership information or to learn more about your volunteer fire company, please visit www.ocvfc.com.

AGH staff traveling abroad to assist others

By Susan Canfora Contributing Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) Four Atlantic General Hospital employees, including an orthopedic surgeon and anesthesiologist, are

planning a trip to Honduras to provide care for the poor, homeless, mentally ill and others who don’t have access to medical care.

“There is a need in all third-world

countries where they just don’t have the kind of care that they need,” said Patricia Ortlip, a registered nurse who will join Dr. Sean Hooker, an orthopedic surgeon; David Kaplan, an anesthesiologist; and Melissa Lambertson, a first assistant, for the 1,700-mile trip.

They will be working at the San Benito Jose Medical Center in Comayagua, in west central Honduras, April 22-29, with other medical personnel, volunteers from different parts of the country, who will provide gynecological and orthopedic care.

“A few months ago we were talking about bucket list things we would like to do and we all agreed we would love to do a mission trip, how awesome that would be. Then, Melissa said this popped up on her Facebook feed. I think it will be humbling and it will definitely put things into a better perspective, just to see where we fall on the scale. It will put it all in per-

spective,” Ortlip said, explaining the agency that provides care in Honduras is Operation Hope Medical Missions, a Christian organization founded in 2018. The four will fly to Honduras and arrive on a Saturday. On Sunday, surgeons will start seeing patients and triage based on who traveled farthest.

Ortlip, who lives in Millville, Delaware, and is the mother of two, said the trip will cost each of them about $1,500, and those interested in contributing can see the GoFundMe page Surgical Mission Trip to Honduras. The goal is to raise $3,000.

They will also visit an orphanage for girls up to age 18, and deliver supplies and gifts.

“They want Instamatic cameras. They love taking pictures of each other,” Ortlip said, adding anyone who wants to donate a camera can take it to the front lobby of Atlantic General Hospital, at 9733 Healthway Drive in Berlin, and ask for Ortlip or Lambertson.

WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BRIEFS

Continued from Page 18

money was set aside each year for each eligible, certified volunteer. Upon reaching 25 years, the accumulated amount for each volunteer would be paid out. The modification ensures that payouts are not lower than the $10,000 intended for award recipients.

Sunday hunting

The commissioners agreed to support Del. Charles Otto on two of his sponsored bills: HB167, which permits turkey hunting on Sundays during the open season; and HB466, which permits

game bird and game mammal hunting on Sundays during their respective seasons.

Promoter liquor license

On request from the Ocean City mayor and City Council, the commissioners agreed to send a letter of support to the Eastern Shore delegation for HB113/ SB155, a state bill that would establish an Ocean City promoter’s liquor license and authorize the county liquor board to issue a license to a for-profit organization to sell and serve alcohol at an event within the corporate limits of the resort.

Patricia Ortlip

William “Bill” Todd

AGH staff on Honduran mission

Continued from Page 20

“Some people may be traveling for days to get to that medical center. A lot of them are walking,” she said. “These patients that we’ll be helping have limited or no access to medical services. They are often sick, in pain and cannot afford to be treated. The patients we serve are from families with income of less than $200 a month, single mothers and children, seniors with no families, the homeless, mentally ill, manual laborers without professional degrees, the malnourished, abused, those without adequate housing or who live in remote rural areas. We don’t know what needs they have until we see them.”

Hooker will screen patients on Sunday and surgeries will be done Monday through Friday, probably on 30 patients in one week.

“This is all new to us,” Ortlip said.

Volunteers are required to attend a Catholic Mass every morning at 6, then take a bus to the hospital.

“It’s a Christian-based organization. Most mission trips usually are. Surgery starts at 8 a.m. and is done by 5 or 6 in the evening, then we go back to the hotel. It will be a grueling schedule but that’s fine,” she said. “The reason I became a nurse was so I could help people. I had a lot of nurses in my family. I grew up with a nurse. I remember my mother getting ready for work and in those days they wore white dresses and little hats. They

took a lot of pride in their appearance and in what they did.”

Operation Hope has been doing missions to Honduras since 2004, she added.

“They have helped hundreds of people and we all want to be part of that” Ortlip said.

Operation Hope Medical Missions was founded “with the purpose of increasing the number of yearly surgical brigades at San Benito Jose Medical Center in Comayagua, Honduras … and to help the indigent in underdeveloped countries,” according to the website, www.medicalmissions.org.

“We are dedicated to serving those families and patients in need by offering free medical and surgical care. The patients we serve at San Benito Jose Medical Center have limited or no access to health care services. Some patients travel hours away on a very limited budget to receive our care. Many patients lack basic needs such as running water, food, clothing, electricity, sanitation and adequate housing.

“Once a year, a team of 20 to 30 health care volunteers from all across the United States finance their own trip to Honduras to treat as many patients as possible. Each mission trip is one week long and approximately 100 patients receive surgical care. Many other patients receive additional medical care from our team members,” the website states.

TOTAL

Kirkland named Officer of the Year

(Feb. 24, 2023) Ocean City Police

Cp. Michael Kirkland was named the department’s Officer of the Year at a Jan. 28 ceremony at the Princess Royale in Ocean City.

Nearly 150 guests gathered to recognize police department personnel and volunteers for their accomplishments in 2022.

Kirkland was chosen as the Officer of the Year by a panel of five community members. Serving were Larry Yates, Tonja Sas, Charles “Newt” Weaver, Danny Robinson, and Lee Gerachis. Also nominated were PFC Edward Newcomb, PFC Mark Cutter, PFC Kevin Herbert and Officer Benjamin Panitch.

Kirkland has been a member of OCPD since April 2012. He was assigned to the narcotics unit in 2016, and then to the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team (CET) in 2018.

New

Kirkland was promoted on Aug. 1, 2022, and reassigned to the patrol division.

During his tenure in narcotics and on the criminal enforcement team, his primary duties included the undercover purchase of controlled dangerous substances, covert surveillance, tactical response, technical investigative techniques, and the management of complex controlled dangerous substance investigations.

The selection panel also found that

he made countless undercover buys, handled numerous felony cases and exposed himself to danger repeatedly to accomplish the mission.

Volunteers of the OCPD Auxiliary Unit were also recognized for their contribution of 1,338 volunteer hours in 2022.

Since the unit’s inception in 1999, auxiliary officers have volunteered more than 65,000 hours, which translates to a cost saving of over $2 million to the taxpayers of Ocean City.

This year, the Auxiliary Officer of the Year was awarded to Tonja Sas, who has been an auxiliary officer since the program began and has donated more than 5,000 hours to the department and community.

Sas has “retired” from the auxiliary officer unit after 23 years of service.

As part of Saturday’s ceremony, many officers were awarded departmental commendations for exemplary service. The following officers were recognized:

Silver Star: Cpl. Michael Karsnitz.

Meritorious Service: Cpl. Michael Kirkland, and PFC Carl Perry.

Special Commendation: PFC

Nathan Thompson, Ofc. Jessica Wieber (x2), PFC Christian Rodden, Ofc. William Mossop, Ofc. Anthony Helias, Ofc. Benjamin Panitch, Sgt. Kyle Murray, Ofc. Justin Koser, and Ofc. Devin Bartrom.

Excellent Performance: PFC David Whitmer, Cpl. Christopher Snyder, Ofc. Hailie Brumley, Natural Resource Police Ofc. Charles Tyler, PFC Patrick McElfish, PFC Christian Rodden, Cpl. Nathan Kutz, and PFC Mark Cutter. Employees were also recognized for their promotions at Saturday’s event. The following officers were promoted in 2022: Capt. James “Art” Grady, Capt. Shawn Jones, Lt. odd Speigle, Lt. Charles “Josh” Kelley, Lt. Allen Hawk, Sgt.Christopher Wrench, Sgt. James Rodriguez, Sgt. Kyle Murray, Sgt. Nicholas Forsyth, Cpl. Nathan Kutz, Cpl. Sean McHugh, Cpl. Michael Kirkland, Cpl. Justin Hoban, Cpl. Neshawn Jubilee, Cpl. Jacob Fetterolf, PFC Patrick McElfish, PFC Noah Friedkin, PFC Nathan Thompson, PFC Megan McHugh, PFC Nicholas Fleming, PFC Sierra Stevens, and Police Records Management Supervisor Catherine Potter.

CERT offers emergency training

(Feb. 24, 2023) Citizens can help protect their families and others by enrolling in the Community Emergency Response Team training course planned to begin Thursday, March 9, at the Ocean City Public Safety Building, 6501 Coastal Highway.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training is designed to help citizens help themselves and their families in the event of a catastrophic disaster.

Because emergency services personnel will not be able to help everyone immediately following a disaster, CERT is a free training course that aims to provide citizens with basic information for preparedness and tech-

niques when dealing with emergencies.

This training covers basic skills including CPR/AED, first aid, recognizing natural and manmade hazards in our local communities, disaster preparedness such as emergency plans and disaster supply kits, hazardous material emergencies and basic fire suppression.

This CERT Basic Training course is being offered by the Ocean City Emergency Services Department. This course is also part of the Town of Ocean City University program.

Citizens who complete this CERT training course, a 16-week general

The Ocean City Police Department hosted its annual Officer of the Year Ceremony on Jan. 28, at the Princess Royale where Cpl. Michael Kirkland was named as the Officer of the Year. Pictured are Sen. Mary Beth Carozza, Cpl. Kirkland, Chief Ross Buzzuro, and Del. Wayne Hartman.

Man perishes in Tues. night house fire in Ocean Pines

Continued from Page 1

my wife, ‘I think the neighbor’s house is on fire,’” he said. “I walked over to the house and called 911 while my wife went to the neighbors’ houses to alert them to the fire.

“The fire was coming out of the garden window while I was on the phone with 911. Then the window on my side of the road popped and the fire started to go out there,” Pollard said.

The Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the house fire at 5:58 p.m. Fire crews from Ocean City, Showell, Berlin, Bishopville in Maryland, along with Delaware companies from Selbyville, Roxana, Frankford and Dagsboro were called in to assist.

“The roof started smoking and it got wild after that,” said Pollard. “You could hear the intensity of it. And you could feel it on your skin. I was afraid the trees might catch on fire

and spread.”

The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office reported that Ocean Pines firefighters encountered “significant fire conditions” throughout the home when they arrived on the scene. They also were advised that someone might be trapped inside.

Fire crews brought the fire under control and found Cooper. Of the three firefighter injured battling the fire, one required transport to a local hospital for a hand injury.

The exact cause of the fire is remains undetermined, although the fire marshal’s office said the fire originated in the laundry room.

A joint investigation was conducted by the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Ocean Pines Police Department. Investigators were assisted by the Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office, Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office – K9 Unit and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

CINDY HOFFMAN/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Firefighters enter the second floor of the home at 116 Seafarer Lane Tuesday. The fire claimed one life.

DNR opens investigation in cause of eagle’s injuries

By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) A bald eagle that was found unable to fly and standing on the side of the road is recovering from undisclosed injuries at a rescue facility in Delaware, while an investigation into the cause of the bird’s flightless state continues.

Deputy Sheriff Ben Cropper of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, assisted with the rescue of a bald eagle that was spotted on the shoulder of Racetrack Road on Feb. 10. According to the Sheriff’s office, Assateague Island State Park took the bird into custody.

The eagle is now in the care of TriState Bird Rescue and Research in Newark, Delaware. This is the same facility that nursed a bald eagle back to health after it flew through a windshield on Route 113 in February 2021.

In that instance, wildlife officials knew what happened — the eagle flew into an oncoming vehicle and landed in the driver’s lap. The circumstances in the current case aren’t clear.

“We have no comment on this case because it is under investigation, and we do not want to disclose any information that may compromise the investigation,” Executive Director Lisa Smith said. “We admitted 89 bald eagles for treatment last year, and 103 in 2021, our new record. Of those 192 ea-

gles, 100 came from Maryland.”

Bald eagles were once endangered in the lower 48 states because of habitat destruction, shooting and poisoning by the pesticide DDT, which was used to combat mosquitoes.

In 1963, there were only 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles in the lower 48 states and the species was in danger of extinction. By 1972, the Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of DDT in this country.

In 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that the bald eagle population was about 316,700, including 71,467 breeding pairs.

According to the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership, the Chesapeake Bay region hosts the largest concentration of bald eagles in the lower 48 states. It is estimated that 1,400 pairs currently breed in Maryland.

“There are so many on the Eastern Shore… crazy and wonderful,” Smith said.

The bald eagle continues to be protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Both laws prohibit killing, selling or otherwise harming eagles, their nests or eggs.

Anyone with information on this case should contact Maryland DNR. Call or text 443-433-4112, or email mwc.dnr@maryland.gov.

OP Fire Department rescues kayaker in St. Martin’s River

By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department (OPVFD) assisted Showell Volunteer Fire Department with a water rescue in the St. Martin River on Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. The call originally came in as a potential drowning.

“We received a call to assist Showell with a water rescue,” Ocean Pines Fire Chief Steve Grunewald said. “It was reported that a male subject was drowning as his kayak had flipped over. We launched our rescue boat from the Yacht Club and were able to make a successful rescue on the marsh of the St. Martin’s

River.”

Fire officials said the kayaker was in the water for at least 45 minutes. The kayaker was not hurt.

“He was out of the water and we were able to get him off the marsh. We were not able to get the kayak. We looked for it, but with the outgoing tide, we were unable to find it,” Grunewald said. “It was cold. The water temperature was 42 degrees.”

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources assisted in the rescue operation. OPVFD reminded all those on the water to wear a life jacket, no matter how experienced they may be.

CERT emergency training class

Continued from Page 22

studies program through OC University as well as the Citizens Police Academy, can earn a Ph.D. certificate from the Town of Ocean City.

The spring 2023 CERT basic class will begin Thursday, March 9, at 6:30 p.m. and will run each Thursday evening for seven weeks, ending on Thursday, April 27.

There will be a Class Training Skills Day on Saturday, April 15, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and running until all stations have been completed. This will replace the class for Thursday, April 13.

To register for this training or to obtain additional information, please contact Emergency Management at 410-723-6616.

PHOTO COURTESY WORCESTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

A bald eagle was rescued off Racetrack Road on Feb. 10. Assisting with the rescue, from left, are Worcester County Sheriff's Office Tfc. Robert Bradley, Worcester County Sheriff's Office Deputy Sheriff Ben Cropper, Assateague State Park Ranger Meghan Sochowski and Cpl. Eric Lenz.

NOW PLAYING

Feb. 24: Pop Stereo, 6-10 p.m.; DJ Tuff, 7 p.m. to 2

a.m.

Feb. 25: Finnegan’s Wake, 4:30-8:30 p.m.; Justin Taylor Band, 5-9 p.m.; DJ Bobby-O, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.; DJ Cruz, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.; The Event Horizon, 10 p.m. to 1:50 a.m.

Mar. 2: Full Circle Duo, 5-9 p.m.; DJ Connair, 9 p.m. to 1:50 a.m.

PIZZA TUGOS

9935 Stephen Decatur Hwy., West Ocean City 410-524-2922 / pizzatugos.com

Feb. 24:

COINS

28th Street and Coastal Highway, Ocean City 410-289-3100 / www.coinspuboc.com

Feb. 24: Lennon LaRicci and the Leftovers, 7 p.m.

Feb. 25: First Class, 7 p.m.

PICKLE’S PUB

706 Philadelphia Avenue, Ocean City, 410-289-4891 / picklesoc.com

Feb. 24: Beats by Deojee, 9:30 p.m to 1:30 a.m.

Feb. 26: Beats by Deojee, 9:30 p.m to 1:30 a.m.

Feb. 27: Karaoke w/Wood, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Feb. 28: Beats by Wax, 9:30 p.m to 1:30 a.m.

Mar. 1: Beats by Deojee, 9:30 p.m to 1:30 a.m.

Mar. 2: Beats by Wax, 9:30 p.m to 1:30 a.m.

SEACRETS

49th Street and the Bay, Ocean City 410-524-4900 / www.seacrets.com

SUNDAY BINGO OPEN EARLY AT NOON TO 3PM WITH CASH PRIZES

FRIDAY - LENNON LARICCI AND THE LEFTOVERS 7PM

- FIRST CLASS 7PM

19 BIG SCREENS TO WATCH ALL YOUR SPORTS ACTION • KENO

OFF SEASON SPECIALS

TUESDAY SEAFOOD FRENZY & FACT TRIVIA NITE

WEDNESDAY $20 MAKE YOU HOLLA NITE

THURSDAY SHRIMP AND LOBSTER NITE

SUNDAY SPECIALS EARLY BIRD MENU ALL DAY & NITE

“No Mumbo, Just Jumbo” Crabcakes Seafood & Steaks • Overstuffed Sandwiches HAPPY HOUR DAILY 2PM-5:30PM

Dine-In • Carry-Out & Online Ordering www.coinspuboc.com 28th Street Plaza • 410-289-3100

OC Film Festival opens with ‘Locals Night’ next Thursday

(Feb. 24, 2023) The Ocean City Film Festival will kicks off its seventh season with an opening night of films with local interest on Thursday, March 2 at 7 p.m. at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center.

“Local’s Night” will feature special $10 walk-in tickets with no prior reservations required. Doors will open at 6 p.m., with open seating.

Two short films with Worcester County connections will be featured at the 94th Street center, along with a question-and-answer session afterward, moderated by Maryland Film Office Director Jack Gerbes, with the filmmakers and crew of “Hedgehog” and a special message from John Chester, director of “Biggest Little Farm: The Return.”

“Hedgehog” was filmed locally by Unscene Productions at Mariner’s Country Down in Berlin.

The 17-minute film tells the story of 6-year-old Nina, who is sent to her grandmother’s remote village in Ukraine when the war starts. In the shack outside, Nina discovers a badly wounded Russian soldier.

The film was directed by D. Mitry, who was born in the former Soviet Union.

“Hedgehog was made by people of different ethnic backgrounds and nationalities including Egyptians, Romanians, Mexicans, Finish, Spanish, Austrians, and former residents of USSR, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus,” he said. “I am incredibly thankful that people of so many nationalities got together to support Ukraine and to tell this beautiful story about the responsibility of being human to each other, especially during tough war time like this.”

Ocean City native John Chester will take viewers back to his sustain-

American Pickers television show to film episodes in Md.

(Feb. 24, 2023) The American Pickers television show is returning to Maryland in March to film episodes of The History Channel television series.

“American Pickers” is a documentary series that explores the world of antique “picking” on The History Channel.

Th show follows skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques. Invariably, they find sizable, unique

collections and learn the interesting stories behind them.

As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, the Pickers are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics.

Along the way, they want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items. They hope to give historically significant objects a new lease on life while learning a thing or two about America’s past along the

See PICKERS Page 27

able California farm in “The Biggest Little Farm: The Return.”

After the success of his feature film that showed to a packed house at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center as part of the film festival in 2019, Chester returns with his new 29minute Disney+ Earth Day special from National Geographic.

Based on the 2018 award-winning documentary that introduced the story of John and Molly Chester, who abandoned their urban life in Los Angeles to live on a barren farm and grow food in harmony with nature, the new film updates us on the farm’s current sustainability.

Following the films, Seacrets Morley Hall on 49th Street, will host an opening night after party where filmgoers can mingle with the filmmakers and stars. The party will feature happy hour prices and discounted light fare. Patrons must be 21 or older to attend.

Admission to the Thursday opening day events is also available by purchasing a four-day pass that allows admission into all of the events of the festival March 2-5, with the exception of the John Waters’ performance on Saturday at Ocean Downs Casino.

Tickets are available at OCMDFilmFestival.com.

The festival is offering discount codes for single- and multiple-day passes to essential members of the community including first responders, military members, students, and Art League members. Enter discount code “ThankYou2023” when purchasing tickets.

The seventh year of the festival will showcase more than 70 independent films in multiple genres at Ocean City

CROSSWORD

“Hedgehog,” filmed locally by Unscene Productions, and Ocean City native John Chester’s “The Biggest Little Farm: The Return,” will be featured on opening night of the Ocean City Film Festival, March 2 at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center.

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

Opportunity awaits you, Aries. You just need to know where to look to get the best deal. Start chasing after your heart’s desire because you could just get it this week.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

A financial windfall could be just over the horizon, Taurus. Stay the course over the next several days and wait and see what falls into your lap. You may be very surprised.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

People in your life want the best for you, Gemini. Accept their support and good wishes and use each as a guiding light when challenges arise.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

The stars are all but shouting that you need some self-care right now, Cancer. Put aside all of the tasks you think you need to do and turn attention to tending to your own needs.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

Leo, your love interest seems like he or she is keeping something from you, but avoid drawing any conclusions. A surprise may be in store for you.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

Virgo, take it slow may be the advice that is coming your way, but that might be hard right now. Your time is in demand and many people are seeking your expertise. Take a breath.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

You don’t have to travel too far to find happiness this week, Libra. It’s in all the small things around you. No extraordinary gestures are needed to make you smile.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

Scorpio, a potential love match could be on the horizon. Approach this with caution, but don’t be afraid to share your thoughts and dreams with someone special.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21

Be careful when sharing your deepest desires and secrets, Sagittarius. There are many people you can trust, so make an effort to identify them before opening up.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

Capricorn, your dreams can take you far, but smarts and action need to factor into the equation as well. Start fleshing out your plan and get moving.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

Your friends can be a great help when you need some relationship advice this week, Aquarius. Seek their input and factor it into any decision you make.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

Pisces, if a friend or family member causes drama for you, don’t let it get in your way. Offer to help but be ready for this person to seek their own path.

Seventh annual OC Film Festival runs March 2-5

Continued from Page 26

locations over the four-day event.

Legendary filmmaker John Waters will headline the festival with a special spoken word performance on Saturday night at Ocean Downs Casino.

Complete information about the festival, including a list of films, parties, Q&As, and events is available at OCMdFilmFestival.com.

Passes are available for one day of films and parties, four days of films and parties, and individually-sold John Waters tickets. Also listed on the website are special, off-season hotel rates for festival-goers.

The film festival is an initiative of the nonprofit Art League that pro-

‘Pickers’ seek hidden treasures

Continued from Page 26

way.

American Pickers continues to take the pandemic seriously and will be following all guidelines and protocols for safe filming outlined by the state and CDC.

Nevertheless, show organizers say they are excited to continue reaching the many collectors in the area to discuss their years of picking and are eager to hear their memorable stories.

duces the festival annually along with broad support from the Town of Ocean City, Ocean Downs Casino, The State of Maryland Film Office, and the Ocean City community.

More information is available at OCMDFilmFestival.com, OCart.org, or by calling 410-524-9433.

The “American Pickers” TV Show is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure.

Anyone who has or knows someone who has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through should let the show’s producers know.

The Pickers do not pick stores, flea markets, malls, auction businesses, museums, or anything open to the public.

Interested parties should send the Pickers their name, phone number, location, and description of the collection with photos to: americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 646493-2184 facebook: @GotAPick

“American Pickers” is produced by Cineflix Productions for The History Channel. New episodes air Mondays at 9 p.m. EST on History.

Waters to headline film festival

(Feb. 24, 2023) Legendary filmmaker John Waters will headline the seventh annual Ocean City Film Festival coming to theaters and venues in the resort March 2-5, screening 70 independent films from around the world. Waters will give a live performance on Saturday, March 4 at The Ballroom at Ocean Downs Casino.

Tickets and passes are on sale at OCMDFilmFestival.com

Waters’ spoken-word show, entitled “The End of the World,” will be the first time the artist has performed around Ocean City and will be exceptional for its intimate, limited-seated setting.

His all-new, fast-moving, comic monologue about today’s despair and diseases, desires and desperation breaks through with an optimism that welcomes all audiences – and includes his memories of Ocean City over the years.

“One summer when I was an angry teenager, I lived under the Boardwalk at Ninth Street in Ocean City and dreamed of making weird films,” Waters said. “Now I’m coming back, and, hey, I did just that. You can, too! That is what film festivals are all about - inspiring creative lunacy.”

Waters is performing on Saturday, March 4, 8 p.m. at The Ballroom at Ocean

Downs Casino on Racetrack Rd. in Berlin.

General admission tickets are limited, with a small number of VIP tickets to meet and greet Waters after the show available at a special price and on a firstcome-first-serve basis.

“We are honored to welcome the legendary filmmaker, John Waters, as the headliner for the 2023 OC Film Fest,” Rina Thaler, executive director of the festival and the Arts League of Ocean City, said. “The entire festival is a great opportunity for film lovers to watch never-before-seen films and some local favorites and mingle and party with the filmmakers and film crews.”

The festival will premier two films with local interest.

“Hedgehog” was produced by Dave Messick of Unscene Productions and filmed at Mariner’s Country Down in Berlin.

“Biggest Little Farm: The Return” is a 30-minute documentary directed by Ocean City native John Chester as a follow-up to his award-winning feature film.

The Film Festival is an initiative of the nonprofit Art League that produces the festival annually along with broad support from the Town of Ocean City, Ocean

Dining Guide

■ PRICE RANGE: $, $$, $$$

■ RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted

■ CAPTAIN’S TABLE

15th Street and Baltimore Avenue, inside

The Courtyard by Marriott, Ocean City 410-289-7192, www.captainstableoc.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Visit Captain’s Table for seafood, steaks, lobster specials and martinis. Open for breakfast and dinner everyday. Happy hour; seven days a week, 4 to 6 p.m. Breakfast; Monday through Friday, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., Saturday through Sunday, 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Dinner; Sunday through Thursday, 4 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 4 to 10 p.m.

■ COASTAL SALT

1601 Atlantic Avenue, Ocean City 410-973-7258, www.coastalsaltoc.com

New American restaurant with reel eats & high spirits. Local seafood and Chef’s specials. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner overlooking the beautiful ocean view from the boardwalk. Open Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. Pet friendly, patio with heaters. The best staff, creative eats with plenty of free parking.

■ COINS PUB & RESTAURANT

28th Street Plaza and Coastal Highway, Ocean City 410-289-3100, www.coinspuboc.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

American style local restaurant serving seafood, steaks and chefs specials. Check out the off season weekday specials. Early bird; daily, 2 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday’s early bird specials, all day and all night. Happy Hour; daily, 2 to 5:30 p.m. with food and drink specials. Closed Mondays. Open Tuesday through Friday, 2 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. Dine-in, carry out. Ordering online www.coinspuboc.com.

■ CORAL REEF RESTAURANT & BAR

Oceanfront and 17th St. in Holiday Inn &

Suites, Ocean City 410-289-2612, www.coralreefrestaurant.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Enjoy traditional Eastern Shore cuisine with a Caribbean flare from a selection of house specialty entrees such as burgers, seafood, and pastas! Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring specialty rums; Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Happy hour drink specials and $10 eats, Everyday, 3 to 6 p.m.

■ PAPI’S TACO JOINT

15th Street @ Philadelphia Avenue, Ocean City 443-664-861, PapisTacoJoint.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Try the new Authentic Mexican restaurant open 7 days a week. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. With a family atmosphere you can enjoy build your own street taco’s with a sheet table side with their home-made authentic salsas. Serving foods such as little cravings, Papi’s trio guacamole, Queso Fundido and choice of salsas, salads, bowls, soups, main dishes and desserts. Also, brunch, gluten free and vegan menus. Happy Hour: Monday through Friday, 3 to 5 p.m. with beer, wines, cocktails and specialty signature drinks. Dine in, or order online for your carryout and delivery by Door Dash. Catering is available.

■ PICKLES PUB

706 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City 410-289-4891, www.picklesoc.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Open daily. Serving food until 1 a.m. Free parking across the street. Daily food and drink specials. Live entertainment 6 nights a week. Lots of pool tables. Liquor store attached. Game room. 30+ drafts on tap. Dine in or carry out.

Downs Casino, The State of Maryland Film Office, and the Ocean City community.

The event is organized by Film Festival Director and Towson University alumnus B.L. StrangMoya.

The seventh year of the festival will showcase independent films in multiple genres at iconic Ocean City venues including Morley Hall at Seacrets, Flagship Cinemas in West Ocean City, Fox Gold Coast Theater, Nick’s, Ocean Downs Casino, and the Ocean City Performing Arts Center.

Themes of packaged film showcases include Maritime Life; Veterans; Dark & Mysterious; Between Worlds; Resilient Women; Family Dynamics; Sex, Love, Romance & Intimacy; Perseverance; Outsiders; Comedy; and Hassle Us –We’re Local.

Complete information about the festival, including a list of films, parties, Q&As and events is available at OCMdFilmFestival.com.

Passes are available for one day of films and parties, four days of films and parties, and individually-sold John Waters tickets.

City 410-289-2525, www.32palm.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

32 Palm’s inviting decor fuses the perfect atmosphere with Eastern Shore favorites for an exceptional dining experience! Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring a unique selection of bourbons. Routinely updated menus with the highest quality local ingredients for fresh seafood any time of the year! Don’t miss our on Happy hour, Every day, 3 to 6 p.m.

■ LONGBOARD CAFE

6701 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City 443-6445639, www.longboardcafe.net

Classic and creative American dishes and cocktails are showcased in a festive, surfthemed setting with weekly specials. Featuring burgers, tacos, prime rib, seafood and more. Open 11 a.m to 9 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays. Dine-in and curbside pick-up.

■ MARLIN MOON

Located in the Double Tree Hotel, 3301 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City 410-289-1201, www.marlinmoonocmd.com |$$

Winner of the Maryland People’s Choice Award, Marlin Moon offers a great selection of entrees, small plates, appetizers, and creatively crafted cocktails. Happy Hour, Monday through Friday, 3-6 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday, 1-6 p.m., featuring $10 appetizers, drink specials, and specialty oysters. Breakfast, 7:30-11:30 a.m. Lite Fare, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dinner, 4-10 p.m.

■ SEACRETS 49th Street, Ocean City 410-524-4900, www.seacrets.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Open Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday, 10 a.m. through midnight with island atmosphere. Jamaican jerk chicken, appetizers, sandwiches, paninis, pizza and fresh seafood.

■ CAROUSEL OCEANFRONT HOTEL & CONDOS

118th Street, Ocean City 800-641-0011, www.carouselhotel.com

Enjoy one of four restaurants in the Carousel. Serving breakfast; The Bistro, Saturday through Sunday, 7 to 11 a.m.

Also listed on the website are special, offseason hotel rates for festival goers.

“Traveling to Ocean City is incredibly affordable this time of year, even more now that our hotel sponsors are offering festival attendees discounted rates,” Strang-Moya said. “These are waterfront rooms in major hotels that are booked solid in the summer season.”

The films have not been rated, and some feature adult content. Viewer discretion is advised.

More information is available at OCMDFilmFestival.com or by calling 410-524-9433.

proudly serving Starbuck’s brand. Reef 118 Restaurant, Saturday through Sunday, 7 to 11 a.m. buffet or A la carte. Serving Dinner; Bamboo Lounge, Sunday through Thursday, 4 to 9 p.m., Friday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Bistro, Friday, 3 to 10 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reef 118 Restaurant, Friday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy cocktails in the Bamboo Lounge, Sunday through Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m., Friday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

■ NORI SUSHI BAR & GRILL

Inside the Gold Coast Mall, 11403 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City 443-880-6258

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Serving daily small plates, soups, salads, sandwiches, fried rice, entrees and desserts. Also, Nori’s premium rolls, nigiri and sashimi, hand-roll combos. Full bar with wine, beer and cocktails. Inside dining and take out, 7 days a week, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Delivery via Door Dash online.

■ SOPHIA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT PIZZERIA

Inside the Gold Coast Mall, 11405 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City 410-723-5188

$$ | Kids’ menu

Appetizers, salads, subs, soup of the day. Specialty pizzas, calzones and low-carb alternatives, Italian entrées. A la carte fresh vegetables, homemade desserts. Open daily, 11:30 a.m. Call for take-out or delivery by Door Dash and Uber Eats.

WEST OCEAN CITY

■ OC CHOPSTICKS Asian Bistro 12741 Ocean Gateway, Suite 890, West Ocean City (Outlets Ocean City) 410-801-1111, www.occhopsticks.com

$$ | Beer | Premium Sake

Authentic Chinese, Japanese and Thai food. Dine-in and carry out. Lunch specials, dinner and lite fare. Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m to 9:30 p.m. and Friday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

■ PIZZA TUGOS

9935 Stephen Decatur Hwy., West Ocean City 410-524-2922, pizzatugos.com

$$/Full bar/ Celebrating 40 years in Ocean City. Offering pizza, wings, burgers, subs, salads, pasta and more! Open daily at 11 a.m. Serving food until 2 a.m.

Legendary filmmaker John Waters will headline the seventh annual Ocean City Film Festival, March 2-5, and will give a live performance on Saturday, March 4 at Ocean Downs Casino.

Fri., Feb. 24

PLANET FITNESS OPEN HOUSE

Planet Fitness, 12641 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City. 5 a.m.-9 p.m., Allowing nonmembers to exercise for free and take advantage of exclusive Black Card® Spa perks like the use of HydroMassage products, special discounts and more.

BABY TIME: ME, MYSELF AND MIRRORS!

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin. 10 a.m., Join in for fun, interactive time just for you and your teeny tiny. Stay after to socialize with other families. For ages 2 years and younger. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE - STORIES OF BLACK AND LATINO EXCEPTIONALISM

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., Berlin. 2 p.m., Professor of English, Dr. James King, from Salisbury University joins the group for this fascinating class in celebration of Black History Month. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

DOWN BY THE BAY: A PRESENTATION ON THE COASTSAL BAYS

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin. 2 p.m., Maryland Coastal Bays staff will discuss local Coastal Bays watershed. Learn about how the MCBP protects and restores water quality and ecological integrity. 410-2084014, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

COOKS-N-BOOKS: CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Worcester County Library - Pocomoke Branch, 301 Market St., Pocomoke City. 6 p.m., Choose a book from the library display and make a dish to share at the potluck celebration. Registration is necessary: 410957-0878. www.worcesterlibrary.org.

THE LION KING JR.

Worcester Preparatory School, Athletic; Performing Arts Center, 508 S. Main St., Berlin. 6 p.m., Door open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Open to the public. Tickets cost $18 in advance or $20 at the door. Advance tickets: https://www.worcesterprep.org/arts/musical-tickets, 410-641-3575.

Sat., Feb. 25

PLANET FITNESS OPEN HOUSE

Planet Fitness, 12641 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City. 6 a.m.-9 p.m., Allowing nonmembers to exercise for free and take advantage of exclusive Black Card® Spa perks like the use of HydroMassage products, special discounts and more.

CRAFTY SATURDAY STEM EDITION: ICKY STICKY FUN!

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin. 10 a.m., Icky, sticky and all made by you. Get ready

to get messy. For ages 4 years and older. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

BINGO FUNDRAISER

American Legion Synepuxent Post 166, 2308 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City. 1-4 p.m., Sponsored by Ocean City\Berlin Rotary Club. Tickets cost $30 in advance or $35 at the door. Advance tickets: ocberlinrotary.com. More information at ocberlinrotary@gmail.com.

THE LION KING JR.

Worcester Preparatory School, Athletic; Performing Arts Center, 508 S. Main St., Berlin. 3 p.m., Door open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Open to the public. Tickets cost $18 in advance or $20 at the door. Advance tickets:

https://www.worcesterprep.org/arts/musical-tickets, 410-641-3575.

BACK TO THE FUTURE: RESTORING THE GERMANTOWN SCHOOL Germantown School, 10223 Trappe Road, Berlin, 10 a.m. to noon. Come listen to the stories of the community that made the restoration possible. Free and open to the public. Register: germantownschool@gmail.com or Karen Prengaman, 443-235-9803.

FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

Saturdays until Feb. 25 - White Horse Park, 239 Ocean Parkway, 9 a.m. to noon. Shop for everything from fresh local produce to unique handmade artisan goods. Open to the public.

Sun., Feb. 26

PLANET FITNESS OPEN HOUSE

Planet Fitness, 12641 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City. 6 a.m.-9 p.m., Allowing nonmembers to exercise for free and take advantage of exclusive Black Card® Spa perks like the use of HydroMassage products, special discounts and more.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES MEETING

Sundays - Berlin Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 212 West St., Berlin, 10 a.m. www.jw.org

Mon., Feb. 27

STORY TIME; RAINBOWS

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, Ocean City. 10:30 a.m., Crafts, songs and stories about rainbows. For ages 2-5 years. 410524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

SURVIVAL 101: ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin. 1 p.m., Learn about emergency preparedness in a new and creative way. Recommended for ages 8 years and older. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

WRITING FOR WELLNESS

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin. 1:30 p.m., Writing about stressful experiences like illness may boost health and psychological well-being. Group uses exercises to stimulate creative expression. 410-2084014, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

CIRCUITS AND ELECTRICITY - STEM

Worcester County Library - Pocomoke Branch, 301 Market St., Pocomoke City. 4 p.m., Learn about how electricity and circuits work and practice using the snap circuit games. For ages 8 years and older. Registration required: 410-957-0878. www.worcesterlibrary.org.

T.O.P.S. OF BERLIN - GROUP #169

Atlantic General Hospital, Conference Room 1, 9733 Healthway Drive, Berlin. 410-6410157. 5-6:30 p.m., Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a weekly support and educational group promoting weight loss and living a healthy lifestyle. Rose Campion, 410-641-0157.

ROMANCE BOOK CLUB; HONEY GIRL BY MORGAN ROGERS

The Buzzed Word, 11805 Coastal Highway, Unit C, Ocean City. 6 p.m., Join the Ocean City Library and The Buzzed Word for an afternoon of Queer Romance and wine. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

DELMARVA WOMEN’S A CAPELLA CHORUS

Mondays - Ocean Pines Community Center, 239 Ocean Parkway, 6:00-8:00 p.m. All ladies who love to sing invited. Mary, 410629-9383 or Carol, 302-242-7062.

Tues., Feb. 28

STORY TIME; FROG STORIES

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., Berlin. 10:30 a.m., Stories, songs and finger plays. Take-home activity included. For ages 2-5 years.

ART SHOW

Jill Oliver, pictured with her son, Jake, took first place for her black-andwhite photo during the "Opposites Attract" show at the Ocean City Center for the Arts on 94th Street. The show runs through Feb. 25.

410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

STORY TIME; DR. SEUSS

Worcester County Library - Pocomoke Branch, 301 Market St., Pocomoke City. 10:30 a.m., The group will be reading some Dr. Seuss classics and making a Seussthemed craft to celebrate his birthday. For ages 2-5 years. 410-957-0878, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

OC KNITTING GROUP

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, Ocean City. 10:30 a.m., Bring whatever project you happen to be working on. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH CRAFTS

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., Berlin. 3:30 p.m., Celebrate Black History Month. Make special crafts inspired by Black art. For ages 8 years and older. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

BEACH HEROES-OC

Tuesdays - Volunteer beach clean-up group meets from 9-10 a.m., year-round. Trash bags, grippers and gloves provided. Check the Facebook page “Beach Heroes-OC” for weekly meeting locations. All are welcome.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES MEETING

Tuesdays - Berlin Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 212 West St., Berlin, 7 p.m. www.jw.org

TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY

Tuesdays - Worcester County Health Department, 9730 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 3:30-4:30 p.m. TOPS is a weekly support and education group promoting weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. 410-289-4725

OC KNITTING CLUB

Continued on Page 31

Hiring Cooks, Audio/Video Techs, Maintenance Staff, Painters, Carpenter, Plumber, Housekeeper Apply in person or online at seacrets.com

BOAT BOTTOM PAINTER for West Ocean City Boat Yard. Call 410-213-2296

Barn 34 Hiring All Positions

Apply in person

Wed. & Thurs. between 9am - 12pm 3400 Coastal Hwy.

Security Guard Positions available in local high-rise condominium.

Part time and/or full time. Good starting pay w/salary increase and bonuses available annually. Send resume to apurnell@legumnorman.co m

Small Engine Mechanic. Year-round. Competitive wages. 443-754-1047

Worcester County Health Department

ACCOUNTANT II - Full Time, State Benefits. This position assists and supports the Accountant Supervisor with the day-to-day operations of the Worcester County Health Department. This requires an advanced level of examining, analyzing and interpreting accounting systems, records and reports by applying generally accepted accounting principles in order to maintain health department accounting systems and prepare financial reports/statements. This also includes the preparation and management of budgets, management of the agency’s corporate purchasing card program and management of inventory. Background check required.

APPLY ONLINE at www.jobapscloud.com/md by March 2, 2023.

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.

Worcester Preparatory School is seeking

EXPERIENCED TEACHERS

Candidates for this position should possess a degree in education. Previous experience teaching lower, middle and upper school students is desirable. State certification is not required. Candidates with experience and an interest in coaching are desirable.

Located on Maryland's Eastern Shore in Berlin just fifteen minutes from the Ocean City benches. Worcester Preparatory School is a co-ed independent day school of over 500 students in grades pre-K - 12. The school has comprehensive facilities on a 45-acre campus just a mile from the vibrant town center in Berlin. Governed by an independent board of trustees, WPS was founded in 1970 and enjoyed rapid growth in the decades that followed. It is the premier independent school on the Eastern Shore, drawing students from Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware; some travelling over an hour to reach campus. All graduates matriculate to four-year colleges or universities, many among the most selective in the nation. Worcester Preparatory School is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Compensation and benefits are competitive with other area private schools and are adjusted based on experience level and credentials.

Interested persons should send a letter of interest, employment application, resume, and educational philosophy (if available) to Linda Watson, Director of Human Resources, at lwatson@worcesterprep.org.

Maintenance Positions available in local high-rise condominium. Part time and/or full time available. Good starting pay w/salary increase and bonuses available annually.

Send resume to apurnell@legumnorman.co

m

NOW HIRING!!

Production Crew for our WOC kitchen facility

Up to $20/hr. Apply online at: www.delmarvadd.com

PAPA JOHN'S MANAGERS, DRIVERS INSIDERS

Ocean City 302-541-8081

Seeking RoommateBayview Estates, Selbyville. 5.7 miles to beach. Includes utilities & internet. Shared kitchen, W/D, living room, outdoor space, POOL. VERY CLEAN. $850/month. 302-386-7818

ROOMMATE NEEDED 1BR. 94th St. Bayside. Nonsmoker. Must love dogs. $200/week plus utilities. Year round or Winter rental negotiable. Hot tub access. Text 410-726-5200 difficult to answer calls.

Fully Furnished Room for Rent Ocean Pines. All Utilities Included. Full House Privileges. Year round or Seasonal. $600 per month 443-880-2317

RENTALS

Seeking YR & Seasonal Rentals! Call Howard Martin Realty 410-352-5555.

WINTER WEEKLY RENTALS Utililites Included CONTACT US AT burgundyinn@gmail.com 410-289-8581

Yearly & Seasonal Rentals

We Welcome Pets 7700 Coastal Hwy 410-524-7700

www.holidayoc.com

Industrial Warehouse Spaces: 4000 sq. ft., 2100 sq. ft. and 1500 sq. ft. Masonry construction, 18 ft. high ceiling, large garage door, bathroom. Route 90/Bishopville. Call 443-497-4200.

1 Office/Retail Space available in West Ocean City. Approximately 1600 sq. ft. Call 443-497-4200

FOR SALE

2018 SeaDoo GTI 130 Jet Ski. Great condition! $6500 OBO. 297 hrs. BYO trailer. Located in Ocean Pines. Call 717-554-1860.

Do you have an old bicycle not being used? It could mean a world of difference to a hard-working international student. We are looking to get as many bikes as possible. Your donation will be taxdeductible. Contact Gary at 443-975-3065.

This position reports to both the Head of Upper School and the Head or Middle School. Candidates for this position should possess a BS degree in Mathematics, with the demonstrated ability to teach Algebra at the above referenced level. Previous experience teaching middle and upper school students is desirable. State certification is not required. Candidates with the experience and interest to coach are desirable.

Located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in Berlin just fifteen minutes from the Ocean City beaches, Worcester Preparatory School is a co-ed independent day school of over 500 students in grades pre-K-12. The school has comprehensive facilities on a acre campus just a mile from the vibrant town center in Berlin. Governed by an independent board of trustees, WPS was founded in 1970 and enjoyed rapid growth in the decades that followed. It is the premier independent school on the Eastern Shore, drawing students from Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware; some travelling over an hour to reach campus. All graduates matriculate to four-year colleges or universities, many among the most selective in the nation. Worcester Preparatory School is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Compensation and benefits are competitive with other area private schools and are adjusted based on experience level and credentials.

Interested persons should send a letter of interest, employment application, resume, and educational philosophy (if available) to Linda Watson, Director of Human Resources, at lwatson@worcesterprep.org.

302.259.1469

Info@AbsoluteFirstResponse.com

Residential & Commercial Cleaning

• Carpet • Tile & Grout • Upholstery

• General Cleaning • Beach Vacation Rental Cleanings

www.AbsoluteFirstResponse.com

Responsible, Animal Lover to work the front desk and take care of pets. DogTel in West OC. 410-984-5719

Advertise in MDDC 410-723-6397

PETS/PET SUPPLIES

Are you a pet owner? Do you want to get up to 100% back on Vet Bills? Physicians Mutual Insurance Company has pet coverage that can help! Call 1-888-928-1656 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow.com/mddc

VEHICLES WANTED

DONATE YOUR CAR/TRUCK/ RV - Lutheran Mission Society of MD Compassion Place ministries help local families with food, clothing, counseling. Tax deductible. MVA licensed #W1044. 410-228-8437 www.CompassionPlace.org

WANTED TO BUY

PAYING TOP CA$H FOR MEN'S SPORT WATCHES! Rolex, Breitling, Omega, Patek Philippe, Heuer, Daytona, GMT, Submariner and Speedmaster. Call 844-5063622.

CALENDAR

Continued from Page 29

Tuesdays - Worcester County LibraryOcean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m.

ARGENTINE TANGO PRACTICE

Tuesdays - Experienced dancers and others interested in watching or learning more are welcome, 7-9:30 p.m. No partner required. Info: TangobytheBeach.com.

Wed., March 1

MODERN SQUARE DANCING

Ocean Pines Community Center, 235 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines. 7 a.m.- May 31, 8:30 a.m., 12 Lessons of Social Square Dance -- the first four are free! Call Barb at 908-229-8799 or Arlene 302-436-4033 for more information.

IN PERSON SUPPORT GROUP FORMING

TidalHealth Richard A. Henson Cancer Institute Ocean Pines, 11105 Cathage Road, Berlin. 10-11 a.m., Providing emotional and wellness support, resources and educational opportunities. Groups will meet the first and third Wednesday of each month. Facilitated by Bethann McIntosh, 443-669-7573.

SPHERO INDI ROBOTS WITH SPECIAL GUEST FROM NASA

Worcester County Library - Pocomoke Branch, 301 Market St., Pocomoke City. 4 p.m., Join Dana Wright from NASA Wallops Visitors Center for the chance to pro-

gram Sphere Indo Robots for early learners. For ages 5 years and older. Registration required: 410-957-0878.

KIWANIS CLUB MEETING

Wednesdays - Ocean Pines Community Center, 235 Ocean Parkway, 8 a.m. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Third Wednesday meetings are offsite and will be updated monthly. Guests are welcome. www.kiwanisofopoc.org

Thurs. March 2

STORY TIME: HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. SEUSS!

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin. 10:30 a.m., Celebrate Dr. Seuss with a story and a fun craft. For ages 2-5 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

STORY TIME;BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR

Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., Snow Hill. 10:30 a.m., Stories, songs and rhymes. For ages 2-5 years. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

MERRY MAKERS: ORIGINAL VASES

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin. 10:30 a.m., Make a vase out of cans or jars. Limit 10. Registration required: 410-208-4014. www.worcesterlibrary.org.

CHESS CLUB

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, Ocean City. 10:30 a.m., Meet new friends and play some chess. Bring your boards. All are welcome. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

CHERRY BLOSSOM PAINTINGS

Snow Hill 50plus Center, 4767 Snow Hill Road, Snow Hill. 11 a.m., In honor of the National Cherry Blossom Festival held in Washington, DC the group will make cherry blossom paintings. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

7TH ANNUAL OCEAN CITY FILM FESTIVAL

Worcester County. 12-11 p.m., Showcasing more than 70 independent films in multiple genres at various Ocean City locations. For list of films, parties, Q&A and events: OCMDFilmFestival.com.

BOOK DISCUSSION: JUST AS I AM; BY CICELY TYSON AND MICHELLE BURFORD

Worcester County Library - Pocomoke Branch, 301 Market St., Pocomoke City. 2 p.m., Copies of the book are available at the library's front desk. 410-957-0878, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

SURVIVAL SPANISH: STUDENT EDITION: HOBBIES

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin. 4 p.m., Join Miss Morgan for this introductory Spanish program. The group will be learning about hobbies. For ages 9-12 years. 410-

208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org.

ZUMBA

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., Berlin. 4:30-5:30 p.m., Join certified Zumba instructor Joyce Landsman for an hour of movement. These classes uplift and improve mood. Registration required: 410-641-0650. www.worcesterlibrary.org.

7TH ANNUAL OCEAN CITY FILM FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT

Ocean City Performing Arts Center - Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City. 7 p.m., Featuring films with local interest such as; Hedgehog and The Biggest Little Farm: The Return." Followed by an Opening Night After Party at Seacrets. Featuring special $10 walk-in tickets.

Crossword answers from page 26

BWW Law Group, LLC

6003 Executive Blvd., Suite 101 Rockville, MD 20852

(301) 961-6555

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES' SALE OF REAL

PROPERTY AND ANY IMPROVEMENTS THEREON

6252 BASKET SWITCH RD. NEWARK, MD 21841

Under a power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust dated December 22, 2006, recorded in Liber 4842, Folio 91 among the Land Records of Worcester County, MD, with an original principal balance of $199,998.81, default having occurred under the terms thereof, the Sub. Trustees will sell at public auction at the Circuit Court for Worcester County, at the Court House Door, One W. Market St., Snow Hill, MD 21863, on

MARCH 14, 2023 AT 4:05 PM

ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND, together with any buildings or improvements thereon located in Worcester County, MD and more fully described in the aforesaid Deed of Trust.

The property, and any improvements thereon, will be sold in an "as is" condition and subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any, and with no warranty of any kind.

Terms of Sale: A deposit of $18,000 in the form of certified check, cashier's check or money order will be required of the purchaser at time and place of sale. Balance of the purchase price, together with interest on the unpaid purchase money at the current rate contained in the Deed of Trust Note from the date of sale to the date funds are received by the Sub. Trustees, payable in cash within ten days of final ratification of the sale by the Circuit Court. There will be no abatement of interest due to the purchaser in the event additional funds are tendered before settlement. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR THE PURCHASER. Adjustment of all real property taxes, including agricultural taxes, if applicable, and any and all public and/or private charges or assessments, to the extent such amounts survive foreclosure sale, including water/sewer, ground rent and front foot benefit charges, to be adjusted to date of sale and thereafter assumed by purchaser. Purchaser is responsible for any recapture of homestead tax credit. All transfer taxes and recordation taxes shall be paid by Purchaser. The purchaser shall be responsible for the payment of the ground rent escrow, if required. Condominium fees and/or homeowners association dues, if any, shall be assumed by the purchaser from the date of sale. Purchaser is responsible for obtaining physical possession of the property, and assumes risk of loss or damage to the property from the date of sale. The sale is subject to post-sale audit of the status of the loan with the loan servicer including, but not lim-

ited to, determination of whether the borrower entered into any repayment agreement, reinstated or paid off the loan prior to the sale. In any such event, this sale shall be null and void, and the Purchaser's sole remedy, in law or equity, shall be the return of the deposit without interest. If purchaser fails to settle within ten days of ratification, subject to order of court, purchaser agrees that property will be resold and entire deposit retained by Sub. Trustees as liquidated damages for all losses occasioned by the purchaser's default and purchaser shall have no further liability. The defaulted purchaser shall not be entitled to any surplus proceeds resulting from said resale even if such surplus results from improvements to the property by said defaulted purchaser. Sub. Trustees will convey either marketable or insurable title. If they cannot deliver one or the other, or if ratification of the sale is denied by the Circuit Court for any reason, the Purchaser's sole remedy, at law or equity, is return of the deposit without interest. BIDDERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO FOLLOW CDC GUIDANCE AND WEAR A COVER OVER BOTH NOSE AND MOUTH AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING AT THE AUCTION. (Matter No. 351124-3)

PLEASE CONSULT

WWW.ALEXCOOPER.COM FOR STATUS OF UPCOMING SALES

Howard N. Bierman, Carrie M. Ward, et. al., Substitute Trustees

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

(1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death; or

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

Kathryn S. Gosser

Personal Representative

True Test Copy

Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of newspaper designated by personal representative:

Ocean City Digest

Date of publication:

February 09, 2023

OCD-2/9/3t

JULIE A. SWANN ESQ. LAW OFFICES OF PETER G. ANGELOS, P.C. 100 N. CHARLES STREET, 22ND FLOOR BALTIMORE, MD 21201-3804

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 14219 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF MELVIN F. MISLAK

unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

David R. Mislak

Personal Representative

True Test Copy

Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest

Date of publication:

February 09, 2023

OCD-2/9/3t

CHRISTOPHER T. WOODLEY ESQ WILLIAMS, MOORE, SHOCKLEY & HARRISON

3509 COASTAL HIGHWAY OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 19572 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF RICHARD A. D’ANNUNZIO

Notice is given that Ronald J. D’Annunzio, 3307 N. Whales Road, Norristown, PA 19403, was on February 07, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Richard A. D’Annunzio who died on January 22, 2023, with a will.

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

OCD-2/23/3t

HOLLY A. MUSSELMAN, ESQ. 3314 PAPER. MILL ROAD, STE. 103 PHOENIX, MD 21131

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 19554

TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF CHARLES RONALD GOSSER

Notice is given that Kathryn S. Gosser, 82 Hingham Lane, Berlin, MD 21811, was on February 01, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Charles Ronald Gosser who died on December 8, 2022, with a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 1st day of August, 2023.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to

Notice is given that David R. Mislak, 1504 Hawthorne Court, Freeland, MD 21053, was on February 03, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Melvin F. Mislak who died on March 2, 2011, 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 3rd day of August, 2023.

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

(1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death; or

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 7th day of August, 2023.

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

(1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death; or

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

Ronald J. D’Annunzio Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest

Date of publication:

February 16, 2023

OCD-2/16/3t

BWW Law Group, LLC

6003 Executive Blvd., Suite 101 Rockville, MD 20852

Carrie M. Ward, et al.

6003 Executive Blvd., Suite 101 Rockville, MD 20852

Substitute Trustees/ Plaintiffs vs. RUTH P. ROBERTSON

THOMAS H. ROBERTSON (DESEASED)

44 Nottingham Lane Berlin, MD 21811

Defendant(s) IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND

Case No. C-23-CV-22-000250

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given this 8th day of February, 2023, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, that the sale of the property mentioned in these proceedings and described as 44 Nottingham Lane, Berlin, MD 21811, made and reported by the Substitute Trustee, will be RATIFIED AND CONFIRMED, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 13th day of March, 2023, provided a copy of this NOTICE be inserted in some weekly newspaper printed in said County, once in each of three successive weeks before the 6th day of March, 2023.

The report states the purchase price at the Foreclosure sale to be $216,643.48.

Susan R. Braniecki Clerk, Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland True Copy

Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County MD OCD-2/16/3t

MICHAEL B. MATHERS ESQ

WEBB, CORNBROOKS, WILBER, VORHIS, DOUSE & MATHERS, LLP PO BOX 910 115 BROAD STREET SALISBURY, MD 21803-0910

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Estate No. 19580

TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF GEORGE D. ENGLAND

Notice is given that Kristina E. Muneses, 24 Greenmeadow Drive, Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093, was on February 09, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of George D. England who died on January 8, 2023, with a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills

on or before the 9th day of August, 2023.

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

(1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death; or

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

Kristina E. Muneses

Personal Representative

True Test Copy

Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of newspaper designated by personal representative:

Ocean City Digest

Date of publication:

February 16, 2023

OCD-2/16/3t

CHRISTOPHER T WOODLEY ESQ

WILLIAMS, MOORE, SHOCKLEY & HARRISON

3509 COASTAL HIGHWAY

OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of GERTRUDE CAROLINE YAWORNICKY Estate No. 19583

Notice is given that CAROL YAWORNICKY WITHERS whose address is 20751 ROYAL PALACE SQUARE #423 STERLING, VA 20165 was on FEBRUARY 09, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of GERTRUDE CAROLINE YAWORNICKY who died on JANUARY 2, 2023 with a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent's will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 9th day of AUGUST, 2023

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

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

(2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this

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

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County

ONE W MARKET STREET

ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE

SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074

NOTICE

OCD-2/16/3t

BID SOLICITATION

Sale of Surplus Property

Worcester County, Maryland

Worcester County has declared surplus and now offers for sale the following described real properties: Economic Development Building – 100 Pearl Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863 and Warehouse Facility – Prior Liquor Control Building – 5363 Snow Hill Road, Snow Hill, MD 21863.

Bid Documents for the above referenced project may be obtained from the Worcester County Commissioner’s Office by either e-mailing the Procurement Officer, Nicholas Rice, at nrice@co.worcester.md.us or by calling 410-632-1194 during normal business hours, or via the County’s Bids page on the County’s website. Vendors are responsible for checking this website for addenda prior to submitting their bids. Worcester County is not responsible for the content of any Bid Document received through any third party bid service. It is the sole responsibility of the vendor to ensure the completeness and accuracy of their Completed Bid Documents.

All offers and any other documents required as noted in this RFP and any addenda must be submitted to Nicholas Rice, Procurement Officer, 1 West Market Street, Room 1103, Snow Hill, MD 21863, by Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Late Bid Documents will not be accepted. Submit one (1) original and three (3) copies of completed Proposal Documents. Each copy of the proposal will be bound in a single volume. All copies of the Proposal submittal and any other documents required to be submitted with the Proposal will be enclosed in a sealed envelope. The envelope will be identified with the project name and the Proposer’s name and address. If the proposal is sent by mail, the sealed envelope will be enclosed in a separate mailing envelope with the notation “SEALED PROPOSAL ENCLOSED-Economic Development Building” or “SEALED PROPOSAL ENCLOSED-Warehouse Facility”, in the bottom left-hand corner of the sealed envelope

Minority vendors are encouraged to compete for award of the solicitation.

THE WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of ANDREW J. CALVERT Estate No. 19567 Notice is given that BRUCE CALVERT whose address is 9 PARK AVENUE, WESTMINISTER, MD 21157 was on FEBRUARY 07, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ANDREW J. CALVERT who died on DECEMBER 22, 2022 with a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent's will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 7th day of AUGUST, 2023.

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

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

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

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-2/16/3t

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Estate No. 19568

TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF LUBIN W. PILCHARD

Notice is given that Lubin Kyle Pilchard, 3852 Sirman Drive, Snow Hill, MD 21863, was on February 07, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lubin W. Pilchard who died on July 11, 2002, without a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 7th day of August,

2023.

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

(1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death; or

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

Lubin Kyle Pilchard

Personal Representative

True Test Copy

Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County

One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of newspaper designated by personal representative:

Ocean City Digest

Date of publication:

February 16, 2023

OCD-2/16/3t

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Estate No. 19584 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF ROBERT J. GRAY JR.

Notice is given that Deborah Parker, 252 Whistling Pine Road, Severna Park, MD 21146, was on February 09, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Robert J. Gray Jr. who died on December 30, 2022, with a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 9th day of August, 2023.

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

(1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death; or

(2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the

claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Deborah Parker Personal Representative True Test Copy

Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County

One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of newspaper designated by personal representative:

Ocean City Digest

Date of publication:

February 16, 2023

OCD-2/16/3t

CHARLES T. CAPUTE ESQ MCALLISTER, DE TAR, SHOWALTER & WALKER LLC 100 N. WEST STREET EASTON, MD 21601-2710

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of WILLIAM G B OCHSE Estate No. 19586 Notice is given that MARY C OCHSE whose address is P O BOX 551 OCEAN CITY, MD 21843 was on FEBRUARY 10, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of WILLIAM G B OCHSE who died on NOVEMBER 25, 2022 with a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent's will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 10th day of AUGUST, 2023

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

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

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

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AGENDA for THURSDAY MARCH 9, 2023

Pursuant to the provisions of the Worcester County Zoning Ordinance, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held in-person before the Board of Zoning Appeals for Worcester County, in the Board Room (Room 1102) on the first floor of the Worcester County Government Center, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland.

6:30 p.m. Case No. 23-12, on the lands of William Young, requesting an after-the-fact variance to the right side yard setback from 20 feet to 6.2 feet (to encroach 13.8 feet) for a pole building in the A-1 Agricultural District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1201(b)(5) & ZS 1-305 located at 1918 St. Lukes Road, Tax Map 36, Parcel 30, Tax District 7, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:35 p.m. Case No. 23-13, on the application of T. Garvey Heiderman, on the lands of Village Greens Enterprises Limited, requesting a special exception to allow a food waste composting facility in the A-1 Agricultural District pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(3), ZS 1201(c)(33) and ZS 1-329, located at 11923 St. Martins Neck Road, Tax Map 10, Parcel 280, Tax District 5, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:40 p.m. Case No. 23-15, on the application of Mark Cropper, on the lands of Gerald Campana requesting a modification to the minimum separation requirement of waterfront structures to an adjoining property line from 6 feet to 4 feet (to encroach 2 feet), pursuant to Natural Resources Code §§ NR 2-102(e)(2), Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(n)(3) and ZS 1-207(d)(6), located at 14 Driftwood Lane, Tax Map 16, Parcel 38, Section 1, Lot 309, Tax District 3, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:45 p.m. The Re-advertisement of Case No. 23-3, on the lands of Mark Solito, requesting a variance to the left side yard setback from 10 feet to 8 feet (to encroach 2 feet) & a rear yard variance from 25 feet to 19.5 feet (to encroach 5.5 feet) for a proposed 2nd story deck in the R-1 Rural Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1-205(b)(2) & ZS 1-305 located at 11464 Maid at Arms Lane, Tax Map 26, Parcel 1, Lot 48, Tax District 3, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:50 p.m. Case No. 23-6, on the application of Hugh Cropper, IV, on the lands of Box 64 B Selbyville, LLC requesting a variance to the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Ordinance to exceed the allowable 100 feet tidal wetland crossing by 86 feet for a proposed 3’x 186’ walkway over tidal wetlands, pursuant to Natural Resources Code §§ NR 3-125(b)(1) and Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(n)(2), ZS 1-215(d)(4) and ZS 1-305(p)(3), lo-

cated on the east side of Jarvis Road about 2,392 feet south of Bishopville Road, Tax Map 9, Parcel 350, Lot 2A, Tax District 5, Worcester County, Maryland. OCD-2/23/2t

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS TOWN OF OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 110 of the Code of Ocean City, Maryland, hereinafter referred to as the Code, same being the Zoning Ordinance for Ocean City, Maryland, notice is hereby given that public hearings will be conducted by the Board of Zoning Appeals for Ocean City, Maryland in the Council Chambers of City Hall located on Baltimore Avenue and Third Street, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland on:

March 9, 2023 at 6:00 PM

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(2), Powers, of the Code, an appeal has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-94(2)(b) requesting a special parking exception of one (1) space for the addition of a new accessory room to be considered a bedroom per Code Section 110-933(a). The site of the appeal is described as Unit 9, Parcel 6196 of the Sea Village Plat, further described as located on the west side of Atlantic Avenue between 35th and 36th Streets, and known locally as 3513 Atlantic Avenue Unit 9, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

APPLICANT: MICHAEL & MARGARET PRESTIFILIPPO – (BZA 2648 23-09400005)

6:10 PM

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(3), Powers, of the Code, an appeal has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-95(1)(a) requesting after-the-fact variances in the MH-Mobile Home zoning district, for a newly constructed singlefamily dwelling unit and HVAC units which encroaches into the required 5’ eastern side yard setback and the required 10’ western front yard setback along Oyster Lane. The site of the appeal is described as Lot 1119, Section 3A, of the Montego Bay Mobile Home Park Plat; further described as located on the southeast corner of Beachcomber Lane and Oyster Lane, and locally known as 211 Beachcomber Lane, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

APPLICANT: LINDA & MICHAEL MARTIN – (BZA 2645 2309500001)

Further information concerning the public hearings may be examined in the office of the Department of Planning and Community Development in City Hall.

Christopher Rudolf, Chairman Maureen Howarth Esq., Attorney OCD-2/23/2t

RONALD B. GREENE, ESQ. LAW OFFICE OF RONALD B. GREENE, ESQUIRE 219 BANJO LANE CENTREVILLE, MD 21617

NOTICE OF CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES ESTATE NO 19549

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the ORPHANS court of YORK COUNTY, PA appointed DANIEL E. CHAMPAGNE whose address is 97 CLOVER RUN ABBOTTSTOWN, PA 17301 PHILLIP A. CHAMPAGNE WHOSE ADDRESS IS 308 DORCHESTER DRIVE LITITZ, PA 17543 as the EXECUTORS of the Estate of NORMAND CHAMPAGNE AKA: who died on MAY 28, 2022 domiciled in PENNSYLVANIA, USA.

The Maryland resident agent for service of process is RONALD B. GREENE, ESQ. who address is OFFICE OF RONALD B. GREENE, 219 BANJO LANE, CENTREVILLE, MD 21617. At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following Maryland counties: WORCESTER.

All persons having claims against the decedent must file their claims with the Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY with a copy to the foreign personal representative on or before the earlier of the following dates:

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

(2) Two months after the foreign personal representative mails or 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 claim within two months from the mailing or delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County

ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE

SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074

OCD-2/23/3t

PW 23-005 A request has been submitted to install seven temporary mooring buoys a maximum channelward extension of 50’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 4501 COASTAL HWY Parcel # 7011 -4-0 -0113768957 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: Aloft Hotel t/a Hotel at 45 LLC

APPLICANT: Kristina L.

Watkowski

PW 23-022 A request has been submitted to install one boat lift on existing pilings a maximum channelward extension of 20’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 119 70TH ST UNIT B Parcel # 6636 -B, Slip M18 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: Cape Properties LLC

APPLICANT: McGinty Marine

Construction

PW 23-023 A request has been submitted to install a 24’ pier extension to an existing 16’ pier for a total length of 40’; to install one boat lift with four associated pilings, maximum channelward extension of 40’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 417 14TH ST UNIT 63 Parcel # 3486 -63 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: James Orr

APPLICANT: Pristine Permitting, LLC

PW 23-024 A request has been submitted to remove an existing parallel platform, install 41’ of replacement vinyl bulkhead 18” channelward of existing bulkhead; to install a new 6’x30’ parallel platform and to install a 6’ pier extension to an existing 6’x25’ perpendicular pier for a total length of 36’. All construction a maximum channelward extension of 37’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 190 BEACHCOMBER LN Parcel # 8020A-1400B- in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: Paul Wendell Jennings

Trust

APPLICANT: Ocean Services of DE, Inc.

623 B BAYSHORE DR Parcel # 5276 -600B in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: David Nguyen

APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart & Assoc., Inc.

PW 23-027 A request has been submitted to repair with vinyl replacement ~ 41lf of deteriorated aluminum bulkhead using batter piles, maximum channelward +/- 3’; construct a 6’x15’ pier extension for a total length of 50’; relocate existing boat lift to end of pier and install one new boat lift and two PWC lifts with associated pilings. All work not to exceed 50’ channelward extension. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 623 A BAYSHORE DR Parcel # 5276 -600A in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: David Nguyen

APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart & Assoc., Inc.

PW 23-028 A request has been submitted to install one boatlift with associated pilings a maximum 27’ channelward of existing bulkhead; to install one davit on the NW corner of the existing pier, maximum channelward 7’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 14117 CAINE STABLE RD Parcel # 7101A-10 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: William McFaul

APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart & Assoc., Inc.

PW 23-029 A request has been submitted to construct a 3’ x 17.5’ pier and install one boat lift with associated pilings a maximum of 17.5’ of channelward of existing bulkhead, not to exceed past existing mooring pile. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 718 BRADLEY RD SLIP F Parcel # 2575A-F in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: Raymond Fiori, TR

APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart & Assoc., Inc.

channelward of existing bulkhead. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 14102 LAUREL AVE Parcel # 0051B-14 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: Karen Landes Scherr

APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart & Assoc., Inc.

PW 23-033 A request has been submitted to construct a 3’ x 10’ pier extension for a total length of 30’; and install one boatlift with associated pilings a maximum of 34’ channelward of existing bulkhead. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 13501 HOLLY LN UNIT 6 Parcel # 9600A-6 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: Frank Meekins

APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart & Assoc., Inc.

PW 23-034 A request has been submitted to repair with vinyl replacement ~25 lf of deteriorated bulkhead using batter piles, maximum +/- 3’ channelward; construct a 4’ x 15’ pier extension and move existing boatlifts and floating dock to end of pier, total work not to exceed 50’ channelward extension. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 625 B BAYSHORE DR Parcel # 5276 -601B in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: John Frederick Leskowits

APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart & Assoc., Inc.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS BOARD OF PORT WARDENS

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 106, ”Waterways,” Article II – “Shoreline Development” of the Code of the Town of Ocean City, Maryland, hereinafter referred to as the Code, same being the Port Wardens Ordinance of Ocean City, Maryland, notice is hereby given that public hearings will be conducted in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 301 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, Maryland.

Thursday, March 9, 2023

PW 23-025 A request has been submitted to install a 200 square foot platform parallel with concrete bulkhead not to exceed 6’ channelward; and to permit an existing 400 square foot platform sitting area over water, maximum channelward extension of 16’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 4507 COASTAL HWY Parcel # 7015 - in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: S & S Properties

APPLICANT: Hidden Oak Farm, LLC

PW 23-026 A request has been submitted to repair with vinyl replacement ~25 lf of deteriorated aluminum bulkhead using batter piles, maximum channelward +/-3’; construct a 4’x15’ pier extension, relocate existing boat lift to end of pier and install two PWC lifts with associated pilings, all work not to exceed 50’ channelward extension. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at

PW 23-030 A request has been submitted to construct a 6’ x 18’ pier extension, new pier total length 46’; relocate existing boat lift to end of pier, install one new boat lift and two PWC lifts with associated pilings a maximum 50’ channelward extension of existing bulkhead. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 122 CAPTAINS QUARTERS RD Parcel # 3701A-183 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: Thaddeus Bittner

APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart & Assoc., Inc.

PW 23-031 A request has been submitted to remove existing pier and construct a new 2.5’ x 16.5’ pier and install one boat lift with associated pilings a maximum 16.5’ channelward. Improvements not to exceed existing mooring pile. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 2820 PLOVER DR UNIT 16 Parcel # 4717 -16 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: Alaina McFadden

APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart & Assoc., Inc.

PW 23-032 A request has been submitted to install one PWC lift on an existing pole not to exceed 12’

PW 23-035 A request has been submitted to repair with vinyl replacement ~ 25 lf of deteriorated aluminum bulkhead using batter piles, not to exceed +/- 3’; Construct a 4’ x 15’ pier extension and install one boatlift and two PWC lifts with associated pilings a maximum of 50’ channelward extension of existing bulkhead. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 625 A BAYSHORE DR Parcel # 5276 -601A in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: Joseph Spencer

APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart & Assoc., Inc.

OCD-2/23/2t

renovated 3BR, 2BA home is located in this highly sought after community. Interior renovations include new bathrooms, new kitchen cabinets, new granite counters, new appliances, new washer/dryer, new subflooring, new vinyl plank flooring, new drywall, new 6-panel interior doors, new lighting/electrical, new plumbing and more. Exterior renovations include some new windows and new vinyl siding. Community amenities include 2 swimming pools, 1 kiddie pool, 2 tennis courts, pickle ball courts, shuffleboard court, 9-hole mini-golf course, 8-acre wildlife sanctuary/park area, 5-acre pond with blacktop walking/jogging trail, and a bayfront boardwalk with 3 fishing/crabbing piers...all for a low HOA fee of $360.00 a year!

$332,500

Call Bill Rothstein 800-745-5988 • 443-280-2530

montegobayrealty@aol.com

Stewardship option for landowners

By Lauren Bunting Contributing Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers a Forest Conservation and Management program and there are approximately 1,300 agreements in effect covering approximately 84,000 acres.

Private landowners are encouraged to practice forest stewardship and leave the land and its resources in better condition for future generations.

Each individual landowner can contribute to the future environmental quality and economic stability of Maryland by managing forestland according to a resource conservation plan.

The Forest Conservation and Man-

agement program details are as follows:

• Purpose: Encourage landowners to manage their forest land in return for a reduced and/or frozen property tax assessment.

• Scope: Any owner of five or more contiguous acres of forest land may enter the program. House sites, crop land and other non-forest open space is not eligible.

Open land that was recently planted to forest tree seedlings can be included in the program after one growing season. Land used to grow Christmas trees is also eligible if the trees will be cut at harvest.

• Description: The program is a legal agreement between the landowner and the Department of Natural Resources and is recorded in the land records of the county in which the property is located.

The landowner agrees to manage their forest land according to a man-

agement plan that is prepared for the property. The minimum acreage is five acres and the minimum length of the agreement is 15 years.

The property tax assessment on the forest land in the agreement is generally reduced and frozen at a low agricultural rate.

If the agreement is broken through failure to follow the plan, sale of the property to someone unwilling to assume the responsibility or if the landowner just wants to be out of the program, back taxes will be levied and will be computed back to the beginning of the agreement.

The agreement can be amended to increase or decrease acreage and it can be transferred to a buyer if the buyer is willing to assume the responsibilities of the agreement.

BAY

NEW LISTING!

MONTEGO BAY

117 CLAM SHELL ROAD

12905 Coastal Hwy • Ocean City, MD www.montegobayrealty.com

126

CLAM SHELL ROAD 12905

Lauren Bunting is the Broker of Record for Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva in Ocean City.

HMRA trade expo to be biggest one to date

(Feb. 24, 2023) The 49th annual Ocean City Trade Expo being held on March 5-6 at the Ocean City convention center will mark the largest Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association (OCHMRA) Trade Expo to date with more than 420 exhibits.

The expo will bring together industry leaders and procurement specialists from across the hospitality spectrum. The event is designed to reach the hospitality industry across all segments, including service providers and suppliers as well as senior executives of hotel brands, owners, and management companies.

The event will attract hospitality businesses who come to “sip, sample, shop and learn the latest industry trends,” according to Susan Jones, OCHMRA executive director and expo director.

The two-day event will offer education, two exhibit halls to discover new products/solutions, personalized business matching as well as a host of other networking opportunities.

The OCHMRA teamed up with the Maryland Tourism Coalition (MTC) to spark attendees’ creative appetite for learning by delivering applicable business lessons and best practices through its Solutions Showcase. Participants will engage in insightful discussion, amplify their knowledge, and receive actionable agendas. Here is a glimpse of the upcoming sessions:

• Questions to Ask Before You Sign

Your Restaurant Lease - Perhaps the document that will have the greatest impact on the success of your restaurant will be your lease.

It will also be the document that will determine the extent of your downside if you don’t succeed.

Sean Morris of The Morris Law Firm will discuss some of the questions you must ask and have answered clearly in your mind before you sign any restau-

rant lease.

• Why Digital Marketing is CRUCIAL in 2023 - Digital provides a way to showcase offerings to potential customers, build brand awareness and increase bookings and reservations.

With the rise of online travel planning and booking, a strong digital marketing strategy can help businesses reach and engage with their target audience, drive website traffic, and ultimately increase revenue.

Digital allows you to collect valuable data on your customer preferences and behaviors - informing future marketing efforts and improving the overall customer experience.

• YouTube Marketing – Learn how to create, organize and promote your video content to grow your brand on YouTube. Develop best practices for creating sharable content.

• Maximize Your Direct Bookings, The Guide to Mastering Hotel Metasearch – Even if your hotel is already using PCC and SEO campaigns to reduce dependence on OTAs and boost direct bookings, that’s no longer enough for independent hoteliers to succeed online in today’s digital landscape.

Metasearch platforms like Google Hotel Ads, Bing, TripAdvisor and Kayak now command a significant share of traveler attention.

Join Pete DiMaio from TravelBoom to learn what metasearch is, why it impacts your hotel marketing plan, and how you can leverage metasearch to achieve maximum direct bookings with an amazing ROAS.

• KEYNOTE: Communication Across Generations – The world is changing fast, and millennials are the faces of the future.

In this session, Sandy Dubay, Platinum PR will provide strategies to bridge the generation gap in a world of rapid-fire technological changes.

Dubay will provide suggestions for adapting to changes such as these and provide tips for all generations to work more effectively together both in-house and in the marketplace.

• How to Snap Better Smartphone Photos – John Dove from KRR Creative Strategies will show you how to take phenomenal photos with your smartphone.

This quick session will help you discover tips that will take your snapshot game from amateur to Ansel Adams.

• Employee Retention Tax CreditsGet up to $26,000 per W2 employee with the employee retention tax credit. Don’t leave money on the table. Talk

See HMRA Page 40

Worcester high school students get art awards

(Feb. 24, 2023) Students from all four Worcester County high schools received awards in the annual art competition sponsored by the Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club.

A total of 26 entries were submitted for the contest and are showcased in the exhibition held at the Worcester County Arts Council’s Gallery in Berlin.

The selection of artwork entered for the competition, including paintings, drawings and digital media, was judged by artist and former art educator, Sandy Glassman.

The competition offered a total of $2,000 in cash prizes to the student artists.

The winners are:

• Drawing: first place, Jacob Payne (Pocomoke High School); second, Makayla Murphy (Snow Hill High School); third, Angie Todorov (Worcester Preparatory School); honorable mention, Payton Carlile (Pocomoke High School).

• Painting: first, Alexa Arnold (Snow Hill High School); second, Izzy Huber (Worcester Preparatory Upper School); third, Olivia Brink (Stephen Decatur High School); honorable mention,

Kady Haley (Stephen Decatur High School).

• Digital: first, Alexia Shepherd (Pocomoke High School); second, Cayden Wallace (Worcester Preparatory Upper School); third, Anisha Batra (Worcester Preparatory Upper School).

• People’s Choice: Jacob Payne (Pocomoke High School).

• Blick gift certificate: This award was presented by Doris Glovier, a local artist and WCAC board member to Luke Laeser (Worcester Preparatory Upper

School).

The exhibit of students’ work will continue to be on display at the Arts Council’s Gallery until Feb. 27. Winning artwork may be also viewed online at: www.worcestercountyartscouncil.org

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Worcester County Arts Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support, promote and encourage visual, performing and literary arts in Worcester County.

As designated by the Maryland State Arts Council County arts agency, the Worcester County Arts Council is committed to fostering the excellence, diversity and vitality of arts, artists and arts organizations and increasing access to the arts for all members of our community.

The Worcester County Arts Council is funded by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council and supported by memberships, donations, and local sponsorships.

Pine Tones fixture in OP for nearly 40 years

(Feb. 24, 2023) For almost 40 years, the Pine Tones Chorus has been a staple of Ocean Pines, staging at least two major concerts each year while also performing at area nursing homes and adult daycare facilities. aSince 1984, the Pine Tones have presented annual spring and Christmas concerts. In 1999, the spring turnout was so large that several dozen people were

turned away, and subsequent programs were moved to the Ocean Pines Community Church.

Annual Christmas concerts were moved to the Atlantic United Methodist Church in Ocean City.

The Pine Tones are led by co-directors June Todd and Jenny Anderson, with piano accompaniment provided by

See PINE Page 47

For almost 40 years, the Pines Tones Chorus has been a staple of Ocean Pines, staging at least two major concerts each year while also performing at area nursing homes and adult daycare facilities.

HMRA trade expo to feature 420-plus vendors

Continued from Page 39

smarter tax planning today.

The expo’s combination of discovery, networking, collaboration, learning and curated buying experiences will aim to set a new standard for live events.

“Booths sold out at a record pace this year,” according to Jones.

Due to the popularity of exhibit space, the OCHMRA added a second hall, Dockside Hall, which will host Maryland’s Beverage Showcase exploring the latest trends and techniques in the winery, brewery and distillery world.

The Dockside area will also feature twenty-five suppliers from Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits, a cornhole fun zone sponsored by Junior Achievement and photo booths from Hoop Tea and

Big Truck Farm Brewery. Rounding out the Dockside Hall will be 24 exhibits and “The Art of Hospitality,” led by T.C. Studios where attendees will have the opportunity to test their painting skills with this fun hands-on activity.

A new twist to the event will be the Restaurant Association of Maryland’s “Battle of the Bridge” which is part of their Maryland World Food Championship qualifier series.

Eight chefs from the west and east of the Bay Bridge will compete in two elimination rounds for the Maryland World Food Championship spot.

One chef will receive the golden ticket to compete on the world stage and a $500 cash prize.

It is important to note that The Expo

is not open to the public, therefore to walk the show floor you must be a buyer or guest in the hospitality industry including employment with a hotel, motel, restaurant, catering company, concession stand, bed & breakfast, condo/property management company, cafeteria, nursing home, school/college, hospital, church, ice cream store or nursing home as examples.

Expo management reserves the right to determine if your registration fits “guest” parameters.

Expo hours are Sunday, March 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday, March 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

After March 1, on-site registration is $25 per person with proof of being in

the industry such as a business card; business license; or letter from an employer on company letterhead. Pay stubs are not accepted as proof. Attendees of the Expo will also be able to take advantage of “Show Specials,” offered by exhibitors.

For complete Expo information check out www.oceancitytradeexpo.com or call 410-289-6733.

The OCHMRA mission is to connect industry interests through advocacy, education, and partnerships with the goal of advancing Ocean City as a leading destination.

OCHMRA assists in solving common issues relative to the industry and acts as a clearinghouse for dissemination of information.

Students from all four Worcester County high schools received awards in the annual art competition sponsored by the Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club. A total of 26 entries were submitted and are showcased in the exhibition held at the Worcester County Arts Council’s Gallery in Berlin.

TRAINING

ART PROJECT

Jack Oliver of Frankford, Delaware, made a Valentine's heart during Free Family Art Day on Feb. 11 at the Ocean City Center for the Arts. Another Free Family Art Day is scheduled for March 18 at the Arts Center on 94th Street.

DONATION

SPIRIT DAY

Ocean City Elementary celebrated Disney/Cartoon Spirit Day on Jan. 20. Pre-4 teacher Kathy Huyett and

ANGLER HONORED

The

VALENTINE’S FOR VETS

Caring for America, a mission of the Republican Women of Worcester County, is for the 20th year supporting the “Valentines for Veterans Program.” The response from local schools and the community was overwhelming as the Republican Women of Worcester County group collected over 800 cards, which will be sent to veteran’s hospitals and rehab centers. Pictured are Vera Beck, RWWC chair for Caring for America and Linda Dearing, owner of Copy Central, which mailed the cards.

Ocean City Police Department Sgt. Kyle Murray and Cpl. Shawn Lindsey taught Alpha Delta – local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma – a course on “Active Shooter Response for Civilians,” which details response techniques for civilians during an active shooter incident.

Lauren Blair, provider and community relations manager for Coastal Hospice, Inc., left, recently spoke to the OC Lions about services offered. She is joined by Lauren King of Coastal Hospice and OC Lions President Norm Cathell.

Educational Assistant Sally-Ann Messick are joined by their students.

PHOTO COURTESY JOHN O'DELL

Atlantic Coast Sportfishing Association 2022 Angler of the Year award was presented to Sean Flaherty, who took top honors in both the bay and ocean divisions. Presenting the award is Tournament Master John McFalls.

PEDEGO BIKE RAFFLE

$25 1 Chance

$50 3 Chances

$100 7 Chances

$100 7 Chances

The Coastal REALTORS® Foundation is a charitable fund held by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. The association raises money for the fund through an annual charity golf tournament as well as other efforts through the year. The fund is accessible to members of Coastal through an application process administered by a committee of members. Grant recipients must be 501(c)3 organizations and must be located in Somerset, Wicomico, or Worcester counties.

Through out the year we raise money for the Coastal Foundation through raffles, our golf tournament held in October, and donations from our members. With over 1000 members on the Lower Shore, REALTORS® give back countless amounts of their time, money, and expertise to nonprofits. Grants are awarded 3 times a year.

For more information about the Coastal REALTORS® Foundation, visit www.coastalrealtors.org/car-foundation.

WE THANK OUR SPONSORS & YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION

Coastal Association of REALTORS®

DRAWING: May 31st, 2023

REALTORS® are members of the National Association of REALTORS®

Pedego Electric Blue Element

Cheesy grits served with shrimp and chorizo

By Deborah Lee Walker Contributing Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) When it comes to Southern foods, what could be more iconic than shrimp and grits?

What adds to the popularity of this dish is the fact that it can be found on menus at the most elegant restaurants and is also offered as a blue plate special at your favorite mom and pop eateries.

The origin of this popular dish as we know it today is thought to be Charleston, South Carolina, and the Low Country, more than 70 years ago.

Fresh, local, peeled shrimp were fried in bacon grease with onions and green peppers and served with a side of grits.

This unassuming breakfast dish took the nation by storm when Southern cuisine became something of a culinary ambassador and chefs wanted to ride this wave of fame.

Simplicity was infused with whimsical creativity where chefs alike put their own spin on the dish. It’s easy to see why shrimp and grits took off as a fine dining entrée.

The basic recipe offers a great combination of flavors – fresh shrimp, smokey bacon and creamy grits. This foundation is a dream basket and can be pivoted into an elegant dish at an affordable price.

I grew up on grits but they have come a long way.

Grits, water, bacon drippings, salt and pepper were the very essence of my childhood memories.

The following Parmigiano Reggiano grits recipe is as decadent as it gets.

Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, garlic, shallots, chicken broth and heavy cream are the essence of this recipe. And what goes better with cheese than tomatoes. Shrimp, ground chorizo, mirepoix, crushed tomatoes and seafood broth encompasses history with a twist.

The Eastern Shore is a cornucopia of cultures where variance is welcomed with open arms.

Tradition is a good thing and such be respected. At the same time, surpassing the perimeters of conventionalism induces innovation.

Parmigiano Reggiano grits with succulent shrimp and spicy chorizo is a must for those who enjoy the bounties of land and sea with a kick! Enjoy.

you add the cheese now, it will clump and ruin the velvety smoothness of the grits).

See TOP Page 44

1 large shallot, minced

1 large clove garlic, minced

4 teaspoons unsalted butter

4 teaspoons canola oil

3 cups chicken broth

1 cup Quaker Old Fashioned Grits

1 cup of cold water

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 1/3 cups freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

kosher salt to taste

a1. In a large nonstick pot, sauté shallots, garlic, butter, canola oil and one cup of chicken stock over very low heat for 30 minutes.

The goal is to get the aromatics to the point where they dissolve into the grits. If the pan starts to get dry, add a little water.

2. Add grits, water, remaining chicken stock, cream and salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. (If

Parmigiano Reggiano Grits

3. Remove pot from heat and stir in the cheese. Cover until ready to

Top grits with shrimp, chorizo

Continued from Page 43

serve.

Grits have a tendency to thicken as they sit, just add a touch of milk to thin them out.

Shrimp and Chorizo Topping

4 tablespoons canola oil

4 large cloves garlic, minced

½ large yellow onion, finely diced

½ cup celery, finely diced

½ cup yellow or orange bell pepper, seeded, and finely chopped

8 ounces crumbled chorizo sausage

14 ounces crushed tomatoes

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 cup each seafood and chicken broth

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 teaspoon bacon dripping

2 tablespoons dried oregano

1 tablespoon dried basil

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 bay leaves

kosher salt to taste

pinch of baking soda

splash of heavy cream

1 pound (16-20) shrimp, deveined, peeled, tail-on shrimp

fresh finely chopped parsley, Parmigiano Reggiano and freshly ground black pepper as a garnish

1. Place oil in a large Dutch oven

over medium heat. Add veggies and sausage and cook for 4 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, broths, vinegar, bacon drippings, seasonings and baking soda.

2. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated.

Add cream and shrimp, cover and cook just until shrimp are done, about 4 minutes. The most common mistake is to overcook the shrimp.

3. Remove the bay leaves. There is nothing more embarrassing for a guest to bite into a bay leaf and then have to graciously spit it out in the napkin or excuse themselves from the table.

4. Serve shrimp and chorizo topping on top of hot grits. Garnish with a dusting of parsley, Parmigiano Reggiano, and freshly ground black pepper.

Serves 4

* Frozen shrimp are perfectly acceptable and if one is on a budget, they are more cost effective.

* If you have any grits leftover, they make great fried grits cakes for breakfast. Follow your favorite potato cake recipe, replace the grits for mashed potatoes.

Secret Ingredient – Tradition. “Most seasonings are based on family tradition.”

– Wolfgang Puck

Life of journalist

honored

It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter to honor the life and work of Shawn J. Soper, a news journalist for the Maryland Coast Dispatch

Shawn was a dear friend to many, including the firefighters and paramedics of the Ocean City Fire Department, and his passing has left a profound impact on our community.

As the president of the Ocean City Firefighters Union, I had the pleasure of working closely with Shawn over the years.

He was a consummate professional, always committed to reporting the news accurately and in a way that would benefit the community.

But more than that, he was a friend who genuinely cared about our work and the impact we had on the people we served.

Shawn’s passion for local news and his dedication to his craft were matched only by his commitment to

the people he wrote about.

He always took the time to understand exactly what we did, how we did it, and the benefits we brought to the community.

His reporting was always fair, accurate, and highlighted the positive impact that all members of public safety had on the people of Ocean City.

It is a testament to Shawn’s character that he was so well-regarded and respected by his peers and the community he served.

His legacy as a journalist and community advocate will not be forgotten.

We extend our deepest sympathies to his lovely wife Trish, his family, friends, and colleagues at the Maryland Coast Dispatch during this difficult time.

Rest in peace, Shawn. You will be dearly missed.

Ryan Whittington President, Ocean City Firefighters Union

remembered,

Editor,

Ending tip credit has big downside

The dining out experience isn’t what it used to be for the public and restaurants, as the cost of food and supplies have gone way up at the same time potential customers have become more frugal because of their own financial concerns.

So, let’s just put this once-flourishing industry out of its misery by tripling the cost of labor. That’s what a pair of wellintentioned bills pending in the General Assembly could do to many dining establishments.

These bills — HB 1256 and SB 0803 — propose to make the pay scale for tipped employees more equitable by prohibiting employers from counting employees’ tip money as part of the minimum wage.

As the practice is now, the minimum cash wage for tipped employees is $3.63 an hour and employers are allowed to credit a portion of the tip total to that hourly rate to bring it up to the state’s standard of $13.25 an hour in combined earnings.

These bills, however, would eliminate that tip credit in stages until 2027, when it will be disallowed altogether and employees such as wait staff must be paid no less than whatever the state’s minimum wage will be then. As of 2026, it will be $15 an hour.

The question, though, is whether these tipped employees will be better off financially? Maybe not, because these measures assume that restaurant customers will be willing to pay the higher prices needed to meet these greatly expanded payrolls. Even if they are, they probably won’t be dropping many 18 percent tips on top of the significantly higher bills.

The flaw in these bills is that they’re based on the premise that everything in the restaurant industry (except the hourly wage, food costs and menu prices) will somehow remain the same. They also bet that consumers will pay no attention to the effect on their own wallets and will go out to eat just as frequently, while also continuing to tip at the 2023 level.

Those are huge assumptions. Supporters of these bills obviously believe they’re doing the right thing, but they don’t seem to have given much thought to the matter of unintended consequences. They need to chew on that before taking these measures any further.

Ocean City Today

EDITOR ............................................ Stewart Dobson

MANAGING EDITOR ................................ Lisa Capitelli

STAFF WRITERS ..............Jack Chavez, Mallory Panuska,

Hoffman

ACCOUNT MANAGERS .......... Mary Cooper, Vicki Shrier

Kelly

CLASSIFIEDS/LEGALS MANAGER .... Nancy MacCubbin

SENIOR DESIGNER ................................ Susan Parks

GRAPHIC ARTIST .................................... Kelly Brown

PUBLISHER........................................ Christine Brown

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ...................... Gini Tufts

Bird in hand worth ...

By Stewart Dobson Editor

When the Great Backyard Bird Count took place last weekend I recalled the last time I participated in Cornell University’s request that residents of this great country conduct a head or beak count of the various species they see on their properties.

Because I’m a big fan of birds, especially roast chicken, I naturally wanted to help by compiling a list of everything I saw over the course of an afternoon, minus the gulls and buzzards that frequent the neighborhood. The buzzards especially seem to loiter aloft for no apparent reason, although I haven’t checked with the neighbors.

I’ll admit that I’ve often wondered why these turkey vultures (cathartes aura to be precise, which translated means, strangely, “golden purifier,” seem to hang glide around here all the time.

I know I look lifeless in my recliner on Sunday afternoons, but I don’t think I’m drawing buzzards ... just yet, anyway.

But in addition, we don’t have much in the way of carrion around here for them to snack on, although I suppose they could get carryout from some other location and fly it in — if a buzzard flew commercial would it take carrion luggage? Anyway, we usually see all sorts of feathered friends in our yard, but on this day nothing. I looked everywhere. Up in the trees, down in the bushes and on the lawn. Nothing.

Eventually, I got bored and nodded off, while wondering where they all had gone. That’s just the way it is with bird watching. Some days you spot them, and on other days they sound so close, but for some reason you just can’t see exactly where they are.

BIT’s Wayne Littleton moving on after 22 years of service

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) For 22 years — 27 if you’re counting the volunteer years — Wayne Littleton has been the friendly voice over the phone or the smiling face at the Believe In Tomorrow House by the Sea to welcome families in their darkest hour of need.

On March 1, the program coordinator for the respite house for families of children afflicted with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses will retire and pave the way for other people to take command of the fundraising powerhouse he has helped build over the last two-plus decades.

“I started thinking about (this) during the pandemic,” Littleton said. “I felt like I’m a dinosaur now because everything is about technology and I struggle with it. I felt like the organization needs to get younger and sometimes I feel like time has passed me by.”

After discussing his retirement with founder and CEO Brian Morrison a couple of years ago, Littleton agreed to stay on and focus primarily on events. But eventually, Littleton wasn’t going to delay the inevitable any further.

“I’ve been very blessed here that I have developed a lot of personal rela-

tionships,” Littleton said. “I never felt like I worked a day in my life.”

Littleton was born and raised in the Worcester County area. Aside from his work with Believe In Tomorrow, he also coached football and softball at Stephen Decatur High School. He’s also worked with the county health department.

In 1996, he started volunteering for the organization and his prowess for fundraising quickly became apparent. A golf tournament raised $500. A second one, which he and organizers took to Eagles Landing Golf Course in Berlin, tripled that total at $1,500.

Five years later, he was asked to interview and officially came on board shortly thereafter.

“I feel like I’ve gotten the opportunity to meet a lot of wonderful families who have impacted my life,” Littleton said. “The thing I love the most is I’m still in touch with children who are adults now. I bonded with a lot of families and they become our family.”

Perhaps his most known feat is the Believe In Tomorrow prom season, the annual charity season that culminates with a prom at the beginning of every year. The most recent prom See BIT’S Page 47

BIT’s Littleton will be missed

Continued from Page 46

took place earlier this month on Feb. 4 and just happened to coincide with Littleton’s 22nd anniversary of Believe In Tomorrow employment.

The prom season features numerous fundraising events helmed by prom court members. Some of the events themselves have turned into their own yearly traditions, often passed along from one year’s prom court to the next but also some are held by members who participate year in and year out.

“Heartbroken,” said Shelly Leach, a member of this year’s prom court, when asked how she felt about Littleton’s impending departure. “It’s going to be quite different in Wayne’s absence. I guess it’s a wait-and-see kind of thing. He has forged so many friendships over the years with individuals and businesses. It’s going to be tough for someone to follow in his footsteps.”

Prom court member Todd Dundore said that Littleton’s shoes will be hard to fill — perhaps impossible.

“I don’t think anyone can fill his shoes,” Todd said. “He’s just so pleasant to work for and with and his energy just feeds off to the guys and

girls who … He’ll certainly be well missed and it’ll be hard for anyone to take over the way he’s done.”

Prom court member Jessica Jersey spoke to how Littleton’s belief in his idea paid off for the entire community.

“It’s really sad (to see him go). I know that people weren’t sure what to think about it when he came up with the concept of prom and it’s just exploded,” Jersey said. “He had a vision and stuck with his guns. He’s going to be sorely, sorely missed.”

Jill Ferrante, who raised the most money from this year’s prom, spoke to how Wayne’s ability to motivate the prom court each season.

“He pushed everyone,” Ferrante said. “For the prom, he would kind of instigate and tell everyone ‘Oh you’re close’ (or) ‘Oh someone’s behind you.’ He made it a competition and pushed us to raise the most money.”

“He has been the key to keeping everyone together. He’s the reason everything seems to work and he has been a great asset. If you ever needed him to help you with anything, he was there for you.”

Brian Morrison, founder of Believe

See LITTLETON Page 48

Pine Tones looking for members

Continued from Page 40

Anderson and her husband, Pete.

The full group includes more than 40 members, along with a series of musicians who help bolster the chorus with upright bass, trumpet, clarinet, flute and drums.

David Holloway, who joined the group in 2008 after retiring and moving from Pennsylvania, is the current president and Tom Hemmick is the publicity coordinator.

“Our programs are generally very diverse and feature some of the oldies and goodies, as sung by everyone from Sinatra to Mariah Carey,” Hemmick said.

The Pine Tones also covers The Beatles, Elvis, Nat King Cole, Frankie Valli, and Doris Day.

“Some of the most challenging music that we do comes from the old masters,” Hemmick said. “At the Christmas concert this year, we’ll have a song that’s very challenging by Mozart. And then we have done songs by more modern composers, like Andrew Lloyd Webber.”

The Pine Tones also do many smaller concerts each year in area nursing homes and retirement centers.

Holloway said those visits are good tune-ups for the big concerts – and great community outreach for the Pine Tones organization.

“It’s good for them and it’s good for us,” he said. “Some of these places are a senior daycare center, and others are more like a nursing home. So, we have everything from people who are dressed to the nines and eating at tables

with tablecloths, to the folks that are wheeled in on a bed, and hopefully they’re enjoying the music.

The Pine Tones are always looking for new members, Hemmick said.

“We are looking for all voice parts, which are sopranos, altos, tenors and basses – and if a person doesn’t know what voice part they are singing, we will help them,” he said. “New members are usually paired off with more experienced members, which helps them learn all the new music and songs.”

Rehearsals for the spring concert will start during the first week of March.

“We’re an older group and most members are north of 70, but we also have some younger people who don’t work on Thursdays, when we have our rehearsals at 1 p.m. in the community center,” Hemmick said. “If you’re interested in singing with us, please stop by or get in contact.”

Hemmick said a prior member celebrated his 100th birthday in 2012 – and then continued to sing for five more years.

“Even at that age, he sang a solo [in 2012],” Hemmick said, adding the solo happened to be a Gilbert and Sullivan song with 12 verses. “It was quite an event.”

Funding for the Pine Tones comes from sponsorships and donations from community members.

For information about the Pine Tones, including membership and sponsorship opportunities, contact Holloway at david.holloway1965@gmail.com.

Third battle of Kharkov goes to Nazis in WWII 80 years ago

By Peter Ayers Wimbrow III Contributing Writer

(Feb. 24, 2023) This week, 80 years ago, German Armeegruppe South, commanded by Field Marshal Erich von Manstein, attacked the flanks of the Red Army and recaptured Kharkov (Kharkiv in Ukranian) located in Ukraine and Belgorod, across the border in Russia.

Kharkov had been first captured by the German Sixth Army, commanded by Field Marshal Walter von Reichenau, in late October 1941, in the First Battle of Kharkov.

Prior to the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union, the city had a population of 901,000, which, with refugees,

had by September 1941, increased to 1.5 million. By the time of the Third Battle of Kharkov, it had dropped to 200,000 or less.

Prior to the Russian Invasion, the city’s population was 1,433,886, making it the country’s second largest city. It sits just 20 miles from the Russian border.

On March 6 of last year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy named it a “Hero City.” Kharkov’s Freedom Square is the largest city square in the Ukraine.

The famed Soviet T-34 tank was designed and developed and was being produced at the Kharkov Trac-

Continued on Page 49

Believe In Tomorrow program coordinator Wayne Littleton is retiring after 22 years of service to the respite house for families of children with cancer or other lifethreatening illnesses. Littleton's legacy will include the highly successful fundraising events he's facilitated, including the ultra-popular annual Prom Night.

Littleton leaving indelible mark

In Tomorrow, wished his friend and colleague well in his retirement and reflected on what he’s meant to the foundation and community.

“Wayne has certainly been a very important part of the team,” he said. “He’s worked with the whole respite house team and has done a great job. We’re happy he is going to enjoy a retirement and we wish him a lot of luck.

“His legacy is in putting in 22 years is really giving families a meaningful experience at the beach and creating some really fun programs here like Prom Night that are not only fun but also very important for Believe in Tomorrow and the families we serve.”

Believe In Tomorrow CEO Maryanne Davis spoke about how Littleton left his mark coming onboard a program that was still growing at the time, just 15 years after the first respite house was built in 1986.

“When Wayne was hired in 2002, his primary task was helping to coordinate our growing volunteer base and to be a part of the respite team that coordinates the arrival and activities of families when they stay with us at the beach,” Davis said in an email. “Over time, Wayne became the primary public face of Believe In Tomorrow in Ocean City and managed many of our local special events (and) fundraising activities. One of Wayne’s major accomplishments was the establishment of Believe In Tomorrow’s Prom Night with Angie Ortt, a former owner of Hooters in West Ocean City.

Over the past eight years Prom Night has become one of our largest fundraising events held in Ocean City and it is fitting that Prom 2023 was one of Wayne’s most successful events, what a way to end his career with us!”

As for the future of the Children’s House program locally, Littleton said he believed that one person would handle the operations side while another would handle the fundraising side.

In the meantime, Littleton said he plans to enjoy his retirement but also has no plans to quietly slink away. He’ll remain active in giving back to this community.

One point he made, addressing some of the challenges of his job, was the families they have to turn away. If they didn’t have a child with a cancer diagnosis or other life-threatening diagnosis, there’s nothing the organization can do for them. Perhaps it’ll be time to branch out with whom he helps, Littleton said.

But the time he spent at Believe In Tomorrow has certainly equipped Littleton with the know-how to mobilize a community toward whatever charity goal he wishes to pursue.

“I would just like to thank the organization,” Littleton said. “It’s made me a better person and I’d like to thank everybody in the local community. Without them, there’d be no program. The community support that I’ve gotten the last 22 years has been overwhelming and I’ve been blessed to have wonderful volunteers to work with.”

LISA CAPITELLI/ OCEAN CITY TODAY

Continued from Page 47

Continued from Page 48

tor Factory — Factory # 183. Kharkov factories also produced aircraft, mortars, submachine guns and artillery tractors.

By the time Field Marshal von Reichenau’s Sixth Army had captured Kharkov, 320 trains had removed equipment, from 70 major factories at Kharkov, to locations east of the Ural Mountains.

Factory # 183 was joined with one in Nizhny Tagil, 16 miles east of the Ural Mountains, to form Uralskiy Tank Plant # 183, where more than 30,000 T-34s were produced.

The Second Battle of Kharkov was an unsuccessful attempt by the Red Army, under Marshal Semyon Timoshenko, to recapture the city, in the spring of 1942.

The Red Army finally recaptured Kharkov, as well as Belgorod, Kursk, Voroshilovgrad (now known as Luhansk) and Izium, which is located approximately 75 miles southeast of Kharkov, in the winter of 1943.

Concerned with all of these withdrawals — without his permission — Hitler, on Feb. 17, 1943, flew to the headquarters of Field Marshal von Manstein at Zaporizhzhia. Zaporizhzhia is located in southeastern Ukraine, on the banks of the Dnieper River, and is the site of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear power station in Europe.

Before the Russian invasion, it had a population of 722,000, and is/was known for its heavy industry. The German occupation, which began on Oct. 3, 1941, lasted for two years, during which time 35,000 citizens were shot.

The day before Hitler arrived, he had named the Luftwaffe’s Baron Dr. Wolfram von Richthofen, whose headquarters was also at Zaporizhzhia, as the Wehrmacht’s newest and youngest field marshal.

Before Hitler left on Feb. 19, 1943, Field Marshal von Manstein had convinced him to allow a different maneuver.

Field Marshals von Manstein and von Richthofen had worked superbly together in the Crimean Campaign the year before, and would replicate that winning combination at Kharkov, with Field Marshal von Richthofen’s planes flying 1,000 sorties per day, giving the Wehrmacht air superiority, and providing the avenue to victory.

Essentially, Field Marshal von

Manstein convinced Hitler to allow him to pinch off the Red Army’s advancing, overextended, head, by assaulting its flanks.

Soviet General Konstantin Rokossovsky, commander of the Central Front, sent Second Tank, and Sixty-Fifth, Armies, commanded by Aleksei Grigorevich Rodin and Pavel I. Batov, forward, on Feb. 25.

The assault was so rushed that the armies marched directly form the train station to the front line. They were followed by Seventieth and Twenty-First Armies.

The Seventieth Army was an elite force consisting of NKVD Border Guards from the Trans-Baikal and Far Eastern regions, and was commanded by German Fedorovich Tarasov. Commander of Twenty-First Army was Ivan Mikhailovich Chistiakov.

Meanwhile, on Feb. 22, Field Marshal von Manstein sent the elite SS Panzerkorps, commanded by Paul Hausser, against one flank of the attacking Soviet forces.

Against the other, he launched XXXXVIII Panzerkorps, commanded by Gen. der Panzertruppe Otto von Knobelsdorff. For his leadership in this battle, von Knobelsdorff was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight’s Cross. The effect of these two thrusts was that the Soviet force was almost completely surrounded.

During the first week of March, Fourth Panzerarmee, commanded by Herman Hoth, nearly destroyed Third Tank Army, commanded by Pavel S. Rybalko, and advanced to within 10 miles of Kharkov.

Rybalko was born near Sumy, Ukraine, and finished the war as Marshal of Tank Troops and twotime recipient of the Hero of the Soviet Union star.

Field Marshal von Manstein sent the elite Großdeutschland Panzergrenadier Division, commanded by

Walter Hörnlein, to attack north of the city on March 8. Meanwhile, the SS Panzerkorps, on March 9, attacked east of the city.

Disregarding its orders, Hausser’s SS Panzerkorps chose not to continue the encirclement of the city, and on March 11 launched a two-pronged frontal assault on the city.

The 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, commanded by Joseph “Sepp” Dietrich, attacked from the northwest, while the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich,, commanded by Herbert-Ernst Vahl, attacked from the west.

Dietrich’s SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler reached Freedom Square, then called Dzerzhinsky Square (named for NKVD chief, “Iron” Felix Dzerzhinsky) late on March 12. After the city’s capture, it was renamed “Platz der Leibstandarte.”

By March 14, it was over, and Kharkov (Kharkiv), or what was left of it, was, once again, in German hands. The Red Army had suffered 45,219 killed and 41,250 wounded.

The SS Panzerkorps, which had borne the brunt of the fighting on the German side, lost 4,500 killed and 7,000 wounded.

Field Marshal von Manstein’s forces recaptured Belgorod, 25 miles north of the Ukrainian border, on March 18. It currently has a population of about 360,000.

Kharkov (Kharkiv) and Belgorod would finally be lost by the Germans in August 1943.

Next week: The Battle of Bismark Sea

Mr. Wimbrow writes from Ocean City, Maryland, where he practices law representing those persons accused of criminal and traffic offenses, and those persons who have suffered a personal injury through no fault of their own. He can be contacted at: wimbrowlaw@gmail.com.

OBITUARIES

PETER M. FOX

Ocean Pines

Peter M. Fox, “Pete,” passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Feb. 9, 2023.

He was born on Dec. 2, 1940, in West Reading, Pennsylvania.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Renee; and his four children, Peter Fox, Jr., Dr. Jennifer Reinhart (David), Michele Padovani and Dr. Becky Fox.

He is also survived by seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Peter is predeceased by his first wife, Dolores Fox; and his son, Scott Szymanski.

Pete was a “small town” guy, influenced by his Pennsylvania Dutch and Berks County upbringing.

He was friendly to everyone, loyal, humorous and the rock of the family.

His pure love for others was evident as a son, husband, father, friend, family member, and to everyone he encountered. He wanted nothing more than to see everyone happy.

Peter graduated from Governor Mifflin High School in 1958 and was a member of the reunion committee ever since.

While working for the Metropolitan Edison Company as a lineman and later in management, he lived in Exeter Township, Pennsylvania, and then in Wyomissing.

Pete was a 32nd Degree Mason with the Chandler Lodge No. 227, and later with the Evergreen Lodge No. 153.

Pete enjoyed being on the water, whether canoeing at Blue Marsh Lake or on his boat in the Chesapeake Bay and Assawoman Bay in Maryland. After moving to Ocean Pines, Continued on Page 50

Peter Fox

OBITUARIES

Continued from Page 49

Maryland, he earned his captain’s license and became active in the Ocean City Power Squadron, creating their first website and serving in many capacities, including commander in 2001.

He remained on their executive committee until his passing.

Pete enjoyed learning and teaching others. When his children entered college, so did Pete!

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Alvernia College in 1995. He went on to teach computer classes for senior citizens at Wor-Wic Community College.

He supported the community by volunteering for the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department, assisting with boater safety checks, and as a poll worker on election day.

Anyone who met Pete would describe him as a kind, caring person with a great sense of humor.

He told jokes in a way that always left you wondering if what he was saying was true, especially when he claimed to be Amish.

Pete loved playing games and was good natured about beating everyone he played with!

He enjoyed going out to breakfast, whether that was with his kids before school, or with the ROMEO group on Wednesday mornings.

A celebration of life will be held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, 11021

Worcester Highway, Berlin, Maryland, on March 11, 2023, at noon. A reception will follow.

Interment will be held at the Laureldale Cemetery, 4631 Pottsville Pike, Reading, Pennsylvania, on March

17, 2023, 11:45 a.m., with a service led by the Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, Chandler Lodge 227.

Arrangements are in the care of Eastern Shore Cremation and Funeral Service, 504 Franklin Avenue, Berlin, Maryland 21811. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.easternshorecremation.com.

SHAWN JOSEPH SOPER Ocean City

Shawn Joseph Soper, age 59, of Ocean City, Maryland, passed away suddenly on Feb. 15, 2023, at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore after a brief illness.

Born in Towson, Maryland in Baltimore County, Shawn was the son of the late Granville O. Soper and Judith Elizabeth Soper (McGinn).

Shawn was a graduate of the Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Baynesville, where he and his family were active parish members.

Shawn graduated from Loch

Raven High School in 1981 and thereafter attended Towson State University where in 1985 he graduated with degrees in Mass Communications and History.

Immediately thereafter, Shawn relocated to Ocean City, Maryland, a natural move for him given his longheld love of the town and all of its charms.

Shawn became engaged in the restaurant business and worked at a number of establishments including the old Crisfield II restaurant on Coastal Highway and the Marlin Moon Grill.

At one time, Shawn and a couple of friends even opened their own restaurant in West Ocean City, Sausilito’s.

It was during this period that Shawn cultivated his skill at making friends and endearing people to him.

He was easy to like: a conscientious worker, a witty and heartfelt friend with a foundation of sincerity and honesty.

In year 2000, Shawn’s life took an upward swing when he met the love of his life, his best friend, Tricia.

This is also the time when Shawn was hired by The Dispatch as a reporter to cover the Berlin-Worcester County beat.

Though he had a natural love of the hospitality business, Shawn always aspired to be a journalist and the Dispatch job was a dream come

$1,445.

true for him.

Shawn excelled in this work and soon became a fixture in Ocean City and in Worcester County: well known and recognized for his excellent reporting.

His publisher, Steve Green, has remarked that Shawn authored more than 20,000 articles in his career there, which included a rise to the News Editor position several years ago.

Shawn also carried on his hospitality work as a weekend figure at the Reel Inn Restaurant and Dock Bar in Ocean City.

An accomplished lacrosse player in high school and a rugby player afterwards, Shawn had a love of all sports especially baseball and his beloved Orioles.

Shawn had a strong sense of play in the best meaning of that word: the pun, the witty turn of phrase, a sense of the game and all of its hidden meanings.

Shawn excelled at making friends who served him well throughout his life.

Shawn is survived by his wife, Patricia M. Martin; his mother, Judith E. Soper; brother, Kevin M. Soper and his wife, Elizabeth; sister, Elizabeth O. Andrews and her fiancé, Leo Daly; father-in-law, Dick Martin and mother-in-law, Delores Martin; brothers-in-law, Michael Martin, Steven Martin (Eileen), Christopher Martin, Robert Martin (Penny) and Joseph Martin (Emily), as well as by a number of nieces and nephews, Colin J. Soper, Christopher M. Soper, Paige E. Soper, Jenna Andrews, Matthew Martin, Natalie Martin and Amelia Martin.

The family will receive friends at The Burbage Funeral Home, located at 108 William Street, Berlin, Maryland, on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023 from 6-8 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will follow the following day, Feb. 24, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Holy Savior Catholic Church, 1705 Philadelphia Avenue in Ocean City.

Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Shawn’s name to Diakonia Emergency Shelter and Food Pantry in Ocean City, info@diakoniaoc.org, or to the Humane Society, savinganimals@worcestercountyhumanesociety.org.

Shawn Soper

Decatur swim teams place 2nd at regionals

Fifteen Seahawks advance to 3A-2A-1A state meet at Univ. of Maryland this Sat.

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor

(Feb. 24, 2023) Eight boys and seven girls will compete for Stephen Decatur in the MPSSAA 3A-2A-1A state swim meet this Saturday at University of Maryland Eppley Recreation Center.

“We have been working hard and it shows. The swimmers are looking and feeling confident,” said Decatur Coach Kristina Watts. “They are pushing themselves against the toughest competition we’ve faced all season and states will be the ultimate test to show what they can do.”

The swimmers advanced to the state championship because of their performances during the Feb. 18, 3A2A-1A East Region meet at the Anne Arundel Swim Center.

The top three in each event automatically qualified for states. The individuals and relay teams with the next 12 best times statewide also advanced.

“Overall, we had a very successful meet. Twenty-six out of our 36 total swims were season-best times. Sixteen swims placed top three and earned automatic qualifications for states,” Watts said. “The girls’ and boys’ teams both placed second in the region and our [school] had the high-

est combined score of the meet. This was by far our most outstanding meet of the season.”

Easton took first place in the girls’ competition, scoring 386 points. Decatur tallied 311 points for second, and Kent Island came in third with 277.

Kent Island’s boys’ team captured the regional title, earning 327 points. Decatur finished with 312 points, followed by Queen Anne’s with 198.

Three Decatur swimmers won regional titles in their individual events.

Senior captain Gavin Stearn, who hold Bayside Conference titles in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events, was victorious in the 100- and 200yard freestyle regional races. He recorded times of 48.22 seconds and 1:49.56, respectively.

respectively.

“I’d say I did really well. I was really happy with my 100 butterfly time because I hadn’t got a best time in that event for about a year … and I got it by point 01 seconds.”

Stearn and Karcheuski were also members of the 200-yard medley relay team with junior Mason Castanares and sophomore Gavin Conaway.

‘They are pushing themselves against the toughest competition we’ve faced all season and states will be the ultimate test to show what they can do.’

They earned first place with a time of 1:47.92.

The foursome also took home a regional title in the 200-yard freestyle relay race (1:35.67).

So, that makes four regional titles – two individual and two relay – for Stearn and Karcheuski.

“I think I did well. I left everything I had in the pool, so I would say it was very successful,” he said. “I dropped my 100 free for the first time in probably over two years by point seven seconds.

Junior captain Daniel Karcheuski

Bayside Conference champion in the 200IM and 100-yard butterfly –won the events at the regional meet as well in 2:07.78 and 54.36 seconds,

“It feels good. I put in the time in the pool to get there, so it’s good that I can see the improvement,” Stearn said.

He has qualified for states every season swimming for Decatur.

“My goal is to have a fun, swim fast and swim my events how I’ve been swimming, and just to stay strong,” he said.

Karcheuski also said that winning four regional titles “feels great.”

“It’s great just seeing all of us do well. I had fun racing,” he added. “My

goals for states, I want to place better than I did last year. In the 100 butterfly I’m looking to go under 54 [seconds] – under 53 if I can do it – and the 200IM, I’m hoping to touch [the wall in] 2:03 in that.”

Senior captain Natalie Canham became regional champion for her firstplace performance in the 100-yard butterfly (1:03.73).

“I think I did really well. I wasn’t sure about getting 1:03, so I was pleasantly surprised,” she said.

Canham placed second in the 200yard IM (2:23.08).

“Overall, I think I did really well at regionals. I had enough stamina to get through the 200IM, I had enough strength in my arms to get through the 100 fly, our relays are doing really well, lots of teamwork. I love my team.”

Decatur swimmers who also placed top three in their individual regional events and have qualified for states are: Castanares (200-yard freestyle, third, 2:10.13; 100-yard butterfly, third, 1:02.42), Conaway (100-yard backstroke, third, 1:07.86), senior captain Kayden Hamby (100yard butterfly, third, 1:06.24) and junior Trista Harner (50-yard freestyle, third, 26.03 seconds; 100yard freestyle, third, 57.45 seconds).

Canham, Harner, Hamby and sophomore Kaolin Riser placed second in the 200-yard medley relay race (1:59.31).

Decatur Coach

Kristina Watt

PHOTO COURTESY KRISTINA WATTS

Members of the Stephen Decatur boys’ and girls’ swim teams participated in the 3A-2A-1A East Region meet last Saturday at the Anne Arundel Swim Center.

Three swimmers win regional titles in individual races

Continued from Page 51

Harner, Hamby, Canham and sophomore Vienna Williams came in second in the 200-yard freestyle relay race (1:47.64).

“I’m so excited for states. It’s a little bittersweet since I’m a senior, but I’m so excited to do really well,” said Canham, who will race in two individual and two relay events at states.

“My goals for states for the 100 fly, I would really like to get a 1:01, 1:02, and for my 200IM I would really like to stay in the 1:20 zone, and also kill the relays.”

Also advancing to states because of their regional times are: Riser (100-yard breaststroke, fifth, 1:17.85; 200-yard IM, seventh, 2:37.12), Hamby (50-yard freestyle, sixth, 26.67 seconds), senior captain Katelyn Pizlo (500-yard freestyle, seventh, 6:27.71; 100-yard backstroke, seventh, 1:09.97) and freshman Emily Henley (100-yard backstroke, fifth, 1:09.62; 500-yard freestyle, fifth, 6:08.98).

Decatur wrestling Bayside champs

Eleven Seahawks place top 4 in their weight class and advance to regional meet

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor

(Feb. 24, 2023) Stephen Decatur captured another Bayside Conference championship wrestling team title, winning last Saturday’s tournament in Berlin by 64.5 points.

“They wrestled well. There were some good performances,” said Decatur Coach Josh August. “Some I expected [and] some guys beat guys seeded above them.”

Decatur will add the award to its extensive collection as the program won the Bayside Conference championship 10 consecutive seasons (2002-2011), then again in 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022. There was no wrestling season in 2021 because of covid.

The Seahawks hosted the 15school tournament. The team scored

305.5 points to take first place. Parkside came in second with 241 points, followed by Kent Island with 193.5.

Decatur had nine wrestlers in the finals. Six won their weight class divisions – freshman Elijah Collick (106 pounds), juniors Reid Caimi (126), Parker Intrieri (170) and Kole Kohut (195), junior captain Gavin Solito (152) and senior captain Logan Intrieri (132).

Sophomores Juan Hinojosa (113) and Nate McDaniel (182) and senior Evan Haworth (160) finished in second place in their weigh classes.

Sophomore Aaron August took third at 120 pounds, and senior ZJ Lyons placed fourth at 145 pounds.

Freshman Alex Riehl (138) and senior Eden McMullen (220) placed fifth in their divisions.

“There were some good weight classes. One thirty-eight was tough and at 120, four guys were ranked in the state,” August said. “Some guys came through pretty good.”

The top four in each weight class

automatically advance to the regional tournament. Decatur will send 11 wrestlers to the 2A-1A East Regional competition, held on Saturday at Queen Anne’s High School.

The plan for practices leading up to the regional tournament was for the wrestlers to make some adjustments and work on individual skills and strategy, August said.

“[Focus on] what we need to improve upon,” he added. “They’ll see some guys they [faced] this season at regionals.”

The top four in each weight class will advance to the state championship, held March 2-4 at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro.

“We have five No. 1 seeds, so we should have some champs,” August said. “I’d like to get all 11 guys to states.”

Five Decatur Lady Seahawks will compete in the girls’ regional tournament – sophomores Azariyah Johnson (170), Rachel Plata (120) and Chaniah Bernier (235/heavyweight), and seniors Madeline Reed (110) and Jenna Danner (115).

Sophomores Bryce Gill and Chase Ponton and freshmen Jake Harner and Jamison Strawley came in fourth place in the 400-yard freestyle relay race (4:21.10) at regionals. Their time advanced them to states.

Pizlo, Williams, Riser and Henley took fifth in the 400-yard freestyle relay race (4:26.28). Their time qualified them for states as well.

Seahawks earn No. 1 seed in 3A South Region II

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor BJ Johnson

(Feb. 24, 2023) The Stephen Decatur boys’ basketball team wrapped up the regular season on a 12-game win streak, capped off by a 64-37 victory over the Parkside Rams last Thursday on Senior Night in Berlin.

“Defense played solid. We held them to 37 points,” said Decatur Coach BJ Johnson.

The Seahawks led 13-8 at the end of the first quarter. At halftime, the home team was ahead, 27-17.

After three quarters, Decatur held a 41-28 advantage. The Berlin team outscored its opponent, 23-9, in the final quarter.

Sophomore Trybe Wise scored 16 points. He also had five rebounds,

PHOTO COURTESY STEPHEN DECATUR WRESTLING FACEBOOK

The Stephen Decatur wrestling team captured another Bayside Conference championship, last Saturday on its home mats in Berlin. Nine Decatur wrestlers won their weight class divisions.

Seahawks need to connect on court to be successful

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor

(Feb. 24, 2023) After losing the Bayside Conference championship game, 40-30, to the Kent Island Buccaneers on Tuesday in Salisbury, the Stephen Decatur girls’ basketball team is now focused on the regional and state tournament.

Decatur led 11-8 at the end of the first quarter and 20-14 at halftime on Tuesday.

Kent Island then “made some adjustments,” Decatur

Coach Scott Kurtz said, for the second half. The Bucs outscored the Seahawks 19-9 in the third quarter to pull ahead, 33-29. They added seven points in the third quarter and held Decatur to one.

“We were finding ourselves settling and getting very complacent. We weren’t taking good shots and even when we were taking good shots they didn’t fall,” Kurtz said.

Senior captain Mayah Garner was Decatur’s top producer with 12 points, 12 rebounds and a steal.

Decatur finished the regular season with a 17-3 record. The Seahawks earned the No. 2 seed in the MPSSAA 3A South Region II and a first-round bye.

Decatur will host the winner of today’s game – No. 3 Crofton Cardinals vs. No. 6 Northeast Eagles – on Monday in Berlin. As of Thursday afternoon the game time was scheduled for 7 p.m., but it could change.

“We spent a lot of time reflecting over the last three [regular-season] losses and playoffs, to see where we’re coming up short,” Kurtz said.

“We’ve come to the same conclusions – we aren’t playing well as a team. There’s just a disconnect with the girls in terms of their role [like] three are doing one thing and two are doing something else.”

Decatur has had to do some lineup adjusting the past few weeks with starter, senior captain Jessica Beck, out with a torn ACL and meniscus.

“We can’t become complacent or robotic in our offense. We have to make teams defend us, we have to get the rebounds and get second chances to shoot,” Kurtz said. “We’ve been fairly happy with the defense. With a girl in front, we do well guarding her. Defensive rebounding is not as good without Jes. We didn’t realized how important she was until we don’t have her.

“It comes down to technique and energy,” he added. “Our bigs [players under the basket] have to give it everything they’ve got and don’t give up too many extra shots.”

Decatur on 12-game win streak heading into playoffs

two assists, two steals and two blocks.

Sophomore Zakhari Baker had 11 points, one steal and one rebounds.

Junior captain Brycen Coleman contributed with 10 points, five rebounds, two steals and one assist.

Decatur won its last 12 games to go into the playoffs with a 16-4 record.

The Seahawks have the same record as the Northeast Eagles, so the seeding was determined by coin flip.

Decatur came out on top and was awarded the No. 1 seed in the MPSSAA 3A South Region II and a first-round bye.

“We’re very excited about that. We finished strong and we were awarded for it. The previous three years (2016, 2017, 2018) we were the No. 1 seed we won back-to-back-to-back regional championships,” Johnson said. “We’re lucky. The basketball Gods were on our side.”

The Seahawks will host the winner of today’s game between the No. 4

Worcester Prep swimmers do well at inaugural meet

(Feb. 24, 2023) Worcester Preparatory School’s first swim team made its debut on Feb. 10, at the inaugural Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference meet.

The school’s team consists of senior Meeta Agarwal, sophomore Will Wells, freshmen Jude Damouni and Lena Parker, and eighth graders Gabriella Damouni, Bella Fernley, Mia Jaoude, Jacob Lev and Jack Wells.

teams that were conference champions, and swimmers who have placed top eight in the state throughout her career.

Winning there events during the Feb. 10 meet were: Gabi Damouni (100- and 200-yard freestyle), Jaoude (100-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke), Jude Damouni (200 freestyle) and Jack Wells (50 freestyle).

Oxon Hill Clippers and the No. 5 Chesapeake Cougars, on Tuesday in Berlin. The game time is currently scheduled for 7 p.m., but it could change.

Johnson said playing at home is a huge advantage.

“We don’t have to travel, we’re playing in front of our fans. Everything comes through us,” he said.

“We control our own destiny. I tell my team, ‘we’ve been practicing since November [and] defense, grit, rebounding and taking care of the basketball, that’s what it comes down to.

And, executing and how bad you want it.’ We just have to leave it all on the floor.”

Johnson added that the team chemistry gets better with each game and he is excited how the boys are playing going into tournament competition.

“As coaches, our job is to make sure they’re ready and prepared,” he said.

Kristina Watts, who is in her first year teaching math at Worcester’s middle school, has signed on to be the coach. Watts swam for 10 years in Baltimore County and four years at Salisbury University. She is currently the coach of the Decatur swim program. The plan is for her to coach both Decatur and Worcester next winter, if allowed.

Watts has coached swimming for 14 years for four different teams, consisting of all ages from 6 up to collegiate level, including high school

Jaoude, Agarwal, Damouni and Parker came in first place in the girls’ 200-yard medley relay race.

The Wells, Lev and Damouni were victorious in the boys’ 200-yard freestyle relay race.

The Worcester Prep boys’ team placed second and the girls’ team finished third overall out of six schools participating.

It will be discussed during a meeting in April if swimming will become an official Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference varsity sport next winter.

Delmarva Whiskey Club to host golf event March 18

(Feb. 24, 2023) The Delmarva Whiskey Club will hold its eighth annual charity golf event on March 18.

The “St. Patrick’s Day Golf & Dinner” at Bayside Resort Golf Club, Selbyville, Delaware, will feature a shotgun start at 11:30 a.m. in a foursome team sScramble format.

Golf will be followed at 6 p.m. by a sit-down pairing of fine food and high-end Irish Whiskey at the Signatures at Bayside restaurant.

Proceeds from the events will go to Semper K9, a nonprofit organization which trains rescue dogs as service animals and donates the dogs to

wounded veterans.

The Delmarva Whiskey Club was established for whiskey fans. The club sponsors various whiskey-tasting events during the year.

It welcomes those who have just begun to appreciate whiskey, as well as seasoned whiskey aficionados.

To register for the tournament, or for more information, visit www.delmarvawhiskey.com/saintpatrick.

To become a tournament sponsor or join the Whiskey Club, contact Kevin Clover, president, at 215-8151706 or kevin@delmarvawhiskey.com.

Worcester Preparatory School’s first swim team made its debut on Feb. 10, at the inaugural Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference meet.

Scott Kurtz