4/7/2023 Ocean City Today

RELEASED

Advertising: what it is, isn’t

Marketing money dispute could end with policy to define eligible expenses

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) An ongoing debate in City Hall over what expenses qualify as resort advertising, and how much money should be allocated from room taxes to cover them, could be on the verge of a solution.

After countless hours of involved, and at times tense and heated, discussions on room tax revenues and

allocations among City Council members and staff for years, City Manager Terry McGean presented a potential fix during a budget wrap-up meeting on March 30.

He suggested staff members develop a policy that explains how the city’s room tax ordinance should be applied and specify how the money can and cannot be used. The draft would be presented at a work session for discussion, debate and tweaking before council members would ultimately approve it.

“I believe this would go a very long way in finally putting this issue to rest

and providing better assurance that these funds are being spent as the council intended,” McGean said.

The suggestion came on the heels of a long discussion of the city’s tourism budget a day earlier. Councilwoman Carol Proctor asked why department officials have spent so much money — $11.6 million — on advertising in fiscal 2023 after allocating an average $6.7 million the four years prior.

She handed out a spreadsheet breaking down the numbers, and basically questioned what the money is

Mayor’s car use reimbursement prompts dispute

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) The amount of money Ocean City’s mayor receives for driving his own vehicle on the job is set to get a new name following a tense discussion at a work session last week.

As the council was finalizing the fiscal 2024 proposed budget on March 30, Councilman John Gehrig brought up what has historically been called a

See QUESTIONS Page 4 See COUNCIL Page 6

PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL AQUARIUM

A juvenile harp seal, nicknamed Prince, that was found underweight and dehydrated on Rehoboth Beach in late February has made a full recovery after rehabilitation at the National Aquarium and returned to his ocean home near 40th Street in Ocean City on Tuesday. See story on Page 63.

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Lifeguard stands are seen lined up on the beach near the Ocean City

downtown. City Council members recently approved more incentives and bonuses for guards, or surf rescue technicians, for the coming season to help recruit more applicants.

More bonuses, incentives approved for OC lifeguards

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) In the face of a low number of Beach Patrol applicants, Ocean City officials have added some incentives to entice guards to the stands for the coming season.

Responding to a staff recommendation, City Council members voted last week to add opportunities for overtime, and extra bonuses for guards — or surf rescue technicians as they are officially named — who work past Labor Day.

The perks are included among a series of bonuses and pay bumps that officials have implemented over the

last couple of years to attract employees and stay competitive with neighboring jurisdictions.

Department officials painted a grim picture during a budget work session on March 27 that showed a significant lack of qualified applicants for this summer. They attributed the slump to several factors, such as housing availability, inability to meet fitness requirements, more stress and responsibility to guard Ocean City beaches compared to others, and pay.

Department staff members reported at the meeting that Delaware beaches were paying $1 to $1.50

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Questions over spending of room tax discussed for years

used for and why the city has not seen a larger return on investment.

Tom Perlozzo, the city’s director of tourism and business development, explained that most of the money is going to the city’s new marketing firm, BVK, to promote the resort. Town officials hired BVK in December 2021 to rebrand and market Ocean City. The promoters have been spending money allocated to them through room tax revenues for sponsorships, social media spots, billboards, commercials and other advertisements, and more to do the job.

“Do you want us to spend that money or do you want to do something else with the money? That’s what we need to know,” Perlozzo said to Proctor as he explained the numbers. “… If you don’t want to spend it on advertising, what are you saying?”

Proctor said she wanted an explanation for the spending, and indicated that maybe it was too much, however she did not provide specific alternatives during the meeting.

The room tax ordinance, as written, dedicates 42 percent of the city’s gross room revenue to promote destination marketing without deductions for salaries, office equipment, and the like. The approved expenses include advertising, marketing, promotions, sponsorships, research such as consultant fees, subscription and trade dues, conference fees, and marketing and promotion of special events.

McGean said the language, like any law, is “open to interpretations” which has created some confusion, friction and debate.

“The issue of how and what the 42 percent of the funds dedicated to marketing can be used continues to create controversy among the council and mistrust between some on the council and the staff,” McGean said. “My opinion is this mistrust is not warranted or necessary. What we need is clarification.”

He referenced a discussion among council members about using advertising money to fund renovations to the convention center. While the improvements, which include carpeting and artwork, could help promote the resort, McGean said it would be a reach.

In turn, council members could specifically allocate advertising money to pay for those types of expenses. However, that could be a slippery slope, as Councilman John Gehrig pointed out.

“It won’t stop,” he said of approving expenses in that way. “As soon as the camel’s nose is under the tent … that whole camel is coming in.”

McGean used the same analogy

when he introduced the policy idea, which he believes is the best way to remedy the situation.

“The solution is not to adopt more ordinances or create multiple enterprise funds,” McGean said, referring to some of the ideas that were tossed around.

After some discussion, council members voted unanimously to discuss the policy at a work session later this month.

McGean said the policy would also put to bed the historical “mistrust” that he mentioned regarding the allocation of room tax funds.

Gehrig recognized that he was the “some council members” McGean was referring to, as he recently questioned an annual $400,000 allocation for special event support staff that has come out of the advertising budget for about a decade.

“The mistrust isn’t because I just don’t want to trust people. As a matter of fact, I do trust people, and then when the trust is violated I ask questions,” he said. “And then because I ask questions that no one wants to address, I’m the only one up here … speaking most of the time on one of the most uncomfortable topics.”

Gehrig claimed the money was “stolen” from the general fund and “hidden as special events for ten years” at the direction of Mayor Rick Meehan, who was acting city manager at the time.

Meehan countered that was not the case, and said the money was used to stage free events to attract tourists. He said the council publicly approved the change at the time.

The city’s proposed $155.6 million fiscal 2024 budget, which is ready for approval following the March 30 meeting, relies heavily on room taxes and other fees and charges. As of now, the room tax revenues projected for the coming fiscal year mirror collections in fiscal 2023, although the amount could fluctuate because of fluid factors that come with tourism.

City officials also advocated for the ability to increase the county’s room tax rate from 5 to 6 percent through a state bill that is stagnating in the Maryland Senate. The localized enabling legislation, which allows Worcester, Caroline, Kent and Queen Anne’s counties to raise the room tax rate, ran into opposition from Democratic legislators from central Maryland and may not pass this year.

City staff did not include the extra revenue that could come from an increase in the room tax in the proposed fiscal 2024 budget. Meehan has also said it is likely the room tax would not be raised until next calendar year even if the legislation end up passing.

CHART COURTESY TOWN OF OCEAN CITY

A chart shows how advertising funds are spent in the resort’s tourism department.

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Council votes 5-2 to rename ‘mileage reimbursement’ tag

Continued from Page 1

mileage reimbursement for the mayor. The payment, which Gehrig pointed out is not based on mileage at all, is a flat annual stipend that compensates the mayor for the miles he drives in his own vehicle. For fiscal 2024 the payment is about $15,000, or 24,000 miles multiplied by the federal mileage reimbursement rate.

The calculation is based on the estimate that an average driver puts 24,000 miles on a car in a year. The payment replaced city vehicles that previous mayors received when Mayor Rick Meehan was elected in 2006. Meehan has said he turned down the vehicle to save money and decrease liability. For years, he has instead received the annual flat payment, which has been classified as a

mileage reimbursement.

Gehrig first brought attention to the matter last year while council members discussed pay increases for the mayor and council members. He brought it back up when the mayor and council’s budget was introduced on March 23, and led a longer discussion about it on March 30.

While Councilman Tony DeLuca pushed to rename the allotment a car allowance and move on, Gehrig pushed for a policy that more accurately accounts for the miles driven.

“A mileage reimbursement should be based on actual mileage,” he said while questioning how the payment is determined.

During his argument, Gehrig said the mayor received nearly $14,000 during covid, when he was barely driving at all.

“It is just irresponsible for us to have that policy,” he said. “Let’s just make it actual. There are a few different ways to make it actual. Let’s just make it actual.”

Gehrig suggested that the mayor submit his mileage or, more preferably, get a city vehicle, which he believes would be cheaper in the long run.

Budget Manager Jennie Knapp said no formal written policy exists for the reimbursement of the funds beyond the mayor receiving a stipend each year based on 24,000 miles. She said the payment is taxed and Meehan said he pays for all of his own fuel and maintenance.

Meehan also said repeatedly during the meeting that he does not care what the payment is or whether he gets the money at all, and said the decision is up to council members.

“If you want to change it, just change it, take it all away. I want to be a team player, I’ll do that,” he said. “I didn’t do this job for the compensation or for the automobile allowance.”

Gehrig contended that he does not want to take the allowance away, he simply wants to make it more accurate.

“Twenty-four-thousand miles is unreasonable,” he said.

City Manager Terry McGean explained that the rate was never supposed to be based on mileage. It was meant to be the equivalent of a car allowance, as previous mayors filled up their vehicles for free at the city fuel depot.

In the end, council members voted 52, with Gehrig and Council President Matt James opposed, to call the stipend a car allowance and keep the current practice of paying an annual stipend based on 24,000 miles at the federal reimbursement rate.

James said a more formal, detailed policy is needed for determining the allotment, and Gehrig stood by his original suggestions.

“We can do actual miles and it’s an actual expense,” Gehrig said. “If we’re then getting into a fixed amount, which is fine, then it gets into, what is best for taxpayers, the fixed amount or the car? Then we have to do the math and do what’s best for the taxpayers.”

MALLORY PANUSKA/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Reserved parking signs for the mayor and council are shown on the northern edge of the City Hall lot on Third Street. Council members voted 5-2 at a March 30 work session to change the name of the mileage reimbursement given to the mayor to a car allowance after a debate over the annual stipend.

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more an hour than Ocean City, which alarmed some council members as well as City Manager Terry McGean.

In reality, according to numbers McGean shared with council members at a budget wrap-up meeting three days later, the starting pay for Delaware lifeguards is lower than in Ocean City, although some departments offer more money for advanced certifications and fluency in a second language.

According to McGean’s research, Ocean City is one of the top four jurisdictions in lifeguard pay compared to locations along the East Coast from Myrtle Beach to Atlantic City.

Before the 2022 season, pay for all seasonal employees in Ocean City went up, which bumped first-time SRT pay from $17.75 to $18.45 an hour. Pay for returning guards who work more than 400 hours went up to $18.82.

Past that, there is no hourly pay increase for guards, just bonuses and other incentives, including housing stipends, free sunglasses and reten-

tion pay.

Before council members voted on the new incentives at the budget wrap-up, Councilman Tony DeLuca suggested raising the hourly wages to at least above what the state pays for guards at Assateague Island, even if the change is nominal.

“It’s all about starting salary. I just think Ocean City should be $18.55,” he said.

While McGean said the change is possible, if he could find the money, he and Emergency Manager Director Joe Theobold, as well as most other council members, were not on board.

Instead, they suggested giving guards $1 more an hour in overtime after they work 43.5 hours, which McGean said is currently not allowed because they are considered recreational employees, and offering $250 bonuses to those who work 80 hours or more past Labor Day.

Theobold said the new incentives, which are pending as staff members locate the extra funds in the fiscal 2024 budget, will go further in attracting applicants than a minimal

hourly increase.

“If you offer 25 an hour right now it’s not going to change what we’ll be able to get as a new pool for this year,” he said. “I think you’re moving forward in the right direction. I think what we’re offering is fair at this point.”

While DeLuca still moved to raise the starting pay to $18.55 and max

pay to $19, he was the only one who voted for the measure, and it promptly died.

Councilman John Gehrig said he was intrigued by the suggestion, though, and asked McGean to determine how much the hourly increase would cost, which McGean agreed to present to council members at a future meeting.

Resort gives Wor. Cricket Center extra $10K in FY24

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) Ocean City Council members have agreed to bump up the city’s contribution to a local child advocacy center by $10,000 in next year’s budget as long as the Worcester County Commissioners follow their lead.

During a work session on March 23, Budget Manager Jennie Knapp presented the annual list of special appropriations requests from nonprofit agencies for the fiscal 2024 budget. While most of organizations asked for the same amount of money as in fiscal 2023, the Cricket Center’s request went from $25,000 to $35,000.

At a budget wrap-up meeting on March 30, council members voted unanimously to grant the request, but only if the Worcester County Commissioners do the same.

“I’m OK with 35,000; it’s a great program. I would like to give them all the tools they need,” Councilman Peter Buas said of the child advocacy center before moving to approve the funds. “[But] I would like to see the county do it too.”

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Knapp said the organizers upped their request because their expenses are increasing and they want to continue the same forensic interviewing, case management and family advocacy efforts that they currently offer.

Council members also opened an invitation for representatives from all of the nonprofit organizations they help fund to come to a future meeting and share what they do.

The other agencies that requested, and were unanimously granted, funds for fiscal 2024 were as follows:

• Diakonia — $40,000

• Worcester County Youth and Counseling — $9,000

• Stephen Decatur After Prom — $750

• Wor Wic — $10,000

The city is also contributing $20,000 to the Worcester County Humane Society for a total $114,750.

Trimper shareholders sue for $245 million

By Hunter Hine Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) Three shareholders of Windsor Resort Inc. and its associated companies filed a lawsuit seeking $245 million in compensatory and punitive damages from other shareholders who at one time had control of the company.

It was filed in Worcester County Circuit Court on March 23.

Plaintiffs Antoinette Bruno, Wendy Delamater and Joyce Trimper allege through nine causes of action that when the defendants’ side of the

Trimper family controlled the business from 1995 to early 2020, they misappropriated and wasted company assets, falsified documents and defrauded share-holders, according to the suit.

The defendants are J. Douglas Trimper, Linda Trimper Holloway and Stephanie Trimper Lewis, who are all siblings, as well as Doug Trimper’s two sons Lewis Gordon Brooks Trimper and the estate of Christopher M. Trimper who died from an allergic reaction to shellfish in October 2019.

All defendants are descendants of

Granville Trimper, according to the suit.

The suit alleges that during the time that side of the family ran the company, annual reports to shareholders showed that expenses increased significantly, and that, when questioned about it, the defendants would falsely represent them as legitimate.

In 2009, a ledger made available to the plaintiffs showed that money from the company had been used to buy two cars in the name of two defendants, for which Doug Trimper was fired, according to the suit.

The suit also claims that the defendants skimmed cash through ticket sale schemes, like not reporting ticket sales for amusements owned by the defendants so they could retain all the revenue, according to the suit. It goes on alleging that they diverted the same unreported tickets to other rides so the defendants could make extra commission.

Plaintiffs allege that defendants also skimmed cash at a company owned arcade by skewing the numbers of returned tickets and tinkering with arcade games that, in some instances, only took record of coins and not dollar bills.

Once the defendants left company leadership electronic “thrill cards” replaced 90 percent of cash transactions at the arcade, which made obvious the cash shortages from previous years, according to the suit.

Plaintiffs accused defendants of having the company pay for personal expenses, like cell phones, home renovations, cable service and legal fees for an IRS investigation into one of the defendants.

The suit also alleges that the defendants collected full-time salaries while only giving part-time work and that they intentionally logged business expenses into dysfunctional book-keeping software so their misappropriations were difficult to track.

Plaintiffs claimed that defendants falsely represented the company as

being $2 million in debt, but when the defendants stepped away from company control, the true figure was revealed to be $4.6 million.

Defendants are suing for $15 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages for seven out of the nine claims.

In their seventh claim, plaintiffs asked that the defendants fully account for all the companies financial affairs between 1995 and 2020, and in their eighth claim, they requested payment for damages estimated at $75,000.

Before filing the suit, the plaintiffs sent a written request to the company’s shareholders, to which they did not respond, according to the suit.

As of Tuesday, defendants have not yet filed a response to the suit.

Threat at Decatur

‘non-credible’ says Wor. Sheriff’s Office

By Hunter Hine Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office deemed a written threat found in Stephen Decatur High School to be non-credible on Wednesday, according to a news release.

Sheriff’s Office identified a student it suspected of writing the threat that made reference to the school, according to the news release. It forwarded charges to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Sheriff’s Office first announced it was investigating the threat Tuesday at 2 p.m., later stating there would be greater law enforcement presence at the school “out of an abundance of caution,” until the threat was proven non-credible.

The suspected student will not be named to protect their privacy, according to the news release.

OC Fire Department adding 12 new full-time positions

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) Ocean City Fire Department officials got the green light last week to begin the hiring process for a dozen new full-time employees.

City Manager Terry McGean said during a budget wrap-up meeting on March 30 that staff members “sharpened the pencil” and were able to

fund Fire Chief Richard Bowers’ request for 12 firefighters/emergency medical technicians in the fiscal 2024 budget.

Bowers has said the positions are needed to cover all shifts and reduce significant amounts of overtime within the department.

McGean told City Council mem-

See EMPLOYEES Page 14

Employees slated to cut overtime, cover more shifts

Continued from Page 12

bers during a work session earlier in the week there was enough money to pay for eight new employees, but that the other four were dependent on reimbursements for Medicaid patient transports. The money, which should be in the $400,000 to $500,000 range this year, is expected but not yet guaranteed, and McGean initially made the extra four employees contingent upon the official approval.

Council members were not satisfied with that plan, though, and asked McGean if he could find a way to ensure the positions would be funded no matter what.

McGean said staff members were able to whittle down the shortfall from more than $300,000 to a little more than $104,000.

“I’m much more confident that the Medicaid reimbursement would be at least that much,” he said. “If I was 94 percent sure at $400,000, I’m 99 percent sure at $100,000. I’m comfortable with recognizing that amount of Medicaid revenue and moving forward with a balanced budget.”

Council members voted unanimously to hire the new employees, and McGean said department officials can begin advertising for them immediately.

Bowers expects that the transition from mostly part-time staff members to a more full-time roster will set the department up to cover shifts yearround more adequately without racking up overtime costs. In total, McGean said the new employees will allow department officials to add four new response units.

AGH investigating possible breach of patient files, info

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) A cybersecurity attack that took Atlantic General Hospital’s computer system hostage several months ago may have compromised some patients’ information according to letters issued late last month.

Toni Keiser, the hospital’s vice president of public relations, said in an email that hospital personnel discovered on March 6 that some files that were affected during a ransomware event in January “contained

certain protected information.”

“On March 24, 2023, we began mailing letters to potentially impacted individuals,” Keiser said. “We have seen no evidence of misuse of any information related to this incident. We continue to serve our patients, and this includes working to ensure that data stored and maintained by AGH remains private and secure.”

A ransomware attack is when hackers plant encrypted files in a computer system that lock out the

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Cars are seen parked in the lot at the entrance of Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin. Staff members have provided an update on the potential breach of patient information from a recent ransomware event.

HAPPY EASTER

Ransomware event may have compromised specified info

Continued from Page 15

network’s owner. The perpetrators then demand payment to unlock the encryptions.

Staff members discovered something was off within the system early on Jan. 29 after they began experiencing technical difficulties, which resulted in the disruption to some services. Keiser said the investigation determined there was unauthorized access to “certain servers” beginning Jan. 20.

Officials took the system offline for about two weeks while investigating the cause and impact of the incident, and later determined that the hackers — who have not been identified — gained access to “internal folders and files containing employee and patient data.”

“Once we learned of the event, we engaged third-party forensic specialists to investigate the event and took actions to enhance our existing security measures to help ensure that a similar incident does not occur in the future,” Keiser said in the email.

Some patients received letters informing them that their names and information collected for medical treatments were present on the affected servers. The information includes medical record numbers,

treating and referral physicians, health insurance information, subscriber numbers, medical history and treatment information, according to the letter.

The letters said the incident was reported to law enforcement. It also said hosptial officials are taking steps to implement more “safeguards and review policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security.”

“We take the security and privacy of the information stored on our servers very seriously and wanted to do everything in our power to resolve this situation and prevent recurrence,” Keiser said in her email. “Notifying law enforcement is common – and considered a best practice – in these scenarios.”

The letter also contained a list of steps that patients can take to ensure their personal information is protected, and advised them to remain vigilant against identity theft and fraud by reviewing account statements and monitoring free credit reports.

Keiser added that these types of cybersecurity events are becoming increasingly common for in all systems.

“We have no evidence to believe that Atlantic General was targeted for any specific reason,” she said.

Extra $200K allocated to pay for Winterfest ’23 upgrades

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) Ocean City tourism officials will have $200,000 extra to make the Winterfest of Lights a standout holiday hub this season.

At a budget work session last week, Special Events Director Frank Miller broke down plans for the annual Christmas light show, which includes expansion of the footprint to other parts of the town, upgrades to the displays, and the addition of a large event tent.

This year’s event will also bring back trams, which were nixed during covid, to give attendees the option to ride or walk to see the displays at Northside Park. Miller said the vehicles will be similar to trolleys, as op-

posed to the pre-pandemic trams.

Tom Perlozzo, the city’s director of tourism and special events, asked council members to approve a transfer of $200,000 of unused funds from the performing arts center’s budget to pay for the planned upgrades.

“We’re going to add a lot of different elements to Winterfest, meaning a bigger tent … there might be entertainment in the tent,” Perlozzo said. “We’re looking at creating an adult area, where maybe we’ll be selling alcohol of some sort. But creating an experience, a social gathering to try to get people to engage in what we’re trying to do.”

Council members unanimously approved the extra funds.

Miller has been talking about bringing new life to Winterfest for a while.

He said officials began eyeing improvements a few years ago when Schellveille in Rehoboth and Winter WonderFest at Cape Henpolopen State Park in Milton came on the scene. While Miller does not see either of the displays as direct competition, he said officials realized that Winterfest had to up its game to stay in the mix.

“For many years we stood alone as only thing to do on the Eastern Shore during that time of season,” he said.

Town of Snow Hill general election slated for May 2

(April 7, 2023) The Town of Snow Hill will hold its general election inperson on Tuesday, May 2, at the Train Station on 200 Belt Street, Snow Hill.

Up for election this year are the offices of Central District and Western District Council.

On the ballot for Central are current Central District Council Jenny Hall and Diana Walsh.

On the ballot for Western District Council current Council member Ida Regina Blake and Margaret A. Fletcher.

Those who wish to vote by absentee ballot can call Town Hall or email Carol Sullivan at csullivan@snowhillmd.com to request an absentee ballot application.

The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot application is Friday, April 21.

For more information, call Sullivan at Town Hall at 410-632-2080.

Lights are shown on and around the pedestrian bridge in Northside Park during the opening of the Winterfest of Lights in November.

Foxes are common in Ocean City and Ocean Pines, and may be seen more often during the spring, which is mating season. Feeding a fox is not recommended as they can start to associate humans with food, which can be dangerous for the fox and possibly humans.

Fox sightings more common during spring mating season

By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) Spring is in the air, and that means it’s mating season for foxes, so don’t be surprised to see a few running around Ocean City looking for a date.

According to Maryland DNR, the ideal red fox habitat includes a mix of open fields (or beaches) small woodlots and wetlands. That describes Ocean City and the surrounding communities to a tee.

“Foxes are prolific in Ocean City,” Sandi Smith said, the outreach and marketing coordinator for the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.

During the spring and early summer, foxes can be seen more frequently, looking for mates and hunting for food for their young. And the youngsters can be

seen romping and playing like kindergarteners.

“They were here before we were and they’ve adapted to us, we need to adapt to them,” Smith said.

Some people get concerned when they see a fox in the daytime.

“They are primarily out at night but very often hunting by day, especially when they have babies. It does not mean something is wrong,” Gay Frazee said, a wildlife rehabilitator in Jamesville, Virginia.

“It is not abnormal to view foxes during the day, but caution and distance should always be applied when viewing any wildlife species,” Joshua Tabora said, a furbearer biologist with Maryland DNR.

Their food source is not cats or kittens or dogs,” Smith said.

Smith surmised that there is not a rodent issue in Ocean City because of the fox. “They eat small rodents, grubs and seeds. They are part of our ecosystem.”

According to Maryland DNR, red foxes have an omnivorous diet, meaning that they eat both plants and animals. A typical red fox diet includes rabbits, snakes, insects, birds, mice, berries and fruits. Foxes will be out day or night, depending on when their food source is active.

During mating season, which is now through April, it’s possible to hear the call of a fox looking for a mate. The call can sound a bit like somebody is being murdered.

“It can also sound like a screaming baby,” Smith said.

Pupping starts as early as March and in the beginning of summer, adolescents can be found, some behaving badly, according to Smith.

One fox in Ocean City, known by locals as “Penny the Fox” became famous for snatching people’s shoes and taking them to her den in a sand dune on 92nd Street.

Foxes, like any other wildlife, are wild and should not be fed. That act of misplaced kindess may attract foxes to neighborhood yards, as will leaving food out for cats or dogs.

See FOXES Page 22

PHOTO COURTESY MARYLAND COASTAL BAYS PROGRAM

Foxes can survive on their own, don’t need food scraps

Continued from Page 20

“Wild animals (especially predators) may behave defensively while feeding, which may lead to aggression towards humans once the association with food has been made,” Tabora said.

It is never a good idea to feed a fox. There is a common saying among wildlife rehabbers, “a fed fox is a dead fox.”

“By feeding them you get them used to the idea that humans have food and they will come back looking for an easy meal. They’re smart,” Frazee said.

“They are perfectly capable of feeding themselves and teaching their young to hunt,” she said.

“In addition, wild animals are adapted to eating natural foods, and providing them with human foods can result in poor nutrition and dependence,” Tabora said.

Feeding a fox will stop it from hunting for its own food, making it reliant on people. The fox could then become a nuisance, approaching other people and possibly biting someone, which could result in the fox being euthanized.

“It’s important for foxes and other wildlife to fear people. They need to stay wild,” Frazee said.

As for people fearing foxes, Smith said, “Foxes are not a threat unless rabid.”

“You can generally tell if a fox needs help. Is it acting peculiar, is it acting less

fearful, limping, moving slowly?” Frazee said.

“Foxes are a rabies vector species, which does not mean they have rabies,” Frazee said.

Fox, bats, raccoons and skunks all have a higher rate of infection than other mammals.

“Sick foxes may exhibit abnormal behaviors, such as reduced caution around human activity, aggression, general unawareness, and walking in circles repeatedly,” Tabora said.

Before calling to report a fox or ask for assistance, take time to observe the fox’s behavior and look for signs.

A fox with mange can often be mistaken for a rabid one because of its sickly appearance.

Mange is extremely debilitating and results in a patchy coat or entire hair loss.

“Use common sense and when in doubt observe the situation and call a rehabber. We are always willing to have a chat and help figure out what’s going on,” Frazee said.

Anyone who suspects a fox or other animal is rabid should report it to local authorities.

Maryland DNR provides advice and resources for sick and injured animals at https://dnr.maryland. gov/wildlife/Pages/plants_wildlife/sick orinjured.aspx

rallies around Newark couple after fire

By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) Worcester County residents are rallying around a Newark couple who lost everything in a house fire last Wednesday.

Jacki and Jeff Martin, who had lived in their home for nearly 30 years, not only lost their home and their belongings, but more than 20 pets.

A devoted animal lover, Jacki is a rescuer of pets in too much need for others to adopt.

A GoFundMe created by their neighbor, Michelle Beebe, has already raised more than $5,000.

“Their home was completely destroyed, leaving them with nothing but the clothing on their backs. Any donations will greatly help this family,” Beebe said. “As they heal, I hope we can pull together as a community and help take some of the pain and give them hope. While Jeff has been battling cancer, we can’t imagine the pain they are now suffering with this unfortunate loss.”

Burley Oak Brewing Company is hosting a fundraiser for the couple on April 17 from 6-9 p.m. Donations will include 50 percent of tips, a 50/50 raffle, 10 percent of bar sales and a

silent auction for gift baskets and other donated items.

“We hope to raise money to help the family transition as they lost everything in the fire,” said Matt Burrier, the alesman at Burley Oak Brewing Company.

The Ocean City Home Depot is collecting gift cards and cash from their associates to support the Martins. Jacki works in the garden shop at Home Depot, which is run by Bell Nursery.

“Everybody here loves Miss Jacki.

Car fire on Germantown Road

(April 7, 2023) The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated a vehicle fire at 10123 Germantown Road in Berlin at 8:25 a.m. on March 29.

Upon arrival of the Berlin Volunteer Fire Company, crews found a small SUV on fire at the rear of the property. Crews quickly extinguished the fire.

Fire investigators found that a fire had broken out inside the car’s passenger compartment, but the cause remains unknown.

Anyone with any additional information is asked to contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 410-632-5666. Callers can remain anonymous. No injuries were reported.

We are just putting our arms around her and seeing her through this. She is a vendor for us but she is one of us,” Darrin Fiorini said, Home Depot store manager.

Fiorini said that Home Depot is providing a big Weber grill and other items to the Burley Oak silent auction.

“I can’t imagine what she is feeling right now. She rescued pets and was the most loving person. She is an amazing person,” Fiorini said.

To donate to the GoFundMe, visit http://bit.ly/3znYBKU

PHOTO COURTESY WORCESTER COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE

Firefighters battled a house fire last Wednesday in Newark. The community has rallied around the homeowners, Jacki and Jeff Martin. A GoFundMe account has been established and Burley Oak is hosting a fundraiser on April 17.

Cell: 410-430-7302 Office: 800-992-7777 x1109

Mary@MaryMcCracken.com

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THE

The public is invited to meet the artists at Ocean City’s First Friday art openings on April 7, from 5-7 p.m. at the Ocean City Center for the Arts on 94th Street, bayside. The Thaler Gallery is hosting two painters whose styles are complimentary: Jonathan Nordstrom of Ocean Pines, and Mary Catherine Scirè of Frederick, Maryland.

Artists Nordstrom and Scirè featured in center’s gallery

(April 7, 2023) The public is invited to meet the artists at Ocean City’s First Friday art openings on April 7, from 57 p.m. at the Ocean City Center for the Arts on 94th Street, bayside, and two nearby satellite galleries.

Admission is free. PKS Investments sponsors the complimentary reception beverages at the Arts Center.

The Thaler Gallery hosts two painters whose styles are complimentary.

Artist Jonathan Nordstrom of Ocean Pines, is also a federal firefighter and an author, writing and illustrating four children’s books.

His show, “Behind Closed Eyes,” takes its inspiration from Nordstrom’s dreams.

“Every so often, I drift off and see the universe in motion,” he said. “Surreal pointillism is a term I like to use to describe my style of painting, though some of my subjects are very real. I love using pointillism to relay the very fabric of what the universe truly is - infinite small particles working together to create matter, energy, light and everything we love.”

Sharing the Thaler Gallery is abstract painter Mary Catherine Scirè of Frederick, Maryland.

Her show, “Lost Threads,” is a collection of abstract paintings based on lost writing systems, or scripts, from antiquity.

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Their unique forms, although simple in nature, pull together to create complex paintings that reflect the collective diversity of these lost scripts.

“My studies in archaeology and art history spurred an interest in the origins of human creativity as evidenced by the earliest cave paintings, toolmaking abilities, and written forms of

TOP PRODUCER

Coast Guard Auxiliary offers safe boating course in Pines

By Hunter Hine Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) As warm weather approaches and brings with it the boating season, many operators of vessels might be wondering where to go to learn the basics.

The Ocean City Coast Guard Auxiliary is offering a Maryland Safe Boating Course at the Ocean Pines Library, April 11-13. Each night’s class runs from 6-9 p.m., and the course finishes with a 65question exam.

To earn a Maryland Basic Boating Safety Certificate, students must attend all three nights and pass the final assessment with a minimum 80 percent grade.

People must always have the original certificate on board with them while they’re operating a recreational watercraft, said Flotilla Staff Officer for Public Education, Barry Cohen, who is in charge of setting up the course.

“Our objective is to tell them (students) what they need to know, make them good operators, meaning courtesy, meaning pay attention, follow the regulations on when you can do something and can’t,” Cohen said.

There are 30 spots open for the course, which costs $20 to attend. Anyone interested in registering should call Cohen at 410-935-4807, or email CGAUXOC@gmail.com. Registration will be available at the door, but only if

spots are open.

“If I have 25 people I set up 25 seats, three people walk in, in the middle of all this we got to bring out another table and find some chairs. So as a practical matter, we prefer that they sign up in advance so we know how many people are going to be there,” Cohen said.

Anyone born after July 1, 1972 must achieve certification in order to operate a boat in Maryland in accordance with the Maryland Boating Safety Education Act. The certification is valid in all states.

Course material is divided into six areas, which include information about the terminology used to describe boats, boat engines, navigation, Maryland’s legal requirements, safety equipment, how to handle boating emergencies and paddle crafts like kayaks, Cohen said. “Go out there, you will see over 50 percent of the people violating, what I’m going to call, ‘the rules of the road,’ which, there are rules about where you can operate your boat and how to do it,” Cohen said. “And they’re just going wherever they want, and that’s not how it works.”

While there is no minimum age requirement for the course, Cohen said it’s important that any youth who plan on attending have the reading comprehension and attention span to sit through all three hours of all three nights and pass.

See OC Page 30

OC Coast Guard class on boating safety in Pines

Continued from Page 28

Children as young as 8 have passed, Cohen said.

“I’ve had 16-year-olds who sat there and drew on the booklet instead of listening and, of course, they didn’t pass,” Cohen said.

The OCCGA presents the class to the public once a month from February to October. Sometimes the auxiliary offers class on weekends or online as well. The upcoming class is in-person only, Cohen said.

“We want the waterway to be safe. That helps us and that helps the boaters,” Cohen said.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer service that augments the Coast Guard as requested, Cohen said.

Junk removal co. holding inaugural kids dumpster fill

(April 7, 2023) JDog Junk Removal & Hauling Ocean City will present its inaugural “Fill a Dumpster for Kids” event benefiting the nonprofit organization, The Cricket Center, on April 11.

The Cricket Center’s main objective is to reduce trauma to child victims by bringing all necessary local agencies together.

The multi-disciplinary team is made up of law enforcement officers, child protective service personnel, prosecutors, lawyers, advocates, mental health therapists and medical personnel.

The team meets regularly to communicate and collaborate on child abuse cases. Cases are reviewed beginning with the victim’s initial outcry through investigation, treatment and prosecution.

On April 11, JDog Junk Removal & Hauling Ocean City in conjunction with Amy’s Attic Upscale Resale, will host the event as a part of their joint grand opening.

It will take place from 3-6 p.m. at 11070 Cathell Rd.,Units 5 and 7 in Berlin in the Pines Plaza.

During the event, attendees are being asked to bring donations to “Fill a Dumpster for Kids” to provide See DONATIONS Page 32

The Ocean City Power Squadron also offers the Maryland Safe Boating Course, usually with one in the spring and another in the fall.

PHOTO COURTESY COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

The Ocean City Coast Guard Auxiliary is offering a Maryland Safe Boating Course at the Ocean Pines Library, April 11-13 from 69 p.m.

Corporate Partner Juried Group Show opens

communication, Scirè said. “All of these remnants from the past speak to the birth of imagination.”

The Corporate Partner Juried Group Show, an annual exhibition to honor the corporate partners of the Art League of Ocean City, will be on display in The Galleria.

The Art League receives support from more than 50 local businesses that have pledged to be corporate partners. “Our corporate partnerships are vital to keeping the Ocean City Center for the Arts up and running, and this is our way, once a year, to thank them for their support,” Rina Thaler, executive director, said.

Chris Harrington, chair and professor of the Department of Fine Arts at University of Maryland Eastern Shore, juried the show and selected the winners, who will receive cash prizes.

The Spotlight Gallery hosts University of Maryland Eastern Shore associate professors Elvin Hernandez and Brad Hudson and celebrates Manga and Anime styles of animation originating in Japan, characterized by stark, colorful graphics depicting fantastic or futuristic themes.

The student portion of the show will open on First Friday and continue through the weekend.

Art League developed this Manga and Anime exhibit to promote creativ-

ity among students outside formal art programs and increase community awareness of the art form.

Students in middle, high school and higher education on the Eastern Shore submitted entries judged by Hernandez and Hudson. Art League President John Sisson and Ocean City Comic Con are donating prizes to the winners.

Hernandez of Salisbury, who is originally from Puerto Rico, earned his MFA in Sequential Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and his EdD in Higher Education from Argosy University.

He is a long-time educator and practicing freelance artist in the field of comics and commercial art, working for Toys R Us, DC Entertainment, Marvel, FX, and Cartoon Network.

Hudson of Mardela Springs, has been an artist/instructor at UMES for more than 20 years and publishes his own comics under the moniker of Coldstream Studios, developing characters such as Rocket Girl and Dark Crusader. He produces work for, among others, Topps Trading Cards, including StarWars, The Walking Dead, Mars Attacks, and more.

Studio E’s artist for April is Emma Matheu Bailey, an up-and-coming nature photographer from Annapolis.

Her passion for nature photography stems from being raised on Kent

Island and learning about the importance of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem as a child.

She focuses on photographing wildlife and plants hoping to inspire people to learn about protecting nature’s creatures and the environment.

Bailey has photographed for the Salisbury Zoo, Brookside Gardens, and the National Aquarium of Baltimore.

Glass artist Jason Giusti is the artisan for April.

A graduate of The Fulton School of Liberal Arts at Salisbury University in 2006 with a concentration in hot glass, he furthered his knowledge in glassblowing with intensive classes at The Studio of The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York.

His work is an exploration into the effects of layering different colors upon one another to provide depth and a sense of space.

Currently Giusti works as the glass technician at the Hot Glass Studio of Salisbury University.

The Princess Royale satellite gallery, 9100 Coastal Hwy., hosts the artwork of painter Cindy Beyer of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Beyer spends most of her time painting the local seascapes and landscapes, but has also traveled across the country and world to study with artists allowing unique perspectives that have translated into her work.

“I am always searching for a scene that can capture an emotion or a unique situation,” she said.

The Coffee Beanery satellite gallery at 94th Street and Coastal Hwy. displays the work of abstract artist Karen Hutchison of Herndon, Virginia.

Working in acrylic paint and various mediums, she creates a diversity of styles from soft dreamy color studies to dynamic textured pieces that have a structural feel, occasionally in neutral palettes, often in a selection of compelling hues.

“My goal is to engage the viewer and encourage their imagination,” Hutchison said.

The Arts Center shows will be on display through April 29; the satellite galleries, through June 30. More information is available at www.artleagueofoceancity.org or by calling 410-524-9433.

The Art League of Ocean City is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the visual arts to the community through education, exhibits, scholarship, programs and community art projects.

Funding for this event is in part provided by the Worcester County Arts Council, Maryland State Arts Council and the National Endowment of the Arts, organizations dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.

Donations sought for children

Continued from Page 30

necessities for the youth served by The Cricket Center.

The donations must be unused with tags on and be on the approved list of items needed.

Several local businesses have donation boxes to collect items prior to the event date.

During the event, attendees will be entered to win a gift basket valued at $200 donated by Amy’s Attic Upscale Resale when they bring items to donate.

Food and drinks will be provided, and the Ocean Pines Chamber of

Commerce will be doing a ribbon cutting for both Amy’s Attic Upscale Resale and JDog Junk Removal & Hauling Ocean City.

Items needed include: diapers, baby wipes, shirts, pants, onesies, coats, shoes, suitcase, duffle bag, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner.

Businesses participating in the dropoff currently taking donations are: Planet Fitness, Love Your Mama, Caprichos Books, Amy’s Attic Upscale Resale, Paul and Vinny’s Pizza, Phoenix Physical Therapy, and JDog Junk Removal & Hauling Ocean City.

Entertainment Line-up

In the pages of OCToday and Bayside Gazette

Easter activities planned in Ocean City, OP and Berlin

By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) Hop on over to one of the many Easter activities in Ocean City, Ocean Pines and Berlin this weekend.

Whether it’s an egg hunt, meeting the Easter Bunny, arts and crafts or face painting, there’s an activity for everyone this Easter season.

Ocean City:

Kids ages 2-10 and their families are invited to celebrate the season at the Easter Bunny Egg Hunt on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. at Northside Park Recreation Complex on 125th Street.

The cost of the event is $6 per child for Ocean City residents, and $8 for nonresidents.

Advanced registration is recommended as tickets are limited. Register at www.rec.ococean.com.

In the event of rain, the event will be held inside the recreation complex.

For more information, call Anna Paterson at 410-250-0125.

The two-day Easter Art and Craft Show and Kids Fun Fair will take place at the Roland E. Powell Con-

vention Center on 40th Street, Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Enjoy games and contests, Easter egg hunts, entertainment and numerous exhibitors. Some activities are not included in the price of admission.

Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $4 for students age 4-18. Children age 3 and under get in free.

For the full schedule, visit the Easter Art & Craft Show and Kids Fun Fair at www.oceanpromotions.info.

Trimper Rides grand re-opening weekend (Saturday and Sunday, April 8-9) celebrates Easter and its 130th anniversary.

The park will open at noon with rides and Easter-themed activities and chances to win a Mega Pass for the 2023 summer season.

Get there at 11 a.m. to purchase

spring wristbands for $25 each.

Both days will have an Easter egg hunt at 12:30 p.m., and pictures with the Easter Bunny at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. There will be an Easter egg roll contest at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, and an Easter Bunny Dance at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

These events are free, but registration is required for the Easter egg roll contest and the Easter Bunny dance. Participants must bring their own decorated hard-boiled eggs and a contraption to blast it through the super slide for the egg roll contest.

The first 40 to register for the dance party will get a bunny tail to wear.

For more information and to register for events, visit https://www.trimperrides.com/trim

See EASTER Page 36

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

A message from a romantic partner or business associate could come this week, Aries. Keep a watchful eye on your email inbox or the regular mail.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

Taurus, this week you can expect to have an interesting conversation with someone about a topic you’re fond of discussing. It could spark a new friendship.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

You likely will have a lot of physical and mental energy this week, Gemini. Figure out a project you can stand behind and put that energy to good use.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

Keep an eye on the front door, Cancer. A delivery may be coming your way in the next few days. It’s not something you ordered, but could be a gift.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

Leo, you could use a diversion this week. When a friend seeks your company, this can be the perfect way to direct your mind somewhere else.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

Virgo, financial paperwork could take up some of your time in the days to come. It’s a necessary evil to keep things on track. Seek help from someone else if you get frustrated.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

Speaking with someone else on a fascinating subject triggers your curious side, Libra. You may want to take a class or pursue this subject in another way.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

Your emotions might get the better of you this week, Scorpio. Try to focus attention onto something that doesn’t trigger negative feelings. Distraction could be the key.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21

Stimulating social occasions are what you need right now, Sagittarius. Such get-togethers will introduce you to new people and new ideas that can inspire.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

Capricorn, this week you have an opportunity to impress others and get them talking, likely changing their opinions of you. Make every effort to win others over.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

It’s important to keep in touch with friends even if they have moved away, Aquarius. Phone calls, texts and video chats can bridge the gap created by physical distance.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

Pisces, tally up your investments because they could be worth more than you think, especially if you are invested in real estate.

Youngsters race to hunt down Easter eggs at Northside Park on 125th Street last year. Children can participate in the Easter Bunny Egg Hunt this Saturday at the park beginning at 11 a.m.

Worcester County students learn about music majors

(April 7, 2023) In an effort to increase enrollment in music programs in local public schools and at post-secondary institutions, Worcester County Public Schools, the Worcester County Arts Council, and Salisbury University have teamed up to provide a unique educational experience for students from Pocomoke, Snow Hill and Stephen Decatur high schools.

The Worcester County Arts Council’s Arts in Education funding provided a “Music Major for a Day” event for Worcester County Public Schools’ choral and instrumental music students on March 7.

Students had the opportunity to sit in on Salisbury University classes such as Intro to Music Theory and History of Jazz.

They met SU professors and went through a workshop called “How to Prepare to be a Music Major,” where Dr. Louise Anderson and colleagues explained the college application and audition processes.

After the high school students experienced a college-sized lunch in the Commons dining hall, they trekked to the Great Hall to see a Student Showcase, where SU junior and senior music students performed.

Finally, students were introduced to the different SU music majors.

They rotated through stations about various tracks offered, including Music Technology, Performance, and Music Education.

They explored the types of careers

See MUSIC Page 38

Easter hoppenings abound in OC, OP, Berlin

Continued from Page 34

per-news/easter-at-trimper_rides/

Ocean Pines:

White Horse Park will be the site for holiday activities on Saturday, April 8, from 11 a.m.to 2 p.m.

Hunt for Easter eggs, visit with the Easter Bunny, enjoy carnival games, refreshments, candy, pony rides, a petting zoo and more. There’s even an Easter bonnet contest at 12:30 p.m.

There will be three egg hunts: ages 1-3 at 11:30 a.m., ages 4-6 at noon, and ages 7-10 at 1 p.m.

This is a free event and volunteers are still needed.

For more information, contact Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department at 410-641-7052, or visit www.oceanpines.org.

On April 8, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Ocean Pines Farmers and Artisans Market will get everyone Easter ready with more than 80 market stands, shops, boutiques and galleries.

Cal Toner will play live music and Amberlina’s Adventures will be in the Kids Market Zone.

Berlin:

On Saturday, the Berlin Fire Company will host a breakfast with the Easter Bunny in their upstairs event hall from 8:30-11a.m.

Breakfast is $5 for kids under 10 years old and $10 for adults. All-day parking will be available at the firehouse and a cash donation is accepted.

For tickets, go to https://berlinfire-company.ticketleap.com/pancake-breakfast-with-easter-bunny/.

There will be limited tickets at the door. Organizers request that attendees purchase tickets in advance.

Take part in Berlin’s annual Spring Celebration on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. hosted by the Berlin Chamber of Commerce.

The celebration starts at 10 a.m. with a Bonnet Parade from the firehouse into the festival area on Main Street, culminating in awards for the three best bonnets.

There will be live music by Shake It Up Jam, face painting by Lollipop the Clown and Company, Scales and

Tales by Maryland DNR and numerous vendors and boardwalk games operated by local businesses, nonprofits and social clubs, with prizes donated by Jolly Roger Amusements.

Calvin B. Taylor House Museum will host a giant Easter egg hunt, with 5,000 eggs to be found.

The hunt will begin at 11:30 a.m. There will be multiple age-defined sections.

For more information, visit https://berlinchamber.org/events/sp ring-celebration-2023/

CROSSWORD

NOW PLAYING

BEACH BANDITS

Coins: Sat., April 8, 7 p.m.

CAPTAIN’S TABLE

15TH Street and Baltimore Avenue, Located in The Courtyard by Marriott, Ocean City, 410-289-7192/7191 / Captainstableoc.com

Every Friday: Phil Perdue, 5-9 p.m.

COINS

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

April 8: Beach Bandits, 7 p.m.

PICKLE’S PUB

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

April 7: Beats by Deojee, 9:30 p.m to 1:30 a.m.

April 8: Joey Harkum, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

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

April 10: Karaoke w/Wood, 9:30 p.m to 1:30 a.m.

April 11: Beats by Wax, 9:30 p.m to 1:30 a.m.

April 12: Beats by Deojee, 9:30 p.m to 1:30 a.m.

April 13: 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

April 7: High Five Swan Dive, 5-9 p.m.; DJ Bobby-O, 6 p.m to 1:50 a.m.; DJ Tuff, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.; The

PHIL PERDUE

Captain’s Table: Every Fri., 5-9 p.m.

Way Outs, 10 p.m. to 1:50 a.m.

April 8: Not leaving Sober, 5-9 p.m.; DJ Bobby-O, 6 p.m. to 1:50 a.m.; DJ Cruz, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Jason Dumm Band, 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; Turning the Tide, 10 p.m. to 1:50 a.m.

April 13: 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

April 7: Kings Ransome, 9 p.m. to midnight

April 12: Every Wed. Karaoke w/DJ Chuck D, 8 p.m. to midnight

Music major options introduced

associated with these majors and what jobs students will be prepared for once completing a program of study.

“It is really important, that coming out of the pandemic, we bring our fine and performing arts programs, skills and pathways back to life,” said Worcester County Public Schools Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator Tamara Mills. “Students use the arts to express themselves, problem-solve, be creative, and more. We really want this partnership to show students that they can pursue the music they love here at SU or any other university. The music doesn’t have to stop when they graduate from high school.”

The WCAC Arts in Education program is intended to expand the access to educational arts resources and offer opportunities for students to explore their creative potential, said Anna Mullis, WCAC executive director.

“These first-hand quality arts and music experiences are invaluable,” she continued. “For students to learn from current music majors, faculty and staff about rich, diverse music education at the college level, strengthens the arts community and gives students quality enrichment and exposure to the arts.”

All three organizations hope that this partnership and activity will become an annual event. There are also hopes to expand the program for visual art students.

The Worcester County Arts Council’s Arts in Education funding provided a “Music Major for a Day” event for Worcester County Public Schools’ choral and instrumental music students on March 7.

Continued from Page 35

Ocean Pines provides miles of water trails for paddlers

By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) Ocean Pines has 10 miles of water trails that are readily accessible from the community. Laura Scharle, who lives in the Pines, is familiar with every one of them.

She created an interactive map of these trails for Ocean Pines, available at https://www.oceanpines.org/ web/pages/kayaks-canoes-sup.

The site provides a map of all of the trails, along with information about skill level required to navigate them, potential hazards, photos, wildlife viewing opportunities and nearby amenities. There is also a list of boat launches in the community.

It’s almost time to get on the water, so Scharle hosted a seminar on Tuesday to teach people about safety, share tips on kayaking and inform paddlers of the great online resources for Ocean Pines and the surrounding region.

Scharle takes safety seriously. She warned paddlers to not be fooled by an early 85 degree day.

“If the water temperature is below 60 degrees, do not go,” she said.

“The water does not get to 60 degrees until early May.”

“If you fall out of your kayak and you are not wearing cold water gear, you can go into cold shock. If you are

in a remote area, you could be in huge trouble,” Scharle said.

Scharle said a person only has about 10 minutes to get to safety in cold water.

She also cautioned paddlers about the wind.

“Wind can kick up in this area. Don’t go out if winds are over 10 knots,” Scharle said.

She recommends checking the National Weather Service marine forecast.

The Coast Guard requires paddlers to have a whistle and a personal floatation device on board. She recommends all paddlers also bring a cell phone in a zip lock or dry bag, closedtoe shoes, and a water bottle. For long trips, snacks, a first aid kit, sunscreen, a change of clothes, and a handheld VHF radio are advisable, she said.

Scharle provided bright orange stickers to everyone who attended the event. The stickers are to be placed on the kayak, SUP or canoe, with the owner’s name, address and phone number on it.

The stickers come in handy should paddler become separated from the boat. If your boat is found occupied, its owner can be contacted to retrieve the boat, or in the event of an emer-

Photo by Ray Bojarski

Ocean Pines offers water trails

Continued from Page 34

gency, a search can commence.

She also strongly recommends anyone going out on the water to have a float plan that identifies the route and return time and to share it with someone responsible.

Scharle recommends that paddlers always go out with a partner, especially if venturing into open waters. Other boaters can spot kayakers better in groups than paddling solo.

Scharle is a certified American Canoe Association instructor. She worked at the Delaware Seashore State Park for 17 years so she knows more than the Ocean Pines water trails.

She recommends checking out other paddling and nature trails available throughout the Delmarva region. From her many adventures, she created https://www.delmarvatrailsandwaterways.com.

Dining Guide

■ PRICE RANGE: $, $$, $$$

■ RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted

DOWNTOWN

■ 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

15th Street and Baltimore Ave in the Courtyard by Marriott, Ocean City | 410-289-7192

| captainstableoc.com

You’re the Captain now. Take the ship’s helm and fix yourself a plate from our Easter Buffet, serving from 2-7pm, and featuring appetizers, sides, entrees, as well as a carving station and dessert station. Adults $49, Children 6-12 $18, and kids under 5 eat free!

Visit Captain’s Table year-round for seafood, steaks, lobster specials, and martinis. Open for breakfast and dinner every day, and serving smiles for Happy Hour daily from 4-6pm.

■ 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 17th Street in the Holiday Inn & Suites, Ocean City | 410-289-2612 | coralreefrestaurant.com

Join us for a special evening on Easter Sunday from 4pm to close, featuring a full dining menu of shareable, soups, salads, entrees, and desserts! Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner year-round, Sunday-Thursday 11:30-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11:3010pm, with $10 eats and Happy Hour drink specials every day from 3-6pm.

■ HARBOR WATCH

806 S. Atlantic Avenue, Ocean City

“I knew I wanted to connect people to public lands,” said Scharle.

She continues her own adventures every day. Her goal is to kayak the whole peninsula before she dies. That’s 650 miles. She blogs about her many adventures and provides helpful resources including links to tides, the Weather Channel, NOAA, Geo Tracking App and Google Earth at https://laurapaddlesdelmarva.com

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

day, 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

410-289-5121, www.harborwatchrestaraunt.com

$$-$$$ | Reservations | Kids’ menu | Full bar

It’s Easter Sunday, go ‘head and put all your eggs in one basket. We’re serving an Easter Buffet from 11am to 4pm, featuring soups, prime rib, seafood, and desserts. Adults $39.99, Children 6-12 $17.95, and kids under 5 eat free! Open all through April, Thursday-Sunday, with Happy Hour Thursdays and Sundays featuring $8 appetizers, $5 crushes, $5 house wines and $4 bottled beers. Check out our Easter Buffet menu online!

■ 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.

■ 32 PALM

Located in The Hilton,32nd Street, Ocean City 410-289-2525, www.32palm.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

What’s Easter Sunday without a feast?

Serving an appetizing buffet from 11am to 3pm, featuring an omelet station, carving station, and more! 32 Palm’s inviting decor fuses the perfect atmosphere with Eastern shore favorites for an exceptional dining experience you’ll talk about for weeks to come. Easter Buffet: Adults $59, Children 6-12 $25, and kids under 5 eat free! Routinely updates menus with the highest quality local ingredients for fresh seafood any time of the year. Don’t miss out on Happy Hour, every day from 3-6pm.

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

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

Don’t worry, be hoppy this Easter at Marlin Moon! From 11am-5pm, enjoy an Easter Buffet featuring carved meats, seafood, hot and cold stations, assorted artisanal breads, and desserts! Easter Buffet: Adults $49, Children 6-12 $18, and kids under 5 eat free! Winner of the Maryland People’s Choice Award, Marlin Moon offers a great selection of entrees, small plates, appetizers, and creatively crafted cocktails yearround. Enjoy Happy Hour Monday-Saturday 3-6pm, and Sunday 1pm-6pm featuring $10 appetizers, drink specials, and specialty oysters.

■ PGN 29th Street, Ocean City, 3301 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City 410-289-8380, 410-2894083, www,pgncrabhouse.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Beer & Wine

Know for their famous steamed crabs. Dining in or carry out is available. Casual seasonal seafood stop for the all-you-can-eat specials. Steamed crabs, chicken and corn on the cob. You can find clams, ribs, crab cakes, seafood platters and more. You can call for daily specials. Open 7 days a week.

11 a.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.

■ BAHAMA’S CRAB SHACK CARRYOUT & OUTLET

Oceanside MD/DE Line and Coastal Hwy, Fenwick

302-537-5882,

Premium seafood, fat crabs by weight, sandwiches and dinners. Open daily at 10 am, closed Wednesdays. Seafood, chicken, homemade soups, super crab cakes, steamed shrimp, fresh clams, soft crabs, scallops, oysters, and snow Crab Claws.

■ 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. 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., Satur-

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.

■ PRINCESS ROYALE OCEANFRONT RESORT

9100 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, 410-524-7777, www.princessroyale.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Enjoy Easter Brunch & Easter Egg Hunt in Schooners Ocean Front Dining Restaurant. Brunch is served Sunday, April 9th 9 AM – 1 PM. Please see the Princess Royale full page ad for details on the menu. Reservations required for larger parties of 8.

■ 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. ■ S.Q.U.A.R.Z. PIZZA & RESTAURANT

In Montego Bay Shopping Center, 12825 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City 443-664-8149, www.squarepizza.com,

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

New Ownership. Open 7 days a week at 4 PM. Serving soups, salads, build your own pizza, small plates, sandwiches, dinner entrees and desserts. Full bar and HH 7 days a week, 4 to 6 PM. Dine in special menu that changes weekly in addition to the regular menu. Wide variety of gluten free options. No fryers on premises, Dine in, carry out and delivery available. Check out the menu and order online. 10% of entire check excluding alcohol.

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.

PHOTO COURTESY LAURA SCHARLE

Ocean Pines has 10 miles of water trails suitable for kayaking, canoeing or SUP. Laura Scharle created a water trail map for Ocean Pines that can be found on the website.

Lemon tea cookies spring delight

By Deborah Lee Walker Contributing Writer

(April 7, 2023) Another birthday has come and gone. I would be telling a fib if I said I fancy the thought of adding another year to my repertoire of adulthood.

That being said, there is a sweetness in knowing that wisdom flavors the recipe of maturity.

Cake and candles have given way to dyed eggs and the Easter baskets. I remember when I found out there was no such thing as the Easter bunny; I was completely devastated.

But time has a way of turning the tables of reality. The little girl is now the Easter bunny and loving every minute of it. Tradition has hippity hopped from mother to daughter.

Easter preparations are in full swing.

Do not assume everyone drinks alcoholic beverages. Liquid refreshments deserve the same attention to detail as the food.

Offering a tea service to your guests is impressive and takes into consideration those who do not partake of adult beverages.

Whether one is the host or a guest, a

review of tea etiquette ensures a relaxing and enjoyable gaiety.

Before we get started, let us discuss the difference between high tea and afternoon tea.

The main distinction is that afternoon tea offers more substantial food items than high tea. High tea typically includes fare like cakes, pastries, scones and finger sandwiches, while afternoon tea includes bread and dishes made with meat, fish and eggs.

Most afternoon teas request a “smart casual” dress code. Times have changed and formality is no longer a must. But jeans, T-shirts, and sneakers should be avoided.

Tea service is built on tradition. As a result, phones, glasses, keys and other personal items have no place on the table.

Instead, place them on your chair or other locations that are not related to the tea service.

There is a misconception that the proper way to hold a tea cup is with your pinky up. The pinky should always be down.

In fact, holding one’s pinky up is actually rude and connotes elitism.

This misinterpretation comes from the fact that cultured people would eat their tea goodies with three fingers and commoners would hold the treats with

all five fingers.

Thus, was born the misguided belief that one should raise their pinky finger to show they were cultured.

Hold the teacup by its handle. The whole pageantry of tea service is based on elegance and it is not appropriate to engulf the cup with one’s hand.

Stir up and down (12 a.m. and 6 p.m.), not in circles.

In addition, making noise with the teaspoon is frowned upon, so make sure your spoon does not clang and touch the sides of the teacup.

The clanging indicates lack of manners, and many teacups are heirloom pieces passed down from generation to generation. Respect and diligence are understood.

Do not put the spoon in your mouth, it’s just for stirring. When finished stirring, place the spoon to the right or behind the cup.

Do not blow on the tea to cool it. This is a definite no, no, and will attract the type of attention that one does not want.

While you are being told all of the things that you cannot do, you can eat finger food with your fingers. It is called finger food for a reason.

Afternoon tea comes in three courses – usually all at once on a three-tiered

See LEMON Page 42

Lemon tea cookies for springtime

tray. Eat the savories and tea sandwiches first. Scones are eaten next, then the sweet treats are last.

Under no circumstances should you lick your fingers.

If you want to wipe away something from your face, dab do not wipe.

When one is finished eating, place your utensils in the 4:20 position. This lets the server know you are done with your meal and the plates and utensils can be taken away.

Fork tines should be up and the knife blade facing you.

Easter is upon us and an offering of a simple tea service is an elegant presentation. A tray adorned with a lace napkin and a selection of teas and sugars elevates any occasion.

Lemon tea cookies allow the tea to be the star of the course and at the same time highlight the theme of spring.

Lemon tea cookies are not made with eggs; therefore, they are very light and a perfect finale to a fantastic meal.

Enjoy!

Lemon Tea Cookies

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons cornstarch

¼ teaspoon table salt

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

2/3 cup powdered sugar, plus extra for garnishing zest of 2 lemons

2 teaspoons lemon extract

3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

½ cup finely chopped almonds yellow sparkling sugar as a garnish

1. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt, set aside.

2. In another medium bowl, using a hand-held blender, mix the butter and powdered sugar just until well combined. Mix in lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla extract and almonds, again mix just until well combined.

3. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture and mix just until combined.

Place cookie mixture in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees halfway through the chilling process.

4. Scoop dough out 1 tablespoon at a time into a ball, then place on parchment paper lined baking sheets, spacing cookies 2 inches apart and bake for 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

5. Remove from oven and allow to cool for two minutes, then garnish with powdered sugar and lemon sprinkles.

6. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Add

another light dusting of powdered sugar and yellow sprinkles just before serving.

* Cookie scoops are inexpensive and perfect for this type of dough. It facilitates the release of the dough and ultimately saves you time. Cookie scoops can be purchased online.

Secret Ingredient – Individuality. “It takes nothing to join the crowd. It takes everything to stand alone.”

– Hans F. Hanson

Worcester Arts Council looks for event, project applicants

(April 7, 2023) The Worcester County Arts Council is seeking applicants for art events and projects to be held in Worcester County between July 1 and Dec. 31.

Organizations that have art projects and activities year-round may request grants which cover the entire fiscal year 2024 (July 2023 through June 2024).

The deadline for applications to be received is April 15.

The event or activity must be open to the public. The applicant must be a non-profit group, and the amount requested must be matched one-for-one by organization funds.

Grant application and guidelines are available on the Arts Council’s website: www.worcestercountyartscouncil.org.

The Community Arts Development Grant program is the foremost means by which the Worcester County Arts Council invests in the development of

Worcester Prep students at MATHCOUNTS competition

arts and culture, specifically the arts organizations and other nonprofit, tax-exempt entities presenting or producing arts in Worcester County.

Last fiscal year the council awarded close to $50,000 to local organizations through this program.

The council believes the county’s heritage should be maintained and supports the diverse art forms of all ethnic and racial groups with special consideration of projects that serve audiences comprised of citizens who are not regularly served by the arts.

The Worcester County Arts Council’s Community Arts Development Grants program is funded and supported by the Maryland State Arts Council.

For further information or assistance, call Anna Mullis, WCAC executive director, at 410-641-0809 or e-mail: anna@worcestercountyartscouncil.org.

(April 7, 2023) In late February, a group of Worcester Prep middle school students attended the Annapolis Chapter MATHCOUNTS Competition held at the Chesapeake Science Point Charter School in Hanover.

The competition included sprint, target and team rounds, then a final round.

“I was challenged and appreciate the art of mathematical calculations under pressure,” Worcester Prep participant Jacob Lev said.

Worcester Prep math teachers Hunter Causey and Kristina Watts coached the students throughout the school year in preparation for this competition.

Representing the eighth grade were Isabella Fernley, Isha Garg, Jacob Lev and Noa Bouzaglo.

The seventh grade team included Chloe Holland, Ben Rafinski and Scarlett Shimko. Sixth graders, Emerson Bofinger and Zane Freih, rounded out

the team.

The students performed well but were edged out of the final competitive round by a few points.

“As a first-time participant, I was excited and inspired by my peers to try my best. Overall, it was a fun experience,” Garg said.

In February of 1983, the MATHCOUNTS Foundation was established by the National Society of Professional Engineers, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and CNA Insurance to make learning math fun. According to the foundation, middle school is a critical juncture when a love of math must be encouraged, and a fear of math must be overcome.

MATHCOUNTS programs build problem-solving skills and positive attitudes about math, so students embrace challenges and expand their academic and career opportunities in the future.

CONTRIBUTION

Wicomico Retired School Personnel Association contributed $18,756 to the United Way campaign this year. A new record for WRSPA, last year’s donations totaled $13,000.

MATH COMPETITION

In late February, a group of Worcester Prep middle school students attended the Annapolis Chapter MATHCOUNTS Competition held at the Chesapeake Science Point Charter School in Hanover. Pictured, in front, from left, are Chloe Holland, Zane Freih, Emerson Bofinger, Isha Garg and Scarlett Shimko, and in back, Noa Bouzaglo, Jacob Lev, Isabella Fernley and Ben Rafinski.

SWIM SUCCESS

Atlantic General Hospital leadership, Atlantic General Hospital Foundation representatives and members of the 2023 Penguin Swim Committee came together to commemorate the success of this year’s event. The swim raised a record $116,000 for Atlantic General Hospital. Proceeds enable the hospital, a not-for-profit healthcare organization, to advance the health of the residents and visitors of the community through a coordinated care delivery system that provides access to quality care, personalized service and education. Penguin Swim Committee chairs Michael Cylc and Ryan Kirby present the check.

Worcester County G.O.L.D. (Giving Other Lives Dignity) Executive Director Nicholas Cranford, right, visited the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City as the guest speaker on Feb. 22. He is pictured with Kiwanis Club President Bob Wolfing. Founded in 1997, G.O.L.D. provides emergency financial assistance and basic needs items to county residents living in lowincome circumstances.

CELEBRATION

Ocean City Elementary celebrated its 100th day of school on Feb. 16. Students, faculty and staff dressed in creative ways representing 100 and how they might look when they are 100 years old. The school held a penny drive and raised $231.98 to donate to the American Heart Association. Pictured is Savanna Akins’ kindergarten class.

BIRTHDAY

Barbara Purnell, president of Germantown School Community Heritage Center, receives a commendation on her 80th birthday from Diana Purnell, on behalf of the Worcester County Commissioners.

PHOTO COURTESY DAVID J. LANDIS, SR. GUEST

MAYOR VISITS

Town of Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall met with Erin Shimko and Kim Jankowski’s fourth grade classes at Worcester Preparatory School to discuss this year’s “If I Were Mayor” essay contest. Each year Worcester Prep students enter the essay contest, and this year’s theme is “Preserving the Past to Power the Future.”

PERFORMANCE

Worcester Preparatory School presented “The Lion King Jr.” in the Athletic and Performing Arts Center on Feb. 24-25. It was led by teachers, Director Paulette DeRosa-Matrona, Music Director Christopher Buzby and Art Director George Zaiser. Upper School thespians and artists combined music, dance and an array of art mediums.

YOUNG AUTHOR

Maisie Gill, a third grade student in Andrese Foreman’s class at Ocean City Elementary School, placed third in the Young Author’s Contest for her short story, “The Coney Island Kitties.”

MILESTONE

Ocean City Elementary celebrated its 100th day of school on Feb. 16. Students, faculty and staff dressed in creative ways representing 100 and how they might look when they are 100 years old. The school held a penny drive and raised $231.98 to donate to the American Heart Association. Pictured is Kathleen Emche’s fourth grade class.

The Kiwanis Club at Berlin Intermediate School, known as the Builders Club, is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines - Ocean City. Builders Club and teacher advisor is Jane Slotter. Kiwanian Sue Wineke is the advisor to the club. She is pictured with Kiwanis Club President Bob Wolfing, displaying one of the 30 blankets the students are making as gifts through Diakonia for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day for residents.

PHOTO COURTESY DAVID J. LANDIS, SR.

BLANKET GIFTS

SELLING SAUCE

Cindy Herd, owner of Solutionz Gourmet, poses with some of her signature sauces at the 39th annual Home, Condo & Outdoor Show on March 10 at the Ocean City convention center on 40th Street.

ARTIST WELCOMES

Studio artist Megan Burak-Lowe greets guests during the First Friday opening reception at the Ocean City Center for the Arts on 94th Street, on March 3.

PARADE PARTICIPANTS

Members of the First State Detachment Marine Corps League recently participated the Ocean City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, riding in their military Humvee pulling a Toys for Tots trailer. Pictured, from left, are Bill Aguirre, Don Coffin, Gene Dankewicz, Tom Redding, Jim Wright, Al Soto, Bob Broderick and Fred Womer.

NEW CLUB MEMBERS

The Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club welcomed four new members during its March 2 dinner meeting. Pictured is William Outten with club President Christina Dolomount-Brown. Other new members recognized included Em Hench, Ron Hamm and Vicki Shrier.

STUDENT ARTISTS

Worcester Preparatory School junior Izzy Huber is pictured holding her piece, “Shattered,” which won first place in the high school category of the Shirley Hall Youth Art Show, and seventh grader Elena Gjoni with her artwork titled, “Self Portrait,” which earned first place in the middle school division. For over 30 years, the Art League of Ocean City has featured artwork by Worcester County middle and high school students in the annual Shirley Hall Youth Art Show. Originally sponsored by the Women’s Club of Ocean City, the show was coordinated by Shirley Hall who was an active member of the club and former Art League president. When the club disbanded, the Art League continued to coordinate the yearly youth show. When Hall passed away in 2006, the Art League renamed the show in her honor.

TOP ESSAYS

The Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club hosted the winners of its essay contest during the March 2 dinner meeting. Pictured, from left, are Kathy Cater, Optimist member and chair of the essay contest; Jude Damouni, third place; Marian Hanna, second; and Sydney Todorov, first.

HUNTER HINE/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Submit calendar items to: editor@oceancitytoday.net. Submission deadline is 5 p.m. Monday, the week of publication. Local submissions have priority. Area event listings are subject to space availability.

Fri., April 7

EASTER ART & CRAFT SHOW AND KIDS

FUN FAIR

Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Featuring the Easter Bunny, egg hunts, juggling, games and more. Artists and crafters displaying their works. Admission $5 for adults, $4 seniors/students (4-18), $2 services. www.oceanpromotions.info

GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER SERVICE

Bethany United Methodist Church, 8648 Stephen Decatur Highway, Berlin, 10 a.m. Self-guided prayer stations between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Info: 410-6412186, bethany21811.org, bethanyberlin.org.

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES

Community Church at Ocean Pines, 11227 Racetrack Road. Noon to 1 p.m. service includes speaker Emily German, 1-3 p.m. is a prayer service and 7 p.m. is a Tenebrae Service with Pastor Dale Brown. https://www.ccaop.org

FIRST FRIDAY ART OPENINGS

Art League of Ocean City, 502 94th St., 5-7 p.m. Complimentary refreshments. Satellite galleries include the Princess Royale, 9100 Coastal Highway; and the Coffee Beanery, 94th Street and Coastal Highway.

www.artleagueofoceancity.org, 410-5249433

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE

St. John’s United Methodist Church, 8829 Lewis Road, Berlin, 6:30 p.m.

Guest speakers include Min, Major Purnell, Rev. Eloise Gordy-Henry, Rev. Betty Smith, Rev. Star Purnell, Sis. Beatrice Spence, Min. Sandra Foreman, Sis. Geraldine Rhock.

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 3 Church St., Berlin. 7 p.m. https://stpaulsberlin.org

Sat., April 8

EASTER ART & CRAFT SHOW AND KIDS FUN FAIR

Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Featuring the Easter Bunny, egg hunts, juggling, games and more. Artists and crafters displaying their works. Admission $5 for adults, $4 sen-

iors/students (4-18), $2 services. www.oceanpromotions.info

BERLIN’S ANNUAL SPRING CELEBRATION

Historic Downtown Berlin, 124 N. Main St., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Featuring a Bonnet Parade, Midway of games and prizes, Easter egg hunt (11:30 a.m.), live music, face painting, Scales & Tales, vendors and refreshments. www.berlinchamber.org

DRESS MINISTRY AT THE BERLIN SPRING CELEBRATION

Historic Downtown Berlin, 124 N. Main St., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Selling jump rope kits and telling visitors about their current project, purchasing water treatment systems for Guatemala. Other giveaways available and any donations is appreciated. 410-641-0415

PANCAKE BREAKFAST WITH THE EASTER BUNNY

Berlin Fire Co Headquarters, 214 N. Main St., 8:30-11 a.m. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 9 years and younger. All-day parking available. Cash donations accepted. Tickets: https://berlin-firecompany.ticketleap.com/pancakebreakfast-with-easter-bunny/.

TINKER TIME: BLACKOUT POETRY

Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Drop in anytime, use the library’s supplies and your imagination to create. This month, explore blackout poetry. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org

OCEAN PINES ANGLERS CLUB MEETING

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 9:30 a.m. The speaker will be Captain Ken Thompson, who charters “Oppor-Tuna-Ty Too” and “Oppor-Tuna-Ty.” Find out what it takes to be a tournament winner. Also fishing updates. All welcome. 410-6417662

BREAKFAST WITH THE EASTER BUNNY AND EASTER EGG HUNT

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 10301 Coastal Highway, Ocean City. Breakfast, 10 a.m. Easter egg hunt, 11 a.m. A $10 donation for those 6 years and older; free for 5 years and younger. Photos with the Easter Bunny from 10-11 a.m. for $10 donation. RSVP: 410-524-7474.

EASTER BUNNY EGG HUNT

Northside Park Recreation Complex, 200 125th St., Ocean City, 11 a.m. Open

to kids, ages 2-10 years and their families. Cost is $6 for Ocean City residents and $8 for non-residents. Advanced registration is encouraged: 410-250-0125.

TRIMPER RIDES GRAND RE-OPENING FOR 130TH SEASON

Trimper Rides of Ocean City, 700 S. Atlantic Ave., 12 p.m. Free Easter egg hunt (12:30 p.m.), egg roll competition (3 p.m.), and pictures with the Easter Bunny. Wristbands cost $25 (11 a.m.). Sign up: www.trimperrides.com/trimpernews/easter-at-trimper_rides. 410-2898617

HOLY SATURDAY EASTER VIGIL

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 3 Church St., Berlin. 7-11:59 p.m. https://stpaulsberlin.org

FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

Saturdays - White Horse Park, 239 Ocean Parkway, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shop for everything from fresh local produce to unique handmade artisan goods. Open to the public.

Sun., April 9

EASTER SUNDAY SERVICES

Community Church at Ocean Pines, 11227 Racetrack Road, Berlin. Four services held throughout the day. The sunrise service begins at 6:30 a.m. followed by services at 8 a.m., 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. https://www.ccaop.org

EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE AND BREAKFAST

Assateague State Park, 6915 Stephen Decatur Highway, Berlin, 6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service at Assateague State Park follow by breakfast at Bethany United Methodist Church. 410-641-2186, bethany21811@gmail.com, bethanyberlin.org

EASTER SUNDAY

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 3 Church St., Berlin. Two services, 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. https://stpaulsberlin.org

OCEAN PINES RESIDENT GOLF DAY

Ocean Pines Golf Club, 100 Clubhouse Drive, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Featuring free greens fees for Ocean Pines residents, playing tips, fun activities and a chance to learn about Ocean Pines golf groups. Ocean Pines resident ID cards required. Tee times: 410-641-6057.

EASTER SUNDAY SERVICE

Bethany United Methodist Church, 8648 Stephen Decatur Highway, Berlin, 10 a.m. For more information call 410641-2186, email bethany21811@gmail.com or visit bethanyberlin.org.

JESUS’ RESURRECTION CELEBRATION

Makemie Presbyterian Church, 103 W.

Market St., Snow Hill, 11 a.m. Worship will take place on Facebook and in person. There will be special music and refreshments after church. Nursery care will also be provided. 410-632-1698

TRIMPER RIDES GRAND RE-OPENING FOR 130TH SEASON

Trimper Rides of Ocean City, 700 S. Atlantic Ave., Ocean City. Free Easter egg hunt (12:30 p.m.), Bunny dance party (3 p.m.), and pictures with the Easter Bunny. Wristbands cost $25 (11 a.m.). Sign up: www.trimperrides.com/trimpernews/easter-at-trimper_rides. 410-2898617

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES MEETING

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

Mon., April 10

DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR PAINTING EXPERIENCE FUNDRAISER FOR EMILY

Held April 14 at Ocean City Painting Experience (T.C. Studios), 1505 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, 6-8 p.m. Cost is $45, includes painting, dinner and $5 donation. Emily is in need of a double lung transplant. Tickets: https://www.tcstudios.org/events/emily sfundraiser, 443-248-4273.

STORY TIME ‘DRAGONS’

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs and rhymes all about dragons. For ages 2-5 years. 410-5241818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

POET SPOTLIGHT: NAOMI SHIHAB NYE

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 1 p.m. This month the group will be driving into the world of poetry and highlighting some great poets. Ages 7 years and older. 410208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

WRITING FOR WELLNESS

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

SALTY, SWEET OR BITTER? THE SCIENCE OF TASTE

Worcester County Library - Pocomoke Branch, 301 Market St., 4 p.m. Second of a three-part series about senses. Learn all about the anatomy of your mouth and tongue and participate in some tasting experiments. For ages 6 years and older. 410-957-0878

UNCOOKING CLUB

Worcester County Library - Snow Hill

Continued on Page 48

CALENDAR

Continued from Page 47

Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 5-6:30 p.m. No cooking required. Bring your favorite recipe to share with the group. This class will focus on breakfast and lunch dishes. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org

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

Atlantic General Hospital, Conference Room 1, 9733 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 56:30 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

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, 410-629-9383 or Carol, 302-2427062.

Tues., April 11

STORY TIME: LITTLE RED HEN

Worcester County Library - Pocomoke Branch, 301 Market St., 10:30 a.m. Meet Ms. Lisa’s little red hen and join the group for stories and crafts about chickens. For ages 2-5 years. 410-957-0878. www.worcesterlibrary.org

STORY TIME ‘COLOR AND ART’

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 10:30 a.m. Stories, song and finger plays. Take-home activity included. For ages 2-5 years. 410641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

OC KNITTING GROUP

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

OCEAN PINES LIBRARY EGG HUNT!

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 12 p.m. Featuring an egg hunt, crafts and activities to celebrate the season. Families are welcome. Outdoor activity. 410-2084014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

MONTHLY MOVIE MATINEE

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 2 p.m. Catch a recent movie you might have intended to see in theaters. Check movie details at www.worcesterlibrary.org or call 410-208-4014.

‘FILL A DUMPSTER FOR KIDS’ EVENT AND JOINT GRAND OPENING

JDog Junk Removal & Hauling Ocean City, MD and Amy’s Attic Upscale Resale, 11070 Cathell Road, Units 5 & 7, Berlin, 3-6 p.m. Items needed for The Cricket Center include diapers, baby wipes, shirts, pants, onesies, coats, shoes, suitcase, duffle bag, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner.

Ave., Suite 104, Berlin, 3:15-4 p.m. Group provides discussions, along with education on exercise, nutrition, coping techniques, medications and developments in treatment. Kay Kinnikin, 410641-4765, kkinnikin@atlanticgeneral.org

CLAY IMPRESSION ART

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 3:30 p.m. Create a unique piece by experimenting with pressing designs into clay. For ages 2-15 years. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

MARYLAND SAFE BOATING COURSE

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 6-9 p.m. Held April 11, 12 and 13. Cost is $20 for all three evenings. Register: Barry Cohen, 410-935-4807, CGAUXOC@gmail.com.

ATLANTIC COAST SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION MEETING

American Legion Synepuxent Post 166, 2308 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, 7 p.m. Guest speaker is Dan Collins from The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Arrive early to get food and beverages and socialize. Guests are welcome. John O’Dell, ridgegrass@hotmail.com

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. 410289-4725

OC KNITTING CLUB

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., April 12

BARIATRIC SUPPORT GROUP

Held via Zoom the first and second Wednesday of each month. For non-surgical patients. Atlantic General Bariatrics Center, 410-641-9568

10 a.m. Refreshments served at 9:30 a.m. The guest speaker will be the new CEO of Atlantic General Hospital, Mr. Donald Owrey. New members welcome. Bob McCluskey, 410-250-0980

SENSORY STAY AND PLAY

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Learn through exploration, curiosity and creativity during the sensory stay and play. Squish, build, splash, shake and scoop through several fun stations. For ages 2-5 years. 410-524-1818

SPIRIT HISTORY OF POPLAR HILL MANSION

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 2 p.m. Aleta Davis will talk about her book, a true story about her investigations into what was happening at the house and how they went about proving what is there. Q&A to follow. 410-641-0650

ACT, ‘SIP AND SCIENCE SERIES’

Assateague Coastal Trust, 10959 Worcester Highway, Berlin, 5:30 p.m. Navigating Through Various Apps to Help with Water Pollution and Safety.Swim Guide App - WaterReporter AppMyCoast Maryland App. BYOB. Preregistration required: www.actforbays.org/calendar.

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 on the website and Facebook. Guests are welcome. www.kiwanisofopoc.org

Thurs., April 13

ACT, SWAP CLOTHING DROP OFF Assateague Coastal Trust, 10959 Worcester Highway, Berlin. Contact Debbi Dean, 443-856-9309 or outreach@actforbays.org to coordinate a time to drop off clothing. https://www.actforbays.org/actclothingswap

PLAY TIME

Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 10:30 a.m. Featuring a variety of activities and toys. Play and socialize with other families. For ages 2-5 years. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org

OUTDOOR STORY TIME: MR. JAKE’S FAVES

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10:30 a.m. Featuring outside story time. Stick around to use sidewalk chalk. Be prepared for a mess. For ages 2-5 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

CHESS CLUB

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Quiet place to meet new friends and play some chess. Bring your boards.

All are welcome. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

ARBOR DAY MEMORIAL CEREMONY

Pintail Park, Ocean Pines, 10:30 a.m. Held to honor and remember friends and family who passed away in 2022. Includes a tree planting, music, readings by Ocean Pines Garden Club members and commemorations by dignitaries. All are welcome.

WORCESTER COUNTY GOVERNMENT JOB

FAIR

Worcester County Human Resources, 1 W. Market St., Snow Hill, 12-3 p.m. Meet professionals from Human Resources and other departments to discuss career options. Computers available onsite. For a complete list of job opportunities: https://worcesterhr.co.worcester.md.us/.

VINTAGE SEED PACKET PAPIER-MÂCHÉ

Worcester County Library - Pocomoke Branch, 301 Market St., 2 p.m. The box tops will be decorated with vintage seed packet covers. Limit 10. Registration required: 410-957-0878. www.worcesterlibrary.org

TRIVIA WITH THE LIBRARY

Ocean City 50plus Center, 104 41st St., 2 p.m. Join the Ocean City Library for trivia at the Ocean City 50Plus Center. Test your knowledge and win prizes. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

ZUMBA

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 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: 410-6410650. www.worcesterlibrary.org

WORCESTER COUNTY NAACP MEETING Held via Zoom beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Keynote Speaker will be Officer Jonette Miller, OC Police Department. She is being recognized in a Women’s History Month Celebration. 443-9446701, Worcester County N.A.A.C.P. Facebook page.

BEACH SINGLES-55 PLUS Thursdays - Harpoon Hanna’s, 39064 Harpoon Road, Fenwick Island, DE, 4-6 p.m. Info: 302-436-9577 or BeachSingles.org

Crossword answers from page 36

Classifieds appear in Ocean City Today & Bayside Gazette each week and online at oceancitytoday.com & baysideoc.com

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED

HERKER PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

Seeking full time FIELD MANAGER for full service landscaping & property maintenance company in Frankford & Delaware beach resort areas. Salary: $50K+, benefits include partial health, Simple IRA, holidays & vacation. Email resume to Gherker@comcast.net or call 610-459-5857

Call 410-723-6397

by Monday 5 p.m.

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED

Worcester Preparatory School seeks an Experienced Full-Time LIBRARIAN MEDIA SPECIALIST

This position reports to the Head of School.

Experience with instruction on information and technology literacy skills, including the research process. Experience in evaluating and selecting print and digital resources. Expertise in basic technology, including computer operation, productivity software, and basic network knowledge. 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 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

Custodian. May to October. $18 per hour. Vacuum hallways, clean windows, and any other duties as necessary. Noon to 8 p.m. Hours negotiable. Call 410-524-9400.

Pool Attendant

Flexible hours. Full time or part time.

3-4 days/evenings a week. Contact Jimmer Gardiner with Harbour Island at 14th St. on the Bay 240-298-0365

Thunderbird Beach Motel

Now Hiring ALL POSITIONS. Apply in person MondayFriday, 9am-2pm. 32nd Street & Baltimore Ave., Thunderbird Beach Motel. Now Hiring for Seasonal Certified Pool Operator Apply within Comfort Suites, 12718 Ocean Gateway (Rte. 50), Ocean City, MD (WOC). 410-213-7171

PAPA JOHN'S MANAGERS, DRIVERS INSIDERS Ocean City 302-541-8081

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.

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.com

CAD Designer/ Drafter

Berlin, MD area. Work experience and/or an Associates degree in CAD or closely related field preferred.

Send resume by email to jsalm@jwse.com

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

NOW HIRING

• Cosmetologists

• Hair Stylists

• Nail Technicians

To Apply: Call 410-213-1122 or Email info@blissoc.com

Classifieds 410-723-6397

NOW HIRING!!

Production Crew for our WOC kitchen facility

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

Classifieds 410-723-6397

Advanced Marina 66th St. Ocean City

Advancedmarina.com

Now Hiring: Mechanics

Boat Yard Crew Cleaners Painters

Dock Hands

To Apply: Call 410-723-2124 or Email advancedmarina@aol.com

WORLD FRESH SEAFOOD

JOB OPPORTUNITY!

We are hiring 4 Drivers and 5 Receptionists for Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Chicago and Florida. Interested please call or send a message to: 240-994-7845

Drivers need a commercial driver's license

Warehouse Associate

The T-Shirt Factory in Ocean City seeking a full-time, year-round Warehouse Associate Candidates must have a minimum of 6 months warehouse experience, valid drivers without points, ability to drive a box truck and lift up to 50 lbs. or more. Benefits and pay depends on experience.

To apply send resumes to bkmoira@yahoo.com or call the Corporate Office at (410) 213-9650

Maintenance. FT, YR. Perfect job for jack of all trades handyman. Company provided vehicle. Looking for dependable, quality worker. Call 410-250-1111 or email resume to Fred@paradiseoc.com.

Maintenance Person Flexible hours. Full time or part time.

3-4 days a week. Contact Jimmer Gardiner with Harbour Island at 14th St. on the Bay 240-298-0365

Year-Round Outboard

Motor/Boat Mechanic needed for established Boat Yard in West Ocean City, Maryland. Call Harbor Marine, 410-213-2296.

Cleaners - Vacation rentals needed for OC and the Pines. Experience preferred but not required. OC Purifiers. Call or text 443-397-1189 or email karen@ocpurifiers.com.

Ocean City Florist Now Hiring

PT Floral Designer 2-3 days a week. Some Saturdays will be required. Experience necessary. Call 410-250-1636 or apply within.

PGN Crab House 29th Street & Coastal Hwy. Now Hiring for • Waitstaff

Room To Share. Full house privileges. $2400 for the Summer (May-Sept.). Three payments of $800. All utilities included. No smoking, no pets. 443-880-2486

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

COMMERCIAL

Hiring Cooks, Audio/Video Techs, Maintenance Staff, Painters, Carpenter, Plumber, Housekeeper, Boat Mates

Apply in person or online at seacrets.com

• Kitchen Help Apply within in person after 11:00 am

Barn 34 Hiring Kitchen Help Apply in person Thurs. & Fri. between 9am - 12pm 3400 Coastal Hwy.

RENTALS

Seasonal Weekly Rental (ONLY). Single Family Home, Berlin. 4BR, 3BA. $625/per night. Call 610-383-1138 for details.

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

Self-Storage Units on Route 50 on Grays Corner Rd. 100 sq. ft., 200 sq. ft. & 250 sq. ft. 100 sq. ft. $125/mo. 200 sq. ft. $185/mo. & 250 sq. ft. $200/mo. Call Bill 301-537-5391

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

Warehouse/Contractor Shops/Storage/ Flex Building for Lease 1000-10,000 sq. ft. In town Ocean City on 142nd St. 410-723-4400 or 410-430-8332

CAREGIVER AVAILABLE for home care, everyday needs. 35 years experience. Delaware and Maryland area. Call Deborah at 302-934-7420

Nurse Available for Home Care

30 plus years experience

Reasonable rates.

856-528-6254

DONATIONS

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.

410-723-6397

Beautiful Sheepadoodle, family raised with lots of love and interaction. Parents are both young, healthy, smart and loving. Parents are both AKC registered. Mother is Old English Sheepdog and Father is Silver Standard Poodle. We have males and females some primarily black and we have black and white. Puppies will be ready to go to their new home March 24th. Puppies will be dewormed and vaccinated. Price is $1000. Please email jasjas123@gmail.com text 843-455-3517

www.baysideoc.com ~ www.oceancitytoday.com

Hiring for the following positions

• Groundskeepers

• Houseman Housekeepers

• Front Desk Agents

• Lifeguards

• Part-Time Bartender/ Concession

Seasonal positions

Apply in person at 12806 Ocean Gateway or email: info@fskfamily.com

the Beach in Ocean

Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options. Request a FREE Quote. Call now before the next power outage: 1-855993-0969

HOME IMPROVEMENT SERVICES

BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 877-738-0991.

MISC. FOR SALE

DISH Network. $64.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1-855407-6870

MISC. SERVICES

FREE high-speed internet for those that qualify. Government program for recipients of select programs incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet service. Bonus offer: Android tablet FREE with one-time $20 copay. Free shipping & handling. Call Maxsip Telecom today! 1-888-592-5957

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

SERVICES

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-337-5228 www.dental50plus.com/ MDDC#6258

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

108 8th Street

Ocean City, Maryland 21842

FORECLOSURE SALE

300 ROBIN DRIVE, #104 OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND

By virtue of a Statement of Lien recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland, and pursuant to an Order of the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland in Case No. C-23-CV-23000037, the undersigned Trustee will offer for sale at public auction in front of the condominium building located at 300 Robin Drive, Ocean City, Maryland 21842, on

FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2023

AT 9:00 AM

ALL that property lying and being situate in the Town of Ocean City, in the Tenth Election District of Worcester County, Maryland, more particularly designated and distinguished as Unit No. 104 in the KEY WEST VILLAS CONDOMINIUM, together with an undivided percentage interest in the common elements thereof, as established pursuant to a Condominium Declaration and ByLaws recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland, in Liber No. 1298, folio 337, et seq., and pursuant also to the plats described in said Declaration, and recorded among the aforesaid Land Records in Plat Book No. 111, folio 13, et seq., and pursuant to all subsequently recorded Amendments.

The property will be sold in an AS IS condition and subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, with no warranties or guarantees, and will be sold subject to 1) a Deed of Trust recorded among the aforesaid Land Records in Liber No. 7350, folio 312, said Deed of Trust having had an original principal balance of $87,300.00 on January 3, 2019 and 2) a Deed of Trust recorded among the aforesaid Land Records in Liber No. 7350, folio 332, said Deed of Trust having had an original principal balance of $5,000.00 on January 3, 2019 . The Trustee reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

Terms of Sale: A deposit in the amount of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) will be required at the time of sale, such deposit to be in a cashier=s or bank check, with the balance to be paid in cash at time of settlement. The date of settlement shall be fifteen (15) days after final ratification by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, time being of the essence; otherwise, the deposit will be forfeited and the property will be resold at the risk and expense of the defaulting purchaser, or in any manner designated by the Trustee; or, without forfeiting deposit, the Seller may exercise any of its legal or equitable rights against the defaulting purchaser. The undersigned reserves the right to waive the deposit requirements as to the purchaser representing the interest of the party secured by the

Statement of Lien. Real property taxes, wastewater charges, and condominium dues will be adjusted to the date of sale and thereafter assumed by the purchaser. All costs of conveyancing, including transfer and recordation taxes, shall be paid by the purchaser. The purchaser shall be responsible for obtaining possession of the property. Purchaser agrees to pay to the Seller an Attorney=s fee of $350.00 for review of any motion which may be filed with the Court to substitute a purchaser herein. In the event the undersigned is unable to convey marketable title, the sale will be null and void and the purchaser=s sole remedy will be the return of the deposit without interest.

For more information, call: James E. Clubb, Jr. Trustee

410-289-2323

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Huesman, Jones and Miles, LLC

11350 McCormick Road Executive Plaza III, Suite 905 Hunt Valley, MD 21031 (443) 541-8507

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE’S SALE OF

REAL PROPERTY

KNOWN AS 8821 BAY RIDGE DR., BERLIN, MD 21811

CASE NUMBER c23cv22000240

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a Deed of Trust from 8821 Bay Ridge LLC, recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County in Liber 7557, Folio 349, and Substitution of Trustee recorded among the aforementioned Land Records substituting Gerard F. Miles, Jr, as Substitute Trustee, the Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at public auction, at the Circuit Court for Worcester County, at the Courthouse Door, 1 W. Market St., Snow Hill, MD 21863 on April 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM:

All that lot of ground and the improvements thereon situate in Worcester County, State of Maryland, as described in the Deed of Trust recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, in Liber 7557 Folio 349. The property being known as 8821 Bay Ridge Dr., Berlin, MD 21811. The improvements thereon consist of a dwelling.

The property will be sold in “AS IS” condition, subject to any existing building violations, restrictions and agreements of record. The purchaser assumes all risks of loss for the property as of the date of sale. Neither the Substitute Trustees nor their respective agents, successors or assigns make any representations or warranties, either expressed or implied with respect to the property. The Substitute Trustees shall convey insurable title.

The property is being sold fee simple. The original principal balance of the loan was $60,000.00

TERMS OF THE SALE: A deposit in a form acceptable to the Substituted Trustee in the amount of $10,000 will be required of the purchaser, other than the Holder of the

Note or its assigns, at the time and place of sale. Any amount tendered at sale in excess of the required deposit will be refunded and not applied to the purchase price. Unless the purchaser is the Holder of the Note or its assigns, the balance of the purchase price shall be paid immediately with available funds within ten (10) days of the final ratification of the sale by the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Time is of the essence. The purchaser, other than the Holder of the Note or its assigns, shall pay interest at the rate of 13.00% per annum on the unpaid portion of the purchase price from the date of sale to date of settlement. Real property taxes and assessments shall be adjusted to the date of sale and assumed thereafter by the purchaser. Ground rent, HOA assessments, Condominium assessments, water and/or sewer charges public or private, if any, shall be adjusted to the date of sale and assumed thereafter by the purchaser. Cost of all documentary stamps and transfer taxes shall be paid by the purchaser. Purchaser shall have the responsibility of obtaining possession of the property.

In the event settlement is delayed for any reason , there shall be no abatement of interest. If the purchaser defaults, the entire deposit is forfeited. The Substitute Trustee shall resell the property at the risk and expense of the defaulting purchaser. The defaulting purchaser shall be liable for the payment of any deficiency in the purchase price, all costs and expenses of both sales, attorney fees, all other charges due, and incidental and consequential damages.

In the event the Substitute Trustee does not convey title for any reason, purchaser’s sole remedy is return of the deposit. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Trustee or Mortgagee. The Substitute Trustee shall have the right to terminate this contract in the event the Holder has entered into any agreement with, or accepted funds from, the mortgagor. Upon termination of the contract, Purchaser’s sole remedy shall be return of the deposit.

Gerard F. Miles, Jr., Substitute Trustee

Tidewater Auctions, LLC (410) 825-2900

www.tidewaterauctions.com

Ad #75679

Yuman, dated October 27, 2006 and recorded in Liber 4809, Folio 624 among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland, with an original principal balance of $280,000.00, default having occurred under the terms thereof, the Substitute Trustees will sell at public auction at the Circuit Courthouse for Worcester County, Courthouse Door, 1 West Market Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863, on

Monday, April 10th, 2023 AT 11:00AM

ALL THAT FEE-SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND and the improvements thereon situated in Worcester County, MD and more fully described in the aforesaid Purchase Money Deed of Trust. The real property is known as 703 141st Street, Ocean City, MD 21842, Tax ID #10178576. Tax Map 0118, Grid 0014, Parcel 9404A.

Terms of Sale: The property will be sold “as is” and subject to conditions, restrictions, easements and agreements of record affecting same, if any and with no warranty of any kind. A deposit of $22,000.00 in the form of cash, cashier’s check, certified check, or other form as the Substitute Trustees determine acceptable, is required at the time of auction. Balance of the purchase price to be paid in cash within ten days of final ratification of sale by the Circuit Court for Worcester County. At the Substitute Trustees’ discretion, the foreclosure purchaser, if a corporation or LLC, must produce evidence, prior to bidding, of the legal formation of such entity. The purchaser, other than the Holder of the Note, its assigns, or designees, shall pay interest on the unpaid purchase money at the rate of 4.625% per annum from the date of foreclosure auction to the date funds are received in the office of the Substitute Trustees.

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Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A.

1966 Greenspring Drive, Suite LL2

Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland 21093

(410) 238-2840

Under a power of sale contained in a certain Purchase Money Deed of Trust from Telma Yuman and Adolfo

In the event settlement is delayed for any reason , there shall be no abatement of interest. All due and/or unpaid private utility, water and sewer facilities charges, or front foot benefit payments, are payable by the purchaser without adjustment. Real estate taxes and all other public charges, or assessments, ground rent, or condo/HOA assessments, not otherwise divested by ratification of the sale, to be adjusted as of the date of foreclosure auction an assumed thereafter by the purchaser. Cost of all documentary stamps, transfer taxes and settlement expenses, and all other costs incident to settlement, shall be borne by the purchaser. Purchaser shall be responsible for obtaining physical possession of the property. Purchaser assumes the risk of loss or damage to the property from the date of sale forward.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. If the purchaser shall fail to comply with the terms of the sale or fails to go to settlement within ten (10) days of ratification of the sale, the Substitute Trustees may, in addition to any other available remedies, declare the entire deposit forfeited and resell the property at the risk and cost of the defaulting purchaser, and the pur-

chaser agrees to pay reasonable attorneys' fees for the Substitute Trustees, plus all costs incurred, if the Substitute Trustees have filed the appropriate motion with the Court to resell the property. Purchaser waives personal service of any paper filed in connection with such a motion on himself and/or any principal or corporate designee, and expressly agrees to accept service of any such paper by regular mail directed to the address provided by said bidder at the time of foreclosure auction. In such event, the defaulting purchaser shall be liable for the payment of any deficiency in the purchase price, all costs and expenses of resale, reasonable attorney's fees, and all other charges due and incidental and consequential damages, and any deficiency in the underlying secured debt. The purchaser shall not be entitled to any surplus proceeds or profits resulting from any resale of the property. If the Substitute Trustees cannot convey insurable title, the purchaser's sole remedy at law or in equity shall be the return of the deposit without interest. The sale is subject to postsale confirmation and audit of the status of the loan with the loan servicer including, but not limited 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 his deposit without interest.

NOTE: The information contained herein was obtained from sources deemed to be reliable, but is offered for informational purposes only. Neither the auctioneer, the beneficiary of the Deed of Trust, the Substitute Trustee nor his agents or attorneys make any representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy of information.

PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS ARE URGED TO PERFORM THEIR OWN DUE DILIGENCE WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPERTY PRIOR TO THE FORECLOSURE AUCTION. For additional information, please contact the Substitute Trustees.

Mark H. Wittstadt and Justin T. Hoy, Substitute Trustees

Tidewater Auctions, LLC

305 West Chesapeake Avenue, Suite 105 Towson, Maryland 21204 410-825-2900

www.tidewaterauctions.com

Ad #75676

PUBLIC NOTICE

The motor vehicles described below have been abandoned. The owners and lien holders are hereby informed of their right to reclaim the vehicles upon payment of all charges and costs resulting from the towing, preservation, and storage of the vehicles.

The failure of the owners or lien holders to reclaim the vehicles within three weeks of notification shall be deemed a waiver by the owners or lien holders of all rights, title and interest and thereby consent to the sale of the vehicles at public auction or to have it otherwise disposed of in a manner provided by law.

These three weeks of notification began on March 23, 2023.

All vehicles will be sold at auction on-line at www.govdeals.com. For details call 410-723-6643.

NOTICE

PROPOSED FARE CHANGE FOR OCEAN CITY MUNICIPAL BUS SERVICE

Notice is hereby given that Ocean City Transportation submitted a proposal at the March 6, 2023 Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council to increase the ride-all-day fare from $3 to $4 on municipal fixed route buses and complementary ADA para transit service. The proposal was submitted as a means to increase revenue and reduce the Town’s general fund contribution for municipal bus service in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

The purpose of this notice is to: (1) Advise the Public of the proposed fare change; (2) Offer an opportunity to the Public to inspect supporting documents; (3) Offer an opportunity to the Public to request a Public Hearing; (4) Offer an opportunity to the Public to submit written comments; (5) Advise the Public of the date for the Public Hearing should it be requested; and (6) Advise the Public of the date of implementation should the proposal be approved.

must also be received prior to 4 p.m. Monday, April 10, 2023. Request for a Public Hearing and submission of Written Comments should be delivered to the following address and clearly marked “Public Hearing” or “Public Comment”: Ocean City Transportation, 224 65th Street, Ocean City, Maryland 21842. In the event a Public Hearing is requested, the date and location of the Public Hearing will be Monday, April 17, 2023, 6:00 p.m. during the Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council, City Hall, Council Chambers, 301 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, Maryland 21842. The location of the Public Hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities. Any individual who requires special assistance to participate in the Public Hearing must contact Ocean City Transportation at 410-723-2174 prior to 4 p.m. Monday, April 10, 2023 to advise of necessary arrangements.

Implementation Date: If, as a result of a 6 p.m. Public Meeting/Hearing on Monday, April 17, 2023 and upon consideration of comments received, the Mayor and City Council approve the proposed fare change, the effective time and date of implementation will be 6 a.m. Monday, May 1, 2023. Any form of media advertising a $3 ride-all-day fare after May 1, 2023 shall be considered invalid.

and procedures may be permitted to avoid unnecessary exclusion of individuals with disabilities from transit related service or programs.

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DANIELS & DANIELS, L.L.C. RICHARD C. DANIELS, ESQ.

4509 BEECHWOOD ROAD

COLLEGE PARK, MD 20740

NOTICE

TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT

OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 19640

Notice is given that the Circuit Court of Hillsborough County, FL appointed Patrick Higgins, 14007 Wolcott Drive, Tampa, FL 33624 as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Maureen T. Higgins who died on October 16, 2022 domiciled in Florida, America.

The Maryland resident agent for service of process is Richard C. Daniels whose address is 4509 Beechwood Road, College Park, MD 20740.

At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following Maryland counties: Worcester.

OCD-3/23/3t

410-723-6511 or E-mail:

Proposed Fare Change: Increase the ride-all-day fare on Ocean City municipal fixed route buses and complementary ADA para transit service from $3 to $4.

Supporting Documents: Supporting documents are available on the Town of Ocean City website at http://oceancitymd.gov/publichearings.html or by calling Ocean City Transportation prior to 4 p.m. Monday, April 10, 2023 at 410-723-2174 to schedule appointment.

Public Hearing & Written Comments: A Public Hearing will be held upon request. Request for a Public Hearing must be in writing and received by prior to 4 p.m. Monday, April 10, 2023. Written Comments

Ocean City Transportation (OCT) is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of its transit services on the basis of race, color or national origin, as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, you may file a complaint up to 180 days from the date of the alleged incident.

To file a complaint or for additional information on OCT’s nondiscrimination policies and procedures, contact: Transit Manager, 224 65th Street, Ocean City, Md. 21842. Reasonable modifications of Ocean City Transportation policies, practices,

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 other delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.

Patrick Higgins Foreign Personal Representative Terri Westcott Register of Wills One W. Market Street

AUTH: Ross Buzzuro Chief of Police

Room 102 - Court House

Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of Newspaper:

Ocean City Digest

Date of first publication:

March 23, 2023

OCD-3/23/3t

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AGENDA

THURSDAY APRIL 13, 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 23-19, on the lands of John Willett, requesting an afterthe-fact variance to the rear yard setback from 30 feet to 28.6 feet (to encroach 1.4 feet) for an open deck in the R-2 Suburban Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1-206(b)(2) & ZS 1305 located at 3 Knight Terrace, Tax Map 21, Parcel 224, Section 10, Lot 1262, Tax District 3, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:35 p.m. Case 23-34, on the lands of Brett Costello, requesting a variance to the rear yard setback from 30 feet to 12.8 feet (to encroach 17.2 feet) for an extension of an existing deck in the R-3 Multifamily Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1207(b)(2) and ZS 1-305 located at 86 Lookout Point, Tax Map 16, Parcel 41, Section 4, Lot 85, Tax District 3, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:40 p.m. Case 23-35, on the lands of Leslie Steele, requesting a variance to the rear yard setback from 50 feet to 30 feet (to encroach 20 feet) for a proposed single family dwelling in the R-1 Rural Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1116(c)(4), ZS 1-205(b)(2) and ZS 1305 located on Mason Road, about 2,461 feet south of the intersection with Orchard Road, Tax Map 41, Parcel 58, Block B, Lot 9, Tax District 3, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:45 p.m. Case 23-32, on the lands of Charles Shorley, requesting a variance to the rear yard setback from 50 feet to 28 feet (to encroach 22 feet) for a proposed deck addition in the R-1 Rural Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1116(c)(4), ZS 1-205(b)(2) and ZS 1-305 located at 10128 Silver Point Lane, Tax Map 26, Parcel 234, Tax District 10, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:50 p.m. Case 23-31, on the lands of Julie Langan, requesting an afterthe-fact special exception to allow an 8 foot tall fence in a rear yard in the R-1 Rural Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1116(c)(3), ZS 1-205(b)(2) and ZS 1-305(k)(3)B, located at 10651 Piney Island Drive, Tax Map 15, Parcel 218, Lot 25, Tax District 5, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:55 p.m. Case 23-33, on the lands

of Franklin Berterman, requesting a variance to the front yard setback from 40 feet to the property line to 29.25 feet (to encroach 10.75 feet) for a proposed front covered porch in the R-1 Rural Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1116(c)(4), ZS 1-205(b)(2) and ZS 1-305 located at 12290 Dixie Drive, Tax Map 10, Parcel 177, Lot 31, Tax District 5, Worcester County, Maryland.

7:00 p.m. Case 23-18, on the application of Dylan Drew, on the lands of Robert Miller, requesting a variance to the rear yard setback from 30 feet to 23.26 feet (to encroach 6.74 feet) for a proposed deck extension in the R-3 Multi-family Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1-207(b)(2) and ZS 1305 located at 177 Teal Circle, Tax Map 16, Parcel 41, Section 4, Lot 276, Tax District 3, Worcester County, Maryland.

7:05 p.m. Case 23-37, on the application of Charles Holland, on the lands of Berlin Land, LLC, requesting a special exception to allow an 8 foot tall fence around a dumpster in a front yard setback in the C-3 Highway Commercial District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(3), ZS 1-305 and ZS 1-325 located at 11407 Samuel Bowen Blvd, Tax Map 26, Parcel 455, Lot 3B, Tax District 3, Worcester County, Maryland

7:10 p.m. Case 23-8, on the lands of Robert Bradley, requesting a variance to reduce the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area buffer from 100 feet to 35 feet (to encroach 65 feet), associated with a proposed fence, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1116(m) and ZS 1-305 and Natural Resources Code §§ 3-104(c)(4) and NR 3-111, located at 12422 Collins Road, Tax Map 9, Parcel 275, Lot 2, Tax District 5, Worcester County, Maryland.

7:15 p.m. Case 23-9, on the lands of Stephanie Shockley, requesting a variance to reduce the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area buffer from 100 feet to 72.5 feet (to encroach 27.5 feet), associated with the construction of a single-family dwelling, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(m)(1) and Natural Resources Code §§ 3-104(c)(4) and NR 3-111, located on Pheasant Road, about 1,140 feet south of Assateague Road, Tax Map 32, Parcel 353, Lot 2, Tax District 3, Worcester County, Maryland.

7:20 p.m. Case 23-20, on the application of Eric Jones, on the lands of John Houk, requesting a modification to extend a waterfront structure in excess of the quarter distance of the water body width of 18.5 feet by 2 feet for a proposed platform and boatlift extending 20.5 feet channelward, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(m)(1) and Natural Resources Code §§ NR 2-102(e)(1), located at 2 Drake Drive, Tax Map 16, Parcel 42, Section 5, Lots 154 & 155, Tax District 3, Worcester County, Maryland.

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 23-16, on the application of Mark Cropper, on the lands of Gregory Tate, requesting a variance to the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area regulations to exceed the allowable 100 foot tidal wetland crossing by 495 feet for a proposed 3 foot by 595 foot walkway over tidal wetlands and a modification to extend a waterfront structure in excess of 125 feet by 85 feet for a proposed pier and platform extending a total of 210 feet channelward, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(n)(3), Natural Resources Code §§ NR 3125(b)(1) and NR 2-102(e)(1), located on Riggin Ridge Road about 560 feet north of Center Drive, Tax Map 22, Parcel 397, Block 8, Lot 15B, Tax District 10, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:35 p.m. Case 23-36, on the application of Mark Cropper, on the lands of Cynthia Shoemaker, requesting a special exception to allow a mosque in the A-2 Agricultural District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1116(c)(3), ZS 1-202(c)(29), ZS 1-305 and ZS 1-325 located at 12262 Eagles Nest Road, Tax Map 33, Parcel 118, Tax District 10, Worcester County, Maryland

6:40 p.m. Case 23-10, on the application of Kristina Watkowski, on the lands of Peter Souritzidis, requesting a variance to reduce the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area buffer from 100 feet to 25 feet (to encroach 75 feet), associated with the construction of a single-family dwelling, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1116(n)(3) and Natural Resources Code §§ 3-104(c)(4) and NR 3-111, located on Savanna Court about 396 feet north west of Heathland Drive, Tax Map 17, Parcel 1, Lot 78, Tax District 5, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:45 p.m. Case 23-38, on the application of Hugh Cropper, IV, on the lands of Sea Squared, LLC, requesting a special exception to allow a storage yard and buildings for storage of watercraft and recreational vehicles in the A-2 Agricultural District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(3), ZS 1-202(c)(12), ZS 1-305 and ZS 1-325 located at 11206 FiveL Drive, Tax Map 21, Parcel 261, Lot 7, Tax District 3, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:50 p.m. Case 23-22, on the application of Kristina Watkowski, on the lands of SunTRS Castaways, LLC, requesting a variance to the front yard setback from 10 feet to 4 feet (to encroach 6 feet) and a variance to the rear yard setback from 5 feet to 1.8 feet (to encroach 3.2 feet) for a proposed replacement park model in a rental campground in the A-2 Agricultural District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1202(c)(18), ZS 1-305 and ZS 1-318. Located at 12550 Eagles Nest Road, Tax Map 33, Parcel 33, Site 309, Tax

District 10, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:52 p.m. Case 23-23, on the application of Kristina Watkowski, on the lands of SunTRS Castaways, LLC, requesting a variance to the rear yard setback from 5 feet to 1.2 feet (to encroach 3.8 feet) for a proposed replacement park model in a rental campground in the A-2 Agricultural District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1-202(c)(18), ZS 1305 and ZS 1-318. Located at 12550 Eagles Nest Road, Tax Map 33, Parcel 33, Site 310, Tax District 10, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:54 p.m. Case 23-24, on the application of Kristina Watkowski, on the lands of SunTRS Castaways, LLC, requesting a variance to the front yard setback from 10 feet to 3 feet (to encroach 7 feet) and a variance to the rear yard setback from 5 feet to 2.5 feet (to encroach 2.5 feet) for a proposed replacement park model in a rental campground in the A-2 Agricultural District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1202(c)(18), ZS 1-305 and ZS 1-318. Located at 12550 Eagles Nest Road, Tax Map 33, Parcel 33, Site 311, Tax District 10, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:56 p.m. Case 23-25, on the application of Kristina Watkowski, on the lands of SunTRS Castaways, LLC, requesting a variance to the front yard setback from 10 feet to 3 feet (to encroach 7 feet) and a variance to the rear yard setback from 5 feet to 2.1 feet (to encroach 2.9 feet) for a proposed replacement park model in a rental campground in the A-2 Agricultural District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1202(c)(18), ZS 1-305 and ZS 1-318. Located at 12550 Eagles Nest Road, Tax Map 33, Parcel 33, Site 312 Tax District 10, Worcester County, Maryland.

6:58 p.m. Case 23-26, on the application of Kristina Watkowski, on the lands of SunTRS Castaways, LLC, requesting a variance to the front yard setback from 10 feet to 3 feet (to encroach 7 feet) and a variance to the rear yard setback from 5 feet to 1.8 feet (to encroach 3.2 feet) for a proposed replacement park model in a rental campground in the A-2 Agricultural District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1202(c)(18), ZS 1-305 and ZS 1-318. Located at 12550 Eagles Nest Road, Tax Map 33, Parcel 33, Site 313, Tax District 10, Worcester County, Maryland.

7:00 p.m. Case 23-27, on the application of Kristina Watkowski, on the lands of SunTRS Castaways, LLC, requesting a variance to the front yard setback from 10 feet to 3 feet (to encroach 7 feet) and a rear yard setback from 5 feet to 1.5 feet (to encroach 3.5 feet) for a proposed replacement park model in a rental campground in the A-2 Agricultural District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1-202(c)(18), ZS 1305 and ZS 1-318. located at 12550 Eagles Nest Road, Tax Map 33, Parcel 33, Site 314, Tax District 10, Worcester County, Maryland.

7:02 p.m. Case 23-28, on the application of Kristina Watkowski, on the lands of SunTRS Castaways, LLC, requesting a variance to the front

yard setback from 10 feet to 3 feet (to encroach 7 feet) and a variance to the rear yard setback from 5 feet to 1.2 feet (to encroach 3.8 feet) for a proposed replacement park model in a rental campground in the A-2 Agricultural District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1202(c)(18), ZS 1-305 and ZS 1-318. located at 12550 Eagles Nest Road, Tax Map 33, Parcel 33, Site 315, Tax District 10, Worcester County, Maryland.

7:04 p.m. Case 23-29, on the application of Kristina Watkowski, on the lands of SunTRS Castaways, LLC, requesting a variance to the front yard setback from 10 feet to 3 feet (to encroach 7 feet) and a variance to the rear yard setback from 5 feet to 1 foot (to encroach 4 feet) for a proposed replacement park model in a rental campground in the A-2 Agricultural District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1202(c)(18), ZS 1-305 and ZS 1-318. located at 12550 Eagles Nest Road, Tax Map 33, Parcel 33, Site 316, Tax District 10, Worcester County, Maryland.

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NOTICE

OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS REAL ESTATE WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND

The County Commissioners of Worcester County, Maryland propose to quitclaim a 3-story commercial structure comprised of wood framed roof and floors supported on unreinforced brick masonry walls, foundations and steel/iron columns located at 100 Pearl Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863. The property consists of a 1,518 +/- square foot site presently improved with a 4,554 +/- square foot building to Garibay Construction LLC for $280,000 cash.

The PUBLIC HEARING on this disposal of surplus real estate will be held on

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2023 at 10:35 A.M. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Room 1101 –Government Center

One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863

Questions may be directed to Weston S. Young, Chief Administrative Officer, by calling 410-632-1194, or by email at weston.young@co.worcester.md.us.

WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS REAL ESTATE WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND

The County Commissioners of Worcester County, Maryland propose to quitclaim a warehouse property and office space building situated along the southwest side of Snow

Hill Road west of the town of Snow Hill, Maryland. The property is located at 5363 Snow Hill Road, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863 and consists of a 7.96 +/- acre commercial site presently improved with a 47,575 +/square foot warehouse building with a partial office fit-out to Talkie Communications, Inc. for $380,000.

The PUBLIC HEARING on this disposal of surplus real estate will be held on TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2023 at 10:35 A.M.

in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Room 1101 – Government Center

One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863

Questions may be directed to Weston S. Young, Chief Administrative Officer, by calling 410-632-1194, or by email at weston.young@co.worcester.md.us.

WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

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NOTICE

Disposal of Surplus Vehicles and Equipment

To be Auctioned on GovDeals.com

“Disposition of County Personal Property no Longer Used by the County”

WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND

The following described personal property, including vehicles, furniture and equipment, have been determined to be no longer required for County use by the County Commissioners of Worcester County, Maryland and deemed to be surplus property:

SURPLUS VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT

Surplus vehicles, listed by make and model (with model year), as follows: Chevrolet 1500 2WD (2005); Dodge Journey (2009); Ford 150 2WD (2009); Ford F450 Utility (2001); Ford Transit Van (2016); Chevrolet 1500 2WD (2006); Chevrolet Malibu (2004); Ford Edge (2007); Chevrolet 1500 2WD (2006); Chevrolet 1500 2WD (2004); Chevrolet Trailblazer (2006); Dodge Stratus (2005); Dodge Stratus (2005); Chevrolet Tahoe 2WD (2013); Ford Ranger (2001); Ford Expedition (2011); Ford Explorer (2004); Chevrolet 2500 4WD (2005); New Holland TS100A Tractor (2004); Chevrolet 3500 Utility (1998); International Roll Off (1989); International Roll Off (1991); Chevrolet Tahoe (2012).

Surplus equipment, including:

Kubota F3080 Diesel Mowers (2); Toro Z Masters (3); Jacobsen 548-100 5ft Seeder; John Deere 660 Tiller 5ft; Hole Tawg 7ft Plug Aerator; Gandy 7ft Seeder; Various Trailers (7); Industrial Pump; Marathon Compactors (2); Mobark Shredder.

Surplus furniture and miscellaneous equipment, including: Box Fans; Shop Heaters; Filing Cabinets; Tool Boxes; Rolling Jack; A/C Units; Headlight Adjuster; Wheel Weights; Water Valves; Air Compressors; Transfer Switch; Chainsaw; HP De-

signjet Printer; Computer Monitors (6); Laptops (44); Computers (57); Commercial Stove; Commercial Food Preparation Station; Commercial Ice Cream Freezer; Glass Display Case; Concrete Saw; Corrugated Metal Pipe; Stackable Chairs; Tractor Wheels; Small Compressor Tanks.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE AND CONVEYANCE: The County Commissioners propose to solicit competitive bids via an Internet-based auction system operated by GovDeals, Inc. for which the winning bidder pays a buyer's premium of twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) of the winning bid for each transaction so that there is no net cost to the County. All of the above referenced surplus property will be offered for sale "AS IS, WHERE IS." The County Commissioners make no warranty, guaranty or representation of any kind, expressed or implied, as to the merchantability or fitness for any purpose of the property offered for sale. The County Commissioners warrant to the buyer that the property offered for sale will conform to it description. The County Commissioners reserve the right to reject any and all bids as they see fit and to withdraw from sale any of the items listed. Payment in full by successful bidders shall be made to Worcester County Commissioners.

OPPORTUNITY

FOR OBJEC-

TIONS: Anyone objecting to the proposed conveyance of the above surplus vehicles and equipment shall do so in writing prior to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, 2023, or in person at the regularly scheduled meeting of the County Commissioners to be held at 10:35 a.m. on April 18, 2023 in the County Commissioners Meeting Room, Room 1101 - Government Center, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863.

WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

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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 23-025 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 23-038 A request has been submitted to install a 6’ x 12’ pier extension to an existing pier for overall length of 26’ and to install one boat lift with all associated poles, maximum channelward extension of 30’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 618 OYSTER LN Parcel # 8020A-in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: George & Theresa Perantonakis

APPLICANT: Hidden Oak Farm, LLC

PW 23-039 A request has been submitted to install 152’ of vinyl replacement bulkhead in front of existing bulkhead, maximum channelward 18”; to construct a 5’ x 22’ parallel dock and install one boatlift with four associated pilings maximum channelward extension 13’6”. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 701 LAUREL AVE LOT 16 Parcel # 0053B-16 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: Bryan Gorczyk

APPLICANT: Bayshore Marine Construction

PW 23-040 A request has been submitted to install one boat lift with four associated pilings maximum channelward extension 19’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 201 S HERON DR UNIT 15B Parcel # 5311A-15 – Slip 23 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

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, April 13, 2023

At 2:00 p.m.

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

OWNER: Timothy McGowan

APPLICANT: Pristine Permitting, LLC

PW 23-041 A request has been submitted to install one boat lift on four existing pilings not to exceed existing pier, maximum channelward extension of 32’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 2209 PHILADELPHIA AVE UNIT 307 Parcel # 3205 -307 – Slip #3 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: Annette Keller

APPLICANT: Pristine Permitting, LLC

PW 23-042 A request has been submitted to install one boat lift on four existing pilings not to exceed existing pier, maximum channelward extension of 32’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 2209 PHILADELPHIA AVE UNIT 104 Parcel # 3205 -104 – Slip #2 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: Todd Fisher

APPLICANT: Pristine Permitting, LLC

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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.

HENRY J. WISE, SR.

6252 Basket Switch Road

Newark, MD 21841

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

Case No. C-23-CV-22-000101

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given this 29th day of March, 2023, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, that the sale of the property mentioned in these proceedings and described as 6252 Basket Switch Road, Newark, MD 21841, made and reported by the Substitute Trustee, will be RATIFIED AND CONFIRMED, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 1st day of May, 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 24th day of April, 2023.

The report states the purchase price at the Foreclosure sale to be $225,000.00.

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

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Class: "B" BEERWINE-LIQUOR License: 7 Day, By: Francesca Shaye Ecimovic, 37 Admiral Avenue, Berlin, Maryland 21811; Miroslav Ecimovic, 37 Admiral Avenue, Berlin, Maryland 21811; Charles Galliher, V, 509 Bay Street, Berlin, Maryland 21811; Alexander Heidenberger, 3712 Woodbine, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815.

For: Vista OC, LLC

For the premises known as and located at:

T/A: Vista Rooftop

13801 Coastal Highway

Ocean City, Maryland 21842

There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room, Room 1102 in the Government Center, Snow Hill, Maryland, on: April 19, 2023

@ 1:15 P.M.

The Board welcomes written or oral comment at said public hearing from any interested party.

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NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Transfer of a Class: "A" BEER-WINE License: 7 Day, By: Marybeth Whitney Sisk, 5 Cape Circle, Berlin, Maryland 21811.

For: MB’s 59th, LLC

For the premises known as and located at:

T/A: 7-11 5809 Coastal Highway

Room 1102 in the Government Center, Snow Hill, Maryland, on: April 19, 2023

@ 1:40 P.M.

The Board welcomes written or oral comment at said public hearing from any interested party.

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NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Transfer of a "B" B-W-L 7 Day and Request to Designate as Multiple License #2 for a Class: "B" BEER-WINE-LIQUOR

License: 7 Day, By: Jennifer Reda, 14009 Loop Road, Ocean City, Maryland 21842; Anne McFaul, 3026 Shepperd Road, Monkton, Maryland 21111; Mary McFaul, 516 East Seminary Avenue, Maryland 21286; Adam Horn, 10312 Plantation Lane, Berlin, Maryland 21811.

For: Hogfin, LLC

For the premises known as and located at:

T/A: Hogfin

12513 Ocean Gateway

Ocean City, Maryland 21842

Formerly: Matt Ortt Management II, Inc.

There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room, Room 1102 in the Government Center, Snow Hill, Maryland, on: April 19, 2023

@ 1:50 P.M.

The Board welcomes written or oral comment at said public hearing from any interested party.

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For the premises known as and located at:

T/A: Cantina Los Agaves Mexican Grill

12720 Ocean Gateway Unit 7 Ocean City, Maryland 21842

Formerly: Tequila Mockingbird, Inc.

There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room, Room 1102 in the Government Center, Snow Hill, Maryland, on: April 19, 2023 @ 2:15 P.M.

The Board welcomes written or oral comment at said public hearing from any interested party.

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NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Request to allow a small, portable service bar on wheels to be used in the outside dining area, and a Request to increase the days for inside live entertainment from four (4) days to seven (7) days for a Class: "D" BEER-WINELIQUOR License: 7 Day, By: Raymond J. McGrath, 13207 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Maryland 21842; Deborah A. McGrath, 13207 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Maryland 21842.

For: Beach Barrels, LLC

For the premises known as and located at:

T/A: Beach Barrels 13207 Coastal Highway Ocean City, Maryland 21842

There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room, Room 1102 in the Government Center, Snow Hill, Maryland, on: April 19, 2023 @ 2:25 P.M.

Test:

Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court

Worcester County MD

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NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Transfer of a Class: "B" BEER-WINE-LIQUOR

License: 7 Day, By: Jonathan Rhem Lane, 3107 Philadelphia Avenue, Ocean City, MD 21842.

For: Braddah Barneys, LLC

For the premises known as and located at:

T/A: The Globe

12 Broad Street

Berlin, Maryland 21811

Formerly: Burley Cafe, Inc.

There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room, Room 1102 in the Government Center, Snow Hill, Maryland, on:

April 19, 2023

@ 1:00 P.M.

The Board welcomes written or oral comment at said public hearing from any interested party.

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Ocean City, Maryland 21842

Formerly: Teresa D. LaBruto

There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room, Room 1102 in the Government Center, Snow Hill, Maryland, on: April 19, 2023

@ 1:25 P.M.

The Board welcomes written or oral comment at said public hearing from any interested party.

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NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Transfer of a Class: "D" BEER-WINE-LIQUOR

License: 7 Day, By: Matthew J. Rishkofski, 13000 Marina View Lane, Ocean City, MD 21842; Angela V. Lathroum, 12549 Daye Girls Road, Bishopville, MD 21813; Zachary Joseph Rishkofski, 13000 Marina View Lane, Ocean City, MD 21842.

For: Reel Investments OC, LLC

For the premises known as and located at:

T/A: Reel Inn

409-B 14th Street

Ocean City, Maryland 21842

Formerly: Richard S. Lathroum

There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room,

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Class: "B" BEERWINE License: 7 Day, By: Brandon L. Phillips, 9815 Stephen Decatur Hwy., Ocean City, MD 21842; Ralph L. Sapia, 715 Dunkirk Road, Towson, MD 21212.

For: SP Burgers, Inc.

For the premises known as and located at:

T/A: Surfin Betty's Burger Bar

1501 Coastal Highway

Ocean City, Maryland 21842

There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room, Room 1102 in the Government Center, Snow Hill, Maryland, on: April 19, 2023 @ 2:05 P.M.

The Board welcomes written or oral comment at said public hearing from any interested party.

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NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Transfer of a Class: "B" BEER-WINE-LIQUOR

License: 7 Day, By: Mary A. Foust, 505 St. Louis Avenue Apt. 1, Ocean City, Maryland 21842.

For: Cantina Los Agaves, LLC

The Board welcomes written or oral comment at said public hearing from any interested party.

OCD-4/6/2t _________________________________

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Request for live entertainment amplified inside up to two (2) pieces including a keyboard but excluding drums from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m., Request for live entertainment amplified outside one (1) piece acoustical guitarist with the ability to roam the outside deck from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Request for a music technician inside during business hours, Request for off-sale of beer and wine in factory sealed containers, Request for background music inside during all business hours, Request outside background music 7 a.m. until 12 a.m. for a Class: "B" BEER-WINE-LIQUOR License: 7 Day, By: Michael Berardinelli, 30225 Green Valley Run, Milton, Delaware 19968; Robert J. Masone, MD, 29471 Eagles Crest Road, Milton Delaware 19968; Brian Shofi, 12508 West Torquay Road, Ocean City, Maryland 21842.

For: Bay Bar, LLC

For the premises known as and located at:

T/A: Toast Café

221 Wicomico Street

Ocean City, Maryland 21842

There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room, Room 1102 in the Government Center, Snow Hill, Maryland, on:

April 19, 2023

@ 2:40 P.M.

The Board welcomes written or oral comment at said public hearing from any interested party.

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VICTORIA L. O’NEILL ESQ.

AYRES, JENKINS, GORDY & ALMAND P.A.

6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 200

OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE OF

APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Estate No. 19643

TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF MARTHA WILKINS

AKA: MARTHA TOWNSEND WILKINS

Notice is given that Wendy Ann DiBuo, 12004 Turtle Mill Road, Bishopville, MD 21813, was on March 28, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Martha Wilkins who died on February 11, 2023, with a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 28th day of September, 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.

JOSHUA WINGER ESQ. BYRD & BYRD, LLC

14300 GALLANT FOX LANE, SUITE 120 BOWIE, MD 20715

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 19589 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF JOHN EDWARD FISHER III

Notice is given that Jason Louis Fisher, 16301 Oxford Court, Bowie, MD 20715, was on March 28, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of John Edward Fisher III who died on January 7, 2023, without a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 28th day of September, 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.

Jason Louis Fisher 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:

April 06, 2023

NOTICE

The Mayor and City Council, a public community transit service provider in Ocean City, Maryland, is offering the opportunity for a public hearing to provide citizens a forum to present views on the following proposals:

FY 2024 Annual Transportation Plan (ATP).

The ATP contains requests for operating funds from the following programs: Section 5311 of the Federal Transit Act, which provides funds for general public transit service in rural areas; Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) program, which provides funds for federally required para transit services for persons with disabilities.

In addition, capital funds will be requested for the following items:

Five (5) Heavy Duty 60’ Articulating Buses $4,125,000

Transit Vehicle Preventative Maintenance $785,000

Three (3) ADA Accessible Supervisor Vans $201,000

TOTAL $4,910,201

A Public Hearing will be held upon request. Requests for a Public Hearing must be in writing and will be received until 4 p.m. on Monday, May 1, 2023. Requests for a Public Hearing and/or other written comments should be sent to the following address and clearly marked “Public Hearing Comments”:

Ocean City Transportation

224 65th Street

Ocean City, Maryland 21842

Written comments can also be emailed to: Rob Shearman Jr. at rshearman@oceancitymd.gov

If requested, a Public Hearing will be held:

Monday, May 15, 2023

6:00 p.m.

City Hall Council Chambers

301 North Baltimore Avenue

Ocean City, Maryland 21842

If special assistance is required at the Public Hearing contact Ocean City Transportation, Administrative Coordinator, at 410-723-2174 prior to 4 p.m. Monday, May 1, 2023.

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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.

Wendy Ann DiBuo 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:

SMALL

ESTATE NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19647

TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF VERA COOPER Notice is given that Bernadine Waters, 108 Stevens Road, Snow Hill, MD 21863, was on March 27, 2023 appointed personal representative of the small estate of Vera Cooper who died on March 23, 2023,

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

All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates:

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

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

claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claim within thirty days from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Any claim not served or filed within that time, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter.

Bernadine Waters Personal Representative True Test Copy Register of Wills for Worcester County Terri Westcott 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:

April 06, 2023

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given that CAROL ANNE EDWARDS whose address is 689 LINCOLN AVENUE, NORTHEAST, MD 21901 was on MARCH 27, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of WAYNE WESLEY EDWARDS who died on FEBRUARY 14, 2023 without a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent's will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 27th day of SEPTEMBER, 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

ministrator Mary Bohlen at 410641-4314/ mbohlen@berlinmd.gov for the official RFP. EEO.

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livery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.

Christopher E. Mar

Jonathan M. Mar Rachel Mar

Foreign Personal Representatives

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

TOWN OF BERLIN REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

RFP # 2023-06

Smart Water Meter Installation

Due Date: Thursday, May 4, 2023 Time: 3:00 PM EST

The Town of Berlin is seeking Proposals for the installation of Town provided equipment including smart meters, transmitters and appurtenances, for the Town of Berlin’s Smart Meter Upgrade Project. The Smart Meter Upgrade project scope includes upgrading all Town owned water meters to Neptune smart meters, any necessary repair or replacement of existing meter assemblies, and coordination with the Town, the Town’s meter supplier (Core & Main), and the Town’s Meter Reading and Billing systems provider (Tyler Technologies) for startup and testing of all smart meter reading and billing systems. Qualified contractors are encouraged to visit the Town of Berlin website at berlinmd.gov/government/requestfor-proposals/ or contact Town Ad-

TOWN OF BERLIN, MARYLAND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCE 2023-02

AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN, MARYLAND, A MARYLAND MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, SETTING THE REAL PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024

The Ordinance will be introduced for a first reading on Monday, April 10, 2023, at 7:00 PM. The public hearing on the Ordinance will be held on Monday, April 24, 2023, at 7:00 PM. Both meetings will be held during Regular Meetings of the Mayor and Council Berlin Town Hall, 10 William Street, 2nd Floor, Berlin, MD 21811.

The hearing is open to the public, and public testimony is encouraged.

Persons with questions regarding this hearing may call 410-641-2770 for further information.

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JAMES E. CLUBB JR, ESQ 108 N 8TH ST. OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE

TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 19629

Notice is given that the Circuit court of Alexandria City, Virginia appointed Christopher E. Mar, 112 Alpine Drive SE, Leesburg, VA 20175; Jonathan M. Mar, 1002 Orr Circle SW, Leesburg, VA 20175; and Rachel Mar, 4304 Victoria Land, Alexandria, VA 22304 as the Personal Representatives of the Estate of Eugene Mar who died on December 20, 2022 domiciled in Virginia, America.

The Maryland resident agent for service of process is James E. Clubb Jr. whose address is 108 8th Street, Ocean City, MD 21842.

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 other de-

Name of Newspaper: Ocean City Digest

Date of first publication: April 6, 2023

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SMALL ESTATE NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19651

TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF ROBERT WESLEY SHAW JR.

Notice is given that Patricia A. Barb, 1435 Watts Avenue, Severn, MD 21144, was on March 30, 2023 appointed personal representative of the small estate of Robert Wesley Shaw Jr. who died on February 12, 2023, without a will.

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

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

All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates:

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

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

Patricia A. Barb

Personal Representative True Test Copy Register of Wills for Worcester County Terri Westcott

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: April 06, 2023

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Council signs off on final details of CIP in budget wrap

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) The final i’s were dotted and t’s were crossed for Ocean City’s capital improvement plan last week as council members signed off on the fiscal 2024 budget in a final wrap-up meeting.

At a March 30 work session, City Engineer Paul Mauser presented five “pay as you go” projects — or general fund projects that needed specific approvals —for a total $1.58 million.

Broken down, $1.1 million is allocated for street paving, $200,000 will go to canal dredging, the second phase of the City Watch program is $80,000, storm drain cleaning is $100,000, and renovations to the Ocean Bowl Skate Park cost $100,000.

Council members unanimously approved the projects, which are part of the total more than $30 million CIP.

According to the numbers, officials will go to the bond market for a little less than $8.7 million to fund street paving, convention center upgrades, golf course

flood remediation, and renovations to public bathrooms and skate park. The total started out at a much higher nearly $34.8 million, but took a hit when council members decided to remove an $18 million allocation for Baltimore Avenue improvements and $8.1 million for land acquisition for a planned county sports

complex. The funds were tentatively forwarded to fiscal 2025 as placeholders.

The Baltimore Avenue project, which will bury utility lines, widen sidewalks and complete other upgrades from North Division to 15th streets, died a slow death during budget talks. Councilman Peter Buas tried multiple times to allocate at least some money to launch the project — which now has a total $44 million price tag — in fiscal 2024, to no avail.

However, council members agreed during the latest work session to look into the cost of burying utilities across the entire city as a potential alternative for the future.

The idea derived from Councilman John Gehrig claiming that the residents who live along the Baltimore Avenue corridor tapped for upgrades would benefit more than anyone else with the project, thus they should pay more for it.

“I don’t know if the perception is people paying for their own under grounding is penalizing those people,” he said. “Really my point is, let’s have equal benefit for all taxpayers in Ocean City.”

He suggested revisiting the entire project at a future work session to go over details including updated costs, as well as the benefits of burying the utilities, for the council and members of the public.

Council President Matt James said he would like to see those details presented as well.

“I think you would probably get more buy-in from the rest of the town if we had a plan to under ground all of the utilities in Ocean City. It would look nicer,” he said. “I think it would make the sidewalks more walkable. There is obvious benefits to upgrading the infrastructure and putting it underground. I’d be interested in seeing that.”

City Manager Terry McGean said that public works and engineering staff members can prepare the requested materails and present them to the council. Mauser said the plan could be similar to the street paving, drain cleaning and canal dredging that are done throughout the city, which are completed in sections through set funding plans.

MALLORY PANUSKA/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Crews perform roadwork near 33rd Street in Ocean City. Funds for this type of construction were included in the fiscal 2024 capital improvement plan approved March 30.

National Aquarium creates marine rescue facility in OC

(April 7, 2023) A juvenile harp seal that was found underweight and dehydrated on Rehoboth Beach in late February has made a full recovery after rehabilitation at the National Aquarium and has been returned to his ocean home.

The seal, nicknamed Prince after the pop music icon in keeping with the aquarium’s current seal rescue naming theme, soloed back into the waves of the Atlantic Ocean near 40th Street in Ocean City, on Tuesday.

Prince was admitted to the National Aquarium Animal Care and Rescue Center in Baltimore for medical care on Feb. 28, after being spotted in a weakened state on Rehoboth Beach by aquarium colleagues at the Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation Institute in Lewes, Delaware.

Judging by his 42-pound weight when rescued, the Animal Rescue team was able to determine that Prince was likely born in the Arctic sometime at the end of April 2022.

Prince was rescued after exhibiting signs of dehydration, malnutrition and sea lice.

While at the rescue center, he was initially treated for lice and for dehydration before rehabilitation specialists began working to boost Prince up to a healthy weight without discourag-

ing his natural feeding instincts.

Prince was able to get his weight back up to a healthy 53 pounds by foraging for and taking in an impressive 14 pounds of fish per day—nearly a quarter of his body weight.

Prince’s rescue, rehabilitation and release provide the aquarium with an opportunity to announce the permanent placement of National Aquarium Animal Rescue staff and volunteers on the Atlantic Coast.

Under the direction of Stranding Response & Triage Manager Kate Shaffer, a team of volunteers will have presence on Maryland beaches that will allow them to quickly respond and react to seal sightings as well as other sea turtle and marine mammal stranding situations.

This full-time presence will allow National Aquarium Animal Rescue to assist as many animals in distress as possible while eliminating the obstacle of the long commute from Baltimore when responding to precarious animal health events.

To that end, the National Aquarium announced a formal partnership with the Town of Ocean City to establish a private animal triage and exam space within the Ocean City municipal complex at 65th Street, allowing the team

See PRINCE Page 64

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A juvenile harp seal, nicknamed Prince, that was found underweight and dehydrated on Rehoboth Beach in late February has made a full recovery after rehabilitation at the National Aquarium and was returned to his ocean home near 40th Street in Ocean City, on Tuesday.

Prince released back into ocean

Continued from Page 63

to assess the needs of rescued animals and establish itself as a reliable partner within the greater Ocean City community.

“We are so excited to have an official presence here on the Atlantic Coast,” said Shaffer. “This region is critical to our work to care for protected and threatened marine species, and being here full time allows us to be more responsive and efficient when time is of the essence. We are grateful to Mayor Rick Meehan, Public Works Director Hal Adkins and members of the Ocean City government for their support in establishing a work site and welcoming us so warmly, and we look forward to making a difference for animals and our neighbors here in this dynamic community.”

Mayor Meehan agreed, adding: “We are thrilled to partner with the National Aquarium and have marine animals treated right here in Ocean City. For the National Aquarium to have an ongoing presence in Ocean City will be highly beneficial for marine life.”

Animal Care and Rescue staff attached a roto-tag to Prince’s back flipper before his release.

This will allows the Animal Rescue team to identify Prince if he ever again requires human care.

In 2022, the animal rescue and animal health teams cared for a gray seal nicknamed Louis Armstrong that was the first seal to receive this special tag at the National Aquarium.

National Aquarium Animal Rescue is federally permitted by the National

Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to respond to sick and injured sea turtles and marine mammals along Maryland’s 3,190 miles of coastline.

Seal rescue season in the mid-Atlantic typically lasts from the early winter through May. Anyone who encounters a seal on the beach should understand that it may not be sick, but is only resting.

Rescue specialists say members of the public should not touch or approach the animal and to maintain a distance of 150 feet from it. People who do see a stranded sea creature should remember the time and location of the sighting and to contact the National Aquarium’s Stranded Animal Hotline at 410-576-3880.

Wind energy initiatives, expansions discussed

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) Just over two months into his term as Maryland’s governor, Wes Moore and his administration are making it clear that wind energy sits high upon his list of priorities.

On March 29, Moore announced initiatives that will increase offshore wind output, pulling the state closer to achieving its goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2035.

The initiatives include increasing the amount of energy produced by offshore wind from 2 gigawatts to 8.5 gigawatts — enough to power nearly three million homes according to a state press release — as well as establishing new lease areas and “strengthening the offshore wind supply chain.”

Moore’s office expects the initiatives to create 15,000 jobs.

“Gov. Moore’s history-making announcement to increase the state’s offshore wind goal to 8.5 (gigawatts) is a home run for the people of Maryland,” said Nancy Sopko, senior director of external affairs for US Wind, in an email. “Offshore wind development will improve air quality, combat climate change, and create thousands of manufacturing and logistics jobs throughout the state, including in coastal communities. This new goal sends a signal out to the offshore wind industry that Maryland is open for business. Under Gov. Moore’s leadership, Maryland is poised to lead on clean energy generation, offshore wind manufacturing, and jobs for the 21st century.”

US Wind, whose parent company is based in Italy, is one of two wind energy companies spearheading projects off the Maryland coast, along with Denmark-

based Ørsted.

Ørsted’s Maddy Voyek, deputy head of government affairs and market strategy in Maryland, said that the company applauded the “cold vision to expand the offshore wind industry.”

“Ørsted is proud to be making significant commitments to develop supply chain, manufacturing, and operations capabilities across Maryland as we develop Skipjack Wind,” Voyek said in an email. “We look forward to a strong and lasting partnership with Gov. Moore and his administration.”

Voyek added that the gigawatt increase does not expand the size or megawatt capacity of Skipjack Wind, but that legislation currently being deliberated called the POWER Act, if enacted, would require the Maryland Public Service Commission to hold a competitive solicitation process for proposals for new projects.

Offshore wind has made plenty of waves both off the coast and within the resident population in Worcester County for years. Spoke offered a few benefits for the clean energy alternative such as 20year price locking, the lack of fuel costs, low operating expenses, added jobs and proximity, since 80 percent of Americans live within 200 miles of the coast.

Voytek added that Ørsted entered a “landmark agreement” to purchase $70

million in Maryland-made steel and announced plans to build the state’s first zero emissions operations and maintenance facility in West Ocean City.

Later the same day, the Maryland Energy Administration announced $1.25 million to develop and implement an “offshore wind experience hub on the Eastern Shore of Maryland” in a statement. The project specifically focuses on spreading awareness about the state’s wind energy initiative and educating the public on the clean energy alternative.

The program will focus on educating school-aged children from elementary to high school and educating the public with a “variety of programming catered to all ages, educational levels and abilities,” the release said.

“For years, the (Business Network for Offshore Wind) has envisioned bringing this education center to Maryland in order to connect with the public about the offshore wind industry’s benefits to the State of Maryland and its economy,” said Liz Burdock, president and CEO of the Business Network for Offshore Wind, in the statement.

The hub itself will include educational and interactive exhibits in a variety of areas including economic benefits, STEM fields and environmental and wildlife sciences, according to the press release. It will be open to all communities.

Del. man hits police vehicle in car chase, flees on foot

By Hunter Hine Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) Richard Austin McLamb, of Delaware, received 40 charges from the Ocean City Police Department, including failing to stop after hitting a police car, eluding police by car and by foot, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a concealed deadly weapon, according to a police report.

HONESTY,

On March 28, at 8:33 p.m., police saw a silver 2003 Buick Century turn onto Coastal Highway near 34th street with its headlights off, which McLamb was driving. He had one other passenger, a woman who owned the Buick. Two police cars followed them north until McLamb slammed his brakes, changed lanes behind a police car and veered left into a block on 56th Street from a nonturning lane. The police turned on their emergency lights and sirens and followed him into a nearby parking garage. When McLamb reached a dead end inside, he turned around the Buick to face the officers. He then drove towards the police, swerved and crashed into the passenger side of one of the patrol cars.

The police followed McLamb out of

the garage and chased him north up Coastal Highway reaching up to 83 mph. At 94th Street, police popped McLamb’s tires, but he continued until 123rd Street where he and the passenger left the Buick on the sidewalk and ran away.

They found McLamb and the passenger at the top floor balcony of an uptown apartment. One officer recognized the two because he saw them through the car windows when they hit his car.

McLamb told police they had the wrong people, and made up excuses about why he was out of breath. He also told police his name was Ryan, and kept trying the apartment’s door handle in an attempt to get in.

Police arrested McLamb, and found out he had outstanding warrants for strongarm rape and first degree burglary in Delaware.

Police impounded the Buick and searched it, where they found an Alaskan Ulu knife hidden in the driver door pocket. They also found McLamb’s wallet in the center console, and inside the wallet they found a folded piece of paper containing crystal methamphetamine.

McLamb told police he was in pain so one officer took him to a local hospital. During the trip the officer noticed signs that McLamb was drunk, but when they brought him back to the booking facility he refused a breath test.

R. McLamb

Many lives lost during Battle of Wadi Akarit

By Peter Ayers Wimbrow III Contributing Writer

(April 7, 2023) Today, 80 years ago, the Allied Eighth Army, commanded by Gen. Bernard Law Montgomery (“Monty”), was assaulting the First Italian Army, commanded by Gen. Giovanni Messe, near Gabès, in Tunisia. Today, Gabès is a city of 153,000 located on the Gulf of Gabès, on the east side of Tunisia.

Gen. Messe’s First Italian Army — formerly Panzerarmee Afrika, commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel — had only recently been driven from the Mareth Line by Monty’s Eighth Army.

Now, it tried to hold the Allies at bay, on a line anchored on its left by the Gulf of Gabès, and on the right by

the impassable salt marshes at Sebkret el Hamma.

It was important for the Axis to hold this line, as the further north Monty’s Eighth Army progressed, the closer it came to uniting with the Allied First Army, commanded by Gen. Sir Kenneth Arthur Noel Anderson.

Since it was not possible to go around either flank, Monty realized that the Axis position would have to be taken by a frontal assault.

For this, he tasked three divisions: Highland on the right, commanded by Maj. Gen. Douglas Wimberley; Northumbrian, in the center, commanded by Maj. Gen. John Sebastian Nichols; 4th Indian Infantry, on the left, commanded by Maj. Gen. Francis Tuker.

The assault began on April 6, 1943.

For the week prior to the Allied assault, Axis positions were pounded daily by the R.A.F and the U.S. Army Air Force.

The attackers were opposed by the XXI Corps, commanded by Paolo Berardi, which included La Spezia, Trieste Motorized, and 164th Infantry Divisions, commanded by Arturo Scattini, Francesco La Ferla, and Baron Kurt von Liebenstein.

The San Marco Marine Regiment, named for St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice, also fought there, where it was destroyed on April 5, 1943, by Gen. Tuker’s 4th Indian Division. During that action, Subedar Lalbahadur Thapa of 2nd King Edward VII’s Own Gurkha Rifles, became the

first Gurhka to earn the Victoria Cross.

The first Allied attack pushed Gen. La Ferla’s Trieste Motorized Division out of its position on the evening of April 3. But the position was quickly recovered by Count Theodor von Sponeck’s 90th Light Division.

But this had just been a preliminary round.

The main Allied effort came at dawn on April 6, against the Axis position on Djebel Tebaga Hills. Before dawn, Gurkhas took the crest. By 10 a.m. After a 1,000-gun barrage, Monty’s Eighth Army launched an assault against Gen. Messe’s line. La Spezia and Trieste Motorized Divisions were in retreat.

The next afternoon, Gen. Messe sent in three counterattacks, against Gen. Wimberley’s Highlanders in an attempt to stabilize the situation. Gen. Messe reinforced Gen. Berardi’s XXI Corps with the 15th Panzer Division, commanded by Willibald Borowitz.

However, by dark, it was clear that the Axis could not hold, which Gen. Messe communicated to his superiors, General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim, Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, and Commando Supremo.

Commando Supremo urged him to fight on, but Gen. von Arnim, commander of Armeegruppe Afrika, ordered him to retreat to the Enfidaville Line, 150 miles to the north, which he did.

The Axis effort to prevent the unification of Monty’s Eighth Army and Gen. Anderson’s First Army, which occurred on April 10, 1943, had failed.

Even as that was happening, the German Führer was meeting with the Italian Duce, in Salzburg, Germany (now Austria).

Hitler, from the comfort of his dream world assured the Italian dictator that, “With your help, Duce, my troops will make Tunis the ‘Verdun of the Mediterranean!’”

The Enfidaville Line took its name from the town of Enfidaville, now known as Enfida. It is located 47 miles from Tunis, the capital of, and largest city in, Tunisia, and has a population of 10,000.

Monty’s Eighth and Gen. Anderson’s First Armies finally made contact, closing the ring around Gen. von Arnim’s Armeegruppe Afrika, south of Tunis, on April 10, 1943.

The cost to the Axis was 7,000 prisoners. The Allies suffered 1,289 casualties and lost 32 tanks.

The stage was now set for the Battle of Enfidaville, between Gen. von Arnim’s Armeegruppe Afrika and 18th Army Group commanded by Gen. Sir Harold Alexander. Gen. von Arnim’s Armeegruppe Afrika, included Gen.

WORLD WAR II

Continued from Page 68

Messe’s First Italian Army and Fifth Panzerarmee, commanded by Gustav von Värst.

The 1,100-year-old Tunisian city of Sfax was captured by British troops on April 10.

Sfax, with a population of 330,000, is the second largest city in the country, and is located on the Mediterranean Sea, 170 miles southeast of Tunis. Sousse was captured two days later. It, too, is on the Mediterranean Sea, 87 miles south of Tunis, and has a current population of 271,000.

Gen. von Arnim’s Armeegruppe Afrika now held a perimeter, in northeastern Tunisia, extending from the north coast, east of Cap Serrat, to Enfidaville and the Gulf of Hammamet on the southeast.

In this perimeter were the ports of Bizerte and Tunis, the Tunisian capital.

Supreme Allied Commander, Gen.

Dwight D. Eisenhower suggested to Gen. Alexander that the main effort come from Gen. Anderson’s First Army.

The Combined Chiefs of Staff approved the plans on April 9, and by the next day, Gen. Alexander was implementing it.

Gen. Anderson’s First Army, included U.S. II Corps, commanded by Gen. George S. Patton Jr.; British V Corps, commanded by Lt. Gen. Charles Allfrey; British IX Corps, commanded by Lt. Gen. Brian Horrocks; French XIX Corps, commanded by Louis Marie Koëltz.

Next week: The Mob to the Rescue 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.

Injured owl found on Route 50 attacks good Samaritan

By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) Two good Samaritans rescued a great horned owl on the side of the road at Route 50 and 113 on Tuesday morning.

“They brought the owl to the ranger station at Assateague,” Liz Davis, of Assateague Island National Seashore, said.

“When she went to pick up the owl from the car, it latched onto her forearm and hand with its talons,” Davis said.

According to Maryland DNR, great horned owls’ talons are so strong that it would require a force of 28 pounds to open. The owls use their deadly grip to catch prey, which usually consists of mammals and small birds.

“Rangers put a fabric bag over the owl and it finally released a little bit and got the talon out of one hand and then the other talon released,” said Davis.

The owl was placed in a pet carrier provided by the Scales and Tails program.

An ambulance was called and the woman’s wounds were attended to on site.

The owl was transported to the

Your

Tristate Bird Rescue in Newark, Delaware, where it was examined by a wildlife veterinarian and rehabilitation manager. Its injuries were so severe that the bird had to be euthanized.

“This bird had a brood patch and likely had young. Great horned owls are early nesters, and it is probable that any young are already out of the nest and, we hope, can be cared for by the surviving parent,” Lisa Smith, executive director of the Tristate Bird Rescue, said.

“We appreciate the efforts of the finder, the staff at Assateague State Park, and our dedicated transport volunteers to get this owl to us. While this bird’s injuries could not be treated, we were able to relieve it of its pain and suffering.”

Maryland DNR encourages anyone who finds a sick or injured animal to contact wildlife services toll free at 877-463-6497 or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before attempting to handle the animal. Rehabilitators can be found on the DNR website at https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/P ages/plants_wildlife/rehabilitators.a spx

‘Randy’ Sherman recognized for 31 years with OCVFC

By Steve Price Contributing Writer

(April 7, 2023) This week we recognize Gold Badge Member, Randolph “Randy” Sherman.

Randy retired as a chief petty officer in the United States Coast Guard as well as a letter carrier for the US Postal Service in Ocean City.

He currently resides in Edgewater, Florida, with his wife, Linda.

Like many young boys, Randy always wanted to be a firefighter.

Following three years of active duty in the US Army, Randy’s family moved to Ocean City.

Working with OCVFC Life Member Jimmy Cropper and OCVFC Gold Badge Member/Past President

Edwin Hudson at the Ocean City Post Office made it an easy decision for Randy to join the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company – described by Randy as “the best community organization in town and an integral part of making Ocean City a lifelong home for himself and his family.”

He joined the OCVFC on July 10, 1984. His involvement with the OCVFC lead to many memorable experiences and life-long friendships

with members of the OCVFC.

During his 31 years of active service to the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company, Randy served as a lieutenant on Engine 703 and cites his greatest accomplishment in the fire service as being promoted to captain of “Super Pumper” 703 by then Chief Roger Steger.

He was humbled to follow in the footsteps of his OCVFC mentors and close friends — preceding Captains on Engine 3: Clifford Dypsky, Ron Winter and Michael Sacca.

Randy recalls the most significant event during his career with the OCVFC as the tragic fire on Edgewater Avenue at the Beachcomber Motel in the early morning hours of June 13, 1988.

The fire engulfed the 3rd floor of the wood and stucco building resulting in the death of two high school seniors from Pennsylvania.

Several other guests were severely injured as they jumped from the 3rd floor to escape the smoke and flames.

Firefighter Sherman remembers arriving on the scene with the streets “filled with thick black smoke” and “heavy flames billowing from the top floor of the Beachcomber.”

We convey our sincere appreciation to Firefighter Sherman for his dedicated military service in defending our nation and our freedoms.

We also wish to thank Randy for his years of service and commitment to the safety and well-being of our neighbors and the many visitors to our resort community.

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

Randy Sherman

Gen. Birckhead’s efforts rewarded

Congratulations to Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, a Snow Hill native, on her nomination by Gov. Wes Moore to command all aspects of the state’s miliary as Maryland’s next adjutant general.

Already serving as commander of the Maryland Army National Guard, Gen. Birckhead, as adjutant general, would also assume responsibility for the Maryland Air National Guard once her appointment is approved by the Maryland Senate.

There’s no reason it shouldn’t be, given her resume, which includes duty in Afghanistan and her command of the multistate National Guard troops brought to Washington, D.C. after the Jan. 6 inauguration day attack a little over two years ago.

Two things about Gen. Birckhead’s nomination are obviously notable: One, it’s quite an honor, since it acknowledges her ability to lead, her outstanding administrative skills and her exemplary performance as a civilian soldier in the 20some years since she earned her first commission in 1991.

Secondly, if anyone from Snow Hill could be expected to become a general — an unlikely circumstance in any town across the country — it would have to be the daughter of the remarkable Fannie Birckhead, who died in February 2022 after a lifetime of preaching and practicing civic responsibility and service to the community.

Gen. Birckhead has attributed much of her success to her mother’s counsel, which frequently included a quote from Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Clearly, Gen. Birckhead’s nomination is the reward for her commitment to the National Guard and the state. As she said on accepting the nomination, “I am committed to serving my fellow Marylanders and providing the Maryland National Guard with the leadership and service they deserve."

And that, it would seem, is pretty much how her mother would want her to say it. All of Worcester County should be proud of that.

Ocean City Today

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

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

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

Hoffman, Hunter Hine

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

Choco. egg burn-out

Ah yes, Mary Sue Easter eggs – “The creamiest candy that’s made. Mary Sue Easter eggs, Mary Sue Easter eggs, Brighten your Easter parade.”

By Stewart Dobson

Well, that would be unless you attempt to consume in one seating that behemoth of bonbons, that colossus of confections, that One Pound Chocolate-Coated, CoconutCream-filled sweet football of fabulosity that’s in the basket after a number of years of begging.

It probably wasn’t even from Mary Sue, the Baltimore company whose Eastertime radio and television advertising jingle became permanently embedded in the still-developing brains of kids even in the sticks, but from some impostor attempting to muscle in Mary Sue’s turf by charging less.

All I know is that I had to have it because it was so, well, big, and every year for about three years running, I would suggest to my parents that this would be more than the perfect Easter candy, but might just be the perfect food overall.

As would be expected, they wouldn’t hear it, telling me each year that I wouldn’t eat it all and that it would be unfair to the egg itself, as it would eventually die alone and forgotten, the victim of neglect.

Also as would be expected, I insisted that would not be the case and that not only would I eat every last particle of this majestic mass of goodness, but that I also would do so quickly.

In today’s world, my parents might have been brought up on charges for giving in and getting me exactly what I wanted rather than staging an intervention of some sort before I launched in to prove my point.

Suffice to say, that although I could manage to down only about three quarters of that supreme creation that particular day, I nevertheless ended up dancing the fandango, so to speak, for the next couple of days.

That more or less cured me of my giant Easter egg fixation and that bigger was better in all regards. This is not to say that I learned to steer clear of the dark world of candy abuse.

That didn’t occur until the following year. All I can say is that the peep sandwich idea didn’t work out.

(From 2015)

Update

For wholesome family Easter fun, put one peep and one peep only in the microwave. Push start and be amazed.That thing will blow up like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

Oh, yeah, it also will catch fire if you let it go too long, so there’s that to consider.

Hey, we all have our traditions.

Ground-breaking ceremony set for State Police Barrack

By Hunter Hine Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) The Maryland Department of General Services and Maryland State Police are hosting a ground-breaking ceremony for Berlin Barrack V’s reconstruction at 11 a.m. today.

The project actually began Jan. 17, said Barrack V Commander Lt. Earl Starner. The Department of General Services contracted the $26.8 million project to Keller Brothers Inc. from Mount Airy, according to a news release.

Barrack V is expected to be completed by July 2024, Starner said.

“There’s going to be a lot more space and the infrastructure upgrade is going to really enhance the law enforcement services that we provided on the Eastern Shore for almost half a century now,” said MSP Spokesperson Elena WendellRusso.

Maj. Jon Armiger, of the MSP logistics command, is emceeing the event, Russo said.

Armiger will introduce Secretary of the Department of General Services Atif Chaudhry, who will be followed by Maryland Lt. Governor Aruna Miller. Also scheduled to speak is MSP Superintendent Col. Roland Butler, as well as Starner and Daniel Katz, director of MSP forensic sciences division.

After the speaking portion of the ceremony, everyone will wear hard hats and put golden shovels to dirt as they make the groundbreaking official, Russo said.

The Berlin Barrack was originally built in 1976 and became operational in 1977, Starner said.

As a 46-year-old building, much of the its infrastructure is either obsolete or no longer able to adequately serve the MSP, Starner said. He compared it to an old car.

“Through the years, you love your car, it serves you well, and one day you wake up and the car is old, and it’s breaking down a lot,” Starner said

Starner has a long history with Barrack V, joining as its assistant commander in 2001. He served as commander of the Easton Barrack beginning in 2006 before returning to the Berlin Barrack as commander in 2007. He’s been there ever since.

“That is almost an anomaly. That’s unheard of for somebody to be in place that long. So I’ve been the commander now for more than 15 years,” Starner said. “Obviously, in that time, we develop a lot of connections and relationships with our allied partners and our community here.”

Planning for Barrack V’s upgrade started in 2017, Starner said. MSP received design funds from the legislature in 2019 for the 2020 fiscal year.

Barrack V’s demolition and construction are broken into two phases, so as not to disrupt MSP operations in Berlin, according to the news release.

Phase one is already underway, meaning the back wing of the old bar-

rack, which contained offices, a bathroom and the processing room, has already been demolished, Starner said.

Maryland State Police personnel repurposed and consolidated rooms in the remaining wing to compensate for the loss.

Duty officers, who work only at the barrack, and troopers based out of the barrack have all moved into the remaining wing.

Almost all MSP special units who worked out of the back wing, such as criminal investigators, have moved to offices elsewhere.

“We’re still 100 percent fully operational, out of the hub, the part here that remains,” Starner said.

After phase one is complete, MSP will move operations into the new wing, Starner said.

The remaining old barrack will then be demolished, and, among other improvements, the new barrack laboratory will begin construction there.

The lab will connect to the new wing to form a 24,000-square-foot building, according to the news release. Wanda Kuperus, deputy director of the MSP forensic sciences division, said that the old barrack had a small lab that only covered analysis of seized drugs. It is only one of two satellite labs for MSP, with the other being in Hagerstown, she said.

The new lab will include capabilities to test controlled and dangerous substances, latent prints (fingerprints that cannot be seen by the naked eye), toxicology, crime scenes and computer crimes, according to architectural design firm MW Studios, who designed the new barrack.

“We’ll be able to hire a few new people [in the lab], probably three new people or so in Berlin,” Kuperus said. “That will be a nice opportunity for some people in the community to get a job with the Maryland State Police.”

After reconstruction, Barrack V will be only the second MSP barrack to have a fenced-in back parking area with access controlled by duty officers, Starner said.

The first barrack to have the feature is Cumberland, which is Maryland’s newest barrack until Berlin’s is finished.

“We took a lot of the ideas from there [Cumberland Barrack], and sort of moved them over here,” Starner said.

A sally port, or an area where MSP vehicles can unload and transfer detained individuals, will be added to the barrack.

The port will create a more secure atmosphere during the prisoner transitions, Starner said.

The new barrack will also feature general improvements in technology, such as camera systems and programmable ID cards so MSP can control who has access to certain rooms, Starner said.

“First and foremost, I would tell you that, security, always high on our list of priorities,” Starner said.

HUNTER HINE/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Berlin Barrack V Commander Lt. Earl Starner poses in front of the back wing’s demolition site off Route 50. The $26.8 million reconstruction of Berlin Barrack V began on Jan. 17, and is expected to be finished by July 2024.

Project launched in January, set for completion in ’24

Continued from Page 72

A new classroom, which will have much greater seating capacity compared to the old one, will be added so that more officers can be trained or briefed at one time.

“We bring in sometimes, for the events in Ocean City, we bring in more than 100 troopers a day sometimes so that’s a large deployment of people,” Starner said. “When we bring them in for events, we do briefings, operational briefings, and a lot of times I have so many troopers that we don’t even do them here (the old barrack). We’ll do them at another facility often in Ocean City.”

The Barrack V garage, where troopers have cars serviced by MSP employed mechanics, has already been vacated, so Berlin-based troopers now take their patrol cars to the Princess Anne Barrack’s garage.

Eventually, a new 4,400-square-foot

service garage will take its place, according to a news release.

Parking availability will grow with the new barrack after a large public parking area is added to the front of the building, Starner said.

The old barrack used to have bunk rooms for troopers to stay for prolonged deployment, but those rooms have since been repurposed, Starner said. The new building will have new bunk rooms to fill

Wor. delegation wants ‘bad bills’ killed as session ends

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer

(April 7, 2023) One of Del. Wayne Hartman’s oft-cited calling cards as a member of the minority party in the Democrat-dominated Maryland General Assembly is what he calls his duty to improve or kill bad bills.

With the end of the 2023 session looming, Hartman is trying to chip away at some of those bills that he sees as a detriment to his constituents, but the impact thus far has been minimal.

Some of that legislation is directly related to the state goal to make electric vehicles comprise 43 percent of Maryland registered vehicles by 2027 in order to meet new emission goals, something that Hartman described as “California standards.”

“The House Republican Caucus had a bill to evaluate the electric grid and the affordability, because as we know these vehicles are much more expensive,” Hartman said. “There’s a lot of debate on the floor about electric vehicles and Maryland’s ties to those California standards.”

Hartman proposed an amendment that would mandate that every electric vehicle sold in Maryland, including its parts and manufacturing, are made to U.S. standards, to ensure that materials sourced in third-world countries aren’t relying on means such as child labor. The amendment didn’t pass.

Hartman also worries about the electric grid’s ability to accommodate more electric vehicles that quickly.

“We’re selling right now maybe 5 percent electric vehicles in the state,” he said.

“One percent of the vehicles registered in the state are electric. The goal is to get to 43 percent by 2027. To me it’s unrealistic. Just envision Ocean City on a crowded summer weekend with people leaving to go home. How are we going to have adequate charging facilities for 43 percent of the vehicles? I just don’t see it happening. I can’t see the power grid being ready for it and I can’t see physically having the power stations for that.”

Hartman also had his sights set on HB793, an offshore wind energy initia-

that void.

MSP and the barrack designers made it a priority for the new barrack to be more visible from Route 50 after construction, Starner said.

“It was important to me to have the new barrack be closer to [Route] 50 to be sort of the you know, it’s sort of our brand putting our barracks out there and just being more visible,” Starner said.

As the final cherry on top, the new barrack will feature an homage to the old building. Bricks from the original bar-

A rendering shows the look of the new State Police Berlin Barrack, which will consist of a 24,000square-foot building and 4,400-square-foot garage. Designers oriented the new building so it is more visible from Route 50. RENDERING COURTESY MWSTUDIOS

rack will be inlaid in the shape of a “V,” in the concrete of the front entrance’s sidewalk.

“I’ll think of the people that have worked here or that I’ve worked with over the years. That doesn’t really go away,” Starner said. “The building itself, like I said, I have incredibly fond memories of my time here, my service here, my commitment to the State Police, my commitment to the community. With that said, I’m ready for a new building.”

See ELECTRIC Page 74

Electric vehicle, wind energy, more Democratic bills chided

Continued from Page 73

tive that will allow upwards of 8 million megawatt hours of electricity annually — legislation that has strong support in both houses.

“The bill was amended to consider the impact on the fisheries, but there was nothing in the bill to offer financial or technical assistance to support the mitigation of fisheries and so forth,” Hartman said. “I had an amendment that, first of all, would have looked at the impacts of the construction and operations of the proposed offshore wind and added to it marine life, wildlife and the habitat. The bill originally had to just look at the impacts on the environment. But that doesn’t necessarily cover marine life and things of that nature. “

“I tried to get the body to yield to some of these concerns and unfortunately the amendment to consider marine life and the wildlife habitat, it wasn’t taking. It was very disappointing … As we debate this, it’s at the expense of the marine life and there doesn’t seem to be any regard to slow down to find out what’s really going on.”

Hartman also tried to amend a bill that would allow Medicaid to cover and reimburse different procedures tied to gender affirmation by limiting it to those who are 18 or older, but it didn’t pass, either.

Finally, the Ocean City room tax bill which would allow the town to increase

its room tax from 5 to 6 percent is in a “very challenging position,” Hartman said. Work is still ongoing for that legislation.

Meanwhile, Sen. Mary Beth Carozza is working in the Education, Energy and Environment committee as testimony for HB119, the legislation that will reform the state’s health and sexual education framework, continued.

“I have heard from hundreds of Maryland parents in full opposition to this bill,” Carozza said. “The House bill is even more devastating with financial penalties levied against local boards of education.”

SB252, legislation that would require a person charged with negligent driving involved in a fatal accident to appear in court, which Carozza sponsors, was in front of the House Judiciary Committee. The legislation also subjects convicted individuals to five days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

“Being able to face the person who caused such pain often plays a major role in the healing process and requiring that person to show up in court provides accountability,” said Carozza. “These types of cases, where there is a victim, should not be treated the same as victimless vehicle accidents.”

Sine die, the last day of the 2023 session, is Monday.

REAL ESTATE REPORT

Agency important in real estate

By Lauren Bunting Contributing Writer

(April 7, 2023) Agency in the real estate transaction creates a legally binding relationship between the real estate agent and their client during the buying and selling process.

It is one of the most important aspects of the real estate profession. Because of agency, real estate agents act in their client’s best interest.

Agents can have single or double agency, but their status must always be disclosed.

In Maryland, keeping documentation of agency disclosure is of the utmost importance, and is a requirement as of the first face-to-face interaction.

If working with a buyer, agents would present the Exclusive Buyer Brokerage Agreement, and if working with a seller, agents would present the Exclusive Right to Sell Brokerage Agreement.

If an agent is meeting with an unrepresented buyer or seller, the Understanding Whom Agents Represent form is required to be presented.

However, if the first contact with an unrepresented buyer or seller is not face to face, the agent should disclose through whichever medium contact first occurs who they represent.

Keeping both paper and digital copies of important documents is always a safe idea.

Dual agency occurs when a buyer is interested in a property listed by a real estate broker; and the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent are affiliated with the same real estate broker.

In Maryland, it takes three people to provide dual agency, the broker or broker’s designee of the company acts as the dual agent.

The dual agent assigns an intra-company buyer’s agent and an intra-company seller’s agent—each of these agents provide exclusive agency to their client on either side of the transaction.

For example, without written consent of their client, a dual agent or intra-company agent may not disclose to the other party:

1) anything the client asks to be kept confidential;

2) that the seller would accept a lower price or other terms;

3) that the buyer would accept a higher price or other terms;

4) the reasons why a party wants to sell or buyer or that a party needs to sell or buy quickly;

5) anything that relates to the negotiating strategy of a party.

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

POLICE/COURTS

Drugs and weapon

Police charged Chad Michael Shipley with possession of controlled dangerous substance and charged Sarite El Matna Cather Cohen with possession of a concealed martial arts weapon, according to a police report.

OCPD charged both with resisting arrest and obstruction and hindering.

On March 30 at 5:15 p.m., police answered a call from Cohen, of Berlin, who wanted help getting her belongings from her husband’s, Shipley, apartment.

Police noted that Shipley, of no fixed address, has a violent reputation among police, and recently wielded a kitchen knife in another incident involving officers, according to the report.

Police also knew he had an outstanding warrant for second-degree assault related to the previous incident.

When officers met Cohen downtown, they saw Shipley on the other side of the street. Police tried to detain Shipley for his warrant but he reportedly resisted their orders and tried to walk away from them.

Police attempted to put Shipley in handcuffs but he tried to pull his hands away from his back, and then Cohen grabbed an officer's arm and tried to stop them from cuffing Shipley, according to the report. Officers brought out a police dog and Shipley

complied.

Police arrested Shipley and, after searching him, found four open packages of Suboxone Sublingual film, a brand name drug containing buprenorphine and naloxone, which are controlled dangerous substances.

The film is usually prescribed to treat opioid withdrawal, but officers did not find a prescription.

After they cuffed Shipley, Cohen got into her car. Police walked up to her and saw a pair of pink brass knuckles with spikes partially concealed behind the steering wheel. Officers asked Cohen to get out of the car and then arrested her.

Disorderly conduct

Ocean City Police Department charged Brian John Warren, of Delaware, with disorderly conduct and public intoxication after he repeatedly screamed outside a local bar, according to a police report.

On April 1, at 12:04 a.m. an officer on patrol saw Warren standing outside a downtown bar and heard him screaming.

The officer got out of their car and heard Warren scream “I will f—ing f— you up,” but it didn’t look like Warren was screaming at any particular person, the report said.

Warren kept screaming threats and profanities, and bystanders started going inside the bar because of him.

Police said Warren continued screaming and started approaching another man who was trying to walk past him, so the man quickly left to avoid Warren.

Police arrested Warren and could tell he was drunk, according to the police report.

Assault

OCPD charged Ryan Blaine Cormack, of New Jersey, with second-degree assault after he punched a man at a midtown bar, according to a police report.

On April 1, at 8:17 p.m., an officer reported that he was sitting in his patrol car by the bar when he saw Cormack walk-up to and confront another man about something that had happened inside the bar. Cormack pushed the man back and then punched him twice in the face.

OBITUARIES

MAXINE DORMAN HOCHEDER WELKER BRISBANE Ocean Pines

Maxine Dorman Hocheder Welker Brisbane, 88, of Ocean Pines, Maryland, passed away on Friday, March 31, 2023.

She was the daughter of Charles and Helen Dorman, and the sister of John Charles Dorman (Melva Dorman) of Baltimore, Maryland. She is survived by her daughters, Jennifer Hocheder Leaf McMahon (Robert) and Jill Hocheder Anthony (Byron); five stepsons, Byron Welker (Cindy), Scott Brisbane (Patrice), Christopher Brisbane (Babs), Craig Brisbane (Karen) and Thomas Brisbane

Continued on Page 76

Maxine Brisbane

OBITUARIES

(Yesim); eight grandchildren, Heather Bailey, Shannon Melito, Erin Anderson, Gabrielle Remington, Jesse Hocheder, Philip Anthony, Katie Hocheder and Dimitri Anthony; and five great-grandchildren, Reagan Bailey, Abigail Melito, Matthew Anderson, Vincent Anderson and Helena Remington.

She was predeceased by her son, Steven Hocheder; her husband, Ronald Welker; as well as her husband, Donald Brisbane.

She was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on Feb. 3, 1935.

Maxine graduated from the University of Maryland and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the field of education.

She taught in the Howard County School system as a kindergarten teacher until she retired in 1995. She continued to substitute teach in Worcester County following her retirement.

Maxine was a devoted educator and continued to support the school system through her dedication to the Berlin/Ocean City Optimist Club.

She could be found ushering local events at the Ocean City convention center and volunteering at the Ocean City Boat Show.

Maxine was also a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. She enjoyed gardening, boating, fishing, crabbing and reading.

Maxine was loved by all who met her, always quick with a smile and a joke. She was a kind, gentle and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, and she will be missed by all who knew her.

A service will be held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Ocean City, Maryland, on July 15, 2023, at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home.

GORDON STEWART WAITE

Ocean City

Gordon Stewart Waite of Ocean City, Maryland, passed away unexpectedly on April 2, 2023.

To know him was to love him and he will be sorely missed as he was such a caring father, grandfather, brother, husband, and friend.

Gordon was born on May 2, 1958, sharing the May 2 birthday with his youngest son, Jacob Waite.

He was born in New York but moved as a child with his parents, Helen Faith Waite and Lewis Gordon Waite, (both of whom preceded him

in death) to Bowie, Maryland, along with his sister, Michelle Wagner, and his brother, James Waite.

He was raised in a strong Christian home of faith; his father helped start and literally build the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Bowie, Maryland, and Gordon relayed that “if the church doors were open we were there.”

The family spent many happy summers at the family farm in Campbell located in upstate New York, and he often shared those memories.

Gordon completed a two-year course of study in automotive repair and graduated from Lincoln Technical Institute in Columbia, Maryland.

He worked as a mechanic for Superior Auto Care and had many loyal customers and friends. Later in life he became a real estate agent.

Riva Trace Baptist Church became Gordon’s home church after he divorced from Valerie Marlene Haines, his children’s mother, in 2005. He was active in the singles ministry and bible study.

When Kim Leaman starting attending church there, they met and became friends, and later started dating. Gordon and Kim were married in 2013 and enjoyed many happy years living in Whitehurst in Severna Park, Maryland.

Upon his wife’s retirement in 2019, he and Kim moved to Ocean City and he obtained a pre-retirement

job as a bus technician with the Town of Ocean City.

He often said that, “I’m living the dream, they are paying me to live at the beach!”

The decision to move to Ocean City was a fortuitous one.

Gordon took up new hobbies of pickleball and golf, indulged in his love of playing cards and poker with great new friends, as well as traveling and enjoying the beach life.

Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and other is gold.

He adored his children, his grandchildren, and Kim’s children, and loved his family and friends with his whole heart.

He loved living life in Ocean City and all the many new friends he made socially and at work.

He leaves behind his son, Jerrod Waite, and his significant other, Kara Long, and Jerrod’s daughters, Madison Waite and Kinsley Waite; daughter, Kelsei Waite and her significant other, Frank Willey, and their daughter, Kaylee Willey; son, Jacob Waite and his wife, Kayla Waite; sister, Michelle Wagner and brother-in-law, Dan Wagner, and nephews, Daniel Wagner Jr. and David Wagner; brother, James Waite and sister-inlaw, Tonya Waite, and niece, Nicole Waite; his wife, Kimberly Leaman, and her children, John Robert King and his significant other, Michelle Kerkeslager, Tyler King and his fiancé, Lauren Miller, and Emily King and her significant other, Michael Miller; and many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. at the Golden Sands Resort, 10900 Coastal Highway, 22nd Floor, Ocean City, Maryland 21842. Park in any spot, passes will not be needed for the service. The service is also being live streamed via: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ 779567236847343.

In memory of Gordon, in lieu of flowers, if you’d like to donate to the Gordon Waite College Fund, which will benefit his beloved grandchildren, the family would be thankful. Link to donate –https://gofundme.com/f/gordonwaite-grandchild-college-fund.

Letters of condolence may be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home.

Gordon Waite

Decatur softball squad

‘trending up,’ coach says

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor

(April 7, 2023) Stephen Decatur softball Coach Scott Kurtz had been looking forward to his team’s game this season against the Kent Island Buccaneers.

“Last year when we played them it was our worst game of the season,” Kurtz said. “I’ve personally had this one circled [on the calendar] because I felt like they didn’t get a chance to see what Decatur softball was. We just had a very off day … we couldn’t pitch, we couldn’t hit, we couldn’t field, so I really wanted this game.”

The Lady Seahawks got their redemption, outscoring the Buccaneers, 3-1, on Tuesday in Berlin.

“We have really worked on trying to find the strongest defensive lineup we could find,” Kurtz said. “We’ve been really feeling our way through these first few games to find that right mix of girls to get them in the right spots.

“We saw some things in practice that really started to click,” he continued. “When you looked at that group out there today they played a very clean game in the field, so from a coaching standpoint I’m extremely proud of that.”

Decatur scored two runs in the first inning and one in the second. Kent Island tallied its lone run in the

fifth.

“Everyone did their job. Everyone made plays,” Kurtz said. “As far as hitting goes, we hit the ball well. We made their third baseman an all star, we just kept hitting the ball at her and she kept making the plays … we had a couple hard shots to the outfield that went right to centerfield.”

Freshman Bailey Griffin and junior Leah Simpson had two hits and one RBI each. Junior Kiara Taylor also chipped in with two hits.

“We had a few innings where we got some rallies, which we needed, and whenever they got girls on base we found ways to get them out, so there’s little things you do to win a game and the girls found a way to do it,” Kurtz said.

Sophomore Madison McGinnis struck out three, walked two and gave up six hits in seven innings.

“Maddy McGinnis on the mound pitched a gem,” Kurtz said. “She really had a good game out there and the girls had her back.”

Decatur heads into Spring Break on a six-game win streak after losing the season opener on March 21.

“This is great for us to get into these battles and find a way to be successful … so we’re trending up,” Kurtz said.

The Seahawks will host the Nandua Warriors on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

SD track athletes continue to improve, Hommel says

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor

(April 7, 2023) Stephen Decatur

Coach Brenda Hommel saw improvement from the first outdoor track meet to the second, which was hosted by the Berlin school last Tuesday.

“Overall, I was happy with how the team did at our first home meet,” Hommel said. “We had a lot of parent support come out to cheer the team on which was great and most of the team improved in their events.”

Six schools competed in the meet.

“Indian River dominated the meet in both the boys’ and girls’ events, but I am happy with how our young team competed against them, especially since Delaware athletes are able to start competing in school sports in middle schools,” Hommel said. “Many of our scorers for our boys’ and girls’ teams both are just freshmen or sophomores and are just learning how to train and pace themselves for their events.”

Indian River won the boys’ competition, scoring 173 points. Snow Hill finished runner-up with 102 points, followed by James M. Bennett (95), Decatur (75), Wicomico (66) and Pocomoke (9).

Decatur athletes who scored points for finishing sixth or better were: senior Brycen Solomon (discus, sixth, 82 feet 4 inches), juniors Ethan Justice (3,200-meter run, first, 10:51; 1,600-meter run, second, 4:55.85)

and Patrick Haines (110-meter hurdles, fourth, 20.34 seconds), sophomores Ethan Cowder (400-meter run, fifth, 55.62 seconds), Michael Hoos (110-meter hurdles, sixth, 13:17.30), Edward Quick III (300meter hurdles, sixth, 49.83 seconds), Nick Purnell (shot put, fourth, 35 feet 6 inches), Brandon Fitzgerald (high jump, third, 5 feet 4 inches) and Amarian Manuel (triple jump, second, 36 feet 8 inches), and freshmen Collin Pennington (800-meter run, fourth, 2:19.48; 1,600-meter run, fourth, 5:03.08) and Braydon Bell (800-meter run, sixth, 2:20.25; 1,600-meter run, sixth, 5:25.57).

“On the boys’ team, we have a strong group of young mid-distance runners,” Hommel said. “Freshman Collin Pennington ran strong with a fourth-place finish in both the 800m and the mile. Right behind him placing sixth in both races was freshman Braydon Bell who has been training hard to improve his times.

“In the field events, newcomer Amarian Manuel is looking great in the triple jump … This was Amarian’s first time competing in a meet and he is showing great potential so early in the season,” she added.

Cowder, Fitzgerald and sophomores Alex Ward and James Uebel won the 1,600-meter relay race (3:51.30).

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Decatur junior Kiara Taylor catches a Kent Island pop-up at first base during Tuesday’s game.

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Stephen Decatur sophomore Madison McGinnis struck out three, walked two and gave up six hits in seven innings during Tuesday’s game against Kent Island in Berlin. Decatur won, 3-1.

Decatur coaches work team to ‘full potential’

Continued from Page 77

“Probably the most exciting race of the meet was the boys’ 4x400 relay won by Decatur’s all-sophomore team … These guys consistently work hard at practice pushing each other to get faster each week,” Hommel said. “They have all improved their open 400m times as well and are great role models for a couple freshmen 400m runners, Quinn Martin and Zander Wakefield, who are also looking great this season.”

Justice, Pennington, Bell and freshman Isaiah Rodriguez took second in the 3,200-meter relay race (9:28.47).

Seniors Logan Bradshaw and Jaden Holland, junior Gavin Solito and sophomore Ethan Bradshaw placed sixth in the 400-meter relay event (50.81 seconds).

Both Bradshaws, Cowder and sophomore Tre Dorn came in sixth in the 800-meter relay race (1:44).

Indian River came in first place in the girls’ competition, recording 126 points.

Wicomico took second with 110 points, followed by Bennett (91), Snow Hill (90), Decatur (70) and Pocomoke (40).

Lady Seahawks who scored points for placing sixth or better were: seniors Mayah Garner (high jump, second, 4 feet 10 inches) and Breanne Ferguson (long jump, fifth, 12 feet 1 inch; triple jump, sixth, 26 feet 3 inches), juniors Tiara McDonald (400-meter run, second, 1:04.68; 800-meter run, fifth, 2:54.15), Macy Woroniecki (3,200-meter run, third, 12:49.66) and Adelaide Weber (shot put, sixth, 23 feet 5 inches; discus, fifth, 67 feet), and freshmen Lotus Wise (200-meter run, third, 28.43 seconds; long jump, second, 13 feet 8 inches), Ellie Cheynet (800-meter run, third, 2:43.84) and Paityn Tyre (shot put, fifth, 23 feet 8.25 inches).

Cheynet, Woroniecki and sophomores Amber Marshall and Nevaeh Horton won the 3,200-meter relay race 11:04.84.

Cheynet, McDonald, Woroniecki and Horton took fourth in the 1,600meter relay race (4:49.50).

McDonald, Wise, sophomore Peyton Redmond and freshman Jordan Carrigan came in sixth in the 800meter relay race (1:59.99).

Freshmen Rayna Esquivel, Makenzie Hitch, Tegan Cunnane and Niyah Adams placed sixth in the 400meter relay event (1:05.19).

“Lotus Wise is running great in the 200m … I plan on adding her to the 4x400m relay team when she is ready for the distance,” Hommel said. “Freshman Ellie Cheynet is back from indoor season and has proven herself as a strong mid-distance runner that doesn’t like to lose …”

The next outdoor track meet is

Thursday, April 13, beginning at 4 p.m. in Berlin.

“Our coaching staff continues to work our team to their full potential and tries to keep them focused on improving their personal times and not on whether they are able to beat the seasoned upperclassmen from other teams,” Hommel said. “At this point we are still working on conditioning many of our athletes new to the sport and teaching technique in our field and hurdle events. Our team is definitely showing promise.”

Coaches pleased with performance

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor

(April 7, 2023) The Stephen Decatur tennis coaches are pleased with their players’ performance as the Seahawks head into Spring Break.

Decatur kicked off the week in Salisbury against the Wicomico Indians.

The Lady Seahawks earned victories in all seven of their matches.

Winning their first thought fourth singles matches were: sophomore Emily Ferguson (8-0), senior Sarah Tarr (8-1), sophomore Anika Karli (80) and senior Paula Magathan (8-0), respectively.

Junior Kalli Nordstrom and senior Sadie Peters outscored their first doubles competition, 8-3.

Sophomores Brooke Berquist and Emeline Weber shut out their second doubles opponents, 8-0.

Freshmen Lilly Nathan and Lilah Johnstone took their third doubles match, 8-1.

“I thought the girls played well. I played nine different girls and they all stepped up and played great matches,” said Coach Jamie Greenwood. “I wanted to get new team members on the court to get them match experience as well as see some of the veterans play different positions.”

Decatur’s boys’ team came out on top, 6-1.

Scoring victories at second through fourth singles matches were: junior captain Matt Beck (8-2), and juniors Jacob Ritz (8-2) and Briggs Pugner (8-1).

Ritz and junior captain David Janney won 8-1 at first doubles. Beck and Pugner recorded an 8-1 victory at second doubles.

Senior Joe Domingo and freshman Trey Rill topped their third doubles opponents, 8-2.

“We played pretty well. Monday matches are tougher since it follows a nonpractice day,” said Coach Steve Berquist. “We also played at Salisbury park courts, which is a different environment than we’re used to … We have a great group of guys who support and push each other to get better. It’s fun and exciting being part of it and watching them grow as a team.”

Decatur traveled to Stevensville to play the Kent Island Buccaneers on Tuesday.

The Decatur boys’ squad topped Kent Island, 6-1.

“We started off slow because of the two-hour bus ride, but once we got our legs under us we picked up our level of play and came out with the victory,” Berquist said.

Janney edged out his first singles opponent, 9-7.

Ritz and Pugner pulled out 8-6 and 8-4 victories, respectively, at third and fourth singles.

Janney and Beck won 8-6 at first doubles. Ritz and Pugner outscored their second doubles opponents, 8-4.

Rill and Domingo took their third doubles match, 8-6.

“Our top four guys, who are juniors, have been playing very well. We’re still figuring out our third doubles because seeds 5-10 are so close in ability they are pretty equal players,” Berquist said. “It will probably be a lot of players getting a chance at third doubles.

“Season has started out fantastic, now we just gotta keep it going and don’t let down,” he added. “And, defend last year’s Bayside [Conference] and regional titles.”

Decatur’s girls’ team won three of the seven matches.

Karli edged out her third singles opponent, 9-7.

She won her second doubles match, 8-3, with Berquist.

Magathan and Nordstrom took down their third doubles opponents, 8-5.

“The girls played well, but just tried from [Monday’s] match,” Berquist said. “I think we’re improving each match. The top seeds are really doing a great job improving ground strokes and match play. Playing the North [Bayside] Conference schools gives us four more competitive matches and hopefully more preparation for the regional tournament.”

Decatur will host the Pocomoke Warriors on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Berlin.

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

(Left) Stephen Decatur sophomore Amarian Manuel competes in the triple jump during last Tuesday’s track meet in Berlin. He came in second place. (Right) Junior Macy Woroniecki ran in two relay races, contributing to a first-place finish for the 3,200-meter relay team.

Steve Berquist

J. Greenwood

Lady Mallards get win over Jags, boys’ team tops Cape

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor

(April 7, 2023) The Worcester Prep girls’ tennis team topped the Salisbury Christian Jaguars, and the boys’ squad won over the Cape Henlopen Vikings this week.

The Lady Mallards earned a 6-1 victory on Tuesday on their home courts in Berlin.

“We maintained our level, which was nice to see,” said Prep Coach Kevin Chalk. “[The day before] in practice we worked on some simple objectives, like having a more energetic ready position and being more assertive with point construction, and we achieved both of those [during the match].”

Junior captain Natasha Richter shut out her second singles opponent, 8-0.

Sophomores Lydia Schwartz and Savannah Palmisano took their fourth and fifth singles matches, 8-0, respectively.

Salisbury forfeited the third singles match.

Sophomore Abigail Ament and junior Mia Lovitt won their first doubles match, 8-2.

Senior Meeta Agarwal and sophomore Angeline Todorov dominated their second doubles competition, 80.

Cape Henlopen came to Berlin on Wednesday to battle Worcester’s boys’ and girls’ teams.

Worcester’s boys’ team recorded a 5-2 victory.

Sophomore captain Aleksey Klimins edged out is first singles oppo-

Prep boys’ lacrosse squad scores big victory over STPP

nent, 8-6.

Junior captain Dylan Simons outscored his fourth singles competition, 8-3.

Sophomore Ed Martikyan took his fifth singles match, 8-4.

Senior captain Ian Lewis and junior Carson Rayne shut out their first doubles opponents, 8-0.

Cape forfeited the second doubles match.

“They played decent. I still think we can execute our first serve better and have more confidence in a forehand stroke with depth and pace,” said Prep Coach Terry Underkoffler. “Ed made his debut at singles and did very well.”

The Lady Mallards earned victories in three matches.

Todorov won 8-2 at fifth singles.

Ament and junior Natalie Chadwell edged out their second doubles competition, 8-6.

Cape forfeited the first doubles match.

“Awesome competition. I liked how much our team fought … In some ways, we were outmatched from a purely technical standpoint, but our girls found ways to frustrate their opponents and make things close,” Chalk said. “That’s how you learn how to be a better competitor. At the end, there was a decent sized audience rooting on our number two doubles team as they secured the win. Great to see the energy and smiles they had when they came off the court.”

Worcester will play the James M. Bennett Clippers on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in Salisbury.

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor

(April 7, 2023) The Worcester Prep boys’ lacrosse team knew it would have a battle on its hands going up against the Saints Peter and Paul Sabres on Tuesday in Easton.

“Knowing the Sabres had lost by a goal [9-8] to Stephen Decatur, the Mallards knew it would be a tough game on the road,” said Prep Coach Drew Haugh, whose team lost 20-19 to Decatur the week before. “It was a see-saw battle throughout the first quarter.”

At the end of the first quarter, Worcester and Saints Peter and Paul had three goals each.

The visiting Mallards netted three unanswered goals in the second quarter to lead, 6-3 at halftime.

“The last goal of the half was a beauty, as [junior captain] Cole Campbell ran the length of the field from his close defensive spot and dished it to [senior captain] Jack Gardner, who fired it home with just seconds to go,” Haugh said.

The Sabres cut the Mallards’ advantage to two, but the Berlin squad pulled back ahead by three goals at the end of the third quarter.

“This team has prided itself with always winning the fourth quarter. They have yet to lose in the fourth quarter all season, and this game was no different,” Haugh said. “The Mallards dominated the quarter, outscoring their opponents, 3-1, to finish out a tremendous, overall performance, 10-5.”

Senior captain Griffin Jones scored five goals. Gardner netted four and sophomore Ryan Mann tallied one goal and two assists.

Haugh said there was stellar play throughout the game.

“Our defense played their best game, yet. Cole Campbell locked down their top attackman. [Sophomore] Owen West and [freshman] Ansh Batra put the clamps on the other two attackmen,” Haugh said. “Converted long stick midfielder, [sophomore] Lucas Nicastro, dominated their best midfielder, not allowing him to score a goal or an assist. Short stick middies played their best games, defensively, so far this season. [Junior captain] Dylan McGovern, [freshmen] Dawson Davis and Jake Campbell, [sophomore] Dillon Scopp, and [freshman] Max Carpenter rotated in to help limit the Sabres’ midfielders from doing much damage.”

Junior goalie Connor Ferguson made 14 saves.

“A bunch of those saves were outstanding,” Haugh said.

The player of the game, Haugh said, was McGovern.

“Without his ridiculous performance on both sides of the field, much of the offense would have never happened,” the coach continued. “Dylan had two assists, but his ability to single handedly clear the ball the length of the field, the number of ground balls he picks up to start our transition game, is amazing.

“The kid rarely leaves the field and has a motor that just won’t quit,” he added. “The amount of running, at full speed, the entire game, is mind boggling to watch …”

Worcester will travel to Centreville to play the Gunston School Herons on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Worcester Prep sophomore Lydia Schwartz and junior Hunter Simons compete in their third singles matches on Wednesday in Berlin against Cape Henlopen.

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Decatur baseball team earns 7-2 win over KI

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor

(April 7, 2023) The Stephen Decatur baseball team scored seven runs and held the Kent Island Buccaneers to two on its home field on Tuesday in Berlin.

Decatur put six runs on the board in the first inning.

Kent Island tallied two in the fourth. The Seahawks added one run in the bottom of the sixth.

Senior Gus Croll pitched six innings. He struck out seven, walked two, allowed two hits and two runs.

Junior Matt Wright struck out three and walked one in the final inning.

“We came out and put the ball in play; that was huge. Gus was making it difficult for them, mixing in his fast ball and breaking ball and we played defense behind him,” said Decatur Coach Rich Ferro. “It was all good and then we kind of went through four innings of kind of getting complacent and getting guys on but not getting guys over, just not taking advantage of

situations that presented itself to us.

“We need to try to get better with runners in scoring position with any number of outs, we’ve got to do a better job with that and reducing pop-ups,” he continued.

“Ground balls, a lot more has to happen for them to make the play, but pop-ups are a lot easier to defend.”

Croll had two of Decatur’s four hits (single, home run) and two RBIs.

Junior Lukas Loring tallied one hit and two RBIs.

Junior Kole Kohut also had a hit and two RBIs.

“I was happy with Gus. I was happy that Matt Wright came in and competed,”

Ferro said. “Kole Kohut starting in left field was nice. He played a good left field and that’s always great to have role players coming in that are successful … He plays that position and has started [a few of the] games.”

Decatur will host West Deptford High School of New Jersey on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

Thirteen players score goals for SD in 19-1 win

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor

(April 7, 2023) Many players contributed in the Stephen Decatur girls’ lacrosse team’s 19-1 victory over the Kent County Trojans on Tuesday in Worton, Maryland.

“It was a great team win and game with 13 different goal scorers and nine players with assists,” said Decatur Coach Lindsay Owens.

The Lady Seahawks led 14-0 at halftime. Senior Audrey Mumford and freshman Laila Pascucci tallied three goals and one assist each.

“Both Laila Pascucci and [senior] Hailey McBride had stand-out games,” Owens said. “Laila had three goals and was great in the midfield. Hailey had one goal as a low defender and played phenomenal defense.”

Senior Shelby Rosemond and sophomore Mariabella Morse scored two goals each. Junior Sadie Kauffman and senior Tatum Vorsteg chipped in with one goal and two assists apiece.

Senior captain Alina Bernal-Clark won four draws and scored a goal. Kauffman won three draws.

Junior Addison McDaniel recorded four saves in goal for Decatur. Decatur will host North Caroline on Wednesday in Berlin at 5:30 p.m.

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY Stephen Decatur senior Gus Croll pitched six innings during Tuesday’s game against Kent Island in Berlin. He struck out seven, walked two, allowed two hits and two runs in Decatur’s 7-2 victory.