4/10/2020 Ocean City Today

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APRIL 10, 2020

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OC government switches easily to virtual format

Resort officials still fired up over service to WOC

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) Early preparation, positive attitudes and a lot of hard work resulted in the Ocean City government’s relatively seamless transition into conducting government affairs virtually.

“I started looking into some programs the week of March 16,” City Clerk Diana Chavis said. “The governor had issued the mandate to restrict the number of attendees in a room, and prior to that he had mandated social distancing … and then when Diana Chavis additional mandates came out … we knew that additional measures would be needed.”

City staff considered a variety of virtual meeting platforms, such as Uber Conference and Go2Meeting, but eventually settled on Zoom, which has arguably become the world’s largest videoconference portal of its kind, as a result of the covid19 pandemic.

From there, Chavis said resort officials conducted the program’s first trial meeting on March 26, and she soon began scheduling dozens of meetings to prepare for budget season and closed sessions.

“The process [of preparing a meeting] is a bit longer, technical and it takes a little more thought and time,” Chavis said. “… Making sure that we meet all of the requirements of the Open Meetings Act, that was on the top of the list.”

Not only did the public have to be taught how to use and access Zoom, but the mayor and City Council did, as well.

Nonetheless, even with around 40 percent of the 60 or so City Hall employees working from home, Chavis See OC COUNCIL’S Page 2

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) Costs associated with providing fire and EMS services to West Ocean City were once again a flashpoint for city officials, as they discussed last Thursday how to recoup around $400,000 they feel the city has been shortchanged.

“Under the ambulance service fees, it’s showing a reduction of $25,000, why is that?” Councilman Mark Paddack asked.

City Budget Manager Jennie Knapp said she had reduced the expected income by $25,000 based on revenue collected in Fiscal Year 2019.

“There’s an adjustment that the finance department makes at the end of the year based on the collection ratio and I did not feel that we would get the $1,060,000 in the current fiscal year,” Knapp said.

The actual revenue for ambulance service fees in FY 2019 was $912,737.

Knapp told Ocean City Today that the city charges users according to what their insurance companies would cover.

The city receives a full reimbursement from private insurance holders, but for those with public insurance, the matter becomes complicated.

“If someone uses our ambulance service who has Medicare or Medicaid, we have to accept the Medicare/Medicaid rate,” Knapp said. “The consumer is not responsible for paying more than that amount, so the town has to “write off” the difference between the amount billed and the amount paid.”

The county does reimburse the resort $760 per run and $190 per nontransportation call, but Knapp found that the reimbursements are often not enough.

Fire Chief Richie Bowers explained that aside from the ambulance services, other expenses the city must pay are for fuel, operating an apparatus and labor.

The city shoulders several other direct See SERVICE Page 2

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LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

FUN OFF LIMITS The playground area at Northside Park on 125th Street is fenced off to prohibit children from using the equipment as covid-19 is detectible on plastic and stainless steel surfaces for several days.

County’s budgeteers embark on strange trip into unknown

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) As the coronavirus pandemic continues, Worcester County government officials still cannot say exactly how it will affect the budget, although there’s little, if any, interest in pursuing a higher tax rate in the new fiscal year.

The county commissioners budget work session, originally scheduled for March 31 and then rescheduled for April 7, has been rescheduled again for Tuesday, April 14, following the commissioner’s regular meeting.

The county will send instructions on how the public can view the meet-

ings live via Zoom, according to Kelly Shannahan, chief administrative assistant.

He said that the county finance team has been working daily to study and Bud Church project the impact the coronavirus and the economic shutdown will have on county revenue.

With tough restrictions on businesses and public interaction imposed by Gov. Larry Hogan and Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan, much of Worcester County’s revenue creators, See NO TAX Page 3

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Ocean City Today

Service to WOC still issue for city Continued from Page 1 and indirect expenses as well, he said.

Last year, per request by the mayor and council, Knapp found that West Ocean City residents made up 13.35 percent of all emergency service calls in 2018, or 828 out of 6,200.

That means in total, the city spent more than $1 million in 2018 to provide its western neighbors emergency services.

While it spent more than $1 million, the resort only collected roughly $200,000 in revenue from West Ocean City residents, as well as a $450,000

grant from the county.

Subtracting the revenue and grant from the total cost means resort taxpayers absorbed an additional $395,089 to provide West Ocean City emergency services.

“We provide a service and we don’t get paid for it,” Councilman Tony DeLuca said. “I think we need to take it to a work session and solve it, I don’t think it’s a budget discussion.”

However, Mayor Rick Meehan and Councilman John Gehrig felt differently, and believed the city should add the true cost of providing its emergency

JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY

The cost of providing emergency services to West Ocean City residents was a highlight of last week’s Ocean City Council budget meetings. In 2018, the city spent more than $1 million on the area.

services, rather than requesting an anticipated amount based on previous grants.

“I think we should put into the budget what we’ve requested to cover the service, and if they don’t provide that revenue back to us, then we reconsider what level of service we provide and for how long,” Meehan said, arguing it was better to ask and not receive, than to not ask at all.

Gehrig agreed, but focused his attention on residents, rather than the county.

“It’s really not the county’s responsibility, it’s the individual’s responsibility,” Gehrig. “I think we should have a database of our receivables, and … if they have a balance and they make another call they need to make a payment by credit card before we got out there.

This is a business, and I think that’s reasonable. You can’t go anywhere and get something for free.”

Nonetheless, Meehan and Gehrig failed to convince their colleagues, and the council voted to maintain its normal budget habits.

“Our budget is a forecast, and … we have to be actual and factual,” DeLuca said. “Just because they owe it to us doesn’t mean we should put it in the budget.”

It is important to note that the city and county have seen progress on this issue.

On Feb. 4, Meehan and Bowers met with County Commissioners and presented the issue.

Meehan suggested four solutions to commissioners — the establishment of medical response districts in the county, a year-round reimbursement to Ocean City, a direct payment to the city for the deficit or a revision of the county’s grants for credit and noncredit runs outside of resort corporate limits.

As previously reported by Ocean City Today, the commissioners seemed open to what Meehan and Bowers had to say, but some expressed their desire to address the issue as a countywide predicament, and not just an Ocean City problem.

Prompted by Commissioner Joseph Mitrecic, who represents Ocean City, the commissioners voted to host a discussion with all county fire chiefs to analyze the funding problem.

That discussion was held on Feb. 19, and following reports from chiefs that described an overall shortage in funds and personnel, the commissioners said they would schedule a work session to examine possible solutions for the fire companies.

“The bottom line is that we are operating in a deficit,” Bowers told Ocean City Today. “[However], the discussion that we had with the commissioners, as well as County Chief Administrator Harold Higgins, was very engaging, very productive, and I think we walked away from there understanding there is a need and there is help coming.”

APRIL 10, 2020

OC council’s shift to online sessions goes smoothly Continued from Page 1 said communication remained efficient, although nothing could beat person-to-person interaction.

Additionally, despite initial concerns over connectivity, she said meetings have been running smoothly.

However, Chavis said city staff is looking into other virtual platforms after seeing recent reports on “Zoom bombing.”

Downloads of Zoom’s mobile app rose by 1,126 percent in the scope of a month — from 5.2 million users in February to more than 76 million in March.

Yet, this explosion in popularity has also led to an explosion of online harassment known as Zoom bombing, which entails hackers saying and texting obscenities or posting disturbing and offensive images and videos.

The New York Times reported finding hundreds of social media accounts and message boards where thousands of people gathered to organize such online harassment, and noted the issue was prominent enough to prompt the FBI to issue a warning about Zoom bombing last Monday.

The company has recommended several tips to protect conference calls from hackers, but most of these tips, such as not making the call public, would be impossible for government entities under the Maryland’s Open Meetings Act. Luckily for users, Zoom founder and CEO Eric S. Yuan announced on his blog last week that the company would take several steps to address Zoom bombing, including a freeze on all new features to focus on security issues.

Zoom bombing aside, Chavis said she had yet to receive any complaints from the public. She largely attributed that to the teamwork displayed by resort officials.

“I’m just really impressed by the mayor and council,” Chavis said. “Obviously, everybody had their reservations and were a little anxious about converting to virtual meetings, but despite the abrupt transition, they have embraced the challenge and haven’t skipped a beat.”

To read more steps Zoom will take to address privacy concerns check out Yuan’s blog post at https://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/20 20/04/01/a-message-to-our-users/.

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Ocean City Today

No tax increase, but other budget changes probable Continued from Page 1 such as restaurants and hotels, are closed or operating at a limited capacity.

“We know that all businesses out there are struggling with the stay-athome order and can try to continue operations the best they can,” Shannahan said. “At this point, it’s an unknown as far as exactly when we’re safe to go back outside, leave our homes and continue conducting business as we did before the covid-19 crisis.”

The county had estimated general fund revenues of nearly $210 million, with budget requests topping that by $11 million. The appearance of the coronavirus, however, changed that and County Commissioner Joseph Mitrecic said that major purchases have been cut out of the budget, including new personnel hires.

“We have the staff looking at their budgets, trying to decrease them as much as possible - spending as we can,” Mitrecic said.

Although the budget must be finalized by July 1, he said that the budget isn’t necessarily set in stone.

“The budget is a living, breathing document,” Mitrecic said. “It can change throughout the year and there are adjustments made throughout the year. Money is moved from one area to another if the need is there.”

He said that he personally would like to keep all the municipal grants the same as last year and to increase the funding for emergency medical services. In addition, Mitrecic said that the commissioners are not interested in raising the tax rate.

“We’re going to have to work

within our means moving forward,” Mitrecic said.

Commissioner Bud Church said that the county is at a holding pattern, but that’s a good thing for public health.

“There is concern with the revenue not coming in,” Church said. “Hotels are empty, so there’s not going to be room tax.”

He added that he didn’t want to speculate about the potential impact of the shutdown, but does think the county’s economy and the government’s budget will survive.

“We have very conservative commissioners,” Church said. “We have never overspent the budget.”

Commissioner Joshua Nordstrom said it’s likely that some expenses will have to be cut, and some new requests may have to wait until next year.

“We want to make sure that our municipalities continue to be funded at the same or similar levels,” Nordstrom said. “We want to make sure that that we don’t cut our services or have to cut jobs. All of those things have to come first and then after all that, we look and see what’s left.”

He specified that employee raises, the Worcester County Public School’s maintenance of effort and emergency services funding are priorities.

He reiterated that the county will simply have to be fiscally responsible.

“That doesn’t mean requests won’t be granted, but at this point, we just don’t know,” Nordstrom said. “It’s a little bit scary, a little bit frightening to not know, but really when you’re budgeting, it’s an estimate anyway.”

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PAGE 4

Wor. rises to 16 covid-19 cases, four recovered

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) As of Thursday morning, Maryland confirmed 6,185 cases of covid-19, or coronavirus.

There are 1,476 in Prince George’s County, 1,214 in Montgomery, 979 in Baltimore, 638 in Baltimore City, 505 in Anne Arundel, 299 in Howard, 233 in Frederick, 203 in Carroll, 180 in Charles, 101 in Harford, 66 in Calvert, 65 in St. Mary’s, 60 in Washington, 49 in Cecil, 21 in Wicomico, 17 in Queen Anne’s, 16 in Worcester, 13 in Talbot, 12 in Caroline, nine in Kent, eight in Allegany, seven in Dorchester, five in Garrett and four in Somerset.

Worcester has had 11 new cases since last week, five of which are a male in his 40s, a female in her 60s, a male in his 60, a female in her 30 and another male in his 40s. The other six have not yet been identified.

One of the cases in Worcester is a store associate at the Food Lion on Manklin Road in Ocean Pines, according to Emma Inman, external communications director for Food Lion. The grocery store will not be revealing the associate’s identity for privacy reasons.

“In an abundance of caution, we took immediate action to execute an enhanced cleaning procedure as guided from the local, state and national health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control,” Inman said. “These cleaning procedures were in addition to our ongoing, rigorous sanitary practices, which have been greatly expanded during the health crisis. Any other associates who were in close contact with this associate are self-quarantined at home.”

As of Tuesday, the Worcester County Health Department has received 215 covid-19 tests and as of Wednesday, has released four individuals from public health monitoring.

The Worcester County Health Department stated that it could not release where the individuals who have tested positive live, work or visit.

“HIPAA protects confidential patient information, but we want to emphasize that everyone is at some risk for covid-19,” the department said in a statement. “Everyone is expected to stay at home as much as possible and take precautions. Covid-19 affects people from all walks of life. Be kind to those who are affected.”

It added that it will only announce public places identified by contact tracing unless it’s considered high risk.

The department will continue contact tracing and will notify those who may have come into contact with positive cases.

Symptoms of coronavirus are fever, coughing, shortness of breath and, in more serious cases, pneumonia. It is spread through respiratory droplets, personal contact or surface contact

Ocean City Today

APRIL 10, 2020

Coronavirus cases in Worcester County timeline: March 19 – Worcester County confirms its first case of coronavirus, a male in his 30s March 21 – A woman in her 20s tests positive March 30 – A county resident diagnosed out of state is confirmed as the third case April 1 – A woman in her 20s tests positive April 2 – A man in his 40s tests positive; health department releases three cases from public monitoring April 4 – A man in his 40s and a woman in her 60s test positive April 5 – A man in his 60s and a woman in her 30s test positive April 6 – A man in his 40s tests for a total of 10 positive cases in Worcester; four total cases have been released from public monitoring April 9 – Six more people test positive for a total of 16 cases

with the virus on it.

Atlantic General Hospital personnel said people who are experiencing these symptoms or have come into contact with a confirmed case should call their medical providers so they can prepare with the proper protective gear. Do not show up unannounced to a medical facility.

The hospital is streamlining coronavirus testing to the 10th Street Atlantic Immediate Care. There are a few other urgent cares conducting tests if the individual cannot get to the 10th Street location, according to the health department.

Atlantic General said that test results may take several days since there is a large volume of tests going into a limited number of labs.

Although a number of tigers at a New York City zoo have reportedly tested positive for coronavirus, the Center for Disease and Control said the chances that infected animals can spread the virus to people is rare. It added that there is a small number of pets, including cats and dogs, that have been infected outside the United States.

There have been no reports of pets testing positive for coronavirus in the United States. It can spread from people to animals in some situations.

The Worcester County Health Department has opened a hotline Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to determine if a person should be tested.

Call 410-632-1100 and select option eight.

For general information on the coronavirus call the health department 24/7 at 410-632-4321 or visit worcesterhealth.org. View updates from Atlantic General at atlanticgeneral.org/patients-visitors/covid-19-updates/.

To track Maryland cases, visit coronavirus.maryland.gov/.

JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Atlantic General Hospital and the Worcester County Health Department are streamlining coronavirus testing to the 10th Street Atlantic General Immediate Care.

U.S. District Court sides with OC on female topless lawsuit

By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) Ending a year’s long legal battle on Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge James Bredar ruled that Ocean City will not be required to permit female toplessness on beaches or within town boundaries.

This puts to rest litigation from a handful of woman, lead by Chelsea Eline, who argued that prohibiting females, but not males, from publicly displaying their breasts is a violation of the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause and Article 46 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights.

Ocean City Councilwoman Mary Knight, who testified against the proposal, said public sentiment was undeniably opposed.

“This was an issue people were really concerned about,” she said.

The topic was raised in August 2016 after Eline informed the Worcester County State’s Attorney Office and the OC Police of her intentions to sunbathe topless on the beach.

In June 2017, Ocean City officials adopted an emergency ordinance to preserve the “family-oriented character and quality of Ocean City and its beaches, and to protect the sensibilities of Ocean City’s residents and visitors.”

The rationale for the ordinance was that while some may not take offense with female toplessness, it remains unpalatable to larger society.

Eline, along with co-plaintiffs Megan Bryant, Rose MacGregor, Christine Coleman, and Angela Urban, filed suit against Ocean City officials in January 2018.

Knight, along with Ocean City

Mayor Rick Meehan, served as witnesses during the court proceedings.

Meehan testified that the issue had a larger impact beyond the individual plaintiffs.

“While we respect [Eline’s] desire to express what rights she believes she may have, Ocean City is a family resort and we intend to do whatever is within our ability to also protect the rights of those families that visit us each year,” he said.

Speaking on Wednesday, Knight said the outpouring of negative public sentiment regarding the proposal was plainly evident.

“I have never received so many phone calls [and] emails,” she said. “I would walk into a store and people would stop me.”

The court echoed those conclusions in its decision.

“The overwhelming majority of these commenters expressed disapproval of public female toplessness in Ocean City, with many saying they would not return to Ocean City if it permitted female toplessness,” the decision stated.

Meehan told the court resort officials were inundated with concerns from residents and vacationers about the potential for the resort to permit topless sunbathing.

The court’s ruling, however, focused on the fundamental issue of whether prohibiting females to be topless in public out of deference to the majority is constitutional.

In the decision Judge Bredar wrote, “laws may acknowledge the physical differences between men and women, so long as such genderbased classifications do not ‘create or perpetuate the legal, social, and economic inferiority of women.’”

APRIL 10, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 5

More executive orders, additional protection

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) Gov. Larry Hogan issued another set of executive orders last Friday, this Sunday and this Tuesday, April 3, 5 and 7, to fortify protections granted to Marylanders during the covid-19 pandemic.

“I’m enacting an executive order that prohibits mortgage lenders from initiating the foreclosure process,” Hogan said Friday. “Nearly 70 of Maryland’s largest banks, credit unions, mortgage lenders, state agencies, and other financial entities and institutions have agreed to provide additional flexibility to borrowers to lessen the economic impact of covid19.”

Under the order, Marylanders were now eligible for 90-day period of forbearance or deferral for mortgage payments, and would not suffer from late fees or negative effects on their credit.

Additionally, the executive order expanded protection from evictions to include industrial and commercial evictions, as well as prohibited repossession of cars, truck and mobile homes.

“In addition, during this state of emergency, all executive state agencies will suspend debt collection activities,” Hogan said.

On Sunday, Hogan issued an executive order requiring all nursing home staff to wear personal protective equipment, create separate observation and isolation areas for residents and to expedite all testing through the state public health laboratory.

This was in response to a mass outbreak of the virus at nursing home facilities across the state, one of which at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Carroll County that has resulted in 10 deaths.

On Tuesday, Hogan announced

that the Trump administration had agreed to designate the greater BaltimoreWashington corridor as a priority area.

“In addition to being home to more Gov. Hogan than 5 million people and hundreds of thousands of federal workers and nearly all federal agencies, the Baltimore Washington corridor is also home to the NIH, the FDA, Fort Detrick, critical health agencies which are on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus as well as Fort Meade, the NSA, the U.S. Cyber Command, and other federal installations that are critical to the security of the nation,” Hogan said.

The governor also announced the launching of statewide strike teams composed of the National Guard, representatives of local and state health departments, the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems and hospital systems to provide triage, emergency care, supplies and equipment to overburdened nursing homes.

“We’re the first state in the nation to launch such a coordinated response,” he said.

Another executive order was issued by the governor, which granted new powers to local health departments to modify, severely limit or shut down businesses they deemed in violation of the governor’s previous orders.

This executive order also bolsters the power of state and local law enforcement agencies.

Businesses who fail to adhere to health department demands may be subject to up to a year in jail, up to a $5,000 fine or both.

During the Q&A portion of Friday’s press conference, Hogan expressed his frustration with the federal gov-

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ernment’s lacking response to state needs.

Hogan chairs the National Governors Association.

“I’ve actually been leading the national discussion with the governors of why we haven’t been getting this stuff [critical supplies], and I’ve had meetings with governors in six different conference calls with the president, and I’ve brought this up on every single call,” Hogan said. “We got nothing.

Last week, we got FEMA in charge and we got the first distributions of anything to anywhere. I’ve continued to push, but it’s very frustrating.”

The governor also reiterated the severity of the pandemic, and reminded the public that everybody is susceptible the virus.

“The reality is that this disease does not discriminate, and no one is im-

mune,” Hogan said. “… I wish that I could tell you when we’re going to turn the corner — when you’ll be able to go back to work, to school, or to church, or when any of us will be able to get back to living a normal life again. Unfortunately, I’m not able to do that. We simply don’t know just how bad things are going to get, or exactly how long this is going to last.”

Nonetheless, while the governor has been straightforward about the gravity of this crisis, he also made sure to encourage citizens to remain positive, and look toward the future — his modus operandi as of late.

“It may seem hard to believe right now, but I am hopeful, and I do believe that our state will make it through this together, and that eventually we will come back stronger and better than ever before,” Hogan said.

PAGE 6

Ocean City Today

APRIL 10, 2020

Most OC hotels close, few open for essential workers

ELIZABETH BONIN/OCEAN CITY TODAY

The Comfort Inn on 112th Street in Ocean City is one of a few hotels that remain open to serve essential workers.

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By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) Seven hotels remain open after Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan and City Council’s emergency declaration last Tuesday to restrict short-term rental reservation through April 30.

In order to mitigate coronavirus, the declaration states that visitors scheduled to arrive at a reservation before that date may not keep their reservations and lodgings may not accept new April reservations.

The few open hotels are only serving essential lodgers, who are defined as healthcare professionals, first responders, National Guard members, law enforcement personnel, state or federal government employees, airline crew members, hospital patients, patients’ families, journalists, others responding to covid-19, people unable to return home because of covid19 impacts on travel, people who must vacate their homes because of exigent circumstances, such as fires, people sheltering due to domestic violence, hotel/motel employees, service providers and contractors of the hotel/motel, the homeless, full-time residents who cannot shelter at home

and people who own, operate or are employed by an essential business as defined by the governor.

However, exactly how this can be successfully enforced is unclear.

Some hotel websites state that reservations made in prohibited locations will not be honored, yet it appears they can still be made for April online.

There are no vetting questions online to determine if the guest is an essential worker.

Jessica Waters, communications manager for the Town of Ocean City, said that the city has seen great compliance from the hotels.

“We’ve been working closely with Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association,” Waters said. “We’ve actually seen a lot of voluntarily compliance, a lot of hotels have just decided to close for the time being.”

One of those is the Harrison Group, which decided to close all its hotel properties through April 30.

Waters added that the hotel association regularly sends the city information on which hotels are open, how many lodgers are there and what their purpose for staying are.

“Hotels will do their best to screen

ELIZABETH BONIN/OCEAN CITY TODAY

The Clarion Hotel on 101st Street in Ocean City is one of many hotels that chose to temporarily close after Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan’s emergency declaration to restrict nonessential short-term rentals through April 30 to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

for essential lodgers through explaining the Governor executive order and questioning if someone calls,” said Susan Jones, executive director of the association.

She added that most hotels have closed their online agency reservation options such as booking.com or expedia.com.

Census Bureau extends deadline

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) The U.S. Census deadline has been extended by two weeks to Aug. 14 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The decennial population count went online March 12.

Kelly Henry, technical services manager and coordinator of Worcester County’s Complete Count Committee, said that everyone should have received the initial invitation to fill out the census, as well as a second and possibly third reminder.

These mailings have an identifying number so people can fill out the census online or over the phone. People experiencing homelessness will have to fill out the census without the number, as well as those who have a post office box.

The U.S. Census Bureau started sending mail paper questionnaires on Wednesday and will continue through Thursday, April 16.

Henry said that Maryland’s participation is higher than the nation’s participation, with Worcester County being at about 42.8 percent as of Monday. It was at about 26.9 percent on March 25.

Henry said this increase may be because more people are at home and can view the commercials and hear the public service announcements re-

minding them to fill out the census.

This number does not include Ocean City because of its seasonal residents, but Henry said adding Ocean City brings the participation rate to about 53 percent. Worcester had the lowest response out of all Maryland counties for the 2010 Census.

With Marylanders under a stay-athome order, the Complete Count Committee has adjusted its marketing strategy, since the enumerators cannot make door-to-door visits.

“We’ve got all the different marketing tools that we need right now, but right now we can’t use a lot of them because they were more oriented toward social gatherings and meetings,” Henry said. “We’re just going to see if things open and if things aren’t going to open back up in the next couple weeks, then we’ll probably extend our commercials and public service announcements on the TV and on the radio.”

She said that the committee has expanded its social media presence, and the county government has extra census decals it wants to send to local essential businesses that have vehicles on the road to advertise the census.

Even with a shelter-in-place order, residents can still fill out the census.

Henry recalled that one couple from

Ocean Pines had to fill out their census for Worcester County while in Florida.

“Even if they’re somewhere else and they’re sheltering in place, they can still get online and fill out the census,” Henry said.

She said that the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted why the census is so important – when vaccines are eventually created and distributed, they are distributed based on population count.

“You don’t want 100 vaccines to come in and you’re the 101st person,” Henry said.

She added that businesses use population counts to decide whether or not to expand in certain communities.

“They want to make sure that they’ve got the population to support it and they use those statistics in order to justify that,” Henry said.

The census is also important because it determines funding for schools, health care and road construction. For every person not counted, state and local jurisdictions lose $18,250 in federal funds over the next 10 years.

Call 844-330-2020 to complete the census over the phone. The phone line is open every day from 7-2 a.m.

Visit 2020census.gov for more information.

APRIL 10, 2020

PAGE 7

Ocean City Today

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Ocean City Today

APRIL 10, 2020

Budget plan goes on to first reading and public hearing

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) Pending final approval in May, Ocean City residents can expect to see lower property taxes after a City Council decision last Friday, April 3, following several days of budget meetings that began on March 31.

However, with no clear end to the covid-19 pandemic, resort government stands to lose hundreds-of-thousands, if not millions in revenue for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020.

During day one of budget meetings, City Budget Manager Jennie Knapp said she reviewed FY20 budget projects, and created three scenarios based on how long virus-related travel bans and business shut downs continued.

Scenario one — six weeks of reduced or zero revenues from mid-march to April 30, would allow the city to collect revenues over budget.

Scenario two — eight weeks from mid-March to May 15, could result in a loss of about $420,000 in revenue.

Scenario three — 12 weeks from midMarch to June 15, could result in a loss of $4.6 million in revenue.

Additionally, based on data from the 2008-2010 recession, Knapp estimated the city stood to lose $1.9 million in FY21.

In order to alleviate this loss, Knapp did a last-minute budget edit and proposed a budget plan B, which postponed or reduced funds dedicated toward capital improvement projects slated for FY21.

These projects are inlet lot repaving, street paving, advertising and sponsorships, Tourism Advisory Board programs, lighting retrofit project, downtown recreation complex design, City Watch phase II and the hiring of new positions for half a year.

City officials overwhelmingly supported plan B, but had reservations over certain aspects of the proposed budget, specifically overtime pay in the police department and the addition of full-time employees.

“I don’t support adding any new full-

JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Ocean City government officials conducted budget business virtually last week, and will move forward to first reading in a May budget proposal that will lower property taxes and cut out several capital improvement projects in order to prepare for potential financial losses due to covid-19.

time positions,” Councilman Tony DeLuca said on Friday. “I think we should consider not replacing anybody who retires, terminates or quits. We only need to do that for one quarter, three months … [and] I think for three months, we can eliminate overtime.”

Proposed in the budget was the addition of three personnel, two of whom, a human resources director and a recreation and parks facilities monitor, were budget neutral, while the other, an additional patrol officer, was not at $31,765 for half-a-year.

DeLuca also found issue with overall budget increases for 21 out of 26 city departments, which he said negated the additional $3.6 million the city had generated in additional revenue.

Knapp explained, however, that much of the increases were unavoidable.

“The departments that increased their expenses were either increasing … for maintenance items that need to be done, salary increases related to [their] contracts … minimum wage increases that we were mandated to have and benefit increases that we have no control over,” Knapp said.

She used the police department’s budget as an example, which increased

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by more than $1 million because of the aforementioned salary and benefits.

Councilwoman Mary Knight inquired as to why so much overtime was allotted to the police department — $995,000 in the patrol division alone — when an additional patrol officer was being added.

Knapp explained that the overtime correlated with the city’s extension of its peak season, as more and more special events were added to the resort’s roster.

“They’ve [police department] been asking for this position for about five years,” Knapp said. “As in all divisions, once we started to extend the season with special events, they [police] have more pressure to staff those events, and they have less time to train their officers.”

Once the season ends, officers typically take their vacation days in the fall, but now these vacations days were being pushed into the department’s winter schedule, which is when it usually trains new officers.

Councilman Mark Paddack added that during his time as a police officer there was one year when he worked 755 hours overtime and lost two weeks of vacation.

“I’d like to see that overtime go down too, but you just don’t know [what will happen],” Paddack said. “… But the police department does very well in managing their manpower to minimize Crossword answers from page 32

overtime the best that they can.”

Mayor Rick Meehan pointed out that the amount of overtime allocated to the police department would be less than the amount needed to hire more full-time officers.

The council voted to adopt plan B, with the conditions that the overtime pay would be kept intact, the Human Resources Director would be hired immediately, the other two full-time positions would be hired in January and a hiring freeze for all non-essential staff for the last quarter of the current fiscal year and the first quarter of the next fiscal year.

Breaking covid-19 orders punishable by fines, jail time

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) Ocean City government passed an emergency ordinance last Friday that made violations of the mayor’s emergency orders, made in regards to covid-19, a misdemeanor.

Those in violation are subject to a fine up to $500, up to 3 months in jail or both.

“Chapter 18 [of the city’s code book] allows that in times of disaster, as mayor, I can make orders, which I deem are in the interest of public safety and welfare,” Mayor Rick Meehan said.

Before the passage of Friday’s ordinance, only actions prohibited by law, ordinances or resolutions were punishable under Chapter 18 of the city’s codebook.

Friday’s ordinance expanded the scope of Chapter 18 to include mayoral orders and emergency declarations.

The ordinance was passed on first reading, and then passed once again as an emergency ordinance, per protocol.

APRIL 10, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 9

Local, statewide and federal covid-19 update From executive orders, aid packages and important statistics, here’s what’s up

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) This is what has happened locally, statewide and nationally since last week regarding the covid-19 pandemic.

Local April 3, 2020 — Ocean City Mayor and City Council held a special session followed by another emergency declaration.

The new declaration made all violations of previous emergency orders a misdemeanor, and violators could be subject to up to a $500 fine, up to 3 months in jail, or both.

State April 3, 2020 — Gov. Larry Hogan announced a series of financial relief initiatives to help Marylanders and small businesses suffering economic hardships because of covid-19.

The governor also announced an executive order that strengthens a previous order prohibiting residential evictions.

The new order prohibited commercial and industrial evictions, in addition to stopping lenders from initiating the mortgage foreclosure process, authorizing the suspension of certain lending limits for state banks and credit unions, prohibiting the repossession of cars and trucks and prohibiting the repossession of homes not considered “real property,” such as mobile homes, trailers and live-aboard boats.

The Maryland Department of Health reported 2,758 cases of covid19 and 42 deaths.

April 5, 2020 — Hogan enacted an emergency order to protect residents and staff at nursing home facilities.

All staff must not wear personal protective equipment, create separate observation and isolation areas for residents and expedite all testing through the state public health laboratory.

This order was made in response to a mass outbreak of the virus at nursing homes across the state, the most infamous of which was at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Carroll County. It resulted in the deaths of 10 people.

Cases jump to 3,609, and deaths to 67.

April 6, 2020 — the Maryland Department of Health announced it would expand the number of VEIP, or drive-thru, testing sites, with new sites opened in Howard and Montgomery counties.

In total, the state has five sites, with locations in Bel Air, Glen Burnie and Waldor.

Positive cases climbed to 4,045, with 91 deaths.

April 7, 2020 — The state’s con-

firmed cases now total 4,371, with 103 deaths.

Hogan activates statewide strike teams for nursing homes, enacts order allowing local health departments to shut down unsafe facilities and announces designation of Baltimore-Washington corridor as an emerging hotspot.

The Maryland Emergency Management Agency, Maryland Health Department and Maryland Department of Information Technology launch a covid-19 rumor control page to help dispel misinformation in regards to the pandemic. Visit https://govstatus.egov.com/mdcoronavirus-rumor-control.

April 8, 2020 — Confirmed cases now total 5,529, but much of the increase was attributed to the return of results of test conducted in March.

National April 2, 2020 — The U.S. covid-19 death toll surges past 4,600, while globally the death count passed 50,000.

The unemployment number doubled the week before last, with another record shattering 6.6 million Americans who applied for unemployment.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, (DCalif.), announced a House committee that would examine the Trump administration’s response to coron-

avirus.

The move comes after weeks of criticism lashed out against President Donald Trump for his slow response to the virus crisis.

Additionally, the White House was expected to urge Americans to wear facemasks in public, reversing its previous stance on the face coverings utility against the pandemic.

Navy secretary Thomas B. Modly relieved Navy Capt. Brett C. Crozier, the commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, of command.

The captain was accused of leaking a letter to the news media detailing how the coronavirus crippled his vessel, and the Navy’s poor response to his plead for help, as reported by the Washington Post.

The IRS announced it would begin issuing coronavirus payments on April 9, but some recipients may not receive their checks until September.

April 3, 2020 — The U.S. jobless rate climbed to 4.4 percent in March, the Washington Post reported, with 701,000 jobs lost.

The CDC officially recommended the public to wear cloth masks in public.

President Trump said he would not wear a mask himself.

April 6, 2020 — The Dow Jones industrial average, Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index and Nasdaq com-

posite index surge by 7 percent or more.

Wisconsin Supreme Court blocks executive order made by Gov. Tony Evers, (D), which postponed the primary election until June 9.

Later that day, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Wisconsin Republicans on a separate issue, NBC reports, which overturned a lower federal court’s decision to extend a deadline for absentee balloting.

April 7, 2020 — President Trump dismisses Glenn Fine, the acting inspector general at the Defense Department.

Fine was tasked with overseeing spending of the $2 trillion stimulus package.

Navy Secretary Thomas Modly resigned after a written transcript and audio recording of him bashing former USS Theodore Roosevelt Capt.

Brett Crozier was leaked to the media.

Several national news media outlets, such as the New York Times and the Washington Post, reported that, although data was still preliminary, statistics showed the coronavirus was infecting and killing black people at disproportionately high rates.

April 8, 2020 — As of Wednesday morning, there were 374,329 confirmed cases of covid-19 in the U.S., and 12,064 deaths.

PAGE 10

Ocean City Today

APRIL 10, 2020

Wor. plans for virtual meetings

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) After rescheduling a budget work session twice, the Worcester County Commissioners plan to conduct virtual public meetings on Zoom, as is being done in Ocean City and other jurisdictions that must comply with the state’s Open Meetings Act regardless of the coronavirus pandemic.

The budget work session, originally scheduled for March 31, was rescheduled for April 7 to comply with federal guidelines.

However, the county rescheduled the budget meeting again for April 14 because it had not determined an alternate way to meet before April 7.

During a commissioner meeting on March 17, County Commissioner Joseph Mitrecic observed that not all the commissioners have internet at their homes. Commissioner Jim Bunting said he did not.

Because the budget session will take place on the same day as the commissioner’s regular meeting, the timing is still being worked out, said Kelly Shannahan, chief administrative assistant.

“We’ll have a regular meeting first thing in the morning followed by a budget work session,” Shannahan said. “It might be as early as late morning, if not, it will be in the afternoon of the 14th . . . we are working out the details on bringing the department heads that are going to be making presentations to the commissioners in virtually.”

He said that once plans are finalized, the county will send information to the public on how to view the meetings live.

Commissioner Joshua Nordstrom said that overall, he’s impressed with how quickly the county has adjusted to an unprecedented situation.

“It’s going to be a challenge because we’ve never done this before,” Nordstrom said. “They’ll figure it out.

We’ve got some very talented people in IT and people can use their offices if they need to or conference rooms in the government building.”

Commissioner Bud J. Nordstrom Church said that many county employees who can work from home are doing so, including the commissioners.

“We get daily updates, we get emails,” Church said. “We are still functioning as if we were there. Nothing has changed as far as decision making, we’re all just doing it remotely.”

As for the county government building in Snow Hill, Shannahan said that about half the staff is working in the building at a time. Each department is functioning differently.

For example, the administration team has half the staff working in the office on certain days and then they switch with the other team in order to decrease the risk of infection.

“In the office, we’re still practicing social distancing,” Shannahan said.

“In fact, I oftentimes, rather than going to someone’s office to have a conversation with them, I’ll pick up the phone and call them on their extension, that way we are sure to practice our social distancing.”

He added that those who work in

an essential service are given personal protective equipment.

Mitrecic said that the county is still providing all the same services, but it’s altered since public access to the government building in Snow Hill is prohibited. Among the newly instituted charges is a drop box for applications, building permits and other documents regarding finance, planning and zoning, environmental programs and similar departments.

“That keeps people from going around the building and possibly spreading the virus,” Mitrecic said. “We’re taking every precaution to keep our employees safe at this point in time.”

MORGAN PILZ/OCEAN CITY TODAY He added that instead of having face-to- ENCOURAGING WORDS face meetings with This sign near Somerset Street reminds residents (and guests) to department represen- remain home to avoid potentially spreading covid-19. tatives, builders and contractors must call.

“We’re trying to continue the busi- well as protecting all the citizens of ness of the county, but keep our em- Worcester County.”

The Worcester County Planning ployees safe,” Mitrecic said.

These new functions are subject to Commission is also experimenting change as the pandemic progresses with meetings over Zoom. The county budget hearing will still take place on and guidelines change.

“It is still a fluid process,” Shanna- May 5 at 7 p.m. as originally schedhan said. “We’re learning and chang- uled, but will happen virtually instead ing as we go to be sure that we are of at the Snow Hill High School audiprotecting our county employees as torium.

Mitrecic recaps pandemic safety measures To encourage guidelines on coronavirus, Wor. holds state-of-the-county address

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) Worcester County government held its first state-of-thecounty address on Wednesday at the government building in Snow Hill in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

As of Thursday morning, Worcester County had 16 cases with four patients released from public monitoring.

County Commissioner Joseph Mitrecic said the commissioners have supported all of Gov. Larry Hogan’s executive orders to mitigate the spread of coronavirus – closing nonessential businesses, giving health officials the ability to close unsafe facilities, prohibiting large gath-

erings, requiring everyone to stay at home, asking all those who come to Worcester County from another state to quarantine for 14 Joseph Mitrecic days, implementing local emergency measures to support the shelter in place order, declaring a local state of emergency and restricting nonessential short-term rentals in unincorporated Worcester County.

Mitrecic said the county’s goal is to ensure compliance voluntarily.

“Due to the deadly nature of this health crisis, in instances where these directives are not obeyed, we are prepared to fully enforce this action,” Mitrecic said.

He noted that Atlantic General Hospital has constructed a decontam-

ination station for emergency services, fire and law enforcement vehicles. In addition, he believes the hospital will achieve the 83-bed capacity it needs to plan for a surge in coronavirus cases.

Though the county government offices are closed to the public, employees still maintain standard operating hours either at the building or at home. Anyone who needs county services can call county staff. Staff phone numbers are online or available through county administration.

A drop box is available on the first floor atrium for documents.

Mitrecic said that county employees are still conducting site inspections, but ask that property owners and builders to remain outside during the inspection and allow staff to complete the task unaccompanied.

The county recreation and parks programs have been cancelled and

www.oceancitytoday.com

county playgrounds have been closed, but the county parks remain open under social distancing guidelines. The central landfill in Newark and the homeowner convenience centers will also remain open.

The county will hold a public hearing for the FY21 operating budget on May 5 at 7 p.m., virtually. Instructions on how to access the meeting will be sent out at a later date.

The requested budget includes no property tax increase, according to Mitrecic.

“My fellow commissioners and I recognize that the action we have already and are continuing to implement are unprecedented, never before seen or experienced by most of us in our lifetimes,” Mitrecic said.

“But these measures are meant to save lives by stopping the spread of covid-19.”

APRIL 10, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

APRIL 10, 2020

Ocean City Today

Unemployment continues to spike Wor. filings go from 971 to 1,415 in one week, state numbers more than double

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) The number of unemployment applications in Maryland has more than doubled from 42,334 Marylanders filing in the week ending on March 21 and 84,230 filing in the week ending on March 28. Worcester County increased from 971 filings to 1,415 in the same weeks.

Kathryn Gordon, economic development director for Worcester County, attributed this spike to restaurants and other nonessential businesses that have temporarily closed and laid off workers.

“I do know that some of our restaurants have gone ahead and shut their doors for now, being that the traffic for the carryout and delivery might just not be enough for them,” Gordon said.

It’s especially difficult for restaurants to operate in any fashion since the Boardwalk and beach have been closed, along with many of the hotels.

Gordon said that whether a business can successfully open in the future will be an individual matter, such as the business’s longevity or if it has a sufficient emergency fund balance.

“It just really depends on what the business has prepared for and the owner’s mindsets,” Gordon said.

“You would hate to think that there have been some long-term business owners here in Worcester County and

maybe they already had thoughts of go ahead and retiring and either selling their business or shutting their doors. They may take this as helping them make their decision.”

She added that the best way to help local businesses to reopen is to support them now if possible by ordering a carryout meal.

“If you’re not interested in eating anything at this moment, Susan Jones buy gift cards,” Gordon said. “Those will give them the revenue that they need right now to keep them open and then you can use them at a later date.”

As for the hotel inKathryn Gordon dustry, many have had to push back their opening dates, which has, in turn, delayed hiring and contributed to the increasing unemployment rate.

According to Susan Jones, executive director of the Ocean City HotelMotel-Restaurant Association, the hotels are doing a mix of paying their nonworking employees, paying them a reduced salary and temporarily laying off workers.

Only seven hotels in Ocean City are currently open to serve essential workers, while there were 15 last week, according to Jones.

She heard from one unnamed hotel that it was having trouble maintaining a full staff, particularly housekeepers, to serve essential workers.

“There was a room block for plumbers working on Food Lion and then there was a contract with hospital workers for maintenance, so those two room blocks had to be moved to one of those hotels that were open, so you’re shifting 15 hotels to seven,” Jones said. “They were full and now they’re working with a skeleton staff.”

One potential reason for the staff shortage is people not feeling safe leaving their houses.

“Then there’s the old story is that they can make more on unemployment than actually working,” Jones said.

Under the federal CARES Act, unemployment benefits now include an additional $600 and 13 more weeks of benefits than Maryland’s typical 26 weeks. The benefit amounts are calculated based on the income received over the past 18 months. The search for work requirement has been temporarily waived.

The deadline to enroll with the Maryland Health Benefits Exchange, the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, was set to end mid-April, but has been extended until June 15 so those who have lost their employer-based insurance due to the coronavirus can apply for health insurance.

Jones said there’s still much uncertainty for hotels and employment.

“They’re all very anxious as to when they can start putting things back together so that they can plan,” Jones said. “That’s the most difficult thing of all — they don’t know when to hire, how to hire, how to bring them back and that causes a lot of angst.”

J-1 student numbers may shrink

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) Although the J-1 student visa program is still slated to carry on for the summer season, Ocean City businesses may have fewer of those workers than usual. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced a 60-day pause on its programs through May 13 in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

This means that J-1 students who were scheduled to arrive earlier than that date will have to put off their travels a week or two. According to Melanie Pursel, president/CEO of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, that’s typically only a few hundred of the estimated 4,000 that come to Ocean City every summer.

However, some sponsor organiza-

tions have decided not to participate and some students may do the same.

“Even if they are allowed to come, we definitely think numbers will be much less just because of self-selection,” Pursel said.

“These are college students, so some of their parents might not want them to travel.”

Melanie Pursel She added that some may not be able to come because of adjusted college class schedules.

“The majority of students are excited about the opportunity to participate on the program this summer, and are waiting like the rest of us,” Pursel said.

If a host employer has not yet opened its business at the same time as a student arrival, it will notify the student in advance.

“The sponsors will have contingency plans in place to protect the health, safety and welfare of their participants, which could also include delaying the exchange visitors’ arrival in the U.S,” Pursel said.

The chamber has encouraged businesses to plan for fewer student workers from the J-1 program and to try to hire more college students if possible.

The bureau will review the holding decision after every 30 days.

Anne Marie Conestabile, United Work and Travel program director, said they are on hold until further notice and declined to comment.

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APRIL 10, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 13

Online learning successful despite setbacks

By Morgan Pilz Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) This Friday marks the end of the second week of online learning for Worcester County Public School high school students and the first week for middle and elementary school students.

Students, teachers and parents are using an online school management system called Schoology to remain academically involved while schools continue to stay closed under the orders of Gov. Larry Hogan and State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Salmon.

High school students began online schooling on Monday, March 30 (for students in AP courses and dual enrollment) and Monday, April 6 for middle and elementary school students.

Within the first week of online learning, educators acknowledged there were some connectivity issues but have otherwise shown significant progress.

“The first week has certainly brought plenty of challenges, but so many rewards as well,” Chief Operating Officer and Chief Academic Officer Grades 9-12 Dr. Annette Wallace said.

“We continue to face connectivity issues, which seems to be our biggest challenge thus far, which we will continue to address as additional hot spots arrive.”

The county is expecting a new shipment of either computers, iPads or other technology to be used for online learning to be delivered by the first of next week, and are awaiting a ship date on the final installment of hotspots.

Despite these internet setbacks, Wallace said the teachers have been working hard to continue providing educational needs for their students.

“Our teachers have been absolute rock stars,” she said. “They have accelerated their own learning on our platforms, as they have all the while made significant changes to the way they are delivering content. Their nimbleness and dexterity when it comes to changing instructional strategies to match the online platform has been inspirational to be quite honest.”

It comes to no surprise, however, that many students are excelling at the online learning, if not for their wellversed experience with the online world, whereas some adults might be taking a longer time to adjust.

“We have to remember our students are digital natives, so as they are adjusting, in some cases, to our online platform many of our students are enjoying the new challenges and are asserting themselves as the digital learners that they are,” Wallace said.

Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor praised the staff and students for their efforts during an online announcement last Friday.

“Being able to begin continuity of

learning so quickly is a testament to the incredible work of our teachers, instructional and school leaders, and our staff, who truly mobilized our plans to launch us forward with device and hotspot distribution, trainings, and more,” he said.

“As we stand ready to welcome all students back to this new Dr. A. Wallace learning model, I want to ask our families to please be patient and understanding both with our teachers and with yourselves,” he continued. “Distance learning is new for all of us, and while our educators have been working hard to learn new techniques to provide ongoing, engaging learning experiences for your child, we also understand that

many of you are navigating how to be facilitators of learning in your own homes. There will undoubtedly be challenges along this journey, but we will persevere through them … together.”

Taylor also took the time to thank the board, teachers, parents and students for their collaboration during the covid-19 Lou Taylor pandemic.

“Thank you to our associations, our instructional and school leaders, and most especially – our teachers,” Taylor said. “Your love for and commitment to our kids is awe inspiring. I am humbled every day by your willingness to go above and beyond for the children of Worcester County.”

There have been concerns regarding the near future for students who were expected to graduate this year.

No plans have been officially made yet, as the schools are required to wait for further instruction from Hogan and Salmon before making any decisions, though Wallace assures there will be a celebration for Worcester County students.

“As a former high school principal … I can promise you that we will celebrate the Class of 2020, and we will celebrate them in a big way,” Wallace said. “As a principal, I would tell my seniors on the first day of school that they are the tone-setters for all the underclassman and that their leadership would define our school year...the same premise is at work here.

“Our seniors have led through the See WCPS Page 14

PAGE 14

Ocean City Today

APRIL 10, 2020

Webinar educates on coronavirus resources

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) The Small Business Development Center (SBDC), in partnership with Worcester County Economic Development, hosted a webinar on Monday to help educate businesses about the CARES Act and the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as well as changes to the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Assistance Loan (EIDL) application process.

John Hickman, Small Business Development Center director, began the presentation by urging small business owners to take preliminary steps before seeking state and federal aid.

“The guidance I’m going to give before we even start with the loan programs is this funding should be looked as a supplemental source to keep your business afloat,” Hickman said.

The first step business owners should take is to speak to their creditors to negotiate deferrals/abatements, waivers of fees/payments.

“Speak to all of your creditors to see if there is anyway to increase your cash flow or conserve your cash,” he

said. “Almost all of the lenders that I’ve spoken with are working with their clients to restructure their loans in some way.”

Business owners should then contact their business insurance providers to discuss business interruption coverage.

“Generally, it is not going to cover the John Hickman covid-19 disaster, but if you at least begin the claims process, if there is additional legislation that may expand [that] coverage you’re on the record for it.”

After these initial steps, owners should look into the various aforementioned relief funding.

The CARES Act, or the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, is a $2 trillion stimulus package passed by federal legislators that was designed to provide financial relief to those affected by the coronavirus.

Under the CARES Act, $349 billion was allocated for small businesses under a modified and expanded Small

ELIZABETH BONIN/OCEAN CITY TODAY

FLATTEN THE CURVE In accordance with Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan’s emergency declaration, the beach is closed through April 30 to help flatten the curve of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Business Administration loan guaranty program, known as the Paycheck Protection Program.

Those eligible for the loan are businesses in operation prior to Feb. 15, 2020, businesses that have or had employees or 1099 contractors (full- or part-time), self-employed and sole proprietors, non-profit organizations and businesses with up to 500 employees.

Small businesses and sole proprietors were able to apply for the loan effective April 3, while independent contractors and self-employed individual can apply effective April 10.

To apply for the loan, these people simply needed to go to their banks and fill out an application.

However, the following documents are required: completed and signed copy of the form, payroll report including salaries and payroll taxes paid on or around Feb. 15, 2020, borrower calculation of requested loan amounts, copy of internal payroll reports for 2020 payroll costs included and quarterly payroll tax filings (Form 941) for 2019 payroll costs, report of payroll by employee for the previous or 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2020, supporting documentation for amounts paid and included in average monthly payroll costs and a copy of state and local unemployment tax reports.

Payroll costs include salary, wage, commission; payment of cash tip; payment for vacation, parental, family, medical or sick leave; allowance for dismissal or separation; payment required for the provision of group health care benefits, including insurance premiums; retirement benefit payments; payment of state or local tax assessed on the compensation of employees; the sum of payments of any compensation to or income of a sole proprietor or independent contractor that is a wage, commission, income, net earnings from self employment or similar compensation not exceeding more than $100,000 in one year.

To expedite the loan approval process, applicants must make the following agreements in “good faith” — the loan is necessary because of covid19, loan funds will be used to retain workers and maintain payroll and/or to make mortgage, rent and utility payments by the business, loan applicants may not have another PPP loan application pending through a different lender and the loan applicants may not have previously received a PPP loan through a different lender.

The loan does come with a cap of up to $10 million, and applicants can calculate how much they can apply for by multiplying the average monthly payroll cost of the business by 2.5.

Applicants can also apply for partial loan forgiveness, which is equal to the sum of costs incurred and payments made during the eight-week period.

Loan forgiveness requires full-time

or full-time equivalent employee payroll verification, verification of costs incurred and payments made, certification from an authorized representative to confirm the documents, a 2019 IRS quarterly 940,941 or 944 payroll tax report, payroll reports for a 12month period, 1099s for independent contractors, health insurance premium documentation and retirement plan funding documentation.

Hickman also explained some major changes to the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EILDs), which now encompass Tribal businesses, can be approved solely on an applicant’s credit score, can be approved without a personal guarantee if the loan is smaller than $200,000 and borrowers can receive $10,000 emergency grant cash.

“I know that there is a lot of stress on every business owner out there,” Hickman said. “Just know that all the resources that I talked about — your local economic developers … your chambers of commerce — they are working … to try to get resources to help you.”

For a comprehensive list of banks participating in the PPP loan program, visit https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/articles/BDO%20Lender% 20Contacts_0.pdf.

To apply for SBA EIDLs loan, visit https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/ For a list of additional relief funding, visit https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/maryland-small-busin ess-covid-19-emergency-relief-fundprograms.

WCPS promise to celebrate Class of ’20 when all clear Continued from Page 13 covid-19 challenge with bravery and compassion,” she continued. “This time has been difficult and scary for us all and I have watched our seniors face the unknown fearlessly while taking care of younger siblings and reassuring their classmates.

Wallace added that while times might be difficult now, but the students (and rest of the world) will overcome it.

“The Class of 2020 has missed some instructional time behind desks in a classroom, as have all of our students, but I can tell you this, they will move past this and become very successful teachers, surgeons, builders, attorneys and leaders in our community,” she said. “Something they will look back and chuckle, and remind their own children, that every little thing will be alright. The Class of 2020 will not be forgotten and when we are all allowed to gather together again, I assure you, we will celebrate the Class of 2020 with the celebration that they all deserve.”

APRIL 10, 2020

PAGE 15

Ocean City Today

SonRise Church Storehouse offers food to those in need

By Morgan Pilz Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) SonRise Church in Berlin has been providing meals for the community for several weeks, and now, it has officially become its own food distribution hub.

The church, located at 10026 Main Street, has opened the SonRise Storehouse, which offers nonperishable foods like pasta, rice, beans, peanut butter, chips, canned meats, fruits and vegetables, in addition to frozen meats, such as

chicken, beef, ham and bacon.

During its first week in operation, the church received 5,000 pounds of chicken from Mountaire Farms in Delaware. “We have so much food here and it’s See SONRISE Page 16 MORGAN PILZ/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Hundreds of bags are prepared in advance for people who have requested meals from SonRise Church Storehouse, which receives a majority of its items from the Maryland Food Bank.

410-289-1283

410-289-1283

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Ocean City Today

APRIL 10, 2020

SonRise partners with food bank to provide for county Continued from Page 15 all free,” Pastor Tim Robinson said. “We want to help out anybody who’s in need at this time.”

A family of four can receive a fivepound bag full of nonperishable items as well as a 10-pound bag of meats, he said.

“If we have a five-member family or more, they get two bags of groceries and meat as well,” Robinson said. “People have been just blown away by the amount that’s been given. ‘This is all mine?’ is some of the responses I get, and, ‘Are you serious? We get all this?’ You absolutely do.

“If they need food again for the next week, we just encourage them to go back on the form and get another appointment schedule … to pick up food for the next week,” he continued.

The church is also in a partnership with the Maryland Food Bank, which is where it purchases a bulk of its supplies to be given to those in need. The remainder is donated by members of the community.

Currently, the church is involved with three meal programs.

The first is a collaboration with multiple local businesses in Worcester County to provide food for children who depended on school meal programs (called the backpack program).

The second is a ministry called Sharing the Harvest, which is a food truck-

MORGAN PILZ/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Pastor Tim Robinson and his wife, Alana, display the array of food to be bagged and sent out to families in need inside SonRise Church in Berlin on Tuesday, April 7.

based program. SonRise Storehouse is the third operation conducted by the church since the pandemic began.

The SonRise Storehouse is providing meals for the community through appointments set up online at https://sonrisechurch.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/ 840/responses/new.

Appointments are made every 10 minutes, Tuesdays through Saturday with morning times from 10 a.m. to noon and evening slots from 5-7 p.m.

So far, the response has been over-

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whelming, Robinson said.

“It’s just incredible to see how much that God has provided through the Maryland Food Bank and through other donations from the community,” he said. “It’s just been astounding.”

Through the backpack program, the church has given out around 200 bags, he said.

The SonRise Storehouse, which opened April 1, has provided 1,120 meals, with an overall count of 8,240 meals for all three ministries.

“I think the need is great, especially because we have so much here to give peo-

ple who are especially at risk or have lost their jobs or are out of work,” Robinson said. “We ultimately want to fulfill people’s spiritual needs of the church, but we know that doesn’t always happen right away. It’s one of those things where we want people to know that they’re loved.

“I want people to come here because they know we care about them as individuals and as families in our community, that we’re in this together,” he continued.

For more information, call SonRise Church at 410-629-1901 or visit www.sonrise.cc/.

Pines teenager surprised by fire truck for 15th birthday

By Morgan Pilz Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) An Ocean Pines teenager received a surprise from the local fire department when her mother arranged to have a fire truck drive up to their house for her birthday on Sunday.

Mia Stubblebine’s 15th birthday was made even more special when her mother, Debbie, got in touch with Colby Phillips, asking for an opportunity to surprise her daughter for her birthday.

“Everybody’s stuck in the house and I couldn’t take her anywhere to celebrate or have anyone over so I just tried to think outside the box to make her smile besides just normal gifts,” Debbie said.

Phillips and her husband, Duane, who is an Ocean City Fire Department paramedic and part-time Ocean Pines volunteer, were more than happy to help. “[Debbie] reached out on Saturday through a Facebook message and asked if I knew anyone in Ocean Pines that would be able to help get the fire truck to come by since her daughter was in love with fire trucks,” Phillips said. “I think right now people are just looking for any type of enjoyment and I thought it was really cute. And of course, the Ocean

Pines Fire Department was 100 percent on board with accommodating us doing that, which was awesome.

“After we got the approval, my husband and I went to the North Gate Fire Station, got the fire truck, and we drove down Windjammer, which is a long road,” she continued. “As we approached their house, she had balloons outside. We pulled up and my husband blared the siren … And I think we got all the neighbors out there too.

It was quite fun. We also got a nice feelgood moment from that.”

Debbie knew how much her daughter loved emergency vehicles, and figured she would try and make her birthday a little more fun, all while embarrassing her good-naturedly.

“There was a little bit of me wanting to embarrass her and do something for her to remember,” Debbie said. “We’ve always liked emergency vehicles and stuff, so to have one show up and surprise her was just so much fun.”

Mia said she was definitely surprised.

“It was just a casual morning,” she said. “I opened some gifts and we were just chilling as a family. Then, all of a sudden, mom told me to go outside and then See FIRE Page 17

APRIL 10, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 17

Fire truck arrives to surprise teen for 15th birthday Continued from Page 16 this fire truck pulls up with lights and sirens on. It was just really cool to see.

“I thought it was cool that my mom set it up and it was just so nice of her since I can’t have any friends over for my birthday,” Mia continued.

Videos and pictures were taken in front of the fire truck; Mia was not allowed inside as a safety precaution.

The day turned out to be even more of a surprise for another resident, according to Phillips.

“When we left her house, there was another little boy standing out because, of course, they see a fire truck and it was his birthday, too,” she said. “It was so cool that we got to see two people on their birthdays with a fire truck.”

Phillips was thrilled with the experience for two reasons: one, she had never ridden in the front seat of a fire truck, and two, she felt like she was part of a parade.

“This little trip I got to embarrass my husband, while she got to embarrass her daughter,” she said. “I embarrassed my husband by waving to everyone and yelling out ‘hello’ with my gloves and mask on. It was quite enjoyable.”

Duane, who was driving the truck, was more than happy to help, despite the embarrassment.

“It was a good experience,” he said.

PHOTO COURTESY COLBY PHILLIPS

“Anytime we can put a smile on somebody’s face or do something good, that’s a good thing.

“I was thinking about it last night ... my brother [Darin] passed away a cou-

ple of months ago,” he continued. “We had so many people reach out to me and it’s something I’m never going to forget.

So, if I can do something for someone else, I’m glad to do so.”

Ocean Pines resident Mia Stubblebine celebrated her 15th birthday on Sunday, April 5, with a surprise visit from an Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department fire truck, driven by local firefighter and paramedic Duane Phillips.

PAGE 18

APRIL 10, 2020

Ocean City Today

Multiple markets in county to shop for fresh produce (April 10, 2020) Many businesses have closed to the public because of the coronavirus; however, a number of local farms and grocery stores remain open to provide residents with home grown and organic options.

As a result of Gov. Larry Hogan’s directive, farmers markets can remain open for business, so small- to mediumsized farms are able to continue production and help support the local economy.

The Saturday market in White Horse Park in Ocean Pines, for instance, is considered ideal as it takes place outdoors with plenty of opportunities for social distancing, which is important for Delaware-based businesses like Stag Run Farm, since Gov. John Carney has closed the state’s farmers’ markets.

“It’s upsetting … Delaware Gov. John Carney has not let the farmers markets open yet, which is not good for the public, I believe, … whereas Gov. Hogan, who recognizes how important farmers markets are, has told us all we need to stay open,” owner Lenore Brady said.

“It’s better to go outside than to a supermarket. We feed the country, whether you’re a small-, mid- or large-scale farm, we feed the country with a number of different ways to keep the farms sustainable.”

Stag Run is the third-largest orchard farm in Delaware and grows everything from apples, to asparagus, potatoes, lettuce and even cultivates its own honey.

Without retail options like farmers markets, Brady would face the difficult choice of closing her farm after 20 years.

“I have wholesale businesses which I sell to, but it’s very important for my mid-size farm to sell retail, so my retail business and farming is based on the farmers market so I can keep it sustainable and going for years to come,” Brady

MORGAN PILZ/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Some of the produce available at Bluebird Farms in Ocean Pines include, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce, lemons, apples and oranges.

said. “Thank you to our customers for your patronage … we definitely need you to keep coming out and supporting us.”

David Bean, a mid-size farm owner who co-manages the Ocean Pines market with Brady, agrees.

“Right now, the food supply chain is why farmers markets are remaining open in Maryland,” Bean said. “The governor wants the additional food to feed into the system and keep people fed.

This is an open-air environment so you’re not confined. The ultraviolet light is considered good for you in this situation and we’re out in the sunlight.”

According to Bean, there is already signs of success, as the foot traffic in late March was equivalent to that seen in late April or early May. “It’s important now more than ever to support small farms, businesses and entrepreneurs,” he said. “The bigger guys are going to survive. The little guys need the support of the community now.”

The Ocean Pines market takes place in White Horse Park on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Only a few miles away, Bluebird Farms on 11207 Racetrack Rd., is offering curbside groceries with produce and

other goods provided by six local vendors.

Owner Nancie Corbett knew she wanted to be able to help, especially when it comes to the safety of some of the older residents in the area.

“I think people feel in this environment the need to be around less people so there is less chance of spreading the virus,” she said. “I just think people are really rethinking their health right now because they’re trying to fight the virus.”

Corbett, who owns a nursery and has been offering various baked goods from local vendors, is also including a variety of products like eggs, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots and other produce.

She is only accepting orders and payment over the phone and leaves the supplies on her property’s porch upon the designated time of pickup.

Corbett credits the idea of the pickup service to her parents, who live in Ocean Pines.

“When I came up with the idea, it was because I was thinking there’s so many people in the Pines like my parents,” she said. “I just thought to myself, ‘If I was a spreader and didn’t know it and I was just opening up my doors, it would be unsafe. It takes a while for some people

MORGAN PILZ/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Bluebird Farms owner Nancie Corbett offers a no-contact pickup delivery service for Worcester County residents in Ocean Pines.

to understand that even though you don’t feel sick, you could still be endangering other people.”

Corbett takes orders daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and posts what is available for pickup on her Facebook page around 8 a.m. each day. Call Bluebird Farm at 410-208-4475 or check its Facebook page for available items.

In Ocean City, Real Raw Organics, located on 34th Street, has been offering groceries to the public as well.

“Supporting small business is always important because you are putting money directly back into your community’s economy and supporting the local job market,” Owner Logan Willey said.

“With everything going on, all of us who own small businesses are really feeling the financial hit.

“Those of us who own businesses in Ocean City are used to having to save our money from summer to get us through winter,” she continued. “HowSee SHOP Page 19

MORGAN PILZ/OCEAN CITY TODAY

MORGAN PILZ/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Laura and Daniel Holland of Chesapeake Bay Farms, headquartered in Pocomoke City, are still providing their home delivery services, but without the use of the reusable cooler.

Offering locally-produced fruits and vegetables at the Ocean Pines Farmers Market in White Horse Park are David Joseph Deacon, left, and Dave Bean.

APRIL 10, 2020

PAGE 19

Ocean City Today

Shop at local markets for supplies Continued from Page 18 ever, we are not prepared to lose all staff, have to throw away product and basically make 10 percent of what we usually make for months. If you want your favorite little shops to be open this summer please spend money at small businesses.”

The store offers everything from fresh produce to dairy, to toilet paper and cleaning products.

The response has been overwhelming, Willey said.

“We struggled with the decision to close completely or remain open for pickups, special orders and to-go food,” she said. “I’m so glad we did. We found out that some people really depend on the kombucha to keep their immune system up and their digestion regular, so we are so happy we are able to still continue to produce it.”

Real Raw Organics is open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., however, customers can place grocery orders any day.

“We just need 24 hours’ notice to have an order ready if it includes produce or dairy because we are not usually a grocery store stocked with these items,” Willey said. “You may pick up through our outdoor pickup window on our patio. We have closed the front of the store so please only use the pickup window.

“Calling in your orders help tremendously because it is a very small staff and we are limiting it to one to two people only working at a time,” she continued.

“If you prefer curbside, then call the store phone when you get here and we will run it out to your car with no contact sale.”

To place an order, visit realraworganics.com or text, call 443-783-7255 or 443-783-5374, or through Instagram direct message.

A little further away from the resort, OC Organics in West Ocean City is also offering a pickup service, which helps to support local farmers with their organic selection.

“We support local farmers when and where we can,” Employee Heather Layton said. “We get fresh produce every Monday and Wednesday. There are several area farms that depending on the season, we do get local produce from them as well.”

Everything in the store is, as the name would suggest, organically grown and ranges from spices to ice cream, grains, soaps, hair products, toothpaste, toothbrushes, vitamins and other supplies.

Customers can only order over the phone, through email or through the store’s Facebook page and pick up their purchases during a designated time slot.

The reception has been very positive, Layton said, especially since the store has continually needed to restock.

“We’re trying our best to stay stocked and we are filling orders all day, every day,” she said. “The shelves are pretty stocked. We get two grocery truck deliveries a week and we get two produce deliveries a week.”

The store hours have been changed

to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Delivery to West Ocean City, Berlin and Ocean Pines residents is available.

For more information, call 410-2139818 or check the store’s Facebook page for available supplies and updates.

Further south in the county, Pocomoke City-based Chesapeake Bay Farms is continuing to offer its delivery service, albeit with some changes.

Owners Daniel and Laura Holland, who are third generation farmers on the over 70-year-old farm, decided to bring back the milk delivery system earlier this February, which has made it an ideal location to order groceries instead of traveling to a grocery store.

“By doing the home delivery, we can really limit the amount of contamination or possible contamination that it could possibly come in contact with,” Laura said. “We make, pack and deliver it. It’s not going through the whole normal supply chain, where it’s going on different trucks to different shippers and different warehouses. A very limited amount of people are coming in contact with the product before it actually reaches your doorstep.”

All of the products made at Chesapeake Bay Farms are FDA certified.

Some of the products available for delivery besides milk are cheeses, butter, ice cream, beef, pork, jellies, jams, oysters, crab meat, artisanal breads, honey and, upon receiving FDA approval, yogurt.

All products are created at the farm in Pocomoke City, with the exception of the breads, which come from a local baker.

The main difference between the delivery service prior to the coronavirus is the farm will no longer be delivering the supplies in reusable hot/cold coolers and are currently offered in disposable bags.

“There’s a pandemic, so that’s not necessarily the safest thing to do,” Laura said. “Because otherwise, you get them back and you don’t know what you’re getting exactly.”

Delivery options range from once a week, every other week, once a month or at specified dates. Currently, the farm delivers to Pocomoke City, Snow Hill, Fruitland, Salisbury, Willards, Berlin and Ocean Pines, though they do expect to expand into other locations and add even more products available for delivery later on.

There is also an option for customers to pick up their orders at the farm’s Berlin location, 8905 Logtown Rd. “We’re just really appreciative for the support that we have got from local people supporting locals,” Laura said.

To order or see what is available for delivery, visit www.supportlocalcows.com or call headquarters Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 443-373-8487 or the Berlin store at 410-629-1997.

PHOTOS COURTESY LOGAN WILLEY

(Top) Real Raw Organics owner Logan Willey hands out a kombucha drink from the pickup window at the 34th Street shop. (Below) Pictured are some items available at the business.

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APRIL 10, 2020

Ocean City Today

Area churches offer virtual worship and prayer services

By Morgan Pilz Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) In order to comply with Gov. Larry Hogan’s stay-at-home executive order and also ensure people are social distancing, a number of local churches have begun to hold their services online.

Keeping in touch with the community without any physical contact has become a new norm of sorts for the past few weeks, but some churches in Ocean City, Berlin and Ocean Pines want to still share the word of God despite their buildings being closed.

Ocean City Baptist Church, located on North Division Street, has been streaming live services on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on Facebook for two years already, according to Pastor Sean Davis.

“We have almost another congregation outside of Ocean City, because we meet so many people from around the world, that when they go to their homes, they can still connect with us through [Facebook],” Davis said.

The reception for the online sermons has been well received, he said.

“It’s been encouraging,” Davis said.

“We miss being together. It’s not easy. I was upset … just thinking how much I miss everybody and miss seeing their faces and worshiping together, because it’s your family, that’s what we are. But we’ve [also] seen people who’ve never stepped foot in church watching online.”

The Facebook church service draws around 130-150 viewers every Sunday.

Ocean City Baptist Church also has bible study on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. as well.

“Our faith teaches us to do private prayers, but it also tells us to come together in [difficult] times,” he said. “I think it’s amazing that we live in a time that this is not new to the world; a pandemic like this. The world has seen many other things like this before, but we have the technology nowadays to stay connected through the Internet, through the media that we have.”

Davis is encouraging the community to reach out and call their neighbors and

elderly loved ones.

“It’s really encouraging to see the church really doing what the church is supposed to be doing during this time,” Davis said. “We’ve always told our people church is not the building, church is the people … this is the time to be the church.”

The church will be holding a Good Friday devotion online at noon as well as a special 10:30 a.m. service on Easter Sunday, both of which will be on Facebook.

For more information, call the church at 410-289-6573 or visit OC Baptist’s Facebook page.

First Presbyterian Church on 13th Street in Ocean City is also offering online services.

Rev. Dan McKenty began providing online worship services three weeks ago, and said viewers have been sharing the services and other prayers. Worship services take place on Facebook on Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

“A lot of people wanted to hear a sermon about scripture and what’s going on today,” McKenty said. “We include some hymn so they can sing along at home. They’re comfortable with seeing me, and I’m sure they’re doing some of their own worship at home as well.

We’ve had a lot of people that aren’t even members of the church, that aren’t regular attenders that have been tuning in, which has been encouraging.”

McKenty posts the service announcements on the organization’s Facebook page as well as reminders that its baby drive, “Operation Wee Ones,” is still actively collecting supplies such as diapers, formula, wipes, food and nonperishable items to help families affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

“I have seen a lot of community and church activity,” McKenty said. “I think we’re rediscovering the better angels of our nature. I saw on Facebook a quote that I liked that said, ‘The church is not empty. The church has been deployed.’”

The First Presbyterian Church will hold a Good Friday service at 7 p.m. on Facebook.

For more information, call the First

MORGAN PILZ/OCEAN CITY TODAY

The Ocean City Baptist Church on North Division Street has been using Facebook Live prayer sessions for several years, which has come in handy now that it is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Presbyterian Church office, Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon at 410-289-9340 or visit www.ocmdpresbyterian.org/ or the First Presbyterian Church Facebook page.

The Community Church at Ocean Pines, located at 11227 Racetrack Rd., is also providing online services.

Its first online service was held on Sunday, March 22, in the sanctuary. It was moved to the chapel the following Sunday for better sound quality. The services begin at 10:30 a.m. on Facebook.

“The first Sunday we were viewed by 983 people,” Rev. Dale Brown said.

“We’ve been very blessed, very fortunate and we’ve connected people to electronic giving.”

The church also provides live praise music on Facebook on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., which is has been well received, he said.

In addition, Sarah’s Pantry will remain open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Little Lambs Learning Center has been designated as an essential workers’ daycare for those who still have to work during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s important to maintain and to delve into the resources that our faiths have to offer us, whether we are Jewish, Protestant, Catholic or whatever it is that we believe for all of us,” Brown said.

“It’s important that we use those re-

sources of faith, which are important and can sustain and strengthen and help us through this time and also keeping in mind that those resources call us not to be afraid, but to trust and to be hopeful and to continue to love and support one another regardless.”

Community Church will hold a Good Friday noon service, followed by another one at 3 p.m. Saturday’s service will be at 7 p.m. and the Easter Sunday service will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Facebook.

Call 410-641-5433 for more information, visit the “The Community Church at Ocean Pines” Facebook page, email Rev. Brown at Pastordale@ccaop.org, or visit the church’s website at www.ccaop.org/.

In Berlin, SonRise Church at 10026 Main Street, has also seen success with online services. This upcoming Sunday will be the church’s fourth online prayer session. Though unlike the others, the church does not do a live service on Sundays.

“So many churches were going live on Facebook, and it was just incredible … the amount of volume on there [was so much] that a lot of the video quality software was affected because so many churches were doing online services,” Pastor Tim Robinson said. “But it was pretty cool to see how many more people were watching the services and tunSee EASTER Page 21

The ReStore is temporarrily closed T due to COVID-19. All pick p ups s scheduled during this time will be contacted to be resch heduled.

We ask that no donations be left outside at the ReStore during d the closure period.

We hope to reopen e n on Wednesday e , April 8th We are still looking for Volunteers o for when we ope en.

9026 Worcester t H Highwa i h ay, B Berlin li • 410 410-208-4440 208 4440 • h hab bitatworcester it t t .o org

APRIL 10, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 21

Easter services taking place online Sunday Continued from Page 20 ing in, looking for that peace, looking for hope, despite everything that’s been going on.”

The church offers bible study sessions live on Facebook on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and a prerecorded Sunday service at 10:30 a.m. on the site as well.

“We have similar backgrounds on things that people are familiar with, almost like you’re still worshipping in person,” Robinson said. “You still have that relatable and comfortability with leadership that you’re used to, and you also have that platform so that the messages that are going out are very relatable to what’s going on right now, with what’s happening with this virus.”

SonRise church will be holding Easter services at three different times on Sunday: 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., which will be held live on its Facebook page.

Call 410-629-1901 for more information, visit www.sonrise.cc, or to see more live or prerecorded sessions visit the SonRise Facebook page.

Berlin First Baptist Church on Williams Street is also offering online sermons.

“We just started the Facebook live services the first week we weren’t able to meet as a congregation due to the coronavirus,” Pastor Brad Diehl said.

“There are people from out of town and people from our church sharing the services, so it has a far broader reach than what a typical Sunday morning service would.

“The reception’s been good, but I can tell you our people are definitely ready to be able to meet together, and that’s one of the blessings of a regular Sunday service, is the presence of the other people of the church and the fellowship that you have,” he continued.

Hundreds of people have watched the videos that are posted on Facebook each week, he added.

“We believe that it’s very important that we are consistently proclaiming the word of God, [and] we believe that the fellowship of believers is very important to reaching that goal as well,” Diehl said.

“And, while we’re not able to meet face to face, this continues that continuity of, ‘Hey, we’re still gathering together, there’s still a sense of unity, even though we are separated from one another right now.’”

Berlin First Baptist Church will hold an Easter service at 10:15 a.m., the same time as its other Sunday services.

For more information, message the Berlin First Baptist Church Facebook page or visit https://berlinfirstbaptist.com/.

Finally, there will be online Friday services offered by Temple Bat Yam, lo-

cated on 11036 Worcester Hwy. Services have been put online for the past three weeks, with numbers climbing each week. The first session saw around 30 viewers, then doubled to 60 the following week and the previous Friday there were over 80 viewers.

Prayers take place on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. through Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/590074213. The member ID needed to join the meeting is located on the organization’s website at https://templebatyam-oc.org/.

Though the Jewish religion can be strict about using technology on Passover, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, rabbis all over the world have stated it was acceptable to use in order to remain in contact with family, friends and other loved ones.

“Judaism says that the command-

ment to save a life takes precedence over any other commandment,” Rabbi Estelle Mills said. “Therefore, in order to save a life, you could disregard the other commandments to keep oneself safe.

“The ways we’re connecting, we’ve been able to provide support to many of our members who may live alone or in a nursing home as well as our families, who might be spread apart to worship together over the computer and its really maintained our sense of community among the older members of our [congregation],” she continued.

Adult education and other children’s activities are also available through Zoom.

For more information, visit https://templebatyam-oc.org/ or call 410-641-4311.

NO ENTRY The picnic table area at Northside Park on 125th Street is blocked off with caution tape to prohibit gatherings of people due to the coronavirus pandemic.

LISA CAPITELLI/ OCEAN CITY TODAY

PAGE 22

Ocean City Today

APRIL 10, 2020

Art League to offer online classes on Zoom this month (April 10, 2020) Professional artists from the Art League of Ocean City will begin offering online art classes during April.

The classes, both free and paid, will be conducted over Zoom for adults and children.

Advanced registration is required for all classes. Students will need the Zoom app downloaded to their device – computer, phone or tablet – with internet connection and working camera and audio.

All registered students will receive an invite by email the day before the class with a link to join the class.

Art League members will receive a discount on all paid classes, and memberships are available on the Art League’s website, ArtLeagueOfOceanCity.org.

In early April, the Art League offered two online classes at no charge to test out community interest. The classes filled up quickly.

“It is important to us to continue our mission of education when our physical building is closed, and people everywhere want this stay-athome time to be fulfilling,” Rina Thaler, executive director of the Art League, said. “Luckily, we can gather online for classes with the same art instructors guiding us as would be teaching in one of our classrooms on 94th Street. To help our online students, we’ll send supply lists and make sure everyone is prepared for the classes and has fun.”

On Monday, April 13 from 1-3 p.m., David Simpson, Art League studio artist and Somerset County art instructor who holds a Masters of Art degree from UMES, will demonstrate effective composition with still life to adults and teens.

The cost is $25 for Art League members, $30 for non-members.

Register at https://reg131.imperisoft.com/ArtLeagueOfOceanCity/ProgramDetail/353030363 8/Registration.aspx.

Lindsey Winters, an experienced art educator in the public schools, will teach two classes for children ages 7 and older on Fridays from 11:45 p.m.

On Friday, April 10, she will show how to make “Expressive Faces.”

There is no cost for this class. Register at https://reg131.imperisoft.com/Art LeagueOfOceanCity/ProgramDetail/3530303733/Registration.aspx.

Friday, April 17 will be an animal drawing party. The cost is $15 for Art League members, $19 for non-members. Register at https://reg131.imperisoft.com/ArtLeagueOfOceanCity /ProgramDetail/3530303734/Registration.aspx.

On Thursday, April 23 from 2-3 p.m., Ash’iz Cuffee, child development associate, holistic practitioner and education specialist, will instruct on “Expressing Your Voice Through Spoken Word Poetry.”

The cost is $36 for Art League members, $45 non-members. Register at https://reg131.imperisoft.com/Art LeagueOfOceanCity/ProgramDetail/3530303736/Registration.aspx.

The Art League will be announcing additional online classes in the weeks ahead via its website and social media pages.

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.

Financial support comes primarily through membership dues from individuals and corporate sponsors.

Funding for exhibits is also provided by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, the Worcester County Arts Council, Maryland State Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts, organizations dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.

JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY

CELLULAR Workers install an AT&T cellular on wheels device near the Cambria Hotel at First Street. The device was relocated to the area from its original spot on Baltimore Avenue and Worcester Street.

TOWER Scaffolding is being installed around the water tower on First Street in preparation for water blasting and painting, Public Works Director Hal Adkins said.

JOSH KIM/ OCEAN CITY TODAY

Film festival entries streamed on Facebook (April 10, 2020) In response to stayat-home orders, the Ocean City Film Festival and the Art League of Ocean City will stream short films from the March festival on Facebook Live every Friday beginning April 10 and every third Saturday of the month beginning April 18.

There is no charge to watch the movies.

“The fourth annual Ocean City Film Festival in March was a huge success,

and we were extremely fortunate to have been able to hold the festival and welcome filmmakers and guests to town before the shutdown,” William Strang-Moya, creative director of the Film Festival, said. “Since our March event, we’ve been in close contact with our featured filmmakers, and see this as an opportunity to once again share their work with our community.”

Every Friday at 7 p.m., Facebook pages for both the Ocean City Film

Festival and the Art League of Ocean City will live stream one short film, some as brief as five minutes, some as long as 20 minutes.

On the third Saturday of the month – typically the day $5 Film Night takes place at the Ocean City Center for the Arts – beginning April 18 at 7 p.m., both Facebook pages will stream a block of short films from the 2020 festival, approximately 30-45 minutes in total length.

Strang-Moya will introduce the films and welcome viewers, and, where possible, filmmakers will share their stories before the films stream.

All films are independently produced, and many were made by local filmmakers or have local themes. The films are not rated, and viewer discretion is advised.

A complete schedule of films is posted at OCMDFilmFestival.com and ArtLeagueOfOceanCity.org.

APRIL 10, 2020

PAGE 23

Ocean City Today

CITY COUNCIL BRIEFS

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) The following took place on Monday, April 6, during the Ocean City Council meeting.

Committee reports Councilmen Lloyd Martin and Tony DeLuca advised the public to visit the city’s website to see meeting minutes from the Police Commission, Green Team and Bike Team meetings.

The link is, https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/city-clerk/standing-committees/.

Resolutions The council approved two resolutions: 2020-04 and 2020-05 — the former allowing City Manger Doug Miller to file the annual transportation grant application and the latter allowing him to file a 5339B grant application for buses and bus facilities.

Consent agenda The City Council voted to approve all items in the consent agenda except for item C, the Baltimore Ravens Roosts Annual Parade.

The parade has been cancelled, Coun-

cil President Martin explained, but the organizers wanted to proceed with an event at the Ocean City convention center on 40th Street, so they would return for event approval at the following council session.

The approved items included meeting minutes from sessions dated Feb. 25 and March 2, 18, 22 and 29, and private events such as the Play It Safe Ocean City in May and June; the U.S. Marine Corps Senior Week slated for June 1214; the O.C. Cruzers Car Display scheduled for June 7, 28, July 12, Aug. 16, Sept. 6 and Oct. 4; the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer on Oct. 24; and picnic table agreements.

OC local seeks info about burglary

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) After having a selfestimated $500,000 allegedly stolen from his home, local business owner Tony Mariani, CEO at Mariani Development, is offering $10,000 to anyone who can provide information that will help find the burglary suspect.

Mariani learned about the crime on March 13, when an employee’s daughter, who he hired to occasionally check on the house, discovered his home in disarray.

Mariani said the thief and/or thieves

stole two safes from his office, which contained Englewood silver bars, rare silver coins and cash, as well as a jewelry box containing 18-karat Italian gold jewelry and gold coins.

An incident report shows that the coins were valued at $9,750 and $19,960, although it did not separate the coins by precious metal type.

Although the inside of his home showed signs of the burglary, Mariani said, to the best of his knowledge, neither his front door nor windows were damaged, which led him to believe that either someone had left the door unlocked or

someone who knew his PIN committed and/or aided in the act.

The incident report classified the crime as an unforced burglary.

Mariani is asking businesses and homeowners near the Trader’s Cove area or 61st Street bayside for video surveillance footage.

Those who have information about this incident may submit a tip to the Ocean City Police Department at 410723-6610.

Requests to the Ocean City Police Department for a police report on the incident were not met by publication time.

Councilman Dennis Dare added to the motion that all of these events would be subject to state and local executive orders made in response to the covid-19 pandemic.

Tribute Mayor Rick Meehan gave a lengthy tribute to Ocean City Tourism Director Donna Abbott who died last Wednesday, April 1.

Meehan credited Abbott with helping make Ocean City the tourist destination that it has become. He said she was not only great at her job, but was a close friend to many in the resort.

POLICE/COURTS

Double encounter Police arrested 57-year-old Ocean City resident Bret Arthur Wurster twice last week, both times for disorderly conduct.

On Tuesday, March 31, police reported being dispatched to 206 8th Street around 5:20 p.m. and then seeing Wurster walk out of his residence and start yelling.

Police arrested him and put him in a holding cell at the Public Safety Building.

Police encountered Wurster again on Wednesday, April 1.

Continued on Page 24

PAGE 24

Ocean City Today

APRIL 10, 2020

POLICE/COURTS Continued from Page 23 That evening, around 10:44 p.m., a neighbor had called police and said Wurster was screaming racial profanities at him and threatened to damage his moped.

Police reported confronting Wurster, who exhibited signs of intoxication, and told him to be quiet or he would be arrested.

Police reported that Wurster returned to his residence, and police remained at the site for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, an officer reported going on patrol, when he or she heard Wurster screaming from inside his apartment unit.

Police reported that Wurster exited his unit, and began screaming again and police arrested him.

As police waited for a transport vehicle, Wurster allegedly screamed obscenities at officers and spat in one officer’s face.

Wurster faces two disorderly conduct charges, one charge for failure to obey a lawful order, one charge for noise violation, one charge for second-degree assault and one charge for causing contact with bodily fluids.

Theft James Edward Ballard, Jr., 20, of Salisbury was arrested last week after a bike theft led to police finding out the suspect had an arrest warrant in Salisbury for sexual solicitation of a minor.

Last Friday, April 3, around 1 p.m., police were called to 77th Street about a stolen bike.

The complainant, a friend of the bike’s owner, identified the bike and gave police a description of Ballard.

Upon arrival, police reported seeing Ballard walking northbound on Coastal Highway and interviewed the suspect.

He told police that he had bought the bike from a person in Salisbury on March 31, but could not provide police any more details about the allegedbike seller.

He also called the bike seller by two different names, police reported.

Police found that the initial theft was reported on April 1, which made it unlikely Ballard had purchased it on March 31.

The complainant told police that he saw Ballard riding the bike around 115

75th Street, and confronted the suspect, eventually stopping him around 76056 Coastal Highway.

After a brief argument, the complainant told police Ballard dropped the bicycle and began to run north toward 7701 Coastal Highway.

After confirmation from the bike owner, police conducted a warrant check and discovered his sexual solicitation warrant.

Police arrested Ballard, who faces charges for unlawful use of a livestock motor vehicle, theft and charges associated with his arrest warrant.

Domestic assault Repeat offender Burt Aaron Foskey, 41, of Ocean City faced police scrutiny once again after he was accused of assaulting his partner and her children.

Since Oct. 26, 2019, police reported that officers had responded to calls made at the couple’s apartment complex 14 times.

On Saturday, April 4, around 4:30 a.m. police reported being dispatched to a 14th Street apartment complex

for a domestic assault.

One officer reported that upon arrival he or she saw Foskey running east toward the Boardwalk.

Another officer arrived on scene and interviewed the alleged-assault victim, who told police that she had been asleep in her bedroom when Foskey grabbed her by her hair.

He was angry because he saw that another male was messaging her through text, she told police.

She told police that her two daughters came to the room, and that Foskey picked up one of them and shoved her into a nearby wall.

He then pushed his partner in the face, the police report said.

The daughters ran to a neighbor’s apartment and the neighbor called police.

Police spoke with one of the daughters, who confirmed her mother’s account, but said Foskey had also pushed her off of a bed, which caused her to scrape her knee.

Police apprehended and arrested Foskey, who faces charges for seconddegree child abuse, theft and two second-degree assault charges.

Overall crime rate down again in Ocean City

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) While Ocean City saw an overall decrease in crime last year, the resort saw an increase in robberies, as well as assaults on officers.

“The year 2019, continued the trend of declining serious crime rates with a five percent reduction,” Police Chief Ross Buzzuro said in his report.

“I applaud the efforts of the men and women of this agency for making this decrease in crime possible for our citizens.”

Last year saw a 33 percent decrease in rapes, a 17 percent decrease in burglaries and motor vehicle theft and a 13 percent decrease in larceny/theft.

Areas of growth, however, include a 29 percent increase in robberies

and a five percent increase in aggravated and simple assaults.

However, the number of robberies that occurred last year, 18, was a little more than half of the Ross Buzzuro peak in 2017, when 32 robberies took place.

Custodial arrests were up from 2,199 in 2018 to 2,256 in 2019, but criminal citations fell from 113 to 93 last year.

The majority of arrests involved controlled dangerous substance, while citations were dominated by alcohol-related violations.

Conducted electrical weapons (CEW), or TASERs, were introduced to the police force in February of 2012.

In his report, Buzzuro separates TASER use into four categories: display, warning arc, target and deployment.

Since 2015, deployment of TASERs saw a steady decline from 26 deployments in 2015 to 14 in 2018.

However, TASER deployment almost doubled to 27 last year.

Traffic collisions increased last year, from 547 in 2018 to 566 in 2019. Alongside the collisions, the department saw an uptick in fatalities, with three last year compared to one in 2018.

Pedestrian collisions dropped by one last year, and bicycle collisions increased by six.

Assaults on officers also saw a significant increase, jumping from 74 in 2018 to 113 in 2019 — 13 of which resulted in an injury to the officer.

“This shows just how dangerous the job of a police officer can be,” Buzzuro said in his report. “Assaults may be in the form of physical or non-physical violence.”

Also featured in the report were the many programs the police department spearheads or takes part in, such as J-1 student safety nights, a mounted unit open house, the department’s citizens police academy and the police’s annual holiday toy drive.

“We continue to be faced with challenges that my staff and I work to overcome,” Buzzuro said in the report. “As we look ahead, we will continue to employ new tactics, propose new legislation and forge new partnerships to ensure a safe and enjoyable community for our citizens.”

APRIL 10, 2020

PAGE 25

Ocean City Today

FYZICAL in OP goes virtual during covid-19 pandemic

By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) Although opting to suspend clinic operations during the covid-19 pandemic, FYZICAL of Ocean Pines is providing remote consultations for current patients or others dealing with musculoskeletal issues.

Owner Scott Gardner, who became a board-certified orthopedic specialist in 2003 and earned a doctorate in physical therapy from Drexel in 2008, said the business, located at 11204 Racetrack Road, is temporarily halting in-person treatment in light of the ongoing public health crisis.

“Though our office is currently closed, we are always available to our patients and community,” he said.

“We are available for phone or video consultation as well as Telehealth services.”

Director of Sales & Marketing Ed Weeks said the decision to close physical operations was made several weeks ago.

“We thought it was in the best interest of our staff, patients and community to close the clinic,” he said.

Two weeks after the initial move, the closure was extended further.

“Once the two weeks passed, last week of course Gov. Larry Hogan

mandated a stay-in-place order,” he said. “Even though physical therapy is classified as essential, we thought it was not in the best interests of patients.”

That conclusion was based in no small part to the typical age demographic of FYZICAL patients.

“They are predominantly elderly and not always in the best health,” he said. “They’re the ones that seem to be most susceptible to the virus according to the CDC.” Weeks noted that last week the American Physical Therapy Association issued guidance cautioning senior citizens to forgo hands-on treatment while the pandemic threat remains.

“They should stay home,” he said.

The overarching concern is the health and well being of the community.

“If one patient is sick it affects our entire staff, our entire practice and … our homes as well,” he said.

The safety concerns for front line health care workers extends to immediate family members.

“Our kids [and] our spouses,” he said. “It all has to be taken into perspective, not just that it’s bad for business.”

Weeks said Gardner made the move to close intuitively.

Although FYZICAL of Ocean Pines has shifted to virtual consultations during the covid-19 pandemic, staff members, from left, physical therapist assistant Krista Hughes, owner Scott Gardner and office manager Ashley Weeks, are waiting in the wings to resume hands-on treatment when the health crisis passes.

PHOTO COURTESY ED WEEKS

“His gut was telling him to close,” he said. “For us to have 300-plus people per week come through the door, on top of our staff … it’s a lot of risk.”

Weeks said it remains uncertain how long FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers of Delmarva will keep clinic operations closed.

“Right now, we are playing it by ear,” he said.

Gardner said updates regarding reopening would be posted on FYZICAL of Ocean Pines Facebook page.

“Working together we will get through this pandemic, but we must all do our parts,” he said. “Stay safe [and] stay home.”

‘Community Over Covid-19’ group working together

By Morgan Pilz Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) Several owners of small boutiques from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, to Salisbury, have banded together to help one another get through the coronavirus pandemic.

See BOUTIQUE Page 26

REAL ESTATE MARKETPLACE SO CLOSE TO THE BEACH 13323 ATLANTIC BLVD

MONTEGO BAY COMMUNITY 13323 CONSTITUTIONAL AVE

WOW so close to the BEACH you can walk. Put this one on your list to see while you are in OC. Bright & cheery 3BR/2BA w/huge living room, formal dining room, modern kitchen w/tile counter top, Farm style sink, Electric range w/self-cleaning oven, frost free refrigerator with ice maker & laminate flooring in the kitchen, dining room, hallway & BAs. Both BAs have been updated w/new sinks, toilets & plumbing. Large family room.

Enjoy relaxing on the patio after a day at the beach or pool. Located close to busline, restaurants/bar and indoor & outdoor miniature golf course. Community amenities include 3-pools (including a wading pool for the little ones), 2-tennis courts, 2-shuffleboard courts, 9-hole miniature golf course, Bayfront boardwalk w/3-fishing piers, canal front fishing & crabbing area, 8-acre wildlife sanctuary/pond with a 1/2 mile walking path 5-acre open park & street lighting (lamppost at every property). Additional amenities include city streets & sidewalks, city water & sewer & city trash collection. The HOA dues are just $299 year. $234,500

This 4BR/1.5BA is located in the sought after community of Montego Bay in quiet North O.C. on a 40 x 90 lot. This home has been very well maintained, is move-in ready and is being sold fully furnished.

Conveniently located within walking distance to everything you need... shopping, dining, bus stop, the beach and Ocean City's beautiful Northside Park.

Community features 2 inground pools, 2 tennis courts, 2 shuffleboard courts, a 9 hole mini-golf course, an 8 acre wildlife sanctuary with a pond and blacktop walking trail, a bayfront boardwalk with 3 fishing/crabbing piers, and more...all for only $299.00/yr HOA fee. Don't miss out on this one, call today! $224,900

Larry Holdren Real Estate, Inc©

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13901 Coastal Hwy., Suite 8, Ocean City, MD

13901 Coastal Hwy., Suite 8, Ocean City, MD

For More Information Call 800-252-2223 • 410-250-2700

For More Information Call 800-252-2223 • 410-250-2700

www.larryholdrenrealestate.com • email: ocmdhre@gmail.com

www.larryholdrenrealestate.com • email: ocmdhre@gmail.com

MONTEGO BAY COMMUNITY MONTEGO BAY COMMUNITY

Immaculate Stick-Built 3BR/2BA Rancher in North OC. This must see home is being sold fully furnished.

Features include 2 x 6 exterior wall construction, bright & open floor plan, sunroom with cathedral ceilings and pocket doors, gas fireplace, a covered front porch, concrete patio, and so much more. Community amenities include 2 in-ground swimming pools, 2 tennis courts, shuffleboard court, 9 hole mini-golf course, wildlife sanctuary/park area with large pond and blacktop walking/jogging trail, and bayfront boardwalk with 3 fishing/crabbing piers...all for a low HOA fee of only $299.00/year. Conveniently located within walking distance to shopping, dining, bus stop, the Beach, and OC's Beautiful North Side Park, home of the 4th of July Fireworks. $339,900

Call Bill Rothstein

800-745-5988 • 443-280-2530 108 S. Ocean Drive • Ocean City, MD

193 CLAM SHELL ROAD

3BR/2BA fully furnished home in N. OC & in front of the community within easy walking distance to beach, busline, Montego Bay Shopping Center, many restaurants & bars, community pool/tennis complex & Northside Park. Open floorplan w/split bedrooms & baths - 2 guest BRs & guest BA in front & master BR & master BA in rear. Cathedral/vaulted ceilings in living/dining room, laundry room withfull size washer & dryer, breakfast bar, newer roof, central air, 3 ceiling fans & walk-in closet in master bedroom. Outside- storage shed & 2-car cement parking pad. Community w/3 pools, including a wading pool for the little ones, 2 tennis courts, shuffleboard court, 9-hole miniature golf course, bayfront boardwalk with 3 fishing piers, canalfront fishing & crabbing area, an 8-acre wildlife sanctuary/pond, with 1/2 mile paved walking path, 5 acre open park & street lighting-lamppost at each residence. Additional amenities include city streets & sidewalks, city water & sewer and city trash collection. The HOA dues are just $299 a year. $220,000

Montego Bay Realty

Call Michael “Montego Mike” Grimes

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108 S. Ocean Drive • Ocean City, MD

800-745-5988 • 410-250-3020

13017 ATLANTIC BLVD

Montego Bay Realty Montegomike@verizon.net www.montegobayrealty.com

PAGE 26

Boutique owners support each other during tough times Continued from Page 25 “Instead of worrying about competing against each other, we have come together to spread the awareness of ‘Community Over Competition,’ or in this case, ‘Community Over Covid-19,” Taylor Harman, owner of Magnolia Rifle in Fenwick Island, Delaware, said.

Harman and her mother, Pam, have teamed up with more than a dozen other local business owners, making a photo collage to spread their message across social media.

“We just wanted to come up with some way to unite all the stores and show togetherness, and that we’re all in it together,” she said. “Basically, the thought behind the idea was that some of us have online shops that are allowing us to keep our doors open right now, like myself and a few others, but a lot of local stores don’t.”

Harman posted on Magnolia Rifle’s Facebook page on April 3, a photo of 12 business owners each holding up a sign that shows they would overcome the adversity that is the coronavirus.

“The idea behind the post was, if you weren’t following those shops, to give them a follow, a like or whatever it may be, and just opening new customers up to these other stores that maybe my followers don’t know about or vice versa,” she said. “Because, these stores that don’t have online stores right now are either forced to quickly make an online store or really quickly figure out new ways to keep the cash flowing in order to keep the doors open.”

Magnolia Rifle is a bohemian-style women’s clothing and accessories boutique that also offers baby clothes, decorations and gift items.

Harman, who was raised in Ocean City, knows how important it is to support local businesses and is encouraging as many area residents who can afford to, to help raise funds for these boutiques.

The first step, she said, was creating the Facebook group and raising awareness of the businesses that have joined her.

Now, the boutique owners are collaborating with one another to help teach some of them how to create a Facebook Live post, or where to apply for certain grants or even just promoting each other.

“People support local restaurants and the people who own the restaurants or work in the restaurants can shop locally, and we’re really big in the community with giving back,” Harman said. “So, the more people that are shopping local, the more we are able to give back as well.”

For more information on Magnolia Rifle, visit its Facebook page or website, https://magnoliarifle.com.

The group has already helped some

Ocean City Today

APRIL 10, 2020

Participating businesses: • Bleached Butterfly, Berlin • Body Double Swimwear, Fenwick Island, Delaware • Bomshell Boutique, Ocean City, Salisbury and Rehoboth Beach • Bruder Hill & Bruder Home, Berlin • Coral Cove, Rehoboth, Delaware • Heart of Gold Kids, Berlin • Hula Sue, Rehoboth, Delaware • Indigo Octopus, Fenwick Island, Delaware • Ish Boutique, Ocean City and Rehoboth, Delaware • Magnolia Rifle, Fenwick Island, Delaware • Patty Jeans Boutique, Berlin and Ocean City • Water Lili – Bethany Beach and Ocean View, Delaware

owners improve their stores’ social media following, like Patty Jeans Boutique, a clothing store with locations in Berlin and Ocean City.

“We were contacted by Taylor Harman from Magnolia Rifle and we always had a deep relationship with local boutiques,” Co-owner Pam Houck said. “All of us are having the same issues and same problems – like online ordering, your rent’s due, you have bills to pay, employees. We can be stronger together if we all join forces in support of each other, rather than if we all did our own separate thing.”

One of the first tips Houck and coowner Megan Cosman received was creating a Facebook Live post.

“Megan and I are not social media savvy,” Houck said. “So, through them supporting us, they said, ‘You girls have to do a Facebook Live,’ So we did our first one [Monday] night … the first one I’ve ever done. I think this whole community behind us is cheering us on.”

The online message was a huge success, she said, once they figured out how to maneuver the camera. This came at an important time for the company, which was planning on opening a second Ocean City store on 67th Street this Easter weekend. They were forced to wait until the pandemic loses strength.

“It’s just keeping everything in the community,” Houck said. “I’ve always felt living here that any time there has been anything – a local fire that devastated a family or an illness that has hit a family unexpectedly and hard and put them in financial troubles – we as a community have always rallied around each other to create some sort of fund raising.”

For more information about Patty Jeans Boutique, visit its Facebook page or www.pattyjeansoceancity.com.

For long-time businesses owner like Michelle Bruder, who runs Bruder Hill & Bruder Homes in Berlin, it just ties together that connection of local

PHOTO COURTESY TAYLOR HARMAN

Twelve boutique owners in locations ranging from Rehoboth, Delaware, to Salisbury, have joined together to support one another during the coronavirus pandemic.

businesses coming together.

“I’ve been so blessed here in Berlin,” Bruder said. “I’ve been here for 18 years with my business and pretty much everybody here in this community has always tried to help each other. Taylor reached out to me last week and I thought it was a great idea.”

Bruder Hill & Bruder Homes offers everything from clothes to furniture.

Bruder has been sharing ideas and grant applications with the other members of the group.

“We went live on Instagram and we ended up getting a lot of orders,” she said. “I got that idea from one of the

girls that previously did it herself.”

Bruder loves the idea because it supports area businesses, which helps boost the local economy.

Bruder said the group is working to create a large fundraiser that would benefit each store involved.

“We hire local people,” she said.

“We keep local people on and keep them working. When you keep it in the community, you give back also.

When you keep it local, you make your community much, much stronger.”

For more information about Bruder Hill & Bruder Homes, visit its Facebook page or https://bruderhill.com.

REAL ESTATE REPORT

Options available to reduce, suspend mortgage payment

By Lauren Bunting Contributing Writer (April 10, 2020) If you’ve been furloughed or laid off from your job, there are options now to be able to reduce or suspend your mortgage payment.

While this is a necessary form of relief due to the pandemic causing such widespread economic impacts, the mortgage market is feeling the effects of these aid programs, and the trickle-down effect is going to be felt by consumers who need loans.

Mortgage lenders are increasingly tightening their standards to minimize borrower default moving forward. In sim-

ple terms, lenders are getting “pickier.”

Many lenders are modifying their business plans and making changes such as no jumbo loans, no bond loans, and only accepting FHA, USDA and VA for the safer buyers and not the ones with the riskier high debt-to-income ratio.

Overlays are being added to the loan origination process. An overlay is basically a policy that a specific lender follows such as minimum credit score.

Where credit score requirements were easing up finally after the 2008 downturn and the implementation of the DoddFrank Act in 2010, we are now seeing those tougher loan origination guidelines return.

For instance, many lenders now are adding an overlay requirement to Fannie See FURLOUGHED Page 27

APRIL 10, 2020

PAGE 27

Ocean City Today

First reading for ’18 building code

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 10, 2020) A request to amend the city’s Chapter 10 building codes and to adopt the 2018 International Code Council building codes gained momentum Monday, after city officials agreed to move forward to first reading.

The International Code Council publishes a new edition of codes every three years.

“This is consistent with what the community has done in 2015, 2012, 2009 and 2006,” said Bill Neville, City Planning and Community Development director. “This is a regular process that we go through every three years.”

Chief Building Official Jacob Doub said following this cycle allows the city to maintain a consistent and predictable standard for developers.

The revised international code clarifies current code language, rather than instituting completely new standards, Doub said, making black and white what previously were grey areas.

Furthermore, the city has the authority to adopt local amendments alongside the codes in order to best suit the resort’s needs.

“We’ve contacted our main contractors that we see very often, and we’ve also posted on the Internet on

our webpage,” Doub said. “We also reached out to our local engineers and architects for their input, as well.”

One major change that is expected from the code amendments is a change in definition of “work area” to match that of the flood code and the fire marshal’s office.

This definition is crucial, as it determines whether a developer is required to install a sprinkler system.

Currently, work area is defined as an area where 50 percent or more of the floor area of a building is reconfigured.

Under the new code, work area will be redefined as the construction valuation, which exceeds 50 percent of the value of the structure.

Mayor Rick Meehan had addressed this definition change in January, and said he and City Manage Doug Miller had been plagued with emails and calls about the inconsistency.

During Monday’s meeting, Meehan inquired who would determine the value of the structure.

“There are two ways that we do that,” Doub said. “The first option is we go to the tax assessment website and it places a value on the improvements of the property. In addition to that an applicant can get a private appraisal done on the structure.”

Neville added that the city takes the contractor’s estimate of the value

of the new construction and compares it to an evaluation conducted by Doub or the city’s plan reviewer.

“I think this is one of the most controversial part of our code that has been discussed in recent years … so I think this will help clarify that, and if you’ve had input from most of our general contractors I think that’s terrific — that’ll solve a lot of problems,” Meehan said.

Another big change developers may look forward to will be the elimination of a footnote in the building code, which required the use of stainless steel hardware. Doub said that subject dominated the comments from local engineers and architects.

“Professionally, I think stainless in our environment down here is the best way to go, but I get it, the cost [is high],” Councilman Mark Paddack said. “If our engineers and our architects are saying it’s not mandatory in every situation to have stainless steel, then it’s good to go.”

There are several cost changes expected under the new code, but are primarily related to “institutional” facilities, such as hospitals and group care, as well as fire sprinkler and alarm requirements.

The code amendments and 2018 international code adoption will move forward to first reading and public comment.

REAL ESTATE REPORT

Furloughed or laid off employees can seek financial aid Continued from Page 26 Mae and Freddie Mac’s minimum 640 credit score, and they are requiring 20, 40 or 60 points more.

Due to the recent large numbers of refinances and job losses, the loan portfolios—who are the servicers of mortgage loans—are suffering.

Because of this accelerated level of pre-payments (refinances) and the uncertainty of repayment (job losses), the value of mortgage servicing was cut in half. This drastic decrease prompted margin calls from many servicers, which in turn reduces the lenders overall net worth, which in turn reduces their capacity for lenders to lend.

“Although times are tough, we have been through tough times in the mortgage industry before and there is still ample opportunity in the market,” local lender and Eastern Shore Manager of Embrace Home Loans, Jason Cook, said. “Our company is prioritizing purchases, so buyers looking to purchase their home can rest assured that they will be given priority. We will as an industry, community, and country come out of this stronger than we went in.”

– Lauren Bunting is a licensed Associate Broker with Atlantic Sores Sotheby’s International Realty in Ocean City.

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Everyday heroes deserve respect Welcome to the dystopian future, when government officials are ephemeral figures that appear only on computer screens, finding food entails risk and the few souls who do venture out into an uncertain world do so with covered faces.

The hottest commodity is toilet paper, so much so that it could become the preferred medium of exchange, as in twoply legal tender used to acquire scarce supplies and services.

Even though these absurd apocalyptic science fiction scenarios do seem somewhat appropriate under our current covid-19 circumstances, they do not really apply.

It is true that few people alive today have ever seen anything as unsettling as this pandemic, but the difference between fact and science fiction is that these films usually feature a small group of heroes who prevent humanity’s collapse.

Real life, however, has thousands, maybe millions, of heroes. Many of them work in grocery stores, where, despite the risk, they continue to see that we can feed ourselves.

Others work in fulfillment centers that supply online shoppers, while thousands more work in hospitals and medical centers, at communications companies, at fire, rescue and police departments, and in government offices.

These are the people who allow the rest of us to work from home, largely out of harm’s way. They deserve not just our thanks, but also our continued respect long after this episode is over.

Most striking is the calm and logical approach of our state and local governing authorities. They have set the tone for our reaction to this madness by making difficult decisions and taking common sense actions as publicly as they can, given their technological capabilities and limitations.

While they might not have been prepared for this specific crisis, they have always prepared for assorted worst cases, with their often maligned reserve funds and emergency response plans.

We hate to see these things employed, but we are gratified that they are working as intended.

Ocean City Today P.O. Box 3500, Ocean City, Md. 21843 Phone: 410-723-6397 / Fax: 410-723-6511.

EDITOR ............................................ Stewart Dobson MANAGING EDITOR ................................ Lisa Capitelli STAFF WRITERS .................. Greg Ellison, Morgan Pilz, ...................................... Joshua Kim, Elizabeth Bonin ASSISTANT PUBLISHER .......................... Elaine Brady ACCOUNT MANAGERS............................ Mary Cooper CLASSIFIEDS/LEGALS MANAGER .... Nancy MacCubbin SENIOR DESIGNER ................................ Susan Parks GRAPHIC ARTISTS ................ Kelly Brown, Kyle Phillips PUBLISHER........................................ Christine Brown ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ...................... Gini Tufts Ocean City Today is published weekly by FLAG Publications, Inc. at 8200 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Md. 21842.

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Copyright 2020

PUBLIC EYE

Anything for a laugh

Enough of this daily overdose of unsettling news about our corona-condition and how, like employment benefits, the end of the world is now running at least three weeks behind schedule.

I have heard so much about my-m-m-my-corona (that’s from “My Sharona” if you’re old enough to remember) that it no longer makes any difference to me whether we’re dealing with covid-19, 20, or 21.7.

No, I want to examine By more intriguing subjects, Stewart such as why a Triple-A batis small and a Triple-A Dobson tery bond rating is huge, why no one realizes that a Hotpoint Refrigerator is a contradiction in terms and why 99.9 percent of all males have worn underpants on their heads as a joke at least once in their lives.

As for the latter, I suspect most men will admit that they pulled a pair of boxers or briefs on their heads at least once, and then marched out to address their mothers, sisters or wives and say something they believed was a laugh riot.

Mine was, “Look at me! I’m Chef Boy-Ardee!”

But men have been putting funny things on their heads to get a laugh for generations, going back to the lampshade days of old, when wives and girlfriends reciprocated by demonstrating their lack of a sense of humor.

That could be the defining difference between men and women: males just may be genetically programed to believe that wearing an underpants hat is hilariously funny. Fe-

males, on the other hand, come into the world believing that doing such a thing is more proof that men are idiots.

This is proven by the absence of so much as a chuckle, even when you employ the infamous and supposed never-fail surprise effect.

Rather than walking into the kitchen, for instance, and announcing, “Look at me! I’m the Pharaoh of Egypt,” you might don your skivvy sombrero or Hanes homburg, and slip quietly into your recliner, turn on the TV and act as if nothing untoward is happening. Just a man and his underwear watching TV. Surely, one would think, she would walk into the room and see you wearing underpants on your head, watching TV and saying nothing, and bust out laughing.

“Anything on TV tonight?” she asks.

“Not much, the usual boring stuff,” you reply, turning your head from one direction to the other to show off your riotously funny headgear.

But she doesn’t fall for it.

“So, notice anything different?” you ask.

“No, not really,” she replies.

“You haven’t noticed that I’m wearing underpants on my head, one of the funniest gags of all time?”

“Well,” she says, “I’m sure it might have been funny when you were 10. It might have been mildly amusing when you were 20. But you’re getting to the age now where you have to ask yourself, ‘Is he trying to be funny, or has he finally reached the point where he’s forgotten where they’re supposed to go?”

On the other hand, wearing one of those crimped paper coffee filters on your head and saying, “Look at me! I’m Martha Washington!” is really, really funny.

Your Online Community: www.oceancitytoday.com

APRIL 10, 2020

PAGE 29

Ocean City Today

WORLD WAR II

Battle of Narvik: tug-of-war for northern Norwegian port

By Nick Wahoff Contributing Writer (April 10, 2020) This week, 80 years ago, Allied soldiers and sailors wrested control of the northern Norwegian port of Narvik from the invading Germans.

Narvik is located on Ofotfjord, inside the Arctic Circle, and today has a population of 18,500. Despite it’s arctic location, the warming waters of the Gulf Stream keep its port ice-free yearround.

In spring 1940, the storm clouds of war had gathered over Europe. After the German conquest of Poland, in the preceding fall, a “Phony War” was waged as France and Britain stood by waiting for a Nazi attack.

British First Lord of the Admiralty Sir Winston Churchill argued that the Allies should go on the attack first. He felt there was no better place to start than mining the waters surrounding, and occupying parts of, neutral Norway. Why attack Norway? Churchill realized that nearly 70 percent of the iron ore used by the German weapons’ industry came from Sweden – Norway’s neighbor to the east. While some of the ore was shipped via Sweden’s ports on the Baltic, much of it was sent by rail to Norway’s ice-free ports on the North

Sea. Germany was very aware of the danger of losing its iron ore supply from the north. Knowing that it would have to increase its own production by a staggering 20 million tons if it lost its Scandinavian ore shipments, German dictator Adolf Hitler ordered his military to draw up plans to invade Norway.

On April 6, 1940, five naval groups departed Germany bound for Norway.

Group I departed from the North Sea port of Bremerhaven. Lead by Kommodore Friedrich Bonte, this group consisted of 10 destroyers, each carrying nearly 200 soldiers. These troops were Austrian mountain troopers of the 3rd Mountain Division commanded by Gen. Eduard Dietl. Escorted by the battle cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst, the 10 troop-carrying destroyers sailed for the Norwegian port of Narvik.

The German fleet entered Ofotfjord in the early morning of April 9. Cutting through rough seas, fog and heavy snow, it was confronted by the two largest ships of the Norwegian navy: Eidsvoid and Norge. Though antiquated and outclassed by the modern German fleet, the Norwegian ships refused an offer to surrender. Hit by two torpedoes, Eidvoid’s ammunition magazine

The heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper landing troops in Norway in 1940.

exploded and blew the ship in two, killing 175 sailors, including Capt. Odd Isachen Willoch. Only six survived.

Deeper inside the fjord, Norge could hear the explosion that caused the sinking of Eidvoid. Out of the darkness, two German destroyers appeared, approximately half-mile away from the Norwegian ship. The Norge opened fire and the first two salvos missed their targets.

The German destroyers then fired and missed.

Finally, a single German torpedo hit the Norwegian vessel, sending it quickly to the bottom with a loss of 101 sailors.

Its captain, Per Askim, and 90 others survived. After the destruction of the Norge, Norwegian resistance in the port

ceased and the German troops took control of the area.

While the capture of Narvik and its port was a German success, only one oil supply ship made it to the harbor. All of the German destroyers were short of fuel and they were wary of the Royal Navy patrolling the Norwegian coast.

The Germans did not have to wait long for the British Fleet to arrive. Less than 24 hours after the initial German attack, five British destroyers entered the fjord toward Narvik. Concealed in heavy snowfall, the British surprised the Germans by launching multiple salvos of torpedoes into the harbor.

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WORLD WAR II Continued from Page 29 cluding the flagship, Wilhelm Heidkamp, killing flotilla commander, Kommodore Bonte, who was posthumously awarded the Knight’s Cross. Three other German ships were damaged and multiple cargo ships destroyed.

As the British withdrew from the harbor, six German destroyers attacked them. In the ensuing battle, two British destroyers were sunk and one was damaged by a torpedo. The British Commander, Bernard Warburton-Lee, was killed in this engagement and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the face of the enemy.

Due to a lack of ammunition and fuel, the Germans did not pursue the retreating British destroyers. On their way out of the harbor, the British made contact with an enemy ammunition and oil supply ship. Without hesitation, it was sunk, depriving the Germans of its much needed cargo.

The British pulled back, but not for very long. On April 13, a British task force, led by the battleship, HMS Warspite, entered the fjord for Narvik. Supported by nine destroyers and air cover

HOROSCOPE from the carrier HMS Furious, the British overwhelmed the German ships trapped in Narvik’s harbor.

One after another, the German destroyers were either sunk or deliberately beached to avoid sinking. The last German ship, George Thiele, tried desperately to fight off five British destroyers. Badly damaged, it fired its last torpedo, hitting and blowing off the stern of the destroyer HMS Eskimo.

The George Thiele beached itself, ending the naval battle.

With no ships to man, the 2,600 surviving German sailors were incorporated as regular infantry with the mountain troops around Narvik. They manned anti-aircraft guns and two 4-inch guns salvaged from their destroyed ships.

The sailors were armed with captured Norwegian machine guns and rifles. While in control of the land in & around Narvik, the German fleet was smashed and the port was unusable for shipping, as it was littered with destroyed ships.

To support the Norwegian military, the British landed troops in the area on April 14. French and Free Polish troops

arrived soon after. With no central command, the Allies had difficulty coordinating their operations. Heavily outnumbered, the Germans evacuated Narvik on May 29 and retreated to Beisfjord.

This was the first major Allied land victory of the war. Before they left, the Allies destroyed the port and the ore handling facilities, at least delaying iron ore shipments to Germany.

While things were going badly for the Germans in northern Norway, it was going even worse for the Allied Armies on the continent, as Germany launched an invasion of the low countries and France. In early June, the Allies evacuated Narvik and northern Norway. On June 8, Gen. Dietl and his German units retook Narvik and two days later the last of the Norwegian forces surrendered.

Today, people travel from around the world to experience the remains of the naval battle in Narvik’s harbor.

Since there is such a large number and variety of ships so close to shore, it has become a popular location for coldwater divers to explore.

Next week: Sir Keith Park

GNI: classes by women for women (April 10, 2020) Karen Tomasello, well-known Ocean City restaurateur for over three decades, and MaryBeth Beck of the Pilates and More studio in West Ocean City, will be featured on the new website, Girls Nite In Online.

Girls Nite In Online (gnionline.com), is a free online platform designed to provide an opportunity for fitness instructors, chefs, mixologists, makeup artists, hairdressers, artists, etc., many of whom are currently out of work but ready to offer their expertise to entertain, support and instruct women stuck at home for the duration.

GNI features 30-minute workout classes and a variety of other workshops supported by voluntary donations through each presenter’s Venmo “Virtual Tip Jar.” GNI takes no fees from the donations to the workshop leader.

Beck will host a pilates workshops on Girls Nite In Online and Tomasello will be pairing wines with an antipasto platter on Friday, April 10, at 4 p.m.

She will illustrate how to create a quick and easy antipasto platter and then pair it with four of her favorite everyday wines. Proceeds from Tomasello’s appearance will benefit local out-of-work waitresses and bartenders.

Other Delmarva residents to be featured later include Mauria Stein, of Stuart Kingston auction house fame in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, who will present a workshop on fashion jewelry, and interior designer Michelle Dashiell of Turquoise Interior Design in Ocean City.

Girls Nite In Online presents fitness classes, which currently include pilates,

APRIL 10, 2020

Ocean City Today

yoga, low-impact interval training (LIIT), cardio + core, and stretching and strengthening, in the morning from 7:30-8 a.m., and 10:30-11 a.m.

Other workshops are presented in the afternoon, usually from 4-4:30 p.m. according to the following, general schedule: MaryBeth Beck Monday – Fashion; Tuesday – Food; Wednesday – Arts and Crafts; Thursday – Mind/Body; and Friday – Happy Hour.

A class in baking scones, presented by an Irish baker, has alKaren Tomasello ready attracted over 100 online attendees.

Another class, providing tips on hiding graying hair at home, also drew a large audience.

Jeni Paradiso will teach belly dancing classes on Monday, April 13, and Tara Swennen, fashion stylist to stars such as Matthew McConaughey and Allison Janney, will present “Closet Detox and Home Styling Tips.” Classes will be announced two weeks in advance.

“And we’re just getting started,” said Shelly Fisher, founder of GNI and head of the PIF Group. “There is an enormous need and potential for this program right now. Our female presenters are eager to give the benefit of their knowledge and skills to a self-selected audience of interested viewers.

“Women at home are hungry for

community, education and entertainment,” Fisher continued. “They love the idea of supporting our presenters.

We can’t connect physically, but we can connect mentally, visually and spiritually to encourage each other, clear our minds and learn something new.”

Interested potential presenters are encouraged to visit gnionline.com, register and submit a video in which they describe themselves and their proposed workshop. No elaborate video equipment is required. A presenter can even just have a friend hold a cell phone to transmit the workshop through Zoom.

“This is a win-win for women,” Fisher said. “When we support each other, we succeed, no matter how hard the times.”

Conshohocken, PA, the PIF (Pay it Forward) Group is built on a model of support and giving back. Whether through its online platforms, social media communities, or in-person events, PIF Group strives to create and support a positive sense of community.

PIF Group is proud to launch GNI. Founded by Fisher, PIF has introduced initiatives that include the Herb it Forward Foundation, (www.Herbie.com); the women empowerment brands: She Knew She Could (SheKnewSheCould.com) and One Tough B. (OneToughB.com), founded after a cancer diagnosis; and Positivities.com, a platform that spreads happiness.

Lastly Fisher co-authored with Jen Jones, “Breaking Sad: What to Say After Loss, What Not to Say, and When to Just Show Up.”

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 This is the week to take charge of your overall health, Aries. If you haven’t been feeling so well, now is the time to visit a doctor and get back on track.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, if you have your heart set on an art project but can’t find the time, figure out a way to make it happen. If you commit to finding the time, your efforts will pay off.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, now is the perfect time to get up and get outside. Fresh air, sunshine and physical activity are long overdue, and they can infuse you with positive energy.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, do not get frustrated with a close friend if he or she seems less ambitious than you. Everyone works at his or her own pace and may not have the same focus as you. Be patient.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Use good relationships with loved ones and friends to organize group activities. Such outings will strengthen your already strong bonds with the people you love most, Leo.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, if you have not been exercising regularly of late, now is the ideal time to get back in the action. Embrace the physical and mental benefits of being active.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Let your ambition guide you this week, Libra. Spend the week mapping out strategies. Once you have a plan on paper, you can work towards executing it to perfection.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Do not have a moment’s hesitation when taking on a project or spearheading plans this week, Scorpio.

Your organizational skills are right for the job.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, this week should go well for you. Expect to feel a renewed energy and harbor a more positive outlook. Use this to your advantage in your career.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Ambition is creeping up on you and it cannot be ignored, Capricorn. You have the time now to devote to any plan of action, so don’t be afraid to go all-in.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, do not be surprised if you wake up feeling super this week.

Chances are this renewed strength and energy has something to do with better lifestyle habits.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, the cosmos puts an end to any lethargy you have been feeling. Use this opportunity to be active and pursue new goals.

APRIL 10, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 31

OBITUARIES GEORGE JOHN STIEMLY, SR. Berlin George John Stiemly, Sr., age 86, died on Sunday, March 29, 2020, at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.

Born in Baltimore, he was the son of the late George Jay and Marie Messner Stiemly.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth D. Stiemly, and children, Margaret Anne and her husband, Bill, George J. Stiemly, Jr. and his wife, Cynthia, and Michael

OC Art League exhibit to open online, April 10 (April 10, 2020) The physical galleries of the Ocean City Center for the Arts are closed for a time, but the monthly First Friday art opening and party continues – now on the 2nd Friday of April.

The public is welcome to attend the opening on the Art League of Ocean City’s Facebook page and at www.ArtLeagueOfOceanCity.org. The exhibit will open and winners will be announced when the event posts at 5 p.m. on April 10.

The Art League’s April show typically honors its corporate partners who actively support the nonprofit, and this virtual exhibition is no exception.

“Our corporate partners truly help us keep the arts alive in Ocean City,” Rina Thaler, executive director of the Art League, said. “Just look at what’s happening right now. Their sponsorships are helping us continue to bring art to our community virtually as we all stay in our homes.

“We ask everyone who is inspired by the Art League’s online presence to support these businesses – both those who are essential and open now and the others after they again open their doors.”

The names of the corporate partners are posted on the Art League website.

The Art League received more than 200 digital entries from more than 70 artists for the April exhibition, representing media that includes painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media.

The artists paid an entry fee and chose their best work.

John Mosher, the Art League’s Orem and Harriet Robinson Fellow for Contemporary Art and Engagement for 2020, will jury the entries, select the best to be “hung” during the digital exhibition, and award cash prizes to the winners.

The prizes, funded in part by a grant from the Worcester County Arts Council, are $150 for first place, $100 for second place, $75 for third place, plus three honorable mentions. The Art League will present an additional “Best in Show” award of $200 in honor of the nonprofit’s corporate partners. The exhibition will remain online throughout April.

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.

F. Stiemly and his wife, Deborah.

There are eight grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Rose Bollhorst.

He was employed G. Stiemly, Sr. with the Baltimore City Police Department until he retired in 1984, then continued working for Bank of America until 1997, which he then retired with his wife to Ocean Pines, Maryland.

He was a member of the IPA – International Police Association – Ocean City Chapter until his death. He also served in the United States Navy.

A mass of Christian Burial at St. John Neumann Catholic Church will be announced at a later date. A donation in his memory may be made to: Autism Speaks,1060 State Rd., 2nd Floor, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, or Shriners Children’s Hospital.

Letters of condolence may be sent via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.

DOROTHY ANN BROWN Ocean City Dorothy Ann Brown, from Ocean City, Maryland, went to join our lord in eternal life on April 3, 2020, bravely and peacefully.

Mama Dot as everyone loved to call her, was born in Ocean City, Feb. 6, 1935

to her parents that were waiting for her in heaven, Maurice and Ann Ludlam.

Mama Dot loved everyone she met; she did not know a Dorothy Brown stranger.

She loved all creatures, great and small, and lived her life humbly, quietly and compassionately.

She loved to crochet, plant flowers, study the bible, cook the world’s best fried chicken and listen to old country and gospel music.

She worked for many years at the Bayside Skillet in Ocean City and held a close friendship with the owners, Becky and Peter. Most of all she loved her family and spending time with them.

She is preceded in death by her husband, John “Marlin” Brown; her brother, Allan Ludlam; and her beloved Uncle Allen Bergman and Aunt Florence Defressine.

She is survived by her three sons and one daughter, Kevin Brown and his wife, Bonnie, of Snow Hill, Maryland, Steven Brown and his wife, Darlene, of Berlin, Maryland, John “Jack” Brown and his wife, Jeramie, of the Philippines, and Stacy Pixley and her husband, Marc, of Pocomoke City, Maryland.

She is also survived by her brother, Phil Ludlam and his wife, Betty, and brother, Sam Ludlam, both of Ocean City, Maryland.

In addition, she is survived by brother, Richard “Dick” Ludlam and his wife, Judy, of Winter Park, Florida, and her beautiful sister, Shirley Phillips of Berlin, Maryland.

She also was blessed with many grandchildren whom she loved dearly and were such a joy in her life, Keith Brown and his wife, Annette, Kimberly Smith and her significant other, Chelle, Travis Knight and his wife, Jenna, Travis Brown, Ashley Brown, Sita Murphy, Cory Murphy and his wife, Kristen, Sajel Brown, John Marlin, Caitlyn Pixley and Adam Pixley.

Mama Dot was also blessed with the love of so many great grandchildren, Kiera, Kaleb, Ian, Cooper, Alana, Owen, Jayden, Bella, Andrea, John, and most recently, little Ayden.

She was also so well loved by so very many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends, like Debbie Boblett, Kathy Castro and Carolyn Walls.

What a beautiful life to have lived that there are not enough pages to write all the names of those that loved her so very much and she loved them all in return.

The world has certainly lost an angel on this Earth and the family knows many would like to join us in honoring her life.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date that has yet to be determined.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Worcester County Humane Society on their website or to P.O. Box 48 Berlin, Maryland 21811.

Letters of condolence may be sent via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

PAGE 32

Ocean City Today

APRIL 10, 2020

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Throwing ‘Kitchen Sink’ at the Great Depression Editor, The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 started in the spring, but was most deadly from September through January of 1919.

Soldiers returning from WWI brought it back.

The final wave of deaths was from February of 1919 through the beginning months of 1920. Many years later it was figured out that once the Spanish Flu arrived in America it was spread by mailmen.

It brought on a severe depression in America from 1920–1922 that many economists believe was more severe than the market crash of 1929 and the ensuing depression.

How did the jobs and the financial markets come roaring back? What did Presidents Harding and Coolidge do?

If the deaths from the Spanish Flu in 1920 were translated to today’s population numbers, 1,500,000 Americans would have perished.

We will come back to what Warren Harding, president in 1920, and Calvin Coolidge, 1923–1929 (“Silent Cal”), did to get the country out of the influenza-induced depression in just two years.

First, let’s talk a bit about what Franklin Delano Roosevelt (F.D.R.) did—the Kitchen Sink approach—to get us out of the Great Depression that started with the market crash of 1929.

By 1932, F.D.R. was aggressively throwing “the Kitchen Sink”’ at the Depression, but did it work?

His fireside chats started in March of 1933. His sympathy for the working man was legendary and would make him the most popular president in American history. But did his actions work?

Many academic economists will tell you we didn’t get out of the Great Depression until 1942, 10 years later, after Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 and we were immersed in the World War. World War II is what pulled us out of the Great Depression, not Hoover or even Roosevelt.

Prior to F.D.R., President Hoover started the Federal Farm Board, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, and the much-maligned imposition of tariffs in the Smoot-Hawley Act in 1930.

Smoot Hawley tariffs garnered much of the blame for prolonging the Great Depression. This blame seems to be deserved, but what did F.D.R. do? Did it work?

F.D.R. started the very popular New Deal, helping the poor. Congress passed the Banking Act that gave many powers to government, some of which were good: a) In March to May of 1933 GlassStiegel, separating brokerage firms from banks, was passed. This was good, however it was reversed by Clinton in 1999 and Dodd-Frank did nothing to re-impose the separation.

The Banking Act was initially resisted

by F.D.R. b) Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (F.D.I.C.) was adopted on July 1, 1934, insuring bank deposits up to $2,500. It became part of his New Deal. c) Powers for the Federal Reserve to print money were instituted for the first time. d) Powers expanding the Treasury’s ability to borrow money (neither c nor d existed in the 1920 depression) became part of the New Deal. e) Social Security was adopted in 1933 giving old and disabled Americans a paycheck for life. f) The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was adopted in 1938 giving labor the minimum wage and 150 percent of the minimum for overtime. FLSA also started the 40hour work week.

All of these changes were part of FDR’s New Deal, but did they work?

Some months after FLSA and all the above had been implemented, the U.S. Unemployment rate was still at an unacceptable 19 percent. It had gone from 23.6 percent in 1932, when Roosevelt was elected, down to 14.3 percent in late 1936, only to dip again to 19 percent in early 1939, the beginning of WWII. Our entering the war in 1941 is broadly recognized as the end of the Great Depression, raising the obvious question of whether seven years of throwing “the Kitchen Sink” at the Great Depression did any good.

What about the Spanish Influenza from 1918–1920? What did the government do?

What about the depression of 1920, keynoted by 1,500,000 deaths from influenza in today’s terms? The American Communist Party began in

1917. May Day riots started in 1919, led by the Communist Eugene Debs.

The year 1919 was voted the worst in American history.

A sharper drop in the market came, then the 1920 crash and spikes in unemployment. So, what did Harding and Coolidge do to bring it back by 1923, a period of only two or three years?

Harding’s Policy was Laissez Faire, he ignored both the 1918-1920 Influenza Pandemic as well as the 1920 depression that followed. Although he did impose tariffs in 1922, no government policies were taken to fight the influenza or the depression.

Calvin Coolidge did nothing, ushering in great prosperity and limited interference.

In a little over two years the influenza pandemic and the depression had ended and turned into a booming economy. In contrast, F.D.R. threw “the Kitchen Sink” at the Great Depression, which dragged on for almost a decade. Only World War II bailed the economy out almost 10 years later.

Makes one wonder what the Congress, most of the governors and of course the President are doing today?

Tony Christ Ocean City

CROSSWORD

Answers on page 8

APRIL 10, 2020

PAGE 33

Ocean City Today / Public Notices

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.

WILLIAM W. COOK 501 Edgewater Avenue Unit 202 Ocean City, MD 21842 Defendant(s) IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND Case No. C-23-CV-20-000010

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given this 23rd day of March, 2020, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, that the sale of the property mentioned in these proceedings and described as 501 Edgewater Avenue, Unit 202, Ocean City, MD 21842, made and reported by the Substitute Trustee, will be RATIFIED AND CONFIRMED, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 28th day of April, 2020, 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 21st day of April, 2020.

The report states the purchase price at the Foreclosure sale to be $480,000.00.

Susan R. Braniecki

Clerk, Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland True Copy Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County MD OCD-4/2/3t _________________________________ MARTIN G. OLIVERIO ESQ. 14300 GALLANT FOX LANE, SUITE 218 BOWIE, MD 20715

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 18223 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF MARY ELLEN WILLIAMS Notice is given that Catherine L. Williams, 106 Whitmoor Terrace, Silver Spring, MD 20910, was on March 16, 2020 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mary Ellen Williams who died on February 9, 2020, 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 16th day of September, 2020.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned per-

sonal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent’s death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date,

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

Catherine L. Williams 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: March 26, 2020 OCD-3/26/3t _________________________________

OCEAN CITY TODAY

Legal Advertising Call Nancy MacCubbin 410-723-6397, Fax: 410-723-6511 or E-mail: legals@oceancitytoday.net

Why You SHOULD Advertise with Community Newspapers:

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CREDIBILITY: Readers deem community newspapers to be a credible source of information – for both news and advertising content.

COST-EFFECTIVE REACH: Community newspapers bring your message to more people at one of the lowest costs per thousand of any media.

2 3

IMMEDIACY OF MESSAGE: Community newspapers bring the immediacy of your message and thousands of page views.

STRONG READERSHIP: Unlike regional daily newspapers, community newspaper readership is growing for both news and advertising content.

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EASE OF USE: 72% of residents prefer reading advertisements in their local paper than online.

LOCAL CONTENT: No other media, including social media sources, can provide the hyper-local news and information easily found as in community newspapers.

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TARGETED: Community newspapers target those most interested in local businesses and services – those most likely to respond.

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CUSTOMER SERVICE: Your advertising is handled by local account executives who know their communities and will help advise you.

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CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY: Local newspapers are rated as one of the best means of connecting people and their communities by providing the news & information important to reader’s everyday lives.

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COMMUNITY SUPPORT: Local newspapers have long supported business efforts in their communities – not only helping to publicize local businesses and organizations but also by championing growth and prosperity.

The Coast’s Leading News Source

#1 Paper In Ocean Pines For News & Information

www.OceanCityToday.com

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410-723-6397

34

APRIL 10, 2020 Classifieds now appear in Ocean City Today & the Bayside Gazette each week and online at oceancitytoday.com and baysideoc.com.

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

MAINTENANCE Immediate position available for year-round Restaurant Maintenance Personnel. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC & LPgas knowledge required. Prior experience with restaurant equipment necessary. Great opportunity with benefits. Send resume to: REST. MAINTENANCE, PO Box 160, Ocean City, MD 21843 or email romeara@harrisongp.com.

Boat Yard Help Needed for yard work and to bottom paint boats. Work is outside with social distancing. Face masks, hand sanitizer and protective gloves provided.

Call Harbor Marine 410-213-2296

Work on the Beach in Ocean City, MD

HIRING ALL POSITIONS!!

Renting Umbrellas and Chairs to Beachgoers

Full time & Part time Stop by our location on 52nd street! or call 443-664-2825

• Over 65 Beach Attendant Positions Available • Make Lifelong Friends & Memories • Earn Valuable Sales & Customer Apply Online at Service Skills EightyFiveAndSunny.com/ • Competitive Wages Employment • Hourly + Commission + Tips

You are applying for work with a franchisee of Dunkin’ Donuts, not Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Any application or information you submit will be provided solely to the franchisee. If hired, the franchisee will be your only employer. Franchisees are independent business owners who are solely responsible for their own employees and set their own wage and benefit programs that can vary among franchisees.

Hiring ALL Positions!!

NOW HIRING!!

Production Crew for our WOC kitchen facility Up to $17.50/hr.

Apply online at: www.delmarvadd.com

Become a Better You in 2020!

To Order Product Call Christine 443-880-8397 or email: snowhillavon@ comcast.net To Become an Avon Representative Sign Up at www.

ChristinesBeautyShop.com

Full time & Part time To apply go to: www.mygcjob.com

SEASONAL RENTAL 2 BR, 2 BA North OC CONDO Luxury, Modern, Renovated.

First Fl. w/hardwood fl., deck, pool, parking. Sleeps 5, $12,500 for May-Sept. No pets or smokers. Cred. chk., refs., sec. deposit. For families or professionals.

Vic, 410-422-5164.

Taking on New Listings.

Need help selling your house?? Call Howard Martin Realty, 410-352-5555.

We also handle year-round rentals.

9942 Elm Street, WOC (Behind Starbucks) Sleeps 4, $250 per week Manager onsite 410-213-1764

COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL BERLIN: From 225 sq. ft. to 700 sq. ft. office space. From $350 to $1100 per month.

Includes utilities. 120 sq. ft. storage sheds each $95/mo.

Call 410-726-5471.

Surf Shop for Rent 29th St. Call Bill 410-289-8380 1 Office/Retail Space & 1 Warehouse Unit available in West Ocean City.

Call 443-497-4200

Year-Round Rental Available in West Ocean City. 2BR, 1BA. Call 1-877-289-1616 for more information.

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.

WINTER WEEKLY RENTALS Pool Front Room ..$199/wk Family Room ........$235/wk 2BR Apartment.....$315/wk 3BR Suite .............$400/wk Burgundy Inn 1210 Philadelphia Ave. 410-289-8581 Classifieds 410-723-6397

DONATIONS DONATIONS

DOWNTOWN OCEAN CITY Immaculately clean 2BR apartments. Each sleeps 5 people with single beds.

May 1 to September 7.

Price is $2,250 per person or $11,250 per apartment, including utilities, plus deposits. No smokers, parties, or pets. All male or all female in each unit. Taking applications.

Call or text 410-422-2100 Steger Seasonal Apartments

Classified Deadline is Monday @ 5pm

CLASSIFIED AD NETWORK

Advertising Sales Position Ocean City Today/Bayside Gazette Account Manager opening. Applicants should have experience in sales or face-to-face customer service. Salary, commission, health benefits and 401K plan. Send resumes to ebrady@oceancitytoday.net, or mail Ocean City Today, 8200 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD. 21842.

InteSviews will be conducted via Facetime, Skype or Google Hangouts ... for the time being.

Online

REAL ESTATE

Summer Bayside Condo Near Jolly Rogers 2BR, 2BA, W/D & AC. Cable, WiFi, fully furnished. Sleeps 4-6. 2 units available MaySept. $14,000. Call Mike at 410-603-6120. www.mbjcproperties.com

Classifieds 410-723-6397

ssifieds la C r u o Y r e Ord

RENTALS

RAMBLER MOTEL

RENTALS RENTALS

Maintenance Technician Competitive Salary: $17 - $20/hr. depending on experience.

• Help build and maintain Delaware and Maryland's fastest growing restaurant group • Perform interior and exterior finish work, such as drywall, painting, paneling, ceiling and floor tile, plumbing repairs, heating and air conditioning system repairs • Perform routine and emergency repairs on restaurant equipment, including diagnostics on electrical and refrigeration components • On call on a rotating emergency schedule for weekends and holidays • Basic skill sets must include some Electric, Plumbing, Carpentry, Refrigeration Benefits: Health Insurance, 401K, Sick Leave Fax to 410-520-0199 For faster processing please apply online at www.joindunkin.com.

HELP WANTED

Serving the Newspapers of Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia since 1908.

BUSINESS SERVICES Place a business card ad in the Regional Small Display MARYLAND STATEWIDE 2x2/2x4 Advertising Network – Let MDDC help you grow CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING your business! Call TODAY at NETWORK 410-212-0616 to increase your customer base and get AUTOMOBILE DONATIONS results.

DONATE AUTOS, TRUCKS, EDUCATION/CAREER RVs Lutheran Mission Society TRAINING of MD. Compassion Place AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINministries help local families ING - Get FAA certification to with food, clothing, counsel- fix planes. Financial Aid if qualing Tax deductible. MVA ified. Approved for military licensed #W1044. benefits. Call Aviation Insti410-636-0123 tute of Maintenance 866-823www.CompassionPlace.org 6729

SERVICESMISCELLANEOUS Increase your customer base and get great results by placing your ads in the MDDC – Classified Advertising network! Call today 410-2120616 Ask for Multi-Media Specialist - Wanda & watch your results grow.

Advertise in MDDC 410-723-6397

SERVICE DIRECTORY ADS CALL 410-723-6397 for pricing!

www.oceancitytoday.com

Convenient, quick, no waiting, no calls ~ Days, nights and weekends

APRIL 10, 2020

PAGE 35

Ocean City Today

BLINDS & SHADES

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additions • interior/exterior lighting Tanner: Owner/Operator lampRobert & light repair & serviceSince 1989 Wall outlets – microwaves • Generator installs

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PAGE 36

Ocean City Today

APRIL 10, 2020