4/17/2020 Ocean City Today

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APRIL 17, 2020

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OC task force maps strategy for recovery

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) Facing an unprecedented pandemic that has battered the resort’s tourism industry and overall economy, local business leaders have created a task force to map a path to recovery.

“Soon after the crisis hit, we held a Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) meeting to gather stakeholders,” said Susan Jones, Ocean City Susan Jones Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association (OCHMRA) executive director.

“During this meeting, we realized we needed to guide recovery to ensure our hospitality businesses had some chance for survival.”

Officially coined the Ocean City Tourism Recovery Task Force Team, the group consists of members of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, OCHMRA Board of Directors, Ocean City interim Tourism Director Jessica Waters, Ocean City Tourism Commission Chairman (City Councilman) Matt James, Worcester County Economic, Development, Tourism and Recreation and Parks Director Tom Perlozzo and Mayor Rick Meehan.

Since its first meeting the week of March 23, the team has tackled an increasingly long list of tasks.

“I have always been a very humble person, but I will admit that I’ve never worked harder in my life,” Jones said. “I did the carryout list, gift card list and [created the] EAT LOCAL OCMD [Facebook page].

“Kim Klump and Ron Pilling, of the Jesse Klump Foundation, arranged the free mental health program. The County Economic Development has led weekly calls to

800-641-0011

coordinate all the groups to stay in tune with all the loans/grants, etc. — [there has been] lots of collaboration and info sharing to keep us on the same page.”

The team has met several times, but often conducts business via email.

One focus of these meetings has been the J-1 student summer work travel program, which was placed on a 60-day hold on March 11.

As previously reported by Ocean City Today, the delay has affected some students and sponsor organizations’ participation in the program.

The team also expressed its concern over unemployment insurance checks, and whether they will act as an incentive for people to not work.

At this stage, the team will be looking into working with Shore Transit, Lower Shore Workforce alliance and the city to provide free transportation for county workers.

See TASK Page 2

JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY

CLIMBING HIGH Scaffolding around the water tower on First Street grows taller each day, as workers prepare the site for water blasting and painting.

County hires procurement Spring Cruisin’ manager to secure supplies hot rods idled

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) It might have been short, but the Worcester County Commissioners’ meeting Tuesday was notable for its approach — it was their first virtual meeting, accomplished with the increasingly popular Zoom video conferencing program.

The next meeting, set for April 21, will also be held via Zoom and has an option that allows public viewing.

Also an usual move for county officials on Tuesday was the commissioners’ hiring of a procurement manager on a temporary basis to aid

the county’s pursuit of health care supplies. New hire Sergio Castillo is charged with rounding up supplies for the county and other agencies in response to the coronavirus pandemic during the state of emergency.

Harold Higgins, chief administrative officer, said he consulted with Director of Emergency Services Billy Birch, Emergency Services Assistant Director James Hamilton and Worcester County Fire Marshal Jeff McMahon, all of whom have worked with Castillo.

Higgins confirmed with County See CONTRACTOR Page 2

by coronavirus

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) Cruisin’ Ocean City participants should keep their cars parked until next year, as the event, scheduled for May 14-16, has been canceled because of the coronavirus.

“We started talking about it [canceling] early on,” said Bob Rothermel, T.E.A.M. productions owner and event co-organizer.

Rothermel said he and the other organizers initially hoped the virus See SPRING Page 2

C ousel Group Caro Be S Safe f - Be W Well! ll!

S yOCMD.com Sta

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Ocean City Today

APRIL 17, 2020

Spring car cruise called off because of virus pandemic Continued from Page 1 would settle down by May and Cruisin’ would not be affected. This would have been the event’s 30th year.

However, as the pandemic spread and government mandates became stricter, it was clear that hosting the annual event in May was a pipe dream.

“Even if restrictions were loosened, would visitors come down? You just don’t know the answer to that,” Rothermel said, pointing to the financial burden the virus has caused nationwide.

Additionally, Cruisin’ draws participants from all over the country, with guests coming from as far as Colorado and Canada.

While Maryland may lift its ban by April 30, other states might not do so until the end of May or the end of June.

With this in mind, Rothermel said it was necessary to announce the postponement early enough so that participants had at least 30 days to cancel hotel reservations and travel plans.

“Given all that is going on around us, we cannot in good conscience risk the health and well-being of our participants, sponsors, spectators, vendors, entertainment, staff, as well as the Ocean City community,” an April 10 press release states.

All pre-registered participants and spectators have had their registration and tickets automatically transferred to the 2021 event, slated for May 20-23.

Additionally, those who wish to transfer their registration or tickets to the Endless Summer Cruisin’ event, scheduled for Oct. 8-11, can do so.

Jay Leno — comedian, actor, writer, producer and former latenight television host — will still come to Ocean City, but during Endless Summer Cruisin’, instead, on Thursday, Oct. 8.

Another show will be added on Friday, Oct. 9, and tickets will be on sale for that show beginning Friday, April 10, at noon.

Thirty years ago, Ocean City’s offseason was truly that — an off-season.

To entice more people to the resort, the City Council, particularly then-Councilman Jim Hall, sought to up the ante by introducing more special events.

Jack Hennen, one of Cruisin’s organizers, brought the car show idea to Rothermel, when the latter worked for the city as its tourism director, and from there the event bloomed into what it is today — a nationally recognized car event.

In its infancy, the event was held in conjunction with Springfest, which had been created around the same time, in the inlet parking lot.

During its inaugural year, Rothermel said he remembered how shocked people were to see 300 or so cars parade up and down Coastal Highway.

Since then, the event has grown tenfold, and boasts more than 3,000 customs, hot rods, street machines and classic vehicles.

While this year’s show has been canceled, Rothermel said the organizers were working on a virtual car show where participants could show off their vehicles and win awards, all from the safety of their homes.

“We’re all in this together,” Rothermel said. “Like John F. Kennedy said, a rising tide lifts all boats, and we’re on this boat together.”

To transfer your ticket to the Endless Summer Cruisin’ event, call 410-7986304 or email info@specialeventpro.com For more info on the virtual car show visit https://www.facebook. com/pg/CruisinOceanCityMD/posts /?ref=page_internal.

JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY

During Monday’s Tourism Commission meeting, Susan Jones, Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association executive director, top right, updated the group on goals undertaken by the Tourism Advisory Board born Ocean City Tourism Recovery Task Force Team.

Task force maps plan for recovery once resort opens

Cruisin’ Ocean City 2020, scheduled for May 14-16, was cancelled because of the covid-19 pandemic.

Contractor hired by county to help with procurement Continued from Page 1 Commissioner Jim Bunting that this service is only for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak and can be terminated when commissioners decide.

He also clarified that Castillo’s services may be needed to help Atlantic General Hospital’s mortuary, which can only hold two people at a time.

If the infection rate in Worcester escalates, Higgins said it may or may not be appropriate to use the nursing home in Berlin to store bodies.

“It was determined you’d have to go out and get a Sysco trailer or something to house the mortuary issues,” Higgins said. “We really don’t have the capability for someone on staff to have that ability procure that.”

He added that Castillo could use his contacts to secure additional resources to address the coronavirus.

Higgins believes this emergency protective measure may be reimbursable.

Continued from Page 1 Also on the minds of members has been the city’s marketing campaign.

Traditionally, the city’s advertisements have pushed an image of a “family fun resort,” but members felt that message was inappropriate in light of the current public health crisis.

Instead, the team discussed launching a “getting ready for you” campaign, which will feature real business owners and employees preparing for the eventual reopening of the resort.

“Without tourism, there is no Ocean City,” Jones said. “As the main economic driver, we must do all that is humanly possible to sustain our community.

“The taxes generated by tourism businesses are critical to the financial success of our city and thousands who are employed by these businesses.”

As TAB is composed of private sector and nonprofit groups, the task force does not have to advertise its meetings, and future meetings will not be opened to the public.

However, “It is critically important to note that the recovery team is inclusive,” Jones said “[It’s the] private and public sector working together to navigate our way through this — we could never do it alone and everyone is helping in their own way.”

For those with questions, concerns or suggestions, email them to susanjones@ocvisitor.com.

APRIL 17, 2020

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Ocean City Today

Happy Place campaign tells visitors to stay home, be safe

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) It’s been Ocean City’s marketing practice over the years to employ advertising to encourage people to coming to Ocean City for a family fun, beach vacation.

The city’s most recent marketing campaign, however, urges visitors to stay home, and be safe.

“The council decided when they had made the decision to really stop inviting visitors to Ocean City, to close the beach and Boardwalk, it certainly wasn’t the right time to continue the advertisements as we had been,” City Communications Jessica Waters Manager Jessica Waters said during Monday’s Ocean City Tourism Commission meeting.

Therefore, the city halted of all its advertisements, and, after a brief stasis, began to develop a new marketing campaign with MGH, said Waters, who also has just been named the city’s interim tourism director, “We certainly wanted to be empathetic with what people were dealing with around the country … but we wanted to stay present, we wanted to stay in the mind of our visitors, so we came up [with what] we call the Happy Place campaign,” Waters said.

The resulting product was a feel-good campaign that urges visitors to stay safe at home, but reminded them that the resort would be here when life is good again.

Four of these commercials — two 15 and two 30-second versions — are currently on the city’s social media platforms and multiple television stations.

“For so many of us, Ocean City Maryland is our happy place,” one of the Happy Place advertisements begins. “It’s where we go to relax and spend a few precious days with family and friends, but right now there’s only place you should be, with the people you love, taking care of each other. Your happy place will be here when it’s time to venture out again.

The sun will be shining and the sand will be warm — until then, stay healthy, and know that you have a place in our hearts.”

With the Happy Place commercials on air, Waters said the city is now working on a follow-up marketing strategy.

“We really want to focus on what’s next, and being ready for when it’s time to open, what will our message be, how will we be reaching people and really focus a lot of time into the campaigns that are going to follow this time that we’re in now,” Waters said.

State releases zip codes of positive coronavirus cases

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) Maryland had confirmed 10,784 positive coronavirus cases as of Thursday morning, with 2,722 in Prince George’s County, 2,133 in Montgomery, 1,516 in Baltimore, 1,160 in Baltimore City, 896 in Anne Arundel, 497 in Frederick, 451 in Howard, 327 in Charles, 283 in Carroll, 161 in Harford, 109 in Washington, 103 in Calvert, 101 in Cecil, 98 in St. Mary’s, 87 in See ZIP CODE Page 4

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APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

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 third positive case diagnosed out of state is confirmed 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 April 13 – Five more people test positive April 15 – An out-of-county resident tests positive April 16 – Three more people test positive for a total of 25 cases; nine individuals have been released from public monitoring

ELIZABETH BONIN/OCEAN CITY TODAY

The decontamination station at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin disinfects emergency service vehicles.

Zip code data requires at least eight cases Continued from Page 3 Wicomico, 25 in Worcester, 23 in Caroline, 20 in Allegany, 19 in Queen Anne’s, 18 in Dorchester, 14 in Talbot, 11 in Kent, six in Somerset and four in Garrett.

Worcester has had nine new cases since last week. One is an out-of-county resident. The Worcester County Health Department has not reported on the ages and sex of the new cases since last week.

As of Wednesday, the department has received 301 Covid-19 tests and has released nine individuals from public health monitoring.

Starting last week, the Maryland Department of Health is releasing data based on zip codes. As of Thursday, there were 11 cases in the 21811 zip code in Berlin and Ocean Pines. The state is only releasing information on zip codes that have at least eight positive cases.

“These are reported cases, not everyone is being tested — only the most ill

cases are being tested,” the health department said in a statement.

“Other cases with milder symptoms would not be reflected in the data, so do not consider one area of the county as less risk than any other just because of the case counts or map data.”

The state also released information on race – 3,978 cases are African-American, 2,535 are white, 239 are Asian, 376 are “other” and the was no data for the remaining 2,476 individuals.

The state health department said African-Americans and other minority communities have a higher rate of infection because they’re more likely to have pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma.

Most cases have been in the ages 5059 range at 2,138 cases, closely followed by 1,958 cases in the 40-49 age range.

More females have been diagnosed at 5,817 cases, compared to 4,967 males,

but more males have died at 205 deaths and 187 deaths for females.

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 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. They said 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 test results may

take several days since there is a large volume of tests going into a limited number of labs. When a case is confirmed positive, the health department conducts contact tracing to inform individuals and businesses that may have come into contact with the positive case.

The hospital has opened a decontamination station for emergency services vehicles across Healthway Drive in Berlin.

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 410632-1100 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/patientsvisitors/covid-19-updates/.

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

Circuit court operates at limited capacity

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) Although the closure of Maryland’s court system will now continue until June 5 because of the Covid19 pandemic, that doesn’t mean they will be non-functioning.

The March 16 to May 1 closure that was extended Tuesday is not absolute

and courts are only partially closed.

Judge Brian Shockley, administrative judge for the Worcester County Circuit Court, clarified Wednesday that the court is still operating at a limited capacity.

“We continue to process all pleading and manners that do not require a court hearing,” Shockley said. “Additionally, we will continue to hear emergency mat-

ters such as bail reviews, guardianships, child welfare cases, juvenile detentions and emergency custody cases.”

He added that the court will hear other cases, if deemed appropriate, and some may be heard remotely. Typical criminal cases and other non-emergency cases will be deferred until the courts open on a regular basis.

“Family law clinic is still available by telephone to assist the public in family law and guardianship matters,” Shockley said.

The court is still operating from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day with essential personnel reporting. Staff are working from home as long as it doesn’t affect the operations of the court, Shockley said.

APRIL 17, 2020

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Ocean City Today

State unemployment rises to over 100,000 Filings for Worcester County slightly decrease to 1,355 for week ending on April 4

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) The number of unemployment applications in Maryland has increased for the fourth week in a row for a total of 108,508 filings in the week ending on April 4.

The state had 84,230 filings in the week ending on March 28.

Worcester County’s new unemployment filings slightly decreased from the week before, shifting from 1,415 filings in the week ending on March 28 to 1,355 filings in the week ending on April 4.

The spike is largely due to the coronavirus pandemic and social dis-

tancing restrictions. Before the pandemic hit, Worcester County weekly unemployment filings were in the 30s. Many restaurants and other nonessential businesses have temporarily closed and laid off workers.

Ocean City Mayor Meehan made an emergency declaration on April 7 for hotels to terminate short-term rental reservations for April and to not accept reservations for the month. Fewer than 10 hotels in Ocean City are open and those that remain open are only serving essential workers.

In turn, the Worcester County Commissioners declared that all nonessential short-term rentals in unincorporated Worcester County should cancel reservations until Gov. Larry Hogan’s stay-at-home order is lifted.

There is no deadline on the mandate.

Hotels are doing a mix of paying their nonworking employees, paying them a reduced salary and temporarily laying off workers. Some hotels that are open are hiring more, as the essential workers are being streamlined to a limited number of lodgings that are working with a skeleton staff.

Since the Ocean City beach and Boardwalk are closed through April 30, that brings in less traffic for the essential businesses that remain open, causing them to lose money and workers.

Hogan announced last Friday that the state department of labor would double staffing at unemployment claim centers and expand call center hours to Saturdays to handle the sharp increase of filings. Comptroller Peter Franchot estimated a $2.8 billion shortfall in the coming months

for the state.

Hogan has not yet signaled when the Maryland economy might re open.

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.

State and local mandates working, less crowds in OC

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) State and local orders limiting travel and closing the beach and Boardwalk apparently worked over the holiday weekend, as police saw fewer people attempting to roam Ocean City’s two main attractions.

“With the high visibility of police on the beach and Boardwalk, along with the new declaration signage posted at the Boardwalk entrances, we saw less people on the Ashley Miller Boardwalk and beaches this weekend,” said Ashley Miller, police spokeswoman. “Overall, we are seeing compliance from our community.

We will continue to be out on patrol and educating our community.”

While Ocean City residents are subject to social gathering orders and

distancing guidelines, locals may continue to access the beach and Boardwalk for exercise and dog walking, as per signs with the mayor’s declaration posted at street ends.

Although residents were not able to indulge in traditional Easter egg hunts and outings, the Easter Bunny, which recently was declared an essential worker by Gov. Larry Hogan, made trips around the resort and West Ocean City on Sunday, escorted by the Ocean City Fire Department, Maryland State Police from the Berlin barrack and Worcester County Sheriff’s Office.

“The hope of the fire department and our law enforcement agencies is that folks remember we are in this together, and even though they can’t celebrate Easter with family and friends, their police and fire departments are wishing them a Happy Easter,” said Ryan Whittington, president of the local chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

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JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Ocean City police did not encounter large crowds Easter weekend, spokeswoman Ashley Miller said. The mayor’s declaration, which closed off the beach and Boardwalk to non-residents, is posted on street ends throughout the resort.

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Ocean City Today

APRIL 17, 2020

Gov. Hogan puts freeze on budget and state hiring

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) Gov. Larry Hogan froze state budget proceedings and instituted a hiring freeze last Friday, as the state stands to lose billions in revenue because of the coronavirus.

“Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot announced this morning that the state of Maryland is projecting a potential revenue loss of up to $2.8 billion for the fiscal year 2020,” Hogan said.” “This would represent a 50 percent decrease in revenues for the next 90 days, and up to a 15 percent reduction in revenues for the fiscal year which ends on July 1.”

As a result, Hogan said all state agencies were required to freeze all budget spending save for those related to covid-19 relief and payroll for state employees.

In addition, all agencies must make budget cuts, with the Maryland Department of Budget and Management overseeing the process and making recommendations.

“The state will be tapping into and spending much of, perhaps even all of, Gov. Hogan the state’s rainy-day fund balance. Responding to this crisis will likely create a multi-year budget issue,” Hogan said.

The governor also announced that the state was ramping up its efforts to help small businesses and workers, as unemployment claims skyrocket state and nationwide.

The Maryland Department of Labor reported that the first week April alone saw 108,508 unemployment claims, which brings the overall total since March to well over 240,000.

“That is more new claims then we received in all of 2019,” Hogan said.

“These are not just numbers. Each one of these represents a struggling Marylander who is experiencing real economic hardship right now.”

To help Marylanders, Hogan said the state department of labor is doubling staffing at claim centers all across the state, and would expand call center hours to Saturdays.

Effective April 17, all citizens eligible for benefits as of April 4, will receive an additional $600 per week as part of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, on top of current benefits.

“The Maryland Department of Labor is also partnering with a vendor to expedite and streamline the implementation of additional programs under the CARES Act,” a state press release said.

See LOCAL Page 7

JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY

EMPTY BOARDWALK The usually crowded Boardwalk had plenty of space this week, as city and state covid-19 mandates become more stringent. At all beach entryways a sign with the mayor’s declaration rests, reminding visitors that now is not the time to visit Ocean City.

Keeping up-to-date on coronavirus

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) Here is what happened last week locally, statewide and nationally with the coronavirus pandemic.

Local April 10, 2020 — Ocean City government issues a press release reminding everyone to stay at home for Easter and Passover weekend. ““Although it remains unsafe to gather for holiday celebrations, we hope families find ways to connect virtually,” Mayor Rick Meehan said.

“Together, as a community and a country, we need to give strength and comfort to one another. This weekend, as we celebrate Passover and the Easter holiday, remember to be kind, be compassionate and choose community over covid-19 by staying healthy and staying home.”

April 15, 2020 — Worcester County has 22 confirmed cases of covid-19, the state health department reports.

State April 9, 2020 — Gov. Larry Hogan hosts a virtual town hall with ABC7.

Questions range from concerns over the governor’s health, to addressing racial disparities in covid-19 cases.

April 10, 2020 — Hogan announces a state budget and hiring freeze.

This comes after Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot says the state is projected to lose up to $2.8 billion in revenue.

Hogan also announces an online

registry for recovered patients, which will serve as a platform for said patients to share their experiences and lend support to each other.

It will also connect those patients to research or clinical studies that they may volunteer to participate in to aid covid-19 treatment research.

To participate visit https://health.maryland.gov/covidconnect/Pages/Home.aspx.

The governor also announces that the state is investing $2.5 million in a joint partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine to help launch a large-scale covid-19 testing initiative.

This year’s primary, which was postponed to June 2, will be done by mail.

Select polling locations will remain open for those unable to vote by mail.

April 14, 2020 — The Maryland judiciary orders courts to remain closed through June 5.

April 15, 2020 — Hogan announces an executive order that requires citizens to wear facemasks or coverings when visiting retail facilities, such as grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores effective Saturday, April 18, at 7 a.m.

Employees of these establishments must also wear facemasks, and implement social distancing policies, if they have not already done so.

Federal April 9, 2020 — Major media outlets report that 6.6 million American workers lost their jobs the first week of April.

April 10, 2020 — The New York Times reports that federal projections

show a spike in infections this summer if the Trump administration lifts the 30-day stay-at-home orders.

Confirmed covid-19 death toll reaches 100,000 worldwide. Experts believe, however, that the number is probably higher, as China and other countries keep figures hidden, and confirming cause of death remains an issue.

April 11, 2020 — U.S. coronavirus death toll reaches 19,424, putting the country ahead of Italy.

April 13, 2020 — A sailor with the USS Theodore Roosevelt dies in Guam of complications from the coronavirus.

The ship reports at least 585 confirmed infections among the crew.

April 14, 2020 — New York City’s death toll soars past 10,000.

The Trump administration reaches agreement with major U.S. airlines over a $25 billion bailout, although terms of the deal are still unknown.

Trump halts funding to the World Health Organization, accusing it of mishandling the pandemic.

The president’s administration also orders all covid-19 stimulus checks to be signed with the president’s name.

April 15, 2020 — The Washington Post reports that retail sales plunge 8.7 percent in March.

The Post also reports that the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program has been overwhelmed, and is running weeks behind.

The CDC reports 605,390 total cases and 24,582 deaths.

APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 7

No traffic signal for Third St. and Phil. Avenue intersection

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) It’s another defeat for Ocean City government, after the State Highway Administration again rejected a request to install a traffic signal of some sort on Third Street and Philadelphia Avenue.

The city has wanted a traffic signal in the area for more than a year since developing a public works bus and tram depot on Second Street.

To argue its case, the city conducted two pedestrian and traffic studies and found the area had high pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

With buses and trams adding to that congestion, the area would be a public safety hazard sans traffic signal, city officials said.

However, the State Highway Administration rejected the city’s findings, stating the pedestrian flow was too little to warrant a signal.

As the city continued to push for a standard traffic signal, City Engineer Terry McGean in February proposed alternatives that would suffice for the interim.

The first option was a $65,000 firehouse signal that would have been placed on the northwest corner of Third Street and Philadelphia Avenue.

Unlike a regular traffic signal, the firehouse signal would flash yellow until it detected a tram coming west or east on Third Street.

Upon detection, the flashing yellow would become a solid yellow and then a solid red.

The second option was a pedestrian-activated signal placed in the same area.

This one cost about $130,000, but would have been financed, ideally, 50/50 between the city and the State Highway Administration.

Nonetheless, the administration rejected these options, as well, but

Local, state and federal updates Continued from Page 6 These programs are the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program (PUA), which will expand eligibility to those who are self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers, those who have insufficient work history and more, as well as the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which will allow citizens already receiving benefits and newly approved claimants an additional 13 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits.

To apply for unemployment insurance visit http://www.labor.maryland.gov/employment/unemployme nt.shtml.

would allow the city to preempt, or connect, signals at Fifth Street and Second Street.

This would allow the public works department to push a button to stop traffic on Fifth Street, though a flagman would still be needed to direct traffic near Second Street.

This solution soon faced a roadblock, however, after Steve Bartlett, transportation operations manager, said the State Highway Administration would not issue flag certification.

The police department would have to manage traffic, Bartlett said, which would be difficult to coordinate, as police had other duties to fulfill.

“I’m pretty shocked by that,” McGean said. “Internally we will have to deal with that.”

JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY

The State Highway Administration rejected the Ocean City Transportation Committee’s request for traffic signal alternatives. City leaders have wanted a signal on Third Street and Philadelphia Avenue for quite some time, citing pedestrian safety concerns.

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APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

The Ocean City Council chose on Tuesday to table a rental housing license amendment that would require advertisements of rental units to include the property’s rental license number.

JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Rental housing license amendment tabled

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) The Ocean City Council chose to table a proposed rental housing amendment, which would require all rental unit advertisements to include the property’s rental licensing number.

“The very beginning of this dealt with some of the rentals being in single neighborhoods, R-1 neighborhoods and mobile neighborhoods … and at the time there wasn’t the majority favoring restricting the rentals and the idea was to increase the control,” Councilman Dennis Dare told Ocean City Today.

Over the last several years, the city

has slowly built up an arsenal of enforcement tools to tackle what they see as a commercial takeover of single resident neighborhoods.

From considering a new R-1A zoning district, creating digital map of licensed properties in R-1 neighborhoods available online for public use and even mass mailing of compliance details — the city has taken multiple steps to address the issue.

The latest advertising angle came to life in 2018.

Planning Director Bill Neville proposed the idea then during an April council meeting, and said the amendment would require advertisements to

feature the properties’ rental license numbers.

“No hosting platform or property manager may advertise, list or otherwise facilitate booking transactions for rentals in the Town of Ocean City without having verified with the license inspector that the license of the property owner is valid and that the address of the housing unit matches the address listed for the license,” one of the code additions states.

The amendment would serve as an enforcement tool for the city’s license inspector, Dare said, and would allow for the city to receive license fees and room tax.

“The person that plays by the rules is next door to somebody who doesn’t play by the rules — it’s an unfair advantage,” Dare said.

Nonetheless, the council did not formally make a decision Tuesday afternoon, and instead reached a consensus that more public comment was needed, before any decisions were made.

The amendment was moved to a future work session, and the public may comment either through the Zoom chat feature or by emailing City Clerk Diana Chavis at dchavis@oceancitymd.gov .

To access the R-1 rental license map visit https://oceancitymd.gov/ oc/departments/finance/r1-rental-maps/

Department of Public Works doing everything to ‘be ready’

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) Ocean City’s Department of Public Works is doing its best to “be ready” and have a full staff, full fleet and full service whenever coronavirus-related travel and social distancing restrictions are eased.

For the department, which consists of nine divisions, to be ready means to complete all personnel forms, preemployment drug testing, state transportation department issues and training before peak season begins.

“At some point in the world of public works … we have to be at a ‘be ready’ stage,” Public Works Director Hal Adkins said. “We set a goal to be ready by May 15. That does not mean we are launching (full force) by May 15, but we will be ready.”

This would cost the department roughly $5,000 — a small expense considering the other option would be departmental failure, Adkins said.

Overall, the department has already taken strides to prepare itself for the return of visitors.

“We are 95 percent staffed in the tram division and 90 percent staffed

in the bus division to a comfortable level that I can work with,” said Steve Bartlett, transportation operations manager.

Additionally, the transportation division has taken extra steps to protect the dozen or so passengers they see per ride, with paper covering seats to maintain social distancing standards and extra thorough bus cleaning.

“Buses are cleaner now than the day they arrived from the factory,” Bartlett said. “Every piece of the fleet has been cleaned and all major touch surfaces are being cleaned after every shift. The service center has done a great job cleaning the air filters (regularly) with a power washer. We are doing everything we possibly can to keep the fleet clean.”

Drivers were also encouraged to wear facemasks, and most were — although Mayor Rick Meehan said facemasks should become mandatory, rather than a suggestion.

Meehan also expressed his desire for the transportation division to begin thinking about how it plans to maintain social distancing and sanitary best practices, as more and more

JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Public Works Director Hal Adkins told members of the Ocean City Transportation Committee on Monday that he was preparing his staff to “be ready” the moment the city was open to visitors again.

people return to the resort.

“I think we need to be prepared to address those scenarios when we do get the green light,” Meehan said.

“Maybe standing won’t be permitted because it congests the bus — I really think we ought to get out in front of that and be prepared.”

As an example, Meehan pointed to June and how crowds of high school students typically come to the resort

for beach week and buses are packed.

Adkins said, however, “no standing” policies would be impossible to implement in the current fleet without drastically cutting revenue.

A typical 40-foot bus seats 35 people, but can fit an additional 50 people if they are standing, while a 60-foot articulating bus can seat 48 people with capacity for an additional 140 See WHEN Page 10

APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

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Ocean City Today

APRIL 17, 2020

OC Chamber sees temporary change in leadership role

When covid-19 lets go of resort, DPW must be prepared

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) The Ocean City Chamber of Commerce will see a temporary transition of power, as it continues to seek a permanent executive director. “[Chamber publications manager] Nancy Schwendeman … will be serving as interim executive director starting on Monday, April 20,” said Melanie Pursel, current chamber executive director, during Monday’s Tourism Commission meeting. “… She has been here for over 10 years … and she’ll serve well Melanie Pursel and she’s up to speed.”

After spending nearly 13 years leading the chamber, Pursel is saying goodbye to Ocean City and hello to Worcester County, as she was selected to become the new county tourism director.

“Pursel brings 21 years of proven leadership to Worcester County Government,” a March 2 press release states. “Her strong marketing, leadership and communication skills allow her to play key roles in the sales, promotion and marketing of Worcester County.”

Under her leadership, the chamber diversified its board and has won numerous awards, such as the Maryland Tourism Coalition’s Industry Partnership Award in 2008, and the Maryland State Chamber Executive of the Year award in 2016.

Although Pursel will be leaving the resort’s chamber, she assured her colleagues that she would be a close partner to the Town of Ocean City.

“I totally expect to be working with everybody very closely — I am really excited about this,” Pursel said.

Continued from Page 8 standing riders.

“If you look at it logistically and look at it service-wise — we do not have the fleet nor the man power to do [it] and we will financially bleed to death,” Adkins said.

Nonetheless, Adkins said his department is working on the issue, and depending on how long covid-19 maintains its hold over the country, the winter schedule, when only two buses are deployed, may be extended into the summer season.

“It’s ironic that we’ve working all of these years to get people on the bus, but now it’s the opposite,” Meehan said.

He added that the buses should be equipped with hand sanitizer, and Adkins said he would like to add Clorox wipes, as well, so that riders could wipe down their seats.

“Public perception, public confidence, public safety and us supplying a better environment … [this] is the opportunity to go above and beyond [for riders],” Meehan said.

FILL

PRINT • WEB oceancitytoday.com baysideoc.com

PHOTO COURTESY SEACRETS

Seacrets on 49th Street is creating its own FDA-regulated hand sanitizer in its distillery, however, the product is currently limited to essential employees and health care workers.

Seacrets producing hand sanitizer

By Morgan Pilz Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) Seacrets on 49th Street is using its distillery to produce hand sanitizer for health care workers and other essential employees amid the coronavirus pandemic.

General Manager Scott Studds said the restaurant/distillery was inspired by other businesses creating hand sanitizer.

“We looked at the feasibility of it when we heard of other places doing it,” Studds said. “The owner, Leighton Moore, was very anxious to be able to do this because obviously of his affiliation with [Atlantic General Hospital and Peninsula Regional Medical Center] and ties within the city government that people were reaching out to him. We obviously knew there was a need passed even what you hear on a national level. But, it obviously hit home a little more local, too.

“When we started looking into it, we came and looked at all the regulations and the recommendations that were out there as far as making sure that we were in compliance with doing it correctly,” he continued.

The guidelines, provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) offers two different formula options.

Seacrets has used the first option,

which requires ingredients of at least 96 percent ethanol, 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 98 percent glycerol and sterilized water.

“By that model, you have to denature the alcohol, which basically makes it undrinkable,” Studds said. “After that is done, you put in your parts of glycerin and hydrogen peroxide and mix that in. [WHO] has a guidance of between 75 and 85 percent alcohol content that they want in the sanitizer.

We put ours at 80 percent.”

Seacrets received its FDA certification and registration and began making hand sanitizer at the beginning of April.

“The first batch matured on April 5,” Studds said. “The long and short of it is you can make it and then there is a 72hour maturity window that you need to have it set, and that basically activates the hydrogen peroxide within it.”

Studds said Seacrets is currently waiting for more raw materials (glycerol and hydrogen peroxide) to be delivered so additional sanitizer can be produced. It should arrive by the beginning of next week, he said.

Studds said the staff has been doing a great job with the supplies they have.

“It’s an amazing learning process going through all of it,” he said. “The guys at the distillery did a great job

with putting everything together and getting it to the point where we can get it out there. Like I said, there is a need and people are very, very appreciative that we’re doing it.”

Seacrets has primarily sent out the product to those who need it the most, such as nurses and doctors at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, and other health care providers throughout the city and county.

The sanitizer is being both sold and donated where needed, Studds said.

“We are selling a portion and we are donating a portion,” he said. “What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to limit it as much as possible so we can get it to municipalities like the hospitals that need it. We’re being a little selective in getting it out there just because we have such a limited quantity.”

The cost for a gallon is $30. However, essential workers and health care facilities are given first priority due to the limited supply available.

Even though Seacrets is closed to the public, the distillery is still producing its drinkable alcoholic products and is offering carryout Fridays through Sundays from 12-8 p.m.

For more information or to order carryout, call Seacrets at 410-5244900.

APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 11

West OC could be new site for Heavy Metal Playground

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) The Heavy Metal Playground that the Berlin Planning Commission reviewed with much skepticism is likely to shift to West Ocean City. The Worcester County Technical Review Committee reviewed a proposal for the playground at 12325 Old Bridge Road, about 390 feet east of the intersection with Route 50, during its meeting on Wednesday, April 8.

The playground, full of heavy machinery such as excavators and bulldozers, is classified as an outdoor recreational and amusement use. In sessions lasting from 15 to 45 minutes, participants at least 8-years old can safely use and play with the heavy equipment for entertainment, corporate events and heavy equipment training certification.

The Berlin Planning Commission was not on board with the proposal, citing noise concerns. Owner Mark Stevanus said that the project location changed because it will give the playground more exposure.

“People coming to the beach will drive right past us,” Stevanus said. “It’s just more of an open feel and it’s more in an activity area — it’s near a go kart track. It’s in more of an amusement area.”

The playground is now pending approval from the Worcester County Board of Zoning Appeals meeting next month.

“It’s a good business to bring into the location,” Stevanus said. “We’ve been hearing nothing but good things and approval so far.”

Although Stevanus said having the playground completed just before the start of the summer season would be ideal, but the company is waiting to see when the Ocean City beach and the businesses will reopen after shutting down to block the spread of Covid-19.

“Once we get a better feel for what’s going on in the world and when businesses can reopen, we’ll start the process,” Stevanus said. “It’s a differ-

ent world we’re living in to plan this out.”

He added that when it is open, the playground will bolster Ocean City’s tourism industry. Ocean City would be the only beach community to have a Heavy Metal Playground, which would help attract visitors, according to Stevanus.

“We have a location now right outside Frederick, Maryland and we have people that drive six to seven hours to spend just half an hour at our facility,” Stevanus said.

Heavy Metal Playground also offers training certifications to underprivileged teens and veterans to help them gain employment. Stevanus said that the training is free for participants, sometimes through local nonprofits or offered for free by Heavy Metal Playground.

Heavy Metal Playground has offered events to corporations such as Google, Amazon, Volvo and Ciso, and to nonprofits including Wounded Warriors and the American Cancer Society.

To keep the area safe during off hours, Stevanus said the operators take the same precautions as typical construction sites to make sure the machines cannot be used.

“We keep them locked,” Stevanus said. “There’s ways to put alarms on them and lights to trigger to come on.

We’ve never had an incident where our location is.”

He said that they can easily maintain crowd control and sanitize the machines to stay within guidelines to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

For general safety measures, all participants receive training and wear a headset for someone to guide them through various activities.

“Safety is the number one thing for us,” Stevanus said. “We lay out the process that it’s a very safe place, probably safer than a lot of things like go karts or jet skis.”

Although the opening date has not been determined, gift cards can be purchased at heavymetalplayground.com

MORGAN PILZ/OCEAN CITY TODAY

SIX FEET APART Residents and visitors are reminded to remain at least six feet apart from one another and to avoid large groups of people with this announcement on Route 50 in West Ocean City.

The owner of Heavy Metal Playground, located outside of Frederick, is proposing a new location in West Ocean City.

PHOTO COURTESY HEAVY METAL PLAYGROUND

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APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

Mad Fish begins rebuilding process, start date unknown

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) After a fire forced Mad Fish Bar & Grill to close on Aug. 2, the West Ocean City restaurant is preparing to construct a 13,847square-foot restaurant with outdoor dining. The project underwent a site plan review through the Worcester County Technical Review Committee during its meeting on Wednesday, April 8.

Owner Cole Taustin said that the biggest change will be a larger outdoor bar and dining area than what they were in the old building. In turn, it will have a smaller indoor area and second floor. He added that because of the coronavirus pandemic, they don’t have an exact timeline of when they hope to start construction.

“Right now, we’re working through the permit process with the county, which is slowed down by the fact that people are working from home,” Taustin said.

The Worcester County Commissioners passed emergency legislation on March 3 to allow Mad Fish to redevelop the parcel properly by allow-

ing up to 90 percent of required parking to be off-premises in the commercial marine district.

The previous zoning code only allowed up to 50 percent of required parking to be off-premises. Because the new, smaller building is farther away from the water, it will only have nine or 10 parking spaces on the same side of Harbor Road, whereas the old building had 19 spaces.

It will require an additional six equivalent dwelling units of sewer capacity before a building permit can obtained.

“Everyone is very anxious to get rolling and see what the new building is going to look like,” Taustin said.

“We’re excited to get the ball rolling because everybody would like to be back to normal under regular circumstances, let alone have the restaurant back in action.”

He hopes to have Mad Fish operating at full capacity for summer 2021.

As a major site plan, the project will require approval from the Worcester County Planning Commission.

Wor. creates revised budget in response to coronavirus

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) Although the Worcester County Commissioners had scheduled a budget work session meeting via Zoom for Tuesday afternoon, they cancelled the session. The work session had already been rescheduled twice before to comply with social distancing guidelines and because of technology issues.

This time, according to Harold Higgins, chief administrative officer, the meeting was cancelled because the county finance team developed a revised budget in response to the coronavirus.

“The covid-19 pandemic hit after estimated revenues and requested expenditures were submitted,” Higgins said. “As such, estimated revenues have been adjusted. The pandemic will have a negative impact on both income tax revenue and investment earnings and as such were adjusted.”

The county had estimated general fund revenues of nearly $210 million, with budget requests topping that by $11 million. However, with many restaurants and hotels either shut down or operating at a limited capacity, revenue for this year is not likely to meet original expectations.

The revised budget estimates that

the revenue will be about $205 million with budget requests topping that by about $270,000.

Higgins said that each county department was asked to review its budget and suggest items to reduce.

The revised budget was based on those suggestions and the work by the county finance team.

“Specifics will need to be vetted through the commissioners, but generally capital expenditures were reevaluated or will be postponed for another year,” Higgins said.

County Commissioner Joseph Mitrecic previously said that major purchases had been cut from the budget, as was hiring more county personnel.

Higgins said that the revised budget includes the maintenance of effort increase that’s required for the Worcester County Board of Education, in addition to the county staff pay raises. He added that they are still working on determining funding for emergency services.

Commissioners have said they have no intention to raise the tax rate.

The public hearing for the FY21 budget will be held on May 5 via Zoom. Instructions on how the public can view the meeting or speak will be sent out at a later date. The budget must be finalized by July 1.

Your Online Community: www.oceancitytoday.com

ELIZABETH BONIN/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Mad Fish Bar & Grill at the West Ocean City Harbor is working on obtaining a building permit and the bidding process to begin reconstruction.

Worcester County Commissioner Briefs

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) The Worcester County Commissioners made the following decisions during their Tuesday meeting.

Training scholarship The commissioners approved a $4,000 law enforcement training scholarship grant through the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention.

The scholarship will cover costs associated with the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command Training Program, with no costs to Worcester County.

The county had no budgeted funds for this training.

Berlin fireworks The Town of Berlin’s request to use the Northern Worcester Athletic Complex for a fireworks show on July 3 was approved.

Tom Perlozzo said Berlin would pay for the fireworks, while the county recreation department would host family activities. It also might have private vendors on site to cover any

oceancitytoday.com baysideoc.com Will help you find a

Local ss e n i s u B online

costs.

He said he could make the synthetic ice rink available and would accommodate other towns interested in a similar event.

Perlozzo said these plans could change as Berlin’s town budget changes in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Showell Park The commissioners rejected all bids for a 720-square-foot facility for a small concession stand and restrooms at Showell Park, as per the recommendation from Tom Perlozzo, director of recreation and parks, economic development and tourism.

He said water, sewer and concession equipment was excluded from all the bids.

Since he could not find a solution among the bids, Perlozzo suggested investigating the possibility of acquiring a pre-fabricated building, a mobile unit for concessions only or acting as the general manager for the entire project.

The project is 90 percent funded through Project Open Space at $200,000.

Crossword answers from page 36

APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

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Ocean City Today

APRIL 17, 2020

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE BRIEFS

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) The following took place on Tuesday, April 14, during the Ocean City Transportation Committee meeting.

Bus shelter Public Works Director Hal Adkins said a solar panel had been installed on the 26th Street northbound bus shelter.

The panel had been installed roughly six weeks ago, and so far seemed to be successful Adkins said.

Bus fleet Adkins said several buses had met or exceeded their useful life criteria of 12 years or older.

The plan was to replace four of these buses with two 60-foot buses and two 40-foot ones.

In the interim, Adkins said his department was looking into alternatives, such as borrowing buses from MDOT MTA. Adkins also updated the group on two grant applications, the VW Mitigation and 5339 b applications.

In an email, Wayne Pryor, city grants coordinator, said the city had requested funding for on articulating bus valued at $657,548, of which 20 percent, or $131,510, would be matched by the city.

This award would be announced sometime this spring.

The city approved the 5339 b application on April 6, in which it requested the two aforementioned 60-foot articulating buses, $675,000 each, and two 40-foot buses, $450,000 each.

In total, this would cost $2.3 million, with $1.8 million covered by federal funding and $450,000 covered by the city.

Awards for this grant would be announced in the fall.

Adkins said, however, the likelihood of getting all four buses was low, and he was expecting to get one of each.

Home Need Improvements?

Check out the

e c i v r e S y r o t c Dire For a variety of local contractors

PHOTO COURTESY RYAN WHITTINGTON

HAPPY EASTER Gov. Larry Hogan declared the Easter Bunny an essential worker last week. Firefighter Alex Bean was one of several public safety and law enforcement officials who escorted the bunny on Sunday around the resort and in West Ocean City.

Wor. jail adjusts to virus guidelines

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) A federal judge declined to release an immigration and customs enforcement inmate at the Worcester County Detention Center after the inmate sued ICE, according to the Associated Press.

According to the complaint filed on March 24, the inmate “suffers from hypertension, prostate problems, including a prostate infection, chronic pain, and a rule/out diagnosis of an intellectual disability.”

It further states that the detention centers house inmates together under the six feet apart recommended by the Center for Disease and Control. Individuals share common spaces such as tables, phones and bathrooms.

The complaint claims that the bathrooms are not disinfected after every use and that alcohol-bases sanitizers are “generally unavailable at the Maryland facilities.”

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, two Maryland ICE facilities do not have tests available. There are three facilities in Maryland in Worcester, Frederick and Howard Counties.

Inmates in several other states, including Massachusetts, Washington, California and Illinois, have released some inmates who are at a higher risk of infection.

Donna Bounds, warden of the

Worcester County Detention Center, said that all housing units are single cell occupancy and that there have been no positive cases.

Donna Bounds Masks have been issued to all inmates, ICE detainees and staff members to wear. Visitation is temporarily suspended. In addition, the jail has increased cleaning and sanitizing measures to all areas.

“New arrivals, inmates and ICE detainees receive health screenings to include a temperature check and are

placed in a cell by themselves for a period of 14 days and monitored by medical daily prior to placement in the general population,” Bounds said in a statement.

Staff members are also screened and receive temperature checks every time they enter the building. Although attorney visits are still authorized, many are contacting clients via phone calls.

“Jail leadership is currently working with the attorneys of the inmates and the Public Defender’s Office to provide them with a roster of all inmates currently in our facility,” Bounds said.

The Worcester County Detention Center in Snow Hill is conducting wellness checks for employees and inmates and has not yet had a confirmed coronavirus case.

APRIL 17, 2020

PAGE 15

Ocean City Today

Frontier Town expansion advances

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) The Frontier Town expansion will proceed as the Worcester County Commissioners granted a request to allocate the necessary 38 additional equivalent dwelling units of sewer capacity during on Tuesday. The campground on Route 611 plans to add 112 campsites for summer 2021.

The 560-site campground added 101 sites last year, bringing its total to 661. Attorney Hugh Cropper previously said that it has always been a part of Frontier Town’s master plan to ex-

pand the campground.

The request of additional equivalent dwelling units originally came to the commissioners last August, but they chose to postpone it until after they finished revising the equivalent dwelling unit allocation agreement process.

The expansion underwent a site plan review by the Worcester County Technical Review Committee on Wednesday, March 11. The committee ruled that the sewer capacity had to be expanded before the campsites could be added.

Kelly Shannahan, assistant chief administrative officer, pointed out that Frontier Town was already exceeding its allowable flow. Its daily maximum is not to exceed 6,677 gallons per day of sewage from the laundromat, restaurant and water park to the Assateague Pointe Service Area.

See PROPERTY Page 16 ELIZABETH BONIN/OCEAN CITY TODAY

The Frontier Town campground off Route 611 in Berlin was allocated 38 equivalent dwelling units so that it can add 112 campsites for the summer 2021 season.

410-289-1283

410-289-1283

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APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

Property to add 112 campsites for summer ’21

ELIZABETH BONIN/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Crabs-To-Go is expanding its outdoor seating capacity to about 80 seats and is also fencing in the area.

TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE BRIEFS

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) The Technical Review Committee reviewed the following plans at its meeting last Wednesday.

Royal Farms Royal Farms proposed a location for a 5,154-square-foot convenience store with an associated gas canopy and 1,248-square-foot car wash during the committee’s meeting.

The gas station is proposed to be located at 11073 Cathell Road, about 500 feet west of the intersection with Racetrack Road.

The sketch plan received comments from the committee and will return to the committee at a later date for full site plan approval.

The property has been allocated eight water and sewer equivalent

dwelling units from the Ocean Pines Sanitary Service Area. Environmental Programs said it would need more information about the interior of the building and whether there is recirculation equipment before it could determine the flow allocation.

Crabs-To-Go The committee reviewed a 3,125 square-foot seating expansion for Crabs-To-Go on Route 50 at the intersection of Racetrack Road and Grays Corner Road.

In an interview, Mark Whitmeyer, of Crabs-To-Go, said that the expansion will increase the outdoor seating capacity from about 20 seats to 80 seats with the additional picnic tables.

He said that the restaurant is laying the groundwork right now and that it will also be fencing in the area for safety.

“We’re going to have cornhole and something for kids – games and that kind of stuff,” Whitmeyer said.

He hopes the expansion will be complete by June.

It has six equivalent dwelling units in sewer capacity allocated to the parcel.

“We’re making the area nicer so you can stop by and grab something to eat — get a good, quality meal on the go,” Whitmeyer said.

Sinepuxent Brewing Co. Sinepuxent Brewing Co., formerly Berlin Organics, proposed a 6,059square-foot farm brewery operation on the east side of Route 611. The project was allocated six equivalent dwelling units in sewer capacity.

The company proposed a similar operation about a year-and-a-half ago under “Assateague Brewing.”

OC COUNCIL BRIEFS

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) The following took place on Tuesday, April 14, during the Ocean City Council work session.

Wrestling The council approved a Tourism Advisory Board funding request of $7,000 to support the Kings of the Mat Wrestling Tournament scheduled for Nov. 7-8 at the convention center on 40th Street.

Waterways The council chose to remand to the

Board of Port Wardens a request to make amendments to the city’s code chapter 106, waterways.

Currently, the code requires a 40foot width minimum navigable channel in canals.

This conflicts with the Md. Department of Environment’s standard, which lets multiple bulkhead replacements to encroach up to 18 in. or more.

The amendment would clarify the state standard allowing for a max onetime encroachment channel-ward for bulkhead replacement, provided that the minimum 40-foot-wide navigable waterway remains open.

Council members sent the request

to the Board of Port Wardens for further review.

Airport hangar The council approved funds for hangar repairs at the OC Municipal Airport, located in Berlin.

Public Works Director Hal Adkins explained that the airport hangar has had a major leak issue for several years.

In order to fix the leak, it would cost anywhere from $35,000-40,000, which would be sourced from leftover money from a concreted crushing operation within the airport enterprise fund.

Continued from Page 15 Based on flow reported from June 7 to July 26, 2019, the daily average flow of 16,841 gallons per day exceeded the permitted flow by 10,164 gallons per day, or 252 percent. As a result, Shannahan reported that the sewer committee did not support the requested additional equivalent dwelling unit allocation.

County Commissioner Joseph Mitrecic said he had recently spoken to Cropper about the overflow issue.

“I’m satisfied that they are, in fact, looking at that situation,” Mitrecic said. “They’ve flown experts in from other states even to look at it and they are on top of that and plan on correcting that as soon as possible.”

Bob Mitchell, director of environmental programs, said Frontier Town also had a couple valve issues and double readings. The campsite has agreed to install a meter to determine the actual flows.

However, those numbers may be skewed due to the coronavirus delaying its opening day.

“We don’t know what kind of season they’re going to have,” Mitchell said. “We don’t know what kind of data can be extrapolated from this flow study.”

The commissioners agreed that although excess flow was a problem, it did not affect granting the additional equivalent dwelling units.

“I think we’re mixing apples and oranges here,” said County Commissioner Bud Church.

The commissioners agreed to allocate the 38 equivalent dwelling units – 29 from infill and the remaining from vacant multi-lot properties in the north. County Commissioner Joshua Nordstrom voted in opposition. He said although he supported the expansion, he wanted to see the flow issue fixed first.

The campground sees thousands of visitors each year and is usually sold out from Memorial Day to Labor Day, according to General Manager Carrie Coster.

The Western theme park celebrated 60 years in 2019. Built in 1959 by Bill Patten and Bill Pacey, the park was created during a time when the Old West was growing in popularity.

Frontier Town expanded within five years, with the campground opening in 1963. Since then, a waterpark, Pony Island Arcade & Gifts, Pony Espresso and Creamery, an activity pool with a stagecoach slide, the Poolside Grill and the High Ropes Adventure Park and Zip Lines have been added.

Two of its biggest attractions are the staged gun shows and Can-Can dances.

The expansion will go to the Worcester County Planning Commission next for final approval.

APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

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Ocean City Today

Opioid-related deaths fall in state, slightly rise in county

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) Maryland saw 53 fewer opioid-related deaths, a 2.5 percent decline, in 2019 for a total of 2,090 deaths, according to the Opioid Operational Command Center. It marks the first year of decreased deaths in the state since the start of the opioid crisis.

Worcester County saw a slight increase by four, going from 10 opioid overdoses in Travis Brown 2018 to 14 in 2019.

Jennifer LaMade, director of planning, quality and core services at the Worcester County Health Department, said that this is a 40 percent increase, but that number is deceiving since the county is dealing with such small numbers. Although the numbers for Worcester are small, LaMade said it’s still significant.

“Anytime we lose anyone to a drug overdose is one life we should not have lost,” LaMade said. “It is four more people than 2018 and we continue to see that as a repercussion, a consequence of fentanyl in the street drug system.”

She said that department staff used to see fentanyl in heroin, but it’s spread to other drugs such as cocaine.

According to the Center for Disease and Control, fentanyl can be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

Travis Brown, public information office for the health department, said that some users may not even realize the drugs they use contain fentanyl.

“One of the other reasons fentanyl is so dangerous is because it’s very widespread,” Brown said. “It became very popular in the last couple years.

It’s cheap. It’s a synthetic opioid, so it’s not very expensive.”

After seeing a spike in 2016, Worcester’s opioid-related deaths have generally decreased until last year.

Brown said he would like to attrib-

ute the decrease to the comprehensive programs the state and county have put together over the past five years.

“We’ve got fantastic county response, not just with the health department, but with the opioid intervention team, which is public and private agencies, so it’s public health, education, law enforcement and emergency services,” Brown said. “The hospitals are involved and local government’s involved.”

He added that implementing the Safe Station at the Ocean City Fire Department on 15th Street has been a huge help. It connects those who use drugs to treatment and peer support specialists who have overcome addiction.

“They’re very much a front line,” Brown said. “They have been through that journey themselves so they’re able to speak very authentically to those who are looking for help.”

A grant from the Opioid Operational Command Center guaranteed eight beds at Hudson Health in Salisbury that people can be referred to for inpatient treatment when they come to the Safe Station or contact the health department.

For other strategies, Brown said the department has distributed thousands of naloxone training and kits. It also has staff at the Atlantic General Hospital emergency department to create a list of high-risk patients and connect with those struggling with substance abuse.

“Not everyone is ready for treatment when they have an issue with substance abuse, but it’s one of those things where you want to be there when they do wake up one morning and decide that they are ready,” Brown said.

To continue the success, LaMade said that a three-year $75,000 Overdose Data to Action grant will help create an opioid response plan. Staff have conducted focus groups and interviews with those who use drugs.

“It’s really challenged us to talk to people who use drugs and say ‘What

are we doing that’s working to help you and what are we not doing that you need us to do?’” LaMade said.

Interviewees said that medication assisted treatment has helped, according to LaMade, so the department will continue to expand those services.

The health department also hopes to launch a nationwide program called law enforcement assisted diversion in October.

“That is a partnership between law enforcement and the Worcester County behavioral health unit to actually look to divert people that are becoming known to the police for issues to treatment rather than to jail or prison,” LaMade said.

The first pilot site will be the Ocean Pines Police Department.

Next year, the department plans to start academic detailing, a program to encourage physicians to talk with each other about what they’re prescribing to patients.

Beyond that, it also hopes to secure

property for a treatment house in Worcester County through Hudson Health Services next year.

“We’re constantly looking at ways to enhance our recovery system across the spectrum for education, prevention and treatment - and law enforcement,” LaMade said.

The ReStore is temp porarily closed due to COVID-19.

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APRIL 17, 2020

PAGE 19

Ocean City Today

WORLD WAR II

Keith Park — master of flight

By Peter Ayers Wimbrow III Contributing Writer (April 17, 2020) This week, 80 years ago, when the commander of No. 11 Group, Air Vice-Marshal Leslie Gossage, was appointed Air Member for Personnel, Air Marshal Hugh Dowding, commander of Royal Air Force Fighter Command, appointed Keith Park as his replacement.

Eleven Group’s responsibility was the highest of any fighter group in the RAF, with territory comprising most of southern England, including London, which was the closest to the French coast.

Although at the time of his appointment, it was said that he knew more about fighter planes than any other man in England, his appointment did not sit well with everyone, especially with Trafford Leigh-Mallory, who was commander of No. 12 Group. Dowding’s appointment of Park, instead of Leigh-Mallory, would have long-lasting and unpleasant repercussions on both careers of Park and Dowding.

By June 18, 1940, it was evident that as a result of the German Blitzkrieg, begun on May 10, 1940, the Republic of France would fall. In his speech to the House of Commons that day, Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill said, “What Gen. Weygand has called the ‘Battle of France’ is over. The ‘Battle of Britain’ is about to begin.

“Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life and the long continuity of our institutions and our empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us.

“Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war.

If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new dark age made more sinister and perhaps more protracted by the lights of perverted science.

“Let us, therefore, brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth lasts for a thousand years, men will say, ‘This was their finest hour!”’

Keith Rodney Park was born in Thames, New Zealand on June 15, 1892, the son of a couple who had immigrated from Scotland. During WWI, he had served in the Army until being wounded. After he recovered, he joined the Air Force. In 1938, Park was appointed junior air staff officer to Air Marshal Dowding.

As soon as the German assault commenced on May 10, 1940, the French began screaming for help, including fighters. The fighters that were sent came mostly from 11 Group to the con-

sternation of its leader. He knew that the planes and pilots would be needed to defend Britain. Then, on May 27, 1940, the Air Ministry ordered Fighter Command to provide air support over Dunkirk. The task fell to 11 Group. Park said “Dunkirk was a prelude to the ‘Battle of Britain’ that was to follow. This is where young and inexperienced pilots, as well as the more experienced, would learn how to cope with long hours in the air. The strain of battle nonstop from first light to dusk, where we could put our coastal radar to the test, where ground crews could rearm and refuel aircraft in the shortest time possible so that the pilots could return back to the combat area almost immediately.”

Because of the distance and limited range of fighters, 11 Group’s Hurricanes and Spitfires could not spend very much time over the beaches at Dunkirk.

And so, to the soldiers standing on the beach waiting to be evacuated, while being bombed and strafed by the Luftwaffe, it seemed as if the Royal Air Force was nonexistent.

After the soldiers returned to England, there were many fights between them and “the Brylcreem Boys” of Fighter Command. In eight days of operations at Dunkirk, 62 pilots were killed, 15 injured, and 8 captured.

Eleven Group’s commander was the

last British airman to leave the Dunkirk area. He watched the last two British ships set sail, while making a final survey.

While the Battle of Britain raged, another battle was being fought. This battle was being fought between Hugh Dowding and Keith Park on one side and Trafford Leigh-Mallory and fighter ace Douglas Bader on the other side.

Leigh-Mallory began espousing the “Big Wing Theory.” In this theory, the British fighters did not attack the Germans until the British had achieved a mass of fighters.

Of course, it worked for Leigh-Mallory because his group was not on the coast.

His group had the time to form the “Big Wing.” But Keith Park’s 11 Group only had minutes in which to react to the Luftwaffe.

It got into the air what fighters it could as soon as possible to attack the enemy before the enemy dropped its bombs. Quite often, under the “Big Wing Theory” the attack was made after the enemy had dropped its bombs.

In addition, use of the “Big Wing” meant that all of the planes would be re-

Keith Park

turning at the same time, getting refueled at the same time, and getting rearmed at the same time. This, of course, would result in a significant period when there was no protection.

Another cause of friction between the two group commanders occurred when fighters from 11 Group bases near 12 Group would be scrambled, and 12 Group was asked to provide protection for 11 Group’s bases. Several times, 12 Group did not provide the requested protection, with the result that the 11 Group’s bases were damaged.

Continued on Page 20

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APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

WORLD WAR II Continued from Page 19 Leigh-Mallory took his complaints to the Air Ministry. After the Battle of Britain had been won, and Dowding and Park should have been celebrating and feted by all, they were summoned to an inquisition at the Air Ministry. This charade was used to force Dowding out of his position in November, to be followed

by Park the next month. Park was given command of a training squadron in January of 1940. Leigh-Mallory was given command of 11 Group.

Park later said that, “To my dying day, I shall feel bitter at the base intrigue which was used to remove Dowding and myself as soon as we had won the ‘Battle of Britain.’”

After the “Battle of Britain” was won

by Fighter Command, the Air Ministry published a 32-page booklet about the battle which did not contain any mention of either Dowding or Park!

It has been said that Hugh Dowding controlled the “Battle of Britain” from day to day, while Keith Park controlled it hour by hour. Air Vice-Marshal Johnny Johnson said that, “He was the only man who could have lost the war in a day or even an afternoon.”

Sir Arthur Tedder, Allied Deputy Supreme Commander, went even further, when he said that, “If any one man won the Battle of Britain, he did. I do not believe it is realized how much that one man, with his leadership, his calm

A park named for Keith Park in New Zealand.

judgment and his skill, did to save, not only this country, but the world.”

Although Dowding was retired, Keith Park received new assignments.

He was transferred to Egypt as air officer commander until July 1942, when he was assigned to Malta. In June 1944, he was appointed Allied Air Commander Southeast Asia. Park was promoted to the rank of air chief marshal and retired to his native country of New Zealand and became a member of the Auckland City Council. He died at the age of 82 on Feb. 6, 1975. There are many schools, streets, and libraries

named for Sir Keith Park.

On the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, on Sept. 15, 2010, a nine-foot high statue of Sir Keith Park was unveiled in Waterloo Place, London.

Next week: Italian battleship Vittorio Veneto commissioned.

Mr. Wimbrow writes from Ocean City, Maryland, where he practices law representing those persons accused of criminal and traffic offenses, and those persons who have suffered a personal injury through no fault of their own. He can be contacted at: wimbrowlaw@gmail.com.

yelled at the two, and then allegedly said, “I’m going to burn your f****** house down.”

Police said they discovered Jenkins had been charged in 2001 with first-degree arson and threat of arson, and had been convicted for the former.

A warrant for Jenkins arrest was issued on April 4, and was served on April 8, and Jenkins will go to trail on May 29, for two charges of breaking state orders and one charge for arson threat.

the 100 block of 141st Street.

One of the passengers, Mccargo, had an active warrant, and police asked him to exit the vehicle, but he refused.

Police attempted to pull him out, but Mccargo resisted, and an officer reportedly pointed a TASER at the suspect, who then got out of the vehicle.

Officers then reportedly walked Mccargo to an adjacent curb and forcibly sat him down after he refused to sit.

Mccargo allegedly flailed his body in an attempt to escape, and at one point struck an officer’s thigh with his elbow.

Police then pushed the suspect to the ground and restrained him, later applying a violent prisoner restraint device on him.

While attempting to apply the device, Mccargo apparently tensed his body and began flailing again, and kicked one of the officer’s left hand, according to the police report.

Mccargo allegedly told police he had the coronavirus, which officers later discovered was false.

Police arrested Mccargo, who faces two second-degree assault charges, charges for resisting arrest, obstructing and hindering arrest, disorderly conduct, an open container of alcohol, two charges for breaking state orders and one charge for providing a false statement to officers.

POLICE BEAT

Arson threat Frank Milton Jenkins, Jr., 43, of Ocean City, on Friday, April 3, faces a charge of threatening to commit arson on April 3.

That day, police reported being dispatched to 207 5th St. for a disorderly conduct call.

En route, police dispatchers reported a suspect vehicle traveling south on Philadelphia Avenue.

The driver parked the car at a lot at 210 Worcester St., and police reported being informed that one of the occupants, Jenkins, had threatened the person who had called the police and said he would burn his or her house down.

Police interviewed the passenger, who told police that she, Jenkins and her friend had an argument, but nothing physical occurred.

Police attempted to interview Jenkins, but he reportedly stated that nothing had happened.

The caller spoke with police, and told police that he had met the woman a few days prior, and gave her a ride home and allowed her into is residence.

The woman took a call while there, and the caller told police he heard Jenkins yelling through the phone making death threats.

Jenkins came to his property and

Assault Justin Carl Mccargo, 31, of Ocean City, faces a long list of charges after allegedly resisting arrest on Thursday, April 9.

Around 5:47 p.m., police communications told officers that a woman had called and said a vehicle was following her.

Police reported speaking with the woman, who said the vehicle was a blue Chevrolet Cavalier with white racing stripes.

Later, an officer met with the woman and her passenger, and the passenger told police that he had gotten into a fight with the driver of the Cavalier, and believed the occupants wanted to fight him.

Police reported finding the blue Cavalier and initiated a traffic stop at

www.oceancitytoday.com

APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 21

County to explore new Pocomoke library cost

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) Plans for a new library in Pocomoke continue as the Worcester County Commissioners on Tuesday moved to obtain a cost estimate for a one possible approach.

The commissioners were most interested in the scheme that calls for a building of approximately 15,00017,000 square feet that would house both the library and a senior center downtown. Parking would be located on surrounding streets and on the parcels, including behind the Discovery Center. That lot would have to be purchased.

Other possible schemes were a combined library, senior center and health department offices downtown, a combined library and senior center at the current Market Street location or a renovation of the library only.

Library Director Jennifer Ranck said she needed a letter of intent from the commissioners before the library could apply for a FY22 state grant that would help with the construction of the library portion.

However, some commissioners were not comfortable choosing a project without cost estimates.

“I believe Pocomoke needs a new library and we need to come to some type of a decision, but I don’t think Jennifer asked for us to make a decision on any of the schemes or concepts,” said County Commissioner Jim Bunting. “She just needed permission to have a letter of intent. I’m not ready to pick which one I like or which one I’m willing to spend

money on without having a cost estimate.”

Ranck clarified that she needed the commissioners to agree on a proposal so she could apply for the grant.

“We didn’t want to go far into cost estimating unless we had a sense from commissioners if we’re interested in a downtown location,” Ranck said.

County Commissioner Chip Bertino agreed with Bunting’s concern on the cost estimate and questioned how much the senior center would cost separately from the library.

Ranck said she had roughly estimated that the library project could be $6-6.5 million, and the senior center would be less than that since it would be a smaller space, but she would have to consult with the Commission on Aging for an estimate.

County Commissioner Joshua Nordstrom, whose district includes Pocomoke, said he supported the library and senior center downtown location scheme because he had the understanding that the health department would prefer to have a separate location. He also clarified that the letter of intent doesn’t obligate commissioners to spend any money.

County Commissioner Ted Elder also said he’d like to have a cost comparison with some of the other project options.

“There was no costs in our packets and I’m just up in the air about it,” Elder said. “Are we headed down a road that’s a free check for somebody?”

The commissioners directed Ranck to return with a cost estimate for the combined library senior center downtown location at their first May meeting. Bunting voted in opposition.

He said although he supported a new library for Pocomoke, he was concerned about the cost, given the uncertainties of the coronavirus pandemic. He also said the commission-

ers had more information at this juncture when they began to consider the new library for Berlin.

“We knew how much money the library worked on getting from the Town of Berlin,” Bunting said. “We knew about donor money. We actually knew a lot more than we do right now and I’m not ready to make any type of decision without at least knowing what we knew with Berlin.”

PHOTO COURTESY THE DESIGN GROUP

The Worcester County Commissioners are most interested in the Pocomoke library scheme for a combined space with a senior center downtown.

“Each one of us is needed in the COVID-19 fight! My top priority is to assist those most impacted by the virus, restore health and safety, and bring back businesses and jobs.

Only together, can we win and protect our Shore way of life!”

JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY

POWER UPGRADE Delmarva Power is modernizing equipment at its substation in Ocean City on Second Street, according to Timothy Stokes, Delmarva Power senior communications specialist. The work will strengthen the local energy grid and enhance service for customers.

PAGE 22

APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

COMMUNITY/SCHOOLS

GUEST SPEAKER YOUNG ARTIST Sophie Maskell of Most Blessed Sacrament School displays her art during the annual Shirley Hall Memorial Youth Art Show at the Ocean City Center for the Arts on 94th Street in March.

READ-IN

Patty Baglieri, Kiwanis member and local Realtor with Long and Foster, was the guest speaker during the weekly meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City on Feb. 26. She is pictured with Kiwanis Club President Roy Foreman.

To celebrate African American History Month, the Stephen Decatur High School National English Honor Society hosted its third annual African American Read-In, where students, teachers and parents had the opportunity to read and listen to excerpts from African American writers. Pictured are Decatur National English Honor Society officers Madison Munn, Lydia Woodley, Ulyssa Jacobs, Gavin Conner and Morgan Carlson.

WELL WISHES

DONATION

CELEBRATION

Ocean City Lions President John Topher presents a donation to Katie and Eric Rimel to support Camp Possibilities, which is for youth with diabetes.

Celebrating the 100th day of school at Ocean City Elementary on Feb. 12, are Andrese Foreman, Kaleigh Wessman, Lauren Truitt, Skylar Truitt, Kristie Fogle and Finn Fogle.

Worcester Prep French teacher Elaine Burg and her French I, II, and III students created Valentine’s cards and wrote “Get Well” wishes in French to sick children in the Montreal Children’s Hospital.

Pictured, from left, are Aria Islam, Morgan White, Ava Nally, Riley Schoch, Brooke Emeigh, Sydney Lamson-Reich, Marshall Mumford and Burg.

APRIL 17, 2020

PAGE 23

Ocean City Today

Md. Coastal Bays Program offering virtual activities

By Morgan Pilz Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) Just about every corner of Worcester County has been affected in some way by the spread of covid-19, and the nonprofit Maryland Coastal Bays Program is no exception.

The program, which exists to protect the waters and surrounding watershed of the county’s coastal bays, can’t do a comSandi Smith plete job because of coronavirus-related work restrictions.

The organization cannot begin recruiting volunteers, while several projects, including Bay Day on Friday, May 1, have also be been canceled or are being considered to for rescheduling.

“We’re still conducting business, although our field activities have been severely curtailed,” said Development and Marketing Coordinator Sandi Smith. “Our water quality monitoring and anything out in the field we’re not able to do right now because we’re following the proper protocol mandated by our government.

“We’re still maintaining our responsibilities to our funding agencies,” she continued.

“We’re submitting progress reports and working with our partners to maintain ongoing studies and payments to our contractors are all continuing.”

Although Smith said program employees miss doing their field work, they have been able to keep up with their paperwork, update the website and apply for grants where needed.

There have also been measures made to help recruit volunteers through virtual training.

“We are talking with volunteers and getting them ready for field surveys on horseshoe crabs, oyster gardening and water sampling when the time is right,” Rowan Jeisen said. “We have been making good use of the

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

SERENITY As the sun sets on the bay ending a mild, breezy day, the sky is lit up in an array of purple, pink, yellow and orange hues.

time that staying at home has allowed.”

The nonprofit also designed a virtual learning page, which can be found on the organization’s website at https://mdcoastalbays.org/virtuallearning, to help keep families informed and entertained.

“Although our plans for spring public events and school activities have been altered, Maryland Coastal Bays Program has taken appropriate measures to ensure continued community engagement opportunities in the form of virtual learning,” Education Coordinator Liz Wist said.

“We have been busy creating weekly online learning modules that are now accessible through a combination of

our website and social media accounts.”

Within the themes are a feature called “Notes from the Field” that provides multiple links for various activities that can be performed by people of all ages.

“Weekly, we will provide a conglomerate of materials for anyone to use to bulk up their knowledge on the following topics: agriculture, bayfriendly backyards, water, forests, and observations,” Wist said. “Information will be provided through daily postings of relevant websites, lesson plans, videos, and “Ask-an-Expert” question and answer sessions.

There will also be education projects for families with children who

may be interested in science or the environment.

Executive Director Kevin Smith encourages families to plant gardens or create bat, bird or butterfly houses as some of these environmentally friendly projects. These houses are some of the many programs the organization raises awareness about while maintaining social distancing.

“We’re also excited to be setting up a few online trainings on different citizen science projects that people can involve themselves in from their own homes and backyards,” Wist said.

“Check out projects such as iNaturalist, Merlin, and NOAA’s Marine Debris Tracker app for a jumpstart on your learning.”

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Ocean City Today

APRIL 17, 2020

Pines Yacht Club sets delivery and carryout records (April 17, 2020) The Ocean Pines Yacht Club on Sunday shattered its own records for delivery and carryout sales.

On Easter Sunday, the Yacht Club sold 281 four-person family meals.

That means the Yacht Club fed more than 1,100 people in a single day.

The restaurant temporarily moved to delivery and carryout only on March 18 to comply with state covid19 restrictions.

Ralph DeAngelus, cofounder of the Matt Ortt Companies, which runs the Yacht Club, said Easter Sunday was especially gratifying.

“It was a grueling day, but the Matt Ortt management team hung in there and is immensely proud, not only of this accomplishment, but of the whole three weeks of delivery service,” DeAngelus said.

Along with setting sales records, the Yacht Club donated and delivered family meals to the Easter Sunday night shift working at the Atlantic General Hospital Emergency Room.

Additionally, DeAngelus said all tips received since March 18 would go to hourly staff laid off because of covid-19.

“Our goal from day one has been to acquire $10,000 dollars in tips to give to the staff on their first day back to work,” he said. “We can’t wait to see the look on their faces when they walk through the door on their first day of work and we hand each one of them an envelope with the tip money that we earned from all these deliveries.

“We want them to know how much we appreciate and missed them, and we think this will be a great start to their summer,” DeAngelus continued.

“We are absolutely confident we will hit our goal of $10,000, as the Ocean Pines residents have been so very generous.”

The Yacht Club is open for delivery and carryout from Wednesday through Sunday from 4-8 p.m. Orders may be made starting at 3:30 p.m. each day.

GREG ELLISON/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Ocean Pines Yacht Club staff, from left, Chelsey Chmelick, Kearston Frey and Melissa Ruck, prepare to deliver an Easter feast for frontline health care workers at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin on Sunday afternoon.

Worcester Co. Library goes digital

By Morgan Pilz Staff Writer (April 17, 2020) Even though the Worcester County Library branches remain closed under Gov. Larry Hogan’s order that only essential businesses can be open, books are still being offered to the public – virtually.

The Worcester County Library’s digital library is available for use during the closure. Included are material for students, eBooks and stream media, resource guides and up-todate information about the coronavirus.

“The library’s digital collection has thousands of items,” Worcester

County Library Director Jennifer Ranck said. “We have two resources available for checking out eBooks – Overdrive and Hoopla. Each of those products has content available for children, teens and adults.”

The digital library is available by visiting www.WorcesterLibrary.org. The database has collections Jennifer Ranck from every genre – from thrillers to romance and mystery – and nonfiction options such as health and fitness, cooking, and history.

According to Ranck, reading is more important than ever because it can be “therapeutic.”

“Reading regularly will help maintain skills for students and prevent academic regression,” she said.

“When a person becomes engrossed in a story, it relaxes the mind and relieves stress.”

Amid the school closures required

by Gov. Hogan and State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Salmon, the county library system also offers a large variety of education-based materials for students who are now learning online.

“The library has created an entire section about at-home learning on our website, www.WorcesterLibrary.org,” Ranck said. “Your library

card can help with at-home tutoring using BrainFuse.”

BrainFuse is a database for test preparation, tutoring and homework help, available seven days a week between 2-11 p.m. Spanish-speaking tutors are also available.

Ranck said that despite local libraries being closed, she is pleased that people seem interested in the virtual resources offer.

“It has been a strange feeling to be closed, but we are very happy to have this opportunity to talk about virtual resources,” she said. “We have received questions about downloading eBooks and finding our digital magazines, so we believe more people are taking advantage of these resources.”

In addition, the organization is offering several virtual activities through its social media pages, including story times, poetry readings, and how-to programs for tasks like sewing, baking, juggling and other activities.

“The library also launched a program last week called ‘Seclusion Cinema,’” Ranck said. “We are encouraging patrons of all ages to submit a short film (five minutes or less) into our homemade film festival.

Complete rules are available on our website.”

The library offers a program called CreativeBug, which features video tuSee RESOURCE Page 26

APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 25

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Find out more at www.newspapers.org or follow us on Twitter @newspapersorg or on Facebook @americasnewspapers.

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APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Polenta with deconstructed puttanesca

By Deborah Lee Walker Contributing Writer (April 17, 2020) If one had to identify Italy with a particular food, what would be your guess?

It’s hard to imagine a world without pizza or pasta, these favorites are the cornerstone of Italy’s rich and intriguing heritage.

However, polenta is also very worthy and does not get the recognition it rightfully deserves. This humble, yet versatile dish originated as food for those less fortunate.

Time has a way of redefining history. Today, polenta is served in the finest establishments all over the world with incredible ingenuity and stunning presentations.

Contrary to popular belief, polenta is a dish and not an ingredient. Polenta refers to a porridge made from ground cornmeal that is combined with a liquid and seasonings that can be served on its own or accompany a specific food.

Authentic polenta is made from a particular corn called eight-row flint.

This exclusive variety is not available in your local supermarket but can be ordered online.

For those who want the convenience of every day shopping, I recommend “Bob’s Red Mill - Corn Grits also known as Polenta.”

In order to comprehend the means of making polenta, one must understand what actually happens during the cooking process.

When the endosperm (the outer, starchy part of the corn kernel) comes in contact with hot water, it eventually absorbs liquid, swells and bursts, releasing starch in a development known as gelatinization.

As a result, the grains soften and lose their gritty exterior.

But there is one drawback. The tough pieces of endosperm require lots of time and heat for the water to penetrate it. More specifically, it

takes approximately 2 hours for 2 cups of polenta to cook thoroughly. In addition, the mixture must be stirred constantly.

Believe it or not, but adding baking soda to the cooking liquid can reduce the gelatinization process. Proportions vary for the amount of polenta you are cooking and must be measured in moderation.

The subject of what type of cooking vessel should be used is the next subject for discussion.

You will need a heavy-duty pot to protect the polenta from burning. Remember, it takes time to cook polenta and the proper pot is a must.

Choices determine the level of success and details dictate the final outcome.

With that thought in mind, stay away from white cornmeal. The flavor is milder than yellow cornmeal and the white color does not make the visual impression that the yellow cornmeal is notorious for.

Traditional polenta is cooked in water; polenta purists only want the true essence of cornmeal. But the addition of stock and cream will enhance not only the taste but also the texture.

Another common practice is to add cheese at the last minute for an extra burst of flavor. The ratio of polenta to liquid is 1 part polenta to 5 parts liquid.

An array of toppings can be added to the finished product or served as a side. Creativity and an understanding of flavors will come into play. Think of the polenta as a blank canvas and have fun creating your work of art.

In closing, polenta’s straightforwardness and simplicity is indicative of Italy’s culture, but at the same time it can be a mirror of amazing sophistication. Enjoy!

Creamy Polenta 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 sweet onion, minced 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 cup cornmeal

Resource guides, eBooks online Continued from Page 24 torials for all ages on various art and craft projects.

Artist Works offers step-by-step video instruction on a number of different instruments.

People can also access Mango for language learning and can select from 70 different languages to study at their own pace.

Residents with active Worcester County Library cards can use them to access the virtual database. Free digital cards are available for 90 days.

To sign up for a digital library

card, click the “apply for a library card” link underneath the slideshow on the library website.

Any questions can be answered through email at askus@worcesterlibrary.org. For more information, visit the Worcester County Library Facebook page or website at www.WorcesterLibrary.org.

“We look forward to reopening our branches as soon as possible and we appreciate everyone’s patience and support,” Ranck said. “The library is here to help in any way we can during this difficult time.”

4 cups chicken stock 4 cups heavy cream 2 cups water few pinches of baking soda kosher salt to taste 1. In a large heavy-duty pot, heat butter over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes. Add stock, cream, water, baking soda and salt and bring to a boil.

Slowly whisk in cornmeal, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 1 ½ to 2 hours, stirring regularly.

2. Remove pot from heat and add more salt if necessary. Serve immediately.

Deconstructed Puttanesca 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 5 anchovies, coarsely chopped 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced ¼ cup finely chopped sweet onions 3 tablespoons capers, drained 1/3 cup pitted kalamata olives, sliced or left whole 2 pints cherry tomatoes, whole 2 teaspoon fresh basil, finely chopped, plus extra for garnishing ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (op-

tional) kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1. Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add garlic and onions and sauté for 5 minutes.

Add the remaining ingredients and cook uncovered for another 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside until ready to use.

Presentation Serve polenta in individual bowls, top with the deconstructed puttanesca and garnish with fresh basil.

This dish can also be served family style. Place the hot polenta in one bowl and the deconstructed puttanesca in another and allow your guests help themselves.

– Secret Ingredient – Hope.

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow.”

– Albert Einstein

APRIL 17, 2020

PAGE 27

Ocean City Today

Wor-Wic students named to dean’s list for fall term (April 17, 2020) A total of 489 WorWic Community College students have been recognized for superior performance by being named to the dean’s list for the recently-completed fall term.

Worcester County students who maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher while taking six or more credit hours during the fall term include: Berlin: Terri Adkins, Alexander Apodaca, Hanna Beck, Esperanza BerduoRoblero, Caela Berrie, John Brittingham III, Grace Brosch, Cameron Campbell, Mikayla Cantine, Connor Carpenter, Tyler Cook, Robert Cook II, Sierra Dacre, Brooke Davis, Paul Dehuarte Jr., Victoria Dixon, Kasey Donaway, Kevin Ellington, Marissa Fatzinger, Rebecca Figueroa, Alec Foote, Mary Garwood, Anna Gisriel, Christan Gurskey, Kayla Higgins, Eunice Huesca, Amanda Jones, Kaitlyn Jones, Mason Kane, Caroline Kurtz, Samantha Lokey, Brooke Mask, Joshua Miller, Robert Mitchell, James Monroe, Colin Morris, Jessica Murray, Brandon Myers, Kenneth Olson, Alexandra Orf, Candice Palmer, Kaelan Patterson, Lindsey Richardson, Alyssa Shaeffer, Noah Shaffer, Michael Sidell, Austin White, Nekia Wise, Ainsley Wissler and Michael Yandle Bishopville: Emily Bebee, Alora Lockhart, Ella Peters, Joseph Sinclair

The Ocean City Fire Department recently received a new ambulance – a 2019 Horton Ford F550 four-wheelchassis drive truck.

Jr., Jamie Walsh and Courtney Williams Eden: Laurin Rabon Girdletree: Christopher Barreno, Victoria Makuchal, Rachel Richardson and Cortney Smith Newark: Lauren Lewis and Charles Sardelis Ocean City: Jillian Alascio, Sarah Babel, Kimberly Blackway, Westin Blake, Joya Canfield, Fletcher Case, Jagger Clapsadle, Liangliang Difilippo, Kelsei Dukes, Sarah Engle, Antonio Franco-Loosemore, Alexis Gausepohl, Rachel Hreshko, Samuel Ingersoll, Christopher Kenny, Devon Kramer, Paige Kreppel, Miranda Luby, Patrick McElfish, Annmarie Pendleton, Ilona

Randolph, Lauren Rolleston, Christopher Rutlin, Diana Sabia, Bonnie Stockton, Amanda Strayer and Leonard Wade Pocomoke City: Haley Abbott, Katie Bodley Miles, Bethany Cheeks, Jason Dennis, Tuan Doan, Gretchen Fritz, Laura Johnson, Abby Matthews, Diana Payne, Phillip Robinson, Devin Thompson, Kathryn Thompson, Nancy Tran, Kyle Webb and Amanda Wright Snow Hill: Rachael Bretz, Ethan Casto, Benjamin Chase, Sarah Collier, Marissa Fetters, Lakesha Hines, Trent King, Kiersten Lehmann, Tesman Morris, Justin Smith, Kennedy Wooten and Marlin Yoder Whaleyville: Lynnie Lewis, Joshua O’Ferrall and Tyler Tull

Ocean City Fire Department gets new ambulance (April 17, 2020) The Ocean City Fire Department has received a new ambulance.

Members of the Ocean City Fire Department were appointed to a committee who worked on the design and layout of the unit.

The new ambulance is a 2019 Horton Ford F550 four-wheel-chassis drive truck. It was purchased from FESCO Emergency Vehicles in Elkridge, Maryland.

“This four-wheel-drive ambulance gives our firefighters and paramedics better mobility in poor weather conditions,” said Deputy Fire Chief Chris Shaffer. “I am proud of the teamwork of our firefighters/paramedics who worked tirelessly to design an ambulance with a focus on safety, customization and innovation.”

The ambulance is equipped with a passenger protection system, which is exclusive to the Horton Ambulances, called the Horton Occupant Protection System (HOPS).

The HOPS system has various airbag modules and four-point seat belts that are comfortable and easy-to-use with a one-click, single-buckle design.

The Ocean City Fire Department has a fleet of 10 advanced life support ambulances.

R e a c h Yo u r C u s t o m e r s O n l i n e O n O u r N e w

arketplace Carry-Out Resttaurants

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Ocean City Today

APRIL 17, 2020

COMMUNITY/SCHOOLS

SPIRT DAY COLLECTION Berlin Intermediate School students in the Random Acts of Kindness group teamed up with Gull Creek residents to collect donations for Operations We Care, which supports first responders and military troops.

Ocean City Elementary School held its annual Have a Heart Spirit Day on Feb. 14. Students, faculty and staff were encouraged to wear red, pink, hearts or OCES apparel to show their school spirit.

Pictured, from left, are third graders Sophia Gonzalez, Serenity Baker, Izabella Willoughby, Kenley Hallett and Carly Watts.

FAMILY TIME Steve Ball and his three children, Ava, 11, Lila, 7, and Ryan, 5, of West Ocean City, made the best of the day on Sunday, March 22, with a Christmas party.

They wore Christmas pajamas all day, baked cookies, listened to Christmas music and watched a holiday movie.

PHOTO COURTESY MAUREEN BALL

DONATION The Republican Women of Worcester County present a check for $400 to Diakonia to support its efforts in providing emergency and transitional housing, counseling and assistance to its guests.

Pictured is Bee Miller, executive director of Diakonia, left, and Vera Beck, RWWC chair for Caring for America.

SUPPLY DRIVE The OC Jeep Club brought a large amount of food and supply donations to the Worcester County Humane Society on Feb. 22. About 60 Jeeps drove down Stephen Decatur Highway from the Teal Marsh Shopping Center in West Ocean City packed with donations for the no-kill shelter. The Jeep Club does this supply run for the shelter every year in February.

GUEST SPEAKER Worcester County School Board member Elena McComas was the guest speaker at the weekly meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean PinesOcean City on Feb. 18. She updated the group about Worcester County Public Schools. Kiwanis Club President Roy Foreman joins her.

APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 29

Art League of Ocean City starts hugging art project (April 17, 2020) In a symbol of unity on Delmarva, the Art League of Ocean City is initiating a communitywide art project and installation in which everyone can participate, whether or not they are artists.

The Art League is calling the project “Have a heART – Give a hug.”

“In this time of social distancing, we are sending out virtual hugs in the form of a piece of art that is a hugging heart,” Rina Thaler, Art League executive director, said. “We are hoping people will display it in their windows, and businesses will put it on their signs and marquees to give people hope and strength to get through this.

“This hugging heart can be Delmarva’s own personal symbol – something like the heart emoji – to show that we’re all in this together,” she continued. “And we’re happy to point out that ‘art’ is the biggest part of ‘heart.”

The hugging heart is available as both a color image to print directly on home printers, and also as a comic book-style page that can be printed for children and family art projects.

The Art League encourages artists to print and paint their own versions using the template. Digital files con-

taining a hugging heart are available for free download on the Art League’s Facebook page, and also on the Art League’s website at https://artleagueofoceancity.org/hug ging-heart/.

“If everyone will hang a hugging heart in their windows or on their doors or on their signs, we can jointly send hugs to everyone who needs one,” Thaler said. “Everyone will also be part of a project that’s bigger than themselves. Let’s see how many heart hugs we can put into the world to create positive energy at this time.”

People are encouraged to take photos of their hugging heart art displayed in the windows of their homes and businesses and send them for sharing to the Art League at megan@artleagueofoceancity.org.

Or. the pictures can be shared in the comment section of Art League’s Facebook post on this project with the hashtag #hugheart.

The project has now been expanded to include a call for showing support for healthcare providers at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.

“All of us have seen the images on the news showing the brave caregivers who every day put their lives on the line for us,” Thaler said.

The Art League of Ocean City is initiating a community-wide art project and installation called “Have a heART – Give a hug.”

“When we announced this hugging heart program, we reached out to the hospital to determine how we could use this piece of art to show the community’s support for their caregivers.

“So many of our friends and neighbors are working hard to keep us healthy and safe – doctors, nurses, aides, office staff, lab technicians, ambulance drivers, housekeeping staff, maintenance, food preparation staff, and so many others. We need to show them we think and care about them,” she continued.

Toni Keiser, vice president of public relations for the hospital, said Atlantic General saw the hugging hearts

as a way to show their caregivers just how much the community appreciates their dedication.

“At AGH, we are a team, and every member of our staff is a key player on the team,” Keiser said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize and thank all of our associates for the significant efforts they have put forth to allow us to continue to provide care for our patients and our community during this difficult time.”

Hearts can be mailed through the Post Office to: Atlantic General Hospital, Att: Caroline Phillips, 10320 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin, MarySee DISPLAY Page 30

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Ocean City Today

Display hugging art in solidarity

Flags for Heroes to honor veterans, front line workers (April 17, 2020) Along with honoring local veterans, the annual Flags for Heroes display this year will also highlight those on the front lines of the covid-19 pandemic.

A dedication ceremony planned for May 16 was canceled, but the patriotic display of several hundred flags in the field between Route 589 and the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines will still go up as planned.

“We decided that we want to go ahead with the project, because we feel people need it at this very difficult and scary time,” Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation President Marie Gilmore said. “It seems to me that this project is a perfect opportunity to thank and honor the medical professionals, police, EMTs, firefighters and teachers in our community.”

Each year, flags are placed in honor of local heroes, including servicemen and women, first responders, teachers, family members, doctors and hospital workers, or anyone who has been an inspiration.

Flag sponsorships are $50, and flags will be on display from Armed Forces Day, May 16, through Flag Day on June 14.

Gilmore said volunteers would place the flags while following the rules of social distancing.

The project is co-sponsored by Rotary Club of Ocean City/Berlin and Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation.

“We hope this will be a positive reminder that, even in such an unprecedented and frightening time, there are so many people in our community who inspire us each day,” Gilmore said.

For sponsorship forms, visit www.opvets.org/events/flags-for-heroes-2020. The Memorial Foundation is also seeking corporate sponsors, with sponsorship levels ranging from $250 to $2,000.

For more information, contact Cliff Berg at 302-540-2127 or email cliff0917@aol.com.

Your Online Community: www.oceancitytoday.com

APRIL 17, 2020

The annual Flags for Heroes will again be on display in the field between Route 589 and the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines.

Continued from Page 29 land 21811. Or, digital hearts can be uploaded to COVID19donations@atlanticgeneral.org.

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.

Wor. closes Homer Gudelsky Park (April 17, 2020) As part of ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (covid-19), Worcester County Recreation & Parks has closed Homer Gudelsky Park to the public.

The beach park is located at the end of Route 707 in West Ocean City directly across from the Ocean City inlet of the Sinepuxent Bay. This action follows the closing of Worcester County playgrounds on March 23. County playgrounds and the Homer Gudelsky Park will remain closed until Gov. Larry Hogan’s Stay-At-Home Order is lifted.

“This latest actions is part of ongoing special preparedness measures being taken by the Worcester County Commissioners to prevent the spread of covid-19 and minimize the threat to public safety and the lives of all Worcester County residents and visitors,” Commission President Joe Mitrecic said. “This closure follows suit with the closing of [the] Ocean City beach and Assateague in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus and practice social distancing.

We appreciate your support and patience as we work together to keep everyone safe.”

Other Worcester County parks and trails will remain open for “passive recreation,” such as walking and jogging. Park users are strongly cautioned to continue to practice social distancing.

For more information or to speak with Recreation & Parks staff, call 410-632-2144, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or e m a i l recandparks@co.worcester.md.us.

For current Worcester County Government notices, visit http://www.co.worcester.md.us/covi d-19-info.

Native plant sale available online (April 17, 2020) Assateague Coastal Trust will offer its 21st annual Native Plant Sale, but this year, all orders must be placed online.

The online store is now open. Orders will be accepted until April 28. Orders will be available for individual pickup at the ACT office on Saturday, May 2.

Visit the online store to check out some of the favorites from years past, plus many new varieties of peppers, tomatoes, succulents, and new native sun and shade plants.

Those planning their spring gardens, looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, or just searching for new varieties of plants, vegetables, herbs and succulents to add to their yards are encouraged to visit ACT’s online Plant Sale store at www.ActForBays.org/plant-sale.

To protect the health of the community and maintain the social distance protocol, ACT will notify individuals of the receipt of their order and arrange for a time of

pickup on May 2.

Orders will be available for pickup during specified times at the ACT office at 9842 Main Street in Berlin.

For more information, visit www.ACTforBays.org/plant-sale.

The Assateague Coastal Trust’s mission is to promote and encourage the protection of the health, productivity, and sustainability of the coastal bays watershed of Delmarva through advocacy, education and conservation. Visit www.ACTforBays.org.

APRIL 17, 2020

PAGE 31

Ocean City Today

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Dean’s List Several Worcester County students were named to the Dean’s List at their respective colleges.

They are: Hunter Morris, Berlin, Frostburg State University; Tara Madden Fischer, Berlin, University of Alabama; Rebecca Cooper, Berlin and Daniel Moyer, Ocean City, St. Mary’s College of Maryland; Cooper Richins, Berlin, Furman University; Meghan Howard and Whitney Van Kirk, both of Ocean City, James Madison University; Madeline Simons, Ocean City, Washington University in St. Louis; Jillian Griggs, Berlin, Adelphi University.

President’s List Lauren Ellen Barrett, of Berlin, was named to The University of Alabama Presidents List for fall 2019. Those receiving honors hold an academic record of 4.0 (all A’s).

Lily Belle Baker of Berlin was named to University of Hartford’s President’s List, signified by a 3.75 GPA or higher, for fall 2019.

Scholarships Salisbury University’s School of Social Work recently announced $70,000 in awarded scholarships.

Generated from a revenue-sharing program, the awards were distributed to 40 graduate and 20 undergraduate candidates and range from $500$2,000.

Scholarship recipients must be social work majors who are currently enrolled, have demonstrated financial need and at least a 3.0 grade point average.

Worcester County recipients include Kyle Joseph and LeAnn Weamer, both of Berlin; and Kristy Mason of Pocomoke.

Inducted Several Worcester County students were recently induced into the Phi Eta Sigma national honor society at Salisbury University.

They include: • Zachary Davis, son of Michael and Danielle Davis of Berlin.

Davis is a sophomore majoring in art. He is a Dean’s List student and a 2018 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin.

• Kyla Taylor, daughter of Scott and Heather Taylor of Berlin.

Taylor is a sophomore majoring in communication arts and English. She is a member of the SU Honors College, Honors Student Association and The Saunterer honors student magazine.

Taylor is a Dean’s List student and a 2018 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School.

• Emily Lanehart, daughter of Linda and Steve Lanehart of Berlin.

Lanehart is a sophomore majoring in nursing. She is a member of the SU Honors College.

Lanehart is a recipient of the University Student Academic Research Award for undergraduate research and the Presidential Scholarship.

She is a 2018 graduate of Queen Anne’s County High School in Centreville.

• Zoe Watson, daughter of Dennis and Sharra Watson of Berlin.

Watson is a sophomore majoring in art. She is a Dean’s List student and a 2018 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School.

• Kate Carpenter, daughter of Laura Carpenter of Berlin.

Carpenter is a sophomore majoring in theater. She is a member of the SU Dance Company and has participated in SU’s Bobbi Biron Theatre Program.

Carpenter is a recipient of the Worcester County arts council scholarship and the Ocean City Art League scholarship.

She is a Dean’s List student and a 2018 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School.

• Justine Graham, daughter of John and Maria Graham of Berlin.

Graham is a sophomore majoring in geography. She is a member of SU Honors College and the Comedy Gulls improv club.

Graham is a Dean’s List student and a 2018 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School.

• Gregory Tyndall, son of Michael and Joann Tyndall of Berlin.

Tyndall is a sophomore majoring in history and secondary education. He is a 2014 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School.

• Anna Adams, daughter of Neil and Shelly Adams of Snow Hill.

Adams is a sophomore and member of the club soccer team. She is a 2018 graduate of Snow Hill High School.

• Allyson Possident, daughter of Thomas and Sheryl Possident of Berlin.

Possident is a sophomore majoring in social work. She is a 2018 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School.

Honored Shea Griffin of Berlin, a student at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Florham Campus in Madison, New Jersey, was inducted into the Phi Zeta Kappa honor society for the fall 2019 semester.

Griffin was also named to the Honors List for the fall 2019 semester.

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This unit is sold furnished and was not a rental, but you can use as a rental if you want to. This midtown location has it all, whether you are going to the beach, spending the day on the water or just want to go to the pool this is the one for you. The fully equipped kitchen has stainless steel appliances plus a large breakfast bar, and the unit has new carpeting throughout. Don't let this one get away, call NOW before it's gone. $274,500

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

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MOBILE HOME ONLY FOR SALE...GROUND NOT INCLUDED.Very well maintained mobile home for sale on leased lot. Home is being sold furnished as shown. Recent upgrades include new HVAC unit, dishwasher and washing machine, 2 roof coatings, exterior doors, toilet & flooring, & new screens replaced on porch. Isulated windows, berber carpeting, and storage shed. Home is conveniently located within walking distance to everything. Community features 2 inground swimming pools, 2 tennis courts, a shuffleboard court, a 9-hole mini golf course, a wildlife sanctuary with pond and blacktop walking/jogging trail, and a bayfront boardwalk with 3 fishing/crabbing piers.

HOA dues are only $299.00/yr. Lot owners will give a 5 year lease @ $5400/yr. $67,500

Call Bill Rothstein

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

167 SUNSHINE LANE

Magnificent custom-built 3BR/3BA waterfront, on 5 acre protected cove, w/easy access to open bay. Less than a mile from beach, busline, shopping, restaurants & bars and Northside Park. Sundeck, w/Trex deck & glass railings, overlooks water. Open/great room w/cathedral ceilings. Fully equipped kitchen w/granite counters, SS appliances, breakfast bar, 42" cabinets & pantry. Utility room w/stack washer & dryer & 2nd refrigerator. Office/guest room, guest BR w/large walk-in closet. Huge waterside master w/sitting room/loft w/water views. Guest BR on opposite end & 3rd BR w/heated tile floors & infinity tiled shower. Waterfront Trex deck, 2 sheds w/electric, enclosed shower, cement walkways, parking pad, landscaped lot w/low maintenance ground cover, Bahama shutters on street end windows & dusk to dawn lighting. New vinyl bulkhead w/boat dock, dual zone heat pumps, electric fireplace in living room, COREtec-Plus floors throughout, hurricane glass in windows & sliders, walls are triple insulated, sprinkler system, internet thermostats, tinted glass on windows & sliders, abundance of interior storage & much more. $699,900

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800-745-5988 • 410-250-3020

Your Online Community: www.oceancitytoday.com

306 OYSTER LANE

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Commentary

Ocean City Today Apr. 17, 2020

Page 32

With facts scarce, opinions will vary Conversations comparing the novel coronavirus to the seasonal flu invariably include the fact that more people die from the flu each year than have succumbed to covid-19.

That assertion is correct, as the Centers for Disease Control estimates that not quite 31,000 people have died from covid19 so far, as compared to the 30,000 to 60,000 lives claimed annually by the flu.

This variance suggests that the novel coronavirus has a way to go before it rivals, much less exceeds, the seasonal flu in terms of human mortality. It also appears to justify the argument that rigid state-imposed restrictions are an overreaction to a media-fueled global panic.

That would be true, except that counting the dead is only one half the equation. Currently, the CDC has recorded roughly 640,000 cases of covid-19, with a death rate of about 4 percent.

By contrast, the CDC in 2018 calculated that 35.5 million people suffered from seasonal flu, with about 34,400 of those cases proving fatal. That’s a mortality rate of one-tenth of one percent. Were the covid-19 death rate of 4 percent to apply, the flu that year would have killed almost 1.6 million people, more than cancer and heart disease combined.

Indications at this stage are that this coronavirus strain is 45 times more deadly than its flu-causing relatives, and is why severe restrictions have been ordered.

But that too is a major problem. The cold assessment of how many deaths to expect, and how many is too many, is based on early indications, rather than facts, which, unfortunately, do not exist.

Because less than 1 percent of the population has been tested for covid-19, no one knows what it’s actual mortality rate might be. Meanwhile, elected officials are expected to produce reasonable answers based on this insufficient data.

Opinions on how that’s going will vary according to individual perspectives, thus leaving us with just one indisputable fact: our current situation is not about who is right and who is wrong, but about which guess has the best chance of leading us to the least-worst outcome.

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.

Ocean City Today is available by subscription at $150 a year.

Visit us on the Web at www.oceancitytoday.com.

Copyright 2020

PUBLIC EYE

Is this what we’ve come to?

By Stewart Dobson Editor/Publisher It’s happened several times apparently, but one story is a man was going through the grocery store with toilet paper piled up in his cart, when someone accosted his cart and swiped his wipes.

Another story, also true, is that a CVS store in Washington, D.C. had armed guards present last month to monitor the delivery of a shipment of Cottonelle to ensure that no fights broke out.

All I can say is this who we’ve become, a nation of toilet tissue fanatics whose lives are dictated by their porcelain perches, their commodel circumstances, their potty predicaments? Are we really the greatest nation on earth when our foremost desire is to acquire toilet paper?

Personally, I’d rather stock up on pork roasts, steak and beer, none of which would be that useful in the bathroom, but if I had to choose between being a digestive tract star and eating, I’m what you might call a stand-up guy.

As I see it, the Chinese generals are at the table at this very moment trying to decide whether to attack our electrical grid, our communications network or our military installations, when one general says, “No, we must strike at the heart of the nation. We’ll blow all but one case of their toilet paper to smithereens and they’ll kill each other fighting over what’s left.”

APRIL 17, 2020

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Ocean City Today

Young named new assistant Real estate industry follows chief administrative officer strict distancing guidelines

REAL ESTATE REPORT

By Lauren Bunting Contributing Writer (April 17, 2020) During the “Stay at Home Order” issued by Gov. Larry Hogan, real estate is affected, but definitely not halted.

The Maryland Realtors issued guidance for all brokerages throughout the state to follow and stated providing real estate services has been deemed essential in Maryland, permitting brokerages to conduct business during this time.

They further said with that right comes the responsibility of doing so in a safe manner.

The following guidelines were provided to the real estate industry with instructions to do business in a way that is mindful of the unique risks we are all facing and to limit personal interactions to the greatest extent possible and engage in-person only when necessary: • In-person activities must be by appointment only.

• No more than three people, including the agent, may be at a property at any one time.

• Those three persons must strictly follow physical distancing guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by remaining at least six feet apart at all times.

Real estate licensees who strictly follow the above protocols are permitted to engage in the following in-person activities related to the purchase and sale of homes: • Conduct listing presentations, take property photos, and create virtual tours for new listings.

• Facilitate signing of contract documents.

• Preview and show listings by appointment only.

• Facilitate photography/videography, inspections, appraisals, buyer “walk-throughs,” and key delivery.

All other real estate brokerage services are to be limited to services that can be provided remotely.

Like most sectors of business, the real estate market is affected and not what it should be for what was showing to be a strong spring season.

But the market recap provided by the Bright MLS system shows that over the past seven days in Worcester and Wicomico counties, we’ve had some decent activity: Coming Soon -

(April 17, 2020) The Worcester County Commissioners named Weston Young as the new assistant chief administrative officer. He will step into his new role with Worcester County Government on April 30.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity and eager to apply my local government experience in Weston Young this role,” Young said.

“I look forward to working for the Commissioners of my home county.”

Young brings 12 years of local government experience to Worcester County. He has served as a leader with Wicomico County Government since 2015, where he began as the public works director prior to stepping into the position of assistant director of administration in 2017.

As a professional engineer and local government administrator, Young is a fiscal steward with an in-depth understanding of public infrastructure and

its critical role on the region’s economic development and overall quality of life.

In 2005, Young earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland and later obtained the professional engineering certification. He will take over for Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Kelly Shannahan, who will retire Aug. 21 after 30 years of service to the county.

The assistant chief administrative officer serves as a general assistant to the chief administrative officer in areas of county administration and management, including the assignment of independent and broadly-defined missions and special projects.

The assistant chief administrative officer also acts on behalf of the chief administrative officer in his absence as directed.

Weston was born and raised in Pocomoke. He and his wife, Anne, are proud new parents.

For more information, contact Public Information Officer Kim Moses at 410-632-1194.

5; New Actives - 43; Back to Active 25; Price Decrease - 39; Active Under Contract - 16; Pendings - 39; Closed 64; and, Temporarily Off Market - 10.

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

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PAGE 34

APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

Letters to the editor Ode to Covid-19 poem shared China or Hell, Covid where are you from?

You’ve changed the World, what will we become?

Coved-19, a novel virus to date Our country’s response was a bit too late!

This is no flu, no Democrat hoax!

It’s a Global Pandemic - no need to be coaxed!

It spreads exponentially, from touch and spray A threat to the World growing each day!

We need tests, tests, tests, vents, gloves and masks For our frontline heroes - too much to ask?

Make-shift field hospitals in arenas and parks Reminiscent of Plague in the Ages of Dark!

Essential business open, so many are closed Liquor stores selling, they’re one of those?

Shelves are empty of toilet paper and eggs Hand sanitizer so scarce fruitless to beg!

Our lives have changed, such unsettling times Self isolation and lockdown are prime Wash your hands, stay home, social distance the norm Is this the beginning or end of the storm?

No work, no money, how to get by?

So much fear and sickness, will we survive?

We live our lives now with Skype and Zoom Be hopeful! Be creative to lessen the gloom And so the spread grows, no apex yet We want facts and truth! How bad will it get?

But despite loss of life, as uncertainty grows We are AmeriCANS - doesn’t it show?

We know in our hearts this too shall pass Grit , strength and courage knows no class We will heal, re-coup and give it our all We will rise from the ash, reverse this fall!

The old norms are gone, new ways will emerge The weakened Economy is projected to surge We will return to work, with renewed

energy America will come back with a force we’ll see There’s no looking back, the past is no longer But we will rise up, face the challenges stronger!

A “Brave New World” will emerge to be seen Be gone! Don’t return, hated Covid 19!

Jil Klein Berlin

Put politics aside during pandemic Editor, With the daily news cycle currently filled with stories regarding Covid-19, I truly believe that it is essential to our region and our country to put politics aside and insist that our elected officials at the local, state, and federal level deal with the coronavirus threat in a responsible manner.

Initial concerns were warranted and sincere, but it quickly became obvious that political grandstanding was irresistible. Creating fear translated into higher cable TV ratings and meant even more opportunity for politicians at all levels to gain a platform, and to then ramble on as if they were suddenly knowledgeable about the actual threat and what needed to be done.

Instantly, it became fashionable for governors and mayors to make declarations and create panic in our community. Network and cable news channels would provide cover by creating even more fear with sensationalism and by extrapolating the problems seen in New York City over the entire USA. While no facts supported the narrative, the “threat” of our hospitals being overrun and future supply shortages became the story, which again created panic.

According to every published report I’ve seen, the actual threat of illness and/or death is extremely low to citizens in our area, especially for healthy people without underlying health issues. But we never see or hear a report that puts the numbers in the prospective of a country with 330,000,000 citizens. It would be nice to hear 329,950,000 Americans will survive the

HOROSCOPE ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

virus As of Monday, April 14, Ocean City had zero reported Covid-19 cases.

Worcester County had approximately 20 cases, but zero deaths. So, to again stoke fear and panic, some continue to warn that any out-of-state visitors will surely bring the virus and expose us to an outbreak, as if we have no control of our own actions while we’re out and about.

We should obviously evaluate the actual risks of the virus based on the facts, not the worst-case scenario or motivations of ambitious politicians.

Other factors should also be considered when determining what actions will be taken. We need to consider what governmental actions are appropriate and most effective, and what actions are counter-productive to the overall public health.

I feel strongly that we need to be concerned about the assault on civil liberties when citizens are threatened by police or public officials to not congregate. We should be realistic about the actual damage to families and marriage that will occur when jobs are lost, and understand that high unemployment will fuel more substance abuse and suicide.

We should weigh the effects of social isolation, which will most likely lead to an increase in mental illness and more depression at a time we have a shortage of mental health professionals. We need to accept the fact that businesses are failing and will to continue fail. We now need to determine how we can reduce the number that will fail?

So, while there are definite risks associated with lifting restrictions and allowing people to move around freely to conduct business, and live to their lives, I believe there are greater long-term risks associated with not doing so. Economic risks as well as other risks.

We need to take back our lives! And We need to get back to Work! I feel we all also need to work to educate, protect, and help those identified as high-risk and those most vulnerable to the coronavirus. And those at high risk will also need to use common sense, ask for help when needed, and work to protect themselves. We all know the routine since it has been the mantra for three months. And it makes sense — Practice Continued on Page 36

Hang on to a source of real empowerment in your career, Aries. It may take willpower and dedication, but you can make it happen when your mind is on the goal.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 You can accomplish anything you set your mind to, Taurus. This may even mean being the boss of yourself with self-discipline. Ask friends to help keep you stay the course.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 You have the potential to lay the groundwork now for events that will pay dividends throughout the next few years, Gemini. Get a team of trusted advisors on your side.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, while others may be focusing on their careers, you understand the importance of zeroing in on your relationships and love life. Keep those you care about close.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Work will dominate the week, but make sure you advocate for fair treatment while you are hard at work, Leo. Check that payment is in full and timely.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 There will be no surprises for you this week if you simply stay the course with your actions, Virgo. Go about your normal routine and things will work out just fine.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, change things at home so you can better care for children or other people in your charge. A lot of progress can still be made if you redirect your attention.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, things may be moving quite slowly for you, but that does not mean progress has not been made. You’ll realize after a few weeks how far you’ve come.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, the last few weeks may have come off as humdrum, and that’s probably because you didn’t take any chances. Be more bold in the days to come.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, ask yourself how you want to see your finances grow. Then you can speak with a financial planner and make your dreams a reality.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

NEW GAZEBO The Bayside Skillet restaurant on 77th Street moves forward with the construction of an open-air gazebo addition. The restaurant received approval for the site plan back in early February.

JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Everything that involves you moves up on the priority list, Aquarius. Even though you’re known for putting others first, this all needs to change if you are to progress.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, take some time this week to be alone and seek inner peace. During these times of contemplation you can focus on future plans.

APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 35

OBITUARIES CEAN LISA BUNTING Ocean City Cean Lisa Bunting, 62, died Monday, April 6, 2020, after a brave five-year battle with congestive heart failure brought on by Afib from hypothyroidism.

She was the beloved daughter of Capt. Orlando and Mrs. Reba Birch Bunting and the “baby-girl” in the family to her brothers, Cean Bunting Michael and David.

An Ocean City native, Cean worked many jobs in the resort’s hospitality business including alongside her parents at their Marina Deck restaurant. As a preteen, she even sold seashells aboard her father’s partyboat, “The Capt. Bunting.”

She is survived by her brother, David; her beloved niece, Jessica Bunting Harkness, and husband, Rob, and their children, Ciera and Luke; and by close cousins, Cindy Giancoli, Steve Kaeufer, Mike Bradford and Curtis Birch.

She will be remembered by many lifelong friends, especially J.T. Cogswell.

As per her wishes, cremation followed her death. A memorial service celebrating her life will be announced later this summer on her brother’s Facebook page.

Please continue her love for animals by expressing condolences through a gift to the Worcester County Humane Society, P.O. Box 48, Berlin, Maryland 21811.

Letters of condolence may be sent via www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

EDWARD R. LYNCH Selbyville Edward R. Lynch, age 79, of Selbyville, died Friday, April 3, 2020, at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Maryland, with his family by his side.

He was born in Philadelphia, where he lived until the age of 12, and then moved to Selbyville, Delaware.

Eddie was the son of the late John and Kathryn (Hermann) Lynch.

Eddie graduated from Selbyville High School in 1959. Immediately after graduating, he enlisted in the Army National Guard and served in the United States Coast Guard.

After honorable discharge, he returned to Selbyville, where he married his wife, Anne, in 1965.

Eddie retired from DP&L in 1999 and was also a plumber by trade, owning his own business.

He was a member of Salem United Methodist Church, American Legion, Moose Lodge, Selbyville Elks, Doric Lodge #30 in Millville and the Nur Temple.

For many years he was a scout leader for the Boy Scouts.

Eddie was well known for making his daily rounds and frequent visits around town. He enjoyed his morning meetings with his friends at the Selbyville McDonalds, and his Sunday breakfast with his good friend, George White.

Eddie always kept tabs on his loved ones, so much, that his family referred to him as “Property Patrol of Lynch Estates.”

He was often referred to as “MacGyver” because there was nothing he couldn’t do.

He is survived by a daughter, Stephanie A. Venables and husband, Richard, of Selbyville; a son, John R. Lynch of Glenwood Springs, Colorado; four grandchildren, Tyler Bradley and wife, Jenna, Lauren Lynch, Drew Venables and Koa Lynch; and two greatgrandchildren, Teagan Bradley and Jocelyn Bradley.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Anne Lynch, in 1997 and his son, Robby Lynch, in 2007.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company, Ambulance Fund, P.O. Box 88, Selbyville, Delaware 19975, or to the Selbyville Library, P.O. Box 739, Selbyville, Delaware 19975.

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.bishophastingsfh.com.

IRMGARD DUNN Ocean City Irmgard “Irmi” Dunn of Ocean City, Maryland, passed away at her home on Wednesday April 8, 2020, at the age of 96.

Born in Germany, she was the daughter of the late William and Gertrude Otto.

Irmi was the loving wife of Gerald Dunn.

In addition to her husband, Irmi is survived by her children, Steven Dunn and Christine Stepanian and her grandson, Ryan.

She enjoyed spendIrmgard Dunn ing her time crafting with ceramics, sewing, tole painting and designing clothing. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed.

Services for Irmi will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home and condolences may be made via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

LILLIAN MARGARET LUCIANO Timonium Lillian (Lou) Margaret Luciano (nee Hewitt), 97, wife of the late Alex P. Luciano, Sr., died at Stella Maris on April 12, 2020.

Prior to being admitted to Stella Maris in March of 2019, Lou lived at Warren Place Senior Apartments for 8 and a half years. Before that, she resided in Ocean City, Maryland, for nearly 40 years.

Lou is survived by three children: a daughter, Carole Taylor (Steve), Timonium, Maryland, son, Mark Keska, and son, Alex Luciano, Jr. (Karen) of Bishopville, Maryland.

She also has three grandchildren and

one great-grandchild.

While living in Ocean City, Lou was employed as a bus driver in the resort town. She was the first woman to be a fulltime, year-round bus Lillian Luciano driver in Ocean City.

She loved driving the bus and continued until age 70, retiring after 17 years of service. She then worked 10 years as a recreation aide at Friendship House, an Assisted Living home near Berlin, Maryland.

She was also a member of Friendship United Methodist Church in Berlin.

Lou had many accomplishments that she was very proud of.

She received her GED at age 83 from the Worcester County Board of Education. She was a 40-year member of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company Women’s Auxiliary, including Member of the Year in 2009; an Elk’s Lady Member of the Year, 1999-2000; a 25-year member of the Women’s Club of Ocean City; a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary; and a graduate of the Ocean City Citizen Police Academy.

She also volunteered for many years with the Ocean City American Legion.

She also completed a course for the local Community Emergency Response Team in 2008.

Interment will be private. No flowers, please.

PAGE 36

Ocean City Today

APRIL 17, 2020

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Continued from Page 34 good personal hygiene, keep your distance, avoid touching your face, and if you’re not well, stay home and limit your exposure. Let’s all do our best to be responsible and use common sense.

Michael James Ocean City (The author is a member of the Ocean City Council)

Remembering the past Editor, I witnessed something on Resurrection Day Easter Sunday that brought back a memory of my past in the ’50s.

A time that many of you will not remember but I lived through it. Back at that time all restaurant, bars and most business were closed on Sundays. The only place that was allowed to be open was a drug store.

If you had more than one in town they took turns opening, never two on the same day. Well what was the memory?

Back then Sunday was a day of families going to church in the morning and spending the afternoon together with family and friends. It was always a very special day. Well things were about to change.

The government, after building new highways that gave access to large shop-

ping malls outside of the town, allowed all malls to open on Sunday.

It gave access to all kinds of different stores, restaurants and even movie theaters. The result of this change caused many to go to the malls for the full day effectively ending our church and family Sunday.

Oh we still had jobs and money to spend but it changed our lives. We eventually started to go back to church again on Saturdays and Sundays but life was never quite the same.

Now we’re in a whole different situation. This time it’s much more severe and controlling.

Not only are the churches and business closed but everyone is being told and required to stay at home.

If you have to go out you’re required to follow their guide lines because of a virus?

Question: We’ve had viruses through all the years but never closed anything down so why now?

What is the difference it’s just a virus and our bodies will adapt and build a natural resistance. I’m afraid it has more to do with control then concern for our health.

There’s definitely a movement today to change our country.

If we allow the special interest groups, politicians and the media to achieve their desired end we will no longer be the United States of America

we’ll become the Controlled States of America and the government will have total control of our lives.

Is this what you want? Are you willing to give up your freedom of choice, your right to determine what you want to do with your life. Are you willing to allow those special groups to decide what you can or cannot do with your life?

If you give them that power they will also have the right to punish those who refuse their directions and remove them from their world.

As for me I can’t see allowing them to do that. Maybe it’s because I’m older and I don’t have many years for them to

effectively change my life.

But for you, the younger generation, you better watch what’s happening and decide now as to what you’re willing to allow them government to do as far as control over your lives.

This is an election year and I suggest you consider this as a possibility when voting. These is no need to shut everything down because of a virus.

They are using the virus as a political tool to take controls of our lives. I, for one, will stand against giving them that right. I hope and pray that many of you will stand with me against their plan.

Paul St. Andre Ocean City

CROSSWORD

Bus contract modified for Wor. County Public Schools (April 17, 2020) The Worcester County Bus Contractors Association has joined the Board of Education to modify its contract in light of the mandated school closures to mitigate the spread of covid-19.

During a special Board of Education meeting via teleconference last Wednesday, the board voted to approve a reduction of the fuel component of the contract’s mileage reimbursement rate for the duration of school closures.

“We are very grateful for the partnership we have with the Worcester County Bus Contractors Association (WCBCA) and their willingness to come to an agreement that is in the best interest of both our school system and the bus contractors they serve,” said Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor.

Since the start of state-mandated school closures on March 16, the school system has been making the effort to ensure employees would not be financially harmed as a result of this health crisis.

As school buses haven’t been on the roads since last month, school system leadership has been communicating with WCBCA to find a fiscally responsible amendment to the contract that would ensure that con-

tractors are able to continue to keep and maintain their buses.

“As contractors, a work stoppage like what has occurred during covid19 could be devastating for our members,” said Ronnie Thompson, president of WCBCA. “We are grateful that we were able to work with school system leadership to protect our contractors while serving the financial interests of Worcester County taxpayers.”

The current mileage reimbursement is comprised of both fuel and maintenance components. The agreement adjusts the fuel component, bringing the overall mileage reimbursement rate from $1.554 to $1.214.

The rate will return to its original level once the school system returns to normal operation. All other components of the bus contract remain intact.

“We value our bus contractors, and we look forward to the day that we will see our buses carrying kids back to our schools,” Taylor said.

“Through this amended agreement, our bus contractors – and their buses – will be ready to go when this crisis ultimately passes.”

For more information, contact Carrie N. Sterrs at 410-632-5092 or email at cnsterrs@worcesterk12.org.

Answers on page 12

APRIL 17, 2020

PAGE 37

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.

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

The failure of the owners or lien holders to reclaim the vehicles within three weeks of notification shall be deemed a waiver by the owners or lien holders of all rights, title and interest and thereby consent to the sale of the vehicles at public auction beginning APRIL 16, 2020 or to have it otherwise disposed of in a manner provided by law.

Line No Year 027-20 2010 031-20 2004 037-20 1996 040-20 2007

Make LINCOLN GMC CHEVROLET SATURN

Model MKX SIERRA BLAZER VUE

Color SILVER BLACK BLUE WHITE

Style TK TK SUV Tk

VIN 2LMDJ6JC2ABJ20117 1GTGC23U44F105093 1GNCS18W1TK171085 5GZCZ63407S861048

Mileage N/A N/A 264727 N/A

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

AUTH: Ross Buzzuro Chief of Police OCD-4/16/3t ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 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 _________________________________

Legal Advertising 410-723-6397, Fax: 410-723-6511 or E-mail: legals@oceancitytoday.net

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APRIL 17, 2020 Classifieds now appear in Ocean City Today & the Bayside Gazette each week and online at oceancitytoday.com and baysideoc.com.

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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.

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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.

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Year-Round Rental Available in West Ocean City. 2BR, 1BA. Call 1-877-289-1616 for more information.

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Includes utilities. 120 sq. ft. storage sheds each $95/mo.

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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

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

CLASSIFIED AD NETWORK 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.

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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.

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APRIL 17, 2020

PAGE 39

Ocean City Today

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Selbyville

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HOME IMPROVEMENT

BAYSIDE BUILDERS

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TRIPLE

CROWN

PAGE 40

APRIL 17, 2020

Ocean City Today

-LIKE US ON

Neighbors Serving Neighbors - One Home at a Time 410-208-9200 • 800-337-7368 • 11065 Cathell Road, Ocean Pines • 8202 Coastal Highway, Ocean City • 410-723-9450 Licensed in MD, DE

• www.hilemanrealestate.com • e-mail: hilemanre@aol.com

DIRECT WATERFRONT!

SAVOR THE EXPANSIVE VIEWS

in every direction from this Mega-Spacious 3 level, 5 Bedroom Waterfront Home with Elevator, 2 Garages, Generator & 2 Master Bedroom Suites. There is definitely a room here for EVERY occasion! Extras include 2 separate Washer/Dryers, central vacuum, security system and surround sound. Sellers are providing a 1 year home warranty and brand new 90' bulkhead for Buyer. Prepare to be Amazed!! $1,295,000

Call Debbie Hileman at 443-235-5982

PRICE REDUCED!

Terri

Build your dream

Bradford

home. This 0.19 acre

Associate Broker, GRI

Bethany

Drew

lot is located in Whitetail Sanctuary.

2,450 square feet of buildable area. Call for details.

Associate Broker, Licensed in MD, DE GRI

Terri: 410-430-6875 Bethany: 410-430-2602 www.PO2Team.com Powerof2@PO2Team.com

Stately 3BR 3BA Colonial. Kitchen w/granite countertops, tile backsplash, ss appliances, center island, & tile floor. 1st floor den can be used as 4th BR. Amenities include central vac, tankless Rinnai WH, climate control crawl space. Oversized garage has a bonus room. $413,900

MOTIVATED SELLER

Tim

Ulrich Associate Broker 410-422-1441 Cell timrealestate9 @gmail.com

Convenient to all locations in W. OC, newer 3BR/2BA w/nice open floor plan.

Master BR w/walk-in closet & full master BA. Upgrades include: tilted windows, Armstrong floors, insulated crawl. Detached garage has separate 110/220 service. 10X10 Shed, enough parking for up to 7 cars on concrete driveway. Full size laundry room. So close to the beach, yet peaceful park setting w/low county taxes, makes this an affordable option for owning $169,654 at the beach.

Lydia Rittersbacher REALTOR® 443-366-9177 Cell Lydiarealestate @yahoo.com

IN-TOWN BERLIN PERSONALITY

3BR/3BA on historic tree-lined st. Master BA w/double walk-in shower, free-standing soaking tub. Office, hobby or music room w/separate entrance.

Updated kitchen, SS appliances & fireplace dining area. Deck w/overlooks back yard & patio.

A block to downtown Berlin. $339,900

STRIKING WATERFRONT

Soaring ceilings and Brazilian Cherry floors. Four Skylights contribute to the light-filled, open floor plan. 2 Master Suites, and Water views from most rooms. This Kitchen will delight any chef and includes a Cafe Area! Boat dock With 3 lifts.

$699,900

Cindy

Crockett REALTOR®, GR Licensed in MD

410-430-0587 Cell Cindy@HilemanReal Estate.com

Call Debbie Hileman at 443-235-5982

MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR THE MONEY

On Cul-de-Sac Street backs to open land! 3 BRs, 2.5 Baths with Brand New Roof, Heat Pump, Driveway, Front Door, Gutters, Deck Railings, Range, Microwave & more! Freshly painted inside & out. Newly renovated Baths including a custom tiled shower! Relax or entertain in the lower level Family Room. $249,900

$529,900

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

Kevin D.

2 ocean block buildings.

2-3Br 2Ba units on 78th (upper & Lower) Vacation rental properties and 22Br 2Ba units (behind, upper & Lower) year round rentals with parking along side and between buildings. Units have long solid rental histories.

$47,900

TOUCHED BY TRADITION!

Direct River Access from this Sunny & Bright with LOTS of Windows & Skylights! Soak up the Sun on the rear multi-level decks, screened porch or on your private Boat Dock!

New carpet, vinyl & fresh paint.

Laminate Flooring in Living, Dining & Master BR. Upstairs Loft, Dual-Zone Heat Pumps, Storage shed in rear, Plus more storage in extra-high crawl space. One Year Warranty included to Buyer.

Heselbach REALTOR , RSPS ®

Licensed in MD & DE

410-723-9450 Office kheselbachHRE @gmail.com

$999,000

EXPANSIVE WATERVIEWS

This 3BR/3BA Townhome is a Secret Gem with expansive Waterviews in Ocean Pines... all the way to the Bay and the OC Skyline! And NO CONDO FEES! 2 Master suites, 3 balconies, living room with wet bar, plenty of parking, plus garage that has extra storage. 2 gas fireplaces, tiled floors, whirlpool tub, island kitchen, window seat, central vac, and PRIVACY! New carpeting. $369,900

SPACIOUS CEDAR HOME

Offers multidimensional design allowing for views, light, space and acoustics. Dramatic open entry foyer connects to great room with fireplace & built-ins, dining, contemporary kitchen with breakfast bar, newer quartz counter-tops. 1st level master bedroom & full bath with whirlpool ,separate shower, walk-in closet and walk out deck. 2 more bedrooms, full bath, loft overlooks lower level. Special feature is a private room ideal for office, hobbies, exercise or ideas of your own. This limited edition work was lovingly enjoyed and maintained by $319,900 the original owners.

MOVE IN READY

Bayside waterfront 2BR/2BA w/views of Assateague Island & Ocean w/sunset views of inlet & bay. Never been rented. Downtown OC Location. Walk to the boardwalk, restaurants, shopping or the beach. Community pool, large sundeck & building elevator. 1 assigned parking spot and a shared parking spot. Views are breath taking.

$269,900

Marisa

Dolbey REALTOR , ASP 410-251-8238 Cell Marisadolbey1 @gmail.com ®

Sonia

Zaffiris Associate Broker GRI, CRS

Licensed in MD, DE

443-366-9177 SoniaSEZ@aol.com

Lynette

Bridges-Catha CRS, PMN, GREEN, SRES

Licensed in MD, DE

443-497-3128 Cell Smilin4shore@comcast.net Member of: MRIS, Sussex & Coastal Multiple List

PENNIES FOR PLENTY!

Bright and Sunny Great Room with Cathedral Ceiling, Wood Burning Fireplace & 3 new sets of sliding glass doors, all on an oversized corner lot!

Freshly Painted Interior, Brand new HVAC installed! Huge Rear Deck, Patio, and 24x10 Screened Porch. Storage Shed and Outdoor Shower.

A TOUCH OF TUDOR!

Only $184,900

Recent updates include new kitchen and baths, stainless steel appliances and much more! Vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, hardwood floors, and a full wall brick hearth fireplace.

The Master Bedroom provides access to the 22x10 screened porch, and contains a beautiful tiled shower with glass doors.

Partially Furnished! $279,900

Debora E.

Hileman OWNER/BROKER GRI & CRS Licensed in MD, DE

443-235-5982 Cell Debbie@Hileman RealEstate.com