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JUNE 9, 2017
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
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OC CAR AND TRUCK SHOW Hundreds of vehicles to be on display at convention center this weekend – Page 41
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City seeking solutions for cruise control Earlier event date remains option as residents offer their opinions to council
KATIE TABELING/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Atlantic General Hospital board members break ground at the future site of the John H. “Jack” Burbage Jr. Regional Cancer Care Center on Wednesday afternoon in Berlin. The facility, which will provide quality treatment for patients with cancer and blood disorders, is slated to be completed by 2018.
Cancer center building begins Project one aspect of AGH expansion program to take place over several years
By Katie Tabeling Staff Writer (June 9, 2017) With the groundbreaking of the John H. “Jack” Burbage Jr. Regional Cancer Care Center in Berlin Wednesday afternoon, Worcester County is about to move forward in the fight against cancer. “It’s a new beginning for cancer care in the community, and a culmination of dreams of community leaders and hospital staff,” Atlantic General Hospital President and CEO Michael Franklin said during the groundbreaking ceremony. “This continues the journey we started years ago with our first facility, by further expanding quality of
care to those facing an cancer diagnosis.” The 18,000square-foot center is slated to be built on the Atlantic General Hospital Campus on the corner of Route 113 by spring 2018. Jack Burbage The facility will provide one location for treatment of patients with cancer and blood disorders. The cancer center will also feature radiation oncology, PET imaging and community education and support groups. Other amenities such as hair and skin services will be available for patients who face issues such as hair loss and skin care.
Telemedicine technology will also be included at the center, so patients and physicians can quickly contact other care experts. “Until now, the lack of available of convenient quality care in our community has led to unnecessary costs and unnecessary suffering for our friends, family and neighbors,” Franklin said. “In Worcester County, statistics show the death rate for cancer is 10 percent higher than rest of the state within the United States. Our vision [with the future center] is that cancer deaths will no longer be higher here than other places.” The cancer facility is one of many projects included in the Atlantic General Hospital’s Campaign for the Future, which is led by Michelle Fager and Jack Burbage. The goal is to raise $10 million to complete $35 million in capital projSee BURBAGE Page 5
By Katie Tabeling Staff Writer (June 9, 2017) The Ocean City Council continues to look for ways to muffle the noise associated with the late May car cruise event, and the option of scheduling Cruisin’ Ocean City earlier in the year could still be one of them. “I’m getting heat for suggesting different dates, but it stirred up discussion,” Mayor Rick Meehan said during Monday’s session. “Maybe [a later date] should be part of discussion in the future, maybe ‘Maybe [a later we consider a transition. We date] should be have a lot to part of discussion talk about.” in the future, After half a maybe we dozen people spoke Monday consider a against Mee- transition. We han’s sugges- have a lot to talk tion to move about.” the four-day hot rod and — Mayor Rick Meehan classic car rally to a less busy month, city officials announced that work group will be formed to seek other solutions. “There will be a combined effort of town staff members and the promoters to start pulling together ideas for tactics that can be incorporated into the event, regardless of whatever date it falls on,” Special Event Superintendent Frank Miller said in a separate interview. In the last two weeks, the council convened in closed sessions to discuss how to stop rowdy behavior from hangers-on unregistered with the event. Before Monday’s meeting, the council met with Cruisin’ Ocean City promoters Bob RotherSee CAR Page 4