6/21/2024 OC Today-Dispatch

OC Today-Disp a atch

Houseboat rental idea sunk

A plan to enter the resort rental market with floating units runs aground, as the City Council prohibits it. — Page 14

Raises for teachers score B+

They didn’t get the 6% they bargained for, but budget changes by the school board got them 5% despite short funding by the county. — Page 86

Quicker liquor

Oceans Calling, Country Calling fests sail through liquor license hearings. — Page 88

Super hot elsewhere, mildly nice here thanks to water

‘Refreshing’ southeast breeze, cool ocean temps keeps resort pleasant

By Stewart Dobson Editor

(June 21, 2024) It’s the ocean, stupid.

That may not be exactly what the forecasters said this week at the National Weather Service office in Wakefield, Virginia when asked why Ocean City will be spared the smothering heat that’s expected to blanket the East, but it’s close.

While Baltimore, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and much of Pennsylvania will see temperatures in at least the high 90s late this weekend, Ocean City is expected to remain an oasis of moderate temperatures with highs some 10 to 15 degrees cooler than anywhere on the other side of the Chesapeake.

According to the weather service, it’s all because of the ocean and the persistent breeze that will be floating across it from the south.

“Essentially, the wind is forecast to come from the SSE or SE during the next few days on the Maryland Eastern Shore. Ocean City’s location

BREAKFAST

along the immediate Atlantic coast, along with the forecast southeast wind off the cooler water (water temps are around 70 degrees off the Atlantic coast of Maryland) will allow for more moderate temps compared to areas much farther inland,” said Eswar Iyer, one of the lead meteorologists at Wakefield.

Added Jeff Orrock, meteorologistin-charge of the Wakefield office, “I was just visiting Ocean City last week on a warm day and with the southeast wind, you could feel the cooler air coming in off the water and it was refreshing for sure.”

That pattern is expected to protect the Maryland coast from the dangerously high temperatures forecast for the area west of I-95. Even locations as close as Lewes, Delaware and Chincoteague, Virginia will see temperatures above 90 degrees, according to the weather service.

Whether extreme heat inland will translate into busier days ahead for Ocean City remains to be seen, but positive thoughts are easier to have when the weather is conducive to the beach, according to Ocean City HotelMotel-Restaurant Association Executive Director Susan Jones.

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Milder weather good for business and local tourism

Continued from Page 3

“We are blessed that we are seeing so much sunshine, as ultimately weather drives visitation,” Jones said. “With the sweltering forecast taking over the headlines, hopefully that will be the push we need to generate additional business.”

Resort businesses generally agree the summer so far hasn’t been what it should be, or as good as many people had hoped. But the possibility of a weather-inspired boost does exist.

“While we can’t say, specifically if the heat wave will spur beach travel, I think it’s safe to say that the warm temperatures certainly bode well for beach travel this weekend,” said Ragina Ali, public affairs manager for AAA in the Maryland-Washington, D.C. region. “We have seen increased travel volumes for holiday travel and with schools out across the region now for summer, we are anticipating a very busy summer travel season.”

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Air quality hearing held for offshore wind farm process

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 21, 2024) Representatives with US Wind say an offshore wind project will provide clean energy, but local officials question the impacts its construction will have on air quality.

On June 13, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) hosted an informational meeting at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center to gather community input on an air quality permit application US Wind submitted for the construction of its offshore wind project. The agency will use information gathered at the meeting to make its determination on the issuance, denial or revision of the company’s application.

continue to share the concerns regarding US Wind’s plans to construct an offshore project near Ocean City’s coastline. State Sen. Mary Beth Carozza questioned how many vessels would operate during the construction phase and the impacts the project would have on the health and safety of community members.

“They put in an application, and we apply science and the law,” said MDE Deputy Secretary Suzanne Dorsey. “If they meet the standards for the permit, then we can award a permit. Typically, the public process is the public’s, the community’s, opportunity to provide input to shape the conditions of that permit or to tell us why they should or shouldn’t have it.”

US Wind’s project will consist of up to 121 wind turbine generators, up to four offshore substations and one meteorological tower, to be located 10 nautical miles off Ocean City’s coastline on the outer continental shelf. Laurie Jodziewicz, the company’s senior director of environmental affairs, said the air quality permit is one of several permits US Wind is seeking from state and federal agencies.

“Because, during construction, we will be having emissions from the vessels going back and forth, those have to be evaluated and permitted,” she explained. “So that’s what we’re going through today.”

The number of vessels US Wind plans to use for its offshore wind project will depend on the phases of construction, Jodziewicz said. She noted that boats will be used for the construction of the turbines, as well as the laying of cable lines.

“So it’s not a tremendous number of vessels, but they are pretty large and very specialized,” she said. “There’s only a few of them in the world.”

While noting the emissions that would occur during the construction phase, Jodziewicz said the project also had environmental benefits. Once the project is built out, she said, up to 139 million tons of carbon dioxide could be avoided. If US Wind receives all the required permits, she said the offshore wind project could operate as early as 2027.

“But we have a lot of steps we need to do to get all the vessels and all those pieces in place,” she added.

At the local level, however, officials

“I’m looking at it with a degree of skepticism, in that the initial presentations going back to 2017 of the project, to where we are today, have drastically changed, have been dramatically altered, and are more significant in size as far as the turbines and also the number of miles originally proposed offshore …,” she said. “The project has significantly changed, in our mind, to the detriment of this area.”

Terry McGean, city manager for Ocean City, said the municipality continues to oppose the US Wind project.

“We’re here to see what MDE has to say about air quality,” McGean said last week. “Looking at the initial application, it’s 36,000 tons of CO2, so it makes me question some of the claims being made about the environmental benefits of this. And all those emissions are local, right to us. So once again, with this project, Ocean City gets all the risk and all the negatives with no input.”

At the state level, elected leaders continue in their efforts to make Maryland more competitive through offshore wind development. Earlier this month, for example, Gov. Wes Moore signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, recognizing the commitments of the federal and state governments to expand offshore wind energy development in the Central Atlantic. Officials say offshore wind projects not only help the state meet its renewable energy goals but provide lower energy costs and new jobs.

“Maryland is serious about offshore wind – not just because of what it means for our environment, but also because of what it means for our economy,” Moore said. “Offshore wind means new manufacturing jobs, higher wages, and more opportunity to grow wealth for Maryland families. I’m grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and all of our partners at the local, state, and federal levels for their partnership in this work. Together, we will build an economy that is both green and growing.”

US Wind’s air quality permit application can be found on MDE’s website, mde.maryland.gov. Dorsey said MDE will continue to accept written comments on US Wind’s air quality permit application.

BETHANY HOOPER/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

Local residents are pictured listening to some details presented by the Maryland Department

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Council favors removing sign sunset clause

Nonconforming

decisions will be handled through planning department

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 21, 2024) The Ocean City Council this week agreed to advance a code change that eliminates the sunset provision for nonconforming signs.

On Monday, the Ocean City Council approved the first reading of a zoning code amendment that removes the sunset provision for nonconforming signs in the downtown and upper downtown design overlay districts. While zoning regulations were modified in 2022 to extend the sunset date, the changes voted upon this week will remove the sunset provision altogether and keep the existing

nonconformity regulations.

“If there is ever a damaged sign, if there is ever one that changes so dramatically that it's beyond what the original nonconformity was, we will be going after those signs,” Planning and Community Development Director George Bendler told the council this week. “We don't have any intention of just sitting on our hands on this. We intend to go after signs to ensure they comply with the code. But as they sit now, if they are staying within the parameters that they have been for the past 20 years, we let it go until it deteriorates.”

Two years ago, the Mayor and Council voted to modify the town’s zoning code to extend the sunset date for nonconforming signs in the two downtown overlay districts to Nov. 18, 2023. On that date, any legal non-

conforming signs would become illegal and must be removed or made to conform with the town’s requirements.

With that date come and gone, officials in April agreed to remove the deadline from the code entirely and allow staff to address noncompliant signs in their own way. The proposed code revision, approved by the Ocean City Planning Commission on June 4, eliminates the sunset provision and, instead, sets a 90-day deadline upon receipt of a written notice to remove prohibited signs or bring nonconforming signs into compliance.

“That does give staff some time to get out and recognize which ones we are working with,” Zoning Administrator Kay Gordy told commission members this month. “We have to go back and do a lot of historical re-

search because many of them were signs that have simply been around. Some of them have not even changed faces since I would say the ’90’s, if not even longer, and that was long before these provisions were put in the code.”

According to the code amendment, nonconforming signs should be removed, replaced or made to conform when they are changed, structurally altered, enlarged, relocated, repaired or modified in a way that increases the degree of nonconformity. It also eliminates the opportunity to seek a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

During Monday’s council meeting, Mayor Rick Meehan said he did not support the elimination of the town’s sunset provision. He said businesses were given two decades to meet the sunset date for nonconforming signage.

“You know, I think we want everybody to have the same advantages and for those that have nonconforming signs – and there are some that are particularly, you know, different than other signs that would be allowed – doesn't create a level playing field for all of our businesses,” he said. “And I think that's what we always strive to do is to create a level playing field.”

Councilman Peter Buas, however, argued the ordinance did just that. He noted that staff had started preparing a list of nonconforming signs in the downtown area, which could be used to determine which signs existed before regulations were enacted and which ones did not.

“At least we aren’t punishing people that didn’t do anything wrong at the outset,” he said.

Buas noted the only alternative was taking down all nonconforming signs.

“That would probably be the only plan,” the mayor replied. “That’s why I said 20 years was a pretty long lead time.”

After further discussion, the council voted 5-0, with Councilmen John Gehrig and Will Savage absent, to approve the zoning code amendment on first reading.

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Unanimous support for OC’s new rental license strucutre

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 21, 2024) A new Ocean City rental license structure will take effect next year following approval at the council level this week.

On Monday, staff presented the city Council with the second reading of an ordinance to amend the town’s rental housing code. The ordinance includes definitions of long-term and short-term rentals, adds language related to required onsite parking, and establishes a new rental license structure as of Jan. 1, 2025 with fees set by resolution.

“It is amended because at the first reading the council had asked for a couple of specific changes and then Councilmember Buas asked city staff to take another look at the definitions,” City Solicitor Heather Stansbury said. “So that is the ordinance that now appears before you.”

In recent months, officials have discussed ways to regulate short-term rentals in Ocean City. In February, for example, the council directed staff to recommend revisions to the town’s rental license program, with a proposal to divide licenses based on length of stay. And in May, the council voted to approve a definition for short-term rentals and advance a proposed licensing structure that divides short- and long-term rental permits.

The discussion then rolled over into a late-May work session, with staff presenting additional changes to the rental code, specifically the rental licensing and inspection processes. One of the proposed changes included giving city staff 30 days – rather than the current 14 – to review a license application and inspect a rental property. Debate over that specific language, and the need to expedite the licensing process, continued at first reading with Councilman Peter Buas

asking that the section requiring mandatory inspections prior to licensure be omitted from the ordinance and addressed through an internal policy.

“My concern with the inspection is that the application is made and no license is issued for at least 14 days, potentially longer if it’s extended …,” he said at the time. “If it’s pre-existing with tenants or they’re already bookings, we’re essentially creating a situation that would have an unlicensed period after settlement.”

Buas also asked town staff to consider a license transfer for long-term rentals. He said allowing a transfer could keep tenants in their rentals while an inspection is completed. After a lengthy discussion, the council voted unanimously last month to approve the rental ordinance on first reading but to have staff better define short- and long-term rental licenses.

Staff also agreed additional time was needed to consider Buas’ suggestions regarding transfers and mandatory inspections.

Back on the agenda for adoption this week, Stansbury told the council the ordinance had been amended to address concerns related to definitions and inspection timelines. When asked if inspections could be handled through an internal policy, Stansbury said it could.

“But I want to correct the record in that I do believe this ordinance may be amended or further after going to the planning commission for some of the finer detailed points,” she replied. “The point behind this was to set the structure so the planning commission would have clear direction from the Mayor and City Council.”

With no further discussion, the council this week voted 5-0 to approve the ordinance on second reading. Councilmen John Gehrig and Will Savage were absent from Monday’s meeting.

By Mallory Panuska Ames Digital Editor

(June 21, 2024) The threat of a lawsuit in response to Ocean City officials’ plans to forbid houseboat rentals at local marinas remains just that following final approval of the legislation this week.

Councilmembers voted 5-0 on Monday, with Councilmen John Gehrig and Will Savage absent, to pass an ordinance that effectively prohibits the commercial use of the occupancy of houseboats, as well as a companion ordinance assigning fines of $25 to $1,000 for violations.

The ordinances were drafted after city staff members learned several weeks ago that Sea Rocket Ocean City planned to add houseboat rentals to the company’s offerings from its new Dorchester Street location. A listing for the Aqua Lodge houseboat was discovered on a short-term rental site, prompting staff to seek advice from the Mayor and Council, who ultimately objected to the practice.

Sea Rocket officials contended they are legally allowed to rent houseboats as they are consistent with marina use and registered through the Department of Natural Resources. They threatened legal action as a last resort if officials passed the prohibition without trying to work out a compromise. Councilmembers were unfazed and trudged on with passing the ordinances.

Mayor Rick Meehan pointed out during Monday’s meeting, though, that the reason behind the decision to prohibit the rentals had nothing to do with Sea Rocket’s operations or specific plans for the houseboats.

“This is really to address the preservation of our marinas and marina-related activities, which are supported by the comprehensives plan,” Meehan said during the meeting. “To make sure that we have marinas that can support and will continue to support marina-related activities and not

Commission to hold public hearing

Resort

planners will accept comments on amendments to cannabis regulations

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 21, 2024) The Ocean City Planning Commission will host a public hearing next month on proposed zoning code changes related to cannabis distribution.

On Tuesday, July 2, the Ocean City Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the town’s zoning code. Planning and Community Development Director George Bendler told commission members this week the

changes would reflect state legislation regarding the operation and location of cannabis dispensaries.

“Originally, the state of Maryland legalized cannabis in the state, and they have gone through a comprehensive new law at the state level as to how they treat cannabis and distribute cannabis in the state and municipalities,” he explained. “What we’re doing through our ordinance, and what you will see at our public hearing, is a cleanup of our cannabis ordinance.”

Bendler said the town’s code would be revised to align with state code. When asked if the amendment would address the odors of cannabis on the Boardwalk, Bendler said it would set parameters for how cannabis is distributed.

Attorney Maureen Howarth noted that changes to the code include restrictions on the location of cannabis dispensaries and their distances to schools, childcare facilities, parks, places of worship and more. While the public hearing would only consider changes to the zoning ordinance, she added that a companion ordinance would be presented to the council.

“There is this companion ordinance, the non-zoning sections of the town code, that needs to be updated to add cannabis in various sections,” she explained. “But because it’s not zoning it won’t come here. It will hit the council when this hits the council. So there’s some tweaks there, but it’s not particularly related to smoking downtown.”

No lawsuit filed or fines issued yet

Continued from Page 14

become residential areas. And I think that was extremely important. I think that was the genesis of this ordinance and I do support the ordinance being passed on second reading.”

While Sea Rocket CEO and General Manager Will Wangel and attorney Demetrios Kaouris attended the initial meetings to object to the ordinances,

no one from the company, or the public, spoke before Monday’s vote.

A call to a company official for comment was also not returned in time for this report.

City Manager Terry McGean said Tuesday that no lawsuit had been filed, and also, despite Sea Rocket listing the houseboat online for rent, no one had been seen occupying it,

thus no citations have been issued. McGean said code enforcement officials were checking daily for several weeks after learning the boat may be rented. Even though the ordinances had not officially passed until this week, he has said the company does not possess a city business license to legally rent the space, which would be a violation and fineable offense.

City pension plan adjusted to fed mandates

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 21, 2024) Resort officials this week adopted several amendments to the town’s pension plans to better align with federal legislation.

On Monday, the Mayor and Council voted to approve the second reading of three ordinances that amend

the town’s deferred compensation plan, general employees’ pension plan and public safety pension plan. The changes, mandated by the SECURE 2.0 Act, reflects federal legislation encouraging more employees to save for retirement.

Specifically, the three ordinances amend the town’s pension plans. The

first ordinance changes the town’s deferred compensation plan to include certain provisions of the SECURE 2.0 Act. The second and third ordinances amends the town’s two pension plans to raise the minimum distribution age and set a timetable for beneficiary payouts.

“This also refers to the SECURE

2.0 Act and surviving spouse benefit as reviewed by the May 22 pension committee meeting,” City Solicitor Heather Stansbury said.

With no further discussion this week, the council voted 5-0, with Councilmen John Gehrig and Will Savage absent, to adopt the ordinances on second reading.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

Pictured, from left, are Council members Carol Proctor and Matt James, Mayor RIck Meehan and Council members Peter Buas, Frank Knight and Tony DeLuca.

Compliance goal on Boardwalk displays

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 21, 2024) A code amendment that sets stronger enforcement procedures for outdoor displays on the Boardwalk will take effect immediately following the passage of an emergency ordinance Monday.

Earlier this month, the Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to support a proposed code amendment that introduces new enforcement procedures for Boardwalk business owners who do not comply with regulations for outdoor displays. Back on the agenda for Monday’s Mayor and Council meeting, officials voted 5-0 to approve the changes with an emergency ordinance.

“We want this to be in place and be effective over the course of summer 2024,” Mayor Rick Meehan said this week. “I think it’s been certainly well talked about and advertised that this was a discussion before the Mayor and City Council, and I think it’s an ongoing issue. It would be appropriate to pass this as an emergency ordinance.”

In recent months, town staff and representatives with the Ocean City Development Corporation and its boardwalk committee began working together to find ways to improve compliance of outdoor display regulations on the Boardwalk. The result of the ef-

fort was a proposed six-step enforcement procedure with associated fines and penalties for Boardwalk merchants who violate the rules set forth in their outdoor display permits.

“Throughout the years, we’ve had to draft multiple letters to the merchants to get compliance,” Planning and Community Development Director George Bendler told planning commission members earlier this month. “They are mainly just general warnings. Year after year, the warnings accumulate but we never got compliance. We have been struggling trying to find avenues to get the merchants to get compliant with the regulations. What we’ve decided is we’ve given enough warnings.”

The code amendment, presented to the planning commission earlier this month, and again to the Mayor and Council this week, allows a municipal infraction with a fine of $500 for the first violation and a municipal infraction with a fine of $1,000 for the second violation. From there, the penalties increase to include suspensions and revocations of outdoor display permits and, ultimately, the suspension or revocation of a violator’s business license.

Councilwoman Carol Proctor argued the proposed language gave the police department too much discretion when it came to enforcement. She noted that the word “may” could be replaced with

“shall” when enforcing second or third violations.

“There’s too much discretion up to the person when they go out and look to see if they’re going to issue a violation,” she said.

City Solicitor Heather Stansbury said it was a discussion town staff had when drafting the code amendment. She noted, however, that staff opted to give full discretion to the police department. City Manager Terry McGean agreed.

“I think that that also came up when the mayor brought up the issue of, well, are we going to immediately start doing this or should we at least allow them a warning,” he explained. “So this does –just like any other infraction in the town, like a speeding ticket or anything like that – allow the officer to use their discretion and give a documented warning … That was how we wanted to address some of the concerns I know the mayor had and also that we had.”

Proctor, however, questioned the need to give discretion beyond the first or second violation. Her concerns were echoed by other members on the council.

“I think we should make it known we want to treat people fairly but we want to be firm,” Council President Matt James said. “We’re looking for compliance here.”

McGean said that message had been

relayed to staff. Deputy City Manager JR Harmon, however, cautioned against eliminating officers’ discretion.

“I’ll use the example of a 50 mile per hour speed limit. You don’t want people writing tickets for 51 or 52 miles an hour …,” he said. “By leaving the discretion in there and doing it by practice or by supervision within your department, you can still get strict enforcement without going overboard.”

Instead of making any revisions to the ordinance presented to the council, Meehan suggested the council pass the ordinance and review its success at the end of the summer. McGean said the enforcement procedures were just some of the changes being proposed for the town’s outdoor displays.

“We do plan on coming back to you all with a much more comprehensive rewrite of the outdoor displays in the fall,” he replied. “It was too much to handle quickly. So you know we can see how this goes in the summer and then if you want to address this when we do the further rewrite in the fall, we could.”

After further discussion, the council voted 5-0, with Councilmen John Gehrig and Will Savage absent, to pass the code amendment as an emergency ordinance, making the enforcement procedures effective immediately.

“I think timing is important on this one,” James said.

Fee-in-lieu pitch on parking still being discussed

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 21, 2024) Officials continue to gauge interest in a fee-in-lieu-of-parking project in downtown Ocean City.

In an update last week, Ocean City Development Corporation President Joe Wilson said the organization continues to work on a fee-in-lieu-of-parking (FILOP) concept proposed for the downtown area. Earlier this year, the organization announced its purchase of 102 Worcester Street for the development of a parking project.

“At this point we are currently doing some legwork on reaching out to developers to gauge interest on this project,” he said. “We want to make sure there is demand from the development community prior to pushing the project forward any further. Once we gather enough information from the development community we will decide on whether to move forward with pursuit of this project.”

Last year, representatives with the Ocean City Development Corporation proposed to the Mayor and Council a plan to implement a fee-in-lieu-of-parking concept. Simply put, the program would allow developers an alternative for meeting the town’s minimum parking requirements. The concept allows property owners to pay a fee to the town instead of providing some or all of the necessary off-parking required by code. The town would then use the money to pay for public parking.

From that initial presentation, the town created a fee-in-lieu parking committee to hash out the details of implementing a FILOP concept. Those discussions ultimately resulted in the idea of creating a pilot program in downtown Ocean City. And during a Mayor and Council meeting this spring, Wilson announced OCDC’s purchase of 102 Worcester Street with plans to develop a FILOP project and mixed-use facility onsite.

“We’ve got three parking parcels that we’re looking to use for the fee-in-lieuof-parking pilot program,” he said at the time. “I’m also going to put a commercial tenant on the first floor, and then we hope to do seasonal housing on the second floor there. We are planning on a pretty extensive exterior and interior remodel plan for the 2024 budget.”

Wilson said last week that the details of the FILOP pilot program were still being ironed out.

“There is potential for a pilot program at the Worcester [Street] lot that is owned by OCDC,” he said, “but we will not be able to put a solid plan in place until we hear from the development community.”

Building code changes supported

Amendments needed to mirror recent changes required by state law

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 21, 2024) Changes to the town’s building code will advance to a second reading.

The Mayor and Council voted 5-0 Monday to approve the first reading of changes to the town’s building code. The amendments allow the Town of Ocean City to adopt the newest edition of International Code Council (ICC) building codes as mandated by state law.

“This incorporates various 2021 International Building Code minimum standards and various 2020 National Electric Code changes,” City

Solicitor Heather Stansbury said. “This was presented to you at the June 11 work session.”

Planning and Community Development Director George Bendler told council members last week he was proposing revisions to the code to reflect the newest updates from the ICC. While the town currently operates under the 2018 regulations, he said he was presenting the 2021 edition for adoption into the town’s building code. When the state adopted the new regulations last May, it gave jurisdictions an additional 12 months to make local amendments and enforce the most current version.

“So the code before you is a cleanup of the code,” he said at the time. “You'll see some stuff in here that may already exist in the code … So it's not bringing in anything that's going to be wildly

new or anything that's a major change.”

After a brief discussion, the council last week voted 6-1 to advance the proposed code amendments to a first reading. Councilman Peter Buas, who cast the dissenting vote, shared concerns regarding a portion of the amendment that set fines for violations of the building code. He noted that the town’s rental license ordinance already had a process for violations.

“I guess what I don’t want to see is an inspector be able to issue two different citations for two different ordinances and basically choose the path that doesn’t have the property improvement plan we’ve codified,” he said.

Back on the agenda this week, the council voted 5-0, with Councilmen John Gehrig and Will Savage absent, to approve the code amendments on first reading.

MCBP seeks public input on plan

The plan, referred to as the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan, is a grant requirement for the program and an essential component to the program’s success.

This will be the third plan since the

(June 21, 2024) The Maryland Coastal Bays Program, a consensus environmental program dedicated to protecting the five coastal bays behind Ocean City and Assateague Island through partnerships, is working on a 10-year management plan, and seeking community input.

program’s inception. The current plan can be reviewed on the MCBP website at mdcoastalbays.org.

The updated plan aims to reduce action items focused on the previous plans to make each one more impact-

Community input needed on plan

Continued from Page 21

ful and serve as the basis for a more detailed Annual Work Plan. The plan will also include a new component of resiliency and environmental justice and community engagement actions that relate to infrastructure funding.

The coastal bays program has launched a questionnaire for public input that can be found on the organization’s website through forms.gle/c7F22eMhjqexh6wr9.

The survey will be open until Aug. 15, as the final plan needs to be completed by the end of the year to be submitted to the EPA for final approval.

Contact Sandi Smith at sandis@mdcoastalbays.org for more information, or for any questions or comments on the new plan.

Knupp case kicked back to county

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 21, 2024) Maryland’s highest court this week denied a petition in the case against Tyler Mailloux, a Berlin man charged in the hit-andrun death of 14-year-old Gavin Knupp.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Maryland denied Mailloux’s petition to review an appellate court ruling in his case. As he did not have the right to an automatic appeal, Mailloux in April filed a petition to have the state’s highest court review the decision.

“Upon consideration of the peti-

tion for a writ of certiorari to the Appellate Court of Maryland, petitioner’s errata to the petition, and respondent’s answer to the petition, it is this 18th day of June 2024, Ordered, by the Supreme Court of Maryland, that the petition for writ of certiorari is denied as there has been no showing that review by certiorari is desirable and in the public interest,” the order issued this week reads.

dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction. He opined the district court had “exclusive and original jurisdiction.”

Immediately following that ruling, the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office appealed to the Appellate Court of Maryland, which heard oral arguments earlier this year. In an opinion issued March 27, the appellate court reversed the circuit court ruling to dismiss. From there, Mailloux filed a petition in April to have the Supreme Court of Maryland review the decision.

This week’s order from the Supreme Court of Maryland means the decision handed down by the Appellate Court of Maryland will be upheld and that all charges against Mailloux will be tried in Worcester County Circuit Court.

In April 2023, 17 traffic charges –including failure to immediately stop at the scene of an accident involving bodily injury and failure to immediately stop a vehicle at the scene of an accident involving death – were filed against Mailloux, 23, in the death of Knupp, who was struck and killed by a motorist in a black Mercedes while crossing Grays Corner Road on July 11, 2022. Knupp was reportedly returning to a vehicle driven by his older sister and died from injuries sustained in the collision. Mailloux is accused of fleeing the scene and not returning, according to charges filed.

During a motions hearing in Worcester County Circuit Court last August, Judge Brett Wilson granted a motion from Mailloux’s attorney to

“I expect the clerk’s office will set the matter for trial sometime in the fall, given the number of days required for trial and the court’s current caseload,” Worcester County State’s Attorney Kris Heiser said Tuesday. “We remain prepared and look forward to prosecuting the case in the Circuit Court as we had originally intended when we filed the charges.”

RONICK

ENTERTAINMENT

Saturday: Coastal Cats 6pm

Sunday: Locals Party w/ DJ Deogee 10pm

onic mas J. Mar Thomas

ck Jr

North OC restaurant fined for band violation

forth in their license.

“This license is a privilege, not a right,” he said. “Take this stuff seriously.”

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 21, 2024) An Ocean City business was fined $2,000 this week for noise and entertainment violations.

On Tuesday, the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners voted 2-0, with Chair William Esham recusing himself, to fine Boozy Egg – an uptown restaurant and bar – $2,000 for violating rules and regulations pertaining to noise and entertainment. Board member Charles Nichols told connections of the business they should have adhered to the restrictions set

Officials said the board received two complaints regarding noise and entertainment violations at the uptown establishment. They noted that on two May weekends, the Boozy Egg hosted a four-piece band in violation of its liquor license, which limited entertainment to two pieces. The Ocean City Police Department also reported a noise violation at the property during the time in question.

“What is alleged to have happened, happened,” Joe Moore, Boozy Egg’s attorney, said. “There’s no doubt about that.”

While admitting to the violation, Moore said his client had worked with the hotel in which the business

is located, to resolve the situation. Connections of the Boozy Egg said they had also purchased a decibel meter in an effort to monitor and control noise on the premises.

“We are doing everything we can to see to it that these two weekends were an aberration and not the way we operate,” Moore said.

In regard to the noise violation, an officer with the Ocean City Police Department said he was notified of a complaint and had visited the establishment to take a noise level reading. He said three separate measurements found the business in violation of the town’s noise ordinance.

“I drove to 145th Street, turned down the ocean block, and upon doing so, even with my windows up, I could hear music coming from the establishment, which was the Boozy Egg,” he told the board.

Moore said his client had been notified that a suspension could occur for the reported violations. However, he asked the board for leniency.

“We hope that’s not in the consideration,” he said, “particularly be-

cause we are coming into the height of the season, and that would create a circumstance that would be to the detriment of not these gentlemen, but the actual hotel.”

Officials noted that this was the second report of a violation that had occurred since the business opened in 2022. That first year, the business had sold alcohol to a minor. For his part, Nichols said the license holders should have known the rules and regulations, as they held another license for a business in Worcester County.

“They need to know the rules, they need to understand the rules and regulations,” he said, “but you didn’t back a few weeks ago.”

After further discussion, the board agreed to fine the Boozy Egg $2,000 for the violations.

The board this week also found that two Snow Hill businesses –Town Market Basket and Duck In II – had failed compliance checks by selling alcohol to a minor. Town Market Basket was issued a $1,000 fine, while Duck In II was issued a $500 fine.

Berlin native joins next generation of Navy warfighters

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

Aaron Dale Jr. is currenly serving as a student pilot assigned to VT 31, a U.S. Navy advanced flight training squadron based at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas.

(June 21, 2024) LTJG Aaron Dale Jr., a native of Berlin, is serving in the U.S. Navy assigned to Training Squadron (VT) 31 where naval aviators learn the skills they need to fly missions around the world.

Dale, a 2015 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School, joined the Navy three years ago. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Frostburg State University in 2019.

Today, Dale serves as a student pilot assigned to VT 31, a U.S. Navy advanced flight training squadron at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas.

The aviation squadron’s primary mission is to train future naval aviators to fly, as well as instill leadership and officer values. Students must complete many phases of flight training to graduate, including aviation preflight indoctrination, primary flight training and advanced flight training. After successfully completing the rigorous program, naval aviators earn their coveted “Wings of Gold.”

After graduation, pilots continue their training to learn how to fly a specific aircraft, such as the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter attack jet, the F-35 Lightning strike fighter jet or the SH-60 Seahawk helicopter. These aircraft take off from and land on Navy aircraft carriers at sea.

Navy aircraft carriers are designed for a 50-year service life. When the air wing is embarked, the ship carries more than 70 attack fighter jets, helicopters and other aircraft, all of which take off from and land aboard the carrier at sea. With more than 5,000 sailors serving aboard, the aircraft carrier is a self-contained mobile airport.

Aircraft carriers are often the first response to a global crisis because of their ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the

oceans.

Ocean City to host free July Fourth fireworks

(June 21, 2024) Ocean City will light up the night sky with two simultaneous fireworks displays on Thursday, July 4, in celebration of Independence Day. Shows are set for both downtown on the beach, and uptown on the bay.

The northern celebration at Northside Park on 125th Street and the bay, will kick off at 8 p.m. with a DJ, followed by a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.

“Northside Park is the perfect place for families to watch the color-

ful displays light up the evening sky and lagoon,” Mayor Rick Meehan said in a news release. “We encourage spectators to get there early to claim their spot to watch the fireworks.”

The soccer field and walking path on the northwest side of the park will be closed from viewing due to state and local safety precautions as the fireworks display will move off the west pier into the park to bring the experience closer than ever before.

On the south end of town, guests

can head to the Boardwalk and partake in the assortment of games, entertainment and food as they wait until DJ music begins at 8 p.m. on the beach at Caroline Street. In line with the northern show, the fireworks will blast off at 9:30 p.m.

“The July Fourth Celebration in Ocean City is a unique opportunity to watch fireworks over the ocean,” Meehan said. “Our Caroline Street Stage allows visitors to bring beach chairs or blankets and claim a spot on

the sand where they can enjoy the live performance and capture a special and patriotic firework display set to music.”

Operations for the downtown inlet parking lot will stay the same for the July 4 holiday, however the rate for the lot will increase to $5 per hour for the day. Visitors are reminded that parking is extremely limited at both fireworks locations and significant traffic delays are expected after both shows.

a stone's throw from the golf course. So much is brand NEW! Vaulted ceilings, a Family Room with skylight, 2 Primary BRs. Walk across the "Bridge" to the game room. Oversized double car garage. A very nice 2 BR apartment on the

(June 21, 2024) The Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, Ocean City Police Department and Ocean City Beach Patrol have collaborated with local hotels to launch the Find-a-Kid program, which will provide a new tool to reunite lost children with their families this summer.

“The idea of the program came from the suggestion of Harrison Group as they participate in the program at their Virginia Beach hotel,” Susan Jones, Executive Director of the OCHMRA, said in a news release.

The release said it’s common for children to wander off at the beach and get lost since they are unfamiliar with their surroundings. They may also not be able to recognize the hotel where they are staying, which makes it harder for them to return. This program has been proven to be a reassuring service to hotel guests with young children, as it has already been implemented in Virginia Beach.

There are 30 hotels participating in the inaugural program. Members will offer wristbands at the front desk to guests with children. The OCHMRA will supply each participating hotel with wristbands with the property’s name, address, and phone number printed on them, along with the OCHMRA logo.

Embers fully revamps to District 24 complex

By Anna Williams Staff Writer

(June 21, 2024) Located on 24th Street is a three-story complex now known as “District 24.”

Customers of all ages, whether local or visiting, can now enjoy high-quality meals, crabs, and entertainment all in one spot. The transformation included significant changes, the most notable being the revamping of the Embers Restaurant, which was for decades home to a famous buffet.

“Times were changing, and we had to get ahead of it,” said CEO Cole Taustin regarding the rebranding.

District 24 represents the new, modernized array of restaurants and activities on 24th Street. Taustin noted the Covid-19 pandemic “accelerated these big changes” to keep up with evolving times and competition. On June 13, the company held a ribbon cutting ceremony to promote the launch of District 24. This new brand stands out for its ability to cater to all customers offering entertainment and food year-round.

The rebranding kicked off with the opening of the new Embers in May 2023. Compared to the old buffetstyle Embers, the revamped Embers now offers a fine dining experience. The new menu features wood-fired pizzas as well as a variety of seafood and steaks, prepared by a phenomenal

culinary team. One of the more unique entrees is the dry-rub fish, which can only be found at Embers. Furthermore, located on the third floor, the restaurant has a scenic bayside view and an open kitchen layout, allowing guests to enjoy the breeze while observing their meal being prepared.

Embers has also stepped up their cocktail game with professional mixologists crafting a range of drinks, from a watermelon mojito to a mango chili mule more. The restaurant also boasts a stellar wine list and holds the prestigious Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Guests can unwind with a delicious post-beach day cocktail either at the bar, a table or on the rooftop

with a breathtaking view of the sunset.

Also on the property is BLU Crabhouse and Raw Bar, which offers inside dining as well as tables on the deck and in the sand under palm trees. Indoor and outdoor bars are also offered.

“BLU has been open for over a decade now, so that is something that the people know. The biggest change here was the rebranding of the Embers,” Taustin said. “We opened up the Embers last year with a new concept and pivoted it back to a full-service restaurant. We’re definitely not a buffet anymore, we are a full fine dining food and cocktail experience.”

District 24 provides many other customer attractions, besides the newer,

more upscale Embers. On the first floor is Jay’s Café and Trading Co., where early beachgoers can choose from a wide selection of coffees and other drinks, breakfast sandwiches, and fresh baked pastries. The café also serves ice cream, salads, soups, and smoothies, as well as grab and go snacks and beverages for visitors to easily stop in for a mid-day beach snack. Nearby is The Other One Brewing Co. where a variety of microbrews are available every day.

District 24 is also a prime location in Ocean City for private events. Taustin highlighted its capacity to host local organization meetings, corporate events, and large gathering for visitors. Private parties can be held at the BLU Crabhouse & Raw Bar, on the rooftop of Embers, or outside in the courtyard. Whether for celebrations or corporate functions, District 24 offers many locations and activities to fit various needs. In addition to the many unique bayside private event locations, guests can find fun at the Surf’s Up Arcade, Embers Island Mini Gold, and OC Axe Throwing, all without leaving the premises. Although a company with many diverse dining and entertainment options, guests can expect consistency at District 24. Taustin emphasized that customers can have a “comparable experience whether it’s in March or July with the same quality of food and service.”

Caine Woods parking discussed

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 14, 2024) Resort officials last week agreed more information was needed before a parking permit program could be implemented in the Caine Woods community.

At the request of residents in the Caine Woods community, a work session discussion was held at City Hall on the implementation of a parking permit program in the northern neighborhood. While opinions were decidedly mixed, council directed staff to communicate with association members and collect parking data throughout the summer months.

“In the meantime, I think we have some professionals that can really take a look at what was presented by Caine Woods, on both sides, and come back with a recommendation on how to address what is the current problem, or current perceived problem, in Caine Woods,” Mayor Rick Meehan said.

Caine Woods residents Dennis Dare and Brad Hoffman recently shared their community's concerns about overflow parking with the Mayor and Council. They argued new townhouse developments between 142nd and 145th streets, coupled with the growing number of beachgoers entering Ocean City through Route 54, would only worsen on-street parking in the neighborhood.

At their request, a discussion on Caine Woods parking was included on last Tuesday’s work session agenda. Public Works Director Hal Adkins told officials this week he had put together a proposed permit parking district in Caine Woods with the goal of generating some discussion amongst members of the council.

“When facing a situation of this sort, normally you would study it to get accurate empirical data and then you go about implementing a logical district,” he explained. “Unfortunately, even if you sat there and calculated that you have in excess of 170 units under construction, I’m not too far off in telling you that only eight units have gone to settlement. So you’re not going to get any real data specific to those developments for the summer but at the same time, it is our assumption at staff level you're going to desire to have something implemented by next summer. So it's not going to be based on any data, it’s going to be based on an assumption.”

needs the help,” he explained. “The good news is now you have a parking division and a seasoned parking professional who can help you figure out the next steps forward with that.”

During the public comment period prior to last week’s discussion, eight residents came before the council to share their views on the topic. Some opposed the idea of residential parking permits, some supported the idea, and some thought the council should first focus efforts on changing the town code as it relates to parking. Because of the mixed reactions of community members, Council Secretary Tony DeLuca said he believed discussions on a permit parking program were premature.

“The townhouses aren’t there yet,” he said. “We don’t know what the geography should be, we don’t know what the impacts will be.”

DeLuca said he believed the coming months should be spent studying the issue before any action was taken. Councilman Peter Buas agreed, noting the city’s parking division should work with the Caine Woods association.

“To add on to that, I'd recommend at least we send a blanket notice to every property owner there, just because admittedly, while the association is fantastic, it only covers about half of the lot owners,” he said. “I want to make sure the other half are aware.”

After a lengthy discussion, the council agreed more information was needed. For his part, Meehan said the town could also explore other methods of alleviating parking problems, such as the purchase of property for public parking and changes to city ordinances, to name a few.

“I think it's really important that we realize the actions we take in the next six to nine months are really going to help what’s going to be developed in the future,” he said. “So I would hope that the council would revisit some of these things. It’s important. Let’s not have history repeat itself. Let’s make things better.”

Councilman John Gehrig said that if the city were to implement a parking district in Caine Woods, residents should be given more than the two parking permits suggested by staff. He also noted that if the town was going to consider purchasing land for a parking lot, he also wanted to have a larger discussion on paid parking.

“At least have the conversation that if you're going to come here and use our infrastructure, that you're going to pay a reasonable fee …,” he said. “I want to add that to the mix, and that will open up five more cans of you know what.”

Officials noted that in order to implement any sort of permit parking program for Caine Woods, officials would need to determine what areas the district would encompass, what hours and seasons permit parking would be enforced, and how many permits would be issued. When asked about the geographical boundaries of a designated parking district, Ramp Up Advisors’ Duke Hansen said that was typically determined through a license plate survey.

“It's really kind of on demand, who

The discussion concluded with the council asking staff to draft a letter to all Caine Woods property owners and to collect parking data throughout the summer months. Councilmembers also requested staff attendance at an up-

Ocean City to welcome tall ship June 28 through Sept. 1

(June 21, 2024) The Nao Trinidad is expected to arrive in Ocean City later this month for an extended say on 3rd Street bayside.

The tall ship tells the story of the first circumnavigation around the world. Visitors to the ship can climb aboard and learn how the brave sailors of yesteryear sailed and lived on a boat. The ship, which features five decks, will be available from June 28-Sept. 1 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Tickets are available now at tickets.naotrinidad.org. Tickets are $15 each with children 5 to 10 years old $5 each. A family rate of $35 is available for two adults and up to three children between 5 and 10 yearse old. Free for children under 5 years old when accompanied by an adult.

Schools, camps and organizations interested in scheduling a visit should email ecampos@velacuadra.es.

COMMUNITY/SCHOOLS

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH CHAMBER

AWARD

The Board of Directors of the Worcester County Chamber of Commerce in Ocean Pines announced the chamber received top honors in the 2024 Chamber Challenge. The announcement was made at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s “40th Maryland Small Business Awards Event” on June 6 at Martin’s West in Woodlawn. The annual Chamber Challenge recognizes chambers across the state for their efforts in supporting Maryland’s small businesses. Chambers were voted on by their members throughout the month of March. The top three winners are announced as part of the annual awards event. In addition to the Worcester County Chamber in Ocean Pines being recognized as the 2024 statewide champion, neighboring Snow Hill Chamber was announced as second place winner, while the northwest took third place.

The Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association recently donated $7,500 to the new OC Fire Station with funds going toward the kitchen/dining room. Pictured from left, front row, are HMRA board of directors Rick Staub, Lorrie Miller and Keith Whisenant; Executive Director Susan Jones, Fire Chief Rickie Bowers; and board member Ruth Waters. Pictured, back row, are board members Dan Jasinski, Jeremy Brink, Garvey Heiderman, Dave Robinson and Cole Taustin.

LUAU FUNDRAISER

Worcester County Youth & Family Services held its annual luau fundraiser at Sunset Grille on June 13, and some members of the Kiwanis Club of Ocean Pines-Ocean City attended. Pictured, from left, back row, are Tom and Skip Flanagan and John Hanberry, and front row, from left, are Candy Foreman, Kitty Wrench and Teri Westbrook. WCY&FS is one of the organizations the club supports. Earlier this year a $2,000 donation was made.

NEW ROTARY MEMBERS

The Ocean City-Berlin Rotary Club recently installed two new members. Pictured, from left, are Past District Governor Cliff Berg, new members Colleen Nichols and Jay Warrington, and President Gina Shaffer. The club meets the first and third Wednesday of the month at Don's Seafood at the South Gate of Ocean Pines.

and

PHOTO COURTESY DAVID J. LANDIS SR.

PHOTO COURTESY OCEAN CITY HOTEL-MOTEL-RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION FIRE STATION DONATION

PHOTO COURTESY OCEAN CITY-BERLIN ROTARY CLUB

PHOTO COURTESY OCEAN CITY LIONS CLUB

City Lions Club President Greg Cathell presented a $1,500 check to Michelle Bankert for the Berlin Intermediate School Peer Mediator Program. Peer mediators are selected by their peers for

PHOTO COURTESY OCEAN CITY LIONS CLUB

The Ocean City Recreation

Parks department received $1,000 from the Ocean City Lions Club. Pictured, from left, are Recreation Manager Travis Davey and OC Lions President Greg Cathell. The Ocean City Lions Club was instrumental in the creation of the recreation department.

34TH ANNUAL BATHTUB RACES

BERLIN BATHTUB RACES

The Berlin Chamber of Commerce’s 34th Annual Bathtub Races were held on Main Street last Friday, attracting thousands to the historic town to watch 20 businesses race up and down in search of bragging rights for the year. For the record, Pohanka went undefeated on the night to win top honors. The event attracts locals and visitors of all ages.

PHOTOS COURTESY GARRETT NEVILLE/BERLIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

State foundation donation helps OCPD K9

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 21, 2024) A $6,000 donation from a state foundation will allow the Ocean City Police Department to recover costs from a recent K-9 surgery.

On June 7, officials with the Ocean City Police Department accepted a $6,097 check from the Maryland Police K9 Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides lifesaving equipment, care and training to active and retired K-9s across the state. The donation, officials say, will cover K-9 Smoke’s surgery costs.

“I believe it’s important for every agency to have a K-9 unit …,” said Maryland Police K9 Foundation President Scott Lockerman. “I think it’s important and a very important mission to me. So we want to do anything we can to help any of these dogs.”

Smoke, an eight-year-old Belgian Malinois, has been a member of Ocean City Police Department’s K-9 unit since 2018. Originally from the Netherlands, he is trained in both narcotics detection and patrol functions such as building searches and tracking.

In March, Smoke was injured during his annual certification process. Diagnosed with carpal hyperextension, he was referred to a specialist in

Annapolis, where surgery was performed.

“It’s very common for dogs, dogs that are on a high platform and jump down and can easily injure their front legs,” Smoke’s handler, PFC Erika Rhode, said. “He said the surgery was routine, it went very well. He’s been in a cast/splint for the last eight

weeks. He just got it off on Wednesday.”

Lockerman, who is also a K-9 handler with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, said he was present when Smoke was injured during certifications this spring. While the police department paid for Smoke’s surgery, the donation from the Maryland Po-

lice K9 Foundation will allow the funds used to cover the surgery to go back into the K-9 budget.

“Watching [Rhode], seeing the frustration and anxiety and stress of what’s going to happen to my dog, actually weighed on me too because I have a dog. It weighed on all of us,” he said. “And Smoke being as old as he is, he’s almost retired. He has a few years left so we’re trying to get him back on the road.”

Lockerman said the money provided for Smoke’s surgery is the foundation’s largest donation to date. In addition to veterinary care and training, the foundation also supports local agencies through the donation of K-9 ballistic vests, trauma kits and heat alarms. He said those interested in supporting the Maryland Police K9 Foundation can make donations through the nonprofit’s website, mdpk9f.org.

“We still have dogs in need …,” he said.

While Smoke has not yet returned to active duty, Rhode said her K-9 companion will be joining her on rides until he makes a full recovery. To thank the nonprofit for its support, Rhode hosted a barbeque, “Smoking for K-9 Smoke,” on June 8. Money raised was given back to the Maryland Police K9 Foundation.

BETHANY HOOPER/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

Command staff and officers with the Ocean City Police Department are pictured with K-9 Smoke, front, and Maryland Police K9 Foundation President Scott Lockerman, center, during a check presentation last week.

Moore’s service

memoralized with brick dedication

By Tara Fischer Staff Writer

(June 21, 2024) Friends and family honored Bruce Moore with a brick dedication and ceremony at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial in Ocean Pines on Tuesday.

Moore, who passed away in June 2023, was originally from Laurel, Delaware. After graduating from the University of Delaware, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and stationed throughout the country. During this time, Moore took courses at Clemson University and the University of Maryland.

Rev. George Patterson attended the June 18 ceremony to say a few words about the former Army captain who made a name for himself in Ocean City as a real estate broker. The pair met in 1992 when Patterson was appointed to serve the Atlantic United Methodist Church and became one of his “dearest and most cherished friends.”

“I remember his great love for his family,” Patterson said. “… As I was reflecting on my favorite memory of Bruce, it was something he taught me. You grow up … in an environment where we tell our parents and siblings … that we love them. I had never been around anyone other than family who told me that they loved me. Bruce taught me to express my love for my friends as well. I thank God today for Bruce, for his light.”

After retiring from the military, Moore dedicated time to the community. Moore was a former Ocean City Paramedics Foundation president, a member of the Worcester Preparatory School Board of Trustees, served on the boards for the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore and the Ambassadors for Beebe Healthcare and was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels.

Moore also founded Moore, Warfield and Glick Realtors in 1981 with partners Hal Glick and Bob Warfield. He also served as president of the Ocean City Board of Realtors.

At the event, a brick was placed at the existing memorial in Moore’s honor.

The veterans memorial, which pays tribute to each branch of the armed forces, broke ground on Veterans Day, 2004. Thousands of visitors go to the site for the annual Memorial Day event and for field trips.

Eastern Shore Physical Therapy

JUNE 21, 2024 OC Today-Dispatch 45

TOWN OF SNOW HILL, MARYLAND WATER/WASTEWATER OPERATOR

The Town of Snow Hill is accepting applications for the position of Water/Wastewater Operator. Responsibilities include but not limited to: maintenance on pumps, valves, motors, etc.; troubleshoot operational problems; performs laboratory analysis; collects samples and mixes chemicals; water meter readings, testing and repairs; sewer service connections and sewer line maintenance. Preferred candidate has Class 2 Water Treatment Operator license and/or 5A Wastewater Treatment license, and certification to collect drinking water samples; has good organizational skills and excellent communication skills.

Salary commensurate with experience. This is a full-time position with Town benefits, health insurance and Maryland State Retirement.

To request an application form, send resume with salary requirements to: execadmin@snowhillmd.com or Town of Snow Hill, Michelle Beckett-El Soloh, P.O. Box 348, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863

POOL DECK ATTENDANT

PT, 3 days per week, 10am6pm. Summer Seasonal. Check guests for arm bands, keep pool area clean & assist w/other duties as needed. Call 410-524-9400.

Night Floor Manager 6:00-midnight. Must be available for weekends. Must be able to lift 40 lbs. or more. Apply in person, American Legion Post 166. 410-289-3166

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

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

2 Professional CooksExperience. Night shift 3:309:30. Flexible weekdays and weekends. Must be available for weekends. Must be able to lift 40 lbs. or more. Apply in person, American Legion Post 166. 410-289-3166

OC

LODGE

Vivian Merritt to apply, 410-299-1336

IES Residential, Inc. Licensed Electricians & Subcontractors Needed ASAP! Full Benefits for Employees. Please call or text 302-614-6944.

Cleaners Wanted for Ocean City, MD If you are a conscientious individual or team looking for great pay and minimal hours on summer Saturdays in OC, then we are the cleaning company for you. Exp. Preferred. Cell phone and vehicle required. 443-880-0525

Thunderbird Beach Motel Now Hiring NIGHT AUDITOR Midnight-8am. Roommaster exp. pref. Apply in person. 32nd St., Baltimore Ave. Mon.-Fri., 9am-3pm

o

Please Apply Online: https://www.allstatesconst.com/delmarva-renovations-careers Or Contact Our Office at 410-352-9800

Pool -

General Maintenance. Outdoor work, lifting heavy objects. Mechanical, basic pool pump & motors, CPO a plus / not required. Able to pass CPO test. Summer includes weekends & long hours; working alone or with others 410-289-4902 ask for Suzanne.

RENTALS

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

Waterfront Bayside - Newly remodeled 2BR, 2BA Condo in North OC. 4 steps to ground level off your private balcony. Full kitchen, LR, DR, W/D, balcony w/tables + seating for 6. Seasonal/ monthly Dec.-April, $2,000. Contact Julie 443-223-4623

& Seasonal Rentals

We Welcome Pets

Coastal Hwy

YR/SEASONAL OC

4BR, 2BA Home in tranquil Mallard Island, 15th St.

On-site parking in rear, central air, W/D. $4,200/mo. & sec. dep. Email: jmoses@ocrooms.com.

SEEKING RENTAL

Active, Retired Couple Married 50 yrs.! Seeking to Rent ~ YEAR ROUND ~ OCEANFRONT CONDO to enjoy our last years together. 1 level preferred. Beginning October ’24. OC/Lewes/Bethany. Call Steve or Pat, 717-969-2401

COMMERCIAL

Industrial Warehouse. Space: 1500 sq. ft. Masonry construction, 18’ high ceiling, large garage door, bathroom, yard and storage shed. Approx. 10x25+/Route 90/Bishopville. Call 443-497-4200.

1 Office/Retail Space available in West Ocean City. Approximately 1656 sq. ft. Call 443-497-4200

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.

WANT TO BUY

WANTED TO BUY: Vintage signs, old advertising items, military memorabilia, antique toys, decoys, and small antique items. Call/text, 443-880-3082

YARD SALE

WHISPERING WOODS COMMUNITY WIDE YARD SALE (WOC, off Rt. 611) Saturday, June 22nd, 8am-noon. Items for the whole family!! BOATS/PWC

FREE SAILBOAT 1976, 27’ Catalina Yachts. Call for details, 443-880-7453.

Get

PETS/PET SUPPLIES

When veterinary care is unavailable or unaffordable, ask for Happy Jack® animal healthcare products for cats, dogs, & horses. At Tractor Supply® & Southern States® FOR

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-855-993-0969 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

Infinite! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 855-977-5719

Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HDDVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-855407-6870

MISC./OTHER

Shoulders soft and bare, The sun arches for the moment, Just out of reach! That denied caress, Now gone with the dawn!

SERVICES

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

www.dental50plus.com/ MDDC #6258

VEHICLES WANTED

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

www.CompassionPlace.org

ROBINS & ROBINS, P.A.

128 East Main Street

Salisbury, Maryland 2l801

ASSIGNEES’ SALE OF RESIDENTIAL DWELLING

146 Pine Tree Road, Ocean City, MD 21842

Pursuant to power of sale contained in a Mortgage filed for foreclosure in Case No. C-23-CV-24-000085 in the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, the undersigned Assignees will offer the following described property for sale to the highest bidder at public auction to be held at the front steps of the Worcester County Circuit Courthouse, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863, on

MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2024, at the HOUR OF 10:00 A.M.

ALL that lot or parcel of land situate in the Town of Ocean City, in the Tenth Election District of Worcester County, Maryland, being described and known as Lot No. 1349 in "MONTEGO BAY MOBILE HOME PARK – SECTION ONE” as recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland, at Liber F.W.H. No. 11, Folio 32, et seq. IMPROVEMENTS: The property is improved by a manufactured home which was converted to real property pursuant to certification dated July 16, 2021, and recorded among the Land Records for Worcester County, Maryland, at Book 8119, Page 270, and is identified by Tax Account Number 10-193125.

TERMS OF SALE: The property will be sold to the highest bidder at public auction. The purchaser will be required to tender on account of the bid price at the time and place of sale cash, certified funds, or check acceptable to the undersigned, in the amount of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00). If the party secured by the Mortgage is the successful bidder, no deposit will be required, and the cash deposit or price shall be credited against the obligation. The deferred portion of the bid price shall be evidenced by the Promissory Note of the Buyer, bearing no interest provided settlement is made and the full price tendered on or before fifteen days after the date of ratification of the sale by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland; otherwise, the deferred portion of the bid price shall bear interest from the date of sale at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum. Neither the Assignees nor the auctioneer make any representation or warranty concerning the property, the same being sold “as is”; and, if for any reason the Assignees are unable to deliver good and marketable title to the real estate, subject only to easements, rights of way, and use restrictions of record, the sole and exclusive remedy of the Buyer shall be a refund of the deposit money. Neither the Assignees, auctioneer or note holder are aware of any violation of any federal, state or municipal environmental law or regulation; however, in the event any such violations exist, they

are not responsible for same. All settlement costs, including, but not limited to, document preparation, recordation and transfer taxes, recording costs, and title examination, if any, shall be the obligation of the Buyer. State, County, and municipal property taxes and assessments shall be adjusted as of the date of sale. Buyer shall be entitled to possession upon final settlement and payment of the purchase price in full, which shall occur not later than fifteen days after final ratification of the sale by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, time being of the essence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, please contact the undersigned Assignees or Auctioneer.

John B. Robins, IV

Christopher S. Robins Assignees 410-749-3791

Pete Richardson Auction Sales, Inc. 410-546-2425

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COHN, GOLDBERG & DEUTSCH, LLC

1099 WINTERSON ROAD, SUITE 301

LINTHICUM HEIGHTS, MARYLAND 21090 www.cgd-law.com/sales

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES' SALE OF IMPROVED REAL PROPERTY

842 COLONA ROAD POCOMOKE, MD 21851

By authority contained in a Deed of Trust dated December 31, 1997 and recorded in Liber 2471, Folio 058, , among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland, with an original principal balance of $35,057.34, and an interest rate of 7.421%, default having occurred thereunder, the Substitute Trustees will sell at public auction at the Courthouse door for the Circuit Court for Worcester County, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863, on

June 24, 2024 AT 11:00 AM

ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE property more fully described in the aforesaid Deed of Trust. The property is improved by a dwelling.

Terms of Sale: The property will be sold “as is” subject to any conditions, restrictions, easements and agreements of record affecting same with no warranty of any kind. A deposit of $5,000.00 by certified funds only (no cash accepted) required at time of auction. Balance of the purchase price to be paid within 10 days of ratification of sale by the Court, with interest at the note rate from date of sale to settlement. If settlement is delayed for ANY reason, there shall be no abatement of interest or taxes. All private utility, water and sewer facilities charges, front foot benefit payments, ground rent, or condo/HOA assessments, not otherwise divested by ratification of the sale are payable by purchaser without adjustment. Real estate taxes

and all other public charges, or assessments, to be adjusted as of date of sale. Transfer and recordation taxes, and all other costs incident to settlement, shall be borne by purchaser. Purchaser shall be responsible for obtaining physical possession of the property.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. If purchaser fails to go to settlement within ten days of ratification, or otherwise fails to comply with the terms of sale, the Trustee may declare the entire deposit forfeited and resell the property at the risk and expense of defaulting purchaser, who agrees to pay reasonable attorneys' fees and costs if a motion to resell the property has been filed, purchaser waives personal service of any paper filed in connection with such motion, and agrees to accept service of any such paper by regular mail to the address provided at time of sale. If the Trustee cannot convey insurable title, or the loan servicer determines that the sale should not have occurred, the sale shall be null and void, and purchaser's sole remedy shall be the return of deposit without interest.

Richard E. Solomon, et al., Sub. Trustees Tidewater Auctions, LLC (410) 825-2900 www.tidewaterauctions.comy

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B. RANDALL COATES ESQ COATES, COATES, & COATES 204 WEST GREEN STREET P O BOX 293

SNOW HILL, MD 21863

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of DORIS E TRADER AKA: DORIS ELIZABETH TRADER Estate No. 20181 Notice is given that GARY LEE TRADER whose address is 30506 CANNON DR SALISBURY, MD 21804-8067 was on MAY 30, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of DORIS E TRADER who died on APRIL 15, 2024 with a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent's will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 30th day of NOVEMBER, 2024

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

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

(2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other de-

livery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-6/6/3t

TOBIN, O’CONNOR, CONCINO P.C.

JEFFREY K. GORDON ESQ. 5335 WISCONSIN AVE., NW STE. 400 WASHINGTON, DC 20015-2077

NOTICE

TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 20219

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the District Court of Clark County, Nevada appointed Robert Louis Bender Jr., 719 Quayside Ct., Las Vegas, NV 89178-1250 as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Robert Louis Bender who died on February 02, 2024 domiciled in Nevada, America.

The Maryland resident agent for service of process is Stephen J. O’Connor Esq. whose address is 9321 Watkins Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20882.

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

All persons having claims against the decedent must file their claims with the Register of Wills for Worcester County with a copy to the foreign personal representative on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death; or (2) Two months after the foreign personal representative mails or delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claim within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.

Robert Louis Bender Jr. Foreign Personal Representative Terri Westcott Register of Wills One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of Newspaper: Ocean City Digest

Date of first publication: June 6, 2024

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NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20214 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF JOHN V. SHANNON AKA: JOHN VINCENT SHANNON

Notice is given that Marie B. Reilly, 83 Tail Of The Fox Dr., Berlin,

MD 21811-1911 and Barbara Griffen, 65 Cresthaven Dr., Berlin, MD 21911-1903, were on May 28, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of John V. Shannon who died on April 05, 2024, with a will. Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 28th day of November, 2024.

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

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

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

Marie B. Reilly

Barbara Griffen

Personal Representative

True Test Copy

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

Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest

Date of publication: June 06, 2024

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DIANE S. KOTKIN ESQ. RKW LAW GROUP, LLC 10 N. JEFFERSON ST., STE. 200 FREDERICK, MD 21701-3500

NOTICE

TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES

ESTATE NO 20216

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the ORPHAN’S court of PHILADELPHIA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA appointed KEISHA V. MAJOR whose address is 4544 N CARLISLE ST., PHILADELPHIA, PA 19140-1119 as the EXECUTOR of the Estate of WILLIE F. SMALLWOOD JR. who died on OCTOBER 16, 2023 domiciled in PENNSYLVANIA, USA

The Maryland resident agent for service of process is DIANE S. KOTKIN, ESQ. whose address is 10 N. JEFFERSON STREET, SUITE 200, FREDERICK, MD 21701. At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following Maryland counties: WORCESTER COUNTY.

All persons having claims against

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

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

(2) Two months after the foreign personal representative mails or delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claim within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074

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RAYMOND D. COATES JR, ESQ COATES,COATES, & COATES, P.A.

6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 300

OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE

TO

CREDITORS

OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES ESTATE NO 20225

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the ORPHANS' court of LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA appointed WANDA MARIE MARTIN whose address is 1241 PRECAST RD EAST EARL, PA 17519-9607 as the EXECUTRIX of the Estate of FLOYD G MARTIN who died on FEBRUARY 24, 2024 domiciled in PENNSYLVANIA, USA

The Maryland resident agent for service of process is RAYMOND D COATES, JR whose address is 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY SUITE 300 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842. At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following Maryland counties: WORCESTER COUNTY

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

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

(2) Two months after the foreign personal representative mails or delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claim within two months from the mailing or delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY

ONE W MARKET STREET

ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE

SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-6/13/3t

MICHAEL S WOLL ESQ

BISHOPVILLE,

MD 21813

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of SHARON S DAVIDSON Estate No. 20229 Notice is given that RICHARD C DAVIDSON SR whose address is 10817 BISHOPVILLE RD BISHOPVILLE, MD 21813-1201 was on JUNE 06, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of SHARON S DAVIDSON who died on APRIL 08, 2024 without a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent's will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 6th day of DECEMBER, 2024

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

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

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

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074

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NOTICE OF INTRODUCTION OF BILL 24-05

WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Take Notice that Bill 24-05 (Natural Resources – Critical Area Law) was introduced by Commissioners Abbott, Bertino, Bunting, Elder, Fiori, Mitrecic, and Purnell on May 21, 2024.

A fair summary of the bill is as follows:

§NR 3-101: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections and to update to current State regulations.

§NR 3-102: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections and to update to current State regulations (i.e. provide definition for lot coverage which took the place of the term impervious surface).

§NR 3-103: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections and to update

to current State regulations.

§NR 3-104: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections and to update to current State regulations.

§NR 3-105: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections.

§NR 3-106: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections and to update to current State regulations, including updating adjacency regulations.

§NR 3-107: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections and to update to current State regulations. Some language changes made to reflect new terminology (i.e. lot coverage verse impervious surface).

§NR 3-108: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections. Special Event Language added, as previously adopted locally by the County Commissioners on May 19, 2020 with passage of Bill # 20-3.

§NR 3-109: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections and to update to current State regulations.

§NR 3-110: Changes made to update current State regulations.

§NR 3-111: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections and to update to current State regulations, including After the Fact variance requests and Administrative variances.

§NR 3-112: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections and to update to current State regulations. Updates growth allocation acreage based on comments from the Critical Area Commission.

§NR 3-113: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections.

§NR 3-114: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections and to update to current State regulations. Unauthorized clearing section originally from §NR 3-116(g) moved to this section.

§NR 3-115: This section was entirely placed within §NR 3-114, then the Lot Consolidation and Reconfiguration section (from COMAR) was added to the Worcester County Code; therefore, the language in this section is completely new and added to update to current State regulations.

§NR 3-116: Parts of this section were deleted because they are not in COMAR. Other parts of this section (g-Enforcement) were placed in §NR 3-114.

§NR 3-117: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections and to update to current State regulations.

§NR 3-118: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections and to update to current State regulations.

§NR 3-119: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections.

§NR 3-120: Adds clarifying language for the usage of the DNR Wildlife and Hertiage Service resource inventory based on comments from the Critical Area Commission.

§NR 3-121: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic

Coastal Bays sections. Removed section on Bald Eagles as they are no longer considered an endangered species.

§NR 3-122: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections. Removed “wetlands” from section.

§NR 3-123: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections and to update to current State regulations.

§NR 3-124: Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays. Adds language from the Critical Area model ordinance based on comments from the Critical Area Commission.

§NR 3-125: No changes.

§NR 3-126: This is a completely new section, taken from COMAR/State regulations.

§NR 3-127: This section was renumbered from §NR 3-126. Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coast Bays sections and to update current State regulations.

§NR 3-127 (original code): This section was removed because Maryland Department of Environment oversees wetlands.

§NR 3-127: This section was renumbered from §NR 3-126. Changes made to combine the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays sections and to update to current State regulations.

§NR 3-128: This is a new section based on recent regulations passed by the Critical Area Commission on April 1, 2021.

A Public Hearing

will be held on Bill 24-xx at the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Room 1101 – Government Center, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.

This is only a fair summary of the bill. A full copy of the bill is posted on the Legislative Bulletin Board in the main hall of the Worcester County Government Center outside Room 1103, is available for public inspection in Room 1103 of the Worcester County Government Center. A full copy of the bill with an option to submit comments will also be available by a link provided on the County Website at www.co.worcester.md.us.

THE WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

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REENA J PATEL ESQ LAW OFFICE OF MARIANNA BATIE

1321 MT. HERMON ROAD STE B SALISBURY, MD 21804

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20232

TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF SHEILA KATHLEEN FOTHERINGILL

AKA: SHEILA K. FOTHERINGILL

Notice is given that James B. Rothgeb, 6 126th St., Unit 103S / PO Box 3430, Ocean City, MD 218422254, was on June 10, 2024 ap-

pointed Personal Representative of the estate of Sheila Kathleen Fotheringill who died on May 05, 2024, with a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 10th day of December, 2024.

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

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

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

James B. Rothgeb Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County

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

Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest

Date of publication: June 13, 2024

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REGAN J. R. SMITH ESQ WILLIAMS, MOORE, SHOCKLEY & HARRISON LLP 3509 COASTAL HIGHWAY OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of PATRICIA ANN ANTHONY Estate No. 20217 Notice is given that RONALD D ANTHONY whose address is 522 BAY AVE MILFORD, DE 19963-4914, BYRON A ANTHONY whose address is 13003 OLD BRIDGE RD OCEAN CITY, MD 21842-9272 were on JUNE 10, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of PATRICIA ANN ANTHONY who died on MAY 04, 2024 with a will.

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

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

BER, 2024

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

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

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

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-6/13/3t

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20224 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF CYNTHIA MERICINE KIRKWOOD

Notice is given that Cynthia Louise Ramos, 916 Acorn Cir., Pocomoke City, MD 21851-9591, was on June 07, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Cynthia Mericine Kirkwood who died on May 26, 2024, with a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 7th day of December, 2024.

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

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

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

Cynthia Louise Ramos Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for

Worcester County One W. Market Street

Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest

Date of publication: June 13, 2024

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NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20221 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF SHIRLEY A. FINK

Notice is given that Darlene Michelle Ruggiero, 702 Mason Rd., Stevensville, MD 21666-2318, was on June 03, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Shirley A. Fink who died on February 08, 2024, with a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 3rd day of December, 2024.

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

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

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

Darlene Michelle Ruggiero Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest

Date of publication: June 13, 2024

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QUINN W MCGINNES ESQ WILLIAMS, MOORE, SHOCKLEY & HARRISON, LLP

3509 COASTAL HWY OCEAN CITY, MD 21842-3334

To all persons interested in the estate of LOUIS E. SCHNEIDER Estate No. 20226 Notice is given that DIANA KELLY whose address is 2719 SUPERIOR AVE., PARKVILLE, MD 21234-1159 was on JUNE 04, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of LOUIS E. SCHNEIDER who died on APRIL 18, 2024 without a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent's will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 4th day of DECEMBER, 2024

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

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

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

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074

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NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of CHARLES JOHN KINELSKI JR Estate No. 20222 Notice is given that MARY PATRICIA CONNELL whose address is 12300 JAMAICA AVE UNIT 104 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842-4746 was on JUNE 03, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of CHARLES JOHN KINELSKI JR who died on MAY 13, 2024 without a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent's will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 3rd day of DECEMBER, 2024

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

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

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

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-6/13/3t

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 110, Zoning, of the Code of the Town of Ocean City, Maryland, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be conducted by the Planning and Zoning Commission in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 301 Baltimore Avenue in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland on:

TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2024

At 7:00 pm AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 110, ENTITLED ZONING OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF OCEAN CITY, MARYLANDARTICLE I, ENTITLED IN GENERAL, SECTION 110-2, ENTITLED DEFINITIONS; AND ARTICLE V ENTITLED SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS, DIVISION 1, ENTITLED GENERALLY, SECTION 110-884 OUTDOOR DISPLAY OF MERCHANDISE STANDARDS FOR PROPERTIES FRONTING ON ATLANTIC AVENUE (BOARDWALK AND SECTION 110-885 ENTITLED OUTDOOR DISPLAY OF MERCHANDISE STANDARDS FOR PROPERTIES LOCATED IN THE DOWNTOWN DESIGN OVERLAY AND THE UPPER DOWNTOWN DESIGN OVERLAY ZONE DISTRICTS (R-3, R-3A, LC1, DM, B-1, BC-2, DMX, M AND I-1 DISTRICTS, EXCLUDING THE BOARDWALK FRONTAGES OF PROPERTIES IN THE R-3, B-1 AND BC-2 DISTRICTS) ARE AMENDED AND SECTION 110887, ENTITLED CANNABIS DISPENSARIES TO ADD DEFINITIONS RELATED TO CANNABIS AND DISPENSARIES; REGULATE OUTDOOR DISPLAYS OF MERCHANDISE; AND TO ADOPT SUPPLEMENTAL ZONING REGULATIONS RELATED TO CANNABIS.

APPLICANT: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL (FILE #24-14100003)

No oral or written testimony will

be accepted after the close of the public hearing.

Public hearings that are not completed at one meeting may be continued without additional advertised notice provided the Commission Chairperson announces that the hearing will be continued and gives persons in attendance an opportunity to sign up for written notice of the additional hearing dates.

For further information concerning this public hearing, please contact the Department of Planning and Community Development, Room 242, City Hall, 301 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, MD 21842. Phone 410-289-8855.

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION

JOSEPH P. WILSON, CHAIRPERSON

REEN HOWARTH, ESQ., ATTORNEY OCD-6/13/3t

NOTICE

Disposal of Surplus Vehicles and Equipment to be Auctioned on GovDeals.com

"Disposition of County Personal Property no longer used by the County"

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

SURPLUS VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT

Surplus vehicles, listed by make and model (with model year), as follows: Ford Crown Victoria (2009); Ford Crown Victoria (2007); Ford Crown Victoria (2010); Ford Expedition (2014); Jeep Cherokee (2000); International Roll Off (1998); Chevrolet Colardo 2WD (2005); Ram 1500 2WD (2006); Ram 1500 2WD (2006); Chevrolet 5 Ton Dump Truck (1990); Ford F150 2WD (2008).

Surplus equipment, including: Solar Tech Silent Messenger Sign Boards (2); Case 70XT Skid Steer; John Deere 6410 Tractor; AC 2660 Loader; Trackmaster Radar Trailer; Premier LT-121 Utility Trailer; Kruger Utility Trailer; Toro ZMaster 7429; Wells Cargo Enclosed 20FT Trailer; 15KW Trailer/Generator; Kohler 30 KW Generator; Onan 7.5JB-3CR/11783AD; Mobark 1100 Tub Grinder.

Surplus furniture and miscellaneous equipment, including: Video System; Computers and Laptops; Desktop Printers; Industrial Printer; Smart Boards; Metal Lockers; Round Tables (4); Pallet Jacks (2); Volleyball Net System; Gym Floor Industrial Vacuum; Filing Cabinets; Tractor 3 Point Hitch/Post Hole Digger; Push Lawnmowers (4); Push Lawn Vac; HVAC Unit.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE AND CONVEYANCE: The County Commissioners propose to solicit competitive bids via an Internet-based auction system operated

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

OPPORTUNITY FOR OBJEC-

TIONS: Anyone objecting to the proposed conveyance of the above surplus vehicles and equipment shall do so in writing prior to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2024, or in person at the regularly scheduled meeting of the County Commissioners to be held at 10:00 a.m. on July 16, 2024 in the County Commissioners Meeting Room, Room 1101 - Government Center, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863. WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

OCD-6/20/3t _________________________________

NOTICE

OF INTRODUCTION OF BILL 24-06 WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Take Notice that Bill 24-06 (Taxation and Revenue Article – Reinvestment and Repair Special Revenue Fund) was introduced by Commissioners Abbott, Bertino, Bunting, Elder, Fiori, Mitrecic, and Purnell on May 21, 2024.

A fair summary of the bill is as follows:

The bill establishes a Worcester County Reinvestment and Repair Special Revenue Fund, into which all funds received from the State under § 1-322 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article of the Maryland Code must be paid as required by law. The fund is intended to fund community-based initiatives intended to benefit low-income communities.

A Public Hearing

will be held on Bill 24-06 at the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Room 1101 – Government Center, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.

This is only a fair summary of the bill. A full copy of the bill is posted on the Legislative Bulletin Board in the main hall of the Worcester County Government Center outside Room 1103 and is available for public inspection in Room 1103 of the Worcester County Government Center. In addition, a full copy of the bill is available on the County Website at

THE WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

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VICTOR A. LEMBO SIMS & CAMPBELL, LLC

181 HARRY S. TRUMAN PKWY., STE. 150 ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401-7565

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20238 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF JOHN C. NORD JR.

AKA: JOHN CARL NORD JR.

Notice is given that Maria Do Rosario De Moura Lima, 10281 Broken Sound Blvd., Ocean City, MD 21842-8842, was on June 12, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of John C. Nord Jr. who died on May 16, 2024, without a will. Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 12th day of December, 2024.

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

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

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

Maria Do Rosario De Moura Lima Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest

Date of publication: June 20, 2024

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Estate No. 20191

TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF DONNA M. MOYER

Notice is given that Victoria L. O’Neill Esq., 6200 Coastal Hwy., Ste. 200, Ocean City, MD 21842-6697, was on June 12, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Donna M. Moyer who died on May 16, 2022, without a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 12th day of December, 2024.

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

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

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

Victoria L. O’Neill Esq. Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest

Date of publication: June 20, 2024

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B. RANDALL COATES ESQ

COATES, COATES, & COATES 204 WEST GREEN STREET P O BOX 293 SNOW HILL, MD 21863

SMALL ESTATE

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

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

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

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

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

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-6/20/1t

ROBERT A EATON ESQ

ROBERT A EATON, PA 121 E MARKET ST SALISBURY, MD 21801-4926

NOTICE

OF

APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of CHARLES R DERRICKSON JR Estate No. 20240 Notice is given that PAUL R DERRICKSON whose address is 21585 AVENS CT BROADLANDS, VA 20148-5019 was on JUNE 14, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of CHARLES R DERRICKSON JR who died on JUNE 19, 2022 with a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent's will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 14th day of DECEMBER, 2024

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

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-6/20/3t

VICTORIA L. O'NEILL ESQ. AYRES JENKINS GORDY & ALMAND P A 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY SUITE 200 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of TAMMY W BALSTER AKA: TAMMY LYNN BALSTER Estate No. 20241 Notice is given that DONALD H WOOTEN whose address is 22 WESTMINSTER DR BERLIN, MD 21811-2970 was on JUNE 17, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of TAMMY W BALSTER who died on MAY 15, 2024 without a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent's will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 17th day of DECEMBER, 2024

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

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VICTORIA L. O’NEILL ESQ. AYRES JENKINS GORDY & ALMAND P.A.

6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY SUITE 200

OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To all persons interested in the estate of JAMES DUNCAN MCINTYRE JR Estate No. 20239 Notice is given that JAMES DUNCAN MCINTYRE III whose address is 419 ELIZABETH ST SALISBURY, MD 21804-3722 was on JUNE 13, 2024 appointed personal representative(s) of the small estate of JAMES DUNCAN MCINTYRE JR who died on FEBRUARY 22, 2023 without a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in

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

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

(2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the cred-

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-6/20/3t

Worcester County is seeking Bids from

PUBLIC NOTICE

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

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

These three weeks of notification begins on DATE: 06/21/2024

AUTH: Ross Buzzuro Chief of Police

for the furnishing of all labor, materials, transportation, tools, supplies, equipment, electrical work, and appurtenances necessary for the complete, and in-place, satisfactory construction, dewatering as needed, and testing of all work shown on the Contract Drawings and required by the Contract for Worcester County Department of Public Works Central Landfill Leachate Forcemain Project in conformity with the requirements contained herein Bid Documents.

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

A pre-bid conference will be held at 1:30pm on Friday, June 28, 2024, at the Public Works Central Landfill Facility, 7091 Central Site Lane, Newark, MD 21841. The last day for questions will be noon on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Sealed Bid Documents are due no later than 2:30pm on Friday, July 12, 2024, and will be opened and read aloud in the Office of the County Commissioners,

Worcester County Government Center – Room 1103, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863.

Late Bid Documents will not be accepted.

Envelopes shall be marked "Bid Solicitation – Central Landfill Leachate Forcemain and Cell 1 Pump Station”, in the lower lefthand corner.

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

Nicholas W. Rice, CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP Procurement Officer, Worcester County, Maryland OCD-6/20/1t

NOTICE

OF PUBLIC HEARINGS BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS

TOWN OF OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 2 Administration, Article IV, Division 5 of the Code of the Town of Ocean City, Maryland hereinafter referred to as Code, same being the Board of Adjustments and Appeals Ordinance for Ocean City, Maryland, notice is hereby given that public hearing will be conducted in the

tained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

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

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

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

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

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-6/20/1t _________________________________

Council Chambers of City Hall located at 301 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, Maryland.

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 At 3:00 PM

BAAV 24-033 A request has been submitted for a variance from Code Section 38-73 requirements for nonresidential construction (10’ x 20’ Service Bar) to modify elevation requirements of Section 38-71.To amend BAAV 23-062 approved on June 7, 2023 to reflect removal of the former outdoor service bar (modified shipping container) and replacement with this application. Locally known as 115 75TH ST parcel number 0210A-26 in the Town of Ocean City, MD.

Applicant/Owner: 75 OC MD LLC, c/o Chris Reda OCD-6/20/2t

SMALL ESTATE NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of LEWIS CARL MERRYMAN

JR. Estate No. 20236 Notice is given that JON TYLER MERRYMAN whose address is 5 MAGRUDER AVE CATONSVILLE, MD 212285102 was on JUNE 12, 2024 appointed personal representative(s) of the small estate of LEWIS CARL MERRYMAN JR who died on JUNE 09, 2024 without a will. Further information can be ob-

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20235 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF EILEEN MICHELLE PITCHER

Notice is given that Dennis Riordan, 1308 Dartford Dr., Tarpon Spgs., FL 34688-7649, was on June 10, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Eileen Michele Pitcher who died on May 16, 2024, without a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 10th day of December, 2024.

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

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

(2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not pre-

sented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Dennis Riordan Personal Representative True Test Copy

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

Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest

Date of publication: June 21, 2024

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BROOK-LYN CORP., LLC

Plaintiff,

4 North Park Drive, Suite 510 Hunt Valley, MD 21030 v.

CRAIG L. GARFIELD, JR.

Defendant, 14305 Unit B, Lighthouse Avenue Ocean City MD 21842 - 4329 and BRYAN D. LESLEE, Trustee Defendant, P.O. Box 1290 Whiteville, NC 28472 and TRUIST BANK

Defendant,

Serve on: CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service Company 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 820 Baltimore MD 21202 and THE COUNTY OF WORCESTER

Defendant, Serve on: Roscoe Leslie, County Attomey 1 West Market Street, Rm 1103 Snow Hill, MD 21863 and ALL PERSONS THAT HAVE OR CLAIM TO HAVE ANY INTEREST IN PROPERTY described as: Item 22 10-327431 and 5250351086: Described as Lighthouse Cove Condominium, Unit B, Assessed to Craig L. Garfield, Jr., Assessed Value $165,600,

Wastewater, Interest and Penalties Due $1,744.95. In the Tenth Election District of Worcester County, MD, Sub District 10, Defendants, In the CIRCUIT COURT for WORCESTER County, Maryland Civil No. C-23-CV-24-000103

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this proceeding is to secure the foreclosure of all rights of redemption in the following property located in WORCESTER County, Maryland, described by the certificate of sale below, and more fully described in a Deed cited below, among the Land Records for WORCESTER County, Maryland, sold by the Collector of Taxes for Ocean City, Maryland to the plaintiff in this proceeding: Item 22 10-327431 and 5250351086: Described as Lighthouse Cove Condominium, Unit B, Assessed to Craig L. Garfield, Jr., Assessed Value $165,600, Wastewater, Interest and Penalties Due $1,744.95. In the Tenth Election District of Worcester County, MD, Sub District 10.

Deed reference: Liber 1725, folio 362, in Land Records of WORCESTER County Address: 14305 Unit B, Lighthouse Avenue, Ocean City MD 21842 -4329

The complaint states, among other things, that the amonnts necessary for redemption have not been paid. It is thereupon this 20th of May, 2024 by the Circuit Court for WORCESTER County, ORDERED, That notice be given by the insertion of a copy of this order in some newspaper having a general circulation in WORCESTER County once a week for three (3) successive weeks, warning all persons interested in the property to appear in this Court by the 20th Day of July, 2024, and redeem the property referenced herein and answer the complaint or thereafter a final judgment will be entered foreclosing all rights of redemption in the property, and vesting in the plaintiff a title, free and

clear of all encumbrances.

Senior Judge Brett W. Wilson JUDGE

True Copy Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County MD OCD-6/13/3t

CARL WARD LAW OFFICE OF BRIAN GORMLEY, LLC 10605 CONCORD ST STE 420 KENSINGTON, MD 20895-2519

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of ELEANOR R WATSON Estate No. 20242 Notice is given that ROBERT MICHAEL WATSON whose address is 4552 PENNEWELL RD SNOW HILL, MD 21863-3652 was on JUNE 17, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ELEANOR R WATSON who died on MARCH 16, 2015 without a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent's will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 17th day of DECEMBER, 2024.

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

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

(2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not pre-

sented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074

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Town of Berlin Board of Appeals

NOTICE OF APPEALS

July 3, 2024, 6:30 PM 10 William Street, Berlin, Maryland 21811

2nd Foor Council Chambers

204 West Street: Pursuant to the Town of Berlin’s Code Sections 108165, the Berlin Board of Appeals will hear an appeal for a Yard Setback Variance on a Non-Conforming Lot received from Coastal Venture Properties, LLC/Mr. Palmer Gillis to extend the existing structure at 204 West Street, Berlin, MD. 10343 Old Ocean City Blvd: Pursuant to the Town of Berlin’s Code Sections 108-435 and 108-464, the Berlin Board of Appeals will hear an appeal for Non-Conforming Use received from Ms. Kim Skeeter to construct a single-family residence in B-2 Shopping District. 21 Jefferson Street: Pursuant to the Town of Berlin’s Code Sections 28-40 (b), 108-437(b) and, 108-440, the Berlin Board of Appeals will hear an appeals for no sidewalk (along Gay Street), non-conforming Required Conditions, and non-conforming Lot yard requirements received from the Buzz Meadery, LLC/Brett and Megan Hines for a variance to building restriction line.

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County to partner on naloxone dose program with jail

By Steve Green Executive Editor

(June 21, 2024) An agreement has been made to provide some county inmates with naloxone upon their release.

Before the Worcester County Commissioners this week was a request to create a Memorandum of Understanding between the county and the Worcester County Health Department that would allow Worcester County Jail personnel will be provided naloxone by the health department to disburse to “at-risk inmates” upon their release.

The commissioners unanimously approved the matter without discussion at the June 18 meeting as part of its consent agenda. The request allows the county to meet the upcoming deadline outlined in the STOP Act of 2022 (Statewide Targeted Overdose Response).

In his letter included in the county meeting packet, Worcester County Jail Warden Timothy Mulligan said, “The STOP Act of 2022 requires certain providers to offer naloxone to people at risk of witnessing or experiencing an overdose.”

The Maryland General Assembly approved the STOP Act of 2022. The fiscal and policy note of the bill read, “By June 30, 2024, a community services program that provides specified services, a State correctional facility, a local correctional facility, and the Division of Parole and Probation must likewise have a protocol to offer FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal drugs, free of charge, to individuals with an opioid use disorder (OUD) or who are at risk of experiencing a drug overdose when the individual receives services or is released from a facility (as appropriate). However, these entities may only provide the reversal drugs if MDH provides them with the specified drugs.”

South Point boat ramp closed July 1-3 for resurfacing

(June 21, 2024) The county boat ramp at South Point at the end of South Point Road off Route 611 in Berlin will be closed for resurfacing July 1-3. The boat ramp is expected to reopen July 4.

Project funding is available through Waterway Improvement Grants from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and assigned designated funds from Worcester County. For more information about the project, contact Worcester County Parks Superintendent Jacob Stephens at

If thunder roars on beach, best for all to head indoors

By Kristin Joson Contributing Writer

(June 21,2024) I think we all know that lightning is extremely dangerous, and the beach may be one of the worst places to be during a lightning storm. The Beach Patrol’s goal is to make beachgoers aware of the dangers of lightning, as well as how the Ocean City Beach Patrol operates to keep you and your family safe during a lightning storm.

It often seems that vacationers are more concerned with shark attacks (partly thanks to the Discovery Channels “Shark Week”) than the possibility of a lightning strike. However, statistics show that the concern should be the opposite. Lightning is nearly 50 times more dangerous than sharks. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates that lightning kills 49 people a year in the U.S. Shark fatalities average less than one fatality a year. Hundreds of people are injured every year from lightning strikes. Some of the injuries sustained are life-altering and debilitating. Unfortunately, when people hear these types of statistics, they often ignore them thinking it won’t happen here or to me. There have been over a dozen people hit by lightning on or near Ocean City beaches and for five of these victims it was fatal.

The Ocean City Beach Patrol has specific procedures it follows when thunder is heard, lightning is spotted or when a Severe Weather Warning is issued. When one of our lifeguards hears thunder, they immediately clear all swimmers from the water. The lifeguard then begins warning people about the impending danger of being near the water during an electrical storm. Many scientists believe (and the NWS includes it in

warnings) that if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck. That means if you hear thunder when you are on the beach, it would be a good idea to begin to pack up your belongings and head indoors.

Once lightning is spotted, the beach is cleared immediately. Leave your belongings behind and get to safety, you may return after the danger passes to get your items. At this point our guards are told to take their own safety into account, clear the beach of all patrons, and take cover off the beach as quickly as possible. Another safety concern is that items on the beach become dangerous projectiles when these storm cells hit with high winds and the only safe location is off the beach.

Another statistic to consider is that NOAA estimates that 25 percent of fatal lightning strikes happen near water. Other dangerous areas include wide-open spaces, such as a sports field, a golf course or a BEACH.

That is why our guards take the action of getting people off the beach during a storm so seriously. Generally, people can expect to wait 30 minutes after each rumble of thunder or visual of lightning before guards will begin allowing people back onto the beach. When the guards get back up in their stands it is safe to come onto the beach and play in the water.

The bottom line is that during any type of storm with thunder or lightning, people should stop all activities and take cover indoors. It really is the only safe place. Please obey the directives of the Beach Patrol to keep you and your loved ones safe and so that our SRTs do not need to leave a place of safety to “remind” you to stay off the beach. NOAA continues to promote a slogan that is easy to remember, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”

Things I Like...

By Steve Green

Being tired on Monday from a fun weekend

Caitlin Clark’s impact

Lots of speakers for a public hearing

Local bands with originals

Leaving my phone at home for church

The energy of the Berlin Farmers Market

A pool dip after a beach day

Restaurants that do not charge credit card fees

Learning a new figure of speech

When time flies on a workday

Traffic building on a Friday

vanishing vanishing OCEAN CITY

Ocean City had a different appearance 90 years ago. This photo, taken from the second-floor porch of the Atlantic Hotel in 1930, shows “rolling chairs” — the Boardwalk Tram of that era — prominently displayed in the foreground. The original bandstand, constructed in front of Dr. Francis Townsend, Sr. ‘s Washington Pharmacy, is the deck-style platform extending over the beach in the center of the picture. Free band concerts were the highlight of summer weekends throughout that decade and into the early 1950s.

The beach was narrow in those days and the wooden jetties stretching northward in the distance were an early attempt to combat erosion.

The Boardwalk was a popular place to promenade but the dress code was more formal than today. Men in suits and ties and ladies in dresses and high heels were a normal sight in the mid-afternoon. Nobody would have thought to stroll down the Boardwalk in just a bathing suit and no one would have ever worn an “off-color T-shirt” in the 1930s. It was a more gracious and courteous time.

To purchase one of Bunk Mann’s books, click

Volunteer group kicks off Pines library improvements

Outdoor learning area first project to be part of new three-phase initiative

By Tara Fischer Staff Writer

(June 21, 2024) The Friends of the Ocean Pines Library, a volunteer group dedicated to supporting the media center, has broken ground on a new outdoor learning and presentation patio.

According to FOPL President Jim Meckley, the discussion for the initiative began approximately two years ago when dying trees at the back of the property were cut down. The volunteer leader and the Ocean Pines Library Manager, Harry Burkett, wanted to use the empty space for an inviting amenity. The thought flourished to create what will now be an outside learning space.

“There is a wall around the back where people can sit and then a pres-

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

Pictured, from left, are Jack Duffy, FOPL treasurer; Vicki O’Mara, Worcester Library Board trustee; Eileen Leonhart, FOPL member at large; Beverly Castner, FOPL VP; Sharon Puser, FOPL member atrlarge; Jim Meckley, FOPL president; Jackie Choate, FOPL Recording secretary; Jennifer Ranck, county library administrator; Mary Gernhardt, FOPL corresponding secretary; Carol Rose, library foundation member; Harry Burkett, library manager; and Donna Main, library foundation member.

WITH BUNK MANN

Volunteer group raises total $53K

entation area at the front,” Meckley explained. “The kids will use it more than anybody. Kids like to be outside. We will have concerts, lectures, and when we get a cover, it can be used even more. It will be used for a lot of different programs.”

The president maintained that the project will be rolled out in three phases. The first part, the learning center, is being worked on now. Over the next two years, the volunteer group plans to add a cover for particularly stormy or hot days and finalize landscaping.

The patio cost $53,000. However, Meckley said that fundraising efforts paid for the entire project.

The branch’s annual book sale generated many of the proceeds. The FOPL president said the event sells roughly $25,000 of books each year, which generates $10,000 to $13,000.

Books are priced at $2.50 or less. There is also a “specials room” where signed and rare editions can be purchased for anywhere from $3 to $400. This sale section is located across from the facility’s main meeting room.

This year, the book sale is scheduled for Friday, July 26, Saturday, July 27, and Monday, July 29. Items not sold on the last day will be marked half-price.

“We are a very unique library,” Meckley said. “We are the only one with a book sale of that massive amount.”

The FOPL also sells donated books on Amazon. Since setting up the account in 2017, the group has garnered $80,000.

The Friends of the Ocean Pines Library are dedicated to supporting the branch. Volunteers help staff with shelving, inform patrons when books they put on hold have arrived, and perform other administrative tasks. Additionally, the group has secured an audio and visual sound system for the meeting room and purchased laptopcharging-supported tables.

“FOPL is entirely a volunteer group,” the president said. “…It really is a helping hand for the library.”

by Steve Green

IThe Adventures of Fatherhood

t’s been 16 years now I have been writing this column, and I think Beckett, the 16-year-old who inspired this weekly snapshot into my life, would be just fine if it comes to an end.

He asked me recently, “When are you going to stop writing about Carson and me?” I jokingly said, “never,” before admitting at some point the column will end. I did tell him we have been keeping these ramblings for him and his brother. He seemed to like that concept.

As I was flipping back through the last 16 years and 830-plus columns, I had a few gasp moments. Some regretful musings to be certain, but there’s no point fretting over something on my mind 12 years ago. It may seem silly today in the big picture, but it’s always been a space for honest reflections. My hope is my kids appreciate the candor years from now when reading these pieces.

In the meantime, since I’m a glutton for punishment here are some “oh my” moments that brought back memories yesterday as I flipped through the binders of columns.

June 2011: “See what happens when you run around the pool — you bleed”: In a desperate attempt to illustrate the point, it was what I said to Beckett after he stubbed his toe and cried. I was desperate to try and drive the point home and lately whenever he runs he says, “I’m going to hurt my toe.”

July 2010: “Do not step on your brother’s head”: Again, I would have thought this would never have to be said, but it’s something Pam and I both find ourselves saying to Beckett, who has a disturbing penchant for wanting to inflict pain on Carson.

March 2014: Although they were reluctant, we forced them to frolic in the snow a bit, hopefully for the last time. Carson refused to wear his gloves and never took them out of his pockets in a form of protest apparently. Beckett threw some snow balls initially, but instead pre-

ferred to trash talk how neither I nor Pam could hit him from across the street. I then fired one, a little too hard.

April 2015: When the kids started getting a little too rambunctious for our nerves, including Carson inadvertently shoplifting on several occasions (all items were returned), we decided to walk along the beach. Apparently, that decision was made a little late, as Beckett managed to pull a beer bong off a rack and stuck it in his ear, while Carson hummed into the funnel side. Apparently, and I was happy they didn’t know what it was, they thought it was something similar to the can on the string. I quickly put that back before I was made to pay for it. The last thing I needed to be carrying along the Boardwalk was a beer bong saying, “I Got Bonged In Ocean City.”

July 2013: Both kids find it fun to try and race a vehicle driving down our street while balancing on the edge of the sidewalk. However, if a ladybug is found on a swing, they scream in fear it’s going to bite them.

Both kids will pick up a horseshoe crab or sand crab found on the beach, but they will run away with reckless abandon if I try to show them a spider in a web.

Neither kid has an aversion to heights at all, but if either sees a bumble bee they will run inside and seek shelter immediately.

November 2010: Walking back into the house can be a tricky time as well. While I sort of tip-toe lightly, Beckett’s eyes widen as we walk into a clean house. You can hear the excitement in his voice as he says, “wow Mommy it’s so clean”, before he immediately heads for his toys.

As much as my wife detests clutter, it seems Beckett craves it. I find myself stuck in the middle, but my wife would say I tend to my son’s side of looking at things more so than her point of view. If you talked to her about it, she would probably cite as an example one particularly memorable situation on a Sunday afternoon during a football game. Pam had

been busy early in the day tidying the house, and a nice lazy afternoon had developed for all of us. Apparently at some point, and I don’t even really remember doing this, on my way to the refrigerator for something, I kicked aside a truck so I could open up the fridge.

Pam seemed to notice it immediately, firing off something along the lines of, “really, you didn’t see that and didn’t think you should pick it up, rather than kicking it aside.”

January 2010: During one particularly rough bath night, Beckett refused to sit down in the tub and was incredibly difficult. It was his way or no way, and I was feeling the same.

Eventually, I wrestled him to his bottom and managed to get the job done. When I turned to grab the towels, he saw his chance to get even with me for making him stay seated (or at least that’s how I interpret it) and dumped a huge bucket of water on the floor, sending me scrambling to keep it contained and away from Carson.

Meanwhile, as I am rushing around frantically, there’s my little Carson, having the biggest of belly laughs and pointing. June 2010: Toddlers lose their cool, but there are clear lines of demarcation between a true fit of annoyance and a cry of significance.

For example, when Beckett fell off our slide a couple weeks ago, it goes without saying that was a justified ball session. That’s a cry of fear and pain, and these can be as tough on the parents as on the child. However, when my toddler gets upset over not being allowed to have his 20th cracker of the day, that’s not a real cry. That’s more like a screaming session intended to sound like he’s crying. That can be deemed fake almost every time and maybe intentional.

(The writer is the executive editor of OC Today-Dispatch. He and his wife, Pamela, are proud parents of two boys. This weekly column examines their transition into parenthood and all that goes along with it. E-mail any thoughts to editor@mdcoastdispatch.com.)

Who’s Where When

BUXY’S SALTY DOG & DRY DOCK 28

410-289-BUXY

28th Street Coastal Hwy.

Saturday, June 22:

Coastal Cats

Every Sunday Locals Party w/ DJ Deogee

CAPTAIN’S TABLE

410-289-7192

15th & Boardwalk

In The Courtyard Marriott

Fridays & Saturdays: Phil Perdue on Piano

COCONUTS BEACH BAR

410-289-6846

Oceanfront At Castle

In The Sand Hotel

37th & 38th Streets

Friday, June 21:

Darin Engh & The Beach Bandits

Saturday, June 22:

Kevin Poole & Joe Mama & Clockwork Band

Sunday, June 23:

Joe Hickey & Topshelf Duo

Monday, June 24:

Sean Loomis & Remy & Lyons

Tuesday, June 25:

Joey Fitzmorris & The Blissful Wizards

Wednesday, June 26:

Kevin Poole Solo & Homeskool Dropouts

Thursday, June 27:

Shortcut Sunny & The Lime Green Band

COINS PUB

410-289-3100

28th Street Plaza

On Coastal Hwy.

Friday, June 21:

Opposite Directions

Saturday, June 22:

Jim Long & First Class

Thursdays: DJ Giddy Up

Every Sunday: DJ Wax

CRABCAKE FACTORY BAYSIDE

302-988-5000

37314 Lighthouse Rd., Rte. 54, Selbyville, DE

Sunday, June 23: Brian Bishop

Wednesday, June 26: Cup Of Joe

CRAWL STREET TAVERN

443-373-2756

Wicomico St., Downtown O.C.

Friday, June 21:

Fuzzbox Piranha

Saturday, June 22: LNJ Sessions

FAGER’S ISLAND

410-524-5500

60th St., In The Bay

Friday, June 21:

DJ Groove, Sons Of Pirates & Decade 80

Saturday, June 22:

Other Brother Darryl, DJ Mary Jane & Bad w/ Names

Sunday, June 23:

DJ Mary Jane

Monday, June 24:

The 1974, Pineapple Band & DJ Dnial

Tuesday, June 25:

Bryan Clark & Latin Night

Wednesday, June 26:

DJ Wax & DJ Hector

Thursday, June 27:

DJ Groove

Best Beats On The Beach

THE BEACH BANDITS

Coconuts Beach Bar: Friday, June 21

Purple Moose Saloon: Friday &

SLAMM

Purple Moose: Sunday & Monday, June 23 & 24

LNJ SESSIONS

Crawl Street Tavern: Saturday, June 22

PINEAPPLE BAND

Fager’s Island: Monday, June 24

FIRST CLASS

Coins Pub: Saturday, June 22

JACK & T LUTZ

The Wedge: Friday, June 21

OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS

Coins: Friday, June 21

Harborside: Sunday, June 23

Seacrets: Tuesday, June 25

KEVIN POOLE & JOE MAMA

Coconuts Beach Bar: Saturday, June 22

OLD SCHOOL OC

Harborside: Saturday, June 22

Who’s Where When

GREENE TURTLE WEST

410-213-1500

Route 611, West OC

Saturday, June 22:

Schizophrenic Boogiemen

HARBORSIDE

410-213-1846

South Harbor Rd., West End O.C.

Friday, June 21: DJ Billy T

Saturday, June 22:

Old School OC & DJ Biggler

Sunday, June 23:

Opposite Directions & Wayne Blake

Wednesdays: DJ Billy T

Thursdays: Dust N Bones Duo

PICKLES PUB

410-289-4891

8th St. & Philadelphia Ave.

Fridays: Beats By DeoGee

Saturday, June 22: Jada Lee

Sundays: Beats By Styler

Mondays: Karaoke w/ Wood

Tuesdays: Beats By Wood

Wednesdays: Beats By Styler

Thursdays: Beats By DeoGee

PURPLE MOOSE

SALOON

410-289-6953

Between Caroline & Talbot Sts. On The Boards

Friday & Saturday, June 21 & 22:

Surreal

Sun & Monday, June 23 & 24: SLAMM

SEACRETS

410-524-4900

49th St. & Coastal Hwy.

Friday, June 21:

Full Circle, DJ Connair, DJ Flight, 9 Mile Roots & Lost In Paris

Saturday, June 22: DJ Cruz, DJ Connair, DJ Bobby O, DJ Davie, New Normal, 9 Mile Roots & The Collective

Sunday, June 23:

Triple Rail Turn, DJ Mary Jane, DJ Davie, DJ Connair, DJ E-State, Laura Lea & Tripp Fabulous

Monday, June 24: DJ Wax, Blake Haley, DJ Mary Jane, DJ Christauff & Element K

Tuesday, June 254: DJ Wax, Opposite Directions, DJ Flight & Kono Nation

Wednesday, June 26: DJ E-State, Full Circle Duo, DJ Cruz, DJ Davie, Stealing Savanah & BALLYHOO (Ticket Event)

Thursday, June 27: John McNutt Duo, DJ Cruz, DJ Connair, DJ Mary Jane, Squid Inc & Go Go Gadjet

THE WEDGE

410-289-5121

806 S. Atlantic Ave.

Friday, June 21: Jack & T & Nick

Saturday, June 22:

Rymac & Joe Esham

Sunday, June 23: Jason Lee

Monday, June 24: Steve Bowers & Brian Bishop

Tuesday, June 25:

Wes Davis & Troy Mawyer

Wedenesday, June 26:

Brian Dorsey & Joe Phesant

Thursday, June 27:

Kasey Briggs & Steve Bowers

VISTA ROOFTOP

410-390-7905

13801 Coastal Hwy.

Friday, June 21: Steve Kuhn

Saturday, June 22: Jack Heit

Skip Carey will serve as president of MSFA

By Steve Price Contributing Writer

(June 21, 2024) This week the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company proudly recognizes Honorary Member W. Newton “Skip” Carey. “Skip” has provided 58 years of service to three communities during his distinguished career in the Fire Service.

During years as a volunteer with the Salisbury Fire Department he served as a lieutenant, captain of the ladder truck, 1st and 2nd assistant chief and president. He worked as a career member with the Ocean Pines Fire Department and since February 2007, Skip has been a member of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company. During his time serving with the OCVFC, he has been a lieutenant, the volunteer training captain, and an instructor with our cadet program.

When asked why he joined the volunteer fire service, Skip said: “To do all the things my Mother said I couldn’t do – play with fire; run with sharp objects; play with water and break things on purpose.”

This past week, during the Maryland State Firemen’s Association Convention and Conference, Skip was elected to serve as president of the MSFA. An accomplishment Skip cites as the biggest moment of his career and the culmination of not only his life’s work but also the hard work and support of his many fellow firefighters over the years. The chiefs, officers, and members of the OCVFC congratulate Captain Carey on his election.

Carey also recalls the nine-alarm fire that destroyed Dough Roller Restaurant on March 30, 2008, as another significant event in his fire service career. He was impressed with the leadership displayed by the fire officers on the scene that day, as well as the cooperation displayed by the many fire companies that responded from across Delmarva.

Carey cites his greatest accomplishment as having the opportunity to be a teacher and instructor and getting the chance to form young minds.

CROSSWORD

Given the opportunity to pass on one piece of advice to members of our cadet program with an interest in the fire service, Carey said, “God gave you one mouth and two ears for a reason. Use those two ears to listen to what the ‘old heads’ are saying. Use that one mouth to question in search of more knowledge, not just to hear yourself talk.”

We thank Captain Carey for his many years of dedicated service and commitment to the safety and well-being of the residents of the Eastern Shore.

Skip Carey

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

It is important to have some deep conversations with a romantic partner to get to the root of issues that have come up, Aries. You may have an even deeper relationship after a discussion.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

Taurus, if a particularly large purchase is on the horizon, you may need to adapt your budget accordingly. Start making small changes now so you’ll have the extra cash.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

Suddenly you are more mysterious than in the past, Gemini. You may be able to use this allure to make some new friends or networking contacts.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

Practical visions run through your mind this week, Cancer. They include redecorating options or how to make the backyard more functional.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

You may have a desire to spend a lot of time with your family over the next few days, but at least one person is not enamored with interacting with you, Leo. You’ll get to the bottom of it.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

Virgo, recognition of your efforts at work could lead to some welcome news on the financial front. It can be tempting to spend that money in advance, but wait until you receive the news to start spending.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

Libra, this is a week to deal with any legal matters that you may have, including trusts and even real estate. Once these issues are settled, you can move on to some fun things.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

Scorpio, you have an uncanny ability to blend both intellect and intuition when you make decisions. It helps form plans that have high chances of success in your career and life.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21

Relationships will become more solid and enduring this week, Sagittarius. You even may be able to work through a long-standing bit of tension with someone close to you.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

A newfound interest in nutrition and health inspires you to make changes to your diet and exercise routine, Capricorn. Alternative therapies also could be drawing your attention.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

Aquarius, perhaps you are thinking about expanding your horizons by taking classes in a creative pursuit, such as writing or music. These activities can benefit your mind in many ways.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

Now might be a good time to start thinking about financial investments, Pisces. Work with other people who may offer recommendations on which avenues to pursue.

Dining Guide

■ PRICE RANGE: $, $$, $$$

■ RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted

DOWNTOWN

South end to 28th Street

■ BUXY’S SALTY DOG SALOON

DRY DOCK 28

28th Street, Ocean City, 410-289-0973, buxys.com, drydockoc.com

Destiny has a new home in Ocean City. From the ‘burgh to the beach, Buxy’s is your home away from Pittsburgh. Come see what all the locals already know and have known – Buxy’s is the place to come to meet friends, relax and be social with no attitudes. House specialties include “The” Cheesesteak Sub, Primanti-styled sandwiches, pierogis, egg-rolls and homemade crab dip. Dry Dock also features a full menu with soups, salads, kick starters, pierogis and craft pizza.

■ CAPTAIN’S TABLE

15th Street and Baltimore Avenue, in The Courtyard by Marriott, Ocean City, 410-289-7192, captainstableoc.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

A local tradition for over 60 years featuring hand cut steaks, premium lobster and perfectly prepared regional seafood. Breakfast daily 7:30-11 a.m. Open daily for dinner: Sunday through Thursday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4-10 p.m. Happy Hour, seven days a week, 4-6 p.m.

■ COINS PUB & RESTAURANT

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

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

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

■ CORAL REEF RESTAURANT & BAR

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

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Enjoy traditional Eastern Shore cuisine and local favorites that are sure to please your entire party! Choose from a selection of house specialty entrees such as sharables, handhelds and seafood. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Featuring specialty rums. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

■ CRAWL STREET

19 Wicomico St., Ocean City, 443-373-2756, crawlstreet.com

Established in 2020 just a short walk from the legendary Cork Bar. Don’t leave without trying the famous wings, but everything on the menu is solid, including flatbreads, tacos, salads, sandwiches and seafood platters. Be sure to check out the live music offerings as the nightlife is top of the line.

■ DISTRICT 24

BLU CRABHOUSE & RAW BAR, JAY’S CAFÉ & ICE CREAM, THE EMBERS

2305 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, 410-2893322, district24oc.com

Come visit all your culinary options at this block of fun, including the landmark Embers Restaurant with a new, innovative vision as well as Blu where fresh seafood is king. Be sure to stop in Jay’s for a tasty treat as well as an ocean of caffeinated offerings. There’s fun activities for kids of all ages here as well with a miniature golf course and an arcade.

■ FISH TALES

2107 Herring Way, Ocean City, 410-289-0990, ocfishtales.com

Bayfront marina dining offered here with a huge menu to satisfy guests of all ages. Enjoy a drink from a hanging chair or fish tacos at your table while the kids play in a playground build in the sand. Food and drink menus offer enough of a variety to meet all needs.

■ HARBOR WATCH

806 S. Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, 410-289-5121, www.harborwatchrestaurant.com

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

Celebrating our 40th anniversary with fresh seafood, an award-winning raw bar, mouthwatering steaks and the best view of the Ocean City Inlet and Assateague Island. Open everyday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call for banquet and large-party details.

■ PICKLES PUB

706 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, 410-2894891, picklesoc.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Easy to find with plenty of free parking, serving lunch, dinner and entire diverse menu until 1 a.m. Also nightly entertainment year-round and a great

place to watch all the sports on an ocean of televisions including a giant high-def screen. Also four pool tables on site. Lunch and dinner and entire menu until 1 a.m. Open all year from 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m., seven days a week.

■ PIT & PUB

2706 Philadelphia Ave. and 12701 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, pitandpub.com

Ocean City’s home of Pulled Pork and the finest barbecue, the legendary 28th Street Pit & Pub and the Northside Pit & Pub are known for serving up delicious smokehouse specialties. Grab a brew and enjoy the live sports action on one of the big screen TVs. Happy hour daily. Family-friendly atmospheres at both locations. Weekend entertainment.

■ THE WEDGE BAR

806 S. Atlantic Ave, Ocean City, www.thewedgeoc.com

$-$$ | Full bar

Panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, bay and Assateague Island. Enjoy small plates, sandwiches and grilled burgers. Happy Hour, Sunday through Thursday, 3-6 p.m. Open Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

MIDTOWN

29th to 90th streets

■ 32 PALM

32nd Street in The Hilton, Ocean City 410-2892525, 32palm.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Elevated cuisine, locally sourced ingredients and allocated spirits are prominently featured in our lounge and dining room. Open year-round for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Routinely updated menus with the highest quality local ingredients for fresh seafood any time of the year!

■ THE BONFIRE

71st Street, Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 410-5247171, thebonfirerestaurant.com

Celebrating 50 years as the best seafood and prime rib buffet in Ocean City. It’s all here – the service, the atmosphere and finest, freshest seafood available and quality meats. Save room for the decadent desserts available as well including homemade donuts.

■ COCONUTS BEACH BAR & GRILL

3701 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, 410-289-6846, castleinthesand.com

A tropical open-air patio steps from the beach. A unique place for lunch or dinner with a menu featuring all the customary items and a few Ocean City-based surprises. Guests can also enjoy beach service for lunch and cocktails. Be sure to check out the daily entertainment schedule.

■ FAGERS ISLAND

201 60th St., Ocean City, 410-524-5500, fagers.com

$$ | Full bar

Dine on the island with an award-winning bayfront restaurant featuring American & Regional dining with a global influence and popular destination featuring impeccably prepared American and Pacific Rim cuisine. Also enjoy our outdoor decks and bar with live entertainment and 32 wines by the glass. A place where the joy of food & the presence of the table are of utmost importance. Dine on fresh seafood and our famous Prime Rib. Enjoy beautiful sunsets over the water. Open 11 a.m. daily. Fine dine at 4:30 p.m.

■ HOOKED

8003 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 410-7234665, hookedoc.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

A Common Ground Hospitality concept, a passion driven restaurant group servicing the coastal community. The goal is honor creativity and innovation by design. With passion at the heart of everything, unique dining concepts are paired with honest hospitality and well-made food sourced with fresh local ingredients and seasonal harvests. Craft and full bar available. Open daily 11:30 a.m.

■ LONGBOARD’S CAFÉ

6701 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 443-6645693, longboardcafe.com

$$-$$$ | Full bar

Casual Dining … Refined. Open for lunch and dinner. A wide range of gourmet burgers, innovative tacos, salads and sandwiches to full dinner entrees featuring fresh local fish prepared in a variety of styles, beef, shellfish and pasta. All our sauces, salsas, dressings, etc. are meticulously house made. We use fresh local sources wherever possible and premium ingredients such as our chuck, brisket and short rib custom blended burgers. Closed Tuesday. Call for reservations.

■ MARLIN MOON RESTAURANT

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

$$ | Full bar Winner of the Maryland People's choice award,

Marlin Moon continues to offer its famous, locally loved dishes and famous happy hour. Enjoy creatively crafted cocktails, fresh selections from the raw bar and luscious desserts. Happy Hour, every day, 3-6 p.m., featuring drink specials. Breakfast, 7:30-11:30 a.m.; Lite Fare, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Dinner, 4-10 p.m.; and Bar open noon to 11 p.m.

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

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

CLOSED JAN. 21 AND REOPENING FEB. 1.

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

UPTOWN

91st to 146th streets

■ ALBERTINO'S BRICK OVEN & EATERY

13117 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 410-2502000, albertinosoc.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Featuring the best brick oven pizza, always handmade with fresh ingredients, Italian-American mouth-watering seafood specialties, traditional Italian pasta dishes, apps, soups and salads. Full bar with large local craft beer selection.

■ CAROUSEL OCEANFRONT HOTEL & CONDOS 118th Street, Ocean City 800-641-0011, www.carouselhotel.com

Enjoy one of the restaurants at the Carousel. Fine Ocean Front dining with a beautiful view. The Reef 118 is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday through Sunday serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and 49 p.m. Monday through Thursday serving dinner. The Bamboo Lounge is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday and 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Nightly Ice Shows starting June 24.

■ THE CRAB BAG

13005 Coastal Highway Ocean City, 410-2503337, thecrabbag.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Featuring consistent hot steamed crabs, eat in or carryout. The Crab Bag is also an Eastern Shore style seafood house specializing in preparing and serving the biggest and the best blue crabs available. The extensive menu promises something for everyone. Winter hours, Friday-Sunday, open 11 a.m.

■ CRABCAKE FACTORY USA

120th Street, oceanside, Ocean City, 410-2504900, crabcakefactoryusa.com

Full-service family restaurant, carry-out and sports bar. Outside seating available. Menu selections include prime rib, chicken Chesapeake, steamed shrimp, beer battered fish, real Philly cheesesteaks, burgers, and a kids menu. Casual attire, full liquor bar, no reservations. Open Year Round. World-Famous Crabcakes are served all day starting at 8 a.m. and can be packed on ice for you while you are eating breakfast.

■ TAILCHASERS RESTAURANT & DOCK BAR

12203 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 443-6647075, tailchasersoc.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

A coastal casual farm to table restaurant with a fun dockside family friendly atmosphere. Menu changes with the seasons and cocktails are handcrafted with care. Bring the whole family for lunch or dinner along the canal. Kids playground available to keep the littles entertained.

■ VISTA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT

13801 Coastal Highway, located in the Fenwick Inn, Ocean City, 410-390-7905, vistarooftopoc.com

$$-$$$ | Full bar

Enjoy a wonderful meal overlooking the ocean and bay. Some of the most unique views in Ocean City. Steaks, seafood, burgers, soups, salads and lite fare. Happy hour, 3-6 p.m. New this year is a boozy brunch Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Live music.

FENWICK ISLAND

■ CRABCAKE FACTORY BAYSIDE

Route 54, Fenwick Island, DE, 302-988-5000, CCFBayside.com

Same award-winning crab cakes and bloody marys. Enjoy waterfront dining. Full-service family restaurant, carry-out & sports bar. Outside seating available. Open daily year-round. Menu selections include crab cakes, prime rib, Philly-style cheese steaks, various seafood, kids menu plus full breakfast menu.

■ DIRTY HARRY’S

100 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island, DE, 302539-3020, Beach-net.com/dirtyharrys

$ | Kids’ Menu | Full bar

Don’t let the name fool you, the food is home cooking at its finest. Owned and operated by Ginny Swann and family for 19 years. Popular for the breakfast but getting rave reviews for lunch and dinner, too.

■ NANTUCKETS Route 1, Fenwick Island, DE, 302-539-2607, nan-

tucketsrestaurant.com

Serving the beach great food and spirits for over 30 years. David and Janet Twining will wow you with the finest foods and drinks in the area. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by what one of the coast’s finest dining establishments has in store for guests. Everything here is a house specialty.

■ TWINING’S LOBSTER SHANTY

Rte. 54, Fenwick Island, Del., 302-436-2305, twiningshanty.com

Reservations | Kids’ Menu

“A funky little place at the edge of town.” Classic New England fare, lobsters, steaks and burgers. Bird watching and magical sunsets await. Open for lunch and dinner. Reservations are suggested.

OCEAN PINES

■ CLUBHOUSE BAR AND GRILLE

100 Clubhouse Drive, Ocean Pines 410-6417222, Oceanpinesgolf.org/dining

$$ | Full bar

Indoor and outdoor dining with sweeping views of the 18th green and pond, the Clubhouse Bar and Grille serves freshly prepared breakfast and lunch items with a full bar menu. Thursday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

■ OCEAN PINES YACHT CLUB

1 Mumford Landing Road, Ocean Pines 410-6417222, www.OPYachtclub.com

$$-$$$ | Full bar

The Ocean Pines Yacht Club offers casual coastal cuisine for lunch and dinner in a beautiful bayfront setting. Fresh seafood, signature drinks, live music and more. Open Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

WEST OCEAN CITY

■ BREAKFAST CAFE

12736 Ocean Gateway, Route 50 east, West Ocean City, 410-213-1804, breakfastcafeofoc.com

All the traditional breakfast options available here in a casual, diner setting. Open daily closing at 2 p.m.

■ CANTINA LOS AGAVES MEXICAN GRILL

12720 Ocean Gateway #7, West Ocean City 410390-3914, cantinalosagaves.com

$$ | Kid’s menu | Full bar Ocean City’s newest Mexican restaurant and bar. Offering delicious and generous portions of the tastiest traditional and not so traditional #MexicanEats you have ever tried. Open daily at 11 a.m. Serving food until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Bar open til 11 p.m.

■ DUMSER’S DAIRYLAND

West Ocean City: Route 50 east; Boardwalk locations: 501 S. Philadelphia Ave., 49th Street, 123rd Street, Ocean City, dumsersdairyland.com This classic ice cream shop is a tradition for many families. Voted O.C.’s “Best Ice Cream” for the past 20 years, Dumser’s is celebrating decades of serving the shore, and the ‘40s-style décor takes you back in time. With locations throughout Ocean City, treating your tastebuds to this signature homemade ice cream is easy. The 49th and 124th streets locations offer vast lunch and dinner menus (breakfast too at 124th) in addition to a wide variety of ice cream treats.

■ GREENE TURTLE WEST

Route 611, West Ocean City, 410-213-1500 Proudly serving West Ocean City since January 1999, The Greene Turtle features a beautiful 80seat dining room, large bar area with 54 TVs with stereo sound and game room with pool tables. With an exciting menu, The Greene Turtle is sure to please with delicious sizzling steaks, jumbo lump crab cakes, raw bar, homemade salads and more. Live entertainment, Keno, Turtle apparel, kids menu, carry-out.

■ HARBORSIDE BAR & GRILL

12841 Harbor Rd., West Ocean City, 410-2131846, weocharborside.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Home of the original Orange Crush drink with an extensive menu offers a wide variety of appetizers, fresh seafood, steak & pasta entrees, as well as juicy burgers and sandwiches. Whether seeking a full dining experience or just a crush or two, the team will be sure to take excellent care of you and yours. Monday-Wednesday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

■ OC DINER

12744 Ocean Gateway, Rt 50 east, West Ocean City, 410-390-5112

Kids’ Menu

Best homemade breakfast and lunch. Local’s favorite breakfast served all day. Dine-in and carryout. Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

■ SHRIMP BOAT

9724 Stephen Decatur Hwy., West Ocean City, 410-213-0448, shrimpboatoc.com

Since 1989, a spot for locals and visitors to enjoy fresh local seafood straight off the boats. Dine-in seating also available. It’s all sourced local and fresh and a free shrimp sample available.

Costly shift in health dept funding questioned again

By Steve Green Executive Editor

(June 21, 2024) Worcester County is continuing to push back on a state initiative to shift more health department funding to local governments.

Currently, the Worcester County Health Department receives $5,015,910 in funding from the county. A shift in the local share match requirement for fiscal year 2025 will increase that to $11,022,108. In a letter dated June 18 to Maryland Public Health Services Deputy Secretary Nilesh Kalyanaraman, County Commission President Chip Bertino called the …% spike “a financial hardship” for the county. The letter reads, “The significant increase compounds the financial burden for Worcester County, where officials had to eliminate a $10,116,174 shortfall to balance the county’s FY25 budget. Reductions were made throughout the budget, with cuts in education and public safety, among other departments.”

Instead of passing on this major funding change, the county is asking the state to not enforce the increased funding burden. Worcester County Health Officer Becky Jones said the CORE funding match planned increases the county’s funding share to 73%, which is the second highest percentage in the state behind Prince George’s County. The match is derived from property values.

“There is nothing in COMAR that binds any of us to this required match,” Jones told the commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting. “Just as a reminder, we are second highest in the state at 73%. We are not saying the counties shouldn’t contribute something, but this is a lot. We want it to be more reflective of our county and we don’t think second highest in the state is not reflective.”

In February before the commissioners, Jones expressed her dismay with property values driving the equation. “Is property value really the best representation of our county as a whole or are there other metrics that should be looked at to define and determine what each individual county should be responsible for their match?” she said. “These are questions we have posed to the state.”

During this week’s meeting, Bertino said, “There is no equation or formula that substantiates this increase that has been hoisted upon us by the state.”

Bertino’s letter to the state continues, “… The Worcester County Commissioners continue to advocate for a review of the currently required CORE Funding match. It is our understanding that the SFY25 budget bill requires Maryland Department of Health and the Department of Budget and Management to submit a report to the budget committees on the CORE Public Health Services funding formula to include recommendations to adjust the Local Share Match calculation. We support

this work and look forward to the committee’s findings. In the absence of a defined match formula, we request that the State hold Worcester County harmless of the proposed increase and grant a continuation of our agreed upon FY24 match. Thank you for your consideration of our concerns.”

County Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said the county would like to seek an adjustment through Bertino’s letter because the burden on the county is significant. Young expects to know by November of the adjustment request.

After a motion by Commissioner Eric Fiori and a second by Commissioner Ted Elder, the commissioners voted 60 to seek an adjustment with Joe Mitrecic absent.

GETTING SOME AIR

PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS GARRITY

Garrett Delapp, the manager of the Ocean Bowl Skate Park inside the newly renovated and opened Bayside Park at 3rd Street, is pictured pulling a maneuver on a ramp above City Hall.

Crispy crab claw egg rolls, sauce Calendar

By Deborah Lee Walker Contributing Writer

(June 21, 2024) The art of entertaining encompasses a theme, exploration, personalization, and finalization. That being said, one must be open for the possibility of adjustment. Allow me to explain.

Company was flying in and my little house was going to be packed with family and friends. I originally planned to serve veggie egg rolls with a sweet, spicy sauce and crab hushpuppies with a lemon caper tartar sauce. But time got the best of me and there was simply no way I could do both.

So, I decided to concentrate my efforts on a combined dish. Crispy crab egg rolls would save time and make quite a splash with the guests. Crab claw meat also makes this appetizer more affordable which is always a good thing.

Understanding the principle behind a dish adds to the straightforwardness. The perfect egg roll consists of three main components: a crispy exterior, a fresh filling, and a delectable dipping sauce. If one of these elements is not spot on, dissatisfaction comes to the forefront.

The filling of the egg roll is up to the individual chef. Cabbage, Napa cabbage, or Bok choy are the standard fillers.

Scallions, carrots, water chestnuts, Chinese celery, and bean sprouts are other additions for a tasty roll. If time is of the essence, grab a bag of coleslaw mix and add bean sprouts for a quick filling.

You want to stay away from vegetables that are difficult to shred such as broccoli, cauliflower, string beans, etc. Frozen veggies are also not recommended, for the simple fact they become soggy when thawed.

Whatever protein you decide to use, add enough so it is the star of the dish.

Folding an egg roll is easy, just make sure it is completely closed. Otherwise, oil will seep into the egg roll and it will become a soggy mess.

Place one wonton on the counter with the tip facing you. Place about 3 tablespoons of the filling toward the bottom. Take the tip that is facing you and roll upward, and at the same time condensing the filling so the roll is tight.

Tuck the right and left end in, and continue rolling the wrapper until you have an egg roll shape. When frying, make sure you place the egg roll into the hot oil with the seam side down first. This seals the roll.

For extra crispiness, mix one egg with one teaspoon of water. Carefully dip the egg roll in the egg mixture and roll it into a plate of panko.

When it comes to frying the egg rolls, make sure the oil is hot. A wok or castiron skillet is the cooking vessel of choice. Do not crowd the pan, or the temperature of your oil will drop causing the rolls

to become soggy.

There are many options when it comes to a dipping sauce. A sweet and spicy sauce pairs well with the savoriness of the egg rolls. Duck sauce combined with sweet chili sauce, Dijon mustard, and fish sauce are packed with flavor and can be made on the fly.

In closing, if you want to extend your repertoire of recipes, I highly suggest you give crispy crab claw egg rolls with a sweet, spicy sauce a try. Trust me, it will be a hit.

Sweet, Spicy Sauce

1 cup sweet chili sauce

1 ½ cups duck sauce

2/3 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 ½ tablespoon fish sauce several pinches of chopped scallions, chopped cilantro, black and white sesame seeds

1. In a medium bowl, combine ingredients and mix well. Set aside.

Egg Rolls

1 container of crab claw meat

2 packages of wonton wrappers

1 bag of coleslaw mix

1 bag of bean sprouts

1 teaspoon garlic powder

kosher salt to taste

2 eggs

2 teaspoons water

2 cups unseasoned panko canola oil for frying

1. In a wok or cast-iron skillet, sauté the veggies in a tablespoon of canola oil over high heat for 2 minutes. Remove filling and place in a medium bowl with half of the crab. Carefully mix veggies with crab.

2. Using paper towels, wipe the cooking vessel clean. Add enough canola oil to cover the egg rolls and heat oil over medium-high heat.

3. Follow the instructions in the article on how to roll the egg rolls.

4. Place the egg roll, seam side down, and cook until the edges are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Turn and cook the other side, again until golden brown. Place egg rolls on a cooling rack until ready to serve.

5. Serve egg rolls with sauce and garnish with remaining crab claw meat, chopped cilantro, chopped scallions, white and black sesame seeds.

*Sweet chili sauce has a kick. If it is too spicy, cut down on the chili sauce and add more duck sauce

Secret Ingredient – Experimentation

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fri., June 21

MAHJONG CLUB

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Join in for a fun morning of playing tile Mahjong. Feel free to bring your own tile set. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

ARTISTIC ARENA: SUMMER BUCKET LIST

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 1 p.m. Create a bucket list to begin your summer kick off. All materials provided. For ages 6-11years and 12-18 years. 410-2084014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

THE ART OF DRAG - A NIGHT OF DRAG EXCELLENCE

Art League of Ocean City, 502 94th St., 7-9 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Featuring Miss Mann, Tara Ashleigh Austin and Cadet Kelly. Lite fare included. Tickets cost $25 plus fees. Tickets: https://bit.ly/TheArtofDragALOC. 410524-9433

Sat., June 22

CRAFTY SATURDAY: SUMMER

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10 a.m. Surf on over for some tubular crafts. For all ages. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

ASSATEAGUE ADVENTURES

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 10:30 a.m. A ranger-led adventure featuring crafts, puppets, stories and cool props from Assateague Island National Seashore. A different adventure each week. 410-6410650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

MOVIE MATINEE

Worcester County Library - Pocomoke Branch, 301 Market St., 11 a.m. Join everyone’s favorite beagle and his gang on their summer camp adventures. Movie and crafts. For all ages. Registration required: 410-957-0878. www.worcesterlibrary.org

FREE KIDS CRAFT

Art League of Ocean City, 502 94th St., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Bring the kids and do something creative with them and for them. Projects change each week. No reservations needed. Free and open to all. www.artleagueofoceancity.org

FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

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

Sun., June 23

SUNDAES IN THE PARK WITH FIREWORKS Northside Park, 200 125th St., Ocean City, 7-9 p.m. Live music by “Chris Sacks Band” (tropicana rock), kid-friendly entertainment, ice cream and fireworks. https://www.ococean.com/things-todo/free-family-fun/sundaes-in-thepark/

BERLIN FARMERS MARKET

Sundays through Sept. 8 - Pitts Street, Commerce Street and Main Street, Berlin, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Featuring more than 35 farmers, food cultivators, bakers, distillers, seafood, meat, eggs and more. https://berlinmainstreet.com/farmersmarket/

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES MEETING

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

Mon., June 24

MONDAY MORNING MOVIES AND MUNCHIES

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10 a.m. Join the group as they become part of Ariel’s world. Munchies provided. 410-2084014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

STORY TIME: MERMAIDS

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Songs, stories and activities all about mermaids. For ages 0-5 years. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

WRITING FOR WELLNESS

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 1:30 p.m. Writing about stressful experiences like illness may boost health and psychological well-being. The group uses exercises to stimulate creative expression. 410208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

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

Atlantic General Hospital, Conference Room 1, 9733 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 5-6:30 p.m. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a weekly support and educational group promoting weight loss and living a healthy lifestyle. Rose Campion, 410641-0157

BRIDGE

Mondays - Ocean City 50plus Center, 104 41st Street, Ocean City, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Reserve a spot: Tish, 410-8043971. www.Worcoa.org/oceancity

DELMARVA WOMEN’S A CAPELLA CHORUS

Mondays - Ocean Pines Community Center, 239 Ocean Parkway, 6:00-8:00 p.m. All ladies who love to sing invited. Mary, 410-629-9383 or Carol, 302-2427062.

OVEREATER’S ANONYMOUS

Mondays - Worcester County LibraryOcean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 7-8 p.m. No dues or fees. 410-459-9100

Tues., June 25

SUMMER READING KICK-OFF PARTYBERLIN

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Visit your library during the Summer Reading kick-off party to register for Summer Reading and go on your first adventure. For all ages. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

SUMMER READING KICK-OFF PARTYSNOW HILL

Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 10:30 a.m. Visit your library during the Summer Reading kick-off party to register for Summer Reading and go on your first adventure. For all ages. 410-6323495, www.worcesterlibrary.org

OC KNITTING GROUP

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

SUMMER READING KICK-OFF PARTYOCEAN PINES

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 2 p.m. Visit your library during the Summer Reading kick-off party to register for Summer Reading and go on your first adventure. For all ages. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

MIL COLORES (A THOUSAND COLORS) - A BILINGUAL FAMILY CONCERT

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 2:303:30 p.m. A fun and interactive presentation of Nathalia’s original bilingual music. Fusing popular styles of music with traditional Latin American sounds and rhythms. For all ages. 410-5241818

BEACH HEROES-OC

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

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES MEETING

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

TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY

Tuesdays - Worcester County Health Department, 9730 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 3:30-4:30 p.m. TOPS is a weekly support and education group promoting weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. 410289-4725

OC KNITTING CLUB

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

ARGENTINE TANGO PRACTICE

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

ZUMBA TONING TUESDAYS

Tuesdays - Northside Park, 200 125th St., Ocean City, 5:30 p.m. Zumba with optional light weights. zumbajoyceoc@gmail.com

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AND WELLNESS GROUP

Tuesdays - Holy Trinity Cathedral, 11021 Worcester Highway, 2-2:45 p.m. Use the weight loss program/app/plan of your choice. Free and open to everyone. 410-641-4882, www.htcanglican.org/activities.

Wed., June 26

BARIATRIC SUPPORT GROUP

Online Zoom call on the third and fourth Wednesday of each month. For surgical patients. Atlantic General Bariatric Center, 410-641-9568

BABY TIME

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10 a.m. Songs, stories and giggles. For ages 0-2 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

SUMMER READING KICK-OFF PARTYOCEAN CITY

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:3011:30 a.m. Visit your library during the Summer Reading kick-off party to register for Summer Reading and go on your first adventure. For all ages. 410-5241818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

NAILED IT!

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 12 p.m. Try your skills recreating a diorama. All materials provided. For ages 6-18 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

FAMILY RAINBOW CRAFTS

Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 3 p.m. Show your support during Pride Month by making a flag, button or sticker. Families and teens may drop in any Wednesday in June from 3-5 p.m. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP

Atlantic General Hospital, Conference Room 1, 9733 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 3-4:30 p.m. Providing participants with hops for the future. Gail Mansell, 410641-9725, gmansell@atlanticgeneral.org

FAMILY FUN NIGHT

Ocean Pines Yacht Club Pool, 1 Mumfords Landing Road, 6-8 p.m. Featuring swimming, DJ, games and prizes. Cost is $3 for swim members; $5 for residents and $7 for non-resident. No cost if not swimming. Food available. Wednesdays through Aug. 21. 410-641-7052

MOVIES ON THE BEACH

Carousel Oceanfront Hotel & Condos, 11700 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 8:30 p.m. Featuring “Encanto.” Enjoy free movies on the beach every Wednesday through the summer. Movie lineup: https://www.ococean.com/things-todo/free-family-fun/.

KIWANIS CLUB MEETING

Wednesdays - Ocean Pines Community Center, Assateague Room, 239 Ocean Parkway, 8 a.m. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Third Wednesday meetings are offsite and will be updated monthly on the website and Facebook. Guests are welcome. www.kiwanisofopoc.org

Thurs., June 27

RWWC ‘ANNUAL RED, WHITE AND BLUE’ LUNCHEON

Lighthouse Sound Restaurant, 12723 Saint Martins Neck Road, Bishopville. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Guest speaker will be Deborah Brocato RN, Chair, Health Not Harm MD, a Maryland ballot issue committee fighting to preserve parental rights and constitutional rights. gopwomenofwc@gmail.com

OCEAN ANIMAL BINGO

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Join in to play ocean animalthemed bingo and win some prizes. For ages 6-11 years. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

PLAY TIME

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

STORY TIME: SCAREDY SQUIRREL

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10:30 a.m. Scaredy Squirrel is too afraid to travel far from his tree, but when he runs into a problem, will he face his fear? Join in and find out. For ages 2-5 years. 410208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary

OC CHESS CLUB

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Enjoy a relaxing game of chess every Thursday at the library. 410-5241818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

LET’S TALK MOVIES: ‘BARBIE’

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 2 p.m. Join the group for its first Movie club, where they talk about classic films and

new blockbuster hits. The first movie for discussion is “Barbie.” 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

SUMMER READING KICK-OFF PARTYPOCOMOKE

Worcester County Library - Pocomoke Branch, 301 Market St., 2 p.m. Visit your library during the Summer Reading kick-off party to register for Summer Reading and go on your first adventure. For all ages. 410-957-0878, www.worcesterlibrary.org

FIRESIDE CHAT

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 3 p.m. A popular and entertaining book discussion featuring books attendees have read and want to share. Come find your next great read. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

CONCERT IN THE PARK

White Horse Park Pavilion, 235 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines, 7-9 p.m. Featuring “Riptide Band.” Free family-friendly entertainment. Bring chairs and blankets. BYOB permitted, concessions for sale. Held Thursdays through Aug. 22 (except July 4). 410-641-7052

BEACH SINGLE 55 PLUS MEET AND GREET

Thursdays - Nick’s Kitchen + Bar, 14410 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 4-6 p.m. 215385-4993, BeachSingles.org

ONGOING EVENTS

OCEAN PINES VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT RAFFLE

Win a 2024 F-150 4X4 Supercrew 5.0L V8. Tickets cost $100. All registration, sale, etc. expenses covered by O.P.V.F.D. Drawing will take place when all of the tickets have been sold. For more information: www.opvfd.com/f-150.

QUEEN OF HEARTS

Weekly virtual drawings on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. Winner receives 60 percent of jackpot. www.opvfd.com/queen-ofhearts. Sponsored by the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department.

CERAMICS EXHIBIT

Art League of Ocean City, 502 94th St., June 7-29. Shop handcrafted pottery in Studio E, featuring members of the Clay Guild of the Eastern Shore. 410-5249433, www.artleagueofoceancity.org

Crossword answers from page 70

More bills slated to impact industry

By Lauren Bunting Contributing Writer

(June 21, 2024) Maryland Realtors’ final recap of the pertinent legislation that passed during the 2024 General Assembly set to affect the real estate industry covers the “Commercial and Affiliated Industries” section.

The bills are as follows:

HB 36 Insurance - Protections After Loss or Damage to Property (Effective Oct. 1): A public adjuster, or anyone acting on their behalf, may not solicit or attempt to solicit a client between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., and cancellation periods for adjustment contracts are extended from three to 10 days.

HB 265/SB 336 InsuranceProducer Licensing Requirements - Education and Experi-

ence (Effective Oct. 1): This bill repeals specified education and experience requirements for most applicants to obtain an insurance producer license from the Maryland Insurance Administration.

HB 382/SB 344 Criminal and Civil Trespass - Professional Land Surveyors (Effective Oct. 1): Professional land surveyors, and their agents and employees, who enter the property of another to practice land surveying are exempted from criminal trespass provisions.

HB 697/SB 1169 Real Estate Brokers – Commercial Transactions – Buyer’s Rights (Effective Oct. 1): This bill extends the current right of a buyer to select a title company, settlement company, escrow agent or title attorney to commercial transactions.

HB 710/SB 559 Household Goods Movers – Special Fund and Fees (Effective July 1): This bill establishes the Household Goods

Movers Registration Fund administered by the Maryland Department of Labor to cover the costs of regulating the industry.

HB 738/SB 806 Licensed Home Improvement Contractors - Liability Insurance (Effective Oct. 1): Licensed home improvement contractors or applicants for a home improvement contractor license must maintain $500,000 of general liability insurance.

SB 298 State Board of Electricians - Licensing – Penalties (Effective Oct. 1): The State Board of Electricians may assess a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each violation of the licensing statute. The board must also submit a report on its practices and processes for the timely resolution of complaints filed against licensees by July 1.

Lauren Bunting is the broker of record with Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva in Ocean City.

The Ocean City Planning Commission this week granted conditional approval of a site plan for a 14-unit condominium development at 75th Street. The project will include two-car garage parking at six of the units, shown at the bottom of the pictured site plan, and three-car carport parking at eight of the units, shown at the top. The applicant will now go before the town’s zoning appeals board to seek a special exception for the tandem parking spaces. DAAYY/TIME Fri-Mon, 11am-4pm H Friday & Saturrdday Noon-3pm Friday & Saturrdday Noon-3pm

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Commission approves site plan for 14-unit development

Applicant to seek a special exception for tandem spaces on the property

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 21, 2024) Resort planners this week approved a site plan for a 14unit condominium development on 75th Street, but with the condition the developer seek a special parking exception from the zoning appeals board.

On Tuesday, the Ocean City Planning Commission supported the conditional approval of a site plan for a condominium development on the north side of 75th Street. With the commission’s vote this week, the developer will now seek a special exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) to allow tandem parking at eight of the units.

“Where we are is we are totally code compliant on all matters – parking size, parking spaces, parking configuration, number of spaces – with the exception of the tandem spaces,” Joe Moore, the applicant’s attorney, said. “As you all know, one of the features for downtown, as an accommodation, is that tandem parking is allowed in the downtown district. We’re not in that, but what I mean is that the town recognizes the very circumstances in which tandem parking is appropriate.”

Gordy said the new site plan as presented included two-car garage parking at six of the units – each of which will have one open-air parking space onsite – and three-car open, tandem parking underneath eight of the units. She said the plan meets requirements for the number of parking spaces, but that the developer would need to seek another special exception for the tandem parking spots.

“The next thing we ran into was we had to go back to BZA because now they are asking for a special parking exception to design standards for tandem, or stacked, parking, which our code does not provide for,” she said.

‘The next thing we ran into was we had to go back to BZA because now they are asking for a special parking exception to design standards for tandem, or stacked, parking, which our code does not provide for.’

Kay Gordy, Zoning Administrator

Zoning Administrator Kay Gordy presented the planning commission on Tuesday with a site plan for a 14-unit condominium project on 75th Street. She said the development would be located in the LC-1 light commercial zoning district, as allowed by pyramidal zoning, and would replace cottages currently on the property.

“There are these cottages on the north side of 75th Street and they are in bad shape,” she said.

Gordy added the developer had sought a special exception from the city’s zoning appeals board last month to allow three garage parking spaces to be smaller than the code requires. As the board denied the request, she said the site plan presented to the commission this week showed changes to parking.

“Because of the parking code just recently being adopted with those recommended spaces within a garage, they were met with a denial at the board of zoning appeals, so they had to redesign it in order to come back again,” she explained. “And what is before you tonight is their design that we hope will be able to continue to progress.”

Gordy told the commission the applicant was expected to go before the appeals board on June 27 for the parking exception and added staff had yet to complete the project’s stormwater management concept plan. Moore, however, said his client was seeking conditional approval from the planning commission.

“We are in a location where redevelopment is really beneficial to the area,” he said of the project.

In regard to parking, Moore said parking spots would be reserved for the owners of the units. He said language would also be incorporated into the condominium documents.

“The parking is going to be limited common elements,” he said. “The unit owner is going to own his parking spaces.”

Designer Steven Cirile said the tandem spaces underneath the eight units would essentially be carport-style parking, with no garage door and no back wall. When asked if the back opening could be screened, officials noted that there would be landscaping.

“If we are allowed to, we could do some slatting or lattice,” Cirile said.

Planning commissioners also questioned if there was room for storage in each of the units’ parking areas. Cirile said storage could be added underneath the stairs.

“There is limited storage but beach chairs and buckets will fit under there,” he explained.

After further discussion, the commission voted 6-0, with one abstention, to approve the site plan with the condition that the developer secure the necessary stormwater management plan and BZA approvals, among other things.

“I personally think I’m okay with tandem parking,” Chair Joe Wilson said.

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Emergency prep manager named

(June 21, 2024) The Worcester County Commissioners recently appointed Katy Vieira to serve as the emergency preparedness manager within the Worcester County Department of Emergency Services. Vieira stepped into her new position in late 2023.

“Katy is a great person and brings so much to this position,” Fire Marshal Matt Owens said in a news release. “She has proven to be a valued part of a great team. She is a proven leader and always steps up to the plate, continuing her education in all aspects of the job, and being a great

role model.”

Vieira, who joined Worcester County Government in 2015 as a 911 communications specialist and rose through the ranks, brings nine years of emergency management experience to her new role. She earned Emergency Management Institute Professional Development Series Certification through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and she is a certified emergency telecommunications instructor, with certifications in quality assurance for emergency medical, fire, and police dispatch, as well as the National Inci-

dent Management System and Incident Command System. She has trained six incoming 911 communications specialist classes.

“Former WCDES Director Fred Webster influenced my passion to be a part of the county’s coordinated response team that works together to protect our community from natural and manmade disasters,” Vieira said. “I’m grateful to the commissioners for giving me the opportunity to take on this new role within emergency management.”

Vieira is part of the multi-agency

See VIEIRA Page 81

Local casino revenues dip slightly

(June 21, 2024) Maryland’s six casinos combined to generate the ninth-best single-month total in the history of the state’s casino program, and an increase statewide from last year. Ocean Downs, however, pretty much broke even for the month compared to May 2023, which is overall better than the local casino has been doing lately.

According to a news release from Maryland Lottery and Gaming, the state reported more than $173.15 mil-

lion in revenue from slot machines and table games in May, which was an overall more than $3.75 million, or 2.2% jump, compared to last year.

At Ocean Downs, revenues were over $8.35 million, which was a 0.6% decrease.

Casino gaming contributions to the state during May 2024 totaled over $74. 44 million, an increase of $3.6 million, or 5.1%.

Contributions to the Education Trust Fund during May of this year

were roughly $53.66 million, an increase of $2.17 million, or 4.2%.

Ocean Downs is one of six privately owned casinos in Maryland that offer both slot machines and table games. The others MGM National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Live! Casino & Hotel in Anne Arundel County, Horseshoe Casino Baltimore in Baltimore City, Hollywood Casino Perryville in Cecil County, and Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Allegany County.

May sports book revenues increase 50% in one year

(June 21, 2024) Sports betting in Maryland generated nearly $7 million in contributions to the state from a handle of more than $431.5 million during the month of May.

The contributions go to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which supports public education programs.

Last month’s contribution to the state was the second-best single-month total and represented a 50.3% increase from $4.6 million in May of 2023. The $431.5 million handle was an increase of 34.8% compared to last year’s $320.2 million total.

Sports wagering data is tracked and reported based on the state’s fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30. During the first 11 months of Fiscal Year 2024 (July 2023 through May 2024), revenues from online and brick and mortar sportsbooks contributed over $54.5 million to the Blueprint fund.

A detailed summary of the May 2024 results for each sportsbook, including handle, hold percentage, prizes paid, promotional play, taxable win, and contribution to the state, along with a summary of statewide handle and hold by sport is included in the attached chart and available for download at mdgaming.com.

Fish Tales to add acoustic live music after board OK

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 21, 2024) Members of a local licensing board granted a request this week to add live entertainment at Fish Tales.

Connections with Fish Tales and Bahia Marina came before the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners on Tuesday to seek a modification to their beer, wine and liquor license.

Attorney Mark Cropper said his client, Shawn Harmon, was seeking the addition of limited, live entertainment at the premises.

“I believe Mr. Harman has established over the many years he’s clearly got to be one of the best licensees you have,” Cropper said. “He controls the environment extremely well, he’s a fabulous operator. If you were to trust anybody to have this type of entertainment and take a risk – even though I don’t think it’s a risk – he deserves that opportunity to prove himself to the board.”

Cropper said Harman was seeking the board’s approval to add up to three acoustic pieces of live entertainment, seven days a week, from 3-7 p.m. He said the operator had identified two potential locations for entertainment, one at the northeast corner of the restaurant and another near

the Cruisin’ Tikis boat slips.

“The music would face the patrons at the bar and restaurant,” he explained.

Officials noted that 48 notifications were sent out to nearby property owners and that no one had attended Tuesday’s meeting to object to Harman’s request. Cropper added the instruments themselves would not be amplified, and that the entertainers would only use one location at a time.

Harman said he simply wanted to provide light entertainment, something he said patrons had requested for years. A motion to change the license restriction to add up to three pieces of acoustic live entertainment, seven days a week, from 3-7 p.m., passed unanimously.

“I don’t want to be AC/DC until 2 o’clock in the morning,” Harman said.

The board this week also approved a class B beer and wine, seven-day license for Cap’ns Slice in Berlin and a class D beer and wine, seven-day license for Cypress Roots Brewing Company in Pocomoke. Officials also approved the transfer of a class B beer, wine and liquor license from the estate of Gertrude Russo to T&T Russo Realty Corporation, Tony’s Pizza, in Ocean City.

Vieira promoted to new position

Continued from Page 80

coordination center command. She serves as a backup communications center manager during emergencies, disasters, and as coverage is needed; helps to manage special projects and disaster efforts; works with agencies to coordinate logistics for special events; and helps update emergency plans to remain in compliance with federal and state requirements. The plans include the Hazard Mitigation Plan, Hazard Vulnerability/Risk Assessment, Recovery Plan, and the

Worcester County Emergency Operations Plan.

Vieira, an avid reader and amateur local historian, is a county native. In 1680, her family was among 14 settlers who patented a 100-acre tract of land on the Pocomoke River that is known today as Mattaponi Landing.

Vieira and her husband, Chris, are both lifelong Worcester County residents. They have three children, Maddison, Cordelia, and Marshall. The family enjoys spending time at the beach and on the Pocomoke River.

Some errors seen with parking tix

Communication issues cited by city staff during transition to new provider

By Mallory Panuska Ames Digital Editor

(June 21, 2024) Motorists paying to park in city lots over the last few weeks may have noticed some erroneous charges and tickets. If so, resort transportation officials want to know about it.

“In addition to our Parking Manager as well as our team of Enforcement Officers all being new this year, we also changed parking data providers to Duncan Solutions at the beginning of this year,” Ocean City Transit Manager Rob Shearman explained in an email last week. “And we have encountered some data communication issues between ParkMobile, Flowbird (the provider for the parking kiosks in town), and Duncan – resulting in some citations which were issued in error. We’ve been dismissing all of those which have been brought to our attention.”

Shearman’s comments came in response to an inquiry about a visitor who said they received a ticket when they still had 45 minutes left on their meter. In an email, the visitor said they tried to work out the issue at the

police department but were unable, forcing them to go online to get the ticket dismissed.

Shearman said the same portal users log into to pay for parking — parkocmd.com — is the same one he advises they use to contest tickets.

“That’s the fastest way to get the process started for dismissing a ticket we issued in error,” he said.

He added that the phone number on the citation, 877-626-4657, can be used to make a payment over the phone or to resolve simple issues, such as if the customer made a typo when entering a plate number. Anyone who experiences issues using the website or number may also use the “General Contact” link at the top of the town’s website — oceancitymd.gov/oc/contact/ — or call the transportation administration office during business hours at 410-723-2174.

Shearman said officials at City Hall and the police department who receive complaints should be redirecting the calls to the transportation department,.

“I’m sure as all of us get more familiar with the new processes, we’ll all get better at getting everyone handed off to the right people,” he said.

Shearman also said he is unaware of exactly how many tickets were issued in error, as the only way staff

know about the problems is when people report them. He said they are simply handling the dismissals as the appeals come in.

“We are speculating that the main cause is problematic cell data connectivity between the kiosks and Duncan’s system; it may be related to other news articles earlier this month touting particular hardship with cell connectivity in the region,” Shearman explained. “However, we’re looking at all angles – from switching cell providers, to checking and cleaning the communications equipment inside the kiosks, to modifying procedures for our Enforcement team – to help reduce the errors.”

He said current reports show payment data from ParkMobile is getting to Duncan more reliably right now than from the kiosks, but in the long run staff want to be sure users have both options when paying to park.

City council members voted in November to create a new parking division under the umbrella of the transportation department in an effort to ramp up enforcement and crack down on motorists not paying to park in spots downtown. A new parking manager and several enforcement officers were hired and hit the ground running at the start of the season.

FILE PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

A parking sign is pictured on a side street along the Boardwalk downtown.

Gifted, talented program update provided to officials

By Tara Fischer Staff Writer

(June 21, 2023) Worcester County Coordinator of Instruction Tamara Mills presented the school system’s Gifted and Talented program, including how students are identified and what services are provided, at the board of education’s Tuesday, June 18 meeting.

Maryland’s qualification requirements for the program were updated. Mills detailed how this has benefitted Worcester County.

“We want to make sure that all the students eligible were being identified,” she said.

The determination process begins in pre-k. As a single measurement is not sufficient to properly evaluate a student’s skill level, Mills explains that the screening process has four elements. These include a primary talent development portfolio, a cognitive ability assessment, a gifted behavioral checklist, and iReady and Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program scores.

Mills said that students receive talent development lessons from pre-k until second grade through two science-based modules a year. Teachers will watch and record the outcomes, which creates a four-year portfolio. The

cognitive ability evaluation is given in the third grade, and the educational privileges begin in the fourth.

The primary talent development portfolio is constructed through science or arts-based modules. The students receive scores on readiness, emerging, progressing, and independence lessons.

The coordinator of instruction explains that reading the story The Fourth Little Pig is an example of an assessment.

“The students must use creativity and brainstorming and complex thinking exercises to figure out how the fourth little pig is integrated into that story,” Mills said.

According to the educator, these evaluations were designed with an equity lens.

“What happened was years ago, was our younger, white females were getting highly identified,” she claimed.

“Often, they were our early talkers, so teachers saw those communicative abilities. Sometimes, males are not always as early communicators. A lot of times, they were getting overlooked. We are now looking for other characteristics of giftedness that we didn’t look at before.”

Most services fall into the reading,

Pandemic-required emergency plan approved

By Tara Fischer Staff Writer

(June 21, 2024) The Worcester County Board of Education unanimously approved the adoption of the prolonged state of emergency plan, a preventative measure if events like the COVID-19 pandemic force school closures.

According to Coordinator of Public Relations Carrie Sterrs, who gave the presentation, Maryland requires that each county secures an outline to guide school personnel in proceeding if they are met with an educationally disruptive situation, like the 2020 pandemic. The standards will be revisited every two years.

“This is meant to be a flexible plan,” Sterrs said. “We do not know what kind of state of emergency could potentially be called.”

Maryland Governor Wes Moore defines a state of emergency as “preventing regular, in-person attendance at public schools for at least 14 consecutive school days.”

The plan addresses staffing and per-

sonnel, instruction, student assessment and learning support, social-emotional support, community communication, technology, nutritional and health services, and directions for returning to inperson.

The staffing and personnel section of the guidelines ensures that everyone adheres to their normal job responsibilities while also building adaptability depending on the situation’s specific needs.

Educators, for instance, must “actively monitor teacher-student and teacher-parent communication channels to ensure questions and requests for support are addressed within the seven-and-a-half-hour workday.”

The student instruction aspect of the plan requires that education does not suffer, regardless of the mode of delivery, like virtual or hybrid learning. The outline also ensures that all children have access to necessary school materials while paying particular attention to how students with disabilities receive their services. The regular attendance policy will remain the same.

School board reviews program

Continued from Page 84

math, and science areas. The school system offers science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs, writing labs, Advanced Placement classes, and college dual enrollment courses for high schoolers, among other things. If a student demonstrates talent in the arts, additional assessments may be given.

One of the new state requirements is that counties must reevaluate middle schoolers to determine if any students made progress between third and seventh grade.

“This year, we had eight seventh graders that were either missed in third grade or made huge strides in the academic achievements and abilities, so we had a few new identifications,” Mills said.

The state recommends that a county has a minimum of 10% of the student population identified as gifted and talented. Worcester County has 10.2% in the program.

Mills is happy with this figure. If a

school system has 20% or 30% considered gifted and talented, she said, it needs to assess whether its process yields accurate results. Of the 10% of talented students in Worcester, 34% are minorities.

Each school’s principal chooses the program’s teachers, often librarians, because of their backgrounds in reading, literature, and technology.

Students can utilize gifted and talented services through an elective, a “specials” period, or an enrichment block.

If a student is new to Maryland, they are evaluated upon enrollment. If the child came from another in-state county, Worcester honors the previous school system’s analysis.

“It is impressive regarding screening and assessment,” board member Bill Buchanan said. “I remember when Gifted and Talented was basically if you were artistically talented, you were picked out to do all the bulletin boards, so I am very happy to see this program.”

Parking enforcement ramps up

Continued from Page 83

Shearman reported at a Transportation Committee meeting last week that the effort resulted in significant jumps in revenues from parking fees and tickets during the month of May compared to last year. The data showed non-ticket revenues, or revenues generated from parking fees, increased 14%, while parking tickets increased 277%.

The state of emergency framework guarantees that instructional content will be maintained so students do not fall below Maryland’s college and career readiness standards.

The learning support plan includes the “administration of regular assessments, process for establishing benchmarks at the start and the end of virtual education as well as periodically throughout the course, and provisions of additional learning supports for students identified as having learning loss.”

Sterrs said that technology, laid out in the emergency document, is something teachers and students are now comfortable with, thanks to the previous school closures and the adoption of updated devices.

Additionally, the district’s library system provides mobile hotspots for

children and educators requiring athome internet connectivity.

Nutrition and health services will also be available in the event of a prolonged emergency. With the approval of the Coordinator of Food Services and the Maryland State Department of Education, curbside meal pick-up may be offered.

The plan outlines a system for resuming regular operations. Stage one is virtual learning, stage two is hybrid learning, with the students who most require face-to-face instruction returning first, and stage three is hybrid learning with an alternating week model. The final phase is an entire in-person mode of education.

“We have this structure to work from in the event it is needed, but it is flexible if changes must be made dependent on the type of emergency,” Sterrs said.

Shearman said during the meeting, though, and reiterated via email later, that staff members are not looking for citations to be a primary source of revenue for the town.

“We’re hoping our enforcement efforts will really drive folks to pay the $3 or $3.50 per hour meter fees,” he said in the email. “We’d rather collect parking revenue that way than from a parking ticket.”

Arts council seeks entries for annual competition

Summer contest will end with cash prizes awarded

(June 21, 2024) The Worcester County Arts Council invites artists to participate in a juried art competition and exhibit in July and August at the gallery at 6 Jefferson Street in downtown Berlin.

The competition is open to all artists (18 years old and older), with work in all media.

The subject, “Vacation Memories” encourages the artists’ creative expression and interpretation. All entries must be original and completed within the last three years.

Entries must be delivered between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., June 2527, to the arts council’s gallery to be accepted.

Artwork submitted for the competition will be judged by local artist and former art educator, Clytie Taylor

Monetary prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place during an open-to-thepublic reception set from, 4-6 p.m., July 12.

Detailed guidelines for the competition and the entry form are available on the Arts Council’s website at worcestercountyartscouncil.org.

Schools cut programs, staff to make salary adjustments

By Stewart Dobson Editor

(June 21, 2024) In a 4-1 vote last week, the Worcester County Board of Education adopted a revised budget for the upcoming fiscal year that provides raises for teachers and support personnel following the county commissioners’ reduced funding level announced earlier this month.

On June 4, the county approved a budget of $105.4 million for the county’s public schools, with close to $1.6 million of that total earmarked for “Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB)” meaning it cannot be used to pay any other expenses, including salaries.

School officials said the reduced funding coupled with restrictions for early childhood allocations, as stipulated by the state’s public education overhaul known as the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, left the board $2.7 million short of the $107 million it originally requested.

To address the shortfall, the board entered renegotiations with the Worcester County Teacher Association (WCTA) and Worcester County Educational Support Professional Association (WCESPA) last week.

With an eye on wrapping up that business by the end of the school year on June 13, the board reached agreements that gave teachers a salary step and a 5% cost-of-living adjustment, while awarding support personnel a step and a 5.5% cost-of-living adjustment.

Bus contractors will also receive an increase equivalent to a 5 percent costof-living adjustment, board officials said in a statement issued last week.

“We are at a tipping point in Worcester County,” Board of Education President Todd Ferrante said in the statement. “Not only are we facing a mandated starting teacher salary of $60,000 as part of the Blueprint, but we are also beginning to lose high quality teachers and staff to neighboring counties. We must compensate our employees to show them how much they are valued, but also to entice potential recruits to make Worcester their chosen place to begin or elevate their career.”

With the negotiated reduction in the salary package, the board also trimmed the budget to close the funding gap. The reductions include:

• No restoration of the cuts made in FY24 —Materials of instruction and field trip allotments will remain funded at 50%, elimination of locally funded afterschool and summer programs, including transportation ($315,000), elimination of outdoor graduation ceremonies ($80,000), instructional support supplies and administrative supplies will remain at 75%, and the elimination of the opening kick-off event for faculty and staff

• The elimination of 18 positions — six contractual in the central office, 12 school-based appointed

• The elimination of extracurricular activities at the elementary and middle school level

• A reduction of coaching staff across all high school athletic programs

• Program and material reductions including Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports Testing and Assessment, Textbooks and Supplies, and Arts Immersion.

• Transportation reductions — elimination of a north end bus route and reduction of Worcester Technical High School runs to the comprehensive high schools.

Along with the announced reductions, four positions previously funded through Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding will no longer be effective July 1.

“To make any cuts or reductions like this is painful,” Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor said in the release. “Each year, we build a budget that includes what we believe is necessary for the continued success of our schools, and each of today’s announced reductions undermine that success.”

“Our county cannot continue down this path of underfunding public education; this trend will decimate our schools,” Ferrante added. “It is time that our elected officials align their actions with their words. To say you support education – our teachers, staff, and bus drivers – your voting record should reflect that, and if it doesn’t, your constituents should know that, too.”

Voting in favor of the motion were board members Jon Andes, Ferrante, Elena McComas, and Donald Smack. Board member Katie Addis was the lone opposition vote. Commissioners Bill Buchanan and Bill Gordy were absent from the meeting.

In defending her opposition, Addis said she offered a list of cuts including selling 19 supervisor take-home vehicles for a projected $200,000 assuming they would be sold at half the purchase price. Addis also requested top administrative officials making over $100,000 not take the same COLA increase for a savings of about $360,000.

“Personally, I’m struggling with the cuts of the athletic reductions, the extracurricular reductions for elementary and middle school. Those two things alone equally $126,000 I feel we can find in different places. I’m struggling with a lot of the things that are a part of this cut process,” Addis said.

Following the vote, school system leadership submitted the board’s revised fiscal 2025 budget to the commissioners, who formally accepted it Tuesday by a 6-0 vote.

Horseshoe study continues in canals near 94th Street

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 21, 2024) Researchers and interns with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore returned to Ocean City this month to continue work on a study of horseshoe crabs in the canals near 94th Street.

For the third consecutive summer, graduate students and research interns with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) will conduct a study of horseshoe crabs in the 94th Street canals. This year, in addition to tagging the crabs with transponders, the team will be monitoring spawning activity on an upgraded platform.

“We believe the crabs may be looking for a sandy shoreline on which to spawn,” Margaret Sexton, one of the project’s faculty leads and deputy center director of the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center, said in a news release this week. “Since there is no sandy shoreline inside the canals, we wondered if we could provide one.”

In 2021, after hundreds of dead horseshoe crabs washed up in the bayside canals near 94th Street, the Maryland Coastal Bays Program sought help from UMES to identify the cause. Since then, researchers have been working to understand how horseshoe crabs enter and exit the canals and why they end up dead in that location.

Sexton and Eric May, professor of fish biology and pathology at UMES, have been leading students and interns into the 94th Street canals every summer since 2022, according to the news release. Efforts began with a tagging study to better understand how many crabs are in the canals. In 2023 alone, the team tagged 60 live horseshoe crabs in one canal at 94th Street and Rusty Anchor Road. However, only five were relocated.

“This tells us that the population of crabs in the canal is larger than we anticipated, but because we weren’t able to relocate very many crabs, we cannot determine how large,” Sexton said.

UMES researchers hypothesize that female horseshoe crabs looking for a shoreline on which to lay their eggs are going into the canals, according to the

news release. When they encounter a 90-degree wall, they die of exhaustion trying to scale it.

To that end, the research team built a sandy platform in one of the canals last summer. Earlier this month, the team installed a larger, more stable platform, along with a 24-hour horseshoe crab camera to record activity.

“The crabs were able to locate the platform and were highly motivated to climb into it,” Sexton said of last year’s efforts. “While we did not observe any spawning on the platform, we are hopeful that some design upgrades will help.”

Sexton said that tagging will also continue in 2024 to better understand whether crabs are coming and going from the canals or whether they are staying inside them. She said the team will be tagging 200 crabs at each of four locations.

“Some are inside and some are outside of the canals,” she said. “We will come back throughout the summer to determine whether we recapture the same crabs in the same places or whether the population is mixing across our sites.”

To aid in their efforts, researchers are asking community members to report any tagged horseshoe crabs they see to ws.gov/crabtag/. There, the public can submit the crab’s six-digit tag number, the location and the condition of the crab. The reports will help experts understand how crabs move around.

In addition to tagging efforts, Dannise Ruiz-Ramos, a new faculty member at UMES and the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center, will be conducting a DNA study on the horseshoe crabs this year. She will use DNA samples to compare the crabs from the Ocean City canals to those of nearby estuaries and those offshore, according to the news release. Collecting DNA from the crabs causes no more harm to them than the tagging process, the university reports.

“If we have different populations, it will imply there is little movement of individuals between the populations, and the crabs in the Bay have fewer choices of mates,” Ruiz-Ramos said. “It would also suggest the crabs are not coming from offshore to die in the canals.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

A research team with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore is pictured installing a horseshoe platform in an uptown canal this month.

OC music fests secure promoter’s licenses

Back-to-back weekend events will again include Boardwalk businesses

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(June 21, 2024) With fears and uncertainties allayed following the success of last year’s Oceans Calling Festival, officials this week approved a pair of promoter’s licenses for a twopart concert series in Ocean City this fall.

The Worcester County Board of License Commissioners (BLC) voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve

two promoter’s license applications from Spectrum Concessions for this fall’s Oceans Calling and Country Calling music festivals. Attorney Mark Cropper said his client was seeking the same licenses, with the same terms and conditions, approved for last year’s Oceans Calling event.

“It’s essentially a repeat of the event that took place last year,” he said.

“And it’s obviously inclusive of the Boardwalk and all the businesses that last year supported the event. All those businesses, likewise, are supporting the event this year.”

While acknowledging there were concerns about the size and scope of

Oceans Calling prior to last year’s event, Mayor Rick Meehan said the promoter had exceeded all expectations. Seeing the success of last year, he said officials had encouraged the return of the event this year.

“They did everything they said they were going to do and did it very professionally,” he said.

Dave Smalley, the founder and CEO of Spectrum Concessions, said all the safeguards with regard to alcohol and security would remain for the coming year’s events. Officials added that both festivals had the support of city departments and Boardwalk businesses and would operate the same as last year’s inaugural event.

“They are following all the same parameters of the event,” Cropper said.

William Esham, chair of the BLC, noted that Tuesday’s hearing had been advertised and that no one had come to object to the applications. A motion to approve the promoter’s license applications, with the same terms and conditions as last year, for both the Oceans Calling Festival and the Country Calling Festival, passed unanimously with little discussion. Oceans Calling will be held Sept. 27-29, and Country Calling will be held Oct. 4-5.

“I can testify it was a success,” Esham said of last year’s festival.

BETHANY HOOPER/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

The Worcester County Board of License Commissioners on Tuesday approved two promoter’s license requests for the large-scale music festivals planned in Ocean City.

Opinions

OCVFC members honored by state

Congratulations go out to four stalwarts of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company, as their service to the company and community was recognized in various ways at the Maryland State Firemen’s Association convention this week.

It’s a rare thing indeed when multiple members of a company are honored by the state association at one time, but having four members acknowledged for their contributions and leadership ability is quite the feather in the cap of the local organization.

W. Newton “Skip” Carey, a former captain with the company, will move up from his post as the state association’s first vice president to assume the presidency.

As he takes over helm of the association, the Ocean City company’s former fire chief, Roger A. Steger, will become the chairman of the state association’s executive committee.

Topping off the honors bestowed on Ocean City’s veteran members this week was the announcement that Deputy Chief James “Jay” Jester and Firefighter Michael LeCompte were to be inducted into the Maryland State Firemen’s Association Hall of Fame.

Selection to the hall is based on an individual’s distinguished service to the state association, as well as to the local company and the community it serves.

The association recognizes just 10 people from throughout the state each year for inclusion in its hall of fame, and the naming of two people from the same company at the same time could be an association first.

They join other Ocean City members of the hall of fame, David N. Cropper, and the late Janet Fisher, Angelo Floria and John Guntow. We thank you all for your dedication to the cause.

Congratulations also to the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company for being among the best — if not THE best — in the State of Maryland.

On being a fireman

Firefighting equipment and the trucks that carry it are always impressive, which is why fire trucks aren’t even called trucks. No, they are generally referred to as “apparatus,” which, of course, makes them more expensive.

That being said, it would behoove the unitiated to avoid walking up to a firefighter and saying, “Heeeeyyy, nice apparatus.”

lucky few, firefighting jerry cans of the fivegallon strap-on variety.

The most amazing aspect of this experience, aside from quickly realizing that the 50pound cocktail spritzer I was lugging around was about as effective as a wet sneeze, was that the entire scene was lit up like daylight because of the flames. Until it wasn’t.

NEWS

EDITOR STEWART DOBSON; EXECUTIVE EDITOR STEVE GREEN

ASSOCIATE EDITOR BETHANY HOOPER

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STAFF WRITERS TARA FISCHER, ANNA WILLIAMS

Contact News Room: editor@oceancitytoday.net

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Contact Sales: sales@oceancitytoday.net

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Inc. 11934

Gateway, Suite 6, Ocean City, Md. 21842 410-723-6397

By Stewart Dobson

That is unless one had a hankering to see the “Jaws of Life,” the hydraulic, metal-ripping pry bar rescue device work in reverse.

“Excuse me,” says the offended firefighter, as he places the pincer-like arms of this super spreader on either side of your rib cage and adds, “You might feel a little pinch.”

I have too much respect for firefighters to try to have fun at their expense, and it has nothing to do with the possibility of having my head pried open by the Hurst Tool, as the “Jaws” are formally known.

This is because I actually had a little bit of firefighting training many decades ago and found that it requires certain attributes I do not possess.

This would include the ability to get out of the way instantly instead of saying, “Who, me?” when someone yells, “Get Out Of The Way, You Idiot!”

Besides, the only actual firefighting experience I ever had did not go well.

It was a nightime fire on a long stretch of beach where a lightning strike ignited the dry grass up in the dunes. We grabbed shovels, blankets, pumps and hoses and, for an un-

Just like that, the fire was out, leaving the entire area as dark as a coal miner’s hip pocket. Did I mention that the one thing we didn’t bring were flashlights?

You couldn’t see diddly. No light, no stars, no way to tell which direction to head. That meant the only thing to do was to trudge off in whatever direction and hope you ran into something that would lead you to the road.

It would have worked, too, had it not been for the spectacularly deep hole that some knothead excavated between two high dunes.

I was walking along in the black — dumde-dum-de-dum, — ieeeeeeaaaaaagh!

The hole had to be 10 feet deep, which makes for a less-than-wonderful experience when you don’t see it coming ... and you’re carrying a 50-pound pack.

Having no choice, I called out. “Heeeeeey! I need some help here!”

“Wheeeere aaaaare youuuuuuu?” a voice in the distance hollered back.

“I’m heeeeeeere!”

“Wheeeere?”

“Heeeeeeere!”

“Okaaaaaay, I’ll beeee riiiiight th ... ieeeeeeaaaaaagh!”

So, there are two guys in a very deep hole talking to each other, and one says, “You know, there was a time when I wanted to be a fireman”

The other replies, “Yeah, me neither.”

reprint from June 16, 2023

PUBLIC EYE

Between the Lines

By Steve Green

After all the decisions were made and cuts and adjustments finalized this week, Worcester County Public Schools will receive about $2.7 million less from the County Commissioners than originally requested for the next fiscal year. The county’s approved funding for the school system was $105.4 million but $1.6 million of that is mandated for Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB), making it unavailable for use to pay for current needs such as personnel.

The headline on page one summed up the final outcome as a “B+” for local teachers. It’s a fair summation because until a month ago it was unclear whether the commissioners were simply going to continue at the maintenance of effort (MOE) funding level, the minimum required of county jurisdictions by state law. Under no circumstances is the minimum amount of funding mandated by law acceptable but especially so with the superior quality of the public school system in this county. The budget seems to represent a middle ground among a divided set of commissioners that shows no signs of changing next year.

The next election for commissioners is 2026, meaning there are two more budgets to ratify with this splintered group. No huge changes should be expected, leaving some folks in the county to wonder whether the county code should be changed to stagger the commissioners district elections to avoid a massive and wholesale shift in philosophies as occurred in 2022. Rather than all seven seats being up for election in the same year, the concept is to follow what other jurisdictions do and have a few seats’ terms expire in one year and then two years later the remaining commission seats are up for grabs. No matter, the good news for school system supporters is the MOE threshold has now been raised for next year but the problem is the cost of living and price for goods continues to soar.

Before the commissioners voted this week to unanimously approve the revised budget, one of the cuts the school system announced was the $80,000 it takes to fund outdoor high school graduations. This cut was also made last year, but there’s a good chance the graduations will still be held outside next June. Just as important, like last year, the cuts include the elimination of non-grant funded afterschool and summer academies for a savings of $315,000. It’s hoped funding will again be able to be reassigned to continue these programs as well.

****

After more than a year of legal actions, it appears the criminal charges against a local man will finally be heard in Worcester County Circuit Court. Exactly when the case will take place is unknown, but Worcester County State’s Attorney Kris Heiser said Tuesday she expects it to be sometime in the fall.

The outcome of the case is unknown and it’s uncertain if all 17 charges, the heaviest being failure to immediately stop at the scene of an accident involving bodily injury and failure to immediately stop a vehicle at the scene of an accident involving death, will be prosecuted at this time. However, it’s been two years next month since 14-year-old Gavin Knupp was killed in the hit-and-run accident. It’s been a brutal wait for the family but also a harsh learning lesson about the legal system for the army of high school students who were impacted by the tragedy two summers ago.

****

It was assumed when the Country Calling music festival was announced for the weekend of Oct. 4-5, after Oceans Calling (Sept. 27-29), the same general footprint would be utilized. The same plan was confirmed during this week’s Worcester County Board of License Commissioners meeting.

During last year’s Oceans Calling Festival, there were two stages set up south of the pier with a large stage set up near the Inlet jetty on the beach and another smaller stage in the Inlet parking lot under cover near the Boardwalk. Also in the Inlet parking lot were alcohol and food vendors as well as lockers, VIP areas and other attractions. North of the pier were the bulk of the restrooms, other VIP areas, more alcohol vendors and another large main stage. To the west along the boards, the businesses were open for festival attendees and typically busy with lines of customers throughout the event. Though there were some logistical concerns beforehand, incorporating the Boardwalk and the businesses into the festival footprint for Oceans Calling was a massive success. It created a spacious ground for the event and offered a unique setting for a large-scale music festival.

There was not much to say at this week’s license approval meeting. It was agreed last year was a major success and the safeguards required are in place. The two major differences between the back-to-back weekends are the genres of music and the country event is just two days – Friday and Saturday.

FIREFIGHTERS RECOGNIZED

During this week’s Maryland State Firemen’s Association convention, Ocean City Fire Department Deputy Chief James “Jay” Jester, left, and firefighter Michael A. LeCompte, right, were inducted into the esteemed MSFA Hall of Fame. The recognition is a testament to their exceptional dedication, bravery, and contributions to the fire service throughout their careers. The celebrations continued into the evening as two more OCFD members assumed leadership roles within the MSFA. Former OCVFC Chief Roger A. Steger, second from left, will be sworn in as chairman of the MSFA Executive Committee, while former OCFD Captain W. Newton “Skip” Carey, second from right, will take the oath of office as MSFA President.

WORLD

WAR II

Operation Bagration second largest offensive in history

By Peter Ayers Wimbrow III Contributing Writer

(June 21, 2024) This week 80 years ago, the Red Army launched Operation Bagration. With more than 2.3 million men, 70,000 trucks (most of them Studebakers from the U.S.), 10,563 heavy artillery pieces, 2,715 tanks, 2,318 fighters, 2,306 Katyusha rocket launchers, 1,744 Ilyushin Shturmovik ground attack planes, 1,662 medium bombers, 1,355 assault guns, 431 night bombers, and approximately 250,000 partisans operating in the German rear, it was the largest offensive since Operation Barbarossa, making it the second largest offensive in the history of the world.

It was named for Gen. Prince Pyotr Bagration, a member of the Georgian royal family, and a general in the Imperial Russian Army who was mortally wounded fighting the Emperor Napoleon’s invaders at the Battle of Borodino in September 1812, and who is buried on that battlefield. Georgia had been a part of the Russian Empire since its annexation in 1801.

The Soviet forces were spread between the following fronts, or army groups, from north to south: First Baltic, commanded by Ivan Bagramyan, from Armenia; Third Byelorussian, commanded by the youngest, and only Jewish, front commander in the Red Army, Ivan Chernyakhovsky, from the Ukraine; Second Byelorussian, commanded by Gen. Georgiy Zakharov, from Russia;

First Byelorussian, commanded by the half-Polish Konstantin Rokossovsky.

Because of the size of the attacking force, it was overseen by Marshals Georgy Zhukov and Alexsandr Vasilevsky. Marshal Zhukov commanded Gen. Bagramyan’s First Baltic Front and Gen. Chernyakhovsky’s Third Byelorussian Front, while Marshal Vasilevsky oversaw the other two.

On June 22, 1944, the third anniversary of Operation Barbarossa, the Soviet sledgehammer landed on Armeegruppe Center, commanded by Field Marshal Ernst Busch, who owed his baton more to his blind loyalty to his Führer and Nazi ideology, than ability.

The Armeegruppe’s 900,000 men, 9,500 artillery pieces, 839 aircraft and 553 tanks were organized into Second Army, Third Panzerarmee, Fourth Army and Ninth Army, commanded by, respectively, Walter Weiss, Georg-Hans Reinhardt, Kurt von Tippelskirch and Hans Jordan.

The Red Army had a superiority of four to one in men, 11 to one in tanks and assault guns, 10 to one in artillery, and eight to one in aircraft. Armeegruppe Center occupied most of what is now Belarus.

The Germans were completely surprised when, early on the morning of June 22, the Soviets opened the greatest artillery barrage in history. The

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barrage, after hitting the front lines, rolled forward to catch the retreating Germans.

Although the Germans had expected a Soviet offensive, they hadn’t expected it here. The Soviet deception — maskirovka — had been complete! Of course, there had been signs of the Soviet build-up, which Field Marshal Busch had reported to der Führer in a presentation on May 29, 1944, in Berlin. Hitler responded by emphasizing the need to hold at all costs.

Gen. Bagramyan’s First Baltic Front crossed the Dvina River on June 25. The 900-year-old city of Orsha, which, prior to the war, had a population of 37,000, was liberated the next day by Gen. Chernyakhovsky’s Third Byelorussian Front.

That day, Field Marshal Busch and Gen. Jordan flew to der Führer’s headquarters and begged him to modify his “no retreat policy,” lest Armeegruppe Center be destroyed. Instead, both were replaced!

The Wehrmacht’s newest Field Marshal, Walter Model, was given command of the Armeegruppe while Nikolaus von Vormann assumed command of Ninth Army. Field Marshal Model was the last German field marshal to receive a baton.

The next day, Gen. Bagramyan’s First Baltic Front captured the 1,000-

year-old city of Vitebsk, along with most of the German LIII Corps, commanded by Friedrich Gollwitzer. The city had a prewar population of 66,000 and today is the fourth-largest city in Belarus, with a population of 340,000.

The same day, the Forty-Ninth Army, commanded by Ivan T. Grishin of Gen. Zakharov’s Second Byelorussian Front, crossed the Dniepr River. The following day, it captured the 700-year-old city of Mogilev, which today has a population of 360,000.

By then, both the First and Third Byelorussian Fronts had reached the Berezina River. The next day, Bobruisk was liberated by Gen. Rokossovsky’s First Byelorussian Front, and he was named a Marshal of the Soviet Union. In the first week of the offensive, his front had killed 50,000 Germans and captured another 20,000, and destroyed some 3,000 tanks, vehicles and guns.

This was quite an achievement for a man who was imprisoned for three years, under threat of execution, and had his teeth kicked out and ribs broken during “interrogation.”

Not only was he now a Soviet Marshal, but after the war, he would also be named a Marshal of Poland and Polish Defense Minister as well. Stalin once said, “I have no Suvorov [Russian Field Marshal who never lost a battle], but Rokossovsky is my Bagration.”

By July 4, the 1,100-year-old city of Polotsk and the Byelorussian capital of Minsk had been liberated by Gen. Bagramyan’s First Baltic Front in the first instance and Gen. Chernyakhovsky’s Third Byelorussian Front in the second instance.

Gen. von Tippelskirch’s Fourth Army was destroyed after being surrounded by the Fifth Guards Tank and Sixty-Fifth Armies, commanded by Gens. Pavel Alexeyevich Rotmistrov and Pavel Batov. German losses to that date numbered 300,000. Minsk was named a “Hero City” on June 26, 1974.

The 600-year-old city of Maladzyechna and the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius were liberated by Gen. Chernyakhovsky’s Third Byelorussian Front on July 5 and July 13, respectively. Three days after the liberation of Minsk, the 800-year-old city of Grodno fell to Gen. Zakharov’s Second Byelorussian Front.

On July 17, 57,000 German POWs, including 31 generals and 1,200 officers of lesser rank, were marched through Moscow’s Red Square, as the city’s citizens vented their wrath by cursing and spitting on them. It took 90 minutes to move them, 20 abreast, through the Square.

By July 21, Marshal Rokossovsky’s First Byelorussian Front had reached the Bug River. Four days later, it lib-

erated the 1,400-year-old Polish city of Lublin, which, prewar, had a population of 122,000 and now is three times that. The following day, Marshal Rokossovsky’s Front reached the Vistula River.

The Polish city of Bia ystok, with a prewar population of 107, 000, was captured on July 27 by the Second Byelorussian Front’s Third Army, commanded by Aleksandr Vasilevich Gorbatov. Marshal Rokossovsky’s First Byelorussian Front recaptured Brest on July 28. It was designated a “Hero-Fortress” on May 8, 1965.

On Aug. 1, Gen. Chernyakhovsky’s Third Byelorussian Front captured Lithuania’s second city of Kaunas, which today has a population of 315,000. The following day, Marshal Rokossovsky’s First Byelorussian Front crossed the Vistula River.

Operation Bagration completely destroyed Armeegruppe Center. It was the worst defeat suffered by German arms in all of history. The numbers — 350,000 killed or captured (including 31 generals), more than 1,300 guns and hundreds of tanks.

Lost by capture or death were 31 of 47 divisional or corps commanders. Worse was the strategic situation. The Red Army reached the Baltic Sea, isolating Armeegruppe North, tearing a gaping hole in the German lines and entering German territory in East

Continued on Page 93

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Prussia.

The Red Army had covered the 400 miles west, faster than the Wehrmacht had covered the same distance, in the opposite direction, three years earlier, and now, it was a mere 350 miles from the German capital.

But the Red Army had paid dearly for its smashing victory: 765,000 killed, wounded and missing; 2,857 tanks and assault guns and 2,447 guns lost.

On July 29, 1944. Marshals Rokossovsky, Vasilevsky, and Gen. Bagramyan were awarded their first, and Marshal Zhukov and Gen. Chernyakhovsky their second, Hero of the Soviet Union star. Gen. Bagramyan was also awarded his first, and Marshal Vasilevsky his second, Order of Lenin.

Gen. Zakharov’s Second Byelorussian Front’s performance was deemed inadequate, and he was, in November, reassigned to command Fourth Guards Army.

Next week: Caen

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

OBITUARIES

JEAN C. CHARLES

West Ocean City

Jean C. Charles, of West Ocean City, passed away on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, while in Baltimore.

She is predeceased by her loving husband, Paul T. Charles; her parents, Clara Ethel Most and Gilbert G. Most; and her son, Bryan Peters.

She is survived by her sister, Joan M. Leatherwood; her foster sister, Patricia S. Mulcahy; her niece, Wendy Mimiaga; her step-children, Deborah J. Sandes, Sandra L. Loys, and Paul J. Charles; her grandchildren, Erin C. Thompson, Ryan M. Miller, Sarah M. Charles, Erin K, Acree; and five great-grandchildren.

Jean was a native of Baltimore and became a long-time resident of Ocean City when she and Paul married, and she worked for the Worcester County Liquor Control Board for many years. She was an avid fan of the Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens, and operated a booth at the Ocean City Holiday Shoppers Fair for several years where she sold hand crafted items reflecting her love of both the Ravens and the Orioles.

Jean devoted much of her time to those in need working tirelessly with Shepherd’s Crook, a food pantry at St.

Paul’s By The Sea in Ocean City.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., June 27, at St. Paul’s By The Sea. The church is located at 302 N. Baltimore Ave.

Donations in her memory can be made to Shepherd’s Crook c/o St. Paul’s By The Sea.

ALFRED JAMES BERNARD Danbury, Connecticut

size was just 32. He was noted in his high school yearbook as “one of the quieter boys.” His hobbies were cars and boats. He placed second place in a “car rodeo.” His dream was to “own his own business” (B).

AJ went to work in construction with his father in Bridgeport, embarking on the development of carpentry skills.

Alfred James Bernard, aka AJ or Jim, 87, of Danbury, Connecticut, passed away June 14, 2024, at his daughter’s home (where he had lived since 2020), with his daughter and son by his side after a sixmonth struggle with heart and kidney issues.

AJ was born Aug. 16, 1936, on a dining room table on the corner of Main Street and West Lane in Ridgefield, Connecticut to Alfred Everett and Eleanor Maude Bernard.

His youth was spent in the swamps and fields of Ridgefield trapping and hunting, eventually transitioning to working as golf caddy for a country club in town. He earned enough to buy his first property at the age of 15.

AJ, known as Jim back then, graduated from Ridgefield High School with the class of 1954, whose class

In addition, he joined the Army National Guard out of high school, achieving the rank of Sergeant E5, and attaining marksman on the Carbine and M1 Rifle by the end of enlistment in ‘59.

He married his high school sweetheart, Alvce-Jane Thomas, on June 14,1958. They had two children, Allyson and Jason. After 33 years of marriage, Alyce and AJ divorced but stayed friendly and connected until Alyce’s death in 2020.

AJ was able to combine his carpentry skills and purchased property to build his first house on Hayestown Road in Danbury. This was his foray into his own construction company, AJ Bernard Building & Real Estate Agency. He used the profits to invest and build on subsequent properties on Moody Drive in Danbury, and Bonnet Drive in Bethel.

In 1963, he joined the Greater Danbury Board of Realtors (now Northern Fairfield County Associa-

Continued on Page 94

Jean Charles

Alfred Bernard

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tion of Realtors).

AJ’s professional career moved to concentrate on the real estate portion (residential and commercial), so he rebranded as the company as AJ Bernard Realty. He always was open to try new opportunities: Circa 1970, AJ Bernard bought a franchise of the E..A.(Electronic Realty Association). The focus was on using a new technology (fax machine), enabling members to transmit pictures of properties and homes to each other.

He, with his wife and mother as operators, opened The Maternity Stop (1964-66). AJ bought the first Re/Max franchise in Connecticut (RE/MAX Professionals: 1981-1993).

In 1993, AJ and his daughter, Allyson, opened and co-owned Real Estate Professionals of CT, remaining active until his heart attack in December 2023. AJ not only served his customers but served his fellow Realtors.

Over his tenure in the Northern Fairfield County Association of Realtors, he held every board and MLS elected office except president. He also served as chair for most every committee, including political forums for the public to hear state Senate and House candidates during election time.

He was 1995 Realtor of the Year. From 2021-22, he headed the

NFCAR parking area expansion project, which used the culmination of all his skills as builder, land developer and Realtor as he needed to negotiate with the state over the lease, catch subtle mistakes only an experienced eye would catch (before they became expensive to correct) and supervise the job daily. He was so proud to have accomplished this at his age. It was a source of pride every time he rode by the property.

At the state level (Connecticut Association of Realtors, now CTR), AJ served on the board of directors almost every year between 1960 and 2001, and again in 2016. He was on the CAR executive board September ‘94 to January ‘98. AJ helped establish the Commercial Investors Division (CID) (68-’69), serving as state CID VP in ‘69, and serving as the president of the Stamford CID ‘71-72.

AJ was on the Executive Legislative and Political Affairs Committee ‘82-94, the Executive Legislative Steering Committee ‘93-94, and the Realtor Services Committee ‘94 to 2001.

AJ taught International Real Estate at the ‘99 and 2000 CAR Conventions. AJ was co-coordinator between CAR and NAR for the 1992 5TH Congressional District Political involvement in the election (a first in the northeast.) AJ was vice-chair of the ‘95 Risk Reduction, ‘98 and ‘99

CAR International, and 2000 Professional Standards Committees. AJ was chair of the 2001 Professional Standards Committee.

At the national level (National Association of Realtors), AJ was involved in the Farm and Land Institute from ‘68 to ‘72. In ‘89 and ‘90 he was involved with FIABCI (Federation Internationale des Administrateurs de Bien Conseils et Immobiliers.) AJ attended most of the NAR Conventions in the 1980s and ‘90s. During the same period, AJ worked with the 5th Congressional district leaders and Congressman via NAR Washington meetings and visits on the hill. He helped develop content for the Political Action Computer Course for NAR, was a past member of the National Realtor Club and International Traders Club and the first Realtor in Connecticut to have the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation. AJ had been certified as a Realtor active in politics since 1983.

AJ believed that one should give back to the community.

He served his local communities (Danbury and Bethel) through political and civic activities. In 1965, when the City of Danbury and the Town of Danbury merged, AJ was appointed to the Tax Study Committee to determine how to merge the two tax structures. AJ was also chair of the

Danbury Fair Rent Commission from 1970 to 1980.

He was a consultant to the Danbury Equal Rights Commission from 1972 to 1978, a member of the Danbury Tax Study Commission in 1974, vice president of the State Federation of Fair Rent Associations from 1974 to 1979.

In 1978, AJ ran for the State Representative for the 110th District. In ‘71 and ‘81, AJ was Danbury City Constable.

In 1980, AJ was the security coordinator for Presidential Candidate George Bush’s visit to Danbury, working with the FBI, Secret Service, and state police.

In 1982 and 1986, AJ was Coordinator for the County Sheriff election. In 1982 and ’83, AJ ran the National GOP workshop for candidates and campaign managers. AJ was appointed Fairfield County Deputy Sheriff in 1988. From ‘89 to ‘94, he was a member of the Danbury Airport Commission.

In 2017, AJ ran for the Bethel Board of Finance. AJ was on the Bethel GOP Town Committee from 2009 to 2020.

From 2016 to 2020, AJ was elected Justice of the Peace. In 2023, he wrote an educational course for Realtors on how to navigate Town Halls and be successful. It was approved by the State of Connecticut for CE credits after six months developing it (with many rewrites with Allyson’s help). It was scheduled, months in advance, for him to teach

Feb. 29 of this year. His goal after his December heart attack was to get up the steps of the NFCAR office and teach the course.

True to form, against doctors’ wishes and most expectations, he climbed those steps and taught the three-hour course to a full room. Again, he achieved a goal he set for himself. Afterward, when his daughter asked how it went (and if he was tired), he said, “I feel alive and invigorated.”

AJ is survived by his daughter, Allyson J. Bernard-Church of Danbury, Connecticut and Ocean City (husband Bud Church); A. Jason Bernard of Waxhaw, North Carolina (wife Esther); grandson Aristotle J. Bernard of Waxhaw, North Carolina; and Cousin Walter MacDonald of Nova Scotia (wife Mary).

He is also survived by his companion of the last 20 years, Marion Hickey of LaGrangeville, New York.

In addition, he leaves behind his “by choice adopted daughters,” Terri “The Kid” Radachowsky (husband John), Rolande “You talk to me just like my daughter does” Paguay (Peter Meier), Pam “Trouble” Michael (husband Gary Sr.), Laurie “Firecracker” MacKinnon and Karin “Adopt everyone” NeJame.

He was predeceased by his parents; an infant sister; his ex-wife; and numerous aunts and uncles.

We were in awe of the strength he showed in coming home (under hospice care) for his last days, reaching out to those he loved to share memories and having to say goodbye over and over again, planning his funeral (it’s that type A personality) and embracing that he had a good life, but it was simply time.

He was amazed at the love he felt and was shown during visits from the numerous people who came (as far as Nova Scotia and North Carolina) to share that precious time (along with his favorites: pizza, Mexican beer, fajitas, and ice cream).

He told Allyson, through tears, that he didn’t know he made a difference in the lives of so many; that he never did it for any reward but simply did it because it was the right thing to do, and that he was humbled to know he could leave having made a difference in this world.

He knew when his grandson helped him out to sit in the sunshine on Thursday afternoon that the end was near — he verbalized it clearly, and he was okay. Very early the next morning he left with grace, with bravery, and in peace.

Allyson will miss her real estate partner, her construction/ home improvement partner, her Dad, and hearing, “Chick, don’t get excited but ....”. Jason will miss his Dad and their long conversations about crazy business ideas, and advice on the trials of life.

Services were held. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the

Regional Hospice (30 Milestone Rd, Danbury, Ct 068120)-they were the angels in disguise that allowed us to fulfill AJ’s wishes to be home and for all of us to have this precious experience.

In addition, we want to thank Mary and Judy at Devita Dialysis in Newtown. They are incredible souls who we trusted, admired and came to care about. Last but not least, special thanks to Rolande who helped us navigate AJ’s care life, for our dad would have not been as secure, happy, and safe without your help.

ESTHER AMELIA POUST

Ocean City

Esther Amelia Poust, 91, passed away on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Fairfax, Virginia.

She was born on Dec. 16, 1932, in Caracas, Venezuela to the late Jorge Romero and Amelia Vieitez Romero.

In addition to her parents, Esther was preceded in death by her husband, William Kenneth Poust.

She is survived by her son, Gregory Robinson; her daughter, Jennifer Williams; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and her two brothers and sister, Jorge Romero, Alfreda Romero and Carmen Romero.

Esther loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much and prayed for them reg-

ularly. All of us have fond memories of visiting her at her home in Ocean City and she was so happy to have us as often as we could come. She was committed to her church community at Holy Savior Catholic Church in Ocean City and held the church and her faith in Jesus Christ close to her heart.

A funeral service will be held at noon on Thursday, June 20, at Holy Savior Catholic Church in Ocean City. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Dagsboro, Delaware.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Holy Savior Catholic Church.

Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Condolences may be shared with the family at burbagefuneralhome.com.

WILLIAM L. THORNTON

Ocean City

William L. Thornton, beloved husband, father and U.S. Navy veteran, passed away on June 7, 2024, at the age of 76.

He was born on Sept.12, 1948, in Ocean City, to the late Luther and Laura Marie Thornton.

He grew up in a loving family with his sister and brother-in-law, Tina and George Tilghman; and his brother and sister-in-law, Dan and Rita Thornton and son Tron Thornton.

William Thornton

William was a loving husband to CarolAnn Yienger Thornton with whom he shared many wonderful memories William was also a stepfather to Edward Taylor, Karen Turner and Mark Taylor, cherishing the special moments they spent together.

William was a proud veteran, having served in the U.S Navy. His dedication to his country was evident throughout his life. He had a deep love for the water and enjoyed the tranquility it brought him. The beach held a special place in his heart and it was his favorite spot. In addition to his passion for boating, William was an avid fan of the Ravens.

William L. Thornton will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all those who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy as a devoted husband, loving father, and patriotic veteran will live on in their hearts forever. May he find eternal peace surrounded by the serenity of the waves he adored and the spirit of the Ravens he cheered for.

Arrangements are in the care of Eastern Shore Cremation and Funeral Service, 504 Franklin Ave. in Berlin.

To send condolences to the family, visit easternshorecremation.com.

$1,595.

Sports & Recreation

TUNAS & TIARAS ATTRACTS 64 BOATS, PAYS OUT $125,000

The 4th Annual Tuna & Tiaras Tournament, which is for ladies only, was held last weekend at the Ocean City Fishing Center. Winning the top prize of $26,325 with a 160.5-pound tuna was the Loaded.

Also in the money was the Primary Search, above left, with a stringer weight of 395 pounds worth $10,350 and a daily heaviest tuna of 113.5 pounds for $6,750. The crew of the Restless Lady 1 won $6,750 for the daily heaviest tuna of 141 pounds on day one as well as $10,575 for winning the single tuna split. Above right, local boat Sea Hag hit the scales with smiles and this tuna.

SURF REPORT

Fenwick Boys win ‘Anything Goes’ challenge

By Dave Dalkiewicz Contributing Writer

(June 21, 2024) The Ocean City Surf Club (OCSC) put on its annual weekend festivities recently.

Friday evening, June 14, kicked things off with a gathering “party” at Barn 34 restaurant, graciously hosted by the Lawson family. Master of ceremony duties were covered by Tommy Vach and Brad Hoffman with help from Skill Johnson.

Acknowledgement was noted for Shelly Dawson for his efforts in helping to start the club and the legends program. Shelly passed away over the winter and a traditional paddle out was held in his honor on Sunday, June 16. Shelly had also captained the Assateague State Park Beach Patrol.

Acknowledgement also went out to McKenzie Keiser for her book, “Keep our beaches clean. What if everybody did that?” The book was illustrated by her elementary school class with publishing help from 11-time world champ Kelly Slater.

A community service award went to the local U.S. Coast Guard Station. Pickles Pub and Sello’s restaurant owners Justin and Brittany Acita received an award for their club support, and Sandi Smith of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program re-

SURF CONTEST

The Ocean City Surf Club hosted its annual OC Surf Fest last weekend, which included a Surfing Hall of Fame ceremony, kick off party, “Anything Goes” surf contest, and a memorial paddle out for lifetime lifeguard and surf club founding member and president Shelly Dawson. (Above) Christian Winter from the Thing 1 team surfs during the “Anything Goes” surf contest.

ceived the Aloha Spirit award. Also receiving awards were Assateague State Beach lifeguard Cineva Smith and U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer Mike Yandell with the newly conceived “Shelly Dawson Ocean Safety Award.” The Williams family and the Gunther family each received Volunteer of the Year Awards.

In addition, Dane Olson received

the OCSC environmental scholarship of $5,000, and Finn Ramnarain received the OCSC leadership scholarship of $5,000.

U.S. Coast Guard representative Charlie Dawkins also accepted the community service award from the OCSC.

Recognized as legend inductees were Skip Collins, Ken Roughton, Scott Vleck and Eddie Wimbrow.

On Saturday, June 15, the “Anything Goes Team Challenge” was held. “Anything Goes “ means that any wave riding apparatus could be used with minimal exceptions. Six teams comprised of five wave riders each competed in a novel tag team format with “fun” being the overall spirit. Despite the lack of good sandbars we were blessed with ridable waves. The idea was to have just two surfers in the water at any one time.

Judges never have an easy task, but in theory having to keep an eye on just two wave riders should have lessened the load. First place went to “Fenwick Boys,” Second went to “Thing 2,” and third was a tie with “Sea Niles” and “Thing 1.”

Thanks go out to Brad Hoffman and Chris Tilghman for organizing and announcing, with Chris’ wife Sarah as tabulator. Thanks also to the judges and anyone that helped with shirt sales and set-up/tear-down. Among these are President Tommy Vach, Vice President Rusty Ruzsin, Secretary Kevan Thomson and her husband Bill.

Additional thanks go out to all the sponsors, especially Castle in the Sand Hotel for hosting the team challenge at the 37th Street Beach, and the Ocean City Beach Patrol for putting on a live rescue demonstration. — Dave Dalkiewicz is the owner of

Ocean Atlantic Surf Shop in Ocean City

PHOTO COURTESY OF LIVEWIRE MEDIA/MP PHOTOS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FISH IN OC

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FISH IN OC

Some members of the Worcester Prep Class of 2025 had a great time on board the Bay Bee with Aleksi, Mike and Ed catching keeper flounder, above left. Above right, Gemma, Brittany, Anthony and Floyd (the dog) caught flounder up to 23 inches with Captain Dave Caffrey of On the Run Charters.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FISH IN OC

Above left, Donald Bounds caught his personal best 6-pound flounder fishing on board the Fish Bound with Captain Kane Bounds. Above middle, this group had a big tuna and two white marlin releases fishing on board the Boss Hogg with Captain Brian Porter. Above right, John Wittmyer of Crabs to Go caught this nice flounder while fishing with Captain DJ Churchill of the Double Trouble.

Below left, Michael Marisa found this big 30-inch bluefish at the Route 50 Bridge. Below middle, “Flounder” Bob had his limit of nice flatties fishing on board the Angler with Captain Chris Mizurak. Below right, this young lady caught and released a small cobia on the south jetty while fishing with Captain Tony Battista of Saltwater Adventures.