Commentary

Commentary Ocean City Today July 8, 2022 Page 63 Sportsplex debate missing OC’s voice

If the Town of Ocean City and the resort tourism industry truly believe that a substantial sports complex operating close by will have a huge economic impact on the resort, the time to get off the pot is now.

At the least, someone should say something in defense of the four Worcester County Commissioners who continue to hold the line against a rising tide of disenchantment fomented by opponents of the majority’s plan to acquire sports complex property on Route 50 just outside Berlin.

Someone needs to throw these folks a life ring just for the sake of appearances, so they don’t look like this is all their idea and that they will be going it alone.

Commissioners Joe Mitrecic, Diana Purnell, Bud Church and Josh Nordstrom aren’t in any big political trouble necessarily, since they probably have the support of most people in their districts, and Church isn’t seeking reelection. Still, they do look somewhat exposed by virtue of Ocean City’s absence from the conversation.

Ocean City officials, after all, have been talking about the need for a sports complex for years, so it’s a little disconcerting that they have yet to offer any real indication of the role they want or intend to play in its development and operation.

All that’s out there now is that Mitrecic and Purnell are pushing hard with the backing of Church and Nordstrom, but have little to defend their positions beyond their own opinions.

It’s time other advocates for this project join them and reveal what they are thinking and how they intend to participate before voters in Ocean Pines and elsewhere in the county permanently embrace the notion that this is a bad idea.

For all anyone knows, Ocean City officials see things a little differently and are trying to work that out with the commissioners behind closed doors. Regardless, as sports complex proponents who believe the resort would be its chief beneficiary, city officials need to join the debate and explain to potential voters these commissioners aren’t in this alone. Or at least we assume they aren’t.

Ocean City Today

11934 Ocean Gateway, Suite 6, Ocean City, Md. 21842 Phone: 410-723-6397 / Fax: 410-723-6511.

EDITOR ............................................ Stewart Dobson MANAGING EDITOR................................ Lisa Capitelli STAFF WRITERS .................................... Greg Wehner, ..........................................Jack Chavez, Mallory Panuska ACCOUNT MANAGERS.......... Mary Cooper, Vicki Shrier ..............................................................Amanda Shick CLASSIFIEDS/LEGALS MANAGER .... Nancy MacCubbin SENIOR DESIGNER ................................ Susan Parks GRAPHIC ARTIST .................................... Kelly Brown PUBLISHER........................................ Christine Brown ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ...................... Gini Tufts

PUBLIC EYE Aliens must save us

Early voting in the Maryland primary election began this week, thus giving people the opportunity to cast ballots now that they know they will regret later. I’m not quite that cynical yet, although I am contemplating forming a political party for people like me, who have come to believe that our best bet these days might be intervention by space aliens. The way I see it, only an extraterrestrial outfit will have the advanced technology needed to disable our internet service completely and free us from the tractor beam grip of the political poo-poo people who stir the pot for fun and profit.

Providing our new friends from space don’t view us as a planetary party platter or force us to labor in the dilithium crystal mines in the Asteroid Belts of Xenon, we’ll be ahead of the game, since we will know nothing about them and therefore won’t be disappointed when they don’t act as expected.

Until that happens, and I suspect we’ll have a little bit of a wait, I’ll have to satisfy my disaffection for our current circumstance by remaining a cherry-picking Independent, that is to say someone who feels it’s only fair to be let down by both sides instead of being limited to one.

It’s true. As an Independent, I have voted around the horn for decades and have yet to pick anyone who hasn’t given me one or more “What the ----?” moments.

Let’s see, I started with Nixon, and that didn’t quite work out, jumped over to Jimmy Carter, who came up shorter than a Death Valley cornstalk, didn’t vote for Reagan because actors are ... well ... actors, did vote for Bush, who went on to burst into a thousand points of light of disappointment, then to Clinton, who ... well, you know. And so on through our recent custodians of the office, all of whom wee-weed on my shoes and told me it was raining. In my unaffiliated opinion, of course. I confess that being an Independent does have its drawbacks. One, I can’t vote early, late or on time in the primary election, and we’re looked down on by true believers on

By both sides of the equation. Stewart My dear old dad put this in perspective for me back in the day when I was trying to deDobson cide how to register before I voted for the first time. He recalled that he and a fellow soldier were hitchhiking north from an Army base in North Carolina before going overseas in World War II when they were picked up by a local husband and wife. The woman turned to the back seat and asked my father’s buddy where he was from and he replied, “New York.” “A damn Yankee,” she told him swiveling toward my father and asking, “And where are you from?” “Maryland,” he replied. “Hmmph,” she snorted. “I’d rather be a damn Yankee than a damn nothing.” My father was a Democrat and my mother was a Republican, so in the spirit of familial harmony, I split the difference and became a Damn Nothing. Go ahead, laugh now, but one of these days we’ll be in the majority, assuming that ET does phone home and calls in reinforcements.

County residents eligible to apply for spots on police accountability act panels

(July 8, 2022) The Worcester County Commissioners are seeking interest from area residents to serve on three new civilian boards being implemented under the Maryland Police Accountability Act. These include the Police Accountability Board, Administrative Charging Committee, and Trial Board.

Effective July 2022, the Maryland Police Accountability Act will replace the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights (LEOBR) as the system for police discipline.

The new act replaces the mostly internal discipline system under LEOBR with a multi-tiered system of external civilian boards.

The Police Accountability Board will consist of seven members to serve as the overall governing body of the system.

The Charging Committee will consist of five members who will review complaints and investigations of police misconduct, determine whether an officer should be charged with misconduct, and if charged recommend discipline from the state-created matrix.

The Trial Board will consist of three members, be chaired by a retired or administrative law judge, and will conduct hearings if an officer does not accept the disciplinary measures recommended by the Charging Committee.

Members of the three boards must meet applicable qualifications and will receive mandated training.

Applications to serve on these boards are available at www.co.worcester.md.us/PAB.

Send the completed application along with a letter of interest and a resume outlining any pertinent experience, to PAB@co.worcester.md.us or Worcester County Administration at One West Market Street, Room 1103, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863.

Nominations open for volunteer spirit award

Individuals, organizations, businesses eligible to be granted acknowledgment

(July 8, 2022) To honor volunteers whose contributions help improve the quality of life locally, Worcester County residents are invited to nominate individuals, organizations and businesses for the Volunteer Spirit of Worcester County awards.

The nomination period is open July 1 to Sept. 2, at 11:59 p.m.

“As we continue to serve our community during this pandemic, there are many outstanding residents, groups, faith-based, businesses and nonprofits who are still working tirelessly to support the many needs in Worcester County,” Human Resources Specialist Kelly Brinkley said. “We have grown stronger and more resilient thanks to the efforts of those who continue to come together to roll up their sleeves and pitch in. We want to honor this exceptional display of selflessness over the past year.”

Volunteer Spirit nominations will be accepted for each of the following eight categories: individual, group/team, emerging leader, faithbased, nonprofit volunteer program, local business, veteran, and lifetime achievement.

Nominees should reside in and represent the volunteer spirit of Worcester County.

Nomination forms are found online at www.worcestervolunteer.org. Once there, click on “News.”

Nomination forms will also be available at the Human Resources Office, Room 1301, in the Worcester County Government Center in Snow Hill, or by contacting Brinkley at 410632-0090 or kbrinkley@co.worcester.md.us.

To highlight the outstanding services of the volunteers, the Worcester County Commissioners will be presenting award winners at the Oct. 18 meeting.

Maryland boating safety course set July 12-14 in OP

(July 8, 2022) The US Coast Guard Auxiliary is offering the Maryland Basic Boating Safety Course at the Ocean Pines Library, July 12-14 from 6-9 p.m.

Certified instructors from the Ocean City Coast Guard Auxiliary will be offering the Maryland Safe Boating Course. All the required material is covered along with time for questions.

The Maryland Boating Safety Education Act requires that anyone born after July 1, 1972 must possess a Maryland Basic Boating Safety Certificate to operate a boat in the state of Maryland. Those attending the class, and passing the test will receive a Maryland Boating Certificate which is NASBLA approved and valid in all states.

The library is located at 11107 Cathell Rd., Berlin, Maryland 21811.

The cost is $20 for all three evenings. Register or get more information by calling Barry Cohen at 410935-4807, or email CGAUXOC@Gmail.com.

Checks should be made payable to: “USGCAUX 12-05” and mailed to: USCGAUX 12-05, P.O. Box 1682, Berlin, Maryland 21811. Payment via PayPAL is also accepted.

WELCOME TO OCEAN CITY

Thirty-five young men and women from Italy have signed up to work at Ocean City businesses for the summer and the first 14 to arrive were welcomed by the Ocean City Sons and Daughters of Italy, with typical American summer fare held at the Knights of Columbus Hall and catered by Mio Fratello Restaurant. The university students come from all regions of Italy, Milan, Florence, Rome, Genoa, Sicily and Sardinia, and many smaller towns throughout.

Tour of waterfowl habitat project conducted July 18

(July 8, 2022) A consortium of conservation organizations and agencies is offering a tour on Monday, July 18, of its waterfowl habitat creation project in the coastal bays.

The product of a partnership between Audubon Mid-Atlantic, Maryland DNR, Maryland Coastal Bays Program and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the project entails rafts that provide a safe nesting site for Common Terns, a species that have undergone serious declines due to sea level rise.

This was the first seabird nesting raft ever attempted in the Mid-Atlantic. Despite a slow start, a total of 20 nesting pairs by mid-summer has given hope to the team.

This event is limited to 30 attendees with limited seats remaining. Tickets are $35. Register at lowershorelandtrust.org/bird-conservation-series.

On Tuesday, July 26, a free virtual presentation by leaders on bird conservation has been scheduled so residents and visitors can learn how birds are driving conservation funding and what more can be done.

With birding is a growing activity here and around the word, the presentation will explore what this increasing interest means for bird conservation?

Serving on a panel about the economics of bird conservation are Sara Barker from Cornell Lab of Ornithology Center for Avian Population Studies, Jim Rapp, Community Conservation Consulting and Delmarva Birding Weekends and David Satterfield from Eastern Shore Land Conservancy. Jared Parks from Lower Shore Land Trust will highlight how birds have the power to amplify conservation, stewardship and community outreach.

Register for free, or donate, at https://www.lowershorelandtrust.or g/bird-conservation-series

DONATION

PHOTO COURTESY TOMMY VACH

Ocean City Surf Club presented two $5,000 scholarships during its annual Legends/Surfing Hall of Fame party on June 16. Pictured, from left, are OC Surf Club Vice President Rusty Ruszin, Stephen Decatur High School student Sam Woodley (recipient of the club’s $5,000 Leadership Scholarship) OC Surf Club President Tommy Vach, Stephen Decatur High School student Emma Sperry (recipient of the $5,000 Environmental Scholarship) and OC Surf Club Board Member Chris Tilghman.

Annual book sale at Ocean Pines Library starts July 19

(July 8, 2022) The Friends of the Ocean Pines Library will sponsor its annual book sale at the Ocean Pines Library this month.

This event is open to the public and is scheduled as follows: • Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, July 19-21, 1-4 pm - Specials Room Sneak Preview. Features rare, signed, vintage, first edition, small press, collectibles, odd and special interest books and ephemera priced individually • Friday, July 22, 6-8 p.m. - FOPL members only sale. Join FOPL for $5 and get first access to this year’s books on sale. • Saturday, July 23, 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. - General sale with all books, audio and DVD’s priced 50 cents to $2. • Monday, July 25, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - General sale continues with all books sold at half price, including the Specials Room.

This popular, annual book sale offers over 20,000 books that have been donated throughout the year by patrons, community members and businesses.

Books will be available in over 30 categories including fiction, non-fiction, biography, history, religion, art, music, science, animals, children’s, cookbooks, gardening, home school education, foreign language, poetry, classics, science fiction, westerns, and many others.

There will also be a large selection of CDs, DVDs and audio books and special sets.

All book sales are cash or check only – no credit cards will be accepted. All monies go to benefit the Ocean Pines Library and its resources, programs and events.

The Friends of the Ocean Pines Library is a certified 501, c3 non-profit organization that exists solely to support the library.

Looking for a new home? Check out the On newsstands and online at Oceancitytoday.com COASTAL REAL ESTATE GUIDE

Commonwealth War Cemetery, el-Alamein, Egypt

WORLD WAR II

Allied Forces, Panzerarmee Afrika meet in El Alamein

By Peter Ayers Wimbrow III Contributing Writer (July 8, 2022) This week, 80 years ago, Panzerarmee Afrika, commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, and the Allied Eighth Army, commanded by Claude Auchinleck (“the Auk”) met for the first time at El Alamein.

El Alamein is a tiny railroad station on the Mediterranean Coast, 66 miles west of Alexandria and 149 miles northwest of Cairo, Egypt. Today, it has a population of 7,000, and the museum and German, Italian and Commonwealth cemeteries are located there. Its name means “the two flags.”

During the first week of July an exhausted and depleted Panzerarmee Afrika was repulsed by an equally exhausted and depleted Eighth Army. The Royal Air Force, flying from its nearby all-weather bases in Alexandria, was a significant factor in both the actual fighting and in disrupting the Axis’ long and exposed supply lines. The Allies now had air superiority.

Meanwhile, on July 2, Il Duce, together with his retinue, flew to Derna, Libya, which is 106 miles west of Tobruk. He wanted to be present for the Axis’ conquest of Egypt, and had his white charger shipped, planning to accept the salute of the victorious Axis soldiers astride it in the shadow of the Pyramids. He believed this would occur within 15 days. After a month, and Panzerarmee Afrika not having arrived at Alexandria, let alone the Suez Canal or the Pyramids, nor having been visited by the newest and youngest German Field Marshal, the Italian Duce slunk back to Rome — without his cook and valet, who had been killed when their plane crashed on landing at Derna.

After resting and regrouping, Field Marshal Rommel’s Panzerarmee Afrika struck again on July 9. It was making good progress until the Eighth Army’s newly arrived 9th Australian Division, commanded by Sir Leslie J. Morshead, hit the recently arrived Sabratha Infantry Division, commanded by Mario Soldarelli, hard the next day, capturing 835 Italian soldiers.

Units of the Trento Motorized Infantry Division, commanded by Giorgio Masina, together with the elite Bersaglieri, followed by units of the Trieste Motorized Infantry Division, commanded by Arnaldo Azzi, reContinued on Page 68

Guns of the 8th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery at El Alamein, 12 July 1942