With some homes there decades old but priced high because of location, insurance companies are refusing coverage. That can make buying and selling difficult, and leaves some residents wondering what to do next. Page 3
The hospital’s board of trustees issues a statement that says it is exploring the possibility of aligning itself with or joining another healthcare provider as it considers options for the future. Page 95
After serving 39 years of a life sentence for setting a fire that claimed the life of an Ocean City firefighter, David Chris Ball will be released. Page 21
Members of the Italian Air Force’s Frecce Tricolori (tri-color arrows) streak across the sky at last weekend’s OC Air Show. The performance team won kudos from the audience for its aerial artistry and precision maneuvers. See pages 104-105 for more pictures.
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‘People are in a panic’ over unexpected insurance loss
Property sales impacted by companies not insuring some manufactured homes
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(Aug. 30, 2024) Resort area residents are struggling to find answers after learning that their insurance carriers are dropping policies on their manufactured homes.
When Ocean City resident Jaime Strickland and her husband decided to sell their Montego Bay property earlier this summer, they were shocked to discover their buyer could not secure the homeowners insurance required by the mortgage company. After further investigation, she learned insurance companies are choosing not to offer, or to continue, policies on decades-old manufactured homes.
“People are in a panic,” she said. “A lot of homes here are older than 35 years.”
With two children preparing to attend college, Strickland is worried about how this change could affect the sale of her property, which her family had purchased as a vacation home. She is now holding out for a buyer who is willing to pay cash and self-insure.
“Who’s going to do that?” she asked.
While Strickland said she has yet to be dropped by her insurance carrier, others in the Montego Bay community – including Strickland’s 97-year-old neighbor – are not so fortunate.
Realtor Mike Grimes of Montego Bay Realty said the lack of insurance coverage for manufactured homes 20 years of age or older has been a problem for more than a year. He said the
manufactured homes affected by the change account for more than half of the 1,523 properties that make up the Montego Bay community.
“To the best of my knowledge, there’s no insurance carriers at the moment that will hand out homeowners insurance policies for single-wide, double-wide or buildovers, which is a single-wide that’s been added onto,” he said. “So, because of this current situation, anybody buying those types of homes have to buy in cash because lenders require a homeowners insurance policy.”
Grimes said he has witnessed manufactured homes in the community go under contract, just to return to the market days later because a buyer couldn’t secure homeowners insurance.
Realtor Scott Holdren of Larry Holdren Real Estate, said he also has had real estate transactions in the Montego Bay community fall through.
“I’ve lost four sales back there this year because of this insurance thing,” he said. “It sucks.”
But the problems don’t stop at Montego Bay, according to Avery Hall Insurance Agency’s Tom Bole, who said property owners at Assateague Pointe and White Horse Park are also struggling to secure homeowners insurance. He said some insurance carriers have opted not to cover coastal areas, while others have opted not to cover the entirety of Worcester County.
“This is focused on manufactured homes over 20 years old,” he said. “We’re not having that challenge with condos or manufactured homes under 20 years old, or site-built homes. We have lots of markets for those products.”
Bole said that while liability insur-
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Home sales hit by insurance change for Montego Bay
Continued from Page 3
ance is still being offered, carriers are canceling homeowners coverage on manufactured homes following significant losses in the south. This, he said, has left homeowners scrambling to find a policy.
“Unfortunately, right now, [the market] is pretty tight, and it’s been that way for over a year,” he said.
Realtor Bill Rothstein of Montego Bay Realty said he has been in contact with 25 insurance companies, the Maryland insurance commissioner, and the director of consumer complaints, but is still left with questions. Strickland said she has also reached out to the state, as well as more than 20 insurance agencies throughout the country.
“Everybody I’ve called said, ‘Sorry can’t help you,’” she said.
Strickland said she had also contacted the Joint Insurance Association, which provides coverage to those who cannot obtain property insurance, as well as surplus lines, to no avail. She also questioned what this change would do to residents who currently have mortgages on their manufactured homes.
“It’s very frustrating,” she said. “No one is helping us.”
Strickland said attempts to sell their Montego Bay property will continue. This time, however, they are hoping to find a cash buyer.
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Road closure request in OC advances to public hearing
Council expresses concern about proposal, but willing to allow input before voting
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(Aug. 30, 2024) The Mayor and Council will hold a public hearing on the closure of Bayview Lane after hearing a request from Delmarva Power and de Lazy Lizard this week.
While an initial motion was made to deny the proposal in its entirety, the Mayor and Council on Tuesday ultimately agreed to move forward with a public hearing on the closure and abandonment of Bayview Lane between 1st and 2nd streets. City Manager Terry McGean said staff had made the determination that the portion of Bayview Lane was not needed for public use.
“If the council wishes to entertain closing the right-of-way, two things would need to happen simultaneously, essentially, or in parallel
paths,” he said. “We would schedule a public hearing for the closure and the abandonment, and then we would also have an appraisal conducted for the value of the right-of-way. The cost of the appraisal is borne by the applicant with the appraisal company being chosen by the town “
Delmarva Power’s Rick Showalter told the council this week the company operated a substation to the west of Bayview Lane and had acquired a property immediately to the east for future expansion. Delmarva Power officials highlighted plans to join both parcels, and raise and rebuild the substation, which will make it more reliable during flood events.
“The proposal to close Bayview would be to provide Delmarva with a contiguous parcel to accommodate future expansions to make sure that we can serve the electric needs of Ocean City,” he said.
Officials say the request is to close and abandon Bayview Lane be-
The highlighted lane runs north to south between 1st and 2nd streets off St. Louis Avenue. A public hearing will be held soon on a proposal to close it to vehicular traffic.
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tween1st and 2nd streets and have the right-of-way deeded back to the adjacent property owners – Delmarva Power and de Lazy Lizard. Showalter noted that the company had worked with both the restaurant owner and the public works department to ensure access was maintained.
For his part, Public Works Director Hal Adkins said he had infrastructure in that area and had found no issues should the city choose to close that portion of the road. He said Delmarva Power had also presented a plan that would allow his department to have access to the trash containers near de Lazy Lizard.
“Beyond that, the last issue I gave some consideration to was from a bicyclist standpoint …,” he told the council. “Some individuals will ride
Chicago Avenue and then cut through Bayview from 2nd to 1st. So in consideration of that, please realize you had a dedicated, delineated bike path on the St. Louis Avenue corridor that in fact starts at 1st Street parallel to the Bayview Lane area.”
While officials said pedestrians and bicyclists would have alternatives should Bayview Lane be closed, both Councilman Will Savage and Councilwoman Carol Proctor said they believed the road was still needed for public use. Savage pointed to the families that walked along Bayview, while Proctor highlighted the 12 available parking spots.
“I mean to me people driving onto the roadway, parking their vehicle, and entering maybe our park or entering the Lazy Lizard, I would think that is needed for public use,” she
said. “So I don’t see that it’s been determined nor am I convinced that it’s not needed for public use.”
Council Secretary Tony DeLuca, liaison for the Ocean City Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, said he was also opposed to the request.
“I’m against this too, just in terms of bike use,” he said.
Mayor Rick Meehan, however, said he wanted officials to consider the benefits of having an improved substation in downtown Ocean City, as it would secure the city’s power source during flooding events.
“That’s a huge public benefit for the downtown area if that’s what this is going to provide the ability to do,” he said.
Savage then made a motion, seconded by Proctor, to deny the request as presented. Councilman John
Gehrig said the staff recommendation was not to approve or deny the request, but to move forward with a public hearing.
“I think this is premature …,” he said. “I’d rather be a judge without bias and hear all the facts and then make a decision after we hear from all members of the public.”
Council President Matt James said it was the most consistent path forward. Officials referenced previous requests to abandon portions of Washington Lane, Baltimore Avenue and Upshur Lane.
“It’s always asking for a public hearing, but we’ve had several of them and every time it just takes someone to say they use it,” he said.
“I’m on the record as a citizen saying I use it. Councilwoman Proctor is. Several of our constituents have contacted us, they all use it. The mayor acknowledged he used it. So really this is a waste of time and this is the fourth time in 22 months.”
With a majority of the council voicing support to hear both the public’s thoughts and the company’s plans, Savage ultimately agreed to amend his motion and advance the request to a public hearing. The motion passed in a 7-0 vote, with Councilman Peter Buas asking Delmarva Power to include in its public presentation possible mitigation measures for bike and pedestrian use.
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Council moves short-term rental proposal to planners
Initial support for changes, but commission asked to review and discuss before
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(Aug. 30, 2024) Ocean City officials this week agreed to move forward with additional regulations on short-term rentals.
On Tuesday, the City Council remanded additional short-term rental regulations to the Ocean City Planning and Commission for discussion and approval. Deputy City Manager JR Harmon said staff recommended setting new occupancy limits on short-term rentals, as well as imposing a minimum length of stay for rentals in the R-1 residential and MH mobile home zoning districts.
“A lot of the concern we were hearing about the short-term rentals is primarily for the R1 district,” he told the council. “So staff, we’ve been banging around some of these ideas for restrictions in ways that protect the health, welfare and safety of those communities, plus the other communities, R-2, MH and others as well.”
Citing an increasing number of rental properties within the munici-
pal limits, officials earlier this year began exploring ways to regulate short-term rentals. Harmon told the council this week that of the 8,930 rental properties in Ocean City, 230 are located in the R-1 residential zone.
To that end, Harmon said staff recommended additional regulations concerning occupancy restrictions and length of stay.
“Basically today we wanted to offer two ideas and then hear from the council if there were any other additional ideas for restrictions that we may want to work in …,” he said.
Harmon said the first recommendation was to implement a five- to seven-day minimum stay for shortterm rentals in the R-1 district. He said the regulation was meant to prevent unwanted groups and parties from booking rentals in residential areas during the high-demand season.
“A lot of places, what they’ve done is in tourist areas is they’ve moved to either a five- or seven-day minimum length of stay for a short-term rental and what that is doing is it discourages people from renting it for the purposes of a party such as bachelor
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Occupancy limits, minimum lengths of stay considered
Continued from Page 13
parties, things like that,” he explained.
Harmon said staff also recommended setting new occupancy restrictions for short-term rentals. While occupancy is currently restricted to no more than four unrelated persons, he said it was impossible to enforce.
To that end, he suggested an occupancy of two per bedroom, plus two people, with children under the age of six not included in the total number of occupants. For example, a rental with three bedrooms can have a maximum of eight occupants.
“If you remember back when we did the short term rental [regulations], one of the requirements when you get the subcategory of a shortterm rental license is you are supposed to declare the number of bedrooms that you have plus parking spaces …,” he told the council. ”We can legitimately control the occupancy or have a definitive occupancy for each dwelling based on the data that we have on the structure itself.”
During public comments, Susan Jones, executive director for the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, said short-term rentals
have hurt local hotels, motels and restaurants. She noted short-term rental occupancy has now surpassed hotel occupancy, and food tax has decreased.
“They’re cooking in more often, so our restaurants are hurting,” she added.
Jones recognized the council’s diligence in attempting to regulate shortterm rentals and collect room tax from those stays. However, she asked that the council consider additional measures, including additional fire and safety standards for short-term rentals and a mandatory rental manager.
“In Key West they have vacation rental managers that are mandatory,” she explained. “If you have a shortterm rental, you have to have a vacation rental manager who is there 24/7 and accessible to deal with any neighborhood complaint.”
Councilman John Gehrig agreed that a local property manager should be required for short-term rentals. He said he also supported a weekly minimum stay for rentals in the R-1 district.
“For a long time, these rentals in neighborhoods were weeklies,” he said. “So I think it needs to be a weekly minimum, like it used to be.”
Council President Matt James agreed, adding that neighbors may be more willing to submit a complaint if a rowdy group was staying for a week rather than a day or two. When asked how the city would regulate the minimum length of stay, Harmon said it would be largely complaint based. Gehrig, however, said the city could also use its web scraping tool to find violators.
“We’ll be able to see what’s being marketed on third-party sites …,” he said. “We’ll probably see it before it happens. And I think penalties need to be significant.”
For her part, Councilwoman Carol Proctor said she supported the proposed regulations. However, she asked that the minimum length of stay also be implemented in the MH mobile home district, and that children under the age of 10 not be counted in the occupancy limit.
“I think it would be less strain on our resources, for our police department, to be more lenient on it,” she said.
Gehrig also suggested that all commercial regulations be applied to short-term rentals.
“At that point it’s a business, not a house,” he said.
After further discussion, the council voted 7-0 to remand the recommendations to the planning commission for further review.
“I think this would make a significant difference if we enacted something along these lines,” Mayor Rick Meehan said.
More OC rental property inspectors sought
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(Aug. 30, 2024) While agreeing that something should be done to fix Ocean City’s inspection process for rental properties, city officials this week shared concerns about hiring five new employees to inspect properties on a rotating basis.
Deputy City Manager JR Harmon, Fire Marshal Josh Bunting and Planning and Community Development Director George Bendler came before the Mayor and Council on Tuesday with a proposal to change the city’s process for inspecting rental properties. While inspections are mainly per-
formed when an application or complaint is submitted, Harmon said he was proposing to implement a program in which all rental properties are evaluated on a four-year rotating cycle.
“One of the things that you’ll be hearing today from both fire and from planning and zoning is the pro-
posal to move to a four-year rotational inspection program, meaning that when the property is inspected, that inspection stays with the property and not the owner of the property,” he explained. “In other words, if you would sell it two months after you had it inspected, that inspection
See RENTAL Page 18
BETHANY HOOPER/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Pictured, from left, are Council members Carol Proctor, Will Savage, John Gehrig, President Matt James, Mayor RIck Meehan, Peter Buas, Frank Knight and Tony DeLuca.
Rental license fee may jump $80
would still be good for the next four years, regardless of who owns it.”
Bunting told officials this week that there are nearly 9,000 rental licenses in Ocean City and that inspection duties are divided between two departments. He said the roughly 400 properties with business licenses – hotels and motels, apartment buildings and lodging houses – are inspected jointly by both the fire marshal’s office and the planning and zoning department, while the 8,600 properties with rental licenses –townhouses, condos, and one- and two-family dwellings – are inspected solely by planning and community development.
However, Bunting said the program being proposed would improve upon the current process, as it would better address property maintenance issues and improve any perceived inequities when it comes to enforcement. He noted property inspections are triggered when a new rental license is submitted or when there is a transfer in ownership, meaning that some properties are inspected several times over the years while others are not.
“In total, of the 7,500 buildings that we have in the city, we are essentially dealing with about 388 total in-
spections that occur on existing buildings here in the city,” he said. “It is an incredible drop in the bucket and we are not touching a large volume of the buildings that we have in the city.”
Bunting added that proposed fire code changes at the state level would require municipalities to adopt a building inspection program, with inspection frequency to be based off risk assessment. He said the new inspection program would address those potential changes.
As proposed, Bunting said staff recommended a four-year inspection cycle for all 8,930 licensed properties, with roughly 25% being inspected each year.
To achieve this, he said staff was seeking an $80 rental license fee increase to cover two fire safety inspectors, two building inspectors and one office associate. Hiring five additional employees is expected to cost $665,000 in the first year and $360,000 each year after.
“There’s a pretty substantial cost for the first year obviously because that’s when we implement new people we implement things like vehicles, computers, radios and things like that,” he explained. “But then you’ll see a significant reduction every year thereafter.”
While many on the council said they supported increasing the fees to cover rising costs associated with the current program, they said they didn’t feel comfortable using it to hire five new employees. Councilman Peter Buas noted that while wanted to see the city’s inspection program improve, he didn’t want to add additional staff.
“That wasn’t the intent,” he said. “I was definitely trying to think of what we can do with the current staff.”
Bunting noted that while staff had recommended additional employees to run the program, he said he expected the workload to decrease after the fourth year. Harmon said those employees could then fill any vacancies that resulted from anticipated retirements.
“They will be cross-trained,” he said.
After further discussion, the council decided to take no action on a recommendation to increase the rental license fees. Instead, officials asked staff to bring back different options when it comes to fee increases, inspection frequency and additional positions.
“I don’t object to the [fee] increase …,” Councilman John Gehrig said. “It’s the five people. I’m not ready to say I’m all for it.”
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Ocean City Fire Department buys advanced sonar device
(Aug. 30, 2024) The Ocean City Fire Department recently bought an advanced sonar device to help first responders perform water rescues.
According to a news release, members of the department’s dive team have been training over the past few weeks with the device, called the AQUAEYE, on the bay and ocean to
familiarize themselves with the technology.
The AQUAEYE is the first search and rescue sonar of its kind, combining the latest sonar technology with artificial intelligence to locate human bodies underwater, even in areas with poor visibility.
The release said the device is set to revolutionize the way the Ocean City Fire Department conducts search and rescue missions, enabling the team to cover larger areas more quickly and efficiently.
“We are excited to integrate AQUAEYE® into our operations,” Dive Team Commander David Peterson said in the release. “We are hoping this device will help reduce the time our team spends in the water by searching larger areas more quickly. This should help make efficient use of our resources, ultimately improving our ability to save lives.”
Fire Chief Richie Bowers also emphasized the importance of this acquisition.
“The addition of the AQUAEYE® device to our department underscores our commitment to leveraging advanced technology to enhance public safety,” he said. “This tool will not only aid in our rescue efforts but also ensure that our personnel can operate more effectively and with greater
PHOTO COURTESY OCEAN CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Members of the Ocean City Fire Department’s dive team are pictured training on newly purchased, technologically advanced sonar equipment designed to help with water rescues.
Arsonist sentence reduced decades after OC café fire
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(Aug. 30, 2024) A Worcester County judge this week reduced a convicted arsonist’s life sentence to 10 days after serving nearly four decades in prison for his role in a restaurant fire that claimed the life of an Ocean City firefighter.
While acknowledging the tough decision before him, Worcester County Circuit Court Judge Beau Oglesby on Wednesday opined that David Chris Ball, 58, was deserving of another chance within society after being incarcerated for nearly 39 years. Ball, convicted of arson and first-degree murder following a 1983 fire that killed Ocean City firefighter Jeff Dieter, sought an early release under Maryland’s Juvenile Restoration Act.
“The saddest part for me in this case is I can’t give Mr. Dieter a second chance …,” the judge said during this week’s hearing. “I can give Mr. Ball a second chance.”
In 2021, the Maryland General As-
See BALL Page 22
PHOTO COURTESY DAVID J. LANDIS SR.
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City recently inducted new member Tim McMullen, who also serves as the founder of the MaryMac Foundation. Pictured with McMullen, center, at the induction ceremony are his sponsors, from left, John Hulit and John Hanberry.
Ball to be placed on probation
Continued from Page 21
sembly passed the Juvenile Restoration Act, which, among other things, created a pathway for individuals who have served at least 20 years of a life sentence for a crime they committed as a minor to seek a reduction of their sentence.
To that end, Ball’s legal team at American University Washington College of Law came before the court in June with a request to reduce their client’s life sentence to time already served.
In his oral opinion this week, Oglesby said he found Ball to be of no danger to the public, and that it was in the best interest of justice for his sentence to be reduced. He said the court was also tasked with considering 11 factors, including Ball’s age at the time of the crime, any mental or behavioral issues, and the nature of the offense, to name a few.
nesses, Dieter’s niece and one of Dieter’s former colleagues.
Upon consideration of the facts in the case, the hours of testimony presented in June, and the scientific and medical evidence provided to the court, Oglesby said this week he would grant Ball’s request by giving him 14,128 days of credit toward a 14,138-day sentence. The remaining 10 days of his sentence will be served at the Maryland Correctional Institution, after which time he will be released to the TIME Organization in Baltimore, which will oversee his reentry into society.
“This isn’t a situation where there was an intent to kill,” he said. “This wasn’t a situation where there was any premeditation or any animosity toward the victim …”
Ball was also placed on five years of supervised probation, during which time he will be required to complete mental health and substance abuse evaluations, among other things. Oglesby concluded his remarks by acknowledging the eight firefighters present during Wednesday’s proceedings. He said he was glad they were present to hear firsthand his reasoning behind granting Ball’s request.
“My respect and admiration of first responders, of firefighters, is without limit,” he said.
Following a year-long investigation into the arson fire that took Dieter’s life, Ball was charged in August of 1984 and later confessed to setting the blaze, according to old newspaper accounts. However, the charges were dropped in 1985 after the defense claimed Ball’s confession was coerced.
Attorneys for the defense have acknowledged that on July 16, 1983, a 17-year-old Ball intentionally set fire to the Sauté Cafe in uptown Ocean City, leading to Dieter’s death while fighting the blaze. The defense attorneys, however, maintained that their client had no intention of hurting or killing anyone. They also pointed to Ball’s incarceration records, educational and work achievements, and involvement in several prison programs such as Alternatives to Violence and the Lifers Group. Four witnesses also took the stand in June to support Ball’s release from prison.
At that time, however, the prosecution argued that Ball was not ready to rejoin society and posed a threat to public safety. Worcester County Assistant State’s Attorney Lynn Nixon pointed to Ball’s history of fire setting behaviors, both before and after the Sauté Cafe fire, as well as the impact Dieter’s death had on the community. Those arguments were also supported by the state’s wit-
In 1986, the case against Ball was reopened, and that October he entered an Alford plea, for which he was convicted and given a life sentence with all but 10 years suspended without the possibility of parole. Two years later, Ball sought post-conviction relief on the grounds his legal counsel provided him incorrect information. From there, his conviction was vacated, and a new trial was set.
In 1989, following four days of arguments, a jury found Ball guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree arson. He was sentenced to life in prison later that fall.
OPA looking into new duck and geese signs
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer
(Aug. 30, 2024) The Ocean Pines Association and the Environment and Natural Assets Committee are working to control the neighborhood’s geese and duck population.
Earlier this year, the advisory group submitted a charging document to request the purchase of yellow sandwich outdoor A-frames that read “geese duck crossing.” The committee hoped the signs would indicate to drivers where there are often traffic holdups due to the birds’ search for food.
Most of the banners were positioned around the community’s South Gate.
“Sudden stops could potentially lead to rear-end collisions,” ENAC board liaison Jeff Heavner said. “Road crossings become very frequent following the spring breeding season and the arrival
of goslings. This action was also meant to protect the geese and ducks from being struck by vehicles.”
“You can imagine that it can be very emotional to accidentally hit, injure, or kill a goose or duck,” he added.
However, much to the committee’s dismay, OPA removed and repurposed some of the safety signs placed on properties not owned by the neighborhood.
At an ENAC meeting last month, then-chairperson Tim Peck, who officially stepped down from his role on August 12, expressed his frustration with the decision, arguing it signaled disrespect to the project. Members asked the OPA administration to restore the signs. Their request was denied.
Heavner cites the reason for the posts’ removal as a Worcester Countyenforced ordinance to control signage
on county-owned roadways. He said the action to repurpose the A-frames was not ultimately up to OPA.
Signals set on areas operated by the neighborhood officials remain in place.
The association has also started using the new Northside electronic sign to warn drivers of potential geese and duck crossings.
“Should the board approve additional electronic signs, they could also be utilized to alert drivers of crossings,” the liaison said.
To manage the bird population further, the environmental committee has submitted a charging document for “egg addling” for the 2025 spring breeding season.
Egg addling is defined by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service as a method to “manage birds that cause damage to property, agriculture, and
natural resources or are potential threats to public safety.” The process includes oiling, shaking, or puncturing an egg “during incubation to render the embryo unviable.”
The eggs are put back in the nest, so the adult birds believe they are still developing and do not feel the need to lay anymore.
The technique is considered humane if completed early enough in the incubation period.
Heavner said that the recommendations for goose population control are developed from the committee’s close attention to the increases and decreases in their presence. The Ocean Pines Association is still considering the egg-addling ask.
“It only takes a few seasons to increase our population of geese significantly,” Heavner said.
Smith Island Cruise
Worcester County fair date, location booked for 2025
Event is set for Aug. 8-10
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(Aug. 30, 2024) Following the success of this year’s Worcester County Fair, county leadership last week agreed to set dates for next year’s event at John Walter Smith Park.
Earlier this month, Worcester County Recreation and Parks hosted its first Worcester County Fair. With the event now in the rearview mirror, officials came before the Worcester County Commissioners last week to finalize the 2025 fair dates of Aug. 810.
“We have for your consideration the approval of the dates of the 2025 Worcester County Fair,” Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said.
Earlier this year, it was announced that the county’s recreation and parks department would take charge in organizing the 2024 county fair. Department heads reported that officials, seeing the success of other events recreation and parks put on, had asked for assistance in revitalizing the event.
The result was a new and improved Worcester County Fair, which relocated from Byrd Park in Snow Hill to John Walter Smith Park, home of Worcester County Recreation and Parks programming. Held Aug. 9-11, the revamped fair featured familiar favorites – including agricultural exhibits, games and more – as well as new activities and an assortment of live music, food and drinks. The new location also provided some benefit to fairgoers, as the county recreation center had to be used that Friday on account of stormy weather.
On the agenda last week for approval, the county commissioners voted 7-0 to set Aug. 8-10 as the official dates for the 2025 Worcester County Fair. Recreation and Parks Director Kelly Rados acknowledged that a detailed report on this year’s fair – which will include the actual budget, attendance numbers and more – would be provided in the coming weeks.
“Locking in these dates now will allow us to start the planning process earlier and lock-in vendors, entertainment, sponsors, and new attractions and opportunities for next year,” Rados said in a memo to the commissioners. “Our department plans to continue our relationship with the current Fair Board and working to help strengthen their board and member/volunteer base. We plan to have them to continue to serve in an advisory capacity in regard to planning of the Fair.”
at John Walter Smith Park
Band to release latest single in Ocean City
(Aug. 30, 2024) The Fitzkee Brothers, a four-piece band known for its high-energy performances and soulful, funky brand of rock & roll, will release its latest single, “Tomorrow,” on Friday, Aug. 30 in Ocean City.
The release will be celebrated with a special new-release party from 8 to 11 p.m., at Fast Eddie’s. The event will feature special guests Melody Trucks, daughter of Allman Brothers Band drummer Butch Trucks, and guitarist Bobby Lee Rodgers.
Before hitting the road for its fall tour, The Fitzkee Brothers are perform-
ing a series of local shows, offering fans a chance to experience the music live. After Fast Eddie’s on Friday, the band will perform Saturdy at Arenas in Rehoboth Beach.
Written by Alex and Drew Fitzkee and recorded at 38 North Studio in Falls Church, Virginia, “Tomorrow” represents a slight departure from the band’s previous work, incorporating a rich blend of blues and southern rock elements. The track, produced by Jim Ebert and mixed by Jeff Juliano, begins with a slide guitar intro before building into a hard-hitting rocker, embodying a
story of hope and a promising future inspired by positive musical experiences of the past.
Since debuting in December 2018, The Fitzkee Brothers have captivated audiences with live performances and insightful lyrics. The band, led by brothers Drew and Alex Fitzkee, has been described by Post Malone as the “mini Allman Brothers” and by producer Jim Ebert as “Allman Brothers meets Foo Fighters.”
The band’s sound has matured over the years, evolving from punk rock roots to a soulful, funk-infused rock &
roll that resonates with membrs of a wide audience.
The band is joined by friends Otto Grundman on guitar and Nick French on keys creating a full spectrum of vibrant sound.
Looking ahead, The Fitzkee Brothers are set to open for Live Dead & Brothers, led by Berry Duane Oakley, on Sept. 28, at the Pat Garrett Amphitheater in Pennsylvania.
For more information about The Fitzkee Brothers, and the band’s music, lyric and live performances, visit fitzkeebrothersmusic.com
WCPS scores high in state performance assessments
(Aug. 30, 2024) The Maryland State Department of Education has released statewide performance data that shows Worcester County Public Schools outperforming the majority of school systems in the state across content areas.
According to a news release, during the State Board of Education meeting Tuesday, Superintendent Carey Wright and staff provided an update on student performance on state assessments administered in the spring in English/language arts (ELA) and mathematics. Statewide, assessment results showed Maryland’s students experienced modest gains in both areas.
In Worcester County, student performance on the spring ELA assessments topped all other school systems in Maryland with 69.4% of students scoring as proficient or higher, 21 percentage points above the state average of 48.4%, and nearly five percentage points above the next local education agency (LEA). A particular highlight are Worcester County’s middle school-aged students who tested in the spring. Countywide, sixth graders’ proficiency grew across all schools, with Snow Hill Middle School’s seventh graders seeing one of the strongest gains with a nearly 11 percentage-point increase over the prior year.
Statewide, mathematics performance
data saw a nominal gain over last year with 24.1% of students reaching proficiency across all tested areas. But Worcester County topped the state by over 15 percentage points in mathematics with 39.3% of students reaching proficiency across all assessments and following Howard County by less than two percentage points.
All seventh graders in Worcester County experienced growth from last year’s proficiency levels with SHMS once again standing out with double digit gains, nearly 11 percentage points of growth over 2023.
Stephen Decatur Middle School was the top middle school in the state in the Math 08 assessment with nearly 56% of eighth graders reaching proficiency. When examining eighth grade mathematics holistically at SDMS, between the Math 08 and Algebra I assessments, 62% reached proficiency.
“Today’s results are a testament to the hard work of our students and the unwavering dedication of our teachers, educational support staff, and leaders,” Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor said in the release. “It is certainly validating that our scores are consistently leading the State. Our collective efforts are making an impact, and I hope our community is proud to see this positive progress for our students.”
Carozza calls on state board to stop WOC US Wind facility
Aug. 20.
(Aug. 30, 2024) Sen. Many Beth Carozza (R-38) has called on the Maryland Board of Public Works to postpone consideration of the US Wind’s Tidal Wetlands License Application to build an industrial pier at the West Ocean City Harbor until and if the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issues a final decision regarding US Wind’s offshore wind energy project in Maryland.
The proposed US Wind license calls for the construction of a 10,590 square-foot concrete industrial pier with machinery and a portable crane as part of US Wind’s Operation and Maintenance Facility at the West Ocean City Harbor.
“I have received numerous comments of objection to this application… both constituents and others from across Maryland who have voiced their deep concerns about the negative impact of the US Wind’s proposed industrial maintenance facility on the commercial fishing industry and overall region,” Carozza said in the letter to the board, sent
The letter added that the operations and maintenance facility “would dramatically and permanently change our iconic West Ocean City Harbor from Maryland’s only commercial fishing harbor with access to the Atlantic Ocean to a heavily industrialized and bottlenecked harbor.”
“It only makes sense for the Board of Public Works to hold off considering US Wind’s license application until or if the federal government makes a final decision on US Wind’s offshore wind energy development plan off Maryland’s Coast,” the letter continued.
Commercial fishing is a major economic driver for Ocean City and the Eastern Shore region, as the letter points out.
“The West Ocean City Harbor is the only commercial fishing harbor in Maryland with access to the Atlantic Ocean and should be preserved to protect the many small business owners who depend on it,” the letter said.
The Maryland Board of Public Works consists of Gov. Wes Moore (D), Treasurer Dereck Davis, and Comptroller Brooke Lierman.
Establish your company's presence by owning a stunning 2-story custom commercial building. Zoned C-1, the property offers range of possibilities for various business types. Currently used as an office, the building radiates professionalism & sophistication. Grand 2-story reception area, setting a positive tone for clients & visitors. Numerous private offices, large bullpen, conference room & boardroom. Additional features: fully equipped kitchen & beautiful outdoor courtyard enhances the workplace atmosphere. Easy access for clients & employees, plus ample parking available. Don't miss the chance to own a piece of Ocean City & create the ideal home for your business.
County donation making Snow Hill promenade reality
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(Aug. 30, 2024) A donation of county property will allow a promenade project to move forward in downtown Snow Hill.
Last week, the Worcester County Commissioners voted unanimously to donate roughly 9,000 square feet of county property along Bank Street to the Town of Snow Hill for the development of a new promenade. Snow Hill Economic Development Director Lorissa McAllister said the revitalization project has been decades in the making.
“The Bank Street promenade project is the epitome of the downtown Snow Hill vision, dating back all the way to the 1980s,” she said.
With the county’s donation and the necessary funding in place, the Town of Snow is positioned to begin a streetscape project next fall, McAllister said. As proposed, the project will encompass two blocks of Bank Street between West Green and River streets.
Harrison Saunders, board president for the Snow Hill Area Chamber of Commerce and licensed landscape architect, told commissioners last week the street will be redesigned with traffic calming and pedestrian access in mind. Features will include a tree-lined, winding street with flexible seating and vegetative areas, a stepping stone path, benches and story walls, to name a few.
“A place you travel to, not through,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”
McAllister said Bank Street, as it’s currently designed, functions more like a parking lot and deterred pedestrians from traversing between the river and the downtown business community. She said the proposed design would create walkability.
“It’s an overall inefficient use of space,” she said of the current roadway. “It creates a sterile environment and impedes pedestrian access between the downtown and the riverfront.”
While the project is expected to improve the streetscape, town officials acknowledged it would reduce the number of parking spaces from 54 to 49, with the bulk of the reduction occurring along Bank Street. However, they noted it would increase dedicated parking at the library and neighboring annex building, and that handicap parking would more than double.
McAllister also noted that the project would utilize roughly 9,000 square feet of county property on each side of Bank Street – more than 6,000 square feet to the side of the library and more than 2,000 square feet to the side of the annex building.
“This predominantly repurposes what is public parking currently, to public gathering space and pedestrian access,” she explained.
Project long-awaited by town
Continued from Page 38
of its partnering agencies, has secured nearly $500,000 for the $776,000 project, and McAllister said a grant through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development could supply the remaining funds. To that end, town officials last Tuesday said they were hoping to work with the commissioners to use or acquire the county-owned land along Bank Street.
“We have maintained site control for the first block. We have buy-in from all the adjacent property owners. We also have buy-in from the Lower Shore Land Trust, as well as the private property owner at the very end of the second block,” she said. “So we’re just looking for buy-in approval from the county to move forward with this project, which could take shape as permission and engaging in an MOU, or, as was suggested as a possibility, the county donating the portion of the property that is included in the design to the Town of Snow Hill, thereby alleviating any responsibilities of maintenance or liability.”
Commissioner Joe Mitrecic said the proposed project reminded him of the Ocean City Development Corporation’s efforts to revitalize its downtown area. While acknowledging that it could take some time for Snow Hill to see revitalization in its downtown area, he said he believed the project was a great start. After further discussion, Mitrecic made
a motion, seconded by Commissioner Ted Elder, to turn over the identified property to the Town of Snow Hill.
“I want to state I think this is a great step forward,” Elder added.
For his part, Commissioner Eric Fiori questioned how the town would address parking. He said the project could bring more people to Snow Hill.
“Obviously, the Town of Berlin is facing that now,” he explained. “They’ve made everything so pretty and grew their market. I just want to make sure that that got included, so there’s parking spots so everybody can enjoy this.”
McAllister said a study is ongoing to evaluate parking and traffic flow. She said a redesign of existing parking would likely increase the number of parking spaces in town.
“I think this will really increase the traffic,” Fiori replied, “and having a spot for them to park is really important.”
At the end of the presentation, the commissioners voted 7-0 to donate county property along Bank Street to the Town of Snow Hill. Worcester County Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said once the county receives the official land boundaries, it can advertise and hold a public hearing to declare the parcels as surplus property.
“It brings the county seat to the position it should be,” Commissioner Diana Purnell said of the project, “and I think this is a great job.”
A perspective of Bank Street is pictured as part of Snow Hill’s redevelopment vision.
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Berlin, developer working on land purchase specifics
shops, gun shops, adult video stores, tanning salons, book shops, gambling spaces, tattoo parlors, liquor stores, adult entertainment facilities, massage parlors, and check cashing facilities.
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer
(Aug. 30, 2024) The Berlin Mayor and Council and the prospective buyer of a piece of Heron Park discussed the framework of a future deal this week.
Officials met in a work session Monday with Palmer and Sandy Gillis of Coastal Ventures Properties (CVP), which was identified last month as the developer of choice to enter extended negotiations with the town on the purchase and redevelopment of Heron Park’s parcel 57, which was for decades home to the former Tyson Foods and Hudson Foods poultry processing operation.
During a previous meeting, the total price of the site to be paid by the developers was set at $1.2 million. Parcel 57 is approximately nine acres and will include 15 sewer EDUs (Equivalent Dwelling Units), which has a value of about $150,000. Additional sewer and water EDUs will need to be purchased from the town.
The council voted to proceed with the Gillises at their July 22 meeting after they requested proposals to redevelop the property. The space is currently undergoing demolition.
The CVP portfolio includes repurposing across the shore similar industrial buildings, which swayed the governing body’s decision to conduct solo discussions with the developers.
“I am leaning towards Gillis due to his history with reusing these industrial buildings,” Councilmember Steve Green said on July 22.
CVP’s rough idea is to consider refurbishing the parcel to support food services, retail, fitness, offices and other commercial facilities.
Town Administrator Mary Bohlen reiterated which businesses are prohibited on parcel 57 as CVP develops its plan. Not allowed for consideration, according to the grant the state awarded the town for demolition on the site, are pawn
Per discussions with CVP, the space will be converted from its current residential zoning to a more commercial and shopping district site, or B-2 zoning. The choice was made to keep the classification consistent with surrounding areas and will require a rezoning from the town.
Palmer Gillis expressed concerns with a potential housing element that was at the top of the council’s wish list for mixed uses of the parcel. While the town was hopeful for the inclusion of affordable residential units, the developers maintained that the site was not large enough to justify that kind of project.
“This is a challenge when you look at it from every possible angle,” Palmer Gillis said.
Mayor Zack Tyndall inquired about the possibility of adding housing above whichever commercial building may be created rather than a solely residential structure. According to Gillis, in that situation, the units would be too high off the ground, requiring several flights of stairs or an elevator, which would become “too economically unfeasible.” Councilmember Shaneka Nichols and Green each said they would like to see some of housing on the site in the future with Green suggesting a “pocket community” on the eastern area of the site possibly.
Per the agreement with the developers, the study period of parcel 57 is not to exceed 180 days following a fully executed contract. The timeframe may include completing a traffic study, lender financing, easements, and a state highway entrance.
Gillis said the traffic study can be finalized in as quickly as two to four weeks from its start date, but it must take place while school is in session to account for the additional vehicles on the road.
The traffic study will consider two entrances into Heron Park, as well as the projected car counts for the new public
State’s traffic study among steps in process
works building and skate park, which will be constructed on adjacent parcels in the area, and the determined uses of 57.
One entrance, which the developer will fund and own, will be placed near the railroad tracks where a current entrance is situated. The location of the shared opening, which will account for access to the skate park and the public works facility, has yet to be decided. Gillis said that the traffic study is a $10,000 to $20,000 item that will be equitably split between the parties, pending the entry placements.
Discussions continued, accounting for a stormwater management plan for parcels 57, 191, and 410 regarding repurposing parcel 57, the new skate park, and the public works building. Tyndall said that rather than developing two or three separate systems, the town and developers intend to create a single arrangement that will “work together for the whole area.”
Gillis also agreed to increase the rear setback, or property line, of parcel 57 toward Old Ocean City Boulevard to 75 feet, up from the typical 35 feet for fixed structures in B-2 zoning.
“I asked Palmer and Sandy if they would be willing to increase the rear setback for fixed structures, so it does not infringe on the feeling of a park,” Tyndall said. “We agreed … so it creates more of a buffer for any development that takes
place on 57 and Heron Park.”
The parties hashed through the possibility of including an exit clause in the contract.
The 180-study period given to the developers is to further apply due diligence to the project. If the Gillises discover something unexpected during that timeframe, they are allowed a kick out.
Gillis argued that the same should not be applied to the Berlin side of negotiations as he and his team run the higher risk, per the moratorium on rezoning that is set to expire in mid-October. The pause was established on July 9 and extended on Aug. 12 to allow a new planning director to be hired.
The moratorium may even be extended beyond October if the council decides on Sept. 9 that the hiring of a planning director is not imminent.
“Suppose you are nine more months before you hire a zoning director, and you can’t even get me up on the agenda,” the developer said. “That is an issue right now because we have a moratorium on rezoning … the risk that we are running is what if b-2 is denied?”
The council maintained that the zoning change is likely to be approved. Once a director is secured, the planning commission will review the request and make a recommendation, but the decision is ultimately up to the council. While the governing body considers the
favorable or unfavorable vote and trusts the expertise provided, the council currently sees no reason why B-2 zoning would be denied.
“We would work with the planning commission to understand the vision,” Tyndall said.
Town Administrator Mary Bohlen echoed the mayor’s sentiments, arguing that the zoning request will likely be approved “unless the planning commission came up with something we have not thought of, which would be a consideration that would change the whole flavor of the conversation.”
The council maintained that public input on the project is also vital.
While Gillis agreed that there is value in allowing the public to voice their opinion on any contract created within the town, he argued that too much consideration can lead to nitpicking. Still, the de-
veloper consented to drafting his idea so Berlin residents and business owners could review it before the Oct. 28 meeting.
At the conclusion of the August 26 work session, Green asked Gillis if he was satisfied with the demolition progress on the site. The developer claimed there are “hundreds of thousands of dollars of demo work left” before he can place a business inside the structure.
“Look at the front building; you have all this mechanical equipment on the roof,” he said. “There is lots of piping inside, and then you must chemically wash the ceiling. If you walk through there, there is still much demolition work.”
As the town’s $500,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for the demo is close to maxing out, Gillis will have to front the remaining cost.
Donation buys new MRI at AGH
DESIRABLE MI
ID--TTOWN 3 BR, 2.5 BA
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A ODERN UPDATTES
(Aug. 30, 2024) The Atlantic General Hospital Foundation recently presented a check for $1.5 million to Atlantic General Hospital, a celebratory gesture to commemorate community donor support that has allowed the healthcare facility to buy a new SIGNA Artist Evo MRI solution for its imaging department. The new system, which will be installed in the fall, will use the magnet from the facility’s existing MRI unit and reduce the environmental impact of a complete replacement. The magnet will be paired with a wider bore to reduce the risk of claustrophobia and GE Healthcare’s AIRTM Recon DL technology, which produces
better image quality than typical 1.5T MRI systems and reduces scan times.
“We are incredibly grateful to the community for continuing to support Atlantic General Hospital and Health System. Our current MRI unit is reaching end of life, and we would not have been able to make this investment for our patients without donor contributions,” said Don Owrey, president and CEO of AGH. “In addition to the patient comforts afforded by a more spacious bore and shorter scan times, the new system is MARS capable, so we will be able to accommodate scans for individuals with metal implants as well.”
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TRUSTEES' SALE OF REAL PROPERTY AND ANY IMPROVEMENTS THEREON
8649 SADDLE CREEK DRIVE
A/R/T/A 8649 SADDLECREEK DRIVE BERLIN, MD 21811
Under a power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust dated June 29, 2009, recorded in Liber 5302, Folio 223 among the Land Records of Worcester County, MD, with an original principal balance of $727,500.00, default having occurred under the terms thereof, the Sub. Trustees will sell at public auction at the Circuit Court for Worcester County, at the Court House Door, One W. Market St., Snow Hill, MD 21863, on
SEPTEMBER 10, 2024 AT 4:05 PM
ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND, together with any buildings or improvements thereon located in Worcester County, MD and more fully described in the aforesaid Deed of Trust.
The property, and any improvements thereon, will be sold in an "as is" condition and subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any, and with no warranty of any kind.
Terms of Sale: A deposit of $39,000 in the form of certified check, cashier's check or money order will be required of the purchaser at time and place of sale. Balance of the purchase price, together with interest on the unpaid purchase money at the current rate contained in the Deed of Trust Note, or any modifications thereto, from the date of sale to the date funds are received by the Sub. Trustees, payable in cash within ten days of final ratification of the sale by the Circuit Court. There will be no abatement of interest due to the purchaser in the event additional funds are tendered before settlement. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR THE PURCHASER. Adjustment of all real property taxes, including agricultural taxes, if applicable, and any and all public and/or private charges or assessments, to the extent such amounts survive foreclosure sale, including water/sewer, ground rent and front foot benefit charges, to be adjusted to date of sale and thereafter assumed by purchaser. Purchaser is responsible for any recapture of homestead tax credit. All transfer taxes and recordation taxes shall be paid by Purchaser. The purchaser shall be responsible for the payment of the ground rent escrow, if required. Condominium fees and/or homeowners association dues, if any, shall be assumed by the purchaser from the date of sale. Purchaser is responsible for obtaining physical possession of the property, and assumes risk of loss or damage
to the property from the date of sale. The sale is subject to post-sale audit of the status of the loan with the loan servicer including, but not limited to, determination of whether the borrower entered into any repayment agreement, reinstated or paid off the loan prior to the sale. In any such event, this sale shall be null and void, and the Purchaser's sole remedy, in law or equity, shall be the return of the deposit without interest. If purchaser fails to settle within ten days of ratification, subject to order of court, purchaser agrees that property will be resold and entire deposit retained by Sub. Trustees as liquidated damages for all losses occasioned by the purchaser's default and purchaser shall have no further liability. The purchaser waives personal service of any papers filed in connection with its failure to settle within ten days of ratification and expressly agrees to accept service by first class mail at the address provided by the Purchaser as identified on the Memorandum of Sale. The defaulted purchaser shall not be entitled to any surplus proceeds resulting from said resale even if such surplus results from improvements to the property by said defaulted purchaser. Sub. Trustees will convey either marketable or insurable title. If they cannot deliver one or the other, or if ratification of the sale is denied by the Circuit Court for any reason, the Purchaser's sole remedy, at law or equity, is return of the deposit without interest. (Matter No. 353881-1)
Howard N. Bierman, Carrie M. Ward, et. al., Substitute Trustees
OCD-8/22/3t
JAMES E. CLUBB, JR., ESQ. 108 N. 8TH STREET
OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND 21842
LIGHTHOUSE POINT VILLAS TIME-SHARE OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC
Plaintiff vs. SHELTON ARTHUR CHRISTINE ARTHUR et al.
Defendants IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY STATE OF MARYLAND
CASE NO. C-23-CV-24-000126
NOTICE
ORDERED, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland this 6th day of August. 2024 , that the foreclosure sale of the properties mentioned in these proceedings, made and reported by James E. Clubb, Jr., Trustee, be RATIFIED AND CONFIRMED, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before 9/9/24, provided a copy of this order be inserted in some weekly newspaper printed in Worcester County, Maryland once in each of three successive weeks, before 9/2/24.
The Report of Sale filed in the
above case states the amount of the sales to be as indicated below for the referenced time-share intervals:
Timeshare Price
Wk 23, #3
Wk 47, #3
Wk 22, #7
Wk 43, #8
Wk 24, #9
Wk 26, #9
Wk 44, #11
$3,500.00
$50.00
$1,250.00
$50.00
$1,500.00
$3,300.00
$50.00
Susan Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County, Maryland True Copy
Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County MD OCD-8/15/3t
JAMES E. CLUBB, JR., ESQ. 108 N. 8TH STREET OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND 21842
COUNCIL OF UNIT OWNERS OF OCEAN TIME CONDOMINIUM, INC.
Plaintiff v. Ralph Boehm, Jr., et al.
Defendants IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY STATE OF MARYLAND CASE NO. C-23-CV-24-000125
NOTICE
ORDERED, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland this 7th day of August, 2024 , that the foreclosure sale of the properties mentioned in these proceedings, made and reported by James E. Clubb, Jr., Trustee, be RATIFIED AND CONFIRMED, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before September 9, 2024, provided a copy of this order be inserted in some weekly newspaper printed in Worcester County, Maryland once in each of three successive weeks, before September 2, 2024.
The Report of Sale filed in the above case states the amount of the sales to be as indicated below for the referenced time-share intervals:
Timeshare Price
Wk 36, #205 $50.00
Wk 34, #206 $950.00
Wk 51, #302 $50.00
Wk 19, #303 $50.00
Wk 39, #303 $50.00
Wk 40, #303 $50.00
Wk 16, #306 $50.00
Wk 42, #401 $50.00
Wk 51, #402 $50.00
Wk 27, #403 $3,100.00
Wk 11, #405 $50.00
Wk 5, #406 $50.00
Wk 23, #503 $4,000.00
Wk 18, #504 $50.00
Wk 38, #506 $50.00
Wk 50, #506 $50.00
Susan Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County, Maryland
True Copy Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County MD OCD-8/15/3t
THOMAS K. COATES ESQ. COATES, COATES & COATES, P.A.
6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 300 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20281 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF RICHARD THOMAS FOSTER
Notice is given that Scott E. Foster, 20051 Hartford Blvd., Estero, FL 33928-9640, was on August 06, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Richard Thomas Foster who died on May 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 6th day of February, 2025.
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.
Scott E. Foster 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: August 15, 2024
OCD-8/15/3t
HEATHER R. KONYAR, ESQ. COCKEY, BRENNAN & MALONEY, P.C.
313 LEMMON HILL LANE SALISBURY, MD 21801
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of RICHARD L BUNTING Estate No. 20301 Notice is given that GLENN R BUNTING whose address is 25875 COLLINS WHARF
RD EDEN, MD 21822-2104 was on AUGUST 07, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of RICHARD L BUNTING who died on JUNE 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 7th day of FEBRUARY, 2025.
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-8/15/3t
COHN, GOLDBERG & DEUTSCH, LLC
ATTORNEYS AT LAW 1099 WINTERSON ROAD, SUITE 301 LINTHICUM HEIGHTS, MARYLAND 21090 410-296-2550 File #: 481020
Richard E. Solomon
Richard J. Rogers
Michael McKeefery
Christianna Kersey
Kevin Hildebeidel
Kyle Blackstone
Kathleen Young 1099 Winterson Road, Suite 301 Linthicum Heights, MD 21090
Substitute Trustees
Plaintiffs v. Roxanne Rounds AND Leonard Brittingham Jr. AND Roxanne Rounds, Personal Representative for the Estate of Leonard Brittingham Sr. 842 Colona Road Pocomoke, MD 21815
Defendants IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND Case No. C-23-CV-24-000051
NOTICE
Notice is hereby given this 7th day of August, 2024, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, that the
sale of the property mentioned in these proceedings, made and reported, will be ratified and confirmed, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 9th day of September, 2024, provided a copy of this notice be published in a newspaper of general circulation in Worcester County, once in each of three successive weeks before the 2nd day of September, 2024.
The Report of Sale states the amount of the foreclosure sale price to be $40,777.35. The property sold herein is known as 842 Colona Road, Pocomoke, MD 21851.
Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County, Maryland True Copy Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County MD OCD-8/15/3t
MICHAEL B. MATHERS ESQ. WEBB, CORNBROOKS, WILBER, VORHIS, DOUSE & MATHERS, LLP
P.O. BOX 910
115 BROAD STREET
SALISBURY, MD 21803-0910
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20303 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF JESSIE E. ZANELOTTI
AKA: JESSIE ELIZABETH ZANELOTTI
Notice is given that Melissa D. Brown, 606 Bridge Creek Cir., Reedville, VA 22539-3553; Teresa A. Wyne, 1242 Prescott Cir., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577-2017; and Louis A. Zanelotti, P.O. Box 1183, Owings, MD 20736-1183, were on August 12, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jessie E. Zanelotti who died on April 29, 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 12th day of February, 2025.
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 Reg-
ister of Wills.
Melissa D. Brown
Teresa A. Wyne
Louis A. Zanelotti
Personal Representatives
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: August 15, 2024
OCD-8/15/3t
MICHAEL B. MATHERS ESQ. WEBB, CORNBROOKS, WILBER, VORHIS, DOUSE & MATHERS, LLP
P.O. BOX 910 115 BROAD STREET SALISBURY, MD 21803-0910
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20308
TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF ALLEN LEE DEWARD
Notice is given that Ryan L. Deward, 284 Chestnut Hill Loop, Gerton, NC 28735-9702, was on August 15, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Allen Lee Deward who died on May 30, 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 15th day of February, 2025.
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.
Ryan L. Deward 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: August 22, 2024
OCD-8/22/3t
JAMES W. ALMAND ESQ
AYRES JENKINS GORDY & ALMAND, PA
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 NANCY D MILLER Estate No. 20315 Notice is given that ROBERT L JESTER whose address is 13009 ANCHOR CT OCEAN CITY, MD 21842-5073 was on AUGUST 19, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of NANCY D MILLER who died on JUNE 30, 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 19th day of FEBRUARY, 2025
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-8/22/3t
NOTICE
OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20235 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF EILEEN MICHELE PITCHER
Notice is given that Dennis Riordan, 1308 Dartford Dr., Tarpon Spgs., FL 34688-7649, was on August 06, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Eileen Michele Pitcher who died on May 16, 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 represen-
tative 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 February, 2025.
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.
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: August 22, 2024
OCD-8/22/3t
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of WILLIAM CURTIS PAUL II
Estate No. 20310 Notice is given that JAMES WRIGHT PAUL whose address is 302 PARK ROW, SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1050 was on AUGUST 16, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of WILLIAM CURTIS PAUL II who died on AUGUST 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 16th day of FEBRUARY, 2025
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-8/22/3t
TIMOTHY P SCHWARTZ ESQ BREGMAN, BERBERT, SCHWARTZ & GILDAY, LLC
7315 WISCONSIN AVE STE 800 WEST BETHESDA, MD 20814-3202
NOTICE
TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES
ESTATE NO 20326
NOTICE IS GIVEN that the SUPERIOR COURT court of NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA appointed HELEN S FAUQUIER whose address is 6600 PROVIDENCE RD WILMINGTON, NC 28411-9772 as the ADMINISTRATRIX of the Estate of JAMES W FAUQUIER JR who died on DECEMBER 01, 2023 domiciled in NORTH CAROLINA, USA
The Maryland resident agent for service of process is TIMOTHY P SCHWARTZ whose address is 7315 WISCONSIN AVE STE 800 WEST
BETHESDA, MD 20814-3202. 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-8/29/3t
MAUREEN F. L. HOWARTH 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 JOHN HUGH WILSON Estate No. 20319 Notice is given that DEBORAH J WILSON whose address is 7704 ALTHEA AVE HARRISBURG, PA 17112-3801 was on AUGUST 21, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JOHN HUGH WILSON who died on FEBRUARY 16, 2008 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 21st day of FEBRUARY, 2025
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-8/29/3t
MARIANNA BATIE ESQ LAW OFFICE OF MARIANNA BATIE 1321 MOUNT HERMON RD STE B SALISBURY, MD 21804-5303
SMALL ESTATE
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of FRANCES J MICHAEL MURRAY Estate No. 20323 Notice is given that RODNEY A MURRAY whose address is 9 BEACONHILL RD BERLIN, MD 21811-1613 was on AUGUST 23, 2024 appointed personal representative(s) of the small estate of FRANCES J MICHAEL MURRAY who died on NOVEMBER 21, 2023 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 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 un-
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY
ONE W MARKET STREET
ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE
SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074
OCD-8/29/1t
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS BOARD OF PORT WARDENS
Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 106 ”Waterways,” Article II – “Shoreline Development” of the Code of the Town of Ocean City, Maryland, hereinafter referred to as the Code, same being the Port Wardens Ordinance of Ocean City, Maryland, notice is hereby given that public hearings will be conducted in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 301 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, Maryland.
Thursday, September 12, 2024 2:00 p.m.
PW 24-046 A request has been submitted to remove and dispose of existing parallel platform and to install a new 5’ x 15’ perpendicular pier with two associated mooring piles, maximum channelward extension of 15’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 607 94TH ST UNIT 1A Parcel # 8946 -1A in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.
OWNER: John Rakowski
APPLICANT: Erin Rogers
PW 24-047 A request has been submitted to demo existing parallel platform, install 50’ of replacement vinyl bulkhead 18” channelward; to install a new 5’ x 20’ parallel platform maximum channelward extension 6’6”. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 14141 SEA CAPTAIN RD Parcel # 9900A-10 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.
OWNER: Catherine Bocci
APPLICANT: Erin Rogers
PW 24-048 A request has been submitted to install one boatlift with associated pilings not to exceed past existing pilings and pier maximum channelward of 18’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 2804 PLOVER DR UNIT D Parcel # 4950 -330D - in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.
OWNER: Todd Baer
APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart & Assoc., Inc.
PW 24-049 A request has been submitted to install two boat lifts with associated pilings a maximum channelward extension of 30’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 73 HARBOUR ISLAND CM Parcel # 3486 -73 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.
OWNER: Sean Ream
APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart & Assoc., Inc.
PW 24-050 A request has been submitted to install one boat lift with associated pilings a maximum channelward extension of 40’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 929 EDGEWATER AVE UNIT 15 Parcel # 3739 -15 in the Town of Ocean City,
Maryland. OWNER: Denise Del Vecchio
Gelbaugh
APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart & Assoc., Inc.
PW 24-051 A request has been submitted to construct a 6’ x 18’ pier, drive two mooring piles, install one boatlift with associated pilings, and install one 12’ x 16’ floating platform not to exceed 18’ channelward. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 768 94TH ST Parcel # 9654 -192 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.
OWNER: Daniel Walburn
APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart & Assoc., Inc.
PW 24-052 A request has been submitted to repair with vinyl replacement ~52’ deteriorated bulkhead; repair in-kind existing 2’ x 52’ walkway; construct a 6’ x 27’ pier with a 8’ x 12’ “L” dock and install one boat lift with associated pilings a maximum channelward extension of 39’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 14123 CAINE STABLE RD Parcel # 7099A-8 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.
OWNER: Patrick Zurgable
APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart & Assoc., Inc.
OCD-8/29/2t
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of MARY ELIZABETH
MITCHELL Estate No. 20317 Notice is given that CHARLES JOSEPH MITCHELL SR. whose address is 12516 DEER POINT CIR., BERLIN, MD 21811-2550 was on AUGUST 20, 2024 appointed personal representative(s) of the small estate of MARY ELIZABETH MITCHELL who died on JULY 16, 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 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-8/29/1t
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AGENDA
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2024
Pursuant to the provisions of the Worcester County Zoning Ordinance, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held in-person before the Board of Zoning Appeals for Worcester County, in the Board Room (Room 1102) on the first floor of the Worcester County Government Center, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland.
6:30 p.m. Case No. 24-60, on the lands of Jeremy Ayars, requesting a variance to the front yard setback from 50 feet from the center of the road right-of-way to 38 feet (to encroach 12 feet) for a proposed single family dwelling in the R-4 General Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1208(b)(2) and ZS 1-305, located at 11812 Steam Mill Hill Road, Tax Map 13, Parcel 64, Tax District 3, Worcester County, Maryland.
6:35 p.m. Case No. 24-56, on the lands of the Kaeleigh Naughton Irrevocable Trust, requesting a special exception to allow construction of a single family dwelling in the RP Resource Protection District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(3), ZS 1-215(c)(1), and ZS 1-305, located on Bunting Road about 522 feet east of Turtle Mill Road, Tax Map 15, Parcel 92, Lot 1, Tax District 5, Worcester County, Maryland.
6:40 p.m. Case No. 24-54, on the lands of Paul D. Weiger, requesting an after the fact variance to the right side yard setback from 6 feet to 0.2 feet (encroaches 5.8 feet) for an existing shed in the R-2 Suburban Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1206(b)(2) and ZS 1-305, located at 12353 Meadow Drive, Tax Map 33, Parcel 346, Lot 34, Tax District 10, Worcester County, Maryland.
6:45 p.m. Case No. 24-59, on the lands of Gary Figallo & Anthony Palmisano, on the application of Kayla Short, requesting a variance to the side yard setbacks on Lot 74 & 75 from 6 feet to 0 feet for a proposed shared dock with two boatlifts in the R-3 Multi-family Residential District, pursuant to Natural Resources Code §§ NR 2-102(e)(2), Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(n)(3), ZS 1-207(d)(6), and ZS 1-335, located at 34 & 42 Wood Duck Drive, Tax Map 21, Parcel 260, Section 14D, Lots 74 & 75, Tax District 3, Worcester County, Maryland.
6:50 p.m. Case No. 24-55, on the lands of Dereck Boone, on the application of Gil Fleming, requesting an after the fact variance to a rear yard
setback from 5 feet to 4.7 feet (encroaches 0.3 feet) for an existing manufactured home in a Campground Subdivision pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1-305, and ZS 1-318, located at 221 Timberline Circle, Tax Map 16, Parcel 90, Lot 221, Tax District 3, Worcester County, Maryland.
6:55 p.m. Case No. 24-58, on the lands of Eric Glaeser, Sr., on the application of Kristina Watkowski, requesting an after the fact variance to a rear yard setback from 50 feet to 34.1 feet (encroaches 15.9 feet) for an existing open deck and steps, in the R-1 Rural Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1116(c)(4), ZS 1-205(b)(2) and ZS 1-305, located at 11302 Marie Drive, Tax Map 10, Parcel 181, Lot 4, Tax District 5, Worcester County, Maryland.
7:00 p.m. Case No. 24-53, on the lands of Karen Odachowski, on the application of Kristina Watkowski, requesting a variance to reduce the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area buffer from 100 feet to 48 feet (to encroach 52 feet), for a proposed deck and small pool, stairs with a landing and a walkway, pursuant to Natural Resources §§ 3-104(c)(4) and NR 3111 and Zoning Code §§ ZS 1116(m)(1), located at 12312 Pine Rest Drive, Tax Map 26, Parcel 444, Lot 16A, Tax District 10, Worcester County, Maryland.
7:05 p.m. Case No. 24-57, on the lands of Angela Gould, on the application of Kristina Watkowski, requesting a variance to the rear yard setback from 30 feet to 19 feet (to encroach 11 feet) and a variance to the front yard setback from 50 feet to the center of the road right-of-way to 45.1 feet (to encroach 4.9 feet) for an addition and an open deck in the R2 Suburban Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1116(c)(4), ZS 1-206(b)(2) and ZS 1305, located at 12417 Meadow Drive, Tax Map 33, Parcel 346, Lot 42, Tax District 10, Worcester County, Maryland.
OCD-8/29/2t
MARIANNA BATIE ESQ. LAW OFFICE OF MARIANNA BATIE 1321 MOUNT HERMON RD., STE. B SALISBURY, MD 21804-5303 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20322 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF MELVIN JOHN ODACHOWSKI Notice is given that Matthew Jay Odachowski, 405 South St., Key West, FL 33040-3137 and Mark Reid Odachowski, 12254 Greenridge Lane Rd., Ocean City, MD 21842, were on August 23, 2024 appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Melvin John Odachowski who died on October 19, 2020, 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 23rd day of February, 2025.
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.
Matthew Jay Odachowski
Mark Reid Odachowski
Personal Representatives
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:
August 29, 2024
OCD-8/29/3t
Town of Snow Hill
REQUEST FOR BIDS
Sturgis Park and Byrd Park Picnic Tables
The Town of Snow Hill is soliciting sealed bids for the grant funded purchase of outdoor picnic tables. Bids will be opened to the public on Friday, September 13, 2024. Bids will be accepted until 4:00 PM on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at the Snow Hill Town Hall, 103 Bank Street, Snow Hill, Maryland, 21863 where they will be opened publicly and read aloud. Three copies of the
bid package are required, in sealed envelope marked SEALED BID: PARK PICNIC TABLES. Bids must remain valid for a minimum of 90 days from the date of bid opening. Late bids will not be accepted. Email submissions will not be accepted. For a copy of the complete REQUEST FOR BIDS- Sturgis Park and Byrd Park Picnic Tables, visit the Town web site at www.snowhillmd.gov or pick up at Town Hall. For any questions, contact, Paul Bessette - Grants Administrator - 410.632.2080grantsadmin@snowhillmd.com
OCD-8/29/2t
Put Your Business Card Where It Gets Noticed and Seen By Thousands of
SMALL ESTATE NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 20306 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF WAYNE RANDOLPH LIPSCOMB Notice is given that Charlene Renee Lipscomb, 2014 Orchard Dr., Pocomoke City, MD 21851-2873, was on August 23, 2024 appointed personal representative of the small estate of Wayne Randolph Lipscomb who died on May 20, 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 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 claim 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.
Charlene Renee Lipscomb Personal Representative True Test Copy Register of Wills for Worcester County Terri Westcott 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: August
KIDS of the Summer
Artist registration
The Worcester County Arts Council is still accepting artists’ registrations for the Paint Worcester County, plein air event, set Sept. 15-20.
This year’s event is presented in partnership with the Worcester County Library Foundation.
Local and regional artists will paint outdoors at their leisure at any chosen location in Worcester County and compete for cash prizes. The competition offers a total of $2,450 to winning artists.
Registration, event schedule, and artists’ guidelines are available on the arts council’s website at worcestercountyartscouncil.org. The deadline to register Aug. 31.
Artwork in the competition will be judged by award-winning plein air artist Jim Rehak.
Members of the public will have an
opportunity to watch the artists as they set up their easels around Worcester County and paint picturesque scenes. The public is also invited to attend a free and open sale and exhibit, featuring work created during the event, from 5-7 p.m., Sept. 20, at the Berlin public library at 13 Harrison Ave. Artwork will be available for purchase.
For more information, contact the arts council at 410-641-0809 or visit worcestercountyartscouncil.org.
Clothing giveaway
From 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 14, there will be a clothing giveaway for men, women, and children at Holy Trinity Cathedral ACNA at 11021 Worcester Highway in Berlin.
People in need of clothing for themselves or their children who cannot afford it is invited to come out and take advantage of the gently used, donated clothing.
Yoga class
Yoga Rescue LLC is offering a free yoga class for veterans and their friends and family from 4:30-5:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 30, at 13 Harrison Ave. in Berlin.
Mats and props will be provided and no experience is necessary. Attendees are encouraged to bring any family or friends that they want.
The classes focus on breath, movement, and music. Instructor Vance Row breaks down poses to make it make sense to attendees, and gives an overall sense of well-being after.
Arts showcase
Wor-Wic Community College will hold a Community Arts Showcase of Excellence event from 5-7:30 p.m., Sept. 19,
at the college campus at the corner of Route 50 and Walston Switch Road in Salisbury.
The event will feature renowned local artists, musicians, poets and other creators who will perform or exhibit their work throughout the evening.
The presenters include nationally known writer and illustrator Bryan Collier, a Pocomoke City native and fourtime Caldecott Honor recipient; noted Berlin painter Patrick Henry; Eastern Shore serigraph artist Erick Sahler; Maryland master carver and worldchampion decoy maker Rich Smoker; manga artist Diontraye Bratten; the Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre; the Heart & Sole step team; and the Salisbury Children’s Choir.
The showcase is free and open to the public, and no registration is required. The event is part of several weeks of celebration in honor of the inauguration of new President Deborah Casey.
The Community Arts Showcase of Excellence is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Salisbury Wicomico Arts Council, awarded by the Maryland State Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit worwic.edu/inauguration.
Film screening
The Lower Shore Land Trust, Delmarva Restoration and Conservation Network, US Fish and Wildlife Service and USDA are collaborating to host a showing of an award-winning film, “Water’s Way: Thinking Like a Watershed” from 6-8 p.m., Sept. 24, at Pemberton Historical Park in Salisbury.
The film brings to light o how the Chesapeake Bay operates and the important role of beavers, which are growing absent in the region, to keep the bay and surrounding wetlands viable.
The film showing will be followed by a Q&A panel with the writer, Tom Horton. Horton has been researching the Chesapeake Bay for 52 years and is well known for his publications in The Baltimore Sun.
The event will also feature snow cones and a raffle.
Register online at networkforgood.com or call the Lower Shore Land Trust at 443-234-5587.
Fatality called most notable event in Lessman’s career
By Steve Price Contributing Writer
(Aug. 30, 2024) This week we are proud to recognize Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company Active Firefighter Joseph M. “Joey” Lessman. He had previously worked with the Town of Ocean City Recreation and Parks for 18 years and is currently employed by Elliott’s Property Maintenance, LLC.
Firefighter Lessman credits OCVFC Gold Badge member David Coleman with sparking his interest in the fire service. Lessman joined the Showell Volunteer Fire Department in 2000.
He later joined the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company on Feb. 1, 2009. He cites his willingness to help other people in their time of need as well as his desire to earn the respect of others in the fire service as his motivation for joining the volunteer fire service.
During his 15 years of active service with the OCVFC, Firefighter Lessman has been an active firefighter serving on the “A” Platoon and is currently a mem-
ber of the board of directors.
Firefighter Lessman cites the recent tragic accident involving the OC Boardwalk tram as the most significant event of his career in the fire service. He expressed his concern for everyone involved in the incident – especially the family of the victim, the first responders (fire, EMS and police) and the Town of Ocean City transportation employees.
Lessman believes his greatest accomplishment in the fire service is earning the trust of his fellow members of the OCVFC and being elected to serve as a member of the board of directors.
When asked to pass on advice to members of our cadet program or other young men and women with an interest in the fire service, Lessman said: “Enjoy your time in the fire service. You will have the opportunity to meet many new people with similar interests –strive to earn their respect. The lessons you learn in the fire service will help you to become a better person in life.”
We thank Firefighter Lessman for his many years of service and his commitment to saving the lives and property of our Ocean City residents and the visitors to our resort community.
“Joey” Lessman
COLLEGE WORKSHOPS
Members of the Worcester Prep Class of 2025 recently attended a four-day College Application
Essay Writing Workshop this summer. Among those attending
and
were, top, Briar Parsons, Frank Miller
Ryan Mann and, above, Jayden Scopp, Lindsay Brunner and Mikayla Towns.
COMMUNITY/SCHOOLS
CLUB OFFICERS ELECTED
The Ocean City-Berlin Rotary Club recently elected officers for the 2024-25 year. Pictured, from left, left, are new officers Mike Simcock, secretary; Jennifer Bodnar, president; Margaret Mudron, treasurer and Arlan Kinney, sergeant at arms. The club meets the first and third Wednesday of the month at Don’s Seafood at the South Gate of Ocean Pines.
Worcester Commissioner Ted Elder is pictured presenting a commendation to Plant Operator III Russell Blizzard for his service to the county and the public for 27 years. Blizzard, who will retire at the end of August, maintains, inspects, and repairs water and wastewater systems.
COMPTROLLER VISIT
Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman is
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City President Bob Wolfing, left, poses with Worcester GOLD Executive Director Nicholas Canford and a $2,000 check the club donated to the local nonprofit organization at a recent meeting.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
PHOTO COURTESY OCEAN CITY-BERLIN ROTARY CLUB
PHOTO COURTESY WORCESTER COUNTY GOVERNMENT COMMENDATION
PHOTO COURTESY DAVID J. LANDIS SR. CLUB DONATION
SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
pictured with local staff and officials during a recent visit to the Ocean City Life Saving Station Museum.
Pictured, from left, during the visit are Museum Aide Allan Beres, Museum Society Vice President Michael Maykrantz, Curator Christine Okerblom, Lierman, Museum Society Board Member Bunk Mann, Asst. Curator Cara Downey, Museum Aide Bob Gilmore, and Mayor Rick Meehan.
PHOTO
CELEBRATED
During the Volunteer Spirit of Worcester Awards ceremony at the Worcester County Government Center in Snow Hill on Aug. 20, the commissioners congratulated Carlos Caceres, Jr., as the Individual Spirit Award recipient. Caceres has donated his time daily as a volunteer at the Ocean City library for over 15 years, where he brings positivity, determination, and smiles to all he encounters. He has shelved over 12,000 DVDs and has earned recognition as the most reliable and consistent volunteer in the history of the Ocean City Branch Library. He is pictured accepting his award from Commissioners President Chip Bertino.
PHOTO COURTESY WORCESTER COUNTY GOVERNMENT
AWARD
During the Volunteer Spirit of Worcester Awards ceremony at the Worcester County Government Center in Snow Hill on Aug. 20, the commissioners named volunteer Jeannie Powell a Lifetime Achievement Spirit recipient. Powell has served as a volunteer for multiple organizations and events during the last 30 years, including Atlantic General Hospital, the Berlin/Ocean City Optimist Club, Winterfest Gala Committee, and Holy Savior Catholic Church. She also serves individuals in need of transportation in the community, often driving neighbors to their appointments. She is pictured accepting her award from Commissioners President Chip Bertino.
SUMMER ART CAMP
Scenes from the Art League of Ocean City kids' summer camps at the Ocean City Center for the Arts are pictured. The camps hosted 303 children this year over seven weeks.
Unobstructed west views of wetlands, wildlife & sunsets over the Bay from HUGE, covered porch! 2 BR, 2 BA open floor plan unit with lots of natural light. Working wood burning fireplace. Washer & Dryer. Complex has extra-large pool, trees & lots of open spaces. Well-maintained by original owners. Sold furnished (minus a few exclusions). EZ access to Beach!
Don't hesitate to schedule a showing, these units never last long! $450,000
Important now to be aware of fewer lifeguards on stands
By Kristin Joson Contributing Writer
(Aug. 30, 2024) Every year, around this time, we ask, “Where did August go?” This summer is one that will go down in the record books as being one of the best seasons for the patrol, primarily because we had the best staffing numbers in our history and a safe record for our visitors. There still is a lot going on in Ocean City with visitors and we were able to be fully staffed most of the summer and well into September.
Now that we are leaving summer
and moving into fall, we are trying to hold on to what is left of the season and make it last as long as possible. Most lifeguards are students or educators and their life away from the beach is calling them back. The Beach Patrol has many SRTs in college and many others on the patrol are educators at various levels in school systems throughout Maryland, the U.S. and even Canada. It is a lifestyle that allows them to have the summers free to pursue their work with the beach patrol, but also requires them to return to other responsibilities before our season has ended. Therefore, this results in rapidly reducing numbers of SRTs available to guard our beach and a resulting increase in distance between the stands.
As the beach patrol strives to maintain the maximum number of lifeguard stands on the beach, vacationers continue to choose Ocean City as a vacation destination. August seemed to be the popular month again this year and September will also prove to be popular as well. This situation becomes the greatest challenge for the patrol as we try to provide the same level of protection for each visitor as when we are at 100 percent staffing (91 stands). To complicate matters, this is also the time of year that Ocean City experiences an increase in the volume and size of waves due to tropical activity in the Atlantic. August and September are traditionally our large surf months, producing larger waves, rip currents and shore break, as well as our busiest time for assisting swimmers needing help.
As September approaches, fewer guards are left to handle bigger rips and waves. This is when the training and skills they have been honing all summer will be used to keep all of our beach patrons safe during these busy final weeks of the season.
Through the scheduling skills of Lt. Mike Stone, who has 40 years with the Patrol and a retired local school counselor, we have been able to realize our goal of keeping the maximum number of guarded stands on the beach for the maximum number of days, which was 91 compared to 75 last season. As the season continues, surf rescue technicians will have a more challenging situation with the greater distance between stands and a larger area of responsibility. When we remove stands from the beach, the remaining stands are spread out equally. Many of these personnel will choose to work without a day off until the end of the season so that we can provide additional coverage and the added safety to swimmers of more guards on duty. Many SRTs, who have left for other obligations away from the beach, will return on a part-time basis on weekends. The
SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Everett Brown, pictured, is a teacher. He comes back on weekends to help keep as many stands up as possible this time of the year. For exact stand locations and daily beach conditions, visit the Beach Patrol’s website at oceancitymd.gov/ocbp and follow the link to stand locations.
Shore BioHealth
Town of Ocean City is offering a loyalty bonus for every hour worked after Aug. 12, overtime pay, as well as providing a travel stipend to offset the cost of traveling back to Ocean City from areas over 110 miles away, to help encourage as many SRT’s as possible to return once they have moved from the area. They return to help on both weekdays and weekends, even scheduling classes to allow availability during several days each week. Imagine if one guard gets sick or injured and we don’t have someone to cover their stand, which is one less stand on the beach which again makes the distance between stands even further apart. OCBP is committed to providing SRTs along the entire 10 miles of beach for all visitors and residents, so rather than have unguarded areas, the number of available lifeguard towers is equally distributed along the beach front. As this redistribution occurs the location and distance between stands changes (sometimes daily and the distance may increase to as much as 800 yards (1/2 mile) between stands compared to the average 190 yards at maximum mid-season coverage).
We will continue to provide coverage of all 10 miles of Ocean City beaches until Sunday, Sept. 22 whereas nearby patrols will only provide guards on the weekends or shut down their entire operation earlier than in past seasons due to funding and staffing issues. Although Ocean City’s coverage will be done with fewer personnel and lifeguard towers, we will supplement this coverage by increasing the number of mobile rescue units patrolling the beach. Thanks to action by the city manager, we have added additional ATVs to our coverage scheme so that each of these mobile units will have a reduced response area. These mobile units are First Aid, Stop the Bleed, AED and PPE equipped with one SRT (rider) acting as the primary rescue swimmer while the other SRT (driver) maintains radio communication and backup during an emergency. Both are qualified as surf rescue technicians, medical first responders and are quad (ATV) certified. SRTs will be on duty daily between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
We strongly encourage all beach patrons to restrict any beach or water related activities to times when beach patrol personnel are on duty, never swim alone, always stay within the limits of their ability, and never rely on a flotation device.
To make sure we end our season and yours safely, vacationers and locals can help the guards and themselves by making the extra effort to swim in front of a lifeguard. To find the nearest location of your SRT, visit our website and follow the link to “stand locations.”
Who’s Where When
BLU CRAB HOUSE COURTYARD
410-289-3322
24th Street & Coastal Hwy.
Fri., Aug. 30: Kevin Poole
Sat., Aug. 31: Aaron Howell
Sun., Sept. 1: DJ DeoGee
BUXY’S SALTY DOG & DRY DOCK 28
410-289-BUXY
28th Street Coastal Hwy.
Fri., Aug. 30: Pittsburgh Dad
Sat., Aug. 31: Uprizing
Sun., Sept. 1: Locals’ Party w/ DJ DeoGee
CAPTAIN’S TABLE
410-289-7192
15th & Boardwalk
In The Courtyard Marriott
Fridays & Saturdays: Phil Perdue on Piano
CARRIBBEAN POOL BAR
410-289-6181
In The Plim Plaza Hotel
109 N. Atlantic Ave.
Fri., Aug. 30: TBA & Mercury Agenda
Sat., Aug. 31: Dust N Bones & Runner Ups
Sun., Sept. 1: Permilla Project & Royal Flush Band
Mon., Sept. 2: Dave Sherman
Tues., Sept. 3: Ray Holiday
Wed., Sept. 4: Dust N Bones
Thurs., Sept. 5: True Country
COCONUTS BEACH BAR
410-289-6846
Oceanfront At Castle
In The Sand Hotel
37th & 38th Streets
Fri., Aug. 30: Darin Engh & Beach Bandits
Sat., Aug. 31: Rick & Regina & The Bills
Sun., Sept. 1: Aaron Howell Trio & The Bird Laird Band
Mon., Sept. 2: The Dunehounds & On The Edge
Tues., Sept. 3: The Jamn Brothers & Dave Hawkins & Joe Mama
Wed., Sept. 4: Keri Filasky Solo & The Dunehounds
Thurs., Sept. 5: Jack Bannon & On The Edge
COINS PUB
410-289-3100
28th Street Plaza
On Coastal Hwy.
Fri., Aug. 30: Lennon LaRicci & The Leftovers
Sat., Aug. 31: Jim Long & Chris Diller
Every Sun.: DJ Wax
Mon., Sept. 2: Teenage Rust & The Fabulous Rustettes
CRABCAKE FACTORY BAYSIDE
302-988-5000
37314 Lighthouse Rd., Rte. 54, Selbyville, DE
Wed., Sept. 4: Kevin White Duo
CRAWL STREET TAVERN
443-373-2756
Wicomico St., Downtown O.C.
Fri., Aug. 30: Schizophrenic Boogiemen
Sat., Aug. 31: Zeus On The Leus
FAGER’S ISLAND
410-524-5500
60th St., In The Bay
Fri., Aug. 30: DJ RobCee, The Roadducks & Shake The Room
Best Beats On The Beach
TEENAGE RUST & THE FABULOUS RUSTETTES
Coins Pub: Monday, September 2
THE DUNEHOUNDS
Coconuts Beach Bar: Monday, September 2 & Wednesday, September 4
NAKED NATION
The Wedge: Sunday, September 1
SCHIZOPHRENIC BOOGIEMEN
Crawl Street Tavern: Friday, August 30
MERCURY AGENDA
Carribbean Pool Bar: Friday, August 30
OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
Harborside: Sunday, September 1
Friday, August 30
Who’s Where When
Sat., Aug. 31: DJ Groove, Crushing Day & Shake The Room
Sun., Sept. 1: DJ Vybe, Crushing Day & The Loop
Mon., Sept. 2: DJ RobCee, Tranzfusion & Swarm Of Bees
GREENE TURTLE WEST
410-213-1500
Route 611, West OC Sat., Aug. 31: DJ Wax
HARBORSIDE
410-213-1846
South Harbor Rd., West End O.C.
Fri., Aug. 30: DJ Billy T Sat., Aug. 31: DJ Bigler & Cecilia’s Fall Sun., Sept. 1: 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, Aug. 31: Harbor Boys
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
Fri., Aug. 30: Sugar Jack
Sat., Aug. 31: Starlight
Sun. & Mon., Sept. 1 & 2: The Chucks
SEACRETS
410-524-4900
49th St. & Coastal Hwy. Fri., Aug. 30: Full Cirlce, DJ Connair, DJ Bobby O, DJ Davie, Jah Works & Turning The Tide
Sat., Aug. 31: DJ Connair, DJ Bobby O, DJ Davie, Turning The Tide, Jah Works, Lost In Paris & Screaming Monkeys
Sun., Sept. 1: Triple Rail Trail, DJ Mary Jane, DJ Davie, Radio Stranger, Jah Works & Lost In Paris
Mon., Sept. 2: Blake Haley & Dear Zoe
Tues., Sept. 3: Opposite Directions, The Way Outs & DJ E-State & Dear Zoe
Wed., Sept. 4: Element K & DJ Flight
Thurs., Sept. 5: DJ Connair & The Way Outs
THE WEDGE
410-289-5121
806 S. Atlantic Ave.
Fri., Aug. 30: Joe Esham
Sat., Aug. 31: RyMac
Sun., Sept. 1: Jason Lee & Naked Nation
Tues., Sept. 3: Wes Davis
Wed., Sept. 4: Jess Arms
Thurs., Sept. 5: Kasey Briggs
VISTA ROOFTOP
410-390-7905
13801 Coastal Hwy.
Friday, Aug. 30: Steve Kuhn
SUGAR JACK Purple Moose:
ZEUS ON THE LEUS Crawl Street Tavern: Saturday, August 31
HARBOR BOYS Pickles Pub: Saturday, August 31
KEITH WHITE DUO
Crabcake Factory Bayside: Wednesday, September 4
by Steve Green
EThe Adventures of Fatherhood
verything is just different.
This is how I feel when it comes to my sons Beckett and Carson, who are now 16 and 14 years old, respectively.
Life with the boys today is not better or worse, it’s just not how it was a year ago and definitely not what it was 10 years ago. This is certainly just fine. It’s just different, and I am here for all of it. There are some things I miss about my boys being younger, namely how much fun they were and how they always wanted to be around us, but today’s world in many ways is embraced because they are maturing and are increasingly more independent. Each kid has their own hobbies and interests and it’s fun to watch their personalities evolve through each life chapter.
In some ways, life is simpler now. It’s certainly less physically grueling when we had two rambunctious toddlers who were long on antics and energy and short on listening and cooperation. I look back now fondly on those crazy days as lifetime memories were certainly made and lessons learned along the way for all of us. The greatest trait I embraced and came to require through it all was patience.
At the same time, there are situations when the complexities of life do surface with raising teenagers. Social situations can be challenging for all teens going through puberty, but it’s incredibly complicated with Carson and his special needs demands. Carson’s journey is different than Beckett’s and it always has been. The futures of our kids are going to take unique paths, but each will need support. We will need to offer balance and perspective along the way.
Soon enough there will be college tours being planned for Beckett as the next chapter is around the corner for him. I am preparing myself mentally for that while embracing everything about high school and his life with the finish
line approaching. He has two more years of high school, and we must all be present. My goal is to encourage to not rush life as I know he is looking forward to his next chapter of new friends and experiences.
There are many sayings about change and growth. One I like is, “There is no growth without change, no change without fear or loss and no loss without pain,” by Rick Warren.
Of late, it just seems like the changes are occurring faster than Pam and I can keep up. My promise to my sons has always been I will be there for them. So I am here through all the changes, the ups and downs, the celebrations and the pitfalls. Nonetheless, I do at times wish there was a slow button on this thing called life. In fact, it will most certainly be going through my head on Tuesday when Carson begins ninth grade and Beckett enters his junior year.
A study in the 1980s by Ellen Galinsky recapped what she described as the six stages of parenting. It’s below and I see us hovering toward the end of No. 5 with Beckett. What each stage has in common is adaptation from parents is required to successfully chart through each journey. There are joys and concerns associated with each stage of life, but I think all we parents can do is accept the changes, provide support and teach lessons along the way.
1. Image-making (pregnancy). Parents prepare for the arrival of the baby and, at the same time, begin to form images about how their lives will change, and how they will cope with the responsibilities and challenges of a baby.
2. Nurturing (birth to 18-24 months). Parents form the bonds of attachment and learn to balance the needs of the baby with work, partner, social life, other family and household needs.
3. Authoritative (2 – 5 years). Parents try to establish boundaries and rules for their children. Rules are often
quite black-and-white during this stage to ensure the child’s safety. However, parents should attempt to explain the reasons for different rules and begin to guide their child towards autonomy and the ability to make appropriate choices on their own.
4. Interpretive (5 years – adolescence). Parents should be starting to teach children to take the perspective of others, to interpret the behaviors of other people and react accordingly. Children are often learning to cope with changing peer dynamics such as bullying, peer-pressure, peer-comparisons and establishing a role within a group of friends. Parents can help their children navigate these difficult social situations.
5. Interdependent (during adolescence). This can be a difficult time for both parents and adolescents as the family tries to find a balance between increased freedom and independence for the child and retaining the “final say” of the parent. Disagreements can lead to disputes and there is the added pressure of outside influences. Effective and respectful communication is very important during this stage, not only between the teenager and their mother or father but also for the parents to communicate with each other
6. Departure (late adolescence to adulthood). The departure stage is when the child reaches full or almost complete independence (notwithstanding needing help with paying a bill or two!). It does not necessarily coincide with the young adult physically leaving home. Parents and children can form new roles and begin to communicate on a more equal footing. This can be a sad time for parents as they redefine their identities but can also lead them to rediscover their own individual pursuits.
(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.)
County library to observe Hispanic Heritage Month
(Aug. 30, 2024) The Worcester County Library is hosting an Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in September and October.
The event will feature a series of programs and activities aimed at recognizing the cultural contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans.
National Hispanic Heritage Month originally began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week and was expanded in 1988 to cover a 30-day period, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The celebration coincides with national independence of several Latin American countries.
Throughout the month-long celebration, the library will host a variety of events for all ages, including electric Flamenco, a musical journey around Central and South America, and arts and crafts. The events are designed to educate and inspire the community while highlighting the diversity and influence of Hispanic culture.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and provide a platform for honoring the cultures and traditions of the Hispanic community,” Adult Services Coordinator Elena Coelho said in a news release.
All events are free and open to the public. A portion of the project is made possible by a grant from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.
For a complete schedule of events and more information, visit worcesterlibrary.org, or contact Elena Coelho at 443-783-6164 or ecoelho@worcesterlibrary.org.
Things I Like...
By Steve Green
Sleeping on a great pillow
Holding the door for a stranger
The first cuts with a new knife
Anything cooked on the grill
Nice handwriting
Shrimp with anything
A back yard full of kids at play
Quick rainstorms
The first shave with a new blade
After something is put together
Pasta leftovers for lunch
vanishing vanishing OCEAN CITY
WITH BUNK MANN
One of Ocean City’s most popular attractions was built by Odie Hartley on 65th Street and Coastal Highway in 1972. Originally known as the “Sea Side Slides,” three concrete slides (painted blue) cascaded down a 38-foot man-made hill where kids would ride rubber mats to splash into landing pools about 2 ½ feet deep.
Odie, along with his wife Dee, operated the business until selling it to his stepson Mike Wicklein in 1991. Wicklein re-named it the “65th Street Slide and Ride” and added other attractions such as mini-golf, a moon bounce, and kiddie bumper boats. He named the flumes the Kiddie Slide, the Katie Slide (after his daughter), and the Sui-slide for young dare devils willing to risk skinned knees and elbows in the shallow landing pools.
Wicklein operated the popular attraction through the summer of 2008 and finally closed it to move on to other endeavors. Although the 65th Street Slide and Ride is now part of history, memories of it will last forever.
To purchase one of Bunk Mann’s books, click over to www.vanishingoc.com.
Wicklein
Photo courtesy Mike
FRIENDS OF FURNACE TOWN RECOGNIZED WITH AWARD
During the Volunteer Spirit of Worcester Awards ceremony at the Worcester County Government Center in Snow Hill Aug. 20, the commissioners named the Friends of Furnace Town, a Group/Team Spirit Award recipient. The Friends of Furnace Town volunteer group has contributed over 1,700 hours and over $65,000 in-kind to support Furnace Town, a 19th century village of the Nassawango Iron Furnace, in its mission to provide quality experiences for visitors and to keep Worcester County’s heritage alive. Pictured are members of the group with their award and the commissioners at the meeting.
ARIES – MAR 21/APR 20
You may have a renewed sense of energy and motivation right now, Aries. Capitalize on that to tackle a laundry list of projects that have been sitting on the back burner.
TAURUS – APR 21/MAY 21
Taurus, your sense of humor and quirky personality could get you a few extra chuckles from friends this week, but try not to take it too far. Factor in time for serious pursuits.
GEMINI – MAY 22/JUN 21
Gemini, when focusing on your health this week, remember that stress reduction is an important component of getting healthy. Aim for activities that focus on relaxation.
CANCER – JUN 22/JUL 22
Everyone’s heads are seemingly in the clouds right now, Cancer. It may feel like you are the only person with your feet on the ground ready to get down to business.
LEO – JUL 23/AUG 23
Leo, people have been gravitating in your direction for some time seeking advice. You can open up conversations to other topics that are important to you with such a captive audience.
VIRGO – AUG 24/SEPT 22
Strong emotions could be drummed up this week and may cause you to be distracted more so than usual. Try to get a break so you can make some time sort things out.
LIBRA – SEPT 23/OCT 23
Libra, being honest with yourself is important as you confront a notable challenge. Accept a self-assessment and devise a plan to make the most of this opportunity.
SCORPIO – OCT 24/NOV 22
You have to develop a strategy before making your next move, Scorpio. Whether it is a business proposal or something with a friend or family member, don’t be too hasty.
SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21
Sagittarius, you may notice that people are very sensitive to what you are saying, so you may have to change your approach if you want your message to be well-received.
CAPRICORN – DEC 22/JAN 20
Something could be brewing but you can’t identify what it is just yet, Capricorn. This could lead you to feeling restless and out of sorts. Give it some time and it will work out.
AQUARIUS – JAN 21/FEB 18
Others’ words are meaningful to you right now, Aquarius. Consider these opinions and spend time figuring out how to incorporate this advice.
PISCES – FEB 19/MAR 20
Pisces, often it can be challenging to take the high road But that’s just what you have to do right now. Others will recognize your willingness to set a good example.
OC JEEP FEST
PHOTOS
Ocean City Jeep Fest was held last weekend in and around Ocean City as the annual fall celebration of all things Jeep. Top, the beach course is pictured in downtown Ocean City. Above, scenes from Friday morning’s beach crawl from the Inlet parking lot north
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.
■ CABANAS BEACH BAR & GRILLE
Located in the Plim Plaza Hotel, 109 N Atlantic Ave., 2nd Street & the boardwalk, Ocean City, 410524-1776, www.cabanasoc.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Open to the public. A full-service restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner inside and Signature smash burgers, fresh cut fries, handhelds, signature salads, and much more. Indoor and outdoor bar. Fresh squeezed crushes, frozen drinks, tropical libations. Dine in or carry out. Open 7 days a week. Breakfast on weekends, 8-11 a.m. The kitchen is open until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at least 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The bar is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at least midnight Friday and Saturday.
■ CAPTAIN’S TABLE
15th Street and Baltimore Avenue, in The Courtyard by Marriott, Ocean City, 410-289-7192, captainstableoc.com
$$ | 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, 410-289-3322, 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, 410-289-4891, 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
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Elevated cuisine, locally sourced ingredients and allocated spirits are prominently featured in our lounge and dining room. Open year-round for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Routinely updated menus with the highest quality local ingredients for fresh seafood any time of the year!
■ THE BONFIRE
71st Street, Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 410-5247171, thebonfirerestaurant.com
Celebrating 50 years as the best seafood and prime rib buffet in Ocean City. It’s all here – the service, the atmosphere and finest, freshest seafood available and quality meats. Save room for the decadent desserts available as well including homemade donuts.
■ COCONUTS BEACH BAR & GRILL
3701 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, 410-289-6846, castleinthesand.com
A tropical open-air patio steps from the beach. A unique place for lunch or dinner with a menu featuring all the customary items and a few Ocean Citybased surprises. Guests can also enjoy beach service for lunch and cocktails. Be sure to check out the daily entertainment schedule.
■ FAGERS ISLAND
201 60th St., Ocean City, 410-524-5500, fagers.com
$$ | 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, 410-723-4665, hookedoc.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
A Common Ground Hospitality concept, a passion driven restaurant group servicing the coastal community. The goal is honor creativity and innovation by design. With passion at the heart of everything, unique dining concepts are paired with honest hospitality and well-made food sourced with fresh local ingredients and seasonal harvests. Craft and full bar available. Open daily 11:30 a.m.
■ LONGBOARD’S CAFÉ
6701 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 443-664-5693, longboardcafe.com
$$-$$$ | Full bar
Casual Dining … Refined. Open for lunch and dinner. A wide range of gourmet burgers, innovative tacos, salads and sandwiches to full dinner entrees featuring fresh local fish prepared in a variety of styles, beef, shellfish and pasta. All our sauces, salsas, dressings, etc. are meticulously house made. We use fresh local sources wherever possible and pre-
mium ingredients such as our chuck, brisket and short rib custom blended burgers. Closed Tuesday. Call for reservations.
■ MARLIN MOON RESTAURANT
3301 Atlantic Ave., in the Double Tree Hotel, Ocean City 410-289-1201, marlinmoonocmd.com
$$ | 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
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Open Sunday through Friday at 11 a.m., 10 a.m. on Saturdays, close at 2 a.m. Enjoy a tropical atmosphere and dine under the palms in our outdoor, kid friendly dining area or try a Seacrets Beachin' Cocktails in the Bay with live music every day open to close. The club is open every night in the summer. Try our famous jerk chicken with homemade honey mustard sauce, Pushcart Trio, a true Jamaican dish or a hearty wrap, sandwich or delicious burger. We have it all at Seacrets.
UPTOWN 91st to 146th streets
■ ALBERTINO'S BRICK OVEN & EATERY
13117 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 410-2502000, albertinosoc.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Featuring the best brick oven pizza, always handmade with fresh ingredients, Italian-American mouthwatering 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 4-9 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, 302-5393020, Beach-net.com/dirtyharrys
$ | Kids’ Menu | Full bar
Don’t let the name fool you, the food is home cook-
ing 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, nantucketsrestaurant.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.
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.
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. Open: Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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: Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 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 carry-out.
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.
Fried fish sliders a shore special
By Deborah Lee Walker
Contributing Writer
(Aug. 30, 2024) For someone who owns at least 400 cookbooks, I am going out on a limb and discuss the limitations of instructional books. I must make it perfectly clear that I am in no way suggesting to forgo tradition and chuck your library of gastronomy.
Cookery goes far beyond the pages of directions; the supposition that following specific directives can possibly explain the science and lore of the kitchen is simply preposterous.
And there is another concept that recipes do not take into consideration. Collective memories associated with food trickle into our sense memory, which ultimately flavors our food.
The advantage of personalization is that it frees the cook from a dependence in following guidelines verbatim.
No cookbook can foresee all the mishaps that may happen due to inexperience or special situations. But if one understands the principle of foods and methods at hand, he or she is in a better place to present a tasty dish.
The Eastern Shore is known for its fried fish. Following is an example of
knowledge typically not found in cooking books that can rescue or enlighten a cook no matter their level of experience.
There are three stages to a proper dredge. First, dip the protein in flour — this acts as a glue for the egg wash.
Next, the seafood is dipped in an egg wash that consists of one egg per teaspoon of very cold water. Take this egg mixture and pour it into a blender.
This results in an egg wash that is saturated with air, which creates a much lighter batter.
Then gently press the seafood in a mixture of 50 percent unflavored panko bread crumbs, 25% cornmeal and 25% flour.
When frying the fish, make sure you do not overcrowd the pan. If you do this, the temperature of the oil will drop and it will result in soggy fried fish.
The final secret to the best fried fish is when the hot fish is first placed on the cooling rack, salt it with a light dusting of kosher salt. The hot oil helps the coarse salt adhere to the coating.
In closing, the Eastern Shore is synonymous with fresh seafood. Fried fish sliders with a lemon caper aioli is a medley of delightful deliciousness. Enjoy!
Lemon Caper Aioli
½ cup good quality mayonnaise
1 tablespoon goat cheese
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon capers, chopped
1 teaspoon shallots, minced
1 salt garlic clove, minced to a paste
kosher salt to taste
1. In a small bowl, whisk all of the ingredients. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.
Fried Fish
6 small filets of favorite fish for frying canola oil for frying
3 tablespoons bacon drippings
2 cups flour
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons cold water
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt, plus extra for garnishing
2 cups plain panko breadcrumbs
1 cup cornmeal
6 slider rolls
1. Rinse fish in cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
2. In a large cast iron skillet, preheat bacon drippings and enough oil to cover at least 2/3 of the fish to 350 degrees.
3. Place 1 cup of flour in a shallow dish. In a small bowl, place the egg and
water mixture that has been blended in a blender. In a medium bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, 1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt, remaining 1 cup flour, panko breadcrumbs, and cornmeal; mix thoroughly. Depending on the size of your fish, if you feel you don’t have quite enough panko mixture, add a little extra panko.
4. Dredge the fish with the flour and shake off any excess. Dip the fish into the egg mixture and allow excess to drip off. Place the fish in the panko mixture and gently press so more bread crumbs adhere to the fish. Repeat this process for the remaining 5 filets.
5. Gently lower the breaded fish into the oil and fry until both sides are golden brown. This will only take a few minutes.
6. Place filets on a cooling rack and add a light dusting of kosher salt.
7. Place fried fish on a slider roll. Lemon caper aioli can be served directly on the sandwich or on the side in a ramekin.
Secret Ingredient – Competition
The only competition worthy of a wise man is with himself.
Washington Allston Unknown
By Dave Dalkiewicz Contributing Writer
(Aug. 30, 2024) Surf wise there’s not a whole lot to report as of last week, unless you figure that knee to thigh high conditions with waist high sets are a big deal.
In most cases, conditions such as these are enough to be at least ridable, but unlike the last two weekends, when we were feeling the effects of hurricanes Debby and Ernesto, it’s been rather minimal to say the least.
The big news as of late has been a good four days and nights of semi-fall weather. This translates into days in the 70s with low humidity and nights down into the 50s, also with low humidity.
Okay, what’s the big deal, once again, with the change in weather? Well, Labor Day is only going to be three days from when the printed edition of this newspaper goes on the newsstands. Labor Day is always a milestone for this area.
It’s a turning point for all things regarding OCMD and the ocean. It’s a reference for the fall season even though much of the better weather and wave conditions might still be another few weeks away.
Another big issue is that many of the back-to-school crew are indeed back to school. Surfing restrictions are generally a thing of the past and much of that restricted area can easily be modified in order to allow surfing. In a lot of ways it’s really a bonus to all of the Beach Patrol who are back at school and left with empty chairs. Surfboards, after all, are great floatation devices and can easily aid any swimmer in trouble, as in getting caught in a rip current, or simply having a hard time getting back to the beach.
Anyway, this latter part of August should hold interest in the form of a transitional period and possible modification of beaches for surfing. To be able to surf all day would, no doubt, be a bonus and a big treat no matter the conditions. Stay tuned for hopefully better wave possibilities and the fall season.
Dave Dalkiewicz is the owner of Ocean Atlantic Surf Shop in Ocean City
Calendar
Submit calendar items to: editor@oceancitytoday.net. Submission deadline is 5 p.m. Monday, the week of publication. Local submissions have priority. Area event listings are subject to space availability.
Fri., Aug. 30
TOWN CATS YARD SALES
Terns Landing in Ocean Pines, 28 Leigh Drive, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Town Cats yard sale.
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 our own tile set. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org
ARTISTIC ARENA: ZIPPER PENCIL POUNCH
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 1 p.m. Design your own zipper pencil case with fun stickers and markers. All materials provided. For ages 6-11 years and 12-18 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org
KIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BINGO
Fridays - Knights of Columbus, 9901 Coastal Highway, behind St. Luke’s Church. Doors open at 5 p.m., bingo starts at 6:30 p.m. Light snacks available before bingo and at intermission. 410524-7994
Sat., Aug. 31
CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE
First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City, 1301 Philadelphia Ave., 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Great deals to be found. Your purchase helps fund the church’s ability to help neighbors.
TOWN CATS YARD SALE
Terns Landing in Ocean Pines, 28 Leigh Drive, Ocean Pines, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Town Cats yard sale.
INDOOR AND OUTDOOR FLEA MARKET & BAKE SALE
Bethany United Methodist Church, 8648 Stephen Decatur Highway, Berlin, 8-11 a.m. Vendors and crafters. Reservations: 443-614-2261, FCBumc21811@gmail.com.
CRAFTY SATURDAY: BACK TO SCHOOL
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10 a.m. Join in for some back to school crafts. For all ages. 410-208-4014, 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, 410524-9433
FAMILY SPLASH NIGHT
Ocean Pines Sports Core Pool, 11144 Cathell Road, 5-8 p.m. Enjoy an evening of water-themed activities. All ages welcome. Cost is $8 for non-resident, $6 for resident, $4 for swim member and $2 for non-swimmer. 410-641-5255, oceanpines.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., Sept, 1
SUNDAES IN THE PARK WITH FIREWORKS Northside Park, 200 125th St., Ocean City, 7-9 p.m. Live music by “Sapphire” (The 80s tribute band), kid-friendly entertainment, ice cream and fireworks. https://www.ococean.com/things-todo/free-family-fun/sundaes-in-thepark/
BERLIN FARMERS MARKET
Sundays through October - Pitts Street, Commerce Street and Main Street, Berlin, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. Featuring more than 50 farmers, bakers, growers, brewers, food cultivators, distillers, creators and artists. Also free kids art projects, petting zoo, face painting and live music. https://berlinmainstreet.com/farmersmarket/
BERLIN FLEA MARKET
Sundays - Uptown Emporium Parking Lot, 13 S. Main St., Berlin, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vendor opportunities available. Julie, 410-726-9012; Bill, 410-629-9656
DEADLINE TO PREORDER FOR CHICKEN SALAD AND SHRIMP SALAD CARRYOUT
Bishopville Volunteer Fire Department, 10709 Bishopville Road. Pick up on Saturday, Sept. 7 from noon to 2 p.m. Homemade chicken salad cost is $8 per pint. Homemade shrimp salad cost is $15 per pint. Preorder by Sept. 1: 619922-9950.
SEWING FOR A CAUSE
Sundays - Buckingham Presbyterian
CALENDAR
Church, 20 S. Main St., Berlin, 10:30 a.m. to noon. Learn how to sew while making a difference. 410-641-0234
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES MEETING
Sundays - Berlin Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 212 West St., Berlin, 10 a.m. www.jw.org
Mon., Sept. 2
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., Sept. 3
STORY TIME: ‘FAMILIES’ Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs and fingerplays. For ages 0-5 years. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org
PLAY TIME AT THE PARK
Cypress Park Playground, 7 Bridge St., Pocomoke City, 10:30 a.m. Join in for outside play and time to socialize with other families. Weather permitting. For ages 0-5 years. 410-957-0878, www.worcesterlibrary.org
BABY TIME
Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 10:30 a.m. Songs, rhymes and stories. Stay after to socialize with other families. For ages 0-2 years. 410-632-3495, 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
talks about all things plants. Bring questions and feel free to show your plants as well. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org
LET’S MAKE … SAND PAINTINGS
Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 2 p.m. A unique craft showcasing your own creativity using sand and household items. All materials provided. Register: 410641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org.
GREAT BOOKS DISCUSSION
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 2:30 p.m. The group meets twice a month to discuss selections from the Great Books Foundation. Focus will be on “Kristin Lavransdatter” Book 1 and Book 2 by Sigrid Unset. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
John H. “Jack” Burbage, Jr. Regional Cancer Care Center, 9707 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 3-4 p.m. Monthly support group where caregivers gather and share similar challenges and rewards of providing care for adults with serious illnesses. Nicole Fry, nfry@atlanticgenearl.org, 410-641-2626
SWITCH TOURNAMENT: MARIO KART
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 3:30 p.m. Can you beat the best? Find out and race! BYO controller is highly recommended. For ages 6-11 years and 12-18 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org
ANIME CLUB
Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 4 p.m. Monthly themes will include trivia, games, Japanese snacks and art exploration. For ages 13-16 years. 410-5241818, www.worcesterlibrary.org
LEGO STEAM CHALLENGE
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 4:30 p.m. Join in for a Lego challenge event. All materials provided. For ages 6-11 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org
HEALING THROUGH SOUND
Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 5:30 p.m. Discover the profound power of sound. Relax while Kacey Martin plays crystal bowls, rain sticks and wind chimes. Bring a mat, blanket and pillow. Sitting on a chair is also an option. 410-6410650
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 Jeho-
vah’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., Sept. 4
MUSIC AND MOVEMENT
Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Movement and music themed stories, fun songs and interactive activities to get everyone moving. For ages 0-5 years. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org
PUZZLE SWAP
Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 1-5 p.m. Bring your gently used puzzles and swap for new-to-you puzzles. All puzzles swapped must be in their original box. Don’t have a puzzle but want one? That’s OK too. 410-641-0650
DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Providing discussion and education on the topic of diabetes. Patti Yocubik, 410-6414217, pyocubik@atlanticgeneral.org
BARIATRIC SUPPORT GROUP
Online Zoom call on the first and second Wednesday of each month. For non-surgical patients. Atlantic General Bariatric Center, 410-641-9568.
KIWANIS CLUB MEETING
Wednesdays through Aug. 26 - Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 8 a.m. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Third Wednesday meetings are offsite and information can be found on
www.kiwanisofopoc.org.
Thurs., Sept. 5
CPAP MASK FITTING
Atlantic General Hospital’s Sleep Disorders Diagnostic Center, 9733 Healthway Drive, Berlin. Free to patients who are having trouble adjusting to their CPAP equipment. Appointments required: Robin Rohlfing, 410-641-9726.
TOWN CATS ADOPTION EVENT
PetSmart, 11330 Samuel Bowen Blvd., Berlin, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Town Cats adoption event.
STORY TIME: THE PIGEON HAS TO GO TO SCHOOL
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10:30 a.m. It’s back to school for the pigeon. Songs, crafts and a story. For ages 2-5 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org
STORY TIME ‘GO FISH’
Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs and rhymes. For ages 2-5 years. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org
CHESS CLUB
Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Come play chess and bring your board. 410524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org
POCOMOKE BOOK CLUB: ‘THE LEISURE SEEKER’ BY MICHAEL ZADOORIAN
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 3:30 p.m. Battle it out with sorcery, dragons and giants. Experienced and novice players welcome. BYOC recommended. For ages 12-18 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org
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
Crossword answers from page 78
Worcester County Tobacco Retailers Care About Our Kids!
The Worcester County Health Department and the Worcester County Sheriff s Department work together to prevent the sale, distribution, and consumption of tobacco products by those under age 21. Out of the 155 tobacco retailers in Worcester County, all 155 establishments were randomly visited between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, by local law enforcement for the purpose of attempting to buy tobacco products by an underage cadet. The following tobacco retailers had an employee who requested an ID and refused to sell tobacco to a person under the age of 21. Please join the Worcester County Health Department and the Worcester County Sheriff s Department in congratulating these establishments. Please stop in and say “Thank You” to:
DAMOKEE 11022 Nicholas Lane Unit 3, Ocean Pines
DINE & DASH CASINO BAR
10218 Racetrack Road Attn: Wendy Burton, Berlin
DOLLAR GENERAL 16880 11234 Five L Dr, Berlin
RITA'S WORLD/LIQUOR WINE BEER 11007 Manklin Creek Rd, Berlin
7
7
7
4
500 South Atlantic Avenue Store 2, Ocean City
DOLLAR GENERAL STORE 1636 5600 Market Street, Snow Hill
DOLLAR GENERAL STORE 372 511 Linden Ave, Pocomoke City
DOUBLE EAGLE GOLF 11605 Masters Lane, Ocean Pines
DUCK IN 607 Lynnhaven Drive, Pocomoke City
DUCK INN II 5610 East Market Street, Snow Hill
EXXON FRIENDSHIP 10709 Grays Corner Rd, Berlin
EZ FOOD STORE 716 Philadelphia Ave, Ocean City
FOOD LION #2614
11007 Manklin Creek Road #2, Berlin (OP)
FOOD LION 397 9935 Stephen Decatur Hwy, Ocean City
FOOD LION 658 10126 Old Ocean Blvd, Berlin
FRONTIER TOWN RV RESORT CAMPSTORE 8428 Stephen Decatur Highway, Berlin
GOLD COAST BEER AND WINE 11401A Coastal Highway, Ocean City
GRAND RESORT WEAR 2121 Atlantic Avenue, Ocean City
HIGGINS CRAB HOUSE NORTH 12801 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City
ISLAND OUTFITTERS 11700 Coastal Highway, Ocean City
JACOBS MINIT MARKET 3107 Philadelphia Avenue, Ocean City
K & K BEACH ACCESSORIES BY EVEREST CARRYOUT 714 Philadelphia Ave, Ocean City
KADDY MART 426 W Market Street, Snow Hill
KRSNA (CIGAR WORLD & CIGARETTES) 10818 Ocean Gateway Unit D, Berlin
LINKS AT LIGHTHOUSE SOUND 12723 St Martins Neck Rd, Bishopville
LIZZYS BEACH STORE
201 N Atlantic Ave, Ocean City
MARLIN MARKET 9636 Stephen Decatur Hwy, Ocean City
MAYTALK 607 Atlantic Ave Unit 103, Ocean City
MD PIERCING 901 Atlantic Ave Unit 2, Ocean City
MITCHELLS MARKET 401 Philadelphia Avenue, Ocean City
MARLIN MARKET 9636 Stephen Decatur Hwy, Ocean City
MITCHELLS MARKET 827 Second Street, Pocomoke City
MONTEGO BAY SUPER THRIFT 12903 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City
NEW YORK NEW YORK
101 N Atlantic Ave Unit 2, Ocean City
NEWARK STATION 7167 Worcester Highway, Newark
NY PIERCING
409 Atlantic Ave Store 103, Ocean City
OC CONVENIENCE STORE 1201 Atlantic Avenue Unit 104, Ocean City
OC COOL TOPICS
9 N Atlantic Ave, Ocean City
OC COOL TOPICS
107 North Boardwalk Unit 3, Ocean City
OC DOLLAR STORE
203 N Philadelphia Ave, Ocean City
OC FOOD MARKET
300 S. Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City
OC VAPE 1101 Atlantic Ave, Ocean City
OCEAN PINES GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 239 Ocean Pkwy, Ocean Pines
OCEAN REEF 1701 Atlantic Avenue, Ocean City
OCEAN TAPS 13201 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City
OCEANS MARKET 14107 Coastal Highway, Ocean City
PANAMA JACK 1701 Atlantic Avenue, Ocean City
PICKLES PUB 706 Philadelphia Avenue Suite 11, Ocean City
PITT STOP BEER & WINE 9040 Worcester Highway, Berlin
RITA'S WORLD OF WINE 11007 Manklin Creek Unit 8, Berlin (OP)
RITE AID 319 10119 Old Ocean City Blvd, Berlin
RITE AID 3835 11401 Coastal Highway, Ocean City
RITE AID 3837 505 Linden Ave, Pocomoke City
RITE AID 4917 11011 Manklin Creek Road, Berlin (OP)
RIVER RUN GOLF COURSE 11605 Masters Lane, Berlin
ROYAL FARMS #107 12826 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City
ROYAL FARMS 178 10633 Ocean Gateway, Berlin
RT 50 EXXON 12827 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City
RT 50 EXXON 12177 Ocean Gateway, West Ocean City
RUM POINTE SEASIDE GOLF LINKS 7000 Rum Pointe La, Berlin
RX TATTOO AND BODY PIERCING 201 Atlantic Ave, Ocean City
SEACRETS 117 W 49th St, Ocean City
SEASIDE DELI BEER AND WINE 7207 Coastal Highway, Ocean City
SENOR CIGARS 3314 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City
SHAWARMA BOYS & GRILL 5 Philadelphia Ave, Ocean City
SHELL-YOUR STORE MARKET 10137 Old Ocean City Blvd, Berlin
SHOP KWIK 10140 Old Ocean City Blvd, Berlin
SHOPPERS PARADISE 1507 Atlantic Ave, Ocean City
SHORE SIDE SHOP 2 108 S Atlantic Ave, Ocean City
SMITHS MARKET 11740 Old Worcester Hwy, Showell
SMOKE ON THE WATER 9636 Stephen Decatur Highway Unit 4,
WEAVER
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New public works facility contract awarded in Berlin
Firm will design complex for property at Heron Park
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer
(August 30, 2024) Becker Morgan Group has been officially selected for the architectural and engineering services for a new public works facility in Berlin.
The town and the public works crew are excited about the creation of an improved building, which will be funded through a bond from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Of the $3.8 million bond, about $2.8 million is earmarked for the public works facility construction while $1 million is for electric meter replacement and upgrades.
The current public works building, constructed in the 1960s off William Street and a mere 22 feet, was meant to be temporary. The new facility is set to be revamped using bigger, existing structures at Heron Park.
Becker Morgan’s proposal details that the property includes four parcels. Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall said that the maintenance portion of
See BERLIN Page 90
of elbow room and open space to enjoy in the front and the back! The home has been lovingly cared for and offers engineered oak hardwood floors, white cabinetry in the kitchen with granite counters, absolutely ginormous primary bedroom closet and a laundry room. Delightful floor plan offers a mudroom area off the spacious 2-car garage, as well as a spacious foyer & front flex room that can be used as an office, den, etc. Rinnai tankless hot water heater, gas stove & irrigation in the front & side yard. Gutters have also been improved & redone by the seller since home was built.
• 4 bedroom/3.5 bath Meridian 3rd
to ocean in west building
• Oceanview’s from open concept living room, dining area and kitchen!
• 2 Primary bedrooms, each with own bath and walk-in closets
• 2 additional bedrooms that share a Jack and Jill bath
• Good sized private, lockable beach storage closet right outside your door
• Laundry room, pantry closet, lots of storage throughout
• New Carrier heat pump and air handler installed Nov ‘21 8
Bunting
• Heated outdoor pool, large sun deck facing west, fitness center, owners social room, trash chute, ground level secure bike storage, and private beach access with outdoor beach/foot showers
11am-3pm
10am-4pmMem
11am-4pm H Sat & Sun 10am-2pm
Sat. & Sun 11am-1pm Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 11am-4pm Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 11am-4pm
Saturrdday 10am-Noon
Sunday 10am-Noon13110 Hwy
Monday 1-3pm13110 Hwy
Saturrdday 1-3pm Thursday 2-4pm
Berlin public works complex contract awarded for $220K
public works will be developed on parcel 410 of Heron with the planned skate park. However, when the town and the contractor begin to lay out the facility, they intend to look at the entire land holistically, including adjacent parcels like 191.
“We have to take everything into consideration,” he said.
The project budget is approximately $2.8 million. The existing building on the site to be used is 4,875 square feet, and a new addition is planned for 12,000 square feet. The contractor will handle civil engineering services, which include upgrades of public utilities, and place solar panels either at grade or on the roof of the addition.
The initiative outlined by Becker Morgan stipulates that the solar panels are contingent on securing additional funding or grants.
The contractor will also consider the necessary inclusions of office space, a wash bay, a garage, storage, and a classroom in the public works facility’s creation.
The conceptual design and surveying of the area to be completed by Becker Morgan Group, which will include collecting topographic data and locating utilities, will cost a total fixed fee of $30,000. Throughout this process, the contractor will deliver conceptual site plans, floor plans, elevations, and engineering narratives to the town.
The total fees for the design and construction documents, including civil, architecture, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), and structural, are estimated to cost $220,000.
Fixed fees for the design and construction documents will be determined following the completion of the conceptual design.
Aug. 29 - Sept. 5
Clayland/Coldwell B ory Lane, Harbour Court, West OC3BR/4BR/5BR/6BRSingle Family frroom $799,900 Joe Wilson/Coastal L on Harbour erro r, , 120th St., Bayside 1BR/2BR/3BR/4BR+ Condos, T Toowns & SF - Nanette Pavier/Holiday 353 W Waalnut Hill Drive, Berlin 3BR/2.5BASingle Family$749,900 Nikki Rayne Rose/Keller Williams 203 Flagship Cirrccle, Berlin 4BR/2.5 BA Single Family $559,900 Nikki Rayne Rose/Keller Williams 4pm 12346 Old Bridge Rd, West OC3BR/2BA Single Familystarting at $239,750Shelly Wilson/Salt Life 4pm 12346 Old Bridge Rd, West OC2BR/1BA Single Familystarting at $179,900Shelly Wilson/Salt Life 8814 Hunting Hound Rd, Berlin 3BR/3BA Single Family$649,995Nancy Reither/Coldwell B #903 Braemar T Coastal Hwyy. Toowers, OC 2 BR/2BA Condo $550,000Nancy Reither/Coldwell B #903 Braemar T Coastal Hwyy. Toowers, OC 2 BR/2BA
$550,000Nancy Reither/Coldwell B alnut Hill Dr 377 W Wa r.., Berlin 3BR/3.5BA
Family$734,900Nancy Reither/Coldwell B alnut Hill Dr 377 W Wa r.., Berlin
10am-Noon13110 Hwy
Reither/Coldwell B . #903 Braemar T Coastal Hwyy. Toowers, OC 2 BR/2BA
Reither/Coldwell Banker Realty Saturrdday 10-Noon 316 S. Her
Town hall renovation project taking ‘exciting’ first step
Haley Architecture secures contract to design major overhaul of aging building
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer
(Aug. 30, 2024) The Berlin council unanimously approved Haley Architecture to manage services that will ultimately lead to major renovations at Town Hall.
Daniele Haley, principal of the architectural firm, noted Town Hall was constructed in approximately 1900 and consists of roughly 11,200 square feet. The project’s scope will improve the appearance and usability of the structure’s interior. The business is partnering with SR/A for interior work and IMEG for engineering. Exterior work is not currently planned.
Upgrades are expected to include a “more open entrance space with a new reconfigured staircase and a new elevator replacing an existing lift,” according to Haley.
A minimum of 14 individual offices, two conference rooms, a consolidated kitchen and break room, and improved space utilization for council chambers are also anticipated.
The Mayor and Council were pleased that renovations would incorporate a hydraulic elevator to enhance the building’s accessibility.
“To hear that [Town Hall] will become more compliant and that we will have something more efficient for our friends and neighbors who need handicap accessibility is very exciting,” Councilmember Shaneka Nichols said.
Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall noted that he would like to see departmental offices grouped so that individuals who often work together can easily communicate.
“We know that, that elevator lift is not fast,” he said. “If you want to come up and meet with your team or another team…right now, that workflow of the building is not laid out well.”
Improvements to the upstairs access are also expected to remedy this issue.
“We are treating this building as if we were going to gut the entire thing,” Haley said. “We are keeping the windows, exteriors, and general entrances, but we are treating it like a full renovation. Budget will drive some of that, but we plan to move
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Berlin to spend $310K for town hall renovation design
Continued from Page 91
walls and do what we must to make it functional.”
Haley Architecture will survey the existing Town Hall conditions and prepare a plan to reorganize the spaces to accommodate better staff and residents who frequent the building. The firm intends to outline a design for HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection limited to the “reuse and reconfiguration of existing systems” and supply bidding and construction administration.
Per the firm’s scope, they will “provide design assistance for the new entry stair and design and detail modifications to the existing secondfloor structure to accommodate a larger opening for a new hydraulic elevator to replace the existing lift.”
The SR/A interiors team may also provide FF&E (furniture, fixtures, and equipment) for $41,800.
The schematic design phase, which will take two months and in-
clude the conceptual design drawings, will incur a fee of $49,770. Design development is expected to last three months and is $57,800. Construction documents like project specifications and construction drawings carry a price tag of $75,000 for four months of work.
The bidding phase, which will include responding to contractor questions and preparing agenda information, will cost $19,700. Construction administration, which will take eight months, will cost $67,400. The town will spend a total of $269,670 on Haley Architecture’s design and construction documents for the Town Hall project.
Councilmember Jack Orris made a motion to approve Haley’s proposal with the caveat it includes the $269,670 in design and construction documents and the interior team's optional addition of furnishings and design services for $41,800. The decision passed unanimously.
PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS PARYPA
The interior of Berlin’s town hall, which includes the former police department on William Street, has been in need of a major renovation for many years.
Real estate law on asbestos to take effect later this year
By Lauren Bunting Contributing Writer
(Aug. 30, 2024) Starting Oct, 1 of this year, a new Maryland law affecting condominium sales will take effect.
The law establishes the unenforceability of contracts for the sale of condominium units that do not contain a statement by the vendor or unit owner as to whether the vendor or unit owner has actual knowledge of the presence of asbestos in the condominium, including a description of the location of the asbestos, whether abatement has been performed, and the date of any abatement.
Existing Maryland law already requires property owners to disclose material facts about properties to buyers under Maryland’s Property Condition Disclosure Law. If the seller has knowledge of any haz-
ardous materials present on the property, including asbestos, they must already disclose this to the buyer. However, this new law requires the unit owner to disclose the presence of asbestos or any abatement that has taken place in the condominium at any point in the past.
Another law going into effect Oct. 1 that affects disclosure requirements by sellers is one related to superfund sites.
Sellers of a property within one mile of a National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund site shall include an addendum to the contract that includes information on NPL Superfund sites. Buyers may void the contract and refund money paid to the seller within five days. The epa.gov website that lists the sites for the state of Maryland does not show any sites listed for Worcester, Wicomico or Somerset counties.
Lauren Bunting is the broker of record for Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva in Ocean City
Elias outlines vision for previous party block
Restaurant transition will feature boosted dining and space for special occasions
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(Aug. 30, 2024) The founder of a popular Ocean City restaurant said he is hoping to bring a fine dining establishment to the former Cowboy Coast property by next summer.
Last Wednesday, Spain Wine Bar founder Peter Elias, told members of the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners (BLC) that design work continues at the Philadelphia Avenue property. While the board had approved a license transfer last December, he said it was unlikely that the restaurant would open until next year.
“My hope is to have everything done and maybe go for permits in late fall …,” he said, “and hopefully start construction and launch early next summer.”
Last year, Elias presented the BLC with his plans to take over two local establishments – the former Whiskers facility in Ocean Pines and the Cowboy Coast in Ocean City. At the Ocean Pines property, Elias plans to open a Lebanese-centric restaurant – named Sand and Cedar Taverna –with a menu prepared by renowned chefs. And in Ocean City, the operator plans to transform the old nightclub into a fine dining restaurant with special event space.
“We’re not just providing a meal, we’re focusing on curating a unique experience,” Elias told the board at the time. “This is a restaurant I want
to focus on a James Beard [award] or something even more down the road.”
While the BLC had approved license transfers for both facilities last year, Elias told the board last week that work continues to bring his plans to fruition. At Cowboy Coast, Elias said he is currently in the design phase and that he is now exercising his option to purchase the property. Elias added that he expects to spend $4.5 million on acquisition and more than $3 million on construction. Board members, however, asked for another update by Oct. 30.
“We’re already eight months in, and we’re trying to figure out what’s going on,” BLC Chair William Esham said.
During last Wednesday’s meeting, the board also granted Elias a licensed premise expansion for the beer, wine and liquor license he had received for the Sand and Cedar Taverna last year. The license will now include an additional 900 square feet of leased space.
“We have the opportunity to lease the space next to the main building we originally had our liquor license for,” he explained. “We want to expand some seating and get some business in there.”
Elias noted that construction work was underway at the restaurant, and that his request to expand the li-
censed premises would only cover a dining area. He said the added dining space was needed to make the business successful.
“In order to make sense of the business and operation, every seat has value to it,” he said.
When asked about the restaurant’s timeline, Elias said he was hoping to open in late October or early November. After further discussion, the BLC voted unanimously to grant the expansion request.
The board last week also approved the transfer of a Class D beer, wine and liquor license from Rudra One Inc. – currently doing business at Town Market Basket in Snow Hill – to 5Rivers Liquor Mart LLC, as well as the transfer of a Class B beer, wine and liquor license from Sophia and Christopher Christian to Phillip and John Lambrinos and Saphara Brandenberg.
The board also granted a request from Reverie Arbor & Wine Bar in Berlin to permit the off-sale of beer and wine in factory-sealed containers.
Operator Tara Talbot told BLC members she frequently gets requests to carry out wine and beer sold at her establishment. She said the approval gives customers an opportunity to bring home wines not found anywhere else in Berlin.
“They are hand selected,” she said.
AGH announces intention to evaluate strategic partners
By Stewart Dobson Editor
(Aug. 30, 2024) After 31 years of operating independently, Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin is looking into whether it should seek a partnership with another health care organization or continue to go it alone in an industry that’s seeing fewer small independents each year.
In a response to a recent uptick in public speculation about the hospital’s future, the board of trustees on Tuesday announced that it had launched a “strategic partnership ex-
ploration process” that will consider whether working with another organization or remaining independent is the right course to take.
That independence manifested itself in 1993 when AGH opened its doors after a years-long battle against the state medical establishment to bring a primary care facility to the coastal area.
In addition to having to produce millions of dollars in development and construction money, the citizens committee leading the charge for a
Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin opened its doors in May of 1993.
Atlantic General mulling future
Continued from Page 95
local hospital encountered state regulators who were reluctant to issue the “certificate of need” that validated local assertions that the coastal communities were medically underserved.
Then-Gov. William Donald Schaefer, however, interceded on AGH’s behalf and ordered state offices to cooperate with the local effort. The ceremonial groundbreaking took place in 1991, and the first year saw 13,316 emergency room visits. Last year, according to AGH contractor Emergency Service Associates, the emergency room saw some 40,000 patients.
According to the AGH website, the hospital and the AGH Health System have close to 950 full-time employees and an annual payroll of $74 million, making it one of Worcester County’s single largest employers and a major force in its economy.
As such, any talk about possible changes in the hospital’s corporate or operational structure would be expected to fuel speculation about what might happen next, even though hospital officials are emphasizing that nothing might happen at all.
“The board is excited to embark on this important journey to thoughtfully and carefully explore the best way to ensure Atlantic General con-
tinues providing high-quality healthcare to our community for decades to come,” said board of trustees Chair Doug Cook in a press release issued Tuesday afternoon.
The hospital’s official statement adds that all strategic options will be evaluated during a “deliberate process that will take considerable time.”
That will include taking a look at some of the hospital’s more difficult challenges it faces as an independent operator such as labor shortages and specialist recruiting, AGH CEO Don Owrey said, adding, “We are excited to move forward in this important work to preserve AGH’s proud legacy as our community’s hospital, while planning for an even brighter future.”
Owrey said, “Across the country, independent community hospitals like ours face difficult challenges including growing labor shortages and provider and specialist recruitment challenges, all while the cost of providing high-quality healthcare continues to increase.”
The strategic partnership exploration process will not affect the health system’s daily operations, nor will anything change for patients at this time, the statement said. A website, AGHForward.org, has been created for the public to learn more about the steps ahead as the hospital considers partnerships.
County approves full-time requests in sheriff’s office
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(Aug. 30, 2024) County leaders last week agreed to convert two part-time positions within the sheriff’s department after learning recent vacancies had resulted in soaring overtime costs.
Sheriff Matt Crisafulli came before the Worcester County Commissioners last Tuesday with a request to convert two part-time positions within his department to a full-time posting. While the conversion would cost the sheriff’s office an additional $11,493, he said it was far less than the overtime costs recorded when those part-time school resource offi-
PUBLIC NOTICE
& COUNCIL
OF SNOW HILL, MARYLAND
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Pursuant to the provision of the Snow Hill Town Charter Section 108 and Section 4-304 of the Local Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland notice is hereby given that a PUBLIC HEARING is scheduled on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. at the meeting of the Mayor and Council of Snow Hill at the Old Fire Hall, 212 West Green Street, in Snow Hill, Maryland, 21863. The purpose of the Public Hearing is for public comment on:
1.Charter Resolution 2024-01, Amend Sections 18(b) and 74(a)(3) of the Town Charter of Snow Hill to include the head of the Planning, Zoning, and Building Department in the list of department heads.
2.Charter Resolution 2024-02, Amend Section 11 of the Town Charter of Snow Hill to revise and clarify the process for adopting ordinances.
3.Charter Resolution 2024-03, Amend Section 13 of the Town Charter of Snow Hill to revise and clarify the process for referendums.
4.Charter Resolution 2024-04, Amend Section 58 of the Town Charter of Snow Hill to eliminate the requirement that a bond shall be submitted to referendum
The public is cordially invited to attend and offer comments. For further information concerning this public hearing, please contact the Town Manager’s Office, 103 Bank Street, Snow Hill, Maryland, 21863, #410-6322080.
Welcome to The Variety Shop
Mobile food vendor regulations questioned
County health officer says intent of department is to find ‘workable solutions’
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(Aug. 30, 2024) County officials say they will work with the local health department to address concerns from mobile food vendors regarding equipment certification.
Worcester County Health Officer Becky Jones came before the Worcester County Commissioners last Tuesday to discuss the health department’s regulations on mobile food vendors, specifically its regulations on mobile equipment. While officials reportedly receiving several complaints from mobile vendors regarding their inability to participate in county events, they said they were willing to work with them to find a resolution.
“Our focus has and continues to be finding workable solutions without compromising or jeopardizing the health and safety of our community,” Jones said.
Worcester County Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young told the commissioners last week the county had received several complaints from food vendors who wanted to partici-
pate in this year’s Great Pocomoke and Worcester County fairs, but could not do so because they struggled to secure the necessary county approvals. While the state code requires National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) – or equivalent –certification on equipment, the vendors say they can continue to operate in other surrounding counties.
“While each vendor’s situation is unique, a common theme amongst all of them was the ability and ease to operate in all four counties that surround us, but not in Worcester,” he said.
In his memo to the commissioners, Young noted that state code grants local health departments the ability to allow food equipment without an NSF certification, so long as it is not harmful to public health and is consistent with industry standards. He said it was likely the code section neighboring counties used to allow such equipment.
Somerset County food operator John Applegate said as much in his presentation to the commissioners last week. He said that while he was allowed to operate his mobile smoker in neighboring counties – including Somerset, Wicomico and Dorchester – he could not do so without a NSF certification in Worcester. Applegate
added that he had reached out to three certification agencies, including NSF, only to learn they cannot certify mobile smokers. Even if they could, he said it would cost several thousand dollars.
“I can go to every county, I just can’t go to Worcester County because I don’t have NSF approval,” he explained. “And I can’t get it NSF approved, because I have a pull-behind smoker.”
Acknowledging the issue with mobile smokers, Jones suggested three possible solutions – a reciprocity agreement with other health departments, a dedicated certification day in which industry experts could be available to evaluate equipment, or having environmental health staff trained to certify equipment themselves.
“As we explore these or any other options, I would ask that we keep in mind the 15 operators who utilize smokers and are currently licensed in our county and the other additional five vendors who participate in temporary events. These 20 entities have adhered to and are compliant with COMAR as it relates to their smoker equipment,” she said. “Please remember that certification of equipment is just part of the overall approval process. The proposed ap-
plicant would also have to comply with other parts of the code to include regulations regarding safe food storage, transport and preparation, as well as assuring potable water cleaning, sewage disposal and, of course, hand hygiene.”
Environmental Health Food Programs Supervisor Ryan Hayward clarified that of the 15 licensed, yearround operators, none utilized mobile smokers. He added that five temporary vendors did.
“The five [vendors] tow them around on trailers but they are NSF or equivalent [certified],” he said.
Several commissioners questioned the fees associated with NSF certifications and event permits, as well as the regulations that are applied to mobile vendors but not other foodservice operators. Jones said the health department was willing to work with the community and had done so in previous years when concerns were raised regarding permit fees. She added that the health department hasn’t denied applicants wishing to operate mobile smokers, but that conversations did not continue once they learned of the requirements.
“Quite often it is, I don't get the answer that I want, then I end the conversation. It's not, come in, let's talk
Inconsistent requirements reported between counties
this through or even stay on the phone with us and have a little bit more in depth conversation …,” she told the commissioners. “I think it just has to be a greater meaningful conversation, to say, OK, partner with us so that we can support you, whoever your entity is and, and getting to that endpoint, again, as long as we are not sacrificing the health and safety of our community because that's what we're charged to do.”
Young also highlighted the limited number of food trucks licensed in Worcester County. He said it continued to be a struggle to secure vendors for county events and tournaments. He also referenced an instance in which a local food vendor was denied a temporary license for a baseball tournament last fall, as they had already participated in a similar event months prior. He said the health department had a policy regarding recurring events.
“The reason I put this out there is we’re leaning towards having tournaments and events almost every week-
end,” he said.
Acknowledging the issues at hand, Commissioner Chip Bertino suggested they hold another work session with the health department in the coming weeks. Many of the commissioners said they wanted to see changes that made it easier for vendors to do business in Worcester County.
“To be clear, the county commissioners don't have oversight as to what the health department can and can't approve, nor do we have say over their procedures to approve or not approve, certify or not certify, an establishment or a piece of equipment,” Bertino said.
“I think we need to understand that. But I think we have also received from the health officer that there is very much a willingness to work with what we're trying to accomplish, for being able to move forward and see if there are opportunities with reciprocity or other options that were presented to make Worcester County more viable and more competitive than our neighbors.”
Opinions
AGH’s next move
It may be something or it may be nothing
Atlantic General Hospital, 31 years into its improbable existence, is about to do ... something. Or not. The statement released Tuesday by the AGH Board of Trustees says as much.
Between its quotes and assurances that all is well and will get even better, the statement provides no real information other than the hospital leadership is thinking about, but is not committed to, doing something.
That something could be attempting to establish a partnership, joint venture or some other kind of operating agreement with another healthcare system. Or board members could do what their predecessors have done from the beginning: figure out how to maintain the hospital’s financial equilibrium and keep on going as an independent entity.
What they cannot do, however, is ignore the problem that brought the hospital to this critical juncture: AGH’s operating expenses are increasing more rapidly than its operating income, according to Fiscal Year 2023 financial data collected by the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission.
Although the financial reports of other Maryland hospitals in this data set show that 2023 was not a good year for many of them, AGH’s particular problem is that it can’t bill or expand its way out of its predicament.
Its rates for in-hospital and specific other services are regulated by the cost review commission as well as the payment restrictions of Medicare. AGH also operates in a healthcare market silo of sorts, surrounded as it is by Tidal Health to the west and its satellite facilities and, to a lesser extent, Beebe Hospital in Sussex County, Delaware.
This leaves the board of trustees to figure out how, in these circumstances, it can ensure that the hospital keeps pace with rising costs and be able to offer the competitive salaries that good medical professionals and staff require.
Given that the improbability that AGH would even open its doors 31 years ago was overcome by supporters’ hard-headedness and creative thinking, there’s no doubt that the board will apply these same virtues as it figures out what to do next. Whatever that might be.
PUBLIC EYE
Age not just a number
Business and investment titan Warren Buffet turned 94 this week and celebrated the occasion by:
A. Buying Denmark.
B. Saying, “Age is just a number.”
C. Throwing Tater Tots at passing vehicles and yelling, “This spud’s for you!”
NEWS
EDITOR STEWART DOBSON; EXECUTIVE EDITOR STEVE GREEN
Fridays by FLAG Publications, Inc. 11934 Ocean Gateway, Suite 6, Ocean City, Md. 21842 410-723-6397
2024
D. Watching his company, BerkshireHathaway, hit the $1 trillion mark in total value.
The answer, of course, is “D,” with a nod to “C” because Buffet’s company is the largest investor in Tater Tot’s parent company, Kraft Heinz, making him the top tater at the tip of the Tater Tot totem.
By Stewart Dobson
But this is not about Tot tossing or even Mr. Buffet specifically, but concerns the inevitable observation by many that his grand achievement at 94 years of age proves that age is just a number. Which, of course, is baloney.
Let me put it this way, in every boy’s life there comes a time when he hears the words, “Son, I think I see some chin whiskers.It’s time for you to start shaving.”
“Hooray!” the elated kid says to himself. “Today I am a man!”
Later on in life, an aging man hears the words, “Honey, you really ought to start shaving your ears.”
“Dang,” your deflated self says, “Today I am an old guy.”
While it is true that age is often how you feel, it doesn’t mean that one’s calendar age is beside the point. Otherwise, I’d have been voting at 9 and driving at 10.
For instance, let’s say I was stopped for
hotdogging around town in my rusted-out Chevy with a beer on the dashboard and the police officer says, "Hey, aren’t you 10 years old or something?”
“Actually, officer, I’m nine-and-a-half. But then, age is only a number.”
“Oh, right,” the officer says, “Have a nice day.”
Further, if your calendar age did not apply, you could find yourself in deeper trouble.
“Welcome to the Army, Dobson, you’ve been drafted.”
“But I’m only 10! The only thing I’ve ever shot was milk through my nose at dinner when Pop-Pop made a funny noise!”
“Well, age is only a number. All we care about is whether you pass the ‘You must be this tall’ test to drive a tank.”
Age is the passing of time that we use as a gauge to measure everything we do. For instance, when Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Col. Sanders invented pressurized deep-frying and got rich in his 70s, people didn’t make a big deal of it because he cooked good chicken, they did it because he was old when he became rich ... although he did wear just one suit for the rest of his life.
And as regards to Warren Buffet still working at 94, his age is precisely why he hit the trillion-dollar mark. It was just a matter of time. I mean, anyone could do it if they had the foresight to, say, put $1.3 billion in the market in 1957 and — kablam! — you’re a trillionaire today.
In fact, I was on the way to my broker to do that very thing when the cops stopped me for being too young to drive. The beer on the dashboard, incidentally, wasn’t mine. It belonged to my brother, who was a very mature 7 at the time.
Between the Lines
By Steve Green
Short-term rentals through online sites continue to be a challenge for governments across the country with many deliberating on how to regulate them and finding the balance between too much and not enough. In Ocean City, and other tourist destinations with thousands of condominium, apartment and townhome units, the issue is largely about economics. In general, most people who book short-term rentals have kitchens and the impact has been felt on restaurants with reports of food tax down considerably this summer. The end-of-season recaps will merit deep dives to explore the impact, although room tax figures often mislead because of escalating rates.
In Ocean City, there are currently 8,930 licensed rentals, and shortterm rentals have been studied intently for at least the last five years as their volume and popularity have surged. OCHMRA Executive Director Susan Jones pointed out this week short-term rental occupancy is now higher than hotel occupancy. As a result, Ocean City is weighing applying all commercial regulations to short-term rentals as well as imposing occupancy volume restrictions and minimum lengths of stay of five to seven days in the R-1 district. The thought behind limiting the number of occupants (excluding children under 10, possibly) and setting a minimum stay is to reduce party rentals, such as those for bachelor or bachelorette parties in residential districts. Another consideration is imposing mandatory rental managers to be on site to address any concerns that may arise.
The process in Ocean City has so far been for staff to research and evaluate the situation with potential regulations reviewed at the Mayor and Council level. After this week’s consideration and apparent support, the new regulations will go to the Ocean City Planning Commission for further review and discussion before returning for ordinance enactment at the council level.
***
Every summer a phenomenal short-term white marlin bite can be counted on with local boats reporting dozens of releases in a single day. This year, the annual hot stretch occurred last weekend with several local boats raising plenty of upside down white marlin flags on their vessels. Fish In OC reported Monday, “It was slower today, but yesterday the white marlin fishing was so good off of Ocean City that some captains said it was the best they’ve seen in 30 years. There were multiple boats in double digits and the private boat Billfisher had 40 - yes 40 white marlin releases.” Sunset Marina posted on its Facebook page, “‘Billfisher’ came in with 40 white releases, ‘Mamma Seata’ with 21 white releases and one blue, ‘Reel Chaos’ with 19 white releases, ‘CBoys’ with 11 white releases, ‘Sea Hag’ with 14 white releases and a blue release, ‘Primary Search’ with 14 white releases and a blue release, and ‘Kilo Charlie’ with 19 white releases! A huge day at Sunset Marina.”
It was good to see these reports as a majority of fishing folks in the area have reported all summer a light bite offshore. More billfish fun could be to come if offshore water temperatures remain seasonal through September.
Along the same lines, fishing stories are always fun, but here’s one worthy of sharing. During this month’s White Marlin Open, there was a white marlin caught in the tournament that ended up being a few pounds short of the minimum weight of 67 pounds. Caught aboard the Sea Hag, it was unfortunate the white marlin did not hit the minimum, but anglers must make fast decisions in the heat of the fishing on whether to keep a white marlin, estimating in real time on the size of the live fish’s length (70 inches is minimum) and weight (70 pounds required).
The fishing story had a sad ending, but the fish itself told quite a story, according to Marlin Magazine. The marlin was originally tagged off the coast of Mohammedia, Morocco on Aug. 26, 2023. The Billfish Foundation is charged with keeping records of tagged fish through its Tag & Release Program. From the northwest coast of Africa to off Ocean City’s coast is approximately 4,065 nautical miles and there were 348 days in between the two catches. The distance white marlin travel has long been speculated about but it was long assumed they traveled more north to south than west to east, and vice versa.
“A recapture of this nature is extremely rare. White marlin have been known to cross the Atlantic Ocean; however, it is incredible to have hard evidence of this migration,” said Peter Chaibongsai, TBF’s director of conservation programs, in the magazine’s article. “A recapture like this provides information to TBF that is extremely hard to come by and goes to show how important it is to report all tags and releases. Additionally, this highlights the need for billfish revival and release.”
Association should stop speaking for the town
Editor,
Is it too much to ask for the local hotel/motel association to stop making everyone around here look stupid and toothless? This group represents a small group of business owners, most of which refuse to upgrade their property, their staff or care about cleanliness. So much anecdotal evidence is thrown out every summer that you cannot believe them. The best part is of course when they come out and say that families renting condos and bringing groceries with them is a terrible thing.
We could use more homes for rent, not more flea bag hotels that fall down to $70/night in June and September. But we really, really do not need to pretend that the economy is based on the business these folks do. All the new, corporate hotels did not
suffer at all this summer. The hotels with the old elevators that are dirty had issues - period. The hotel association has to stop speaking for the town. They bad mouthed the summer during White Marlin week which means the people they represent have been left behind by their own decisions.
Southern Delaware went completely upscale with resorts and nice houses. Go to Hotels.com, punch in Ocean City and then tell me that you are not embarrassed by all the garbage for rent.
Mail your letter to editor@oceancitytoday.net
All letters are subject to editing for clarity and potentially libelous material
Sheriff highlights struggle to hire part-time personnel
cer positions went unfilled last school year.
“By converting these two part-time positions, it will have those positions filled,” he told the commissioners, “And by that point, if granted, all of our schools will be covered. Therefore, the goal would be to dramatically cut down on the overtime.”
Crisafulli noted the sheriff’s office currently had two vacant part-time positions assigned to county schools. However, his department has no applicants to fill those vacancies.
“Also, to give you some context with the staffing challenges we faced last school year, we were responsible for filling 561 vacancies of school assignments within our schools and that caused a total of $173,554.54 in overtime that was expanded,” he explained. “Of that amount, $151,857 was reimbursed to our county through grant funding, and that left a total of $21,697.54 that came out of my FY24 budget. So we did the best we could to minimize the fiscal hit there.”
Crisafulli added that part of the vacancies reported last year were due to unanticipated medical leave among full-time staff. And while the sheriff’s office had no problems filling fulltime positions, he said he did with part-time postings.
“By converting those two [positions] to full-time, it would not exceed $11,493.04,” he said. “That is our first request, to get our schools covered.”
Crisafulli said he was also seeking the commissioners’ permission to
convert a detective position to a corporal position, a supervisory role that costs an additional $7,404. He said the third conversion would allow for better oversight within the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation.
“The total cost for both of these requests is $18,897.84,” he said. “We took a look at our current operating budget, and this can be absorbed within the current budget.”
While Commissioner Joe Mitrecic made a motion to approve the conversions, he requested that the sheriff come before the commissioners with such changes prior to budget adoption. When asked if the sheriff’s office still had part-time positions, Crisafulli said it did but that it was trying to convert those positions to fulltime.
“We’ve converted many part-time positions to full-time because as they leave we don’t have a pool to select from,” he replied. “We have steadily been working on converting. My goal, in the long run, would be to have all part-time positions converted to fulltime and hopefully still have the fulltime applications coming in.”
After further discussion, the commissioners voted 7-0 to approve the conversion requests. The commissioners last week also voted to approve two new positions within the emergency services department – an assistant chief of electronic services, with a salary range of $116,000 to $154,000, and an emergency communications QA/QI specialist, with a salary range between $77,000 and $85,000.
Greg Gunther Ocean City/Snow Hill
Continued from Page 97
Story of Red Army’s invasion of Bucharest
By Peter Ayers Wimbrow III
Contributing Writer
This week, 80 years ago, the Red Army entered the Romanian capital of Bucharest.
In August, the Soviet Second and Third Ukrainian Fronts, commanded by Generals Rodion Malinovsky and Fyodor Tolbukhin, with 1.2 million soldiers, 16,000 artillery pieces, 1,870 tanks and self-propelled guns, and 2,200 aircraft, commenced their assault on the Axis forces defending Romania.
The two Soviet Fronts attacked Armeegruppe South Ukraine, commanded by Johannes Frießner, which contained 900,000 soldiers, 7,600 artillery pieces, 400 tanks and assault guns, and 810 aircraft, which was protecting Romania from the Soviet steamroller.
Armeegruppe South Ukraine consisted of the German Sixth and Eighth Armies and Romanian Third and Fourth Armies, commanded by Generals Maximilian Fretter-Pico, Otto Wohler, Petre Dumitrescu, and Gheorghe Avramescu.
By Aug. 23, Gen. Fretter-Pico’s reconstituted Sixth Army was surrounded and, ultimately, destroyed, again. Gen. Avramescu’s Fourth Army collapsed and its survivors retreated into Romania. The Soviets inflicted 215,000 casualties on the Germans and 200,000 on the Romanians.
On Aug. 23, 1944, the 22-year-old Romanian King, Michael I, summoned the following to the Royal Palace: the Romanian Conduc tor (leader), Marshal Ion Antonescu; the Conduc tor’s distant cousin, Mihai Antonescu, who was in charge of domestic affairs; and Marshal of the Palace, Gen. Constantine S n tescu.
At the meeting, King Michael or-
dered the Conduc tor to sign an armistice with the Allies and the Soviets. When he refused, the King had the two Antonescus arrested. At 10 p.m. that evening the King addressed the nation on radio and announced that the two Antonescus had been arrested, an armistice would be executed, and a new government formed under the leadership of Gen. S n tescu, as president of the Council of Ministers.
The general’s appointment was made official by a royal decree issued Sept. 1. In the meantime, Romania’s military began defending the country from its erstwhile allies, the Germans, who unsuccessfully attempted to reverse the king’s coup d’etat. The Romanian military was ordered not to oppose the Red Army.
A delegation consisting of Prince Barbu A. tirbey, scion of an ancient noble Romanian family; Gen. Dumitru D m ceanu, leader of the King’s coup; Professor Lucre iu P tr canu, Minister of Justice; and Ghi Popp, Secretary-General of the National Peasants' Party (PN ), traveled to Moscow, on Aug. 30, 1944, to negotiate and sign the armistice convention.
However, the Soviets refused to meet with the Romanians until the Red Army had fully occupied their country. The armistice was finally signed by the Romanians and Marshal Malinovsky, on Sept. 12.
Malinovsky, a Ukrainian from Odessa, had been named a Marshal of the Soviet Union two days earlier. Gen. Tolbukhin received that honor on the date of the signing. In the interim, the Soviets took approximately 140,000 Romanian prisoners, of which 130,000 were taken to camps in the Soviet Union, where many died. Soviet casualties totaled 67,000, of which 13,197 were deaths.
The terms of the armistice required the Kingdom of Romania to pay reparations of $300 million to the Soviet Union, declare war against the Axis, contribute 538,536 soldiers in 15 divisions to the Red Army in the war against the Axis, repeal anti-Jewish laws, ban fascist groups, and impanel two Romanian People's Tribunals — the Bucharest People's Tribunal and the Northern Transylvania People's Tribunal — to try suspected war criminals.
The armistice guaranteed the return of Northern Transylvania, which had been awarded to the Kingdom of Hungary in the Second Vienna Diktat in 1940. Essentially, Rumania’s borders were returned to those of 1940.
In addition to the two armies — the First and Fourth Romanian Armies, commanded by Nicolae Macici and Gheorghe Avramescu — the Allies benefitted from denying the Germans Romanian oil and Turkish chrome which had been shipped through Rumania.
The Romanian Armies suffered 169,822 casualties fighting with their new Soviet comrades against their former allies. This was in addition to the 623,740 casualties suffered fighting with their old allies against their new Soviet comrades. Also, at least, 250,000 Romanian Jews and 11,000 Gypsies were murdered prior to the Armistice.
Among those tried by the Bucharest People's Tribunal were the Antonescus, Gen. Constantin Z. Vasiliu (former deputy minister of interior affairs and head of the gendarmerie), and Professor Gheorghe Alexianu (former governor of Transnistria).
The court imposed 13 death sentences on the 187 convicted. Of those 13, six had been pronounced in absentia, and three were commuted to life sentences by the king. The An-
tonescus, Vasiliu, and Alexianu were executed by firing squad on June 1, 1946 at Jilava Prison in Bucharest. Michael was decorated with the Soviet Order of Victory by Joseph Stalin, in 1945, "... for the courageous act of the radical change in Romania's politics toward a break-up from Hitler's Germany and an alliance with the United Nations (the Allies), at the moment when there was no clear sign yet of Germany's defeat."
The King was forced to abdicate, on Dec. 30, 1947, by the communist government and forced to leave the country four days later. He would not return until the Communist dictatorship of Nicolae Ceau escu was overthrown. During his exile, he lived mostly in Switzerland. Romania’s last king died on Dec. 5, 2017. He was 96.
Next week: Second Quebec Conference
Mr. Wimbrow writes from Ocean City, Maryland, where he practices law representing those persons accused of criminal and traffic offenses, and those persons who have suffered a personal injury through no fault of their own. He can be contacted at: wimbrowlaw@gmail.com.
SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH General Constantine Sanatescu served as the Marshal of the Palace.
MARIAN JEAN THOMPSON
Ocean City
Marian Jean Thompson passed away peacefully on Aug. 7, 2024.
Marian was born in Washington, D.C., daughter of the late Thomas and DeLoise Reynolds, stepdaughter of the late Robert Carl Riegel. Marian’s beloved husband of 44 years, Richard William Thompson, preceded her in death in 1998.
Marian grew up in Silver Spring, where she graduated from Montgomery Blair High School. After attending Towson State University, she became a substitute teacher. Both Marian and Richard worked at the National Security Agency. She was the office manager at Brenner Animal Hospital in Laurel, and Berlin Animal Hospital.
Her passions included teaching Sunday School at Community United Methodist Church, children’s choir director, troop leader for Girl Scouts of America, adopting animals and enjoying music by Elvis Presley.
Marian and Richard moved from Laurel to Ocean City in 1981. She especially enjoyed her home and neighbors in Mystic Harbor, where they had lived since 1992. She was a member of the Bethany United Methodist Church and was an active member of
the Women’s Club of Mystic Harbor. Marian is survived by her beloved children, Cheryl Lynn O’Rourke of Bluffton, South Carolina (husband Kevin), Lauren Jean Bauer of Ellicott City (husband Kevin), Kim Loraine Holland of Berlin (husband Larry Testerman), and Robert William Thompson of Berlin, who was her loving caregiver. Marian was also blessed with two grandchildren, Dustin Bauer and Bryan Holland (wife Ashley); and two great-grandchildren, Camden Bauer and Mackenzie Holland. She is also survived by her best furry friend, her dog Bailey.
Contributions can be made in her memory to: Senior Dog Sanctuary of MD, 8336 WB&A Rd., Severn, MD 21144
A private graveside service will be held at Sunset Memorial Park.
Arrangements are with Eastern Shore Cremation & Funeral Service, 504 Franklin Avenue, Berlin, Md 21811. Please visit easternshorecremation.com.
KAREN KUNZE
Ocean Pines
Shortly before sunrise on the morning of July 28, 2024, Karen Kunze’s valiant, hard-fought battle with cancer concluded. She passed at home in the adoring company of her family and pets.
Originally from central Pennsylva-
nia, Karen was born in September 1958, to the late William and Stella Martin. She moved to Silver Spring in 1973 to live with her sister. From there, she met her husband in 1984 and they married in July 1989. The two put down roots and raised their family in Laurel, oversaw the family business started by her father-in-law, and eventually took those reins before retiring to Ocean Pines in 2015.
Karen was an absolute force of positivity and joviality. She never left the house without a smile and radiated warmth, love, and kindness wherever she went. Even during the lowest lows of her chemotherapy cycles, a grin was never far.
Up to the end, Karen enjoyed an
active life. Swimming, boating, writing, visiting, and many other –ings filled her days.
Karen is survived by her husband, Dale; her children, Anna, Stephen and Aron; her adopted nephew Robby; her sister, Pat; brother, Mike; niece, Kathy; nephew, Matthew; grandchildren, Olivia and Riley; their respective families; her pets, Brigitte, Skipper and Emmy; and a great network of friends.
To say that she is and will be missed is a tremendous understatement, one which there simply aren’t words to begin to sufficiently describe. Karen demonstrated daily how to be a phenomenal parent, partner, friend and person. While heartbroken to know she’s no longer with us, and crushed to feel her absence every day, her survivors strive to continue her caring legacy.
Karen Kunze
M. Thompson
PHOTOS COURTESY MIKE DETWILER PHOTOGRAPHY
A collection of photos from last weekend’s OC Air Show, including performances by the Italian Air Force Frecce Tricolori team, F-22 Raptor, C-17 Globemaster III, the Air Force Heritage Flight, the Navy Legacy Flight and E/A-18 Growler Team.
Continued from Page 103
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Sept. 14, at the Ocean Pines Community Church (11227 Racetrack Road in Ocean Pines). A reception will follow afterward at the same location.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Karen’s honor to the American Cancer Society, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Coastal Hospice, or to your favorite charity.
FRANK ROBERT CREAMER
Berlin
Frank Robert Creamer, 76, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Ocean Pines.
Born in Washington, D.C., he was the son of the late Robert Creamer and Mary Galli Creamer.
Frank was passionate about many sports, such as basketball, softball, football and tennis. In retirement, he found pickleball and co-founded the Ocean Pines Pickleball Club in 2014. He served on the board of the Ocean Pines Pickleball Club for many years, growing the club from a few members to currently over 400. He is survived by his wife, Diedre Creamer; son David Patrick Creamer (Amy); stepsons David M. Umberger and Stephen W. Umberger; stepdaughter Lisa M. Umberger; brothers Patrick Emelio Creamer and Gregory Creamer; granddaughter Teresa J. Creamer; and step-grandsons William A. Hedge and Luke Umberger.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Dou-
glas Creamer.
A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m., Aug. 30, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 10301 Coastal Highway, in Ocean City.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ocean Pines Pickleball Club.
Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home.
WILLIAM (BILL) C. PAUL Ocean Pines
William (Bill) C. Paul, 76, of Ocean Pines, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, at Harrison House in Snow Hill.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Charles Paul and Phyllis (Vernon) Paul.
Bill loved helping people. For 30 years, he owned and operated Paul
Enterprises, a property management company in Ocean City, where he was well-known for his tireless dedication to his clients. His commitment to the community extended to his volunteer work with the Ocean City Rec Boosters, where he served as the point person for the Sunset Park concerts and devoted over 20 years to setting up and coordinating the hot chocolate booth at Winterfest of Lights.
His exceptional service was recognized on multiple occasions when he was awarded the Key to the City by the Mayor of Ocean City and earned the coveted title of Volunteer of the Year in 2003. Additionally, Bill was a member of the Ocean City Optimist Club and the Ardmore #273 Masonic Lodge in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. He was deeply loved and respected by all who knew him.
Beyond his professional and civic contributions, Bill found joy in life’s simple pleasures: boating, listening to music, and spending time on the serene shores of Assateague Island. Bill is survived by his two sons, James Paul and his wife Cara Downey of Snow Hill, and Curtis Paul of Delmar, Delaware; his two grandchildren, Anna Paul, 5, and Atlas Paul, 4; and his sister, Patti V. Miller of Medford, New Jersey.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Barbara J. Paul; and his sister, Barbara Tucker of Destin, Florida.
A memorial gathering will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Bill’s memory to St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 302 Baltimore Ave in Ocean City, MD 21842, or the Village of Hope, 1001 Lake Street, Salisbury, Maryland 21801.
Condolences may be shared with the family at bishophastingsfh.com.
Advance Planning • Pet Cremation Onsite State of Art Crematory Proudly Serving Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Sussex County, DE
William Paul
Frank Creamer
Sports & Recreation
Decatur football now using guardian covers in practices
(Aug. 30, 2024) Though still in the pre-season, Stephen Decatur’s varsity football team has already made history again – becoming the first program in the Bayside South to add guardian caps to helmets for all practices.
Guardian helmets are commonplace in the NFL and NCAA practices because they are known to reduce the risk of concussions by limiting the impact by up to 33%, studies show.
Decatur Head Coach Jake Coleman is proud his program is introducing these safety measures.
“I hope to see every youth program, every Bayside team wearing them very soon. I couldn’t believe in them more,”
Coleman said on the team’s Facebook page. “These Guardian Caps are really something every player, parent and
program should prioritize. … NFL says they had a 52% reduction in practice concussions since requiring to be used in all practices. There is a 17% to 33% reduction in collision force. The Power 4 college conferences require them in all practices. Decatur football requires them to be worn for all practices and scrimmages. …”
Coleman added, “Thank you Decatur Sports Boosters for helping us towards this goal of outfitting every student athlete JV to varsity.”
Decatur begins defense of its Class 2A state title next Friday at home against Queen Anne’s County followed by away games against Randstallstown (Sept. 13), Bennett (Sept. 20) and Snow Hill (Sept. 27). The Seahawks return home against Easton on Oct. 4 and Kent Island on Oct. 11.
Huge fish dominate annual MidAtlantic’s leaderboard
(Aug. 30, 2024) After five days of fishing off the coasts of Ocean City and New Jersey, the 33rd MidAtlantic Tournament came to a close on Friday with all three top spots filled in the white and blue marlin, dolphin and wahoo categories.
According to tournament organizers, this year’s event also produced a record payout of more than $1.4 million for the crew of the Bishopville-based Lights Out
for the 81-pound white marlin they brought back on day four.
The white marlin category had two contenders after the first weigh-ins on Monday, with the Leslie Ann out of Ocean City, at the top of the leaderboard with a 74-pounder, and the Royersford, Pennsylvania-based Wayne’s World in second with a 67-pound white. On day two, the leaderboard changed up when the Kaarma out of Millstone, New Jersey, brought back a 77-pound white marlin to snag first place in the category, knocking each of the other two contenders down a notch.
The category shook up even more on day four, with the Lights Out’s recordbreaking 81-pounder and Par Five out of Camden-Wyoming, Delaware, bringing in a 75-pound white. The Kaarma ultimately received $346,692 for second place, and third place and $107,474 went to Par Five.
The blue marlin category saw its first contender on day four when the crew of Lititz, Pennsylvania-based Gret’s 3 J’s brought a 638-pounder into Sunset Marina. Their position at the top was shortlived, though, after the crew of Dem Boys from Isle of Palms, South Carolina, brought a 760-pound qualifier to the scales. The fish ended up good enough for second place overall, after the Mantoloking, New Jersey-based Deadicated snagged first with a 795-pounder for a total more than $1.13 million payout on
day five. Dem Boys received $497,714 while Gret’s Three J’s received third place and won $134,577.
The tuna category also saw some action Monday, with the Reel Tight out of Riva, taking the lead with a 180-pound bigeye, the Warden Pass from Cape May, New Jersey, securing second with a 174pound bigeye, and the El Jefe from Cape May, New Jersey, in third with a 57pound yellowfin. The first two spots remained unchangd when the scales closed for good Friday night, but third place changed up when the crew of Team SI Yachts of Staten Island, New York, weighed an 81-pound yellowfin, kicking El Jefe out of the spot. The first-place fish was good for $720,442, second place won $299,082 and third earned $137,571
The dolphin category saw its first action Wednesday, with the Reel Current from Charleston, South Carolina, bringing in a 22-pounder for first place. The catch proved to not be enough for a top prize, though, after day four resulted in the crew of the Hagerstown-based C-
Boys bringing a 32-pound catch to the stage, and the Miami, Florida-based Remix Main Stage bringing up a 28pounder. Day five shook things up even more when the crew of Reel Joy out of Singer Island, Florida, weighed in another 32-pound dolphin to tie the CBoys catch. In the end, Reel Joy won $66,654 and C-Boys received $57,270. Remix Main Staged ultimately won $15,640 for third.
On day two, the Lil’ Crum from Jupiter, Florida, brought back a 76pound wahoo to score first place in the category. On Wednesday, the second and third place spots were filled in the category with the Talkin’ Trash out of Pasadena, bringing in a 29-pounder for second place, and Moore Bills from Ocean City, weighing a 25-pound catch for third. The first place winner was the only one to stand in the end, with the crew of the Lil’ Crum winning $85,974. Second place ultimately went to the Torta, also from Jupiter, Florida, for a 71pound wahoo worth
$42,596.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SDHS
Stephen Decatur’s varsity football has been practicing this summer with guardian caps attached to their helmets to increase player safety and reduce concussion rates.
The crew of the Lights Out of Bishopville landed $1.4 million for the firstplace, 81-pound white marlin they caught on day four.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIDATLANTIC
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIDATLANTIC
A payday of $497,714 was secured by the Dem Boys with this 760-pound blue marlin in last week’s tourney.
Mallards volleyball falls in season opener to Arcadia
By Bruce C. Walls Contributing Writer
(Aug. 30, 2024) The Arcadia High Firebirds’ varsity volleyball team flew north from their home nest in Virginia to Berlin this week, where they handed the Mallards of Worcester Prep a trio of close losses.
“This is a young team who only had 14 hours of practice together,” Mallards head coach Mike Kelly said. “Most of them have never played varsity volleyball before tonight.”
Kelly, who is starting his fifth season leading the team, has only two returning players along with six sophomores and six freshmen. The team showed strength at the net in volley play, and they have some real power servers.
Arcadia won the first game 25 to 11. The Mallards surrendered the second game 26-24 and fell in the final 25-8.
The Mallards’ next game is at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 4, at home against Sussex Central’s Golden Knights.
PHOTO COURTESY SUSAN TAYLOR-WALLS
Worcester Prep sophomore Kaylie Gott spikes the ball during Tuesday night’s match against the Firebirds of Arcadia High.
PHOTO COURTESY SUSAN TAYLOR-WALLS
Worcester Prep senior Avery Roselle, above, sets up for freshman Elle Given during the season opening match against Arcadia High.
PHOTOS COURTESY FISH IN OC
Above left, London Anthony caught this new pending Maryland state record 20.6 pound blueline tilefish aboard Talkin’ Trash with Captain Chris Little. Above right, Captain Kane Bounds of the Fish Bound caught this big 15-pound pollock off the coast of Ocean City.
PHOTOS COURTESY FISH IN OC
Above left, this nice sheepshead was caught by Austin Anderson of Texas alongside Lucky Break Charters with Captain Jason Mumford. Above middle, this young angler caught a beautiful mahi on board Chasin’ Tides with Captain Chase Eberle. Above right, Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star put this lady angler on double jumbo keeper sea bass this week.
Below left, Dennis jigged up this big sea bass on board the Angler with Captain Chris Mizurak at the helm. Below middle, top tuna in the MidAtlantic Tournament was caught by team Reel Tight who won over $720,000 for their 180 pound bigeye. Below right, Ross Thomas and his family from Chicago had a great time catching flounder with Captain Tony Battista of Saltwater Adventures.
