9/15/2023 Ocean City Today

REMEMBERING

9/11

Festival contract done

Oceans Calling package hits right notes for resort, adds second, similar event

By Mallory Panuska Managing Editor

(Sept. 15, 2023) A three-year contract between the Town of Ocean City and the promoter of the Oceans Calling Festival is officially signed, and contains details ranging from ticket shares, to tentative date holds in 2024-26 for a second similar music event.

The parties inked the 38-page document on Aug. 31, just under a month

before the three-day festival is set to commence on Sept. 29-Oct. 1 on the inlet and surrounding beach and Boardwalk downtown.

The inaugural event was supposed to be the second annual, but last year’s festival was canceled just before it was set to begin when the remnants of a hurricane blew through as crews were setting up.

The new contract, which was provided by City Clerk Diana Chavis, includes date holds for Sept. 27-29, 2024, and Sept. 26-28, 2025. It also contains a clause to begin negotiating for dates for the festival for 2026 and 2027.

Tentative date holds — Chavis said they still need confirmed — for “a similar live multi-stage music festival” in 2024, 2025 and 2026 for “the weekends immediately following the festival” will begin negotiations this year as well, according to the contract.

This year, and for many years prior, that weekend has been designated for Endless Summer Cruisin’.

Tom Perlozzo, the city’s director of tourism and business development, said this week that staff have been working with promoter C3 Presents for a while to host a second event, but

See CONTRACT Page 4

Annual biker event slated through this weekend with activities throughout resort – Page 24

Giant Food will anchor new center

If all goes as planned, store will be on Rt. 50/Rt. 589

By Remy Andersen Staff Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) Residents of Ocean Pines and West Ocean City, as well as Berlin and Ocean City, will be graced with a new shopping center and a new supermarket off Route 50, assuming that work on the Coastal Square Shopping Center continues to

See COMMISSION Page 6

HUNTER HINE/OCEAN CITY TODAY

The Ocean City Fire Department presented “Remembrance Beams of Light” at the Ocean City Firefighter Memorial from Sept. 8-12, representing the World Trade Center with two skyward lights.

Residential community can begin building more homes

By Remy Andersen Staff Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) The construction of Triple Crown Estates’ second phase continues on its path toward approval, following the Worcester County Planning Commission’s favorable preliminary plat review last Thursday.

The first stage of the residential planned community’s construction is already underway, with 30 singlefamily homes being built.

The property is located off the northerly side of Gum Point Road and just east of Preakness Drive, with the project centering on the intersection between Preakness Drive and King Richard Road.

The 60 homes will all be located

along King Richard Road, which will be extended to connect to Ocean Pines, and around Preakness Drive. Each phase of the project consists of 30 homes.

Although no agreement has been made with the county about creating an extension off of Racetrack Road, street signs and road names have been completed, with plans to remove the road dedication strip in the area.

Triple Crown Estates is consulting with Vista Designs Inc. and working with Steen Associates as developers for the project.

Each parcel would be built 20 feet apart from one another, with general lighting for the area meeting the general requirements. The project also

See PLAYGROUNDS Page 6

Ocean City Today

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REMY ANDERSEN/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Triple Crown Estates, located off of King Richard Road in Ocean Pines, is set to house 60 singlefamily residences. The preliminary plat review of Phase II of the construction of Triple Crown Estates was given approval by the Planning Commission last Thursday.

Contract details ticket shares, services, etc.

Continued from Page 1

he did not provide many more details, as negotiations have not been finalized. However, he said the city received a grant to help cover the costs.

As for Oceans Calling, Perlozzo said the event is not expected to cost the city anything.

According to projections, the festival will attract more than 50,000 people daily to the footprint, which includes the inlet lot and the entirety of the Boardwalk and businesses from South to North Division streets.

In the contract, the promoter is paying $50,000 for use of city facilities and giving $2 of every ticket sold to the city.

And while C3 will provide all direct services for the festival, including security, fire and medical, trash collection, and electricity, water and other utilities, the large crowds are expected to spill over and require other city services. Therefore, the promoters are paying for some resort police, fire, emergency medical, lifeguard, public works, transportation, planning and cleanup efforts.

The contract also contains safety plans, regulations for marketing and advertising, and a specific timeline for setup and teardown that will begin days before the event is slated to commence.

The grounds will contain three stages set up in the inlet lot and surrounding beach, along with food trucks, vendor booths and tents, among other things. The footprint will be sectioned off and allow only those attending the festival to enter, and include all of the businesses in the area.

The contract states that the specific footprint established for this year, which was negotiated several months ago with the affected business owners, is only firmly established for this year’s festival.

A special transportation plan for city buses containing fewer stops to keep traffic moving will also be implemented for the festival. The plan was released several weeks ago, and members of the resort Transportation Committee urged city staff this week to publish it several more times before the event to ensure people are aware of the details.

Oceans Calling was initially billed as an event to deter an infamous pop-up tuner car rally from coming to Ocean City the second to last weekend in September, but with a date change and other modifications, the festival has grown into something city officials and staff expect to be a major shoulder season boon.

Headliners John Mayer, The Lumineers, Jack Johnson and Alanis Moris-

sette will join nearly 40 other performers, such as Third Eye Blind, Jimmy Eat World, Weezer, The Wallflowers, Grace and the Tantrums, Toad the Wet Sprocket, O.A.R., Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Incubus and others who will take the stages the three days.

Tickets were sold out for several of the tiered groups shortly after promoters released them for sale in March, and few are still available, except for through resale.

For more information about the festival, and to check ticket status, visit oceanscallingfestival.com.

Special Event Zone set for implementation Sept. 19-24

(Sept. 15, 2023) The “Pop-up Rally” tuner car event that has historically occurred in Ocean City this time of year has prompted city staff to take a proactive preventive approach with implementation of a Special Event Zone from Sept. 19-24.

According to a news release, the event has seemingly moved on from the resort, given the lack of many cars in town the last couple of years. However, members of the Ocean City Police Department and staff staff want to ensure residents and visitors that they are remaining vigilant and proactive to ensure the town is a safe and welcoming destination.

The “Pop-up Rally” is a car meet/show driven by social media rather than an organized event with a designated promoter. Therefore, the event can occur whenever and wherever it is promoted on social media.

Ocean City Police Department members will continue to monitor social media along with having a presence on the roadways.

According to the release, the Special Event Zone reduces established speed limits in the zone and increases fines for violations. The maximum speed limit in Ocean City will be 30 mile per hour.

Legislation signed in 2020 allows for increased penalties for specific motor vehicle violations. Similar to a Construction Zone, violators will face increased fines or, in some cases, arrest.

During this timeframe, people should expect to see a significant police presence in town. Officers will strictly enforce all traffic laws. If the event occurs, residents and visitors can expect some traffic congestion, and alternate traffic patterns are anticipated throughout the weekend.

Spectators are urged to keep the sidewalks clear for pedestrian traffic and should not incite the spinning of wheels or “burn-outs” by motorists. Officers will enforce all laws for spectators who incite drivers and enforce

PHOTO COURTESY OCEANS CALLING FESTIVAL VIA FACEBOOK

The footprint for the upcoming Oceans Calling Festival is shown on a map. City staff signed a contract Aug. 31 with promoters C3 Presents for this year’s festival, and events through 2025, at the inlet and surrounding beach downtown.

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SINGLE FAMILY HOME

304 S. HERON GULL COURT OCEAN CITY • $1,499,900

This single-family 4BR/4.5BA home with deeded boat slip is located in the sought after community of Heron Harbour Isle. This beautiful home has an open floor plan with a spacious family room with a 2-story stone fireplace. The family room flows into the kitchen which has plenty of cabinet space, a center island, breakfast bar and additional storage. Off the kitchen is the dining area where you will love having meals with your family and friends. Off the family room and dining area there is a screened-in porch, perfect for relaxing and enjoying morning coffee. Off the screened-in porch is a deck with a barbecue grill for crab feasts and grilling your favorites. Also on the first level of this home is the spacious primary bedroom with walk-in closets and a large bathroom with shower and soaking tub. There’s also a study on the first floor making remote work possible in a nice quiet area. The first level also has another full bath, laundry room and a half bath. On the second level there are three additional bedrooms and two more full baths. This home has lots of room for everyone to visit and there’s also a bonus room over the garage which could be used as a fifth bedroom or game room. The home also has a wrap-around porch, two-car garage and a deeded boat slip. The seller belongs to the Heron Harbour recreation association, which has tennis courts, indoor heated pool, fitness center, sauna, Olympic size outdoor pool, and a kiddie pool. The home is located very close to restaurants, shopping, and the beach. Come take a look today. This home is being offered partially furnished and is ready for your immediate enjoyment. MDW02015676

COMMERCIAL

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LAND

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MLS MDWO2008616

Luxury 5BR/6BA/2HBA

Bayfront home with pool hits the market! This luxury home has 145 feet of water frontage with direct bay views and offers southern exposure. As you walk in the front door of this lovely home you will immediately fall in love with the attention to details and upgrades throughout. An elegant foyer with marble flooring greets you as you enter with your eyes drawn to the beautiful Bayfront views and the swimming pool in the courtyard. On the first level you will find a kitchen designed for access in and out to the pool area with plenty of seating and room for entertaining family and friends. Also on the first floor, you will find a Bay front office or playroom for the kids. This home is complete with a home elevator so either take the spiraling stairs to the second level or take the elevator up to the second level. You will be mesmerized by the amazing Bayfront views and endless sunsets this home offers. There are 6 decks off the home for privacy. On the second level you will find a professional chef’s kitchen complete with large center island, high end appliances and plenty of cabinet space adjoining a beautiful, spacious dining room overlooking the bay. The family room is also complete with a gas fireplace for chilly winter nights, making this the perfect home for year-round living or a vacation home. Also, on this floor, you will find a second office, home theater room, or game room. On the third level you will enjoy waking up to the endless water views from your primary bedroom. The primary bath has custom finishes throughout with extensive tile work. The primary bedroom also has a fireplace for romantic evenings and relaxing. Also on this floor are three additional bedrooms, which are spacious and separated nicely from the primary bedroom. This home is over 6000 ft.² and is one of the few Bayfront homes available on the market. So, if you’re looking for a home at the beach, also offering all the thrill of the day with attention to detail look no further. Come take a look at 733 Bradley Rd. today before it’s sold!

MDWO2014714

Stunning 4BR/3BA coastal home with garage in North Ocean City has just been listed! This home is located six blocks from the beach and across the street from Fiesta Park, which has walking trails and a pavilion. After walking through a gracious covered front porch, you are welcomed into this fabulous home. The first level of this beautiful home has two spacious bedrooms, one full bath and a den/study area perfect for working remotely from home. Beautiful hardwood floors lead to the second level where you will find a gourmet kitchen with granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. There is a bright and airy dining room directly off the kitchen where you will enjoy making family meals and memories that last a lifetime. Adjoining the kitchen and dining room is a spacious family room with impressive cathedral ceilings. The second level also has the primary bedroom and the primary bath with shower and soaking tub. The second level also has a 12x16 composite deck with vinyl railings. On the third level you’ll find the fourth bedroom and another full bath. The fenced back and side yards have lots of grass for the dogs and kids to play. There is also a patio and grilling area. The home is being sold furnished and ready for your immediate enjoyment. The home also has a garage and multiple additional parking spaces and street parking. Come take a look at this very rare find before it’s sold!

COMMERCIAL

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Stunning 2BR/2BA condo one back from the beach hits the market! This condo is located on 66th street in an ocean block building. The sellers have made many recent upgrades, installing luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout, new microwave, new refrigerator, new stove, new dishwasher, new exterior HVAC unit, toilets and kitchen faucet within the last three years. The decks also were tiled in 2019 and the glass sliders leading to the deck were also replaced within the last five years. This would make a great second home or investment property and is being sold fully furnished and ready for your immediate enjoyment. This is one of the best values at the beach - fully furnished and only one back from the ocean. As you walk through the front door, you will see an inviting living room for entertaining family and friends. There is a dining area off the kitchen with glass sliders leading to a huge covered deck with recently tiled floor. You can hear the waves break from the deck. This is a first floor unit but it's an elevated building so the height off the street is equivalent to a second floor unit. This condo has two large bedrooms and two full baths so there's plenty of room for family and friends. The condo is in walking distance to many restaurants, stores, shops and a supermarket, so once you're here you don’t have to move your car, but the condo is conveniently located to the route 90 bridge, making coming and going a joy. Come take a look today before this amazing property is sold. This condo association is well managed by Mann Properties. MLS MDWO2016172

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OCEAN 2 BR/2BA CONDO

Commission OKs new Coastal Square plan

Continued from Page 1

go as smoothly as it did at last Thursday’s county Planning Commission meeting.

Earning unanimous approval of a site plan, the shopping center will be at the intersection of Racetrack Road and the south side of Route 50, and will contain 120,790 square feet of leasable floor space along with seven out-lots along the frontage of Route 50 and Racetrack Road.

As it is now designed, the center would be approximately half the size it was when it was first proposed a little over a year ago because of a change in the property’s allowable density.

The anchor tenant approved to occupy 66,454 feet of that space is a Giant grocery store, which will be located in the west retail shopping building along with a 20,400 square foot, nine-bay shopping center. The east structure will be a 34,936 square foot, 20-bay shopping center.

The parking minimum for the project is 348 spaces, and the maximum is 488. The proposed amount of spaces listed on the site plan indicated 422 spaces, with 13 of those spaces being handicap-accessible.

The grocery store will have three loading bays located at the rear, with the areas behind the retail spaces allowing tractor trailer access to all units.

Access to the shopping center will be from Racetrack Road, Route 50 and Samuel Bowen Boulevard. A proposed new lane would be added to southbound Route 589 at the intersection of Route 50 to give access directly from Route 589 at the signalized intersection.

Samuel Bowen Boulevard will extend across the site providing interconnection to the adjacent Ocean Landing Center and access to the proposed out-lots. The proposed new access will come in the form of a traffic circle, which was said to encourage a smoother and safer traffic flow.

The concept plan had gone before the Planning Commission in May and the Technical Review committee in July, receiving a favorable recommendation to proceed to the Planning Commission for further review, with only minor changes to the plan needing to be made.

In terms of moving forward with construction of the site, engineer Jeff Harman said the developer wanted the construction expedited as much as possible.

Playgrounds part of open spaces

Continued from Page 3

remains in accordance with the county’s comprehensive plan.

The open space requirements for the project entail a total site area of about 92 acres, with a required open space area of 26.611 acres.

Two areas would be allocated for active open space, each located behind a strip of housing, one consisting of .97 acres and another consisting 2.564 acres.

These areas will have playground equipment, including swings, slides, and climbers, and will have a defined boarder with a wood chip/mulch surface. The surrounding area will consist of grass for additional recreational activities.

The passive recreation area amounts to 11.405 acres, and will consist of existing wooded area with a four-foot wide, 1,800-foot long winding walking trail with a wood chip surface.

The natural recreation area amounts to 32.132 acres, consisting of existing wooded area that will remain in its natural state for wildlife habitat.

The planning commission asked for more specific details on the type of playground equipment that will be provided as well as other amenities the developers have planned. That information is expected to be provided when the project returns to the commission for further consideration.

Designation to deter tuner cars

Continued from Page 4

the violations with the driver.

Further, with high pedestrian traffic expected, people are urged to “Walk Smart” and use crosswalks when crossing roadways, wait for signals to change, and ensure they are visible to drivers while crossing.

For more information on the Ocean City Special Event Zones, please visit oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/police/special-event-zone/.

PHOTO COURTESY BECKER MORGAN GROUP

The Coastal Square Shopping Center site plan was presented to the Planning Commission on Thursday. The center consists of over 120,000 square feet of leasable floor space and seven proposed out-lots along Route 50 and Samuel Bowen Blvd.

City officials still concerned about new digital tram ads

By Mallory Panuska Managing Editor

(Sept. 15, 2023) The new digital ads on the backs of Ocean City’s Boardwalk trams are “still an area of concern” for transportation staff as officials prepare to make a last-ditch effort to flash something other than in-house messages on the screens before the seasonal vehicles hibernate for the winter.

“This still remains an area of concern for us and the technical troubleshooting really … continues to be a frustration,” Transit Manager Rob Shearman said of the video screens to members of the Transportation Committee Tuesday.

The city signed a contract late last year with Gateway Outdoor Advertising to market and sell ads on resort buses and trams. While the company’s efforts started out rocky, sales for bus wraps and other static ads have ramped up.

However, revenues overall have not reached the level Shearman had hoped. He pointed out, though, that his projections were a little ambitious, as they were based on a curve.

The digital tram ads are another story.

Introduced this year as a projected new revenue producer, the ads that were supposed to flash promotions on video screens as the trams rode down up and down the boards all season have not only failed to generate any profits, but have also had issues functioning.

“To use a Boardwalk analogy, it’s still a bit of a whack-a-mole situation, whereas we address electrical issues and then we find data connectivity is a problem. When we get data connectivity solved, we go back to having power issues,” Shearman explained. “It seems like every time you turn around there’s still something causing three out of the seven, now out of the eight [trams], to have technical issues.”

He added that staff is pushing Gateway for solutions, and the company keeps sending technical staff, but issues persist.

Councilman Tony DeLuca, who sits on the Transportation Committee, pointed out that Gateway has two strikes, with the non-working trams and failure to meet Shearman’s sales

See PROGRAM Page 8

A tram with a digital ad promoting Sundaes in the Park rides down the Boardwalk during a late summer afternoon. The technology was introduced this year by the city’s new transit ad contractor but has hit several snags.

City Council forwards draft of new special event fee system

By Hunter Hine Staff Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) After a relatively lengthy discussion, Ocean City Council members voted unanimously this week to advance a proposed new special event fee structure.

The vote was 5-0, with Council President Matt James absent for the meeting and Councilman Peter Buas not present for the vote.

The revised plans will return to council as a resolution sometime in October, City Manager Terry McGean said after the meeting. Then, the council will have the chance to imple-

ment changes before final approval.

Tom Perlozzo, the city’s director of tourism and business development, said he and Special Events Director Frank Miller hope the fee structure will go into effect in early January.

At an Aug. 15 work session, the full council got its first look at the proposed fee schedule, which is intended to cover city costs while keeping the resort competitive as a event location.

The city’s current event fee structure hasn’t changed since 2014, and only charges flat rates for events’ associated costs on the town.

See PREVIOUS Page 11

Program did not produce revenue this year

projections.

“This is, caution red flag,” he said.

Mayor Rick Meehan, who serves as chairman of the committee, suggested members request a meeting with Gateway and potentially offer a promotional deal to get some outside ads running on the digital screens before the end of the season.

With only two more events sched-

uled for the trams – OC BikeFest this weekend and Sunfest in late October — officials have pretty much made peace with the fact that they will not be getting any money from the program this year.

However, Meehan said they could use the last two opportunities to get a jump on next year by offering free displays for existing advertisers.

Currently, the only ads that flash

on the screens, when they work, are for city events and marketing promotions.

“Let’s utilize it as advertising its own advertising,” Meehan said.

Councilwoman Carol Proctor, who sits on the committee, said she supports the idea. She also said she is impressed with how the displays look when they are functioning.

“I think it’s going to be extremely

successful,” she said. “Because you can see [the ads], when the screens are working, you can see them three and four blocks away. When you’re on the Boardwalk and you’re looking up, you can see those ads.”

Meehan and other members added that the ads are attractive and noninvasive, and provide a “classy” way to display messages as the trams drive along the boards.

Continued from Page 7

HUNTER HINE/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Crowds relax during the first day of this year’s Wine on the Beach on Sept. 8 downtown. Events such as this one may be paying more to use city services and space next year if a proposed new fee structure is approved.

Tram stats headed for strong finish

By Mallory Panuska Managing Editor

(Sept. 15, 2023) While ridership and revenues dwindle in Ocean City’s bus division, the Boardwalk trams fared well during the final months of summer.

“The trams [had a] very good performance this year,” Transit Manager Rob Shearman told members of the Transportation Committee this week.

The deployments for the trams, which stopped running daily after Labor Day weekend, started out slowly but picked up as the season progressed.

“Through the end of August, we

deployed 13 percent more in 2023 than 2022,” Shearman said.

The number of riders were also low at the beginning of the summer, but picked up later with 3 percent more overall than last year.

Shearman added that revenues, with a higher number of riders and a $1 per ride rate increase implemented at the beginning of the season, were up 26 percent from last year.

The trams have been so popular that several committee members asked what it would take to add more.

“People love riding the trams,” said Councilwoman Carol Proctor, who sits on the committee.

She said she has ridden the trams multiple times and has seen how much people enjoy them, especially children, who she said ask for rides when they see them pass on the

boards.

Transportation staff members and City Manager Terry McGean said the subject has been broached before, but there are challenges with having enough space for more trams and ensuring they run smoothly among the Boardwalk crowds.

McGean added that the ridership numbers are still not at 2019 levels.

“With eight trams, we still have to grow with the fleet we have …” he said. “We ought to get to where we were in 2019 with riders, with the fleet we have, before we talk about adding to the fleet.”

In the bus division, the numbers are not as positive.

Shearman reported that revenues are down between 11 and 13 percent, and staff are projecting a roughly $250,000 deficit that will need to be addressed later this year.

Private septic owners urged to remain vigilant, educated

(Sept. 15, 2023) SepticSmart Week is coming up on Sept. 18-22, and Worcester County Environmental Programs staff are urging residents to stay informed and vigilant about maintaining their private septic systems.

Information can be found online at epa.gov/septic/septicsmart-week.

Worcester County Environmental Programs uses the Environmental Protection Agency’s SepticSmart program to educate homeowners about the need for proper septic system use and routine maintenance.

Though 88 percent of county households use public sewer, there are also roughy 7,200 septic systems in Worcester County that treat wastewater from homes and businesses.

“Residents and our environment benefit from properly designed, installed, operated, and maintained septic systems, and in order to maximize these benefits, it takes teamwork between septic system owners,

septic professionals, and local regulators,” Environmental Programs Director Robert Mitchell said in a news release. “Proper septic system use and care are vital to protecting public health, preserving our groundwater, wetlands, and waterways, and avoiding costly repairs that can result from neglect.”

Staff members recommend the following do’s and don’ts to be a responsible and successful septic system

owner:

• Have your septic system inspected and pumped every three years by a Maryland-licensed onsite professional.

• Contact a Maryland-licensed onsite professional if you have a problem with your disposal system or suspect it may be failing.

• Repair leaks and use water-efficient fixtures to avoid overloading your septic system.

• Discard non-biodegradable products, such as dental floss, disposable See SepticSmart Page 11

A tram rides along the Boardwalk at the beginning of the summer. While ridership and revenue for the division started out below projections, the numbers picked up as the season went on and went out with a bang.

Previous proposed fees deemed too expensive

Continued from Page 8

The first draft of the resolution, which Miller presented to Tourism Commission members in March, proposed large increases that would have been a burden for smaller events and the sponsors, leading the council to direct city staff to make it more fair.

Over the proceeding months, the draft came back to the Tourism Commission and then went to council members, who finally approved it after a work session Tuesday.

In the updated plans presented at Tuesday’s meeting, city staff members altered the fee structure to align costs with the sizes and scales of proposed events.

Still, not every event will work perfectly with the system.

“It’s not one-size fits all. We are trying to address scalability, just like we were originally,” Miller said.

The application fee for special events, regardless of season or event size, is $250 for a for-profit event and $50 for a nonprofit event. This was a $570 fee for all applicants in the previous proposal.

Nonprofits both in-county and out-of-county will pay the same application fee, and those reviewing the application will check to make sure any applying nonprofits remain in “good standing,” Miller said.

The fee models beyond the application price won’t be revealed to prospective event holders at the application stage, but estimated costs and fees will be discussed with applicants after they are reviewed by city staff and before City Council grants approval.

Use fees for each event are determined depending on event size, season, use of city labor and equipment, and whether the event is nonprofit or for-profit. Out-of-season was presented as Oct.1 to April 30 in the updated plans, but after council voted to approve it, members decided to

SepticSmart Wk. set Sept. 18-22

Continued from Page 10

wipes and cat litter, in the trash instead of flushing them.

• Avoid pouring harsh products, such as oils, grease, chemicals, paint and medications, down the drain.

• Maintain plants and vegetation near your septic system to ensure roots do not block drains.

• Keep cars and heavy vehicles parked away from the septic tank and drain field to avoid damaging or crushing its components.

• It is recommended that home buyers have a septic system inspection done by a Maryland-licensed onsite professional in accordance with Maryland Department of the Environment regulations.

change the starting date to Nov. 1 in the final resolution.

For-profit event promoters will pay $500 per day, per block, both inseason and out of season for smaller events defined as tier one and tier two. The cost for larger for-profit events, defined as tiers three and four, will be negotiated.

Nonprofit event holders will likewise have to pay $500 per day, per block, for tier one and tier two in-season events. But, they will only have to pay $250 per day, per block, for outof-season events of the same size.

If a nonprofit event is large enough to meet tier three and four, the cost will be negotiated into the terms of the agreement.

For all events including vendors, there will be a one-time $150 vendor fee only for tiers one and two.

Tier three and four event holders could also be subject to additional fees, $1.50-$2 costs per spectator or participant, and an extra vendor fee of $50 or $100, depending on how many vendors are hosted. The two tiers could also face costs for the city labor it took to review the event.

Any event that diverts city labor such as public works, the fire department, police or emergency services, could be charged for the cost imposed on the city. For this reason, Miller and McGean stressed that officials will encourage event holders to seek out third party contracts for security and other services.

Officials will provide applicants with lists of third-party services during the approval process.

“We will provide the service if they absolutely have to have it but we

should be the last resort, not the first,” McGean said.

Councilman John Gehrig began lengthy discussion regarding costs for events using city labor at Tuesday’s work session. He shared several worries, wondering if a city official could charge exorbitant amounts to an event holder, among other issues.

Mayor Rick Meehan said that property owners are taxed for public works, and that charging event-holders for the same would be fine as long as the price was reasonable.

Miller said officials will review the plans every two years and assess whether fees need to be revised.

“We will continue to look at this on an ongoing basis to make sure that we can keep up with everyone else and not fall behind like we did over the past several years,” Miller said.

Sports complex task force holds first meeting

By Hunter Hine Staff Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) Assembling for the first time on Wednesday, members of Ocean City’s newly appointed Sports Complex Task Force agreed to push ahead with plans to construct a combined indoor and outdoor facility.

For years, Ocean City and tourism boosters in the county have looked into building a sports facility to supplement the local economy, establish the area in a growing recreational sports market and draw travelers to the coast during the colder and economically slower seasons.

Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan opened the meeting to the 31 members of the committee the city council appointed in early August.

“Each and every one of you is very vested in our community, so it’s important that you’re here,” Meehan said.

Worcester County is no longer involved in the project since a county commissioners majority voted last December to cancel a land purchase that would have housed the complex

next to Stephen Decatur High School.

The two county commissioners who backed the idea, Diana Purnell and Joe Mitrecic, were included in the task force membership, and Meehan said the door is always open to the others.

Meehan identified the key points he hoped the task force could tackle at the inaugural meeting: determining the scope of the project, identifying which sports it could

accommodate, if there should be a “signature” sport, deciding the size of the facility and whether to build it in phases, and what kind of funding to request from the Maryland General Assembly next year.

One critical task, according to Meehan, is to look over a number of potential sites for the facility and hopefully narrow them down to three options. This discussion was held in a closed session at the end of the

meeting to “protect the public body’s bargaining power,” according to the agenda.

While the meeting focused on the benefits of the last potential location next to SDHS, it doesn’t mean this is where the complex will still go. Tom Perlozzo, director of tourism and business development in Ocean City, said city officials are not advocating the site, but merely using it as an ex-

Members of group formed to bring sports facility to town, assess next steps

HUNTER HINE/OCEAN CITY TODAY

The Ocean City Sports Complex Task Force held its first meeting on Wednesday in an effort to revive a project to build a nearby recreation facility.

Pictured is Jim Arnold, national director of business development at the Sports Facilities Companies, presenting to the task force.

Task force members eager to move forward

Continued from Page 12

ample in presentations.

After Meehan finished, Perlozzo led the task force members through a brief history of the sports complex concept.

County officials began looking into such a facility in 2017. In 2019, officials again discussed the complex aided by a study that reflected the findings of the 2017 evaluation.

Last November, Worcester County residents voted to deny the commissioners the authority to sell $11.2 million in bonds to help pay for the design and construction of the proposed complex, just before commissioners voted not to pursue the purchase of property next to the high school.

Susan Sieger, president and CEO of Crossroads Consulting, said her

company, which produced the 2019 complex study, found demand for an indoor field house and a slew of outdoor fields. The study was updated in 2021 because of covid and other setbacks in order to reevaluate changes in market conditions.

The Crossroads study did not focus on a specific location, Sieger said.

According to Sieger, the estimated construction costs of multi-venue facility would be more than $153 million dollars, with total gross state and local tax revenue supporting debt service between $142 million and $169 million of 20-year revenue bonds.

Local officials hope to convince the general assembly to fund 80 percent of the costs, while the rest could be covered locally. Upgrades for the

Ocean City convention center have been funded between state and local agencies through the same cost-split, officials said at the meeting.

Task Force members also entertained the idea of offsetting some of the expense through sponsorships and facility naming rights.

Gary McGuigan, head of capital projects with the Maryland Stadium Authority, which finances and manages facilities and venues around the state, laid out the next recommended steps officials should take to make headway on the project.

First, a site will have to be chosen and then the cost of the project would have to be nailed down. After that, Ocean City officials could bring the proposal to the state legislature and request “seed money” to pay for project planning.

Task force members expressed the intention to ask for the approximately 80 percent in project funding at the following legislative session.

Jim Arnold, national director of business development at the Sports Facilities Companies, a company that helps public and private entities build and manage sports complexes, showed members what his company has done and how the complexes it manages have performed.

The company has sports complexes across the mid-Atlantic and East Coast, and Arnold said many of them, like the Myrtle Beach and

Panama City Beach SFC locations, represent a market close to that of Ocean City.

“There is an extreme interest in this location because event operators are looking for destinations … and right now there is a huge hole in this region,” Arnold said. “There’s not a venue really up and down the midAtlantic coast until you get to Virginia Beach down south, and then really nothing up north through New York and Connecticut. There’s some stuff, but not matching this destination.”

During discussions, Leonard Berger, member of the blue-ribbon committee that which helped expand the Ocean City convention center, said that the complex should be built with room for expansion.

Hotel owner Sal Fasano, representing the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, highlighted inflation’s effect on the price of construction and materials and said the project should be put into motion sooner rather than later.

Berlin Mayor Zach Tyndall mentioned that given that Berlin is a prospective location, and remains a quaint, small town, the task force should consider how a major complex could affect Berlin’s public works.

“There is a lot of components to this, so let’s get it going,” Meehan said.

Rt 50 bridge work to begin Mon., could run until 2025

(Sept. 15, 2023) The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will resume a long-term repair project on the Route 50 bridge going into Ocean City beginning Monday.

According to a news release, the work is expected to continue intermittently until Spring 2025, weather permitting.

Work will include repair of the structural steel beams and replacement of connection plates where needed.

Later, crews will work on rehabilitating the concrete sidewalks on the bridge and replacing hatches that allow workers to access the underside of the bridge. Contractor Covington Machine

and Welding will perform the work.

Traffic will be maintained in both directions throughout the project period, with some occasional off-peak single-lane closures.

All lane closures will be announced and coordinated with the town to assure travel to and from the resort is not interrupted.

During the winter months, the State Highway Administration will work closely with the U.S. Coast Guard and local officials to establish a work schedule that will minimize impacts to marine traffic.

Updates about the project can be viewed on the project portal page found at roads.maryland.gov.

Progress made on new Nick’s Golf course site

City Council set to review conditional use for Nick’s 19th Street golf location

By Hunter Hine Staff Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) A new plan for a 19th Street Nick’s Mini-Golf course, which has been stalled by a lawsuit from a neighboring motel, made headway last week.

On Sept. 6, the Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to forward to the City Council a conditional use zoning designation for a new Nick’s Mini-Golf Jurassic course with a recommendation for approval.

The project was supposed to sit on lots 150-154 of the Neptune Development Plat, right next to the south side of the Islander Motel on 19th Street. The proposed site has now moved to lots 143-145 on the North side of the motel, remaining its direct neighbor.

Besides the 18-hole dinosaurthemed golf course, plans also include a ropes course and a building to house ice cream sales and other concessions, along with a waterfall feature. A parking lot containing 23 spots will be located about 400 feet away on plot 154.

About a year ago, Nick Geracimos,

owner of Nick’s Golf, received the commission’s favorable recommendation for building the course and its amenities on lots 150-154. The site plan was subsequently approved, but litigation from the Islander Motel halted construction.

Before that, the course existed one block south at 1801 Philadelphia Avenue, with Geracimos holding a business license for that course from

about 2015-2022. The 18th Street location had been leased from the Harrison Group, which eventually decided to build an office there, compelling Geracimos to move the course out and up to 19th Street.

On Sept. 29 of that year, before construction went fully underway, owners of KHEA LLC, which is the Islander Motel, filed a lawsuit against Nick’s Golf that challenged the com-

pany’s right to build there.

Plaintiffs argued that two deed restrictions covering the Neptune Development, one from 1949 and another from 1968, mandated that the subdivision can be used for residential purposes and some rentals only.

The courts ruled in favor of KHEA LLC, stopping Nick’s from building.

HUNTER HINE/OCEAN CITY TODAY

The Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use for a new course for Nick’s Mini-Golf. It was previously planned to be set about 400 feet away from the new location, before Nick’s was sued by the Islander Motel. Pictured, left, is the Islander Motel. The new Nick’s course is proposed to be set on the North side of the motel.

Court ruled course can’t be built at old lots

Continued from Page 16

Nick’s defense has appealed the case, and there has not yet been a decision from the Maryland Supreme Court.

Since Nick’s has not made progress on the construction and the company did not ask for an extension from City Council, the company’s original conditional use has expired.

The new proposed construction on the north side of the Islander Hotel will be virtually the same size as the old plan showed, Geracimos said at the Sept. 6 commission meeting. The only difference will be reduced space between the greens and a smaller pond.

Considering the proposed course’s proximity to hotels, Geracimos anticipates that most customers will walk there, but the area works well for pedestrian foot traffic, he said. There

will be enhanced, 8-foot sidewalks against Coastal Highway and Dolphin Street, by the parking lot, to accommodate pedestrians, he said.

“It makes sense for this area in town. It’s a commercial zoning. I believe that it’s good for the town. It’s good for families. It helps compliment the other businesses around,” Geracimos said.

Geracimos plans to implement measures to mitigate light and sound pollution to surrounding residences through directional lighting and maybe adding blinders to lights, Geracimos said. He also intends to add a speaker for each hole that plays low level music, so mini-golfers can hear it but those outside the course can’t.

In the area between the Islander Motel and the course, Geracimos is

proposing a walkway so that pedestrians on Philadelphia avenue can reach the course entrance on Herring Way.

In that same border, he also plans on adding trees and landscaping to create a barrier against the Islander. There could also be a cedar fence, he said.

“As a businessperson, I’m really so sorry that you went through what you went through on the last iteration,” said commission member Palmer Gillis. “Every time I ride by there I think of the process that you have had to go through on that, so anyway, we’re empathetic.”

Several people came to speak in favor of the project, including Adam Showell, owner of Castle in the Sand, a hotel on 37th Street.

“This has been one of the worst things that’s ever happened to me, having this conflict between these two families over this mini-golf course,” Showell said of the lawsuit.

Showell said that mini-golf is vital to the town’s tourism industry, and that he believes the course would benefit the Islander Motel next door.

attorney Demetrios Kaouris, of McAllister, DeTar, Showalter & Walker, presented their case against the course.

“Imagine you go to a hotel and 10 feet from your headboard or pillow, you have mini-golf, which is going to be noisy, no question, and that’s my main concern,” Gikurias said. “My hotel is not a five-star hotel. It’s a mom-and-pop hotel, so something like this is not going to help my business.”

Being that the Islander is now sandwiched between the course and its parking lot, Gikurias also worried that mini-golf patrons would walk through the motel parking lot.

He noted that the business could worsen an already troublesome lack of parking on Herring Way, and shared concerns about the lighting that could be atop the 36-foot tall ropes course.

“Imagine you go to a hotel and 10 feet from your headboard or pillow, you have mini-golf, which is going to be noisy, no question, and that’s my main concern.”

Peter Gikurias, owner of the Islander Motel and member of KHEA LLC

When Showell developed Sunset Marina in West Ocean City, he said a neighbor of the property sued him. The lawsuit froze the lending payments Showell was receiving from the bank for the project, he said. He believed the real purpose of the suit was so the neighbor could acquire the property at distressed sale price.

Showell eventually resolved the issue and successfully developed the marina, but he speculated that the Islander Motel’s owner might have a similar motive.

Buddy Trala, owner of Sunset Grille in West Ocean City, Doug Buxbaum, owner of Buxy’s Salty Dog and Dry Dock 28 on 27th Street, and others came to speak in support of Geracimos.

The final speaker in support was Leighton Moore, owner of Seacrets, who said that he believes someday amusement parks like Trimper Rides and Jolly Roger will move out of town. Then, mini-golf will be all that’s left for visiting families, Moore said.

“I would encourage you, in this instance and in any instance, to provide some type of family entertainment to this town because some day, if we don’t, you’re going to be stuck with nothing,” Moore said.

After Moore finished, Peter Gikurias, owner of the Islander Motel and member of KHEA LLC, and his

Kaouris argued four reasons why the commission legally shouldn’t forward the conditional use, saying that there actually isn’t enough parking, that the ropes course as an amusement feature is not permitted, that the course is not consistent with the surrounding residential area and that the course doesn’t align with the city’s comprehensive plan.

Geracimos and Watkowski made their own counter arguments to all four points, and the commission voted to grant the conditional use favorable approval.

If the City Council approves the conditional use, it will return to site plan review at the planning commission.

Zoning Administrator Kay Gordy said that council plans to hear the conditional use on Sept.18, and the project could go into site plan review the next day at a planning commission meeting.

Attorney Hugh Cropper, of Booth, Cropper & Marriner, PC, who has represented Nick’s Golf through the court case, said that if the Maryland Court of Appeals (since renamed the Supreme Court of Maryland) rules in favor of Geracimos, he could have the chance to construct the course in its original location on the South side of the Islander Motel. However, Cropper said he isn’t sure if his client would choose to do so since the new location is still a great spot.

The appeals court could, of course, rule in favor of the Islander or send the case back to Circuit Court.

The BEST

The

Worcester schools to enact new school deputy program

By Remy Andersen Staff Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) The public schools of Worcester County should be a little safer thanks to a collaboration between the Worcester County Board of Education, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, and the County Commissioners.

The Worcester County Commissioners last Tuesday approved a new School Resource Deputy (SRD) program. According to the memorandum of understanding presented by Sheriff Matt Crisafulli, the program would work in compliance with the Maryland Safe to Learn Act of 2018.

According to its mission statement, the program would “provide the public schools with valuable law enforcement resources to ensure the safety and security of students, staff, and visitors in schools and on school premises,” also stressing how the well-being of the student and staff would be its primary focus.

SRDs would be employees of the Sheriff’s Office selected to meet the specific needs of each school, and would be assigned while schools were in session. Maryland law requires all SRDs to be certified through the

Maryland Center for School Safety training program.

SRDs would directly collaborate with school staff to provide a safe and supportive learning environment where students are encouraged to grow emotionally, socially, and intellectually.

The school system would grant the SRD access to their security cameras and computer systems in order to view live streaming of the school facilities.

Maryland law requires the sheriff’s office to deploy body-worn cameras that will be worn by the SRDs who regularly interact with citizens.

The SRDs would also have the ability to use appropriate law enforcement interventions to include custodial arrests, non-custodial interventions, and referrals to outside resources and mental health services. Reports of all SRD investigations, arrests and referrals would be sent to the board of education through the sheriff’s office.

The memorandum was signed by Crisafulli and Superintendent Lou Taylor in late August. The agreement would be in service for a one-year period, with any party able to terminate at any time.

The School Resource Deputy Program is set to be enacted in the Worcester County Public School System. This program will ensure the safety and security of all those who attend the public schools, such as Stephen Decatur High School.

Fugitive arrest

Police arrested Gregory Darryl Tucker, 36, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Sept. 5 for a fugitive warrant from his home state.

The warrant states that Tucker is charged with causing or risking a catastrophe, burglary, robbery, strangulation, terroristic threats, theft, assault, indecent assault and criminal mischief.

The warrant also states that Tucker fled from justice.

Sex offense

Police charged Manish Manish, 21, of Glen Burnie, with fourth-degree sexual contact, assault, disorderly conduct and obstructing and hindering after he allegedly inappropriately grabbed a woman on the beach, according to a police report.

Harsh Kumar, 20, also of Glen Burnie, was charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing and hindering after being involved in the same incident.

On Sept. 6, around 3:30 p.m., police responded to the beach at Sixth

Turkish scooter rider killed in Rt. 50 collision

(Sept. 15, 2023) Maryland

State Police are investigating a fatal crash on Monday morning that took the life of a 20-yearold man who was riding an electric scooter on Route 50 in Worcester County.

According to a news release from the Maryland State Police, Muhammed Ekinci, who is from the country of Turkey, was driving a Razor electric scooter around 6 a.m., Monday, Sept. 11, west on Route 50 in the area of Route 589 when he was reportedly struck by a 2011 Ford Fusion.

The driver of the vehicle, Katie Tucker, 45, of Berlin refused medical treatment at the scene.

Roads were closed for about three hours.

The release said anyone with information on the crash is asked to call the Berlin Barrack at 410-641-3101.

Charges are pending the outcome of the investigation and the cause of the crash is under investigation.

A GoFundMe to support Ekinci’s family has been set up and can be accessed at gofundme.com/f/muhammedenes-ekinci.

Street in reference to an assault.

Once arrived, police met the victim, who said she was filming a Tik Tok video on the beach when two men came up behind her and started dancing along with her.

Police later identified the men as Manish and Kumar, according to the report.

She told officers that the two men then began to touch her, and Manish grabbed her breast without permission.

The victim had a video of the incident on her phone, which she showed to police. Officers reported that they could see Manish grab the woman before she swatted his hand away.

Another witness told police that Manish and Kumar had come uncomfortably close to her on the beach and that they walked away when they saw her husband was there.

Continued on Page 22

Motorcylists welcomed back for OC BikeFest

By Remy Andersen Staff Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) Motorcycle fanatics from far and wide have already begun invading the town strip this week for OC BikeFest.

This year’s event runs from Sept. 13-17, taking place at the inlet parking lot and the Ocean City convention center on 40th Street. It serves as an extension of the Delmarva Bike Week, which runs in conjunction with it.

“This time of the year is incredibly important for us,” said Chase Micheal, one of the BikeFest promotors. “The weather is fantastic during the shoulder season, so we’re looking to bring businesses into town to attract as many people as we can.”

The main vendors will be at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. Other vendors for Delmarva Bike Week will be at the Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury.

Concerts will be held at the inlet parking lot from 3:30 to 11 p.m. daily. The gates will open at 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Single-day general access can be purchased for $95, with a three-day pass available for $205. A single-day VIP pass can be purchased for $475,

with the three-day VIP pass costing $925.

The presenting sponsor for the event is Progressive Insurance, with other sponsors including Rommel Harley-Davidson, Coors Light, Jack Daniels, Twisted Tea, Seacrets and Fishtales.

Several nonprofits will also benefit from the funds raised during BikeFest, such as the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, the Ocean City Lions Club, and the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association.

“The community is so important to us,” said Micheal. “People come down to see what the bars, restaurants, and lodging has to offer.”

Due to the event being outdoors, the main issue that has come up with BikeFest over the years has been inclement weather. During the covid-19 pandemic, it had to get postponed, but was able to pick up where it left off the following year.

This year, roughly 140,000 people are expected to attend OC BikeFest and Delmarva Bike Week.

“The weather forecast looks great for this weekend,” Michael said. “We’re hoping people can come down.”

For more information and to buy tickets, visit ocbikefest.com or delmarvabikeweek.com.

Go Green OC partners with BikeFest to recycle waste

By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) Go Green OC will have 40 volunteers working at OC BikeFest this year where they will be collecting cans and pizza boxes.

“We collect cans with 22 recycling bins strategically placed on the grounds,” Josh Chamberlain, the founder of Go Green OC, said.

“This year marks an extraordinary event,” he continued. “We are recycling our 100,000th can since 2019 and increasing our compost efforts. This is one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the world and the only one moving towards zero waste.”

Go Green OC will also have pizza box receptacles. While residents are told to not put the boxes in their recycling bins for pick up, Go Green OC can recycle

them into compost.

The organization will also work with the vendors to collect food waste at the event.

Go Green OC and Ocean Compost are working together to transform Ocean City into the first zero-waste resort town in the United States.

The groups collect food waste from 30 restaurants. The waste is then turned into compost, diverting thousands of pounds of food waste from incinerators.

Chamberlain said they will hit 300,000 pounds of food waste this week.

“This brings our grand total to over 600,000 pounds since 2019,” he said.

Next year, Chamberlain said they will be bringing composting to the convention center, working on zero waste events with the city.

FILE PHOTO/OCEAN CITY TODAY

OC BikeFest attendees check out merchandise at a booth set up in the convention center parking lot during last year’s event.

Worcester teacher of year named finalist for state title

(Sept. 15, 2023) Worcester County Teacher of the Year Jaimie Ridgely has been named one of seven finalists who will compete for 2023-24 Maryland Teacher of the Year.

The Maryland State Board of Education and Maryland State Department of Education announced the names of the finalists in a news release Tuesday.

“I congratulate these seven educators on their nominations and commend them on their extraordinary impact on the lives of our children –educating, encouraging, and inspiring Maryland’s future leaders,” State Board President Clarence Crawford said in the release. “Maryland’s educators demonstrate an unwavering dedication to the children of our state every day and are a true inspiration to their colleagues and community. These seven educators embody that dedication.”

The other finalists are Mary Kay Connerton, Anne Arundel County; Brianne Sounder, Cecil County; Nicole Rhoades, Frederick County; Andrea Schulte, Queen Anne’s County; Raymond Weber, Washington County; and Tara Martens, Wicomico County.

Ridgely is a National Board Certified teacher and literacy enthusiast who prioritizes identity exploration and joy in her literacy enrichment and technology education classes at Stephen Decatur Middle School. Community, voice, choice, and reflection are cornerstones of her studentcentered classroom where students share their creative voices within and beyond the classroom walls.

She earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from Salisbury University.

She is a 21-year veteran teacher who also serves as an adjunct professor, Worcester LEAD teacher, peer mentor and professional development facilitator. She also serves as an

afterschool sponsor for the Book Club, tutoring, and Dungeons and Dragons.

The release said the finalists were selected by a panel of judges from key state education organizations representing principals, teachers, school boards, teacher unions, parents and higher education. Finalists were chosen according to a rigorous set of national criteria that included student achievement, teaching philosophy, academic results, community involvement, and knowledge of educational issues from a group of 24 local teachers of the year, representing the 24 Maryland local education agencies.

Maryland has celebrated the Teacher of the Year Program and participated in the National Teacher of the Year Program for 33 years. In the last decade, the state has had five national finalists, with three becoming the National Teacher of the Year.

Presenting sponsors of the Maryland Teacher of the Year Program are McDonald’s Family Restaurants of Baltimore and the Northrop Grumman Corporation. Platinum sponsors are NTA Life, Educational Systems FCU, Maryland Public Television, and Whiting-Turner Contracting Company.

The 2023-24 Maryland Teacher of the Year will be announced during a gala reception and dinner at Martin’s West in Baltimore on Oct. 13. The winner will receive cash awards, national traveling opportunities, and participate in several national meetings and conferences.

The selected Maryland Teacher of the Year will compete for the National Teacher of the Year Award, to be announced next April.

Maryland’s Teacher of the Year will also spend the 2023-24 school year as an educational speaker and advisor in Maryland and will be honored by the president at the White House next spring.

Worcester County Teacher of the Year

Jaimie Ridgely poses with the trophy she received for the title at an awards ceremony in March.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/ OCEAN CITY TODAY

CROSSWORD

HOROSCOPE

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

Aries, a goal you have been working toward is nearing completion. Take time to reflect on all it took to make the goal come to fruition.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

Taurus, try to get away on a vacation, even if it’s just a weekend jaunt. There’s never been a time you could use a little getaway more than right now. Push this into the priority zone.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

Gemini, it is time to get more movement into your daily activities. Don’t you want to be in the best possible health? Incorporate more exercise gradually with activities you enjoy.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

A partnership will get even stronger this week, Cancer. It could be a relationship with a spouse or even a business partner. You’ll benefit from this added strength.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

You may take immense pleasure from doing mundane chores this week, Leo. Washing windows, organizing the garage, sorting through unused clothes … these are all things to keep busy.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

Your chart lands you in the sector of romance, creativity and passion this week, Virgo. Embrace all of these elements in your life to the fullest.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

Libra, even though you have been a veritable social butterfly lately, you may need to rest your wings for a little bit this week. Slow down and stick closer to home.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

Scorpio, people might be quick to call you mysterious this week, but you just might be an open book. Share as much as you desire with others.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21

Sagittarius, define what you consider valuable, then do everything in your means to pursue those things. Setting goals can help.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

Capricorn, get ready to take center stage these next few days and bask in the limelight. Everyone seemingly wants to get a piece of you and you might be pulled in different directions.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

You are coming off of a season of easy living, Aquarius. But don’t expect the apple cart to be upset. The times of smooth sailing have only just begun.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

It’s all about team spirit right now, Pisces. Don’t do anything alone for the next several days. You need people in your corner cheering you and others on.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Veggie fries offer unique tailgating snack during fall

By Deborah Lee Walker Contributing Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) Crystal prisms shimmer as the sun smiles with anticipation of another fall day.

Much deserved tranquility is reflected under boundless blue sky, school is in session and the Eastern Shore returns to its natural habitat.

Take advantage of the gorgeous weather for Mother Nature is never a given. Foliage and vegetation exchange conversation for farewell is in the air.

Before farmer markets bid adieu, take advantage of the fresh veggies that are still available.

Zucchini, summer squash, and eggplant are sometimes misunderstood and reserved for menus of predictability. As a result, conventionalism categorizes them and their full potential is put on the back burner.

Baseball and football are in season and menus must meet the standards of fanatic sports fans, or one’s celebration will fall short of a winning occasion.

One of the secrets to successful entertaining is the element of surprise. Nachos, wings, meatballs, and sliders are popular and a staple for tailgating.

But a host should always have a unique dish that can be prepared on a moment’s notice. Veggie fries are just the “play” that will score with guests. Crispy eggplant, yellow squash, and zucchini are delicious and a fun play on traditional potato fries.

A choice of zesty marinara and creamy garlic dipping sauce are the final touches to a fun, creative dish.

Knowledge equates understanding. A few helpful hints follow for a successful, delicious snack.

Let us briefly touch on the subject of marinara sauce. Adding a touch of baking powder to the sauce minimizes the acidity. When the hot sauce starts to foam, it’s working. Now let’s move onto the fries.

The bitterness of the eggplant needs to be addressed. Cut the eggplant into the shape of fries and add a generous amount of salt.

Allow the salted fries to sit for about 30 minutes. The eggplant will start to sweat, and this is a good thing. When the eggplant is sweating, the bitterness is oozing out. Then rinse the fries thoroughly in cold water.

The dredging set up is another topic for discussion.

The first step is to coat the fries in flour, this will act as a glue. The next step is the egg wash mixture; 1 teaspoon of water for every egg. The last part of the coating process is to dip the fries in a mixture of flour, corn meal, and panko. The panko gives the fries great texture and the cornmeal adds flavor.

When frying the fries, do not overcrowd the pan. Otherwise, the temperature of the oil will drop which will produce soggy fries.

Once the veggie fries are cooked, place them on a cooling rack for optimum crunchiness. Placing fried foods on a plate lined with soggy paper towels defeats the whole philosophy of crispiness.

Veggie fries are simple to make, but don’t mistake easiness for mediocrity. These goodies from the garden are packed with flavor and sure to receive accolades from meatatarians and vegetarians alike. Enjoy!

See DIP Page 28

Dip fries in marinara ketchup, creamy garlic

Continued from Page 27

Veggie Fries

Marinara Ketchup

1 (28-oz.) can good quality crushed tomatoes

2 pinches baking soda

1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon onion powder

1 to 1 ½ teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried thyme

2 teaspoons dried basil

½ teaspoon black pepper

1 1 ½ tablespoons heavy cream

1. In a small pan, combine the ingredients until fully incorporated. Simmer for 15 minutes. Set aside.

Creamy Garlic Dip

1 cup mayonnaise

6 tablespoons mascarpone cheese

8 tablespoons heavy cream

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon chopped jarred garlic

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

several pinches Herbs de Province

1. In a small bowl, combine the ingredients until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to use. Allow to

sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

Veggie Fries

1 eggplant

3 teaspoons kosher salt, plus extra salt to taste

2 zucchinis

2 yellow squashes

1 ½ cups flour

1 cup corn meal

3 cups plain panko

3 large eggs

3 teaspoons water canola oil for frying

freshly ground black pepper to taste grated parmesan cheese

fresh basil as a garnish

1. Remove the ends of the eggplant and cut into strips resembling fries.

2. Place the eggplant fries on a plate and coat them with 3 teaspoons of kosher salt. They will start to sweat after about 30 minutes. Rinse eggplant fries thoroughly and set aside.

3. Remove the ends of the zucchinis and squashes, and cut them into the shape of fries.

4. Prepare the dredging station by placing 1 cup of flour on a large plate. The next step is to whisk the water and eggs in a small bowl. Then combine remaining flour, corn meal, and

panko in a pie pan, mix thoroughly.

5. Press individual fries in the flour and shake off any excess. Then dip the fries in the egg mixture, allowing excess egg mixture to drip off. The last step of the dredging process is to gently press the fries in the panko mixture, making sure the fries are completely covered in the breading.

6. Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until the temperature reaches 375 degrees.

7. Fry the fries until the edges turn a golden-brown color, about 3 minutes. Turn the fries over and again for

another 2 minutes or until the entire surface of the fries are golden brown.

8. When the fries are cooked, place them on a cooling rack and apply a dusting of salt.

9. Allow the fries to cool slightly and place on a serving platter. Apply a dusting of parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with fresh basil and serve with marinara ketchup and creamy, garlic dip Secret Ingredient – Winning “You can’t win unless you learn how to lose.”

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Scrap tire drop-off day Oct. 7

(Sept. 15, 2023) The Worcester County Commissioners and Public Works Recycling Division, in conjunction with the Maryland Department of the Environment and Maryland Environmental Services, will host Citizens Scrap Tire Drop-Off Day from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 7.

The event will take place at the Central Landfill in Newark.

Worcester County residents are encouraged to get rid of their old, scrap, passenger and light truck tires

free of charge, with a limit of 10 tires per household. Photo ID is required at drop off.

Only non-commercial truck and car tires will be accepted. No agricultural tires will be accepted, and no businesses, commercial haulers of tires, or generators of scrap tires will be permitted to participate in the drop-off.

For more info, contact Worcester County Recycling Manager Bob Keenan at 410-632-3177, ext. 2405.

NOW PLAYING

CHRIS DILLER DUO

Coconut’s Bar & Grille: Thursday, Sept. 21, 4-8 p.m.

THE ANGLER RESTAURANT

312 Talbot St., Ocean City, 410-289-7424 / www.angleroc.net

Sept. 15: Dustin Showers Duo, 5-9 p.m.

Sept. 16: Brian Bishop, 5-9 p.m.

Sept. 17: Carley Twigg, 5-9 p.m.

Sept. 20: Sean Loomis, 5-9 p.m.

Sept. 21: Steve Founds, 5-9 p.m.

CAPTAIN’S TABLE

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

Every Friday & Saturday: Phil Perdue, 5-9 p.m.

CAROUSEL BEACH BAR - TSUNAMI

In the Carousel Hotel, 118th Street, Ocean City 410-524-1000 / www.carouselhotel.com

Sept. 15: DJ Nigel, 7-9 p.m.

Sept. 16: DJ Nigel, 7-9 p.m.

Sept. 17: Chino Rankin, 5-8 p.m.

Sept. 21: Chino Rankin, 5-8 p.m.

CARRIBBEAN POOL BAR

In the Plim Plaza Hotel

109 N. Atlantic Avenue, Ocean City 410-289-6181 / www.plimplazaoc.com

Sept. 15: Pistol Whipped, 7-11 p.m.

Sept. 16: Bryan Ambition, 1-5 p.m.; The Runner Ups, 7-11 p.m.

COCONUT’S BAR & GRILLE

3701 Atlantic Avenue, Ocean City, 21841

410-289-6846 / castleinthesand.com

Sept. 15: Darin Engh, noon to 4 p.m.; The Dunehounds, 5-9 p.m.

Sept. 16: Shortcut Sunny, noon to 4 p.m.; The Beach Bandits, 5-9 p.m.

Sept. 17: Acoustic Campfire, noon to 3 p.m.; The Lauren Glick Band, 4-8 p.m.

Sept. 18: Sean Loomis, noon to 3 p.m.; Remy & Lyons, 48 p.m.

Sept. 19: Jess Arms, noon to 3 p.m.; Dave Hawkins & Joe

Mama, 4-8 p.m.

Sept. 20: Jack Bannon, noon to 3 p.m.; Bell Bottom Blues, 4-8 p.m.

Sept. 21: Doug Kaetz, noon to 4 p.m.; Chris Diller Duo, 4-8 p.m.

COINS

28th Street and Coastal Highway, Ocean City

410-289-3100 / www.coinspuboc.com

Sept. 15: Identity Crisis, 8 p.m.

Sept. 16: Last Show of the Season, “Jim Long” Get Off the Beach Party, 3:30-6:30 p.m.; Mercury Agenda, 8 p.m.

Sept. 20: Support Your Local Bartender Night w/DJ Wax, 9 p.m.

CRAWL STREET TAVERN

19 Wicomico Street, Ocean City 443-373-2756

JIM LONG

Coins: Saturday, Sept. 16, 3:30-6:30 p.m.

Sept. 15: Whiskey Revival, 9 p.m.

Sept. 16: Shots Fired, 9 p.m.

HAMMERHEADS RAW BAR & GRILL

913 Atlantic Ave. on the boardwalk, Ocean City 410-289-0006 / www.hammerheadsocmd.com

Sept. 15: Anna Burgess, 7-11 p.m.

Sept. 16: Red Bullett, 1-5 p.m.; Josh Pryor, 7-11 p.m.

Sept. 17: Tim Cyphers, 1-5 p.m.

MACKY’S BAYSIDE BAR & GRILL

54th Street and the bay, Ocean City 410-723-5565 / mackys.com

Sept. 15-16: Live Music, 10 p.m.

PICKLE’S PUB

706 Philadelphia Avenue, Ocean City, 410-289-4891 / picklesoc.com

Sept. 15: Beats by Deojee, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Sept. 16: Dunehounds, 1-5 p.m.; Sox Whiskey Rival, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; TBD 10 p.m.

Sept. 17: Beats by Deojee, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Sept. 18: Karaoke w/Wood, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Sept. 19: Beats by Wax, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Sept. 20: Beats by Deojee, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Sept. 21: Beats by Wax, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

SEACRETS

49th Street and the Bay, Ocean City

410-524-4900 / www.seacrets.com

Sept. 15: Scott Marshall and The Highway Souls, 5-9 p.m.; DJ Davie, 6 p.m. to 1:50 a.m.; Triple Rail Turn, 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; DJ Tuff, 9 p.m. to 1:50 a.m.; Live Wire, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Sept. 16: DJ Bobby-O, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; South Penn

Dixie, 5-9 p.m.; DJ Tuff, 6 p.m. to 1:50 a.m.; DJ Cruz, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Dear Zoe, 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m; Steal The Sky, 10 p.m. to 1:50 a.m.

Sept. 21: Opposite Directions, 5-9 p.m.; DJ Connair, 9 p.m. to 1:50 a.m.

WHISKER’S BAR & GRILL

In the Ocean City Square Shopping Center, 11805 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City 410-524-2609 /www.whiskersbar.com

Sept. 15: Dance with Beats by Followers, 8 p.m.

Sept. 18: Industrial Night, 8 p.m.

Sept. 19: Ladies Night; Karaoke w/DJ Wood, 8 p.m.

Dining Guide

■ PRICE RANGE: $, $$, $$$

■ RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted

DOWNTOWN

■ ANGLER RESTAURANT

312 Talbot St., Ocean City 410-289-7424, www.angleroc.net

$$ | Reservations | Kid’s menu | Full bar

$6 cruise with $15 lunch or dinner food purchase. Serving lunch, dinner, and lite fare. Seafood is our specialty and great landlubber choices. Boat Bar Happy Hour is 3-6 p.m. Open daily. For lunch, dinner, and Lite fare. Dine in or carry out available.

■ ANTHONY’S CARRYOUT

1608 N Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, (corner of 17th and Coastal Hwy) 410-213-4803, anthonyscarryoutoc.com

$$ | Sandwich shop

American restaurant serving breakfast and lunch. Locally baked rolls with overstuffed and oversized subs, sandwiches, hand cut Idaho fries, fried chicken and much more. Thinly shaved slow roasted roast beef and hams daily. Breakfast sandwiches stuffed meats, eggs and cheese piled high. A must try!!! Open daily, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

■ CABANAS BEACH BAR & GRILLE

Located in the Plim Plaza Hotel, 109 N Atlantic Ave., 2nd Street & the boardwalk, Ocean City, 410-524-1776, 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 starting with breakfast 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, 410-2897192, captainstableoc.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

A local tradition for more than 60 years featuring hand cut steaks, premium lobster and perfectly prepared regional seafood. Open for breakfast and dinner every day. Happy Hour, seven days a week, 4-6 p.m. Breakfast: Monday through Friday, 7:30-10:30 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 7:3011:30 a.m. Dinner: Sunday through Thursday, 49 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 4-10 p.m.

■ CARUSO’S PIZZA & SUBS

Downtown & Boardwalk across from Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Ocean City, 410-289-1990, oceancitymdpizza.com

$$ | Kids’ menu

Pizza, subs, calzones, stromboli’s. Fresh lemonade, orange crushes and beer. Open 7 days a week. Dine in or carry out available.

■ 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, 25:30 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. Open Monday through Friday, 2 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. Dine-in, carry out. Ordering online www.coinspuboc.com.

■ 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, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Happy Hour, every day, 3-6 p.m.

■ CRAWL STREET TAVERN

19 Wicomico Street, Ocean City 443-373-2756, @crawlstreettavern

$$ | Kid’s menu | Full bar

Come join the Crawl Street Tavern family with great food, drinks and fun. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Good home cooking from cream chip beef, pancakes to their famous crab

cake sandwiches, burgers, finger foods, tacos, steamed shrimp, salads, wings, soups and much more. Open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Dine in or take out. No delivery.

■ DUMSER’S DAIRYLAND

Caroline Street, Wicomico Street and S. Division Street on the boardwalk, Ocean City www.dumsersdairyland.com

Ice Cream is made daily. Stop by any Dumser’s location for homemade ice cream, milk shakes, sundaes, floats and much more. Open 7 days a week.

■ FISHTALES BAR & GRILL

21st Street and the Bay, Ocean City 410-289-

0990

$-$$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Fishtales located in a premier outdoor beach location on the bay with the best sunsets. Come for the best local fare in town. We offer lunch and dinner with great happy hour food and drink specials. Kids play area too. So, sit back and enjoy. Open 7 days a week.

■ HAMMERHEADS RAW BAR & GRILL

913 Atlantic Ave. on the boardwalk, Ocean City, 410-289-0006, www.hammerheadsocmd.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Oceanfront deck. Try our Seafood steam pots and 1/2 lb burgers, creative cocktails like the shark and tank and rum punch bucket. Take a break from the beach with a cool frozen drink or one of our refreshing fresh squeezed fruit crushes. Open 7 Days a week, noon to 10 p.m. Dine in or carry out is available.

■ HARBOR WATCH RESTAURANT

806 S. Atlantic Ave., Boardwalk & Inlet, Ocean City 410-289-5121, harborwatchrestaraunt.com

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

Harbor Watch Restaurant prides itself on the highest quality seafood, unlimited sides, known for our award-winning raw bar, certified angus beef and home to the best view of Ocean City Inlet and Assateague Island. Open daily, Monday through Thursday at 4 p.m., Friday through Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Call for banquet and largeparty details.

■ OCHO RIOS JERK & TINGS

11805 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City 443-664-7275, www.ochoriosjerkandtings.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Authentic Jamaican food in Ocean City. Serving lunch and dinner. Yardies’ Jerk Wings, soups, salads, chicken seafood, beef, oxtails to curry goat and coco breads. Finish off a delicious meal with Jamaican rum cake and fried sweet plantains. Vegan options are available. Open 7 days a week, Monday through Thursday, noon to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

■ PICKLES PUB

706 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City 410-289-4891, www.picklesoc.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Open daily. Serving food until 1 a.m. Free parking across the street. Daily food and drink specials. Live entertainment 6 nights a week. Lots of pool tables. Liquor store attached. Game room. 30+ drafts on tap. Dine in or carry out.

■ PIZZA MAMBO

710 Philadelphia Ave., between 7th and 8th Streets, Ocean City 410-289-1200; 7205

Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 410-524-0090, ocpizzamambo.com

$$ | Kids’ menu

Serving pizzas with homemade crust, sauces, and 100 percent cheese. Specialty pizzas, wings, appetizers, and salads. Also, calzone, subs, and sandwiches. Fast free delivery with 2 locations. Open year round. Order online at ocpizzamambo.com

■ TOAST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

221 Wicomico St, Downtown Ocean City, Inside Emerson Towers on the Bay 410-237-7070, www.toastocmd.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Serving NY specialty pizzas, home of the Super Slice Challenge, brunch breakfast, soups, salads, sandwiches & subs, Italian & Seafood. Relocated to Ocean City’s downtown bayfront. Check out Facebook for daily specials, days & hours open. Dine in and carry out available. Open 7 days a week. Serving brunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner 3-9 p.m. Happy Hour 1-6 p.m.

■ THE WEDGE BAR

806 S. Atlantic Ave., Boardwalk and Inlet, Ocean City thewedgeoc.com

$-$$ | Full bar

Sit back, savor and take in the fresh salt air breeze at the most geographically unique dining spot. Treat your senses to elevated coastal cuisine and panoramic views of the ocean, bay and

Assateague Island — the best view in town just got better. Enjoy small plates, sandwiches and burgers grilled on Ocean City’s only Josper grill. Happy Hour, Sunday through Thursday, 3-5 p.m., featuring $10 Wings, chicken tenders, steamed shrimp, and $12 house burger!

■ 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! Don’t miss out on Happy Hour, every day, 3-6 p.m.

■ THE BONFIRE

7009 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City 410-524-7171, thebonfirerestaurant.com

$$$ | Kid’s menu | Full bar

The ultimate all-you-care-to-eat seafood and prime rib buffet. 150 feet of delicious food with prime rib carving to order station, chicken, ham, steamed and fried shrimp, briskets, salad and soup bars, homemade desserts, and so much more. Crab legs are available by the pound. Check out the early bird specials. A special section of foods for children when the kids are happy so are the parents. Plenty of seating for large parties. Call for reservations. Voted the best buffet in Ocean City for 6 years. Open 7 days a week, Monday through Friday, 4 p.m.; Saturday, 3 p.m.; and Sunday, 4 p.m.

■ 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.

■ MACKY’S BAYSIDE

54th Street & The Bay, Ocean City 410-7235565, info@macky.com

$$$ | Kid’s menu | Full bar

Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill, where life is good! Macky’s features chef inspired specials, an awesome happy hour and the best bayside sunset on the Eastern Shore. Visit mackys.com to check out our music schedule and upcoming events. Come hang out where life is good, Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill. Closed Monday through Wednesday. Open Thursday, 3-11 p.m.; Friday, 3 p.m. to midnight,; Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

■ PGN 29th Street, Ocean City, 3301 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City 410-289-8380, 410-289-4083, www,pgncrabhouse.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Beer & Wine

Know for their famous steamed crabs. Dining in or carry out is available. Casual seasonal seafood stop for the all-you-can-eat specials. Steamed crabs, chicken and corn on the cob. You can find clams, ribs, crab cakes, seafood platters and more. You can call for daily specials. Open 7 days a week. 11 a.m.

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

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

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

brand. Reef 118 Restaurant, Saturday through Sunday, 7-11 a.m. buffet or A la carte. Serving Dinner; Bamboo Lounge, Sunday through Thursday, 4-9 p.m., Friday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Bistro, Friday, 3-10 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reef 118 Restaurant, Friday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy cocktails in the Bamboo Lounge, Sunday through Thursday, 4-10 p.m., Friday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

■ SQUARZ PIZZA & RESTAURANT

In Montego Bay Shopping Center, 12825 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City 443-664-8149, www.squarzpizza.com,

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

New Ownership. Open 7 days a week at 4 PM. Serving soups, salads, build your own pizza, small plates, sandwiches, dinner entrees and desserts. Full bar and HH 7 days a week, 4 to 6 PM. Dine in special menu that changes weekly in addition to the regular menu. Wide variety of gluten free options. No fryers on premises, Dine in, carry out and delivery available. Check out the menu and order online. 10% of entire check excluding alcohol.

■ VISTA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT

Located on the 8th Floor of the Fenwick Inn, 13801 Coastal Highway, Ocean City VISTAROOFTOPOC.COM / @VISTAROOFTOPOC

$$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Check out this beautiful restaurant overlooking the ocean, bayside view and looking down Coastal Highway. Now open. Serving lunch and dinner with a Happy Hour menu. Soups, salads, house specials, starters, fork & knife specials to fabulous deserts. The drink menu is a must including specialty cocktails, martini list to crushes. Check out the menu online for more information.

■ WHISKER’S PUB

11805 Coastal Hwy., Located in the Ocean City Square Shopping Center 410-524-2609, whiskerspub.com

$$/$$$ | Kid’s menu | Full bar

Under new management. Serving lunch and dinner with new menu items. Finger foods, savory sandwiches, soups, salads, and delicious entrees. One of the highlights is the famous burgers. High quality ingredients and cooked to perfection. Also, serving fresh seafood, steaks, and chef’s special dishes. Open 7 days a week at 3 p.m. Happy Hour, daily, 4-7 p.m. Dine in, carry out and curbside pickup. Come for the food and stay for the fun.

OCEAN PINES

■ CLUBHOUSE BAR AND GRILLE

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

$$ | Full bar

Indoor and outdoor dining with sweeping views of the 18th green and pond, the Clubhouse Bar and Grille serves freshly prepared breakfast and lunch items with a full bar menu. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday. Carry out also available.

■ OCEAN PINES YACHT CLUB

1 Mumford Landing Road, Ocean Pines 410641-7222, www.OPYachtclub.com

$$-$$$ | Full bar

The Ocean Pines Yacht Club offers casual coastal cuisine for lunch and dinner in a beautiful bayfront setting. Fresh seafood, signature drinks, live music and more. Open daily at 11 a.m.

WEST OCEAN CITY

■ CANTINA LOS AGAVES MEXICAN GRILL

12720 Ocean Gateway #7, West Ocean City 410-390-3914, 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.

■ BAHAMA’S CRAB SHACK CARRYOUT & OUTLET

Oceanside MD/DE Line and Coastal Hwy, Fenwick 302-537-5882

Premier seafood, chicken, homemade soups, super crab cakes, steamed shrimp, fresh clams, soft crabs, scallops, oysters and snow crab claws. Fat crabs by weight, sandwiches and dinners. Closed on Tuesday. Open Wednesday through Monday at 11 a.m.

■ CAROUSEL OCEANFRONT HOTEL & CONDOS

118th Street, Ocean City 800-641-0011, www.carouselhotel.com

Enjoy one of four restaurants in the Carousel. Serving breakfast; The Bistro, Saturday through Sunday, 7-11 a.m. proudly serving Starbuck’s

■ OC CHOPSTICKS Asian Bistr 12741 Ocean Gateway, Suite 890, West Ocean City (Outlets Ocean City) 410-801-1111, www.occhopsticks.com

$$ | Beer | Premium Sake

Authentic Chinese, Japanese and Thai food. Dine-in and carry out. Lunch specials, dinner and lite fare. Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m to 9:30 p.m. and Friday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

■ PIZZA TUGOS

9935 Stephen Decatur Hwy., West Ocean City 410-524-2922, pizzatugos.com

$$ | Full bar | Celebrating 40 years in Ocean City. Offering pizza, wings, burgers, subs, salads, pasta and more! Open daily at 11 a.m. Serving food until 2 a.m.

Berlin woman wins $100K through lottery cash bash

(Sept. 15, 2023) A Berlin woman boogied her way to the finish of the Maryland Lottery’s 50th Anniversary Cash Bash Event last Friday, nabbing a $100,000 prize before an audience of spectators at the Maryland State Fair in Timonium.

The winner, 63-year-old Virginia Mayo Holland, was one of 10 finalists who had been randomly selected from more than 3.3 million entries in the Maryland Lottery’s 50th Anniversary Cash Bash second-chance promotion.

A centerpiece of the Maryland Lottery’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, the cash bash promotion ran from February to August and featured a series of five drawings. In each drawing, two finalists were selected to take part in the cash bash event for a chance to win a prize of up to $5 million.

Mayo Holland and the other nine finalists entered the contest by registering $50 worth of any lottery products through My Lottery Rewards, the Maryland Lottery’s player loyalty program.

In Friday’s event, Holland ad-

vanced to the last of three rounds by selecting a series of numbers from a large video board. With each selection, the finalists had a chance to win a cash prize or advance for a chance to win larger prizes.

Although the results were random, Holland’s number selection had a purpose.

“I was choosing numbers that were meaningful for me, my husband’s age, my number of children,” she said in a news release.

When one of those meaningful selections carried her to the final round, she punctuated the lucky moment with a dance and a little twirl.

“That’s my lucky dance — something I’ve always done when luck comes my way,” Holland said with a smile.

The lucky finalist would dance again — this time after revealing several matching prize amounts in the final round and winning $100,000.

“I’m just so grateful,” she said in the release. “With this prize money I can do things that will improve life for both me and my husband.”

OCES custodian named ed support professional of year

(Sept. 15, 2023) The Maryland State Education Association, the union representing 75,000 educators across the state, recently named Ocean City Elementary School Custodian Ivory Smith the 2023 Education Support Professional of the Year.

Smith was set to be honored and recognized on Sept. 11 at his school and on Sept. 19 at the Worcester County Board of Education meeting.

The award recognizes the contributions of education support professionals to their schools, communities, and professions. The award is presented to a member of the education association who demonstrates outstanding accomplishments and reflects the contributions of education support professionals to public education and their community.

“Ivory, like so many education support professionals, makes an invaluable impact on his whole school and community,” Association President Cheryl Bost said in a news release. “Education support professionals are often unnoticed and unsung heroes, providing technology and building maintenance, classroom support, transportation, food services, healthcare, security, and more. Schools can’t function without support staff, and Ivory represents their

finest qualities. We’re thrilled to celebrate him and the work of all ESPs with this well-deserved award.”

Along with his role in his school, Smith is president of the Worcester County Education Support Personnel Association. He is a member of the state education association and National Education Association Black Caucus, and the National Council of Education Support Professionals and serves on the education association and National Education Association boards.

In the community, he is a past president of the local NAACP, secretary of the Pittsville Economic Development Committee, and has coached youth basketball for 20 years.

He was the 2018 Maryland State Conference NAACP Dream Team Honoree, has been nominated as a Local Black Leader by WMDT47, received a key to the city from Ocean City, and recognized by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. as the 2019 Citizen of the Year.

To identify the annual education support professional of the year, the education association receives nominations from across the state, which is part of the association’s broader work to elevate respect and appreciation for the staff members.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Berlin resident Virginia Mayo Holland poses with a $100,000 check that she won during the Maryland Lottery’s 50th Anniversary Cash Bash Promotion, which culminated with an event at the Maryland State Fair in Timonium on Sept. 8.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Ocean City Elementary School custodian Ivory Smith poses with Maryland State Education Association President Cheryl Bost, left, and OCES Principal Julie Smith after receiving the association’s Education Support Professional of the Year award.

Fri., Sept. 15

OC BIKEFEST & DELMARVA BIKE WEEK

Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Events also held at the OC Inlet Parking Lot, Shorebirds Stadium and Rommel Harley-Davidson. Custom bike builders, concerts, stunt shows, vendors and more. Schedule and tickets: https://ocbikefest.com.

DELMARVA BIKE WEEK

Perdue Stadium, 6400 Hobbs Road, Salisbury, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Motorcycle demos, Indian demos/sales, thrill shows, live music, vendors, food and drinks and more. Admission and park are free at the Shorebirds Stadium. Schedule: https://delmarvabikeweek.com.

2023 WORCESTER COUNTY FAIR

Byrd Park, 400 Dighton Ave., Snow Hill, 2-7 p.m. Live entertainment, kid activities and crafts, bingo games, 4-H indoor exhibits and food. Admission is free. www.worcestercountyfair.com

MAHJONG CLUB

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

SURVIVAL SPANISH: THE BASICS

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 1 p.m. Learn about the Spanish vocabulary for basic greetings and conversations. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

BOOK DISCUSSION: ‘THE DISAPPEARING SPOON’ BY SAM KEAN

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 2 p.m. Copies of the book are available at the Berlin Library circulation desk. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

Sat., Sept. 16

OC BIKEFEST & DELMARVA BIKE WEEK

Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Events also held at the OC Inlet Parking Lot, Shorebirds Stadium and Rommel Harley-Davidson. Custom bike builders, concerts, stunt shows, vendors and more. Schedule and tickets: https://ocbikefest.com.

DELMARVA BIKE WEEK

Perdue Stadium, 6400 Hobbs Road, Salisbury, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Motorcycle demos, Indian demos/sales, thrill shows, live music, vendors, food and drinks and more. Admission and park are free at the Shorebirds Stadium. Schedule: https://delmarvabikeweek.com.

2023 WORCESTER COUNTY FAIR

Byrd Park, 400 Dighton Ave., Snow Hill, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Live entertainment, kid activities and crafts, bingo games, 4-H indoor exhibits, food and Classic Car & Truck Show (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Admission is free. www.worcestercountyfair.com

CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE

First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City, 1301 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City. 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

WALK WITH A DOC

South Gate Pond, Ocean Pines, 9 a.m. This month’s speaker is Dr. Kieran Py of Atlantic General Primary Care, who will discuss healthy aging. Alyce Marzola, amarzola@atlanticgeneral.org

TINKER TIME: STEM KITS

Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Drop in anytime. Use the library’s supplies and your imagination to explore STEM concepts with the selfguided kits. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org

DRIVE THRU LUNCH

Powellville Volunteer Fire Co, 5085 Powellville Road, Pittsville, 10 a.m. Oyster fritter, $12; chicken salad sandwich, $5; pint of chicken salad, $8; pint of peas & dumplings, $6; pint of vegetable beef soup, $6.

DRESS MINISTRY FUNDRAISER

Byrd Park, 400 Dighton Ave., Snow Hill, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. The Dress Ministry table will be located next to the Welcome booth at the Worcester County Fair. For a $3 donation, a jump rope kit will be given as a thank you gift. Barbara Entwistle, 443-669-3781

2ND ANNUAL BREWS & ROOS

Barn Hill Preserve of Delaware, 34215 Peppers Corner Road, Frankford, 12-5 p.m. Featuring local breweries w/samples, live music, a food truck, kangaroos, and the wildlife park. Proceeds go towards Kids Saving the Rainforest. Must be at least 21 years old. Cost is $25, $60 or $90.

T(W)EEN TRIVIA CHALLENGE!

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 1 p.m. Join in for a teens and tweens trivia challenge. What will the winning team go home with? For ages 11 years and older. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

15TH ANNUAL JESSE’S PADDLE

Pocomoke River Canoe Company, 2 River St., Snow Hill, 4 p.m. A minimum $35 donation is requested for the Jesse’s Poker Paddle (5 p.m.). To reserve a boat: 410-632-3971. Enjoy music, free hot dogs, chips and beverages and a silent auction. www.jessespaddle.org

EN GARDE!

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 1 p.m. Dave Nemazie, international fencing competitor and coach at the Salisbury Fencing Club, will teach this class. The class will focus on Epée. Get a taste of the Olympic Sport of Fencing. 410-641-0650

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. 17

OC BIKEFEST & DELMARVA BIKE WEEK

Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Events also held at the Shorebirds Stadium and Rommel Harley-Davidson. Custom bike builders, concerts, stunt shows, vendors and more. Schedule and tickets: https://ocbikefest.com.

DELMARVA BIKE WEEK

Perdue Stadium, 6400 Hobbs Road, Salisbury, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Motorcycle demos, Indian demos/sales, thrill shows, live music, vendors, food and drinks and more. Admission and park are free at the Shorebirds Stadium. Schedule: https://delmarvabikeweek.com.

2023 WORCESTER COUNTY FAIR

Byrd Park, 400 Dighton Ave., Snow Hill, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Live entertainment, kid activities and crafts, bingo games, 4-H indoor exhibits and food. Admission is free. www.worcestercountyfair.com

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES MEETING

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

BERLIN FARMERS MARKET

Sundays through Sept. 24 - Commerce, Pitts and Main streets, Berlin, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. More than 35 farmers, food cultivators, bakers, distillers, seafood, meat, eggs and more. TheBerlinFarmersMarket.com

Mon., Sept. 18

STORY TIME: ‘ALPHABET’

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Read stories, sing songs and play games while learning about the alphabet. For ages 2-5 years. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES!

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 1 p.m. Using fun games and activities, the group will research, explore and learn all about the wonders of nature. Recom-

mended for ages 6 years and older. 410208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

GREAT BOOKS DISCUSSION

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 2:30 p.m. The group will focus on “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” by Robert Pirisg. Reading from Book 5 of the Great Conversations Anthology. 410-2084014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

FREE BOAT CRUISE OF THE BAYS

Talbot St. Watersports, 311 Talbot St., Ocean City, 4-6 p.m. Celebrate National Estuaries Week with a tour aboard the Assateague Adventure. Register: mdcoastalbays.org, mcbp@mdcoastalbays.org.

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

Atlantic General Hospital, Conference Room 1, 9733 Healthway Drive, 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

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. 19

MUSIC AND MOVEMENT

Worcester County Library - Pocomoke Branch, 301 Market St., 10:30 a.m. Join in for silly songs with rhythmic instruments. For ages 2-5 years. 410-9570878, www.worcesterlibrary.org

OC KNITTING GROUP

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

BLOCK PARTY

Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 11 a.m.7 p.m. Babies, toddlers and preschoolers, join in for a block party. Play with blocks and other toys while socializing with other families. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org

PARACHUTE PLAY

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 3:30 p.m. Get your exercise and play with the library’s parachute. Games and music will add to the fun. For ages 2-5 years. 410-6410650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

LIFE-SIZED SUNFLOWER CRAFT

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 4 p.m. Most sunflowers grow to be about 6 feet tall (with some even reaching 20 feet tall). Join the group as they craft life-sized sunflowers. For ages 6-10 years. 410641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

DOCUMENTARY: ‘RUMBLE: THE INDIANS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD’

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 5:30 p.m. Learn about the Native Americans who contributed to rock music. This is part of the community read series. 410524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

BEACH HEROES-OC

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

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES MEETING

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

TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY

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

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.

Wed., Sept. 20

BARIATRIC SUPPORT GROUP

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

BACKGAMMON CLUB

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10:30 a.m. Drop in for a game of strategy that dates back 5,000 years to Mesopotamia and Persia. Beginners welcome. 410-2084014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

CHAMBER 101 LUNCH

Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce, 11047 Racetrack Road, Berlin, 12-1 p.m. Learn how to use the chamber’s website, advertising and networking opportunities, affinity programs, and more. Lunch is provided. RSVP: kerrie@oceanpineschamber.org.

LIGHTED MUMMY LANTERNS

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 3:30 p.m. Use mason jars, gauze and tea lights to make decorative mummies for inside or outside your home. For ages 6 years and

older. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

John H. “Jack” Burbage, Jr. Regional Cancer Care Center, 9707 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 1-2 p.m. For survivors and current patients battling breast cancer. Women Supporting Women, 410-5487880

STROKE SUPPORT GROUP

Atlantic General Neurology, 314 Franklin Ave., Unit 104, Berlin, 3-4 p.m. For stroke survivors, family and friends. 410-641-4765, bglime@atlanticgeneral.org

KIWANIS CLUB MEETING

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

Thurs., Sept. 21

CPAP MASK FITTING

Atlantic General Hospital’s Sleep Disorders Diagnostic Center, 9733 Healthway Drive, Berlin. Free service for patients who are having trouble adjusting to their CPAP equipment. By appointment only: Robin Rohlfing, 410-641-9726.

STORY TIME: ‘ALMA’

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10:30 a.m. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with this wonderful story all about Alma. Stick around after for a fun craft. For ages 2-5 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

PLAY TIME

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

CHESS CLUB

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Come to the library and bring your boards. All are welcome. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

GENEALOGY WORKSHOP

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 11 a.m. The workshop starts with a 20-minute lesson on genealogy research, followed by a Q&A. Bring laptops, tablets or papers containing family information. Registration requested: 410-208-4014.

INCLUSIVE MOTHER GOOSE ON THE LOOSE

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 11 a.m. An interactive session using rhymes, song, puppets, music and more to stimulate the learning process of babies and tod-

WINE AND TUNES

dlers. Parents can receive tips from a child service provider. 410-641-0650

MUSIC LEGENDS SERIES: THE BAND

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin. 2 p.m. View a 1978 film, directed by Martin Scorsese, of The Band’s “farewell concert appearance” at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom. Headliners include Bob Dylan and Neil Young. 410208-4014

MOBILE MENTOR

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 2 p.m. Providing one-on-one assistance for those who want to make the most of their tablet or mobile device. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

TONING DOWN

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 4:30 p.m. Body sculpting, using light weights (optional) while adding cardio moves infused with upbeat music to create a calorie torching strength training fitness party. Registration required: 410-641-0650.

ROMANCE BOOK CLUB: ‘ACROSS A FIELD OF STARLIGHT’ BY BLUE DELLIQUANTI

The Buzzed Word, 11805 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 6 p.m. Join the Ocean City Library with The Buzzed Word for an evening of Queer Romance and Wine. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

BEACH SINGLE 55 PLUS MEET AND GREET

Thursdays - Harpoon Hanna’s, 39064 Harpoon Road, Fenwick Island, DE, 4-6 p.m. 302-436-9577, BeachSingles.org.

ONGOING EVENTS

2023 PLEIN AIR EVENT

Taking place throughout Worcester

County from Sept. 17-23. Thirty-six artists will paint outdoors at their leisure and chosen location and compete for cash prizes. Public exhibit and sale held on Sept. 22 from 5-7 p.m. and Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Worcester County Art Council’s Berlin Library Gallery. The exhibit will be on display until Oct. 31. curator@worcestercountyartscouncil.org

‘CHRONICLING OUR DELMARVA HISTORY: THE PHILLIPS CANNING FACTORY

Local artist Patrick Henry presents photographs, artifacts and memories from the local Phillips Canning Factory. On display at the Germantown School Community Heritage Center on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Sept 30. Also available by appointment.

germantownschool@gmail.com, 443235-9803, 410-641-0638

SEPTEMBER FEATURED ARTISTS

Worcester County Arts Council, 6 Jefferson St., Berlin, Sept. 1-30. Enjoy the artwork of the two featured artists, Geo McElroy and Ellie Scott and the artwork by 30 local artists and Gallery members. All available for sale. www.worcestercountyartscouncil.org, 410-641-0809

Crossword answers from page 26

HUNTER HINE/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Maryland rock band Misspent Youth entertains the crowd at Wine on the Beach last weekend at the inlet parking lot. The annual event was held Sept. 8 and 9 downtown.

DIRECTOR YOUTH

MINISTRY Lead church programs for MS/HS students in Berlin. PT flex hours; Sundays rqd. 410-641-0234, info@BuckinghamPCUSA.org

LOCAL INTERIOR REMODELING COMPANY

Will Pay $25 Per Hour to the Right Person with Carpentry & Drywall Skills. Text 410-430-5027.

Ocean City Florist Now Hiring PT Floral Designer 2-3 days a week. Some Saturdays will be required. Experience necessary. Call 410-250-1636 or apply within.

Montego Bay Market is looking for year round Deli and Cashier for the end of the summer and the off season.

Please apply in person

12903 Coastal Hwy.

HIRING

Code of Enforcement & Building Official. Full-time with benefits for the Town of Selbyville. Complete job description at Selbyville.delaware.gov

NOW HIRING

Year-Round Bartenders

Day Shifts and Night Shifts Available

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

Industrial Warehouse Spaces: 2100 sq. ft., 1867 sq. ft. and 1500 sq. ft. Masonry construction, 18 ft. high ceiling, large garage door, bathroom. Route 90/Bishopville. Call 443-497-4200.

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

Retired Nurse searching for a family in need of a helping hand. Specializing in hospice, the elderly and dementia patients. Please call Diane, 540-907-8535.

PETS

ROOMMATES

Fully Furnished Room for Rent in South Gate Ocean Pines. $700 per month includes all utilities. $200 deposit. No Pets - No Smoking. 443-880-2317

and 800 sq. ft. spaces

Johnny’s Pizza & Pub 443-880-2486

Roommates - Totally Redone, Beautiful Inside & Out House to Share in Ocean Pines. Full House Privileges. All Utilities Included. NO PETS & NO SMOKING! $800 per month. 443-880-2486

West Ocean City and Bishopville, MD Yearly Leases Only Call 646-812-1212 Hiring Cooks, Audio/Video Techs, Maintenance Staff, Painters, Carpenter,

Sheepadoodle Puppies. Parents are AKC registered, loving, intelligent and healthy. Puppies will be dewormed, vaccinated and microchipped. They will be ready for pick up the weekend of Oct. 29th. Email jasjas123@gmail.com. Text/call 843-455-3517

VEHICLES WE BUY CARS Running or not. 302-732-3529

Classified Deadline is Monday @ 5pm www.baysideoc.com www.oceancitytoday.com Classifieds 410-723-6397

HERKER PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

An Innovative Approach to Property Maintenance OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Customer Service, MS Word & Excel, knowledge of Basic Office Procedures; Strong Math Skills are a plus. WE OFFER: Full-Time, Monday - Friday, competitive pay, great benefits, paid holidays and vacation. Email resume to Gherker@comcast.net or call 610-459-5857

Building Maintenance and Custodial Worker, Police Officers, Police Communications Officers, and a Substation Technician/Electrical Lineworker. Training opportunities available.

We are seeking motivated individuals to come work for the Town of Berlin. Overview of employee benefits: Members of the Maryland State Retirement System (LEOPS for Police Officers), a competitive health benefits package including a health reimbursement account, employer-paid life insurance, 100% tuition reimbursement, vacation accruals based on tenure, 12 sick days per year, 15 paid holidays per year, and two personal days per year!

Apply: Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit a confidential Town of Berlin application for employment, a resume, and three professional references to the Town’s Human Resources Director at kjensen@berlinmd.gov. Applications can be found under our employment section at www.berlinmd.gov or can be picked up at 10 William Street Berlin, MD 21811 or by calling 410-641-2770. EOE/M/F/V/D.

RENTALS

RENTALS

W/R, 1BR/1BA, 140th Street. WiFi, furnished, W/D on premises, Clean, No Smoking/No Pets. Avail. October 4-May 1. $850/mo. + Sec. 302-367-5266

W/R 1BR/1BA 33rd Street. Furnished, Washer/Dryer, Clean, No Smoking/No Pets. Avail. October 4-May 1. $850/mo. + Sec. 302-367-5266

Ocean Pines, Year Round, 3BR, 2BA Rancher. Beautiful. Large screened porch. Lovely back yard. Good credit. No smoking. No pets. $1950 per month plus all utilities. 301-509-6515

Warehouse/Contractor Shops/Storage/ Flex Building for Lease/ Option to Purchase 1000-10,000 sq. ft. In town Ocean City on 142nd St. 410-723-4400 or 410-430-8332 Yearly

DONATIONS

Do you have an old bicycle not being used? It could mean a world of difference to a hard-working international student. We are looking to get as many bikes as possible. Your donation will be taxdeductible. Contact Gary at 443-975-3065.

www.baysideoc.com

www.oceancitytoday.com

BUDGET MOVERS

443-664-5797

LOCAL & EAST COAST MOVING

Full Packing Service

Piano Movers - Full Service

www.facebook.com/OCBudgetMovers

CLASSIFIED AD NETWORK

Serving the Newspapers of Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia since 1908.

MARYLAND STATEWIDE

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

NETWORK FOR SALE

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator. $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options. Request a FREE Quote. Call now before the next power outage: 1-855993-0969

MISC. FOR SALE

Switch to DISH and get up to a $300 gift card! Plus get the Multisport Pack included for a limited time! Hurry, call for details: 1-855-407-6870.

MISC. SERVICES

FREE high-speed internet for those that qualify. Government program for recipients of select programs incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet service. Bonus offer: Android tablet FREE with one-time $20 copay. Free shipping & handling. Call Maxsip Telecom today! 1-888-592-5957

HOME IMPROVEMENT SERVICES

BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 877-738-0991.

Advertise in MDDC 410-723-6397

PETS/PET SUPPLIES

Are you a pet owner? Do you want to get up to 100% back on Vet Bills? Physicians Mutual Insurance Company has pet coverage that can help! Call 1-888-928-1656 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow.com/mddc

SERVICES

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

www.dental50plus.com/ MDDC#6258

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

www.CompassionPlace.org

REGAN J. R. SMITH ESQ

WILLIAMS, MOORE, SHOCKLEY & HARRISON LLP

3509 COASTAL HIGHWAY

OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of SHARON L TAYLOR Estate No. 19874 Notice is given that KIMBERLY MUMFORD whose address is 106 QUILLIN DRIVE BERLIN, MD 21811 was on AUGUST 28, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of SHARON L TAYLOR who died on AUGUST 11, 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 (or to the probate of the decedent's will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 28th day of FEBRUARY, 2024.

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

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

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

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County

ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE

SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074

OCD-8/31/3t

NOTICE OF

APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Estate No. 19873

TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF NANCY JANE POWELL

Notice is given that Cheryl Holland, 8625 Circle Road, Berlin, MD 21811 and Charlotte Powell, 11428 Gum Point Road, Berlin, MD 21811, were on August 25, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Nancy Jane Powell who died on August 15, 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 (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills

PUBLIC NOTICE

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

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

These three weeks of notification begins on DATE 09/07/2023

All vehicles will be sold at auction on-line at www.govdeals.com. For details call 410-723-6643.

Ross Buzzuro Chief of Police

on or before the 25th day of February, 2024.

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

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

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

Cheryl Holland

Charlotte Powell

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 31, 2023

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Class: "D" BEER-WINE-LIQUOR

License: 7 Day, By: Thomas L. Vaughan, 12530 Whispering Woods Drive, Ocean City, MD 21842; Emily Vaughan, 12530 Whispering Woods Drive, Ocean City, MD 21842.

For: Norcon, LLC

For the premises known as and located at:

T/A: Anthony’s Liquors 3300 Coastal Highway Ocean City, Maryland 21842

Formerly: Joncor, Inc.

There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room, Room 1102 in the Government Center, Snow Hill, Maryland, on: September 20, 2023 @ 1:00 P.M.

The Board welcomes written or oral comment at said public hearing from any interested party.

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NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Transfer of a B/W/L 7 Day license and Request to Designate as Multiple License #3 for a Class: "B" BEER-WINE-LIQUOR

License: 7 Day, By: Kevin Eugene Decker, 10308 Quarter Deck Lane, Berlin, Maryland 21811; Francesco Fidanza, 2230 Route 17M, Middletown, New York 10942.

For: Angler On The Bay, LLC

For the premises known as and located at:

T/A: Angler Restaurant 312 Talbot Street Ocean City, Maryland 21842

Formerly: Angler Restaurant, Inc.

ter, Snow Hill, Maryland, on: September 20, 2023 @ 1:15 P.M.

The Board welcomes written or oral comment at said public hearing from any interested party. OCD-9/7/2t

BWW Law Group, LLC 6003 Executive Blvd., Suite 101 Rockville, MD 20852

Carrie M. Ward, et al. 6003 Executive Blvd., Suite 101 Rockville, MD 20852 Substitute Trustees/ Plaintiffs, vs.

NATASHA N. CLARK

707 Ninth Street A/R/T/A 707 9th Street Pocomoke City, MD 21851 Defendant(s).

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND

Case No. C-23-CV-23-000007 NOTICE

a Transfer of a

There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room, Room 1102 in the Government Cen-

Notice is hereby given this 29th day of August, 2023, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, that the sale of the property mentioned in these proceedings and described as 707 Ninth Street A/R/T/A 707 9th Street, Pocomoke City, MD 21851, made and reported by the Substitute Trustee, will be RATIFIED AND CONFIRMED, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 2nd day of October, 2023, provided a copy of this NOTICE be inserted in some weekly newspaper printed in said County, once in each of three successive weeks before the 25th day of September, 2023.

The report states the purchase price at the Foreclosure sale to be

AUTH:

$114,000.00.

Susan R. Braniecki Clerk, Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland

True Copy

Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court

Worcester County MD

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JAMES E. CLUBB. JR., ESQ.

108 N. 8TH STREET

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND 21842

LIGHTHOUSE POINT VILLAS

TIME-SHARE OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

Plaintiff vs.

WINELDA P. BLUM, TRUSTEE et al.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY STATE OF MARYLAND CASE NO. C-23-CV-23-000170

NOTICE

ORDERED, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland this August 30, 2023, 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 October 2, 2023, 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 25, 2023.

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 7, #1 $50.00

Wk 20, #1 $50.00

Wk 37, #1 $50.00

Wk 20, #3 $50.00

Wk 36. #3 $50.00

Wk 46. #8 $50.00

Wk 21 #10 $50.00

Wk 50 #10 $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

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 2nd day of October, 2023, 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 25th day of September, 2023.

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

Wk

#104 $50.00

Wk 16, #105 $50.00

Wk 28, #201 $3,200.00

Wk 15, #204 $50.00

Wk 44, #205 $50.00

Wk 18, #301 $50.00

Wk 39, #302 $50.00

Wk 1, #306 $50.00

Wk 2, #306 $50.00

Wk 39, #404 $50.00

Wk 8, #501 $50.00

Wk 20, #504 $50.00

Susan Braniecki, Clerk of Court

Worcester County Circuit Court

True Copy

Test: Susan R. Braniecki

Clerk of the Circuit Court

Worcester County MD OCD-9/7/3t

PETER S. BUAS, ESQ.

3509 COASTAL HIGHWAY

OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE

TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

ESTATE NO. 19882

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Register of Wills Court of Delaware County, PA appointed Katina C. Vignola, 54 E. Stewart Avenue, Lansdowne, PA 19050 as the Executrix of the Estate of Cort Vignola who died on May 30, 2023 domiciled in Pennsylvania, USA.

The Maryland resident agent for service of process is Peter S. Buas whose address is 3509 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842.

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

Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of Newspaper: Ocean City Digest

Date of first publication:

September 07, 2023

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NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of RUSSELL H. WHITE SR. Estate No. 19879 Notice is given that CHRIS DIGRISTINE whose address is 12418 KENT ROAD, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842 was on AUGUST 30, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of RUSSELL H. WHITE SR. who died on JULY 30, 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 (or to the probate of the decedent's will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 29th day of FEBRUARY, 2024

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

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

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

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

OCD-9/7/3t

service of process is CHRISTOPHER T WOODLEY whose address is 3509 COASTAL HIGHWAY OCEAN CITY, MD 21842. At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following Maryland counties: WORCESTER COUNTY

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

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

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

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-9/14/3t _________________________________

BID SOLICITATION

Corrugated Metal and Plastic Pipe

Worcester County is seeking Bids from qualified Vendors for the purchase of Galvanized Steel Corrugated Metal Pipe and HDPE Double Wall Plastic Pipe for the Roads Division of Public Works in conformity with the requirements contained herein Bid Documents.

OCD-9/7/3t

JAMES E. CLUBB, JR., ESQ.

108 N. 8TH STREET

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND 21842

COUNCIL OF UNIT OWNERS OF OCEAN TIME CONDOMINIUM, INC.

v.

Plaintiff

MARJORIE BEAR

JAMES REGIEC et al.

Defendants IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY STATE OF MARYLAND

CASE NO. C-23-CV-23-000168 NOTICE

ORDERED, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland this 31st day of August, 2023, that the foreclosure sale of the properties

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

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

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

Katina C. Vignola Foreign Personal Representative Terri Westcott

of Wills

CHRISTOPHER T WOODLEY

ESQ

WILLIAMS, MOORE, SHOCKLEY & HARRISON

3509 COASTAL HIGHWAY OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE

TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES

ESTATE NO. 19888

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the REGISTER OF WILLS court of LANCASTER COUNTY, PA appointed LISA G KOWALSKI whose address is 2102 SHUMAKER ROAD MANHEIM, PA 17546 as the PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE of the Estate of LESLIE E BROSIUS AKA: LESLIE E BROSIUS SR who died on APRIL 23, 2023 domiciled in PENNSYLVANIA, USA

The Maryland resident agent for

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

The last day for questions will be noon on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Sealed Bid Documents are due no later than 2:30pm on Thursday, September 28, 2023 and will be opened and read aloud in the Office of the County Commissioners, Worcester County Government Center – Room 1103, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863. Envelopes shall be marked "Bid Solicitation – Corrugated Metal and Plastic Pipe" in the lower left- hand corner.

Late Bid Documents will not be accepted.

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

Nicholas W. Rice, CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP Procurement Officer

Worcester County, Maryland

OCD-9/14/1t

NOTICE

OF PUBLIC HEARING

OCTOBER 16, 2023 AT 6:00 PM TOWN OF OCEAN CITY RE: PUBLIC PROPERTY - ALLEY CLOSURE AND CONVEYANCE

A Public Hearing, initially scheduled for October 2, is now scheduled for Monday, October 16, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., at the Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council, in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 301 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, Maryland 21842. The purpose of this public hearing is to consider the abandonment and closure of the 16’ wide alley known as Washington Lane between 13th and 14th Street. The hearing will allow public input for Mayor and Council consideration as to whether or not it is in the public’s interest to determine that the property is no longer needed for public use and move forward with the abandonment, closure and property conveyance. Additional information can be obtained from the City Clerk’s office by calling 410289-8842.

OCD-9/14/1t

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

RFP # 2023-09

Broad Street Pump Station Replacement

Due Date: Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Time: 3:00 PM EST

The Town of Berlin is seeking Proposals for the demolition and abandonment of the existing pump station and building(including asbestos shingles), the removal and disposal of 2 existing sewer manholes, the installation of a packaged pumpstation and station piping, 105 LF of gravity sewer main, 95 LF of sewer force main, 2 sewer manholes, 25 LF of water main, 2” site water service with yard hydrant, a fire hydrant assembly, generator, electrical service, pump station controls, site lighting, and 85 SY of paved driveway. Some work is adjacent to a MDSHA maintained road and any disturbance to their road will need to be restored per their requirements and standards. Qualified contractors are encouraged to visit the Town of Berlin website at berlinmd.gov/government/requestfor-proposals/ or contact Director of Water Resources Jamey Latchum at 410-641-3845/

jlatchum@berlinmd.gov for the official RFP. EEO.

OCD-9/14/1t

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING MAYOR & COUNCIL OF SNOW HILL, MARYLAND

TUESDAY OCTOBER 10, 2023 at 7:15 PM

Pursuant to the provisions of the Snow Hill Town Charter Section 20(47) notice is hereby given that a PUBLIC HEARING is scheduled on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 7:15 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 hearing is to consider the conveyance of the following real property owned by the Town of Snow Hill and determine the property is no longer needed for public use:

1. 209 Pettit Street – Tax Map 0200; Parcel 0128; Lot 4.

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, #410-632-2080.

OCD-9/14/1t

JESSICA H. MCCONNELL ESQ

JIMENO AND GRAY, P.A. 7310 RITCHIE HIGHWAY SUITE 900

GLEN BURNIE, MD 21061

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 19891 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM D. DEWAR

Notice is given that Mary Heath, 1684 Grandview Road, Pasadena, MD 21122, was on September 11, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of William D. Dewar who died on July 10, 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 (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 11th day of March, 2024.

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

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

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

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

Mary Heath

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:

September 14, 2023

OCD-9/14/3t

5B, of the Montego Bay Mobile Home Park Plat; further described as located on the west side of Sandy Hill Drive, and locally known as 153 Sandy Hill Drive, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

APPLICANT: GEORGE WHITNEY – (BZA 2661 #23-09500011) at 6:20 PM

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

TOWN OF OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 110 of the Code of Ocean City, Maryland, hereinafter referred to as the Code, same being the Zoning Ordinance for Ocean City, Maryland, notice is hereby given that public hearings will be conducted by the Board of Zoning Appeals for Ocean City, Maryland in the Council Chambers of City Hall located on Baltimore Avenue and Third Street, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland on:

Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 6:00 PM

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(3), Powers, of the Code, an appeal has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-95(1)(a) requesting 3 after the fact variances: (1) a variance to the north side 5’ yard setback leaving no remaining setback, (2) a variance to the rear 5’ setback leaving no remaining setback, and (3) a variance to the requirements of Section 110-422(1)(i) to allow less than 10’ between the sides of any two mobile homes or extensions thereof. The site of the appeal is described as Lot 120 of the Sundowner Park Plat; further described as located in the Sundowner Mobile Home Park located on the east side of Sinepuxent Avenue between 134th and 135th Street, and known locally as 13404 Sinepuxent Avenue, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

APPLICANT: JOHN L. STANTON FOR FRANK L. OLIVER – (BZA 2659 #23-09500010) at 6:10 PM

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(3), Powers, of the Code, an appeal has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-95(1)(a) requesting an after-the-fact variance to allow a 4’ x 14.30’ deck to remain in the side yard setback, providing a 2.47’ setback instead of 5’ as required by Code. The site of the appeal is described as Lot 408, Section

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(2), Powers, of the Code, an appeal has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-94(1) requesting a special use exception to allow a temporary special event tent during the Bank’s Grand Opening celebration to be held on October 5th and 6th, 2023; and also pursuant to Section 110-94(2)(b) requesting a special parking exception to waive 16 parking spaces in the parking lot to accommodate the tent as shown on the site plan. The site of the appeal is described as Lots 1-3, of the Oceanbay City plat, revised; located on the east side of Coastal Highway between 87th and 88th Streets, and locally known as The Farmer’s Bank of Willards, 8700 Coastal Highway, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland. APPLICANT: FARMER’S BANK OF WILLARDS C/O CELESTE RAYNE - (BZA 2662 #23-09400012)

Further information concerning the public hearings may be examined in the office of the Department of Planning and Community Development in City Hall.

Christopher Rudolf, Chairman Maureen Howarth, Attorney OCD-9/14/2t

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Estate No. 19889 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF EILEEN EDNA CONSTANTINE

Notice is given that Kathleen Elizabeth Murray, 7689 Parsonsburg Road, Parsonsburg, MD 21849, was on September 07, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Eileen Edna Constantine who died on August 17, 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 (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 March, 2024.

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

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

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

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

Kathleen Elizabeth Murray

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:

September 14, 2023

OCD-9/14/3t

entitled Minimum Number of Spaces and Section 110-935 entitled Design Standards.

APPLICANT: PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION

(PZ FILE #23-14100001)

To consider amending Chapter 110, entitled Zoning, to amend Code Section 110-2. Definitions, b by defining ‘dormer’, ‘attic’, ‘habitable attic’, and revising the definition of ‘building, height of’ to allow habitable attic space in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Code, along with related amendments to Section 110-422, maximum building height in the Mobile Home Residential District, Section 110-865.27, benefits of development incentives in the Upper Downtown Design Overlay Zone, and Section 110-932, minimum number of off-street parking spaces, to clarify the use of these spaces and the required parking necessary.

APPLICANT: PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION

(PZ FILE #23-14100002)

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

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

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

At 7:00 pm

To consider amending Chapter 110, entitled Zoning, to r require minimum number and dimensions of enclosed garage parking spaces and associated driveway apron by amending Article V, entitled Supplemental Regulations, Division 3 OffStreet Parking, Section 110-932

No oral or written testimony will be accepted after the close of the public hearing.

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

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

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION

JOSEPH B. WILSON, CHAIRPERSON

MAUREEN F. L. HOWARTH, ATTORNEY OCD-9/14/3t

Convention center interior renovation fully underway

By Mallory Panuska Managing Editor

(Sept. 15, 2023) As OC Bikefest organizers and vendors set up tents and booths outside the convention center this week, crews were hard at work painting and sprucing up the inside of the 40th Street building.

The work is the first phase of a full rehabilitation and renovation of the interior of the facility, a project that has been in the works since a presentation late last year.

At a Tourism Commission meeting in December, designer Abbi Custis presented detailed plans to spruce up the inside of both levels of the convention center by swapping out the traditional-looking elements with bold accent colors, textured walls, modern ceiling art, and other eyecatching concepts.

She wowed the commission members with photos that featured pops

of color, contemporary artwork, and a concerted use of white space to open up the rooms and spaces to make them more inviting.

Tom Perlozzo, the city’s Director of Tourism and Business Development, said this week that crews are currently painting, carpeting, and installing new artwork and furniture.

Staff members have developed a funding plan that includes a state grant and money from the convention center’s budget for the work.

Mayor Rick Meehan, who serves as chairman of the Tourism Commission, and other commission members have pushed to launch the project, as they want people to have a good first impression of the convention center. Especially now, as the facility becomes more popular, more shows are added to the performing arts center’s calendar, and more events are booked.

OCEAN FR Y

, 10AM-NO DAAYY, AT OPEN HOUSE SATURDA TH OC CO ONT NOR

It's here--the affordable bedroom/1.5 bath you've floor unit, easy beach a building--with 2 parking s rented to family and frien prime, no existing rentals updated in 2019 to includ subway tile backsplash placed in '21. Bedroom 1 room2hasadouble,and

12207

WIGHTST#2OCEANCITY

room 2 has a double, and bed. Stackable washer/d stalled this yearr. . Outside . Sandy area in rear before the dune nd seller will pay off remaining sp $1133 per quarter.

north OC oceanfront 3 been waiting for! First ccess in a small 6-unit paces. The unit has been ds for about $1700/week to honorr. The kitchen was e new white cabinets and . HVVAAC outside unit rehas a queen bed, bedd bedroom 3 has a bunk ryer in unit. New slider infoot showerr, , front & rear offffers nice outdoor open ecial assessment with full

MALLORY PANUSKA/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Equipment sits in the lobby of the Ocean City convention center earlier this week as crews work on renovating and rehabilitating the interior of the 40th Street facility.

WIGHT ST #2 • OCEAN C Cell: 410.422.9899

entry for easy access to the beach space. Reserve study completed a fer price offf r. . Regular condo dues of

EDU flip-flop kills Heron Park plan for good

Gillis’ effort to revive project

By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) There was a glimmer of hope that the Heron Park development proposal by Palmer Gillis of Coastal Ventures Properties might still be possible, but that hope died Monday night when Councilman Jay Knerr demanded Gillis keep only five EDUs and give the remaining 31 EDUs that came with parcel 57 to the town. EDUs (equivalent dwelling units) are used for water/wastewater flow capacity planning. One EDU is equivalent to 183 gallons per day of water and 253 gallons per day of sanitary sewer. Properties are sold with EDUs and parcel 57 at Heron Park has 36 EDUs. A typical home has one EDU.

Gillis, who has been spent nearly two years negotiating with the town, said Knerr’s demand was unreasonable and unacceptable.

According to a letter sent to council members Dean Burrell, Jay Knerr and Shaneka Nichols on Sept. 6 from Mayor Zack Tyndall and councilmembers Steve Green and Jack Orris, “Following the meeting, at least one of you reached out to the mayor’s office to ex-

press the items you would like to see in a future contract and stated that you would be interested in re-exploring the potential sale of Parcel 57 to CVP.”

That council member was identified Monday night as Jay Knerr. A new round of negotiations ensued last week and a new contract was drafted with agreed-upon parameters. That included a sale price of $1.2 million, the amount the recent appraisal estimated, based on the property being already cleared and rezoned for B2 business development. It also included a rear setback to protect the feeling of the walking path around the lagoons, a small residential component and 34 sewer EDUs that will be conveyed with the sale. Two sewer EDUs would be transferred to parcel 410 and 191.

But Knerr changed his mind again sometime between last week and Monday night and demanded that Gillis keep only five EDUs with the property.

“The offer does not meet the needs we have for the property,” Gillis said. Gillis said that EDUs are part of the value of the property and were included with the property when it was sold by Tyson’s to the Town of Berlin. Orris also said that was reflected in the deed he had in his hands that night.

Knerr disagreed and demanded that Gillis pay the town more money for the EDUs.

Knerr said this was affirmed in the appraisal when the EDU value was not considered when formulating the parcels’ worth.

“The option that I saw moving forward since no contract had been signed was to ask Palmer to purchase the EDU’s that have a substantial value,” Knerr said.

“EDUs do not provide additional value to the property. The EDUs are in the deed for the property,” Gillis said.

Gillis said that by continuing to restrict the number of uses on the parcel, the town is reducing the value of the property.

Gillis reminded Knerr that the deal he is offering will slash the town’s $2.3 million debt on the property in half with just the sale of parcel 57 which is 9.35 acres. The town will currently keep parcels 410, 191 and 52, the green space that makes up Heron Park, which totals about 29 acres.

But that was not good enough for Knerr.

“After carefully weighing all of the pros and cons of selling versus not selling, I came to the conclusion that parcel 57 is worth more than the $1.2 million that was offered,” Knerr said.

“I thought we had an agreement

last week. I am sick and tired of this deal being changed,” Gillis said.

Tyndall noted that every time the town moved the needle, Palmer conceded. But the demands by Knerr were too much for even Gillis and he walked away.

“We came here in good faith. I don’t misrepresent my word. I live by the spirit of the law,” Gillis said.

He said he was still willing to advise the town on the demolition of the property’s structures, stating that he knew the building better than anyone since he was involved in the construction of it.

With the Gillis deal dead again, the town still has to deal with the demolition of the building.

In their letter, Tyndall, Green and Orris asked Knerr, along with council member Nichols and Burrell to reevaluate the risk that the town is taking by moving forward with demolition without a partner.

According to the Sept. 6 letter, DBF (the firm hired to develop the RFP) believes that it is “unlikely” that the town will be able to demolish the entire building.

“DBF also believes that the Town ‘will have to spend money to secure and stabilize’ the remaining portion of the building if the entire demolition cannot be accomplished with the available funding.”

“Additionally, it is difficult to pinpoint precisely where the demolition will end if the cost to demo exceeds the available grant funding. DBF will work with the awarded demolition contractor to try and maintain the ‘more robust buildings’ so ‘collateral damage is minimized,’ however, there could be an additional cost to the Town if something does not go as planned.”

The letter continued, “We believe that the Town of Berlin is not in a financial position to take on these potential additional costs and caution the Council that there may be unknown issues that arise during the demolition that the Town would have to resolve immediately, potentially further eroding our available reserve funds.”

“All this speculation that the town will have to spend hundreds of dollars more in demolition costs is nonsense. That building has substantial intrinsic value,” Knerr said.

“We do not have to demo that entire building and going forward it can easily be rehabbed into any number of uses. So, clearing up the outer areas and gutting the interior will not exceed the 500K demo grant. What it will do is allow us to remarket the property at a higher value after we determine exactly what is the best use for that parcel.”

Once the RFP for the demolition goes out, the experts will assess the cost and challenges of demolition. Then the market will determine what parcel 57 is actually worth.

Palmer

Changes in property inspections

New addendum now allows buyers to terminate offer or request repairs by seller

By Laura Bunting Contributing Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) In October of last year, the Maryland Realtors made changes to how property inspections are handled within the state contract of sale.

The new process calls for property inspections to either be activated or waived in the contract—and if activated, the traditional “As-Is” option was removed.

Agents throughout the state have been adjusting to the new method, and with a continued sellers’ market, there are still numerous times waiving of home inspections is chosen—mostly for a buyer’s offer to be more competitive and attractive to the seller when there’s a multiple offer situation.

But when inspections aren’t waived completely, the new home inspection addendum now allows for

buyers to back out of an offer with the Right to Terminate clause, which is worded exactly as follows:

“The results of an inspection are unsatisfactory to the Buyer, Buyer may terminate the Contract of Sale by delivering a Unilateral Notice of Termination Under Contract of Sale to Seller by the Deadline. Buyer is not required to specify the basis of Buyer’s dissatisfaction. Buyer’s right to terminate the Contract of Sale as stated in this subsection expires at the Deadline.”

However, if the buyer decides to request the seller make repairs to the property, the right to terminate clause is voided—and the buyer decides instead to move forward in the contract of sale with the repair process, worded as follows:

“Instead of exercising the Right to Terminate the Contract of Sale in accordance with subparagraph 1.B(i), Buyer may make a single, written request for repairs and/or a Seller Credit based upon Buyer’s dissatisfaction with the results of the agreedupon inspection(s). This right will expire at the Deadline unless the Buyer delivers to Seller a copy of the inspection report(s) together with a

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Board of Education budget transfer cleared

By Remy Andersen Staff Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) The Worcester County Board of Education’s request to complete budget transfers for the 2023 fiscal year was approved by the county commissioners last Tuesday.

In a letter sent to Commissioner President Chip Bertino, Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor explained that factors such as increased costs in utilities, transportation and supplies and materials needed to maintain the

school buildings, five Fiscal Year 2923 budget categories had spent funds that exceeded the original budgeted allocations. This included textbooks and classroom supplies, which was because of a need to refresh student and teacher devices.

The categorial budget increases would be offset by reductions in industrial salaries and fixed charges, and by additional revenues.

Taylor mentioned that the budget transfers were necessary to align

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their budget with the actual expenditures for the fiscal year. The transfers were approved by the board at its meeting on Aug. 15.

The total operating budget reduction in industrial salaries and fixed charges amounted to $1,506,780.

The student and teacher device refresh involved the sale of their current devices to a third party, with the proceeds utilized to fund the payments of the original lease and new lease. Due to this, there was an overage in the spending on textbooks and classroom supplies, offset by the proceeds from the sales of the devices. The board had requested that an increase of $1,348,387 to the total operating budget be approved.

Other expenditure categories included instructional support, student transportation, operation of plant and maintenance of plant.

Following the unanimous approval at last Tuesday’s meeting, a letter was sent to Board of Education President Todd Ferrante, thanking the board for providing requested line item financial data for the fiscal 2024 BOE budget, saying that it was “extremely beneficial in helping our office begin to gain a more accurate understand-

14 - 21

ing of the board’s budget, policies, and programs.”

Attached to the letter, however, were questions regarding the board’s actual budgeting process, including some that expressed confusion over five-year expenses that were either overbudgeted or not budgeted at all.

Other issues highlighted in the extensive list of questions regarded spending on technology coaches, regular and athletic field trips, guidance supplies, and student tutoring programs. Some of the more specific inquiries regarded funding for work-based learning program training and funding for a staff member in the Worcester County Education Foundation.

In terms of what was presented to the commissioners at last Tuesday’s meeting, their main inquiries were over what line items were underspent to create a surplus in the industrial salaries and fixed charges categories in the budget.

Additionally, they asked whether the refresh of the student and teacher devices had been done before, how many devices were sold, and how the additional revenue was accounted for.

Pictured is the Board of Education at a meeting last month. At last Tuesday’s meeting, the Worcester County Commissioners voted to accept a budget transfer request from the Board of Education for Fiscal Year 2023. Following the meeting, however, the commissioners sent a letter to the Board of Education questioning their budget spending in several categories.

Aug. police calls show three-year decrease

By Hunter Hine Staff Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) Calls to service for Ocean City police have steadily decreased in the month of August over the last three years, with officers receiving 152 fewer calls this past month compared to August last year.

Police Chief Ross Buzzuro presented the statistics to the police commission during its meeting on Sept. 6. The OCPD’s total calls to service are composed of calls from both citizens and officers.

Citizen calls to service were at 2,672 in August 2023, while there were 2,728 in August 2022 and 2,820 in August 2021. Officer calls to service also had a drop in numbers, with 4,807 this year, 4,903 the year before and 5,583 three Augusts ago.

Total calls to service numbers are made up by the OCPD’s top 25 calls to service.

Calls to traffic stops had the largest increase among the top 25. Police had 918 calls in August 2023, 517 in August 2022 and 746 in August 2021.

Hang-ups on 911 calls have also gone up, with emergency call centers having 729 hang-ups this past August relative to 601 last year and 714 the year before. In July of this year, there were 1,272 911 hang-ups in Ocean City. Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald speculated at the August police commission that the increase in hang-ups might have to do with accidental calls facilitated by improved emergency contact programs on cell phones.

Calls for alcohol violations increased sharply this past August compared to last year, with 128 calls in August 2023 and 65 in August 2022. There were 100 calls in 2021. Most of the rest of the top 25 calls decreased this August.

Assisting citizens or motorists calls have trended down in the last three years. Police received 672 in August 2021, 656 in August 2022 and 584 this past month.

Parking complaints and violations, too, have gone down, with 376 this

year, 471 last year and 644 in August 2021.

Calls to assist the fire department and emergency services were at 293 this year, fewer than August last year, which was at 324, but more than August three years ago, which was 188 calls.

Police received 267 calls in August for city ordinance violations, compared to 396 in August 2022. In August 2021, there were 702 calls for violations.

Controlled dangerous substance violations have also decreased to 14 calls in August 2023, while there were 48 last year and 73 the year before.

Besides the calls for service, the August statistics also showed numbers on monthly enforcement.

Custodial arrests performed by the OCPD dropped to 216 last month. Police had 228 arrests in August of the year before and 305 in the year prior to that.

Criminal citations likewise declined, with seven this year, nine in August 2022 and 8 in August 2021.

Police made 10 drug arrests in August 2023. There were 21 in 2022 and

d.d.s.

19 in 2021.

While officers arrested 30 people for cannabis in August last year, there were zero in August 2023. Cannabis possession and use for people 21-and-over became legal statewide on July 1.

Smoking citations have trended down since hitting a significant peak of 120 in August 2021. The number dropped to 50 citations in August

2022 and to six this year.

Arrests for driving under the influence, however, have increased, with 46 this past August, 23 in August 2022 and 40 in August 2021.

Weapons arrests went down to 11 this year compared to 21 last year and 22 the year before. Weapons include firearms, knives and “other,” which all declined. The greatest decrease was for knives.

HUNTER HINE/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Total calls to service for Ocean City Police have decreased in August over the last three years. Pictured is an Ocean City Police car escorting the 9/11 motorcycle parade across the Boardwalk on Monday.

Police commission discusses scooters, two-wheel vehicles

By Hunter Hine Staff Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) Between Aug. 24 and Sept. 6, the Ocean City Police Department handed out 26 warnings and one citation to operators of scooters and other two-wheeled vehicles for cruising through red lights.

In that same period, police gave four warnings and one citation for riders using the wrong side of the road as well as six warnings and one citation for riding on the sidewalk, said Lt. Allen Hawk, who is in charge of special events for the OCPD and also supervises the department’s traffic safety unit.

At the Ocean City Police Commission on Sept. 6, Hawk told commission members that the OCPD received a specific complaint regarding riders of these sorts of vehicles on Aug. 24. It was just one of several complaints about two-wheeled vehicles disregarding the rules of the road that’s been sent to Ocean City council and police, said Ashley Miller deputy communications manager for the OCPD.

“Two-wheel stand-up vehicles” refers to electric scooters that individuals stand on, while “scooters” refers to motorized sit-down vehicles, Hawk clarified in an email.

Police Chief Ross Buzzuro discussed how officers have been addressing the problem with the commission last Wednesday, Miller said. Warnings, citations and education were the police’s solution.

“Our primary goal is education, which is shown by the number of warnings we have issued,” Miller said. “Most people may not know that scooters and other two-wheeled vehicles have to follow the same rules of the road as bicycles and vehicles.”

Police have been tracking whether scooters and two-wheeled vehicles were privately owned or rentals. Four incidents so far have been linked to Cycle City, a local scooter rental company, including instances involving a flat tire and a broken key.

Officers handed out two citations to riders who had rented scooters from the company, one for someone riding without a helmet and another for a rental that was being driven by someone without a license, Miller said. The violation was not addressed to the business, he added.

Lt. Hawk said that four calls for service, which are presented in a set of monthly statistics at each police

commission, could be attributed to incidents involving the same rental company. The calls were for disorderly conduct, vehicle alarms going off, 911 hang-ups and a police inspection of the company’s rental logbooks.

Near the end of July, police responded to a collision between a vehicle and a rental scooter, and police found that the scooter driver was not at fault, Miller said.

“The operator of the scooter suffered minor injuries during the incident,” Hawk said in an email.

Riders on two-wheeled stand-up vehicles who received citations or warnings from police owned the vehicle in every instance, Hawk said in an email.

“Throughout the summer months, we have been posting information on social media and handing out safety material including rules of the road during several J-1 events,” Miller said.

After the discussion about bikes and scooters, police commission members shifted their focus to the issue of noise levels on Coastal Highway, Miller said.

A property owner on 57th Street recently sent Mayor Rick Meehan a complaint about the noise along the highway.

Police contacted the complainant who said that sometimes the noise along the highway is excessive and can be often heard at his house. The owner is not a full-time resident but has a secondary home on 57th Street, Miller said.

Buzzuro told the commission that he thought this was an isolated event, Miller said. Only 26 of the 72 total noise complaints or violations last month regarded noise on Coastal Highway, according to monthly statistics for the OCPD’s calls to service.

When responding to the calls, police found that it usually had to do with loud music, Miller said. By the time police arrived music had already been turned down, or police asked individuals to turn the music down without further action in any of the incidents.

Meehan noted that four other jurisdictions were looking into using noise meters to monitor the noiselevels of cars, but Buzzuro said the department was not currently considering using the technology, Miller said.

HUNTER HINE/OCEAN CITY TODAY

The Ocean City Police Department has handed out a slew of warnings and several citations since Aug. 24 to scooterists and two-wheeled vehicle riders who weren’t obeying the rules of the road. Pictured are scooters at a midtown rental business.

GUARD

Guard coverage challenging at season’s end

Number of SRTs dwindles with teachers returning to work, overall staff shortages

By Kristin Joson Contributing Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) I often get asked how many guards it takes to cover all 10 miles of Ocean City.

The answer really depends on the time of year and with the challenges of recruiting lifeguards in the past couple of years, that also makes the answer extra complex.

On a typical day in the middle of summer, we prefer to be at full coverage with 91 stands deployed along our 10 miles of beach. However, during the early and late parts of summer, our numbers may be different based on the number of people that we have available to work.

A majority of our surf rescue technicians, or SRTs, range in age between 17 and 22, and are currently finishing High School or working on college degrees, which may affect their availability during June and late August as well as the “shoulder” times of summer.

With the ideal 91 stands (this past season we had 75), it takes a minimum of 127 SRTs to just cover the stands, lunch shifts and days off. However, based on the typical workweek of an SRT, which is 5½ days, it takes additional SRTs to cover days off, special duties, training, Junior Beach Patrol camp, and all of our many outreach programs.

In order to schedule such a large number of personnel, the beach patrol is organized into 18 crews, and each crew is made up of seven to nine guards. A crew chief and assistant crew chief manage each crew on a daily basis.

In addition to the SRTs, the Beach Patrol also employs surf beach facilitators who monitor the daily surfing beaches. The leadership of the patrol is made up a captain, one first lieutenant, two second lieutenants, 12 sergeants, and one training officer.

The one leadership position you are most likely to notice is our area supervisors (sergeants) who patrol one of four areas along the beach on ATVs.

At the beginning of summer, in early June, our numbers may be slightly lower due to a couple of reasons. First, the water in the beginning of June is slightly colder and the crowds are a little smaller requiring

fewer guards. This enables us to fully staff our Surf Rescue Training Academy, which trains all of our new lifeguards for the job.

We typically hold two academies, one the week before Memorial Day weekend and another in the middle of June. During this intense 60-plushour week, our guards learn everything they need to know to be successful surf rescue technicians.

Many people don’t realize that we do not require or accept certifications from other agencies. All of the training and certifications are provided by the Beach Patrol during a paid ($18.44 – 2023 rate with an increase for 2024) Surf Rescue Training Academy.

Starting the third week in August and the month of September we experience a reduction in staffing due to the fact that our personnel must return to other obligations.

As previously mentioned, many of our guards are attending colleges and universities all over the country, all with different starting dates.

Additionally, a good portion of the people that hold leadership or management roles on the Beach Patrol are professional educators at school systems and colleges throughout the country and return for professional activities at least one week prior to their students, which in most cases is two full weeks before Labor Day.

These teachers are some of our most experienced SRTs and mostly in supervisory rolls on the beach.

After Labor Day we lose all our educators during weekdays, although many are returning to help cover our beaches on the weekends. During this time of year, you will notice a larger distance between stands. This trend continues until our last day of the season which is the third Saturday after Labor Day.

This season our last guarding day will be Sunday, Sept. 24. On the weekends, the number of stands will increase due to personnel returning from college or teaching responsibilities to work for the weekend.

Although our coverage this time of the year is done with fewer personnel and lifeguard towers than during peak season we supplement this coverage by increasing the number of mobile rescue units patrolling the beach. These mobile units are firstaid and AED equipped with one SRT (rider) acting as the primary rescue swimmer while the other SRT (driver) maintaining radio communication and backup during an emergency. Both are qualified as surf rescue technicians, medical first responders and are quad (ATV) certi-

fied. This time of the year, we ask that you walk and only swim in front of the nearest lifeguard when we are on duty (10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.).

Unfortunately, two individuals lost their lives this season while swimming while we were “off duty.” This short walk is worth the lives of you and your family.

For additional information, please call Beach Patrol Headquarters. Guard stand placement may relocate daily as conditions change. To locate

the closest stand to your beach you may go to the official Beach Patrol website (ococean.com/ocbp), scroll down to the Beach Conditions table and click on the stands location link, or call Beach Patrol Headquarters at 410-289-7556 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

And always remember, “Keep your feet in the sand until the lifeguards in the stand” and take the extra precautions to walk the short distance and swim in front of a lifeguard.

Sunsations gives $52K to AGH Foundation

Money to be used to help fund ongoing operating and capital needs at hospital

(Sept. 15, 2023) Members of the Sunsations group recently donated $52,000 to the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation in memory of Nisim Farchi and Seymour Krasner.

The money will be used to help fund ongoing operating and capital needs of Atlantic General Hospital and Health System, including the John H. ‘“Jack” Burbage, Jr. Regional Cancer Care Center.

The Sunsations group started in 1983 with the first store in Ocean City. They have since expanded to over 45 retail stores with locations in Maine, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida.

“Atlantic General Hospital and Health System cannot achieve our mission of improving the quality of life for residents in the communities we serve without loyal donors like the Sibony family and the Sunsations group,” Don Owrey, Atlantic General Hospital President and CEO, said in a news release. “This contribution will assist Atlantic General greatly in support of our ongoing operations and also in contributing towards the

technological and practice updates that are needed to provide the most up to date, advanced and high quality health care to area residents.”

Sunsations proprietor Avi Sibony said the group recognizes the importance of having a cancer care facility in Worcester County.

“Not only did we lose our mother,

Celia, to cancer after extensive travel back and forth from a distant cancer center, but several friends and family members have dealt with various cancer diagnoses and treatment,” he said in the release. “We are happy to do our part in contributing towards the comprehensive cancer care in our community.”

Donations to Atlantic General Hospital and Health System assure the continued provision of a coordinated health care system with access to quality care, personalized service and education for the residents and visitors of Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset, Accomack, and Sussex counties.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Sunsations owners Terri, Avi, David and Lemor Sibony present Atlantic General Hospital and the hospital’s foundation leadership with a $52,000 donation.

Worcester Prep pollinator garden dedication ceremony

(Sept. 15, 2023) Worcester Preparatory School staff and families recently held a ceremony where they dedicated a newly built pollinator garden to former Worcester Prep English teacher Kathleen Otway.

According to a news release, in the fall of 2022, a parent approached Head of Lower School Sara Timmons about a TV program on endangered Monarch butterflies that had captured the interest of his son, a lower school student. They inquired whether Worcester Prep had any programs that could be used to assist Monarchs or other local pollinators.

Inspired by the student’s enthusiasm, and with the support of the administration and a generous donation from the Kaufman family, the Worcester Prep community moved quickly to turn interest into actuality.

In the early spring, student volunteers began designing and construct-

ing the Worcester Prep Pollinator Garden. In May, as part of the school’s Earth Day festivities, Lower School students planted a variety of native plants designed to attract butterflies and other local pollinators to the new space.

During that time, the release said a member of the Worcester Prep community, former English teacher Kathleen Otway, passed away.

While at WPS, Otway founded the Upper School Garden Club, so staff decided to dedicate the new garden in her memory. Through a donation from the Greco family, benches and bird baths were added to complete the space.

On Sept. 9, a dedication ceremony was held for the new Worcester Prep Pollinator Garden with members of the Otway, Greco, and Kaufman families, as well as current and former staff and alumni in attendance.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Pictured, from left, during the Worcester Prep pollinator garden dedication ceremony are John and Maureen Greco, Jim, Michael, Morgan and Devin Otway, and current Worcester Prep teachers Linda Bragg, Liz Nally, and Amanda Netting.

SUBMITTED

PHOTO/OCEAN CITY TODAY Worcester Prep Head of Lower School Sara Timmons smiles with the Kaufman family, Cullen (grade 2), Evan (grade 5) and their parents, Scot and Laura Kaufman, during the Worcester Prep Pollinator Garden dedication ceremony.

PRINCESS PAINT NIGHT

Participants of the Art League of Ocean City’s Paint Night at the Princess pose with their creations on Sept 7 at the Princess Royale. The event was a company retreat for the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank who hosted their convention at the Ocean City hotel.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OCEAN CITY TODAY

NEW LIONESSES

Newly installed members of the Ocean City Lioness Lions Club, Debbie Long, Carol Dural, Donna Martin, Karen Lutz, Donna Dever, Judy Raymond are pictured with their sponsoring Lions. Not pictured: Susan Burdette.

KINDERGARTEN KIDS

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OCEAN CITY TODAY

GROWTH AND POWER

Ocean City Elementary School teacher Amy Burbage poses with students in her second grade class after a recent lesson on how to develop their growth mindset. The students learned to treat their brain as if it is a muscle that requires training to grow stronger. They learned that mistakes always provide opportunities to grow and that there is enormous power in the things they haven’t accomplished yet.

MOTORCYCLE MEMORIAL

HUNTER HINE/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Maryland Chapter Three of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club completed their 21st “Parade of Brothers” across the Boardwalk on Monday, a ride to honor those that died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Ocean City Elementary School Kindergarten Teacher Liz Engh poses with her students during the first week of school.

PHOTO COURTESY DONNA GREENWOOD

FIRST FRIDAY

City, won first place in the "Memories" art exhibit for her wall sculpture celebrating the strong women in her life.

COLLEGE PREP

Worcester Prep Director of College Counseling Vickie Garner talks to members of the Class of 2024 about what they can expect during the college application process at a recent college application and essay writing workshop.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Art League of Ocean City President John Sisson, left, and Executive Director Rina Thaler welcome Eric Stewart, deputy chief of staff for Communications at Salisbury University, to the First Friday art reception on Sept. 1 at the Ocean City Center for the Arts on 94th Street.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OCEAN CITY TODAY Attending the opening at the Ocean City Center for the Arts, from left, are Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan, Katy Durham, Kay Ruppersberger and Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.-Dist 2).

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Volunteers, from left, Pam Bennett, Olivia Smith and Carol Gentes prepare complimentary hors d'oeuvres for guests at the reception.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OCEAN CITY TODAY

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Worcester Prep seniors Koda Bauer, left, and Adam Hafez work together to review the college application process.

Sandy Gillis of Ocean

Wor. library hosting programs designed to help older adults

(Sept. 15, 2023) The Worcester County Library is hosting Creative Aging with Care, a series of programs in the fall and winter, to provide resources for older adults and caregivers.

The programs promote creative expression and social engagement for older adults, helping them remain involved in their communities.

“Creative Aging with Care provides an opportunity for older adults and caregivers to come together in an artistic way,” Adult Services Coordinator Elena Coelho said in a news release. “The Library is offering two comedic performances by retired

nurse Lon Kieffer, an acrylic paint pour, memoir writing, and a bookmaking program.”

Informational events will include estate planning, a documentary for caregivers, and a presentation by motivational speaker Dustin Pari.

The project was funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Maryland State Library Agency.

For more information about Creative Aging with Care programs, contact Elena Coelho at 443-783-6164 or ecoelho@worcesterlibrary.org. Information is also available at worcesterlibrary.org under Events.

KIWANIS SPEAKERS

Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean PinesOcean City Past President Tim Lund, Coastal Hospice Community Relations and Development Manager and Caregiver Academy

Moderator Lauren Blair and Director of Spiritual, Bereavement and Supportive Services Alvin Harmon pose during the group’s Sept. 6

SERVICE RECOGNITION

Coastal Hospice launching new cardiac care program

(Sept. 15, 2023) Coastal Hospice, in collaboration with the American Heart Association and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, recently announced the launch of the Advanced Cardiac Care Program to address one of the nation’s largest killers of Americans – heart disease.

Each year, more Americans die from heart disease than any other condition, including cancer. Heart disease is also a leading cause for hospitalization. Patients with congestive heart failure alone account for more than a million inpatient admissions annually.

Our program will improve quality and access to hospice and palliative/advanced illness care for heart patients and keep them from dying alone in hospitals. The patient and caregiver handbook helps avert multiple hospital and emergency

room visits that are a huge source of stress for the patient, their family members, and the medical facility.

“Every family including yours is affected by Heart Disease and Heart Failure. Tragically, many heart failure patients spend days, weeks, or sometime months in hospital ICUs and eventually die alone,” Dr. Stacy Cottingham, a special programs access liaison RN and head of the Coastal Hospice Cardiac Care Program, said in a news release. “Our in-home care is the answer and is our mission—allowing a far better quality of life for our patients and families.”

The Cardiac Care Program will launch Monday, Sept. 18.

Copies of the Patient and Caregiver Handbook can be downloaded, and printed copies can be requested by calling 410-742-7878 or asking providers about contacting Coastal Hospice.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Chef Jim Washington was recently honored for 15 years of service as the caterer for the Ocean City Lioness Lions Club. Presenting him an award is newly installed President Ann Runo, left, and immediate Past President Bev Topfer.

meeting. Blair and Harmon spoke to attendees about Coastal Hospice.

PHOTO COURTESY DAVID LANDIS SR.

Worcester Prep students from the classes of 2024 and 2025 honored for outstanding Advanced Placement scores pose for a photo. Pictured front row, front left, are Caitlin Williams, Natasha Richters, Moorea Phillips, Madilyn Nechay and Esther Mehilli. Pictured second row, are Head of School

John McDonald, Koda Bauer, Vanesska Hall, Natalie Chadwell, Sara Freih, Claire Windrow and Head of Upper School Carol Evans. Pictured back rom, from left, are Allen Zhang, Luke Hopkins, Hunter Simons, Carson Rayne and Dylan McGovern.

Students recognized as scholars

(Sept. 15, 2023) Worcester Preparatory School students from the classes of 2023, 2024 and 2025 recently captured 35 advanced placement honors from the college board.

AP scholars with distinction who achieved scores of at least 3.5 on all AP tests taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of the exams were: Koda Bauer ’24, Anne Carter ’23, Natalie Chadwell ’24, Vanesska Hall ’24,

Jenna Hess ’23, Isabella Huber ’24, Amna Iqbal ’23, Ian Lewis ’23, Dylan McGovern ’24, Riley Moyer ’23, Sajiv Satyal ’23, Morgan Schoch ’23, Sophia Spadaro ’23, Parker Tingle ’23 and Christopher Todorov ’23.

AP scholars with honor who received an average of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams were: Elaina Elrick ’24, Sara Freih ’24, Esther Mehilli ’24,

OC Power Squadron offering safe boating course in September

(Sept. 15, 2023) The Ocean City Power Squadron, a unit of the United States Power Squadrons, is hosting a comprehensive safe boating course the last week of September.

The eight-hour course will be given on four consecutive nights at the Ocean Pines Community Center, from 5:30-8 p.m., Sept. 25-28. The course includes a review and exam on the last night. Participants can register online at ocpsabc@gmail.com.

There is a $25 fee for the course material. Middle and High school students age 18 and under can take the course, including material, for free.

Caitlin Williams ’24, Ava Wilsey ’23, and Claire Windrow ’24.

AP Scholars with scores of 3 or higher on three or more exams were: Isabella Borsoni ’23, Broderick Bushnell ’23, Lorelei Campbell ’23, Luke Hopkins ’24, Madilyn Nechay ’24, Moorea Phillips ’24, Rory Pugh ’23, Carson Rayne ’24, Natasha Richter ’24, Owen Schardt ’23, Hunter Simons ’24, Jason Todorov ’23, Allen Zhang ’25 and Kathy Zhang ’23.

Anyone born after July 1, 1972, is required to satisfactorily complete a safe boating class to operate a recreational vessel or personal watercraft in Maryland. (Jan. 1, 1978, in Delaware). Successfully completing the class also satisfies the requirements nationwide.

This course covers basic boat handling, rules of the road, navigation, federal and state regulations, aids to navigation, and required equipment, among other topics.

Statistics show that in 82 percent of boating fatalities, the captain had no formal boating education. The Ocean City Power Squadron encourages all boaters to complete a boating safety class.

For information and early registration, call 443-604-5851.

Hope for perfect, settling for good

At last, the deal is officially done and the Oceans Calling Festival promoters, C3 Presents, and the Town of Ocean City, have signed all the paperwork necessary to proceed with the Sept. 29-Oct.1 musical blowout.

Organizers on both sides of this festival — local government, C3 Presents and its associated contractors — have pored over so many aspects of the three-day production that they will probably devote some part of the next two weeks to reviewing their reviews of logistics, operations and the physical impact on the downtown.

The goal of all involved, obviously, is to keep everything as trouble-free as possible, and while a perfect situation would be the desired outcome, that’s unlikely considering all the moving parts associated with this inaugural outing. Things are bound to happen, and difficulties will undoubtedly arise no matter how well prepared everyone is.

Downtown residents and business operators are probably wondering whether they and their customers will still have relatively easy access to their homes and restaurants as reconfigured traffic patterns take effect. This is especially on the minds of bayside businesses that need these final weekends of September to carry them well into their financial comfort zones.

City officials have assured them that everything will work out, as they and their partners in this venture have spent months figuring out how to overcome, solve or accommodate many other obstacles, concerns and potential difficulties.

They have no choice, really, because given the major economic boost the Oceans Calling Festival promises, the one thing promoters and city officials are striving for is an unqualified success that may be repeated for many Septembers to come.

Clearly, there’s quite a bit riding on the outcome of the main attraction in two weeks, and we hope they pull it off without a hitch.

Ocean City Today

EDITOR ............................................ Stewart Dobson

MANAGING EDITOR ............................ Mallory Panuska

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR .......................... Lisa Capitelli

STAFF WRITERS ................Cindy Hoffman, Hunter Hine, ..............................................................Remy Andersen

ACCOUNT MANAGERS .......... Mary Cooper, Vicki Shrier ..................................................................Renée Kelly

CLASSIFIEDS/LEGALS MANAGER ...... Christine Brown

PAPER COMPOSITION/PAGE DESIGN ...... Susan Parks

GRAPHIC ARTISTS ............ Kelly Brown, Jane Leibowitz

PUBLISHER........................................ Christine Brown

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ...................... Gini Tufts

Once wonderful email

A long time ago, there was a thing called email and it was amazing.

It was amazing because prior to that, generations and generations of people could send an urgent letter to another party — “Help! Send lawyers, guns and money!” — and it would arrive at its destination four or five days later.

By Stewart Dobson

That would mean, of course, that pleas for assistance — “Help me, Rhonda, help, help me, Rhonda” — would not be received in timely fashion, thus leaving the person requesting aid SOL, or, as is said in polite society, Seriously Out of Luck.

The instant nature of email took care of that, so instead of waiting for a response from friends and associates after being thrown into a South American prison for, say, parrot smuggling, “bail money” could be offered quickly to the appropriate corrupt official.

“Dear Señor: Please do not put my friend in your hell-hole prison. Incidentally, I’m prepared to donate $10K to the Home for Unwed Parrots, or to whomever might administer that fund. Comprende?”

And off you’d go back to your hotel room.

But that was then, before email became a nightmare of unexpected upgrades that either moved everything around or sent it down into the bowels of the computer operating system, where it might be rediscovered if you went all Lewis & Clark on your hard drive through the unexplored territory of directories, subdirectories, folders and files, some of which you can’t open because, “You do not have permis-

sion to access this folder.”

It's bad enough that out of the 200-300 emails I get every day, a good 80 percent of them pertain to “The Real Truth About America!,” “Can’t Miss Investment Opportunities,!” “Cure Tinnitus With Lima Bean Extract,!” and the occasional exhortation to learn more about “Male Enhancement Miracle Foods!”

But lately, the only thing that’s enhanced is my irritation at Microsoft, which is keeping my email safe from snoopers and hackers by instituting security protocols designed to keep everyone out. Including me.

“Sorry, we don’t recognize your log-in information. Please install the Authentication App on your phone, then hit ‘Next.’”

Okaaaaay, I installed your stupid app more than a year ago, so maybe it’s gotten weak or something. So, I go to “Download the App,” and watch it go ... nowhere.

“This App is already installed on your devices. Go to ‘Authenticate’ and press ‘Next.’”

I know how to follow instructions (I don’t like it, but sometimes you just have to suck it up and do it), and press “Next.”

“Please enter the code numbers sent to your phone,” it tells me, and I do it.

“Congratulations. You have been authenticated. Sign in now.”

I type in my username and password and wait ...

“Sorry, we don’t recognize your log-in information. Please install the Authentication App on your phone ...”

So far, I’ve missed two days of email and am ready to log in with a hammer. It’s either that or call for assistance.

“Help me, Rhonda, help, help me, Rhonda!”

Palmer and Sandy Gillis speak out on Heron Park

(The following was set to the mayor and Town Council of Berlin).

Dear Mayor and Council members, Monday’s Town Council meeting resulted in yet another failed agreement after at least a couple previous failures. As everyone already knows we have been negotiating on the purchase of lots 57, 191 and 410 for over a year.

This resulted in reducing the sale to include only lot 57, where the abandoned poultry processing plant stands.

As we understand, after the meeting of Aug. 28, when the council abruptly terminated our exclusive negotiation period, with no notice, in our absence, a Town Council member began an outreach to Mayor Zack [Tyndall] to revive our negotiations.

This resulted in the draft contract of sale that was presented Monday, Sept. 11. This was under the pretense that the majority of the Town Council found the terms agreeable.

This understanding, again as we understand it, was from Sept. 1 thru Sept. 11. only to have the deciding vote renege on their representation of agreeable terms.

Sandy and I arrived at the town

meeting Monday night, lured if you will, again, in good faith, with the understanding that an agreement had been reached. As the intended purchaser, we had agreed to the terms of the proposed contract and agreed to relinquish EDUs to cover lots 410 and 191, the lots that the town would retain ownership of and that Councilmember Jay Knerr requested.

Late in the day on the 11th we began to hear rumblings that the councilmember that reinvigorated the contract had changed their mind yet again.

Obviously, we were surprised but attended the meeting anyway so that we could hear firsthand what the disposition of the agreement was and the council members’ vote. It never reached a vote.

During the discussions of the draft contract, Councilperson Knerr began a public shake down negotiation with us to enhance his political position.

It is understood that he will be running for mayor in the upcoming elections, and it is our feeling that we were used to show his alleged tough position and savvy negotiating skills.

Additionally, it appears that Councilperson Knerr had reached out to, as he stated, several “developers,” who in his words stated that lot 57 would be worth more with some or more of the

demolition competed. He would not, however, disclose who those expert developers were.

Experience was vetted out thru the RFP [request for proposals] process. Where were those “expert developers” during this RFP process? We, as professional developers, and builders do not conduct ourselves in the manner in which council member Knerr did after having made a representation in a negotiation. Our word is our bond.

To abruptly change positions in the wee hours of a negotiation, after the representations were made in the affirmative, is just not something that we would do, at least with not reaching out to the other party prior to the public event.

I personally made two failed attempts to discuss and review with Jay on the day of the meeting about what we were hearing on the street as another change of position.

Not only were we surprised, but his fellow council members and the mayor were equally surprised. It seems as if Councilmember Knerr must earn back the fellow councilmembers’ trust.

Councilperson Knerr states that he did not know of the EDUs that convey with the property. Shame on Councilmember Knerr. This has been a known fact at least since 2010 when Tyson first put the property on the market.

EDUs transfer with the property. You do not buy a home and then must pay for an EDU. You do not buy a

commercial piece of property and then must buy the EDUs. Lot 57 is a COMMERCIAL PIECE OF PROPERTY. Councilmember [Jack] Orris even held up the deed that indicated that the EDUs were noted in the property deed. The EDUs’ have been brought up in previous council meetings.

Giving Councilperson Knerr the benefit of the doubt that he was not aware of what he was selling of taxpayer’s property, he certainly knew about the presence of the EDU’s when he reached out to the mayor to reinvigorate our negotiations. He certainly knew about them when I met with him on site on Sept. 1.

He certainly knew about them when he gave his consent for the updated draft contract. Why did he consent to the draft contract only to change his mind at the last minute and as a surprise act at a council meeting?

This gets worse and this is very shameful. The council has now instructed the town staff and a hired professional engineer to embark on developing plans and specifications for the demolition OR partial demolition of the structures on lot 57, taxpayers’ property.

It has become aware to me that some, perhaps even all the council members have even not been in the building OR surveyed the grounds. Some have indicated that they have “recently been in the building.” I sincerely doubt that.

Continued on Page 56

Kirsten Brown, of West Ocean City, poses with a plaque naming her Kiwanis Post 166 Auxiliary Unit Member of the year. She received the award from past President Karen Thompson, also pictured. Brown has been served as first vice president of the unit for three years.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Continued from Page 55

The council members have now put the staff and the retained engineers in an impossible position of trying to read the council members minds to develop these demolition documents.

Without having firsthand knowledge of the condition of the building and grounds, how are proper documents going to be developed that are reflective of the council’s demolition goals without their input from touring the building and grounds or in the very least having knowledge of the building, especially the insides, and grounds?

Is this good stewardship of the taxpayer’s money? Is this good leadership to the town’s staff and engineers?

To just delegate and direct the town manager and the economic director to instruct the paid professional engineer without the council members’ input and direction is just irresponsible on the Council’s part and will lead to them pointing the finger at someone else to blame when something goes wrong.

Councilmembers, stand up and be accountable for your actions. This is too large of a taxpayer asset to do anything less.

If the town’s leadership is to implement the very best plan for the benefit of the taxpayers, at a very minimum, they should tour the building with the

staff and engineer to express their views on the demolition scope. As a Berlin taxpayer, we must insist on this very minimal effort of a town-owned asset.

The job requirement of town leadership is to be responsible for income and expenses of the town.

In my opinion, having NOT reviewed the building and grounds with the staff and engineer is just irresponsible. Not becoming knowledgeable of the town-owned asset and embarking on this journey is just not doing their due diligence. It is not responsible leadership.

Council member Knerr has had well over a year to understand what he is putting out to the public RFP and then deep into negotiations with ourselves as the preferred developer. Where has he been?

Our very long negotiation, for nearly two years with the Town, has been frustrating in the very least. We believed that we had accord with the town at least three times only to have them abruptly change their minds. Going forward, if the town determines that it will consider selling the property, our only advice is “buyer beware.”

In the interests of the town and with in-depth knowledge of the structures and grounds at Heron Park, we have reached out to the Town to offer our assistance if desired.

Palmer and Sandy Gillis Coastal Ventures Properties

ACS Relay for Life yearly fundraiser set Sept. 23 Editor,

The Relay for Life is a slogan but most important it is an event sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

This event is held yearly and gathers people from all walks of life, such as cancer survivors, caregivers, young, elderly, White, Black and every other race. Cancer does not discriminate.

This event occurs every year where people gather to celebrate the survival of cancer patients, the thanking of the caregivers for their work with cancer patients and their families, as well as the gratitude of the people for encouragement to donate to ACS.

In my years of involvement with ACS, I have 19 years as a cancer survivor. Unfortunately, cancer is common in my family, where I have lost a brother, aunts and uncles. This does not stop me.

I have seen on TV, ads from another organization showing children suffering from this dreaded disease. To see these children being treated and finding out some survive it and some do not, encourages me to fight harder so these children and others can have a happy life.

To be at this event, I feel so satisfied to see how people are getting together to donate money to kill this disease and the friendliness of everyone working together.

I am not a medical person, just a member on the Original Greene Turtle team trying to raise money so that this disease can be cured. At this point I have raised $2,700 with a goal of $3,000. My hope and wishes are to continue to raise funds, no matter what amount. We need the entire community to help.

I love quotes and this is one by Helen Keller, “I am only one, still I am one, I cannot do everything, still I can do something, I will not refuse to do what I can.”

All contributions should be made out to the American Cancer Society.

This year’s Relay for Life is set from 4-10 p.m., Sept. 23, at Windmill Creek Winery, 11206 Worcester Hwy. in Berlin.

To my friends and loved ones, who have suffered from this disease, may God bless you.

Thank you in advance.

Nick Bartolomeo Selbyville

Climate science needs to be more scientific Editor,

I wonder how many of your readers are aware of the disagreement within the scientific community regarding “climate change?”

I would be willing to bet relatively few are, since it appears to be the goal

of the media to sweep any such information under the rug.

Therefore, I will be happy to inform your readers in the hopes that the truth will be known.

Over 1,600 scientists (including two Nobel Laureates) have signed a “No Climate Emergency Declaration” which dismisses the existence of a climate crisis and insists that carbon dioxide is beneficial to Earth.

The Declaration states “There is no climate emergency. Climate science should be more scientific. Scientists should openly address uncertainties and exaggerations in their predictions of global warming, while POLITICIANS SHOULD DISSPASSIONATELY COUNT THE REAL COSTS AS WELL AS THE IMAGINED BENFITS OF THEIR POLICY MEASURES.”(Emphasis intentional).

A good article on this subject can be found at “Just the News.com.” The actual Declaration can be found at www.clintel.org.

Just this week, Patrick T. Brown, Climate Team Co-Director at the nonprofit Breakthrough Institute in Berkeley, CA and a visiting research professor at San Jose State University, who authored an Aug. 30 paper in the prestigious British Journal “Nature” regarding the effect of climate change on wildfires said he “left out the full truth to get my climate change paper published.”

Brown wrote that the study didn’t look at poor forest management and other factors that are just as, if not more, important to fire behavior because “I knew that it would detract from the clean narrative centered on the negative impact of climate change.”

A good article on this subject can be found at www.phys.org.

Another excellent resource is “Unsettled - What Climate Science Tells Us, What it Doesn’t, and Why it Matters” by Steven E. Koonin, who served as a science advisor in the Obama Administration and is currently a professor at New York University and was for 30 years a professor of theoretical physics at Caltech and where he also served as vice president and provost.

A fascinating interview with Dr. Koonin can be found at Uncommon Knowledge on the Hoover Institution website.

I would hope that those reading this letter would start to question the government statements and rules and laws and regulations under which we are forced to live, as well as the wisdom of spending trillions of dollars and endangering our very way of life here on the shore and in Ocean City (and indeed along the entire Atlantic Coast) when there is so much disagreement about “climate change,” its effects, and whether or not it is even a thing.

Carol Frazier Ocean Pines

Battle of Salerno saw Ally powers storm Italy

By Nick Wahoff Contributing Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) This week, 80 years ago, the Battle of Salerno raged in southern Italy. This battle would not have happened, if it was not for British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.

After the Allied armies swept the Germans and Italians from North Africa, there was a debate on what to do next. American Gen. Dwight Eisenhower wanted to husband Allied resources to launch a second front against Germany in France. Churchill argued it was imperative to go after Italy to secure the Mediterranean and knock Benito Mussolini and his Fascists out of the war. He said it was Axis Europe’s “soft underbelly.”

When the Allies saw that they would not be able to go into France until 1944, and they could use many of their resources already sitting in North Africa, planning began for the invasion of Italy.

On July 9, 1943, the Allies launched the invasion of Sicily. It was a combination airborne and amphibious operation by the Canadians, British and Americans. It took six weeks for the island to be subdued, with many of the Axis forces escaping

to mainland Italy across the Strait of Messina. Soon after, the planning for the invasion of the “boot” of Italy began.

A good port was going to be essential for any invasion and Salerno offered it. Also, the beach at Salerno Bay was at the outermost range for Allied fighters based in Sicily.

An initial Allied landing took place on Sept. 3 across the straits of Messina by Bernard Montgomery’s Eighth Army. They moved slowly up the tip of the Italian boot. Still, the

Axis correctly expected a larger invasion force was still on its way.

As the Allied landing parties were heading toward the Salerno beaches, it was announced the Italians had surrendered (actually signed on Sept. 3). The German Army was prepared, with 16 divisions disarming nearby Italian forces and manning their positions. Expecting a possible Allied landing, the Germans deployed the 16th Panzer Division in the hills near Salerno Bay.

At 3:20 a.m. on Sept. 9, “Opera-

tion Avalanche” began, with U.S. Army Rangers landing on the beach just west of Salerno. Facing little resistance, the Rangers captured the high ground.

British Commandos came ashore at Vietri, near the port of Salerno. After silencing a shore battery with the help of naval guns, the commandos captured Vietri and moved into

Continued on Page 58

British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill

With LST-1 in background, US Army Engineers hauled a roll of wire mesh into position to make a beach roadway, Salerno, Italy, Sep 1943

CASEY E. ROBINSON

Berlin

Casey E. Robinson, 45, of Berlin, passed away on Monday, Sep. 4, 2023.

He was born in Salisbury and was the son of Gary Robinson of Bishopville and Diane (Taylor) and Mark Brueckmann of Berlin.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his life partner, Kathleen R. Hoffman of Berlin; two sisters, Jamie R. Brueckmann of Mardela Springs and Wendy R. Sapp of Whaleyville; niece Ashton Seaton and nephews Cruz Seaton, Brixton Seaton, Gage Pettit and Corbin Pettit; along with numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Casey graduated from Stephen Decatur High School in 1996. He was the assistant vice president and regional branch manager for Taylor Bank, where he had been employed for over

25 years. They were not only his employer but a second family to him.

He loved watching the Baltimore Orioles and Ravens. Casey enjoyed working out, hunting and enjoying the company of his family and friends. He also loved spending time with Kathleen and their dog, Hanson.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Calvin and Mae Taylor, Charles Francis and Hazel Robinson; aunt Margaret “Sue” Robinson; and uncles William “Eddie” Smack, Raymond Robinson Sr. and Harry Hammond Sr.

A funeral service was set for 1 p.m. on Monday Sept.11, 2023, at Community Church At Ocean Pines in Berlin, where friends were set to call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Burial will be in New Hope Cemetery in Willards.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Life Crisis Center, P.O. Box 387, Salisbury, MD 21803. In memo put Suicide Prevention (Casey Robinson).

Condolences may be sent by visiting bishophastingsfh.com

OBITUARY NOTICES

Obituary Notices cost $50 per week for Print and Online Publications.

E-mail: editor@oceancitytoday.net

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

Continued from Page 57

the hills, connecting with the U.S. Rangers.

The American Fifth Army, containing the U.S. VI Corps and the British X Corps, landed just southeast of Salerno at 4:30 a.m. The Allies decided not to do a naval shore bombardment to give the landing an element of surprise. The German artillery, ready and waiting, immediately started to pound the landing site. It was not until later in the morning, when the Germans ran out of ammunition and withdrew, that the G.I.s were able to advance.

As the Americans began to move along the beachhead toward Salerno, they ran into a German mechanized unit that stopped them cold. Naval fire was called in and they were able to advance again. Other units on the beachhead moved in to capture part of an airfield and the outskirts of the town of Battipaglia.

Further south, the Allies also landed without a naval bombardment. They encountered stiff German resistance, but were able to push inland to capture most of their first day objectives.

By nightfall, the Germans retreated from Salerno, allowing the Allies to capture the city. Still, there was a large gap between the American and British beachheads. On the second day, the Germans pushed the British out of Battipaglia. This was

$1,445.

done as other German forces were regrouping and waiting for reinforcements. Only another heavy naval bombardment stopped the German advance.

German Field Marshal Albert Kesselring sent all of his available forces toward the Allied beachhead. At noon on Sept. 11, the Germans counterattacked the British on the hilltops just north of Salerno. One group broke through, but was forced to retreat after a heavy naval bombardment.

The next day, the Germans continued their counterattack. While the British continued to hold the approaches to Salerno, to the north, they suffered significant casualties to the south of the city. Further south, the Americans linked up with the British and continued to advance, meeting stiff German resistance.

On Sept. 13, the Germans had five divisions against the four Allied divisions it hoped to push back into the Mediterranean. They concentrated their attack against the Americans in the south. It was serious enough that the American commander ordered everyone, including logistics and support personnel, to grab a rifle and hold the line. And again, after heavy naval fire and strategic bombing by Allied warplanes, the Germans had to stop their attack and retreat.

During the battle, the German Luftwaffe employed radio-controlled gliding bombs for the first time. These remote-controlled bombs were successful in damaging a battleship and three cruisers supporting the invasion.

With his units battered and incapable of advancing, Gen. Mark Clark considered evacuating the remaining Allied forces on the Salerno beachhead. Instead, Clark ordered his forces to pull back and shrink the defensive area and await reinforcements.

This included the 82nd Airborne Division, which flew in from Sicily and dropped on the beachhead. These stronger and more fortified positions were able to repulse the German attack on the 14th.

The last German attacks were repulsed on the 16th as Monty’s Eighth Army closed in from the eastern/Adriatic side of the Italian peninsula toward Salerno. The next day, the Germans began retreating to a fortified line along the Volturno River, north of Naples.

The Battle of Salerno was a significant victory for the Americans and British. It gave the Allies ports on the European mainland to take the fight to the Germans. It also relieved some of the pressure on the Soviets, as German divisions had to be redeployed to the south from the Eastern Front. Churchill’s insistence on a Second Front knocked Italy out of the war, leaving Germany to fight virtually alone in Europe.

Next week: Red Army Recaptures Smolensk

Casey Robinson

Decatur golfers hope 2022 success continues this year

By Bruce C. Walls

Decatur football team earns 49-8 win over Randallstown

Contributing Writer By Bruce C. Walls Contributing Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) Stephen Decatur High School golfers posted a perfect season last year and they hope to be just as successful in 2023.

“We have five returning players,” said Decatur Head Coach Dan Stearman. “Having five returning players will be one of our strengths this season, plus four of those played in the state tournament [and they all did well].

“And, all of our new varsity players were on the JV squad last year, which says volumes about our program,” he added.

The team has two returning seniors who were co-captains last year – Kole Kohut and Evan Oglesby.

“Our goals are always the same: win the Bayside South, win the conference, place as many as I can in the state tournament and win the championship,” Stearman said. “We’ve never won a state title, but this maybe the team to do it.”

The Seahawks started that climb to the top on Aug. 29, with a season opener team total of 154 at Rum Pointe Golf Course.

Decatur was led by co-medalist

Oglesby and Clayton McCabe (37). Sam Boger followed with a score of 37 and Kohut shot a 41.

Ten teams competed in the match. Parkside was second with a score of 166 and Bennett was third with a 178.

“The team played really good in the first match of the season,” Stearman said.

Decatur players had another challenge on Sept. 1, Chincoteague High School, from Chincoteague, Virginia, and eight other schools.

Rising to the occasion in the victory were co-medalists Oglesby and Kohut, who led the team with 37s. Boger and McCabe both shot 41s.

“The team performed really well on a tough course,” Stearman said.

At Ocean City Golf Course on Sept. 8, Decatur won with another 156 team score, defeating Parkside, Bennett and six other schools.

Leading the group were: Oglesby (37), Kohut (37), McCabe, (39) and Kasper Davis (40).

“This is the first match where all four players – Kohut, Oglesby, Boger and McCabe – all shot sub-40 scores,” Stearman said. “I think the team is really starting to play some of their best

(Sept. 15, 2023) A healthy crowd of Seahawk fans filled the seats of Louis H. Taylor Stadium in Berlin last Friday, to watch their Stephen Decatur football team destroy the Panthers of Randallstown, Maryland, 49-8, in a non-conference game.

Decatur quickly put 14 points on the new digitally-enhanced video scoreboard during the home season opener.

The Seahawks scored another in the second quarter, taking a commanding 21-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. They returned after the break to finish the job.

Senior quarterback Brycen Coleman threw 188 yards passing, hitting

golf with another tough match Tuesday at GlenRiddle.”

On Tuesday at GlenRiddle, Decatur recorded its season low team score of 151, with Parkside second (171) and Bennett third (179).

Decatur was led by medalist Kohut’s 1 under par 35. Oglesby and McCabe tallied 37s and Boger scored a 42.

three for touchdowns and one interception. Receiving those touchdowns were juniors Trybe Wise, Zakhari Baker and Ethan Bradshaw.

Decatur rushed for 137 yards on 24 carries.

Coleman led with 10 rushes, 70 yards and one touchdown. Junior Amarian Manuel produced seven rushes for 48 yards including a touchdown. Junior Tre Dorn got four rushes and a touchdown.

Senior Brogan Eastlack booted in seven extra points and had five touchbacks on kickoffs.

“Our defense only gave up 80 yards rushing and had one interception returned for 100 yards by [senior] AJ Kolb,” Decatur Head Coach Jake Coleman said.

Senior Gavin Solito and junior Davin Chandler together had six tackles.

“Our defense had seven sacks led by junior Sully Auker who got two sacks,” Coleman added.

This week, the Seahawks take on the James M. Bennett Clippers in a conference clash on their home turf in Berlin, tonight beginning at 6 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY SUSAN TAYLOR-WALLS

The Stephen Decatur golf team is hoping to have another successful season. Pictured, from left, are Brady Cunanne, Clayton McCabe, Evan Oglesby, Sam Boger, Luke Popielaski, Kole Kohut, Jasper Davis, Brody Kendall and Parker Mason.

Ribbon cutting tonight for SD’s new video board

(Sept. 15, 2023) Friday Night Lights will get a little more exciting tonight at Stephen Decatur High School.

During halftime of Friday’s football game against Bennett High on the Seahawk Field at Louis H. Taylor Stadium, a ribbon cutting is set to commence for the stadium’s new video board. The game is set to begin at 6 p.m. at 9913 Seahawk Road in Berlin.

According to a news release, the following anchor sponsors played a significant part in making the project possible: Atlantic General Hospital, Park Place Jewelers, Preston Ford Automotive Group, Bank of Ocean City, Taylor Bank, Town of Ocean City, T.E.A.M. Productions, Bradley Atlantic Insurance.

Anyone who is unable to attend the ribbon cutting in person can livestream it at: youtube.com/live/bO2wQ— OfmY?si=BdzLj1ENWKAnp0_9.

Worcester Prep golfers play well in win on Wednesday

(Sept. 15, 2023) The Worcester Prep golf team shot 161 at Prospect Bay Country Club to win the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference competition on Wednesday.

“They played well,” said Prep Coach Don McMullen.

Aleksey Klimins, Karrigan RussellWood and Owen West each shot 40 and were co-medalists. Mike DePalma and Kain Crossett shot 41, and Vanesska Hall recorded a 43.

Gunston came in second place with a 195 and Salisbury Christian took third with a 242.

The next ESIAC match is scheduled for Sept. 19 at Nutter’s Crossing Golf Club in Salisbury.

DECATUR FOOTBALL

During halftime of Stephen Decatur’s football game against Bennett High Friday on the Seahawk Field at Louis H. Taylor Stadium, a ribbon cutting is set to commence for the new video board. The game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in Berlin.

PHOTO COURTESY SDHS VIA FACEBOOK

PHOTO COURTESY SUSAN TAYLOR-WALLS

Stephen Decatur senior AJ Kolb runs with the ball while teammate, junior Trybe Wise, makes sure

a Randallstown player doesn’t get in his way during last Friday’s home opener in Berlin. Decatur won, 49-8.

PHOTO COURTESY DON MCMULLEN

The Worcester Prep golf team won its three-school competition at Prospect Bay Country Club on Wednesday. Pictured, from left, are Kain Crossett, Vanesska Hall, Mike DePalma, Aleksey Klimins, Owen West and Karrigan Russell-Wood.

SD field hockey team ‘strong down the middle’ this season

By Bruce C. Walls Contributing Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) With nine returning starters on this year’s roster, Stephen Decatur High School varsity field hockey Head Coach Katie Griffin is expecting another solid season from the Lady Seahawks.

“We are very strong,” she said of her team. “We are very strong down the middle … we have a core down the middle with Ava Snelsire as our center forward – she’s a returning junior – Bailey Griffin, a sophomore, who plays center middle, and Emily Ferguson, a junior, as center back.”

The three veteran players will help lead the group this year.

“We have strength from experience,” Griffin said.

The Seahawks showed that strength on Aug. 31 during a scrimmage against Henlopen Conference

powerhouse Indian River.

Decatur won 3-2. Freshman Avari Shoff led the charge with a pair of goals. Ryleigh Smith netted the goahead goal. Assists were made by Shoff, Smith and Griffin.

Decatur hosted Holly Grove on Sept. 6 and won, 8-0. The team was led by Snelsire, who scored three goals and had two assists.

Sophomore Jill Burton scored two goals and assisted on another. Smith hammered in a pair and Shoff shot one in the net as did sophomore Nikki Mays. Mays had one assist and Griffin tallied two.

The Seahawks then edged out Kent Island, 2-1, on Sept. 11.

“Amazing victory for Stephen Decatur field hockey,” Griffin said. “This is a historic win for our program.” Smith scored the first goal and Griffin had the game winner.

Sept. generally most active hurricane month

By Dave Dalkiewicz Contributing Writer

(Sept. 15, 2023) We are roughly in the middle of hurricane season, with September generally being the most active month.

By the time this article/column comes out in OC Today Hurricane Lee will have affected our coastline as well as the entire East Coast of the country. It can be a boon for surfers but more of a danger for inexperienced swimmers due to more radical rip currents.

This was noted in a recent issue regarding Labor Day weekend conditions and the number of rescues that had to be made by the Ocean City Beach Patrol.

Hurricanes Franklin and Idalia were the storms involved and became

quite worthy of front page news.

Hurricane Lee will have most likely created overhead waves and heavy shore break. Though most of this is written in a past tense it can be good future reference for any beachgoer, swimmer or surfer.

When storms like this occur they can create very long lines of swell, even to the point of being a “block” long, breaking all at once in the form of what is known as a “closeout.”

All of this can be exacerbated by sandbars being closer to shore. This can make things quite difficult for surfing and swimming.

Much of this has to do with swell period and the distance of the source

of the swell and subsequent breaking waves. It seems as though swell period is better around the 10-second range but of course tide, wind and sandbar placement will all have various effects.

Hopefully some decent waves will have been had for surfers on the Delmarva Peninsula and smart swimmers will know when it’s best to stay out of the water.

Even surfers should know when it’s best to leave things alone. It’s been said that “when in doubt don’t go out.” Any of this can hold true from Rehoboth Beach to Assateague Island and anywhere around the world.

On more of a bright side, a positive effect of what undoubtedly will have been beach erosion will be a rearrangement of sand. The whole idea is to have sandbars farther off of the

shoreline.

This would ideally make for better conditions for surfing and safer conditions for swimming, bathing or just playing around in the water.

The sand is always subject to movement if even only in a subtle way. In storm conditions this movement is bound to become greater.

As long as a substantial dune line can remain, the protection factor should be sufficient. In this regard there is always at least some controversy and it remains to be seen what might, or will, have occurred. Hopefully, all in all, everything works out for the OCBP, swimmers and surfers.

— Dave Dalkiewicz is the owner of Ocean Atlantic Surf Shop in Ocean City

Sponsors needed for new charity tournament

(Sept. 15, 2023) The Ocean Pines Platform Tennis Club is seeking sponsors for a new charity tournament set for Saturday, Sept. 23 in Ocean Pines.

According to a news release, tournament co-chairs Karen Kaplan and M. Petito said the event will benefit longtime member Dee Bohanan, who is battling Parkinson’s disease and receiving home hospice care.

Players from Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey have been invited, and the tournament promises to showcase an exhibition of high-level platform tennis, for a worthy cause.

Sponsorships of $500, $250, and $150 – and donations in any amount – will be gifted by the club to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkin-

son's Research, in honor of Bohanan.

Sponsor benefits include the company's name on a banner with high profile exposure at the Ocean Pines Racquet Center.

“Daily foot traffic at the center often exceeds 300 players, and a business name on a banner will elevate their brand exposure and highlight their company's goodwill in the

community,” Kaplan said in the release. “And, it’s all for a great cause for our dear friend.”

For more information on sponsorships, contact Kaplan at516-508-0313 for an application.

Additional donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation can be mailed to M. Petito, 4 Longpoint Court, Ocean Pines 21811.

PHOTO COURTESY SUSAN TAYLOR-WALLS

Stephen Decatur sophomore Nikki Mays controls the ball during a scrimmage against Indian River on Aug. 31.

Huk Big Fish Classic tournament organizers presented members of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company with a check for $20,000 on Tuesday. Pictured, from left, are Sean Welsh of the Big Fish Classic; OCVFC Past Chief David Cropper; Stephen Lewis, Brian Roberts and John Lewis of the Big Fish Classic; and OCVFC President Freddie Senger and Chief Richie Bowers. The 10th annual Huk Big Fish Classic took place in late July with 69 boats entered and $740,900 in prize money awarded. Organizers also donated $2,000 to the Ocean Research Project and $1,200 to Diakonia.