OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
NOVEMBER 1, 2019
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
LIFESTYLE
FOSTER PROGRAM
Teen adopts entire herd of Assateague Island National Seashore ponies for $3,000 – Page 25
FREE
Money talk dominates OC planning excercise Strategic plan update session sends govt. on hunt for revenue By Josh Kim Staff Writer (Nov. 1, 2019) Money, money, money—despite a strict agenda and schedule, curated by Ocean City Communications Manager Jessica Waters, the topic of money and where to get it dominated resort government’s Strategic Planning Update meeting Tuesday. “We need to talk about making money,” Councilman John Gehrig said early on the first day of what had been scheduled as a two-day session. “We’re out of touch.” Gehrig jumped straight to a sports complex project that the City Council had been ruRACHEL RAVINA/OCEAN CITY TODAY
MEMORIAL CLIMB About 46 firefighters and members of the public participate in the Ocean City 9/11 Stair Climb last Saturday morning at the Pyramid on 95th Street. The eighth annual event, sponsored by the Delmarva Emerald Society, was held to honor the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. Participants climbed 110 stories to signify the number of floors in the twin towers. More than $3,500 was raised to benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, an organization dedicated to honoring American firefighters and providing resources to help their family members.
Police uncover tow scheme By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (Nov. 1, 2019) Ocean City police uncovered a suspected theft and towing scheme by 1st Street Towing in Ocean City, going back as far as March 16. Charges filed last month allege that 1st Street Towing profited by thousands of dollars by illegally towing vehicles from a multi-unit
property on Atlantic Avenue and the parking lot of Bank of America in mid-town Ocean City. According to court documents, police became aware of the situation when Cynthia Mooney, president of Shore Management, reported to police on Aug. 9 that her car had been towed by the wrong company.
Shore Management organizes tow companies for its own properties, one of which was the multi-unit property on Atlantic Avenue. That property has labeled parking spaces by unit number for the owners. Mooney told police she has tow warning signs that bear the stickers of the tow company she contracted with to See TOW Page 61
minating on for several years. “We have so much to offer that other sport complexes don’t have,” Gehrig said. “We need to think big, and I think we can dominate this [market] nationwide.” Gehrig pushed to begin development planning for the sports complex as soon as possible. However, several council members expressed their desire to wait until a previously ordered feasibility study is completed in November. “I think that we are smart enough to decide what is good for our city,” Gehrig said. He said the city needed to create goals and to identify potential partners from both the private and public sectors. See SPORTS Page 8
Skipjack wind project seeks permit approval Supplemental info provided to feds so building can begin By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (Nov. 1, 2019) The offshore wind project offshore of Ocean City continues to make headway, despite continued concern from the Ocean City Council and Mayor Rick Meehan. Skipjack Wind Farm is looking to finish submitting all cost information to the federal government to obtain
the building permit for the proposed offshore wind farm and to find a property in the Ocean City area for the maintenance facility building, according to Joy Weber, development manager for Skipjack. The federal construction plan was submitted in April and could take up to a year for full approval. “We're now adding the supplemental information,” Weber said. “The federal government — overseeing agency — reviews the information we submit and says, See SKIPJACK Page 59