Commentary

Commentary Ocean City Today Nov. 11, 2022 Page 53 Complex sunk by age-old division

More bad news for sports complex boosters. According to the preliminary voting totals by precinct, support for and opposition to funding a sports complex with a bond issue broke down into the usual north-south divide, with a helping hand from the Ocean Pines area.

The only precincts giving the idea strong support was no surprise — that would be the Ocean City/West Ocean City area. A little surprising, though, was that Berlin area voters, which includes South Point, were so evenly split.

Ballots cast in Ocean City and West Ocean City polling places totaled 2,246 for Question A and 1,683 against it to give proponents a 563-vote edge, according to the early and unofficial voting tally.

Ocean Pines voters, however, cut 325 votes out of that advantage, with 1,713 voting against Question A as compared to the 1,388 who believe floating a bond issue to build an athletic facility is an acceptable idea.

While Berlin area voters came the closest to splitting evenly on the issue — 1,545 for vs. 1,589 against, voters in southern Worcester delivered the knockout blow.

The Newark/Snow Hill combination produced the strongest anti-Question A total of 1,183 votes against the measure while just 682 people favored it, for a net negative of 501 votes.

Pocomoke/Girdletree finished the job with 1,249 against the question and 853 for it.

What this breakdown says to sports complex advocates in this neck of the woods is that they have two choices, regardless of how the county commissioner majority is constituted. They must either generate sufficient support for the complex on their home turf to overcome opposition voters in Ocean Pines and the southern precincts if this proposal ever comes to a vote again, or they must show residents in these communities how such a project will benefit them as well.

That would be one difficult job, given the “Ocean City-getseverything” complaint routinely heard and acted on elsewhere in the county when money is involved.

Ocean City Today

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

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

PUBLIC EYE Cooking not allowed

There was a time when I prided myself on being a good home cook. No, let’s make that a very good home cook, who, after a year or two of self-teaching and a few full-scale assaults on the old digestive system, could turn out some impressive, high quality table fare. This was a skill that I truly earned the hard way by making up and trying recipes that should have said, “If ingested, contact your physician immediately.” This would include, of course, my infamous stuffed potato, which I ate once and paid for it later ... and later ... and later.

I was bored, I suppose, and thought coring out a hole mid-potato and jamming high-fat burger meat in the newly created tunnel would make for a quick dinner in a nuke-it and eat-it sort of way.

Well, it was quick, just not in a good way. I never stopped to think about how much fat was in burger meat or how much the potato would absorb, because I was looking for convenience over consequences, which were, well, consequential on a Charge of the Light Brigade level.

Not long thereafter, I eschewed making up dumb recipes for fear that I’d undergo some kind of Jekyll and Hyde transformation or miss more work because of grease poisoning. I stuck to real recipes and worked my way up through all the things I liked to eat until I reached a point where I could make food other people like to eat.

And then, just like that, it all went away. I don’t mean I could no longer turn out sea trout roulades with crab imperial or apple pork tenderloin en croute, I mean I can’t cook pork chops without wondering if they might make good heels on my old cowboy boots. I just don’t have it anymore, as has been pointed out to me in recent months. “Hey,” I’ll say, “how about we pound out some pork tenderloin and cook it scallopini style?” “No,” she’ll reply, “I’ll cook it, because if you do it’ll be like eating poker chips in a white wine sauce.” Apparently, among the shortages we’re all

By experiencing these days, we have a seriously diStewart minished supply of slack in my house. Nevertheless, I still try to cook from time to time, as Dobson I did last month when we had a couple over for pizza night. Feeling the need to do something besides buy a pizza, I made cheese puffs. I made my puff paste, I cheesed it thoroughly, I fried these bad boys until they were golden brown, just like the picture in the cookbook. I passed them around and everyone smiled and nibbled politely. But observer of the human condition that I am, I know they were not saying what they were thinking. “These are really good,” she said, meaning, “Hmmm, fried Christmas tree ornaments. That’s different.” “Yeah,” he added. “They are good,” meaning, “I wonder if there’s a cheese puff deer season. I could knock out a 10-pointer with one of these.” My feelings weren’t hurt though because I know I’ve lost the touch. In fact, I made simple French toast the other day, only to hear from across the table, “You know, these remind me — we have some soggy wet tile by the sink.”

Hank Meixner was a recipients of the Mary Gladys Jones Volunteer of the Year Award during the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s annual meeting on Nov. 4. Velda Henry was presented the Chairman’s Award for her invaluable service and dedication to the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.

INDIAN SUMMER

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Many visitors to the Boardwalk enjoyed a warm, sunny day last Saturday. The Town of Ocean City is in Phase II of its Boardwalk Re-decking Project, from Wicomico Street to 15th Street.

Two Berlin residents among award recipients last week

(Nov. 11, 2022) Two Berlin residents, Hank Meixner and Velda Henry, were among several people who received awards during the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s annual meeting on Nov. 4.

Meixner was one of the recipients of the Mary Gladys Jones Volunteer of the Year Award, which honors the commitment and value of a volunteer’s sustained and unselfish contributions through the investment of time, talent, and expertise.

In addition to the award, each honoree was bestowed $1,000 for a charity of their choice.

Meixner, who exudes the qualities of a great volunteer through their selflessness, humility, reliability, and positivity, has devoted nearly two decades as a volunteer for Believe in Tomorrow Children’s Foundation, which provides a safe and comfortable place for families to vacation together in Ocean City during a child’s medical crisis.

No job is too big or too small for Meixner, from maintenance issues to ensuring families have the most comfortable stay and a healing environment during their respite.

He has great ability to look at challenges through a bright lens and develop solutions that benefit everyone involved and has helped touch the lives of more than 2,300 families.

Meixner is also an engaged volunteer with the Ocean City Homeless Shelter.

Henry, of Berlin, received the Chairman’s Award for her invaluable service and dedication to the Community Foundation.

In addition to her service to CFES, she has also served in leadership positions on numerous organizational boards and cares deeply about the betterment of the community.

She is always kind and positive, asks important questions, and brings about effective solutions to community challenges.

From making connections within the community to further the reach of CFES grantmaking, to helping to interview prospective staff members when they want to join the team, Henry engages in every facet of work.

During the annual meeting, CFES celebrated having made $100 million in grants since its inception.

In fiscal year 2022 the foundation presented a total of $7.1 million in grants made to the local community, which included more than $439,000 in scholarships to area students.

“The $100 million grant making milestone is a collaboration of generosity from donors, volunteers, and staff working together to make the Lower Shore a more vibrant community,” said CFES President Erica Joseph. “As the leading philanthropic resource for our community, we create incredible impact for nonprofits and connect donors with charitable causes.”

As leaders, grant makers, and stewards of philanthropy, the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore connects people who care to causes that matter for the common good of the Lower Eastern Shore.

It is a 501c3 nonprofit with an inspiring history of fostering charitable endeavors, and has provided $100 million in grants and scholarships to the local community since 1984.

It collaborates with individuals, families, and businesses to match their charitable interests with community needs and strengthen local nonprofits through grants and resources.