Commentary

Commentary Ocean City Today Nov. 18, 2022 Page 50 Professing support when it’s not critical

The reply to elected officials who argue they don’t oppose a sports complex, just the public funding of it, has to be, “So what?” If no public money is involved, these officials would have little say in the matter beyond being sure that such a facility meets zoning and other land use requirements.

Consequently, politicians who stake out the no-publicfunding position are trying to have it both ways: they don’t want to alienate voters who support the development of such a facility, but also want the continued support of those who oppose it.

This is not to suggest that a major athletic facility that proposes to draw youth sports tournaments from all over the eastern half of the country would be a sure-fire success no matter whose money is being spent. It’s a crapshoot, just like it was when the state and the Town of Ocean City built the Ocean City convention center back in 1970.

At the time of its opening, that multi-million-dollar facility was derided throughout the state as a “white elephant” because it sat empty on most days. But, obviously, something did go right over time, because the Roland E. Powell Convention Center is more than five times the size of the original 40,000-square foot structure.

Still, it remains disingenuous for elected officials to profess support for something in which they would have reduced involvement.

Should an investment group buy a tract of cleared land that had once been used for recreational purposes — an abandoned golf course, for instance — its approval would hinge on the findings of the regulatory bodies that govern land use and development.

A project either meets the state and county requirements or it doesn’t, and if it does, elected officials can’t say no just because they don’t like it. Only if a sports complex proposal needed some kind of regulatory accommodation like a zoning change or wastewater disposal solution would politicians’ opinion enter into the equation. And then, the public would find out if that “support” actually exists.

Ocean City Today

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PUBLIC EYE Why is it ‘tuna fish?’

Here’s a sample of the questions I’ve been thinking about recently, if only to blot out all the breaking political news, which seems pretty broken to me: if the Secret Service is secret, why do I know about it? I just think it’s strange that we continue to call it the Secret Service when much of what it does is so public. It’s not as if we see news reports (breaking or otherwise) that say, “... and the president was hustled off to his car by a group of unknown people wearing suits.” No, we know that it’s the un-Secret Service that takes care of these things.

Otherwise, one might wonder, were anonymous, but well-dressed individuals to be involved, whether the president had been whisked away by vigilante suit tailors for an emergency fitting.

But no, we know it’s the Secret Service because it’s the Public Secret Service, while the secret Secret Service is, presumably, busy working undercover to bust up Lou’s Superior Counterfeiting Inc. and other hush-hush operations.

In any case, this is just one of the confusing names that I have allowed to bother me lately, because I’m determined to ignore the news that really gets me going.

Another of these name curiosities is seen on many restaurant menus. That would be the ubiquitous “Garden Salad.”

Not to nitpick, but where else would a salad come from, the parking lot? Or maybe it’s the “Empty Lot Down the Street Salad, or the “Decorated Tractor Tire Salad: the local’s favorite.” I know other kinds of salads exist: chicken salad, shrimp salad and egg salad, but they’re always identified as being what they are. Tuna salad, however, is an interesting name, as many people tend to change “Tuna” to “Tuna Fish” once it takes salad form ... as if some other kind of tuna is out there wandering around in non-fish territory. This brings me another thing that makes

By no sense — the “Fresh Seafood” you see on Stewart restaurant marquees. Fresh seafood as opposed to what? “Found Dobson It On The Beach Yesterday Seafood?” Or “It’s Still Good Seafood?” “Moderately Fresh Seafood?” We expect it to be fresh, or at least fresh frozen or we’re not coming back ... once we’re back to eating solid food, anyway. Back on the political front, the name of the congressional “Freedom Caucus” strikes me as odd in that outside of wanting me to be free to take my 9mm to church, this group wants me to be free to do what they tell me and like it. In a number of respects, it’s like the Progressive Caucus, which seems to like the idea of progressing toward national bankruptcy. But enough of that. I’m avoiding this increasingly nasty political tug-of-war by focusing on other ironic names such as Jumbo Shrimp, Pygmy Whales, and why, when we talk about the weather we say, “It’s raining” and “It’s Snowing,” but when the wind rises, we never say “It’s winding.”

(Nov. 18, 2022) In efforts to raise funds to support the Arts Scholarship program for local students, the Worcester County Arts Council is hosting a silent auction featuring a variety of original artwork, donated by local artists.

All auction items are on display at the Worcester County Arts Council’s Gallery and are available for bidding until Dec. 11.

Auction artwork may be purchased at “Buy Now” prices.

Winners will be notified on Dec. 12.

The gallery, located at 6 Jefferson Street, is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Auction items may also be viewed and purchased on Friday, Nov. 25, from 5-8 p.m. during the “Ice, Ice Berlin & Tree Lighting” celebration.

In June of 2022, the Arts Council awarded a total of $10,000 to five Worcester County students in support of their artistic goals.

For more information about the Arts Scholarship program, visit www.worcestercountyartscouncil.org.

The Worcester County Arts Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support, promote, and encourage visual, performing, and literary arts in Worcester County.

As designated by the Maryland State Arts Council County arts agency, the Worcester County Arts Council is committed to fostering the excellence, diversity, and vitality of arts, artists, and arts organizations and increasing access to the arts for all members of our community.

The Worcester County Arts Council is funded by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council and supported by memberships, donations, and local sponsorships.

Roberge stoping in OC this spring

(Nov. 18, 2022) Maryland native and lead singer of the popular band O.A.R., Marc Roberge, is returning to the beach on Friday, March 10.

Continuing his successful solo tour, “An Evening with Marc Roberge,” and the release of O.A.R.’s new album “The Arcade,” the band’s frontman will be making his way to the Eastern Shore to bring his energetic live show to the Performing Arts Center.

“We are thrilled to get Marc back to Ocean City for an intimate show with some of his biggest fans,” said Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan. “Although O.A.R. didn’t get to perform as planned earlier this fall, we are excited to have Marc put on a show with his pals this spring.”

Roberge will be performing his songs and covers from his band O.A.R.

“An Evening with Marc Roberge from O.A.R.” will begin at 8 p.m. on March 10, at the Performing Arts Center inside the convention center on 40th Street. Tickets went on sale Wednesday.

“We can’t think of a better way to kick off the St. Patrick’s Day weekend than an intimate show with Marc and Friends,” Meehan said. “Whether you’re planning a date night, family night, or starting your St. Patrick’s Day weekend early, Marc and friends will be an evening in Ocean City you won’t want to miss.”

Visit https://ocmdperformingartscenter.com for more information.

Rec and Parks Pickleball back for Thanksgiving

(Nov. 18, 2022) Worcester County Recreation and Parks will host the annual Turkey Bowl Pickleball Tournament later this month.

This two-day tournament will take place Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 19-20, at the Worcester County Recreation Center in Snow Hill.

Saturday’s play will consist of men’s and women’s doubles, and Sunday will be mixed doubles.

Doors will open and check-in will begin at 7:30 a.m. Competition will start at 8 a.m.

The tournament is open to ages 18 and older. The cost per person is $45, which includes a T-shirt.

To play, register online at www.pickleballtournaments.co m.

For more information, contact Tyler Keiser at 410-6322144 x2505 or tkeiser@marylandscoast.org.

To view a full list of upcoming special events, visit www.playmarylandscoast.org.

County Rec and Parks NYC trip back after covid years

(Nov. 18, 2022) Take a motorcoach trip to New York City on Dec. 10, with Worcester County Recreation & Parks. It is the organization’s first bus trip to New York City since the covid-19 pandemic.

Individuals and families are invited to book their seats to travel to the Big Apple to celebrate the holidays.

The trip will be on your own, so the itinerary for the day is up to each individual.

Participants can visit the Statue of Liberty, World Trade Center, or wander through famous neighborhoods.

Enjoy the holiday spirit of the city with a carriage ride through Central Park, ice skating, the tree at Rockefeller Center, or holiday shopping.

There will be two pick up locations, one at the Worcester County Recreation Center in Snow Hill at 5 a.m. and the second at the Berlin Walmart at 5:30 a.m.

Participants can expect to arrive at Macy’s at 34th and Broadway in New York City around 10:30 a.m. The bus will depart at 6:30 p.m. and arrive back in Worcester County at midnight.

The price per person for this trip is $120. The deposit of $60 is due at the time of booking, and the remaining $60 balance is due by Friday, Dec. 2. To book a seat, visit www.playmarylandscoast.org.

For more information, contact Tyler Keiser at 410-632-2144 ext. 2505 or tkeiser@marylandscoast.org. The Ocean City Christian Ministers Association Invites Everyone To Our… Community’s Thanksgiving Service

Sunday, November 20th, 7:00pm Son’ Spot Ministries, 12 Worcester Street Service will include…praise, worship songs, hymns, Thanksgiving testimonies and a brief message. Please bring packaged food goods, paper products, and funds for the offering, which will be used to help the needy in our community. There will be desserts & fellowship after the service. This is a great opportunity to give thanks to God. We hope you can attend.

Rommel retreats from Benghazi 80 years ago

By Peter Ayers Wimbrow III Contributing Writer (Nov. 18, 2022) This week, 80 years ago, Benghazi, Libya’s second largest city, was occupied by the Allies. That day, Hitler ordered Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, commander of Panzerarmee Afrika, to hold a position at Mersa el Brega, “... at all cost,” calling it the, “... springboard of a new offensive.”

Mersa al Brega is located on the Gulf of Sidra, the most southerly point of the Mediterranean Sea, 148 miles south of Benghazi, and currently has a population of 7,000. On Nov. 22, 1942, the field marshal met with his titular superior, Marshal Ettore Bastico, governor-general of Italian Libya and commander-in-chief of Axis forces in North Africa.

The next day, Field Marshal Rommel’s Panzerarmee Afrika retreated another 100 miles to Agedabia, and was beginning to evacuate it as well. Mersa al Brega was only 50 miles distant. The following day, he met with Marshal Ugo Cavallero, head of Comando Supremo and Field Marshal “Smiling” Albert Kesselring.

The meeting was held at the Arco dei Fileni, which marked the border between the Libyan provinces of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, which was destroyed by Quaddafi in 1973. Rommel argued to the two of the folly of standing and fighting Eighth Army, and that the better course would be to abandon Libya and withdraw to Tunisia.

For two weeks the “Desert Fox” had been shepherding his beaten and battered Panzerarmee Afrika west across the North African desert, in an attempt to escape the clutches of the Allied Eighth Army, commanded by Gen. Bernard L. Montgomery (“Monty”).

Field Marshal Rommel’s Panzerarmee Afrika had been defeated at El Alamein by Monty’s Eighth Army, and many of its soldiers killed and captured, and much of its equipment captured or destroyed. It was perilously low on fuel, food and ammunition. The Axis forces were driven out of Egypt on Nov. 6, and abandoned Tobruk six days later.

On Nov. 26, the Italian Duce also ordered the field marshal to hold at Mersa el Brega. Two days later, he flew to Berlin to plead his case to Hitler — without success. He then traveled from Berlin to Rome with Reichsmarshal Hermann Göring, in the Reichsmarshal’s train, to meet with Comando Supremo. Once more, he pled his case — again to no avail. The Desert Fox returned to the Libyan desert on Dec. 2, 1942.

But the Desert Fox had decided to withdraw to El Agheila, which he knew well, and which was 30 miles past Mersa al Brega. It was a strong position, surrounded by salt marshes and soft sand.

If he had received the replacement troops, tanks, artillery, fuel and ammunition which he had been promised, his Panzerarmee Afrika might have been able to hold. But almost all of the men and equipment destined for Africa were being sent to Tunisia to oppose the Americans and British, who were headed east from Algeria.

Kesselring (left), with his chief of staff, Wilhelm Speidel (centre), and Hermann Goring (right) – 1940

Continued on Page 53

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