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Commentary
Commentary Ocean City Today Dec. 2, 2022 Page 49 Study shows way on sports complex
One hundred fifty-three million five hundred thousand dollars, or $153.5 million. No matter how it’s written or spoken, that’s a lot of money.
It’s also the estimated cost of building a sports complex on Route 50, according to the Maryland Stadium Authority’s second study of the proposal released this week.
As the study asserts, the city and county would be on the hook for 20 percent of that if they pursued the project in partnership with the state. Their combined share for site development and construction of a multi-field campus and fieldhouse would be between $31 million to $36.5 million, with the state picking up the balance.
The study also suggests that this level of spending for a first-class facility on the 95-acre tract next door to Berlin isn’t a bad idea, as the tax revenues from the complex would cover the debt on government bonds sold to pay for building and development.
In addition, the study’s analysts found that new business brought in by the complex would pump between $82 million and $97 million into the economy, create between 830-980 local jobs, and post annual net earnings of $30 million.
These conclusions leave elected officials with an obvious question: is a sports complex worth doing? The better, question, however, is what if they do nothing?
Considering that tourism and real estate development drive the local economy, what do elected officials propose to do to encourage economic growth and a stable tax rate over the long term? What’s their plan? Build houses across the entire county, more agro-tourism?
Here’s something to think about: if there’s a better way to boost the economy than by generating $316,000 an acre every year on a per-acre investment of $1.6 million, the suggestion box is open.
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 Playing name game
Because I like to keep up with all the trends, like setting up a chatsnap account and ticking my tok (not that it’s anyone’s business) I’m changing my name so it will be more current.
From now on, I want to be known by my first name’s last two letters, which are “rt.” I figure if it works for Kanye West, who’s now known as “Ye,” I can be referred to as Rt, which, obviously, is pronounced “urt.” It has to be pronounced that way because otherwise it would sound like a stockcar racer’s name, as in, “Hit the gas, Ar-tee, they’re gainin’ on ya’ll.”
I have nothing against stockcar racing, by the way, except that I once covered a 500mile NASCAR event down on the infield by the pit crews where the view is limited.
Here’s what that’s like and why I’ll never do that again: you spend four hours watching two hours of racing by rotating your head from shoulder to shoulder 500 times.
At least I think it was 500 times. It’s hard to say, since huffing gas fumes in 100-degree heat on a long afternoon will give you brainspin, as in that little whirling ball you get on your computer screen when your system goes kerflooey.
You’re standing there looking completely normal, head swiveling from one side to the other, and no one can tell that you’re otherwise occupied trying to reboot yourself out of big trouble.
And now that I think of it, that may be the first time I called myself by my new name.
“Hey, buddy,” I think my companion said.
“Urt?” I replied.
Many years have passed since then and the possibility of actually employing this new name remained dormant until the late rock star Prince adopted an unpronounceable symbol as his name before moving on to become “The Artist Formerly Known As Prince,”
This was not destined to last forever, as it proved a little unwieldy to the crowds chanting his name at concerts.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhh! I loooooove you, The Artist Formerly Known As Prince” was not a common refrain at his concerts, as far as I know, and he eventually reverted to his original name.
But when Kanye became Ye, I knew this was the right time to make my own switch, even though we have nothing beyond two-letter names in common. After all, I’m not rich and I’m not an idiot.
So, there you have it. You can call me urt, or Mr. urt, if you prefer, but either way, you can’t say I’m not up on all the cool things.
Just like the other day, in fact, I got a text (yes, a text) that said, “See me on YouTube.”
Maybe it’s the new name on my cell account that’s confusing him, because I haven’t heard back.
By Stewart Dobson
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Community thanked for support
Editor,
I want to thank the community of Ocean City for their continued support of Thanksgiving Dinner at Ocean City Baptist Church.
For the last 43 years, Ocean City Baptist Church has hosted and served a free dinner on Thanksgiving day. Every year I am amazed to see the community come together to make sure that nobody is hungry or alone on Thanksgiving Day.
This year Ocean City Elks Lodge 2645 and Humphreys Foundation made sure that we had enough donations to buy all the food and paper goods to support this ministry!
Also, there were over 100 volunteers from in the Ocean City community that came to help set-up, serve, cook, clean up, bus tables, deliver meals, and do whatever it took to make sure that everyone was happy and fed.
In a world that seems so divided on every issue, it was an amazing thing to experience!
This year we served 452 meals to those who came in or carried out. In addition, we delivered 215 meals to our amazing first responders who were working on Thanksgiving as well as shut-ins and a few businesses that were opened on Thanksgiving. Making the total number of meals served 677!
These meals consisted of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, sauerkraut (for those who asked) and a piece of apple or pumpkin pie.
I want to give a special thank you to Paul deHuarte and Melanie Corbin (members of Ocean City Baptist Church) for their hard work in making sure everything went smoothly.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday where we count our blessings and this meal reminds me every year of the blessing it is to live in Ocean City.
It truly is an amazing city full of great people who love God and love one another.
I am thankful to live in such an amazing place!
God Bless, Pastor Sean Davis Ocean City Baptist Church
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Motorcoach trip to NYC on Dec. 10 with Rec. and Parks
(Dec. 2, 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 covid19 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 Pine’eer Craft Club of Ocean Pines has chosen Terry Devine as the December Crafter of the Month.
Pine’eer Club chooses Devine as December crafter of month
(Dec. 2, 2022) The Pine’eer Craft Club of Ocean Pines has chosen Terry Devine as the December Crafter of the Month.
Devine shares her time between her hometown of Philadelphia and Ocean Pines, where she has owned a home for nine years.
In March of 2020, she retired from her job as a director in the Philadelphia Health Care System, just as the covid-19 pandemic was starting to cause lockdowns.
When the pandemic forced her to spend more time at home, Devine joined an online class and started making art from acrylic paint and glass.
The glass she primarily uses is the same chunky glass used in decorative gas fireplaces. She also breaks and cuts glass from colorful vases she finds in thrift stores.
Along with making crafts, Devine also enjoys traveling, photography, gardening and spending time with family and friends.
View Devine’s projects and other handmade items at the Artisan Gift Shop in White Horse Park, on 239 Ocean Parkway in Ocean Pines.
The shop is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.oceanpines.org/web/page s/artisan-gift-shop.
DECEMBER 2, 2022 Chamber’s Young Professionals win volunteering award
(Dec. 2, 2022) The Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Committee was named a 2022 Group/Team Spirit Award recipient for embodying the volunteer spirit of Worcester County.
Volunteer Spirit awards were presented at the Worcester County Commissioners meeting Oct. 18 for each of the following eight categories: individual, group/team, emerging leader, faith-based, nonprofit volunteer program, local business, veteran, and lifetime achievement.
The chamber’s executive director Amy Thompson, Young Professional Chair Billy Apostolou and member Cate Nellans accepted the award.
The Young Professional committee volunteers at chamber events and hosts the annual Christmas Spirit Campaign, which serves more than 100 local children and their families.
The CSC committee works closely with the Worcester County Public School System, local churches and community organizations to identify children who are in-need and at-risk.
Volunteers shop with a wish list and gifts are distributed at the chamber.
“This is a very special award for our group. A lot of effort and hours go into our planning,” Apostolou said. “I am very proud of the Young Professionals and especially our work with the Christmas Spirit Campaign; nothing means more to us than making sure these children can have a better holiday season.”
For more information about CSC, how to sponsor a child, or to join the Young Professionals, visit oceancity.org/ocmdyp or email billy@directmortgageloans.com.
The Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals Committee won a 2022 Group/Team Spirit Award for volunteer spirit in Worcester County.
Lois James d.d.s.
WORLD WAR II British and American soldiers link up in Tunisia 80 years ago
By Peter Ayers Wimbrow III Contributing Writer (Dec. 2, 2022) This week, 80 years ago, soldiers of the British 2nd Parachute Battalion linked with American GIs near Medjez el Bab, in northern Tunisia. The British paratroopers had been dropped at, and had captured, Depienne Airfield on Dec. 3, 1942.
The airfield is located 7.5 miles northeast of El Fahs, and 33 miles southwest of Tunis, the capital and largest city in Tunisia. Today, El Fahs has a population of 23,500, while Tunis’ population is 2,700,000, almost 10 percent of the total for the country.
By this time, the Axis’ position in North Africa was getting very tenuous. The Allied Eighth Army, commanded by Gen. Bernard Law Montgomery (“Monty”), had defeated Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s Panzerarmee Afrika at El Alamein in Egypt, and had driven it out of Egypt and across Libya.
By all accounts Field Marshal Rommel did a masterful job just keeping the remnants of his army together in its long retreat. At the same time, British and American forces had invaded the French protectorate of Morocco and the French colony of Algeria and were headed east toward the French protectorate of Tunisia. Field Marshal Rommel’s Panzerarmee Afrika was retreating into Tunisia and was being squeezed from east and west, and once in Tunisia, from the north and south, as well. By now, the vaunted Panzerarmee Afrika numbered but 7,500 men — of whom
Field Marshal Albert Kesselring wearing Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
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