5/10/24 OC Today-Dispatch

OC Today-Disp a atch

Packed house budget hearing

School system supporters line the street and fill the room for public hearing on county’s spending plan.

Commissioners say little as most citizens testify in favor of a fully funded board of education budget. Only two speakers addressed other points in the spending plan.

— Page 90

Bottle house still stands

Property owner trying to save house that homeless person built out of bottles. — Page 94

Rate down, tax bill up

Council cuts cent off last year’s tax rate, but brings in more because of reassessments.

Constant yield 4.21 cents lower than proposed rate, but expenses keep rising.

— Page 8

CHARLENE SHARPE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

Pro-school funding demonstrators line the street Tuesday across from the county government office building, where the commissioners were to take testimony on their budget.

Comp plan review continues with transportation officials

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) Resort officials continued their review of Ocean City’s comprehensive plan this week with a discussion on transportation and community facilities.

On Tuesday, Public Works Director Hal Adkins met with town staff and members of the Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission to present plans for transportation and community facilities in the coming years. City Planner Bill Neville said topics presented at the meeting would guide the town’s comprehensive plan update.

“The comprehensive plan is a required item that every community in Maryland has to have, and we use it to pull together in one place all of the different elements that make up a working town,” he said. “So that’s why we have a land use chapter, a transportation chapter, a community facilities chapter. And the goal really is to look at how these different parts of the town interact with each other.”

In recent months, town staff and members of the planning commission have been reviewing the town’s comprehensive plan as part of a 10year update. This week, officials met with Adkins, who presented a list of projects and priorities that could be included in the planning document.

Among the topics discussed Tuesday were plans for new electric vehicle charging stations and a transition to a zero-emission bus fleet. Adkins said once a study is completed, the town’s transportation department would launch a pilot program that would require the purchase of a zeroemission bus and infrastructure upgrades.

“You first have to do a zero-emissions study,” he explained. “Without that study the federal government will not grant you any money whatsoever to go to a zero-emission fleet.”

Adkins also highlighted the need for further evaluation of the town’s transit centers. He said an idea has been floated to move the transit station at South Division Street to 4th Street, next to the parking lot.

“There have been discussions, onagain, off-again, about relocating the transit center to the 4th Street area, and that would be the southern terminus of the bus fleet route, bringing all the individuals to the Boardwalk on 4th Street,” he said. “That’s going to change the dynamics of the Boardwalk, most likely for pedestrian movement.”

Adkins said that also required a discussion on establishing a circula-

tor route in the downtown area.

“It is not a funded project, it is not a hot topic, it is not in the improvement plan right now,” he said. “It is in the long-range discussions of what could occur.”

Commission Chair Joe Wilson, however, said many in the downtown area were in favor of keeping the South Division Street transit station. He said moving the station could hurt employees who use the bus system to go to work in the downtown area.

“We don’t want to do them a disservice,” he said.

Officials also discussed dualization of Route 90, improvements at the Ocean City Municipal Airport and funding for the redevelopment of Baltimore Avenue. When asked if that particular project include a dedicated bike lane, Adkins said it would likely be considered as there could be requirements for accepting the federal grant.

“There are a lot of strings attached …,” he said. “A bicycle component will at least be evaluated.”

Officials also held discussions on water and wastewater, solid waste management and the proposed sports complex project. The commission agreed to continue its review of the comprehensive plan at the next meeting.

BREAKFAST

Monday-Thursday 9-11am Friday-Sunday 8am-Noon

HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS

Monday-Friday Drinks Noo n-6pm Food 3-6pm

- OFF SEASON SPECIALS -

MONDAY 11AM-CL: Philly Cheesesteak w/ Hand-Cut Fries $12

TUESDAY 2-8PM: Crabcake Combos ... Crabcake w/Chicken, Ribs OR Brisket $25

THURSDAY 2-8PM: Burger w/Hand-Cut Fries $12 or Full Rack Of Ribs w/FF & Slaw $22

WEDNESDAY 2-8PM: Prime Rib w/2 Sides $20 2 Single Crabcake Dinners w/ FF, $30

Spring Veggie Omelet

Asparagus, onions, peppers and mushrooms

Swiss Gruyere and dill

Scrambled

Classic

Pancakes with grade

Council to consider code changes to address issue

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) Resort officials directed staff this week to develop recommendations for prohibiting the rental of houseboats after discovering listings for a short-term rental operation at a downtown marina.

Deputy City Manager JR Harmon told the Mayor and Council on Monday that staff was seeking direction on how to address the rental of houseboats after discovering that Blue Water Development Corporation and Sea Rocket OC Houseboats LLC intend to rent floating structures at private slips on Dorchester Street, located in the downtown marine district. While the town views the houseboats as floating structures –which is prohibited by town code –representatives for the operator say they are vessels consistent with marina use.

“It is prohibited as a structure or a rental house,” he said. “The problem is … if it’s considered a vessel.”

Officials say staff first became aware of the Sea Rocket Houseboats through website listings of shortterm rentals. In an April 2 letter, City Manager Terry McGean informed the operator that floating structures

See COUNCIL Page 6

13000

Luxurious custom coastal home with boat slip, boat lift and jet ski lift, and beautiful views of the Ocean City inlet and marina has just been listed. This is a very unique opportunity to own this 3,069 sq.ft. townhome, with elevator, in sought after Inlet Isle in West Ocean City. This beautiful townhome would make a perfect second home or primary residence. This home was completed in 2019 and has ALL the latest finishes and upgrades. MDWO2020438

NEW LISTING! WATERFRONT LOT READY TO BUILD

NANCY REITHER-SMITH

Stunning coastal custom home

3BR/2.5 BA just blocks from the beach in Caine Woods has just been listed. This spacious home built by Piney Island Builders has an open floor plan, an abundance of natural light and upgrades throughout.

MLS MDWO2020518

SOLD! Please look at the documents that have been loaded with more details. MDWO2020692

733

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. MDWO2014714

This single-family 4BR/4.5BA home with deeded boat slip is in the soughtafter Heron Harbour Isle community. 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.

MLS MDWO2020204

This beautiful 2BR/2BA condo with deeded boat slip #23 is in Seascape in the fabulous community of Heron Harbour. This larger corner model is rarely available for sale. It has two primary bedrooms each with its own full bath. This condo comes furnished ready for your immediate enjoyment.

MDWO2018196

Stunning 4BR/2.5 bath home in the Refuge at Derickson Creek hits the market! This home has beautiful pond views and is 3 miles from Fenwick Island beach. You will love the open floor plan and the upgraded kitchen with breakfast bar, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and plenty of cabinet space.

DESU2059070

3BR/3.5

This is a prime location in soughtafter Fenwick Island! This is an extremely rare opportunity to purchase C-1 commercial land in Fenwick Island DE close to the beach and Atlantic Ocean. A salty breeze carries the scent of the Atlantic Ocean as you stand on these 4 commercially zoned C-1 parcels in Fenwick Island. DESU2059932 DESU2059922 DESU2059926 DESU2059940

Stunning three-bedroom 3.5 bath condo at the Rivendell hits the market! This beautiful condo is being sold furnished and it's ready for your immediate enjoyment. You’ll be mesmerized by the waterfront views. You can actually watch both the sunrise and the sunset without ever leaving this condo.

MDWO2017698

DIRECT BAYFRONT OCEAN CITY!

MID-TOWN

BA RIVENDELL CONDOMINIUM with WATER VIEWS! 121 81ST ST UNIT

Council votes 6-0 to try to prohibit houseboat rentals

Continued from Page 4

and floating rental structures were not permitted by town code in the downtown marine district.

Attorney Demetrios Kaouris said his client has plans to moor at least two of the houseboats within the Dorchester Street marina for the coming summer season, but that he was willing to work with the town to allow the rental operation to continue. In his response to the town, he said the houseboats were vessels and were registered with the Department of Natural Resources.

“While I certainly understand the town’s position regarding the zoning code, we believe the use of the marina slips at the former Marina Deck restaurant for the vessels is author-

ized by the town’s zoning code,” his letter reads.

Harmon told the council Monday that staff was recommending any ambiguity in the town code be addressed. He also asked the council if it desired to prohibit the rental of houseboats, and if there should be a carve-out for traditional boats, charter boats and head boats.

“Also, we would ask for some direction for which districts should have restrictions and prohibitions apply,” he added.

Harmon said staff took the position that the houseboats were prohibited. McGean, however, said that if the houseboats are registered with DNR as a vessel, the council might need to consider code changes.

“If this is correct that the structure has been registered with DNR as a vessel, we’ll definitely need direction from the council as to how they’d like us to regulate this,” he said, “because if it is the consensus of the council that they don’t want to see this activity, I do believe we’re going to have to make some changes to the code.”

Mayor Rick Meehan said he had concerns the rentals would impact commercial fishing activities in town. He noted that Ocean City continued to be in opposition to the development of an operations and maintenance facility for offshore wind at the West Ocean City harbor.

“This might not be industrialization, but it turns what is now a marina for related activities – which are extremely important to our residents and to our visitors – and makes it a residential activity,” he said. “I think that’s something that we should all be concerned about or take into consideration.”

Councilman Peter Buas said he took no issue with owning houseboats but did take issue with the proliferation of the short-term rental of houseboats. To that end, he made a motion to remand the discussion to a future meeting and to have staff provide recommendations for prohibiting the short-term rental of houseboats, either by regulation or zoning ordinance.

The motion passed in a 6-0 vote, with Council President Matt James absent.

During public comments Monday, Kaouris asked the town to work with his client. He said the operation would not hurt commercial fishing activity, as many of the slips were too shallow for commercial vessels.

“I look forward to working with you over the next several weeks on the legislation and hopefully, like I said, we can work together and not have an outright prohibition but have something that we can offer to our guests,” he said.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

Houseboats like the ones being proposed in Ocean City are pictured.

OC budget advances with reduced tax rate

Resident, councilmembers discuss one-cent decrease in property rate for FY25

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) Questions over Ocean City’s proposed tax rate highlighted a public hearing this week.

On Monday, the Mayor and Council held a public hearing on the town’s proposed property tax rate, set at $0.4426 per $100 of assessed value for the coming fiscal year. While the rate represents a one-cent decrease from the current year, resident Vince Gisriel questioned if the town could do more for its residents.

“I’ve maintained for years that you’re overtaxing the people,” he said. “Now this tax rate of .4426

cents, while it is a one penny reduction from last year, it’s 4.21 cents over the constant yield.”

City Manager Terry McGean told the council this week that the proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2025 sets the tax rate at $0.4426. While the rate is higher than the constant yield – or the tax rate needed to provide the same level of revenues as the year prior – he said it is one cent lower than the current property tax rate in Ocean City and is expected to generate additional revenue for the town.

“Real property tax revenues will increase by 10.9%, resulting in $4,692,469 of new real property revenues,” he said, “and at this point we would open the public hearing.”

For his part, Gisriel said the town continued to underestimate its rev-

enues and overestimate its expenses. He noted that the town recorded more than $9 million in newfound money last year. And over a nine-year period, the town underestimated revenues by $22 million and overestimated expenses by $34.6 million.

“That’s what they call a combined favorable variance of $57 million,” he said.

Gisriel also noted that the town set a minimum threshold of 17% for its reserve fund balance. In recent years, however, the fund has increased to more than 30%. Gisriel argued the town could have decreased the property tax rate more than one cent.

“This is the year you could have gone to another two to three cents,” he said.

Following Monday’s public hearing, Councilman John Gehrig noted

rising costs and rapid inflation. Despite those economic challenges, he said the town was proposing a onecent property tax decrease.

“Things are one third more expensive than they were in 2012, and your Ocean City property tax rate has declined two years in a row, at least,” he said.

Mayor Rick Meehan added that a lot of time was spent preparing this year’s budget. He noted that while there are major increases in the budget – most of which involve employee salaries – he said the town had worked hard to set a tax rate that generates enough revenue for municipal services.

“The goal is to always provide the best possible tax rate that provides the best services to our community,” he said, “and I think that’s the goal we started with and that’s where the Mayor and Council believes we’ve ended up with the FY25 budget.”

Following Monday’s public hearing, the council voted 6-0, with Council President Matt James absent, to approve the adoption of the fiscal year 2025 budget on first reading. The spending plan, which totals $165,510,197, also features $3.4 million in capital projects for the coming fiscal year – including $1.8 million for street paving, $1.5 million for the town’s capital maintenance fund and $100,000 for Boardwalk redecking. Existing money in the capital maintenance fund will also fund pay-as-yougo projects – $1.2 million for street paving, $120,000 for City Watch cameras, $650,000 for Boardwalk Comfort Station renovations, and $200,000 for canal dredging, to name a few.

The budget also proposes using $4.7 million in fund balance for several expenditures, including a $1.5 million transfer to the capital maintenance fund, $600,401 for additional pension costs, $535,582 for a 3% cost-of-living increase for all town employees and $2 million for capital equipment and one-time purchases.

Stay

informed with our digital newsletter

Interested in getting more information more quickly than our weekly OC TodayDispatch delivers? Our five-days-a-week digital newsletter might be just what you need. We have developed an in-your-morningemail product (with updates for breaking news) and invite you to give it a try.

If you sign up now, you’ll get a free threemonth trial subscription, to what will become available by paid subscription only for a nominal charge. How nominal? $1 a month or $10 a year to cover our production costs.

Sign up and get three months free by emailing subscriptions@oceancitytoday.net. or visit the OC Today-Dispatch online.

Seacrets eyes second phase of event venue

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) Resort planners this week approved a site plan for the second phase of a bayfront event venue at Seacrets.

Owner Leighton Moore came before the Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday to seek site plan approval for the second phase of his Your Beach Bayfront Event Venue.

Located at the Seacrets complex between 49th Street and Bay Overlook Lane, the addition will incorporate overflow dining to the west of the facility’s first-phase structures and covered dining and a deck bar to the north.

“I think it’s the future,” Moore said of his event venue concept. “And in my case, the time has

come.”

Last year, Moore came before the planning commission seeking approval for the first phase of an open bayfront venue with associated restrooms and food prep areas, as well as a change of use for the second and third floors of the ABC Liquor retail store from previously approved storage space to banquet and restaurant use associated with the Your Beach site. With construction well underway, officials told the commission this week that a second phase would build off improvements made at the site.

“Phase two of the project consists of expansion along the planter/elevated retaining wall that was constructed in phase one,” said architect Keith Iott. “A very important aspect of this project is the bulk

of the work done in phase one was improving the infrastructure at this location.”

Iott said his client has made improvements to the parking lot and stormwater management. He added that a walkway is also being constructed that will connect phase-one structures to the north side of the property, which would be improved in the coming years.

“We are creating this continuous walkway to further the event venue amenities …,” he told the commission. “It’s evolving over time, but it’s a lovely space.”

Moore said the idea is to utilize the Your Beach event venue for weddings and other celebrations. He said he sees an opportunity to market Ocean City as a wedding destination.

“I think Ocean City should market itself – both the city and private enterprise – into a wedding destination,” he said. “We could someday lose our family amenities, like Jolly Roger down at the Inlet. In which case, you have to have a hook … I think it’s something we can get a jump on the other communities by doing so.”

With no further discussion, the commission voted unanimously to approve the site plan for the second phase of the Your Beach Bayfront Event Venue with staff recommendations and conditions.

“The only special condition we ask be placed on it is they provide an elevation certificate for certificate of occupancy,” said Planning and Community Development Director George Bendler.

Resort to buy WOC property in airport flight safety zone

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) The purchase of a property on Sinepuxent Road will allow the municipal airport to improve its flight safety zone.

The Town of Ocean City will move forward with the purchase of 12311 Sinepuxent Road following a first reading at Monday’s Mayor and Council meeting. Officials say the acquisition will support flight safety zone efforts at the Ocean City Municipal Airport.

“This is authorizing the purchase of real estate for flight safety zone at the Ocean City Municipal Airport in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Maryland Aviation Administration,” said City Solicitor Heather Stansbury.

Officials report the property owners were first notified of the town’s interest in purchasing the parcel in 2022. Since that time, the owners have agreed to move forward with the

sale.

While the property will be purchased at $215,000, 90% of the cost will be reimbursed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), while 5% will be reimbursed by the Maryland Aviation Administration. The town will provide an additional $75,000, provided that the property owners take advantage of the FAA’s relocation assistance program.

“The Property Owners will be permitted to reside in the subject Property until whichever is the first to occur: Settlement on their replacement property, or December 31, 2024,” a memo in the council packet reads. “The continued occupancy of the subject Property will be governed by a Lease between the Town and the Property Owners.”

With no discussion this week, the council voted 5-0, with Council President Matt James absent and Councilman Peter Buas abstaining, to approve the purchase on first reading.

Berlin’s casino impact fund spending details questioned

By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor

(May 9, 2024) The committee reviewing how local jurisdictions use casino revenues continues to question the Town of Berlin’s spending plan.

casino revenue to pay for LEOPS for its police officers. LDC officials said they didn’t think the town should depend on casino impact grants as the sole source of funding for LEOPS. The LDC approved the town’s fiscal year 2024-2026 casino revenue spending plan but made it clear that the town should work to decrease the Local Impact Grant (LIG) funding being used to pay for LEOPS over time.

The Local Development Council (LDC) had numerous questions regarding Berlin’s plan to use its share of casino revenues to fund enrollment in the Law Enforcement Officers Pension System (LEOPS). While no one from Berlin was in attendance to answer questions, Mayor Zack Tyndall said that was because the town doesn’t have a standing member on the committee and was not advised in advance that there would be any questions.

When the LDC convened this month, members were surprised to find that the town had submitted the same information it submitted back in October outlining its plan to spend $436,569 in LIG funds in fiscal year 2023, $418,000 in 2024, $420,000 in 2025 and $420,000 in 2026 for LEOPS.

“They submitted the exact same thing,” LDC member Matt Gordon said.

“The LDC is composed of members appointed by the county commissioners,” Tyndall said. “The Town of Berlin does not have a standing member. There are other municipalities that have standing membership.”

Last fall, town officials told the LDC that Berlin planned to use its

Cam Bunting, chair of the LDC, said she thought the town planned to decrease its reliance on LIG funding for LEOPS.

“That was our recommendation,” LDC member Roxanne Rounds said.

The town did include a motion showing a commitment to reduce the LEOPS funding derived from casino revenue beginning in 2027.

Berlin Fire Company President David Fitzgerald told the LDC the town was planning to use $45,000 in LIG funds, or $15,000 a year for three years, to support EMS apparatus replacement. He pointed out that the numbers shown in the town’s multi-year plan didn’t match the town’s budget.

An LDC member asked how the town was paying for LEOPS if casino revenues fell short of projections.

“That’s where a narrative would have explained that,” LDC member Melanie Pursel said.

Others said they wanted to see how the town was planning to phase out LIG funding for LEOPS.

“That’s something that definitely has to be looked into,” Bunting said.

When contacted after the meeting, Tyndall said it was difficult to address the LDC’s questions when the town hadn’t been asked to attend the meeting. He stressed that Berlin’s officials were aware of the LDC concerns regarding phasing LIG funding out for LEOPS.

“The town understands we’re on the hook for the cost of LEOPS,” he said. “If the LIG amount drops we understand the Town of Berlin has to make that cost up.”

OC short-term rental regs advance

By Mallory Panuska Ames Digital Editor

(May 10, 2024) Ocean City officials are getting closer to defining and regulating short-term rentals across the resort.

Deputy City Manager JR Harmon told the Mayor and Council during a work session last week that as of April 2, the city had a total 8,938 active rental licenses. However, there is currently no way of knowing the lengths of stay associated with them.

“There’s an inability to actually say and point out, other than estimates, which rental properties are shortterm rentals and which ones aren’t with total accuracy,” Harmon explained during the meeting. “Some of it is, we don’t want to … [assume] whether they are short term rentals or not.”

To remedy the issue, Harmon asked council members to first approve the definition of a short-term rental as “the use or occupancy, facilitated by a Host in exchange for rent, of all or part of a dwelling unit to provide accommodation to transient quest for no more than 30 consecutive days.”

From there, staff members want to create a general rental license to allow for the rental of properties for more than 30 days, with the ability to apply for a secondary short-term permit. Harmon said the general permit will be $141, plus the cost of a noise permit, while the short-term rental license will cost $191.

After some discussion, council members voted unanimously, with Councilman John Gehrig and Councilwoman Carol Proctor absent, to advance both requests to ordinance form.

Councilman Peter Buas, who motioned to approve the changes, thanked staff members for their efforts. He said the changes have been “three years in the making” and he was impressed with the final product.

“I think it will go a long way in identifying the short-term rentals and then in the future try and figure out how to better quiet some of the concern from residents regarding the short-term rentals,” he said.

Mayor Rick Meehan said he will also support the ordinance if it ultimately passes.

“I think it answers a lot of questions that have been asked,” he said.

Buas also made some suggestions for adjustments to the final version of the ordinance.

One centered on business lodging

licenses, which are exempt from the general and short-term rental licenses, and right now consist of hotels, motels, apartments, dormitories and workforce housing.

Buas said he wants staff to look into moving apartments from business lodging to general licensing with similar room calculations. He also asked his fellow council members to consider performing inspections for general rental licenses on three-year intervals, but his colleagues did not agree.

Harmon said the ordinance will come back to the council for further discussion on May 14, at which time officials will also discuss other code amendments as they relate to shortterm rentals.

City officials have been discussing regulation of short-term rentals for a while.

In mid-February, council members directed staff to recommend revisions to the rental license program, which included a proposal to divide licenses into different categories based on length of stay. At a joint meeting with planning commissioners later in the month, the groups dove deeper into restrictions.

Planning and Community Development Director George Bendler has said changes to the code are set to be

Council selects operator for potential sports complex

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) Resort officials have agreed to pursue a contract with a Florida-based company to assist with the location, design and marketing of a new sports complex.

The Mayor and Council voted 6-0 on Monday to negotiate a contract with Sports Facilities Companies for pre-development services related to a sports complex the town has plans to build. The company was one of four operators that responded to the town’s request for qualifications (RFQ) earlier this year.

“We would like to recommend Sports Facilities [Companies] as a potential operator of the Ocean City Sports Complex,” said Tourism and Business Development Director Tom Perlozzo.

While the town continues to seek funding and land for the sports complex project, officials last month announced some progress has been made in securing proposals from companies interested in managing the facility. Responding to the town’s RFQ were Laurel Hill Sports LLC, Kemper Sports, Eastern Sports Management/Ripken Baseball and Sports Facilities Companies.

Since that time, both the city man-

ager and tourism director have reviewed and ranked each of the proposals. It was ultimately determined that Sports Facilities Companies was the most qualified firm for the project, Perlozzo said.

“There was a series of criteria placed before operators throughout the region,” he explained. “Some of those items were managing at least five similar complexes. They had to operate in similar tourist areas and, one of the big ones, produce 50,000 room nights at those facilities. And obviously we were looking at revenue as well as managing facilities with $3 million-plus in revenue. We took a look at references, financials, we have them comment on our preliminary designs, their key personnel, potential development plans, reporting, construction, etcetera.”

City Manager Terry McGean said this week the RFQ simply sought qualifications from potential operators and pricing was not included as part of the proposals. When asked how Sports Facilities Companies’ services would be paid for, McGean said the town could either use the state grant funding it had received or the $500,000 the council had authorized for the first phase of the

Definition, rental license details closer to approval

Continued from Page 14

implemented in 2025.

During discussions, there were also questions about whether shortterm rentals would be allowed in certain zoning districts, which will likely come back up.

Meehan has expressed concerns about short-term rentals moving into R-1, or single-family residential, districts because of the additional people they bring into neighborhoods.

Harmon said last week that of the nearly 9,000 rental licenses citywide, 230 are in the R-1 zone.

There have been questions about whether the city’s code should change occupancy regulations for short-term rentals. Currently, occupancy in the R-1 district is restricted to a single family, or no more than four unrelated people. There is also a square footage calculation when determining the appropriate amount of space for each person in sleeping areas. If the regulations are changed, though, officials pointed out that parking regulations and enforcement would need to be considered.

Florida operator to run complex?

Continued from Page 15

project.

“Typically, the way these contracts work is pre-development services, provided we ultimately contract with them to be the operator, they waive all the costs associated with pre-development expenses,” he said. “Right now, the city attorney and staff will need to negotiate the contract with Sports Facilities.”

With no further discussion, the council voted 6-0, with Council President Matt James absent, to negotiate a contract with Sports Facilities Companies. During the public comment portion of Monday’s meeting, however, resident Vince Gisriel questioned the demand of a sports complex and the need to hire an operator before a site had been selected or funding secured.

“You voted tonight to go forward with a promoter of sorts,” he said.

“Whatever the actual guidelines were, there’s no guarantee of state funding for this project, and it’s actually left out of your capital improvement program. There’s no guarantee that a majority or all the members of the commissioners are going to approve a room tax rate hike, and yet you’re going forward with this project, spending money that may or may not come to fruition.”

Gisriel also pointed to the council

packet provided ahead of Monday’s meeting, which showed a proposed sports complex layout on a parcel of land next to Stephen Decatur High School. He noted that some of the fields shown encroached on property behind Stephen Decatur Middle School.

“I don’t know whether you intend to buy that or lease it, but I think you ought to give serious thought as to what the heck you’re doing here with

school property,” he said. “The school system owns that property, and they may need that for future development.”

At the end of Monday’s meeting, Councilman John Gehrig addressed Gisriel’s concerns. While he noted that locations were still being vetted by the town’s sports complex task force, he said he believed such a facility would bring visitors, and tourism

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

Though no site for a sports complex has officially been purchased, a rendering for property west of Stephen Decatur high and middle schools was included in this week’s Mayor and Council packet.

Jury trial planned next year in Trimper suit

Lawsuit filed in March 2023 scheduled to go to court February 2025

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(May 3, 2024) A civil suit among members of the Trimper family could proceed to trial next year, but not before a settlement conference in December.

Attorneys representing several members and amusement corporations within the Trimper family recently came before a Worcester County Circuit Court judge to set the schedule for a lawsuit brought forth by plaintiffs Antoinette Bruno, Wendy Delamater and Joyce Trimper. While a jury trial has been set for Feb. 10-28, 2025, the involved

parties will have an opportunity to resolve the dispute in a settlement conference to be held on Dec. 18.

“I want to set a trial date because nothing has moved in this case,” Judge Leah Seaton said.

In March of 2023, the plaintiffs filed a civil suit against defendants J. Douglas Trimper, Gordon Brooks Trimper, the estate of Christopher Trimper, Linda Trimper Holloway, Stephanie Trimper Lewis and more than a dozen associated corporations – including Trimper Amusements, Windsor Resort, Trimper’s Playland and Trimper’s Tidal Wave – alleging misappropriation, corporate waste, self-dealing and fraudulent concealment. The 39-page suit listed nine counts, seven of which sought a total of $105 million in compensatory damages and $140 million in puni-

tive damages.

“This is a civil action for legal and equitable relief, including damages, imposition of a constructive trust and stockholder derivative claims …,” the suit reads. “Beginning in or about 1995 and continually until early 2020, some or all of the Defendants Doug Trimper, Brooks Trimper, Chris Trimper, Linda Trimper Holloway, Stephanie Trimper Lewis and the Related Companies, individually, and in concert with each other, have engaged in a continuous course of wrongful conduct and breaches of fiduciary duties designed to surreptitiously and systematically misappropriate and waste of the Corporations and engage in self-dealing.”

The nine counts listed in the civil suit with the dollar amounts sought include fraud, $15 million in compen-

satory damages and $20 million in punitive damages; civil conspiracy, $15 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages; aiding and abetting, $15 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages; breach of fiduciary duties, $15 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages; violation of directors’ statutory standard of care under Corporations and Association Article 2-405.1, $15 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages; conversion, $15 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages; demand for accounting; shareholders’ derivative action for conversion and waste of corporate assets; and shareholders’ derivative action-fraud, $15 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages.

The plaintiffs in the case are shareholders of Trimper corporations. According to the civil suit, the plaintiffs argue the defendants – who had managed operations at the Trimper businesses during the years in question – had presented false financial reports to conceal alleged misuse and misappropriation of funds. The suit alleges the defendants had certain corporations pay their personal expenses or the expenses of its related companies.

“In approximately 2009, Stephanie Trimper Lewis finally made one year of the Corporation’s ledger available to the plaintiffs,” the complaint reads. “Access to this information allowed the Plaintiffs to determine that funding from the Corporations had been used to purchase two vehicles, and that the vehicles were titled in the personal names of (defendants). Plaintiffs brought this misappropriation to the attention of Windsor’s Board of Directors, who chose to terminate Defendant Doug Trimper, but he continued to have an active role in managing the Corporations.”

The lawsuit also alleges the defen-

Council approves recommendation from resort staff

Continued from Page 16

dollars, to Ocean City.

“So far, what we believe is for economic development purposes, a sports complex checks all the boxes,” he said.

Mayor Rick Meehan also asked for the public’s patience as the task force worked through the funding and site selection process. He said that information would be provided as it became available.

“We believe that we’re moving in the right direction but let us prove that,” he said. “Let us get the information for everybody to look at so that they understand what we believe will happen.”

According to its website, Sports Facilities Companies has worked with 2,000-plus communities across the country to plan, fund, develop and maintain sports, recreation and events facilities. The company currently oversees Crown Sports Center in Fruitland.

Meehan said earlier this year bringing a professional sports facilities operator on board during the planning phase of the project would allow the town to begin marketing the sports complex and soliciting sponsors so that it would incur no operating deficit once the facility is developed.

As proposed, the sports complex project would be a partnership between the city and the Maryland Stadium Authority. Officials say the planning phase will include site assessment and design work. If the town receives state funding for construction, McGean said the goal is to break ground on the project in mid to late 2026.

“A lot has to happen between now and then to make that goal,” he said last month.

For years, resort officials have expressed their desires to develop a sports complex somewhere near Ocean City. And in 2023, following the completion of several studies, the town kicked off the project by forming a task force to determine the size and scope of an indoor and outdoor facility.

The task force kicked off its first meeting last fall with a presentation from the Maryland Stadium Authority and Crossroads, as well as from Sports Facilities Companies, the firm selected this week. And in December, the group reconvened to discuss funding options. Along with recommendations to the Mayor and Council, the task force also agreed to utilize a portion of revenues from a room tax increase to fund the debt service associated with the construction of the sports complex. Following an open session, the task force entered into a closed

to discuss

Early cancer detection helps keep OC fire/EMS healthy

By Mallory Panuska Ames Digital Editor

(May 10, 2024) Ocean City firefighters and emergency service workers give a lot to their careers.

Not only do they show up to address and comfort residents and tourists during some of the worst moments of their lives, but the nature of the job can take a toll on the health of workers. And that is why, as Chief Richard Bowers and staff explained to resort council members last week, the department has implemented an optional early cancer detection program for both career and volunteer personnel.

Ryan Whittington, the department’s community engagement officer, said during a work session on

April 30 that while physical examinations to ensure employees are suited for the job have always been performed, the results do not detect early signs of cancer or other serious health problems.

According to the annual report, the early detection cancer and health screenings are important because of the high risk of cancer due to exposure to hazardous and carcinogenic substances encountered during emergency responses.

“Identifying cancer in its early stages can drastically improve prognosis and survival rates, providing our firefighters and EMS clinicians with the best chance for a healthy life after diagnosis,” the report said.

Settlement conference in Dec.

Continued from Page 18

dants had misappropriated assets by skimming cash, which the plaintiffs claim did not become apparent until after the corporations instituted a point-of-sale system in 2020.

“The point-of-sale system digitized the business on electronic ‘thrill cards,’ removed 90% of cash transactions from the business, tracked individual sales and individual rides ridden, and made cash shortages in prior years obvious,” the complaint reads. “The cash shortages also became apparent because the pandemic forced the Corporations to bring in independent but similar rides in 2020 and 2021, which allowed the Corporations to compare independent performance data to the performance when Defendants … individually, and in concert with each other, had previously operated the Corporations.”

The civil suit goes on to make claims of corporate waste – including charging sub-market rental rates –self-dealing and fraudulent concealment. In a motion to dismiss the case, legal counsel for Windsor Resort, Trimper’s Rides, Trimper’s Playland

and Trimper’s Tidal Wave argued the plaintiffs’ did not meet any procedural obligations or provide sufficient facts to support their case.

“Plaintiffs’ Complaint is full of bald and conclusory allegations, the exact type that Maryland courts have consistently held devoid of taking a claim from conceivable to plausible,” the motion reads. “Plaintiffs have not met their procedural obligations for bringing derivative claims and have not pleaded sufficient facts to support any claim that would allow them to circumvent the business judgment of the Windsor Companies. Regardless, any such claims are barred by applicable statutes of limitation.”

In a scheduling hearing on March 21, the circuit court judge set a settlement conference for Dec. 18 and a jury trial for Feb. 10-28.

For background, the named defendants in the civil suit led operations at Trimper amusements for several years. When the group was voted out by a majority of shareholders in early 2020, Bruno came on as the new president. She served from March 2020 until December 2021, when the board elected for new leadership.

Screenings could be life-saving

Continued from Page 22 OPIOID OVERDOSE MEDICATION

“Furthermore, early detection initiatives help in the timely management of other serious health conditions, potentially reducing the overall healthcare burden on the individual and the department.”

Whittington said kidney, thyroid, testicle, liver, gall bladder, prostate and pelvic screenings were performed in 2023 on men and women who work for both the Ocean City and Salisbury departments, with results showing actionable items in 69 percent, or 52 of the 75 participants.

“The actionable items was actually

shocking when you see the number of people that had that,” Whittington said.

He explained that “actionable items” could refer to minor ailments, such as fatty livers and masses on kidneys, which can be addressed with primary care doctors. However some of the items, in this case a total of six, showed what he called high-risk findings.

Whittington said the early detection efforts allow firefighters and EMS personnel to have healthier careers, and in some cases, could save lives.

The Town of Ocean City has partnered with Worcester Goes Purple to install Narcan dispensary cabinets on the Boardwalk.

Berlin businesses win cash in SU business competition

By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) A trio of Berlin businesses will be able to grow after winning grants through the Shore Hatchery business competition.

The Town of Berlin announced last week that three local businesses, The Science Nerds, Iron Skillet Coffee and Mandala Pies, received grants through The Perdue School of Business Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery Mid-Atlantic business competition.

“I am thrilled for these local Berlin businesses,” said Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director. “These grants help them to continue their success here in Berlin and inspire others to enter the

Shore Hatchery competition next year.”

The Shore Hatchery is a thirteenyear $2.9 million initiative that began in 2013. The program assists entrepreneurs in creating new businesses and jobs in the region. The goal of the Shore Hatchery is to reward individuals for their entrepreneurial efforts in the creation and growth of businesses with the potential of positively impacting regional employment within three years.

The Science Nerds, which started as a way to give kids access to science projects during the pandemic, received $37,000 in this year’s competition. Founders Lindsey MacWha and Jenn Corron, who are both former science teachers at Worcester Prep in Berlin, want to continue to promote the wonder of science through handson activities. They’re already in 17 counties in Maryland and are hoping the business will continue to grow.

“We’re blessed it blossomed as quickly as it did,” Corron said.

She said they were one of 43 businesses that applied for Shore Hatchery funding. The Science Nerds were one of 15 proposals that were selected to make one-minute pitches to a panel of judges.

“We had high hopes,” Corron said. “It went well.”

Nevertheless, they were shocked to win and to get more than the $35,000 they requested. Going forward, they’ll be working with a business advisor through Salisbury University and will use the money to hire employees so that the business can expand.

“We’re super excited to spread our love of science,” Corron said.

Iron Skillet Coffee, known for its bright orange display at the Berlin Farmers Market, won $5,000 in the Shore Hatchery competition. Founder Jeff Smith prides himself on craft coffee batches roasted in a cast iron pot. He entered the competition because he’s been wanting to build a roaster.

“The process was very Shark Tankesque,” Smith said. “We had to submit a business plan then we had one minute in front of the judges to pitch the idea.”

Smith was excited to be one of the six grant recipients from this year’s competition. He said the $5,000 he won will help him build a roaster.

“It’s going to partly automate the process and increase yield,” he said.

Berlin’s other Shore Hatchery winner was Mandala Pies. The artisan baking company, which was founded by veteran Caitlin LaComb after she became a stay-at-home mom, received $5,000. LaComb said the funding would help the bakery replace a refrigerator as well as expand marketing. She hopes to get the bakery’s van wrapped and purchase new banners for farmers markets.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

The Science Nerds founders Lindsey MacWha and Jenn Corron are pictured with SU’s Rick Leibowitz.

Berlin Electric Utility awarded for reliability

(May 10, 2024) American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) recently congratulated the Berlin Electric Utility Department for receiving a Diamond Level Excellence in Safety Award and earning a Certificate of Excellence in Reliability during the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) 2024 Engineering & Operations Technical Conference, which took place April 710 in New Orleans.

“We are pleased so many AMP Members and AMP staff are recognized for their commitment to safety,” said Jolene Thompson, AMP

President/CEO. “Utilities that receive an APPA Safety Award demonstrate that the health and safety of their employees is a core value. Congratulations to our Member communities and to AMP staff for recognition of their steadfast efforts to maintain safe operations.”

Recognized for safety practices (demonstrated by having the lowest safety incident rate within its group), determined by worker-hours of exposure, the Berlin Electric Utility Department was awarded Diamond Level in Group B (15,000 to 29,999

worker-hours of exposure).

According to APPA, more than 160 utilities from across the country entered the annual Safety Awards. Entrants were placed in categories according to their number of workerhours and ranked based on the most incident-free records and overall state of their safety programs and culture during 2023. The incidence rate, used to judge entries, is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2023, as defined by the Occupational Safety and

Health Administration.

The Certificate of Excellence in Reliability recognizes utilities that placed in the top 25 percentile of reliability nationwide in 2023, as measured against the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) data. APPA helps public power systems track outage and restoration data through its eReliability Tracker service and compares the data to national statistics tracked by the EIA. AMP covers the cost of subscription to the eReliability Tracker service for all its members.

Berlin merchants offer late Friday hours through June

By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) Merchants are aiming to better serve local shoppers with new extended hours on Fridays.

Berlin Sip and Shop is now being held Fridays in Berlin during the months of May and June. Participating shops will be open from 5-8 p.m. on Friday evenings and will be offering free tastings of local spirits.

“The community has reached out to us asking for businesses to stay open later,” said Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director. “Friday nights have been busy. We might as well make an incentive for people to come.”

In an effort to better serve local customers and at the same time increase sales, the majority of downtown shops will be staying open late on Friday evenings in May and June for Berlin Sip and Shop. There will be live music and a variety of local spirits, including drinks from Jun and Juice, the Buzz Meadery, Forgotten 50, Berlin Beer Co. and Burley Oak Brewing.

Ryan Nellans, executive director of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce, believes the campaign will benefit residents who work until 5 p.m.—and

have been unable to shop in local stores that may have closed before they could get there—as well as merchants, who should see more business.

“Downtown businesses are making strides in correcting Berlin’s ages old habit of rolling up the sidewalk at 5 o’clock. The Sip and Shop helps businesses, residents and visitors alike to shake up their own routines and breathe a little more life into our beautiful Main Street,” Nellans said.

Merchants are excited about the opportunity to enjoy Friday evenings chatting with patrons over a drink.

Deb Passwaters of British Rose said her shop would be doing giveaways as well. She’s looking forward to Sip and Shop.

“It brings people out,” Passwaters said. “It’s fun. Maybe it’ll bring more people to town.”

Participating businesses include British Rose, East & Main Shore Supply, Patty Jeans Boutique, Blazer, Pitts Street Treasures, Uptown Emporium, The Merry Haven, Outtens Delights, Life’s Simple Pleasures, Una Bella Salute, Beach Gypsy, Love Your Mama, Sisters, Eastern Woodland/Bleached Butterfly, Bruder Hill, Viking Tree Trading Company and multiple dining options.

Progression of new downtown Ocean City park

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) With the finish line now in sight, officials say they are eager to welcome community members to the redesigned downtown recreation complex this summer.

On a warm Tuesday in late April, Recreation and Parks Director Susan Petito and Project Manager Ron Humphress invited this newspaper for a tour of the redeveloped downtown recreation complex, located on the bay between 3rd and 4th streets. As work concludes, officials say the public will soon see the results of a years-long effort to create a more welcoming and inclusive park.

“This has been exciting to see it all come together, it really has,” Petito said.

A Green Oasis In Urban Area

As the only sizable park in downtown Ocean City, the town has supported efforts to transform the downtown recreation complex into a destination for residents and visitors alike.

Bounded by Philadelphia Avenue to the east and Chicago Avenue to the west, the park has been home to a multipurpose ballfield, a playground, basketball courts and the Ocean Bowl

Skate park expansion desired

Skate Park. Last April, however, officials broke ground on a project to revitalize the downtown property.

“In the last 10 years, it’s been nothing but ugly worn-down, rusted chain link fence surrounding a grass field with outdated lighting that didn’t even work,” Humphress said.

For the past year, crews have been hard at work bringing new and redeveloped amenities to the four-acre park. At the west section of the complex, a bulk of the property has been dedicated to a raised, grassy area surrounded by a walking path. The area also includes access to the bayside boardwalk and an inclusive playground area, complete with ADA-accessible ramps and a “quiet grove.”

“It is a bench designed to give children who may have been overstimulated in play the opportunity to go and settle,” she explained. “We’re going to be adding a communication board that will have pictures and language on it for those who have challenges verbally communicating.”

While the west section of the park will provide an open area for community members to walk, relax, throw a frisbee or hold concerts, Petito said the east section will feature spaces dedicated to certain recreational activities. The redeveloped area includes new basketball courts, shared-use tennis and pickleball courts and new street skate opportunities at the skate park.

“The expansion of the skate park is something the community has been waiting for for so many years,” she said.

While the complex is set to open in June, Petito said there is still work to be done on the east side of the park. She said construction on a new skate park building – featuring office space and restrooms – could begin as early as this fall.

“There will still be some work that needs to be done after the park opens,” she explained, “some things will be left on our checklist.”

A Park Designed With The Community In Mind

Officials say every element of the park – from the pervious pavement and lighting to the amenities – has been designed with the community in mind.

When planning began on the park’s redevelopment, for example, meetings and surveys were held to gather the community’s ideas, interests and concerns related to the project. The Ocean City Development Corporation also led efforts to find Maryland-based artists for a new skate park mural, while the town sought the community’s input on park names.

Humphress also pointed out that additional lighting around the park provides an added security measure,

See PROJECT Page 32

EXPERIENCE YOU

CAN

TRUST

We have generations of experience and are well known for our exceptional dental care.

We want to help you keep that bright and beautiful smile every season!

ATLANTIC DENTAL

COSMETIC & FAMILY DENTISTRY

PREVENTIVE CARE • INVISALIGN

PERIODONTAL TREATMENT • FULL MOUTH RESTORATIONS • IMPLANT RESTORATIONS

SMILE ENHANCEMENTS

EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR OUR CURRENT PATIENTS

Project excites resort officials

while pervious walkways and a rain garden address flooding and water quality concerns.

“You’re not getting any runoff into the bay,” he said.

Humphress noted that there are also opportunities to improve the park and add new amenities as the years progress.

“The backbone is here for advancement too,” he said. “We have all the conduit underground for fiber lines, cameras. We have conduit in the background for all upgraded electric.”

A Project Years In The Making

While construction at the downtown recreation complex has been underway for roughly a year now, efforts to redevelop the park had actually started nearly two decades prior, Petito said.

Around 2007, the city completed a formal master plan for the property. But a recession, coupled with other setbacks, ended the project before it could even begin.

“It ultimately got shelved,” she said.

Complicating matters was the county’s ownership of the park. But after the land was deeded to the city in 2014, efforts began in earnest once again. The following year, the town initiated an overall parks master plan, which ultimately revealed the community’s desires for improvements at the complex.

“That’s where we got the feedback from the community and what it was that they would really like to have,” Petito said. “Then we took vision survey information, the community information, our staff’s own opinions and we put together a very basic plan, but it was a plan nonetheless and identified that what the residents really wanted us to concentrate on was some sort of redevelopment here.”

Petito said it took some time for the project to gain any sort of financial backing. But with funding from the Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC), the recreation and parks department was able to develop a conceptual design of the park to bring to the Mayor and Council.

“They ultimately went forward and bonded this project, and we forwardfunded some money for the design work …,” she said. “So that gave us the green light to actually move forward.”

In June of 2021, the Ocean City Council passed a resolution to move forward with a full design and construction drawings for the project. And that September, funding for the project was financed through a bond sale.

Petito noted the all-in budget for the project sits at around $6.1 million, though not all of that money has been spent. However, a newly acquired federal grant – totaling $1.4 million –

BETHANY HOOPER/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

There have been many aspects to the downtown park reconstruction and transformation, including a new playground with a turf surface.

could push the project’s budget to $6.5 million.

Rising Costs, Controversy During Redevelopment Process

Petito said the redevelopment of the downtown recreation complex has not come without its challenges. Among them, she said, were rising construction costs.

“From when we started this to now, everything has skyrocketed from an expense perspective,” she said. “So Ron had to manage those price escalations and shortages and things like that.

Humphress said town staff also met with residents, including those with the neighboring Crab Cove Condominium Association, to address any concerns they may have had regarding the project.

“They all have my personal number …,” he said. “Anything that happened on the weekends, they just called me. And we’re better for that too.”

Petito also addressed community outcry over OCDC’s selection of a muralist for the skate park, as well as an ongoing debate over the park’s name.

“Honestly, if the worst thing is that we’re having trouble naming the park and that we’ve had people be very passionate about their expression of art, then I think that’s a pretty good thing,” she said, “especially because we’re going to get an amazing product out of the whole thing.”

Looking Forward

Petito said the redevelopment of the downtown recreation complex has been the most labor-intensive and impactful project since the development of Northside Park in the 1980s. As work nears completion, she recognized the town staff, elected leaders and community members for their involvement in making the project a reality.

“For me, I do consider this my legacy project, and I’m so proud of what our Town-team has accomplished,” she said. “From identifying the need for the park’s improvement, to working through the property deeding, to conducting all of the community surveys and meetings, to engaging the support of the OCDC, to getting Council’s support to fund the project, going through the two-year federal grant funding process, and now actually seeing the result of all that hard work, is incredibly exciting.”

Petito said the redeveloped park will provide the community with open green space in the downtown area, as well as a hub for socialization, wellness and recreation. But she said her department’s efforts don’t end there. Future projects include a flood mitigation project at Eagle’s Landing Golf Course, the replacement of the Little Salisbury Park playground, and the construction of six pickleball courts at the Ocean City Racquet Center, to name a few.

“Everything we do is in an effort to benefit the community,” she said.

Berlin museum opens new exhibit, season

By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) The Calvin B. Taylor House Museum is kicking off the season with a new exhibit.

The museum, located on Main Street in Berlin, opened May 1. For the first time in more than two decades, the small front room historically depicted as an office from the 1800s is now shown how it was likely truly used — as a family sitting room.

“People are interested in the dayto-day living of the period,” said Melissa Reid, president of the museum. “We knew we wanted to be more historically accurate and created a snapshot that shows how people lived at that time.”

The museum, built in 1832 as a home for Isaac Covington and his family, was later inhabited by Robert J. Henry, who was instrumental in bringing the railroad to berlin, and in the early 20th century served as the home of Calvin B. Taylor, an educator, lawyer and founder of the Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company. The federal style house was saved from demolition in 1981 and is now a museum of local history. The majority of it is filled with period pieces while one wing features displays of local memorabilia.

Reid said museum volunteers tried

to refresh exhibits and displays periodically to maintain local interest in the facility. As part of that process, architectural plans and a historic inventory of the house was reviewed. Museum officials realized the space they’d been using as Covington’s home office had no entrance from the hallway but rather double doors opening into the dining room.

“Houses at that time had formal visiting spaces and informal family spaces,” Reid said. “This little room was probably a family sitting room.”

As such, it also would have served as a staging area for formal meals, as it was next to the dining room and the kitchen in those days was in a separate building behind the house. With that in mind, the office display has been dismantled and the room has been reinterpreted as a sitting room would have been but with the addition of some faux dessert trays. The desserts, created by Joyce White of the Hammond Harwood House, were previously used for the museum’s holiday events and feature sweets that would have been served in the 1800s.

“We decided it was time to be more authentic with the representation of the space,” Reid said.

The changes were made over the winter and were unveiled when the

museum opened May 1. Reid is hopeful the new display will encourage locals to come back and check out the museum again and also inspire new visitors to stop by.

“Telling the stories of Berlin is our main goal,” she said. “We want people to come back more than once.”

The museum is open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. While the season has run from May to October in years past, Reid is hopeful that eventually the museum will be able to afford to stay open from March until Dec. 31 to provide more opportunities for the public to visit.

“Our volunteers have spent numerous hours collecting historical information from Berlin and the surrounding areas to make all the exhibits and the museum experience authentic and as factual based as can be,” said Jack Orris, a museum board member. “Everyone in our area should make the museum an annual visit to see what’s new and maybe even learn a new Berlin tidbit.”

Board member Cate Nellans agreed. She enjoys seeing the pieces of the past that depict the history of Berlin.

“Everyone, whether a longtime local, or visitor to the town for a day, should visit,” Nellans said. “Beyond it

being a great example of the architecture of the mid-1800s, our curators have taken great pains to amass a collection of stories, photos and memorabilia that speaks to the resilience of our community over the last century and then some.”

CHARLENE SHARPE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

A piece within a new exhibit is pictured inside the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum.

Area birdwatchers explore former Bay Club property

By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) Prairie warblers. Bald eagles. Grackles. Gnatcatchers.

Birdwatchers counted a total of 32 species on a quick walk around newly preserved property outside Berlin last week. Organizers are hoping events like the walk held April 26 appeal to seasoned birdwatchers like themselves as well as casual attendees who might be thinking about ornithology for the first time. Birding, after all, showcases the natural environment, gives people a reason to stay active outdoors and even benefits the economy.

“Birders spend money in our small towns and resorts on hotels, meals, and boat charters, usually during months of the year when the beaches are not bustling with tourists,” said Delmarva Birding Weekend’s Jim Rapp.

On April 26, Rapp guided a group of about two dozen people on a walk through the Bay Club, the former golf course just west of Berlin. While the property is still being restored, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is in the process of creating a trail network at the 600-plus acre site, which will be restored to open meadows, wetlands and forest. Lower Shore Land Trust and Delmarva Birding partnered for the April 26 bird walk to showcase the site’s potential as a birding hotspot.

Attendees craned their necks to spot quick moving birds as Rapp and Lower Shore Land Trust’s Jared Parks talked about the variety of species passing through the area and how to identify them by sight and sound. Parks described the song of the prairie warbler as the bird passed fleetingly overhead.

“It’s a buzzy call that goes straight up the scale,” he said.

While many of the smaller species were difficult to spot, bald eagles, circling formidably around a stand of pines, were impossible to miss as they guarded their nest. Rapp noted that although the weather was bright and sunny, the brisk wind was not aiding the day’s species count.

“An east wind is not a good birding wind,” he said.

Nevertheless, the group tallied 32 species after completing a short circuit at the property. Several attendees went on to participate in more of Rapp’s Delmarva Birding Weekend activities. Parks said in the coming months, Lower Shore Land Trust was planning two more birding events, thanks to a grant geared at interesting more of the general public in birdwatching. The nonprofit has bird walks scheduled in June at Nanticoke Wildlife Management Area (June 14) and Furnace Town (June 15). Walks are also planned in October. Rapp pointed out birdwatching was also a fun way to stay active.

“The birding weekends that we host with our local partners are very social, and the field trips get people outside walking and paddling in the fresh air and sunshine,” he said.

CHARLENE SHARPE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

Members of a birdwatching group are pictured checking out the former Bay Club golf course property off Libertytown Road. There were 32 species in all identified by the group.

Museum fundraiser

From 6-8 p.m., May 18, the Delmarva Discovery Museum is hosting a Preakness-themed party and gala at the Ocean City Golf Club, in South Point, near Berlin.

The event will feature the horse races on screens throughout the club and raise funds for the Discovery Museum. There will be music for dancing with the band Perfect Strangers, Maryland themed food will be served and a discounted full bar will be available. A Preakness attire hat contest will also be held during the event with awards for the winners, and a silent auction will be hosted.

Tickets are $85. and can be purchased by calling 410-957-9933.

Negro League events

From 1-3 p.m., May 25, at Stephen Decatur Middle School the Worcester County NAACP Branch is sponsoring a community event celebrating the history of Snow Hill native and MLB third baseman William “Judy” Johnson and Negro League Baseball.

The celebration will continue at 2:05 p..m, on May 25, at the Delmarva Shorebirds game at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury.

Negro League Baseball Celebration Day will feature Satchell Page All Star Luther Atkinson and Newark Eagle Eddie Banks talking about their journeys in the Negro Baseball League/ Negro Baseball Barnstorm League. Negro Baseball Goodwill Ambassador Rayner Banks will also have his Negro League Baseball Exhibit on display, and will talk about Johnson and other players. And Kirkland Hall of the Princess Anne Oaksville Eagles will share his experiences on playing baseball on the Eastern Shore.

For more information about the events, call NAACP President Ivory Smith at 443-944-6701.

Tree of life leaves sale

From Mother’s Day through Father’s Day (May 12 to June 16), the Ocean City Beautification Committee is offering gold, silver and bronze leaves for the Reflections of Life bronze tree sculpture in the lobby of the Roland E. Powell Convention Center for half price.

Gold leaves will be $250 instead of $500, silver leaves will be $175 instead of $350, and bronze leaves for are on sale for $125 instead of $250.

The Reflections of Life program has funded projects such as the custom water feature outside of the entrance and bayside memory garden at the convention center, and the lighted trees at City Hall. Funds raised in the future will go toward other landscaping and beautification projects in town.

Donation forms can be found at oceancitymd.gov as well as at the visitors center at the convention center and at Northside Park. Or, visit oceancitymd.gov/oc/city-hall/mayor-andcity-council/beautification-committee/

SCHOOLS/COMMUNITY

PHOTO COURTESY OCEAN CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Pre-K-4 students at Ocean City Elementary School celebrated Earth Day on April 22 by reading

“The Earth Book,” by Todd Parr and writing about ways they could help save the Earth. Pictured, from left, are students Waylon Hetherington, Ariana Benitez Luna, Thomas Emge, Solomiia Musiienko and Dayana Gonzalez.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

Showell Elementary kindergartners are pictured with Margaret Mudron of the Ocean City-Berlin Rotary Club. The students recently made Earth Day seed bombs with Mudron.

PHOTO COURTESY WORCESTER PREPARATORY SCHOOL

The William E. Esham Jr. Chapter of the prestigious Cum Laude Society at Worcester Preparatory School recently welcomed four new members during an induction ceremony. Pictured, front row from left, are Upper School math teacher Linda Bragg, and Cum Laude inductees Hunter Simons, Natalie Chadwell, Esi Mehilli and Dylan McGovern. Pictured, from left in the back row, are Head of Upper School Carol Evans, current Cum Laude members Sara Freih, Elaina Elrick and Izzy Huber, and Head of School John McDonald.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

The Lower Eastern Shore Sierra Club Group recently held a bingo fundraiser at the Sterling Tavern in Berlin. Pictured are Judy Davis and Gail Jankowski enjoying the games.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

Ocean Pines resident Lillia Khmarskaia, a science teacher at James M. Bennett High School in Salisbury, was named a recipient of the Maitland P. Simmons National Science Teachers Association award for new teachers. The award is given to new science teachers who show promise and a commitment to the field of science education. Khmarskaia, among other recognitions, was also a nominee for JMB 2024 Teacher of the Year.

PHOTO COURTESY DAVID J. LANDIS SR.

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City recently donated $2,000 to Believe In Tomorrow to be used for programs that help critically ill children and their families with housing. Pictured, from left, are Believe In Tomorrow Children's Foundation Program Advancement Associate Amanda Koontz, Program Manager Mary Decker Brown and Kiwanis Club President Bob Wolfing, with the donation check. Koontz and Decker Brown both work at the Children's House by the Sea in Ocean City, which is part of Believe In Tomorrow.

FAMILY NIGHT COLOR RUN

Stephen Decatur Middle School hosted its spring Family Night last Thursday for current seventh and eighth graders and their loved ones. A highlight of this year’s event was a free color run for the local Autistic Childrens Support Group. Volunteers, teachers and students tossed colored powder on students and family members as they made their way around the track for a fun evening.

STEVE GREEN/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

JAZZ, BLUES, WINE AND BREWS

Some scenes from last Saturday’s Berlin Jazz, Blues, Wine and Brews event, which was hosted along Main Street by the Berlin Chamber of Commerce.

PHOTOS BY STEVE GREEN, CHARLENE SHARPE AND BERLIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Jordan Braniff reflects on local fire service

‘There is a place and a task for everyone who has the desire to learn and serve’

By Steve Price Contributing Writer

(May 10, 2024) This week we proudly recognize Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company Active Member and current Third Assistant Chief Jordan Braniff.

Braniff is a native of Worcester County and a graduate of Stephen Decatur High School. He is boardcertified in family medicine and earned his doctor of nursing practice degree in 2018. He currently cares for patients as a nurse practitioner with TidalHealth Primary Care in Berlin. He had previously served as an emergency room/trauma nurse.

Chief Braniff previously served as a member of the Bishopville Volunteer Fire Company in Worcester County and was a previous member of the Tuckahoe Rescue Squad in Richmond, Virginia. He has been a member of the OCVFC since November 2009, first as an associate member then as an active member.

When asked his reason for joining the OCVFC, Braniff said, “I joined to be part of an organization which had an amazing reputation within Worcester County. I also wanted to spendmore time with fellow members, my brother, Connor Braniff, and friends from high school who were members.”

During Chief Braniff’s 15 years of active service with the OCVFC, he has held a variety of leadership positions: lieutenant of “A” Platoon; captain of “B” Platoon; and has served the past two years (2023 and 2024) as third assistant chief. He has also been a long-time member of the OCFD Water Rescue Team. He served as secretary for the volunteer fire company in 2018.

Braniff recalls two significant events of his fire service career. The most significant was the tragic St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church fire on November 26, 2013. He remembers arriving on the scene with Engine 5 from West Ocean City and witnessing the heroic efforts of the OCFD members as they worked to both control the fire and rescue the in-

jured victims from the structure. He will also never forget his efforts in helping to revive a onemonth-old infant in cardiac arrest in 2022.

Chief Braniff said his greatest accomplishment in the fire service was getting elected as an assistant chief along with all the hard work, training, and commitment it took to attain the position.

Braniff offers the following encouragement to the cadets and other young men and women with an interest in joining the fire service: “If you have any thoughts of wanting to become involved with Fire/EMS work just DO IT!! There is a place and a task for everyone who has the desire to learn and serve their community. I have never regretted my decision and I have gotten to learn so much and meet so many great people.”

We thank Chief Braniff for his commitment to the safety and well-being of our residents and visitors to our community. For membership information, or to learn more about your volunteer fire company, visit ocvfc.com.

Jordan Braniff

Today-Dispatch 47

FULL-TIME PERSONAL BANKER

Farmers Bank of Willards has a full-time Personal Banker position available for our 87th St., Ocean City, MD location and our Willards, MD location. Looking for professional and motivated individuals with extraordinary customer service skills. Cash handling experience and excellent computer skills a must.

Please email resume to kris.derickson@fbwband.com “Equal Employment Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer”

Cleaners Wanted for Ocean City, MD If you are a conscientious individual or team looking for great pay and minimal hours on summer Saturdays in OC, then we are the cleaning company for you. Exp. Preferred. Cell phone and vehicle required. 443-880-0525

Help Wanted: FT, Seasonal, Front Desk, Housekeeping, Laundry. Walk in to fill out application. Safari Hotel, 13th Street and Boardwalk. 410-289-6411

Small Engine Mechanic Year-round. Competitive Wages. 443-754-1047

Ocean Aviation Flight Academy seeks Office Assistant

Growing Flight Academy with campuses in Berlin, Maryland and Georgetown, Delaware seeks Exceptional Candidate to join our team. Professional Friendly office environment. F/T Weekend availability is a plus. Year Around Position. Responsible for student interaction, dispatch and check in of flights, filing, retail sales and keeping our offices neat and clean. Must be customer oriented and be proficient in data entry and have good computer skills. Previous office or educational experience necessary. Please forward resume to mfreed@flyoceanaviation.com We prefer initial contact be through e-mail only. Qualified applicants will be contacted for in person interviews.

o Experience preferred.

o Tools, transportation & valid driver’s license are a plus.

o Excellent pay and a competitive benefits package available. Please Apply Online: https://www.allstatesconst.com/delmarva-renovations-careers Or Contact Our Office at 410-352-9800

SPECIAL EVENT SECURITY - Staff needed for events in Ocean City. Seasonal FT/PT help also. Please call 443513-4198.

Seasonal Positions

Available: Pool Attendants, Building Security and Custodian. Apply in person, by email Pyramidapply2@gmail.com or call 410-524-4479.

HIRING: Line Cooks, Sous Chefs, A/V Techs, Painters, Maintenance Staff, Plumber, Security, Office Staff, Food Runners, Cashiers, Carpenters and more Apply in person or online at seacrets.com

Building Attendant. Full & Part Time. Day & Evening Shifts. Memorial thru Labor Day. Dependable, conscientious individual to monitor building, grounds, pool and parking. Send resume to Fred@paradiseoc.com or call 410-250-1111. Cleaners - Vacation rentals needed for OC and Pines. Experience preferred but not required. OC Purifiers. Call or text 443-397-1189 or email Karen@ocpurifiers.com.

PoolGeneral Maintenance. Outdoor work, lifting heavy objects. Mechanical, basic pool pump & motors, CPO a plus / not required. Able to pass CPO test. Summer includes weekends & long hours; working alone or with others 410-289-4902 ask for Suzanne.

Help WantedCook with 2-3 Years experience required. Honest, dependable, reliable. Flexible schedule - Full or Part-time. Weekly pay checks. Friendly work environment. Serious inquires only.

Open daily 12:00 p.m. American Legion Post #166, 2308 Philadelphia Avenue, Ocean City, MD

SEEKING WORK

Seeking Work: Small and Large Jobs. 44

etc. Call/leave a

443-754-7709.

2BR Apt for Seasonal Rental. $8000/season. 10111 McAllister Road, across from the casino. Accepting applications Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call Steve, 410-251-3412.

Waterfront Bayside - Newly remodeled 2BR, 2BA Condo in North OC. 4 steps to ground level off your private balcony. Full kitchen, LR, DR, W/D, balcony w/tables + seating for 6. Seasonal/ monthly Dec.-April, $2,200. Contact Julie 443-223-4623

Summer Bayside Condo near Jolly Rogers 2BR, 2BA, W/D & AC. Cable, WiFi, fully furnished. Sleeps 4-6. 2 units available May-Sept. Call Mike at 410-603-6120.

www.mbjcproperties.com

Ocean Pines, Year Round two story, 3BR, 2.5BA, screened porch. Large garage, fireplace. Good credit. No smoking. No pets. $2400 per month plus all utilities. 301-509-6515

Townhouse, 3BR, 2BA, $2100/month, utilities NOT included. Fully furnished. Long term lease only, 1+ years. Address: 438 Ocean Parkway, Berlin, MD 21811

Summer Seasonal Memorial Day to Labor Day. Single family home. 2BR, 2BA. $22,000 + utilities. Cleaning once a month and lawn care will be included. Contact Karen 443-880-5727

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

LOTS & ACREAGE

16 Acres. Perked, surveyed and ready to build your home and man cave, horse farm, etc. on. Just outside of Bishopville on 610. $325,000. Howard Martin Realty, 410-352-5555

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.

Industrial Warehouse. Space: 1500 sq. ft. Masonry construction, 18’ high ceiling, large garage door, bathroom, yard and storage shed. Approx. 10x25+/Route 90/Bishopville. Call 443-497-4200.

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

WANTED TO BUY: Vintage signs, old advertising items, military memorabilia, antique toys, decoys, and small antique items. Call/text, 443-880-3082

MISC./OTHER

BUDGET MOVERS

Special Authorization - Budget Director

The Budget Director shall be authorized to reallocate departmental appropriations among the various objects of expenditures as she deems necessary. Such changes shall be approved by the Finance Director & City Manager

Restrictions - City Manager: A.The

1099 WINTERSON ROAD, SUITE 301

LINTHICUM HEIGHTS, MARYLAND 21090 www.cgd-law.com/sales

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES' SALE OF IMPROVED REAL PROPERTY

44 KING RICHARD ROAD

BERLIN A/K/A OCEAN PINES, MD 21811

By authority contained in a Deed of Trust dated March 11, 2005 and recorded in Liber 4385, Folio 296, modified by Loan Modification Agreement recorded on August 17, 2022, at Liber No. 84441, Folio 11, among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland, with an original principal balance of $315,100.00, and an interest rate of 3.000%, default having occurred thereunder, the Substitute Trustees will sell at public auction at the Courthouse door for the Circuit Court for Worcester County, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863, on May 20, 2024 AT 11:00AM

ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE property more fully described in the aforesaid Deed of Trust. The property is improved by a dwelling.

Terms of Sale: The property will be sold “as is” subject to any conditions, restrictions, easements and agreements of record affecting same with no warranty of any kind. A deposit of $20,000.00 by certified funds only (no cash accepted) required at time of auction. Balance of the purchase price to be paid within 10 days of ratification of sale by the Court, with interest at the note rate from date of sale to settlement. If settlement is delayed for ANY reason, there shall be no abatement of interest or taxes. All private utility, water and sewer facilities charges, front foot benefit payments, ground rent, or condo/HOA assessments, not otherwise divested by ratification of the sale are payable by purchaser without adjustment. Real estate taxes and all other public charges, or assessments, to be adjusted as of date of sale. Transfer and recordation taxes, and all other costs incident to settlement, shall be borne by purchaser. Purchaser shall be responsible for obtaining physical possession of the property.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. If purchaser fails to go to settlement within ten days of ratification, or otherwise fails to comply with the terms of sale, the Trustee may declare the entire deposit forfeited and resell the property at the risk and expense of defaulting purchaser, who agrees to pay reasonable attorneys' fees and costs if a motion to resell the property has been filed, purchaser waives personal service of any paper filed in connection with such motion, and agrees to accept service of any such paper by regular mail to the address provided at time of sale. If the Trustee cannot convey insurable title, or the loan servicer

determines that the sale should not have occurred, the sale shall be null and void, and purchaser's sole remedy shall be the return of deposit without interest.

Richard E. Solomon, et al., Sub. Trustees

Tidewater Auctions, LLC (410) 825-2900

www.tidewaterauctions.com

CGD File #: 459690 OCD-5/2/3t

WORCESTER COUNTY MARYLAND OFFICE OF THE TREASURER GOVERNMENT CENTER 1 WEST MARKET STREET, ROOM 1105 SNOW HILL, MD 21863

TAX SALE

OF PROPERTIES LOCATED IN WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND

State and County taxes for the 2022 tax levy (and prior years) by the County Commissioners of Worcester County and/or delinquent water, sewer, and assessment charges and/or delinquent nuisance abatements on the properties hereinafter described being due and in arrears and unpaid, and in order to compel the payment of the same, together with interest thereon and costs attending the proceeding, as provided by law, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me as Treasurer, Finance Officer, and Collector of State and County taxes for Worcester County, Maryland, as provided by the Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland, the undersigned Treasurer, Finance Officer and Collector, aforesaid, will sell at public auction to the highest bidder the following properties. This public auction will be held with Real Auction.com. The link is https://worcester.marylandtaxsale.co m

STARTING WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2024 @ 10:00 A.M. CLOSING FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024 AT THE HOUR OF 1:00 P.M. LIST OF PROPERTIES

Acct#02000709 Assessed To 16 Plus Worcester Rec. Located At Davis Rd Snow Hill, Md. Described As 16.48 Acs +/- Bndry Line Adj Lands Of Schriefer & Pennington. Assessment $71,033. Total Due $1,704.95

Acct#01001159 Assessed To Adkins Aldren Delos III. Located At 1930 Cedar Hall Rd Pocomoke, Md. Described As 4 Acs N/E Side Cedar Hall Rd W Of Pocomoke. Assessment $50,867. Total Due $1,236.98

Acct#07004192 Assessed To Adkins Lloyd A & Lura G. Located At Creek Rd Snow Hill, Md. Described As 1.043 Acs William Truitt Prop Creek Road. Assessment $44,000. Total Due $1,021.15

Acct#02010720 Assessed To Adorable Lucille Assistant. Located At 3917 Market St Snow Hill, Md. Described As Lot 2 .46 Ac NW Side R-394 SW Of Snow Hill. Assessment $103,133. Total Due $2,346.79

Acct#01011871 Assessed To Allen

Bessie For Life. Located At 1951 Colona Rd Pocomoke, Md. Described As 150' X 300' N Side Colona Road S Of Pocomoke. Assessment $53,667. Total Due $1,358.94

Acct#02021943 Assessed To Ames Maurice L Sr. Located At 106 Stevens St Snow Hill, Md. Described As Lot 2 13802 Sq Ft Stevens Rd Subdiv Pl Of Oscar K & Viola F Blake. Assessment $67,133. Total Due $2,726.79

Acct#10356059 Assessed To Analytic Process. Located At Salisbury Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Outlot A 16996 Sq Ft Salisbury Rd Sub Par A Mary Birch Resid Trust. Assessment $83,200. Total Due $2,779.34

Acct#10395380 Assessed To Ball Family Trust The. Located At 10117 Fast Colors Ln Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 393 10000 Sq Ft Fast Colors Ln Riddle Farm Subdiv Ph 16. Assessment $495,000. Total Due $10,710.36

Acct#02006936 Assessed To Ballard Artie H & Elizabeth W. Located At 4239 Market St Snow Hill, Md. Described As Lot 18 Blk 1 Sec 1 W/S Market St 35184 Sq Ft Pl Castle Hill Ests. Assessment $94,400. Total Due $2,228.96

Acct#03120147 Assessed To Bates Kenneth Cody. Located At 11242 Campbelltown Rd Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 2 1.84 Ac E S Campbelltown Rd Bndy Ln Adj Ld Davis/Goo. Assessment $99,667. Total Due $2,361.48

Acct#10769179 Assessed To Bay Rose LLC. Located At 725 Bradley Rd A Ocean City, Md. Described As Unit A S Side Bradley Rd Bay Rose CM. Assessment $369,600. Total Due $11,894.65

Acct#10221064 Assessed To Bealefeld Shirley W Leaf. Located At 11 134th St 0307 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 307 134th St Ocean Princess CM. Assessment $156,400. Total Due $5,123.47

Acct#10322677 Assessed To Bean Charles Hugh Jr & Kathleen E. Smith. Located At 10113 Queen's Cir W Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 7 Queen's Circle Fox Chapel Subdiv. Assessment $427,700. Total Due $1,306.57

Acct#10053986 Assessed To Behney Christopher. Located At 210 Trimper Ave 0004 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 4 Trimper Ave Sand & Foam CM. Assessment $106,000.

Total Due $3,536.73

Acct#10120586 Assessed To Bellosi-Mitchell Grace M & BellosiSiebert Jessica. Located At 10900 Coastal Hwy 0202 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 202 Beach Hwy Golden Sands Club CM. Assessment $327,600. Total Due $10,615.29

Acct#02016737 Assessed To Benavides Helen. Located At 104 W Green St Snow Hill, Md. Described As App 20' X 52' 104 W Green St Snow Hill. Assessment $138,533.

Total Due $5,495.96

Acct#02016680 Assessed To Benavides Investments LLC. Located At 102 W Green St Snow Hill, Md. Described As 20.2 X 52 102 W Green St Snow Hill. Assessment $131,033.

Total Due $3,658.15

Acct#04001427 Assessed To Berdan Pat Godfrey & Godfrey George Lee. Located At 8519

Newark Rd Newark, Md. Described As 24393 Sq Ft South Main St Newark. Assessment $101,200. Total Due $2,144.62

Acct#10265592 Assessed To Bernetta A Vaughan Revocable Livin. Located At 614 Osprey Rd 000f Ocean City, Md. Described As U F Osprey Road Dawn's Cove Th CM. Assessment $270,000. Total Due $8,061.31

Acct#10183162 Assessed To Berrett Rebecca Ann. Located At 607 Twin Tree Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 4 Blk 13 Sec 1D Twin Tree Road Pl Caine Woods. Assessment $242,300. Total Due $7,597.28

Acct#03163377 Assessed To Berzonski Derrick J & Shawnee J. Berzonski. Located At 201 Flagship Cir Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 42 Ph 1S 21781 Sf Flagship Cir Decatur Farms Pl. Assessment $343,700. Total Due $13,188.24

Acct#05000068 Assessed To Bivens Letitia Rodnay. Located At 9425 Morris Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As 17.19 Acs N Side Morris Road S Of Selbyville. Assessment $92,000. Total Due $2,260.42

Acct#01016954 Assessed To Blake Richelle Lynnette. Located At 203 Laurel St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 49.66' X 79' X 49.66 X 79' NS 203 Laurel St Pocomoke. Assessment $71,667. Total Due $1,607.13

Acct#03034569 Assessed To Bowen Jason Anthony. Located At 210 Flower St Berlin, Md. Described As 60 3 X 92 E Side Flower Street Berlin. Assessment $72,333. Total Due $3,483.89

Acct#10024935 Assessed To Briele Henry A. Located At Vista Bay Ln W Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 12 Blk 4 S Side 30th St Pl Bay Shore Acres. Assessment $75,100. Total Due $1,220.35

Acct#10246970 Assessed To Bunting Linda M. Located At 314 A 136th St Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 16-A 136th St Pl Resub Lots 16 & 17 Blk 23 Sec 1A Caine Wood. Assessment $187,300. Total Due $5,884.70

Acct#10768889 Assessed To Burke Edward A Trustee & Burke Kathryn D. Trustee & Others. Located At Baltimore Ave Ocean City, Md. Described As Parcel A 1704 Sf Baltimore Ave Resub Of Lts 6 & 7 Into. Assessment $93,700. Total Due $3,101.79

Acct#10229820 Assessed To Burtnick Sam & Burtnick Marybeth. Located At 137 Jamestown Rd B Ocean City, Md. Described As U B Jamestown Rd Shipwreck Haven IV CM. Assessment $221,400. Total Due $7,245.56

Acct#01021427 Assessed To Butler Kenneth D &. Located At 513 Laurel St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 74' X 60' N Side 513 & 515 Laurel St. Assessment $46,000. Total Due $2,069.43

Acct#10112974 Assessed To Centiole Joseph & Marietta. Located At 9500 Coastal Hwy 004C Ocean City, Md. Described As U 4C Beach Hwy Pyramid CM. Assessment $268,000. Total Due $13,393.38

Acct#07000022 Assessed To Chatham Daphne Frances Ball. Located At 8052 Meadow Bridge Rd Eden, Md. Described As 42.19 Acs E Side Meadow Bridge Road. Assess-

ment $119,233. Total Due $3,258.15

Acct#03076342 Assessed To Clazey Carl S. Located At 131 Watertown Rd Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-11-293 10095 Sq Ft Watertown Rd Pl Ocean Pines Sec 11. Assessment $210,133. Total Due $4,463.91

Acct#10277256 Assessed To Coastal Getaways LLC. Located At 501 Baltimore Ave Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 7A 4335 Sf Baltimore Ave Subdiv/Partial CM Term P. Assessment $1,054,567. Total Due $23,840.12

Acct#10222079 Assessed To Colletti Ricardo V & Walker-Colletti

Stephanie B. Located At 3801 Atlantic Ave 0110 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 110 Btw 38th & 39th Sts Diamond Beach CM. Assessment $240,900. Total Due $7,872.25

Acct#10222311 Assessed To Colletti Ricardo V & Walker-Colletti

Stephanie B. Located At 3801 Atlantic Ave 0216 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 216 Btw 38th & 39th Sts Diamond Beach CM. Assessment $260,800. Total Due $8,358.09

Acct#03124800 Assessed To Collick Albert B & Collick Renate E. Located At 9309 Seahawk Rd Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 3 3.086 Acs W/S Step Dec High School Rd Subdiv William Smith. Assessment $144,733. Total Due $2,217.16

Acct#03034321 Assessed To Collick Beatrice. Located At 114 Railroad Ave Berlin, Md. Described As 69 3 X 591 36 N Side Railroad Avenue Berlin. Assessment $54,533. Total Due $2,339.18

Acct#01016318 Assessed To Collins Diondre Lamount. Located At 714 Fourth St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 0.456 Ac W Side 714 4th St Near Scotts Allen. Assessment $37,667. Total Due $1,884.03

Acct#02017385 Assessed To Costen Louis & Costen Ada L. Located At 113 Ross St Snow Hill, Md. Described As App 55' X 165' 113 Ross Street Snow Hill. Assessment $77,433. Total Due $3,031.28

Acct#01023608 Assessed To Crippen Alexander & Timmons Phyllis Paulette & Weldon. Located At 410 Linden Ave Pocomoke, Md. Described As 41' X 78' X 54' X 78 S Side 410 Linden Ave Pocomoke. Assessment $47,767. Total Due $2,151.85

Acct#07007876 Assessed To Culver Eric C. Located At 8080 Stevens Rd Salisbury, Md. Described As Lot 1 2.109 Acs E Side Stevens Road Donald Culver Min Sub. Assessment $211,167. Total Due $4,693.97

Acct#02000512 Assessed To Dale Ollie. Located At 7230 Shockley Rd Snow Hill, Md. Described As 3.66 Acs E Side Shockley Road N Of Snow Hill. Assessment $89,100. Total Due $2,098.39

Acct#10249813 Assessed To Dascoli Salvatore. Located At 10040

Keyser Point Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 10A 5.2212 Acs E/S Keyser Pt Rd Pl Re Sub Lot 10 Helen S Brown. Assessment $591,167. Total Due $12,380.06

Acct#03163423 Assessed To Davis John R. Located At 395 Dueling Way Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 47 Ph 1s 23092 Sf Dueling Way Decatur Farms Pl. Assessment $372,733. Total Due $12,124.84

Acct#03058433 Assessed To Davis

Nick William. Located At 51 Brandywine Dr Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-13-183 9750 Sq Ft Brandywine Dr Pl Ocean Pines Sec 13. Assessment $197,500. Total Due $4,256.78

Acct#04001184 Assessed To Deberry Annie Tindley. Located At 8513 Tindley Rd Newark, Md. Described As Lot Dirickson Farm N Side Labor Camp Road. Assessment $43,300. Total Due $1,211.61

Acct#01025449 Assessed To Diego Miguel Andres. Located At 302 14th St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 136' X 180'6' 14th Street Pocomoke. Assessment $114,600. Total Due

$3,886.02

Acct#10188598 Assessed To Distefano Shawn & Lisa Disterfano. Located At 184 Pine Tree Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 1249 Sec 2 Pine Tree Rd Pl Montego Bay Mob Hm Pk. Assessment $442,000. Total Due $13,853.85

Acct#02011204 Assessed To Dixon Teamer Jr. Located At 3944 Market St Snow Hill, Md. Described As Lot SW/S Market St S Of Snow Hill. Assessment $128,967. Total Due

$2,820.89

Acct#03087441 Assessed To Domingo Gloria S Dr. Located At 21 Alden Ct Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot C-11-018 6395 Sq Ft Alden Ct Pl Ocean Pines Sec 11. Assessment $76,867. Total Due

$1,805.67

Acct#01001019 Assessed To Donaway Rita Elizabeth. Located At 2514 Worcester Hwy Pocomoke, Md. Described As 190' X 190' X 190' X 143' Near E Side R-113 NE Of Pocomoke. Assessment $62,100. Total Due $1,587.35

Acct#02037548 Assessed To Dukes John Clayton & Virgil P. Located At Box Iron Rd Newark, Md. Described As 1.31 Acs Taylors Landing Rd Girdletree. Assessment $18,100. Total Due $524.94

Acct#10108470 Assessed To Dunn Gerald A & Irmgard D. Located At 152 Old Wharf Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 40 Sec JJ N Side Old Wharf Rd Pl Caine Keys II. Assessment $381,600. Total Due $10,952.48

Acct#07000278 Assessed To Dykes Judith A. Located At 445 Mcgrath Rd West Of Snow Hil, Md. Described As 55 Acs Marcellus Brown Tract Mcgrath Road. Assessment $133,000. Total Due $3,281.64

Acct#03004481 Assessed To Dypsky Philip C Jr &. Located At 12106 Campbelltown Rd St Martins, Md. Described As 1 Ac E Side Campbelltown Rd N Of St Martins. Assessment $187,567. Total Due $3,109.20

Acct#10747899 Assessed To Falanga Craig. Located At 6 63rd St 2 Ocean City, Md. Described As Unit 2 N Side 63rd St Dunes Edge Villas CM. Assessment $360,100. Total Due $6,220.64

Acct#03004848 Assessed To Fiedler George D. Located At 11104 Worcester Hwy Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 1 2.13 Acs E Side Worcester Hwy Bluewater Botanical. Assessment $210,633. Total Due $4,501.01

Acct#10004942 Assessed To Fischer Ernest T. Located At Torquay Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 23 Blk 28 Sec C W Torquay Rd Pl

Cape Isle Of Wight. Assessment $72,600. Total Due $1,621.09

Acct#10369649 Assessed To Flood Livia Robinson. Located At 200 59th St 0408 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 408 60th St Coconut Malorie Resort. Assessment $106,900. Total Due $3,543.66

Acct#02021919 Assessed To Flores Diana & Cabellero Celia. Located At 239 Washington St Snow Hill, Md. Described As 220' X 181' X 284' 239 S Washington St Snow Hill. Assessment $188,800. Total Due $4,675.24

Acct#04003829 Assessed To Foreman Samuel Tyreel & Sean J B Foreman & Others. Located At 6538 Bowden Rd Newark, Md. Described As Lot 9 7.397 Acs S Side Langmaid Rd Pl Langmaid Woods. Assessment $130,600. Total Due $2,057.73

Acct#10755166 Assessed To Four Seasons Park Inc. Located At 12024 Ocean Gateway Ocean City, Md. Described As Imps Lot 21 115 Sh Ocean Gateway Four Seasons Park Co-Op. Assessment $101,633. Total Due $2,418.56

Acct#10008123 Assessed To Freburger Kelly M. Located At 13011 Drum Point Rd W Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 30 N Side Drum Point Rd Pl 1 Sec 1 Captains Hill. Assessment $720,367. Total Due $15,194.86

Acct#10157358 Assessed To Fumich Family Trust. Located At 9 130th St 0107 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 107 130th St Banana Beach CM. Assessment $140,400. Total Due $4,642.31

Acct#10311713 Assessed To Gismo I LLC. Located At 16 Cutlass Dr Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 41 Blk E 4942 Sq Ft Cutlass Dr Mystic Harbour Sec 1. Assessment $180,967. Total Due $3,914.77

Acct#05000548 Assessed To Golphin Enoch & Deborah. Located At Hotel Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As 1 Ac N Side Line Hotel Road S Of Selbyville. Assessment $44,667. Total Due $986.03

Acct#02025280 Assessed To Gordy Karen J. Located At South Dr Snow Hill, Md. Described As Lot 21 Circle Dr Pl Subdiv Meadow Brook. Assessment $32,100. Total Due $1,486.71

Acct#02021684 Assessed To Gordy Karen J. Located At 109 Powell St Snow Hill, Md. Described As Lot 109 Powell & Snow Sts Snow Hill. Assessment $133,133. Total Due $5,272.88

Acct#02020203 Assessed To Green Felicia & Green James. Located At Ross St Snow Hill, Md. Described As Lot 7 1.18 Acs W Side Ross St. H Williams Subdiv. Assessment $27,400. Total Due $1,288.07

Acct#10258669 Assessed To Green Michael O. Located At 504 Yawl Dr Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 339 3600 Sq Ft E S Yawl Dr Pl Montego Bay Sec 6 C. Assessment $144,800. Total Due $4,752.68

Acct#01032143 Assessed To Greenspring Home Builders LLC. Located At 113 Eighth St Pocomoke, Md. Described As Lot 33 80' X 133' Eighth St Pl Berwyck. Assessment $113,633. Total Due $5,240.91

Acct#05009650 Assessed To Grothe Anthony A & Grothe Teresa A. Located At 13117 Selby Rd Bish-

opville, Md. Described As 6.0556 Acs W/S Selby Rd Subdiv Of Lds For Elisha W Murray. Assessment $187,800. Total Due $4,331.77

Acct#01025694 Assessed To Groton John & Ralph Groton &. Located At 17 Somerset Ave Pocomoke, Md. Described As Lot 8 Blk B 17 Somerset Ave Pl Pocomoke Heights. Assessment $110,367. Total Due $7,661.53

Acct#03021246 Assessed To Hall Randolph Freddie Jr. Located At 10209 Germantown Rd Berlin, Md. Described As Lot X E Side Germantown Road SE Of Berlin. Assessment $80,333. Total Due $1,895.99

Acct#03123898 Assessed To Hall William E & Hall Christina. Located At 11633 Worcester Hwy Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 1 W/S R-113 Pl Minor Sub Prop Of Mary Griffiths. Assessment $154,600. Total Due $2,278.57

Acct#10226821 Assessed To Harmon Barbara J. Located At 14 136th St 0301 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 301 136th St Sunspot CM. Assessment $214,000. Total Due $7,006.53

Acct#10120071 Assessed To Harper Kevin. Located At 10300 Coastal Hwy 508 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 508 Coastal Hwy Atlantis CM. Assessment $231,800. Total Due $7,508.75

Acct#10430755 Assessed To Harris Wayne L &. Located At 4 Hidden Cove Way LUG-B Ocean City, Md. Described As U-LUG-BE-2E PH 5 Hidden Cove Way The Garden CM Sunset Isl. Assessment $317,700. Total Due $10,340.52

Acct#10191718 Assessed To Harting Sue H. Located At 219 South Ocean Dr Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 63 Sec 3B South Ocean Dr Pl Montego Bay Mob Hm Pk. Assessment $368,700. Total Due

$11,414.86

Acct#10366216 Assessed To Hauser Sheila D. Located At 12506 Deer Point Cir Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 10 14251 Sq Ft Deer Point Circle Deer Point Subdiv. Assessment $342,700. Total Due $6,875.32

Acct#03126013 Assessed To Haynie Mark W & Evelyn M. Located At Timberline Cir Berlin, Md Described As Lot 397 Timberline Circle White Horse Park Phase 3 Assessment $99,600 Total Due

$2,272.23

Acct#01020587 Assessed To Heath Clarence W. Located At 504 Young St Pocomoke, Md. Described As Lot 2 3102 Sq Ft 504 Young St L V Layman Inc Subd Pl. Assessment $36,967. Total Due $1,647.73

Acct#10715768 Assessed To Heise Michael Scott &. Located At 12625 Sunset Ave 2 Ocean City, Md. Described As U-12625-2 PH 4 Sunset Ave Bayside Professional Ctr. Assessment $108,067. Total Due $2,328.43

Acct#03021564 Assessed To Henry Mary C & Martin L Henry &. Located At Germantown Rd Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 2 NE Side Germantown Road Plat Isaac H Crippen. Assessment $70,600. Total Due $1,746.42

Acct#10768818 Assessed To Hensley Michael R & Hensley Patience M. Located At 12 Broad Marsh Marina CM M-12 Ocean City,

Md. Described As Unit M-12 67th St Broad Marsh Marina CM. Assessment $15,000. Total Due $612.08

Acct#02022079 Assessed To Hillman Emily Dawn. Located At 232 Washington St Snow Hill, Md. Described As 117' X 191' X 162' X 81' S Washington St Snow Hill. Assessment $93,233. Total Due $3,768.08

Acct#10343844 Assessed To Hinkle Gary & Marcia D & Alan Bell. Located At 8343 South Longboat Way Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 366 3000 Sq Ft South Longboat Drive Assateague Pt Resort P 3. Assessment $158,033. Total Due $3,363.53

Acct#01021400 Assessed To Holden Gregory T & Vera L. Located At 509 Cedar St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 60' X 120.4' 509 Cedar St Pocomoke. Assessment $61,700. Total Due $2,282.29

Acct#10072964 Assessed To Hollohan Robert T. Located At 5305 Atlantic Ave 0004 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 4 Btw 53rd & 54th Sts Sea Splash CM. Assessment $607,700. Total Due $19,660.80

Acct#03007022 Assessed To Hudson Alan. Located At Old Ocean City Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 25.92 Acs W Side R-346 Min Sub Alan H Hudson. Assessment $10,300. Total Due $568.17

Acct#03007014 Assessed To Hudson Alan. Located At 9178 Old Ocean City Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 39.81 Acs W Side R-346 Rev Lds Roger A Hudson. Assessment $173,167. Total Due $4,197.09

Acct#03007006 Assessed To Hudson Alan H. Located At Ocean Gateway Berlin, Md. Described As 83.59 Acs P/O 195/4 North Side R-50 South Of St Martins. Assessment $31,800. Total Due $1,557.76

Acct#03159809 Assessed To Hudson Alan H. Located At 9101 Logtown Rd Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 4b 7.69 Acs Logtown Rd Min Subdiv Resub Of Lot 4 A Hudson. Assessment $125,333. Total Due $2,829.50

Acct#03134628 Assessed To Hudson Alan H & Kristin D. Located At 9101 Logtown Rd Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 4A 2.19 Acs Logtown Rd Min Subdiv Resub Of Lot 4 A Hudson. Assessment $170,100. Total Due $3,617.21

Acct#08002029 Assessed To Hudson Sandra J. Located At 2810 Snow Hill Rd Girdletree, Md. Described As 53' X 109' E Side R-12 Girdletree. Assessment $61,767. Total Due $969.81

Acct#10162629 Assessed To Huhra Clint M. Located At 13100 Coastal Hwy 19060 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 1906 P 2 131st St Braemar Towers CM. Assessment $283,100. Total Due $9,045.86

Acct#02007533 Assessed To Jackson Ludell & Jackson Charley J Jr. Located At 4233 Market St Snow Hill, Md. Described As Lot 17 Blk 1 Sec 1 .9790 Acs W/S Market St Pl Castle Hill Ests. Assessment $63,333. Total Due $1,616.54

Acct#10197406 Assessed To Jayne Teddy LLC. Located At 150 Pine Tree Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 1347 Sec 1 Pine Tree Road Pl Montego Bay Mob Hm Pk. Assessment $271,400. Total Due $8,734.10

Acct#01004425 Assessed To Johnsen Christopher M. Located At

2843 Stockton Rd Pocomoke, Md. Described As 100' X 420' N Side Stockton Road SE Of Pocomoke. Assessment $131,333. Total Due

$2,207.39

Acct#05006104 Assessed To Johnson Preston L & Brice Leon. Located At Campbelltown Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As 24 Acs Nr E Side Campbelltown Rd South Of Bishop. Assessment $47,000. Total Due

$1,155.52

Acct#05011698 Assessed To Johnson Ronnie Lee. Located At 9631 Peerless Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As Lot N Side Peerless Road Nw Of Showell. Assessment $78,967.

Total Due $1,879.74

Acct#03002985 Assessed To Jones Millard Edward F. Located At 8336 Circle Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 1.136 Acs S Side Circle Rd SE Of Whaleyville. Assessment $164,900. Total Due $3,589.60

Acct#02024470 Assessed To Kane Joseph R. Located At 205 Market St Snow Hill, Md. Described As 75' X 495' X 78' X 475' 205 E Market St Snow Hill. Assessment $96,867 Total Due $3,745.09

Acct#02024438 Assessed To Kane Joseph R. Located At 207 E Market St Snow Hill, Md. Described As 70' X 150' 207 E Market St Snow Hill. Assessment $156,333. Total Due $6,268.49

Acct#03141306 Assessed To Kappes Thomas P & Sandra L. Located At 11032 Nicholas Ln A102 Berlin, Md. Described As U A102 P1 Manklin Creek Rd Ocean Pines Vlg Sq CM. Assessment $126,767. Total Due $2,715.97

Acct#03157687 Assessed To Karbyte Enterprises LLC. Located At Worcester Hwy Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 2B 12.46A E/S Route 113 Revised Lots 2A & 2B. Assessment $389,300. Total Due

$11,564.19

Acct#10338387 Assessed To

Kavoossi Saiid & Annette M. Located At 12116 W Cannonball Dr Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 222 North Longboat Way Assateague Pt Resort P 2. Assessment $143,133. Total Due $3,064.38

Acct#01005367 Assessed To Keaser Vernon L Jr & Keaser Bonnie. Located At 2551 Lambertson Rd Pocomoke, Md. Described As 1 Ac (132 X 220) W Side Lambertson Rd E Of Pocomoke. Assessment $40,367. Total Due $1,139.93

Acct#01021664 Assessed To Keiffer James W. Located At Cedar St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 47' X 134' N Side Cedar St Pocomoke. Assessment $10,100. Total Due $610.85

Acct#01021656 Assessed To Keiffer James W. Located At 610 Walnut St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 50' X 155' E Side 610 Walnut St Pocomoke. Assessment $78,900. Total Due $2,997.10

Acct#10003768 Assessed To Kent Spencer D. Located At 12616 Rumgate Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Lt 7 Blk 13 14114 Sf Rumgate Rd Pl Cape Isle Of Wight. Assessment $518,800. Total Due $1,727.42

Acct#03024210 Assessed To Kilgore Samuel David & Kilgore Carrie Leigh. Located At 11303 Assateague Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 3 Acs Assateague Road Sw Of Berlin. Assessment $325,167. Total Due

$6,463.61

Acct#01025147 Assessed To Kirkwood Cynthia. Located At 1316 Market St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 77 X 198.75 X 133.7 X 191.75 S Side Market St Pocomoke. Assessment $111,200. Total Due $5,267.81

Acct#03128865 Assessed To Kling Gregory D. Located At 9342 Kitts Branch Rd Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 2 1.61 Acs S/S Kitts Branch Rd Walter Tingle Subdiv. Assessment $131,400. Total Due $2,388.99

Acct#10131634 Assessed To Kostack Joseph R & Kostack Janice E. Located At 183 Jamestown Rd 0011 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 11 Jamestown Rd Watergate CM. Assessment $196,500. Total Due

$6,445.31

Acct#03144488 Assessed To Kufchak Carl Vincent. Located At 11848 Peyton Ct Bishopville, Md. Described As Lot 3 1 Ac Peyton Court Peyton Acres Pl. Assessment $533,900. Total Due $11,586.11

Acct#10398754 Assessed To Kwedar Michael T & Kwedar Mary E. Located At 18 Harbour Towne CM 18 Ocean City, Md. Described As Boat Slip #18 Phila Ave & Bayside Harbour Towne CM. Assessment $20,000. Total Due $772.77

Acct#10210976 Assessed To Leblanc Aida L & Dayna L. Hitch. Located At 143 Jamestown Rd 0003 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 3 Jamestown Rd Jamestown Inlet CM. Assessment $214,600. Total Due

$6,901.28

Acct#10121140 Assessed To Leonard Eugene & Leonard Sandra A. Located At 10300 Coastal Hwy 1106 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 1106 Coastal Hwy Atlantis CM. Assessment $287,000. Total Due

$9,346.54

Acct#07005261 Assessed To Lewandowski Joseph L III. Located At Scotty Rd Snow Hill, Md. Described As 5 Acs W Side Scotty Road W Of Snow Hill. Assessment $48,000. Total Due $1,108.44

Acct#03095169 Assessed To Lewis William D Jr. Located At 40 Nottingham Ln Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-10-035 7500 Sq Ft Nottingham Ln Pl Ocean Pines Sec 10. Assessment $174,100. Total Due $3,122.60

Acct#01046187 Assessed To Lipps Mark W. Located At Colona Rd Pocomoke, Md. Described As 9.71 Acs N Side Colona Road Min Sub M D Maizel Etal. Assessment $41,333. Total Due $1,026.89

Acct#01012592 Assessed To Lipps Mark W. Located At 865 Colona Rd Pocomoke, Md. Described As Lot 1 5.87 Acs N Side Colona Road Min Sub M D Maizel Etal. Assessment $100,233. Total Due $2,020.54

Acct#03099075 Assessed To Lockhart Lou Alice. Located At 108 Nottingham Ln Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-10-069 7672 Sq Ft Nottingham Ln Pl Ocean Pines Sec 10. Assessment $66,767. Total Due $1,503.75

Acct#04001702 Assessed To Lockwood Sylvester L. Located At 8314 Patey Woods Rd Newark, Md. Described As Lots In Blks A C F H & J Patey Woods Rd Newark. Assessment $91,167. Total Due $2,007.07

Acct#03002101 Assessed To Logan Edna Collins & Catherine

Smith. Located At Campbelltown Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 4.43 Acs W Side Campbelltown Rd Edna Logan Et Al Survey. Assessment $73,000. Total Due $1,856.18

Acct#10065291 Assessed To Lulu H Auger Trust & Auger Ulysses. Located At 4203 Atlantic Ave 0013 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 13 Btw 42nd & 43rd Sts 13 On The Beach CM. Assessment $435,700. Total Due $14,132.92

Acct#10174279 Assessed To Lundgren Hans & Lundgren Johnness. Located At 417 142nd St Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 9 Blk 68 50 X 145 142nd St Pl Fenwick. Assessment $275,700. Total Due $8,874.11

Acct#01021249 Assessed To Lynch Holly Star. Located At 413 Laurel St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 73.5 X 84 X 65.7 X 76.11 NE Side 413 Laurel St Pocomoke. Assessment $66,967. Total Due $2,149.98

Acct#03066142 Assessed To Mahon Michelle R. Located At 12 Southwind Ct Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-09-207 9750 Sq Ft Southwind Ct Pl Ocean Pines Sec 9. Assessment $170,600. Total Due $3,176.72

Acct#03050874 Assessed To Mahon Sherry L. Located At 44 Brandywine Dr Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot G-13-118 9800 Sq Ft Brandywine Dr Pl Ocean Pines Sec 13. Assessment $294,800. Total Due $6,212.77

Acct#10245753 Assessed To Man Diana Phuong & Sodeth Man &. Located At 3701 Coastal Hwy 0332G Ocean City, Md. Described As U 332 B G P 3 Coastal Highway Bradley On The Bay CM. Assessment $118,800. Total Due $3,948.11

Acct#03021920 Assessed To Mapp James D Sr &. Located At 10440 Harrison Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 80 X 150 E Side Harrison Road Se Of Berlin. Assessment $188,867. Total Due $3,754.29

Acct#05003415 Assessed To Mavrakis Magdaline D. Located At 9235 Whaleyville Rd Whaleysville, Md. Described As 2.48 Acs N Side Whaleyville Rd Loc Sur Albert H Powell. Assessment $334,600. Total Due $6,004.17

Acct#10312450 Assessed To Mccleary Eric Todd. Located At 7 Keel Dr Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 108 Blk J 5800 Sq Ft Keel Drive Mystic Harbour Sec 2. Assessment $185,867. Total Due $3,681.47

Acct#10384400 Assessed To Mccormick Family Stone Harbour LLC. Located At 13208 Stone Harbour Ln 4 Ocean City, Md. Described As Unit 4 Ph 5 Jefferson Ave Stone Harbour Villas CM. Assessment $655,000. Total Due $13,329.72

Acct#01001116 Assessed To Mcmanus Paul. Located At 1923 Pit Circle Rd Pocomoke, Md. Described As 75' X 165' W Side Pit Circle Rd Franktown. Assessment $16,100. Total Due $634.18

Acct#01015559 Assessed To Mcmanus Paul E. Located At 700 Clarke Ave Pocomoke, Md. Described As 42' X 85' W Side 700 Clarke Ave & Laurel St. Assessment $63,633. Total Due $2,071.02

Acct#10161142 Assessed To Mdr Bachelors Hall 2 LLC. Located At 13110 Coastal Hwy 07130 Ocean

City, Md. Described As U 713 P 1

Wight St Braemar Towers CM. Assessment $496,500. Total Due $16,016.46

Acct#10161495 Assessed To Mdr Bachelors Hall LLC. Located At 13110 Coastal Hwy 07140 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 714 P 1 Wight St Braemar Towers CM. Assessment $496,500. Total Due $16,016.46

Acct#05005574 Assessed To Meehan Thomas Joseph &. Located At 9937 Bishopville Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As 148 X 467.85 X 432.90 N S County Rd Near Bishopville. Assessment $80,500. Total Due $1,648.60

Acct#01003054 Assessed To Mills Steven Jr. Located At 1805 Cypress Rd Pocomoke, Md. Described As 197' X 147' W Side Unionville Rd Sw Of Pocomoke. Assessment $11,767. Total Due $521.62

Acct#10317126 Assessed To Milone John S. Located At 507 32nd St 00230 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 23 P 3 32nd St Extd Bay Cove CM. Assessment $190,700. Total Due $6,258.89

Acct#03016595 Assessed To Mister Wesley Heirs. Located At Rose Ln Berlin, Md. Described As Lot North Side Flower St N E Of Berlin. Assessment $26,000. Total Due $697.31

Acct#03156672 Assessed To Moyer Donna M. Located At 4 Chatham Ct Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot 381 4,277 Sq Ft Chatham Court Phase 4 Parke Ocean Pines Sec 16. Assessment $267,633. Total Due $7,143.72

Acct#10267439 Assessed To Muncy Nathan G & Muncy Andrea P. Located At 101 123rd St 0364c Ocean City, Md. Described As U 364 B C P 3 123rd St Jockey Beach Club CM. Assessment $117,100. Total Due $3,893.46

Acct#05000998 Assessed To Murray Leroy E. Located At Hotel Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As 11 1/2 Acs N Side Line Hotel Road S Of Selbyville. Assessment $68,500. Total Due $2,647.88

Acct#10214688 Assessed To Nagle Stacy-Ann. Located At 135 A Jamestown Rd 018A Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 18A S Side Jamestown Rd Pl Jamestown Manor Tnhs. Assessment $181,700. Total Due $5,766.31

Acct#10112389 Assessed To Najem G Reza. Located At 9500 Coastal Hwy 009F Ocean City, Md. Described As U 9F Beach Hwy Pyramid CM. Assessment $192,700. Total Due $3,345.89

Acct#03105830 Assessed To Neelon Cora Daniels. Located At 1300 Ocean Pky Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-10-1129 7725 Sq Ft Ocean Pkway Pl Ocean Pines Sec 10. Assessment $304,133. Total Due $13,018.20

Acct#01029428 Assessed To Nichols Valarie L. Located At 1307 Market St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 62 X 195 N Side 1307 Market St Pocomoke. Assessment $122,133. Total Due $4,917.77

Acct#03125971 Assessed To Nokes Stephen P & Maryll S. Located At Timberline Cir Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 394 Timberline Circle White Horse Park Phase 3. Assessment $99,800. Total Due

$2,286.92

Acct#10202310 Assessed To Och

LLC. Located At 309 South Ocean Dr Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 5A Sec 5A South Ocean Dr Pl Montego Bay Mob Hm Pk. Assessment $458,900. Total Due $14,786.65

Acct#10066611 Assessed To Papoulias Konstadina J &. Located At 7 45th St 0225 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 225 45th St Ocean Waye 45 CM. Assessment $76,800. Total Due $2,598.28

Acct#03016188 Assessed To Parker Mabel Sallie Savage. Located At 10811 Maple Ct Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 13 115 X 175 N Side Maple Lane Plat Highland Park. Assessment $85,000. Total Due $2,000.88

Acct#01017314 Assessed To Parsons Karen Annette. Located At 208 Walnut St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 70.12' X 104.5' X 70 X 102' S Side 208 Walnut St Pocomoke. Assessment $123,867. Total Due $4,506.01

Acct#05011361 Assessed To Parsons Richard H & Carol Ann. Located At 10907 Piney Island Dr Bishopville, Md. Described As Lot 55 28916 Sq Ft N Side Piney Island Dr Pl Piney Island Subdiv. Assessment $146,400. Total Due $3,324.40

Acct#10013356 Assessed To Parsons Richard H & Carol Ann. Located At 11905 Grays Corner Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 7 Blk B N Side Old Ocean City Rd Pl Winchester Dev. Assessment $99,900. Total Due $2,340.93

Acct#02026465 Assessed To Parsons Richard H & Carol Ann. Located At 4226 Keep Ct Snow Hill, Md. Described As Lot 5 24000 Sq Ft Keep Court Snow Hill Estates. Assessment $106,200. Total Due $2,484.14

Acct#02026600 Assessed To Parsons Richard H & Carol Ann. Located At 4311 Tower Dr Snow Hill, Md. Described As Lot 2 Blk 3 W/S Tower Dr Pl Castle Hill Ests Sec II. Assessment $107,300. Total Due $2,502.40

Acct#03001121 Assessed To Patel Bhailal Babarbhal. Located At 11529 Longridge Ln Whaleysville, Md. Described As 27.76 Acs North Side R 346 Bdy Sry Walter H Layfield. Assessment $734,833. Total Due $14,764.69

Acct#07000634 Assessed To Pennewill Lynn M. Located At 986 Mcgrath Rd West Of Snow Hil, Md. Described As Lot Pt Of Brick Hall Farm S Side Mcgrath Road. Assessment $91,600. Total Due $2,016.28

Acct#03121224 Assessed To Perreault Peter. Located At 220 West St Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 921922 Sq Ft West St Subdiv Of Carroll W Hynes. Assessment $267,467. Total Due $9,692.66

Acct#10046750 Assessed To Peterson Irene J. Located At 310 Sunset Dr Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 80 N Side 310 Sunset Dr Pl Skyline Dev. Assessment $285,300. Total Due $6,598.91

Acct#02005298 Assessed To Peterson Jon K &. Located At Disharoon Rd Snow Hill, Md. Described As Lot B 7.81 Acs E/S Disharoon Rd Amendment To Lot B Pl. Assessment $54,267. Total Due $1,208.00

Acct#10724775 Assessed To Podowski James Steven. Located At

7 Lookout Landing CM Ocean City, Md. Described As Boat Slip #7 26th St Lookout Landing CM. Assessment $15,000. Total Due $605.75

Acct#01028057 Assessed To Powell Alice Mae. Located At 709 Eighth St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 40' X 100' S Side Eighth St Pocomoke. Assessment $51,633. Total Due $2,424.49

Acct#10769629 Assessed To Prologo Luciano. Located At 205 Bridge Point Cm Ocean City, Md. Described As Boat Slip # 205 Rusty Anchor Rd Bridge Point CM. Assessment $20,000. Total Due $772.77

Acct#03022544 Assessed To Purnell Sharon Denise. Located At 10529 Harrison Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 59 X 260.5 X 70 X 231 W/S Harrison Road Se Of Berlin. Assessment $216,833. Total Due

$4,705.18

Acct#10769449 Assessed To PVI Developers LLC Located At F Island Cove CM Ocean City, Md Described As Boat Mooring F N Side 25th St Island Cove CM. Assessment $15,000. Total Due $612.08

Acct#10086906 Assessed To R & R Investments Of Virginia LLC. Located At 75th St Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 16 Blk 108 50 X 120' N Side 75th St Pl Oceanbay City. Assessment $300,000. Total Due

$9,644.81

Acct#10431077 Assessed To R & R Investments Of Virginia LLC. Located At 75th St Ocean City, Md. Described As Lots 17 18 Blk 108 N/S 75th St Pl Oceanbay City. Assessment $625,300. Total Due

$19,962.02

Acct#10086833 Assessed To R & R Investments Of Virginia LLC. Located At 110 75th St Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 15 Blk 108 Btw 75th & 76th Sts Pl Oceanbay City. Assessment $325,200. Total Due $10,444.05

Acct#10147387 Assessed To R & R Investments Of Virginia LLC. Located At 11700 Coastal Hwy 1101 Ocean City, Md. Described As U T1101 Beach Hwy Carousel Center CM. Assessment $421,100. Total Due $13,609.00

Acct#04002229 Assessed To Redmond Mailon. Located At Patey Woods Rd Newark, Md. Described As Lots In Blk A C F H & J S Side Patey Woods Rd Newark. Assessment $36,900. Total Due $935.16

Acct#01002996 Assessed To Richardson Nichole. Located At 2049 Mcmichael Ave Pocomoke, Md. Described As Part Lot 2 50' X 50' Brickyard Ave. Assessment $13,700. Total Due $774.18

Acct#03020762 Assessed To Rigopoulos Nicholas G & Chamberlain Susan L. Located At 10130 Germantown Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 15810 S F W Side Germantown Rd Bndy Ln Adj Btw Ld Lee E. Assessment $170,600. Total Due $3,752.66

Acct#01020293 Assessed To Rmb Holdings LLC. Located At 508 Bonneville Ave Pocomoke, Md. Described As 40' X 80' 508 Bonneville Avenue Pocomoke. Assessment $31,100. Total Due $2,388.65

Acct#10090687 Assessed To RNR Properties LLC. Located At 4 84th St 001B Ocean City, Md. Described As U 1B 84th St Surfside 84 CM. As-

sessment $277,400. Total Due $9,045.33

Acct#01030345 Assessed To Roberts Desmond Jr. Located At 610 Bank St Pocomoke, Md. Described As Lot 40 S Side Bank St Pocomoke. Assessment $40,933. Total Due $1,835.91

Acct#10238129 Assessed To Roemer Scott William. Located At 15 40th St 0014 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 14 40th St Olympic CM. Assessment $112,800. Total Due $3,755.27

Acct#03088839 Assessed To Romersa Arthur R & Romersa Lisa. Located At 41 Watertown Rd Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-11399 7500 Sq Ft Watertown Rd Pl Ocean Pines Sec 11. Assessment $213,767. Total Due $4,536.37

Acct#10245281 Assessed To Ronald Max Heckman Trust & Samuel Adam Heckman Trust. Located At 13200 Coastal Hwy 1001 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 1001 Z Coastal Hwy Excalibur CM. Assessment $298,400. Total Due $9,720.25

Acct#10261651 Assessed To Rose Aubrey E & Darlene B Rose. Located At 206 8th St 0026 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 26 8th St Surfside 8 CM. Assessment $69,100. Total Due $2,350.81

Acct#10248701 Assessed To Rose Aubrey E & Rose Darlene B. Located At 711 Edgewater Ave 711 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 711 Edgewater Ave Pier Seven CM. Assessment $147,300. Total Due $4,864.09

Acct#10170486 Assessed To Rose Bryan. Located At 14 W 139th St 0003 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 3 139th St El Gwendo West CM. Assessment $190,400. Total Due $6,249.25

Acct#03156613 Assessed To Roth James R & Bonita B Roth. Located At 12 Chatham Ct Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot 377 5231 Sq Ft Chatham Court Phase 4 Parke Ocean Pines Sec 16. Assessment $301,833. Total Due $6,407.33

Acct#10343429 Assessed To Russell Gregory M. Located At 8322 South Longboat Way Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 329 3000 Sq Ft South Longboat Drive Assateague Pt Resort P 3. Assessment $171,033. Total Due $3,732.88

Acct#03033643 Assessed To Sackadorf Larry T &. Located At 223 Graham Ave Berlin, Md. Described As App 176' X 150.2 Near E Side William St Berlin. Assessment $329,733. Total Due $6,873.55

Acct#05006929 Assessed To Sadowski Robert J Sr & Sadowski Michele M. Located At 11535 Back Creek Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As Lot 1 2.00 Acs N Side Back Creek Road Min Sub W D Cannon Etal. Assessment $258,133. Total Due $4,610.19

Acct#10194865 Assessed To Santangelo Thomas A & Santangelo Jacqueline R. Located At 185 Beachcomber Ln Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 1132 Sec 3 Beachcomber Lane Pl Montego Bay Mob Hm Pk. Assessment $138,300. Total Due $4,417.67

Acct#01002902 Assessed To Satchell Cory R. Located At 1409 Unionville Rd Pocomoke, Md. Described As 1.24 Acs N Side

Unionville Rd Bndy Sur Cory R Satchell. Assessment $53,900. Total Due $1,311.98

Acct#01015974 Assessed To Schoolfield Stephen E & Rudean N Fletcher. Located At 111 Oak St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 5848 Sq Ft N Side 111 Oak St Pocomoke. Assessment $57,500. Total Due $4,946.83

Acct#03011445 Assessed To Shea William. Located At 11311 Gum Point Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 100 X 300 N Side Gum Point Road East Of Berlin. Assessment $294,333. Total Due $4,750.54

Acct#10125138 Assessed To Sherman Glenn E & Bonnie Gale. Located At 10700 Coastal Hwy 1005 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 1005 Beach Hwy Quay CM. Assessment $246,500. Total Due $7,982.32

Acct#03105326 Assessed To Sipe Frederick. Located At 44 Footbridge Trl Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-10-189 11967 Sq Ft Footbridge Trail Pl Ocean Pines Sec 10. Assessment $288,433. Total Due $3,186.83

Acct#03092720 Assessed To Slattery Darrin R. Located At 34 Boston Dr Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot W-11-045 7675 Sq Ft Boston Dr Pl Ocean Pines Sec 11. Assessment $90,267. Total Due $2,096.92

Acct#08007438 Assessed To Smith James Harvey. Located At 6247 George Island Landing Rd Stockton, Md. Described As 2.12 Acs N Side George Island Landing Rd. Assessment $40,133. Total Due $1,081.25

Acct#03017672 Assessed To Smith Kathleen B & Nancy Wesby. Located At 9634 Mary Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 100 X 150 X East Side Mary Road NE Of Berlin. Assessment $80,667. Total Due $1,943.57

Acct#03091570 Assessed To Snyder Claude &. Located At 73 Boston Dr Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-11-161 10343 Sq Ft Gloucester Rd Pl Ocean Pines Sec 11. Assessment $265,167. Total Due $5,613.66

Acct#10022746 Assessed To Sobhani Jeffrey. Located At 6618 South Point Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 5.26 Acs SE Side Stephen Decatur Pl Genezar Frm Div 5. Assessment $435,000. Total Due $9,754.88

Acct#01017950 Assessed To Soghomonian John. Located At 406 Second St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 82' X 140' 406 Second St & Walnut St. Assessment $81,067. Total Due $3,947.74

Acct#10155193 Assessed To Soletto Anthony M Jr & Pamela. Located At 9 127th St 0203 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 203 127th St Starfish V CM. Assessment $228,700. Total Due $7,480.17

Acct#05021650 Assessed To Sovereign Edwin P III. Located At 12012 St Martins Neck Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As Lot 4-3.00

Acs S/S St Martins Neck Rd For Consv Pl G Marvin Steen. Assessment $140,933. Total Due $3,139.66

Acct#05006279 Assessed To Spencer Joyce Ann & Spencer Brenda. Located At 12639 Old Stage Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As 1.27 Ac W Side Old Stage Road East Of Bishop. Assessment $49,467. Total Due $1,318.21

Acct#10356636 Assessed To Stru-

ble Lester J. Located At 31 Mystic Harbour Blvd Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 246 Blk J 6753 Sq Ft Mystic Harb Blvd Mystic Harbour Sec 3B. Assessment $190,433. Total Due

$2,722.22

Acct#01002090 Assessed To Sturgis Joyce Antoinette. Located At 1536 Unionville Rd Pocomoke, Md. Described As 2 Acs S Side Unionville Road Sw Of Pocomoke. Assessment $58,500. Total Due $1,445.64

Acct#01021559 Assessed To Sturgis Wesley T. Located At 605 Laurel St Pocomoke, Md. Described As Lot 1 Laurel St Pl Fortney & Snyder, Assessment $66,967, Total Due

$2,700.20

Acct#10143667 Assessed To SW Condominium LLC. Located At 11500 Coastal Hwy 0607 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 607 Beach Hwy Sea Watch CM. Assessment $351,600. Total Due $11,244.51

Acct#01022970 Assessed To Taylor Kevin E. Located At 109 Fourth St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 60 X 160 E Side 109 Fourth St Pocomoke. Assessment $59,467. Total Due $2,598.25

Acct#10262062 Assessed To Tenanty Patricia A. Located At 107 Convention Center Dr 00250 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 25 P A Convention Center Drive Thunder Island CM. Assessment $288,000 Total Due $9,358.94

Acct#03030431 Assessed To Timmons James B. Located At 303 Bay St Berlin, Md. Described As 65 X 150 N Side 303 Bay Street Berlin. Assessment $185,033. Total Due

$6,961.48

Acct#05001250 Assessed To Tingle Norman B & Tingle George & Others. Located At 9506 Morris Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As 21.07 Acs South Side Morris Road S Of Selbyville. Assessment $130,300. Total Due $3,032.96

Acct#10003024 Assessed To Todd William Bryan Jr & Elizabeth. Located At 12528 Salisbury Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 7 & Pt Lot 8 Blk 20 Sec B N/S Salisbury Rd Pl Cape Isle Of Wight. Assessment $174,367. Total Due $3,492.56

Acct#03152561 Assessed To Tracey Mark. Located At 23 A Pines Point A Bsa23 Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Boat Slip #A23 Yacht Club Dr Pines Pt Marina A Condo. Assessment $21,500. Total Due $558.93

Acct#02022710 Assessed To Truitt Karen L. Located At Belt St Snow Hill, Md. Described As 2.125 Acs 210 Purnell & Belt Sts Snow Hill. Assessment $68,700. Total Due $2,995.31

Acct#05006465 Assessed To Tubbs Gregory Sprague. Located At 10635 Bishopville Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As .7 Ac W Side Main St Bishopville. Assessment $203,067. Total Due $4,127.65

Acct#01011782 Assessed To Tull

Kevin Lamont & Marcella Barnes Tull. Located At 3631 Brantley Rd Pocomoke, Md. Described As 198' X 330' N Side Brantley Road S Of Pocomoke. Assessment $55,033. Total Due $1,407.51

Acct#08004668 Assessed To Ulrich Sandra. Located At 5641 George Island Landing Rd Stockton, Md. Described As Lot Geo Island

Landing Rd Stockton. Assessment $61,067. Total Due $19,889.75

Acct#01016121 Assessed To Ulysse Jean Raymond. Located At 809 Second St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 30.1' X 120.5' X 31.83' X 117.75 E S 809 Second St Pocomoke. Assessment $82,567. Total Due $2,774.73

Acct#03172082 Assessed To Velong Gina L. Located At 174 Intrepid Ln 1403 Berlin, Md. Described As Unit 1403 Intrepid Lane Decatur Frm Twhse Ph T14. Assessment $189,667. Total Due $6,823.46

Acct#05031931 Assessed To Vignale Chad Joseph & Vignale Angela K. Located At Back Creek Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As Lot 2 2.36 Acs N Side Back Creek Rd Min Sub S & D Mumford. Assessment $70,700. Total Due $1,672.64

Acct#02023040 Assessed To Walterhoefer Taryn. Located At 208 Federal St Snow Hill, Md. Described As 80' X 120' X 77' X 208 E Federal & Purnell Sts Snow Hill. Assessment $148,367. Total Due $4,783.02

Acct#01044079 Assessed To Ward Only Properties LLC. Located At 738 Ninth St Pocomoke, Md. escribed As Lot 9-9671.46 Sq Ft Near B K Jones Ld On Rr Ninth Street Estates. Assessment $196,033. Total Due $9,148.84

Acct#10264766 Assessed To Watson Roger C & Brenda L. Located At 107 Convention Center Dr 00620 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 62 P B Convention Center Drive Thunder Island CM. Assessment $265,300. Total Due $8,629.95

Acct#10061792 Assessed To West Malinda & Taylor Brenda. Located At 2813 Plover Dr 001D0 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 1D S 1 Plover Drive Bal Harbour CM. Assessment $156,100. Total Due $4,881.28

Acct#05015049 Assessed To West Milton Lee Jr. Located At 11211 St Martins Neck Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As Lot 2 2 Acs N Sde St Martins Neck Rd Min Sub M West Sr Etal. Assessment $309,300. Total Due

$4,809.27

Acct#02026716 Assessed To Whaley Raye Gillette. Located At 100 Washington St Snow Hill, Md. Described As 57' X 89.5' S Washington St Snow Hill. Assessment $87,967. Total Due $3,469.21

Acct#10230322 Assessed To White Bernard H III & Loretta M. Located At 4000 Coastal Hwy 0317 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 317 Btw 40th & 41st Sts Ocean Point No 2 CM. Assessment $118,800. Total Due $3,948.11

Acct#01015605 Assessed To Whitney Licurtis. Located At 108 Oak St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 70' X 140' S Side 108 Oak Street Pocomoke. Assessment $20,200. Total Due $1,091.69

Acct#03014088 Assessed To Widgeon Christopher Bryan. Located At 8936 Cedar Lane Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 9.145 Acs S Side Cedar Lane Rd W Of Berlin. Assessment $296,767. Total Due $6,548.05

Acct#03056465 Assessed To Wienhold Jonathan Christian. Located At 78 Birdnest Dr Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-06-173 11672 Sq Ft Birdnest Dr Plat Ocean Pines Sec 6. Assessment $280,100. Total Due

$5,058.61

Acct#10405157 Assessed To Wilkinson Donald A. Located At 388 D Island At Hidden Harbo 388 Ocean City, Md. Described As Boat Slip #388 125th St Island At Hidden Harbour. Assessment $15,000. Total Due $612.08

Acct#03088146 Assessed To Willman David M. Located At 438 Ocean Pky 13 Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Unit Am Borderlinks Dr Pl Borderlinks I. Assessment $164,233. Total Due $3,183.34

Acct#10019451 Assessed To Wooden Maryellen. Located At 8209 Stephen Decatur Hwy Ocean City, Md. Described As 100' X 300' Nw Side Stephen Decatur Road. Assessment $126,900. Total Due $2,995.88

Acct#10178428 Assessed To Zimmerman Mark. Located At 618 S Surf Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 11 Blk 13 South Surf Road Pl Caine Woods Sec 3. Assessment $262,200. Total Due $5,699.61 TERMS OF SALE

All bidders must register. Registration for the sale begins at 10:00 a.m. April 19th and ends promptly at 4:00 p.m. May 3rd. Proper identification for individuals and proof of existence for legal entities shall be required by RealAuction for all registrants. In order to bid, an individual or entity must be registered. ACH will need to be tendered by 4:00 p.m. FRIDAY, MAY 17th on the final date of sale. It shall be in the amount of taxes due including expenses of sale (attorney, auctioneer, advertising and miscellaneous). A receipt will then be issued by RealAuction. A tax sale certificate will be provided by mail to the tax sale purchaser within thirty days of the date of the sale.

These properties are offered for sale “AS IS”, at the risk of the purchasers and neither the undersigned nor any other party makes any warranties or representations whatsoever either expressed or implied, of any kind or character, with respect to the properties or the title thereto. In the event a tax sale certificate is issued and then voided by the Treasurer, through no fault of the buyer, only a refund of amounts actually paid on day of sale shall be made and shall be the Treasurer’s sole liability and limit thereon. Properties are listed and sold based upon information provided by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation, which is in no way represented to be accurate or correct. The sale, the premises, and the properties are, to the extent provided by law, subject to any and all title defects, claims, liens, encumbrances, covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements, rightsof-way and matters of records. In the event of mistake, defective title, description or nonexistence of property, no refund shall be given.

Bidders should be well versed in the law regarding tax sales and should investigate the properties and titles thereto prior to purchase or bid. Competent legal advice should be sought by prospective bidders prior to the sale. No legal advice shall be given by the County Attorney, Treasurer, or staff.

Bidders representing legal entities are limited to one bidder per

property sold. Bidding shall be conducted in accordance with procedures determined by the Treasurer or his agent at the sale.

All costs in connection with the foreclosure of the right of redemption and all other title costs are at the expense of the purchaser or purchasers. All taxes and fees and other impositions including, without limitation, the following: transfer tax, agricultural transfer tax, recordation tax, and recording costs required will likewise be at the expense of the purchaser or purchasers. Terms of sale shall be complied with as determined by the Treasurer, who shall be the sole judge of such.

These requirements are directory as to the Treasurer and not mandatory. They may be altered by the Treasurer at his sole discretion in the interests of justice, fairness, and efficiency or other good and valid reason.

PROPERTIES LISTED HEREIN, ON WHICH TAXES ARE PAID PRIOR TO DATE OF SALE WILL NOT BE SOLD.

PHILLIP G. THOMPSON TREASURER AND FINANCE OFFICER FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND AND COLLECTOR OF STATE AND COUNTY TAXES FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND

OCD-4/18/4t

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20165 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF MARY BETH MILLER

AKA: MARY B. MILLER

Notice is given that Judith A. Velasco, 6981 Kestrel Ridge Rd., Brighton, MI 48116-5176, was on April 16, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mary Beth Miller who died on March 02, 2024, 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 16th day of October, 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.

Judith A. Velasco

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: April 25, 2024

OCD-4/25/3t

Rosenberg & Associates, LLC

4340 East West Highway, Suite 600 Bethesda, Maryland 20814

301-907-8000

Diane S. Rosenberg

Mark D. Meyer

Miroslav Nikolov

4340 East West Highway, Suite 600 Bethesda, MD 20814

Substitute Trustee

Plaintiff(s)

v.

Estate of Jessica C. Richardson

6060 Worcester Highway Snow Hill, MD 21863

Defendant(s)

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND

Case No. C-23-CV-23-000290

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given this 18th day of April, 2024, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, that the sale of 6060 Worcester Highway, Snow Hill, MD 21863, made and reported, will be ratified and confirmed, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 20th day of May, 2024, provided a copy of this notice be inserted in the Ocean City Digest a weekly newspaper printed in said County, once in each of three successive weeks before the 13th day of May, 2024. The Report of Sale states the amount of the foreclosure sale price to be $210,000.00.

Susan R. Braniecki

Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County, Maryland

True Copy

Test: Susan R. Braniecki

Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County MD OCD-4/25/3t

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20166 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF KENNETH WHITMORE BAUMANN II

Notice is given that Geoffrey Brian Baumann, 4914 Powder Mill Rd., Beltsville, MD 20705-1936, was on April 18, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Kenneth Whitmore Baumann II who died on February 10, 2024, 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 18th day of October, 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.

Geoffrey Brian Baumann 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: April 25, 2024

OCD-4/25/3t

NOTICE TO

CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 20167

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Superior Court of District of Columbia appointed Philip N. Margolius, 4301 Military Rd., NW Apt. 710, Washington, DC 20015-2139 as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Peggy Mallios who died on December 20, 2023 domiciled in District of Columbia, USA.

The Maryland resident agent for service of process is Alan M. Margolius whose address is 39 West Montgomery Ave., Rockville, MD 20815.

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 no-

tice, 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.

Philip N. Margolius

Foreign Personal Representative Terri Westcott Register of Wills One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of Newspaper:

Ocean City Digest

Date of first publication: April 25, 2024

OCD-4/25/3t

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC

BEVERAGE LICENSE

Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Upgrade in Type from a Class "B" Beer-Wine to a Class: "B" BEER-WINE-LIQUOR License: 7 Day, By: Kristine Grigoryan, 11635 Maid At Arms Lane, Berlin, Maryland 21811.

For: Ocean Lanes, LLC

For the premises known as and located at:

T/A: Ocean Lanes 115 72nd Street

Ocean City, Maryland 21842

There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room, Room 1102 in the Government Center, Snow Hill, Maryland, on: May 15, 2024 @ 1:00 P.M.

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

OCD-5/2/2t

NOTICE

OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Class: "B" BEERWINE-LIQUOR License: 7 Day, By: Adam Richard Davis, 23 South Main, Berlin, Maryland 21811.

For: Berlin Beverage Company, LLC

For the premises known as and located at:

T/A: Berlin Beer Company 115 Broad Street Berlin, Maryland 21811

There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room, Room 1102 in the Government Center, Snow Hill, Maryland, on: May 15, 2024 @ 1:40 P.M.

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

OCD-5/2/2t

NOTICE

OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Transfer of a Class: "B" BEER-WINE-LIQUOR License: 7 Day, By: Todd Edward Burbage, 11746 Assateague Road,

Berlin, Maryland 21811; Adam Christian Horne, 10312 Plantation Lane, Berlin, Maryland 21811.

For: Trace Ocean City 1, LLC

For the premises known as and located at:

T/A: The Jackspot 306 Dorchester Street

Ocean City, Maryland 21842

Formerly: DGC, LLC

There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room, Room 1102 in the Government Center, Snow Hill, Maryland, on: May 15, 2024 @ 1:25 P.M.

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

OCD-5/2/2t

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Transfer of a Class: "B" BEER-WINE-LIQUOR License: 7 Day, By: Scott Ray Priebe, 909 Yacht Club Drive, Berlin, Maryland 21811; Donald Albert Ward, 1135 Ocean Parkway, Unit 303, Berlin, Maryland 21811; Kanwaljit Kaur Brar, 11525 Bay Point Lane, Berlin, Maryland 21811.

For: Ocean Pines Independent Living Condominium Association, Inc.

For the premises known as and located at:

T/A: Ocean Pines Independent Living Condominiums 1135 Ocean Parkway Berlin, Maryland 21811

Formerly: Ocean Pines Management, LLC

There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room, Room 1102 in the Government Center, Snow Hill, Maryland, on: May 15, 2024 @ 1:50 P.M.

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

OCD-5/2/2t

RAYMOND D. COATES JR, ESQ COATES,COATES, & COATES, P.A. 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 300 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of GERALDINE S MYERS Estate No. 20175 Notice is given that PAUL DAVID MYERS whose address is 6 STONEMEADOW CT OCEAN PINES, MD 21811-1630 was on APRIL 24, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of GERALDINE S MYERS who died on DECEMBER 22, 2023 without 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 24th day of OCTOBER, 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-5/2/3t

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 20169

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia appointed Dwight Bashir-Elahi, 7901 Oak St., Dunn Loring, VA 22027-1014 as the Executor of the Estate of Abbas BashirElahi who died on December 02, 2023 domiciled in Virginia, America.

The Maryland resident agent for service of process is Nabil Bashirelahi whose address is 10321 St. Albans Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

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 other delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.

Dwight Bashir-Elahi

Foreign Personal Representative Terri Westcott Register of Wills

One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of Newspaper:

Ocean City Digest

Date of first publication: May 02, 2024

OCD-5/2/3t

RAYMOND D. COATES JR, ESQ

COATES,COATES, & COATES, P.A.

6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 300 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of PHILOMENA V MENEAR Estate No. 20179 Notice is given that PHYLLIS J CAVANAUGH whose address is 24 SANDY BRANCH DR SELBYVILLE, DE 19975-9494 was on APRIL 29, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of PHILOMENA V MENEAR who died on APRIL 01, 2024 without 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 OCTOBER, 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-5/2/3t

TOWN OF BERLIN, MARYLAND

NOTICE

OF A PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCE 2024-03 AMENDING CHAPTER 12, TITLED ELECTIONS, ARTICLE I AND III

AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN AMENDING CHAPTER 12, TITLED ELECTIONS, ARTICLE I AND III TO ESTABLISH AN ALTERNATE MEMBER TO THE BOARD OF SU-

PERVISORS OF ELECTIONS, TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE TO RESOLVE TIE VOTES IN TOWN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS; AND GENERALLY RELATING TO PROCEDURES REGARDING THE TABULATION AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF ELECTION RESULTS.

The Ordinance will be introduced for a first reading on Monday, April 22, 2024, at 7:00 PM. The public hearing on the Ordinance will be held on Monday, May 13, 2024, at 7:00 PM. Both meetings will be held during Regular Meetings of the Mayor and Council Berlin Town Hall, 10 William Street, 2nd Floor, Berlin, MD 21811.

The hearing is open to the public, and public testimony is encouraged. Persons with questions regarding this hearing may call 410-641-2770 for further information.

OCD-4/18/2t

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, May 16, 2024 AT 6:00 PM

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(2), Powers of the Code, an appeal of Section 110-94(2)(b) has been filed to request a special parking exception to (1) waive one (1) parking space from required parking; and, (2) to reduce the size of one (1) parking space to 9’ X 16.9’, rather than the 9’ X 20’ space required by Code. The site of the appeal is described as Lot 15 of the plat entitled “Village West, Part One.” It is further described as being located on the south side of Bayshore Drive and is locally known as 601 Bayshore Drive, Unit 15, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

APPLICANT: STEPHEN KANSAK (BZA 2689 #24-09400011) AT 6:10 PM

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(3), Powers of the Code, an appeal of Section 110-95(1)(a) has been filed to request (1) a variance of 5.2 feet from the 10-foot separation distance requirement for a 6’ X 12’ proposed addition to be 4.8’ from a neighboring unit; (2) a variance of 0.2 feet from the 5-foot side yard setback for a 6’ X 12’ proposed addition to be 4.8 feet from the side property site line; and (3) a variance of 4.8 feet from the 10-foot separation distance

requirement for a proposed screened deck to be 5.2’ from a neighboring unit. The site of the appeal is described as Lot 110 of Sundowner Mobile Home Park Plat It is further described as being located on the south side of Denny Lane and is locally known as 111 Denny Lane, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

APPLICANT: JOHN L. STANTON (BZA 2690 #24-09400012)

AT 6:20 PM

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(2), Powers of the Code, an appeal of Section 110-94(1) has been filed to request approval of marine construction for a pier, dock, and boatlift on a property which has no established principal use on the premises. The site of the appeal is described as Lot 91 A of the plat entitled “Lots 91 – 96, Section Three, Harbourside at Heron Harbour.” It is further described as being on the north side of South Heron Gull Court and is locally known as 316 South Heron Gull Court, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

APPLICANT: MCGINTY MARINE CONSTRUCTION (BZA 2691 #2409400013)

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-5/2/2t

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.

MARY A. FINCH (DECEASED) JOHN F. FINCH (DECEASED) 6 Meadow Street Berlin, MD 21811

Defendant(s). IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND

Case No. C-23-CV-23-000184

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given this 30th day of April, 2024, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, that the sale of the property mentioned in these proceedings and described as 6 Meadow Street, Berlin, MD 21811, made and reported by the Substitute Trustee, will be RATIFIED AND CONFIRMED, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 3rd day of June, 2024, 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 27th day of May, 2024.

The report states the purchase price at the Foreclosure sale to be $400,000.00.

Susan R. Braniecki

Clerk, Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland

True Copy Test: Susan R. Braniecki

Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County MD OCD-5/9/3t

VICTORIA L. O'NEILL ESQ. AYRES JENKINS GORDY & ALMAND P A 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY SUITE 200 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE

TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES

ESTATE NO. 20187

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the SUPERIOR COURT - PROBATE PART court of BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY appointed ADAM V PUFF whose address is 59 GILL RD HADDONFIELD, NJ 08033-3401 as the EXECUTOR of the Estate of KARIN D VENEZIALE who died on MARCH 01, 2024 domiciled in NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES

The Maryland resident agent for service of process is VICTORIA L. O'NEILL, ESQ. whose address is 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY SUITE 200 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842. At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following Maryland counties: WORCESTER

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-5/9/3t

SMALL ESTATE NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 20159 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF BRENDA FELTS ALDERMAN

Notice is given that Michelle Lynette Alderman, 809 Market St., Pocomoke City, MD 21851-1201, was on April 9, 2024 appointed personal representative of the small estate of Brenda Felts Alderman who died on February 10, 2024, 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 represen-

tative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within 30 days after the date of publication of this Notice. All persons having an objection to the probate of the will shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within six months after the date of publication of this Notice.

All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them 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) Thirty days 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 claim within thirty days from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Any claim not served or filed within that time, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter.

Michelle Lynette Alderman Personal Representative True Test Copy Register of Wills for Worcester County Terri Westcott

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: May 9, 2024

OCD-5/9/1t

SOUTRY D. SMITH ESQ. HASSANI, FOCAS & FIFER P.A. 22 W. PENNSYLVANIA AVE., STE. 606 TOWSON, MD 21204-5005

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20010 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF DAVID PERLMAN GOULD Notice is given that Amanda Brook Afable, 198 Wayne St., Apt. 3 Jersey City, NJ 07302-3332, was on January 19, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of David Perlman Gould who died on October 25, 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 19th day of July, 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.

Amanda Brook Afable 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: May 9, 2024

OCD-5/9/3t

LAW OFFICE OF MARIANNA BATIE

RENNA J. PATEL ESQ. 1321 MT. HERMON ROAD, STE. B SALISBURY, MD 21804

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 20038

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Surrogate Court of Passaic County, New Jersey appointed Maureen McKenna Harris, A1 Suburbian Vlg., Wanaque, NJ 07465-1607 as the Executrix of the Estate of Joan McKenna AKA: Joan G. McKenna who died on December 05, 2022 domiciled in New Jersey, America.

The Maryland resident agent for service of process is Renna Patel whose address is 1321 Mt. Hermon Road, Suite B, Salisbury, MD 21804. 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 other delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.

Maureen McKenna Harris

Foreign Personal Representative Terri Westcott Register of Wills One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Name of Newspaper:

Ocean City Digest

Date of first publication: May 09, 2024

OCD-5/9/3t

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of CAROL ANN WOOLLAND Estate No. 20182 Notice is given that DAWN CATALDO whose address is 240 OCEAN PKWY., BERLIN, MD 21811-1901 was on APRIL 29, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of CAROL ANN WOOLLAND who died on MARCH 13, 2024 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 OCTOBER, 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-5/9/3t

SMALL ESTATE

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 20123 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF JOANNE RUTH MILES

Notice is given that Donnie Matthews, 6067 Peterson St., Chincoteague, VA 23336-2826, was on March 20, 2024 appointed personal representative of the small estate of Joanne Ruth Miles who died on February 18, 2024, 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 shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within 30 days after the date of pub-

lication of this Notice. All persons having an objection to the probate of the will shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within six months after the date of publication of this Notice.

All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them 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) Thirty days 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 claim within thirty days from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Any claim not served or filed within that time, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter.

Donnie Matthews Personal Representative True Test Copy Register of Wills for Worcester County Terri Westcott

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: May 9, 2024

OCD-5/9/1t

SMALL ESTATE

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 20184

TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF JAMES BREEZE SKINNER

Notice is given that Barbara Andersen, 11004 Trappe Creek Dr., Berlin, MD 21811-3556, was on April 30, 2024 appointed personal representative of the small estate of James Breeze Skinner who died on April 10, 2024, 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 shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within 30 days after the date of publication of this Notice. All persons having an objection to the probate of the will shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within six months after the date of publication of this Notice.

All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them 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) Thirty days 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 claim within thirty days from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Any claim not served or filed within that time, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter.

Barbara Andersen Personal Representative True Test Copy Register of Wills for Worcester County Terri Westcott 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: May 9, 2024

OCD-5/9/1t

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20186 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF JAMES MANNING SMITH

Notice is given that Donna Louise Smith, 89 Watertown Rd., Berlin, MD 21811-1716, was on May 02, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of James Manning Smith who died on April 15, 2024, 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 2nd day of November, 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.

Donna Louise Smith 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: May 9, 2024

Mayor & City Council Ocean City, Maryland

PROPOSAL SOLICITATION

OC Convention Center Ballroom Window Curtains

Mayor & City Council Ocean City is seeking Proposals from qualified and experienced vendors to provide drapery for the OC Convention Center Ballroom Window Curtains and for said work to be in conformity with the Proposal Documents. Bid Documents for the OC Convention Center Ballroom Window Curtains may be obtained from the Town’s Procurement Department by either e-mailing the Procurement Manager, Scott Wagner, at swagner@oceancitymd.gov or Procurement Associate, Dawn Webb at dwebb@oceancitymd.gov by calling 410-723-6643 during normal business hours, or via the Solicitations tab on the Town’s (https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/procurement-bids/) website. Vendors are responsible for checking this website for addenda prior to submitting their bids. The Town is not responsible for the content of any Proposal Document received through any third-party service. It is the sole responsibility of the vendor to ensure the completeness and accuracy of their Completed Proposal Documents.

A Pre-Proposal meeting will be held on Monday, May 20, 2024 at 10 am, located at Ocean City Convention Center Room 214, 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD, for any questions concerning the Proposals Documents. Note: A site walkthrough will be for 1 hour, beginning promptly at 10:30am – 11:30am. The meeting will return to room 214 for further questions. The last day for questions will be on Monday, May 24, 2024 at 3pm. The Addendum will be posted by close of business on Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Sealed Proposal Documents are due no later than Thursday, June 6, 2024 by 3:00 p.m. and will be opened and read aloud at the Procurement Department located at 214A 65th Street on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Proposal are to be submitted to the Procurement Department, 214A 65th Street, Ocean City, MD 21842 and must note the name of the solicitation (OC Convention Center Ballroom Window Curtains) on the outside of the package Late Bid Document will not be accepted.

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

Dawn Webb Procurement Associate Town of Ocean City, Maryland

TOWN OF BERLIN, MARYLAND NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCE 2024-04 FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET

AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN, MARYLAND, A MARYLAND MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET AS SUBMITTED.

The Ordinance will be introduced for a First Reading on Monday, May 13, 2024, at 7:00 PM. The Public Hearing on the Ordinance will be held on (*)Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 7:00 PM. Both meetings will be held during the Regular Meetings of the Mayor and Council at Berlin Town Hall, 10 William Street, 2nd Floor, Berlin, MD 21811.

(*) rescheduled due to Memorial Day holiday.

The hearing is open to the public, and public testimony is encouraged. Persons with questions regarding this hearing may call 410-641-2770 for further information.

OCD-5/9/2t

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

To all persons interested in the estate of TERESA LEE PERDUE Estate No. 20174 Notice is given that JOHN DAVID PERDUE whose address is 30103 SOUTHHAMPTON BRIDGE RD., SALISBURY, MD 21904-2476 was on APRIL 29, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of TERESA LEE PERDUE who died on APRIL 09, 2024

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 OCTOBER, 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-5/9/3t

SMALL ESTATE NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 20189 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF CRISANGELA DEE NEIDLINGER

Notice is given that Charles W. Neidlinger, 105 Cotton Tail Ct., S,

Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971-9768, was on May 03, 2024 appointed personal representative of the small estate of Crisangela Dee Neidlinger who died on January 17, 2024, without 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 shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within 30 days after the date of publication of this Notice. All persons having an objection to the probate of the will shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within six months after the date of publication of this Notice.

All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them 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) Thirty days 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 claim within thirty days from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Any claim not served or filed within that time, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter.

Charles W. Neidlinger Personal Representative True Test Copy Register of Wills for Worcester County Terri Westcott 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:

IN THE ORPHANS’ COURT FOR (OR) BEFORE THE REGISTER OF WILLS FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND

IN THE ESTATE OF: DONNA M. MOYER

ESTATE NO. 20191

NOTICE OF JUDICIAL PROBATE

To all Persons Interested in the above estate:

You are hereby notified that a petition has been filed by Victoria L. O’Neill, Esq., 6200 Coastal Hwy., Ste. 200, Ocean City, MD 21842 for judicial probate for the appointment of a personal representative. A hearing will be held at One W. Market Street, Court Room 4, Court House, Snow Hill, MD 21863 on June 04, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

This hearing may be transferred or postponed to a subsequent time. Further information may be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills. Terri Westcott Register of Wills

One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

Phone: (410) 632-1529

Newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest

Publication Date: May 9, 2024

OCD-5/9/2t

PROPOSAL SOLICITATION

BERLIN HOMEOWNER

CONVENIENCE CENTER

BULKHEAD REPAIR DESIGN & TECHNICAL SERVICES

Worcester County is seeking proposals from qualified Vendors for design, permitting, and technical support services for the Berlin Homeowner Convenience Center Bulkhead Repairs in conformity with the requirements contained herein Proposal Documents.

Proposal 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 Proposal 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 Proposal Documents.

A pre-proposal meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at 10:30am on-site at 9636 Mill Haven Road, Berlin, MD 21811. The last day for questions will be noon on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Sealed Proposal Documents are due no later

than 2:30pm on Friday, May 31, 2024, and will be opened and only vendor names will be read aloud in the Office of the County Commissioners, Worcester County Government Center – Room 1103, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863.

Late Proposal Documents will not be accepted.

Envelopes shall be marked "Proposal Solicitation – Berlin Homeowner Convenience Center Bulkhead Repair Design & Technical Services”, in the lower left- hand corner.

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

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

OCD-5/9/1t

TOWN OF OCEAN CITY ORDINANCE

2024-07

RE: Off-street Parking

Notice is hereby given by the Mayor and City Council of Ocean City, that Ordinance 2024-07 was introduced for first reading at their meeting of May 6, 2024. Second reading is scheduled May 20, 2024. A complete text of the ordinance is available for review in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall 3rd Street and Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, MD 21842, or online at oceancitymd.gov in the May 6, 2024, agenda packet. This ordinance adopts recommended garage design standards based on comprehensive research and scenarios of collected data for single-car and two-car garages and associated aisle width.

OCD-5/9/1t

TOWN OF OCEAN CITY ORDINANCE

2024-08

RE: Real Property Purchase for Flight Safety Zone

Notice is hereby given by the Mayor and City Council of Ocean City, that Ordinance 2024-08 was introduced for first reading at their meeting of May 6, 2024. Second reading is scheduled May 20, 2024. A complete text of the ordinance is available for review in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall 3rd Street and Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, MD 21842, or online at oceancitymd.gov in the May 6, 2024, agenda packet. This ordinance authorizes the purchase of real estate at 12311

Sinepuxent Road for the municipal airport Flight Safety Zone in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Maryland Aviation Administration.

OCD-5/9/1t

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, May 23, 2024 AT 6:00 PM

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(2), Powers of the Code, an appeal of Sections 110-94(3)(a) and 110-94(2)(b) has been filed to request (1) a special yard exception from the front yard to build upon an existing dwelling that has a legally nonconforming front yard setback of 8 feet, rather than 10 feet required by Code; and (2) a special parking exception to waive 0.5 (1) parking space from the required three (3) parking spaces. The site of the appeal is described as Lot 7 of the plat entitled “Beach Village”. It is further described as being located on the east side of Wight Street and is locally known as 14022 Wight Street, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

APPLICANT: ROBERT WRIGHT AND TERESA RODRIGUEZWRIGHT (BZA 2684 #2409400007)

AT 6:10 PM

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(2), Powers of the Code, an appeal of Sections 110-94(2)(b) has been filed to request a special parking exception from design standards to allow for 8 out of 42 required garaged parking spaces to have dimensions of 10’ X 18’. The site of the appeal is described as Lots 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, Block 108, of the plat entitled “Oceanbay City.” It is further described as being located on the north side of the 75th Street and is locally known as 110 75th Street, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

APPLICANT: JOSEPH E. MOORE, FOR BAYSIDE 75 (BZA 2688 #2409400010)

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-5/9/2t

Annual Spring Cruisin’ kicks off Thursday in Ocean City

(May 10, 2024) The 33rd Annual Cruisin Ocean City returns to Ocean City next Thursday, May 16 running through Sunday, May 19.

The nationally recognized event attracts more than 3,000 customs, hot rods, street machines, classics and more. While the main events take place at the Inlet parking lot and the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, there will be various citywide locations.

Scheduled to appear at this year’s Cruisin to help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Happy Days will be Anson Williams and Donny Most, who will be at the event next Thursday, Friday and Saturday meeting and greeting fans.

Also joining the fun will be legendary designer and builder Chuck Miller, who will be at the event next Friday and Saturday. Miller will be displaying his builds, The Bugs Buggy and The Red Barron, inside the convention center on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Additional entertainment includes Deejay Seaside Jimmy, Cruisin Gold Deejay, the 9th Annual Pin Up Contest, a Neon & LED light car show, a pedal car show, the 2nd Annual Husband Calling Contest, bingo, live music and much more.

Taking the stage during Cruisin will be comedian and former Tonight Show host Jay Leno. Leno will perform Thursday, May 16 at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through eTix, at the OC Box Office or over the phone 410-289-2800. For additional information visit www.OceanCityConcerts.com. Limited tickets remain for the show.

Some of the country’s top national names will be showcasing their products in manufacturers midway at the Inlet parking lot including Advance See LENO Page 66

Departing:

Auto Parts, Advanced Motorsports, Advantage Lifts, AMSOIL, BarrettJackson, CarCapsule, Chevy Performance, Classic Auto Mall, Edelbrock, Erin’s Way, Hagerty Insurance, Morton’s Towing, National Parts Depot, OPTIMA, Pioneer Pole Buildings, Rommel Harley-Davidson, Stratus Auto Equipment, Summit Racing, Sundance Vacations, T-Mobile and Walsh & Associates Insurance.

At the convention center there will be CarCapsule, Gateway Classic Cars and Passanante’s Home Food Service along with a Car Corral, Swap Meet and vendors both inside and outside selling automotive merchandise, arts & crafts, jewelry, T-shirts and many other specialty items.

Inside the convention center on Thursday and Friday be sure to check out the Artwork Contender Showcase where select cars compete to be on future artwork. Spectators can vote for their favorite ride.

Additional Cruisin Ocean City highlights are the special Boardwalk parades on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings. Cruisin cars will depart from 27th Street and head south along the Boardwalk, into the Inlet parking lot beginning at 8 a.m.

On Sunday, the Grand Finale Awards will take place at the Inlet. Before Cruisin comes to an end there will be more than 500 trophies, plaques and awards presented plus over 3,000 giveaways.

Spectator tickets are $15 a day for Thursday, Friday and Saturday and $10 a day for Sunday, good at the Inlet and convention center. Children under 14 are free with an adult. Show hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m.3 p.m. Sunday with the Grand Finale Awards starting at 2 p.m. For additional information visit www.cruisinoceancity.com or call 410-798-6304.

Event organizers released a statement ahead of the event this week reminding participants and those who come to the resort for the activities to be mindful of current laws and expectations.

“Cruisin Ocean City has always held safety as our number one priority,” the statement read. “The event does not tolerate unlawful activities or the disrespect of Ocean City. During Cruisin, the Town of Ocean City will be classified as a Special Event Zone where there will be increased fines for speeding, negligent/reckless driving, spinning wheels and alcohol related offenses. We encourage everyone that comes to Ocean City for Cruisin, both participants and spectators, to respect the town and abide by the rules. Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated. We look forward to a wonderful and safe Cruisin Ocean City for 2024 and years to come.”

DAR awards essay contest winners and good citizens

(May 10, 2024) The General Levin Winder Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution invited essay contest winners and DAR Good Citizens to an awards luncheon at Worcester Technical High School on April 15.

The American History essay contest was open to students in grades fifth through eighth and asked students to imagine it is 1897 and they are a newspaper reporter tasked with writing an article about John Phillip Sousa’s new march, “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

The winners were:

• Grade 6 – first place Lea Jaoude; second Trey Deale

• Grade 7 – first place Emerson Bofinger; tied for second, Liam McAllister and Ava Holland

• Grade 8 – first place Hayden Wagner, second Kate Wanner.

All students attend Worcester Preparatory School except for Deale and Wanner, who attend Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School.

All first-place essays were forwarded for competition at the state level. It was announced that Jaoude has won the state and eastern division competitions for sixth grade. Her essay has now advanced to the national level. She will accept the state award during the Student Awards Luncheon at the Maryland DAR State Conference on May 18.

The Patriots of the American Revolution DAR High School essay contest asked students to select a figure from the era of the American Revolution (1773 –83) and discuss how he or she influenced the course of the American Revolution, who he or she was, and his/her contribution to the founding of a new nation.

Haley Whitehead, who attends Stephen Decatur High School, was selected as the first-place winner and Gabriella Damouni, who attends Worcester Prep, came in second.

The DAR Good Citizens program was initiated by the National Society in 1934 to recognize male and female highschool seniors who exemplify the qualities of a good citizen: dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism.

The following seniors were recognized as DAR Good Citizens: McKinley Ritchey, Pocomoke High School; Hayden Dinger-Tedder, Snow Hill High School; Deliyah Holland, Stephen Decatur High School; and Dylan McGovern, Worcester Preparatory School.

Regent Talley Hann presented each essay contest winner and DAR Good Citizen with certificates and monetary awards. Sen. Mary Beth Carozza also presented the winners certificates from her office in honor of their achievements.

The DAR is a women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education. For more information, visit dar.org.

~ MOTHER’S DAY OPEN AT 1PM ~

Wednesday-Saturday Open At 4pm

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

Winners of the General Levin Winder Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution American History essay contest are pictured with their awards. Front, from left, are students Lea Jaoude, Trey Deale, Emerson Bofinger, Liam McAllister, Hayden Wagner, Kate Wanner. Back, from left, are American History co-chairs Marty Pusey and Betty-Jane Cain, students Haley Whitehead, Gabriella Damouni, Regent Talley Hann, and Sen. Mary Beth Carozza. Winner Ava Holland is not pictured.

Berlin’s Treasure Chest planning transition

By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) Shoppers will notice a new face behind the counter at one of Berlin’s iconic downtown businesses.

The Treasure Chest, a staple on Main Street since 1977, welcomed Ashley Harrison this month. Harrison will be working with owner Terri Sexton to learn the ins and outs of the jewelry store to take it over as Sexton retires. While the store will eventually change hands, the pair stressed that there wasn’t a specific date yet and that they’d be taking their time to ensure the transition went smoothly.

“It’s going to be business as usual,” Sexton said.

In 1977, Bill Freeman, Sexton’s father, purchased The Treasure Chest from Tom and Doris Taylor. While the shop was initially giftware, Freeman gradually transitioned it toward jewelry. Sexton, who took it over in 2000, made fine jewelry the store’s primary focus. The store has found success offering something for everyone, with a selection of quality diamond jewelry as well as unique pieces

in sterling silver.

Harrison, a Berlin native and Stephen Decatur High School graduate, worked for a jeweler for several years while she lived in New York. After returning to the Eastern Shore, she approached Sexton around 2018 to express an interest in taking over the store. While it was something Sexton wanted to consider, the onset

of the pandemic in 2020 derailed any discussions. Harrison eventually reached out to Sexton again.

“She contacted me again and I said when can you start,” Sexton said.

On April 1, Harrison joined her behind the counter at The Treasure Chest. She’s learning how Sexton handles the business and is expanding her knowledge of jewelry. Harri-

son plans to learn about diamond grading and become a gemologist.

She will have time, as Sexton plans to work a few more years.

“If we wait until 2027, it’ll be the 50th year in my family and then I can pass the torch to the new family,” Sexton said.

She added that during her time in Berlin she’d watched the town transform into the busy attraction it is now.

“I’ve been through so many changes in town,” she said. “Right now I feel like we’re at a high.”

For her part, Harrison is looking forward to getting to know The Treasure Chest’s customers and spending her days as a jeweler.

“I love jewelry, I love the town, I also love the customers, and that The Treasure Chest has been an institution for so long,” Harrison said. “I get to just be around jewelry all the time and make people happy with it.”

Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director, said she was thrilled to see The Treasure Chest remain a part of the Main Street business scene.

“We’re very happy that Ashley will preserve The Treasure Chest’s legacy here in Berlin that Terri’s family started all those years ago,” Wells said.

CHARLENE SHARPE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

Ashley Harrison and Terri Sexton will be working together operating The Treasure Chest in Berlin with Sexton planning to retire in a few years.

by Steve Green

AThe Adventures of Fatherhood

conversation I had with a stranger two weeks ago outside Dunkin’ in Berlin made my month.

The man stopped me and Carson walking into the place as part of our morning routine. Last year, during a particularly challenging time with our 14-year-old Autistic son, I decided to mix up our morning routine. He was having a difficult time in the mornings at school, and I was strategizing how to ensure he starts off on a better footing each morning. It started with getting a drink each morning that he took into school with him. Over months, it morphed into a full breakfast in the car on the way to school. Nonetheless, every morning starts with a stop in Dunkin’, and we park in the same spot each morning and go through the same routine every day. Structure works for kids on the spectrum, and Carson thrives when he understands and is prepared for what’s ahead.

On this particular morning, a man seemed to be watching intently as we walked into the store. Carson is a hand holder, and I assume at 170 pounds it’s a bit strange to see a teen holding his father’s hand. Whatever makes him happy works for me. I could feel the man’s eyes on us the entire time we were in the store. I believe Carson must have sensed it as well because he turned and blew the paper off his straw directly at him. Laughing, the man approached and asked for a minute. The stranger paid me some of the best compliments any father could ever hope to hear when telling me how he has watched me every morning for months with my son. His words were incredibly flattering and moving. His kindness and keen observations about the details and interactions between father and son were quite intuitive.

It turns out the man has a 1-year-old grandson who appears to be on the spectrum. His daughter has been really struggling with the daily grind. He is wor-

ried about her mental health and his grandson’s future. With Carson pulling on me to get back to the car, it was tough to interact too much. I offered a few words of advice centered largely on taking everything day to day, finding what works and sticking with it and resting assured it does get better over time.

The man had a huge heart and he remarked how he felt sorry for his daughter. He lamented her current struggles but was really worried about how life would be for her in the future. The guy’s pain was palpable and sincere. I left that conversation full of regret over what I should have said. I was surprised and not prepared. It was 7 a.m. after all. As I was driving Carson to school, I thought back to a writing that has brought me a lot of peace over the years.

The words of Emily Perl Kingsley and her essay “Welcome To Holland” often reverberate in my head during times of struggle. It’s about special needs kids and a feeling of loss, but many aspects of this message can apply to all the various obstacles parents face in their individual parenting journeys.

Each household has stuff weighing on the minds of the adults and kids. These concerns vary widely depending on the life experiences and perspectives.

The author’s words hit home for me especially because of our son’s individual challenges and struggles. I think for many parents the reality of what parenting is on a daily basis is quite different than envisioned before having children. It’s not bad. I can only speak for myself in this space. It’s just contrary to what I imagined with far more complexities and emotional rollercoasters. Kinglsey hit the right marks with her essay.

Maybe that kind man will read this rambling and share with his family, as it’s so appropriate.

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability – to try to help people who have not

shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It’s like this……

When you’re going to have a baby, it’s like planning a fabulous vacation trip – to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It’s all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, “Welcome to Holland.”

“Holland?!?” you say. “What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I’m supposed to be in Italy. All my life I’ve dreamed of going to Italy.”

But there’s been a change in the flight plan. They’ve landed in Holland and there you must stay. The important thing is that they haven’t taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of that.

Holland has windmills….and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy… and they’re all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say “Yes, that’s where I was supposed to go. That’s what I had planned.”

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away… because the loss of that dream is a very, very significant loss.

But… if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn’t get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things … about Holland.

(The writer is the executive editor of OC Today-Dispatch. He and his wife, Pamela, are proud parents of two boys. This weekly column examines their transition into parenthood and all that goes along with it. E-mail any thoughts to editor@mdcoastdispatch.com.)

Nonprofit’s Shine on Shore Luau tix now for sale online

(May 10, 2024) Tickets are now on sale for the Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services annual fundraiser to benefit the children and families of Worcester County.

The event, the Shine on the Shore Luau, has the same theme as last year and is set from 5-8 p.m., June 13, at Sunset Grille in West Ocean City, with a rain date of June 20.

Admission tickets are $35 and include a light fare buffet, a drink voucher for a Hawaiian-inspired drink created by Teasers bar, live entertainment, games, and more. Tickets are available online, by phone, or in person at 124 N. Main St., Suite C., in Berlin.

All proceeds from the event go directly to the support of youth and family programs with a direct impact to the lives of Worcester County’s most vulnerable residents. Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services programs engage youth in health, structured social activities and provide both youth and adults with the skills they need to grow and thrive in a healthy, therapeutic way.

Donations support the youth enrichment programs, including Berlin Youth Club and free summer camp, and Worcester Connects mentor/mentee programs. A portion of donations also help provide therapeutic services and mental health therapy to families who are unable to make payments due to financial hardships.

Individuals who want to support the fundraiser as a late-term sponsor or donor are encouraged to contact the office directly at 410-641-4598. To learn more, or buy tickets, visit the event website at bit.ly/shineluau24. The site offers tickets, answers frequently asked questions, offers directions, and more.

Prosciutto breakfast bites fast, easy and full of flavor

By Deborah Lee Walker

Contributing Writer

(May 10., 2024) My style of cooking has changed due to the limitation of time. Simple meals packed with flavor have become my motto of choice.

Prosciutto cups filled with eggs, cheese, and veggies are easy and so good.

The beauty of this recipe is there is no set recipe. Personal preference is the guiding factor to this creative, fun dish.

But before we go over the recipe, a brief discussion on prosciutto helps facilitate the essence of knowledge. What exactly is prosciutto?

The word prosciutto, which translates to “ham” in Italian, is made only from the hind legs of pigs and is aged during a dry-curing process. There are typically two types of prosciuttos: prosciutto cotto, which is cooked, and prosciutto crudo, which is uncooked, but cured. Due to the limitation of space, we will focus on prosciutto crudo, more specifically Prosciutto di Parma.

If we are going to talk about prosciutto, we might as well talk about the best. The following information is taken from parmacrown.com if one would like to take a more detailed look at the curing process.

Prosciutto di Parma is made only in Parma, Italy. The rolling hills around Parma create an ideal environment that includes the Apennine Mountains, which offer crisp breezes that flow from the Tyrrhenian Sea and distinct microclimate that gives Prosciutto di Parma its delicate, savory-sweet taste and buttery texture that is far superior to other prosciuttos.

That being said, fascination comes to the forefront as the process of curing is explained in a simple but informative fashion.

Once the legs reach the prosciutto processing plant, each ham is tagged with a button, indicating the date it began curing.

Next, salting is completed by hand in the traditional manner by the salt master, who uses only the minimal amount of sea salt necessary. This makes the Prosciutto di Parma taste less salty than other cured hams.

The legs are then refrigerated at a temperature ranging from 34 to 39 degrees, with a humidity level of about 80% for a week and then gets a second coating of salt, which is left on for 15 to 18 days.

Next, the hams hang for a period of 60 to 90 days in a refrigerated, humidity-controlled rooms, to ensure the sea salt properly absorbs into the meat.

The hams are washed with warm water and brushed to remove the excess

salt and impurities, then they are hung in drying rooms for a few days.

The hams are hung in well-ventilated rooms with large windows that are opened when the outside temperature and humidity are favorable, this allows for a constant and gradual drying.

The exposed surfaces of the hams are then softened with a mixture of lard, salt, and pepper to prevent the external layers from drying too quickly.

In the seventh month, the ham is transferred to the “cellars,” rooms with less air and light, and hang on racks until the curing is completed. By law, Prosciutto di Parma is cured at least 400 days, and some may be cured as long as three years.

After that time has passed, an independent inspector pieces the ham in several locations with a horse bone needle, sniffing it after each puncture to check for scents that may indicate any flaws or spoilage.

Once the ham passes the test, the inspector brands the five-point Ducal Crown on the leg, which acts as the final guarantee of the quality of the ham. The Ducal Crown also shows the identification code of the producer. I don’t know about you but my mouth is watering for a bite of Prosciutto di Parma.

Getting back to the subject of breakfast bites, as I mentioned earlier there really is no set recipe.

The concept is as follows: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray the muffin cups with cooking spray. Place several slices of prosciutto in the muffin cups, make sure the entire muffin cup is covered with prosciutto.

Place a well-rounded tablespoon of your favorite grated cheese mixture. It is best to use a combination of cheeses. Then place a well-rounded tablespoon mixture of your favorite sauteed veggies that have been strained of juices and oils. It is important to finely chop the vegetables.

Crack an egg on top of the veggie mixture and add a little more cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, carefully remove breakfast bites, and serve immediately. Enjoy!

* Since this recipe includes an array of ingredients, one does not have to purchase Prosciutto di Parma. This type of prosciutto is quite expensive and any prosciutto can be used in its place.

Secret Ingredient – Love

“The heart that truly loves never forgets.”

Things I Like...

By Steve Green

People dancing in the streets of Berlin

Grilling with a spatula in one hand, a beer in another

People who make me laugh

A big fish tank in a restaurant

Thick, soft towels

Ignoring the fads of the day

Smell of freshly cut grass

A quiet day with no problems

The odd things on the beach after a storm

Homemade soup

When friends visit

vanishing vanishing OCEAN CITY

From 1896 to 1933 the pound fishing industry was an important part of Ocean City's economy. The fishing season ran from the end of March to early November.

The pounds were large traps made of nets located half a mile offshore. They featured a funnel-shaped opening through which fish could enter but had difficulty escaping from. Nets were pulled aboard the boats by hand and dumped in the boat under the feet of the fisherman. It was hard and dangerous work.

Boats were launched from the beach through the surf and retrieved with the help of a draft horse and block and tackle. The fish would be sorted on the beach and sent by train to Philadephia, Wilmington, and New York City.

On August 23,1933 a hurricane created the Ocean City Inlet and separated Assateague Island from Ocean City forever. It destroyed the railroad bridge and most of the fish camps and put an end to the era of the local pound fishing industry.

Photo by kathy Schneider

With Bunk Mann

Who’s Where When

BUXY’S SALTY DOG & DRY DOCK 28

410-289-BUXY

28th Street Coastal Hwy.

Friday, May 10:

Aaron Howell Duo

CAPTAIN’S TABLE

410-289-7192

15th & Boardwalk

In The Courtyard Marriott

Fridays & Saturdays:

Phil Perdue on Piano

COCONUTS BEACH BAR

410-289-6846

Oceanfront At Castle

In The Sand Hotel

37th & 38th Streets

Friday, May 10:

Darin Engh & Lime Green Band

Saturday, May 11:

Kevin Poole & Joe Mama & Stratus Fear

Sunday, May 12:

Aaron Howell Duo &

Rick & Regina

Monday, May 13:

Remy & Lyons

Tuesday, May 14:

Cup Of Joe & Second Tipsy Tuesday of the Season!

Wednesday, May 15:

Doug Kaetz Solo

Thursday, May 16:

Kevin Poole & Joe Mama

COINS PUB

410-289-3100

28th Street Plaza

On Coastal Hwy.

Friday, May 10:

Opposite Directions

Saturday, May 11:

DJ Giddy Up & The Rockoholics

CRABCAKE FACTORY BAYSIDE

302-988-5000

37314 Lighthouse Rd., Rte. 54, Selbyville, DE

Friday, May 10:

Monkee Paw

Sunday, May 12: Fil Ryhthm

Wednesday, May 15:

Hurricane Kevin

CRAWL STREET TAVERN

443-373-2756

Wicomico St., Downtown O.C.

Friday, May 10:

Dust N Bones

Saturday, May 11:

Bill Dickson & MTT

FAGER’S ISLAND

410-524-5500

60th St., In The Bay

Friday, May 10:

Foreplay & Bad W/ Names & RobCee

Saturday, May 11:

Southland, No Go Romeo & DJ TBA

Monday, May 13:

Melody Trucks & Fitzkee Brothers & DJ RobCee

Tuesday, May 14:

Latin Night w/ DJ Patana

Best Beats On The Beach

MELODY TRUCKS & FITZKEE BROTHERS Fager s Island: Monday, May 13

DOC MARTEN & THE FLANNELS

Purple Moose Saloon: Friday & Saturday, May 10 & 11

RHYTHM Crabcake Factory Bayside: Sunday, May 12

DJ BILLY T Harborside: Friday, May 10

MICHAEL SKY Vista Rooftop: Thursday, May 16

DJ CRUZ Seacrets: Saturday, May 11

PHIL PERDUE Captain s Table: Fridays & Saturdays

DJ WAX Seacrets: Monday & Tuesday, May 14-15

DJ WOOD Pickls Pub: Mondays & Tuesdays

BEATS BY STYLER Pickles Pub: Sundays &

ROCKOHOLICS

Coins Pub: Saturday, May 10

OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS

Coins: Friday, May 10

Harborside: Sunday, May 12

KEVIN POOLE & JOE MAMA

Coconuts Beach Bar: Saturday, May 11 Thursday, May 16

THE FREDDIE LONG BAND

Seacrets: Saturday, May 11

Sunday, May 12

N BONES

Crawl Street: Friday, May 10

Harborside: Thursday, May 16 (Duo)

ROGUE CITIZENS

Pickles Pub: Saturday, May 11

Harborside: Saturday, May 11

Who’s Where When

Wednesday, May 15:

Jimmy Charles

GREENE TURTLE WEST

410-213-1500

Route 611, West OC

Friday, May 10:

Schizophrenic Boogiemen

Wednesdays: Bingo w/ Blake

HARBORSIDE

410-213-1846

South Harbor Rd., West End O.C.

Friday, May 10: DJ Billy T

Saturday, May 11:

Cecilia’s Fall & DJ Harvey Cinco

Sunday, May 12:

Opposite Directions

Thursdays: Dust N Bones Duo

PICKLES PUB

410-289-4891

8th St. & Philadelphia Ave.

Fridays: Beats By DeoGee

Saturday, May 11:

Rogue Citizens

Sundays: Beats By Styler

Mondays: Karaoke w/ Wood

Tuesdays: Beats By Wood

Wednesdays: Beats By Styler

Thursdays: Beats By DeoGee

PURPLE MOOSE SALOON

410-289-6953

Between Caroline & Talbot Sts. On The Boards

Friday & Saturday, May 10 & 11: Doc Marten & The Flannels

SEACRETS

410-524-4900

49th St. & Coastal Hwy.

Friday, May 10:

Full Circle, Tunnels End, Kono Nation, DJ Flights & DJ Connair

Saturday, May 11:

The Freddie Long Band, The Collective, Dear Zoe, DJ Cruz & DJ Bobby O

Sunday, May 12:

Kono Nation & DJ Bobby O

Monday & Tuesday, May 13 & 14:

DJ Wax & The Way Outs

Wednesday, May 15:

DJ Estate & Light Up The Moon

Thursday, May 16: DJ Connair, Full Circle Duo & Stealing Savanah

VISTA ROOFTOP

410-390-7905

13801 Coastal Hwy.

Friday, May 10:

Steve Kuhn

Saturday, May 11:

George & Dave

Monday, May 13:

Glenn Stern

Tuesday, May 14:

Rick Artz

Wedenesday, May 15:

Taylor Knox & Brian

Thursday, May 16: Michael Sky

AARON HOWELL DUO

Dry Dock 28: Friday, May 10

Coconuts Beach Bar:

DUST

CECILIA S FALL

MONKEE PAW

Crabcake Factory Bayside: Friday, May 10

BAD W/ NAMES Fager s Island: Friday, May 10

Dining Guide

■ PRICE RANGE: $, $$, $$$

■ RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted

DOWNTOWN

South end to 28th Street

■ BUXY’S SALTY DOG SALOON

DRY DOCK 28

28th Street, Ocean City, 410-289-0973, buxys.com, drydockoc.com

Destiny has a new home in Ocean City. From the ‘burgh to the beach, Buxy’s is your home away from Pittsburgh. Come see what all the locals already know and have known – Buxy’s is the place to come to meet friends, relax and be social with no attitudes. House specialties include “The” Cheesesteak Sub, Primanti-styled sandwiches, pierogis, egg-rolls and homemade crab dip. Dry Dock also features a full menu with soups, salads, kick starters, pierogis and craft pizza.

■ CAPTAIN’S TABLE

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

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

A local tradition for over 60 years featuring hand cut steaks, premium lobster and perfectly prepared regional seafood. Breakfast daily 7:30-11 a.m. Open daily for dinner: Sunday through Thursday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4-10 p.m. Happy Hour, seven days a week, 4-6 p.m.

■ 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, 2-5:30 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. Closed Monday. Open Tuesday through Friday, 2 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. Dine-in, carry out.

■ 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, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

■ CRAWL STREET

19 Wicomico St., Ocean City, 443-373-2756, crawlstreet.com

Established in 2020 just a short walk from the legendary Cork Bar. Don’t leave without trying the famous wings, but everything on the menu is solid, including flatbreads, tacos, salads, sandwiches and seafood platters. Be sure to check out the live music offerings as the nightlife is top of the line.

■ DISTRICT 24

BLU CRABHOUSE & RAW BAR, JAY’S CAFÉ & ICE CREAM, THE EMBERS

2305 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, 410-2893322, district24oc.com

Come visit all your culinary options at this block of fun, including the landmark Embers Restaurant with a new, innovative vision as well as Blu where fresh seafood is king. Be sure to stop in Jay’s for a tasty treat as well as an ocean of caffeinated offerings. There’s fun activities for kids of all ages here as well with a miniature golf course and an arcade.

■ FISH TALES

2107 Herring Way, Ocean City, 410-289-0990, ocfishtales.com

Bayfront marina dining offered here with a huge menu to satisfy guests of all ages. Enjoy a drink from a hanging chair or fish tacos at your table while the kids play in a playground build in the sand. Food and drink menus offer enough of a variety to meet all needs.

■ HARBOR WATCH

806 S. Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, 410-289-5121, www.harborwatchrestaurant.com

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

Celebrating our 40th anniversary with fresh seafood, an award-winning raw bar, mouthwatering steaks and the best view of the Ocean City Inlet and Assateague Island. Open Thursday through Monday. Happy Hour: Thursday, Sunday and Monday, all night long featuring $10 select appetizers, $6 crushes, $4 select draft. Call for banquet and large-party details.

■ PICKLES PUB

706 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, 410-2894891, picklesoc.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Easy to find with plenty of free parking, serving

lunch, dinner and entire diverse menu until 1 a.m. Also nightly entertainment year-round and a great place to watch all the sports on an ocean of televisions including a giant high-def screen. Also four pool tables on site. Lunch and dinner and entire menu until 1 a.m. Open all year from 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m., seven days a week.

■ PIT & PUB

2706 Philadelphia Ave. and 12701 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, pitandpub.com

Ocean City’s home of Pulled Pork and the finest barbecue, the legendary 28th Street Pit & Pub and the Northside Pit & Pub are known for serving up delicious smokehouse specialties. Grab a brew and enjoy the live sports action on one of the big screen TVs. Happy hour daily. Family-friendly atmospheres at both locations. Weekend entertainment.

■ THE WEDGE BAR

806 S. Atlantic Ave, Ocean City, www.thewedgeoc.com

$-$$ | Full bar

Panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, bay and Assateague Island. Enjoy small plates, sandwiches and grilled burgers. Happy Hour, Sunday through Thursday, 3-6 p.m. Open Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

MIDTOWN

29th to 90th streets

■ 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!

■ THE BONFIRE

71st Street, Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 410-5247171, thebonfirerestaurant.com

Celebrating 50 years as the best seafood and prime rib buffet in Ocean City. It’s all here – the service, the atmosphere and finest, freshest seafood available and quality meats. Save room for the decadent desserts available as well including homemade donuts.

■ COCONUTS BEACH BAR & GRILL

3701 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, 410-289-6846, castleinthesand.com

A tropical open-air patio steps from the beach. A unique place for lunch or dinner with a menu featuring all the customary items and a few Ocean City-based surprises. Guests can also enjoy beach service for lunch and cocktails. Be sure to check out the daily entertainment schedule.

■ FAGERS ISLAND

201 60th St., Ocean City, 410-524-5500, fagers.com

$$ | Full bar

Dine on the island with an award-winning bayfront restaurant featuring American & Regional dining with a global influence and popular destination featuring impeccably prepared American and Pacific Rim cuisine. Also enjoy our outdoor decks and bar with live entertainment and 32 wines by the glass. A place where the joy of food & the presence of the table are of utmost importance. Dine on fresh seafood and our famous Prime Rib. Enjoy beautiful sunsets over the water. Open 11 a.m. daily. Fine dine at 4:30 p.m.

■ HOOKED

8003 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 410-7234665, hookedoc.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

A Common Ground Hospitality concept, a passion driven restaurant group servicing the coastal community. The goal is honor creativity and innovation by design. With passion at the heart of everything, unique dining concepts are paired with honest hospitality and well-made food sourced with fresh local ingredients and seasonal harvests. Craft and full bar available. Open daily 11:30 a.m.

■ LONGBOARD’S CAFÉ

6701 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 443-6645693, longboardcafe.com

$$-$$$ | Full bar

Casual Dining … Refined. Open for lunch and dinner. A wide range of gourmet burgers, innovative tacos, salads and sandwiches to full dinner entrees featuring fresh local fish prepared in a variety of styles, beef, shellfish and pasta. All our sauces, salsas, dressings, etc. are meticulously house made. We use fresh local sources wherever possible and premium ingredients such as our chuck, brisket and short rib custom blended burgers. Closed Tuesday. Call for reservations.

■ 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.

■ SEACRETS

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

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

CLOSED JAN. 21 AND REOPENING FEB. 1.

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.

UPTOWN

91st to 146th streets

■ ALBERTINO'S BRICK OVEN & EATERY

13117 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 410-2502000, albertinosoc.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Featuring the best brick oven pizza, always handmade with fresh ingredients, Italian-American mouth-watering seafood specialties, traditional Italian pasta dishes, apps, soups and salads. Full bar with large local craft beer selection.

■ CAROUSEL OCEANFRONT HOTEL & CONDOS

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

Enjoy one of the restaurants at the Carousel. Fine Ocean Front dining with a beautiful view. The Reef 118 is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday through Sunday serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and 49 p.m. Monday through Thursday serving dinner. The Bamboo Lounge is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday and 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

■ THE CRAB BAG

13005 Coastal Highway Ocean City, 410-2503337, thecrabbag.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Featuring consistent hot steamed crabs, eat in or carryout. The Crab Bag is also an Eastern Shore style seafood house specializing in preparing and serving the biggest and the best blue crabs available. The extensive menu promises something for everyone. Winter hours, Friday-Sunday, open 11 a.m.

■ CRABCAKE FACTORY USA

120th Street, oceanside, Ocean City, 410-2504900, crabcakefactoryusa.com

Full-service family restaurant, carry-out and sports bar. Outside seating available. Menu selections include prime rib, chicken Chesapeake, steamed shrimp, beer battered fish, real Philly cheesesteaks, burgers, and a kids menu. Casual attire, full liquor bar, no reservations. Open Year Round. World-Famous Crabcakes are served all day starting at 8 a.m. and can be packed on ice for you while you are eating breakfast.

■ TAILCHASERS RESTAURANT & DOCK BAR

12203 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 443-6647075, tailchasersoc.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

A coastal casual farm to table restaurant with a fun dockside family friendly atmosphere. Menu changes with the seasons and cocktails are handcrafted with care. Bring the whole family for lunch or dinner along the canal. Kids playground available to keep the littles entertained.

■ VISTA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT

13801 Coastal Highway, located in the Fenwick Inn, Ocean City, 410-390-7905, vistarooftopoc.com

$$-$$$ | Full bar

Enjoy a wonderful meal overlooking the ocean and bay. Some of the most unique views in Ocean City. Steaks, seafood, burgers, soups, salads and lite fare. Happy hour, 3-6 p.m. New this year is a boozy brunch Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Live music.

FENWICK ISLAND

■ CRABCAKE FACTORY BAYSIDE

Route 54, Fenwick Island, DE, 302-988-5000, CCFBayside.com

Same award-winning crab cakes and bloody marys. Enjoy waterfront dining. Full-service family restaurant, carry-out & sports bar. Outside seating available. Open daily year-round. Menu selections include crab cakes, prime rib, Philly-style cheese steaks, various seafood, kids menu plus full breakfast menu.

■ DIRTY HARRY’S

100 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island, DE, 302539-3020, Beach-net.com/dirtyharrys

$ | Kids’ Menu | Full bar

Don’t let the name fool you, the food is home cooking at its finest. Established 25 years ago but recently under new ownership. Popular for the breakfast but getting rave reviews for lunch and

dinner, too.

■ NANTUCKETS

Route 1, Fenwick Island, DE, 302-539-2607, nantucketsrestaurant.com

Serving the beach great food and spirits for over 30 years. David and Janet Twining will wow you with the finest foods and drinks in the area. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by what one of the coast’s finest dining establishments has in store for guests. Everything here is a house specialty.

■ TWINING’S LOBSTER SHANTY Rte. 54, Fenwick Island, Del., 302-436-2305, twiningshanty.com

Reservations | Kids’ Menu

“A funky little place at the edge of town.” Classic New England fare, lobsters, steaks and burgers. Bird watching and magical sunsets await. Open for lunch and dinner. Reservations are suggested.

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. Thursday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

■ OCEAN PINES YACHT CLUB

1 Mumford Landing Road, Ocean Pines 410-6417222, 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 Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

WEST OCEAN CITY

■ BREAKFAST CAFE

12736 Ocean Gateway, Route 50 east, West Ocean City, 410-213-1804, breakfastcafeofoc.com

All the traditional breakfast options available here in a casual, diner setting. Open daily closing at 2 p.m.

■ CANTINA LOS AGAVES MEXICAN GRILL

12720 Ocean Gateway #7, West Ocean City 410390-3914, 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.

■ DUMSER’S DAIRYLAND

West Ocean City: Route 50 east; Boardwalk locations: 501 S. Philadelphia Ave., 49th Street, 123rd Street, Ocean City, dumsersdairyland.com

This classic ice cream shop is a tradition for many families. Voted O.C.’s “Best Ice Cream” for the past 20 years, Dumser’s is celebrating decades of serving the shore, and the ‘40s-style décor takes you back in time. With locations throughout Ocean City, treating your tastebuds to this signature homemade ice cream is easy. The 49th and 124th streets locations offer vast lunch and dinner menus (breakfast too at 124th) in addition to a wide variety of ice cream treats.

■ GREENE TURTLE WEST

Route 611, West Ocean City, 410-213-1500

Proudly serving West Ocean City since January 1999, The Greene Turtle features a beautiful 80seat dining room, large bar area with 54 TVs with stereo sound and game room with pool tables. With an exciting menu, The Greene Turtle is sure to please with delicious sizzling steaks, jumbo lump crab cakes, raw bar, homemade salads and more. Live entertainment, Keno, Turtle apparel, kids menu, carry-out.

■ HARBORSIDE BAR & GRILL

12841 Harbor Rd., West Ocean City, 410-2131846, weocharborside.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

Home of the original Orange Crush drink with an extensive menu offers a wide variety of appetizers, fresh seafood, steak & pasta entrees, as well as juicy burgers and sandwiches. Whether seeking a full dining experience or just a crush or two, the team will be sure to take excellent care of you and yours. Monday-Wednesday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

■ SHRIMP BOAT

9724 Stephen Decatur Hwy., West Ocean City, 410-213-0448, shrimpboatoc.com

Since 1989, a spot for locals and visitors to enjoy fresh local seafood straight off the boats. Dine-in seating also available. It’s all sourced local and fresh and a free shrimp sample available.

Wor. Prep students succeed in young authors contest

Competition attracted 300 entries from 19 schools

(May 3, 2024) The Eastern Shore Literacy Association recently announced that 22 Worcester Preparatory School students earned finalist status in the Young Authors Contest for poetry or short story.

According to a news release, Contest Chair Brian Cook said there were over 300 entries from 19 area schools, both public and private. Each finalist finished in the top three of their respective category/grade levels.

The WPS winners are as follows:

Grade 1, Short Story – third place Nicole Sebastian

Grade 2, Short Story – second place Ryder Whitlock

Grade 3, Short Story – third place tie Dev Pillai

Grade 4, Short Story – second place tie Anya Murukutla

Grade 5, Short Story – first place Sloane Smith, second place Tejal Pillai and third place Serena Jaoude

Grade 6, Poetry – second place Lea Jaoude and third place Alessia Ziman

Grade 6, Short Story – first place Lea Jaoude and second place tie Claire Cooper

Grade 7, Short Story – first place Juliet Webster

Grade 8, Poetry – second place tie Ellie Phillips

Grade 8, Short Story – second place tie Hayden Wagner

Grade 9, Poetry – third place tie Emma Nordstorm

Grade 9, Short Story – first place Sydney Parker and third place Mia Jaoude

Grade 10, Poetry – first place Marina Farlow

Grade 10, Short Story – first place Jude Damouni, second place Catherine Cullen and third place Jamie Nguyen

Grade 11, Short Story –first place Lydia Schwartz and second place Will Wells

Worcester Prep’s 2024 Eastern Shore Literacy Association Short Story Contest were recently announced. Pictured, front row from left, are Head of School John McDonald with student winners Nicole Sebastian, Ryder Whitlock, Dev Pillai and Anya Murukutla. In the second row, are Sloane Smith, Tejal Pillai, Serena Jaoude, Lea Jaoude, Alessia Ziman and Juliet Webster. In the third row, are Ellie Phillips, Hayden Wagner, Emma Nordstrom, Sydney Parker and Mia Jaoude. In the back row, are Marina Farlow, Jude Damouni, Catherine Cullen, Jamie Nguyen, Lydia Schwartz and Will Wells. Not pictured: Claire Cooper.

PHOTO COURTESY WORCESTER PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Pastry chef Auschwitz’s final commandant

By Peter Ayers Wimbrow III Contributing Writer

(May 10, 2024) This week 80 years ago, Auschwitz received its third, and final, commandant, Richard Baer. Baer was born and grew up in Bavaria and was trained as a pastry chef. He joined the Nazi Party in 1930, and in the Spring of 1933, he left his employment as a pastry chef.

On May 11, he joined the SS. Baer was named by Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler to succeed Arthur Liebehenschel, as Auschwitz commandant because Himmler felt Liebehenschel was “too soft.”

Auschwitz was opened in what was, and is now, Poland, in the Spring of 1940, with Rudolph Höss as camp commandant. The first prisoners were 30 German criminals transferred from Sachsenhausen to help in construction and to oversee the other prisoners that would soon be arriving.

From Tarnów, on June 14, 1940, came 28 Polish political prisoners. The following month, the first crematory was constructed. The first executions at Auschwitz occurred on Nov. 22, 1940.Then, on the order of SS, Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich, 40 Poles were shot and their bodies immediately burned.

During the winter of 1941, the giant chemical manufacturer I.G. Farben decided that the camp would be suitable for

new chemical factories, so Himmler ordered the camp at Auschwitz to be greatly enlarged and a new camp built in a nearby town, Brerzinka, which the Germans called Birkenau.

Both were administered by Höss. In December 1941, Höss was summoned to Himmler’s office in Berlin. There, the Reichsführer SS told him that, “The Führer has ordered the Final Solution to the Jewish question. We, the SS, have to carry out this order. The existing extermination sites in the East are not in a position to carry out these intended operations on a large scale. I have, therefore, chosen Auschwitz for this purpose.

“First of all, because of the advantageous transport facilities, and secondly, because it allows the area to be easily isolated and disguised. I had first thought of choosing a higher ranking SS officer for this job so as to avoid any difficulties when someone who doesn’t have the competence to handle such a difficult assignment.

“You now have to carry out this assignment. It is to remain between the two of us. It is a hard and difficult job, which requires your complete commitment regardless of the difficulties which may arise. You will learn the further details through Major Eichmann of the RSHA, who will soon visit you.

“The administrative departments in-

volved will be notified by me at the appropriate time. You are sworn to the strictest silence regarding this order. Not even your superiors are allowed to know about this. After your meeting with Eichmann, I want you to immediately send me the plans of the intended installations.

“The Jews are the eternal enemies of the German people and must be exterminated. All of the Jews within our reach must be annihilated during this war. If we do not succeed in destroying the biological foundation of Jewry now, then one day

CROSSWORD

the Jews will destroy the German people.”

The poisonous gas, Zyklon B, was first used at Auschwitz on Sept.3, 1941. The first victims were Soviet POWs — 600 were killed.

Mass murder of Jews at Auschwitz began in January 1942, the same month as the infamous Wannsee Conference, where German officials, under the guidance of SS Obergruppenführer Heydrich, arrived at the “Final Solution” of the European Jewish question. At that time,

HOROSCOPE

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

Aries, it’s challenging for you and a romantic partner to get together this week and that may lead to stress. Over time you will be able to reconnect and get things back in sync.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

Taurus, normally you are very open, but all of your communication channels seem to be blocked of late. Don’t be too hard on yourself as things will return to normal soon enough.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

Gemini, if a family member has been in a bad mood or is feeling unwell, it is up to you to get to the root of the situation. Provide whatever assistance you can.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

Cancer, you may feel like you don’t want to get involved if a friend or colleague is in trouble. But this person can really use your help at the moment and you should step up.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

Don’t let your career get sidetracked by gossip and office politics, Leo. You should stand up for yourself if others are speaking poorly about you. Avoid getting involved in gossip.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

Virgo, what seems to be bad news about your financial situation may not be as bad as it once appeared. Doublecheck the details before you become panicked.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

Libra, you may be inclined to protect loved ones from the truth this week, but they need to hear all of the details in this instance. Break any news to them gently.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

Scorpio, you are a workaholic by nature, but when fatigue hits you this week, you’ll need to step back and give yourself time to rest. There’s a lot coming your way soon enough.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21

A person who is no longer in your life may be on your mind a lot these days, Sagittarius. Cherish the fond memories you have of this person and don’t worry about being preoccupied.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

Capricorn, misinformation may be spreading around you and it can be tempting to add your own input to the discussions. Make sure your contributions can be backed up.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

You are finally putting some of your longstanding plans in motion, Aquarius. However, this week you may receive some information that might delay progress.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

Someone may try to mislead you with some inaccurate information this week, Pisces. Conduct your own research and you’ll get all of the details you need for to draw your own conclusion.

WORLD WAR II

Continued from Page 76

Jews from Upper Silesia in Poland were arrested and transported to Auschwitz.

The first Jews from Slovakia arrived on March 26, 1942. Four days later, the first trainload of Jews from France arrived. Jews from Holland began arriving on July 17, 1942. That same day, Himmler promoted Höss to SS Lieutenant Colonel after conducting an inspection of the camp.

The first trains bearing Jews from Belgium arrived on Aug. 5, 1942. Thirteen days later, the first Jews from Yugoslavia arrived. Jews from Norway began arriving on Dec. 1, 1942. Nine days later, Jews from Germany began to arrive. Meanwhile, German soldiers were starving, and freezing, to death in Stalingrad.

The first Gypsies arrived on Feb. 26, 1943. The following month, shipments of Jews from Greece began. Italian Jews began arriving in October, followed by Latvian and Estonian Jews in November. By now, Axis forces had been driven from North Africa, and Italy invaded by the Allies.

Upon the prisoners’ arrival, a cursory examination was performed to determine fitness for work. Those deemed unfit for work, which included the old, children, and women with children, were sent to the “showers.”

To insure passive compliance, they were told that they were to be de-liced and showered. There, they were disrobed in an outer chamber, then moved into the gas chamber which was disguised as a shower

room, complete with fake shower heads.

The Zyklon B pellets were then dropped into the room. After the screaming stopped and the air cleared, a team would move in to extract the gold from the teeth of the dead to be sent back to Berlin. Upwards of 20,000 “guests” per day could be accommodated in this manner.

Since it became impossible to bury the vast number of bodies, and one crematorium couldn’t handle such numbers. The Auschwitz administration began burning them in the open. This, too, was unsatisfactory. The stench caused people in the area to talk, “...despite official counter-propaganda.”

And “The anti-aircraft defenses protested against the fires because they could be seen from great distances at night.” Therefore, construction began on several more crematories, which were completed in the Spring of 1943.

In November 1943, Höss was appointed Chief of Department of Inspections of Concentration Camps, with an office in Oranienburg, near Berlin. He finished the war in this office. He was succeeded at Auschwitz by Liebehenschel.

Estimates of the number of people murdered at Auschwitz before it was liberated by the 322nd Rifle Division of the Sixtieth Red Army of the First Ukranian Front on Jan. 27, 1945, range between one million and five million.

Seven thousand prisoners were found by the Soviets. The rest had been forcemarched through the Polish winter. Many

died. In addition to Jews, about 150,000 Poles, 23,000 Gypsies and 15,000 Soviet POWs passed through its gates.

And then there was the medical “research” conducted by doctors such as Eduard Wirths, Horst Schumann, Josef Mengele (“The Angel of Death”) and Carl Clauberg. Dr. Mengele would infect a twin with a disease and when the twin died, he would kill the other to perform comparative autopsies.

Dr. Clauberg’s research involved injecting chemicals into women’s uteruses in an effort to glue them shut. I. G. Farben’s subsidiary, Bayer, used prisoners to test its drugs. Dr. Schumann experimented with radiation in an attempt to sterilize both men and women. Many died during this research. Those that didn’t were so weakened that they couldn’t work, and so were sent to the showers. Dr. Wirths made it all possible as the administrator.

After the German defeat, the three commandants were, eventually arrested and extradited to Poland where they were tried, convicted, sentenced to death, and executed by hanging.

Next week: The Capture of Rome

Mr. Wimbrow writes from Ocean City, where he practices law representing people accused of criminal and traffic offenses, and people who have suffered a personal injury through no fault of their own.

He can be contacted at wimbrowlaw@gmail.com.

Calendar

Submit calendar items to: editor@oceancitytoday.net. Submission deadline is 5 p.m. Monday, the week of publication. Local submissions have priority. Area event listings are subject to space availability.

Fri., May 10

15TH ANNUAL OC JEEP WEEK

Hugh T. Cropper Inlet Parking Lot, 809 S. Atlantic Ave., Ocean City. Beach crawls, sand course, show and shine, Jeep Jam and more. Free admission to shop vendors in the Inlet Parking Lot. Schedules and register to participate: www.ocmdjeepweek.com. jeepweekoc@gmail.com

BABY TIME

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 10:30 a.m. Stories, rhymes and finger plays. For ages 0-2 years and their caregivers. 410641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

MAHJONG CLUB

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

BOOK DISCUSSION: ‘SEA OF TRANQUILITY’ BY EMILY ST. JOHN MANDEL

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 2 p.m. Copies of the book are available at the library’s circulation desk. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

MARYLAND CRAB CAKE DINNER

Stevenson United Methodist Church, 123 N. Main St., Berlin, 4-6 p.m. Onecrab cake platter cost is $14. Two-crab cake platter is $24. Platters include green beans, baked potato and Cole slaw. Crab cake sandwich is $10. Eat in or carry out. Bake sale table available.

Sat., May 11

15TH ANNUAL OC JEEP WEEK

Hugh T. Cropper Inlet Parking Lot, 809 S. Atlantic Ave., Ocean City. Beach crawls, sand course, show and shine, Jeep Jam and more. Free admission to shop vendors in the Inlet Parking Lot. Schedules and register to participate: www.ocmdjeepweek.com. jeepweekoc@gmail.com

DANCE ALLEY PRESENTS ‘SWEET TREAT BOULEVARD’

Ocean City Performing Arts CenterRoland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City. Shows at noon and 5 p.m. Tickets cost $15.

https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/4127548 9/dance-alley-presents-sweet-treatboulevard-ocean-city-oc-performingarts-center.

INDOOR AND OUTDOOR FLEA MARKET & BREAKFAST

Bethany United Methodist Church, 8648 Stephen Decatur Highway, Berlin, 8 a.m.-noon. Breakfast sandwiches, baked goods, yard sale, gift and craft items for sale. Vendors, to make a reservation, contact 443-614-2261 and fcbumc21811@gmail.com.

OCEAN PINES ANGLERS CLUB MEETING

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 9:30 a.m. The speaker, on Boater Safety, will be licensed 100GT Captain and experienced marine inspector Tommy Ottenwaelder, principle owner of Guardian Marine Services. All are welcome.

FURNACE FAIRIES & GNOMES CELEBRATION

Furnace Town Historic Site (Nassawango Iron Furnace), 3816 Old Furnace Road, Snow Hill, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. A magical day filled with whimsical crafts, fairy and gnome-themed activities and enchanting entertainment for the entire family. www.furnacetown.org/events

CRAFTY SATURDAY: MOTHER’S DAY

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10 a.m. Create something special for a loved one in your life. All ages. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

FLOWER TRANSFER ART (TATAKI ZOME)

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 12 p.m. Sue Bromm teaches this Japanese technique for printing on fabric or paper. If you have flowers you want to use, bring them and a small hammer. Registration required: 410-208-4014.

MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 10301 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 1-3 p.m. Good food and fellowship while supporting the church. Reservations: 410-5247474 by May 5. Requested donation is $20 for adults, $10 for kids aged 5-12 years and free to those 4 years and younger.

OCEAN PINES SPRING BIKE RIDE

The Clubhouse Bar & Grille - Ocean Pines Golf Club, 100 Clubhouse Drive, 3-6 p.m. Featuring 7-mile and 14-mile options. Happy hour social following. All

riders get one free drink ticket. Free event. Pre-registration: 410-641-7052. For those 12 years and older. Helmets required. 703-955-0745

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., May 12

15TH ANNUAL OC JEEP WEEK

Hugh T. Cropper Inlet Parking Lot, 809 S. Atlantic Ave., Ocean City. Beach crawls, sand course, show and shine, Jeep Jam and more. Free admission to shop vendors in the Inlet Parking Lot. Schedules and register to participate: www.ocmdjeepweek.com. jeepweekoc@gmail.com

‘MOM’OSA PAINT & BRUNCH

Residence Inn Ocean City, 300 Seabay Lane, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost is $60 for adults 21 years and older and $50 for those 20 years and younger. Register: https://canvas.artleagueofoceancity.org /classes/1629. 410-524-9433, megan@artleagueofoceancity.org

BERLIN FARMERS MARKET

Sundays through Sept. 8 - Pitts Street, Commerce Street and Main Street, Berlin, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Featuring more than 35 farmers, food cultivators, bakers, distillers, seafood, meat, eggs and more. https://berlinmainstreet.com/ farmersmarket/

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES MEETING

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

Mon., May 13

STORY TIME: TRANSPORTATION

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Crafts, songs and stories. For ages 0-5 years. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

WRITING FOR WELLNESS

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 1:30 p.m.

Writing about stressful experiences like illness may boost health and psychological well-being. Group uses exercises to stimulate creative expression. 410-2084014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

TRUE CRIME BOOK CLUB: ‘AMERICAN FIRE’ BY MONICA HESSE

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 2 p.m. Join in for an afternoon of true crime. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

MONTHLY MOVIE MATINEE

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 2 p.m. Catch a recent movie you might have intended to see in the theaters. Free event. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

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

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

BRIDGE

Mondays - Ocean City 50plus Center, 104 41st Street, Ocean City, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Reserve a spot: Tish, 410-8043971. www.Worcoa.org/oceancity

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., May 14

MUSIC AND MOVEMENT

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 10:30 a.m. Clap, sing and move to the beat. For ages 2-5 years. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

OC KNITTING GROUP

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

SHIPWRECK AUTHOR TALK

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 2 p.m. Michael Dougherty discusses his book, “The Wreck of the Faithful Steward on Delaware’s False Cape.” An objective retelling of the loss of the Faithful Steward. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

SCHOOL’S OUT TEEN HANGOUT

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 2 p.m. Join in to play video games, make crafts and compete in trivia. For teens and their families. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP

Atlantic General Neurology, 314 Franklin Ave., Berlin, 3:15-4 p.m. Dis-

cussions and mutual support, along with education on exercise, nutrition, coping techniques, medications and developments in treatment. Kay Kinnikin, 410641-4765, kkinnikin@atlanticgeneral.org

GROWING UP WILD: BIRD BEAK BUFFET

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 4 p.m. Learn about the special functions of bird beaks through a variety of activities. For ages 6-11 years. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

ARTIST TALK WITH JENNIFER CARTER

Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort, 9110 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 5-7 p.m. View Jennifer’s exhibit of paintings and photography and hear her speak about her process, artwork and inspiration. Free and open to the public. 410-5249433, megan@artleagueofoceancity.org

SONG CELEBRATION

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 6 p.m. Bring a song to share with other players and writers in a welcoming and encouraging space. Originals encouraged. Listeners welcome. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

ATLANTIC COAST SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION MONTHLY MEETING

American Legion Synepuxent Post 166, 2308 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Meeting starts at 7 p.m. This month’s speaker will be Lynette Catha, Director of the International Game Fishing Tournament Observers. Open to the public.

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

OC KNITTING CLUB

Tuesdays - Worcester County LibraryOcean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m.

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.

ZUMBA TONING TUESDAYS

Tuesdays - Northside Park, 200 125th

St., Ocean City, 5:30 p.m. Zumba with optional light weights. zumbajoyceoc@gmail.com

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AND WELLNESS GROUP

Tuesdays - Holy Trinity Cathedral, 11021 Worcester Highway, 2-2:45 p.m. Use the weight loss program/app/plan of your choice. Free and open to everyone. 410-641-4882, www.htcanglican.org/activities.

Wed., May 15

BARIATRIC SUPPORT GROUP

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

BABY TIME

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10 a.m. Have fun making music, singing songs and playing. For ages 0-2 years. 410208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

COAST HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR

Worcester County Recreation Center, 6030 Public Landing Road, Snow Hill, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Atlantic General representatives will be on-site to provide blood pressure screenings. Alyce Marzola, 410-641-9268, amarzola@atlanticgeneral.org

MUSIC AND MOVEMENT

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Join in for a silly morning full of movement and music themed stories, fun songs and interactive activities to get everyone moving. For ages 0-5 years. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

BACKGAMMON CLUB

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10:30 a.m. Drop in for this game of strategy that dates back 5,000 years to Mesopotamia and Persia. All skill levels welcome. 410208-4014, 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., Berlin, 3-4 p.m. For stroke survivors, family and friends. 410-641-4765, bglime@atlanticgeneral.org

KIDS PAINT NIGHT

Ocean Pines Community Center, 235 Ocean Parkway, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Cost is $22 per person. All materials and instruction provided. For ages 5-17 years. Pre-registration required: 410-6417052.

MAKE AND LEARN: CYANOTYPES

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 5:30 p.m.

Learn about John Herschel and his invention of the cyanotype, photo paper that turns blue when exposed to light. Supplies included. Bring specific shapes wanted. Registration required: 410-6410650.

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., May 16

CRUISIN’ OCEAN CITY

Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Also in the Ocean City Inlet Parking Lot. Featuring more than 3,000 hot rods, customs, classics and trucks. Entertainment, boardwalk parades and more.

https://specialeventpro.com/cruisinocean-city

JAY LENO

Ocean City Performing Arts CenterRoland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway, 7 p.m. Featuring Jay Leno, stand-up comedian and host of “Jay Leno’s Garage” and “You Bet Your Life.” Tickets: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/368458 20/jay-leno-ocean-city-oc-performingarts-center.

CPAP MASK FITTING

Atlantic General Hospital’s Sleep Disorders Diagnostic Center, 9733 Healthway Drive, Berlin. A free mask fitting clinic for patients who are having trouble adjusting to their CPAP equipment. Appointment required: Robin Rohlfing, 410-641-9726.

STORYTIME: ‘IT’S OK: BEING KIND TO YOURSELF WHEN THINGS FEEL HARD’

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10:30 a.m. Discover how powerful it can be to move past a strong emotion and give ourselves some kindness. For ages 2-5 years. 410208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

TECH TALKS

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 2 p.m. The group will break down tech topics into byte-sized lessons for all. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

VIDEO GAME TRIVIA

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 4 p.m. Test your knowledge. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

LEGO STAMPING

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 4 p.m. Get

ready to create some unique art using LEGOs and ink. For ages 6-11 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

ZUMBA

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 4:30-5:30 p.m. Join Zumba instructor Joyce Landsman for an hour of movement. These classes uplift and improve mood. Registration required for each class. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

ROMANCE BOOK CLUB: ‘BEATING HEART BABY’ BY LIO MIN

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

MEET THE AUTHOR, DIANA MCDONOUGH The Landing Bar and Grille, 20301 Charlotte Blvd., Millsboro, 6-8 p.m. Meet the author and enjoy dinner with Diana McDonough, author of the Stuck in the Onesies Series. The $25 ticket includes dinner, soft drinks, and gratuity (alcohol available for purchase). Books sold. 973-534-1436

BEACH SINGLE 55 PLUS MEET AND GREET

Thursdays - Nick’s Kitchen + Bar, 14410 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 4-6 p.m. 215385-4993, BeachSingles.org

ONGOING EVENTS

KIWANIS FOOD DRIVE FOR DIAKONIA

During the month of May, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City will be collecting non-expired, non-perishable goods. Vehicles will be stationed in the Ocean Pines Community Center parking lot ever Wednesday morning from 9 a.m. to noon to accept donations.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES VS. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES BUS TRIP

Bus trip to Camden Yards on June 16. Pick up at Ocean Pines Community Center at 8:30 a.m. Game time at 1:35 p.m. Tickets cost $120 per person and includes transportation, a seat in the picnic perch, (section 284) and all-you-can-eat Picnic Perch food. Tickets: 410-641-7052.

Crossword answers from page 76

New employees

Becker Morgan Group recently welcomed 22 new team members across the company’s offices and disciplines.

Since last year, the architecture, civil engineering, structural engineering, surveying, interior design, graphic design, and administrative departments have grown. New staff members will continue to uphold the service clients have come to expect from Becker Morgan Group across the Delaware, Maryland, and North Carolina offices.

The new staff members are Wethny Antoine, Noelle Baker, Angelica Bangit, Justin Chaffinch, Heidi Davari, Christopher Fernandez, Caitlyn Fitzsimmons, Joshua Fleetwood, Brandon Fletcher, Samuel Gerbino, Jr., Julian Gray, Keegan Holdorf, Hope Jackson, Abriana Jacobs, Julia Kelly, Linza Lewis Jr., James Long, Jean-Luc May-Pohlman, Zach Reed, Connor Rock, Claire Wagner, and Bradley Whitney.

Top producers

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices announced this week its April top producers by office.

The top listing agents were Greg Erdie, Ocean Pines; Carol Proctor Team, Ocean City; and Jeff Messick, West Ocean City.

Agents with the most contracts

were Suzanah Cain, Ocean Pines; Carol Proctor Team, Ocean City; and Ed Balcerzak, West Ocean City. Settlement leaders by office were Suzanah Caine, Ocean Pines; Carol Proctor Team, Ocean City; and Ed Balcerzack, West Ocean City. Recognized as selling more than a million in a month were the Carol Proctor Team, JD Wells, Ed Balcerzak, Suzanah Cain, Kim Heaney, Cindy Poremski and Katie Quinn.

President steps down

Coastal Hospice Board of Directors recently announced that Monica Escalante will be stepping down from her position as president and CEO, effective July 31. She joined Coastal Hospice in July 2021.

The Board of Directors have appointed Ann Lovely as interim president and CEO. Lovely brings 25 years of experience in end-of-life care, currently serving as chief clinical officer. Her proven leadership and expertise make her well suited to guide Coastal Hospice through this transition period.

The Board of Directors will begin a comprehensive search process to find

See BUSINESS Page 83

M. Escalante

Casino revenues down statewide, locally for month

(May 10, 2024) Revenues from slot machines and table games across the state, including at Ocean Downs, for the month of April is down from last year, according to the most recent reports from Maryland Lottery and Gaming.

A news release from the organization said the state’s six casinos combined to generate more than $163.15 million this April, a decrease of nearly $11.6 million or 6.6%, compared to last year.

At Ocean Downs, revenues for the month came out to a little more than $7.32 million, which was a decrease of more than $600,000, or 7.6%.

Casino gaming contributions to the state totaled nearly $69.8 million, a decrease of $2.577 million, or 3.6%.

Contributions to the Education Trust Fund were over $50.35 million, a decrease of $2.267 million, or 4.3%.

Besides Ocean Downs, Maryland’s six privately owned casinos that offer slot machines and table games are MGM National Harbor in Prince George’s County; Live! Casino & Hotel in Anne Arundel County; Horseshoe Casino Baltimore in Baltimore City; Hollywood Casino Perryville in Cecil County; and Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Allegany County.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Continued from Page 82

a permanent successor later this year.

New controller

The Harrison Group Hotel and Restaurant Group recently welcomed Nancy Kane as the new controller, bringing with her over 20 years of experience in accounting management and a deeprooted passion for hospitality.

Kane’s journey in the hospitality industry began in 2009, where she established herself as a leader known for exceptional skills in financial management, coaching, and team development. With a bachelor’s degree in business management from DeSales University and a master’s in accountancy/financial services from St. Joseph’s University, Kane’s academic prowess complements her extensive practical experience.

Prior to joining the Harrison Group, Kane served as the controller for Cato

Inc., overseeing multiple entities within the restaurant and convenience sectors across 34 locations in Maryland and Delaware. Her tenure at Marshall Hotels & Resorts Inc. as assistant vice president in accounting for 13 years further solidified her expertise in managing financial operations for select service, full-service, and independent hotels, along with restaurants and retail establishments.

Kane’s leadership style is marked by a commitment to fostering growth, both in individuals and teams, to achieve and exceed accounting accuracy and timeliness goals. Her strategic vision and hands-on approach have consistently delivered results, making her a respected figure in the industry.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Kane enjoys attending concerts, exploring new travel destinations, and embracing the vibrant beach life of Ocean City.

Kane will be based out of the Harrison Group corporate office in Ocean City. For more information on the Harrison Group, visit Harrisongrouphotels.com.

Nancy Kane

Ocean City revisits garage parking debate

Meehan expresses concern enforcement mechanism not included in ordinance

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) Whether or not proposed changes to garage design standards did enough to address a lack of residential parking was the question on the minds of some resort officials this week as they prepare to advance an ordinance to a second reading.

Following a months-long debate about the need to change the size of garage parking in residential developments, the Ocean City Council this week voted to approve the first reading of an ordinance that adopts recommended garage design standards

approved at an April 9 work session. While the amendment lists new parking widths, depths, drive aisles and more, some argued there should be a stronger enforcement mechanism when it came to how garage parking was used.

“I don’t totally support this ordinance,” Mayor Rick Meehan said. “I do think it's a good first step, and I think that passing this ordinance will at least make sure we don't have any other projects that are built where the garages aren't totally usable.”

In March, Caine Woods resident Dennis Dare – a former city manager and councilman – asked the Mayor and Council to address what he called a “glaring deficiency” in the design of ongoing townhouse projects between 142nd and 144th streets. He argued the alleyways used to access the

garages were too narrow and that garage parking was inadequate, an issue he said would contribute to more on-street parking.

With that being said, town staff began developing recommendations on new depths, widths and drive aisle sizes that could accommodate larger vehicles without hurting local developers. The findings were presented to the Mayor and Council on April 9.

“What I'm talking about is enclosed parking,” City Manager Terry McGean said at the time. “This is specifically residential one- and twocar parking garages. And why right now? I believe they need a different standard than what we currently have.”

As proposed, the ordinance presented this week would amend the zoning code to provide new parking dimensions for residential garages and set a minimum parking space width of 19 feet for a two-car garage.

once that happens, it has a lot of legs and continues. So I think it's important that it's addressed, and this is the beginning.”

However, the mayor argued that he wanted some enforcement mechanism added to the ordinance. He said that could be done by requiring new condominium associations to include in their bylaws requirements that garage parking be open and available for parking. He added that there could also be more enforcement from town staff.

“I know that the staff didn't want to include this, but I do think it should be in the ordinance that all required garage parking remain available for parking at all times,” he said. “I mean, if you're going to build parking, and it's required parking, it needs to be available to park in.”

McGean, however, said he did not want to see town staff become “garage police.” Others added that there was no way to tell condominium associations or residents what to do when it came to garage use and storage.

“I believe that it's an overstep by government to tell somebody what they can and cannot do in the inside of their garage as long as it's legal,” Councilwoman Carol Proctor said. “You can't tell somebody they can't store something in the garage, and if it's a conversion that's going to be permitted. It's got to be approved.”

Under the 19-foot, two-car garage standard, staff recommended a minimum width of 19 feet, a minimum depth of 20 feet, a minimum garage door size of 18 feet, a minimum paved aisle width of 22 feet and a minimum aisle clear width of 23 feet. Under the 20-foot, two-car garage standard, staff recommended a minimum width, depth and paved aisle width of 20 feet, a minimum garage door size of 18 feet and a minimum aisle clear width of 22 feet. Under the single-car garage standard, staff recommended a minimum width of 11 feet, a minimum depth and paved aisle width of 20 feet, a minimum garage door size of 10 feet and a minimum aisle clear width of 22 feet.

“If it’s a fire lane, it needs to be 30 feet,” McGean said last month.

Meehan told the council this week the town’s parking code had existed for years. He noted, however, that it didn’t work with the new townhomes being developed throughout town.

“We’ve got the same code we've had for years, but all of a sudden we have a different type of product being built,” he explained, “and usually

During public comments, resident Palmer Gillis argued the ordinance fell short of correcting a parking problem in Ocean City’s neighborhoods. He said garages were not being used to park cars, and that the proposed dimensions did not include space for storage.

“The parking spaces aren't used for parking,” he said. “They park on the street, at the expense of our community, taxpayers, and our neighbors.”

Gillis, a planning commission member, agreed more enforcement was needed to ensure garages were used for parking. He opined the parking standards favored developers.

“I'm not accusing anybody of anything, but what I can see right now is if

Garage parking change gets OK

Continued from Page 84

it doesn't benefit the neighbor or the neighborhood, or the taxpayers, or the future taxpayers, the only entity that it helps is the developer. And that's what it seems like this council and the leadership of this community is interested in protecting, the rights of the developer.”

Councilman John Gehrig said he believed enforcement should be tied to the town’s short-term rental regulations. McGean agreed.

“I think the short-term rental avenue might be a decent way to go about this …,” he said. “You could make a requirement of the short-term rentals that required parking included in site plan approval must be available for parking.”

After further discussion, the council voted 6-0 with Council President Matt James absent, to pass the ordinance on first reading. During council comments, Councilman Peter Buas said he disagreed with the assertion that the council put developers before residents.

“While I certainly appreciate a position that we could do more to regulate parking, there's an equal and opposite position from residents that we need to make sure we're continuing to encourage development,” he said. “I think we're doing a good job and I think we've got good work done and will continue to do so.”

Legislative bills to impact industry

By Lauren Bunting Contributing Writer

(May 10, 2024) In 2024, the Maryland General Assembly convened on Jan. 10 and adjourned on April 8.

ers of a property located within 1 mile of a National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund site shall include an addendum to the contract that includes information on NPL Superfund sites. Buyers may void the contract and refund money paid to the seller within five days.

SB 423 Real Property - Recordation – Procedures: Upon request, the treasurer, tax collector, or director of finance for a county will provide a certificate outlining any taxes, assessments, and charges due to the county against a property.

Maryland Realtors issued a recap of all the pertinent legislation affecting the real estate industry. Below is the summary of the real estate brokerage, licensing and contract related legislation that passed, all effective Oct. 1.

HB 143/SB 46 Condominiums - Sales Contracts - Asbestos

Disclosure: A unit owner must provide a statement, no later than 15 days prior to closing, on their knowledge of the presence of asbestos in the unit and whether abatement has been performed during the occupancy of the owner.

HB 486/SB 125 Residential

Property Sales - Contract Disclosures - Superfund Sites: Sell-

HB 520/SB 461 State Real Estate Commission - ComplaintsAdvertising Violations: Complaints filed with the commission alleging an advertising violation may be made anonymously and not under oath, but must be accompanied by documentary or other evidence.

HB 709/SB 462 Licensed Real Estate Brokers - Branch Offices: This bill authorizes a licensed real estate broker to designate himself or herself as the manager of a branch office maintained by the licensed real estate broker.

HB 1308 Recordation of Instrument With False Information - Quiet Title: This bill prohibits a person from recording a deed or other instrument knowingly containing false information, including information related to the ownership of the property.

SB 542 Real Estate BrokersBrokerage Agreements - Requirements: This bill requires that written brokerage agreements state the amount of compensation offered in terms of a percentage, dollar amount, or both; whether compensation will be sought from another party; and the process when the amount of compensation offered and received differs.

SB 564 Real Estate BrokersLicense Renewals and Continuing Education: Real estate licensees will be required to submit continuing education classes 30 days prior to license expiration. Those submitted less than 30 days prior will be subject to additional fees. Continuing education provider submission times are restored to 14 days.

Lauren Bunting is the Broker of Record with Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva in Ocean City.

Pocomoke library branch bid process set for summer

By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) Plans for a new Pocomoke library continue to move forward.

In an update this week, county staff said the $8.1 million project was expected to go to bid in August or September.

“Let’s get it done,” Commissioner Chip Bertino said.

Library officials have been working for years on plans for a new Pocomoke library. With last month’s news that the state was providing $3.99 million toward construction, the project is moving ahead.

Procurement Officer Nicholas Rice told the commissioners this week that the $3.99 million did require a 100% match from the county. He said the county had that funding available. The latest cost estimates from Whit-

ing Turner and Keller put the project price tag at $8,140,030. Rice said that included $400,000 to $500,000 in value engineering. He added, however, that he thought there was another $100,000 that could be value engineered down.

“The project right now is planned to go to bid in August or September,” he said. “That’s when we would come before the commissioners with actual construction numbers.”

The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the library update.

The new Pocomoke library will be a 12,365-square foot building on the current site. The library is described as being open and airy and will include gallery space, community space and reading areas. The design will allow for multipurpose meeting space that will be able to be open for the community when the library area of the building is closed. The site plan also features a children’s porch as well as raingardens.

The goal is for the new facility to be open in late 2025 or early 2026.

County set to form new Buckingham school committee

By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) The Worcester County Commissioners this week agreed to form a work group to determine how best to move forward with plans for a new Buckingham Elementary School.

The commissioners voted unanimously this week to have a work group that will include three commissioners work with the school system to move the project forward. Plans for construction of a new Buckingham came to a halt when it was determined there was no state funding for the project as it stands now.

“I think we need to work with the board of education to figure out which options we’re going to move forward with,” Commissioner Chip Bertino said. “Buckingham needs to be rebuilt. A lot of people, including the commissioners, are anticipating getting that done sooner than later.”

In April, representatives of the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) outlined four possibilities for a new Buckingham Elementary School. The state has not provided funding for the standalone

Worcester OK’s generator purchase

By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) County officials agreed to buy a new generator to provide backup power to the Worcester County Jail.

The Worcester County Commissioners voted unanimously this week to move forward with purchasing a new generator for the jail. While staff still need to determine installation costs associated with the new generator, they said they wanted to go ahead and purchase it while it was in stock.

“Without this in place … this is a serious situation without backup power,” Commissioner Joe Mitrecic said.

Last month, staff advised the commissioners that the generator at the jail had failed and was in need of repair or replacement. Commissioners agreed to buy a new one but told staff to look at renting in the meantime. Staff returned to the commissioners this week saying they hadn’t rented one because of the $6,000 a month price tag but had found some options in stock for the county to purchase a new generator. Procurement Officer Nicholas Rice reported that the county could pur-

chase a 275kw diesel generator but that there would be a 35 week wait. He said Elite Power had a 350kw diesel generator in stock but that the county would need a tank and would need an electrical engineer to review installation.

“It certainly wouldn’t hurt to have a bigger diesel generator than necessary,” Mitrecic said.

Commissioner Eric Fiori thanked staff for all the research they’d done regarding generators.

“I know this was a lot,” he said. “I don’t think either one of us realized the generator shortage throughout the United States that we have right now.”

Commissioner Ted Elder asked if the electrical engineering was included in the price. Staff said it was not.

“I think we need to look this over as to what the actual cost would be,”

Elder said.

Mitrecic said there was going to be a cost regardless, as the county was buying a new generator. He said he didn’t want to wait 35 weeks to get the exact size generator the county previously had, which likely wasn’t sufficient for its needs anyway.

“This gets a much needed generator in place,” he said.

Fiori agreed and said the wait on the smaller generator would probably be more than 35 weeks in actuality.

“Nationwide everyone’s looking for these generators,” he said. “If they have one in stock I suggest we grab it and worry about upgrades after the fact. The original 275kw wasn’t the power that we needed.”

The commissioners voted unanimously to purchase the 350kw generator.

‘Education’ signs don’t fall under guidelines, OPA says

By Tara Fischer Staff Writer

(May 10, 2024) As educators and parents worry that Worcester County Public Schools will receive minimum funding for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the Ocean Pines Association has asked residents to remove yard signs expressing support for the academic system, despite members of the advocacy group Worcester United requesting approval.

Brittany Tignor, a Stephen De-

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

WORCESTER COUNTY

SOLID WASTE ENTERPRISE FUND

FY 2025 REQUESTED OPERATING BUDGET

The Worcester County Commissioners will conduct a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed FY 2023/2024 Solid Waste Enterprise Fund Operating Budget as requested by the Worcester County Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division on:

Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 10:30am in the County Commissioners’ Meeting Room Room 1101 Government Center, One West Market Street Snow Hill, Maryland 21863

The Proposed Budget maintains the current solid waste fees. Copies of the detailed budget are available for public inspection at the County Commissioners’ Office in Room 1103 of the County Government Center in Snow Hill or online at www.co.worcester.md.us.

WORCESTER COUNTY 2024/2025 REQUESTED OPERATING BUDGET

catur High School librarian and a Worcester United leadership team member, submitted an application to the OPA seeking permission to display “I Support Public Education” signs on community properties.

According to the Ocean Pines resident, while Worcester United initially thought the signs would be approved, association officials have seemingly denied their request, as homeowners have been asked to remove the posters from their yards. A formal disallowance was never provided to Tignor or the advocacy group.

“There was no official communication,” the SDHS librarian said. “I understand that Ocean Pines does not want to have tons of signs, but I have a problem with how they approve and deny them. The system is not transparent … They are picking and choosing what signs get to stay and which signs don’t. It’s frustrating that there has been no official denial, yet people are getting violation letters.”

The “yard-sale” size declarations state the property owner’s support for a fully funded Worcester County Public Schools budget, among other initiatives.

Based on property values, Worcester is annually one of the wealthiest counties in Maryland, meaning the system relies heavily on county financial assistance rather than state help.

Some Worcester County Commissioners are considering what’s called a “Maintenance of Effort” formula, the lowest amount of funding permitted by law, as they did last year.

School personnel and parents are worried that activities will be cut if the system receives the same level of funding in the year ahead as it did last year. Ocean City Elementary School, Showell Elementary School, Berlin Intermediate School, Stephen Decatur Middle School, and SDHS were at risk of slashing their summer academies earlier this year due to financial concerns and an economi-

TARA FISCHER/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

One of the signs in question is pictured on a commercial piece of property in Ocean Pines.

Enforcement ongoing in Pines

Continued from Page 88

cally disadvantaged threshold rule that previously disqualified them from grant aid.

However, the northern schools were awarded $150,000 from the Donnie Williams Foundation in March to save their extended academic services.

While the political efforts continue, concerns have been heard about Ocean Pines employing selective enforcement regarding the education signs, as signs for political candidates are in yards throughout the community.

Ocean Pines argued that the signs’ content was not the cause of their denial but rather the association’s bylaws and regulations.

“Signs need prior approval from

Officials seek to advance project

Continued from Page 87

school Worcester County Public Schools shared plans for last year. Instead, IAC officials said the state would provide funding in four scenarios— combining Buckingham and Berlin Intermediate School, replacing both Buckingham and BIS back to back, moving sixth grade to Stephen Decatur Middle School and replacing Buckingham as a pre-k through fifthgrade school or moving sixth grade to the middle school and converting Buckingham, Showell and Ocean City elementary schools back into pre-k through fifth grade facilities. Those options could result in $30-$37 million in state funding.

Bertino said this week he felt the commissioners needed to work with the school system to figure out how to move forward now.

“I think we need to work with the board of education to determine which option presented to us, or maybe some other option, would be of interest,” Bertino said.

He suggested forming a work group to include three commissioners. The other commissioners agreed and decided the group would include Commissioner Ted Elder, Commissioner Eric Fiori and Commissioner Diana Purnell.

Worcester County Public Schools provided a statement when contacted after the meeting.

“The Board of Education is already in the process of creating a work group to advance the new Buckingham Elementary project, which is of course inclusive of the commissioner body,” the statement reads. “This is slated to be discussed at the upcoming board meeting on May 21. We look forward to the collaboration with county officials to move this important capital project forward for the Buckingham community.”

the Architectural Review Committee if they do not fall under the allowable signs as listed in the guidelines,” OPA Senior Executive Office Manager Linda Martin said of the banners.

“The ‘I Support Public Education’ signs do not meet any allowable category for signs, so a homeowner requested a blanket approval for all lots in Ocean Pines to keep the signs at the last ARC Meeting. While the ARC turned the request down, individual lots can apply for a variance to have these signs placed on their property.

To date, Compliance, Permit, and Inspections have not received any such request for these signs or any sign.”

The “I Support Public Education” signs are part of a larger initiative to secure full monetary support for the schools. On April 14, the activist group Worcester United hosted a rally on the Ocean City Boardwalk where parents, teachers, school personnel, and concerned community members marched for the cause.

“Our big goal right now is to ensure the budget gets funded,” the Worcester United member said. “Without a solid funding source, our schools will be unable to do what we need them to.”

Tignor said that SDHS teacher Mary Hathaway and parents Tom Simon and Brian Robertson assembled Worcester United as a Facebook

ORDEREARLY!

group in November 2023. The organization was inspired following a board of education meeting when “there was a lot of hate-filled comments toward students.”

“Worcester United is dedicated to supporting public education,” the group’s mission statement reads. “Through advocacy and collaborative efforts, we strive to break down systemic barriers, fostering an inclusive environment that empowers every learner. Our vision is a society where all students, regardless of background, can access a quality educa-

PICTURE DAY

Pre-K-3 students Dallas Truitt and Cora Babcock were all smiles and dressed in their best for Spring Picture Day at Ocean City Elementary School on April 18.

tion, creating a foundation for a more just and prosperous future.”

In addition to the budget, the organization’s goals include supporting Worcester County Board of Education candidates who best align with its purpose. Tignor emphasized the need to elect a representative who listens to educators and parents and is open to a variety of perspectives. The group currently has 1,168 members on Facebook.

“We like to say that we want our schools to be funded, safe, and inclusive,” Tignor said.

PHOTO COURTESY

OCEAN CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Education backers dominate public hearing

By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) Education supporters lined Washington Street and filled the chambers of the Worcester County Commissioners this week to advocate for a fully funded Worcester County Public Schools budget.

The commissioners were greeted with “We Support Public Education” signs and chants of “MOE is not for me” as they entered the government center Tuesday evening for the annual public budget input session. The majority of speakers told the commissioners they wanted the school system to get the funding it needed to maintain small class sizes and retain high quality teachers.

“Worcester County pays more per student than any other county,” Berlin resident Brian Robertson said. “This

should be a source of pride and not a reason to lower standards. We spend more because we are leaders in public education. We value small class sizes, we value resources like Cedar Chapel and Worcester Tech and summer academy. We value community schools we value arts and technology. Public education is our priority.”

Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young kicked off the budget hearing with a presentation outlining the county’s projected revenues of $260 million as well as the proposed expenditures of $270 million.

“This is a $34 million increase over the current FY24 budget,” he said.

Young said the Worcester County Board of Education was seeking an $8.8 million increase in funding. Increases are also proposed in public safety, $5.5 million, and in the health department,

$5.8 million.

“The requested budget is currently not balanced with the revenue projections,” Young said, adding that adjustments would have to be made. The commissioners have two budget work sessions scheduled this month and are expected to adopt a budget June 4.

Citizens in attendance primarily requested a fully funded education budget rather than another year of MOE (maintenance of effort) funding. Superintendent Lou Taylor also advocated for education funding.

“Our teachers, support staff and bus contractors deserve the cost-of-living increases that were negotiated in good faith. Our people are what make WCPS the best in the state and in turn our great schools strengthen our communities and our local economy,” Taylor said. “I also hope that as you listen tonight

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

WORCESTER COUNTY WATER AND WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND FY 2025 REQUESTED BUDGETS AND ASSESSMENTS

The Worcester County Commissioners will conduct a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed operating budgets, assessments, user charges and other charges for each of the 11 sanitary service areas operated by the Worcester County Department of Public Works, Water & Wastewater Division:

Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 10:30am in the County Commissioners’ Meeting Room Room 1101 Government Center, One West Market Street Snow Hill, Maryland 21863

Copies of the proposed operating budgets for the 11 sanitary service areas are available for public inspection in the County Commissioners’ Office in Room 1103 of the County Government Center in Snow Hill and online at www.co.worcester.md.us.

The 11 sanitary service areas and proposed changes to the user charges are as follows:

Assateague Pointe – increase from $106 to $117 per Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU) per quarter domestic water flat charge; increase from $163 to $179 per EDU per quarter domestic sewer flat charge; and increase from $30 to $50 per lot grinder pump flat surcharge and increase from $79.50 to $89.50 per EDU per quarter commercial sewer flat charge.

Briddletown – no proposed changes.

Edgewater Acres – increase from $196.60 to $215.60 per EDU per quarter domestic water and sewer base fee; Increase from $110 to $121 per EDU per quarter for domestic water flat rate and increase from $168.40 to $184.40 per EDU per quarter domestic sewer flat charge.

The Landings – increase from $277.50 to $318.50 per EDU per quarter domestic water and sewer base fee; increase from $44 to $50 per EDU per quarter Lewis Road domestic water base fee, increase in commercial water and sewer base fees ranging from $324.50 to $2,707.10 at present to $373.18 to $3,113.17 based on total EDUs, and increase from $267 to $307 per EDU per quarter accessibility fee.

Lighthouse Sound – no proposed changes

Mystic Harbour - increase from $215.00 to $243.00 per EDU per quarter domestic water and sewer base fee; no increase for domestic sewer flat charge, increase in commercial water and sewer base fees ranging from $249.70 to $2,079 at present to $282.16 to $2,349.27 based on total EDUs, increase from $58.50 to $60.75 per EDU per quarter for Sunset Village domestic water flat charge and increase from $53.75 to $60.75 per EDU per quarter for Oyster Harbor domestic water only. There is no Oyster Harbor Debt Service payment. Newark - increase from $230 to $240 per EDU per quarter domestic water and sewer base fee; and increase from $286 to $301 per EDU per quarter commercial water and sewer base fee.

Ocean Pines – increase from $199 to $207 per EDU per quarter domestic water and sewer base fee; increase from $179.75 to $186.75 per EDU per quarter domestic sewer flat charge; increase from $154 to $160 per White Horse Park lot per quarter per domestic water and sewer flat charge; increase in commercial water and sewer base fees ranging from $257.46 to $2,143.60 at present to $267.76 to $2,229.34 based on total EDUs.

Riddle Farm - increase from $240 to $288 per EDU per quarter domestic water and sewer base fee; and increase in commercial water and sewer base fees ranging from $272.17 to $2,266.11 at present to $326.61 to $2,719.33 based on total EDUs.

River Run - increase from $167 to $192 per EDU per quarter domestic sewer flat charge; and increase from $62 to $71 per EDU per quarter domestic water base fee.

West Ocean City - no proposed changes.

In addition to user charges, assessments will be levied in the Mystic Harbour, Newark, Ocean Pines, Riddle Farm and Snug Harbour service areas or sub-areas to make debt payments. All assessments shall be made on an EDU basis.

For additional information, contact the Worcester County Treasurer’s Office at 410-632-9309.

you will hear those priorities we have heard since the beginning of our budget building process, that small class sizes matter. They believe all students should have the same opportunities no matter where they live in Worcester County and last we must continue to expand our mental and behavioral health resources.”

Pocomoke resident Chip Choquette said as a parent he was grateful for the school system’s high quality staffing and that for the community to prosper the schools need to prosper. He urged commissioners to read the 81 pages of emails they’d received in support of a fully funded education budget.

Ocean Pines resident Nancy Michelson said the commissioners were elected to lead Worcester County “not engage in deceptions and overreach.”

“A year ago, this commission asked that the school board submit more detailed accounting of their expenditures,” she said. “At the time that sounded like a reasonable request. Over the past few months it seems that request has become an unreasonable obsession with damaging consequences for Worcester County.”

Parent Jessica Clark of Ocean Pines said she saw the real-world value of education.

“For the commissioners before me to have the money to fully fund the schools budget and actively choose not to is baffling to me,” she said. “It’s irresponsible, it’s selfish and it shows egregious error of judgement and shows how out of touch in my opinion you are with a lot of your constituents myself included our children their schools and teachers are not pawns to be used in political games.”

Retired educator Gwen Lehman said that while there had been budget issues in the past, they had been little bumps in the road, not the boulders they seemed to be now.

“At the heart of every educational system is students, now at ages ranging from 3 to 18,” Lehman said. “When you limit education funding to appease pedagogical differences, appeal to a political ideology, settle personal scores or address invented grievances you are forgetting that at the heart of our schools is a child looking at you. Depending on you to not let them down. Hoping you will smash the current boulders into bits and bumps that will not derail the hardwon progress of a school system that our state refers to as its hidden gem.”

Longtime art teacher Melissa Reid said a strong school system was crucial for the economic viability of Worcester County.

“Over the last year the actions and words of a few of you have pitted community members against community members,” she said. “Rather than tearing each other apart we should be using our own local resources, like our tax dollars, to ensure a better quality of life for us and a better future for our kids. What do you want your political legacy to be?

Teachers, parents, students speak

Please do the right thing by fully funding the Worcester County Public Schools budget.”

Buckingham Elementary School teacher Alison Semanchek urged the commissioners to consider the dynamics of her classroom as they voted on the budget. She teaches 15 students in preK. She said 26% grappled with parental incarceration, 20% received special education services, 33% had language development delays, 13% face or have faced homelessness, 66% receive free and reduced meals, and 33% were already receiving mental health services.

“I’m asking you to please think of my classroom before you make any decisions regarding education,” she said. “Join me any day 8:50 to 4:15.”

Pat Barbely thanked the commissioners for questioning the school system’s budget. She said she wanted the best teachers but she also wanted the best 911 operators guiding her through an emergency and the best workers treating her drinking water.

“Sometimes something has to be cut or wait,” she said.

Bishopville resident Richard Addis said the commissioners were facing criticism for a problem that had been 10 years in the making. He suggested there be strings attached to the school system’s budget.

“I don’t believe you’ve ever attached

strings,” he said. “I think now is the time.”

Lindsay Greenan Tyre said she was upset the commissioners weren’t showing the support they claimed to have for public education when they ran for office.

“Personally, it’s becoming quite unbearable to watch the majority of this governing body blatantly lie to its constituents,” she said. “We stand united against the clear effort to dismantle our public schools and undermine the fabric of our community.”

Joe Schanno, representing the Coastal Association of Realtors, spoke in support of education funding.

“We firmly believe that investing in education is not just a moral imperative but a sound economic decision that benefits our community as a whole,” he said.

Teacher Shaneka Nichols said she was familiar with budgeting as she was also a town councilmember in Berlin. She said educators played key roles in the community and urged the commissioners to grant the school system’s budget request. She said the unknowns about the budget and the changes that might occur if the total budget request wasn’t granted weighed heavily on the minds of teachers but they didn’t let it show at school.

“We hold it together every single day

for our children,” she said.

Following public comments, Commissioner Caryn Abbott read line items from a financial reports from a school. She referenced $2,000 purchases at Walmart and $36,478 spent on Amazon. She said these purchases were made but when teachers requested money for things such as dry erase boards and field trips to the pumpkin patch they were told there was no funding.

“With this small sampling its abundantly clear the board of education needs a procurement officer and much more oversight on these accounts,” she said. “I am certain taxpayers as a whole would not be alright with their tax dollars being spent so haphazardly. Very little is making it into the classrooms.”

Commissioner Chip Bertino thanked citizens for their attendance.

“I’d like to thank everybody for their comments,” he said. “You made your points very, very clear I give you credit for that. I thank everybody for their composure this evening.”

CHARLENE SHARPE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

“MOE is not for me,” was a frequent chant heard outside the county’s government office building in Snow Hill Tuesday night.

Opinions

Tax rate down, but tax bill up?

Property owners should not confuse the terms property tax and property tax rate as they consider the financial impacts Ocean City’s proposed budget might have on them.

While these two things are obviously related, the former refers to the tax bill, and the latter is part of the formula that determines the bill’s amount: tax rate times a property’s assessed value divided by 100 produces the tax bill total.

Most people should be saying, “Sure, I knew that,” but some might not because of the occasionally blurry budgettime explanations provided by government officials.

For instance, the notion in Ocean City that lower tax bills will follow City Hall’s one-cent reduction in the tax rate is wrong. In most instances, tax bills will not be going down. Instead, many resort property owners will see a tax increase, the exception being resident homeowners protected by the Homestead Tax Credit.

Dropping the tax rate by one cent will reduce that increase somewhat, but hardly enough to make up for the steep rise in Ocean City property values during the recent reassessment cycle. Just to keep the tax bills roughly the same as last year’s, the city would have had to cut the rate by four more cents.

This isn’t a criticism of Ocean City government’s budget, which will gain roughly $4.7 million in new taxes under the proposed plan, it’s simply an explanation of how City Hall’s budgeteers and elected officials arrived at their numbers.

Whether the budget is good, bad or indifferent is not the point, as that determination can only be made by taxpayers who take the time to understand what they’re getting for their money.

The only purpose here is to explain why some taxpayers will be paying more when they might have thought otherwise. What they will be getting in return for their investment in municipal government is a different discussion.

News from all over ...

Far be it from me to tell people how to dress, considering that I once had a limegreen suit that looked like it had been designed for a frog, but former governor and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Larry Hogan has to stop wearing that tactical vest in his border patrol commercials.

NEWS

EDITOR STEWART DOBSON; EXECUTIVE EDITOR STEVE GREEN

ASSOCIATE EDITORS CHARLENE SHARPE, BETHANY HOOPER

DIGITAL EDITOR MALLORY PANUSKA AMES

STAFF WRITER TARA FISCHER

Contact News Room: editor@oceancitytoday.net SALES

ACCOUNT MANAGERS MARY COOPER, TERRI FRENCH, RENEE KELLY

CLASSIFIEDS/LEGALS PAMELA GREEN

Contact Sales: sales@oceancitytoday.net

PRODUCTION

ART DIRECTOR COLE GIBSON; SENIOR PAGE DESIGNER SUSAN PARKS

SENIOR AD DESIGNER KELLY BROWN

ADMINISTRATION

PUBLISHER/CONTROLLER CHRISTINE BROWN

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT GINI TUFTS web: oceancitytoday.com Facebook: facebook/mdcoastdispatch.com

By Stewart Dobson

I understand that he’s trying to project a certain image, but that sort of thing doesn’t always work.

People above the age of 40 might remember what happened to former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis in 1988.

That was when, in an effort to appear more military, he donned the standard issue uniform and headgear and then appeared standing in the hatch of an army tank.

Things didn’t work out as planned. There was his opponent, George H. W. Bush, giving his “thousand points of light” speech, while Dukakis was saying, “Vote for me because I look like a Whack-A-Mole puppet.”

It was worse, even, than Amazon zillionaire Jeff Bezos wearing a cowboy hat after his Blue Origin rocket launch.

Fashion critics, being the kind folks that they are, said, “he looked like a sprinkler head.”

This just in from multiple sources, some of which might be considered reliable: crypto currency political action committees are lining up to donate $102 million to political

campaigns this year.

Nine out of 10 candidates said, “That’s swell, but in real dollars, right?

In cheerful news this week, Boeing (the aircraft manufacturer named after the sound of plane parts falling on the ground) is reinspecting its 787 Dreamliners to make sure their wings don’t fall off, thereby creating a great inconvenience to passengers.

Apparently, some of the folks who were to inspect the “wing body join” (a technical term for the wing-keeper-on-er), lied about having done those inspections.

Boeing reported the situation to the FAA and said not only was it conducting that inspection again, but it also had pre-ordered several hundred cases of Gorilla Glue just in case.

Noted oddball and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reported what’s really going on in his head.

Known for signing on to all sorts of crazy conspiracy theories, Kennedy suggests that it could be due to a brain worm that he picked up while working in Africa.

This is mostly a relief, since I thought he might be crazy, but it’s the worm’s fault after all. I say, “mostly a relief,” because these brain worms appear to be spreading.

Meanwhile, back to that lime-green suit. I wore it just once, but gave it up after a female companion observed, “Fantastic. I’m on a date with Kermit the Frog.”

Between the Lines

By Steve Green

There were numerous noteworthy comments made at the Worcester County Commissioners’ budget public hearing. The comments from two speakers were especially memorable.

Buckingham Elementary teacher Alison Semanchik extended an invitation to the commissioners to join her in her pre-kindergarten classroom to experience what daily life is like for her students — 26% of whom are dealing with parental incarceration, 20% who receive special education services, 33% with language development delays, 13% dealing with homelessness, 66% from homes below the poverty level and 33% in need of mental health services for trauma sustained.

“I believe I have the most rewarding job. This year I have the honor of teaching 15 beautiful souls. Each 4- and 5-year old helps me grow every single day, not only as an educator but as a human,” she said. “Please consider the dynamics of my classroom … these statistics reflect just my classroom. Countless others across the county have similar narratives … I am asking you to please think of my classroom before you make any decisions regarding education … I am not one to blame and I know I don’t have all the answers, but I am looking forward to collaborating with you.”

Stephen Decatur senior Reagan Sterrs, who followed an eloquent Pocomoke senior Samantha Redden at the podium, addressed the commissioners. The daughter of the school system’s public relations and special programs coordinator, Sterrs was speaking for herself, her sister and fellow students.

“I just came here tonight to say all students in Worcester County deserve an excellent education. Please do not take away that excellence by not giving our schools and teachers what they need and deserve. Every student deserves an education that will help them achieve whatever goal they have,” the Bridgewater College commit said. “Worcester County education is one of the best counties in our country. Let’s keep it that way. Before I leave, I just want to thank all of my teachers who have helped me along my journey. Without their support, I would not have the courage to stand here before you today as a proud newly registered voter and advocate for myself and everyone who needed to be advocated for.”

It was no small feat for three Berlin small businesses to score significant grants through a business competition at Salisbury University. There were only six cash prizes awarded through the annual Shark Tank-like contest.

Earning grants were The Science Nerds, which was founded recently by two former science teachers, $37,000; Iron Skillet Coffee, a weekly vendor at the Berlin Farmers Market, $5,000; and Mandala Pies, located on William Street in Berlin, $5,000. It’s inspiring to see the rewards for the blood, sweat and tears these business owners have put into growing their operations.

Almost more importantly, as Berlin Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells noted this week, the local success should inspire other entrepreneurs to invest the time and effort into applying for the competition in the future.

In a newsroom, one never knows what information will be on the other end of the line when the telephone rings.

Most calls are clerical in nature, questioning when a calendar of events listing would be published and why a certain delivery point runs out of papers faster than others. An interesting call I received last week came from Keith Coffin, who owns the former drive-in movie property on Route 50. Coffin encouraged me to take a walk on his property and look at a house built by a homeless man. Coffin said, “it’s the most amazing thing,” several times during the conversation. It appears Coffin allowed homeless individuals to live on his property, but he assumed it was with tents or other makeshift temporary shelters.

Coffin was surprised to learn from crews cleaning up the property an actual structure was built on the property at some point. I checked out the “bottle house” yesterday on my way into the office. As the photos in the paper show, the home is comprised of hundreds of liquor and wine bottles organized in rows by brands with a mortar-like substance. Some detail went into building this house along with an obvious amount of physical labor. The house’s exterior consisted of individual rows of Tanqueray gin, Evan Williams whiskey, Cuervo tequila and Jim Beam bourbon, among others. Hundreds of empty liquor and wine bottles were discarded nearby on the property along with tools used to build the place. Inside there was not much to the place but there were several gas tanks used presumably for heat in the winter.

It was as equally impressive as it was sad.

Sports complex funding, demand needs evaluation

Editor,

For the record, I am not opposed to a Sports Complex. However, I am opposed to the use of public funds to build, operate and subsidize one. In Economic Analysis for a Proposed New Outdoor Sports Field Complex in Worcester County, Maryland issued in August, 2017 by Crossroads Consulting Services, it indicates that such facilities require an approximate 25% annual subsidy. They also wrote, in part, “...some tournament promoters/producers expressed a concern regarding the potential of oversaturation of the Mid-Atlantic market, particularly as the competitive supply of facilities continues to change.” The Worcester County Commissioners were wise to reject the concept.

Fast forward to 2019, and the Mayor & City Council (M&CC) of Ocean City order their own study. In Market And Economic Analysis for an Indoor Fieldhouse And Outdoor Field Complex in Ocean City, Maryland, completed in January, 2020, it states, in part, “...the supply of comparable facilities is continuing to increase both regionally and nationally.” And, “The growing supply of similar outdoor sports facilities in the region needs to be closely monitored to avoid market saturation.”

Within the 2020 study, I found numerous red flags that are cause for concern about the feasibility of such a project. For example, from 2014 to 2018, frequent participation rates have declined in every outdoor sport listed including soccer, baseball, softball, touch football, tackle football, flag football and lacrosse. Note, this occurred pre-Covid. The study states, in part, “Given the limited nature of this study as it relates to the proposed outdoor field complex, this update does not include case studies of comparable outdoor sports complexes.” It begs the question, why was this study limited in nature?

The 2020 study also reveals that from 2014 to 2018, with one exception, frequent participation rates have declined in every indoor sport listed including basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, martial arts and wrestling. Only cheerleading showed an increase during this five-year period. Again, this occurred pre-Covid. Perhaps, the most troubling statement in the 2020 study is the following, “The analysis performed was limited in nature and, as such, Crossroads Consulting Services LLC does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance on the information presented in this report.”

After the M&CC spent $49,000 for this report, they should have

scrapped the idea.

Apparently not satisfied with the first study, what does the M&CC do? They ordered a second study and paid an additional $49,000 for Market And Economic Analysis Update For A Proposed New Sports Complex In Berlin, Maryland, issued in November, 2022. Red flags continue in the Town’s second study. For example, it states, “In addition to the previously profiled facilities in the region, there is a significant supply of both indoor and outdoor sports-tourism focused facilities throughout the broader U.S. that is continuously growing. Some of these facilities would also compete with the proposed sports complex for certain event activities such as National competitions.” Some sport participation rates reportedly showed some gains between 2019 and 2021, However the 2022 study states,

“With the exception of basketball, core participation in every team sport analyzed was down or flat in 2020, and despite some recovery in 2021, many remained significantly below pre-pandemic levels. The 2-year change in core participation from 2019 to 2021 for baseball, cheerleading, gymnastics, lacrosse, indoor soccer, slow-pitch softball, and wrestling all reflect double-digit decreases.”

A 2020 similar study by the same consultants for St. Mary’s County, Maryland revealed that eleven profiled city or county owned sports facilities all showed an operating deficit. The 2022 Ocean City study was void of any revenue/expense data regarding profiled sports facilities.

The 2022 study further states, “Several indoor and outdoor sports facilities have either expanded or been constructed since January 2020 adding to the significant supply of competitive facilities profiled in the previous study.” The 2022 study adds “Based on the market research conducted to date, the proposed sports complex would likely operate at a deficit, which is not unlike other similar facilities.” This second study repeats a familiar theme and states,

“The analysis performed was limited in nature and, as such, Crossroads Consulting Services LLC does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance on the information presented in this report.”

The Mayor & City Council are about to embark on a Sports Complex that is estimated to cost nearly $167,000,000. Approximately 24% of the cost is to be bonded by the M&CC, with the balance to come from the State of Maryland presumably through state bonds or grants. The M&CC seem to forget that state debt is an obligation on local taxpayers as well.

Continued on Page 94

House made of bottles found at old drive-in site

Efforts underway to clean up homeless encampment after trash discovered

By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor

(May 10, 2024) A West Ocean City property owner was surprised last week to find a house on what he thought was unimproved property.

Keith Coffin, who owns the old Shore Drive-In theater property on Route 50, took to social media upon finding a house built out of liquor and wine bottles on the overgrown property.

“I was amazed,” he said. “This thing is sturdy. It had a front door, it had windows.”

Several years ago, when Coffin bought the old drive-in property he encountered a homeless man there when he went to do some engineering work. Coffin told the man, who said his name was Lee, that he was welcome to stay there as long as the site was kept clean.

“I guess when I was so receptive he told his friends,” Coffin said.

With more and more people on the property, however, trash became a problem and Coffin last week had police respond to the site to ask those camped there to move on. After visiting the property, the officer who’d responded called Coffin.

“He said, ‘do you realize there’s a house out here,’” Coffin recalled. “I said ‘no, it’s unimproved property.’ He said ‘no it’s a house and it’s made out of

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Continued from Page 93

As of this writing, there is no guarantee that the State will fund their portion. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the Worcester County Commissioners will vote unanimously to increase the room tax to 6%, which the M&CC has their eye on to help subsidize the Sports Complex. Why is fiscal responsibility so lacking in local government?

Vincent dePaul Gisriel Jr. Ocean City

Get over political, other beliefs; fully fund schools

Editor,

(The following was addressed to the Worcester County Commissioners.)

First, I’d like to congratulate the commissioners in favor of last year’s MOE vote for starting a grassroots movement right here in our beautiful county.

Your votes have galvanized a large group of Worcester County voters under a great cause. We span across party, and district lines to come to-

whiskey and wine bottles. It’s the damndest thing.’”

Coffin visited the property to see for himself and was shocked by the workmanship and effort that had been put into the structure, which indeed is made of bottles cemented together in orderly rows.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.

He added that there were probably 100,000 more unused bottles lined up near the tiny house. And while crews have been on the property all week cleaning the site, Coffin said he would try to leave the structure if he could. He was moved by a poem one of his friends shared on Facebook about the man’s creation.

“In the depths of the woods, a fort did stand,

Made of beer bottles and wine bottles, oh so grand,

A testament to creativity and resourceful minds,

A sanctuary hidden, where adventure unwinds.

The windows, once fragile, now guarded with care,

A cart of metal, repurposed to withstand the air,

Broken and worn, but sturdy and strong,

Protecting the fort, where memories belong.

Above, a weathered tarp, patched

See OWNER Page 96

gether for one mission. A mission that includes seeking a fully-funded Board of Education budget, a school system that is the priority to the Commissioners, and a sense of partnership between the Commissioners and the Board of Education.

Our school system is what it is because your forefathers in those seats stood on their business and knew the importance of a fully-funded school system budget.

Our family moved here six short years ago. We made this choice rather than sending our children to private schools in a neighboring county. We specifically chose Worcester Countysquarely on the shoulders of the reputation above. Thankfully they are doing their very best with the MOE that they can and are upholding the reputation despite that - thank you to the Teachers, and Administrators.

I implore you to look past and get over your own personal, political, and dogmatic beliefs and fund the budget. We know that some of you are not fans of public schools and would prefer a voucher system - but that’s not

Continued on Page 95

SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH

A house built of liquor and wine bottles was recently discovered at the old Shore Drive-In theater property on Route 50.

Continued from Page 94

what the people want - I hope you’ve come to realize this.

I also implore you to “Build The Bear” and come in where the state will not, and fund the Buckingham Elementary school that the Berlin neighborhoods deserve.

Good day to you all.

Tony Weeg Berlin Commissioners should fully fund school budget Editor,

The County Commissioners are right when they say, “We don’t set teacher salaries.” That is the job of the Board of Education, using the funds that are approved by the County Commissioners.

Let me be more specific with what is wrong when the Commissioners say, “We don’t set teacher salaries” in the same breath as “We support teachers.”

Last year, when the Commissioners decided against fully funding the WCPS BOE budget request, they set in motion these conflicting thoughts of mine as a parent AND teacher in Worcester County...and to be honest these thoughts haven’t left me as we wait for the June decision this year.

As a parent, I need a salary increase to keep up with rising costs to provide for my family.

However, as a teacher I don’t want to see any colleagues lose their jobs to fund contract increases. New teachers don’t deserve this stress.

As a parent, I want my child’s elementary school to be allotted all their supplies for their classrooms and instruction.

However, as a teacher in high school, I don’t want our Materials of Instruction to be cut for our students, classrooms, or school. Students of all ages matter.

As a parent, I was incredibly grateful when my child’s kindergarten teacher showed up at her softball game to cheer her on this season.

However, as a teacher this year I have felt the need to say no to many extra asks and duties to make a stand that I am worth more. Teachers are worth more.

This is what the County Commissioners force when they say they don’t want to fully fund the budget. This is what the public doesn’t realize they are forcing when they say they support teachers, but not a fully funded Board of Education budget.

Truly supporting teachers would mean supporting a fully funded budget as a fully funded budget means supporting all aspects of Worcester County Public Schools. Megan Seyler English Teacher Stephen Decatur High School

$50

Owner wants to keep structure

Continued from Page 94

and torn,

Pulled tight to shield from the rain and storm,

A makeshift roof, a shield from the skies,

Ensuring the fort stays cozy and dry.

Within those bottle walls, stories were told,

Of daring escapades and treasures untold,

Imagination ran wild, dreams took flight,

In that fort, a haven, where everything felt right.

As the sun set and the moon took its place,

The fort in the woods held its own grace,

A humble abode, built with love and care,

A testament to friendship, a bond to share.

So let’s raise a glass to that fort so divine,

Made of beer bottles and wine bottles, a sign,

Of the magic that happens when hearts come together,

In a fort built with love, where dreams can weather.”

OBITUARIES

PATRICIA ANTHONY

Ocean City

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Patricia Anthony, who left us peacefully on May 4, 2024, at the age of 81. She was a beloved wife, stepmother, and stepgrandmother.

Born March 31, 1943, in Whitestone, New York, Pat led a life marked by grace and style. She was admired for her elegance and classy demeanor that she maintained throughout her life. Additionally, Pat was one of the founding members of the Ocean City Today newspaper. She also served as president of the Dunes Club in the early 2000s.

Pat leaves behind a legacy of cherished memories with her stepchildren, Ronald Anthony (Anne), Byron Anthony (Jill), Alexa Hall (Michael), and Angela Rauscher (John); seven stepgrandchildren, Alexander Hall, Stephanie Autry (Jackson), Michael Anthony (Jessica), Nicholas Anthony, Gabrielle Remington (Waldon), Philip Anthony (Grace), and Dimitri Anthony; and four great-grandchildren, Wyatt Autry, Savannah Autry, Helena Remington, and Theodora Remington.

She was predeceased by her husband, Constantine “Gus” Anthony, as well as her husband, General John Pig-

man.

A funeral was set for noon, Thursday, May 9, at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, where attendees were to honor the mark she left on their hearts, with a Trisagion and viewing from 10 a.m. to noon.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Ocean City. Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home.

Pat’s passing is a great loss to all who knew her, but her spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those she touched.

PHILIP FENTON EPPARD

Ocean Pines

Philip Fenton Eppard died peacefully on Saturday, May 4, 2024, surrounded by his family at his home in Ocean Pines, Maryland. Phil was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, friend, neighbor, community servant, and overall great human being.

Phil was born at home on Oct. 20, 1932, in Washington, D.C., to Dr. George I. and Louise Hiller Eppard. He arrived three months early and weighed only two and a half pounds. His father made the decision to keep

him at home through those critical times. That turned into an incredible blessing as most of the preemies who were incubated were given pure oxygen that irreparably damaged their eyesight. He grew up in a big family with nine siblings in Northeast Washington and had what he considered a great childhood, attending Benning Elementary, Elliot Junior High, and Anacostia High schools.

In high school, Phil joined an Air National Guard unit. The day after he graduated, the Korean War started, and his unit was activated. He served two years of active duty and four years of reserve duty.

After returning to civilian life in 1952, Phil landed a job in the photo lab with the U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office in Suitland, Maryland. He retired as a Branch Chief in 1987, with 35 years of government service. He looked forward to going to work every day and those who worked with him and for him found a knowledgeable and compassionate supervisor, colleague, and friend. He kept in touch over the years with many of them.

Phil met the love of his life, Shirley Mae Ammann, and they married on Nov. 30, 1957. They lived in Camp Springs, Maryland, raising six daughters – Lynn Eppard (Kenneth Young), Pamela Howard (Jim Howard), Robin Tomaselli (Kenneth Tomaselli), Continued on Page 97

Patricia Anthony

Philip Eppard

OBITUARIES

Michele Eppard, Nancy Leah Olsen (Eric Olsen), and Diana Nicole Eppard. The family kept growing, and there are now 16 grandchildren, three greatgrandchildren, and one great-greatgranddaughter.

Phil was a model community servant. He was a regular blood donor for more than 50 years. He joined the Lions Club International in 1977 and was an active member of the Silver Hill Lions Club for more than 40 years, holding just about every office, and some more than once. He received numerous awards, including the recent Life Member award in 2023. He was also active in the Auth Village Civic Association and Christmas in April projects. He was kind, generous, and considerate to everyone he met.

Phil was also an avid sports fan and competitor. He and Shirley were on several duckpin bowling teams. He had season tickets for the Washington Redskins for more than 40 years, well before there were championships to celebrate. He loved baseball and trips to the Washington Senators (and later Nationals) games with children in tow are fond memories for all who accompanied him. He loved hockey, too, and watching the Washington Capitals in the playoffs was a highlight of his recent days. He was also an avid golfer, and dearly missed heading to the course after his battle with cancer made that

difficult.

He supported all of his children and grands in their sports and school activities of all kinds – soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, football, band concerts, plays, award ceremonies, science fairs, and more.

Phil was also a devout Catholic who found solace and strength in his faith. He made his spiritual home at St. Philip the Apostle parish in Camp Springs and also at St. John Neumann in Berlin.

Phil is survived by his wife, Shirley, of 66 years, two sisters, Virginia Styles (Atlanta, Georgia) and Jan Sodalski (Middleburg, Virginia), a large and loving family, his golf and R.O.M.E.O. (Retired Old Men Eating Out) buddies, countless friends, colleagues, and neighbors, who will miss him dearly.

He was preceded in death by parents, siblings George I. Eppard, Jr., Dorothy Eppard, Mary Lou Eppard, William Eppard, Dr. Leonard Eppard, Ann Gallagher, and Susan Eppard, and by his grandson, Saleem Abdullah Wakil.

In reflecting on his life, Phil often remarked that he was the luckiest person in the world. Indeed, those who had the privilege of knowing him were the lucky ones, blessed with memories of a remarkable man whose kindness, generosity, and unwavering spirit enriched their lives immeasurably. Phil’s legacy of love and service will continue to in-

Continued on Page 98

spire and uplift generations to come.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Joh Neumann Catholic Church on Friday, May 17 at 11am. The church is located at 11211 Beauchamp Road, Berlin, MD 21811. A private interment will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Philip the Apostle School, 5414 Henderson Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746, and the Silver Hill Lions Club, King Lion Diana Ziegler, 523 Wilson Bridge Drive, Apt C-2, Oxon Hill, MD 20745.

TRACY MARION “NIK” NIKSICH

Ocean City

Tracy Marion “Nik” Niksich departed this world to be with the Lord on April 30, 2024.

He was born on July 27, 1955 ,in Gary, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Lu-

cille Niksich; and grandparents Andrew and Helen Niksich, and Judge Felix and Harriet Kaul.

He is survived by his two daughters, Jennifer (Bobby) Pastorius of Ocean City and Stephanie (Mark) Ostrowski of Martinsburg, West Virginia; two grandsons, Kyle and Dylan Ostrowski; sisters Harriet (Bob) Braun of Orland Hills Illinois, and Rosanne (John) Hutchins of Portage, Indiana; and a brother, Michael (Cheryl) Niksich of Indianapolis Indiana; and uncle, Gregg (Barbara) Kaul of Merritta, Georgia. He is also survived by his long time close friend Debra Danforth of Ocean Pines; and best friend since the fourth grade, Mike Reed of Indianapolis, Indiana.

He was a 1973 graduate of Lew Wallace High School in Gary, Indiana. In

1973 he entered the United States Air Force.

Among his duty assignments were 8th Tactical Fighter Wing Kunsan Korea; the Air Force deputy chief of staff for personnel, and later the Air Force inspector general, both in The Pentagon; Air Force liaison NCO to the National Capital Wing, Civil Air Patrol, Washington D.C.; defense contract management in Tanagra, Athens Greece; 5th Bomb Wing, Minot, North Dakota; Allied Signal Group, NATO, Naples, Italy; and 38th Engineering Installation Squadron, Oklahoma City.

He retired from the Air Force as a master sergeant in 1997. Among numerous awards he received the Air Force Meritorious Service Award, the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Force Achievement Medal.

In 2001 he went to work for the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, and retired from there as the director of

mail management and services in 2018.

In his retirement, he made his home in Ocean City, a place he adored and shared with his family for much of his life, including 23 years of “family beach week.” Ocean City fulfilled his lifelong dream of living by the sea, where he found joy in counting the waves.

Visitors were invited to gather from 3-5 p.m., May 7, at the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Funeral service were scheduled for 11 a.m., May 8 at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Ocean City, with interment to follow.

Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home. Go, Cubs Go!

ANGELINE CULFOGIENIS

Baltimore

Angeline Culfogienis, of Baltimore, passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the age of 87.

She is survived by her loving children, James (Darel) Culfogienis and Steve Culfogienis (Teri Cooney); her dear brother, William (Betty) Blando; and her cherished grandchildren, Dylan (Madison) Culfogienis, Erin Culfogienis and Ryan Culfogienis.

She was predeceased by her devoted husband, George Culfogienis; and her beloved parents, Nunzio and Mary Blando.

Angeline is a nationally known artist, whose work is in over 500 collections of corporations, governments and private citizens. She has won many awards in national shows for her fine and graphic arts. You also will find the children’s books she designed and illustrated at national and local libraries. She is a teacher of art, a judge and curator for national art shows. She owned her own art gallery, “Angeline’s Art Gallery” in Fells Point, in Baltimore, from 1990 through 2004. She also had a onewoman show in New York City at Panora’s Gallery on West 57th Street. A native of New York City, she studied at Hunter College, The Art Students League and The School of Visual Arts. Her five books and covers were published by McGraw Hill and Doubleday. She produced over 500 color illustrations for two of the First Aid Books and many other publications for The American National Red Cross in Washington D.C.. She also produced a magazine for the Air Force for nine years and contract art for many other government agencies. Services will be at 10:15 a.m., Thursday, May 16, at Sol Levinson’s Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Road, in Pikesville, Interment will be at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery.

Please omit flowers. Contributions in her memory may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association at eclipsefunerals.com.

“Nik” Niksich

A. Culfogienis

OLIVER ELWOOD ROBINSON III

Ocean, City

Oliver Elwood Robinson III, of Ocean City, passed on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

Ollie was born on April 22, 1938, in Chester, Pennsylvania. He was the oldest son of Oliver Elwood Robinson, Jr. and Dorothy Simmons Robinson. They both preceded him in death.

Ollie was raised in Springfield, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Springfield High School in 1955. He attended Washington College in Chestertown, and graduated with a bachelors in science degree in 1960. Ollie lettered as a cross country runner and he was the manager of the basketball team. He also belonged to the Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Upon graduation he worked for National Cash Register as a regional salesman. He then went to Cambridge to teach high school math. He taught in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and Pittsville as well.

After 10 years of teaching, he turned his interest to owning a small business in Ocean City. Ollie’s Pub was a wellknown beer and wine store, especially among the locals and the workers at Phillips Crab House on 21st Street. He owned and operated that business for many years until he retired.

Ollie enjoyed gardening, canning, reading and traveling in his van all over the country.

He is survived by his four children, Mike Robinson, Kim Ewing (Rick), Tara French (Mike) and Sara Sifford; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; his brother, Jeff Robinson; and sister, Jackie Lethomon (Robert).

Interment will be held privately. Donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or the American Parkinson’s Disease Association.

RAMONA LEE DEMPSTER

Southern Shores, NC

On the early morning of April 3, as sunrise peeked over the sand dunes of the Outer Banks, casting its golden glow across the still waters of the Croatan

Sound, with waterfowl announcing the new day, Ramona looked out from her home upon those magical waters of Southern Shores, North Carolina. Surrounded by her children and grandchildren, with the fireplace flickering and ‘50s dance music playing, Ramona boarded one way passage into our collective hearts and memories.

Ramona’s was born on Feb. 1, 1941, in Cambridge, to Russell McWilliams and Nannie Leeds Clementine Hurley McWilliams Short.

In her early years, Ramona traipsed around town with younger brothers Shel and Danny, often steering the two away from causing neighborhood mayhem. Then the family moved to Salisbury, where Ramona attended Wicomico High School. In her teen years, Ramona found herself as something of a minor local celebrity. She was often seen in the public eye due to her modeling for downtown clothing stores and for winning a classic ‘50s sock hop contest, which was witnessed both live and broadcasted on WBOC-TV across the handful of black and white TV sets scattered around town.

Then, in 1960, her eyes met with Richard B. Dempster Sr.’s at Bill’s Seafood, where she, as hostess, checked in this tall handsome man for his dinner

reservation. And the rest, as they say, was history.

Despite this fleeting brush with fame, Ramona’s greatest joy and accomplishment was her career as a “homemaker” for husband Richard and children Dick Jr., Kimm, Jeff, Mark, and Anne.

A job title that seems to have gone out of fashion but should be required case study reading for today’s Ivy League MBA students because this is a leadership role that is not for the faint of heart. In their partnership in building a family and a life together, as Richard would skip off daily to the comfy confines of Campbell Soup, Ramona would perform her version of Ginger Rogers dancing backwards in high heels. She managed the 24/7 chaos of five children through school classes, untold sports and performance practices and events, emergency hospital visits, and emotional high wire social lives. And she did so not just in one locale but across three countries, 11 states, and 22 households.

Along every stop across this expansive map, Ramona crafted each house into a warm, inviting home due to her immaculate decorating skills. She had an eye for color combinations and a knack for fusing together furnishing styles and eras. Elements that made no sense on paper but made perfect sense when put into place. That’s why every one of Ramona’s homes was a place that always drew in family and friends to

linger and laugh and dine as their home away from home.

Ramona is survived by her children, Kimm Applegate (Middletown, New Jersey), Jeff Dempster (Salisbury), Mark Dempster and wife Kim (San Francisco, California), Anne Wiseman and husband Bob (Camden, North Carolina); and brother Sheldon McWilliams and wife Teresa (Rock Hill, South Carolina); along with 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. This gaggle will miss dearly the noisy gatherings Ramona (aka: Mom, Mom Mom and Gigi) often brought together under her roof.

Predeceased by her brother Danny and son Dick Jr., Ramona is now “together once again” with her beloved husband Richard following 59 years of dedicated marriage.

A celebration of life will be held where Ramona and Richard will be laid to rest together at the Old Trinity Church in Woolford, overlooking the beautiful waters of Church Creek, followed by a festive gathering among family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites family and friends to donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at lls.org (see “How to Help, Donate Online”).

Twiford Funeral Homes, Outer Banks is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences and memories may be shared at TwifordFH.com.

O. Robinson III

R. Dempster

Decatur teams fall short in Bayside finals

After both teams won their respective Bayside South regular season crowns, the boys and girls Stephen Decatur lacrosse teams were looking to secure Bayside Conference titles Monday night at Kent Island. The girls team lost a heartbreaker, 7-6, squandering a two-goal lead with three minutes left to Queen Anne’s, which won its fourth straight Bayside title. Defending state 2A champion Kent Island avenged a regular season loss to the Decatur boys team, crushing the Seahawks 20-14. The Bucs rolled Decatur, jumping out to an early 9-1 lead early in the first half.

Evan Oglesby makes a move from behind the goal. [Above] Senior Sadie Kauffman eludes a double team during a dominating performance. Both Decatur teams secured byes in the state 2A playoffs and could meet their conference foes again in the state tournament, which begins next week.

SENIOR NIGHT

Stephen Decatur High School recognized its senior female lacrosse players last week at half-time of a home win. The senior players, pictured with their families, are Addison McDaniel, Riley Nagler, Sadie Kauffman, Reagan Sterrs, Abby Melito,Hennessy Murphy, Rylie Kirby, Grace Short and Trista Harner, and managers Maddie Shirk, Riley Wilson and Delaney McDaniel.

PHOTOS COURTESY J.P. CATHELL PHOTOGRAPHY

[Left] Senior

Mallards claim 18th straight ESIAC crown

Prep players end on high note after dropping first four games of season

By Bruce C. Walls Contributing Writer

(May 10, 2024) “Mission accomplished,” shouted Worcester Prep’s boys varsity lacrosse head coach Drew Haugh after his team won the ESIAC Bayside South Championship on May 6. It was his and his teams’ fourth straight trip to the top and 18th straight conference title overall.

The Fighting Mallards faced off against the Gunston Herons for the third time this season and were again the victors, 15-4. In a hard-fought first quarter, the score was 3-1 in favor of the Mallards. The Mallards stepped it up in the second quarter and outscored their opponent 8-1 for an 11-2 halftime lead.

Sophomore Dawson Davis did a great job facing off and controlling momentum, and junior Ryan Mann led all scorers with six goals and one assist. Freshman Karrigan RussellWood chipped in two goals with four assists.

Sophomore Max Carpenter “played his best game of the season with three goals and two assists, picked up multiple ground balls, and played tenacious short stick defense,” according to Haugh.

Rounding out the scoring with one goal apiece, were junior Jack Lynch, freshman Carson Tyree, and sophomore Jake Campbell.

“Do it all midfielder, senior Dylan McGovern, played another sensational game. He had three assists and was all over the field securing ground balls, gaining possession for his team, which allowed numerous opportunities for the Mallards to capitalize on,” Haugh said. “Dylan played offense, defense, extra man, man down, and won several faceoffs, leading the Mallards to another title.”

Haugh added that the game was

McGovern’s second-to-last as a high school player, with his departure leaving a hole on the team. However, he said McGovern has shown leadership and has helped to promote his under classmen to fill that void.

Worcester Prep’s defense shut down the Herons offense, limiting them to four goals. Senior Baylor Hoen, junior Owen West, and sophomore Ansh Batra locked down any offensive threat that the Herons attempted, and Worcester Prep’s last line of defense, Connor Ferguson, had nine saves.

Long stick midfielders Cole Campbell and Lucas Nicastro did an exceptional job shutting down the Heron midfielders.

On Monday, the fighting Mallard’s

closed out their season defeating the Dover Senators from Delaware 15-4.

“I give Dover a lot of credit they didn’t have to play us,” Coach Haugh said. “They stepped up when Salisbury dropped the game. They were very nice to come here. We had our stars in and their coach never quit, never gave up and that’s what it’s all about. They didn’t give up.”

Mann scored five goals and two assists, while freshman Russell-Wood had four goals and four assists. Lynch added two goals and an assist. McGovern faced off for the Mallards and opened the scoring with a goal eight seconds into the game. McGovern finished the game with three goals and four assists.

Ferguson had eight saves, fresh-

man goalie Gavin Sutherland had two saves and freshman Cooper Staples had one save.

Worcester Prep also had a returning player, freshman midfielder Danny Kirwan. Kirwan broke his back the day before the Mallards first game of the season and was just cleared to play in the last game against Dover. He did not disappoint. On his first run in the game, he cut to the goal and received a pass from attackman Russell-Wood. Kirwan corralled in the pass, shot and scored.

“Not bad for a kid who just stepped on the field for the first time in three months,” Haugh said.

The Mallards finished the season 7-5 after losing their first four games of the season.

PHOTOS COURTESY BECKETT GREEN

TENNIS CHAMPS

While the girls came up short in their bid at home, Worcester Prep’s boys tennis team captured another ESIAC championship last Friday. [Above left] Junior Aleksey Klimins serves an ace during his singles match. [Above right] Junior James Haley follows through on a return during his doubles match.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BECKETT GREEN

Worcester Prep defended its home turf last Friday evening against Gunston. [Above left] Senior goalie Connor Ferguson fires a shot on goal after racing up the field. [Above Right] Sophomore Dawson Davis applies the clamp during a faceoff.