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Input Sought On Route 90 Options

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Reflections On Hale Harrison’s Impact

Corvette Weekend: Ocean City hosted thousands of corvettes last week for the 35th Annual Corvette Weekend, sponsored by the Free State Corvette Club. Pictured are scenes from a show in the Inlet parking lot.

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Q&A With School Board Candidates

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Revamped Sunfest Underway In OC

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Ocean City Modifies Sunfest With New Activities, Date

Page 4

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – The resort’s 47th Annual Sunfest opened on Thursday for the first time in late October.

For nearly five decades, Sunfest occupied the third weekend in September with its food tents, arts and crafts and other vendors, beer and wine and live music. While much of that remains the same for the annual festival that opened on Thursday, much has changed this year.

Earlier this year, the Mayor and Council discussed the fall special events calendar with multiple significant events stacked up in mid- to late September.

Out of those discussions came a recommendation to move Sunfest, a sacred cow of sorts on the September special events calendar, back to this weekend,

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Oct. 20-23.

The decision, which has been met with heartburn for many longtime Sunfest traditionalists, came after a review of some potentially unwieldy logistical issues created by the major special events themselves and the town’s support services such as public works and public safety, for example. Bike Week held its usual mid-September time slot and adding to the mix this year was the inaugural Oceans Calling three-day music festival.

The remnants of Hurricane Ian coupled with a Nor’easter caused the cancellation of the inaugural Oceans Calling festival. Ironically, in prior years that would have been the traditional weekend for Sunfest, which has seen its fair share of weather-related cancellations.

The result was the move of Sunfest to this weekend, which appears to be fortuitous. The weekend weather forecast

looks great aside for a chance of showers on Sunday, and the event is chockful of the traditional Sunfest elements including a wide variety of food offerings, beer and wine, arts and crafts vendors and live music. Because of the date change to late October, the town this year has coupled Sunfest with the popular OCtober events in and around the south end of the Boardwalk including the beach maze, the Great Pumpkin Race, drive in disguise and trunk or treat, for example.

The live music schedule has also been altered from the traditional format, which included major headline acts on Friday and Saturday night of Sunfest with ticketed events. This year, the lineup includes a heavy dose of local bands, regional bands and tribute bands with six acts performing each day, three on the smaller midway stage and three on the beach

October 21, 2022

stage. All the live entertainment is free this year with no national acts.

Another new addition in this year’s modified Sunfest are events on the beach. The events include hayrides, dock dog competitions, sandcastle competitions, beach tennis, inflatables, corn hole competitions and others. Sunfest this year also includes several bicycle-related elements, including a bike sprint race, bike swap meet and bike show and shine.

In conjunction with the traditional OCtober event, Sunfest this year will also include several pet-friendly amenities including casual pet competitions. The petfriendly events will mostly be held on Sunday. They include a most tail wags competition, a ball catch competition, agility tests, musical chairs and the always popular pet parade.

Of course, the food and beverage offerings have always been a highlight of Sunfest and that hasn’t changed. What has changed, however, is the addition of the Shore Craft Beer Garden by Burley Oak. Shore Craft Beer and Burley Oak have partnered with the Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC) to bring an Octoberfest-style beer garden to Sunfest this year.

The traditional domestic draft beer options will still be available in various areas throughout the festival venue, but festivalgoers will have the option to head to the craft beer garden to enjoy six different local craft beers from Burley Oak. Attendees can enter the beer garden within the festival grounds, enjoy a local craft beer, find a seat and relax as they listen to live music nearby.

Finally, each night of Sunfest will conclude with a crescendo of sorts. On Friday night, attendees will be treated to a drone show at the end of the day. On Saturday, a fireworks show will close out the day along with beach bonfires and reggae music.

According to Ocean City Hotel-MotelRestaurant Association Executive Director Susan Jones, stretching the season was the original intent of Sunfest nearly 50 years ago and with the retention of many of the traditional elements along with the new features including the OCtober events, it promises to continue to do that.

“Given that Sunfest was originally created to expand the season, I think this date change will work well, especially given the expanded activities and inclusion with Octoberfest,” said Jones.

“Change brings apprehension, but it’s always what allows for new memories.”

No decisions have been made on the long-term future for Sunfest dates and this year’s event will likely be evaluated this offseason. It has been a bit of a moving target in recent years. Sunfest was cancelled entirely during the height of the pandemic in 2020, and returned in 2021 in a modified, more spread-out format. In 2019, the last year prior to COVID when Sunfest was in its traditional format and calendar slot, it drew over 300,000 visitors, a new record that topped the old high-water mark by over 50,000.

October 21, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 5

Electric Bike Ordinances Approved After Class Debate

Page 6

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Continuing a weekslong debate, resort officials this week approved on first reading a pair of ordinances aimed at prohibiting certain classes of electric bikes on the Boardwalk and addressing rentals anywhere in the resort.

Two years ago, the Mayor and Council adopted an ordinance prohibiting the increasingly popular e-bikes on the Boardwalk at times when regular bicycles were allowed. While all agreed the higher class e-bikes, such as the Class 3 which can

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

reach speeds of 28 mph, could be dangerous and not appropriate on the pedestrianheavy Boardwalk, some on the divided council believed the lower rated Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes could provide an opportunity for those with disabilities or recuperating from an injury to enjoy the Boardwalk bike-riding experience.

By way of background, the Class 1 bikes are pedal-assisted and, as such, require the operator to pedal to move. The Class 1 types can reach estimated speeds of 20 mph. The Class 2 e-bikes can also reach estimated speeds of 20 mph, but do not require the operator to pedal at all.

The Class 3 e-bikes, like the Class 1 variety, are pedal-assisted and require the operator to pedal at some time but can reach estimated speeds of up to 28 mph.

Earlier this year, it was learned a complete prohibition of any e-bikes on the Boardwalk could be in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To that end, town officials at various levels have been crafting a way to allow at least the lowest class of e-bike on the Boardwalk during the same hours regular bikes are allowed.

On Monday, the Mayor and Council had before them a pair of ordinances for

October 21, 2022

first reading aimed at addressing the issue. The first would allow only the Class 1 e-bikes on the Boardwalk. That was heavily vetted during a work session last week and the consensus among the council was allowing the Class 1 e-bikes would not create any safety issues while not infringing on any ADA rights. The ordinance passed 6-0 with Councilman Lloyd Martin absent with little discussion.

The second ordinance related to ebikes up for first reading on Monday would prohibit the rental of Class 3 ebikes anywhere in town. The thinking is, SEE PAGE 69

October 21, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 7

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County Votes 4-3 To Allow Va. Store’s Pocomoke Sewer Connection

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – A Virginia convenience store is expected to be able to hook up to Pocomoke City’s sewer system following a decision by county officials this week.

The Worcester County Commissioners on Tuesday voted 4-3 to amend the Worcester County Water and Sewerage Plan to include the Royal Farms store just over the state line in New Church, Va. While Commissioner Josh Nordstrom, who represents the Pocomoke area, said the connection would avert an environmental disaster, those in opposition said it was setting a precedent.

“We are subsidizing Accomack County’s growth if we allow this to happen,” Commissioner Chip Bertino said. “We want growth in our county.”

Bob Mitchell, the county’s director of

environmental programs, told the commissioners the Royal Farms in Virginia had a failing septic system and wanted to connect to Pocomoke’s sewer system.

To do so, an amendment to the county’s water and sewer plan needed to be approved by the commissioners. Though the amendment was considered by the commissioners in January and failed to pass with a 3-3 vote, Commissioner Bud Church, who was absent that day, asked that the issue be reconsidered.

Mitchell told the commissioners the store planned to connect to the sewer line installed in 2010 to serve the Virginia Rest Area Plaza. He noted that the Worcester County Planning Commission had forwarded the proposed amendment to the commissioners with a favorable recommendation.

“As it stands today, the current on-site system serving the property has failed,”

Mitchell said. “Pocomoke City Wastewater Treatment Plant is already receiving their sewage as part of their septage receiving flow as the store is on a pump and haul arrangement at the present time. The use of the current septic system is functioning as a holding tank which needs pumping out every few days. They lack a sufficient repair option within their property boundary.”

Attorney Mark Cropper, representing Royal Farms, said the store had tried to replace its septic system but had been advised its only viable option was connecting to the sewer line. Jeff Harman, an engineer with Becker Morgan Group, said runoff from the store’s septic system flowed north into the Pocomoke River watershed.

“By placing the septage in a force main rather than having a septic system there will be the elimination of the possi-

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bility for an overflow,” he said.

Cropper acknowledged that the issue was controversial. He said some of those in opposition to the proposal felt Worcester County shouldn’t be providing a benefit to a property in another state.

“This is not the first time a similar situation has arisen,” he said.

According to Cropper, more than 200 residential properties in northern Worcester County are served by utilities in Delaware. He said the assessed value of those properties exceeded $78 million.

“Worcester County couldn’t provide the necessary utilities, but the state of Delaware is doing so,” he said. “We, Worcester County, are the beneficiary of the generosity of the state of Delaware for which we receive the tax benefit… In this particular case, we’re asking that one property in neighboring Virginia receive the same generosity and cooperation from Worcester County. It pales in comparison to the benefit Worcester County receives from Delaware doing essentially the same thing.”

He stressed that Pocomoke’s wastewater treatment plant was already receiving the sewage.

“There is no benefit — economically, socially, morally, legally — to seeing this location shut down by a denial of this amendment,” he said.

Bishopville resident Rick Wells, a member of the planning commission and the county’s former head of environmental programs, said those houses were parts of developments that were primarily in Delaware but extended to Worcester County. He said his concern with the Royal Farms proposal was that the property was not Maryland’s responsibility but rather a responsibility of the state of Virginia and Accomack County.

“If there’s any agreement, it should be between the states and the counties,” he said.

Wells said that if the Royal Farms connection was approved he expected other properties in the area to seek connections to the line.

South Point resident Stephen Katsanos agreed with much of what Wells said. He said Route 13 was a growing corridor that would see more economic development and suggested a regional solution should be developed by the various governments involved.

“I’m a little offended when the applicant holds a shotgun to our head and says they’re going to close down this location if they don’t get this sewage hookup,” he said.

Nordstrom pointed out that Katsanos lived in South Point, at the northern end of the county.

“If there is an environmental disaster on the state line that flows into the Pocomoke watershed, will you have to boil your water?” he said.

When Katsanos said he would not, Nordstrom asked if he’d attended the hearing of his own volition. Katsanos said he had.

Jeremy Mason, city manager for Pocomoke, said the fee Royal Farms was paying would enable Pocomoke to make SEE NEXT PAGE

… Church Breaks Previous Tie Vote October 21, 2022

needed improvements to its wastewater treatment plant. He said those improvements were needed whether Royal Farms connected or not.

Several commissioners asked if Pocomoke had the needed permission from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to make the connection. Harman said the project had VDOT approval.

Commissioner Chip Bertino pointed out that the city had to have approval from VDOT as well.

Commissioner Jim Bunting reminded his peers that Mason had permitted the connection initially without county oversight.

Bertino asked if Royal Farms had communicated with Accomack County regarding the failing septic.

“Accomack County does not have jurisdiction,” Harman said. “It is the Virginia Department of Health. We’ve been working with them for several years.”

He said it was that department’s opinion that another septic system wasn’t a viable option for the site.

“You can talk about the environmental impact, and I recognize that that’s important, but that is not what this is about,” Bertino said. “This is about economics.

And this is about the fact that it’s costing your client, Royal Farms, more money to pump and haul to the Pocomoke plant.”

He asked why the store wouldn’t just move across the state line.

“That’s a business decision,” Cropper said.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Bertino replied that was his point. He said the store did have a significant presence in Worcester County with other locations but that was because those locations generated revenue. He said that as long as the Royal Farms was in New Church, Worcester County wasn’t getting property tax revenue from it.

Church said he didn’t see any downside to providing the store with a connection.

“I see it as a good neighbor policy,” he said.

Bunting said that when the line had been extended into Virginia, it had been done through an agreement with the state, not a private business. He said he was prepared to contact the Office of the Maryland Attorney General regarding the situation if the amendment was approved.

Bertino made a motion not to approve the amendment. It failed with only the support of Bertino, Bunting and Commissioner Ted Elder. A subsequent motion to approve the amendment, contingent on the necessary approval from VDOT, passed with a 4-3 vote, with Bertino, Bunting and Elder in opposition and Nordstrom, Church, Diana Purnell and Joe Mitrecic in favor. Mitrecic suggested that the motion include Worcester County reaching out to Accomack County to discuss this as well as fire and EMS issues.

“We have a lot to discuss with Accomack,” he said.

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

October 21, 2022

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Page 11

New Seacrets Special Event Venue Gets OK

Page 12

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

October 21, 2022

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – Seacrets will move forward with plans for a bayside special event venue on the beach following approval from officials this week.

On Wednesday, the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners (BLC) approved a request from Seacrets owner Leighton Moore to expand the licensed premises to include the beach area at 51st Street. Moore plans to use the space for special events.

“We’re trying to put in a special event area for primarily weddings, family functions, things of that nature,” he said.

Moore told the board that he was seeking an expansion of Seacrets licensed premises so that it would include the beach area at 51st Street. He said he wanted to make sure it had the same privileges as the rest of the Seacrets beach did but that it would not be open to the public.

“We basically want the same rights that we have at Seacrets,” he said.

The exception would be the entertain-

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for the Gavin Knupp family and a demonstration for justice in his fatal hit-and-run case. The protest was held in front of Coastal Smokehouse, which is owned and operated by the Matt Ortt Companies, which thrust itself into the case in July with a statement linking a partner in the company to the ongoing investigation.

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ment, as for this property Moore only wants three-piece entertainment and it would stop by 10 p.m. The band would be located on the southern end of the property.

“It’s not a large project but it’s for special events,” he said. “Right now, when we do special events at Seacrets we have to close portions of Seacrets in order to accommodate them. If we have a wedding on the beach, we have to close part of the beach.”

By using the 51st Street space, Seacrets will have a dedicated area for pri-

vate events. The space is primarily beach but does include a roughly 1,700 square foot building.

“The remainder of the property is open,” he said. “We’d be able to put up a tent.”

He said the space would not be open every day and would not be open to the general public.

“You can’t just walk up to this complex and get a drink or walk in,” he said. “It’s for reservations of groups and special events.”

Moore said he’d met with neighboring

Welcome to Sunfest!

property owners and they didn’t have any problems with the plan. They asked about lighting but he assured them it would be the same downlighting he typically used.

According to the Seacrets Area 51 Facebook page, the new venue — which will open in 2023 — will be an all-season event space for weddings, special celebrations or corporate mixers. Seacrets Area 51 will offer a unique space overlooking the Assawoman Bay and capable of hosting large or small private events.

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Off-Duty Police Work Policy Changed

October 21, 2022

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Opportunities for offduty Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers to gain secondary private sector employment got easier this week after resort officials approved a policy change including a pay raise.

The Mayor and Council had before them a revised OCPD general order regarding secondary employment for its off-duty officers. In simplest terms, private sector businesses or special events often request the services of off-duty officers to assist with security or other police-related functions.

The town pays the officers engaged in secondary employment at a fixed rate and then bills the private sector entity that made the request. The general order presented on Monday deals with secondary employment for OCPD officers. The order was written in 2009 and the language in it has become antiquated and in need of an update. In addition, the pay scale attached to the department’s secondary employment program needed to be updated.

The issue was first discussed last week at the police commission level, and the commission forwarded a favorable recommendation to the council as part of its consent agenda on Monday.

An example of secondary employment for police officers could be when a business or organization wants to hire an offduty officer for security reasons, such as groups at a convention center event, hotels and other special events.

The requests for off-duty OCPD officers for secondary employment have largely gone unfilled and in many cases, off-duty Maryland State Police troopers or Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies, for example, have been utilized. During the police commission discussion, OCPD Chief Ross Buzzuro said he feels strongly events and groups in Ocean City that request law enforcement for secondary employment should have the benefit of an OCPD officer.

The amended OCPD general order would increase the pay scale and certain restrictions would be deleted for supervisory staff. The wages were not included in the policy as it was written, and as such, OCPD off-duty police officer secondary employment wages became stagnant.

As a result, OCPD officers were unwilling to work for the 2010 pay rate of $40 per hour, causing 75% of the secondary employment requests over the past two years to go unfilled by an OCPD officer. Those requests were then backfilled by Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies and Maryland State Police troopers. The general order presented on Monday corrects those anomalies in that section of the code written over 10 years ago. The general order presented on Monday sought an increase in the police pay rate for secondary employment from the original $40 per hour to $50 per hour.

The general order also fulfills Buz-

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

zuro’s desire to have OCPD officers have the opportunity to fill those secondary employment requests from the private sector when off duty and available. The chief expressed a desire to eliminate a provision in the order that prevents exempt employees from working only in a supervisory capacity.

“Our intention is to better serve the citizens and visitors of the town of Ocean City and fulfill their requests for an Ocean City police officer within the corporate limits of Ocean City rather than to have to look outside the town of Ocean City for police services,” the packet summary reads.

The revised general order includes laundry lists of the types of secondary employment opportunities that would be both allowed or prohibited for off-duty OCPD officers. The police chief would have some discretion in what types of secondary employment would be allowed if he or she determined the public safety benefit is greater than the potential conflict of interest.

“It mentions that the chief of police can deny any secondary employment requests,” said Councilman Mark Paddack. “Was there any thought given to a due process clause when an officer could potentially ask for reconsideration?”

OCPD Lieutenant Frank Soscia said there was language in the general order providing for some leeway in the secondary employment requests for officers.

“This gives the chief the latitude to make those decisions,” he said. “The way this is written, he can consider any form of secondary employment if it is determined it serves a public need.”

Councilman John Gehrig asked for a clearer definition of secondary employment for off-duty OCPD officers. Soscia explained a wide variety of examples where a private sector business or organization could request an OCPD officer.

“It could be anybody that requests an employee,” he said. “For instance, one of the local hotels could request a police officer because maybe they have a large gathering. It could be a special event that requests one, two or three police officers for security at the venue.”

Councilman Peter Buas, who serves on the police commission, explained compensation for police-related secondary employment is made through an arrangement between the town and the employer seeking a police officer. Essentially, the town pays the police officer based on the hours worked, and the employer who requested the secondary employment then compensates the town.

“First, the request is made to the police department,” he said. “The administration can then approve or disapprove the request and the town pays the officer and bills the employer who made the request. It is not considered overtime. A private employer contracts with the Town of Ocean City.”

Page 13

Police Arrest Teen In Fatal Shooting

Page 14

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

October 21, 2022

Murder Charges From Afternoon Dispute

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

NEWARK – A Newark man was arrested on murder and assault charges last week following a fatal shooting in Worcester County.

On Saturday, Maryland State Police arrested Boris Wade Connor, 18, of Newark, Md., for his alleged involvement in a fatal shooting that took place in the 6700 block of Basket Switch Road in Newark. The victim has since been ident- BORIS W. CONNOR ified as Kamron Michael Lucas, 34, of Newark, Md. At approximately 12:20 p.m. Saturday, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a shooting that occurred on Basket Switch Road. According to a news release, deputies located Lucas, who was declared deceased at the scene. Investigators also identified Connor as a suspect in the case.

Police report that investigators believe Connor and Lucas, who knew each other, were involved in an argument. Connor then pulled out a hand-

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gun and shot Lucas and fled the scene before being taken into custody, according to the news release.

A trooper from the Maryland State Police Berlin barrack and a deputy from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office later located Connor driving with another person and was able to arrest him following a traffic stop. Following the arrest, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office requested that the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit lead the investigation. The Worcester County Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Maryland Natural Resources Police and the Maryland State Police Crash Team also assisted with the investigation.

Connor was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault, along with firearms-related charges, and was seen by a Worcester County District Court Commissioner for an initial appearance.

Connor will be held in the Worcester County Detention Center awaiting a bond review with a Worcester County District Court judge.

The case remains under investigation.

Route 90 Bridge Inspections Set For Next Week

BERLIN – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will begin routine inspections next week of the Route 90 Bridge over the St. Martin River and the bridge over Assawoman Bay in Ocean City.

The inspections will begin Monday, Oct. 24, and be complete by Friday, Oct. 28, weather permitting.

Inspection crews will work 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, and the right lane will be closed during the work. Motorists will be guided through the work zone with a flagging operation. This will allow emergency vehicles access to each side of the bridges.

Motorists are encouraged to use Route 50 in downtown Ocean City as an alternate route during the bridge inspection.

State officials remind motorists the Move Over Law in Maryland requires motorists to make a lane change or slow down when approaching any stopped, standing or parked vehicle displaying hazard warning lights, road flares or other caution signals. The expanded law is in place to protect emergency responders and motorists who encounter a roadside emergency.

October 21, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 15

Page 16

OC’s Hale Harrison Remembered

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City and Worcester County lost a community pillar and visionary this week with the passing of Hale Harrison at the age of 75.

Harrison and his family are synonymous with Ocean City, and the entire county, from their vast hospitality interests to endless charitable efforts, which often went unnoticed or unpublicized. A Stephen Decatur High School graduate, Harrison attended the University of Maryland before returning to Ocean City to operate the family hotel business.

The Harrison family has been in the hospitality business in Ocean City since 1952 when Lois and George Harrison built and opened the Harrison Hall Hotel.

At one point, the Harrison family owned the largest peach orchard business in the world based in Berlin through Harrison Brothers Nurseries dating back to 1884.

Harrison was a partner in the Harrison Group Resort Hotels and Restaurants. Harrison and his brother John founded the Harrison Group in 1970 and the company now owns a dozen hotels and numerous restaurants in Ocean City as well as hotels in North Carolina and Virginia.

While his private business success is as impressive as it comes, Harrison’s public service is also legendary. He served on the Ocean City Council from 1978 to 1982 and also served on the Ocean City Planning Commission, including a stint as chairman. His volunteer contributions to the community are too lengthy to list entirely, but he was instrumental in bringing Atlantic General Hospital (AGH) to Worcester County and served on various boards and commissions through-out his life.

At the time of his passing this week, Harrison was serving as the chairman of the 12-member Board of Directors for the Calvin B. Taylor Bank. He was proud to declare he was the youngest ever to join the Taylor Bank Board of Directors in 1975 and was the longest to serve at 47 years.

A clearly emotional Mayor Rick Meehan at the close of Monday's meeting fondly recalled his friend Hale Harrison, who passed away earlier on Monday.

"On a sad note, we were all shocked to learn today Hale Harrison had passed away," Meehan said. "Everybody up here certainly knew him and everyone in this room knew him. I think it's safe to say just about everybody in this town knew him."

Meehan, who joined the council in 1985, fondly recalled his contributions during a time of great change for the resort.

"He served with [late former Mayor] Harry Kelley," he said. "He served at a very important time in our history. He made decisions that impacted generations and will continue to impact generations to come."

Meehan said much of what Ocean City has become was nurtured during those transition years when Harrison served on the council and on the plan-

October 21, 2022

ning commission.

"That was a time of great change," he said. "When you look at Ocean City today and see how it has been redeveloped, Hale and his family have been a big part of that."

Meehan closed his comments with an emotional nod.

"He will really, really be missed," he said. "It's with a heavy heart that we remember him today."

Former Ocean City mayor and state senator, Jim Mathias, this week shared many memories of Harrison, with whom he was close and had been friends for over 50 years. Mathias, who has been Harrison’s neighbor for decades, said when his family moved to Ocean City and began its fledgling arcade busiess, Harrison was there to help as a mentor and an early friendship was formed that lasted half of a century.

Mathias said family always came first for Harrison, and that he always felt like family over the decades of their friendship.

“He loved his family,” he said. “That was his first allegiance. He was a quiet man and he always told me the unvarnished truth. He was a straight shooter.”

Beyond running his vast business operations, his community service and his philanthropic efforts, Harrison was quietly known for his charitable spirit.

Whether it was providing rooms or meals to a family displaced by a fire or lending a helping hand in the event of an emergency, Harrison quietly stepped in to offer assistance whenever needed, according to Mathias.

“He was a very private man,” he said.

“I don’t even know most of what he did.

When there was a person or a family in our area that had some kind of hardship or tragedy, he was right there. Every element of who we are as a community, he was always there to do his part.”

Mathias said his years of service on the council and later as mayor did not overlap with Harrison’s one term on the council, but he respected his approach to city government.

“He believed in the local government,” he said. “He was instrumental in the transition to a city manager form of government. He believed in the public trust, and he was all about transparency.

He wanted everything out front.”

Harrison and the Harrison Group Resort Hotels and Restaurants were instrumental in ushering in a new era of popular, branded hotels in Ocean City, according to Mathias.

“He was a visionary,” said Mathias.

“He saw the future in the whole flagged hotels trend. There weren’t a lot of branded hotels in Ocean City for a long time.

He brought in Holiday Inn and Quality Inn and Best Western. He was really a pioneer in bringing branded hotels to Ocean City and the whole culture of expectations and quality. He was an oceanfront guy. That’s where he wanted to be.”

Like Meehan, Mathias said Ocean City is a better place because of Harrison and his countless efforts on behalf of the resort and beyond.

SEE NEXT PAGE

… Businessman Considered A Resort ‘Visionary’

October 21, 2022

“We are a better community because of Hale,” he said. “We are a stronger community because of Hale. For those reasons, our future looks bright here in Ocean City.”

In a statement Tuesday morning, Taylor Bank President Raymond Thompson praised Harrison for his long-term commitment to the community bank.

“During his 47 years of service on our Board, Mr. Harrison was the bank’s inhouse expert on the Ocean City tourism industry,” he said. “An outstanding business and civic leader, Mr. Harrison’s sharp business acumen combined with his quiet way endeared him to all who knew him. We will miss his exceptional leadership as our Board Chair. He was extremely proud of our bank, and our bank employees.”

On behalf of the Atlantic General Hospital Board of Trustees, AGH President/CEO Don Owrey and the entire hospital system, Board Chair Charlotte K. Cathell said Harrison’s impact on this community was immense, particularly his influence to help launch AGH. “A great void has been created by the loss of one of the early visionaries of Atlantic General Hospital, Hale Harrison,” Cathell said. “Hale followed in his father’s footsteps, who in the mid-1940s started the movement to build a hospital in Worcester County, and in the latter ‘80s and early 90s worked along with a number of other community leaders and fought tirelessly to obtain the goal of a local hospital. In the early years, Hale was a behind-the-scenes guy who would quietly use his influence and contacts with numerous local and State of Maryland business leaders and government leaders to garner support for the building and continuing operation of the hospital.

He was a member of the original Board of Trustees and served as chair from 1998 to 2000 during which time AGH became an independent hospital system.

We all will miss our former leader and great friend of the entire hospital system and community."

From a hospitality perspective, Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association Executive Director Susan Jones said it’s difficult to imagine the resort without Harrison.

“The hospitality community is certainly in shock after learning of Hale’s sudden passing,” said Jones. “Having been raised in a hospitality household, Hale was truly a forward thinker, an icon, setting the tone for Ocean City tourism. I remember how proud he was when we recognized his mother, Lois, as a ‘Steel Magnolia’ as she truly was a Lady of Hospitality. Her Harrison Hall hotel was the first in Ocean City to have private bathrooms in every room. Hospitality was certainly in his DNA. It is hard to imagine what Ocean City would be like without the drive, intelligence, and vision of Hale Harrison.”

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 19

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Composting Regulations Approved

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – County officials approved a text amendment that will allow composting facilities in Worcester County.

The Worcester County Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved a text amendment that will allow food waste composting facility as a special exception use in certain districts. The change was pursued by Garvey Heiderman, owner of the Hobbit Restaurant and Ocean Compost LLC. “The planning commission reviewed this and gave it a favorable recommendation,” said Jennifer Keener, the county’s director of development review and permitting.

Heiderman has been composting in Bishopville for the past two years through a transient use permit. To continue composting on a more permanent basis, he worked with county staff to draft a text amendment that would allow it by special exception. The text amendment would allow it as a special exception use in the A1 and A-2 agricultural districts as well as in the I-1 and I-2 industrial districts.

Heiderman told the commissioners he’d had no complaints about the Bishopville facility and that he’d even invited the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to visit.

“They’re very much in support of what we’re doing,” he said.

He said the goal of the text amend-

October 21, 2022

ment was to create a path for people who wanted to operate compost facilities in Worcester County.

“It should be very simple and straightforward,” he said.

Commissioner Ted Elder asked about the smell composting created.

“As you will find out if you delve into composting at all a properly maintained compost pile does not smell,” Heiderman said.

As far as potential problems and how they’d be addressed, Keener said a nuisance plan would be part of the application that goes before the board of zoning appeals when the special exception is sought.

“If there is an issue we can address it,” she said.

When asked about setbacks, Keener said they mirrored what MDE would have.

“The separation distance is not something you can get a variance to,” she said.

“The board of zoning appeals would have the ability to set higher setbacks if they felt it was necessary.”

Commissioner Joe Mitrecic asked Heiderman how much waste his program had taken out of the stream in the past two years.

Heiderman said it had been six tons the first year, 40 tons the second year and would likely be 105 tons this year.

Mitrecic noted that benefited Worcester County because it could be added to the county’s recycling stats.

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License Plate Reader Nabs Wanted Man

October 21, 2022

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – An Ocean City man is being held in Worcester County this week on two counts of attempted murder following an alleged shooting incident in Salisbury last Sunday.

With the help of a license plate reader alert, resort police on Tuesday were able to apprehend a suspect wanted on attempted murder charges stemming from a shots- ANTONIO TORLISH fired incident in Salisbury on Sunday evening. On Tuesday, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) received a license plate reader (LPR) alert regarding a vehicle traveling southbound on Coastal Highway at 140th Street.

The alert notified officers the vehicle was associated with a person, later identified as Antonio Torlish, 26, of Ocean City, who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of Salisbury. Officers were able to locate the vehicle unoccupied at a north-end condominium. Through a joint effort among members of the OCPD’s patrol, special enforcement and narcotics units, along with the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team (CET), officers were able to locate Torlish and take him into custody without incident.

OCPD Chief Ross Buzzuro praised law enforcement officers for their quick

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

apprehension of Torlish, and the LPRs for their effectiveness in locating wanted individuals.

“I would like to commend our officers for their due diligence and the coordinated efforts among divisions to safely bring Torlish into custody,” he said. “This is another incident where the LPR system has proven to be a valuable tool in keeping Ocean City safe.”

On Sunday, Salisbury Police Department (SPD) officers responded to the area of Emory Court for a report of shots fired. The investigation revealed a fight had occurred between two females and during the fight, males in the area began firing shots. Officers met with a female witness who told police she was present during the fight and an individual with whom she was familiar, Torlish, was also present.

The witness reportedly told officers Torlish was firing in their direction from inside a van. Officers did locate spent shell casings on the scene, and also located vehicles that had been struck by gunfire.

Torlish faces two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder and other charges. .

The investigation is ongoing and the Salisbury Police Department Major Crimes Division requests anyone with information regarding the incident to contact 410-548-3165. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

October 21, 2022

COPS & COURTS Deadly Weapon Arrest OCEAN CITY – A littering stop for flicking cigarette ashes onto Coastal Highway last weekend led to a deadly weapon arrest when the driver was found in possession of a hatchet.

Last Saturday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer patrolling in the midtown area was behind a vehicle in the area of 49th Street and observed the driver with a lit cigarette in his hand extended from the driver’s side window of the vehicle. As the officer followed, he observed the driver, Deonte Spratling, 39, of Salisbury, twice flick the cigarette’s ashes onto the public street, according to police reports.

Due to the littering violation, the officer activated his lights and siren and conducted a traffic stop. The officer collected Spratling’s license and registration for the vehicle and informed him of the reason for the stop. Due to the unsafe location of the stop, the officer had Spratling pull into a

nearby parking lot.

The officer reportedly noticed the registration provided did not match the tags on the vehicle he was driving. While Spratling was looking for the correct registration, the officer noticed a black handle protruding from the space between the center console and the front passenger seat, according to police reports.

When asked what the handle belonged to, Spratling told the officer “My hatchet,” according to police reports. The officer asked Spratling to retrieve the hatchet for him and the suspect was easily able to reach between the seat and the center console and remove the Husky brand 1.25-pound hatchet, according to police reports.

When asked why he was carrying a hatchet, Spratling reportedly told the officer he carries it for protection. The officer noted in the report the blade of the hatchet was partially covered with a plastic guard, but the guard was cracked, and the

metal blade of the hatchet was exposed.

Additional units arrived and Spratling was ordered to exit the vehicle. At that point, he was placed under arrest for possession of the hatchet, considered a concealed deadly weapon.

A background check revealed he was on probation and the officer observed he was outfitted with an electronic ankle monitor. He was charged with possession of a deadly weapon.

Trespassing Arrest At Hotel OCEAN CITY – A Virginia man was arrested last weekend after getting evicted from a midtown hotel property and refusing to leave.

Around 10:45 p.m. last Saturday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer patrolling in the midtown area was approached by a security guard from a nearby hotel. The guard advised a male was being disorderly and the hotel wanted the male evicted and trespassed, accord-

ing to police reports.

The security guard reportedly told the officer he wanted to call the police earlier.

However, the suspect, later identified as Trey Jones, 30, of Manassas Park, Va., had left the area before he had a chance to call. The security guard told the officer Jones had been in the bar area of the hotel restaurant and was making the employees feel uncomfortable, according to police reports.

Jones was reportedly making inappropriate comments to female workers. The security guard said he approached Jones and asked him to stop. However, Jones became confrontational, according to police reports. The security guard told police Jones was staying in a room on the third floor and his belongings were still there.

The security guard said Jones’ wife and children were welcome to continue to stay at the hotel, but that he wanted Jones evicted and trespassed.

The OCPD officer followed the security guard to the hotel and located Jones in the parking lot, according to police reports.

He reportedly showed signs of intoxication. The officer asked Jones what had happened, and he moaned something incoherent about his wife falling out of their room. Jones then said nothing happened and it was all a misunderstanding, according to police reports.

The security guard approached, and in front of the officer gave Jones an indefinite trespassing from the hotel property, according to police reports. The security guard reportedly advised Jones he was being evicted and he was not allowed back on the hotel property. At that point, Jones reportedly became irate and began yelling at the security guard in front of his young children. The OCPD officer attempted to explain what the trespass order meant and he would attempt to help him retrieve his phone and his wallet from the hotel room, but Jones continued to yell incoherently, according to police reports.

The officer reportedly attempted to usher Jones from the parking lot and off the hotel property, but he would not cooperate. Instead, he took baby steps or stopped walking altogether. He reportedly told the officer he could walk at any pace he wanted as long as he was walking, according to police reports.

After being given multiple chances to walk peacefully off the hotel property, Jones was ultimately arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing.

Getting Rid Of The Stash OCEAN CITY – A Delaware man was arrested last week after allegedly driving behind a building to discard his marijuana and cocaine after getting pulled over for a traffic stop.

Around 12:30 a.m. last Tuesday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer patrolling in the area of 45th Street was passed by a vehicle emanating a strong odor of marijuana. As the officer pulled closer to the vehicle, the odor of marijuana became stronger, according to police reports.

The officer observed the vehicle turn west on Bayshore Drive and conducted a traffic stop. Rather than immediately pull over, the vehicle, driven by Phillip Bratton, 28, of Frankford, Del., turned north into the parking lot of a nearby business, continued driving behind the business and SEE NEXT PAGE

October 21, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

... COPS & COURTS turned east before coming to a stop, according to police reports.

The officer approached Bratton, who showed visible signs of impairment, according to police reports. The officer reportedly observed in plain view in the vehicle a tray containing marijuana and a smoking device in the center console. An assisting officer located two tied-off plastic bags of suspected cocaine on the ground behind the traffic stop, according to police reports. Officers also located a plastic bags of marijuana on the ground behind the business behind which Bratton had driven.

According to police reports, it was determined Bratton had driven around behind the business to discard the alleged cocaine and marijuana prior to pulling over for the traffic stop. Bratton at that point was arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired.

When questioned during the booking process, Bratton admitted to possessing the cocaine and marijuana, and that he threw it from the vehicle when he drove around the business after the initial officer had activated his emergency lights. He was charged with possession, obstructing an investigation and driving while impaired.

Disorderly Arrest OCEAN CITY – A Sykesville, Md., man was arrested last week after allegedly causing a commotion downtown during a routine traffic stop.

Around 9:50 p.m. last Thursday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers conducted a traffic stop in the area

of St. Louis Avenue. During the course of the investigation, OCPD officers observed marijuana inside the vehicle, according to police reports.

The occupants were asked to exit the vehicle as the investigation continued. One of the occupants, identified as Thomas Robey, 26, of Sykesville, Md., reportedly became verbally aggressive. Robey spoke in a loud tone while using profanity.

According to police reports, Robey’s actions caused citizens from nearby houses to exit their residences to observe the commotion. Robey was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.

Time Served For Embezzling OCEAN CITY – A foreign seasonal worker, arrested in August after a paper trail revealed he was reopening restaurant checks paid for in cash and issuing comps and pocketing the money, pleaded guilty to one count of theft last week and was sentenced to 23 days, or the time he served while awaiting trial.

On Aug. 29, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers began investigating a theft investigation at a midtown restaurant. OCPD officers met with the restaurant’s managers, who reported an employee, a J-1 student worker from Romania, later identified as Marius Chira, 23, of Ocean City, had been allegedly stealing money from the restaurant. The managers explained it was Chira’s second season working at the restaurant.

The managers reportedly explained Chira’s last day of work was scheduled for the coming days and Chira was returning to Romania within the week. A manager advised officers he recently received a call from a customer who reported the amount

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she was charged at the restaurant did not match the amount on her receipt. Chira had been the customer’s server and the manager began reviewing his sales receipts.

The manager advised officers beginning in July, there was an excessive number of complimentary meals, or comps, provided by Chira to his customers, according to police reports. The manager explained the restaurant seldom issues a comp for a customer’s meal and rarely issues a comp for an entire check.

The manager reportedly explained a manager’s approval is needed to comp any portion of a customer’s check, much less an entire check. A review of Chira’s receipts showed checks that had been opened by Chira and later comped using a different manager’s four-digit code. A check with the other manager revealed she had not authorized any of the comps

Page 23 on Chira’s receipts.

According to police reports, a check of Chira’s receipts revealed several checks that had been paid for with cash had been later re-opened by Chira and comped using the other manager’s four-digit code, essentially allowing Chira to pocket the cash. All in all, the comped cash checks totaled nearly $3,400.

On Aug. 30, OCPD officers interviewed Chira at the restaurant. Chira admitted he had seen the other manager’s four-digit code and remembered it. Chira admitted using the code to reopen checks that had been paid in cash and keeping the money.

Chira was arrested and charged with multiple counts of theft and embezzlement.

Last week, Chira pleaded guilty to one count of theft under $1,500 and was sentenced to 23 days, or the time he served while awaiting trial.

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Fenwick Symposium Highlights Safety Concerns

Page 24

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – Discussions on crosswalks, bike lanes and other roadway improvements highlighted a symposium this week on bike and pedestrian safety in Fenwick Island.

On Tuesday, the Fenwick Island Planning Commission hosted a mini symposium in support of the town’s comprehensive plan. Committee Chair Amy Kyle said the goal of the forum was to give community members an opportunity to share concerns and ideas relating to bike and pedestrian safety along Coastal Highway.

“Our goal for today is to learn about what is being done elsewhere, discuss these ideas and see what is needed in this town …,” she told attendees. “It’s a town meeting where everybody’s views are welcomed.”

The symposium, entitled “How We Can Make Fenwick Safer For Walking & Biking,” kicked off this week with comments from the public. Councilwoman Jacque Napolitano told officials Tuesday she would like to see additional crosswalks along Coastal Highway, as well as changes to U-turn signage in front of town hall.

“People come down to take a U-turn and they will come into our town hall lot or the Sea Shell City lot,” she said. “It’s dangerous to pedestrians.”

Resident John Nason said he was most concerned with bike safety along Coastal Highway.

“Trying to cross Coastal Highway on foot or on bike is a life-threatening measure …,” he said. “Another issue is the highway itself. It’s become somewhat dangerous for biking.”

Nason suggested the creation of a protected bike lane, as well as state legisla-

October 21, 2022

tion making it a traffic offense for bikers who travel in the wrong direction.

“About 95% of bikers will ride with traffic,” he explained. “A small number, generally tourists, will ride against the traffic, which creates real problems.”

Scott Mumford, owner of Warren’s Station restaurant, said he was concerned about safety at the Coastal Highway and Route 54 intersection.

“The Route 54 and Route 1 interchange is a pedestrian nightmare …,” he said. “I think it needs to be addressed.”

He also recommended a separate walkway for bikes and pedestrians along Route 54.

“Along 54, more pedestrians and bikers are using it to come in and out of Fenwick Island,” he said. “I’d love to see a pedestrian causeway coming from the bayside into Fenwick.”

Resident Julie Lee added that more needed to be done to make crosswalks

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visible. She argued that most cars do not stop when a pedestrian enters the crosswalk.

“We need to have crosswalks that are available, accessible and safe,” she said.

“That’s done by clear signage and lighting.”

Resident Vicki Carmean, who has spearheaded the town’s efforts to install sidewalks along Coastal Highway, noted that Fenwick Island is taking steps to make the town safer and more accessible for pedestrians. In an update this week, she said Fenwick Island was currently in the bidding process to install five blocks of sidewalk from Dagsboro Street to Indian Street.

“There is also a bigger plan in place to have sidewalks on both sides of the highway,” she added.

Representatives from the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), the University of Delaware, Bike DE and the Town of Dewey Beach also attended this week’s symposium to inform residents of ways to improve bike and pedestrian safety in town.

Jennifer Cinelli-Miller, DelDOT’s transportation planner for Sussex County, noted that Fenwick Island is one of many municipalities facing challenges when it comes to bike and pedestrian safety. She said that the town’s proximity to other resort areas was particularly troublesome.

“While your municipality is just within your boundaries, everything happening outside those boundaries will impact you …,” she said. “You will continue to be hit by people coming through or into your town.”

B.J. DeCoursey, associate policy scientist at the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration, agreed, noting that roadway improvement projects should be looked at holistically.

“Transportation improvements don’t happen in a vacuum …,” he said. “You need to look at these outside areas.”

Dewey Beach Town Manager Bill Zolper noted his community had also encountered issues with pedestrian safety.

As a result, he explained, the town had reduced its speed limit and secured funding to install rapid flashing beacons and a rope-and-post barrier in the median of Coastal Highway.

“We’re directing them to our crosswalks,” he explained.

Bike DE Executive Director James Wilson told symposium attendees this week Coastal Highway is Fenwick Island’s main street and encouraged officials to consider roadway changes that would address bike and pedestrian safety.

“If you decide you really want something fundamentally different than what you have on Coastal Highway, you can …,” he said. “When you are talking about your city or town, the key insight is to design for the traffic you want.”

Kyle said ideas and suggestions presented at Tuesday’s symposium will be discussed in the coming months.

“We’re going to try and move this whole thing forward …,” she said. “You aren’t hearing the last of this. This discussion will carry us well into the spring.”

October 21, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 25

Ocean Pines Board Appoints New Elections Committee

Page 26

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

OCEAN PINES – Following the resignation of elections committee members, the Ocean Pines Board of Directors voted last week to appoint five new volunteers.

Last Saturday, the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) Board of Directors voted to appoint George Alston, Elaine Brady, Nanci Osborne, Tom Piatti and Thomas Schwartz to a first term on the elections committee. While the board had received eight applications to serve on the committee, one association member had withdrawn her application and two had submitted their applications later than the rest.

“Resolution C-08, section 4, notes that the elections committee shall consist of five members including the chair,” Association President Doug Parks said.

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“Therefore, the next two appointments certainly are valid, but since the committee is full my recommendation is to do what we did in the past and keep these two applications on file should any of the appointed members not be able to fill their duties on the committee.”

Earlier this month, Parks announced several resignations from the elections committee. While he did not identify who or how many from the committee had resigned, the association’s website has since removed the names of all serving members.

“Unfortunately, the Board has received resignations from several members of the Elections Committee,” he said. “The decision from each committee member to resign was their own decision alone.”

He continued, “We are saddened these volunteers chose to resign their position, as the work they have done and the time

they have spent supporting the community has been commendable. The Board thanks them for their volunteer spirit and their willingness to step up and serve the Association.”

Parks’ announcement came less than a week after the elections committee held a hand count of paper ballot votes from the 2022 Board of Directors election, which revealed significant discrepancies in vote totals for the six candidates.

“This hand count also verified that the tabulation program needs to be investigated to identify the reason for the reporting an excess of votes, above the maximum number of paper ballots, that were scanned on 8/11/22,” a report from former committee chair Carol Ludwig reads.

“The failure to verify the information generated by the tabulation program resulted in an inaccurate report of results by Elections Committee Chair.”

October 21, 2022

Election results were first called into question last month when the committee released its report on the 2022 election.

In August, the committee announced the six candidates – Steve Jacobs, Stuart Lakernick, Josette Wheatley, Paula Gray, Rakowski and Peck – received a total of 9,053 votes. The report, however, states a total of 2,839 online and paper ballots were returned in the 2022 board election.

With each property given the opportunity to vote for up to three candidates, that would mean a maximum 8,517 votes could be counted.

To that end, the committee announced plans to hold a hand count of paper ballot votes, which revealed five of the six candidates had between 100 and 300 less votes than originally reported. The difference between the third- and fourth- place candidates had also narrowed from 152 votes to 15 votes, and the total number of votes had decreased from 9,053 to 8,113.

During public comments at last week’s board meeting, former elections committee member Mary Anne Whitcomb offered her apologies for the inaccurate vote count and a potential explanation for the erroneous numbers.

“We knew the Snap Survey software used to tally scanned paper ballots had problems …,” she said. “Prior to counting actual ballots, we worked with IT staff to test the software with test ballots. We wonder if those test ballots were the cause of the erroneous additional votes.”

She added, however, that the committee could not investigate the issue.

“We could not further explore this, as OPA has the computer with this data and we were told not to contact OPA staff,” she said. “This was very worrisome to us.

This is a departure from the current operations.”

She continued, “For example, if a member requests an additional or duplicate ballot, they contact the elections committee and elections committee works with Ruth Ann Meyer [assessments and memberships manager]. If we couldn’t do this directly, we couldn’t do our job …

We wish new members of the elections committee well and encourage the board to allow them to operate independently.”

Whitcomb also asked the board to consider eliminating the use of paper ballots.

“We also ask the board to post our amended annual report and encourage consideration of the recommendation to go to online and phone-in voting,” she said, “avoiding current software problems. You may know there were no errors in the online voting.”

Following the appointment of new committee members last week, Parks said the board would continue to accept applications.

“I want the community to know anybody that submits an application for a committee will be considered by the board, whether or not it’s endorsed by the liaison, the chair,” he said.

The board will also consider hiring a forensic auditor to audit the 2022 board election in a special meeting held too late to be included in this week’s edition of the paper.

Seasonal Visa Allocation Increased “VANISHING OCEAN CITY”

October 21, 2022

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – The Eastern Shore’s seafood industry and other seasonal businesses got welcome news late last week when the federal government announced it was nearly doubling the number of H-2B temporary, non-agricultural worker visas for fiscal year 2023.

The federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week announced it was releasing an additional 64,000-plus H-2B temporary seasonal visas for workers so critical to the shore’s seafood industry. The release of the additional H-2B visas was made possible by an amendment co-sponsored by Congressman Andy Harris (RMd.) to the fiscal year 2022 DHS appropriations bill, which was signed into law last March.

The release of the additional H-2B visas could provide a shot in the arm for many Lower Shore businesses that rely on the temporary, seasonal workforce they provide. The H-2B guest worker program provides access to seasonal temporary labor to businesses that can prove they were unable to hire willing and qualified American workers in certain non-agricultural seasonal roles.

U.S. employers are allowed to bring foreign nationals to this country to fill temporary, non-agricultural jobs with H-2B status. Unlike the J-1 visas, the workers are generally not students and there is not a work and travel component connected to the H-2B visas. The H-2B visa workers are seasonal and are relied upon heavily by the tourism, hospitality, landscaping, seafood and construction industries, for example.

Heretofore, there have been 66,000 H-2B visas made available each year, allocated in half for the summer season and half for the winter season. However, because of acute labor shortages in certain sectors of the economy, federal lawmakers, including Maryland’s representatives in Congress, have been urging the DHS to up the number available. The DHS announcement late last week will include the typical 66,000 issued each fiscal year, along with over 64,000 more in fiscal year 2023, bringing the total number available to around 133,000. Harris announced last week he was pleased the DHS had increased the number available and said the allocation could boost Eastern Shore businesses in his district with their temporary labor needs. He said the shortfall of available visas has been particularly hard on certain seafood industries on the shore, including crab picking and processing plants, for example.

“This announcement is welcome news for many businesses across Maryland’s 1st District,” he said. “The release of these additional visas will help many businesses in my district that rely on seasonal workers for the economic development of their operation.”

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Harris said the announcement was the direct result of the Harris-Pingree Appropriations amendment that allowed the DHS to release more workers based on their discretion.

Maryland’s Democratic U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen also praised the DHS release of an additional 64,000-plus H-2B visas for fiscal year 2023 on top of the 66,000 that are normally available each year.

“Maryland’s seafood industry is powered by many Eastern Shore small businesses that process the crabs enjoyed across our region,” the senators said in a statement. “That’s why it’s critical for the administration to work with us to help meet these businesses’ unique employment needs.”

Cardin and Van Hollen also said they will continue to work with DHS to ensure enough H-2B visas are issued to meet the needs of seasonal businesses that need the workers the most.

“We are encouraged that DHS is working proactively to make the maximum number of H-2B visas available in the new fiscal year, while ensuring they are distributed in a manner that takes into account our Maryland businesses and their needs. At the same time, we will continue our efforts in Congress to develop a lasting solution that provides clearer more certain rules of the road for our seafood businesses, while protecting the rights of workers.”

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Rental Referendum Questions Raised

October 21, 2022

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

OCEAN PINES – Questions regarding the mailing process for a referendum on short-term rental regulations highlighted an update at last week’s board meeting.

Last Saturday, Ocean Pines Association staff presented the Ocean Pines Board of Directors with an update on a referendum for short-term rental regulations.

Senior Executive Office Manager Linda Martin noted that General Manager John Viola has created an implementation team to develop a plan for performing a referendum, but that questions remained.

“The team has a plan on how to perform the referendum,” she said. “We met with an attorney on the language to put in the referendum, and then the board representatives met with the implementation team on July 18. The team is ready to go, but we have a few questions on how to begin the mailing process and how many times we should do the mailing. So that’s for the board to decide.”

Viola told board members last week that while all the required paperwork had been completed, officials were seeking guidance from the board regarding mailings.

“It’s an intensive process, and we want to make sure this is on track and the board is going forward on this before we start it,” he said.

Association President Doug Parks noted that the board would address those questions in the coming weeks.

“Unless there is some time-sensitive issue, which I don’t think there is, we can certainly have something concrete by the November meeting,” he said.

In 2020, an Ocean Pines work group began meeting with community stakeholders to draft proposed changes to the association’s architectural guidelines on short-term rental properties. According to association officials, there were roughly 180 short-term rentals in Ocean Pines.

They noted, however, ongoing issues at three or four properties prompted the association to tighten controls on the shortterm rentals.

Ultimately, officials in Ocean Pines opted to incorporate the county’s shortterm rental regulations into its Declaration of Restrictions (DRs) with enhanced enforcement provisions, such as fines for property owners who violate the code. To that end, each section of the community will now be given the opportunity to vote for or against the adoption of such regulations into its DRs. “The other thing I’d also point out is there are five sections where this vote is not required,” Director Frank Daly said last year, “as the Declaration of Restrictions already gives the board powers we are asking for to regulate short-term rentals.”

Daly noted that the initial mailing could be followed by additional mailings until a majority of homeowners in each section casts a vote.

Six Candidates Vie For Three Open School Board Seats

October 21, 2022

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

NEWARK – Seven candidates are seeking election to four open seats on the Worcester County Board of Education.

As voters head to the polls Nov. 8, they’ll see a variety of names on the ballot for the school board. While in District 7 incumbent Todd Ferrante is unopposed, there are contested races in District 1, District 4 and District 6. In District 1, incumbent Bill Buchanan faces challenger John Abbott. In District 4, incumbent Bill Gordy is being challenged by Jamie Rice and in District 6, the seat held by incumbent Nate Passwaters is being sought by Katie Addis.

As it has in the past, The Dispatch sent candidates in the contested districts each three questions related to serving on the school board. Their responses are printed here verbatim in hopes that they’ll give voters a better idea of each candidate’s positions as the election nears.

District 1 Q. Why are you running for this position? Please provide at least two reasons.

Abbott: As a parent of two recent Worcester County graduates, I have witnessed a decline in our education

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system over the last 20 years. We have significantly increased school funding with little or no educational benefit. With the support of family, neighbors, and teachers, I am running to restore the educational greatness our schools were known for. I am also running be- JOHN ABBOTT cause of the great disconnect between parents, teachers, taxpayers, and the board of education. Working parents have limited access to be heard at board meetings, which are held in the middle of the workday. Parents and teachers fear retaliation for themselves or students for voicing their opinions. I am running to be a liaison between citizens and the board and to give them a voice.

Buchanan: I spent my career as an educator, teaching for 40 years as a classroom teacher in Worcester County schools, the last 34 years at Pocomoke High School. Using my educational background and knowledge, I wanted to continue my involvement in the education of the BILL students of Worcester BUCHANAN County.

I have a Master’s Degree in Education, with a focus on Supervision and

Administration. The combination of my direct classroom experience and my understanding of curriculum and school management enables me to be an effective School Board member.

Q. What are the key challenges facing the school system and how would you address them?

Abbott: I believe the biggest challenge facing our school system right now is getting our students up to grade level in reading and math after COVID19 and the consequences of virtual learning. As students move forward, they are not proficient in their gradelevel subject matter in Worcester County. As a board member, I would address this challenge by introducing practical learning resolutions within the executive, legislative, and judicial powers of the board to make necessary changes in the school day.

Buchanan: The main challenge is, and will be in the immediate future, funding. Some may say that money does not fix everything, but the investment of providing current technology must be made for our students. Advances in modern technology need to be available in our schools for our students. It is paramount to ensure that our students have the skills to compete in a national and global arena. It is with this realization that our lives and careers are technology driven and will

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continue to be into the future. The question of how to address funding requires a re-evaluation on the state level of the formula used for the funding of education. At this time, Worcester County receives the least funding compared to all the other counties in Maryland.

Q. How do you view your role as a school board member and your relationship with the administration?

Abbott: I view my role as a board member and relationship with the administration as being one of the governing entities, which is responsible for providing educational policies, bylaws, rules, and regulations (consistent with state law). We have an obligation to craft a quality educational curriculum that provides equal opportunity for all students that will be carried out by administration.

Buchanan: The role of a school board member is non-partisan. The concerns of all parents, grandparents and citizens should be listened to regarding questions they have. The personal opinion of a board member does not represent the objective consensus of the whole board and when political agendas are added, you have a onesided system of school oversight.

The board's relationship to the superintendent and administration is SEE PAGE 50

route 90 improvement survey now open

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One of the concepts under review for the Route 90 improvement is widening the roadway to four lanes from Route 589 to Ocean City. Another proposal includes three lanes with one being able to be reversible.

Image courtesy of MDOT SHA

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – The eventual dualization of the Route 90 corridor continues to move forward by degrees including a survey initiated by the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) to gage the public’s input on some of the early conceptual designs.

For several years, Ocean City officials have expressed a desire to see

improvements to the Route 90 corridor, including expanding the current highway and its two bridges from two lanes to four lanes to ease access in and out of the resort for the public, and perhaps more importantly, emergency services including fire apparatus and ambulances, for example.

For years, improvements to Route 90 had been further down the county’s pecking order in terms of state highway priorities, behind the continued work on Route 113 and other projects, including Route 589 and the ev-

entual replacement of the Route 50 bridge. However, in August 2021, Gov. Larry Hogan announced funding for the Route 90 improvements, including dualization, would be included in the state’s Consolidated Transportation Plan (CTP) for the planning phase of dualizing Route 90 into Ocean City.

To that end, MDOT SHA has initiated a survey to receive public input on preliminary improvement concepts and highway needs for Route 90, SEE PAGE 34

October 21, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 33

… SHA Seeks Public Input On Corridor Designs

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

FROM PAGE 32 also known as the Ocean City Expressway. The survey area stretches from Route 50 to Coastal Highway and is part of the state’s Route 90 Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study.

The survey is available on MDOT SHA’s Route 90 project portal page and asks respondents to prioritize projects for the corridor that could be considered in future planning and design efforts related to traffic operations, capacity, safety, pedestrian and bicyclist accessibility and emergency evacuation, for example.

Preliminary concepts have been developed for the survey and they are across the board. Among other things, the preliminary design con-

cepts include additional lanes for the existing infrastructure, intersection improvements and potentially new bridges over the St. Martin River and the Assawoman Bay. Again, the preliminary concepts are just that, but they provide a jumping off point to present to the public through the survey, which opened last week and will remain open through 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 10. Survey results will be used to form preliminary improvement concepts for the corridor.

For example, Concept 1A includes two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane separated by a median, which from a rendering appears to be a Jersey wall. Concept 1B would be essentially the same as Concept 1A

from Route 113 to the St. Martin River but would then transition to two eastbound lanes and two westbound lanes with a median and shoulders from the St. Martin River to Coastal Highway.

Concept 1C would add a third lane to the existing roadway. It would include one eastbound lane and one westbound lane with a third lane in the middle being a reversible lane. It would also include a median and shoulders. Concept 2 would include four lanes on the existing roadway with two eastbound and two westbound. It would add a lane in each direction to existing roadway separated by a median and with shoulders.

The final concept presented in the survey, Concept 3, represents the big-

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gest departure from the existing Route 90 corridor. It calls for a fourlane dualized roadway. It includes constructing a two-lane roadway to the north or south of the existing roadway with a wide grass median in between.

Again, the survey is simply a means by which MDOT SHA can gather public input in the early stages of what will likely be a long process.

There are still environmental assessments to complete, design and engineering phases and eventually construction. Of course, the availability of state funding for the project will likely determine how quickly it is expedited.

Nonetheless, the survey launched last week is a positive step for the long-awaited improvements to the corridor.

“Improvements along the Maryland 90 corridor are vital for all stakeholders, and input from the community and those who travel this corridor will be critical to help us develop a strategy to address current and future needs,” said MDOT SHA Administrator Tim Smith.

According to MDOT SHA, Route 90 from Route 50 to Coastal Highway is generally a two-lane freeway with a 55-mph speed limit. However, there are often times when motorists never have the chance to reach that speed limit. During the summer months, traffic on Route 90 often backs up six miles to Route 589 on Fridays and over seven miles to Route 113 on Saturdays.

Route 90, along with Route 50, are primary evacuation routes leaving Ocean City in the event of a severe weather event or emergency, and Route 90 is also a designated hurricane evacuation route from the resort. In 2021, Hogan announced $850,000 for the Route 90 study’s project planning phase. In June, the governor announced $15 million in new funding to advance the planning and design of improvements to the corridor.

“MDOT shares Governor Hogan’s focus to address current and future needs for this critical corridor and this beautiful part of the state,” said MDOT Secretary James F. Ports, Jr. “The feedback we get through the MD 90 study process will help us focus on key issues and solutions for the residents of Worcester County, for Eastern Shore visitors and for the region’s economic vitality.”

As part of the Route 90 PEL study, MDOT SHA is assessing corridor needs and will summarize analyses and recommendations in a report to the public by the end of the year. Results will be used for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for future potential projects in the corridor. The NEPA process is anticipated to begin next year.

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OP Fire Station Planning Continues

October 21, 2022

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

OCEAN PINES – Officials say 10 firms have responded to a request for proposals as the association seeks a consultant to lead a feasibility study for a South Station capital campaign.

Last Saturday, General Manager John Viola presented the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) Board of Directors with an update on efforts to secure a consultant for the creation of a feasibility study, which will be used to kickstart a capital campaign for the construction of a new Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department (OPVFD) South Station.

Viola noted the request for proposals (RFP), issued on Sept. 26, had elicited responses from 10 consultants.

“Questions and responses were accepted through October 14 and the proposals are due October 31, 2022,” he added.

Viola noted the effort to find a consultant is being spearheaded by the OPVFD workgroup, which will assist the association in launching a capital campaign for the new South Station. While the group will seek a fundraising professional, the association must first hire a consultant to create a feasibility study.

“There will be an update to the board with a team recommendation on November 19, 2022 …,” Viola said. “After that, this will be a two-, three-month process with the consultant to create a feasibility study, and then we would reach out with an RFP, hopefully, for a fundraising company.”

In June, OPVFD leaders held a town hall meeting to discuss proposed South Station renovations, and the funding needed to make the project a reality. Officials told community members they are proposing an $8.6 million renovation that calls for a demolition of the station’s living and administrative quarters, the addition of a two-story building, and a new bay.

OPVFD officials say state contributions totaling $1.6 million and department reserve funding in the amount of $1 million will go toward South Station improvements. The department is also seeking the community’s support to fund the remaining $6 million.

In July, however, Director Frank Daly noted an existing memorandum of understanding between OPA and the fire department excluded funding for South Station improvements, but called for a joint capital campaign to raise funds for construction. To that end, the board voted unanimously to direct the general manager to form a workgroup to evaluate and select a fundraising professional for a capital fundraising effort.

In an update last week, Viola noted that the fire department had two years to begin using its grant funding. He said that gave the community time to raise additional money for the project.

“They received the grant in April, so we’ve got two years to activate it,” he said.

“Once we start, we’ve got seven years to pull from it and pay for construction.”

October 21, 2022

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October 21, 2022

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Page 39

Tindley Festival: The Germantown School Community Heritage Cen-

County Library System Eyes Rebranding ter hosted the Tindley Gospel Music Festival last Saturday. The event included youth activities with long-time local educator Terry Smith, who is pictured with children on hand.

Photo by Charlene Sharpe

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Discussions on rebranding the Worcester County Library highlighted last week’s meeting of the board of trustees.

As officials work to design a new branch in Pocomoke and bring a book mobile to its growing list of services, the Worcester County Library Board of Trustees took the next step forward in launching a potential rebranding effort of the library system.

“I think it can definitely coincide with a new library, trying to put out a new logo and having a potential video that highlights each individual library,” said board member Jeff Smith.

In recent months, board members have discussed the possibility of creating a new logo for the library system’s website, library cards and printed materials. There was also discussion of including it onto the library’s new book mobile.

To that end, board members this week discussed plans for developing a subcommittee with the purpose of exploring rebranding efforts and associated costs. Smith said he had also reached out to a Berlin-based graphic designer for help.

“I can tell you his exact words were something to the effect of we have two choices,” he said. “We can either continue to think of ourselves as a library, and brand ourselves simply as a library, or we take a more broad approach and say … a library is about more than just books, so why not brand ourselves as more + than just a library.”

Board member Nancy Howard said the rebranding effort could also include a video highlighting the library system’s five branch locations. She added, however, that a new logo should be created before the library moved forward with a design for its new book mobile.

“It seems counterproductive to wrap the bus and then change the logo,” she said.

Smith noted that the rebranding effort would require funding. Jennifer Ranck, the library’s executive director, agreed.

“We’re going to need to think about a marketing budget,” Smith said.

The library board this week also dis-

cussed a potential change to library hours, as well as ongoing design work for the Pocomoke library project. Since 2020, county officials have been moving forward with plans for a new library branch.

In an update last week, Ranck noted she was working with architect Jeff Schoellkopf to develop different schemes for the building, which will be constructed at the site of the long-vacant armory building on 2nd Street in Pocomoke.

“Jeff is doing a pretty good job of putting our ideas on paper,” she said. “So we are looking forward to that continuing.”

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Injunction Granted In OPA Lawsuit

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

OCEAN PINES – A Worcester County Circuit Court judge has ruled in favor of a preliminary injunction that will prohibit the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) from enforcing a 90-day amenity ban against former director Tom Janasek.

Last Friday, Judge Beau Oglesby issued an opinion and order granting Janasek’s motion for a preliminary injunction, allowing him to continue using Ocean Pines’ food and beverage amenities as his lawsuit against the association and its board of directors makes its way through the court system.

The opinion and court order comes weeks after an Aug. 25 hearing, in which Oglesby set a 25-day timeline to rule on the preliminary injunction request.

“Mr. Janasek is, of course, pleased with the Court’s ruling, which we feel is amply supported by the testimony given in August, the factual record otherwise developed, and applicable law,” said Bruce Bright, Janasek’s attorney. “The preliminary injunction means that the purported ‘ban’ will not be effective or enforceable while this case is pending, and we expect that, should the matter continue to be litigated by the OPA, the preliminary injunction will become permanent and that Mr. Janasek will otherwise prevail at the end of the case.”

In June, the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors voted 5-2, with Directors Doug Parks and Rick Farr opposed, to ban Janasek from the Yacht Club, Golf Clubhouse and Beach Club for 90 days following an altercation between Janasek and former director Josette Wheatley.

While at the Yacht Club Tiki Bar on May 20, Janasek reportedly launched into a verbal tirade over Wheatley’s vote to elect the next association president.

Janasek was ultimately escorted from the property, and Wheatley has since obtained a peace order preventing Janasek from contacting her for a period of six months.

In June, however, Janasek filed suit against the association and four board members – Colette Horn, Frank Daly, former director Amy Peck and former director Larry Perrone – arguing that the imposed ban was not only a violation of the community’s governing documents but prohibited him from doing business as an independent contractor for AC Beverage, which services bar equipment at Ocean Pines food and beverage facilities.

Board members have asserted the decision to ban Janasek from food and beverage amenities was a matter of safety.

“Our governing documents do give us the authority to provide for the safety at our amenities, not only for members of the association but anyone who comes to our amenities,” Perrone said in June. “And while there are some contradictions in the bylaws, the bylaws clearly state that we have a right and obligation to provide for safety at our am-

October 21, 2022

enities.”

An issue debated before the court in August was whether the association is protected by the business judgement rule, which is the presumption that the directors acted in good faith. In an opinion issued last week, Oglesby argued that was not the case, noting that the board had called a special meeting to ban Janasek from food and beverage amenities only after learning of his identity.

“Mrs. Wheatley stated, more than once throughout the hearing, that she did not identify the individual who accosted her as she ‘wanted an honest answer …,’” the opinion reads. “It was only after the identity of Mr. Janasek became known to the Board that there was a special meeting called and a motion made to suspend Mr. Janasek’s right to use certain OPA amenities and facilities.

The actions of the Board, in advising Mrs. Wheatley to report the matter to the police and then moving to suspend Mr. Janasek only after learning he was the other individual involved in the altercation, is a sufficient demonstration of bad faith to justify judicial review.”

Oglesby also noted that the court must determine the appropriateness of a preliminary injunction by weighing the likelihood that the plaintiff will succeed on the merits, whether the plaintiff will suffer irreparable harm, the balance of convenience and public interest.

“Turning to the factors that this Court must consider, this Court finds all factors weigh in favor of Mr. Janasek, and therefore, Plaintiff is entitled to a preliminary injunction,” the opinion reads.

Specifically, Oglesby pointed out that the association’s governing documents limited in what instances the board could ban members from OPA amenities and facilities, and that Janasek’s employment would be directly impacted by the 90-day ban. He added that the matter of public interest weighed in favor of Janasek.

“This Court is not swayed by Defendants' argument ‘that the OPA Board was trying to foster a safe, familyfriendly environment at its restaurant amenities, not only for OPA members, but also for the general public …,’” the opinion reads. “If the Board truly wanted to create a safe environment, it would logically follow that Plaintiff would be banned from all amenities and facilities.”

In a statement last Friday, Bright said he hoped the board would reconsider its position.

“Hopefully, with a newly constituted Board and new Officers now in place, the Board might reconsider whether continuing to fight this battle makes any sense for the OPA membership,” he said. “There would seem to be other matters and concerns that should take priority over defending yet another bad faith decision – targeting a political opponent – by the former Board majority, most of whom are no longer in office.”

Parks, the association’s president, did not return requests for comment this week.

CFES Awarded $7M In Grants Last FY 400 Scholarships Also Presented

October 21, 2022

SALISBURY – The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore has announced a total of $7.1 million in charitable grants for the 2022 fiscal year.

The foundation made 1,674 grants supporting various community needs across the Lower Eastern Shore. The foundation also awarded more than 400 scholarships to local students totaling $439,000.

“Every grant the foundation makes is an important piece in building a stronger community,” said Community Foundation President Erica Joseph. “Our impact grows each year thanks to the generous support of our donors, allowing us to be a leading resource for our community.”

The Community Foundation will celebrate annual grant making achievements at the 2022 Annual Meeting which will be held at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center on Nov. 4. The foundation will report on its philanthropic activities during the past year and announce winners of the 2022 Community Foundation awards as well as highlight ongoing initiatives that serve the Lower Shore.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore Executive Committee Board members recently presented the foundation’s annual grantmaking of $7.1 million.

Submitted Photo

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October 21, 2022

COMMUNITY News In Photos

Don Coffin of Berlin has been sworn in as judge advocate of the First State Detachment of the Marine Corps League. As judge advocate, Coffin is responsible for advising the unit on matters of rules and regulations. Coffin was installed in

by Frank Del Piano of Ocean City, commandant of the Department of Delaware Marine Corps League, at the detachment’s monthly meeting held at Ocean City American Legion Post 166.

Representatives of the King David Consistory were among the community groups in attendance at Oktoberfest in Berlin. Pictured are Samuel Scott, Willy Submitted Photos Miller, James Mapp and Donald Smack.

Whitehead Real Estate recently donated to Wor-Wic Community College. At far right, Dr. Ray Hoy, president of Wor-Wic Community College, and Stefanie Rider, executive director of the foundation and director of development, accept a $15,000 check from Whitehead Real Estate Executives to support the “Preparing for a Stronger Tomorrow” campaign. Presenting the check are, from left, Traci Johnson, transaction coordinator, along with Andy Rayne and Austin and Darron Whitehead, real estate agents from the Salisbury firm.

At a recent meeting Ken Argot, the new executive director of Diakonia, updated the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City. Argot, left, is pictured with Kiwanis Club President Bob Wolfing.

The Tindley Gospel Sing was held at Germantown School Oct. 15. The event, which celebrated Dr. Charles Albert Tindley, included performances by local singers as well as children’s activities. Pictured completing puzzles and coloring pages related to Tindley are local children Dev Taylor, Ava Sharpe and Daylen Taylor.

The Ocean City Lioness Lions Club recently made a donation to the nonprofit Surfers Healing Ocean City. Presenting the check to their representative, David Leiderman, are Lioness Lions President Bev Topfer , right, and Vice President Ann Runo, left.

October 21, 2022

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License Earned SALISBURY – Becker Morgan Group announced staff members Tyler Giffear, P.E., and Molly Marino, AIA, earned their professional engineering and architecture licenses.

Giffear and Marino have met the requirements set out by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, including education, experience, and rigorous professional exams.

Giffear graduated from the University of Delaware, earning his Bachelor of Civil Engineering. He joined the firm as a civil designer in 2018 and has been an integral member of the firm’s civil engineering department in the Newark, Del., office.

Marino joined the firm as an architectural designer in the firm’s Wilmington, N.C., office in 2021. Marino has been a valuable member of the firm and has supported various project types giving her a diverse and rich skill set.

Becker Morgan Group is proud of these individuals for taking the next step in their professional careers and expanding the firm’s licensed staff. These individuals allow the firm to better serve clients and the community.

New Director SALISBURY – Hudson Behavioral Health has hired Keith D. Johnson, Ed.D, LMSW, as its new director of housing.

Johnson has an extensive career in the behavioral health field for both youth and adults.

In his role at Hudson Behavioral Health, Johnson is responsible for the programs and staff at each of Hudson’s off-campus housing facilities, which include five Maryland level 3.1 treatment homes KEITH and two recovery houses JOHNSON in Delaware.

“Keith’s background in leadership and behavioral health makes me confident that he will be an asset to our team,” said Leslie Brown, CEO of Hudson Behavioral Health. “His work history reflects a track record of helping people get back on their feet and achieve self-sufficiency, and our patients at Hudson will benefit greatly from that.”

Johnson received his Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University,

BUSINESS And Real Estate News

The Coastal Association of REALTORS® (Coastal) recently installed its 20222023 Board of Directors at a special ceremony at The Kylan Barn. Austin Whitehead, a REALTOR® and Associate Broker with Whitehead Real Estate Executives in Salisbury, was installed as president of the association’s board. Whitehead and the rest of the board were installed by Maryland REALTORS® President Yolanda Muckle. Pictured, from left, are board members Kate Deckenback, Colby Phippin, Terrence McGowan, Steve Parsons, Austin Whitehead, Lauren Bunting, Brigit Taylor, Grace Masten, Frances Sterling and Veronica Bishop. Not pictured are Cameron Drew and Summer Forbes.

Submitted Photo

his Master of Science degree from Wilmington University in 2014, and most recently earned his Doctor of Education degree from Wilmington University – New Castle in 2022.

He is also a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Delaware. Prior to joining Hudson Behavioral Health, Johnson was the psychosocial/residential coordinator at Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems.

Anniversary Celebration SNOW HILL – A 50th anniversary community picnic and celebration of health care heroes took place at Harrison House of Snow Hill, located at 430 W. Market Street, Snow Hill, Md., on Sept. 23.

The theme of the event was “Celebrating YOU – Our Team and Our Community.” The purpose of the event was to

thank all stakeholders of Harrison Senior Living for their commitment and support over the last 50 years and to honor tenured team members at the two Maryland Harrison Senior Living locations, Harrison House of Snow Hill and John B. Parsons, Assisted Living community.

Harrison Senior Living executives, team members and the greater community were in attendance to celebrate 50 years of Harrison Senior Living, thank all stakeholders for their support, reflect on the company’s history, and celebrate the company’s future of growth and expansion into new markets and service areas.

Two of Snow Hill’s team members were recognized for more than 40 years of service. One third of the remaining employees from Snow Hill and John B. Parsons have served 5-plus years and were also honored.

Ellen Saunders, board chairperson

October 21, 2022 and daughter of the founders, and Snow Hill Mayor Michael Pruitt distributed service awards. Representatives of the Greater Snow Hill Area Chamber of Commerce as well as members of Snow Hill Town Council and administration also attended.

Harrison Senior Living is an awardwinning provider of healthcare and hospitality services to seniors in Coatesville, Pa., and the Eastern Shore of Delaware and Maryland.

Established by James and Katherine Harrison in 1972, the company’s first community was located in Southeastern Pennsylvania. In the decades that followed, Harrison Senior Living opened four additional locations in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.

Currently under the leadership of the third generation of the Harrison family, Harrison Senior Living has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards.

Harrison Senior Living team members are encouraged to be active in their respective communities and to give back whenever possible. Team members participate as volunteers or sit on the boards of organizations including area senior centers, chambers of commerce, Rotary Clubs, Boy Scouts of America, the Alzheimer’s Association, state healthcare facilities’ associations, and animal and environmental protection groups.

All Harrison Senior Living communities are celebrating the company’s golden milestone through a series of events at each location, enabling residents, patients, their families, staff and members of the greater community to reflect on the company’s history and celebrate the company’s future of growth and expansion into new markets and service areas.

Harrison Senior Living plans to continue celebrating its achievements and, more importantly, providing residents with the very best in healthcare and senior living services.

Associate Welcomed SALISBURY – InFocus Financial Advisors, Inc. has announced the addition of Reagan Ahlquist to their retirement planning team.

Ahlquist was hired as an operations associate and will be responsible for investment research support and tracking portfolio changes on our investment team. Risk management of clients’ retirement portfolios is a clear focus.

SEE NEXT PAGE

October 21, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

... BUSINESS NEWS

Tru by Hilton Ocean City Bayside co-owners Mike Meoli and Keith Martin led a long-awaited ribbon cutting ceremony last month to introduce the property at a grand re-opening celebration. The property opened in July 2020, but the official ribbon cutting was delayed due to the pandemic.

Submitted Photo

Ahlquist’s time being dedicated to our team’s process for growing portfolios, while providing a lifetime of distributions to retired clients, helps our clients better achieve their retirement goals.

Ahlquist graduated from the Perdue School REAGAN of Business at Salisbury University with a bache- AHLQUIST lor’s degree in finance in May 2022.

InFocus Financial Advisors’ mission is to change peoples’ lives by providing the solutions that can help increase client’s confidence in retirement. The company helps people build social security income plans, design, and implement cash flow strategies for retirement years, and manage their investment assets with strategies designed to help minimize market risk.

Art Installation SALISBURY – SVN Miller Commercial Real Estate, the City of Salisbury, Chesapeake Utilities, and Evolution Craft Brewing are proud to announce the completion of Salisbury’s largest mural, titled “Sun & Suds,” located at Evolution Craft Brewing in Salisbury, Md. The western-facing wall of the brewery and restaurant, which abuts Route 13 and TidalHealth Peninsula Regional Medical Center, is now home to a 35-by145-foot mural, the city’s newest public art installation.

Local artists Brandon and Deserea Martin, owners of We Are Limitless Studios, were selected from a pool of four artists to complete the mural. Peter Mueller was brought on to digitally design the mural, which was then applied and painted by the Martins.

The mural depicts items and themes central to both Evolution Craft Brewery and our region, including a crab, the City of Salisbury logo, the beach, a beer bottle, and hops. “[We completed the] literal biggest undertaking of our career all while dealing with some of our own momentous personal challenges. We will never forget this project and the opportunity bestowed upon us to bring about this creative energy to Salisbury, MD,” said De-

serea Martin.

The mural was first proposed by Brent Miller, executive director of SVN Miller, to Mayor Jake Day in April 2021 after neighboring trees were removed during the construction of Chesapeake Utilities’ gas pipeline.

The City of Salisbury, Chesapeake Utilities, and SVN Miller agreed on the project, and work began in early 2022.

"We are proud and honored to be a part of this mural project! Being in the commercial real estate business, it is always exciting seeing a building transform into something special for the community,” said Miller. “When we saw the bare exterior wall after the installation of the new gas lines, we saw an opportunity.”

He continued, “In such a prominent location, the wall was a perfect canvas to add to the Salisbury art scene. I hope the design brings joy to the residents and visitors of Salisbury, and to the patients at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional Hospital.”

Day added, “I am proud to work with SVN Miller and Evolution Craft Brewing on this project, and excited to introduce a new mural to our city. Public art is not only something nice to look at, but it’s something that unites our community and fosters a sense of belonging.”

He continued, “This mural and its prominent place along Route 13, in one of our city’s busiest areas, will allow thousands of people every day to interact with art in a way they may not usually.” .

The year-long project was spearheaded by Alyssa Shockley of SVN Miller and Jamie Heater, executive director of the Salisbury Arts and Entertainment District. Together, the two vetted potential artists for the mural, a process which took eight months.

“This project was truly a community effort. We appreciate We Are Limitless for their expertise, The City of Salisbury for all their guidance, and Chesapeake Utilities for their continued support,” said Shockley.

Additional contributors to this project include Evolution Craft Brewery, Carload Express, Inc., Justin Hart with SVN Maintenance, and Chris Bostwick of Iron Source.

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October 21, 2022

People in Society Brianna Dix and Layla Grimm helped out at Harbor Day at the Docks.

by Charlene Sharpe Featuring Those Helping Causes In The Resort Area

David Carozza and Michael Harr shared information about fire safety at Oktoberfest.

Mary Ann Manganello, Amy Bishop, Ashley Furbay, Michelle Bankert and Linda Oliver had a great time selling drinks at Harbor Day.

Worcester County employees helped organize Harbor Day at the Docks in West Ocean City.

Erin Swale and Claire Bolster are pictured at Oktoberfest in Berlin on Saturday.

Rick and Barb Stack were among thousands who attended Oktoberfest in Berlin.

Debbie Shay and Bob Mitchell are pictured at Harbor Day in West Ocean City.

Mary and Steve Harrison volunteered at Harbor Day on Saturday.

Allison Early and Ivy Wells paused for a photo at Oktoberfest in Berlin.

Barrett Moncure and Heather Nottingham represented the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum at Oktoberfest.

October 21, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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Worcester Honors:

The Worcester Prep Alumni Association recognized outstanding individuals at the 8th Annual Worcester Honors Awards Ceremony last week. Each year the association honors individuals who have been a special part of the Worcester Preparatory School legacy. Family, friends and guests celebrated Steve Green ’93, Service to Worcester; Carol Hartnett, Athletic Achievement; and Hugh Cropper IV ’81, Distinguished Alumnus. Above, from left, are Green with presenter and Association President Chris Hoen; Hartnett with presenter Ashlee Hidell ’00; and Cropper with presenter Todd Burbage ’91. Below left, from left, are Association committee member Joe Wilson ’08, Assistant Head of School/Head of Upper School Mike Grosso, teacher Laura Holmes and Jim and Courtney Baeurle Below right, Head of Lower School Dr. Sara Timmons, second from left, and her husband Andy, left, are with Head of School Dr. John McDonald and his wife, Andrea.

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… Three County School Board Incumbents Face Challengers

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FROM PAGE 31 again oversight. The day-to-day running of the school system is the responsibility of the superintendent and his administrative team. The board's primary responsibility is regarding following Board of Education policy as outlined in the policy manual and the creation of a budget which meets the needs of the school system. The relationship is one of confidence and mutual respect. This is what has placed Worcester County schools in the top tier of programs and educational excellence in the state.

District 4 Q. Why are you running for this position? Please provide at least two reasons.

Gordy: I am running for this position to help sustain all of the positive achievements of the past eight years and to seek and implement improvements as needed. I am proud to have been a member of the Board of Education for the past eight years.

During that time, I served BILL GORDY as president of the board for three years. We have guided the highly regarded school system through good times and trying times.

When reelected, it is my goal to work tirelessly to continue to provide a quality education for all Worcester County students. As outlined in the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, one of our major goals is to support educational equity for all students. Equality refers to each student being given the exact same resources, while equity requires that we recognize that each student has differing educational needs.

I will also strive to ensure that we continue to recruit and retain highly qualified staff members and to provide a professional working environment for all employees. The business of educating our youth is becoming more complex with each passing day and my past experiences will help provide answers to future needs.

Rice: There is no larger issue facing our planet than the education of our offspring.

I am running for school board as a concerned parent and American.

Our world is changing at a rapid pace, and our education system JAMIE RICE has been facing many significant challenges for decades.

Q. What are the key challenges facing the school system and how would you address them?

Gordy: I believe the key challenge facing the school system is implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. This is legislation that was passed in 2021 that, for the first time in two decades, revises the state school funding formula. Over the next 13 years the formula calls for billions of dollars in new investments. These new invest-

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ments would increase educator pay; hire more educators with a focus on diversity; increase resources for students of poverty and with special needs; more career and technology programs; and create a new more rigorous accountability system.

The state will be providing funding to help meet these goals. The local Board of Education will have a significant role in implementation of the Blueprint, including future funding. Since over 80 percent of our budget comes from the Worcester County Commissioners, we must continue to work closely with them to reach the goals as outlined in the Blueprint. This will indeed be a major undertaking for all involved.

Another major challenge is to continue efforts to close the educational gaps. A major step forward will be to move our entire school system towards equity for each student. Equality for every student means that all students have the same resources. Equity means to recognize that every student has specific needs to be able to be successful. The inclusion of equity recognition as a school wide effort will result in major gains in reducing the educational gaps.

Rice: From the perspective of all things being relative to what the education system says they’re trying to accomplish; compared to the actual results, it appears we’re failing our children across the board. As board members we need to stop debating the finer details, and develop a unified perspective based solely on results and outcomes. We have the ability to achieve this by focusing our attention solely on the reality that has been created. When you focus your attention at the level of outcome there is never a reason to argue, defend or debate anything, because the proof is always in the pudding.

When you understand the global; economic, social, and political issues we are facing, you can begin to understand what has lead to the dumbing down of America. It’s no secret that money, politics, greed, and power are the controlling influences in the public school system.

Q. How do you view your role as a school board member and your relationship with the administration?

Gordy: My role as a school board member is that of governance. Governance, as it applies to the school board can be defined as determining the "what" and the "why" rather than the "how". In other words, we establish policy. We select a superintendent to administer the how part of the equation. It is the board's role to approve a budget that is prepared by the superintendent. The board must set goals and evaluate the progress and performance of the superintendent. It is to everyone's benefit to maintain a harmonious working relationship with the superintendent in order to move in a positive direction with our priorities.

Rice: I am by nature a truth seeker,

and I view my role on the board as someone who is on a mission. A mission to advocate for the transparency of all funding, curriculums, programs, systems and procedures to restore balance back to our education system.

My relationship with the administration will be built upon my intentions, words, and actions being in alignment with an education that supports the development of well rounded, confident and responsible individuals who aspire to achieve their full potential. I believe all current board members and administration feel the same way, but money and politics have made it impossible to go against the corrupt influences that are currently in place.

District 6 Q. Why are you running for this position? Please provide at least two reasons.

Addis: I am running to get politics out of schools, so schools can focus on their main job which is providing a quality education to the children of Worcester County and prepare them for college or skilled vocational employment.

Currently 55% of students leaving Worcester County schools required remedial classes before participating in college level courses at Wor-Wic Community College. We need to focus on teaching the core subjects again and get rid of toxic KATIE ADDIS social programs such as Social Emotional Learning. I am running to be a voice for not only the parents and taxpayers of my district, but the teachers and students as well.

Teachers and parents should not be fearful to speak out against the system in fear of retribution. In order to fix a broken system, we must hear from those on the “front lines” in order to understand the true issues.

Passwaters: As a parent and serving our community, each day is a constant reminder of the responsibility we have as adults to create opportunities for our children to become good stewards of the world we leave to them. When past Board Member President Eric Cropper passed away, I was honored to be apNATE pointed to complete his term. Throughout my law PASSWATERS enforcement career, I have seen the positive impact that WCPS has had on our youth and I want to ensure that we continue to provide our youth with the tools to be successful and productive citizens. I am running for election because I believe that I have the knowledge and experience to represent my constituents in ways that best support our students. I have also developed relationships with community members and fellow board members, which have and will result in productive discourse and decision making for our students and staff.

October 21, 2022

Q. What are the key challenges facing the school system and how would you address them?

Addis: Transparency in the classrooms is a concern. Worcester County prides themselves on being at the forefront of the digital age, yet are unable to provide online links to curriculum being used. I will recommend this to be updated.

- The lack of discipline in the classroom which leads to teacher burnout is another challenge. Administration must do better with supporting teachers. Students must know there are consequences for their actions.

- Politics in school has become one of the most prevalent and divisive issues because it is taking place in all schools, especially in the upper grades and creating a social divide amongst our students.

Passwaters: One of the key challenges facing schools in the next four years will be developing a budget that is financially responsible, while continuing to be competitive with teacher and support staff salaries. During budget development and despite these challenges, I am confident that Mr. Taylor and his executive leadership team, in concert with the board, will develop a budget that meets the needs of our students, educators and staff. I also believe that our excellent, continued partnership with our County Commissioners will make this process, while challenging, successful.

I also think that mental health continues to be a challenge throughout our school system. Meeting and supporting the needs of our staff and students with various mental health resources is paramount in order to maintain a productive and safe learning environment.

Q. How do you view your role as a school board member and your relationship with the administration?

Addis: As a school board member, my first priority is making sure I am serving my district. I do not answer to the school administration, superintendent or the teacher’s unions, I answer to the people of Worcester County. I look forward to working with the administration with the understanding that the administration is accountable to the elected school board and not to the teacher’s unions or special interest groups. Currently, it appears that the school board is accountable not to the voters but to the administration and unions.

Passwaters: As a school board member in Worcester County, our roles are defined by policy which include appointing/supervising the superintendent, implementing educational policies, and adopt an operating budget.

Also, as a board member, we must be cognizant of community needs to ensure that WCPS meets those needs.

Our relationship with not only district level administration but with our County Commissioners must be a collaborative one, where students and staff are our top priority.

Diakonia 50th Celebration Planned

October 21, 2022

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

OCEAN CITY – A local nonprofit dedicated to helping homeless individuals and families is celebrating 50 years of service to the community with a 70sthemed party.

On Nov. 4, Diakonia will hold its 50th anniversary celebration at Seacrets’ Morley Hall. Community members are invited to join for a night of live music, food, drinks and fun.

“The evening will serve as a milestone that recognizes the vision and mission of those who’ve blazed a trail through five decades while still igniting passion and investment in new and ‘out-of-the-box’ solutions to homelessness for the future …,” said Ken Argot, Diakonia’s executive director. “All the proceeds of this event go back into providing help for today and hope for tomorrow for our community’s most vulnerable populations.”

In 1972, the Allegheny Mennonite Conference established a Boardwalk ministry in Ocean City, connecting with homeless youth by patrolling the Boardwalk at night. And by 1973, the group purchased a shelter home in West Ocean City to care for the area’s homeless residents. Referrals came from police, social service departments and various members of the local faith community.

Homelessness continued to grow, however, and by 1981 the group began offering year-round assistance as it transitioned from a church-based ministry to a community-based mission. Diakonia was incorporated in 1986 as a 501c3 nonprofit organization, and the following year it purchased the shelter from the Allegheny Mennonite Conference.

Argot said Diakonia has seen tremendous growth in recent decades. In 2001, for example, the nonprofit completed housing units for those transitioning from emergency shelter to permanent housing. And in 2013, the organization entered into an agreement with the Veterans Administration to provide wraparound services to homeless veterans. Today, Diakonia offers men, women, families and veterans emer-

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

gency shelter, eviction prevention assistance, food pantry provisions, intensive case management and much more.

“Everyone who walks through that iconic blue door we recognize – not as someone who is deficient, but rather as a person holding extremely intrinsic value – something to contribute to our community that has seemingly been lost due to a myriad of difficulties,” Argot said. “We are deeply humbled and privileged to be part of helping people rewrite their stories for 50 years – whether a veteran or a non-veteran, we see all our people as heroes.”

But Diakonia’s efforts don’t stop there, Argot said. Earlier this year, in the midst of a severe housing crisis, Diakonia announced a five-year plan to build 42 affordable living units on a new campus along Route 611. While the current Diakonia property will remain as an emergency shelter, the organization’s thrift store, food pantry, and administrative offices will all relocated to the new property to create a one-stop shop for those in need and for those who wish to help.

“Affordable housing remains the largest barrier to housing, and it is our hope to provide more solutions in the future,” Argot said.

Diakonia’s 50th anniversary celebration will be held Friday, Nov. 4 from 5:30-9 p.m. at Seacrets’ Morley Hall.

The celebration begins with local classic rock band Tranzfusion taking the stage at 6 p.m. The evening will also feature a 70s fashion competition, money boards and auction items.

“The climax of the event, however, will be an unveiling of the concept for the new 611 campus as we envision the future together,” Argot said.

Tickets are $125 per person and can be purchased on Diakonia’s website, diakoniaoc.org. Tickets include heavy appetizers, two drink tickets and a night of entertainment. The event is made possible thanks to the generous donations of title sponsor, Belfast Valley Contractors, along with the Gudelsky Group and the Bank of Ocean City.

Event sponsors are Richard Osborne Family and Lew Bush in Memory of Betty Bush.

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Worcester Adds More Full-Time Deputy Positions

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

October 21, 2022

Conversion To Assist With Recruitment And Retention

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – A move to convert parttime positions to full-time is expected to help staffing at the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office.

On Tuesday, the Worcester County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a request from Sheriff Matt Crisafulli to convert nine part-time positions to full-time. Crisafulli said the change would allow him to fill the positions, which have been vacant for some time.

“We’re just simply not getting part-time applications,” he said.

Crisafulli said his team had evaluated staffing and had determined that parttime positions within the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office were not getting interest. Typically, those positions are filled with retirees from other law enforcement agencies. Crisafulli said that with nine part-time vacancies, he felt it was necessary to convert the positions to full-time so that they could be filled.

“I can guarantee that if you grant us this we will be able to fill the nine posi-

tions,” he said.

The change is expected to cost slightly more than $387,000. When asked if the officers in those positions would have full-time duties, Crisafulli said they would.

“Whatever division we put them in, they’d become a full-time worker…,” he said. “There’s always going to be work they can do.”

He said he was eager to get the positions filled because the situation was fluid.

“Somebody could retire tomorrow,” he said. “God forbid somebody could become injured today. And if that’s a part-

time deputy and they retire or they leave service, then we now have that part-time opening. I’m trying to strategically work to convert all the part-time positions for our recruitment and our retention. It’s becoming a national issue with law enforcement.”

The conversion of the nine positions would give Crisafulli’s office, which currently has 88 sworn officers, more flexibility, he said, and would help as training requirements for law enforcement officers increased. He said that while a fulltime position was meant to equate to 2,080 hours, by the time you factored in training, vacation and the like the department was really only getting 1,660 hours from an of an officer. Commissioner Joe Mitrecic said the amount of time officers would be busy with training was disturbing.

“That’s 10-and-a-half weeks we don’t have them,” he said.

When asked if the conversion of the part-time positions would lead to a reduction in overtime spending, Crisafulli indicated it would help.

“It’s going to be a step in the right direction,” he said.

The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the conversion.

October 21, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 53

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

October 21, 2022

with Scott Lenox

Above, first place in the tuna category for the Broadbill Bash was the Espadon with this 170 pound bigeye. Below, Captain Chase Eberle of Chasin’ Tides Charters caught this beautiful swordfish while deep dropping the canyon. Opposite page, top left, Gret’s Three J’s won the Bishop Broadbill Bash with two swordfish of 124 and 191 pounds. Opposite page, top middle, Tony Gay caught this 126 pound bigeye tuna on board John Romm’s private boat Pelagic Assault. Opposite page, top right, Captain Austin Ensor of Primary Search put this group on five swordfish releases, a yellowfin tuna and a box of blueline tilefish. Opposite page, middle left, I had a great day fishing with my buddy Dale Timmons with four keeper flounder including Dale’s 25”, 6.5 pound doormat. Opposite page, middle right, this angler was pleasantly surprised by a grey trout while bottom fishing the ocean on board. Opposite page, bottom left, a nice flounder was caught on board the Morning Star with Captain Monty Hawkins. Opposite page, bottom right, John Wittmyer, Bryan Mindte and Chris Kavanagh hold a swordfish caught on the RoShamBo with Captain Willie Zimmerman.

Submitted Photos

I’ve got a few weeks left before I go on hiatus from my column here in The Dispatch, but there is still plenty of great fishing left to come. Trade show season will be here before you know it and I’ve got some family vacations to catch up on, but for the next couple of weeks I’ll be brining you some info and great photos of what’s being caught in the area.

The final fishing tournament of the season took place last weekend with the 3rd Annual Bishop Broadbill Bash swordfish tournament at Sunset Marina. There were some nice fish caught and there was some money great money raised for

AGH’s Burbage Regional Cancer Care Center. Top honors in the tournament were taken by the team from Gret’s Three J’s who had swordfish of 124 and 191 pounds that was good for over $30,000 in prize money. Gret’s Three J’s also won a $5,000 gift card from Atlantic Tackle. First place in the tuna category was won by the crew of Espadon who’s 170-pound bigeye tuna netted them over $8,000 in prize money. Congratulations to the winning teams and to Sunset Marina for a terrific event.

Since no real tuna numbers are being SEE NEXT PAGE

October 21, 2022

... Fish In OC caught, the offshore fleet has been taking advantage of the excellent swordfishing and blueline tilefishing. I had a chance to head out with Captain Willie Zimmerman of the RoShamBo with my guests Bryan Mindte of Sunset Provisions, John Wittmyer of Crabs to Go and Chris Kanavagh of East Coast Construction, and we had an awesome time. We

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

had 10 total swordfish bites that turned into a couple of lost fish, a couple of releases and two boxed fish that weighed about 70 pounds each. We also had a limit of blueline tilefish. It was an awesome trip with good friends with beautiful weather.

I also got to get out on the bay this past week to do a little flounder fishing with my good friend Dale Timmons. Dale and I used some live spot from Sunset Provisions and fished the last of the incoming tide and the first of the outgoing

in the east channel north and south of the Route 50 Bridge. We had four total keeper flounder with the largest being Dale’s 25”, 6.5 pounder. Live spot, live bunker or live mullet are definitely the ticket to catching keeper sized fish this time of year and you never know when you’ll catch a big doormat.

Tournament season is in the books, but there is still plenty of great fishing going on so get out there and take advantage of it. There are plenty of charter boats heading both inshore and offshore

Page 55

and the party boats have light rails this time of year. The weather can still be beautiful and the fishing can be good.

Check out what’s being caught on a nightly basis in my Daily Angle fishing report at www.FishinOC.com. Until next week, tight lines.

(The writer is the owner of Fish in OC and host of Ocean City’s fishing television show Hooked on OC. He has worked in the fishing industry and been fishing the waters in and around Ocean City for over 25 years.)

Artrageous Eyes Return To OC Flannel Formal Date Announced

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

OCEAN CITY – On Sunday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m., the Art League of Ocean City will bring a high-energy national touring stage show to Ocean City at the Performing Arts Center. Artrageous is an interactive art and music experience for all ages, combining the visual and performing arts with audience participation.

Tickets range from $25-$35, and are available at ArtLeagueofOceanCity.org, at the Ocean City Center for the Arts at 502 94th St., and also at the Ocean City Convention Center box office. Sales benefit the programs of the Art League of Ocean City and also allow for free tickets for Worcester County teachers on Sunday, and a free performance on Monday, Oct. 24 for 1,200 Worcester County students.

The Humphreys Foundation and the Ocean City/Berlin Optimist Club — along with support from T.E.A.M. Productions, the Town of Ocean City, and private donations — are funding the special free Monday show that the performers will gear towards the school children. Worcester County teachers have

lesson plans they can use to prepare the students ahead of time for what they will see and how they will participate.

Artrageous previously performed in Ocean City and for the Worcester County schools in 2018 to a sold-out crowd on Sunday night and a full house on Monday and is performing an all-new show in 2022.

“This is the type of opportunity that can change kids’ lives,” Rina Thaler, executive director of the Art League, said.

“When children are exposed to the arts at an early age, it opens up possibilities they may not have considered in their lives and gives them an outlet of selfexpression.”

Artrageous is a troupe of traveling actors and musicians from Vancouver, Canada who banded together in the 1980s to perform and see the world.

Starting with children’s puppetry theatre and rising from a fire that destroyed their theater, the troupe has performed for the likes of Sir Richard Branson, Steve Forbes, and General Colin Powell, and in venues and events all over

October 21, 2022

BERLIN – Tickets are now available for the Flannel Formal, the annual celebration of land conservation held each year to benefit the Lower Shore Land Trust.

On Saturday, Nov. 12, from 3 to 6 p.m, guests will enjoy a pig roast, oysters on the half shell and other delicacies as well as beer, wine, a Bloody Mary bar, and live music from Margot Resto & Fil Rhythm Band. Don’t forget to wear your best flannel to celebrate the season. Tickets are $75 and are available online at LowerShoreLandTrust.org.

The Stephen N. Parker Conservation Legacy Award will be awarded at

the world. A preview of the show is available at www.artrageousexperience.com.

As people who live and breathe the arts, creativity, community, and inspiration, the performers share their passion with the world in a show that focuses on art, music, theater, singing, dancing, and audience interaction, all on one stage. Audience members will witness

the Flannel Formal as well. This award is to be given in honor of the renowned conservationist to recognize a landowner or conservation practitioner for their contributions to private land conservation on the Lower Eastern Shore.

The Lower Shore Land Trust is a nationally accredited (Land Trust Alliance) land trust that has, since 1990, protected nearly 25,000 acres of pristine Eastern Shore farmland, critical habitat, streams, parks, trails, and more. Lower Shore Land Trust protects and restores natural resources, wildlife habitat and working lands to support and connect healthy and vibrant communities.

the creativity of an artist creating a masterpiece before their eyes in moments. Combined with captivating vocals, intricate choreography, and exciting music, Artrageous takes their audiences on a visual journey to a gallery of finished paintings, culminating in the performers inviting the audience to come on stage and join in the artmaking.

HERE’S MY CARD For More Information, Contact Pamela Green PHONE: 410-641-4561 • FAX: 410-641-0966 • EMAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@MDCOASTDISPATCH.COM ROOFING

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October 21, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 57

Wor-Wic Benefit: The Wor-Wic Community College Foundation held its annual 5K Run/Walk for Wor-Wic, along with the 2022 Law Enforcement Team Cup

Challenge, at the college campus in Salisbury. Proceeds of nearly $34,000 will benefit the students of Wor-Wic. With a time of 19:41, the overall male winner of the 5K race portion of the event was Christopher Crippyn, above left middle, with Stefanie Rider, left, executive director of the Wor-Wic Foundation, and Kelley Selph, captain of the race. The overall female winner was Lindsay Ford, above right, with Rider and Selph, with a time of 21:45. Below left, Wor-Wic physical therapist assistant students Raelynne NeSmith, Charles Repsher, Evan Bier, Connor Hatton, Tyler Wright and Hunter Zimnoch volunteered. Below right, from left, are runners Ashley Gilson, John Dize Jr. and John Dize Sr. Submitted Photos

HERE’S MY CARD For More Information, Contact Pamela Green PHONE: 410-641-4561 • FAX: 410-641-0966 • EMAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@MDCOASTDISPATCH.COM BLINDS/SHADES

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

October 21, 2022

Chris Parypa’s Photo Of The Week: Each week staff photographer Chris Parypa is tasked with submitting a photo from his vast library to be fea-

tured in this space. Above, visitors are pictured during a previous summer season ignoring the crosswalk advice on Coastal Highway. To purchase any of Parypa’s photos, click over to www.chrisparypa.com.

October 21, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

THE DISPATCH Crossword Puzzle

ANSWERS ON PAGE 82

HOROSCOPES ARIES (March 21 to April 19): ily problems are best worked out when Someone has some suggestions to all those concerned contribute suggesoffer regarding your new project. You tions that will ease tensions. Stay with might find them helpful. Remember to it until a workable solution is found.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21): avoid speculation and to stick with just Expect to hear more about an offer the facts, dear Lamb.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): An that has piqued your interest. You earn old friend suddenly reappears. Wheth- respect for insisting on solid facts, not er this proves to be a boon or a bane just a fancy talk about potential opporin the Bovine's life depends on the tunities. reason for this surprising reappearSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. ance. Be cautious.

21): What seemed to be a reasonable GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Vital workplace request might need to be information finally emerges, allowing defended. Don't fret. You have both you to make that important personal the facts and a surprise ally on your decision. You can now move your fo- side. cus to an upcoming professional deCAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19): velopment.

A bit of capriciousness might be just CANCER (June 21 to July 22): what you need. Plan to kick up your You might not like seeing so many on- heels in a round of fun and games with the-job changes. But some of them family and friends this weekend. could open new opportunities for your AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18): Moon Child talents to shine to your Although some of your plans might best advantage. have to be put on hold, things do beLEO (July 23 to Aug. 22): Expect gin to take a turn for the better by mida challenge to the usual way you do week. Your financial crunch also easthings. Although you might prefer the es. tried-and-true, once you take a good PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20): look at this new idea, you might feel Your financial picture begins to brightmore receptive to it. en by week's end. There are also faVIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22): vorable changes in your personal life.

A close friend could offer advice on Someone you care for has good news how to handle a difficult family matter. to report.

But in the end, the decision has to be BORN THIS WEEK: You seek balmade based on what is best for you ance, but not at the expense of justice. and those you love.

You would make a fine judge. © 2022 King Features Synd., Inc. LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22): Fam- ON PAGE ANSWERS 46

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 60

vanishing

OCEAN CITY

Things I Like...

October 21, 2022

WITH BUNK MANN

By Steve Green

Movies based on true stories Learning from my kids

Laughing at an embarrassing situation Drinks with old friends

Daily Facebook memories

My wife’s passion for Halloween Examples of my kids overcoming adversity

The Town of Ocean City was incorporated by the Maryland General Assembly on April 12, 1880. It included the land between N. Division Street and S. Division Street plus property on the south side including the vicinity of today’s Inlet. The Inlet did not exist at this time; it would be created during a storm in August 1933.

Ocean City had fewer than 100 year-round residents in those days, most of whom were employees of the railroad or the U.S. Life Saving Service. Tourism was seasonal and in its infancy.

The first permanent Boardwalk was constructed in 1885 on pilings above the beach. A temporary one had existed earlier but was built in sections that lay directly on the sand. It could be picked up and stored during storms and over the winter. In 1892, the Sinepuxent Beach Company extended the Boardwalk to a mile in length, installed electric power and dug a well for the town’s water supply.

The infrastructure was being assembled that would take Ocean City into the 20th Century.

To purchase one of Bunk Mann's books, click over to www.vanishingoc.com.

Hearing rain at night

Hoping the Ravens eventually learn how to keep a lead

Connecting with special needs kids A simple ad with open space

Postcard from Bunk Mann’s collection

Black Top Roads Build Now!

Last 3 Lots Available in Phase 1 at Original Prices!

SOLD

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Save $14,000 with Cleared Lots Save $7,000 on Water & Sewer Impact Fees

SOLD

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Custom Built Homes for Over 50 Years

SOLD

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

October 21, 2022

Page 61

The Dispatch Classifieds $15/Week for Minimum of Five Lines • $2 Thereafter Per Line Display Classified Ads: $20/Week Per Column Inch (Contract Discounts Available) Deadline for Insertions, Cancellations & Payment is 3pm Tuesday Pre-Payment is Required. We Accept Visa & MasterCard

CONTACT INFORMATION Phone: 410-641-4563 • Fax: 410-641-0966 Email: classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com Mail: P.O. Box 467, Berlin MD 21811

HELP WANTED SECURITY: P/T position yearround. Ocean City. Please call 443513-419.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– POOL: General 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.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––– KITCHEN : Cooks, Kitchen Help, Food Runners wanted. Flexible schedule, clean kitchen, new equipment.Weekly pay checks.

Friendly work environment.

American Legion Post #166.

Contact Sam Wiley 443-235-0876 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Now Hiring For: EXPEDITORS FOOD RUNNERS

Call Matt at 302-593-4141 or email

CARPENTERS & CARPENTERS HELPERS

thesterlingtavern@gmail.com

Administrative Assistant FT immed. opening for individual w/ good people skills, organization & business exp.

Help with marketing materials & booking trips. Computer knowledge a must, bookkeeping skills will be needed for busy office.

Email resume to neil@travelwithoasis.com Call 410-213-9330

Must have:

Tools, Transportation, Driver’s License

CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY JUDICIAL ASSISTANT / FAMILY SERVICES Full-Time Position Monday – Friday; 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Exp. Required!

PATTERSON & SONS BUILDERS

Application Closing Date: Open Until Filled Starting Salary Range : $38,646 to $42,702 annually

Call 410-641-9530

(Starting salary may be higher depending on experience)

CUSTODIAL STAFF

Join a high-performing, collegial team working for the families of Worcester County. Provide legal administrative support and customer service for the Magistrate and the Family Services Division of the Circuit Court. The use of independent judgment, discretion and strong organizational, communication, technical and interpersonal skills are required.

Apply through the Worcester County Human Resources Department: https://worcesterhr.co.worcester.md.us/

We are currently looking for Part Time custodial employees.

Hours are 3:30pm-6:30pm. Monday through Friday.

Apply to Linda Watson at lwatson@worcesterprep.org or mail application to Linda Watson 508 S Main St Berlin, MD 21811.

SNAP-ED NUTRITION EDUCATOR/LEADER The University of Maryland Extension SNAP-Ed program is seeking to fill a full-time SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator and Project Leader position. A full position description along with qualifications and online application can be accessed at the following link: https://ejobs.umd.edu/postings/99658 EOE

INDIAN RIVER MARINA IS NOW HIRING! •FUEL DOCK •DOCK HANDS •RAMP ATTENDANTS •BOATYARD •NIGHTWATCH •MAINTENANCE •SHIP STORE CLERK •GENERAL CLERICAL (SEASONAL YEAR ROUND)

Apply Online at delawarestatejobs.com For additional information, please contact the Marina office at 302.227.3071 AA/EOE

AUTOMOTIVE PARTS SALES ASSOCIATES Busy Auto & Marine parts store with locations in Ocean Pines, Clarksville and Long Neck, is now hiring for Full and Part Time Sales Persons.

Experience a plus but will train the right person.

Great Pay & Benefits !!

Call Joel 302-344-9769

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIANS Busy Tire & Service Centers with locations in the Rehoboth, Bethany and Ocean City areas, is now hiring for experienced

Currently Hiring Manpower For:

Carpenter | Laborer | Painters Stucco & EIFS Mechanics Concrete Work 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

Technicians LOOKING EVERYWHERE?

Must be dependable.

Excellent Pay & Benefits !!

Call Matt 302-344-9846 The Dispatch Is On Facebook, Instagram & Twitter!

Follow Us Today & Get Daily News Updates As They Happen!

So many dark puddles Splashing from here to there Wet from head to toe!

CHECK HERE FIRST! PRINT & ONLINE

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The Dispatch Classifieds CONTACT INFORMATION Phone: 410-641-4563 • Fax: 410-641-0966 Email: classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com Mail: P.O. Box 467, Berlin MD 21811

RENTALS WINTER RENTALS: OC & West OC $750 per mo +utilities. Need $2,250 to move in. 410-430-9797.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– YR RENTAL, HOUSE, WEST OC: 4 BR, 2 1/2 BA House in nice neighborhood. Nice porch overlooking pond. Community pool.

Families preferred. $2,800 per mo. + util,’s. 443-880-5323.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– WINTER RENTAL: 3BR/2BA. 117th St. $1350 per mo. + Utlil.’s (no pets,no smoking) Call 410202-2632.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

WINTER WEEKLY RENTALS Utilities Included CONTACT US AT burgundyinn@gmail.com 410-289-8581

WINTER RENTALS WEEKLY/MONTHLY AVAILABLE NOV 1ST TO MARCH 31ST 1 BR, 1 BA $800 monthly/$300 weekly 3 BR, 2 BA $1200 monthly/$500 weekly All utilities cable & Wi-Fi incl’d.

Pets welcome Call Gary or Meghan 410-289-9103

ROOMMATE ROOM FOR RENT: $390 a month and share utilities for a girl sharing with 3 girls 1601 Philly Ave. call .

410-300-8205 Margret

––––––––––––––––

ROOM(S) FOR RENT: Seeking Roommate(s). YR or Seasonal. Indoor Hot Tub. Non smoking, pets welcome. Single Family Home, 94th St. area. Rent negotiable.

Call/text for more info. 410-7265200.(Job inhibits phone calls, text if can’t reach by calls).

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REAL ESTATE

FSBO 30K PRICE REDUCTION!

$449,000

4BR, 3 Full BA 2 Master Suites Deer Point Many custom features.

Call for details.

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COMMERCIAL WEST O.C. OFFICE/RETAIL SPACES AVAILABLE: 2 Office/Retail Spaces for Lease.

Plenty of Parking. 443-497-4200.

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Office Space for Rent

Berlin (2nd floor) Available 11/1 Approx 650 sq. ft. $600 mo. + util's Please call/text 443-513-0392 or email ereid57@hotmail.com SEEK HERE!

The Dispatch Legal Notices LEGAL RATES Legal advertising rate is $7 per column inch.

The deadline for all legal advertising is Tuesday at noon.

For more information call 410-641-4563 or email classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com Third Insertion VERONICA HANSLEYDEAN, ESQ. ORLANS, PC 1602 VILLAGE MARKET BLVD. SUITE 310 LEESBURG, VA 20175 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19189 To all persons interested in the estate of G. JEFFREY KNEPPER, ESTATE NO. 19189. Notice is given that ELIZABETH JOHNSON, 409 WASHINGTON AVE, STE 1000, TOWSON, MD 21204, was on SEPTEMBER 28, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of G. JEFFREY KNEPPER, who died on FEBRUARY 12, 2021 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 28TH day of MARCH, 2023 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.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication OCTOBER 07, 2022 ELIZABETH JOHNSON Personal Representatives True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 10-07, 10-14, 10-21

Third Insertion NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19384 To all persons interested in the estate of HELEN CHILCOAT CROSBY, ESTATE NO. 19384. Notice is given that LINDA CAROL CROSBY TAYLOR, 3863 STATE ROUTE 90, UNION SPRINGS, NY 13160, was on SEPTEMBER 30, 2022, appointed Personal Represen-

tative of the estate of HELEN CHILCOAT CROSBY, who died on AUGUST 29, 2022 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 30TH day of MARCH, 2023 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.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication OCTOBER 07, 2022 LINDA CAROL CROSBY TAYLOR Personal Representatives True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 10-07, 10-14, 10-21

Third Insertion NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 19401 Notice is given that the SURROGATE COURT of CAPE MAY COUNTY, NJ, appointed PAMELA H. DALTON, 1 CHRISTIAN STREET, UNIT 21, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19147, as the ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of CINDY K. SUPPA MALEC, who died on AUGUST 05, 2022, domiciled in NEW JERSEY, USA. The Maryland resident agent for service of process is PETER S. J. LEES, 4415 UNDERWOOD ROAD, BALTIMORE, MD 21218-1151. 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

October 21, 2022 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, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the foreign 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. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication OCTOBER 07, 2022 PAMELA H. DALTON Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 10-07, 10-14, 10-21

Third Insertion ECKELL SPARKS JONATHAN E. BECKER ESQ. 300 W. STATE STREET SUITE 300 MEDIA, PA 19063 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 19385 Notice is given that the ORPHANS COURT of DELAWARE COUNTY, PA, appointed JOSEPH W. CHUPEIN, JR., 25 W. SECOND STREET, MEDIA, PA 19063 as the EXECUTOR of the Estate of KATHLEEN A. BASCELLI, AKA: KATHLEEN ANNA BASCELLI, who died on MARCH 29, 2022, domiciled in PENNSYLVANIA, USA. The Maryland resident agent for service of process is MATTHEW J. COLFLESH, 394 OCEAN PARKWAY, OCEAN PINES, MD 21811 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, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the foreign 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. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication OCTOBER 07, 2022 JOSEPH W. CHUPEIN, JR. Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 10-07, 10-14, 10-21

Third Insertion AYRIKA FLETCHER, ESQ. IN-HOUSE COUNSEL BAY CLUB TIME-SHARE ASSOCIATES, INC. P.O. BOX 3307 OCEAN CITY, MD 21843-3307 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, STATE OF MARYLAND CASE NO. C-23-CV-22-000005 BAY CLUB TIME-SHARE OWNERS ASSOCIATES, INC. P.O. Box 3307 Ocean City, Maryland 21842-3307 Plaintiff vs.

GROUPWISE INC., et al Defendants ORDERED, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland this 28th day of SEPTEMBER, 2022,that the foreclosure sale of the properties mentioned in these proceedings, made and reported by Ayrika Fletcher, Trustee, be RATIFIED AND CONFIRMED, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 31ST day of OCTOBER, 2022 provided a copy of this Order be inserted in some daily newspaper printed in Worcester County, Maryland once in each of three successive weeks, before the 24th day of OCTOBER, 2022.

The Report of Sale filed in the above case states the amount of the sales to be as indicated below for the referenced time-share interval: TIMESHARES SOLD: BC = BAY CLUB TIME SHARE OWNERS ASSOCIATES, INC. CONDO- TIME PRICE PURMINIUM INTERCHASER UNIT VAL 409 409 409

20 22 36

$50.00 $50.00 $50.00

BC BC BC

October 21, 2022

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The Dispatch Legal Notices LEGAL RATES Legal advertising rate is $7 per column inch.

The deadline for all legal advertising is Tuesday at noon.

For more information call 410-641-4563 or fax 410-641-0966.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication OCTOBER 07, 2022 TRUE TEST COPY SUSAN R. BRANIECKI Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County, MD 3x 10-07, 10-14, 10-21

Second Insertion AYRIKA FLETCHER, ESQ. IN-HOUSE COUNSEL BAY CLUB TIME-SHARE ASSOCIATES, INC. P.O. BOX 3307 OCEAN CITY, MD 21843-3307 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, STATE OF MARYLAND CASE NO. C-23-CV-22-000190 BAY CLUB TIME-SHARE OWNERS ASSOCIATES, INC. P.O. Box 3307 Ocean City, Maryland 21842-3307 Plaintiff vs.

JOVINA C. BAINO, et al.

Defendants TRUSTEE’S SALE OF TIME SHARE INTERVALS IN BAY CLUB CONDOMINIUM, OCEAN CITY, MD By virtue of a certain Claim of Lien recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland, and pursuant to the Order of the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, Case No. C-23-CV-22-000190 the undersigned Trustee will offer for sale at public auction at the entrance of the BAY CLUB RESORT, located at, 302 32ND STREET, OCEAN CITY, the following described property located in Ocean City, Worcester County, Maryland, on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at 11:00 AM the following timeshare intervals: CONDO- TIME MINIUM INTERUNIT VAL 203 205 206 301 306 401 403 406 506 506 506

34 19 30 24 1 19 23 42 43 45 47

CONDO- TIME MINIUM INTERUNIT VAL 210 211 307 308 308 309 309 310 407 409 410 508

42 19 9 35 38 37 51 39 11 51 27 15

Each time interval being one week per year in the corresponding unit, each unit being part of the Bay Club Condominium, including an undivided interest in the common elements thereof, as established pursuant to a Declaration of Condominium and Timeshare recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland and subsequent Declarations of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, as to each condominium unit and recorded among the aforesaid Land Records.

The property will be sold in an “as is” condition and subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any, and with no warranties and guarantees. A secured party may bid and shall be excused from deposit requirements. The Trustee reserves the right to withdraw any interval from the sale and/or to reject any and all bids.

Terms of Sale: A deposit in the full amount of the sales price per time interval will be required at the time of sale, such deposit to be in cash or check. Cost of all documentary stamps, transfer taxes, 2022 maintenance fees and all other settlement costs shall be borne by the purchaser. The date of settlement shall be within fifteen (15) days after final ratification by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, time being of the essence; otherwise, the deposit will be forfeited and the property will be resold at the risk and expense of the defaulting purchaser, or in any manner designated by the Trustee; or, without forfeiting deposit, the Seller may exercise any of its legal or equitable rights against the defaulting purchaser.

For more information, call: Ayrika Fletcher, Esq., Trustee, at 443.672.8107.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication OCTOBER 14, 2022

TRUE TEST COPY SUSAN R. BRANIECKI Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County, MD 3x 10-14, 10-21, 10-28

Second Insertion PATRICIA CLEARY, ESQ. BYRD & BYRD, LLC 14300 GALLANT FOX LANE SUITE 120 BOWIE, MD 20715 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19016 To all persons interested in the estate of IRENE PINO, AKA: IRENE B. PINO, ESTATE NO. 19016. Notice is given that JOSEPH L. PINO, 11333 MARINA DRIVE, BERLIN, MD 21811, was on OCTOBER 05, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of IRENE PINO, who died on NOVEMBER 11, 2021 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 5TH day of APRIL, 2023 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.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication

CONTACT INFORMATION Phone: 410-641-4563 • Fax: 410-641-0966 Email: classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com Mail: P.O. Box 467, Berlin MD 21811 OCTOBER 14, 2022 JOSEPH L. PINO Personal Representatives True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x10-14, 10-21, 10-28

First Insertion 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 ESTATE NO. 19419 To all persons interested in the estate of SUSAN M PIZZA Estate No. 19419 Notice is given that THOMAS F PIZZA whose address is 4042 EAST AZALEA DRIVE GILBERT, AZ 85298 was on OCTOBER 18, 2022 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of SUSAN M PIZZA, who died on SEPTEMBER 24, 2022 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 18TH day of APRIL, 2023 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.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication OCTOBER 21, 2022 THOMAS F. PIZZA Personal Representatives True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 10-21, 10-28, 11-04

First Insertion NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19359 To all persons interested in the estate of MAGDALENE MAVRAKIS AKA: MAGDALENE DAWN MAVRAKIS, Estate No. 19359 Notice is given that DONNA SHRADER, 9235 WHALEYVILLE ROAD, WHALEYVILLE, MD 21872 snd THOMAS NICHOLAS MAVRAKIS, 9235 WHALEYVILLE ROAD, WHALEYVILLE, MD 21872 were on OCTOBER 11, 2022 appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of MAGDALENE MAVRAKIS, who died on JULY 12, 2022 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 11TH day of APRIL, 2023 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.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication OCTOBER 21, 2022 DONNA SHRADER THOMAS NICHOLAS MAVRAKIS Personal Representatives True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 10-21, 10-28, 11-04

First Insertion SMALL ESTATE NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19414 To all persons interested in the estate of SUZANNE FOLEY. Notice is given that WENDY AUEN, 13020 PRICES DISTILLERY ROAD, CLARKSBURG, MD 20871, was on OCTOBER 13, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the SMALL ESTATE of: SUZANNE FOLEY, who died on SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 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 any 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

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

October 21, 2022

The Dispatch Legal Notices LEGAL RATES Legal advertising rate is $7 per column inch.

The deadline for all legal advertising is Tuesday at noon.

For more information call 410-641-4563 or fax 410-641-0966. 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:

is unenforceable thereafter.

(1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or

WENDY AUEN Personal Representative True Test Copy

(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 claims 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,

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication OCTOBER 21, 2022

TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 1x 10-21

First Insertion SMALL ESTATE NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN

HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19408 To all persons interested in the estate of GLENN SAFFRAN, SR. Notice is given that LAURA DEMLER, 24414 GALEANO WAY, DAMASCUS, MD 20872, was on OCTOBER 07, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the SMALL ESTATE of: GLENN SAFFRAN, SR., who died on MARCH 27, 2022 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

CONTACT INFORMATION Phone: 410-641-4563 • Fax: 410-641-0966 Email: classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com Mail: P.O. Box 467, Berlin MD 21811 of publication of this Notice.

All persons having any 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:

ten notice, notifying the creditor that the claims 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.

(1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or

LAURA DEMLER Personal Representative True Test Copy

(2) Thirty days after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other writ-

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication OCTOBER 21, 2022

TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 1x 10-21

October 21, 2022

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Every Monday: TOPS Meeting 5-6:30 p.m. Atlantic General Hospital, Berlin. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a support group promoting weight loss and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Call Rose 443-880-8444.

Every Monday: Acapella Chorus All ladies who love to sing are invited to the Delmarva Woman’s Acapella Chorus, Ocean Pines Community Center, 239 Ocean Parkway, 6-8 p.m. Contact Mary 410-629-9383 or Carol 302-2427062.

Every Tuesday: TOPS Meeting Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a weekly support and education group promoting weight loss and a healthy lifestyle.

Meetings are held at the Worcester County Berlin Health Department at 9730 Healthway Drive, Berlin from 3:30-4:30 p.m. every Tuesday. 410-2894725.

Every Tuesday: Dancing The Delmarva Hand Dance Club holds dancing at the Selbyville Elks Lodge 2173 from 5:30-9 p.m. delmarvhanddancing.com.

Every Tuesday: Beach Cleanup Beach Heroes, a volunteer Ocean City group, holds cleanups 9-10 a.m. yearround. Trash bags, grippers and gloves provided. Check the Facebook page "Beach Heroes-OC" for weekly meeting locations. All are welcome.

Every Tuesday: Tango Practice Argentine Tango practice 7-9:30 p.m.

Experienced dancers and anyone interested in watching or learning more are welcome. No partner required. More information at TangobytheBeach.com.

Every Wednesday: Bingo Elks Lodge 2645, corner of Sinepuxent Avenue and 138th Street in Ocean City. Has bingo all year. Doors open 4:30 p.m. with first game sharply at 6:30 p.m.

Kitchen open for light fare. 410-2502645.

Every Thursday: Beach Singles Join the club, 55 plus, at Harpoon Hanna’s in Fenwick Island, 4-6 p.m. 302436-9577 or BeachSingles.org.

Every Friday: Bingo Knights of Columbus hosts with doors open at 5 p.m. and bingo beginning promptly at 6:30 p.m. Held at the Columbus Hall at 9901 Coastal Highway, behind St. Luke's Church. Play every game for just $24. Light refreshments available. Call 410-524-7994 with any questions.

Oct. 21: Fried Chicken Dinner Berlin Fire Company will be offering its Friday night carryout dinners at the upstairs banquet hall, 4:30-7 p.m. or until sold out. Meal is four pieces of chicken, homemade macaroni and cheese, string beans and roll for $15. Next dinner Nov. 18.

Oct. 21: Fish Fry Bowen Willing Workers in Newark will be having a Flounder Fish Fry at 4:30

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Things To Do p.m. Fried fish, green beans, mac n’ cheese, cornbread, dessert and beverage for $10.

Oct. 22: Blood Drive Join the Bikers Without Borders Foundation for the first Bikers for Blood Drive at the Blood Bank of Delmarva in Dagsboro. Donations begin at 8 a.m. and continue throughout the day until 2 p.m.

Delmarva Billiards, located in the same parking lot, will be opening at 9 a.m. with a full menu available all day as well as billiards and music. In the parking lot, you’ll find several local businesses and vendors providing information and support to those providing the gift of life. To schedule an appointment, visit: https://tinyurl.com/BWOBRiders.

Oct. 22: Rummage Sale Ocean City Presbyterian Church will hold a rummage sale at 1301 Philadelphia Avenue from 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

Oct. 22: Chicken, Dumplings Calvary United Methodist Church, 8607 Ironshire Station Road, will host PreHomecoming Chicken n Dumplings Dinners "to go" sale. Starting 10:30 a.m. until sold out. Platters are $12 and comes with two sides and roll. Sides include macaroni and cheese, greens, potato salad and string beans. Drinks and dessert table items available for sale.

Oct. 22: Knupp Event The Ocean Pines community is coming together to honor Gavin Knupp by renaming the skate park. Gavin was passionate about skateboarding along with many more outdoor activities. He loved encouraging others to #doitfortheskateedit. Event at the Sinepuxent Brewing Co. is for the first ever benefit in honor of Gavin Knupp. Good food, beverages, giveaways, 50/50 raffles, silent auction items and more.

Oct. 22: Furnace Town Halloween From 4-8 p.m., Halloween in the Forest at Furnace Town Historic Site, 3816 Old Furnace Rd., Snow Hill. Spooktacular games, music and trick-or-treating. Cost is $5/person. www.furnacetown.org.

Oct. 22: Blood Drive Event Bikers Without Borders Foundation along with the Blood Bank of Delmarva are hosting a blood drive and hope that you will give the gift of life at the Dagsboro Donation Center, 32442 Royal Blvd., Dagsboro Del. 19939 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Registration requested prior to event 888-825-6638. Food available on site for purchase, vendors and DJ.Bikerswithoutbordersfoundation-

@gmail.com.

Oct. 27: Trick-Or-Treating Wor-Wic Community College will hold a family-friendly trick-or-treat event from 5:30-7 p.m. at the campus on the corner of Route 50 and Walston Switch Road in Salisbury. Treat Street will be held rain or shine.

Oct. 28: Fall Party Stevenson United Methodist Church will hold from 6-8 p.m. with food, candy, games, pumpkin decorating, music and bonfire. Stop by Buckingham Presbyterian’s Trunk or Treat, too.

Oct. 29: Breakfast Buffet AUCE breakfast buffet at the Whaleyville United Methodist Church located at 11716 Sheppards Crossing Road in Whaleyville. Cost is $8/adult and $4/child. From 7-10 a.m., buffet will include pancakes, bacon, sausage, scrapple, scrambled eggs, chipped beef, hash brown potatoes, toast, fruit and assorted beverages.

Oct. 29: Community Yard Sale The Parke at Ocean Pines is holding its community sale from 7:30 a.m. to noon in the driveways of our residents. The Parke is an active 55+ Adult community of 503 homes. Parke residents are selling their treasures for others to enjoy. There are clothes, lamps, artwork, household items, electronics, furniture and more. Maps will be available at the main entrance of the Parke. Rain date is Oct. 30.

Nov. 4: Berlin Glow Walk This year’s Fall Just Walk event will begin in Stephen Decatur Park and follow a 4.5-mile route around and through downtown Berlin. Participants are asked to bring and wear glow-in-the-dark items to light up the night in a walk around the community. Limited supplies will also be available at registration. Pre-registration is available at justwalkworcester.org.

Day-of registration starts at 5 p.m. in Stephen Decatur Park, 130 Tripoli Street, and the walk starts at 5:30 p.m. Strollers and friendly, leashed dogs are welcome.

All participants will receive a free raffle entry for a Berlin Basket.

Nov. 5: Holiday Craft Fair The Pine’eer Craft Club of Ocean Pines will host the 11th annual event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ocean Pines Community Center. The event is free and open to the public. Local artisans, crafters and many Craft club members will display and sell their hand-crafted items. The fair is a juried event, meaning organizers will limit the number of simi-

Things To Do activities are printed free of charge. To ensure that an event is listed in a timely manner, please submit information as early as possible, since all items will be listed in advance as space permits. Be sure to include the date, name of event, time, location, address and a contact number. Email to editor@mdcoastdispatch.com; fax to 410-641-0966; or mail to The Dispatch, P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Md. 21811.

October 21, 2022

lar products.

Nov. 5: Christmas Bazaar The Community Church at Ocean Pines will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Family Life Center of the church at 11227 Racetrack Road. The bazaar will feature Christmas decorations and trees, linens and things, new and gently used clothing, gifts and potpourri, children’s books and toys, and a bake sale. Proceeds from the event will support the Shepherd’s Nook outreach ministry.

Nov. 6: Church Homecoming Powellville United Methodist Church will celebrate its 193rd anniversary at 2 p.m. at 35606 Mount Hermon Road, Powellville. The homecoming message will be shared by Rev. Paul Sherwood and special music will be provided by Heaven 4 Shore. A fellowship meal will be enjoyed after the worship service.

Nov. 9: AARP Meeting Ocean City AARP Chapter 1917 will meet at 10 a.m. in the Ocean City Senior Center located on 41st Street. Please arrive early at 9:30 for a social half-hour and refreshments. Guest speaker will be from the Sierra Club. New members are welcome. Call Bob McCluskey at 410-250-0980 with questions.

Nov. 12: Shopper’s Fair The Willards Ladies Auxiliary will hold from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Willards Fire Hall. Vendors will be on hand. Breakfast and lunch items will be available for sale and also baked goods. 757-408-3170.

Nov. 17: Shopping Trip The Ocean City 50+ Senior Center plans a trip to the Rehoboth Outlets followed by lunch at Fin's Ale House. 410-2890824.

Nov. 24: Thanksgiving Dinner The 43rd Annual Free Thanksgiving Dinner will again be held at the Ocean City Baptist Church from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Anyone who is looking for a good home cooked meal this Thanksgiving Day is invited to dinner. Come and receive a great meal at no cost. The men and women of the church and community will be preparing and serving the dinner. Please call Ocean City Baptist Church to inform organizers of plans or sign-up online at OCBaptist.com. Dinner will also be taken to shut-ins if address can be provided.

Nov. 26: Drive Thru Church Luncheon From 10 a.m. until sold out at the Powellville UM Church located at 35606 Mount Hermon Road, Powellville. Drive thru luncheon features oyster fritter sandwiches, homemade chicken salad, homemade soups including peas and dumplings, chili, and veg. beef. Bake sale items will be available. No preorders. Call 410.835.8796 or 443-8808804 for more details.

Dec. 14: Dinner Theater Trip The Ocean City 50+ Senior Center plans a trip to see "It's A Wonderful Life" at Toby's Dinner Theater. 410-2890824.

Town Of Berlin To Host Community Yard Sale Saturday

October 21, 2022

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Residents are invited to the town’s first community yard sale this Saturday.

On Saturday, Oct. 22, the Town of Berlin will host a community yard sale. Participating residents, who have to be within town limits, have registered their addresses online so shoppers know which properties to visit.

“We’ve had a great response so far,” said Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director. “It’ll be a fun day of yard sales in Berlin on Saturday.”

Wells said Mayor Zack Tyndall came up with the idea of a community yard sale in advance of the town’s early November fall bulk waste collection days. That way, residents might be able to browse through items their neighbors no longer want, potentially reducing the amount of items left out for bulk pickup.

Municipal staff worked with the town’s website design company to set up an online form where residents who wanted to take part were able to register their address and the sorts of items they’d be selling.

“We’re going to publish a list,” Wells said. “There will be a PDF on the town’s website and on the Facebook event page.”

By early this week she said more than

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20 residents had signed up. The Town of Berlin will even be participating, selling several no longer needed items from town hall. As for what residents are selling, Wells said there would be a variety of items, including antiques, baby products, housewares and collectibles.

The yard sale is scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. The list of participating residences should be available online Oct. 20.

Following the yard sale, the town’s fall bulk pickup dates are set for Nov. 2 and Nov. 16. For neighborhoods that have Tuesday and Wednesday trash collec-

tion, bulk pickup will be Wednesday, Nov. 2. For neighborhoods that have Thursday trash collection, bulk pickup will be Wednesday, Nov. 16. Anyone placing items for collection must submit a request to the town no later than 4:30 p.m. the day before collection day.

Several holidays in November will impact regular trash or recycling collection.

For Veterans Day town offices will be closed on Friday, November 11, 2022.

There will be no recycling collection on this day. Business trash will be collected on Thursday, November 10, along with regular Thursday trash collection.

For Thanksgiving town offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 24 and 25, 2022. Thursday and Friday trash collection will be picked up Wednesday, November 23 along with regular Wednesday collection. There will be no recycling collection on Friday, November 25, 2022. Fall yard waste collections will be scheduled for December; look for additional details in the coming weeks. For more information about special collections, visit the town website at berlinmd.gov and go to the public works page under departments.

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

would be reviewing the sex offender list and ensuring those residents left their lights off. He added that residents who did not want to participate in trick-ortreating should leave their outdoor lights off.

“We’re advising families not to go to houses with their lights off,” Downing said.

Washington Street, which usually draws an immense number of children, will be closed to vehicle traffic during trick-or-treating. Downing said other streets could potentially be closed if the need arose.

In addition to trick-or-treating, the town

this year is also hosting a truck-or-treat event on Oct. 29. Because the previously scheduled Berlin Touch-A-Truck Day was canceled due to weather, it was rescheduled for Oct. 29 and a Halloween component was added. Attendees are invited to dress up for the event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Stephen Decatur Park. Staff from the town’s utility departments will be distributing candy and talking to kids about the variety of vehicles that will be present.

“This is an option for kids that don’t want to go out Halloween night or for families that want to come out for this and again on Halloween,” Downing said.

Berlin Trick-Or-Treating Scheduled For Oct. 31 STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Halloween trick-or-treating is set for Monday, Oct. 31 in Berlin.

Police Chief Arnold Downing announced this month that trick-or-treating would take place on Halloween, Oct. 31, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“Watch out for the children,” Downing said.

Following the usual questions from citizens in recent weeks, Downing confirmed that as it typically is, trick-or-treating will be held on Halloween from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Downing said his department

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October 21, 2022

STUDENTS In The News

Worcester Prep’s Upper School dedicated the entire week of Oct. 3-8 to celebrate Homecoming. Festivities kicked-off with an activity-packed Spirit Week and culminated with an alumni/family cookout, soccer game and Homecoming dance on Oct. 8. Above, alumni Brice Richins (’22) reconnected with seniors Griffin Jones and Harrison Humes during the varsity boys’ soccer game on Saturday.

Below, Reagan Whitlock, younger sibling to first grader Ryder Whitlock had a butterfly painted on her face by sophomore Angeline Todorov during the festivities at WPS.

Ocean City Elementary recently celebrated Fire Prevention Month with a special visit from the Ocean City Fire Department. Pictured is Lynn Wrench's fourth grade class with one of the Ocean City firemen following their fire safety lesson.

Submitted Photos

Kathy Huyett and Sally-Ann Messick’s PreK-4 class has been learning about apples and the five senses. As a culminating activity, the students made apple turnovers from scratch. The children used their sense of smell to smell the apple filling; their sense of touch to press the dough to form the turnover; and after baking their treats in the cafeteria bakery, they used their sense of taste.

WPS sophomores Emma Zajdel, Danielle Carr, teacher Hunter Causey, Nazli Unal and Maxine Ruggerio manned the bake sale table during the Homecoming festivities. Below, the “balloon brothers,” eighth grader Ronen Poddar and his younger brother Ronit entertained guests with their impeccable balloon art.

On Oct. 7, Ocean City Elementary School students celebrated Mix and Match Spirit Day. Students wore mixed-matched clothes, shoes, socks, crazy hairstyles and even wore clothes backwards and inside out. Each month students, faculty and show their school spirit by dressing in a certain theme or wearing OCES apparel. Pictured are first graders in Tina Adams' class Addison Lindsey and Lucy Fiori.

… E-Bike Boardwalk Use, Future Rentals Discussed

October 21, 2022

FROM PAGE 6 if one could rent a Class 3 e-bike in town, the renters would likely end up on the Boardwalk at some point, creating enforcement challenges for the ordinance only allowing the Class 1 e-bikes on the Boardwalk.

Prior to the vote on the first ordinance, Council President Matt James pointed out if the Class 3’s were prohibited on the Boardwalk, the rental of the Class 2’s in town should also be prohibited.

“I’m not going to hold this up, so I’m going to vote for it,” he said. “I’d just like to have a discussion about allowing the rental of the Class 2’s in town. If the Class 2’s aren’t allowed on the Boardwalk, why would we allow the rentals of the Class 2’s in town.”

During the work session last week, the council asked City Manager Terry McGean to explore just who and how many bike rental operations in town were currently renting e-bikes of any type. McGean presented his findings to the Mayor and Council on Monday.

“A request was made during the work session to canvas the rental agencies in town and find out who is renting e-bikes and what types they were renting,” he said. “Currently, no business in town is renting e-bikes at all. A business in West Ocean City rents Class 2 e-bikes, but nobody in this area rents the Class 3’s.”

Council Secretary Tony DeLuca, in keeping with James’s question, said he wanted to amend the ordinance on the table to prohibit the rental of the Class 2 e-bikes in town as well. The amendment ultimately died for lack of a second, but not before considerable debate.

“I’d like to tweak this ordinance in keeping with the idea it’s better to incrementally add,” DeLuca said. “Nobody in Ocean City rents e-bikes at all right now.

We’ve heard from the experts. I would like to prohibit the rental of Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes within city limits.”

City Solicitor Heather Stansbury explained the reasoning behind the prohibition of the rental of Class 3 e-bikes anywhere in town in relation to the ban of the Class 2’s and Class 3’s on the Boardwalk.

“The concern was if we wanted to prohibit the operation of the Class 3 e-bikes on the Boardwalk, we wouldn’t want to allow the rental of the Class 3 bikes anywhere in town because it would be hard to monitor the rental of a Class 3 on Baltimore Avenue, say, and prohibit them from coming up on the Boardwalk,” she said.

Councilman John Gehrig said prohibiting the rental of certain classes of e-bikes anywhere in town was a bit of an overkill and pointed out state law allows e-bikes on most streets and roadways.

“There is much more than just the Boardwalk here,” he said. “I know a lot of us don’t think of that. That’s just a piece of Ocean City. I just don’t know why we are considering banning the rentals.”

Stansbury said the ordinance as proposed did not prohibit the sale of the other types of e-bikes in town.

“Right now, you are prohibiting the rentals of the Class 3 bikes,” she said.

“You are allowing the sales and repairs of the Class 3 e-bikes. The amendment pro-

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posed would also prohibit the rental of the Class 2 e-bikes.”

Gehrig questioned the motivation for prohibiting the rentals of certain classes of e-bikes anywhere in town when the prohibition on riding them was confined to the Boardwalk.

“We’re going to have to enforce people riding Class 2’s and Class 3’s on the Boardwalk,” he said. “They can be used anywhere else in town but we’re considering prohibiting the rental of them. Are we afraid the Boardwalk rental operators would still rent them?”

McGean said the concern wasn’t so much the bicycle rental companies were going to rent e-bikes but that the operators of the higher classes would go to the Boardwalk and learn some were allowed and some were not.

“We don’t believe, at all, that businesses are going to willfully disregard this,” he

said. “Nobody is renting any of them right now. If you rent an e-bike to somebody and it’s a Class 3 and you say you can’t ride this on the Boardwalk, and they ride down and see a whole bunch of other ebikes on the Boardwalk, they’re going to say, ‘well I’m going to ride my e-bike on the Boardwalk.’ That’s what the concern is.”

DeLuca said he could live with the ordinance as written, which prohibits the rental of the Class 3 e-bikes in town and that his main concern was allowing just the Class 1 e-bikes to ride on the Boardwalk. He said he believed it was just consistent to prohibit the rental of the Class 3’s and not the Class 2’s when both aren’t allowed on the Boardwalk.

“I’m a bike guy,” he said. “What I want is only Class 1 e-bikes on the Boardwalk.

Nobody is renting them today, so we’re not hurting anyone’s business. I just think

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it’s better to add than to take away.”

Gehrig questioned the focus on the ebike rentals when there are other motorized vehicles being rented throughout town. McGean explained the main issue is it is difficult to enforce the operation of the different classes of e-bikes on the Boardwalk because they all appear similar.

“The difference between an e-bike and a little scooter car or moped is you can clearly see the difference if you are a police officer trying to enforce this,” he said.

“It’s pretty easy to tell the difference between an e-bike and one of those little scooter cars with the flag. It’s much more difficult to tell the difference between a Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3.”

After considerable debate, the council voted 6-0 to approve on first reading the ordinance as written, which prohibits the rental of the Class 3 e-bikes anywhere in town.

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Who’s Where When BUXY’S SALTY DOG 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Saturday, Oct. 22: Aaron Howell Duo COCONUTS BEACH BAR & GRILL Oceanfront Castle In The Sand 37th & 38th St. 410-289-6846 Friday, Oct. 21: The Dunehounds Saturday, Oct. 22: Endless Ember, Colossal Fossil Sauce Sunday, Oct. 23: Aaron Howell Duo, Monkee Paw

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October 21, 2022

Best Beats

DJ ROBCEE Fager’s Island: Friday, Oct. 21

On The Beach BEATS BY WAX Pickles Pub: Tuesdays & Thursdays

JOE ESHAM OC Eateries: Saturday, Oct. 22

SUGAR JACK Fager’s Island: Friday, Oct. 21

BEN DAVIS Cork Bar: Saturday, Oct. 22

COINS PUB 410-289-3100 28th St. Plaza On Coastal Hwy. Saturday, Oct. 22: Shortcut Sunny

SHORTCUT SUNNY Coin’s Pub: Saturday, Oct. 22

CORK BAR Saturday, Oct. 22: Ben Davis CRABCAKE FACTORY BAYSIDE 302-988-5000 37314 Lighthouse Rd., Rte. 54 Selbyville, DE Friday, Oct. 21: Tear The Roof Off Wednesday, Oct. 26: Jack & T Lutz

KARAOKE W/ DJ WOOD Pickles Pub: Mondays

DJ TUFF Seacrets: Friday , Oct. 21

CRAWL STREET TAVERN 443-373-2756 Wicomico St., Downtown O.C. Friday, Oct. 21: Pistol Whipped Saturday, Oct. 22: Korupt FAGER’S ISLAND 410-524-5500 60th St. In The Bay Friday, Oct. 21: DJ RobCee, Sugar Jack Saturday, Oct. 22: DJ Groove, Fizz, HFS Band GREENE TURTLE WEST 410-213-1500 Rt. 611, West O.C. Saturday, Oct. 22: TBA

DJ BILLY T Harborside: Friday &Thursday

KORUPT Crawl St. Tavern: Saturday, Oct. 22

DJ DEOGEE Pickles Pub: Fridays, Sundays & Wednesdays

THE CELLAR SESSIONS Purple Moose: Friday & Saturday, Oct. 21 & 22

DJ GROOVE Fager’s Island: Saturday, Oct. 22

TEAR THE ROOF OFF Crabcake Factory Bayside: Friday, Oct. 21

JOHN MCNUTT DUO Seacrets: Friday, Oct. 21

THE DUNEHOUNDS Coconuts Beach Bar: Friday, Oct. 21

October 21, 2022

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Page 71

Who’s Where When

THE MALONES Seacrets: Saturday, Oct. 22

JACK & T LUTZ Crabcake Factory Bayside: Wednesday, Oct. 26

PISTOL WHIPPED Crawl St. Tavern: Friday, Oct. 21

AARON HOWELL DUO Buxy’s Salty Dog: Saturday, Oct. 22 Coconuts Beach Bar: Sunday, Oct. 23

ROGUE CITIZENS Harborside: Saturday, Oct. 22 • 1 p.m.

Pickles Pub: Saturday, Oct. 22 • 9 p.m.

FIZZ Fager’s Island: Saturday, Oct. 22

HFS BAND Fager’s Island: Saturday, Oct. 22

MONKEE PAW Coconuts Beach Bar: Closing Party • Sunday, Oct. 23

FULL CIRCLE DUO Seacrets: Thursday, Oct. 27

OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS Harborside: Sunday, Oct. 23

HARBORSIDE 410-213-1846 South Harbor Rd., West O.C. Fridays: DJ Billy T Saturday, Oct. 22: Rogue Citizens, DJ Rutger Sunday, Oct. 23: Opposite Directions Thursdays: DJ Billy T OC EATERIES 443-252-3700 12849 Ocean Gateway, Rte. 50, West OC Friday, Oct. 21: Tyler & Brittany Saturday, Oct. 22: Joe Esham Wednesdays: Trivia w/ Kennedy Thursday, Oct. 27: DJ Karaoke w/ Kennedy PICKLES PUB 410-289-4891 8th St. & Philadelphia Ave. Fridays: Beats By Deogee Saturday, Oct. 22: Rogue Citizens Sundays: Beats By Deogee Mondays: Karaoke with Wood Tuesdays: Beats By Wax Wednesdays: Beats By Deogee Thursdays: Beats By Wax PURPLE MOOSE SALOON Between Talbot & Caroline Sts. On The Boardwalk 410-289-6953 Friday & Saturday, Oct. 21 & 22: The Cellar Sessions SEACRETS 410-524-4900 49th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Oct. 21: DJ Bobby O, DJ Tuff, John McNutt Duo, Liquid A Saturday, Oct. 22: DJ Bobby O, DJ Cruz, Starting Early, Billy Walton, The Malones Thursday, Oct. 27: DJ Connair, Full Circle Duo

Page 72

Seahawks Fall To Queen Anne’s, 46-28

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SPORTS

October 21, 2022

Seahawks Clip Bennett 3-1 In Showdown In The News

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity soccer team beat previously unbeaten Bennett, 3-1, at home last Friday to take command in the Bayside South standings with the season winding down.

The Seahawks won the big showdown with the Clippers at home last week to improve to 9-1 on the season. Bennett entered the contest unbeaten overall and

in the Bayside South. Decatur was also unbeaten in the Bayside South, its only loss coming to Kent Island.

For Decatur, the win over Bennett came just one game after the red-hot Seahawks beat another Bayside South unbeaten, Parkside, last week. Decatur has now beaten both of the teams in the conference to take the upper hand with the season winding down. Both Decatur and Bennett are 9-1, but the Seahawks hold the edge by virtue of its win over the Clippers. Parkside is 8-1-1.

Decatur Girls Fall To Bennett, Drop To 7-2

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity soccer team fell to rival Bennett, 1-0, in a close one last week.

With the loss, the Seahawks dropped to 7-2 on the season, their only two losses coming to the Clippers. Decatur lost to

Bennett, 2-1, in their first meeting back on September 14.

The Seahawks do have a win over other Bayside South rival Parkside, and remain in the hunt for the conference title, but would need some help. Bennett has beaten the Seahawks twice, remains unbeaten and is not likely to stumble down the stretch.

Mallards Beat Laurel, Win Streak At Six

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – Worcester Prep’s boys’ varsity soccer won its sixth game in a row last week, beating Laurel, 4-0, on Senior Night.

Against Laurel, the Mallards led by one goal at 1-0 at the half in a narrow contest. Worcester added three more goals in the second half to pull away for the 4-0 win. The win was the sixth straight

for the Mallards, who also beat Gunston, 2-1, in a tight conference match last Wednesday.

With the win, the Worcester boys are now 9-2-1 on the season, there only losses coming in back-to-back non-conference games in late September. The Worcester boys will now compete in the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) tournament. The Worcester boys have won seven straight ESIAC championships.

Tough Guy Of The Week: This week’s Hammond Family “Tough

Guy of the Week” co-winners were Gavin Solito and Daegan Risser, who shined on defense in the win over North Caroline. Pictured above, from left are Bobby Hammond, Solito, Risser and Coach Jake Coleman.

Submitted Photo

Decatur quarterback Nathan Tapley delivers a pass during last weekend’s loss to Queen Anne’s on the road. The Seahawks face Easton at home on Friday.

Photo by Bayside Sports-Vince Risser

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – Stephen Decatur’s varsity football team fell to Queen Anne’s, 46-28, on the road last week, ending a threegame streak.

The Seahawks entered the contest with Queen Anne’s on a roll, having won their last three contests. However, they fell to the Lions, 46-28, in a high-scoring game to drop to 5-2 on the season. Decatur’s only two losses of the season have been at the hands of Bayside North powerhouses Kent Island and now Queen Anne’s.

The revolving quarterback duo of Brycen Coleman and Nathan Tapley accounted for most of the Decatur offense in the contest. The pair often feed off each other in the platoon system with one throwing to the other when both are on the field.

Coleman completed six of seven passes for 83 yards and a touchdown, while Tapley completed nine of 14 for 78 yards.

Tapley also carried the ball 10 times for 40 yards, while Coleman had three carries for 19 yards. The all-purpose Coleman also caught five passes for 44 yards. In addition, Trybe Wise caught a touchdown pass for the Seahawks.

Decatur Harriers Sweep Bayside South Title

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – Stephen Decatur’s varsity cross country teams swept the Bayside South championship meet on its home course last week with both the boys and girls finishing in first For the Decatur girls, Macy Woroniecki finished first and Amber Marshall finished second. Other top 20 finishes for

the Decatur girls included Clarice Piela (6th), Alessandra Fernandez (9th), Chloe Resnick (11th), Rachel Plata (12th), Mackenzie Cathell (17th) and Gabriella Thompson-Serv (19th).

For the Decatur boys, top 20 finishes included Ethan Justice (2nd), Todd Haley (6th), Liam Hughes (9th), Evan Justice (11th), Nicholas Moreno (12th), Alex Riehl (14th), Graham Field (15th), Michael Hoos (18th) and Aaron August (20th).

Stephen Decatur’s varsity golf team last week captured the District VIII championship in Cambridge. The team shot a combined 388 to finish lowest in the field. Pictured from left are Johnny Malinowski, Sam Boger, Kole Kohut, Evan Oglesby, Clay McCabe and Coach Dan Stearman.

Photo courtesy of Vince Risser- Bayside Sports

OC Council Advances Proposed Zoning Map Changes

October 21, 2022

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Updating the town’s zoning map to reflect the public-government zoning designation for properties owned or acquired by the town in recent years was the subject of an ordinance review this week.

The zoning map amendment proposed to update the designation of properties around Ocean City that are owned by the town, state or federal government and have some governmental use. Last month, the planning commission held the requisite public hearing on the zoning map amendment and forwarded its findings of fact and a favorable recommendation to the Mayor and Council to reflect the change.

Over the years, the town has owned parcels with an intended governmental use or acquired other properties that will have an intended government use in the future.

An example is a parcel at 67th Street where a gym was located but has since been acquired by the town for use as part of a new water treatment plant. There are similar examples throughout town.

The town’s zoning map includes a public-government designation, or P/G-1, which is applied to those such properties.

However, it has been determined many of those properties have not been changed to the P/G-1 zone and the amendment presented on Monday to the Mayor and Council would update the zoning map to

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reflect the changes.

Essentially, the zoning map amendment would add some properties from the P/G1 designation, while removing others. Examples of town-owned properties that would be added to the P/G-1 zone include the Ocean City Lifesaving Station Museum annex at South Baltimore Avenue, the beach patrol headquarters at Talbot Street and the town’s new public works complex and Boardwalk tram depot at St. Louis Avenue.

Examples of parcels that would be removed from the existing P/G-1 designation include a portion of the Ocean City Development Corporation Model Block at Somerset Street, a Public Works Department surplus property at Judlee Avenue, a former water tank site at 66th Street and the 100th Street parking lot.

Planning and Community Development Director Bill Neville said the zoning map amendment reflecting the changes in the P/G-1 zone was being proposed to update the town’s overall zoning map to reflect the changes in recent years.

“When we go through this same process in the future with a major acquisition or project for the town, this will be a summary of actions that have occurred over the last five to 10 years that have not been updated on our current map,” he said.

Councilman Mark Paddack pointed out some of the changes reflected in the proposed zoning map amendment had not been updated since 1999. He asked about the decades-long gap in affecting the

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changes. Neville explained the 1999 date reflected the last time the town’s zoning map had been completely updated.

“That was the last time the zoning map for the town of Ocean City was comprehensively updated,” he said. “It in intervening years, there have been a series of individual zoning map amendments. We feel comfortable with it. In each case these sites have gone through a public process.”

Paddack had a question about one of the parcels included in particular. Last year, the town agreed to swap two identical and adjacent parcels with Delmarva Power in the area of 100th Street, the latter because

Page 73

it plans to develop a backup battery storage facility on the site, and the former because the parcel it receives is adjacent to the existing municipal lot at 100th Street.

“There was some discussion in here about the land swap between the town and Delmarva Power at 100th Street,” he said.

“Has that taken place since the planning commission meeting?”

Neville said the land swap is still moving through the formal process.

The council voted unanimously to accept the planning commission’s findings of fact and recommendation and forward the proposed map changes to ordinance form.

Page 74

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October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

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Hale Harrison

OCEAN CITY – Hale Harrison, age 75, of Ocean City, passed away Monday, October 17, 2022. He was born in Berlin and was the son of the late G. Hale Harrison and Lois Carmean Harrison.

Hale graduated from Stephen Decatur High School in 1965. He attended the University of Maryland at College Park, where he studied Business and Agriculture. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta. After two years of college, Hale reHALE HARRISON turned to Ocean City to operate the family hotel business. From there, he remained active in growing the hotel/restaurant business known today as the Harrison Group Resort Hotels and Restaurants as well as maintaining nu-

OBITUARIES merous acres of farmland in Worcester County.

Hale was a former City Councilman and the former Chairman of the Planning and Zoning for the Town of Ocean City.

He served for 47 years on the Board of Directors for Calvin B. Taylor Banking Co. and was elected chair of the Taylor Bank Board of Directors in 2020. Hale was proud to declare that he was the youngest to join the Taylor Bank Board of Directors in 1975 and has been the longest to serve. He served on the Atlantic General Hospital Board of Trustees. He was a member of the Berlin Heritage Foundation, Ocean City Chamber of Commerce

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as well as a member of the Young Presidents Organization, now known as World Presidents Organization.

Hale is survived by his wife, Alberta Smith Harrison of Ocean City, and their son, G. Hale Harrison of Berlin. He had two grandchildren, Haven Harrison and Hunter Harrison, whom he loved and adored. He is also survived by his brother, John H. Harrison and his wife Karen of Berlin, and his sister, Helen H. Faucette and her husband Richard, of Ormond Beach, Fla. He will be remembered by many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Arrangements for a memorial service will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the following charitable organizations: The Worcester County Educational Foundation at www.wced.foundation or the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation at www.atlanticgeneral.org/foundation.

Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home.

Robyn Fae Bosley OCEAN CITY – Robyn Fae Bosley, 45, of Ocean City, passed away peacefully on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, after an 11-year battle with cancer. She was surrounded by close friends and loving family as she passed.

Raised in Bel Air and a graduate of C. Milton ROBYN FAE Wright, she spent the earBOSLEY ly years of her professional life in the restaurant industry and then led a very successful career in banking.

Her true love and passion was being an amazing mom to her three children, Brooke, Brayden, and Luke, who she adored with all of her heart and is so very proud of. She was a truly wonderful and loving wife to her husband Jay, who she was with for over 24 years and had just shared a 20-year wedding anniversary.

Robyn was the embodiment of strength and courage and led an amazing life by example with exceptional care and love given to so many friends and family who relied on her kind and thoughtful words so often. She was happiest when she was helping a family member, comforting a friend, or offering thoughtful advice to a loved one.

She is survived by her loving husband, Jay Bosley; her three children, Brooke Marshall, Brayden Bosley and Luke Bosley; her mother Mary Zorbach; her brother Joe Zorbach (wife Brittnie); her father-inlaw Garry Bosley (wife Sally); her uncle C. Francis Zorbach; her uncle Fred Coster; her aunt Sharon Coster; her uncle Jim Cieri (wife Pat); her aunt Kathie Sheriff (husband Rick); and her adorable niece Zoe Zorbach, who referred to Robyn as her “Tete”. She was predeceased by her father earlier this year, Joseph L. Zorbach, Jr. (“OC Boca Joe”).

Our family will be forever thankful to the kind care given by the many thoughtful nurses, techs, and doctors at both Tidal Health and Atlantic General, as well as the compassionate care given by Coast-

October 21, 2022 al Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a tribute donation to Coastal Hospice in Robyn’s name. This can be made on their website at: www.coastalhospice.org/make-a-donation.

A celebration of her beautiful life will be held from noon-3 p.m. at Lighthouse Sound Restaurant in Bishopville on Sunday, Oct. 23.

Walter T. Peters SALISBURY – Walter T. Peters, 92, of Salisbury, passed away on Friday, Sept.

23, 2022, at Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury.

Born on June 29, 1930 in New York City, he was the son of the late Nina (Santone) Peters Taustin and Walter Julius Peters. WALTER T. PETERS Walter is also the stepson of the late Irving Taustin. He is predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Joanne Kelley Peters.

Walter is survived by his two daughters, Dale (Peters) Denton Sloan and her husband James of Takoma Park, and Nancy Peters Hourigan and her husband Thomas of Toms River, N.J.; and three grandsons, Alexander Denton, William Hourigan and Andrew Hourigan. He leaves behind his sister, Ann “Honey” Taustin Goydas, three nieces and many first and second cousins.

After graduating from Roosevelt High School in Yonkers, N.Y. in 1948, he then graduated from Nichols College in Dudley, Mass. as a business major in 1950. He was elected Mayor of Nichols College and later organized reunions with classmates who hadn’t seen each other in 50 years.

Following college he served in the Army during the Korean War. He had a successful career with Allstate Insurance in New York City.

In 1970 he moved to Salisbury to join his stepfather in Ocean City business ventures. He managed The Embers restaurant and owned two Pappy’s restaurants. As a 50-year-old, Walter enjoyed playing softball with employees half his age for Embers and Pappy’s teams. His pitching skills earned him the nickname, Walt “Palmball” Peters.

Showing up, entertaining and helping others was a passion for Walter – a theme that played out in many ways throughout his life. He periodically volunteered as a Big Brother. He was also an active member of SCORE, giving business advice to others. Friends and family will remember great adventures on Walter’s pontoon boat, The Good Ship WallyPop, as well as his unique Ocean City home known as The Fun House. He took enormous pride in entertaining with his wife Joanne. They hosted numerous memorable family reunions and gatherings for friends.

Those who were fortunate enough to be a part of Walter’s life will know that he never hesitated to speak up for what he believed was right. He had a big heart.

He will be buried in the Kelley/Peters family plot in Massachusetts, with his wife Joanne and her parents. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, Md. 21804 www.coastalhospice.org or the charity of your choice. Please share memories and condolences with the family at www.HollowayFH.com.

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October 21, 2022

... OBITUARIES Maxine J. Shank-Brown OCEAN CITY – Maxine J. ShankBrown, age 86, of Ocean City, died Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Maxine was born in Laporte, Ind. on May 31, 1936, to Josephine and Max Komasinski.

Maxine lived her teenage years in Michigan City, Ind. and graduated from Isaac C. Elston High School in 1955. She attended college to fulfill her love of learning. She was an avid reader of non-fiction throughout her life.

MAXINE Throughout her life, SHANKBROWN Maxine was a generous supporter of charities which aim to improve the condition of the planet and support people who suffer. She was also a generous hostess who gifted her visitors with restaurant quality meals, stimulating conversation and an unforgettable contagious laugh.

Maxine was a proud Marylander since 1955. She lived in Rockville for 26 years and then moved to Ocean City in 1981.

Her marriage to John J. Shank ended in 1984. She met Mick Brown in Ocean City and they were inseparable for 24 years.

Maxine had real estate licenses in four states including three brokers licenses.

She worked for Moore, Warfield and Glick for most of her real estate career.

Maxine is survived by her son, Daniel F. Shank of Houston, Texas; two grandchildren, John Hiller (Kelli) and Meredith Shank Flowers (Davis); and one great-

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch grandson George. Maxine had numerous nieces, nephews and cousins that she enjoyed spending time with. She leaves four stepchildren and numerous step-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, J. Michael (Mick) Brown in 2009; one daughter, Cynthia Shank Aikens in 2004; her parents; and a sister, Lorraine Greives. .

A celebration of life will be held at noon on Thursday Oct. 27, 2022 at Lighthouse Sound Restaurant, 12733 St. Martins Neck Road, Bishopville, Md. 21813.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be sent to Diakonia, 12747 Old Bridge Road, Ocean City, Md. 21842.

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.bishophastingsfh.com.

Nancy S. Bauer BERLIN – Nancy S. Bauer, age 71, of Berlin, died Thursday, October 6, 2022, at Catered Living of Ocean Pines.

She was born in Baltimore and was the daughter of the late Albert Kenneth Smith and Katherine Frome Smith.

Nancy was a speech pathologist and had worked for the city of Baltimore. She was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Bel Air. She is survived by her husband, Donald C. Bauer of Berlin; two sons, NANCY S. Daniel S. Bauer and wife BAUER Lauren of Berlin and Douglas C. Bauer and wife Jessica of Parkton; a sister, Gail E. Smith of Selbyville; and four grandchildren, Aiden Delp, Andrew Delp, Cailin

Bauer and Smith Bauer.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1515 Emmorton Road, Bel Air, Md. 21014.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association Greater Maryland Chapter through Nancy's family fundraiser (http://act.alz.org/goto/oswald-bauer).

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.bishophastingsfh.com

John David Frontera BERLIN – John David Frontera, age 82, passed away at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury.

Born in Hackensack, N.J., he was the son of the late Joseph Frontera and Pearl Peverelly.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years,

Page 77 Mary Ann Frontera; daughter Debra Davis; sons John Frontera (Louise) and Joseph Frontera; brother David Frontera (Bernadette); and nephews David Frontera and Michaelson Capuano. He is also survived by four step grand- JOHN DAVID children, Dina Calderon, FRONTERA Samantha Aalders, Amanda Willink, and Chelsea Davis, and two step great grandchildren, Mia Calderon and Kyler Willink.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital at www.stjude.org.

Services were held. Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home.

Fenwick Prepares For Dredging Permit Application

Page 78

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – A contract allowing a local engineering firm to complete work for dredging permit applications will advance to the town council with the support of a Fenwick Island committee.

On Tuesday, the Fenwick Island Dredging Committee voted unanimously to advance a contract from Anchor QEA, a Lewes-based engineering firm, to the town council with a favorable recommendation. Steve Bagnull, the company’s project manager, told committee members this week the contract outlines the action items that will need to be completed before the town applies for dredging permits early next year.

“The overall scope of this proposal is to get us through the intermediate design, which is necessary to obtain permits and submit permit applications … ,” he explained. “The proposal we submitted has three primary tasks.”

Plans for a dredging project in the Little Assawoman Bay began in earnest

Contract Advances To Town Council

in 2018, when the town hired Tony Pratt, former administrator for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), to guide them through the funding and permitting processes. By the following year, Anchor QEA, a Lewes-based engineering firm, was brought on board to provide design, bidding and construction managements services.

Simply put, the dredging project is expected to address shoaling in the back-bay system and connect boating channels along Fenwick’s bayside canals to the main channel in the Little Assawoman Bay. As part of that effort, roughly 19,000 cubic feet of dredged material would be moved to another site for reuse.

In recent months, the committee had narrowed its options to three potential deposit sites – Seatowne residential community, a nearby kayak launch and

Seal Island. In August, however, members agreed using the dredged material to restore Seal Island remained the community’s favored option.

“Right now, I think Seal Island is still number one,” Councilman Bill Rymer, committee chair, said at the time.

With a site selected for the dredging project, Bagnull came before the committee this week with a list of tasks that needed to be accomplished before the town could submit its application for dredging permits. Those tasks, he explained, included completing a bathymetric survey, sediment sampling and additional geotechnical work, as well as hydromodeling and design work.

“Once we have the design nailed down, we could wrap up the components of the permit application …,” he said.

Officials noted that permit applications need to be completed by March 31 in order to bid out and award a con-

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struction contract next fall.

“We’re envisioning a seven-month review process that will get us permits by the end of October,” Bagnull added.

When asked how long dredging work would take, Bagnull said it could take roughly three months to complete.

“You need to get your construction underway in November,” he said.

Rymer noted the proposal submitted to the committee this week included an outline of the required tasks that would need to be completed in the coming months, as well as a cost estimate for the work.

“The overall cost is $131,000 …,” he said. “We’re about to incur a lot of cost connected to the research of Seal Island, which we had not really expected about a year ago.”

With roughly $70,000 available in dedicated dredging funds, Rymer noted the committee would have to seek additional funding from the town council for the necessary permitting work.

After further discussion, however, the committee voted to support a contract with Anchor QEA that omitted roughly $68,000 in design work, the last step in the permitting process. Officials pointed out discussion and approval of that action item could be considered at a later date.

“So we won’t need to request funds from the council,” Rymer said.

Rymer this week also updated the committee on the town’s applications for grant funding. In recent months, the town has submitted a $100,000 grant request to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and a $1.1 million grant request to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“We have not received word,” he said.

Rymer added that his is also awaiting a letter of support from Delaware State Parks.

“They have drafted a letter saying Delaware State Parks supports Fenwick Island using Seal Island and proceeding with the dredging project,” he said. “We need that support to file our permits.”

October 21, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 79

Letters To The Editor Concerns Over E-Bikes Editor: I have recently been following the debate surrounding the allowance of ebikes on the Boardwalk and I wanted to offer a word of caution to all those involved. I feel like this debate has been somewhat short-sighted about the full ramifications of what this change will involve while arguments in favor have been couched in language surrounding ADA compliance. While I have the utmost compassion for those with limited mobility, both temporary or permanent, I don't see this as argument enough to make this change in favor of ADA access and accommodation that already exists. There is much more to it than providing folks needing additional accommodation to enjoy bike-riding. These are arguments made when the reality is that it is motivated by business interests that want to change regulations to allow their businesses to open new monied opportunities without regard for the full consequences of their enterprise.

Allowing e-bikes on the Boardwalk will open up Ocean City to a proliferation of motorized or pedal-assisted motorized vehicles operated by any and all, regardless of disability. This has been shown to be problematic in environments like Ocean City's downtown in numerous locations across the country. The problems are numerous, but follow four major issues: 1. Pedestrian Experience: Motorized vehicles such as e-bikes or scooters, operated at higher than walking speeds, degrade the experience of the pedestrian as they rapidly swerve in and out of traffic. While a benevolent hope would be that these would be operated with respect, it does not occur, as any pushbutton acceleration becomes amusement and boundary pushing within those speeds and spaces among other flows of traffic becomes a very definite outcome by users. It's fun! But dangerous, and not enjoyable to those seeking an enjoyable walk.

2. Enforcement: Speed regulations in mixed use situations as the Boardwalk are nearly unverifiable and unenforceable to a specific rate of low speed and enforcement requires enforcers moving at the same rate. Think about it....now officers will need well-calibrated radar guns and e-bikes to provide any enforcement beyond verbal signals that can easily be ignored.

3. Safety: Increasing the rate of travel for some WILL result in increased collisions. With pedestrians and for the users themselves. These mixed flow rates are not complementary and good judgement is not always high.

4. Spillover - The allowance of these motorized forms on the Boardwalk will ultimately spill over into surrounding areas...sidewalks, streets, and traffic patterns. Ocean City is already lacking in good infrastructure to support multiple forms of mobility and the behavior of existing cyclists or those operating these types of motorized transport regularly shows ignorance of traffic rules because they are either not clear on how to behave correctly, signage or infrastructure

is lacking to encourage them to do so, or enforcement is nonexistent.

I encourage the folks at the City to strongly consider the full ramifications of allowing these types of transport on the Boardwalk or throughout the City itself.

Think about what the Boardwalk experience is for all, what the existing state of transportation in the city is in terms of mixed transport types, and strongly weigh these issues holistically as they relate to an overall strategy of increased safety and enjoyment with what we have. Just because something new comes along does not mean it needs to be fully integrated if it means the diminishment of many for the enjoyment of some.

Thom Epps, PhD

Where Is Driver Patience?

Editor: On Monday, October 3, I was attempting to exit my veterinarian's office on Old Ocean City Boulevard after having my dear dog treated for a terminal illness.

Coming out of the parking lot, after looking carefully in both directions and yielding to oncoming traffic from both directions, I exited onto Old Ocean City Boulevard going toward Route 50 East. First one car, then another, that were at least two blocks away from my position almost ran into me. Is there no more driver courtesy or concern for safety, or are drivers so concerned with their "need for speed" that they will run other cars off the road rather than slow down?

I thought I left the inconsiderate drivers behind when I left New Jersey three years ago. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe more enforcement of traffic laws is needed.

Bob Faszczewski Berlin

Support For Question A Editor: I am writing to express my support, and encourage others, in voting yes to Question A for the proposed sports complex in Worcester County.

A number of years ago, I was involved in amateur soccer organizations. First in the Baltimore metro area, and then statewide in Maryland, and then nationwide with the United States Soccer Federation. In my travels to various meetings and conventions across the country, I have met numerous organizations that have complexes built in their areas.

These facilities have proven to be very successful in providing safe and convenient areas for competition, while being a source of fundraising for their communities. The fact that this complex would be closely located to Ocean City, a popular family destination, and the area nearby, should help in its overall success and sustainability, and would attract teams and competitions from various areas of the country.

I certainly understand concerns such as startup costs and traffic. Any project this large will have an initial price tag that gets your attention. However, to be as successful as possible, a plan like this must be large in scale. As far as logistics such as traffic concerns, these can be worked upon and, with proper schedul-

ing, can be minimized.

I truly feel this project would be a huge asset, financially and sports accessibility, to our area. Again, I encourage my fellow voters to vote yes to Question A. Thank you for your attention.

Martin Branagan

No Place For Political Games In Human Rights Editor: An open letter to America’s leaders: What is the true value of human life, especially those seeking to live freely here in the United States? Apparently, it is not much, or considered as important, by the leadership of both major political parties. I say this as the continuing immigration issue on our Southern Border has become a humanitarian issue. The sad part of all this is that our elected officials are using these innocent people as political pawns in their chess game of control over American politics.

People are not pawns to be used in the advancement of one’s ideological leanings. I am disgusted and ashamed of the leaders of all parties. We send immigrants via plane and bus to cities and areas in an effort to gain political points or to play a game. All sides are guilty of this. Governors Abbott and Desantis and well as the current Presidential Administration have sent those seeking a better life to areas without telling those going and those to where they are being sent what is going on. Where is the decency

and humanity in all of that?

Is it not inscribed on the tablet that the Statue of Liberty, the very worldly symbol of freedom and hope, say “Send me your poor, your tired, your hungry”?

While those on the Southern border and coming across it may not be doing so through the proper means, they are still human beings and need to be treated with the respect and dignity that is due all of mankind. Yes, there may be some within their ranks that are not coming here with the best of intentions. However, that is the case with any type of immigration.

We are faced with a humanitarian crisis that the Western World has never seen before. It is one that our failed political leaders have brought upon us. Instead of ignoring the problem or trying to twist the situation to make you or your political party look good, how about you do the job that WE, the American Public, elected you to do. Instead of wasting our tax dollars on your pet projects, how about you use it to hire more immigration officials and judges so that we can better help those who need it. At the same time how about we use some of that wasted money to help the situation in those Central and South American Countries from which these people are fleeing? Why are we sending a good chunk of our tax dollars to countries that don’t truly need it or that are not friendly to America? Why is it that only the crisis in Ukraine is getting attention? Do we not have similar issues in SEE PAGE 80

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Page 80

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

October 21, 2022

Letters To The Editor FROM PAGE 79 Africa? Is not the crisis on our own border worth the same attention?

All life has value and deserves respect. America is a land of immigrants.

Not all of us in the early days of this country came here legally. We must remember that. We must also remember that human life is not to be used as a political pawn in your power struggles and games. It is time for the people to speak up and for our elected representatives to do their job. If they can’t or won’t, then we need to fire them and get in people who will seek to value human life and not just see it as a tool or pawn to use in their twisted games.

The Very Rev. Fr. Larry Barnhill Berlin

Important Election Issues Need Attention Editor: Imagine just for a moment that We the People of the United States had the ability to reign in out-of-control spending by our federal government. I suspect that we would quickly jump at that opportunity.

Likewise, it would be great to be able to curb exorbitant spending in the State government as well. Unfortunately, our only option is to elect fiscally responsible candidates who will do it for us. Historically however, that does not happen with much success.

While we cannot change some things in Washington and Annapolis, we can

make a difference at the local level.

Thanks to the power of the Petition to Referendum, we can stop overspending

by County and Town elected officials.

On November 8th, the voters of Ocean City will have the opportunity to send strong messages to both our County Commissioners and to our Mayor & City Council (M&CC). On the two separate county and town ballots, there are two separate and distinct Questions "A." The County ballot Question A pertains to the Bond Bill to construct the proposed Sports Complex next to Stephen Decatur High School. The Bill obligates our Commissioners by providing "...an irrevocable pledge of the full faith and credit and unlimited taxing power of the County to the payment of the maturing principal of and interest and premium (if any) on the Bonds as and when they become due and payable."

A vote Against Question A on the county ballot is a vote against an ill-conceived and poorly planned multi-million-dollar sports complex which never appeared on a County Capital Improvement Plan until less than a year ago. It is a project with no business plan in place. The cost of the land alone, which we later learned is not part of the bond bill, should provide enough cause for concern. A slim majority of Commissioners voted to pay nearly $75,000 per acre, while land is available throughout the county from $10,000 to $19,000 per acre. We the People have the opportunity to curb the Commission-

ers' overspending by voting Against this Question A. On another front, the voters of the Town of Ocean City have an additional opportunity to curb spending by our local officials on yet another Question A. Passage of Ordinance 2021-24 by our M&CC, calls for a phased-in increase in Room Tax revenue designed, in part, to increase Marketing & Advertising spending.

From Fiscal Years (FY) 2007 to 2022, the Town's advertising budget, funded by the room tax, increased from $1.76 million to over $8.8 million, an increase of 400%. That $8.8 million could have almost fully funded our Career Fire/EMS Division. In FY22, an additional $1.4 million in advertising revenue rolled over from the previous fiscal year. Unlike other departments, where unspent funds go into the Town's fund balance at the end of the fiscal year, unspent advertising funds carry over into the next fiscal year.

The total $10.2 million available in FY22 for advertising is the equivalent of 11 cents on the town property tax rate. In retrospect, the M&CC could have lowered our FY22 property tax rate by 24% and still generated sufficient revenue to meet our town's obligations. Both residential and business properties would have equally benefited in that reduction.

We often hear from elected leaders that our only industry is tourism, and that money spent on tourism helps to keep our property taxes low. Note however, the residential community is already helping

the tourism industry by subsidizing the Convention Center, the airport, the golf course when needed, the mass transit system to move our many tourists, as well as many special events. In the case of advertising, we are not just subsidizing the tourism industry, our local government is essentially paying the entire cost for the business community.

The Town of Ocean City should not be in the advertising business. Advertising and marketing are not functions of government. Businesses in the private sector should be doing their own advertising, via the Chamber of Commerce, the Hotel Motel Restaurant Association or their own individual budgets. It is not the responsibility of the local government to subsidize tourism, but to facilitate it by providing a clean beach, a clean environment, sound infrastructure including water, wastewater and trash disposal; and essential services such as police, fire, EMS and beach patrol.

A vote Against Question A on the Town ballot will force our elected leaders to come up with a more equitable plan that does not benefit the business community, at the expense of the residential community. A vote Against Question A on the Town ballot is a vote against the out-ofcontrol spending of our Town elected officials.

I urge all Ocean City voters to vote against both Questions "A". Thank you.

Vincent dePaul Gisriel, Jr. Ocean City

October 21, 2022

The Dispatch Forever In Memory Of Our Founder, Dick Lohmeyer (May 25, 1927-May 5, 2005)

The Dispatch, Serving Greater Ocean City Since 1984, Is Published By Maryland Coast Dispatch Inc. Weekly On Friday Mornings MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Md. 21811 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd.

Berlin, Md. 21811 PHONE: 410-641-4561 FAX: 410-641-0966 ONLINE WEBSITES: mdcoastdispatch.com facebook.com/thedispatchoc twitter.com/thedispatchocmd instagram.com/thedispatchocmd J. STEVEN GREEN Publisher/Editor editor@mdcoastdispatch.com

NEWS DEPARTMENT SHAWN J. SOPER Managing Editor ssoper@mdcoastdispatch.com CHARLENE SHARPE Staff Writer/Copy Editor csharpe@mdcoastdispatch.com BETHANY HOOPER Staff Writer/Copy Editor bhooper@mdcoastdispatch.com CHRIS PARYPA Photographer

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The Maryland Coast Dispatch (USPS #015125) is an official and legal newspaper for Worcester County. Periodical postage paid at Berlin, Maryland, and additional mailing offices. The Maryland Coast Dispatch, 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin, Md. 21811, is published weekly on Friday mornings, 52 weeks a year. Subscription rates are $260 per year.

POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Maryland Coast Dispatch, P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Maryland 21811. Maryland Coast Dispatch offices are located at Route 346 and Graham Avenue, Berlin, Maryland.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Precedent Could Be Future Problem How We See It

It’s only a matter of time before a future set of Worcester County Commissioners rues this week’s 4-3 vote to allow an out-of-state business to connect to a municipal treatment system.

The issue appeared to be settled last November then again in January, but it returned for another discussion this week.

This week’s meeting had a bit of everything including scare tactics, misrepresentations and disrespect.

The matter at hand is a Royal Farms convenience store built in Accomack County in Virginia. The business’s septic system is reportedly failing. Pocomoke City would like to extend sewer service to the store to help the private business owner address a serious problem as well as the town’s finances with new connection fees. Currently, due to closer proximity than Onley’s treatment plant, Royal Farms ships its waste to the Pocomoke wastewater treatment plant and pays the municipality a fee. Allowing the store to connect to Pocomoke’s pipe, which was extended from the town years ago through a state-to-state agreement to Virginia’s welcome center years ago, would bring in needed funding to allow Pocomoke to improve its wastewater facility.

The key difference between the visitor center connection 12 years ago and the Royal Farms deal is it was two governments partnering. This proposed agreement is between a municipality and a private company. It’s not government’s job to bail out a poor decision by a private operator. The due diligence period should have shown Royal Farms the danger of using septic for a store whose vary success is based on customer volume. The private company should have built the store across the state line in Maryland.

Worcester County Commissioner Chip Bertino was right when he said last November, “This is Accomack County’s problem. Royal Farms decided to build in Virginia, not Maryland. The fact it has concerns with its waste should have been explored prior to deciding building where public sewer was not available in the home county. It’s poor planning.”

For Pocomoke, the move has financial benefits. It’s not inconsequential for a town that needs revenue. We recognize the positive fiscal impact of connecting the store to the pipe, but this is a dangerous precedent for a government to set.

By granting the connection nine months after a 3-3 vote seemingly ended the situation, the majority of the commissioners opted to save a private business owner in another state while helping the neighboring county, which continues to receive the property tax revenue. This decision will be referred to in the future when other development opportunities arise along Route 13 in Virginia.

Page 81

Between The Lines

by Publisher/Editor Steve Green Two deaths hit the Worcester County community hard this week.

Though the two individuals who died two days apart had no direct connection, their deaths impacted thousands near and far.

First, Rhonda Walsh, a teacher in Worcester County Public Schools for 22 years, most recently Berlin Intermediate, died after an extended sarcoma cancer battle. Walsh leaves behind three kids, two of whom are in high school and one in middle school, and husband Cory Walsh, business development officer and assistant vice president at Taylor Bank and a long-time youth sports coach. I coached the couple’s two sons in soccer a few years back and it just happened to be when the health issues arose. It’s a lovely family with deep roots throughout the community. Though Rhonda has had tremendous health challenges since her diagnosis, her passing last Saturday came far sooner than anyone expected, according to family friends.

Rhonda’s death came one week after the Stephen Decatur varsity soccer team held a “Yellow Out Seahawks Fight Against Sarcoma” game in support of Walsh, whose daughter Emma plays on the team. The players and fans wore yellow, and a bake sale was held, raising more than $1,200 for the family. A Go Fund Me page has been set up for “The Walsh Family” to help the family through the challenging time, raising about $19,000 to date. Of her friend, page organizer April Gershenfeld wrote, “Our dear friend Rhonda Walsh lost her battle with cancer on Saturday evening. She was a true warrior and a hero. Rhonda will be dearly missed by so many people whose lives she touched. Our hearts go out to her family and so many people have asked what they can do. We are revitalizing the go fund me for people who want to contribute and also suggest gift cards.”

On Monday, Hale Harrison died unexpectedly at the age of 75. His numerous achievements and contributions can be reviewed in the feature story and obituary. I wanted to share a couple stories about my personal interactions with him.

Though I knew of him growing up, most notably him eating breakfast at the Captain’s Table where I worked as a teen with his friend Jimmy Hall and later as one of the owners of a competing newspaper, my first professional interaction with Hale was in 1998 when he was serving as chairman of the AGH Board of Trustees. He wanted to present the hospital’s financial review to me as a newspaper editor ahead of any article. We didn’t meet at the hospital or one of his hotels, restaurants or meeting spaces. Instead, he wanted to review the financials at his company’s offices on the Plim Plaza property.

At the time, these offices were surprisingly modest. He led me to a small room –seemingly not used by anyone for a long time -- to review the hospital’s finances. He struck me as authentic and not wrapped up in being showy.

It told me a lot about him. He was a private man who preferred a low profile.

Some years later, Harrison sought me out on a Friday night in Ocean City to let me know about a union vote that had just occurred. There was an employee union that was looking at the time to organize his company’s employees. It’s been 20 years at least, but my memory of it was he was a bit upset at something I wrote in this space about being open minded to the unionization effort. Immediately after the union vote was held, I can remember Harrison approaching me with paper in hand at a local happy hour to inform me of the results. He made his position clear, saying I could criticize his buildings or restaurants but not to ever claim he did not treat his people well. He had a point to make and he delivered it. I do not recall painting the picture he cited, but I admired his passion. He was not going to stand for any claims his employees were not treated well. History has shown this was a focus of his in his career based on the long tenures of numerous employees within his company.

Throughout a life of tremendous private success, Hale was also humble and private about those pursuits and successes. Additionally, Hale and his family business have proven time and time again to be charitable in nature helping countless families with various examples of help outside of the limelight. Former Ocean City Mayor and State Senator Jim Mathias summed it up in general terms saying, “Every element of who we are as a community, he was always there to do his part. … We are a better community because of Hale. We are a stronger community because of Hale. …”

The future may prove me wrong, but I just don’t see the addition of electric bikes to the Boardwalk as a huge deal. I spent much more time than usual on the Boardwalk last summer due to my teenager working at The Kite Loft, including dozens of walks on early summer mornings.

For the most part, the scene on the Boardwalk was idyllic even amid a sea of multiple users. There were joggers, walkers, strollers and a variety of bikers with the majority use being walking in my opinion. The addition of e-bikes should be barely noticeable. I could be wrong, but I don’t see their popularity has reached the point where a major change will hurt the Boardwalk experience.

The council plans to review the addition of the Class 1 e-bikes to the Boardwalk over the fall, winter and spring months. An update before the season will be nice, but it’s going to take a summer season to see whether any changes need to be made regarding electric bikes. My guess is all will be fine, and the city was wise to revisit the issue before a challenge came from advocates for the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Page 82

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Puzzle Answers

I

October 21, 2022

The Adventures of Fatherhood

by Steve Green

PUZZLE ON PAGE 59

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n the vein of providing parent support, some “I see you …” thoughts over the last few weeks. I intend this as more of a “I see you and I feel you” type of observations.

We. are all in this together.

•I see you … parents rolling through the drop-off at school and feeling the pressure of the early-morning rush.

Combine the chaos of getting kids to school on time with your own plans for the day, it’s not always easy. In my case, each day is different. One morning this week I resisted drinking my coffee so I could have for the ride to school with Carson. As I was leaving the driveway, I realized I forgot it. I assumed I left it on the counter in the house until I got home later and realized I left it on the asphalt.

My hands were full, so I set it down and forgot within seconds about it.

•I see you … parents having a conversation with your teen and wondering where he or she is looking because clearly the focus is not on you. When this happens to me, I intentionally say the most ridiculous thing so I can confirm my 14-year-old is not listening. During one period of heightened frustration, I told him it was best to be without his phone for a month. He only heard one word, saying, “what was that about my phone again?” There may be a little bit of hearing going on, but there’s next to no listening happening.

•I see you … sports dads talking to your child about their game as they walk off the soccer field, offering tips and suggestions on the kid’s level of play and energy level. Take it from me: this is the last thing your young athletes need. I know because I, too, did not have enough restraint to let my kid catch his breath after a game or practice. I was able to wait until we got in the car to head home, but I was often informing him of my views before he got out of the parking lot. I regret those reactions looking back. It’s not what he needed from

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his dad.

•I see you … a community offering tremendous support for the Knupp family with donations, messages of support on marquees and the like. It’s inspiring and speaks of the heart of this community.

•I see you … parents walking up to Berlin’s Octoberfest event on Saturday with your teen(s). I sense you do what we do. We want our teen to hang with us until we realize we don’t if he’s going to be embarrassed and ashamed to be seen with us. I see the look of disgust as you bid your kid bye with orders to stay in touch and head for the beer truck.

Cheers!

•I see you … mothers slowly walking through the grocery store aisle after work. I assume there’s an enjoyment of the peace and quiet after a long day before heading home with a load of groceries and responsibilities.

•I see you … fathers clearing your schedule on Monday mornings ahead of an afternoon in Baltimore for the Ravens games.

•I see you … exhausted parents of young kids after long beach days. These are truly some of the best parenting memories I have, but it’s a lie to say these days are all positives. Though different now with my kids 14 and 12 years old, respectively, I remember well the trials and tribulations of taking toddlers to the beach. I also remember the multiple trips back and forth from the beach to have a mountain of gear nearby. I know how exhausting it can be keeping the kids safe in the ocean and entertained on the beach.

It’s why I commiserate a bit when I see a family out to eat after a summer day. Everyone is just exhausted, but they are on vacation and seem intent on getting out. It’s fun to observe from a distance because we have all been there. The kids are ready for downtime or maybe even bed. The parents might

be too, but they probably would prefer some libations before calling it a day and doing it all over again the next day.

•I see you … fathers running to get carryout at a restaurant for the family but first having a drink to just chill and relax before returning home.

•I see you … teachers seemingly starting each day with fresh perspective and positivity. This can’t be easy – especially on Mondays -- but I know in my case it’s appreciated.

•I see you … parents animatedly walking in the early evenings with friends or on a phone call. I have no idea what’s being said, but I imagine it involves a story or two about children. It appears to a stranger to be a serious vent session among friends, which we all need every now and again. Add exercise to the equation and it’s a good use of time if you ask me.

•I see you … parents desperately wanting to run into Dunkin’ for a quick pickup while having kids in tow, requesting a donut or six as you sigh at the long line and wait time.

•I see you … parents picking up your kids from school with a weekend ahead.

It’s clear from the loaded vehicle camping is on tap. I imagine what the hours beforehand were like. If your house is like mine, there are lists – which usually get lost three or four times -- of what to take. It appears to be far too much stuff for just a couple days, but invariably there’s a realization of some sort about something being forgotten. In my case, it’s usually a needed charger cord, deodorant or a razor. The kids seem to have all they need, but I can’t recall the last time I went out of town without a visit to a local store to pick up something left behind.

(The writer is the publisher and editor of The 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.)

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