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November 5, 2021

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Halloween Waves: A unique perspective is shown above from an ocean photo session in Ocean City last Sunday.

Photo by Ty Layton Photography

FBI Inquiry Clears OC Police Officers

Principals Talk Margaritaville Project

Festive Halloween Returns To Berlin

See Page 4 • Photo by Chris Parypa

See Page 19 • Rendering by Becker Morgan

See Page 26 • Photo by Charlene Sharpe

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November 5, 2021

November 5, 2021

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Federal Probe Finds No ‘Rights Violations’ In Summer Arrests

November 5, 2021

BY STEVE GREEN

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OCEAN CITY – A federal investigation has found no civil rights violations occurred last June during the use of force by Ocean City police officers to apprehend suspects on the Boardwalk.

“The FBI did conduct an inquiry into the two use force cases that occurred in early June 2021,” said Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan in a response letter to Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s recent request for an update on the incidents.

“We have recently learned that the FBI determined neither case rose to the level of a Federal Civil Rights Violation and that its inquiry is now closed. As I understand the facts and process, in late June the Ocean City Police Department was contacted by the FBI who had been asked to conduct an inquiry into both use of force matters. Subsequently, we invited FBI Supervisory Special Agent Thomas Coyle and Special Agent Joe Lear to meet with OCPD, and provided all of the information requested and further offered to cooperate in any way that would be of assistance. Thereafter, the FBI conducted its inquiry and forwarded its recommendation to the Assistant United States Attorney and then to person(s) within the Department of Justice. After this multilevel review, this matter was closed.”

Meehan’s letter, dated Sept. 17, was released Thursday to the media along with a written response by OCPD Records Supervisor Margie Lonergan dated Oct. 26 to The Washington Post’s Public Information Act requested Oct. 13. The newspaper’s request sought internal reviews of two incidents – June 6 when Taizier Griffin was arrested on the Boardwalk and on June 12 when teenagers Brian Anderson, Jatique John Lewis and Kamere Day were apprehended on the Boardwalk.

Both incidents, stemming from vaping on the Boardwalk that is prohibited, involved police using force to gain compliance with the suspects, resulting in national media and civil rights groups questioning the police department with accusations of racism and unfair treatment of minority.

Lonergan’s letter restated Meehan’s conclusion to the senator, saying, “The Town has recently learned that the FBI determined neither incident rose to the level of a Federal Civil Rights Violation, and after a multi-level review this matter was closed. Neither the Department nor the Town have the FBI inquiry records.”

In his letter to Van Hollen, Meehan added, “I can also add that both matters were subject to a thorough multilevel OCPD internal review which SEE PAGE 55

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 5

Ocean City To Spend $734K On Water Tower Painting Work

Page 6

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – With a little creative budget maneuvering, resort officials this week voted to double down and paint both the exterior and the interior of the water tower at 94th Street at the same time.

Last week, submitted bids for painting the exterior of the water tower at 94th Street were opened and remanded to staff for review and a recommendation. The estimate in the fiscal year 2022 budget for painting just the exterior of the 94th Street water tower was $350,000.

At the time the bids were open last week, the lowest bid came in at $238,500, which was significantly under the $350,000 budgeted. However, the next

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

day the low bidder contacted the town and said they had to withdraw their bid because of mathematical errors. The next lowest bid was $367,650, and despite being over the budgeted amount in fiscal year 2022, the council voted unanimously to award the contract to the second lowest bidder.

When the bid documents were prepared, painting the exterior of the water tower was part A, with an add-alternate for painting the interior of the tower as part B and the application of the Art League’s logo on the tower as part C. However, it was determined part B, or painting the interior of the water tower was not in the fiscal year 2022 budgeted amount, according to Public Works Director Hal Adkins.

“When we opened the bids for the water tower in general, Part B dealt with

painting the interior of the water tower and Part C dealt with placing the Art League’s logo,” he said. “Part B was an additional $365,000 above and beyond the exterior work.

Adkins said it had been determined the interior of the water tower needed to be done, but there was no funding in the fiscal year 2022 budget for that portion of the project.

“The last time that was done was 15 years ago,” he said. “Based on inspections prior to the bidding effort, it was indicated that needs to be done. Unfortunately, given our fiscal year 2022 operating budget in the water department, we didn’t have the funding available to do so.”

However, Adkins recommended finding a way to fund the painting of the interior of the water tower. He cited some

November 5, 2021

ongoing issues with labor and materials in the post-pandemic world.

“Due to the current post-COVID economy, the lack of manpower, escalating material, fuel and equipment costs, our existing fiscal year 2022 budget cannot absorb this additional cost,” he said. “The last time the full interior of the tank was completely blasted and repainted was in 2006. Spot repairs have been performed since that date, but evidence discovered during the last inspection dictates that the full interior needs to be addressed.”

Adkins said it made sense to find a way to fund the painting of both the interior and exterior of the tower.

“With the contractor already on site including the equipment needed and materials, the cost of $366,900 would be far greater if this work was postponed until a later date,” he said.

So, Adkins went back to the drawing board with Budget Manager Jennie Knapp to find a funding source for painting the interior.

“In consultation with the budget manager, our recommendation is to appropriate the money out of the water department funding so we can move forward with an award to move forward with the interior,” he said. “As of the audit closing out fiscal year 2021, the department’s fund balance is slightly over $1.8 million, so thus the comfort level to do so. We’re recommending doing the interior at the same time as the exterior.”

The council unanimously approved the recommendation. At the end of the day, both the exterior of the water tower, at $367,650, and the interior of the tower at $366,900, will be done at the same time. The Art League will fund the placement of their logo on the tower.

The existing water tower off 94th Street is pictured.

File Photo

Angler Restaurant Damaged By Fire One Day After Closing For Season

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

The exterior of the Angler restaurant in downtown Ocean City is pictured after the fire was extinguished. Below, members of the Ocean City Fire Department apply water to the blaze.

Photos courtesy of OCFD

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD) had a busy Halloween night with a pair of simultaneous incidents at a midtown hotel and an iconic downtown restaurant.

Around 9:05 p.m. on Sunday, Ocean City fire and EMS units responded to the Hilton Hotel at 32nd Street for reported smoke in the structure. Firefighters arrived on scene and found smoke conditions on the eighth floor. During the investigation, fire crews isolated the cause of the smoke to a malfunctioning air handler.

About six minutes later, Ocean City Communications dispatched fire crews to the Angler restaurant on Talbot Street for a building fire. Fire crews arrived and found a working fire at the historic restaurant. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and an extensive overhaul was conducted of the fire area. One civilian sustained minor injuries, according to OCFD spokesman Ryan Whittington.

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The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office.

During the public comment period at Monday’s meeting, Angler family member and local attorney Regan Smith thanked the city and its emergency services departments for saving the historic restaurant.

“I want to thank the council president and the fire company, city staff and the police department,” he said. “The fire was out quickly and prevented the restaurant from burning. I just want to say thank you to all involved.”

The Angler celebrated its final day of the season on Saturday, a day before the fire.

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November 5, 2021

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

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OCEAN CITY – Ocean City’s private sector food waste composting program is exceeding expectation, resort officials learned this week, but there is still plenty of room to grow.

In July, The Hobbit Restaurant owner and Ocean Compost LLC representative Garvey Heiderman pitched his pilot food waste composting program to the Mayor and Council. The concept calls for Ocean Compost LLC to collect food waste from a handful of restaurants in the resort and transport it to a composting site in Bishopville. The idea is to reduce the overall waste stream emanating from Ocean City by removing a significant amount of biodegradable food waste and composting it on a five-acre site in northern Worcester County.

Over a decade ago, Ocean City pivoted from a traditional curbside recycling program to an innovative waste-to-energy operation. Trash collected in Ocean City is transported to a plant in Pennsylvania where it is incinerated and converted to energy. The town pays Covanta, the waste-to-energy operation, per ton to incinerate waste collected and convert into renewable energy, and Ocean Compost LLC is using a pilot program to reduce the amount of food waste that heads to Pennsylvania. In the pilot program, Ocean Compost LLC collects food waste from five participating restaurants in the resort, weigh it at the town’s public works complex at 65th Street and then transport it to a site in Bishopville for composting.

The reason Ocean Compost LLC needed the blessing of the Mayor and Council is because the collected food waste will be weighed at the town’s public works facility at 65th Street. Ocean City will pay Ocean Compost LLC the same per-ton rate as it pays Covanta, so the pilot program is cost-neutral for the town.

The benefit is food service industry waste will be composted locally instead of being sent to Covanta for incineration.

On Monday, Heiderman provided an update on the food waste composting program to the Mayor and Council.

“We composted about 80,000 pounds of waste this year,” he said. “To give you a frame of reference, last year, with just one restaurant – The Hobbit – we did about 12,000 pounds. This year, we did 80,000 pounds, or 40 tons. Next year, we expect to do 250 tons.”

Heiderman said Ocean Compost LLC and its partnership with the town are only scratching the surface.

“We surmise that there are 10,000 tons of food waste generated in Ocean City each year,” he said. “I wouldn’t say all of that is low-hanging fruit, but it gives the town of Ocean City an idea of the scalability of this program.”

Heiderman said he wasn’t looking for an additional commitment from the town, but was merely providing an update on the progress of the program.

SEE PAGE 51

County Votes 4-3 To Direct Surplus Funds To Projects, Boosting Reserves

November 5, 2021

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – County officials agreed to use a $16 million surplus to fund various capital projects and increase the county’s reserve.

The Worcester County Commissioners voted 4-3 this week to approve the assignment of fund balance after the county ended the year with a surplus of $16.1 million. The money will be used for various projects, including increasing the county’s reserve to 12%, replacing the roof at Pocomoke Middle School, repairing a bulkhead at the commercial harbor and supporting Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB).

“We’re fortunate that we do have this excess,” Commissioner Joe Mitrecic said.

Staff told the commissioners the $16.1 million surplus was attributable to a strong labor market and related income tax revenues as well as better than anticipated transfer and recordation tax revenues related to a robust real estate market. The commissioners were presented with a list of projects, including $4.6 million in board of education initiatives, funding for OPEB and $4.5 million to bolster the county’s reserve, for approval.

Commissioner Josh Nordstrom said he’d like to see $150,000 assigned to support a boys and girls club in Pocomoke. His motion to add that to the fund balance list failed with lack of a second, however.

Commissioner Chip Bertino said he’d like to see fund balance cover the total requested cost of an HVAC automation system for county buildings as well as the initially projected $2.5 million OPEB contribution. The list by staff left the HVAC project $150,000 short and the OPEB contribution down $400,000. He proposed removing a few of the items requested by the Worcester County Board of Education. Bertino suggested the $85,000 requested for a new partition wall at Stephen Decatur Middle School be built into the bond being sought for the renovation there. He also suggested delaying track repairs at Stephen Decatur and Pocomoke High Schools.

Superintendent Lou Taylor said he was aware the school system had presented an extensive list of items to be accomplished with the county’s fund balance. While he said moving the cost of the wall to the bond was not a problem, he’ll likely have to return next year to seek funding for track resurfacing.

“Both of them need to be resurfaced,” he said. “Can they wait a year or so, yes. I’m okay with that because again I’m grateful for anything you give us. But at some point, possibly a year from now, I’m going to have to come back to you about those because they

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 9

will become a safety issue.”

With those adjustments, Bertino noted that the county would still need to identify another $190,000 that could be moved to pay for the changes he’d proposed.

Mitrecic asked about the reasoning behind increasing the county’s reserve from 10% to 12%. Phil Thompson, the county’s finance officer, said it was to maintain a stable reserve. He added that most counties had 15-17% in reserves.

“When you compare us to our peer rated counties across the state and across the country we’re still a little bit below the benchmark there,” Thompson said.

Bertino pointed out that if the commissioners reduced the $600,000 assigned to be used for the sports complex to $400,000, the county would be able to cover the changes he’d proposed to OPEB and the HVAC system.

The commissioners voted 4-3, with Mitrecic, Commissioner Bud Church and Commissioner Diana Purnell opposed, to approve the changes.

“I’m in favor of everything except removing the $200,000 for the sports complex,” Church said.

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Berlin To Consider Rezoning For Townhouse Project

Page 10

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BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – The Berlin Planning Commission is set to consider a rezoning next week that would allow a 176-unit townhouse development to proceed.

On Wednesday, Nov. 10, the commission will meet to consider a request to reclassify commercial land in the area of routes 50 and 818 as R-4 residential.

They’ll forward a recommendation on the proposal to the town council and that body will make a decision on the rezoning request.

“It’s a request to rezone from the cur-

rent B-2 shopping district to the R-4 residence district, which is the highest density permitted,” Planning Director Dave Engelhart said. “Their intent if they can get R-4 zoning is to put 176 townhomes on the parcel.”

Developer Chris Carbaugh met with the commission last month to share plans for a 176-unit townhouse project he’s envisioning for 24 acres along Route 50 westbound. The land was rezoned last year, at Carbaugh’s request, from industrial to B-2 business. Now, however, Carbaugh wants to have it rezoned to R-4 residential. He wants to see the site developed with a 176-unit townhouse com-

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munity. He told the commission the pandemic impacted his commercial plans.

“A lot of those users put their growth plans on hold,” he said last month. “Since that time there’s been substantial interest in residential development in the town of Berlin so we wanted to go back and try to see if there was a way to incorporate the residential into this project and create more of a mixed use.”

Carbaugh said there would be commercial space on the corner and then townhouses on the substantial back section of property.

Following his presentation in October, commission members said they wanted

November 5, 2021

to hear from the public regarding the proposal and the requested rezoning.

Engelhart said Wednesday he hadn’t yet received any written comments from citizens but advised that they could attend the meeting or submit comments via email to info@berlinmd.gov prior to the meeting.

The meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. at Berlin Town Hall. Engelhart said the commission was expected to make a recommendation, either favorable or unfavorable, and would forward that to the town council. A public hearing could be held in front of elected officials at their Dec. 13 meeting.

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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quick actions save man’s life in pines

November 5, 2021

OCEAN PINES – Quick thinking on the part of a local bartender – and a wellplaced defibrillator – helped save a life on Sunday at the Ocean Pines Clubhouse Bar and Grille.

A male patron, whose name was not publicly released, appeared to have a heart attack on Sunday, when bartender Rob Ruszin and manager Judie Scotti swiftly sprang into action.

Scotti said she was coming back into the building at around 1 p.m. when she noticed a customer in distress.

“He was on the floor, and it sounded like he was having some breathing issues,” she said. “Rob was on the phone with 911. They told him to roll [the man] on his back and then he handed me the phone.”

Ruszin, who worked as a lifeguard for several summers and received defibrillator training while in college, tried to administer CPR. Scotti said the man started turning blue, was not breathing and did not have a heartbeat.

“I ran and grabbed the AED [Automated External Defibrillator] out of the hallway and ran back, and Rob hooked him up and followed the directions and shocked him,” Scotti said. “At that point, Rob was doing CPR on him, and he started getting color back.”

Ruszin said the whole incident, from the time the man slumped over until the time he used the defibrillator, lasted about two minutes.

“It felt like forever though!” he said. “[The defibrillators] really do save lives. It was nerve-wracking, but the fire chief came and thanked us afterward. And throughout it, everyone stayed calm and worked together. Everyone helped out.”

Soon after the resuscitation, EMS workers transported the man to TidalHealth, in Salisbury.

“I got an update that he was doing well in Salisbury, so I was very happy about that,” Scotti said. “Rob did a great job. He was quick and responsive, as well as myself, but I feel like Rob did most of the work. Together, we made it work.”

Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department Chief Steve Grunewald said the man was alert and responsive when EMS arrived. And Ruszin, he said, was a genuine hero.

“He saved the guy’s life – there’s no doubt in my mind whatsoever. He did a fantastic job,” Grunewald said. “It was absolutely fantastic work in a stressful situation by the staff at the Clubhouse. Without the quick thinking of the bartender, the outcome could have been drastically different. It also speaks to the importance of these AEDs in public buildings. That AED just paid for itself. It saved that gentleman's life. ...”

Aquatics Director Kathleen Cook maintains defibrillators across all Ocean Pines facilities, and supplies information to staff on how to use them.

“I’m just thrilled that it was there and that it worked,” she said. “[The defibrillator] would have never shocked him unless he needed it, so the guy was in trouble. So, hats off to Judie and Rob. They handled it flawlessly.”

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 13

Resort Mayor Advocates For Diversity Officer Position

Page 14

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – On the heels of a federal inquiry into alleged civil rights violations in a pair of incidents on the Boardwalk last June, resort officials this week veered in a different direction and initiated a process to explore creating a diversity and inclusion position.

It was confirmed last week an FBI inquiry into the alleged excessive use of force during a pair of incidents on the Boardwalk determined neither case was a federal civil rights violation and the bureau’s inquiry was now closed. Following those June incidents, state and local civil rights activists met with Mayor Rick Meehan inside City Hall, while activists conducted a peaceful protest outside.

Out of that meeting was borne the request for the city to create a diversity and

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

inclusion work group to begin exploring some of the issues raised. At the close of Monday’s meeting, Meehan explained the need for the town to begin exploring some of the diversity and inclusion issues and issued a call for his colleagues on the council to begin exploring a diversity, equality and inclusion position within the city government.

“During that meeting, I was asked if I would hire a diversity, equity and inclusion officer for the Town of Ocean City,” he said. “I explained our council-city manager form of government, but that was certainly something I would look into for them. After our initial follow-up meeting with our now-established diversity and inclusion work group, we promised to work with these local representatives to address a number of these issues and develop a dialogue.”

Meehan said he approached City Man-

ager Doug Miller to begin exploring the creation of a diversity position, learning there was currently a training position being advertised by the town that could be adapted to the proposed new position.

“At that meeting, I went to the city manager to discuss that position,” he said. “I pointed out that we currently have posting for a position in the human resources department for a training position. I have reviewed that job description and I think this would be an excellent opportunity to create the position of a diversity, equity and inclusion officer and possibly include some of the other job descriptions under this position as well. I suggested this posting should be pulled and discussed. I also discussed this with Council President Matt James and Council Secretary Tony DeLuca. Upon review, the city manager decided not to go this route, explaining the two positions we were discussing were

November 5, 2021

entirely different functions.”

Meehan pointed out the resort is one of the largest cities in the state, but lacked a position dedicated to ensuring diversity and inclusion.

“Ocean City is the second largest city in the state for much of the year,” he said.

“We are positioning ourselves to grow to the next plateau. By doing so, it’s important for us to figure out how we can become better, more diverse and an inclusive government. This will not only benefit our employees, but our citizens and residents as well. Times have changed, and changed for the better. We need to not only keep up with those changes, but I believe we always need to strive to stay ahead of those changes and be on the forefront of change.”

Meehan said the time was right to begin exploring the creation of the position and start moving the town in that direction going forward as it continues to grow.

“Diversity and inclusion are key components of our future,” he said. “As we watch the world around us, it is obvious to the importance of these initiatives. At the meeting of our diversity and inclusion work group, it became even more apparent that we need to move in this direction and do it now.”

Meehan explained his concept for the proposed new position.

“Our diversity, equity and inclusion position should work with the Mayor and Council to establish best practices and implement employment and workplace practices to promote a culture of inclusion for individuals from all racial and ethnic identities, ages, nationalities, social and economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious, political and ideological perspectives, and physical and mental abilities can strive and engage together,” he said. “The timing for this position is right. We’re currently looking into hiring employees in the police department, the fire department. We are approaching a time when many of our senior staff are moving toward retirement and we continue to look for ways to grow our seasonal workforce.”

The mayor acknowledged the town did not always keep up with the times in terms of diversity and inclusion.

Meehan added, “I hate to say it, but we are behind and need to be proactive. The Mayor and Council has positioned the city to grow and we have an excellent opportunity to do it right. We owe this to our current employees and our future employees. Let’s continue to be leaders. I recommend that the city council direct the city manager to create a job description for this position to be approved by the Mayor and Council and for that position to be advertised as soon as possible. The future is coming fast and we need to be prepared.”

DeLuca agreed the town probably needed to be more proactive on the issues.

“As secretary of the council, I totally support this and a feel like we’re very, very behind on addressing some of these issues,” he said.

DeLuca made a motion to start the process of hiring a diversity, equity and inclusion position and to direct the city manager to develop a job description to inSEE NEXT PAGE

County Volunteer Spirits Honored

November 5, 2021

SNOW HILL – The Worcester County Commissioners and Human Resources Director Stacey Norton recognized 2021 Volunteer Spirit of Worcester County Awards recipients last month.

“To honor volunteers whose contributions help to improve the quality of life here locally, county residents were invited to nominate individuals, organizations, and businesses for the 2021 Volunteer Spirit of Worcester County Awards,” Norton said.

Individual Spirit Award recipients in-

… Concept Supported

By City Work Group

clude grade level and salary.

“Just to clarify, are you asking for a position to strictly address diversity?”

James said.

City Manager Doug Miller explained his view of the proposed new position.

“My vision is, when the mayor first came to me, we were in the process of looking for a training officer. What we have a need for immediately is to hire a recruitment, retention and diversity officer because we have those immediate needs,” Miller said. “A lot of what the mayor is talking about deals with workforce issues. We’re finding that is becoming more and more of a challenge.”

Meehan said he believed he and Miller were on the same page, but not necessarily the same paragraph.

“That’s where I disagree a little with the city manager,” he said. “I think the position should be a diversity, equity and inclusion officer and those other jobs could fall under that position. That’s the premise I think we need to move forward with and what we need to promote. By stating it that way, we might attract individuals to apply for that position as a first step toward really moving forward.”

Councilman John Gehrig said the issue should really be moved to a work session in the near future, and raised some questions about the motivation for creating the new diversity position.

“Are we addressing specific problems with this?” he said. “I guess we’re going to talk about it. I know what’s going on in the world. I like to think we’re already hiring the best people, whether they are black, white or gay or whatever. Is there a problem? I want to know what the actual problem is we’re having so we can hire the right person and not just hiring a title.

I want to solve the issues, and I know this is touchy, but I want to make sure we’re not just checking a box.”

Meehan said the concept of creating a diversity, equity and inclusion position was not just simply checking a box.

“It’s not to address any problem that currently exists,” he said. “It’s simply to make us better, and maybe better prepared, to address problems if, in fact, they do come up.”

The council voted unanimously to approve DeLuca’s motion to start the process of hiring a diversity, equity and inclusion position and direct Miller to create a job description for the position to bring back to a future work session to the Mayor and Council.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

clude James Meckley, Robin Tomaselli and Sandra and Bill Venable. Meckley, who co-chaired the Ocean Pines library’s annual book sale, which brought in revenues of $13,407, volunteered more than 1,000 hours from March 2020 to June 2021 and manages the library’s Amazon account and the book table at the Ocean Pines Farmers Market.

Tomaselli was recognized for her volunteer work with the Berlin mural project, Germantown School mural, flower project at the Berlin Branch Library, meals for the hungry/schools, and committee to save the historic Tyree AMC Church.

The Venables have volunteered more than 550 hours for Diakonia. Sandra assists with the thrift store twice a week, and Bill drives the truck twice a week to pick up donated furniture.

Shonn Williams, head moderator for the Neighbors of Snow Hill Facebook page, received the Emerging Leader Spirit Award for his extraordinary acts of kindness and for bringing a Christmas Parade to the Town of Snow Hill to spread kindness, joy, happiness, and unity.

Members of the First State Detachment Marine Corps League received the Group/Team Spirit Award after logging hundreds of volunteer hours assisting the Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation, Ocean City Recreation Boosters, Semper Fi Bike Ride, Presidential Physical Fitness Test, Vietnam Traveling Wall, providing nursing home visits and funeral color guard details, and participating in the Toys for Tots program.

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Berlin Officials Talk Heron Park With State DNR Secretary

Page 16

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Berlin officials met with the head of Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources last week to express interest in working with the agency in the future.

Berlin officials met with Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, secretary of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Friday. While what was supposed to be a site visit to Heron Park was rained out, officials discussed the importance of improvements at the former chicken pro-

Bay Club Property’s Future Discussed

cessing plant.

“We are optimistic for the parcel,” Mayor Zack Tyndall said.

The mayor, joined by council members and chair of the town’s parks commission, met with Haddaway-Riccio at town hall. He described the two parcels the town was considering selling as well as the larger passive use section of the park where the ponds are located.

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“A nice little spot where you don’t even feel like you’re in town,” Tyndall said.

He said the town was trying to find a way to move forward with the property, perhaps with state help, despite limited funds.

“We’re applying for Department of Housing and Community Development strategic demo funds for the front parcel to try to hopefully bring some strategic demolition to that and repurpose that building,” he said. “We’ve got a little bit of vacant space over to one side, about 10 acres, that maybe we could put in like a concert venue or something like that in that space. Most recently we are going to issue on Nov. 1 an RFP for those two front parcels to see if there’s a way that we can start to bring them back on the tax rolls and to repurpose that site a little bit for maybe a better purpose for the town. But we still want to protect that passive use area for things like recreation and birding and things of that nature.”

He also asked if there was any news regarding the Bay Club, which is being purchased by DNR. “We’re in the early phases of planning

November 5, 2021

but we would always welcome input, suggestions, recommendations, ways to partner,” Haddaway-Riccio said. “We’re also really squarely focused on connectivity, ways we can connect people to parks but also connect to downtowns.”

Tyndall praised her department and the entire Hogan administration for its help in recent years. When he asked how the town could position itself to work with DNR regarding the Bay Club, Haddaway-Riccio said the town could identify a point of contact for her office to work with as a starting point.

Councilman Jack Orris echoed Tyndall’s interest in working with the agency regarding the Bay Club. Councilwoman Shaneka Nichols voiced interest in seeing DNR offer educational opportunities in town, perhaps at Heron Park.

Haddaway-Riccio mentioned DNR’s Project Green Classrooms, which is geared toward getting kids outside.

“We know it’s really important for our children but it’s just as important for us as adults and seniors too,” she said. “If we didn’t know that before, the pandemic certainly told us how important our open spaces are. We want to capitalize on this renewed interest in outdoor recreation and environmental education. Given the attributes you have described at this park it sounds like there are plenty of opportunities for people to learn.”

Antigua • 85th Street

Direct Oceanfront Townhouse with Walk Off Deck to Penthouse Townhouse, Beautiful Views of Ocean, Beach and Ocean. Views galore, large sundeck, Bay, and Beach. 3 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom, open floor multiple balconies. Perfect for family with children with plan first floor, granite counter tops, stainless steel easy access to beach. No HOA Fee, No Condo Fee, appliances, nice size dining room off kitchen, beautiful No Ground Rent In Fee Sale. Rebuilt from ground up views of ocean and bay. First floor master bedroom in 80's, equipped with fire sprinkler system. with view of ocean. Tasteful coastal decor, light and 4 Bedroom, 4 Bathroom. $1,175,000 bright. Great rental income. $870,000

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DNR Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, left, is pictured discussing Berlin’s Heron Park with town appointed and elected staff as well as citizens last Friday.

Photo by Charlene Sharpe

Former Day Care Employee Indicted

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 17

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SNOW HILL – A former childcare worker is expected to appear in court later this month following his indictment last week on more than 90 charges related to child sex abuse and child pornography.

Bruce Travers, 37, has an initial appearance in Worcester County Circuit Court set for Nov. 24. Travers was indicted by a grand jury last week on two cases and faces dozens of charges, including possessing child pornography, soliciting a subject for child pornography, filming a child in a sex act and sexually abusing a minor.

“The investigation is still ongoing at this time,” said Worcester County State’s Attorney Kris Heiser.

Travers, who has worked in various local daycares and served as a substitute teacher in county schools, was arrested in August following felony charges related to sexual abuse of a minor and child pornography.

Last week, Heiser said Travers had been indicted by a grand jury on two cases. The first case includes the charges originally filed by police in August while the second case was presented to the grand jury as a result of the investigation that continued following the first case, Heiser said.

The charges from the initial case include 43 counts of possessing child pornography, 37 counts of soliciting a subject for child pornography, two counts of sex abuse of a minor, two counts of sex abuse of a minor family or household member and four counts of filming a child in a sex act. The charges relate to offenses between June 1, 2018 and July 31, 2021.

The second case is regarding three charges — sex abuse of a minor, child porn promote/distribute and possessing child pornography — with an offense date of May 2021.

The charges against Travers came after the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit was contacted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which operates a “CyberTipline” to handle reports of child sexual exploitation. The tip included a child pornography file that was uploaded to Bing, according to charging documents.

Investigators then executed a search and seizure warrant at Travers’ residence on Brandywine Drive in Ocean Pines. During the search, police seized laptops, cell phones, thumb drives, memory cards and several pieces of children’s clothing, according to charging documents.

Travers told police three children — all elementary-school aged kids — had stayed with him in the past. In addition, he’d stayed with their family — who told police they’d met him through his employment at a local daycare — off and on between 2018 and 2021.

Forensic examinations on the electronic devices seized revealed various explicit nude photos of the children, according to charging documents. Investigators interviewed the children on Aug. 27 and Travers was charged the following day.

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Sports Complex Included In CIP

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Though a site hasn’t yet been acquired, funding for a sports complex has been included in Worcester County’s latest capital plan.

A sports complex, a new public safety facility and broadband infrastructure are among the projects included in the capital improvement plan (CIP) staff presented to the Worcester County Commissioners Tuesday. While a public hearing date was set for Dec. 7, Commissioners Chip Bertino and Jim Bunting objected to the inclusion of the sports complex and public safety facility.

“Certain things, when you do put them on the CIP plan, they get legs and take off and they’re expected to happen,” Bunting said.

Kim Reynolds, the county’s senior budget accountant, told the commissioners the fiscal year 2023-2027 CIP, a planning document, totaled $202 million. She said bond rating agencies would look at the CIP as a financial planning tool for the county.

“The requested plan helps anticipate future financial needs of the county and is merely a planning document at this date,” Reynolds said. “Inclusion of a project in the plan does not constitute a guarantee of funding from the county.”

Bertino voiced several concerns with the CIP, noting that two major projects — the sports complex at $15.6 million and a public safety building at $32.6 million — hadn’t been reviewed or discussed by the commissioners prior to their inclusion in the CIP. He also suggested the county look for grants regarding improvements at the commercial harbor, which is a $1.5 million project in the plan, and that the county get clarification regarding the spray irrigation project in Ocean Pines that’s included in the plan.

“There are some concerns among the community,” he said. “We need to work through those issues before we say this is going to go to a bond.”

Bertino questioned whether the public safety building should be included in the CIP, as the commissioners as a

November 5, 2021

whole hadn’t discussed it.

“It’s a fairly big ask. I believe before it gets on the plan we should’ve had the opportunity to understand why we actually need one,” he said. “Maybe others can answer that but that’s never been presented.”

He said his other major concern was the sports complex, which is listed in the CIP at $15,584,381. When the concept was last discussed publicly, Tom Perlozzo, at that time the county’s director of recreation, parks, tourism and economic development, said Program Open Space (POS) funds could be used for the sports complex. He indicated that funding could cover 90% of the project cost.

Bertino asked if POS funding could in fact be used for the sports complex.

Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said it could be used but not for the full cost.

“What we’ve put in the CIP is what we think we would need for acquisition and that involves basically bonding a large amount,” Young said.

Bertino said potentially spending $15 million on the project was not what the commissioners had discussed in January.

“Regardless if we think this project is a good one or not, now it’s on the backs of taxpayers and it wasn’t when we were talking about it in January or even in May, so I have concerns about that,” he said.

He made a motion to set a public hearing date for the CIP but to remove the sports complex and public safety building from the plan. Bunting seconded the motion.

“As Commissioner Bertino said the sports complex was never presented that we’d take taxpayer money and build it and operate it,” he said. “That’s the way it looks right now. And it’s a bad time for the public safety building.”

The motion failed with just two votes, however, as Commissioners Bud Church, Diana Purnell and Josh Nordstrom said they wanted to see the items left in the CIP for discussion. A motion to set the public hearing on the CIP for Dec. 7 passed 5-2, with Bunting and Bertino opposed.

Principals Explain Margaritaville Idea At Public Hearing

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 19

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – While no formal action was taken and there are many details to wade through, resort planners this week were generally pleased with the presentation of plans for the proposed Margaritaville Hotel and Resort complex.

In August, the Ocean City Planning Commission reviewed the conceptual plans for the proposed resort, which, if approved, would encompass virtually an entire city block downtown on the oceanside facing the Boardwalk between 13th and 14th streets where the Phillips Beach Plaza Hotel once was situated.

On Tuesday, the planning commission held the required public hearing for the proposed planned overlay district (POD) needed to accomplish the major redevelopment project in a marathon threehour-plus session.

During the session, the town staff, which has reviewed the proposal, first presented its finding on a variety of issues, including the POD requirements, parking, non-conformities, density and the like. When the town staff’s presentation was over, local attorney Hugh Cropper made his presentation, calling on numerous people including the principal partners in the development plan, the project’s architects, parking experts, traffic experts and more.

The proposed project over 12 different lots would include 265 hotel rooms, three restaurants, including the JWB Grill with high-end steaks and seafood, the Landshark Bar and Grill and a coffee shop and provisions store in the lobby.

The project would also include three outdoor pools and one indoor pool, a wellness center and gym, 14,000 square feet of flexible convention space, retail stores facing the Boardwalk and many other upscale amenities.

Before the hearing began, Planning Commission chair Pam Buckley told the large audience in the council chambers the commission would not be taking any action on Tuesday, nor would any formal votes be taken.

“We have been reviewing it this week,” she said. “We have decided we’re not going to be making any decision on this tonight. We will go into a work session and work through all of the details and do what’s best for the city, the developer and the residents and visitors.”

Planning and Community Development Director Bill Neville said while the proposed Margaritaville resort complex would represent a major upgrade, it was not much different in terms of use from what the property had been for decades.

“The existing use is a hotel with some commercial,” he said. “It’s been that way SEE PAGE 20

A Boardwalk view of the proposed Margaritaville hotel on the Boardwalk between 13th and 14th streets is shown.

Rendering by Becker Morgan Group

… Architect: ‘This Is A Phenomenal Opportunity For Ocean City’

Page 20

FROM PAGE 19 for years. The proposed plan is not a departure from that.”

Neville explained the proposed location at 13th Street represented a transition area of sorts from the commercial south end of the Boardwalk to what has informally been known for years as hotel row. In recent years, many of the traditional old Boardwalk hotels have been replaced with major hospitality brands, such as Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott, for example.

“The site is on the edge of a change in use from Boardwalk commercial to what we call hotel row,” he said. “It’s right on the edge of that and it’s a nice transition. Usually, projects right on the edge of a change in zoning districts are exciting. Originally, they looked at what could be done if they could combine the properties and develop an entire city block.”

In August, Cropper gauged the commission’s interest on conveying a portion of an alley that runs through the proposed project seeking the town to convey it to the developer in order to meet the proposed project’s density and parking requirements. On Tuesday, Cropper said that decision is pending approval

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

from the Mayor and Council “This property is bisected by a 16-foot alley,” he said. “I have applied to the Mayor and Council to convey that alley to this project, but that’s a separate issue. We are going to present tonight as if that 16-foot alley has been conveyed.”

Cropper said assuming the alley is conveyed, the plan is to widen it from the existing 16 feet. Under the town’s code, buildings could be erected right up to the edge of either side of the alley. The proposed plan calls for widening the alley to 23 feet with a vehicle travel lane, a bike lane and five-foot sidewalks on either side.

Project architect Jack Mumford with Becker Morgan Group laid out some of the features of the proposed project including setbacks from the Boardwalk and shadow studies for the neighboring property from the 13-story resort hotel.

Mumford said Margaritaville could be a great addition to the downtown area.

“We think this is a phenomenal opportunity for Ocean City,” he said. “It accomplishes the goals of your comprehensive plan and I think it fits well in the neighborhood.”

Next, the planning commission heard

from some of the members in the development group, including Chesapeake Hospitality Hotel Management Company Principal Steve Smith. Smith said he worked in various capacities in Ocean City’s hospitality industry in years past and, ironically, his last job in the resort was assistant general manager at the Beach Plaza Hotel.

“Many of you might ask where the idea of this project comes from,” he said.

“In 2011, the Phillips organization asked us to take over the management of the hotel. In 2017, a Margaritaville Resort and Hotel opened in Hollywood, Fla. We were able to witness a positive impact on the local economy and overall tourism.”

Margaritaville Hospitality CEO John Cohlan also cut his hospitality teeth in Ocean City in the 1970s. He has been partners with Jimmy Buffett for over two decades and helped transition the company from a small restaurant in the Keys to a nationally and internationally recognized brand.

“Jimmy Buffett and I have been partners for 24 years in the business of Margaritaville Hospitality,” he said. “When I joined Jimmy, he had a small restaurant in Key West and a small retail store.

November 5, 2021

For 40 years, people have been eating, drinking and having a good time in Margaritaville.”

Cohlan said he lived and worked in Ocean City in the 1970s and said he always believed the resort would be the perfect fit for the Margaritaville brand.

“I do know this town very well,” he said. “As we have been building Margaritaville brand, we started with restaurants and now our main focus is lodging, but we have a lot of restaurant expertise.

In all honesty, I’ve always thought of this town as an ideal spot for us to bring our lifestyle brand because of what Margaritaville stands for. I always did think of Ocean City as about the perfect place for what we do with the business in terms of lifestyle. We stand for relaxation and we stand for the tropical experience.”

The only public comment during the three-hour-plus hearing that did not come during the formal presentations came from a condo owner and board member from a condominium across the street from the proposed project, and he was generally pleased with how the developers reached out and responded to their concerns.

“I’d’ like to thank them for their time -almost two hours in a Zoom call – to address some of the concerns we have,” he said. “It’s not just the parking and the traffic, but light pollution and noise pollution and the construction schedule and everything. They were able, in my opinion, to give satisfying answers to all of that, with the caveat that parking is the paramount issue.”

Buckley said Cropper’s presentation including the various principals and experts was impressive.

“The one thing I have to say is I was impressed with the presentation and the number of people you brought in,” she said. “I think the professionalism of this group is very good and I’m happy to see that.”

Again, no action was taken on Tuesday and the planning commission will meet next week in a work session to begin working through the details. In addition, also still pending is a Mayor and Council decision to convey the alley that bisects the property to the development group.

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 21

Page 22

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

November 5, 2021

COPS & COURTS Fireworks Thrown at Vehicle OCEAN CITY – An Ocean City man was arrested last weekend after allegedly throwing fireworks at his neighbor’s vehicle and then scrapping with cops trying to investigate the incident.

Around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer responded to a residence on Sunset Drive in reference to a fireworks complaint. Officers met with the complainant, who reportedly told police his neighbor, later identified as Dominick Mann, 28, of Ocean City, had intentionally ignited and thrown fireworks at his vehicle.

OCPD officers spoke with a neighbor, who said she heard a loud boom and that she thought a house on the block had exploded, and that it had to be an M-80, according to police reports. On the ground next to the victim’s vehicle, OCPD officers observed the remains of a destroyed firework, according to police reports.

Officers reportedly asked if the suspect was still at his residence, which was one floor up from where they were standing.

OCPD officers went upstairs and spoke with Mann, who reportedly told them leave his property and that he did not want to speak with them. Mann was verbally hostile with the officers and told them he would sue them if they entered his property.

The victim inspected his vehicle and found scratch marks, which the officers identified. Mann continued to refuse to comply, according to police reports. The officers had not yet completed a malicious destruction of property and Mann was not free to leave yet, according to police reports.

Because of Mann’s behavior, an OCPD officer could not be left alone with him for safety reasons.

Another officer arrived to assist and told the initial officers she could hear Mann screaming from roughly 75 feet away, in violation of the town’s noise ordinance. Mann reportedly told the officers he was going back inside to get away from them. An officer informed Mann has under arrest at that point.

Mann told police he was not under arrest and resisted their attempts to handcuff him by flailing his arms, according to police reports. OCPD officers eventually had to throw Mann to the ground as he continued to resist being handcuffed. After several knee strikes, punches and a Taser targeting, Mann submitted to the arrest. He continued screaming during the arrest process and neighbors came out of their homes to observe the incident. He was charged with obstructing and hindering, resisting arrest, failure to obey a lawful order and a noise violation.

Local Arrested After Stop OCEAN CITY – An Ocean Pines man was arrested on a slew of charges last

week after a traffic stop in a north-end residential neighborhood.

Around 10:15 p.m. last Wednesday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer patrolling in the area of 142nd Street observed a vehicle reportedly going 46 mph in a 25-mph zone in a residential neighborhood. When the vehicle nearly failed to negotiate a turn, the OCPD officer activated his emergency lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop.

The vehicle continued without stopping, made a wide turn and drove to the left of a raised center median into opposing traffic, re-directed back to the proper lane and nearly struck a curb. The vehicle continued with the officer behind him with lights activated before eventually stopping at 146th Street. The officer made contact with the driver, identified as Brenden Waller, 28, of Ocean Pines.

Waller reportedly sat in his vehicle with the windows up and the doors closed.

OCPD officers gave Waller an order to exit his vehicle, but refused to comply, according to police reports. Waller sat in his vehicle with his hands up despite repeated orders to exit, according to police reports.

Assisting officers placed stop sticks in front of Waller’s vehicle because they were concerned he might drive off again, according to police reports. Officers shined flashlights in the vehicle and Waller exhibited signs of intoxication, according to police reports. He continued to refuse to exit and was uncooperative. When asked for his license and registration, Waller reportedly failed to produce any of the documents.

Officers were later able to identify Waller utilizing an expired Maryland driver’s license found in his wallet. About nine minutes later, OCPD officers observed the vehicle’s doors were unlocked. OCPD officers opened the driver’s side door and detected a strong odor of alcohol, according to police reports. Waller mumbled “I do not consent to you opening my door,” according to police reports.

With the door about a third of the way opened, Waller reportedly reached out and pulled it back toward him, nearly slamming an officer’s hand in the door, according to police reports. OCPD officers were able to fully open the door and overpower Waller to get him out of the vehicle. About 20 minutes after the initial traffic stop, OCPD officers were finally able to gain compliance from Waller and place him under arrest. He was charged with driving under the influence, failing to identify himself, obstructing and hindering and second-degree assault.

Waller reportedly launched into an expletive-laced tirade at the officers and screamed a female’s name about 100 times, according to police reports, and a disturbing the peace charge was added. Waller was transported to the Public SEE NEXT PAGE

November 5, 2021

... COPS & COURTS Safety Building and threw his DR-15 Advice of Rights form on the ground. He asked an officer to snuggle with him, refused the alcohol-breath test, and requested EMS assistance at least twice, causing EMS to respond, according to police reports.

Jail For Handgun Bust OCEAN CITY – A Baltimore man, arrested in May after an open container violation on the Boardwalk led to the discovery of a loaded handgun, was sentenced this week to six months in jail.

Around 10:35 p.m. on May 25, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers patrolling on bicycle on the Boardwalk around 4th Street observed an individual later identified as Glen Greer, 39, of Baltimore, with an open can of beer. When Greer saw the officers, he reportedly threw the open can of beer into a nearby trashcan.

OCPD officers approached Greer and asked him for his identification. Greer reportedly handed his backpack to a female companion. Greer was placed under arrest at that point for possession of an open container of alcohol on the Boardwalk. During a search incident to the arrest, OCPD officers located in the backpack a marijuana cigarette in his pocket and a baggie of marijuana in the backpack.

Also located in the backpack was a Berretta handgun with a live round in the chamber and seven live rounds in the magazine. Greer was arrested on the o-

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch pen container violation and was also charged with weapons violations. The amount of marijuana found in his possession was under 10 grams. This week, Greer entered an Alford plea to the loaded handgun charge and was sentenced to six months in jail. In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but acknowledges the state has enough evidence to prosecute the case.

Jail For Damaging Cruiser OCEAN CITY – A New York man, arrested in May after kicking and damaging a parked police cruiser in the downtown area, pleaded guilty to one count of malicious destruction of property last week and was sentenced to 53 days in jail.

Around 11:50 p.m. May 19, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to the area of 7th Street and St. Louis Avenue for the reported malicious destruction of a parked police vehicle. Ocean City Communications advised the suspect was actively hitting the police car and had kicked off the license plate and the mirrors from the vehicle. Communications advised they had received at least two calls reporting the incident, one of whom had images of the suspect who had caused the damage, according to police reports.

OCPD officers arrived and observed the rear license plate of the police cruiser had been removed and the spot lamp had been ripped from its original location and found on the ground nearby in several pieces. In addition, the rear license plate that had been ripped from the vehicle was severely bent and lying in the middle of the street.

OCPD officers met with the witness

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who had cell phone pictures of the suspect. That witness said the suspect had walked west on 7th Street before he lost sight of him. Another group of witnesses approached and told the officers the suspect they were looking for was their neighbor and directed the officers to the location, which was nearby, according to police reports.

Officers walked to the location and reportedly could hear a man and a woman arguing loudly in a grassy courtyard area between the two buildings. The male in the argument, later identified as Augusto Rosamilia, 37, of Schenectady, N.Y., matched the description of the suspect in the pictures provided by a witness.

According to police reports, when Rosamilia saw the officers, he began to walk away, then took off running around the neighbors’ building, through the grassy

area and up a staircase to his secondfloor unit. Officers gave chase and caught Rosamilia just outside his front door. Rosamilia was told he was under arrest, but refused to comply with an order to put his hands behind his back. When he continued to refuse, he was tackled to the ground and officers forcibly got his hands behind his back and handcuffed him.

While Rosamilia was seated on the curb awaiting transport, he repeatedly yelled profanities as the officers on the scene, drawing the attention of at least 12 people standing on the street nearby.

In the end, Rosamilia was charged with three counts of malicious destruction of property, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Last Friday, he pleaded guilty to one count of malicious destruction of property and was sentenced to 53 days in jail.

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In-Person Flannel Formal Planned

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Town Center Antiques Store Closing Sale!

After 30 Years on Main Street, Berlin We Will Be Closing Our Doors January 1, 2022.

Lots of Good Bargains to Be Had! Antiques, Collectibles, Jewelry, Gifts & Accessories Daily Discounts on Store Merchandise & Dealer Treasures PLUS Shelving, Showcases and Merchandise Displays Open Daily 10am-5pm * 410-629-1895 1 North Main Street, Berlin (Across from Atlantic Hotel) Thank You For Your Patronage Over The Past 30 Years!

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Officials have announced the return of an in-person Flannel Formal.

On Saturday, Nov. 13, from 3-6 p.m., the Lower Shore Land Trust (LSLT) will host its fifth annual Flannel Formal at The Manor at Brooklyn Meadows. For the first time since 2019, the fundraising event will be held in person.

“People have really rallied around this event,” said LSLT Executive Director Kate Patton. “I think they are excited to be there in person this year.”

Each year, the Flannel Formal brings community members together to celebrate recent accomplishments at the Lower Shore Land Trust, highlight new programs and promote conservation.

While last year’s fundraiser was held virtually in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Patton noted this year’s event will be an in-person celebration filled with food and entertainment.

In addition to live music by Margot & Co., the Flannel Formal will feature a pig roast, shucked oysters, yard games, a Bloody Mary bar, craft beer and wine, a silent auction and more. A bigger tent will also be added to allow for social distancing.

“This year we’ve also added our Stephen N. Parker Legacy Award for Conservation Leadership …,” she said. “He had quite a legacy of conservation work on Delmarva, and we wanted to recog-

November 5, 2021

nize him in some way. It’s a great way to celebrate conservation achievements in the last year.”

In recent years, the Flannel Formal has become the nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser. Patton said money raised will support the nonprofit’s mission.

“We were recently gifted a 100-acre property on the Pocomoke River,” she explained. “Some of the funds raised through this event will help us do an environmental survey of the site.”

Patton recognized committee members JL Cropper, Robin Tomaselli, Susy Taylor, Becky Miles and Meegan Kennedy for planning and promoting the Flannel Formal. She also acknowledged the community members and landowners who make the nonprofit’s conservation work possible.

“This event is really a way to celebrate and acknowledge what is going on, on the Lower Shore and across Delmarva,” she said.

Flannel Formal tickets are available for purchase through Nov. 10 at www.lowershorelandtrust.org. To access the live silent auction website, visit http://auctions.networkforgood.com/go/2021Flan nelFormalAuction.

“We live in a really beautiful area,” Patton said. “The work we do ensures we have access to natural areas, a strong and vibrant agricultural community, and habitats for migrating waterfowl and songbirds.”

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 25

Berlin Chief Favors Keeping Main Street Open For Halloween

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

November 5, 2021

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Halloween returned to Berlin in full force this week as trick-ortreating drew thousands to town Sunday.

Witches wandered down Washington Street as plague doctors prowled and Dalmatians dodged Cruella. As it always did in the years before COVID-19, Berlin attracted families from throughout the area for trick-or-treating.

“People who have never even been to Berlin come to Berlin for trick-or-treating,” Police Chief Arnold Downing said.

Thousands of people walked the streets of Berlin Sunday as the town offered trick-or-treating from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Downing said he saw more participants from outside of town than in years past but noted that was likely due to Berlin’s reputation for having “one of the biggest and best” trick-or-treating nights.

“Everything was perfect,” he said.

Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director, said volunteers gave out candy at the welcome center.

“We’ve never seen that many people in Berlin for Halloween,” she said.

“Everyone was having a wonderful time.

It was nice to see everyone out and about.”

In the days leading up to Halloween, Downing said he’d noticed a grassroots

Photo by Charlene Sharpe

Trick-or-treaters are pictured on Main Street in Berlin Sunday.

effort by some residents to encourage families to walk throughout town, not just down always-popular Washington Street. Though a line snaked out from the King house – which gave out about 1,500 bags of cotton candy over the course of the night – there did appear to be slightly fewer people than in years past on neighboring Washington Street.

“I saw it spread out a lot more,” Downing said.

A handful of comments popped up on social media criticizing the town’s decision not to close Main Street to vehicle traffic during trick-or-treating even

though Washington Street was closed to motorists between West and Main streets. Downing said barricades were set up along Main Street so that it could be blocked if there was a need.

“It never got to that point,” he said.

Downing added that some people were bound to walk in the street whether it was closed or not. He said law enforcement had to weigh various issues, including accessibility for emergency vehicles, when they made the decision to close streets. He said they’d considered the issue this year and would do the same before Halloween next year.

“We can’t block every street or we’ll have accidents,” he added, noting that numerous street closures would confuse motorists.

Downing said police were throughout town Sunday ensuring things went smoothly in various neighborhoods and stayed out long past trick-or-treating ended at 7 p.m. to make sure there were no issues. Downing’s staff also checked candy at town hall.

“We’ve always liked trick-or-treating,” he said. “We’ve never taken it as a chore. It’s always been a positive for us.

We really enjoy it.”

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Fenwick Dredging Options Explored

November 5, 2021

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – As a local developer reevaluates plans for a parcel of land off Route 54, officials in Fenwick Island say they are now seeking other sites to place dredged material.

Last Thursday, the Fenwick Island Dredging Committee kicked off its October meeting with discussions on a proposed public-private partnership between the town and Carl M. Freeman Companies.

As the town moves forward with a long-awaited dredging project, the plan was to partner with the developer to draft a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which would allow the placement of dredged materials onto a parcel of land neighboring the Little Assawoman Bay. But Councilman Bill Rymer, committee chair, said the county’s denial of a hotel project on the site has the developer reevaluating its options.

“They didn’t say no, they didn’t say never, but they were very clear that they are not able to engage at an MOU level, not able to commit to the project,” he told committee members last week.

Plans for a dredging project in the Little Assawoman Bay began in earnest in 2018, when the town council 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 estimated $1.1 million 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, between 17,000 and 19,000 cubic feet of dredged material would be moved to another site for reuse.

Since 2019, the town has worked with Carl M. Freeman Companies to relocate the material to one of its properties, making the public-private partnership one that would save the town millions of dollars. In September, however, officials announced the Freeman Companies has

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

decided to accelerate its project timeline for the identified spoil site – a parcel of land off Route 54 that had been approved for a 70-lot subdivision. To that end, officials began to explore an adjacent 9.2acre parcel owned by the developer.

“If you remember, the property is split into two,” Rymer said. “There is a very large residential percentage – that’s the area that’s moving forward very quickly – and then there was the smaller portion up near Route 54.”

Rymer, however, told committee members a phone call with Freeman representatives last week made it clear the company was reviewing its options for the property after a proposal to build a hotel and restaurant on the 9.2-acre parcel failed to garner the county’s approval.

“They were very clear in their stance that they just can’t commit to us,” he said.

“So now it’s on our watch to identify other options for the next phase of our dredging project.”

Rymer said another option was to use the dredged material to rebuild a submerged island. Rymer said the town, for example, could also work with Seatowne, a private community north of Fenwick Island, to replenish its beachhead.

“It’s very early in the stage of discussions and research, but it’s that kind of avenue we have to find …,” he said.

“There’s a whole lot more to be done, and by no means is that the only thing we’re going to look at.”

Rymer told committee members last week it was now up to the town to take the next step.

“It’s now in our court to identify other sites …,” he said. “We are certainly not back to square one, but we certainly are not within six months of getting this thing done. We absolutely remain committed to a successful dredging project and getting it done as quickly as possible. We just know there’s more steps to go through.”

Committee members last week were also provided an update on sediment and archeological testing of the Little Assawoman Bay as part of the dredging project. While a $33,000 archeological study has yet to be completed, Anchor QEA’s Steve Bagnull noted a laboratory was currently analyzing the results of the sediment study.

“We should have laboratory results by the end of November …,” he said.

Page 27

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OCEAN CITY – A Frankford, Del., man, arrested in May after pointing a handgun at a person, pleaded guilty this week to affray and was sentenced to three years, all but 165 days of which were suspended.

Around 2:20 a.m. on May 20, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer was dispatched to the area of 7th Street and Philadelphia Avenue for a reported large group of disorderly males possibly carrying a handgun. Upon arrival, the officer observed several groups of people scattering. The officer followed the group to the area of 8th Street where they dispersed and went in different directions. The officer met with a male victim who told police he was jumped by a group of males, one of whom allegedly pointed a handgun at him.

The victim reportedly told police one member of the group had been flirting with his female friend, making her feel

November 5, 2021

uncomfortable. When the victim attempted to intercede, one member of the group took a swing at him, according to police reports. When the victim tried to kick the male who had taken a swing at him, another member of the group grabbed his leg and threw him to the ground, according to police reports.

The victim told police once he was on the ground, the group of roughly five male suspects began kicking him in the head. One member of the group pointed a handgun at him and threatened to kill him. The victim described the weapon and told police it was likely a .45 caliber handgun.

While on the scene, OCPD officers located a suspect matching the description of the suspect pointing the handgun at the victim. The suspect was identified as Jaevon Holland, 25, of Frankford, Del. On Monday, Holland was also placed on supervised probation upon his release and was ordered to pay nearly $1,400 in restitution.

Suspended Sentence In Slashing Incident

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Arrested in April on first-degree assault charges after allegedly slashing at his girlfriend with a knife, a Delaware man was sentenced last week to five years with all but 34 days suspended.

In September, Scott Allen, 55, of Milton, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault for the April incident. Back in court last week, Allen was sentenced and placed on supervised probation for three years.

Around 2:30 a.m. on April 6, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer was dispatched to a hotel at 66th Street for a reported assault that had occurred. Ocean City Communications advised that Allen had reported his girlfriend was intoxicated and had punched him in the face, according to police reports.

According to police reports, Allen had dried blood around his nose and

blood on his shirt. Allen reportedly told police he and his girlfriend had been drinking in the room and he left around 1:30 a.m. to meet with his sister. When he returned, his girlfriend yelled at him and locked herself in the bathroom, according to police reports.

Allen reportedly used the knife to open the door and grabbed the victim’s hands with his left hand. Allen then wielded the knife in his right hand and began swinging the knife in a downward motion toward the victim’s wrists, according to police. The victim reportedly told police when she saw Allen swinging the knife at her, she feared for her life.

The victim was able to kick Allen away, at which time he dropped the knife and released her. Allen then struck the victim an estimated three times in the forehead with a closed fist, according to police reports. Officers inspected the bathroom and found a serrated knife on the floor between the sink and the toilet, according to police reports.

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Memorial To Host Veterans Day Event

November 5, 2021

OCEAN PINES – The Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation announced it will once again host a traditional, in-person ceremony to commemorate Veterans Day on Thursday, Nov. 11, starting at 11 a.m. at the memorial grounds in Ocean Pines.

Annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies have been a hallmark of the foundation, and the events typically draw thousands of people from across the region.

“We are very pleased to be able to present our traditional program, when we will honor all of our veterans,” Memorial Foundation President Marie Gilmore said.

“Veterans Day observances gives us the opportunity to say ‘thank you for your service.’ We should also reflect on the sacrifices made by the families of each and every veteran as they wait, and pray, for the safe return of their loved one.

“We invite you to join with us as we honor and recognize the sacrifices of all who have served to protect our freedoms,” she added.

The program this year will feature guest speaker Col. Craig M. Harmon, vice-commander of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Additionally, the Delmarva Chorus will provide patriotic music.

Seating is limited and those attending

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 29

SHEro Honorees:

Art League of Ocean City recently announces its 4th Annual SHEro Awards, honoring women who have done remarkable things in the face of adversity. The SHEro awardees were nominated by the community and recognized at an award ceremony on Friday, Oct. 29 at the Ocean City Center for the Arts. Pictured, standing from left, are John Sisson, president of the Art League of Ocean City; honorees Melissa Reid, Terry Smith, Gwen Lehman, Kim Klump, Nettie Widgeon and Debbie Smullen and Art League Executive Director Rina Thaler. Seated, from left, are Michele Ennis, Barbara Buford and Deborah Rolig.

Submitted Photo

are encouraged to bring a chair. The ceremony will move to the Ocean Pines Community Center in the event of incle-

ment weather.

For more information on the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean

Pines and the Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation, visit www.opvets.org.

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

November 5, 2021

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Real Estate Market Update BERLIN – The weather may be cooling off, but the housing market is not following suit. September gave us a historic high for home sale prices in the lower three counties reaching $310,000. There was also a slight increase in inventory and days on the market which are all good trends to see.

In September, our median price was $310,000, which is up 21.6% from September of 2020 and 11.1% from August of 2021. We currently have only 645 active listings in the lower three counties, compared to 723 in September of 2020, and 1,371, which is the five-year average.

Overall, in the three counties, new settlements during September were down 11.7% compared to the same time last year. Individually, new settlements throughout September were up by 10.7% in Somerset, held even in Wicomico, and were down 18.2% in Worcester.

New listings in September were down just slightly at 0.8% compared to the same time last year in all three counties.

Individually, new listings were up by 3% in Wicomico, and 31.3% in Somerset, and down 5.2% in Worcester from September of 2020.

BUSINESS And Real Estate News Active listings in all three counties were down by 10.8%. Individually, there were 381 active listings in Worcester, 178 in Wicomico, and 86 in Somerset.

We had 723 active listings at this time last year.

The Median Cumulative Days on Market (CDOM) for July was 11, or 26.7% less than the same time last year.

“The market is very strong, and it is still a wonderful time to sell your home, but we are also seeing good signs like increasing inventory and days on market which are crucial in order to get back to a more balanced market,” said CAR President Grace Masten. “Home prices hit historic highs last month and interest rates are still at historic lows so now is the time to both buy and sell.”

Masten added, “We are also starting to see initiatives from local government

partnering with private business to encourage residential developments. After talking about inventory for the last 18 months it is clear that steps are being made to try and remedy the problem. All of these are great trends and if they continue into the new year, we should be able to get back to a more normal market in 2022.”

Hospital Earns Most Wired BERLIN – Atlantic General Hospital has earned the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives’ 2021 Digital Health Most Wired recognition as a certified Level 8 institution, receiving awards for both acute care and ambulatory settings.

This year’s recognition is the sixth time in recent years that AGH has been named a Most Wired organization – rec-

November 5, 2021 ognized for its successful application of information technology solutions that positively impact the quality and safety of care, as well as improving the overall patient and family experience.

CHIME’s Most Wired program conducts annual surveys to assess how effectively health care organizations are applying core and advanced technologies to their clinical and business programs in order to improve care for their patients.

“We’re honored to have received Most Wired recognition once again,” says Jonathan Bauer, AGH’s vice president of information systems. "It takes hard work and dedication from our IT team, medical staff, plus employees from the front lines to the executive suite to implement information technologies initiatives that improve the quality of the care we commit to deliver every day.”

A total of 36,674 organizations were represented in the 2021 Most Wired program. Just over 1.5% of these organizations achieved Level 7-10 distinction.

Surveys assessed the adoption, integration and impact of technologies by scoring the degree of advancement in seven separate segments (infrastructure, security, administrative/supply chain, analytics/data management, interoperability/population health, patient engagement, and clinical quality/safety). Each participating organization received a customized benchmarking report along with certification based on their overall performance – with Level 10 being the highest certification level possible.

AGH’s Quality Awards and Level 8 certification reflects continuous improvement in its ratings over time.

New Beacon Director

The Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce officially welcomed the Fidanza family and the new OC Eateries to the community last week with a ribbon cutting ceremony, above. Located in West Ocean City off Route 50, the market-style food destination offers seven diverse restaurants offering a variety of food like brick-oven pizza, wings, street tacos, macaroni and cheese and more in addition to bar service.

Photo by Jeanette Deskiewicz

SALISBURY – Salisbury University’s Franklin P. Perdue School of Business has announced John Hickman as the new director of its Business, Economic and Community Outreach Network (BEACON).

Hickman currently serves as director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Maryland Small Business Development Center – Eastern Region (SBDC), affiliated with the Perdue School and housed at SU. His tenure with BEACON began Nov. 3.

“As a part of the SBDC since 2001, and director since 2002, John brings to BEACON two decades of experience SEE NEXT PAGE

November 5, 2021

... BUSINESS NEWS working with businesses, community constituents and the Perdue School,” said Dr. Christy Weer, dean of the Perdue School. “We are excited to continue working with him in his new role.”

“Since 1990, BEACON has provided applied business and economic research support for public and private entities spanning from local businesses, to state governments, to Fortune 500 companies,” said Hickman. “I JOHN HICKMAN look forward to continuing those services, as well as BEACON’s regional initiatives.”

Those programs include ShoreTrends, through which data is compiled via surveys from more than 2,500 economic and business leaders; GraySHORE, focusing on opportunities and challenges created by Delmarva’s aging population; and Bienvenidos a Delmarva, better preparing local leaders and businesses to work with the peninsula’s growing immigrant communities.

Hickman also will supervise the SU students who conduct up to 85 percent of BEACON’s applied research work under faculty supervision.

Board Leadership Appointed SALISBURY – Kimberly C. Gillis of Salisbury was recently named chairperson, and Morgan Hazel, also of Salisbury, was named vice chair of the board of trustees at Wor-Wic Community College.

Gillis, who was appointed to the board in 2017, served as vice chair from 2019-21. She is the communications and outreach director for the Greater Salisbury Committee. Prior to her position with the Greater Salisbury Committee, she was a senior associate and business development manager at the KIMBERLY C. GILLIS Becker Morgan Group in Salisbury, where she had been employed for more than 20 years.

She holds a bachelor of science degree from Salisbury University (SU). A member of the Shore Leadership Class of 2013, Gillis is also a member of the Education Awards Committee of the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. She has served as vice president of the SU Alumni Association, chair of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce and as vice chair of the College, Career and Life Readiness subcommittee of the City of Salisbury’s Youth Development Advisory Council.

Hazel, who was appointed to the board in 1996, served as the vice chair from 199799 and as chair from 1999-2001 and 2011-13.

He is founder and coowner of Fixer Upper Fitness in Salisbury and the former vice president MORGAN HAZEL and general manager of

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. in Salisbury.

He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Delaware in Newark and a master’s degree in applied health and physiology from SU. In addition to Gillis and Hazel, WorWic board of trustees members include Anna G. Newton of Berlin, Russell W. Blake of Pocomoke City, Andrew W. Booth and Martin T. Neat of Salisbury and Lorraine Purnell-Ayres of Snow Hill.

room. The Ocean Pines Visitors Center will not only house the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce offices, but it will feature an Information Center sponsored by the Ocean Downs Casino and Racetrack.

Having more offices than the chamber needed, the building is also home to Coastal HR Solutions and will have an office available for those in need of temporary office space. The location is also the home of Premier Driving School.

New Visitor Center Opens

Recertification Earned

OCEAN PINES – The Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce has opened a new Ocean Pines Visitors Center located at 11047 Racetrack Road. A grand opening and ribbon cutting was held this week.

In August the chamber moved to the location, affording it greater public visibility, more office space and a proper conference room, which Steven Sweigert of Mitchell & Hastings Financial Services has sponsored the conference

SALISBURY – TidalHealth Peninsula Regional has announced the recertification of its cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation programs by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).

To earn accreditation, TidalHealth’s cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation programs participated in an application process that requires extensive documentation of the program’s practices. AACVPR Program Certification is

Page 33 the only peer-review accreditation process designed to review individual programs for adherence to standards and guidelines developed and published by AACVPR and other related professional societies. Each program’s application is reviewed by the AACVPR Program Certification Committee, and certification is awarded by the AACVPR Board of Directors.

TidalHealth’s programs have been nationally and consistently certified since 2000, and recognized for upholding national quality standards and following clinical practices and guidelines established by the AACVPR. "Recertification reflects our commitment to patients through our adherence to rigorous national standards to ensure quality care, consistency in the delivery of services, evidence of tracking clinical outcomes and program operational standards," said Chris Evans, M.S., ACSM-CEP, Director of Cardiovascular Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Preventive Cardiology at TidalHealth.

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

November 5, 2021

People in Society Members of King David Consistory #284 Derick Brummell, Sammy Scott, and Howard Beulah prepared fish fry sandwiches at Berlin Oktoberfest to raise money for their building fund.

by Jeanette Deskiewicz Featuring Those Helping Causes In The Resort Area

At Berlin Oktoberfest, Bridget Foster, Debbie Ryan and Georgie McElroy of the Berlin Ecumenical Green Team promoted their Big Tree Tour.

Making sure things ran smoothly for their opening night of weekly Thursday trivia, were Katie Krynitsky, Molly McNancy, and Eri Sepesy of the Ocean Pines Yacht Club.

No Oktoberfest would be complete without Bier volunteers, including Sheila Blosveren, Mike Poole, and Jeff Smith, helping out on the streets of Berlin last month.

Original agents of Shamrock Realty Group, Jeff and Pam Wadler, are happy to pass off some of their duties to newer agents as part of their recent merger with ERA Martin Associates.

Spending quality time together at the Berlin Oktoberfest were Sandra Washington and her daughter, Leslie Dixon, the Youth Program Coordinator of Worcester Youth and Family.

New leaders of the recently formed ERA Martin Associates Shamrock Division, President Joni Williamson and Branch Manager Veronica Bishop, celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Welcoming everyone back to weekly Thursday Trivia Night were Trivia Host DJ Bigler and Ocean Pines Yacht Club Bar Manager Max Hulme.

Attending the recent ribbon cutting for ERA Martin Associates Shamrock Division Ocean Pines Office, were Jason Cook (Embrace Loans) and Dan Erb (Brennan Title Company).

The Berlin Lioness’ Christmas Raffle got started early this year with Suzanne Parks and Ruth Scott selling the tickets at Berlin Oktoberfest.

Resort’s Annual Audit Reviewed

November 5, 2021

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City got a clean bill of health when a report on an audit of the town’s financial statements for fiscal year 2021 were presented last month.

Chris Lehman of SB and Company presented the findings of his firm’s comprehensive audit of the town’s books, its internal controls and designs and a full range of aspects of the town’s finances.

The audit is done at the close of the fiscal year each June 30 and a report is presented to the Mayor and Council. Lehman said the audit was thorough and the town came through with flying colors.

“We issued a clean, unmodified opinion of the financial statements,” he said.

“We did not find any instances of fraud.

The audit is not a forensic audit. We are required to have a healthy skepticism that fraud could be perpetrated by any one at any time.”

The audit examines every aspect of the town’s finances from treasury and financial reporting to payroll and revenue to compliance and grant management.

Lehman said the town’s financial departments helped make the process a smooth one.

“We did not discover any material weaknesses in any of the internal controls,” he said. “We received the full cooperation of the management with the questions we asked and the documents we requested.”

Lehman said the influx of federal stimulus money during the last fiscal year for most jurisdictions added another layer in the process.

Wicomico Planning Vets Day Ceremony

SALISBURY – The Wicomico County War Memorial Committee invites the community to join in honoring military veterans at a ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. The Veterans Day Ceremony will take place at the Wicomico War Veterans’ Memorial, located directly in front of the Wicomico Civic Center at 500 Glen Ave. in Salisbury.

The ceremony, which is coordinated by the Wicomico County War Memorial Committee, includes patriotic music, prayer and remembrance to honor all veterans.

Veterans Day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military, in wartime or peacetime.

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held inside, in the Civic Center’s Midway Room.

The Wicomico War Veterans’ Memorial at the Wicomico Civic Center is a fitting location for this ceremony, as the Civic Center is a war memorial to all veterans. At the outside memorial, flags from each service branch, along with United States, Maryland, Wicomico County and POWMIA flags, proudly fly over a brick wall displaying plaques with the names of Wicomico County’s fallen veterans from World War II and beyond. To learn more about the Wicomico War Veterans’ Memorial and the people it was built to honor, visit www.WicomicoCivicCenter.org.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

“We did notice during the year with a lot of stimulus money going around, for a lot of jurisdictions and governments, there was an increase in federal funding,” he said. “We did take a close look at that. The town did receive federal funding, so that helped.”

Lehman said an assessment of control environments came up positive in the audit.

“We concluded that the environment was effective for the period under audit,” he said. “You see each of the key processes that were audited. Both looking at the design and operation of these processes, in all cases we concluded that there was an effective design and operation.”

Lehman said the audit team reports directly to the Mayor and Council if any discrepancies are detected, but that was not the case for Ocean City this year.

“If we had difficulties getting through the audit, I would be required to let the council know,” he said. “We did not have to make any adjustments and we found no evidence of any fraud. There is nothing of a negative nature that we found.”

Lehman said the town’s financial leadership was proactive leading up to the annual audit.

“To the management’s credit, whenever they cross a path where they’re unsure, we talk about it while it’s fresh in their minds,” he said. “It’s not like they have to make a bad judgment call. It’s like when in doubt, let’s talk about so when we come back to do the audit, it’s a smooth process.”

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

November 5, 2021

COMMUNITY News In Photos Officials presented a trio of recognitions to members of the Berlin Electric Department at a recent council meeting. The department received a resolution from American Municipal Power (AMP) for providing assistance to Dover, Del., during Hurricane Isaias in 2020. In addition, the electric department was presented with a safety award from AMP while Second Class Lineman Caleb Hunter received AMP’s Hard Hat Safety Award. Pictured with the safety award are Hunter, Apprentice Lineman David Fluhart, Chief Lineman Alan Parkinson, Electric Utility Director Tim Lawrence and Mayor Zack Tyndall.

American Legion Post 166 has continued its program of supporting the local community with a contribution of $5,000 to the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Department in October. The donation represented a portion of the $21,000 disbursed to nine charitable civic and veterans organizations. Above, Post Treasurer George Barstis and Post Legionnaire of the Year Bob Smith, center, made the presentation to OCVFC President Jay Jester, Ryan Whittington, Rick Koch and Chris Shaffer.

Submitted Photos

Several members of the “Knifty Knitters” group from the Ateaze Senior Center in Baltimore recently made a road trip to the Grace Center for Maternal and Women’s Health in Berlin. They delivered a new batch of hand-crocheted items for the Baby Boutique at the center. Above, Knifty Knitters’ Ronnie Schuman, Gerrie Smith, Janet Kivett and Bobbie Hollingsworth are pictured with sAmy Mike, a center volunteer and former board member.

The Town of Berlin received a certificate of appreciation from the Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) for its submerged gravel wetland on Graham Avenue. Working with MCBP and EA Engineering, the town converted an old electrical transfer station to a sand-gravel wetland that collects and filters stormwater to improve water quality in the coastal bays. Pictured with the certificate are Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood, Mayor Zack Tyndall and Stormwater and Wastewater Superintendent Jamey Latchum.

The Greenwood family and students collected and donated 444 pairs of glasses from Stephen Decatur High School for community service to the Ocean City Lions Club. Pictured, from left, are Past District Governor Norm Cathell, Abby (senior), Charlie (sophomore), Jack (junior) and Gail Greenwood and OC Lion Past President John Topfer.

Judy Johnson Schoellkopf, right, was awarded the “Nancy Oliver-Act Like A Founder” award recently at the Clarion Resort Fontainebleau in Ocean City. It was celebrated at the end of season golf banquet of the LPGA Amateur Golf Association Eastern Shore. Oliver is also pictured.

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City recently welcomed Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kerrie Bunting as its guest speaker. Kiwanis Club President Tim Lund is pictured with Bunting, who informed the group the chamber has relocated recently to 111047 Racetrack Road with a new visitor center.

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Novermber 5, 2021

Best Beats On The Beach Who’s Where When ATLANTIC HOTEL 410-641-3589 2 North Main St., Berlin Mondays: Earl Beardsley BUXY’S SALTY DOG/ DRY DOCK 28 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Saturday, Nov. 6: TBA

DJ ROBCEE Fager’s Island: Friday, Nov. 5

BEATS

BY WAX Pickles Pub: Tuesdays & Thursdays Coins Pub: Wednesdays

CAPTAIN’S TABLE 410-289-7192 15th St. & Baltimore Ave. In The Courtyard Marriott Fridays: Phil Perdue COINS PUB 410-289-3100 28th St. Plaza On Coastal Hwy. Wednesdays: DJ Wax CRABCAKE FACTORY BAYSIDE 302-988-5000 37314 Lighthouse Rd., Rte. 54 Selbyville, DE Friday, Nov. 5: Lost & Found Wednesday, Nov. 10: Acoustic Campfire

• November 5, 2021 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Ocean Pines Community Center Ocean Pines, MD

• November 20, 2021 10 a.m. - Noon Sturgis Park (299 River Street) Snow Hill, MD *Clinic dates subject to change based upon flu vaccine availability. AGHRx RediScripts Pharmacy will be onsite offering high dose flu vaccines for ages 65 years and older, which will be billed to Medicare or private insurance.

CRAWL STREET TAVERN 443-373-2756 Wicomico St. Downtown O.C. Friday, Nov. 5: Shots Fired Saturday, Nov. 6: Deviation By Design Sunday, Nov. 7: Karoake with Jeremy

LIME GREEN DUO Cork Bar: Saturday, Nov. 6

BEATS BY STYLER Pickles Pub: Fridays, Sundays, Mondays & Wednesdays

DJ BILLY T Harborside: Friday, Nov. 5 Sunday Nov. 7 & Thursday, Nov. 11

DJ TUFF Seacrets: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 5 & 6

CORK BAR Saturday, Nov. 6: Lime Green Duo FAGER’S ISLAND 410-524-5500 60th St. In The Bay Friday, Nov. 5: DJ Greg, DJ RobCee Saturday, Nov. 6: Sweet Leda, DJ Greg, What’s Next GREENE TURTLE NORTH 410-723-2120 116th St. & Coastal Hwy.

DJ GROOVE Fager’s Island: Saturday, Nov. 6

DJ JEREMY Harborside: Saturday, Nov. 6 Crawl Street Tavern Sunday, Nov. 7

Novermber 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 39

Who’s Where When Friday, Nov. 5: TBA

DEVIATION BY DESIGN Crawl Street Tavern: Saturday, Nov. 6

ON THE EDGE Ocean Club/Clarion: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 5 & 6

HARBORSIDE 410-213-1846 South Harbor Rd., West O.C. Friday, Nov. 5: DJ Billy T Saturday, Nov. 6: The Rogue Citizens, DJ Jeremy Sunday, Nov. 7: Opposite Directions, DJ Billy T Thursday, Nov. 11: DJ Billy T OCEAN CLUB 410-524-3535 10100 Coastal Hwy. In The Clarion Hotel Friday & Saturday, Nov. 5 & 6: On The Edge

THE DUNEHOUNDS Pickles Pub: Saturday, Nov. 6

WHAT’S NEXT Fager’s Island: Saturday, Nov. 6

OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS Harborside: Sunday, Nov. 7 Seacrets: Thursday, Nov. 11

LATE LAST NIGHT Seacrets: Friday, Nov. 5

LOST & FOUND Crabcake Factory Bayside: Friday, Nov. 5

SHOTS FIRED Crawl St. Tavern: Friday, Nov. 5

$ 00

1 OFF

Any 3-, 4-, 5-Litre Wine

Not Valid With Other Offers Or Discounts Exp. 11-30-21 • MCD

15% OFF Any Case Of Wine

Not Valid With Other Offers Or Discounts Exp. 11-30-21 • MCD

10% OFF

750 ml/1.5 L Bottle Of Wine Not Valid With Other Offers Or Discounts Exp. 11-30-21 • MCD

Cheers!

BEER • WINE • SODA Open 7 Days A Week Mon.-Thurs., 7 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 7 a.m.-10 p.m. & Sun., 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Gas • Ice Cigarettes 410-641-2366 • Main St. & Old O.C. Blvd., Berlin, Md.

PICKLES PUB 410-289-4891 8th St. & Philadelphia Ave. Friday, Nov. 5: Beats By Styler Saturday, Nov. 6: The Dunehounds Sunday, Nov. 7: Beats By Styler Mondays: Beats By Styler Tuesdays: Beats By Wax Wednesdays: Beats By Styler Thursdays: Beats By Wax SEACRETS 410-524-4900 49th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Nov. 5: High Five Swan Dive Duo, DJ Tuff, Late Last Night Saturday, Nov. 6: DJ Bobby O, DJ Cruz, Triple Rail Turn, The Event Horizon Thursday, Nov. 11: DJ Cruz, Opposite Directions

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

November 5, 2021

Things To Do 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 Friday: Bingo Knights of Columbus will host 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.

Every Tuesday: Dancing The Delmarva Dance Club holds dancing at the Selbyville Elks Lodge 2173 from 5:30-9 p.m. delmarvahanddancing.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. 410-250-2645.

Nov. 5: Fall Glow Walk Put your glow (sticks) on and enjoy a fun free walk starting in Stephen Decatur Park and the downtown (approximately 4.5 kilometers). Hosted by the Berlin Parks Commission in partnership with the Worcester County Health Department Just Walk Worcester program.

Free raffle entry for every walker. Registration starts at 4:45 p.m.

Nov. 6: Sight & Sound Bus Trip Stevenson United Methodist Church Women’s Group is organizing a bus trip to Sight & Sound Theatres in Ronks, Pa. to see Queen Esther. Bus leaves the church at 8 a.m. on Nov. 6 and returns at 11 p.m. Reservations due Oct. 10.

Checks to be made out to Stevenson Women, 123 N. Main Street, Berlin, Md. 21811. Questions, Pat Oltman, 443-6142518.

Nov. 6: Artisan, Craft Fair The entire Ocean Pines Community Center will be turned into a Winter Wonderland by the Pine’eer Craft Club with all custom-made items displayed by vendors. Proceeds from sales and activities benefit the Ocean Pines community. Nancy Burkett, 302-233-0761.

Nov. 6: Auxiliary Dinner The Bishopville Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary will hold a carry out Chicken and Dumpling Dinner for just $12 per dinner. Green beans and Sweet Potato sides. Extra pint of dumplings, $7.

Pickup times are 5-7 p.m. at the main station. Orders must be called in by Nov. 3 to 619-922-9950.

Nov. 6: Christmas Bazaar The Community Church at Ocean Pines will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Family Life Center of the church at 11227 Racetrack Road, Berlin. 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 Fried Chicken Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church will host a drive-thru fried chicken meal with sides starting at 11 a.m. Cost is $14.

Nov. 6: Yard Sale Faith Chapel Presbyterian Church at 8006 Ironshire Station Rd. in Berlin will hold 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Nov. 6: Marker Dedication Starting at 10 a.m., the General Levin Winder Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the Captain John Smoot Chapter, National Society Sons of the American Revolution will honor two Revolutionary War Patriots by dedicating memorial markers installed at the graves of Levin Handy, Captain, 5th Maryland Regiment, and Colonel Samuel Handy, Patriotic Service. The dedication ceremonies will begin with the unveiling of markers at Captain Handy’s grave in Makemie Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery before proceeding to All Hallows Episcopal Church Cemetery for marker unveilings at Colonel Handy’s grave.

The cemeteries are located at 103 West Market Street and 109 West Market Street, respectively, in Snow Hill. The public is invited to see the colorful and dignified tribute.

Nov. 9: Monthly Meeting The Atlantic Coast Sportfishing Association is having its monthly meeting at the American Legion of Berlin, Post 123 on Old Ocean City Blvd, Berlin. Meeting officially starts at 7:30 p.m. Guests are welcome to attend, arrive early to get a seat. This month's guest speaker is Kennedy Paynter, Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park on oyster research.

Nov. 11, 18, 23: Coat & Toy Drives The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City announces its annual coat and toy drives. Collections are in the Ocean Pines Community Center parking lot from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Unwrapped toy donations will be delivered to Worcester G.O.L.D. and coats will be taken to Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary, and St. Peter's Lutheran Church. Boots, shoes, thermal ware, sweatshirts, sweaters, jeans, gloves, scarves and blankets are also accepted.

Nov. 12: Crab Cake Dinner Stevenson United Methodist Church will offer carryout only from 4-6:30 p.m. Cost is $14, one crab cake sandwich, green beans, baked potato and cole slaw; $24, two crab cake sandwiches and sides; and $10, crab cake sandwich.

Nov. 13: Christmas Bazaar Atlantic United Methodist Church will

hold its 43rd annual event 10 a.m.-2 p.m., featuring vintage and new jewelry, baked delights, gift shopping, a silent auction and carryout lunch. Thrift shop will be open as well. Proceeds support local missions.

Nov. 13: Flannel Formal Hosted by the Lower Shore Land Trust, event raises funds for conservation programming on the Lower Eastern Shore.

This year’s event will take place from 36 p.m. at The Manor at Brooklyn Meadows in Berlin. To purchase tickets or to inquire about sponsoring, visit www.lowershorelandtrust.org or call 443-2345587.

Nov. 13: 43rd Annual Christmas Bazaar Atlantic United Methodist Church will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar from 10 a.m-2 p.m. Featuring Christmas Home Place, vintage & new jewelry, bakery delights & gifts and a silent auction. Carry-out lunch includes chicken salad w/croissant platter, chicken salad pints, Homemade soup in pint or quart & sodas.

The thrift shop will be open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Hosted by the Martha Circle, proceeds support local missions. (Credit cards accepted - $10 minimum purchase). 4th St. Ocean City.

Nov. 13: Bull & Oyster Roast The American Legion Post on 23rd Street will host from 4-7 p.m. including pit beef, oysters, hot dogs, sausage with peppers and onions, baked beans, cole slaw and draft beer. Cost is $40 per person or $300 for a table of eight. Tickets available at the post or call 410-2893166. Tickets are limited.

Nov. 13: 5K Run/Walk Starting at the OC Lifesaving Station Museum, the 5K will take place along the Boardwalk. Sign-in/registration is at 8 a.m. The race begins at 9 a.m. Cost to enter, benefiting the museum.

Nov. 17: Monthly Meeting The First State Detachment of the Marine Corps League meets the fourth Wednesday each month at the Ocean City American Legion Post 166 on 23rd Street at noon. Any Marines and Navy Corpsman who have served, living in Worcester and Sussex counties, are welcome to join us to meet their fellow veterans and consider joining the detachment and support the mission for community service through camaraderie and volunteerism. 410-430-7181 or email websergeant@firststatemarines.org.

Nov. 18: Winterfest of Lights Opening ceremony for Northside Park 125th Street at 5:30 p.m. Walk the large, open-air path through hundreds of animated, lighted displays. Browse Yukon Cornelius’ gift shop for a special gift and have a photo taken with Santa. Wednesday-Sunday through Jan. 1, 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Nov. 19: Bazaar, Marketplace

St. Peter's Episcopal Church downtown Salisbury starts its Holiday Bazaar and Marketplace as part of Third Friday, 5-8 p.m. continuing Saturday, Nov. 20 (8 a.m.-1 p.m.) All are welcome to visit the church's parish hall or may bid online for selected items, beginning Nov. 1, at www.biddingowl.com. Check https://stpeteschurch.net/holiday-bazaar/ as event nears.

Nov. 19: BFC Seafood Night November’s Friday night carryout dinners series at the Berlin Fire Company continues with Seafood Night featuring a half pound steamed shrimp, macaroni salad and French fries for $15; one pound of steamed shrimp with no sides, $20; and fried clam strips, macaroni salad and French fries for $12. The next dinner will be spaghetti Dec. 10.

Nov .20: Bingomania Bingomania, the Eastern Shore’s largest bingo cash prize event, returns to the Wicomico Civic Center.

Doors open at 5 p.m. for early bird games, and regular games begin at 7:30 p.m. Admission includes all regular and special games, including the Jumbo Jackpot Game. Regular game payouts are $500, while special games will pay out $1,000. Tickets are $45 per person in advance and $55 per person at the door; fees may apply to ticket prices. Tickets at www.WicomicoCivicCenter.org and by phone at 410-548-4911. All proceeds benefit the Mardela Middle & High School Bands.

Nov 25: Thanksgiving Dinner The 42nd Annual Free Thanksgiving Dinner will again be held at the Ocean City Baptist Church from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 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 of attendance at 410-289-4054 or sign-up on line at OCBaptist.com. Dinner will be available for shut-ins with a call.

Nov 26-28: Shopper’s Fair A holiday shopping extravaganza at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center.

Nov 26-27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 28, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Unique handmade merchandise, nautical, candles, photography, florals, jewelry, ceramics. Great gifts & household items. Children’s activities, photos with Santa and non-shopper’s lounge. Free parking, food court, door prizes.

Nov. 27: Drive Thru Luncheon 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 chili, peas and dumplings and veg. beef. Bake sale items will be available. No pre-orders. Call 410835-8796 or 443-880-8804 for more details. Hunters are welcome.

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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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 All Credit Cards.

HELP WANTED JOHNNYS PIZZA: Now Hiring Driver! Apply within at 56th Street or call 410-726-7061 to apply.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– DENTAL HYGIENIST: Family Dental Practice seeking part time Dental Hygienist. Patient oriented, relaxed atmosphere. Please forward resume to dentistryinthepines@gmail.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––

CASHIER/ SALES ASSOCIATE Must be friendly & dependable FT/PT - Year Round & Seasonal - Various Shifts Competitive Hourly Wage Benefits Available

To Apply-go online www.petromg.com *Employment *Retail *OC MD *Cashier Wine Rack *Search *Cashier Sales Assoc.-Wine Rack Rt. 50 Wine Rack 12827 Ocean Gateway West OC, MD

SMALL ENGINE MECHANIC: Year Round, Competitive Wages.

443-754-1047.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

HELP WANTED

CONSERVATION TECHNICIAN/ MARINA TRAVEL LIFT OPERATOR

Position will be responsible for the daily operation and maintenance of the travel lift and forklifts. Duties will include the operation and maintenance of the marine travel lift, proper boat docking and large forklift operation plus daily supervision of the boatyard staff.

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS/ CARPENTERS Must have experience.

Competitive pay.

Call 443-856-5600 or email your resume at

Apply online at delawarestatejobs.com

For further assistance, you may contact us by phone at 302.739.5458 or email at jobs@delaware.gov

Must have: Tools, Transportation, Driver’s License

Exp. Required!

PATTERSON & SONS BUILDERS

Call 410-641-9530

Busy Ocean City Title Company Hiring Clerical Support/Receptionist Staff Person Full Time, Year Round Position.

Requires Excellent Communication and Organizational Skills.

Email resume to: Helene@Beachsettlements.com

HELP WANTED

PARK MANAGER/ ASSISTANT MARINA MANAGER

Position will manage all aspects of the day-to-day operations of Indian River Marina. This includes directly managing and the supervision of the Dry Stack Operation, staffing, travel and forklift operation, revenue supervision including budgets, fuel dock operation, maintenace projects, inspections, cottage rentals, concession operations, marketing, tournament and event director and overseeing the Ship Store. This position will work closely with the Marina’s Focus group and the IRM Charter Fleet, volunteers, concessionaires and contactors.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATION Applicants who do not possess the prefered qualification will still be eligible to compete for this position if job requirements are met.

Apply online at delawarestatejobs.com •Experience in managing a marina or marine facility

For further assistance, you may contact us by phone at 302.739.5458 or email at jobs@delaware.gov

ST. PAUL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Seeking Experienced Church Musician Paid Position - Part Time - Salary Negotiable Play for all Regular Sunday Church Services (10:00 am), Special Services, and Choir Practices.

Call Church Office at 410-641-0270 or Email: thebeacon405@gmail.com

FUNERAL ASSOCIATE / GROUNDSKEEPER The Burbage Funeral Home located in Berlin, MD is looking for several individuals to join our funeral home staff. Some job duties include assisting funeral directors with funeral services, doing removals both during normal business hours and after hours, and maintaining funeral home grounds. Must be willing to work nights and/or weekends and be on call as needed. Also must be able to lift 100 pounds. A valid driver's license is required.

Send resume to j.weldon@burbagefuneralhome.com

skylineconstructionoc@ gmail.com

CARPENTERS & CARPENTERS HELPERS

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

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 Work With the Best Ocean City has to Offer ...

We Invite You to be a Part of our Family!

Year Round Positions ~SERVERS ~HOSTESS/HOST ~BUSSER ~BANQUET SERVER ~BANQUET HOUSESTAFF ~CATERING ASSISTANT ~DISHWASHER ~ROOM ATTENDANT ~LAUNDRY ~MAINTENANCE TOP WAGES! EXCELLENT BENEFITS! HOUSING AVAILABLE! FAX RESUME & SALARY REQ. to: 410-723-9109 Online at www.clarionoc.com APPLY IN PERSON Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

CLARION RESORT FONTAINEBLEAU HOTEL 10100 COASTAL HWY. OCEAN CITY, MD. 21842 EOE M/F/D/V

HOUSING NEEDS

SERVICES

SEEKING HOUSING: I am looking for a small apartment in OC, Ocean Pines, or Berlin. Need ASAP. Please call 443-754-7054.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

CARLA’S CLEANING SERVICES: We clean homes at very low rates! Unlike other cleaning services, we put our hands into it and promise to leave you with a smile. Call 908-266-9112.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

COMMERCIAL STORAGE WEST OCEAN CITY: 2 car garage with attached work room. 775 sqft. Call 410-7260075.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– FOR LEASE: Retail Banking Center with drive thru. Contact Brian Gamm. 443-880-2225.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– WEST O.C. OFFICE/RETAIL SPACES AVAILABLE: 1 OfficeRetail and 1 Warehouses. Plenty of Parking. 443-497-4200.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

RENTALS 2 RENTALS IN BERLIN/WOC: 3BR/1.5BA House with yard. Separate Studio Apartment. Proof of income/refs req’d. No smoking.

Flexible terms. 410-422-1530.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– YEAR ROUND BERLIN: $975 plus utilities. Bottom floor of a house in Berlin, short walk to downtown. Includes 2 bedrooms, office, den, 1 full bath, washer/dryer.

3 people max.

Share rest of house with 31 year old male who lives on top floor. Full house privileges. First month's rent and security deposit due at signing.

No pets. Text Will 410-430-7017.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

WEEKLY RENTALS Poolfront: $245 Efficiency: $275 2 BR Apartment: $350 3 BR Suite: $425

Burgundy Inn 1210 Philadelphia Ave.

410-289-8581

YARD SALES INDOOR: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 5 & 6, 8:30-12:30. Jewelry, Linens, Kitchenware, Baskets, Tables, Chairs & More! 10524 Sussex Road, West Ocean City.

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FOR SALE IN HOME SALE: Christmas & holiday decorations, knick-knacks, antiques, dishware, glassware, furniture, home goods, fishing rods/reels. Way too much to list.

Call for details,make arrangements to see everything. 443-523-7878.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– DINING ROOM FURNITURE: Holiday Dinners just around the Corner! Beautiful solid wood dining set. Table seats 8-10 with two leaves. Lighted China Cabinet with glass shelving. Must see! $575. Berlin. 443-880-8885. Can send pics.

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

November 5, 2021

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.

Third Insertion

Third Insertion

BAYARD, P.A. STEVEN R. DIRECTOR, ESQ. 600 N. KING STREET, SUITE 400 WILMINGTON, DE 19801

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18906

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 18862 Notice is given that the REGISTER OF WILLS COURT of SUSSEX COUNTY, DE, appointed MARGARET ANN WOODEN, 333 S SETON AVENUE, EMMITSBURG, MD 21727, as the EXECUTOR of the Estate of LESTER F WOODEN, who died on DECEMBER 26, 2020, domiciled in DELAWARE, USA. At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following MARYLAND counties: WORCESTER. All persons having claims against the decedent must file their claims with the Register of Wills for Worcester County with a copy to the foreign personal representative on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the foreign personal representative mails or delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claim within two months from the mailing or 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 22, 2021 MARGARET ANN WOODEN Foreign 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 10-22, 10-29, 11-05

To all persons interested in the estate of ROBERT QUICKEL AKA: ROBERT E QUICKEL, ESTATE NO. 18906. Notice is given that CLAUDIA QUICKEL, 9 76TH STREET #104, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842, was on, OCTOBER 15, 2021, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ROBERT QUICKEL, who died on JANUARY 27, 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 15TH day of APRIL, 2022.

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 22, 2021 CLAUDIA QUICKEL Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for

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

Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 10-22, 10-29, 11-05

amounts necessary for redemption have not been paid, although the required time for filing a Complaint has elapsed.

Third Insertion

It is thereupon this 14TH OF OCTOBER, 2021 by the Circuit Court for Worcester County,

I. WILLIAM CHASE THE BELVEDERE TOWERS 1190 W. NORTHERN PKWY, SUITE 124 BALTIMORE, MD 21210 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY CASE NO. C-23-CV-20-000119 WILBARGER, LLC P.O. BOX 2367 DENVER, CO 80201 Plaintiff vs.

ESTATE OF CHARLES SCHOOLFIELD C/O ESTELLA SCHOOLFIELD, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE 407 MAPLE STREET POCOMOKE, MD 21851 AND UNKNOWN OCCUPANT RESIDING AT 1223 NEW BRIDGE ROAD POCOMOKE, MD 21851 AND THE COUNTY OF WORCESTER SERVE ON: ROSCOE LESLIE COUNTY ATTORNEY 1 W. MARKET STREET ROOM 1103 SNOW HILL, MD 21863

ORDERED, that notice be given by the insertion of a copy of this Order in some newspaper having a general circulation once a week for three successive weeks, before the 8th day of NOVEMBER, 2021, warning all persons interested in said property to be and appear in this Court by the 15th day of NOVEMBER, 2021, to redeem the property, 1223 New Bridge Road, Pocomoke, MD 21851 and answer the Complaint of or thereafter a final decree will be rendered foreclosing all rights of redemption in the property, and vesting in the Plaintiff, WILBARGER, LLC a title, free and clear of all encumbrances, except for ground rents.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication OCTOBER 22, 2021 BEAU H. OGLESBY JUDGE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY TRUE TEST COPY SUSAN R. BRANIECKI Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County, MD 3x 10-22, 10-29, 11-05

AND ALL OTHER PERSONS HAVING OR CLAIMING TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN 1223 NEW BRIDGE ROAD Defendants ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this proceeding is to secure the foreclosure of all rights of redemption in the following property, 1223 NEW BRIDGE ROAD, POCOMOKE, MD 21851 assessed to Estate of Charles Schoolfield, and sold by the Collector of Taxes for the County of Worcester and the State of Maryland to the Plaintiffs in these proceedings: 1223 NEW BRIDGE ROAD ACCOUNT NO.: 01-009214 The complaint states, among other things, that the

Third Insertion BROOKE H. BOWMAN 162 WEST STREET ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18942 To all persons interested in the estate of GEORGE L. RALPH JR., ESTATE NO. 18942. Notice is given that MICHAEL SHAWN RALPH, 5871 MUSTANG COURT, SALISBURY, MD 21801, was on, OCTOBER 13, 2021, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of GEORGE L. RALPH JR., who died on SEPTEMBER 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 13TH day of APRIL, 2022.

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 22, 2021 MICHAEL SHAWN RALPH 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 10-22, 10-29, 11-05

Second Insertion J. HARRISON PHILLIPS III, ESQ. 115-72ND STREET OCEAN CITY, MD 21842 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18672 To all persons interested in the estate of ADELINE SMITH FORMWALT, ESTATE NO. 18672. Notice is given that JOHN WILLIAM FORMWALT, 153 NAUTICAL

LANE, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842, was on, OCTOBER 25, 2021, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ADELINE SMITH FORMWALT, who died on AUGUST 13, 2020, with a will. There was a prior small estate proceeding.

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 25TH day of APRIL, 2022.

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 29, 2021 JOHN WILLIAM FORMWALT 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 10-29, 11-05, 11-12

Second Insertion CYNTHIA B. MACDONALD, ESQ. 208 CALVERT STREET P.O. BOX 33

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 43

First Insertion

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.

SALISBURY, MD 21803 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18874 To all persons interested in the estate of ANNA MILDRED STONE, ESTATE NO. 18874. Notice is given that ADAM BRUNO, 75 HELMS HILL ROAD, WASHINGTONVILLE, NY 10992, was on, AUGUST 30, 2021, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ANNA MILDRED STONE, who died on JUNE 18, 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 28TH day of FEBRUARY, 2022.

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 29, 2021 ADAM BRUNO 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 10-29, 11-05, 11-12

Second Insertion MICHAEL B. MATHERS, ESQ. WEBB, CORNBROOKS, WILBER, VORHIS, DOUSE & MATHERS, LLP PO BOX 910 115 BROAD STREET SALISBURY, MD 21803-0910 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18960 To all persons interested in the estate of WILLIAM PACE HUNTER AKA: WILLIAM HUNTER, ESTATE NO. 18960. Notice is given that JENNY QUINN, 2228 NORTH QUANTICO STREET, ARLINGTON, VA 22205, was on, OCTOBER 25, 2021, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of WILLIAM PACE HUNTER, who died on SEPTEMBER 22, 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 25TH day of APRIL, 2022.

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

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

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 29, 2021 JENNY QUINN 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 10-29, 11-05, 11-12

First Insertion SMALL ESTATE NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18919 To all persons interested in the estate of KATHLEEN JOAN GORDON, ESTATE NO. 18919. Notice is given that MAUREEN BOATMAN, 8806 WEST BISCAYNE DRIVE, PO BOX 3303, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842 was on OCTOBER 27, 2021, appointed Personal Representative of the SMALL ESTATE of KATHLEEN JOAN GORDON, who died on JUNE 02, 2020 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 must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Thirty days after the per-

sonal 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, is unenforceable thereafter.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication NOVEMBER 05, 2021 MAUREEN BOATMAN 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 1x 11-05

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18938 To all persons interested in the estate of WILLIAM LEE TIMMONS, ESTATE NO. 18938. Notice is given that GERALD TIMMONS SR, 8945 IRONSHIRE STATION ROAD, BERLIN, MD 21811, was on, OCTOBER 25, 2021, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of WILLIAM LEE TIMMONS, who died on SEPTEMBER 26, 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 25TH day of APRIL, 2022.

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 NOVEMBER 05, 2021 GERALD TIMMONS SR 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 11-05, 11-12, 11-19

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‘A Little Bit Of Everything’ At Berlin Collectibles Store

Page 44

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Two local men are hoping to make the hobby of card collecting more accessible with the opening of their new store, Delmarva Dreams Collectibles.

Since May, business partners Dan Holbrook and Loren Hershberger have been busy building their collectibles store into a thriving enterprise. Located within the Berlin Professional Center on Old Ocean City Boulevard, the owners say Delmarva Dreams is a place for collectors to find sports and Pokémon cards, jerseys, figures, signed memorabilia and more.

“It’s a little bit of everything,” Holbrook said.

While the two have been lifelong sports card collectors, Holbrook and Hershberger decided to turn their hobby into

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

a full-fledged business earlier this year.

As a booming collectibles market has made it harder, and more expensive, for card enthusiasts to participate, the business partners say they are hoping to make the hobby more accessible.

“Through the pandemic, and even before then, the hobby just exploded …,” Hershberger said. “Kids are priced out, and it’s not as accessible as it used to be.

So we wanted to make that vision a reality.”

Holbrook said interest in sports and Pokémon cards has grown so rapidly, it’s hard to even find them on store shelves.

“Normally, you would go in and the stuff’s falling off the shelf, and you could just pick up a random pack whenever you wanted,” he said. “Those days are gone.”

Hershberger said he is eager to bring Delmarva Dreams to Berlin and give locals the opportunity to find different trad-

November 5, 2021

Delmarva Dreams Collectibles owners Dan Holbrook and Loren Hershberger opened their new store in Berlin this spring.

Photo by Bethany Hooper

ing cards.

“My son can come home from school

and ride his bike here,” he said. “That’s the thing we enjoy most. It’s for Berlin and the surrounding areas. It’s here for everyone.”

Hershberger said Delmarva Dreams mainly carries basketball, football, baseball, wrestling and Pokémon cards.

In addition to single card sales, he said customers can find tiers of products ranging from regular packs to mega and hobby boxes. Delmarva Dreams also carries vintage trading cards and other sports memorabilia and offers trades and consignments.

“We have everything for everybody,” he said. “We have a box we’re putting out for 25 cents a card, or 6 for a dollar, or hobby boxes that will be around $500 or $600. And we literally have every price option in between.”

Holbrook noted that Delmarva Dreams also holds live card breaks, a way for collectors to buy a portion of a box of cards.

Cards are then picked up or shipped to participants.

“Basically, people buy a team or a spot in the break and then you open up all the cards and the people get all the players from their team,” he explained. “It’s an inexpensive way to collect. There’s also a chance to get monster cards you wouldn’t normally be able to buy anywhere else.”

Delmarva Dreams will also host a card show on Nov. 12 in the East Room of the Ocean Pines Community Center. The event includes live card breaks, giveaways, trading opportunities and more.

“We’re kind of treating it like a swap meet of sorts,” Hershberger said. “We want kids to bring their cards, spread it out and trade with other kids.”

Hours of operation for Delmarva Dreams Collectibles varies, and business hours are posted on the store’s Facebook page. Hershberger added that appointments and deliveries can be arranged by simply sending a Facebook message.

“We’re in here when we can be,” he said. “Right now, we kind of act like a pop-up shop.”

Hershberger encouraged everyone to visit Delmarva Dreams Collectibles and support a local business.

“I think cards are something that are either nostalgic or valuable or cool,” he said. “Whether you are a casual collector or hardcore in the game like we are … I think there’s something for everyone in the hobby.”

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 45

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. The Boardwalk is pictured above Oct. 26 on a warm fall day. To purchase any of Parypa’s photos, click over to www.chrisparypa.com. This week's Photo of the Week is sponsored by Ørsted, the world leader in clean energy. Learn more at orsted.com/md-de

Page 46

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

November 5, 2021

SPORTS Mallards Win Seventh Straight Championship In The News

Worcester Girls Win ESIAC Title:

Worcester Prep’s girls’ varsity soccer team last week beat Salisbury Christian, 3-1, to capture the ESIAC championship. The Mallards went 10-1 on the season to win the conference championship. Pictured above, the happy Mallards show off their championship hardware.

Submitted Photo

Seahawks Rout Eagles, Earn 3-Seed In States

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

The Worcester Prep varsity soccer team’s five seniors last week celebrated another conference championship at the Berlin school. Pictured above, from left are Jarrett Sofronski, Michael Wehberg, Brice Richins, Tristan Weinstein and Anderssen Taylor.

Photo by Chris Parypa

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – Worcester Prep’s boys’ varsity soccer team beat Gunston, 3-0, in the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) title game to claim their seventh straight conference championship.

The Mallards reached the ESIAC title game by beating Holly Grove, 3-0, in the semifinals last week. Against Gunston

in the final at home last Thursday, the game was tied at 1-1 at the intermission.

Jack Gardner scored Worcester’s lone goal of the first half off an assist by Ben McGovern.

Worcester’s Brice Richins scored the second-half goal on an assist by Dylan McGovern to cement the Mallards’ 2-1 in the title game. It was the seventh straight ESIAC championship for the Worcester boys, who finished the season with an impressive 10-2-1 mark.

BERLIN – Stephen Decatur’s varsity football team routed host Snow Hill, 580, last weekend to improve to 6-3 on the season and prepare for the opening round of the state playoffs.

Decatur wasted no time jumping out on their Worcester County rival and led 21-0 after one quarter. By halftime, the Seahawks led, 58-0, and pulled back on the reins in the second half. Neither team scored in the second half.

Quarterback Ashten Snelsire went 14-17 in passing attempts for 278 yards and six touchdowns. Decatur rushed for 125 yards, which was spread out fairly evenly. The rushing leader was

Nasier Tull, who carried five times for 26 yards. Zimere Handy caught four passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Brycen Coleman caught three passes for 62 yards and a touchdown, while Luke Mergott caught two passes for 58 yards and two touchdowns.

Kresen Muir also caught a touchdown pass.

With the win, Decatur improved to 63 on the season and earned the number-three seed in the state 2A-East bracket. The Seahawks will face sixthseeded Queen Anne’s in the first round at home on Friday. Queen Anne’s beat Decatur, 35-34, in their regular season matchup. Looming on the other side of the bracket are Bayside South champs Wicomico and Easton.

Tough Guy Of The Week:

Worcester defender Hunter Simons stops a Gunston player last week while freshman goalie Dylan Scopp looks on during the Mallards’ win in the ESIAC championship game.

Photo by Chris Parypa

This week’s Atlantic Physical Therapy “Tough Guy of the Week” award went to A.J. Trimble for his performance in the season-ending rout against Snow Hill. Pictured above is Trimble (left), ATP’s Charles Curran (center) and Head Coach Jake Coleman (right).

Submitted Photo

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 47

HOROSCOPES ARIES (March 21 to April 19): A work-related situation that started last month takes on increasing importance this week. The choice is still yours as to how it will evolve. Be careful not to make quick judgments.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): "Careful" is the watchword for the prudent Bovine this week. Don't let your emotions overwhelm your logic. Try for balance as you maneuver through a touchy situation.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Your energy levels rise to meet the challenges that will mark much of this month. New opportunities beckon.

Look them over, but proceed cautiously before making any kind of decision.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22): Your private life can be a problem this week, as a partner becomes more difficult. Resist a reaction you might regret. Instead of walking away, try to talk things out.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22): You should be your usual sunny self these days, as you bask in the admiration you adore. Enjoy it as you move into a new arena to confront an exciting upcoming challenge.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22): Your perseverance reserves will be tapped frequently this week as you deal with the problems involved in making a new situation work for you. But it'll all be worth it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22): You'll

find fewer roadblocks turning up as you continue to move ahead with your plans. Expect some important news to come your way by mid-November.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21): Good news -- you finally get to the bottom of that pesky mystery you've been trying to solve for weeks by using some gentle persuasion to get someone to break his or her silence.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21): The best time to take on that important task is now. Move forward one step at a time so you can assess your progress and, if need be, change direction.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19): The new opportunities you hoped to find this month are beginning to open up. Study them carefully to be sure you make the choice that's best for you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18): Turn a disappointment into a learning experience. Check out possible weaknesses in your approach and strengthen them. A loyal colleague offers good advice.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20): Your new situation offers opportunities to help you get the skills you'll need in order to stop swimming in circles and finally move straight toward your goals.

Go for it.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a sharp, logical mind and a quick intellect. You would make an excellent mystery writer. © 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Power of Attorney Advance Directive Living Will 9748 Stephen Decatur Hwy. #112 Ocean City, MD 21842 www.batielaw.com

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Page 48

Things I Like...

By Steve Green

vanishing

OCEAN CITY

November 5, 2021

WITH BUNK MANN

Monday morning NFL highlights Walking around Berlin the morning after Halloween

When a call from school in the middle of the day is not a bad thing Pumpkins on a stoop

New flip flops that feel old

A text instead of a voicemail

Remembering the Captain’s Galley Smooth flights out of Salisbury Old local surf shop shirts A baby’s post-bath smell Weekends without rain

Ocean City in 1915 was a small village with about 600 residents. Most of the men worked as commercial fishermen or on the railroad while the women managed the hotels and boarding houses. The tourist season ran from mid-June to Labor Day and there was no off-season. The hotels closed after Labor Day and the tourists went home — most of them on the railroad that crossed the bay at South Division Street.

The city limits stretched from S. 7th Street (where the Inlet is now) to 15th Street and streets north of 3rd Street were unpaved. The Boardwalk was narrow and raised several feet above the beach. On stormy days, waves rolled under it.

There was no Thrasher’s Fries, Alaska Stand or Dumser’s in 1915 and no pizza parlors or T-shirt shops on the Boardwalk.

Because the Inlet did not exist until 1933, Assateague ponies would wonder into Ocean City in search of food. There were no motels, no Beach Patrol, no miniature golf courses and no condominiums — the word did not exist in 1915.

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

Postcard from Bunk Mann’s collection

Wicomico Awarded $350K Grant Eastern Shore Physical Therapy Toward New Park Development Time To Celebrate!

November 5, 2021

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

SALISBURY – County officials this week approved $350,000 in state funding for the development of a new park.

The Wicomico County Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to accept a $350,000 grant award through the state’s Local Park and Playground Infrastructure Bill. The money, officials say, will be used in the development of Pirate’s Wharf Park.

“I’m glad to see this coming forward, and I support it fully,” said Council President Larry Dodd.

In 2018, the late County Executive Bob Culver announced Wicomico County had secured an $820,000 grant from the National Parks Service through the Land and Water Conservation Fund to create a public park at Pirate’s Wharf, roughly 340 acres of county-owned property along the Wicomico River. And with the help of matching grants and a financial commitment from the Wicomico County Council, the county was able to leverage the federal funding to generate $1.8 million for the first phase of the project.

The future Pirate’s Wharf Park will include a trail system and gathering spaces, as well as a public boat ramp that will provide access to the water, according to

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

master plan developed by Davis, Bowen & Friedel. In the first phase of the park’s development, for example, the master plan proposed a 1,500-square-foot pavilion, a playground, fishing pier, observation deck, a boat ramp and soft launch area and a trail system.

When asked this week about the park’s opening, Wicomico County Recreation, Parks and Tourism Director Steve Miller said it was slated for 2022.

“We were hoping by the end of 2021,” he said. “We’re clearly not going to make that, so I’m hopeful for 2022. We’re in the process of trying to get through state review, permitting and those types of things. There’s a lot of red tape because we have federal and state money and critical areas. There’s a lot of navigation, but I’m hopeful.”

After further discussion, a motion to accept the $350,000 grant passed unanimously.

This will be the second time in less than a month the county has received state funding for the park’s development.

In October, for example, the council voted to accept a $50,000 matching grant award from the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration Recreational Trail Program to construct two stone dust surface trails at Pirate’s Wharf.

Page 49

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Proposed Alley Swap In OC Headed Toward Approval

Page 50

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – A proposed alley swap to accommodate a redevelopment project passed on first reading this week after a couple of concerns from a private citizen were allayed.

Last December, the Planning Commission reviewed a proposed site plan for the redevelopment of the old BJ’s on the Water property along the bayfront at 75th Street. The property has since been sold to connections to Ropewalk, which plans to develop the bayfront eat-

ery Windward OC on the site.

The Ropewalk group operated the restaurant in its original footprint this summer as the Atlantic Beach House, but the long-term plan calls for the old restaurant to be replaced with a new two-story establishment on the same site with a sandy beachfront along the water, nearly 9,000 square-feet of dining areas, including over 700 square feet on a rooftop terrace and other amenities.

In September, the Mayor and Council had before them a request to close a city-owned, seldom-used east-west alley between 74th Street and 75th Street to

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November 5, 2021

accommodate the redevelopment project. Essentially what is a paper alley would be needed to accommodate the expanded parking for the establishment.

Under the proposal, the town would convey the 100-foot paper alley to the property owner. In exchange, the property owner would convey an easement to the town for a 100-foot section of alley that runs north-to-south between the existing parking lot and the back of the Quiet Storm surf shop.

The alley already exists and is 10 feet wide, allowing for vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between 74th and 75th streets. With the property owner conveying an easement to the town at 10 feet wide, the north-south alley would essentially become a 20-foot wide alley.

In a nutshell, the property owners would gain access to the under-utilized 100foot east-west alley between 74th and 75th streets, while the town would get an expanded 20-foot alley running north to south between 74th and 75th streets.

When the land swap was first proposed, it was pointed out there was a utility pole in the portion of the public right-of-way the town was getting in exchange for the paper east-west alley, which would impede vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic and limit the use of the entire 20-foot right-of-way.

The developer has since agreed to relocate the utility pole out of the town’s right-of-way. The developer also agreed

to repave the 100-foot section of the north-south alley as part of its redevelopment plan.

Last month, the Mayor and Council held a scantily-attended public hearing, which was a requirement for the proposed land swap. Local resident John Medelin raised some concerns about the land swap at that time. On Monday, the elected officials had before them an ordinance on first reading, which appeared to be heading to approval with little or no discussion. However, Medelin reiterated some of his concerns raised last month.

“Why did we waive the appraisal?” he said. “The public should know when the town is giving away property.”

Medelin also took umbrage with the proposed access point to the restaurant’s parking lot.

“75th Street shouldn’t be the parking lot entrance,” he said. “It should be 74th Street where there is a traffic signal. If you’re heading north, you have to go the light at 77th Street and make a U-turn. It complicates the traffic.”

City Engineer Terry McGean attempted to allay some of the citizen concerns.

“The square footage of the closed alley equals the square footage of the easement that has been given to us,” he said. “The goal of making the swap is to widen the alley. We have half of it, and we look to get the other half so that it is much more convenient to access from the signal at 74th Street.”

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… 40 Tons Of Waste Composted

November 5, 2021

FROM PAGE 8 “I’m not here to ask for a lot from the town or the county standpoint,” he said.

“I know some of you are very encouraged by this process. I want to reiterate this was always going to be a crawlwalk-run process. We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves. We don’t want to bite off more than we can chew. This is all about scale.”

Mayor Rick Meehan said he took a ride-along with the program and came away impressed.

“I took the route with you and I can tell you all it is quite an efficient operation,” he said. “It’s really well laid-out. They have a very strong system in place. It went flawlessly. It took about two hours to collect from three or four restaurants.”

Meehan praised Heiderman and Ocean Compost for their efforts and urged the town to help grow the program.

“There are a lot of man-hours that go into this,” he said. “Whatever we can do to help him gradually expand this program, I think it would benefit the town.

We have a commitment from an individual that is putting more into this than he is getting out of it from a monetary standpoint.”

Heiderman clarified the numbers he presented represented an entire year.

The Town of Ocean City didn’t start its partnership with Ocean Compost LLC until July, which is why the town’s 17.1ton number was reported in the packet.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

It’s interesting to note, of the roughly 80,000 pounds of food waste collected through the program, the Bonfire led the way with over 30,000 pounds collected, while The Hobbit was second with nearly 28,000 pounds collected. The balance was spread over the three restaurants participating, including Annabelle’s, the Dough Roller and Mother’s Cantina.

“The template you have before you was drafted in accordance with an agreement on a contract, which didn’t start until sometime in July,” said Public Works Director Hal Adkins. “The template speaks of 17 tons, but his collection started back in April, which is why he is talking about 40 tons.”

Councilman John Gehrig said the food waste compost program represented out-of-the-box thinking.

“You came here a couple of years ago with an idea,” he said. “A lot of people come here and try to tell the government everything they are doing wrong, but you came with a solution. This is a private sector approach and we appreciate that.”

Meehan said every ton that is composted is another ton not headed to the incineration plant.

“If we take 80,000 pounds of waste, that’s 80,000 pounds that we don’t have to take to Covanta,” he said. “We can explore some kind of grant to reimburse that and grow the program in the future.”

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

November 5, 2021

Worcester Preparatory School’s eighth grade, pictured above minus a few students not in attendance, organized a middle school Halloween dance last Thursday.

The dance was held on the tennis courts and attended by students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades.

Photo by Chris Parypa

STUDENTS In The News

Berlin Intermediate School sixth grade students in Kelly Powell’s Enrichment class extended their knowledge of circuits and switches to build a spooky Halloween Town. Pictured are Trent Macrides, Katherine Conway, Ellie Leffew, Samantha Smith, Skylar Miller, Thea Macrides, Aidan Cooper, Izaiah Carven, Dawid Pawlowski, Ka’Ren Duffy, Madelyn Pennington and Elizabeth Lovell.

More than 100 Buckingham Elementary School students attended a fundraising event hosted by the school’s PTA at Frontier Town on Oct. 21. Students were able to tie dye shirts and enjoyed pizza and ice cream with their families, classmates and teachers. Above, Jamani Mitchell, Maleah Dennis and Madalyn Evans enjoy pizza. Below Hannah Chen and Magnolia Morningstar are pictured at the event.

Submitted Photos

Verena Chase with Assateague Coastal Trust’s Coast Kids program visited Lindsey MacWha’s sixth grade science class at Worcester Preparatory School last month to present “What’s in the Water.” During the program, students learned about point and non-point sources of water pollution, and how to perform basic water quality measurements. Sixth graders pictured with Chase and MacWha, from left, are Samantha Kuon, Eva Tekmen, Lily Lenhard, Lexi Davis, John Lynch, Arianna Dorfler, Noa Bouzaglo, Brooke Moore, Elena Gjoni, Vivien Ruggerio, Blair Moore, Nora Gorfinkel, Rani Yonker and Scarlett Shimko.

County Stalls Response Allocation Change, Seeks Financials

November 5, 2021

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – Citing the need for more information, county officials opted not to grant local fire companies a new response allocation.

The Worcester County Commissioners voted 5-2 on Tuesday not to create a new per-run allocation for local fire companies.

They said they wanted to see companies’ financial information before making a change to current practices.

“The reality is, at this point in time we don’t have financials and for us to make a decision on the budgetary amount I don’t think is fair to the commissioners and I don’t think it’s really fair to you because we don’t have an opportunity to view what is or isn’t a good decision,” Commissioner Chip Bertino told fire company representatives.

For several months, the Worcester County Fire-EMS Strategic Planning Committee – made up of fire company representatives and county officials – has been working to develop a long-term funding solution for fire companies throughout the county. Commissioner Joe Mitrecic said committee discussions had revealed that the $1,000 per run allocation given to companies resulted in some responding to scenes even after they were called off.

To address that, the committee suggested creating a new $500 allocation that would be given to companies who were on their way to a scene when they were called off.

Commissioner Josh Nordstrom said

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

the arguments made by the first responders were compelling.

“If they get called back, or their call is canceled, they have to decide whether to keep going, or turn around and go back and not get paid,” he said. “That’s a very difficult decision for them to make because they’ve already expended some resources to go part of the way, half way there. This seemed like a very good compromise because as we were told … they would rather turn around and go back because they’d prefer to keep their equipment closer to the majority of the people that they serve in the station.”

Mitrecic agreed and pointed out that it could actually save the county money.

Bertino said he felt it was a budget item and should be decided during the budget process. He pointed out the county also didn’t yet have the financial records requested from each fire company.

Commissioner Jim Bunting said it could take two or three more committee meetings before the county had the financial records it wanted. He was surprised to learn of the issue with the per-run allocation.

“As a member of this committee, I made it very clear the last meeting this was something that in fact I was shocked when I was made to realize rather than turn around they would go get the money and I said I hoped that would change,” he said.

Nordstrom said he felt the $500 allocation for canceled calls needed to be put in place immediately, so commissioners

Page 53

could know the impact of the change before the next budget cycle. His motion to enact the change failed to get a second.

Bertino maintained financial records should come first.

“Before and until we get that information, how can we make a determination as a group as to whether or not the funding for this makes sense, if it’s the right amount, if it’s not the right amount?” he said.

Ocean City Fire Chief Richie Bowers told the commissioners this was an operational issue that had come up.

“It came up in our discussion about how can we make this better?” he said.

“How can we provide better service to the people we serve? That’s the end result.”

He praised the commissioners for creating the committee. He thanked them for listening to fire company representatives when they said change was needed and praised them for funding several high priority items already.

“And for that we congratulate you, we also appreciate and thank you,” he said.

“And who is the return on investment for right now? The citizens we serve. That’s who benefits from this. So thank you.”

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Resolution Formalizes Montego Bay Cell Towers Denial

Page 54

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

OCEAN CITY – With little or no discussion, resort officials this week passed a

resolution formalizing and documenting the town’s denial of the placement of three small-cell towers in the Montego Bay community.

Last week, the Mayor and Council had

county.

“That’s wonderful,” Bertino said. “Just give us the financials so we can move forward to that, so we can agree that we can move forward. I don’t think we should make a decision in a vacuum. We don’t have all the information and it’s not the right time to make that decision.”

Commissioner Ted Elder said he too would like to see financial data before making a decision.

David Fitzgerald, president of the Berlin Fire Company, said companies had been providing the county with financial information for years.

“It’s a one-page annual sheet,” Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said.

Elder said that form had been created when the county’s funding formula was totally different than it is now.

“It’s a whole new animal,” he said. “I

think the forms need to be updated.”

Mitrecic said the per-run allocation was an operational issue the committee wanted brought to the commissioners’ attention.

“That’s why it was brought forward,” he said. “I’ve been doing this a long time and everybody I’ve ever sat with, when they want to postpone something they said they needed more information. Either stand up and say you don’t want to do it or stand up and say you do want to do it.

Their financials, as opposed to this operational issue, is not an issue.”

Bertino made a motion to revisit the per-run allocation once the county had access to the fire companies’ financial information. It passed 5-2, with Nordstrom and Mitrecic opposed.

“I think another six months is not going to make or break the situation,” Elder said.

MANAGING EDITOR

… Fire Companies Funding Discussed

November 5, 2021

before them a request from private-sector company Crown Castle to install three tall small-cell towers in Montego Bay. For the record, Crown Castle installs small-cell towers and nodes around the resort area and contracts with wireless providers such as Verizon and Sprint, to provide hardware for enhanced wireless service.

The Mayor and Council last March received an informal request to install the three small-cell towers in Montego Bay in the MH zoning district in locations on South Ocean Drive. The council at the time denied the conceptual requests. In August, Crown Castle then submitted formal applications for the three tower sites in Montego Bay with a November deadline for the town to formally respond in writing, per Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines.

Last week, the Mayor and Council got a presentation from City Engineer Terry McGean and Crown Castle on the formal applications for the three requested sites on South Ocean Drive in Montego Bay. After a spirited public comment period during which several residents spoke vehemently about their desire not to have the towers in their community, the council voted unanimously to deny the applications.

However, because of the intricacies of FCC rules, the town’s denial of the three applications had to be formalized by resolution. That happened on Monday when the council unanimously approved a resolution denying Crown Castle’s three applications for Montego Bay. “This resolution documents the denial of three small wireless facilities in the MH district based on applications presented to the Mayor and Council at the October 26 work session,” the resolution reads.

Generally speaking, resort officials have worked closely with Crown Castle on the placement of small-cell towers and nodes in other areas around the resort.

However, not when the company has sought to place them in residential areas.

In fact, the town is currently in an active civil suit with the company over denial of a proposed placement of towers in northend residential neighborhoods.

The FCC rules are complicated and there have been other suits filed over the placement of towers in other areas around the country. Formally documenting denials by resolution has been an element of the town’s active civil suit with Crown Castle over the placement of towers in the north-end residential communities.

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… FBI concludes ‘no Federal civil Rights Violations’

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

FROM PAGE 4 determined that both force issues were objectively reasonable by professional standards and that the officers’ actions were within the scope of OCPD policy.”

During the separate incidents in question, Ocean City police officers arrested multiple suspects after they allegedly failed to comply with orders to stop vaping on the Boardwalk in violation of the town’s smoking ordinance. In one instance caught on a cell phone video, one of the suspects is seen being kneed repeatedly by an officer. In another instance, a suspect is seen being tased by a police officer.

The videos went viral on social media and prompted state and local African-American leaders to call for an investigation. It’s important to note the videos only showed fractions of larger events on the Boardwalk that escalated when the individuals involved reportedly did not comply with officers’ orders.

The individuals involved were arrested and charged with various of-

fenses such as assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstructing and hindering and failure to obey a lawful order, for example.

Earlier this fall, the Caucus of African-American Leaders (CAAL) held a press conference at City Hall to remind Ocean City representatives, “If elected officials believed that by doing nothing and saying nothing, that this matter would blow over, they are in for a rude awakening,” according to CAAL spokesman Carl Snowden.

Page 55

In July, the CAAL and state and local NAACP branches had a Freedom Bus tour across the Eastern Shore that ended with a stop in Ocean City. CAAL and NAACP leaders met with Meehan to call for an independent investigation into the incidents. The CAAL leadership returned to Ocean City in October to call on the Maryland Attorney General’s Office to conduct an independent investigation. CAAL leaders cited recently-passed state legislation requiring an independent investigation during cases

of alleged police brutality.

For his part, Snowden said the African-American leadership is not claiming the young men involved in the incident were absent of blame, but merely the level of force allegedly used did not match their actions.

“Police brutality has to stop,” he said.

“What happened on the Boardwalk in June is unacceptable. We don’t claim any young man did anything right or wrong, but what happened to them was unacceptable.”

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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 WEBSITES: www.mdcoastdispatch.com www.facebook.com/thedispatchoc 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 bhooper@mdcoastdispatch.com CHRIS PARYPA Photographer

November 5, 2021

Summer Arrests Spark Changes In Ocean City How We See It

A federal investigation has confirmed Ocean City’s police officers did nothing wrong during last summer’s high-profile arrests on the Boardwalk.

Looking back at last June’s events, there have been several takeaways.

No matter the probe’s outcome, which oddly enough has not been reported widely, the consequences of these incidents are real. Changes have come as a result of these arrests and how they were handled.

First is the imperativeness of people to not jump to conclusions without knowing all the facts. Though the optics of a video showing a police officer repeatedly kneeing a non-combative suspect on the ground are disturbing, the reality is numerous events led to those moments caught on a cell phone video – like the suspects spitting on officers, repeated threats to the cops and other combative acts of disobedience.

Though it may not be directly attributed to the summer arrests and the subsequent fallout, it’s clear the incidents played a big part in the city fast tracking a body camera program for police officers. Having officers outfitted with these recording devices before next season will help with internal investigations as well as carry the potential to be released externally when major incidents unfold in the future.

Finally, another clear result from last

summer’s incidents and arranged meetings with minority representatives disturbed by the treatment of the suspects was discussed this week. Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan wants the city to create a new position within government called a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer.

On the surface, it seems like an act of political correctness and a kneejerk reaction. However, research confirms this is a new trend in government and in some cases private industry for largescale employers looking to cover themselves in a litigious, hyper-sensitive world.

Numerous governments have recently filled or filed ads for the exact position Meehan brought to the council for consideration. For instance, Myrtle Beach, S.C. recently closed its advertising period for the same job Meehan proposed this week. The job description read, “The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer will support the overall implementation and advancement of the City of Myrtle Beach's diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy. In addition, this person will collaborate with leadership team members to advance equitableness as a core component of Myrtle Beach's culture. The incumbent will develop the strategy and action plan needed to achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and drive the organiza-

tion to successfully execute the strategy.”

Before Ocean City creates another new top-tier position, more research is needed on how it will gel with the current structure of the city. Will the individual report directly to the city manager or will it be a layer within human resources? Could this oversight be outsourced or added to an existing job’s responsibilities? What will the job entail outside monitoring hiring practices?

The mayor was right to bring this position to the council’s attention for discussion. It was disturbing to hear him say this week, “The timing for this position is right. We’re currently looking into hiring employees in the police department, the fire department. We are approaching a time when many of our senior staff are moving toward retirement and we continue to look for ways to grow our seasonal workforce… I hate to say it, but we are behind and need to be proactive.”

It's a position meriting a deep dive

by Ocean City officials. It’s a sensitive subject. While difficult to comprehend for many in small business who micromanage operations, the time may be here for a government Ocean City’s size to add this extra layer to its workforce. An intensive and detailed discussion is needed first.

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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.

Letters To The Editor Reserve Fund Growth Confirms OC Overtaxing Editor: The Mayor & City Council of the Town of Ocean City continue to overtax the property owners. The Town has a stated policy of maintaining 15% of General Fund expenditures as a Reserve Fund. Over the last seven Fiscal Years (FY), the Unassigned General Fund balance or Reserve Fund grew steadily from 21.6% in FY15 to 29.6% in FY20. With the release of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for FY21, we find that the Town had an Unassigned General Fund balance of 36.9% as of June 30, 2021.

These excess reserves are over $17,000,000 more than the 15% needed to be in compliance with the reserve policy. This excess amount is the equivalent of 18.5 cents on the property tax rate. In other words, the Town could have lowered the property tax rate in FY21 by 40% and still maintained its reserve policy.

Further review of the CAFR reveals that revenue for FY21 exceeded budget estimates by over $4.6 million, while expenditures were over $5.7 million less than anticipated. This combined

with other factors shows a favorable variance of over $10.6 million.

With this continued trend year after year, it is easy to see that we are being overtaxed.

Vincent dePaul Gisriel, Jr. Ocean City

Support For Wind Farm Editor: I have been coming to Ocean City for all of my 58 years as a tourist and for business and I’m in favor of the wind turbines off Maryland's coast. I recently saw some letters to the editor that I wanted to respond to. .

It’s not right that a small group of people with the loudest voices should have the biggest say in this decision when there is so much at stake with the health of our state’s environment. For years Maryland’s citizens and waterways have been victims of pollution from coal fired power plants. Maryland has been a leader in making the changes to improve our waters but it’s time for the next step to combat sea level rise due to climate change. Wind energy off our coast is a no-brainer. There will always be wind.

Although the number of windmills has changed, there are now fewer and

they are farther out to sea. They started with 187 and are now down to about 107. Only one will be 13 miles out with most at 17-27 miles away and the projects are 100% privately funded. The view from the shore is inconsequential.

Federal agencies and NGOs took great pains to properly site the 80,000acre Maryland lease area to avoid fishing, shipping, and wildlife impacts. Impacts to migratory birds are minimal outside 10 miles, and impacts to whales and shipping lanes a serious problem outside 28 miles, the lease area, at 1227 miles, was perfectly sited by the Department of the Interior.

As an environmental professional, I trust that US Wind has taken every measure of caution enlisting University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and others to conduct bird and marine mammal studies, gathering critical scientific data on birds, sea turtles and marine mammals. The turbine structures will be great habitat for fishing too!

Also, there will be 3,500 direct construction jobs, and more than $1 billion in labor income over 20 years and an increase in Maryland’s GDP by $6.9 bilSEE NEXT PAGE

November 5, 2021

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Letters To The Editor lion over 20 years.

Change can be scary, but so is failure. Let’s embrace the future and reap the benefits.

Scott Hymes Severna Park

Northing Wrong With Mural Editor: To the people who have been “protesting” the Pocomoke High School diversity mural online and at school board meetings, I only have one thing to say to you.

If you believe the mural at Pocomoke High School that says “Your voice matters. Speak Up.” and highlights the worth of women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, disabilities, and various religions is “communist propaganda” and “radical” not only are you a complete snowflake, but you are also broadcasting to the world that you are a terrible person.

I strongly consider you re-evaluating your values and life in general if you are offended by and want to cancel a mural that helps these communities feel like they have a voice, that they are respected and cared about, and that they are an integral part of our Lower Shore community.

It is up to the decency people of the Lower Shore to show up and vote in 2022. If we fail to do so, our children’s education and future will be controlled by snowflakes, clowns, anti-semites, the far-right, and other radical groups that occupy society's fringe.

Jared Schablein Pittsville (The writer is the chair of the Lower Shore Progressive Caucus.)

Balance Needed On Environment, Economy Editor: For too long, the US government has put the economy over the issue of climate change. Both hold great importance, but I argue that the environment as a whole and the state of the planet for years to come is a far more significant and time-sensitive issue than preserving the American economy. This can be seen in several previous Trumpera policies or rather the lack thereof.

Former President Trump was known for his environmental deregulation, hoping that this would improve the US economy and boost GDP. He openly voiced his support for coal miners and big oil on several occasions and completely overturned several environmental regulation policies including those meant to regulate air pollution, water pollution, chemical safety, drilling and extraction, and many more. He even pulled the United States out of the highly supported Paris Climate Agreement in which almost every nation on Earth has been in support of.

This pattern of looser environmental regulations made by those in office has the opposite intended effect. The environment itself has a significant impact on the US economy. We need the en-

vironment to provide us with food and clean water, clean air, normal weather patterns, and different cultural and recreational services. With decreased environmental regulation comes climate change approaching at a faster rate which will cause extreme weather events, higher temperatures, higher sea levels, and increased habitat and species loss among many other adverse effects. This in turn can greatly affect the economy by weakening our food supply, destroying infrastructure and factories, harming trade overseas, and increased health problems across the country which will no doubt take a toll on GDP. Climate change for too long has been overlooked and underestimated by our government. With the Biden administration taking office, the health of the planet is being pushed higher on America’s list of priorities. While President Biden has implemented new environmental regulation policies that will help protect the Earth for years to come, reinstated previously overturned Trump era environmental policies, and not to mention rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, this is not enough.

There needs to be higher carbon taxes on businesses, stronger protections on wetlands and forests, more renewable energy sources, stronger EPA oversight, and stricter laws that protect threatened or endangered species if we are to truly make a bigger difference.

Overall, the United States is responsible for an extreme amount of greenhouse gas emissions every year. The greed and neglect of our government is destroying our planet and before we know it, Earth will be long past saving and the government's addiction to preserving the US economy in the short term will be to blame. Americans cannot wait for our government to magically come to its senses. We need to vote for congressmen/women, local officials, and presidential candidates that take climate change seriously and will take immediate, drastic action. For example, deals like the Green New Deal will welcome a new economy based on renewable energy and significantly eliminating carbon emissions within the United States. But Democrats have struggled for years to get this deal passed.

In short, while the US economy is very important to the government, its citizens, and everyone in between, our environment needs our immediate attention. The US government needs to drastically reorganize its priorities and implement new climate policies that help the planet and break our chains with big oil and gas. A quote from University of Arizona professor, Guy McPherson, summarizes this perfectly, “if you think the economy is more important than the environment, try holding your breath while counting your money.”

Amber Ewing Waldorf

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Between The Lines

by Publisher/Editor Steve Green While the nostalgic types understandably frown on the project, the Margaritaville project – proposed between 13th and 14th streets – represents the new Ocean City. The development’s scale is massive and will include 265 hotel rooms, three restaurants, four pools, bars, a wellness center and gym, convention space and retail space between Baltimore Avenue and the Boardwalk.

Though no stance was taken on the request for a Planned Overlay District (POD) by the Ocean City Planning Commission, it’s likely the commission will forward a favorable recommendation to the council. The POD designation allows the developer greater flexibility in designing the revitalization project as well as diversifying the uses and space, resulting typically in a favorable development.

Though only one speaker commented at this week’s public hearing aside from the principals of the project, the Margaritaville plans stirred up a lively debate when the article was posted to this newspaper’s Facebook page, which is followed by more than 110,000 people. A majority of the 160-plus commenters expressed excitement for the project, referencing favorable visits to other brand resorts elsewhere. Those who commented against it were clearly bothered by the massive scope of the project and what one reader called, “the cheese factor growing for Ocean City” and another said, “it will ruin a once beautiful beach town.”

The project represents economic redevelopment progress at its best to me, but how it’s viewed is wholly dependent on individual tastes, personal vacation preferences, sentimentality toward the past and overall perspectives on the resort’s future direction oftentimes frowned upon. This is an inevitable dialogue when such massive changes in use are proposed. The question for city officials is whether granting a POD will result in the best project. It seems clear to me.

It’s been a year since Maryland voters overwhelmingly approved sports betting at existing casinos. It’s unsure if it’s “a COVID thing” – something frequently used as a scapegoat these days – to blame, but the slow progress towards adding sports books in Maryland was discussed this week.

The newest development was the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Commission on Thursday approved the sports wagering operator partners for five casinos, including Ocean Downs Casino in Berlin, all of which are still awaiting license awards from the Sports Wagering Application Review Committee (SWARC). Each of the five casinos qualified for sports wagering will partner with an independent third-party to run the operations. For Ocean Downs Casino, the sports wagering partner approved on Thursday is TwinSpires. At this week’s meeting, the pace of the process was discussed at length.

“We’re obviously disappointed by the lack of progress in yesterday’s SWARC meeting, but we’re pleased that we’ve moved forward in other areas,” said Commission Director John Martin. “The delay is likely to push sports wagering back until after the New Year. At this point, we are hoping to make the NFL playoffs in January and the Super Bowl in February.”

The SWARC met on Wednesday, but no decisions were made on the five applications, including Ocean Downs Casino. Martin said the MLGCC continues to work on other aspects of the approval process separate from SWARC, which is scheduled to meet again Nov. 18.

“We are making progress on as much of this as we can now, but we’ll still need time to work through a number of procedures with each facility, even after the license is awarded,” Martin said. “It could take up to 30-45 days. If the SWARC awards the licenses on November 18 and all goes well, that would mean a launch date somewhere around the first of the year.”

Many lessons have been learned through the pandemic. Chief among them might be to never take anything for granted.

Last year Halloween fell on a Saturday in Berlin. Under normal circumstances, it would have been even more crowded than usual due to not falling on a school night. With trick or treating not endorsed by the town, Berlin was eerily quiet last Halloween. There were some folks out and about, but it was essentially a non-event.

With a Halloween on Sunday this year, many homeowners were curious how fast the town would rebound as far as popularity. The questions were answered about a half hour before trick-or-treating was to begin at 5 p.m. when kids started ringing door bells and vehicles rolled into town. Though tough to garner an accurate head count because people are spread out through town, a safe estimate would be 3,000 trick-or-treaters came to town throughout the night.

With popularity comes inevitable questions. Should trick-or-treating in Berlin be moved to a weekend night when Halloween falls on a school night?

Should the town consider closing Main Street on Halloween? As a Berliner for more than half of my life, I think Halloween should be observed when it falls on the calendar. It’s a bummer when it’s a school night, but adjustments to routines can be made to make it work. As far as Main Street goes, I think the town should close it from West to Jefferson streets during trick-or-treating hours. Combining aloof visitors crammed onto sidewalks with rushed motorists in a tight space is trouble. It’s better to be proactive in the interest of safety rather than reflecting after an accident occurs.

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

S

Puzzle Answers

November 5, 2021

The Adventures of Fatherhood

by Steve Green

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ometimes you just have to laugh at yourself.

I know I can be ridiculous at times. My wife Pam is also keenly aware of this fact. My kids are also catching on to my temporary bouts of lunacy.

I call it “deadline brain” at times.

The pressures and stress associated with multiple deadlines every day for going on 25 years now is taking its toll.

Sometimes I am just so mentally exhausted I’m fried.

On more than one occasion, after I said something, Pam has looked at me and then at the kids bewildered. The look says, “Do you understand what your dad is talking about?” They look back at her with the, “I have no idea either” look. I am a work in progress and can let my plate get too full, resulting in an overwhelmed person who may or may not always make sense and be inconsistent.

Some examples to prove the point: •We often joke at our house we never know what we will find when we walk into our boys’ rooms. One early evening recently Pam certainly didn’t think she would find what she found in Carson’s room.

While Pam was doing something with Beckett downstairs, I took Carson up for a shower and to finish up some reading he had for homework before turning in for the night. In his language arts class, he is reading the book, “There’s A Boy In The Girls’ Bathroom”

by Louis Sachar. It’s an entertaining read that I have enjoyed reading along with him most nights.

On this particular night, I was exhausted and evidently so was Carson.

We both fell asleep reading together in his bed. It was 7:25 p.m. I woke up to a tap from Pam standing over top of me laughing. She said, “are you done for the night?”

Looking at the time, all I could say

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was, “oops.”

•I think Pam and I balance each other out well on parenting. For instance, I have been reading way too many articles on pre-teen and teen mental health during the pandemic.

I think I am too knowledgeable. Fortunately, time will do its thing, resulting in me eventually forgetting a lot of the details I have read.

In recent weeks, I have been consumed with Beckett’s mental health, trying to take all the aspects of life that arise with some balance. If he bombs a quiz, it’s not a huge deal. He’s 13 years old after all. If he aces a test, it’s not a major accomplishment. He’s just 13. I’m trying to temper my reactions, so he doesn’t feel pressure and stress.

There’s enough of that in life as a teen.

Some days I am successful with this approach. Other times not so much.

For example, as I waited in the pickup line to get Beckett from school one day recently, I reminded myself to not ask about his day. Every parent knows the answer will be “fine” or “good” or “okay”, which may or may not be the truth. On this day, I asked a simple question whether he remembered to bring his refillable water bottles home.

He said he did not and reminded it was “no big deal Dad.” I took a few deep breaths and just asked him, “How many water bottles are in your locker right now?” He said he didn’t know. I know there are at least four water bottles sitting in his locker right now and it drives me crazy he forgets to bring them home.

Pam doesn’t seem to get as worked up on this topic. Her pet peeve is when he immediately picks off every eraser on a pencil.

Depending on the day, my responses to his actions waffle between, “it’s alright buddy, you will do better the next time” or “oh I got it, we learn and move on,” and “what is going on with

you?” or “I mean seriously, what’s up right now?” Maybe I need to start reading mental health articles about fathers in their mid-40s.

•My emotions daily get the best of me because I love reading stories of compassion, faith and inspiration. This week’s story was the death of 33-yearold Michael Johnson, the son of NBA broadcaster Ernie Johnson.

There’s not enough space to go into the entire story, but I would like to ask everyone to spend a few minutes and search the Internet for the story.

Being a part of an adoptive family, this story hits home hard as Ernie and his wife Cheryl Ann adopted Michael from a Romanian orphanage shortly after he was born. He was abandoned in a park. Michael Johnson had muscular dystrophy and never walked. He was wheelchair bound his whole life, but he led an amazing life and impacted many people.

Ernie Johnson, who has four adopted kids and two biological children with his wife, tells the story of his family’s journey so well. He recently spoke to the University of Alabama football team after a practice. His message to the players was, “Make somebody’s life better.” His son Michael, while disabled and challenged in many ways, had done just that for him.

Whenever he tells the story, Johnson recalls how the worker at the orphanage in Romania told his wife, “don’t take him, boy’s no good.” Michael Johnson proved in his life, “There’s value in everybody,” despite all the challenges he faced.

Do yourself a favor and take a listen to his story online. It will serve you well.

(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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November 5, 2021