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The best weather for the OC Air Show weekend came for the practice session last Friday. Sunday’s performances were nixed due to clouds, winds and rain, conditions that also put a damper on Saturday’s show.

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Beach Patrol, Coast Guard Partner On Inlet Rescue

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 21, 2020

Agencies Utilize Training For Incident

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

Lifeguards are pictured in the ocean with the rescued swimmers, who were transported back to shore by the U.S. Coast Guard vessel.

Photos by Kristin Joson

OCEAN CITY – A potential tragedy was averted last weekend when the U.S. Coast Guard and the Ocean City Beach Patrol partnered on the rescue of two swimmers swept out to sea by a strong current near the Inlet.

A Coast Guard crew was on scene providing safety operations during the OC Air Show last Saturday afternoon when the incident unfolded. The Coast Guard crew heard a call over marineband radio channel 16 reporting four

people in the water near the Inlet. The Coast Guard boat crew immediately responded and found two men and four Ocean City Beach Patrol lifeguards in the water.

One of the men had entered the water by the jetty and was swept away by the strong current last Saturday afternoon. The second man jumped into the ocean from the jetty in an attempt to rescue the first man and quickly found himself in trouble in the swirling current.

Four Ocean City Beach Patrol (OC BP) lifeguards quickly responded and entered the ocean to attempt saving the two struggling swimmers. The lifeguards were still in the water when the Coast Guard boat crew arrived on scene. The Coast Guard crew successfully took the two men aboard their vessel and transported them to Coast Guard Station Ocean City, where they refused medical attention.

“It’s always great when we can work with partner agencies such as the Ocean City Beach Patrol to save lives,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Elliott, a crewmember from Coast Guard Station Ocean City. “We always recommend swimming in areas where lifeguards are present in order to reduce the risk of situations like these from becoming much worse.”

OCBP issued a statement about the incident this week.

“There was a northeast littoral current and it is our standard protocol when victims are caught in a rip current at the south rocks to go make the rescue and let the current take them into the Inlet away from the dangerous rocks,” the statement read. “The guards know that a Coast Guard or DNR vessel will be on its way to retrieve them. We always send two guards in per victim. One guard to keep the victim afloat and one to hold a buoy up in the air to keep passing boats away and aware that people are in the water. … The reason there was a second victim was because that victim (brother of the original victim) swam toward the rescue as the guards were making contact with the first victim.

This allowed the brother to be taken away from shore by the same rip current, resulting in a second need for a rescue. It was a standard Inlet rescue and we train each lifeguard in the technique. We also train each year with the Coast Guard and DNR to practice working together in this type of rescue. As the Surf Rescue Technicians kept the victims calm and afloat, pleasure boats did stop and offer assistance until USCG was on scene and assisted all personnel out of the water. This rescue was performed as practiced according to our protocols and there were no injuries to the victims. Although, to the many spectators on the Inlet jetty it made an exciting show.”

August 21, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 5

Council Votes Down OCPD Vehicle For Boardwalk

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Resort officials this week appeared poised to sign off on the purchase of a new, ATV-style patrol vehicle for the Ocean City Police Department to deploy on the Boardwalk before doing an about-face and voting down the request over budget concerns.

Last week, the Police Commission voted to send a favorable recommendation to the full Mayor and Council on a request from the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) to purchase a sideby-side mule-style all-terrain vehicle for the beach and Boardwalk. Akin to an ATV, the mule could carry as many as six officers and allow the OCPD to quickly deploy personnel to trouble spots

Budget Concerns Highlighted

and other areas where significant incidents break out, such as some of the violence and near-rioting seen on the Boardwalk during a challenging couple of weeks in June this year.

The mule could move officers quickly through crowds on the Boardwalk and be less cumbersome than bringing a regular police cruiser or SUV in during certain incidents. It could also be utilized on the beach, transporting personnel quickly to incidents when the Boardwalk is too crowded to easily traverse.

Last week, the police commission sent a favorable recommendation to the Mayor and Council on the purchase of the patrol vehicle with an estimated cost of around $20,000. The OCPD had budgeted $38,000 in the current fiscal year to purchase new sally port doors at the Public Safety Building, but realized around $14,000 in savings after choosing a lower-cost, non-insulated option. Buzzuro explained last week the remaining $5,000 for the $20,000 mule could be made up in other areas

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of the department’s operating budget.

However, it was noted any expenditure over $15,000 needs the approval of the full Mayor and Council, even if it could be covered internally in a department’s budget. On Monday, the Mayor and Council appeared poised to approve the purchase with a motion made and seconded, but a series of questions, couched largely under budget considerations, resulted in a no vote for the request at this time. It could be revisited during budget time prior to next season.

Councilman Dennis Dare said the requested vehicle was over five feet wide and 11 feet long and questioned its effectiveness on a crowded Boardwalk.

“I know how easy the bike and the mounted units maneuver through the crowd,” he said. “They are also high above, so they can see what’s going on and the public can see them. I just don’t know if it would be effective.”

Councilman Mark Paddack said Dare’s concerns about the mule’s turning radius and mobility were unfounded and recommended approving the purchase.

“They can move personnel around quickly on the Boardwalk and even the beach if need be,” he said. “This can hold at least six people and get personnel to trouble spots more quickly.

In light of what we saw in June, I’d like to have more people in the southern district.”

Dare said in light of the troublesome incidents on the Boardwalk in June, perhaps the funding proposed for the mule could be directed at other resources.

“I’d like to have more police officers on the Boardwalk, period,” he said.

“The budget is taking a hit. We know room tax is down $1 million from this point last year, and we know we have a budget crisis coming. We need to watch every penny.”

Dare questioned whether it was truly needed.

“I think it’s a nice thing to have, but what we really need is more police officers on the Boardwalk,” he said. “I’d like to wait and see what other measures we will have to take before we spend money on this.”

Council President Lloyd Martin said the ATV-style mule could be used on the Boardwalk or on the beach if necessary and said he supported the purchase.

“With the problems we had down there in June, this can move people around very fast on the Boardwalk and on the beach,” he said. “Anything we can do to help the department down there, we should do.”

Councilman John Gehrig said he agreed with Dare about the looming budget concerns despite the mule’s purchase being covered by the OCPD’s budget.

“There is a limited amount of money SEE NEXT PAGE

Some E-Bikes Allowed On Boards

August 21, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Speed, Throttle Capabilities Discussed

OCEAN CITY – A clearly divided Mayor and Council this week voted to approve the use of certain electric bikes, or e-bikes, on the Boardwalk and not others after considerable debate.

With the increasing popularity of ebikes in and around the resort area, the Mayor and Council earlier this year charged the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to review the town code and see if and where they fit in to the ordinance covering bicycles, scooters, mopeds and other two-wheeled vehicles. During his review of last week’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee meeting, Councilman Tony DeLuca said the committee worked with the Ocean City Police Department and the owner of a bike rental shop to determine there are different classes of ebikes, each with their own capabilities regarding speed, for example.

DeLuca told his colleagues on Monday, the Class 1 e-bikes are pedal assist bikes typical of reaching speeds achieved by riders on most regular bikes. The Class 2 and Class 3 have larger engines and throttles, allowing riders to reach much higher speeds with little or no effort. DeLuca said the committee was recommending allowing the Class 1 e-bikes on the Boardwalk, of course only during the hours regular bikes are currently allowed.

“The recommendation from the committee is that the only the Class 1 e-bikes should be allowed on the Boardwalk,” he said. “They are pedal-assist bikes that don’t have throttles. The Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes have throttles and can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour on the Boardwalk. We heard from the OCPD and they said they can easily distinguish between the two types.”

DeLuca explained Class I Bikes are pedal-assist bikes meaning they are ideal for individuals who are rehabilitating an injury or perhaps have bad knees.

The Class 1 bikes can not be propelled unless the rider is pedaling. Unlike the Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes, the Class 1 bikes do not have throttles and cannot reach higher rates of speed.

“The Class 1 bikes can only go around 20 miles per hour, or about the same speed as a regular bike,” he said. “The speed is so low and so easy, there’s not much difference between them and a regular bike.

Councilman Dennis Dare said he was concerned allowing just the Class 1 e-bikes could open a can of worms.

“I don’t know that we want to allow any motorized bikes on the Boardwalk,” he said. “We have enough trouble up there with the pedestrians, the regular bikes and the trams. Somebody is going to get hurt.”

Council Secretary Mary Knight said she was also not in favor of allowing motorized bikes on the Boardwalk regardless of their class and capability and reminded colleagues of their discussions in the past about e-scooters and hoverboards and other relatively new means of transportation.

“I have a hard time with anything motorized on the Boardwalk,” she said.

“Motorized bikes have no place on the Boardwalk. It’s an accident waiting to happen.”

Mayor Rick Meehan pointed out the OCPD has enough to monitor on the Boardwalk without adding motorized bikes to the equation.

“If we allow these certain e-bikes, you can see how it will lead to more and more of these things up there,” he said.

“You said the OCPD can easily tell the difference, I just don’t think we need to put something else up there for the police to be concerned with.”

DeLuca made a motion to allow just the Class 1 e-bikes on the Boardwalk, a motion seconded by Councilman Mark Paddack. The final vote was 4-3 with DeLuca, Paddack, Councilman John Gehrig and Councilman Matt James in favor and Council President Lloyd Martin, Knight and Dare opposed.

unless we raise taxes,” he said. “I know they can cover it in their budget, but it all comes out of the same bucket.

Unless this is needed right now, maybe we can wait and consider it in an overall budget discussion.”

After considerable debate, Councilman Tony DeLuca, who made the original motion to approve the purchase, agreed with most of his colleagues.

“I’ll withdraw my motion,” he said.

“I support this for most of the reasons given. They certainly need it for May, June and July. If it’s not needed right

now, let’s wait and have it ready for next year.”

Paddack then made a motion to approve the purchase and Gehrig seconded it for the purpose of continued discussion, but that motion failed by a 1-6 vote with Paddack the lone yes vote.

“This is needed on the Boardwalk,” said Paddack. “We cannot predict the next time we’re going to have a crap show on the Boardwalk. It could be during the pop-up event, it could be Bike Week. Heck, it might even be Sunfest.”

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

… Purchase On Table For Next Year

Page 7

Riverboat Pitched To Boost South County Tourism

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – County officials are exploring the purchase of a riverboat to increase tourism in southern Worcester County.

Tom Perlozzo, the county’s director of recreation and parks, tourism, and economic development, told the Worcester County Commissioners that his office was considering the purchase of a riverboat to attract visitors to Snow Hill and Pocomoke.

“It’s not a railroad, it’s not an ice hockey rink, it’s a $500,000 boat,” Perlozzo said. “I think it’s a unique opportunity. I have to think about all the visitors that come to Ocean City. As COVID-19 is a perfect example, people want to space out. We need to take advantage of br-

inging those folks in our county.”

Perlozzo said that for the last six months Worcester County Economic Development had been looking for a way to increase activity in the southern end of the county.

“We were looking for an opportunity to create, develop and find a tourism and economic vehicle for both Snow Hill and Pocomoke,” Perlozzo said. “There was a priority there. We needed to find a solution that was year-round, out of the box, allowed our towns to capitalize on things like excursions, dining, entertainment and potential gaming, all while taking advantage of what they consider to be the gem of the southern end, the Pocomoke River.”

Staff traveled to Havre de Grace and saw a riverboat attraction there.

“The riverboat stern wheeler concept

August 21, 2020

The Black-Eyed Susan Riverboat is based in Havre de Grace, Md. and offers lunch and dinner cruises of the Chesapeake Bay. Photo from county’s meeting packet

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the mission of the southern end of the county, it’s definitely buzzworthy.”

Commissioner Josh Nordstrom said it was a fantastic idea. Commissioner Diana Purnell agreed.

“I love the idea of using that gem of the Pocomoke River,” she said.

Bertino said he liked the idea of promoting the south end of the county but questioned the costs associated with a riverboat.

Perlozzo said the boats the county had looked at cost between $350,000 and $450,000. He said there were a variety of potential concepts, including a partnership between the towns and the county. He added that there could be grant opportunities available to help purchase the boat.

When asked about gambling on the riverboat, Perlozzo said he’d mentioned it to Ocean Downs Casino.

“In my brief conversations with Ocean Downs I mentioned that to them, they are interested in the gaming aspect,” he said.

He said the boat could be used for dinner cruises, proms, special events, gaming, or other purposes.

Bertino said he applauded Perlozzo’s efforts to focus on economic development in Snow Hill and Pocomoke but didn’t think the county should buy a boat.

“I don’t think we should be in the business of owning a boat or doing anything like this although I do think we ought to be doing something on the river,” he said.

Commissioner Jim Bunting expressed similar reservations.

“If it’s worth doing a private person could do it and make money,” he said.

“I don’t see us every making a penny off it.”

Commissioner Ted Elder said he was torn on the idea.

“I lean toward private ownership of those kind of things,” he said. “Having said that towns of Pocomoke and Snow Hill both have been kind of semi neglected on some of these counts. I’d like to just see what the concept is. I wouldn’t promise you a vote later on.”

The commissioners voted 5-0, with Bunting and Bertino abstaining, to have Perlozzo continue to research the riverboat concept.

Sunfest Canceled, Smaller Event Concept Weighed

August 21, 2020

Costs Associated With New Proposal Estimated

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – As expected, resort officials this week canceled Sunfest in the traditional sense for this fall, but the jury is still out on a proposed scaleddown alternative event.

Last week, the Mayor and Council had an in-depth discussion about the fate of Sunfest in this far from usual 2020 and tabled the decision for another week to see how the crowds complied with social distancing and other directives during last weekend’s air show. The Mayor and Council last week were also introduced to a proposed alternative event for that same first weekend in October called SunLITE. The brainchild of Special Events Director Frank Miller, SunLITE would include arts and crafts vendors in a different format spread out at various outdoor venues throughout the town.

Gone would be the big tents at the Inlet lot with the live performance stage and the food tent. There would still be some activity at the Inlet lot, but many of the arts and crafts vendors would set up shop at different areas around downtown including Sunset Park and the 3rd Street park complex, for example. There was even some discussion of allowing some vendors on the concrete tram-lane portion of the Boardwalk.

The conversation renewed during Monday’s regular session. Right off the bat, Councilman Tony DeLuca made a motion to cancel the traditional Sunfest this year as expected and move forward with Miller’s creative SunLITE concept.

“I’d like to commend Frank for this out-of-the box idea,” he said. “It meets all of the public safety measures in terms of COVID and it’s a great solution.”

While there was a consensus among the elected officials to cancel Sunfest in its traditional format this year, the Mayor and Council still had many questions about the SunLITE concept. There were concerns raised about the town’s investment in the potential event. There were also questions about the town and its private sector partners being able to pull off the event in the six weeks remaining before the scheduled dates. While he couldn’t provide specifics this far out, City Manager Doug Miller said the town’s investment in SunLITE could be

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 9

An image provided by the Town of Ocean City shows where prospective vendors could be positioned downtown.

Submitted Image

in the range of $50,000 to $100,000.

“It will not be inexpensive,” he said.

“There will be internal expenses and some expenses related to marketing.

We have some hard costs related to our staff in terms of public works and the police department and some of the other departments involved. The

vendors will cover the cost of their own space.”

Councilman John Gehrig boiled down the decision to a simple question. Is the juice worth the squeeze?

Doug Miller said there are many variables, but with the time constraints and the uncertainties surrounding ven-

dor interest and the private sector’s commitment, the decision was a tough one.

“I think you’re right on the cusp,” he said. “Pulling this off will not come without a lot of effort and expense.”

Gehrig said there is a desire in the SEE NEXT PAGE

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private sector to have some sort of event in that first weekend of October, but the business community would have to be a partner to help make it happen and be successful.

“Business owners have called me and asked that we do something and not do away with it altogether,” he said.

“We’re going to need business support to make it happen because this is an extreme unknown. It’s a good idea, but we’re going to need some help. We need some help or this will flop. We have limited resources to pull this off in just 35 days.”

DeLuca agreed.

“We still need more details,” he said. “We need business support, we need commitments from the vendors, we need a lot of things. It’s going to take a team to pull this off.”

For his part, Councilman Dennis Dare pointed out most of the town’s major special events are planned for a year and despite Frank Miller’s forward thinking and best efforts, hosting the proposed SunLITE event in less than six weeks might not be a good idea.

“I don’t think six weeks is enough time to pull this off and assure success,” he said. “A lot of senior citizens still won’t be traveling in October and we’re not going to see a lot of families because the parents are going to be both working and teaching.”

Dare also addressed the town’s potential financial contribution to the hastily put together SunLITE concept during what have certainly become fiscally trying times.

“As far as the cost, it doesn’t really matter if it’s one dollar or $100,000 or more,” he said. “We have to tighten our belts. Room tax is down, the food tax is down, admissions and amusement taxes are going to be down.

We’re coming up on a time when we’re going to have to talk about defunding capital improvements, reducing infrastructure maintenance costs, a hiring freeze or perhaps furloughing employees. These are going to be hard decisions, a lot harder than whether to do a SunLITE event to salvage a weekend.”

For his part, Frank Miller said he

was only seeking marching orders from the Mayor and Council and he would do everything he could to pull off a successful SunLITE event if that was their desire. Frank Miller also acknowledged the challenges of pulling an event together in a matter of weeks.

“There is a lot of high risk with this,” he said. “We don’t know what to expect. I’m out of my comfort zone going from concept to the street in 45 days.

I wish I had all of the answers, but I don’t at this point.”

Gehrig reiterated it was going to require a total team effort including the support of the private sector business community.

“My gut is telling me it’s going to be a struggle to make this successful,” he said. “I appreciate great ideas and the power of teamwork. If they believe in it, give them two weeks and see how it looks then. Let’s see if our partners are really invested in this.”

Councilman Matt James said the time was now to make a decision on at least moving forward with the concept without making a firm decision and committing funding to the event.

He suggested Frank Miller take until the next Mayor and Council meeting to do his due diligence and come back with some answers in terms of vendor response and private sector interest in the concept along with some tighter financial information, tall tasks indeed in just two weeks.

“I think we need to give Frank some direction,” he said. “The next two weeks are very important. If he comes back and says there is not much support or not much buy-in from the business community, we can pull the plug on it before we make any real financial commitment. If he comes back and says its not a go, we can scrap it for this year.”

After considerable debate, the council voted unanimously to cancel Sunfest in the traditional sense this year.

In a separate motion, the council voted 6-1 with Dare opposed to have Frank Miller drill down on some more details, gage vendor interest and business community support and return with a recommendation.

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August 21, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 13

Suspect Arrested Twice This Summer For Credit Card Scam

Page 14

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – A Philadelphia man was arrested last week for the second time this summer for fraudulently obtaining credit card information from a victim and using the phony card to make several large purchases.

Last Friday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer fielded a complaint from a potential fraud victim who told police her credit card had been used several times at different locations in Ocean City over the previous two days. The victim told police

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

she was still in possession of the credit card and she had not been in Ocean City for two years.

The victim sent the officer a screen shot of her bank statement showing all of the charges made on it in Ocean City including various bars and restaurants, twice at an amusement park, at a liquor store and a discount store.

The largest single transaction was $221 while the smallest was $71.

The OCPD officer went to the liquor store where one of the fraudulent charges occurred and met with the store manager. The manager was able to pull up video footage of the ti-

August 21, 2020

me of the transaction and matched up the last four digits of the victim’s card.

The video showed the suspect purchasing two bottles of liquor using the credit card with the same last four digits as the card belonging to the victim.

The suspect attempted a second purchase at the liquor store, but the transaction was denied. He left the area in a blue Ford Taurus with Pennsylvania tags. The video surveillance captured the tag number and search of a data base determined it was owned by a man in Philadelphia.

Using the vehicle registration information, officers were able to determine the vehicle was owned by the father of the alleged suspect, identified as James Kofa, 29, of Philadelphia. A record check revealed Kofa had been arrested in Ocean City in June for allegedly using stolen credit card information to rent a condo in the resort for two nights. When the officer compared the booking photo from that arrest to the video surveillance at the liquor store, it was determined Kofa was the suspect.

Last Friday, the OCPD received a message from the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association (OCHMRA) concerning a credit card scam. The OCHMRA executive director told police several hotels in Ocean City had reported a male using stolen credit card information. In those incidents, the cardhold-

er’s information was contained on the magnetic strip, but the front of the card had the name James Kofa, according to police reports.

In March 2019, Kofa had been arrested in Georgia and was found in possession of a credit card reader, or skimming, device. The device allows one to use a computer program to read, erase, rewrite or encode financial card information onto magnetic strips on credit cards, gift cards or any other card that has a magnetic strip.

Around 1:25 a.m. on Sunday, an officer observed Kofa driving the Ford Taurus on Baltimore Avenue. The officer initiated a traffic stop and a search of the vehicle revealed over 100 blank credit, debit and gift cards, some of which had Kofa’s name on them. The search also revealed a credit card reader-writer encoder machine.

In the vehicle, officers found a debit card with Kofa’s name on it, but the same last four digits of the victim’s whose card had been used all over Ocean City late last week. Also in the vehicle were the two bottles of liquor from the store where the investigation began days earlier.

The investigation determined Kofa was in possession of the victim’s credit card information scanned onto a card bearing his name. He was charged with five counts of credit card fraud for last week’s spree, the same charges for which he was arrested in June.

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Boardwalk Mask Wearing Questioned While Exercising

August 21, 2020

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – The mask mandate on the Boardwalk, particularly when one is exercising, became the subject of debate and confusion, although the discussion was left open with no clear answer.

Two weeks ago, Mayor Rick Meehan issued an emergency declaration requiring a face covering on the Boardwalk between the hours of 8 a.m.-2 a.m. in conjunction with Gov. Larry Hogan’s directives requiring the same in most public areas.

However, during a rather innocuous review of last week’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee meeting, Councilman Tony DeLuca provided an update of the Mayor’s Bike Ride planned on Sept. 22 on the Boardwalk in conjunction with the “National Bike to Work” campaign during that same week. DeLuca explained it is understood face coverings are not required to be worn on the Boardwalk while exercising, although face coverings must be worn before and after the event.

DeLuca then went through the rest of his BPAC report, but Council Secretary Mary Knight wanted to revisit the Boardwalk mask issue at the end of his presentation. She asked DeLuca, City Solicitor Heather Stans-

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bury and staff for clarification because she believed the mayor’s declaration requiring the wearing of masks on the Boardwalk between 8 a.m. and 2 a.m. to include all types of activities.

“When you were talking about the mayor’s bike ride, you said they will not have to wear masks because they are exercising,” she said. “I thought the mayor just passed an emergency declaration that you have to wear a mask on the Boardwalk at all times regardless of your activity.”

DeLuca deferred to Stansbury, who explained there are exceptions in the mayor’s local declaration that follow the same directives in Hogan’s orders regarding masks in public areas.

“There are many exceptions to that declaration that follow the exceptions set forth by the governor,” she said. “One of those exceptions is engaging in an activity where the use of a face covering would likely pose a qualified safety risk. It would be up to the user or the operator of the bike to determine whether or not they felt their safety was at risk.”

For his part, DeLuca said his understanding is the Ocean City Police Department is not enforcing the mask order for those jogging, riding bikes or otherwise exercising.

“I was up there last week and I ask-

ed every police officer, and to a person, they all said when you’re exercising, jogging or riding a bike on the Boardwalk, you don’t need a face mask on the Boardwalk,” he said.

Stansbury said the declaration left open some gray areas in terms of exercising that individuals must decide on their own.

“It’s up to an individual to decide if any of the exceptions apply to them,” she said. “Of course, we hope for voluntary compliance and we hope people will use good judgment, but that’s what it says.”

Councilman John Gehrig pointed out what appears to be an obvious contradiction in the mask requirement when one is just walking along the Boardwalk and another is getting in a work out.

“Basically, if you’re walking normally and breathing through your nose while wearing a mask, you have to have it,” he said. “If you’re exercising and breathing hard with your mouth open and spewing spit and sweat everywhere, you don’t need a mask.”

Meehan, who crafted the local declaration in conjunction with the governor’s directives, agreed with Gehrig’s assessment and said the exercise exemption was never the intent.

“I don’t agree with that interpretation of the mask requirement on the Boardwalk,” he said. “I think Council-

Page 15

man Gehrig’s comment was right on the money. If you’re up there walking hard or working out on the Boardwalk and everyone else is wearing a mask and you’re not, then you’re the one spewing everything in the air.”

Meehan said after discussion with the council prior to the Boardwalk mask declaration, the hours of 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. were chosen for that reason.

“That’s why we didn’t put it into effect until 8 a.m. because it was said there are many people that jog or exercise early in the morning,” he said.

“Otherwise, I think it defeats the purpose and that’s not what I intended. I think masks need to be worn on the Boardwalk between 8 a.m. and 2 a.m. period.”

Gehrig said the public is generally divided on the mask issue and that there may be no right or wrong answer.

“I think the people that wear a mask all the time are right, but I also think those who think masks are overrated are probably right too,” he said. “If people are jogging through a crowd without a mask, they might be a higher risk to those around them. Maybe we allow exercise on the Boardwalk without a mask later in the morning. Maybe it’s noon so everybody can get out there and get their workout in before lunchtime when the crowds start getting bigger.”

Page 16

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 21, 2020

August 21, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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Boardwalk Hotel Redevelopment Plans Clear Commission

Page 18

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 21, 2020

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Another landmark Boardwalk hotel dating back nearly a century is being replaced with a modern version, but it appears the redevelopment project has captured the spirit of the original.

The Ocean City Planning Commission on Tuesday reviewed and approved a revised site plan for the redevelopment of the Lankford Hotel and associated properties along the Boardwalk between 8th Street and 9th Street. The Lankford was built in 1924

by Mary B. Quillen and has remained in the same family for nearly a century.

Over the years, various apartment buildings were added around the original hotel, creating a lodging complex in the same block enjoyed by generations of vacationers. In 2013, the Lankford Hotel was featured in the popular Travel Channel show Hotel Impossible and got a makeover of sorts, but now the original is coming down and will be replaced with a modern version.

An image depicting the completed Lankford Hotel reconstruction project is pictured.

Rendering by Fisher Architecture

Over the years, many of the old classic Boardwalk hotels have been torn down and replaced with modern lodging establishments, but not all have captured the essence of the tra-

ditional downtown area as successfully as others. The site plans presented to the planning commission on Tuesday and the renderings prepared by Fisher Architecture appear

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to embrace that spirit.

The plan calls for a new mixed-use hotel and commercial redevelopment including 76 guest rooms, two guest suites, 10 employee housing beds, a meeting room and two retail tenant spaces facing the Boardwalk on the elevated first floor. The plans also include an indoor pool and outdoor pool along with a fitness center and other common areas.

Planning and Community Development Director Bill Neville presented the site plan and told the planning commissioners it met the various parking and other requirements for redevelopment. Perhaps most importantly, Neville said the design is in keeping with the downtown area and classic Boardwalk hotel style.

“Language in the comprehensive plan seeks to protect the character of the downtown area,” he said. “This project started with an architectural style that we felt met the character of the Boardwalk hotels. There has been an effort to replicate some of that feeling with this building. Some of the modern hotels don’t have the same historic detailing.”

When the Lankford redevelopment plans went before the Board of Zoning Appeals, the frontage facing the Boardwalk include a relatively high deck that extended to the Boardwalk, but the site’s neighbors to the north voiced concern the vast deck and porch area obstructed the view from the Boardwalk of their commercial units. As a result, an agreement was reached between the parties to redesign the project’s frontage along the Boardwalk.

The new design features low planters and landscaping behind a short wall along the Boardwalk. Behind those planters will be a row of rocking chairs and finally an elevated deck.

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Busy Sunday For Fire Department

August 21, 2020

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City Fire Department had a busy day on Sunday with a fire at a downtown hotel in the afternoon and another at a residence later that evening.

Around 2:30 p.m. last Sunday, the Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD) responded to a fire alarm activation at the Stowaway Grand Hotel on 22nd Street. First-arriving firefighters located the hotel’s alarm panel and determined the source of the activation was on the fifth floor. Four OCFD firefighters operating in groups of two made their way to the fifth floor from inside the building and found a smoke and fire condition in an electrical closet.

OCFD spokesman Ryan Whittington said crews were able to put out that fire with dry chemical extinguishers and that firefighters wouldn’t use water in a fire of that type because it was electrical in nature. With that situation well in hand, Whittington said while on the fifth floor, firefighters were alerted to another potential fire on the sixth floor above.

The crews made their way to the sixth floor and found an active fire and smoke conditions. As firefighters were preparing to tackle that blaze, the hotel’s sprinkler system activated and put out the fire.

The entire situation was brought under control around 3:40 p.m. on Sunday, or a little over an hour after the first alarm activation. Whittington said the protocol for the fire department in that case was to send the high-rise package, which includes larger apparatus and equipment.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

“Because the Stowaway Grand is considered a high-rise in terms of the number of floors, there are certain things we have to do,” he said. “We actually deployed our high-rise package, which includes the ladder trucks and larger apparatus equipped with a larger amount of hose and larger caliber hoses.”

Hundreds of hotel guests were evacuated during the incident, resulting in some quick thinking by the command staff.

“Battalion Chief David Peterson had command and he requested a city bus,” said Whittington. “There were hundreds of guests milling around and waiting to get back in, and having the bus there provided a place for them to sit down and relax in the air conditioning.”

Whittington said the fire department’s protocols and training prevented what could have been a much more serious situation.

“Everything worked like it should have,” he said. “To our guys’ credit, they really saved the building from much more damage.”

Hours later, the OCFD responded to another residential fire at a condominium on Trimper Avenue, according to Whittington.

“We arrived and found a heavy smoke condition on the first floor,” he said.

“Crews made their way to the third floor and found a basket of blankets and other materials in a storage closet too close to a heat source and it combusted. We believe a light bulb might have started the fire, but it is still under investigation.

In that incident, the condo’s sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire.”

… Redesign Meets Neighbor’s Concerns

represented the Lankford owners.

“This plan was adjusted to appease the neighbors to the north,” he said. “The only ramp is at the south end of the property and it ramps up to a higher deck that has become a porch. Planters are the only thing at the Boardwalk level. What we have done is essentially create a terrace with landscaping and rocking chairs in the traditional character of Boardwalk hotels.”

When asked what had caused the original dispute with the neighbors, Moore explained there were concerns raised with the deck obstructing the views, but those issues had been resolved just a day prior to Tuesday’s site plan review with the planning commission.

“The original problem was the detriment to the view of the commercial areas at the Paradise Plaza,” he said.

“This redesign meets the goals of the redevelopment while accommodating our neighbors.”

Attorney Pete Cosby, representing the interests to the north, agreed an accommodation had been reached.

“Everybody was very reasonable in this process after a rocky start,” he said. “We reached an understanding about that plan and what has been presented tonight is representative of that agreement. We’re happily in agreement.”

Satisfied the conditions had been met and the neighbors’ concerns were allayed, the planning commission approved the redevelopment site plans.

Planning commission chair Pam Buckley said the changes actually improved the design.

“I think it ended up being a much better plan,” she said. “It’s much more user-friendly.”

Planning Commissioner Lauren Taylor gushed over the plan’s ability to capture the essence of the classic Boardwalk hotels.

“I think it’s beautiful,” she said. “I think it really captures the spirit of old Ocean City. It reminds me of a lot of the older hotels with planters and the rocking chairs. Sitting on that elevated porch and looking across the Boardwalk and the beach is just a lovely experience.”

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Updates To Worcester Schools’ Return Plan Discussed

Page 20

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

NEWARK – Education officials reviewed plans for a return to school with the Worcester County Board of Education this week.

After unveiling the “Responsible Return” model earlier this summer, Superintendent Lou Taylor provided the school board with an update on plans for students to return to school at Tuesday’s meeting.

“Much of it is still the same but much has changed,” Taylor said. “It’s very important the board has the information related to this as we begin the school year in September.”

Taylor said the plan, which had to be submitted to the state last week, had been condensed from an original five

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

areas of focus to three areas — instructional program, operations and safety and communication. The school system has a four-stage instructional program.

The school year will begin in stage one, distance learning, but officials hope to enter stage two, which would bring small groups of students into schools, on Sept. 28. Stage three would have all students in school but on an alternating week model, while stage four would be face-to-face learning.

Dee Shorts, chief academic officer for prekindergarten through eighth grade, said that when the school system entered stage two students with academic, social-emotional, connectivity or attendance concerns would be able to return to school buildings.

“The principals are looking at a variety of indicators to determine which stu-

August 21, 2020

Worcester County Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor is pictured speaking to new teachers at an orientation on Tuesday.

Submitted Photo

dents to bring back,” she said.

She added that attendance and grading policies would be in place for all stu-

dents during distance learning, which will start on Sept. 8. She said half-day students, such as those in prekindergarten, could expect to have two hours of attendance a day during distance learning. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade will have fours hours a day while older students will have six hours of learning a day.

As far as operations and safety, officials told the school board Tuesday the updated “Responsible Return” model more accurately defined the processes in place regarding water fountains (which will be closed) and procedures for nurse’s stations (which will include an isolation area).

Carrie Sterrs, the school system’s coordinator of public relations and special programs, said stakeholder input had been a key part of developing the return model. She said the transportation survey had received 2,924 responses and had revealed that 62.9% of families were comfortable with school bus transportation. There were 1,049 responses to the continuity of learning survey regarding online learning in the spring.

More than 64% of respondents reported favorably about their child’s overall experience.

Sterrs said the full community survey regarding the return model had received 3,171 responses and showed that 68.2% of stakeholders were “neutral,” “satisfied,” or “extremely satisfied” with the return model.

“With the changes we’ve made I assume that number would be much higher now,” she said.

Taylor told the board the return model would be reviewed daily as the school year began.

“This is a living document,” he said.

In his welcome letter to families on the return plan, Taylor hit a similar note, writing, “I want to stress to you that this model is a living document, as we recognize the need to be flexible and agile, shifting our approach as conditions change. We ask for your continued patience and understanding as we try to make the best decisions possible during these seemingly impossible circumstances.”

To see the whole plan, visit the school system’s website, www.worcesterk12.org.

August 21, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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County Eyes Branding Campaign To Provide ‘A Little Sizzle’

Page 22

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – A new branding campaign would promote Worcester County as “Maryland’s Coast.”

The Worcester County Commissioners Tuesday unanimously gave conceptual approval to plans for a branding campaign that highlights the county’s position as Maryland’s coast. The approval came despite initial concerns that the logo brought to mind Ocean City but not the rest of Worcester County.

“My position is I feel like I can go out and get something done…,” said Tom Perlozzo, the county’s director of recreation and parks, tourism and economic development. “We want to find the Harris Teeters, we want the Bass Pro Shops. I want the 90-room independent hotel to come here. I need sales collateral that makes sense. We just started that process.”

Perlozzo said his departments had spent the last six months working to find opportunities to promote Worcester County, particularly in the area of tourism.

“In December, I asked myself about the county and how I could make a difference in my new role,” Perlozzo said. “One item that became blatantly obvious was the apparent need for a unified cohesive identity to make us more competitive in the marketplace.”

He engaged Choptank Communica-

Worcester County is looking to brand itself with a new logo for tourism.

Submitted Image

tion to help develop a marketing identity.

“Our goal here was really to identify and explore a unique position,” Choptank Communications’ Andrea Vernot said. “The purpose of place branding, it’s so much more than a logo. This is not a logo. This is strategic planning. We’re trying to identify what makes Worcester unique. A brand, a place brand, allows you to think about how to identify and harness your unique strengths. How to leverage your assets.”

Vernot said she met with community members and talked about what made the county special. With their input, she came up with the “Maryland’s Coast” logo and said it could be enhanced with a tagline such as “Naturally Cool.”

“This gives you that platform to strengthen Worcester’s reputation as a year-round destination,” she said. “It inspires interest.”

Commissioner Chip Bertino said he

liked the idea of giving the county an identity but thought that the word “coast” conjured an image of Ocean City.

“It doesn’t conjure up the rest of the county,” he said.

Perlozzo said that the citizens interviewed as the logo was being developed always said they lived “at the beach” no matter where in Worcester they lived.

“The point was Worcester County is the only county that has a coastline in Maryland,” he said. “It’s easily identifiable.”

He added that he wanted Worcester County to be able to compete with other jurisdictions.

“We’ve got an exciting place we need to figure out to go out and sell it,” he said. “That’s going to be our job, my job.

I think that with a little sizzle, which we’ve got, it gets us going in the right direction.”

Commissioner Bud Church said he liked how the concept focused on the coast.

“That’s what it’s all about,” he said.

“That the hub of why people come here.”

Bertino said Ocean City was already promoting itself and asked how the proposed campaign supported the rest of the county.

“Our ultimate goal, because we don’t have the funds to do the things we need to do in advertising, is we do need to take advantage of the buying power that Ocean City has,” he said. “When they have a $6.5 million budget for advertis-

August 21, 2020

ing, we’ve got, if we’re lucky $600,000.

From that perspective there’s a lot of different ways we can react creatively with Ocean City identifying itself being on Maryland’s coast.”

Perlozzo said the county would work with each of its towns on promotion to bring in some of the hundreds of thousands of people who passed through Worcester County on Route 113.

“We don’t want tour buses in Ocean Pines,” Bertino said.

Commissioner Diana Purnell said she liked the proposal.

“Ocean City’s going to draw the people anyway so we might as well have something to say,” she said.

Commissioner Jim Bunting said he hoped the campaign would include offseason promotion. He said he shared some of Bertino’s concerns.

“Ocean City is really doing a fantastic job with their advertising, they don’t need any more help,” he said. “We need to get it out into the county.”

Commissioner Ted Elder pointed out the word “coast” could be used as a verb as well.

“You could play off that word, coast on down to Snow Hill to the river, coast on down to Pocomoke,” he said.

Perlozzo, who said the county was also developing a “Go Coastal” app, assured the commissioners he would take their thoughts into consideration going forward.

August 21, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 23

Cops & Courts The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 24

Charges In Choking Incident OCEAN CITY – A Frederick, Md., man was arrested on first-degree assault charges last weekend after allegedly choking his girlfriend to the point she blacked out during a domestic incident.

Around 8:25 a.m. last Sunday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer responded to an apartment building on 11th Street for a reported assault. Upon arrival, the OCPD officer observed a man, later identified as Brandon Shores, 47, of Frederick, Md., standing next to a vehicle and flagging him down. A female was sitting in the passenger seat.

OCPD officers interviewed the couple separately. According to police reports, the female victim had abrasions on her arm and redness around her throat and neck. The victim told police the couple had an argument the day before and she left the apartment in which they were staying. When the victim got a text message from Shores the next morning saying the doors were unlocked, she returned to the unit, according to police re-

ports.

When she came back to the apartment, the victim went into the bathroom and Shores reportedly followed her, pushing his forearm against her throat and pinning her against a wall.

The victim was able to briefly get away from Shores, but fell into the shower where Shores advanced on her again, according to police reports.

The victim told police she blacked out during the assault. According to police reports, OCPD officers looked closely at the red marks on the victim’s neck and determined they were consistent with her story. Ocean City EMS

evaluated the victim’s injuries and told the officers they were consistent with her being strangled.

At that point, Shores was arrested and charged with first-degree assault.

OCPD officers asked the victim if Shores had access to any firearms. The victim told the police Shores did have access to firearms and according to police reports she said Shores threatened to commit suicide in front of her and her children.

Boardwalk Assault Arrest OCEAN CITY – A Catonsville, Md., man was arrested on multiple assault

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August 21, 2020 charges last week after allegedly hitting random people on the Boardwalk.

Around 10 p.m. last Friday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to a Boardwalk hotel at 22nd Street for a reported fight in progress. Upon arrival, OCPD officers located one of the alleged combatants, identified as Kevin Velasquez, 29, of Catonsville, Md., who was told to sit on a brick wall adjacent to the hotel while officers interviewed another individual involved in the fight.

While officers were interviewing the other individual, Velasquez repeatedly attempted to come up behind them and interfere with the investigation, according to police reports. Velasquez reportedly showed signs of intoxication during his interactions with police. While police were interacting with Velasquez, they were reportedly flagged down by a woman with a small child.

The woman told police the child belonged to Velasquez and that she had taken the child away during the fight to protect it. Upon seeing his child, Velasquez screamed at the woman she had no business with his child and that she should have never touched the child, according to police reports. A couple on a first-floor balcony told the officers they were shocked at how Velasquez was treating the woman, who had only been looking out for the child’s well-being.

At that point, Velasquez reportedly said, “I am done with this,” and attempted to enter the hotel, but his attempt was blocked by hotel security. OCPD officers escorted Velasquez away from the hotel and back to the Boardwalk. Velasquez then picked up his child and ran down the Boardwalk, screaming, “they’re going to kill me,” and “just kill me already,” according to police reports.

When OCPD officers attempted to arrest Velasquez, he reportedly laid down on the Boardwalk and refused to stand up, despite being told to do so at least three times. It took two officers to physically pick up Velasquez from the Boardwalk in order to take him into custody. Velasquez then began to yell his injuries were caused by the police officers assaulting him and that he wanted to go to the hospital.

OCPD officers sat Velasquez on a curb to wait for Ocean City EMS to arrive. When EMS arrived, Velasquez reportedly rolled over on his stomach and refused treatment. During the follow-up investigation, OCPD officers interviewed a hotel security staffer who advised Velasquez was walking on the Boardwalk in front of the hotel and had assaulted multiple people.

While OCPD officers were talking to the hotel security guard, two individuals approached them and claimed to have been assaulted by Velasquez. One victim told police Velasquez had hit her in the arm with an open hand, leaving a red mark on her arm. Another victim told police Velasquez had approached him and punched him in the face, breaking his eyeglasses in the process.

Charges For Multiple Flashes OCEAN CITY – A Salisbury man was SEE NEXT PAGE

... Cops & Courts

August 21, 2020

arrested on multiple counts of indecent exposure last week after allegedly flashing resort police officers on two separate occasions and later urinating and defecating in his holding cell.

Around 4:10 a.m. last Wednesday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers were dispatched to the area of 6th Street and St. Louis Avenue for a welfare check on a male acting strangely. An OCPD female public safety aide (PSA) sitting stationary in a marked police vehicle at 3rd Street and St. Louis Avenue had observed the suspect, later identified as Fietroy Satoute, 21, of Salisbury, walking north on the sidewalk wearing only a T-shirt, socks and sandles.

When Satoute walked past the PSA, he allegedly lifted his shirt, exposing his genitals and continued to walk north on the sidewalk. When the OCPD officer arrived, he observed Satoute walking north on the sidewalk at 6th Street. When the officer asked Satoute if he was wearing any undergarments under the T-shirt, he reportedly said “nope,” and lifted his shirt and exposed his genitals to the officer.

At that point, Satoute was arrested for indecent exposure. While Satoute was in a holding cell at the Public Safety Building, he reportedly urinated all over the walls, requiring booking personnel to use extra precautions when interacting with him. A short time later, Satoute allegedly defecated all over the floor of

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch his cell and kicked it out into the hallway through the crack under the door.

Scrapping With Cops OCEAN CITY – A Pennsylvania man was arrested last weekend after allegedly scrapping with resort police outside a downtown nightclub at closing time.

Around 2 a.m. last Sunday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers were assisting security staff with dispersing a crowd leaving a nightclub at 17th Street. OCPD officers were attempting to move crowds of people along who were blocking the sidewalk and forcing other pedestrians to walk in the roadway where vehicles were traveling.

While OCPD officers observed, bar security was trying to disperse one particular group of males and get them to keep moving when one member of the group, later identified as Kevin Simms, 29, of Long Pond, Pa., got in the face of one of the security staffers and screamed obscenities at him, according to police reports.

An OCPD officer walked over to the area and told Simms and his group they had to leave and not block the sidewalk.

Simms then turned his diatribe on the officer, screaming “get out of my [expletive deleted] face,” according to police reports. Simms’ friends attempted to pull him away from the officer, who continued to order Simms to lower his voice and just leave the area.

According to police reports, Simms tried to get away from the scene and friends physically dragged him away, but

Simms continued to flail and attempt to get back at the police officer and the bar security staffers. He reportedly continued to scream obscenities and swung his arms, hitting pedestrians attempting to walk by.

The OCPD officer walked toward Simms in an attempt to take him into custody and he reportedly yelled “if you [expletive deleted] touch me, I will [expletive deleted] knock you out,” according to police reports. Simms reportedly balled his hands into fists and took a fighting stance toward the officer.

The OCPD officer pulled out his Taser, turned it on and pointed it at Simms and advised him he was under arrest.

When Simms did not comply, OCPD officers tackled him to the ground, but

Page 25 he continued to resist, according to police reports. Simms rolled over on his stomach and would not allow OCPD to handcuff him.

OCPD officers were finally able to get Simms in handcuffs, but he allegedly continued to resist, kicking an officer at one point during the altercation. When officers were attempting to escort Simms to the transport van, he continued to resist by twisting his body and refusing to walk.

At one point, an officer felt a tugging at his waist and observed Simms reportedly had both of his hands on the grip of the officer’s taser in an attempt to remove the weapon from its holster. Simms was charged with numerous counts including assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

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Event Provides Update On County COVID-19 Testing

Page 26

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 21, 2020

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

WEST OCEAN CITY – Local officials are encouraging people to do their part and wear a mask as COVID-19 education, prevention and testing efforts continue.

In a media conference held at the West Ocean City Park and Ride Wednesday, local officials provided an update on COVID-19 prevention, testing, and contact tracing efforts throughout Worcester County.

To date, the Worcester County Health Department had processed more than 3,300 COVID-19 tests since the launch of its testing locations at the Pocomoke Health Center and the Park and Ride, representing more than a quarter of all tests conducted throughout the county, according to Health Officer Rebecca Jones.

“To date, we’ve monitored more than 1,500 isolation and quarantine cases,” she said. “Our monitoring team, made up of staff from all of our departments, are working diligently days, nights and weekends to assist residents who are in isolation, keeping track of their symptoms and providing assistance in the form of deliveries when needed.”

Jones recognized the health department’s partnerships with Atlantic General Hospital (AGH) and the Town of Ocean City to provide testing at both the

Pictured, from left, are AGH President/CEO Michael Franklin, Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan, Worcester County Health Officer Rebecca Jones, Worcester County Commission President Joe Mitrecic and State Senator Mary Beth Carozza.

Photo by Bethany Hooper

north and south ends of the county, as well as partnerships with the state to coordinate testing clinics at the Ocean City convention center throughout the summer. She also commended health department staff for assisting at testing sites, joining monitoring teams and helping at the agency’s call center when needed.

“We can’t be more proud of the dedication of our staff, helping the community during this difficult time,” she said.

“Here in Worcester, we always say it

takes a village when it comes to supporting the health of our residents and visitors.”

Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan applauded the team effort of local agencies.

“The last few years I’ve used the catch phrase ‘Every year we need to expect the unexpected,’” he said. “Well whoever would have expected COVID19? This far exceeds anything that we ever envisioned, or any problem we would have to address. But by working

together and organizing ourselves, I think we’ve been able to at least handle this situation in a very professional way to be able to limit exposure to our residents and visitors.”

Meehan noted both residents and visitors should remain vigilant as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. He encouraged people to follow the orders put in place by state and local governments and to wear a mask.

“It’s a very difficult time and it’s tough SEE NEXT PAGE

… Free Testing Sites Offered Every Week

August 21, 2020

sometimes to get everybody to comply,” he said. “But the more people that think not about themselves but about others, the more successful we will be in moving Maryland forward.”

Officials this week noted their efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 in recent months. In March, for example, Meehan closed the beach and Boardwalk and urged visitors to stay away from Ocean City. In April, Worcester County followed the resort’s lead by restricting non-essential short-term rentals.

“It kept people from bringing it to Worcester County and spreading it. It also allowed us to keep our hospitals free for Worcester County residents in case they needed it,” Joe Mitrecic, president of the Worcester County Commissioners, said this week. “The success of our close alliances is in the evidence of our county’s increased testing capacity and continued low transmission rates.”

AGH President/CEO Michael Franklin said the hospital opened its first testing site at the Townsend Medical Center in March. To date, the hospital has conducted more than 1,700 COVID-19 tests at that one location. He added the facility has worked with both state and local partners to assist with drive-thru testing locations, staffing and the distribution of personal protective equipment, which has prevented the transmission of the virus.

“It’s all about the community and how the community works together,” he said.

“One of the key successes coming out of this COVID crisis is the fact that the COVID-19 problem has accelerated the mindset that health and safety is everybody’s responsibility.”

On Wednesday, the Worcester County Health Department partnered with the Maryland Department of Health to distribute free masks at the West Ocean City Park and Ride, complementing a regularly scheduled COVID-19 testing event at the site.

State Sen. Mary Beth Carozza said the “#MasksOnMaryland” campaign demonstrates the importance of partnerships and cooperation.

“None of us today would have thought we’d be spending our August at this event with masks on at the Park and Ride in West Ocean City,” she said.

“But here we are because together, with strong partners and with the people we have in place, we are going to be on the road to the COVID-19 recovery.”

Free testing sites are available at the Pocomoke Health Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and at the West Ocean City Park and Ride on Mondays and Wednesdays between 8:30 a.m. and noon. Patients do not need to exhibit symptoms or suspect exposure in order to be tested. A doctor’s order is not required to get tested, but appointments are required.

A COVID-19 testing event will also take place Aug. 21 and Aug. 22 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City.

To schedule an appointment, call 410-632-1100 and select option 8.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 27

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Survey Finds 12,000-Plus Horseshoe Crabs In Watershed

Page 28

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – A 2020 survey by the Maryland Coastal Bays Program resulted in the count of more than 12,000 horseshoe crabs in local waters.

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) partnered with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and local volunteers to complete a horseshoe crab survey from mid-May to early July. A total of 12,228 horseshoe crabs were counted.

“We usually do not have any expectations for the surveys since the horseshoe crab counts can vary significantly from year to year, however we always hope that we will record high counts,” said Carly Toulan, a MCBP environmental scientist. “This year’s count was twice the amount last year, however it was

right around the average count when compared to previous years data.”

She said MCBP conducted four different phases of assessments to count horseshoe crabs between mid-May and early July. Each phase consists of two different surveying times and dates, so crabs are counted a total of eight nights.

“We have a handful of wonderful volunteers who cover three out of the five surveying locations, which are Sunset Island, Homer Gudelsky Park, and the Oceanic Motel,” Toulan said.

She said MCBP and DNR surveyed Assateague and Skimmer Island, since those are protected areas and only accessible by boat. During the survey, staff and volunteers count and record all horseshoe crabs within a 1 meter transect, extending into the water 1 meter from the high tide line.

“On the data sheet we record the

August 21, 2020

number of live male and female horseshoe crabs as well as the number of dead male and female horseshoe crabs,” she said.

MCBP also conducts an annual terrapin survey, which takes place the week after Memorial Day weekend.

This year’s survey counted 369 diamondback terrapins. While that number is lower than it has been in years past, Toulan attributes that to weather and COVID-19 concerns. She explained that MCBP had intended to cancel the survey because of COVID-19 guidance, but when the state relaxed restrictions on field work staff decided to go ahead with it.

“Since we decided last minute to conduct the survey, we were unable to reach out to as many volunteers,” Toulan said. “This reduced the number of volunteers for the survey, thus reducing

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the number of surveys conducted and terrapin counts. Although the numbers are lower than normal, the data is still valuable and can help us determine what areas in the bays terrapins are inhabiting.”

To count the turtles, staff and volunteers conduct water- and land-based surveys.

“For the land-based surveys, volunteers choose a point on land by the water and conduct three separate surveys at that location with each lasting 15 minutes,” she said. “During the 15 minutes, volunteers will count the number of terrapins they spot both on land and in the water.”

For the water-based surveys, staff and volunteers use kayaks, paddleboards, canoes and boats to spot terrapins.

Toulan said the horseshoe crab and terrapin counts were important for various reasons.

“These surveys not only provide insight on population trends, but they also allow us to see where these species are spawning, mating, and living,” she said.

“Knowing where the hot spot locations are for these species allows MCBP and partners like DNR to allocate resources and funds to conserve, restore, and protect these locations. MCBP monitors numerous species and overall biodiversity at both current and future restoration sites through seining, fish sampling, surveying, and other scientific methods.”

August 21, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 29

A Boardwalk Tradition For Generations Of Visitors

Page 30

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

(Editor’s Note: The following story is part of a series on long-running, familyowned Boardwalk businesses.)

OCEAN CITY – Tradition.

It’s the reason visitors flock to Thrasher’s French Fries year after year, according to General Manager Les Morris.

“You hear it all the time. They say, ‘When we come to Ocean City, the first thing we have to do is get Thrasher’s,’” he said. “I’ve watched generations of families come up here. You remember when they were little kids, and now they are coming and bringing their kids.”

Morris has spent the past 44 years working at Thrasher’s. But the business’s history goes back decades further.

In 1929, J.T. Thrasher opened Thr-

The original Thrasher’s French Fries owners were Mr. and Mrs. Jodie Thrasher, pictured around 1940.

Submitted Photo

asher’s French Fries, a food stand concession that used high-quality ingredients to craft the perfect cup of French fries.

“It was right here in the Pier Building,” Morris said. “But the original location was different. It was more toward the center.”

But when the owner’s health began to decline, he sold Thrasher’s to Ocean City businessman Franklin Hastings, who moved the operation to its current corner location.

Following his death in 1974, Charles “Buddy” Jenkins purchased Thrasher’s.

The business has operated under his ownership ever since.

“When Mr. Jenkins got it, that’s when it took off,” Morris said. “We expanded to three stores in Ocean City.”

Morris began working at Thrasher’s in 1977. And under Jenkins’s ownership, he was promoted to general manager in the early 1980s.

Morris admitted that many things have changed since that time. When he first started working, he recalled a small portion of French fries costing 75 cents, and business operating daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. “Now we’ll stay every day until the first of November, and I’ll reopen the first of April,” he said. “The last several years in March, I’ve only missed five or six days. It really feels like a year-round resort now.”

August 21, 2020

“You hear it all the time. They say, ‘When we come to Ocean City, the first thing we have to do is get Thrasher’s. I’ve watched generations of families come up here. You remember when they were little kids, and now they are coming and bringing their kids,” said Thrasher’s French Fries General Manager Les Morris.

Photo by Bethany Hooper

Morris noted, however, that some things remain the same. Thrasher’s continues to attract a line of customers throughout the summer, and its recipe remains unchanged.

“We cut the potatoes the same size and we use peanut oil,” he said. “That’s the key, we’ve never strayed from that.

It’s 100% peanut oil and fresh potatoes.”

Morris noted that Thrasher’s uses more than 4,000 pounds of potatoes

each day. Most spuds are brought in from Idaho.

“We usually get a truck load every week, and that truck carries 42,000 pounds of potatoes,” he said. “We roll them through all summer.”

While the recipe remains unaltered, Morris said certain aspects of the business have improved. Just last winter, for example, Thrasher’s underwent a 12week renovation to replace aging equipment, remove a dividing wall and add another cashier station, among other things.

The business has also expanded over the years to include two additional locations – one at 2nd Street and another at 8th Street.

“It’s hard to run a place …,” Morris said. “You really need good people.

And that’s been the key here. We’ve had some really good people.”

But that doesn’t mean Thrasher’s hasn’t experienced its share of challenges, Morris noted. He pointed to previous storm events, as well as recent staffing troubles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Who would have guessed in a thousand years what we were going to put up with this summer …,” he said.

“We’ve had to have twice as many employees to cover the same shifts.”

Morris added that the business had to quickly adapt to social distancing and safety protocols. In the spring, Thrasher’s installed Plexiglas barriers and social distancing stickers and introduced vinegar pumps and individual salt packets.

“We ended up being a poster child for how to run business,” he said. “We were trying to follow guidelines nobody really gave us. We had done it ourselves.”

Despite recent challenges, Morris said business has remained steady.

He attributed Thrasher’s’ success to operational improvements and an unwavering commitment to serving up the best French fries.

“It’s the same thing,” he said. “The same potatoes, same ingredients, just more modern ways of doing things.”

Fenwick Sidewalk Estimate Gives Officials Sticker Shock

August 21, 2020

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – Town officials will continue to seek funding opportunities for a sidewalk construction project after receiving a high cost estimate.

In a meeting of the Fenwick Island Pedestrian Safety Committee last Thursday, members received a cost estimate from Century Engineering for the first phase of a sidewalk construction project.

“They’ve been working with us, and they’ve already surveyed the six blocks that we’ve looked at,” Councilwoman Vicki Carmean, committee chair, said. “We got a cost estimate, and we were thinking like $50,000 per block. I hate to even put the number out, but it’s closer to $700,000 for the six blocks.”

Last year, Fenwick Island received $250,000 from the state bond bill to begin the first phase of its sidewalk construction project, which included the six bayside blocks south of James Street.

Instead of pursuing a state-led sidewalk project – which had a cost estimate of roughly $10 million – town officials decided to handle the first phase of the project themselves and worked alongside state legislators to secure the bond bill funding.

With roughly $100,000 of that money, the town hired Century Engineering.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

$700,000 For Six-Block Project

Now, officials say the town would have to seek additional funding sources to complete the first phase.

“I don’t like what it costs, but I don’t know what other choice we have,” Councilman Richard Mais said.

Officials have already reached out to Representative Ron Gray and Senator Gerald Hocker for assistance in seeking grant money.

“This is a state highway that runs through the town, and all the other beach towns that have a state highway running through their town have acquired state monies to handle the sidewalks,” Carmean said. “I don’t mind committing to maintaining the sidewalks once we get them, but I really don’t like the idea of borrowing money and having the taxpayers here in town fund the sidewalks.”

Carmean noted the town was ready to move forward with the first phase, but funding challenges have since hampered its progress.

Councilman Bill Weistling also noted that the town had moved down the Delaware Department of Transportation’s priority list for capital projects to be completed in the next five years.

“Last year, Fenwick Island was 13th on the list. Now this year’s we’re 26th

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…,” he said. “If you look at the 113 projects in the five years, out of all those projects there’s only one sidewalk project throughout the state of Delaware on that list, and that’s us.”

Carmean said the only option for the town is to move forward with the project and spend the funds that have been committed to Fenwick Island in the state bond bill. In the coming weeks, for example, officials will meet with eight

Page 31

commercial property owners to talk about how the first phase would impact their properties.

“If we got it, we’ll spend it until we run out of money,” she said. “But my feeling is I don’t want to ask the taxpayers to take out a loan for something that the state should be funding.”

Carmean said the town would continue to explore grant programs for the construction project.

“We’re shovel ready, we’re ready to go, we just need the funds …” she said.

“There’s no way we’re going to start this fall.”

Page 32

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 21, 2020

August 21, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 33

Holloway Withdraws From Executive Consideration Boardwalk To Host

Page 34

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

SALISBURY – Three people will now vie for the vacant county executive position after Councilman Joe Holloway withdrew his name this week.

On Tuesday, Holloway – who represents District 5 on the Wicomico County Council – removed his name as a candidate for Wicomico County executive, a position held by Bob Culver until his death last month.

“At his request, legal research was done to determine whether the Council could vote for Mr. Holloway as a sitting councilmember for this position,” a statement from the county council office reads. “The County Attorney and Council Attorney researched this matter and, according to Maryland case law and an Attorney General’s opinion, it was determined that his fellow council members would not be able to vote for him to be County Executive. Councilman Holloway thanks everyone for their support in this matter and looks forward to working with a new County Executive.”

With Holloway’s name withdrawn,

the three remaining applicants – state Del. Carl Anderton, Salisbury physician Rene Desmarais and former County Finance Director Michele Ennis – moved forward with the interview process Thursday in a special legislative session held too late to be included in this edition.

There is a possibility that the county council could appoint a new county executive that evening, but the legislative body has until Sept. 9 to fill the vacancy.

On July 26, Culver, age 67, passed away after a months-long battle with liver cancer. Since that time, Director of Administration John Psota has served as acting county executive.

The county charter states that when a vacancy in the office of county executive occurs after the first 12 months of a term, the position must be filled by resolution with a majority vote of the county council within 45 days after the vacancy occurs.

To that end, the council began seeking applicants late last month to serve the remainder of Culver’s four-year term.

As Culver was a Republican, the ap-

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Anderton – the District 38B representative in the Maryland House of Delegates – served as the mayor of Delmar from 2011 until his election as state delegate in 2014. He also served as president of the Maryland Municipal League from 2013 to 2014.

Ennis was appointed by Culver to be the county’s finance director in 2019, but her appointment was rejected by the county council last June. She continued to serve in that position for more than a year, causing contention between the legislative and executive branches. Prior to her appointment, Ennis served as the county’s human resources director.

Desmarais, a physician with Peninsula Cardiology Associates, ran unsuccessfully against four other Republican primary candidates in 2014 for the District 37B seat in the Maryland House of Delegates. He graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in 1987 and completed his residency at Francis Scott Key Medical Center in Baltimore.

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Mayor’s Bike Ride

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

OCEAN CITY – A Mayor’s Bike Ride will take place along the Boardwalk next month.

In a meeting of the Ocean City Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) last week, committee liaison and Councilman Tony DeLuca outlined plans for a Mayor’s Bike Ride on the Boardwalk.

The event, originally scheduled for May 1, was postponed earlier this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bike ride will now take place Sept.

22 at 10 a.m.

“So at 10 a.m. we’re going to meet at the museum at the Inlet and we’re going to ride to 27th Street,” he said.

In recognition of National Bike Week, the public will be invited to join Mayor Rick Meehan for a bike ride from one end of the Boardwalk to the other and back. Riders can then bike to work in recognition of National Bike to Work Day. “That’s officially National Bike to Work Day,” Committee President Paul Mauser said. “So we’ll be joining the rest of the nation in biking to work that day … It should be a good event.”

DeLuca noted participants would not be required to wear face coverings while riding along the Boardwalk. But he added that he would seek guidance from the city solicitor.

“That will be under the microscope during the bike ride, so we’ve got to know for sure …,” he said. “We just want to make sure we do the right thing.”

Officials noted, however, that face coverings would be worn both before and after the bike ride.

“I would think when we all gather we should have masks until we start riding,” BPAC member Tom Allen said.

The Mayor’s Bike Ride will begin at the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum at 10 a.m. on Sept. 22. Committee members said more information would be provided in the coming weeks.

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County Commissioners Criticize Hazard Mitigation Plan August 21, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 35

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – Old data, flawed information and unanswered questions led county officials to delay adoption of the Worcester County Hazard and Resilience Plan.

While there were no comments from the public Tuesday, a hearing on the county’s hazard mitigation plan yielded criticism from the Worcester County Commissioners. They questioned the content of the lengthy plan and the fact that the consultant the county hired to develop it was not present.

“This whole report is based on facts that are laid out that I think are questionable,” Commissioner Chip Bertino said.

“That’s the motivation for my questions.”

According to Billy Birch, the county’s director of emergency services, the county has to update its hazard mitigation plan every five years. Last year, the county hired consultant Smith Planning & Design to assist in the process.

Birch said officials were provided with a progress update in December and that since then the county had received FEMA and MEMA approval conditional upon the commissioners’ adoption of the plan.

Bertino was quick to present questions and concerns about facts cited in the plan. Birch said much of what was in the plan came from the state.

“All the data that was produced by the state, because the state also has to do a hazard mitigation plan, is what our report was based off of,” he said.

Bertino said Birch had no way of knowing if “what the state put in there was necessarily based on science.”

Birch said he could check with the consultant.

“If he or she were here maybe that question could have been answered,” Bertino said.

He added that he wanted to make sure the county wasn’t obligated to change its zoning practices, for example, based on the information included in the plan.

“I don’t want us to be forced to go down a road, because we accept this, that’s contrary to what we have done as a community so far,” Bertino said.

He went on to question reports referenced in the plan, some of which were more than a dozen years old, and other statements he considered dubious.

Commissioner Jim Bunting voiced similar frustrations with the plan.

“I think it should be based more on facts,” he said. “All this stuff that’s not based on science or actual information shouldn’t be in there.”

He asked what sort of changes the county could make to the plan.

Birch said changes should be made but pointed out the plan in front of the commissioners was what had been given to state and federal agencies.

He said the changes being considered should have been made to the plan before it was sent to MEMA and FEMA.

The Worcester County Commissioners are pictured this week with Emergency Services Director Billy Birch before them.

Photo by Charlene Sharpe

The commissioners asked what repercussions the county faced if approval of the plan was delayed.

“If we decided not to have a plan at

all, that’s where we’re in jeopardy,” said Weston Young, the county’s assistant chief administrative officer.

He said the plan was ultimately

meant to identify hazards and could help the county when it applied for grants. He acknowledged that some of the models and information included in it weren’t exact.

“There’s a lot of assumptions,” he said. “Most of them could be faulty.”

Bertino said was still not satisfied with the contents of the plan.

“There are flaws in this, I believe, in the narrative as well as the data points being used,” Bertino said. “As far as the models are concerned, you want to prepare for the worst I understand that.

My point is this document has flawed information in it and that’s a concern.

If that can’t be edited correctly, that’s very telling.”

The commissioners agreed to table a decision on the plan while the consultant provided answers to their questions.

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Committee Approves Restaurant’s Outdoor Dining Plan

Page 36

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – The construction of a permanent outdoor dining area will move forward at a restaurant in Fenwick Island with approval from the town’s building committee.

Last Friday, the Fenwick Island Building Committee voted unanimously to approve the construction of a 540-squarefoot outdoor dining area at Our Harvest restaurant on Coastal Highway.

“It’s a 540-square-foot deck with a pergola and 48-feet-by-6-feet walkway along the canal,” Building Official Pat Schuchman said. “That is not a parking area and it isn’t taking up any parking.”

Committee member and Councilman Bill Weistling questioned if the owner had received the necessary approvals

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

from various state and county agencies.

Schuchman said the owner had received preliminary clearance from Sussex County.

“The builder was given information to go to the fire marshal, Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Sussex County and the health department,” she said. “So they’re waiting on approval before they proceed.”

Schuchman noted, however, that the construction of the deck could begin if the building committee approved the owner’s plans. Under Stage 2 of the state’s COVID-19 recovery plan, she explained, the restaurant would also be able to serve on the deck before any approvals from the Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

“Keep in mind we are in COVID-19 recovery,” she said. “So I’m assuming if

you guys approve it they would proceed with the construction of the deck and work along the guidelines the state has for outdoor seating until stage 2 is over.

But now is when they need to make their applications with the ABC, the fire marshal. Right now, I would think because of COVID-19 recovery they’d be able to build that deck and serve on that deck, even before they have their approval, particularly from the ABC because they have the blanket approval to operate outside in their parking lot.”

Schuchman clarified, however, that the construction of the deck and any outdoor dining operations hinged on the approval of the building committee.

While the deck would be a permanent outdoor dining area, committee member Reid Tingle asked if the town had any issues with temporary out-

August 21, 2020

door dining areas allowed under its COVID-19 guidelines. As of last week, five restaurants in Fenwick had applied for a special events permit to allow for temporary outdoor seating.

Schuchman noted the town did not have any issues with the temporary seating areas. She added the construction of the permanent deck at Our Harvest complied with the town’s definition of an outside service area.

“They comply with this,” she said.

Weistling agreed, and made a motion to approve the owner’s application for the construction of a dining deck.

“I looked over the sketch. It meets the square footage requirements and there’s no roof above it ...,” he said.

“It’s in compliance with our town ordinance, so I would vote to allow the permit to proceed.”

With no further discussion, the committee voted unanimously to approve the permit.

Fenwick Council Members Sworn In

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – Three officials were sworn in to the Fenwick Island Town Council this month.

In an organizational meeting last month, Vicki Carmean, Gardner Bunting and Bernie Merritt took their oaths of office for the Fenwick Island Town Council.

The three incumbents were the only applicants for the three seats that were up for grabs in this year’s town election.

As a result, Fenwick Island did not hold an election for 2020.

“They are all qualified and are now presently holding office in town,” Board of Elections Inspector Audrey Serio said in June. “Since there are three openings and three candidates, Fenwick Island will not be having a municipal election this year.”

The elected officials will retain their seats on the council another two years.

This will be Carmean and Bunting’s eighth term in office and Merritt’s third term in office.

During Monday’s organizational meeting, the council also voted to reelect its existing officers for the coming year.

Gene Langan will serve as mayor, Richard Mais will serve as vice mayor, Gardner Bunting will serve as treasurer and Bernie Merritt will serve as secretary.

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August 21, 2020

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Page 37

OPA Board Expresses Support For General Manager

Page 38

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – The Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors met in closed session this week to discuss the conduct of General Manager John Viola.

While a local paper claimed the meeting was to discuss Viola’s possible interference in the board’s election of officers, directors this week said there was more to it. After a heated exchange regarding the meeting and the reasons for it, the board voted unanimously to move into closed session. Some directors argued the issue had already been brought into the public eye after being referenced in a local newspaper, but Director Steve Tuttle said that was not the only thing he wanted to talk about.

“I will not discuss it in open session but there is a second issue of concern to me,” he said. “I think it affects how we move forward as a board. It’s not a witch hunt. I’ve worked with John for over 18 months. I’ve deeply appreciated the work he’s done.”

Last week, the board voted 4-3 to elect Larry Perrone as president. In the days after the decision, a local paper reported that Director Tom Janasek was unhappy with the vote. The paper also quoted text messages from Director Camilla Rogers addressing her decision to vote for Perrone as president rather than Tuttle.

As the board convened Monday, Tuttle read a motion to go into closed session to discuss the recent actions of an employee. Director Colette Horn said she didn’t see why the board needed to

Statement: ‘Faith And Confidence In Viola’

go into closed session when the press had already reported that the meeting was to address the general manager’s conduct. Director Frank Daly agreed.

He said that based on reading the article he understood that Rogers, violating no rules, had asked Viola a question and that Viola, in violating no rules, had answered.

“This is not an issue for closed session,” Daly said. “I want this discussion out in the open.”

Rogers said she’d received numerous emails and texts in the last couple days as a result of the situation.

“It’s been very hurtful,” she said. “I can tell you I do not think we need to go into closed session.”

She said she’d printed out all of the texts between her and a friend which described how she interviewed both candidates for board president — Perrone and Tuttle — and then also reached out to Viola.

“I asked John, when I called him, I said ‘I have to talk to you about this election because I am apparently the swing vote,’” she said. “I don’t take this lightly I want to make a decision that is well thought out, that exercises my due diligence…John said to me ‘I can work with any of them. I will work with any of them.’ There was no undue influence.

There was no undue anything…I think this is a witch hunt. I think that’s really sad. I think this is an attempt to squeeze

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John out for whatever other agenda exists out there. This is just sad.”

She stressed that the general manager had done nothing wrong and that while she’d considered a lawsuit, she wasn’t planning on going forward with it.

“I hired private counsel in this,” she said. “My private counsel said to me ‘you’ve got a good case in defamation.’

You know something I’m not going to do that. I’m above that. I want us to work as a team. I want to resolve this.

We don’t need to go into closed session.”

Perrone said he’d initially agreed to the request to schedule a closed session meeting last week.

“I didn’t find out until yesterday morning when I read the Ocean Pines Progress where Director Janasek discussed with the press an alleged performance issue with an employee of the association in violation of our code of conduct and the bylaws,” Perrone said.

“In addition to that, my real concern was that those comments in the press could open up Ocean Pines to, as Camilla has alluded to, to allegations of defamation whether implicit or actual against Ocean Pines by not only our general manager but another sitting director.”

He said he agreed with those who had advocated for keeping the meeting open to the public.

“There’s no need to go into closed session because director Janasek has already laid out what the closed session discussion was to be in the newspaper,” he said.

Jansek objected and said what he told the newspaper had nothing to do with Rogers’ conversation with Viola.

He indicated it related to the 4-3 vote to make Perrone president.

“What I said was I was told what the vote was supposed to be and it wasn’t,” Janasek said. “Secondly, you have no idea about the issues we’re going to speak of in closed session.”

He said the issue to be raised could be something completely different.

“And it is,” he said. “So I still would like to go into closed session to discuss it. It’s not just about his conversation with Cammie zero hours before the vote for presidency.”

Perrone said that if Janasek had a concern regarding employee performance he should have brought it to the board president.

Janasek said he didn’t remember if he’d mentioned it to Director Doug Parks, who served as president until Perrone’s election.

Parks said he had no qualms about discussing the matter in open session but wanted to make sure the board did so for the right reasons.

“I’m not going to have the media dictate whether or not we go into closed session,” he said. “We’re setting a bad precedent if we let that happen.”

He added that if there was new information, as Janasek suggested, a closed meeting might be merited. Tuttle agreed.

The board voted unanimously to adjourn to closed session, and later on Monday released a statement.

“The Board of Directors of Ocean Pines met on Aug. 17, 2020, to discuss and resolve an employee issue,” the statement read. “The board of directors has complete faith and confidence in our general manager and his management of Ocean Pines. After adjournment, the board discussed matters concerning board policies and procedures.”

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 39

Page 40

Bruff Jackson Procter BALTIMORE – Bruff Jackson Procter, age 62, passed away Sunday Aug. 2, 2020 at John Hopkins Hospital.

Born Aug. 25, 1957 in Silver Spring, Md., he was the son of the late Theodore Goldsborough Procter and Margaret Forsyth Procter. Bruff is survived by his family: Ted (wife Jill), Booker (grandson), Meg, Connor and Micky; his sibling Mary Margaret (husband BRUFF Mike) Wiley; sister-inJACKSON PROCTER law Linda; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Bruff's brother, Frederick Procter, died in 2018.

Bruff was a dreamer and a man of many talents. From taking the path less travelled on any trip to flying airplanes, he always had an adventure ahead of him.

He was passionate about his independence and entrepreneurial ways, always finding a machine to fix. He was especially passionate about the importance of family. He touched the hearts of many over the years and remembered every story of those that touched him. Bruff, we will miss your hugs and your boundless enthusiasm. A celebration of Bruff’s life will be scheduled in 2021. Donations may be made in Bruff’s memory to Johns Hopkins Medical Intensive Care Unit, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, Md.

John Bartlett Wiessel OCEAN CITY – John B. Wiessel, age 73 of Ocean City and formerly of Jackson, N.J., passed away Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. He was the son of the late

Obituaries

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

James W. Wiessel and Barbara (Smith) Wiessel. John was the beloved husband of Patricia Wiessel.

John is survived in addition to his wife by his sons, Jeffrey Wiessel and wife Kelli of Jackson, N.J., and David Wiessel and wife Christine of Middletown, N.J.; grandchildren, Megan, Ryan, Colin, Sarah and Tyler; as well as a great-grandson, Maksym. He was preceded in death by his brother, James Wiessel. He also will be missed by his beloved dog, Sonny.

John was a teacher at Neptune High School in New Jersey for many JOHN B. WIESSEL years before he opened a garden center, J’s Garden Spot, in 1981 which he ran with his family until his retirement in 2014. John loved plants and gardening and for years he was able to share his passion with his neighbors as the president of the condo association at the Adagio in Ocean City where he would beautify the landscape for everyone to enjoy. John was a generous, caring person who was thought of as a second father to many of his children’s friends.

Family was the most important thing to John and he will be greatly missed by all.

John loved golf, skiing and his annual trips to Ireland with friends, and especially loved the beach in Ocean City.

Arrangements in Maryland are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Ber-

lin. Condolences may be shared with the family via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Worcester County Humane Society https://worcestercountyhumanesociety.org/donate-nokill-shelter-humane-society.

A memorial service honoring John for family and friends was held Wednesday Aug. 19 at the Colonial Funeral Home, 2170 Highway 88, Brick, N.J. 08724; www.colonialfuneralgroup.com.

Robert “Bob” Brittingham SELBYVILLE, Del. – Robert Brittingham, 70, from Selbyville, Del., died on Aug. 16, 2020 at Delaware Hospice Center.

Born on June 9, 1950 in Salisbury, he was the son of the late Lester and Ruth Brittingham.

Bob was born and raised in Ocean City. He was the owner of Britt’s Market located at 15th Street and Philadelphia Avenue in Ocean City. He loved Ocean City and always talked of happy times growing up there. He often spoke of the many lifelong friends that he maROBERT de there, including his frBRITTINGHAM iends from The Hideaway Lounge, Pirates Den and his bowling, pool and golfing buddies. After being diagnosed with Mesothelioma in 2011, he became active with the Mesothelioma Foundation, becoming a new patient mentor and advocate. He was happy to complete his bucket list. Traveling across country with his wife and attending a Tim McGraw/Faith Hill concert. He loved the song “Live Like You Were Dying.”

Bob attended Ocean City Elementary School and graduated from Staunton Military Academy in 1968. He also attended Chesapeake College.

In addition to his parents, Lester and Ruth (Schaeffer) Brittingham, he is preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Sharon Pryer Aukamp.

Bob is survived by his wife, Sheila; daughter Laura and her wife Keena, son Michael and his wife Jessica; step children Heather Martin and Nathan Martin and his wife Vicky; and five grandchildren whom he loved dearly, Luci, Avery, Tenley, Anna, and Wesley Robert. He is also survived by his constant companion, Toby.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, 1615 L Street NW, Suite 430, Washington D.C. 20036 or Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford Del. 19963.

Arrangements are in the care of Eastern Shore Cremation and Funeral Service, 504 Franklin Avenue, Berlin, Md. 21811. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.easternshorecremation.com.

Philip Andrew Sigismondi, Jr. OCEAN CITY – Philip Andrew Sigismondi, Jr., age 96, peacefully left this life on Aug. 16, 2020 to be with his Lord and

August 21, 2020 Savior, Jesus Christ.

Phil was born in Baltimore to Philip and Lucy Sigismondi on April 3, 1924. He was a WWII Veteran with the United States Army 71st Recon Troop, 2nd Platoon and was deployed to Europe. Phil was a devoted family man and had a passion for life. Throughout his life, he influenced many people through leadership, generosity, compassion and love. “Have I told you lately that I love you” was always his usual loving greeting to family and friends.

He married Lorraine Gloria DiStefano on June PHILIP A. 26, 1948. In addition to SIGISMONDI, his wife, he is survived by JR. children Phyllis (David) Hackel, Judy Daniel, Gina (Larry) Westfall, Victoria (Harvey) Hough, Lori Kaiss; 11 grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; his sister Norma (Jerry) Giannattasio; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and his church family at Coastal Community Church. He is now reunited in new life with his parents, his brothers Nicholas and Frank, his sister Gloria and his two unborn children.

A celebration of his life will be held at a future date.

The family would like to thank the staff at Coastal Hospice and Palliative Care and Visiting Angels (courtesy of the VA of MD Health Care Systems) for their dedication and care of Phil.

Phil will be greatly missed but never forgotten. Reflections of his early years can be found in the book, “Bag Boys,”

by Christopher Conway.

In memory of his life, donations can be sent to the Coastal Community Church, 10900 Ocean Gateway, Berlin, Md. 21811. Letters of condolence may be sent via: www.burbagefurneralhome.com.

Brian R. Hastings WILLARDS – Brian R Hastings, of Willards, passed away on Tuesday Aug. 4, 2020.

He was born Dec. 2, 1968 to Robert and Linda Hastings, He worked as security at the Dunes Manor Hotel and Suites in Ocean City. Brian was involved in his community, he was a former member of the Ocean City pipe and drum band. He took pride in his Celtic heritage and played the highland bagpipes.

He enjoyed riding his motorcycle, fishing, camping and researching his family ancestry.

Brian is preceded in death by his father, Robert Hastings, and beloved wife, Karen (Trent) Hastings.

BRIAN R. He is survived by his HASTINGS mother, Linda Hastings; brother Christopher Hastings; sister Christine and husband John Mooneyhan; fiancée Kim Shockley; uncles Roland and Roxanne Williams and Calvin and Mary Williams; and beloved pets Bently and Ava. A viewing was held Aug. 13 at The Burbage Funeral Home. Funeral services were held Aug. 14 at 11 a.m. in the Evergreen Cemetery in Berlin.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ocean City Pipe & Drum Band.

Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

high court upholds 2017 pocomoke liquor license decision

August 21, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – The sale of the county’s last remaining liquor store will move forward following a decision by the Court of Special Appeals this week.

On Monday, the Court of Special Appeals issued an opinion upholding a Worcester County Circuit Court decision affirming a 2017 ruling by the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners (BLC). Now that the appeal —

which related to the BLC’s granting of a license to the person buying Shore Spirits in Pocomoke — has been settled, the county will be able to move forward with the sale of the store.

“I’m very pleased with the decision of the Court of Special Appeals upholding the decision of the Board of License Commissioners and I am happy that all parties are able to move forward with the dissolution of the property,” said attorney Mark Cropper, who represented the proposed purchaser.

Worcester tops in dui conviction rate

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

SNOW HILL – The Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office has again been recognized for having the highest conviction rate in alcohol and drug-related driving offenses in the state.

The results of a study completed by the University of Maryland’s National Study Center for Trauma and EMS released last week revealed the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office handled 841 driving while impaired and driving while intoxicated cases from May 2019 to May 2020 and had secured a 92.7% conviction rate in those cases, which is the highest among all jurisdictions in the state. The distinction is one Worcester County has earned for several years dating back to prior administrations in Snow Hill.

The data is collected and compiled by the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Association each year. The association tracks the overall success rate on drunk-driving cases for each jurisdiction over the last year.

“We are very proud of our efforts and our proven results in the prosecution of DUI cases in Worcester County,” Worcester County State’s Attorney Kris Heiser said. “We want to continue to spread the word that when you’re caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in our county, you have a 92.7% chance of being convicted, thanks to the excellent work of our police and prosecutors. Worcester County residents can

rest assured knowing that this conviction rate means our roads are safer because we are holding violators accountable.”

Heiser added, “I want to thank all of our police agencies for aggressively patrolling the roadways in search of these dangerous drivers. Each time our officers conduct a traffic stop that leads to a DUI arrest, we want citizens to know that they can count on Worcester County prosecutors to finish the job in court.”

Page 41

The issue dates back to 2017, when, in an effort to move out of the liquor business, Worcester County leaders accepted a bid from Kalpesh Patel to buy Shore Spirits in Pocomoke. The sale, however, was contingent on Patel’s ability to get a liquor license to operate it.

When Patel, represented by Cropper, met with the BLC seeking a license, opposition to the request came from the owner of Newtown Market, which sells beer and wine in the same shopping center as Shore Spirits.

Despite the opposition, the BLC granted the license, citing public need.

Hugh Cropper, the attorney for Newtown Market, quickly appealed the BLC’s decision in Worcester County Circuit Court. When the court upheld the board’s decision, Cropper appealed to the Court of Special Appeals.

The opinion issued by the court Monday affirms the decision of the BLC. “In the court’s opinion the board followed closely the obligations imposed on it,” Mark Cropper said. “There was no provision by which the application could be rejected.”

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Cropper had argued the BLC’s opinion was against the public interest, as numerous people had testified against the Shore Spirits license, and Patel’s license application was legally deficient because supporters who had signed it stipulated that they had “just met” Patel and therefore couldn’t certify whether he was a suitable candidate for a license.

The unreported opinion issued by the Court of Special Appeals this week states because the county’s standard form permits signatures from people who have “just met” the applicant, Newtown Market “has not carried the burden” to show that the liquor board’s action was arbitrary or fraudulent.

The court also addressed the issue of public need.

“Because the liquor board clearly gave consideration to the potential effect upon existing licensees, we conclude that the Board did not err in concluding that it was in the public interest to grant Applicant’s application even though there might be some negative impact upon existing licensees who sell beer and wine,” the opinion reads.

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Resort Police File Assault Charges After Knife Threats

Page 42

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY– A Glen Burnie man was charged with first-degree assault last week after twice threatening a man with a knife at a downtown apartment building.

Around 10 p.m. last Monday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to an apartment building on Worcester Street for a reported assault. Ocean City Communications advised the responding officers the suspect, later identified as Raymond

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

North, 36, of Glen Burnie, was wielding a knife. The officers met with the 911 caller on the sidewalk outside the apartments who advised North was in the hallway and attempted to stab her boyfriend.

The complainant told police North was heavily intoxicated, according to police reports. The 911 caller provided police with the access code to the door, and while they were punching in the numbers, North simultaneously opened the door and he was taken into custody, according to police reports.

While police were taking North into

August 21, 2020

custody, he reportedly screamed “Help, the police are hurting me,” and “I’m going to kill myself,” according to police reports.

Officers interviewed the male victim, who reportedly told police North first confronted he and his girlfriend on the Boardwalk. The victim went back to the apartment with his girlfriend, and North approached him again with a knife behind his back, according to police reports.

North screamed threats to kill him and his family and approached him with a large knife. North reportedly held the knife up in the air near his shoulder and approached the victim as if he intended to stab him. The victim told police he fled to a bathroom and North chased him with the knife. The victim barricaded himself in the bathroom with the full weight of his body pressed against the door while North attempted to gain entry.

North walked away and the victim came out of the bathroom, but North reportedly grabbed a second knife from the kitchen and attempted to come after the victim again. The victim ran to the bathroom and barricaded himself inside a second time, according to police reports. A witness who was also in the apartment corroborated the victim’s account of the two attempted assaults with knives.

According to police reports, after he

was taken into custody, North complained of injuries and told the officers he wanted to go to the hospital. North also said the police had broken his wrist and had beaten him up when he was placed in handcuffs. Ocean City EMS arrived and North told them he had no injuries. He was also charged for making a false report and causing EMS to respond for no legitimate reason.

During a post-arrest interview, North reportedly told police he was in the Aryan Brotherhood and the victim was a member of the Bloods gang. North reportedly told police the victim had thrown up gang signs toward him and it agitated him. North told police he had an argument with the victim, but he had never threatened him. When asked about the knife, North told police he did have a small knife at one point, but he was only using it to cut a tomato.

While being taken into custody, North reportedly launched into a string of expletives as families walked by on the street. He reportedly faked a seizure during the arrest, causing EMS to be called back to the scene a second time. Through the investigation, OCPD officers determined North threatened the victim two separate times with two different knives. North was charged with first-degree assault and numerous other counts. He was ordered to be held without bond.

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Pines Drainage Grant OK Delayed

August 21, 2020

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – County officials delayed acceptance of a grant meant to improve drainage in Ocean Pines to get more information regarding project plans and the Ocean Pines Association’s involvement.

The Worcester County Commisioners this week voted unanimously to table a decision on a grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Commissioners Chip Bertino and Jim Bunting said they had concerns about the project’s scope and recent comments by Ocean Pines Association (OPA) officials, who indicated that if the work was too costly the project would have to go to referendum.

“I don’t want the county to be on the hook if there’s a change of thought on the OPA board,” Bertino said.

Bob Mitchell, director of environmental programs, told the commissioners on Tuesday that the county had received $549,000 for a drainage project in Ocean Pines. Because the amount is only a third of what was requested, the project’s scope will have to be reduced. He assured the commissioners the county would still be able to use the funding.

“We’re going to do what we can with the money we got,” Mitchell said, adding that the county could do a different drainage project than what was originally applied for.

Bunting asked if negotiations were still ongoing with the proposed Refuge at Windmill Creek, which like Ocean Pines was supposed to be involved in the project.

“I know they have some changes they want to do that may affect this project or may not affect this project,” Mitchell said, adding if necessary the project could go a different route.

Mitchell said there were 11 segments to the project and perhaps some of those could be done rather than all.

He said a completely different project was also an option. He added that Ocean Pines had $600,000 in its capital budget for the project.

Bunting said he was uncomfortable proceeding without knowing exactly where the county stood. Bertino agreed.

“There are some comments I’ve heard emanating from the OPA board with regard to this project that have left me with a number of questions as to how we’re going to proceed…,” he said.

“It happened quickly last week, some comments were made. I’d feel more comfortable if we had all of our I’s dotted and all of our T’s crossed before we accept this money because we’re on the hook for it.”

Mitchell said all the county had to do to use the grant was find a project that helped with flooding and provided some treatment to runoff. He acknowledged, however, that questions had been raised in the past week.

Third Defendant In 2017 Rape Case Sentenced The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – The last of three defendants in a June 2017 rape case in Ocean City was sentenced last week to 20 years in prison and, like his co-defendants, will be under a lifetime of sex offender supervision.

In January, Larry Kendall, 45, of Elkton, Md., was convicted of second-degree rape for his role in the June 2017 incident in Ocean City. Kendall entered an Alford plea to second-degree rape.

In an Alford plea, a defendant acknowledges the state has enough evidence to prosecute the case.

Back in court last Friday, Kendall was sentenced to 20 years in prison with no time suspended. In October, Kyle Davis, 22, of Elkton entered an Alford plea to

second-degree rape. In January, Davis was sentenced to 20 years.

A third defendant, Damien Shiel, 24, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to seconddegree rape in October and was sentenced in January to 20 years with five years suspended for a net of 15 years.

The defendants will be required to register as Tier III sex offenders.

The investigation began when the female victim reportedly told police she had been vacationing in Ocean City in June 2017 with Davis; his uncle, Ken dall; and his friend, Shiel. During the vacation, the three men acted together to overpower the victim in their shared hotel room and each of them forced her to engage in sexual acts with them against her will.

Investigators traveled across the state to interview witnesses and obtain

Page 43

medical records. Detectives also otained Facebook messages between the victim and Shiel, along with incriminating statements by Davis and Shiel. Worcester County State’s Attorney Kris Heiser thanked the Ocean City Police Department and Detective Perry for the excellent police work and Assistant State’s Attorney Karen Dean, who prosecuted all three cases.

“The bravery of this young woman in reporting these offenses, combined with the relentless efforts of investigators and prosecutors to build a strong case has allowed us to hold these predators accountable,” she said. “We are proud to have secured the maximum allowable penalty due to our advocacy on behalf of the victim, and we will continue to work hard to obtain justice for every victim in every case.”

Berlin Liquor Store Dollar-Cost Averaging Highs, Lows Largest Liquor Store In OC Area!

Page 44

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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BERLIN – Investors who defer the same amount of money from their paycheck into a 401(k) plan at regular intervals are practicing dollar-cost averaging. By investing the same fixed dollar amount each time, the investor buys more shares when prices are low and fewer shares when prices rise. The long-term effect is that the average cost of each share purchased will be lower than the average share price.

This strategy can work great when you are trying to accumulate assets for your retirement. But what happens when you withdraw from your investments for retirement income?

While dollar-cost averaging reduces the risk of investing a lump sum of money when prices peak, it increases your risk of losing previous gains if you withdraw money when prices have dropped. If a retiree reCOLLIN ceives automatic sys- MACOMBER tematic withdrawals for a fixed level of income, then in months when share prices drop, he or she will likely have to sell more shares to raise the needed money. Once those shares are sold, they never have the ability to recover lost gains.

To create a more prudent income

August 21, 2020

distribution plan, you may consider incorporating some solid, reliable income in your portfolio, in addition to Social Security benefits. This could mean government-backed bonds or an insurance-backed annuity.

It’s a good idea to develop multiple streams of retirement income. Ideally, you want to have the flexibility to stop and start withdrawals strategically from accounts that are performing well, giving others time to recoup paper losses. Also, maintain a healthy portion of assets in a liquid account to help pay for periodic expenses when you don’t want to tap your investments.

Another option is to be flexible with your retirement budget, such as having a Plan A budget and a Plan B budget. When the markets take a downturn, you can switch to budget B and downsize your expenses, perhaps by cutting out vacations, large purchases and eating out for a while. This shouldn’t be too hard given the way people have had to reign in their lifestyle throughout the past few months; you could call it your pandemic budget.

If you’d like to discuss how to position your assets to combine both guaranteed income and growth opportunity, please contact us. Our entire team can be reached at (410) 6290357.

(The writer is an investment advisor with Key Financial Services. The team can be reached at 410-629-0357.)

Worcester Land Easements Secured

SNOW HILL – With the addition of three new permanent easements this summer, Worcester County Environmental Programs (WCEP) professionals, in partnership with the Board of Public Works, have conserved an additional 1,801 acres of land in Worcester County.

Two of the properties are part of the Dividing Creek watershed, which is located in the Dividing Creek Rural Legacy Area (RLA), and the third property is located in the Coastal Bays RLA. The total purchase cost is $1.8 million.

With the purchase of these conservation easements, the lands are protected in perpetuity.

“Preserving and protecting contiguous, productive, and valuable farm and forest land in cooperation with private landowners and farmers is the objective of this program,” Planner Katherine Munson said. “This supports our local agricultural industries and helps ensure generations to come will have these limited resources available.”

Conserving these properties, which are located adjacent to other RLA protected lands, preserves productive farmland, timber resources, wildlife habitat, and natural shoreline in perpetuity, as the residential and commercial development rights are permanently removed from each property. Impervious surfac-

es, including poultry houses, are strictly limited. Landowners who participate in the program agree to comply with soil and water conservation and forest stewardship plans.

The Coastal Bays RLA is 45,945 acres in size and encompasses the entire Chincoteague Bay watershed, as well as a portion of the lower Pocomoke watershed. This includes 16 miles of bay shoreline. The Dividing Creek RLA is 67,812 acres, which includes the entire Dividing Creek watershed in both Worcester and Somerset Counties.

To date, WCEP has permanently protected 11,000 acres in these two RLAs with this program. Both counties have worked cooperatively with the Lower Shore Land Trust to preserve several thousand acres.

“Both RLAs were identified as essential to protect due to their abundance of wildlife habitat, prime farmland, and rural character,” Environmental Programs Director Robert Mitchell said. “This is what is also known as ‘green infrastructure.’ Green infrastructure is every bit as important to a community’s well-being as built infrastructure. Lower taxes, improved quality of life, and stronger environmental health are a few of the benefits typically gained from preserving open space.”

Business And Real Estate News

August 21, 2020

New OC Hotel Opens OCEAN CITY – Cambria Hotels, an upscale brand franchised by Choice Hotels International, Inc., has announced the opening of the Cambria Hotel Ocean City-Bayfront. The eight-story, 137room hotel, located at 13 St. Louis Avenue, is the brand’s fourth in Maryland.

“Ocean City is a vibrant coastal town and one of the most popular drive-to beach destinations on the east coast, making it a great location for the Cambria brand, especially as today’s travelers pursue road trips more often than air travel,” said Janis Cannon, senior vice president, upscale brands, Choice Hotels. “The Cambria Hotel Ocean CityBayfront is ready to welcome guests to Maryland’s Eastern Shore this summer, with thoughtful accommodations to help ensure a stress-free and relaxing stay.”

The hotel features upscale amenities and approachable indulgences that appeal to modern travelers, including a rooftop bar with panoramic ocean views; indoor heated pool and hot tub, as well as a seasonal outdoor pool with a poolside tiki bar and cabanas; outdoor recreational area with fire pits; contemporary and sophisticated guest rooms, complete with design sensible fixtures, abundant lighting, plush bedding and private balconies, all of which overlook the Isle of Wight Bay and its sunset views; immersive, spa-style bathrooms featuring Bluetooth mirrors, luxe bath products and premium terry; on-site dining featuring freshly made food, local craft beer, wine and specialty cocktails, as well as grab-and-go options; more than 2,400 square feet of multi-function meeting and event space; and a state-of-the-art fitness center with waterfront views.

All Choice-branded hotels are also participating in “Commitment to Clean,” an initiative that builds upon the strong foundation of franchisees’ long-standing dedication to cleanliness with enhanced training and best practices for deep cleaning, disinfecting and social distancing. Additionally, Cambria guests can

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

limit their interactions with hotel staff by using the Cambria Contactless Concierge Service, a text messaging service for housekeeping requests, to-go food orders, meeting room requests and more.

The Cambria Hotel Ocean CityBayfront was developed by Tauhid Islam of PiNNacle Hospitality Group and Mihir Wankawala of The Wankawala Organization.

Page 45

The Bank of Delmarva President/CEO John W. Breda has announced the Little Free Library Organization has installed a “Little Library” at its Eastern Shore Drive location in Salisbury through its partnership with The Rotary Club of Wicomico County. The free community book exchange provides easy access to reading material for anyone to use. Bank of Delmarva Residential Mortgage Division Vice President Michele Thomas, who spearheaded the project, is pictured with John Aukward, Eastern Shore Drive office branch manager.

Submitted Photo

Top Ranking Agents, Teams

Featured in the top team rankings were the Cain Team of OC, seventh; Katy Durham and Rick Meehan, 11; and McNamara and Associates, 17.

OCEAN CITY – Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Ocean City Offices recently had several agents ranking in July for the Baltimore region.

Top agents were Jamie Caine, third; Peck Miller, 28; Jessica Lynch, 34; Whitney Jarvis, 45; Nancy Reither, 61; Katherine Payne, 69; Dan Clayland, 72; Chelsea Nichols,76; Wendie Green, 78; Michele Pompa, 81; and Greg Erdie, 86.

SELBYVILLE – Carl M. Freeman Companies was honored with awards both locally and regionally by the readers of Coastal Style Magazine.

Carl M. Freeman Companies CEO Michelle D. Freeman was awarded Best Businesswoman and Best Philanthropist in the magazine’s annual edition. Bayside in Fenwick Island, Del.,

Company Honored

Send Us Your Best

was named Best Residential Community by the magazine’s readers, who also recognized Bear Trap Dunes in Ocean View, Del. with three honors -Best Golf Professional Eric Mason, Best Event Space and Best Burgers.

“These awards would not be possible without the dedication from our staff across all properties. They are on the front lines every day providing our guests the best possible customer experience, while keeping safety the number one priority,” said Jeff Evans, Director of Sales and Marketing for Carl M. Freeman Companies.

Kids Of Summer Have Your Child Appear In The Dispatch’s 14th Annual

Kids Of Summer

FEATURES ON AUGUST 28 AND SEPTEMBER 4 That’s when we will publish all the kids’ photos we receive. Just make sure it’s in color and a high-quality image.

EMAIL PHOTOS TO: EDITOR@MDCOASTDISPATCH.COM OR MAIL TO P.O. BOX 467, BERLIN, MD. 21811 Be Sure To Include Full Name, Age And Location

Page 46

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

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The Maryland Coast Dispatch (USPS #015125) is an official and legal newspaper for Worcester County. Periodical postage paid at Berlin, Maryland, and additional mailing offices.

The Maryland Coast Dispatch, 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin, Md. 21811, is published weekly on Friday mornings, 52 weeks a year.

Subscription rates are $75 per year, $55 for six months.

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.

Consistency Remains A Struggle For Council The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 21, 2020

HOW WE SEE IT

Once again, the Ocean City Mayor and Council has demonstrated an inability to be consistent with decisions.

While taking a case-by-case approach to matters is a sound policy in this ever-changing culture, there must be a semblance of a policy guiding the decision making. The city’s strategic plan model is to be the guide in typical situations and maybe still is used as a reminder of the priorities of the city moving ahead. The strategic plan is supposed to guide the city’s leaders in governing the city. We are confident public safety remains a top pillar of the document.

It’s become clear this council is a divided group. The schism among officials might explain why the body has become inconsistent with decisions.

The division could also simply be the changing nature of the pandemic and representative of the extreme viewpoints present in society in general.

Whatever the case, this week’s 6-1 decision to not allow the police department to purchase a mule-style, all-terrain vehicle for the Boardwalk and beach is vexing.

The $20,000 vehicle, which would be retrofitted for the police department and allow for a visible and multidimension presence on the boards, would be largely covered by savings from another police department project and other areas of the current budget. The vehicle was essentially to be purchased without an impact on the city’s budget since the funds to be used are already allocated to the department.

The council’s micromanaging of this purchase is disturbing and unacceptable in light of the recent decision to bail out the OC Air Show with an absurd $100,000 allocation. The city never should have issued the extra funds for the air show in addition to what is already committed on an annual basis. The council will be dealing with the precedent set with that lamebrained call for years to come, as other special events will surely follow with unjustified emergency funding requests.

To deny a police department purchase six weeks after a disturbing stretch of violent crime on the Board-

walk is implausible. The council should have allowed the police department to buy this vehicle and get busy retrofitting it for next spring. To hide behind the concept of being financially conservative in uncertain times is despicable.

The council agreed to revisit the matter during budget talks next year, but there’s no reason to kick this acquisition down the road. The money is in the budget, but the council would rather delay this buy to save money.

Th rationale is laughable when compared to other recent decisions.

The denial came at the same meeting the council did not rule out a potential cost of $50,000 to $100,000 to hastily throw together a smaller scale replacement event for Sunfest that will have no economic impact on the resort.

Yes, the council might spend $50,000 on the conservative side to hold a questionable special event requiring effort and expense without any idea of whether it will be a success. It’s a huge risk. The fact it’s even being considered confirms this council continues to be inconsistent and hypocritical.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Boardwalk Mask Rule Not Being Enforced Editor: As a couple over 65 years old and thus considered high risk for severe consequences of COVID-19, my husband and I appreciate the recent enactment of the law to require face masks on the Boardwalk and elsewhere in Ocean City.

That said, it isn’t being followed and we’ve seen no attempt to enforce it.

We were strolling on the Boardwalk from 26th Street to the Inlet recently after 8 a.m. and hardly anyone was wearing a mask. Two young police officers passed us coasting along on bikes with no attention given to addressing the blatancy.

My husband and I take wide berths from those without masks, but those without masks seem intent on expressing their disapproval of our compliance.

Several younger people have stepped up to make comments to us that our masks are “not necessary,” often with their exposed breaths within a foot of our faces.

Those who choose to "take risks" rather than "live in fear of getting sick" have that right. They don't, however, have the right to make that choice for others. Wearing a mask isn't just about protecting oneself, it's about protecting everyone else. Our freedoms don't include causing pain, suffering and death to innocent people which is

what happens when an asymptomatic person cluelessly spews their droplets.

You want to exercise your freedom to not wear a mask? Then stay at home.

Ocean City leaders need to educate the community as to why the mask law was enacted then take steps to equitably enforce it.

Georgia Martin Ocean City

Face Masks?

Editor: This article is largely taken from an excellent piece by Conrad Milner written in the Wednesday August 5th edition of Epoch Times.

Milner delves into the paradox of conflicting opinions on whether to wear face masks or not. Today in America we have a group of people that are ardent believers in face masks and believe there should be legal penalties for not wearing them contrasted by an equally impressive group that believes masks are nonsense and likely weaken our immune systems.

Milner makes the point that contradictory messaging by public health authorities planted the seeds over the present discord over masks.

On March 8, infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci told 60 minutes, “There’s no reason to be walking around with a mask.” At that time the Center for Disease Control (CDC)

stated that masks were to be worn exclusively by the sick and their caregivers, and the World Health Organization stated: “There is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the masses has any potential benefit. In fact, some evidence suggests the opposite.

In April, experts abruptly changed course, experts stated that previous statements were to save the masks for medical personnel and that everyone should wear a mask. Morton Tavel, MD, a professor at Indiana State, said, “well fitted medical grade (N95) masks could effectively protect against the virus.” Tavel also said “many people wash their hands the wrong way.”

Then on June 8 Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove stated “spread of the virus by asymptomatic carriers appears to be rare.”

It is clear that there is no scientific consensus on whether face masks help prevent passage of the virus.

These days Fauci has become an unwavering proponent for everyone to wear a face mask. But the scientific case for masks is hardly a consensus.

A group of physicians in the New England Journal of Medicine wrote.

“The chance of catching COVD-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is minimal. In many cases the desire for masking is a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic.”

SEE NEXT PAGE

August 21, 2020

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Those on the pro mask side cite a hamster study in Hong Kong which concluded that 75% of respiratory droplets were repressed by wearing a mask. Also the Jet Propulsion lab found droplets could travel 13 feet.

On July 16 an article in the Journal of Pediatric and Child Health found that masks may cause more problems than protection. Researchers concluded “no good evidence that masks protect the public against infection with respiratory viruses. Thus, a mildly infected person wearing a face mask for hours without changing it or washing hands could paradoxically increase the risk of infecting others researchers wrote.

When the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons looked at mask efficacy they concluded “the wide use of masks by healthy people in the community setting is not supported by current evidence and carries uncertainties and critical risks. . .headaches, respiratory acidosis, dizziness and a decrease in oxygen saturation are some of the risks.”

Milner says we should use common sense. Dr. Dana Cohen, a physician in Manhattan, says she has a hard time seeing a clear picture even as a doctor. “I don’t think people should go to concerts or be together marching and shouting, that’s not common sense, people need to stop being the mask police,” she said. “By the same token people that oppose masks should show some compassion for the pro mask crowd.”

One thing is clear the data required for good policies on how to handle COVD-19 is still lacking.

Certainly, the lack of clarity among “experts” explains the two polar views in society regarding wearing face masks. The problem is both sides can find supporting statements often from the same sources. The contradictory messaging from public health authorities planted seeds of discord early on regarding precautions during the pandemic.

Masks have been politicized with more liberal politicians imposing more authoritarian restrictions including punitive actions for non-compliance. Mr. Biden famously said, “It’s not about liberty it’s about responsibility.”

Small businesses that have to survive during the pandemic are being hampered by these restrictions. Out of state travel by the governors of New Jersey and New York is negatively impacting Ocean City this August. Also, Mayor Meehan’s recent order forcing face masks on all who go on the Boardwalk between 8 a.m. and 2 a.m. also communicates a negative message to vacationers. The mayor, who used to be a small business owner, must have forgotten the difficulties facing small businesses. The rub is my friend who recently said sales are down 50% in August doesn’t have a place on the Boardwalk and is still feeling the conse-

Between The Lines

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

quences of these politically coercive orders on top of the difficult pandemic environment.

Tony Christ Ocean City and Falls Church, Va.

Where Were Buses?

Editor: On Saturday, Aug. 15, I decided to get a ride to the Air Show with a friend who was driving to downtown Ocean City for a business meeting. I met her around 12:05 p.m. at 139th Street and Coastal Highway. From that location down to 19th Street, where I was dropped off to the air show, traffic was backed up bumper to bumper. It took 55 minutes to drive from 139th Street Coastal Highway down to 19th Street.

Of course, one of the best ways to reduce the traffic was to use the Ocean City bus service that is permitted to use the dedicated bus lane to avoid the bumper-to-bumper traffic. Unfortunately, whole time we were sitting in that traffic, we never saw one Ocean City bus heading south on Coastal Highway. It is clear to me whoever set the bus schedule for the Air Show activities failed to do their job.

Jany Spencer Baltimore

Support Humane Options Editor: Readers who care about animal welfare should ask Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin to support federal funding for cultured-meat research.

Cultured meat is grown from cells, without slaughtering nonhumans. It has the potential to eliminate unimaginable levels of suffering. After all, we kill tens of billions of land animals and over a trillion aquatic animals for food every year.

Ending this violence is more plausible than you think. A growing number of companies are developing culturedmeat products. Even Tyson Foods, the slaughtered-meat giant, has invested in the sector. However, costs of these humane options will need to be reduced for them to be successful. This can only be achieved by further research. The federal government should support it.

Jon Hochschartner Granby, Conn.

To Our Readers: The Dispatch welcomes any and all letters from our readers. All letters are encouraged typed, but not required, and we reserve the right to edit each letter for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Letters should include writer’s name, address and day and evening telephone numbers. If we are unable to reach the writer, we will have to withhold the letter. Due to space restraints, letters under 500 words in length will be given top priority.

Letters can be mailed to The Dispatch, P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Md. 21811, emailed to editor@mdcoastdispatch.com or faxed to 410-641-0966.

Page 47

By Publisher/Editor Steve Green

City Manager Doug Miller estimated last week the compliance rate of people wearing masks on the Boardwalk to be about 70%. It’s a difficult estimation to make because it’s truly a day-to-day matter and depends on the time of day. After about a dozen visits to the Boardwalk since the mandate was ordered, I would say it’s considerably lower during the day than at night. A quick visit to Dolle’s for a gift last Friday afternoon revealed about 25% of the 50 folks I surveyed on the Boardwalk were sporting masks. However, a few nights later on the Boardwalk, I would agree with Miller’s account of 70% compliance of the hundreds I came across. This is one of those difficult judgment calls since enforcement is light. I presume if we asked 10 people their observation of the compliance rate on the Boardwalk the average would end up close to Miller’s observation of 70%.

Quite a fishing story took place Tuesday during the MidAtlantic Tournament. The short story is a 791-pound blue marlin caught aboard the Shark Byte was weighed in during the second day of the tournament but due to an IGFA rule it was disqualified due to, “mutilation to the fish, prior to landing or boating the catch, caused by sharks, other fish, mammals or propellers that remove or penetrate the flesh.”

The longer story involves the beast being hooked on an 80-pound class outfit. Captain Rich Barrett said, “We marked a fish on the machine, it was a decent mark.” Therefore, the crew teased the blue marlin into their trolling pattern. Angler Peter Cherasia of Rumson, N.J. said, “She came up on the left teaser and I grabbed a 50 (pound class outfit) and dropped the bait back to her. Once we got a look at her I grabbed the 80 (pound class outfit) and dropped it back. She took three swipes at the bait, her massive bill swatted it the first two times and on the third swipe she swallowed it.” He continued, “The first time we had her to the boat Jake (Flynn) grabbed the leader and put about 50% pressure on her but could hold her and she took about 150-200 yards of line off. On the second try he put about 75% resistance but still couldn’t get her close and she took about 100 yards out on us. On the third try we could see she was getting tired and Jake (Flynn) got a good wrap on her and guided her across the transom. Blaine (Champlain) sunk the gaff in her but the head of the flyer didn’t come out and he was in a bad spot on the coverboard and got pulled over the side.” With the crew members rushing to get Champlain back in the boat and the blue marlin gaffed at the transom, a large shark – believed to be either a mako or tiger – appeared and attacked the marlin.

According to a presser from the tournament, “After much discussion it was determined that the shark attacked the marlin while it was in the water alongside the Shark Byte prior to being boated, a disqualifying situation. Needless to say, the crew was disappointed but understood the ruling and accepted it as such, though Cherasia notes with today’s technology that’s available some adjustment needs to be made to the IGFA rulebook. He said, ‘Technology has changed to the point that if a fish is under control and video evidence supports the catch, it should count when a situation such as this occurs,’ he noted, adding a shark attack during the course of the fight is another story.’”

In the end the shark bite cost the crew a huge payday. After a long day of fishing, it would be understandable for the crew to be upset over the decision. That was not the case, according to Tournament President Rick Weber, who said, “… the Shark Byte team was polite and professional through the entire process. That shark may have cost them their prize, but the story and memories they’ll have forever.”

Yes the name of the boat was the Shark Byte.

There were a couple new social media rants recently from Ocean City Councilman Mark Paddack. I continue to find his tone and approach unprofessional for an elected official. When I was recently critical of his abusive approach in this column, Paddack made it clear he was gagged from public discourse as a city cop and will not hide his feelings on matters on social media. Most of his comments are crude and partisan in nature.

An extreme conservative, Paddack often ridicules those on the opposite end of the political spectrum, including lashing out at the president of the town’s advertising agency in a comment on a George Floyd post, saying, “You F##$@@ liberals are in denial.”

In response to a seemingly innocuous post on a community page this week asking who was running for Ocean City mayor, Paddack took a shot at one of his council colleagues, Matt James, who may be considering running for mayor this fall. Paddack wrote, “They will not announce until September, it’s political. After the BS of summer COVID19 Shamdemic. I know Rick has been there for decades after the City Council. I am here to say the man eats, breaths, and supports OC. No other person other me an independent does what Rick does for this Town. Rick and I have had differences but in the end for 30k a year as Mayor, no one will do what Rick does unless a ‘daddy’ wants to pay it. End of story. Mayor Rick Meehan is the man for the job as Mayor. Not these wisher washy, drag decisions out people who want to continue to be career politicians. Wait til the last minute, try to make a name for themselves when never working a government job.”

Page 48

Puzzle Answers

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

I

The Adventures Of Fatherhood

By STEVE GREEN

have been thinking this week what’s more difficult – parenting a pre-teen or a special needs child.

Each kid in our house comes with challenges, but they are as different as they come.

Parenting a pre-teen is complicated. There’s some things going on with our 12-year-old that are mysterious and not always confirmable. We communicate a lot with Beckett, and I think we are properly engaged with him, but he clearly seems to be seeking independence and becoming more introverted. He has become uncomfortable talking recently when it’s clear things are bothering him. “I’m good, I’m just tired,” is an often refrain when we try a deep dive.

He prefers quick and casual conversations and has equated long talks with him being in trouble or getting bad news. We have taken note and instead strike up several long chats with him for no reason at all. The root of the talk doesn’t seem to matter. It’s the same result. A reluctance to let us in to discuss things he doesn’t want to broach.

It’s all about timing really. Sometimes he just wants to shut down and do his thing. I respect and understand that. I have always enjoyed the peace and tranquility of a quiet room to the pace and noise of a loud one.

It doesn’t appear he is deliberately hiding things from us, but he clearly does not tell us everything. The question I am constantly asking myself is: should we know about it?

Last weekend he didn’t seem to be in the groove with a majority of kids his age on the beach. I don’t know if anyone was to blame, but it was clear everything was not great for him. We picked up on it, but he wouldn’t say much because he’s not a “tattler.” I told him we understand the challenges of a large group and some days are dif-

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ferent than others as far as involvement. We assured him it’s natural to be upset if someone hurts your feelings or you felt left out at times. He would have none of it and simply said all was fine. “I’m good, I’m just tired,” he said, ending a conversation once again before it even started.

I think this is part of a natural maturation process that has to take place within him. He will talk when he’s ready if something is bothering. Though I doubt the sincerity, there are times – I hope the majority – when he might just be exhausted and truly is fine. He also may be just be changing from an externalizer who typically voices all his emotions and thoughts to more of an internalize type who prefers to think through his feelings before articulating.

As for our 10-year-old Carson, the keys to success when parenting a special needs kid is to be resilient, patient and forgiving. There will be trying times and they might come at the worst possible time. Setting reasonable expectations of him before everything we do is a responsible path for him.

For many years, Carson was rigid and struggled with any sort of transition or change. He’s much more malleable these days. He still likes to know about a plan, as kids on the Autism spectrum do best with a schedule to follow. We always do our best to outline what we have planned for the day to prepare him.

While his older brother wades through the social challenges and hurdles of being a sensitive pre-teen who seems concerned about his standing and profile, the challenges with Carson are more simplistic. Though there are social concerns that come with being a non-verbal and shy child, our goals for Carson revolve around being functional in society and discovering the best path forward for him. Part of

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that journey is understanding it’s an ever changing and winding course.

What’s best for him today will change next month. We must be flexible and pivot with him, while keeping modest expectations for him.

When he was younger, life was so complicated with Carson, as we wondered why he was not reaching his benchmarks and had serious concerns. Though the worries will forever be there, life has changed in recent months with Carson. He has calmed and is no longer the kid we have to brace for the unexpected with in most settings. Though we are always on our toes, we have discovered how to proceed forward with him in a happy fashion. He has subsequently gained independence, which has been a wonderful change.

With Beckett, I think the best thing we can do for him is to bob and weave with him as well. However, I think for him our preferred course is to be solid, reliable and responsive. He takes us for granted. I think that’s okay. We will be there for him when he needs us.

Ultimately all parents want for their kids is happiness. I think one of the things I have accepted of late is it’s not a parent’s responsibility to be the source that provides happiness.

They need to be content and confident with themselves. They should find what makes them happy on their own, but we can be an unwavering source of support through the adventure of growing up. I think I have learned recently the level of support, and how to provide it, will be different for each kid.

(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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Chris Parypa’s Photo Of The Week:

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 49

Each week staff photographer Chris Parypa is tasked with submitting a photo from his vast library to be featured in this space. Above, the beach on 15th Street is pictured looking south last Friday during the OC Air Show’s practice runs. To purchase any of Parypa’s photos, click over to www.chrisparypa.com.

What You Need To Know About Jellyfish Stings

Page 50

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 21, 2020

GUARDING THE BEACH

BY DAMIEN SANZOTTI

SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH

OCEAN CITY – The amount of jellyfish in the water has been steadily rising in recent weeks, so have the number of people getting stung.

People will show some discomfort after being stung by jellyfish. I myself was just stung two weeks ago, and the mark on my arm from the sting was present for about a week. The type of jelly that we typically see in this area is known as the sea nettle.

The sea nettle jellyfish is saucershaped with brown or red pigment and usually 6-12 inches in diameter. Long tentacles hang from the bell shape of the jellyfish and can extend several feet.

These long tentacles can have thousands of nematocysts or stinging cells that act like harpoons and fire into the victim. This all sounds quite scary, but the fact is that the sting from a sea nettle or any other jellyfish encountered in Ocean City is generally harmless.

There are about four different species in Maryland that can sting. There are also several species that cannot sting. The sea nettle is the most prevalent of the stinging jellyfish. While causing moderate to severe discomfort, the pain and irritation generally will go away in about 15-30 minutes.

There is a slight chance that a person can have a severe allergic reation or anaphylactic reaction similar to the reaction some people have to a bee sting. In the past 15 DAMIEN years only two individu- SANZOTTI als were transported by EMS as a result of a Jellyfish sting.

Sea nettles are native to these waters meaning that stings are inevitable.

One of the most frequent questions that beach lifeguard get, is, “When do the jellyfish come?” This is actually a rather difficult question to answer, however there are some scientific variables that do play a role. Two of the most cru-

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cial pieces to this puzzle are water temperature and level of salinity. Warmer water increases the likelihood of a jellyfish invasion, which is why we typically see more of them in the later part of the summer. The salinity (saltiness) of the water is affected by the amount of rain and fresh water runoff that occurs. If the water has a high salt content caused by little fresh water mixing with the salt water, or it has a lower than normal salinity caused by large amounts of fresh water runoff mixing then the jellyfish population will be lower than normal.

Considering the prevention of being stung, one could wear a rash guard, wetsuit or shirt while the jellyfish population is high. The sting of a sea nettle is typically not potent enough to go through clothing. The sting is even not strong enough to pierce tougher skin on the body. That is why we almost rarely see a sting on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. Swimmers can also do what many lifeguards, surfers and

I do. Just deal with it and realize the sting is not so bad and will probably go away in a short amount of time. Just this past weekend we held a Pre-Employment Physical Skills Evaluation to hire staff for next season and had 24 swim the test, with no stings reported.

By this point everyone is thinking, “What is the best medicine if I am stung?” I have literally heard the entire spectrum of responses over the years, including vinegar, baking soda, meat tenderizer, sand, urine (as seen on the TV show Friends), etc. I typically tell people, “time” is the best medicine. Removal of the sting cell or when the cell dies off is when the pain will be alleviated. Our lifeguards do typically carry a “sting-kill” wipe in their medical kits that will help to alleviate some of the pain.

The only home remedy that is generally considered effective is vinegar.

(The writer has been with the beach patrol for 17 years and is currently a sergeant. He is a physical education teacher at Berlin Intermediate School.)

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 51

OCBP ALUMNI OF THE WEEK

Russell Shiflett: Working Hard At A Tough Job

(Editor’s Note: The following is a series on the men and women who have spent their summers protecting all those who came to Ocean City for fun and safe vacation.)

OCEAN CITY – Russell Shiflett knows a thing or two about working through tough situations to get the outcome you want.

He was an Eastern Shore boy. Raised in Chestertown, he attended Kent County High School and eventually found himself at Salisbury University.

Like an awful lot of people who join the Ocean City Beach Patrol, it was through a friend that the suggestion and opportunity to try out presented itself to Shiflett in the summer of 1983. He was strong and in good shape so he decided to give the test a try. He didn't make it.

Instead of letting this defeat him, Shiflett found it in himself to use this as a motivation.

"I worked out hard the following winter … swimming rather than lifting weights," he recalled. When the next season came about, he was ready. Shi-

flett passed the beach tryout and was ready to join the Ocean City Beach Patrol.

But first, he'd have to face the much dreaded "Pool Test". This is where the officers take a new guard to a local pool to practice breaking holds. For those going through the pool test, it feels more like an aquatic wrestling match. Shiflett was paired up that day with Sergeant Greg Mix. "Darn big guy who felt like he was going to drown me,” Shiflett recalled.

“I got ahold of his tricep, pinched hard and pushed it over my head to get out of the hold and wound up behind him."

Once on the stand, the perseverance Shiflett showed through these tough situations would continue as the amount of rescues he accumulated grew.

"One of the largest and toughest pulls I had was seven people at once,” Shiflett said. “A group had gone out early in a blow-up boat on a big surf day with a strong west wind. When I got to my stand, they were already in trouble. I figured I could pull them all

Russell Shiflett is pictured with two colleagues during one of his four summers with the patrol.

Submitted Photo

in at once if they stayed in the boat.

But then a massive swell picked us all up and dumped us all in the surf. I wound up tangled in the boats rope as a couple of the people were tossed out."

Shiflett fought through, untangled himself and, with the help of another guard was able to get everyone and the boat in to shore.

Shiflett would guard for four summers, but like many other members of the patrol before him, the time came for

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career and family and an end to days sitting the stand. He finished up at Salisbury in 1987 and wound up "working with the Navy and major ship builders" up and down the East Coast.

Of his days on the OCBP, Shiflett often reflects on the thought the stays with him more than 35 years later. He said, "there are some people living on this earth because you were there.

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Page 52

Rocking the stage at a Sunset Park Party Night Concert last month were Hank Koenig, Bob Davis, Bobby Malaby and Al Cook of Tranzfusion.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

People

By Jeanette Deskiewicz

FEATURING THOSE HELPING CAUSES IN THE RESORT AREA

Practing social distancing at the Sunset Park Party Night Concert, taking place every Thursday night in August, were Glenn Irwin and Joslyn Harman of Ocean City Downtown Corporation.

In Society

August 21, 2020

Beach Realm Creations artist Megan Burak and Rachel Douglass sold Megan’s whimsical OC themed artwork at this year’s Ocean Pines Chamber Flounder Tournament.

Ocean City Center for the Arts Pottery Studio Manger Nancy Barnas and assistant Heather Toph led the July Sip and Ceramics Class in making bird baths.

Daughter and mother Sarah and Diane Brissey crafted bird baths during the July Sip and Ceramics Class held at the Ocean City Center for the Arts.

The scales stayed busy at the 13th Annual Ocean Pines Chamber Flounder Tournament with Joe Sharky and Steven Sweigert serving as the official weighin judges.

Ocean Pines Chamber Flounder Tournament sponsor Donna Frankowaski struck a pose with event photographer Christine Budd at the scales.

Ocean Pines Venues Events Manager Lia Isel thanked Executive Director Kerrie Bunting for bringing the Ocean Pines Chamber Summer Business After Hours to the Ocean Pines Yacht Club.

OC Recreation Boosters “A” Team members June Wilson, Norma Simmons, Chuck Wilson, and Gary Crouse served refreshments safely on opening night of the Sunset Park Party Concerts.

The Grace Center for Maternal & Women’s Health was represented by Irene Ruscigno and Dori Magee at a summer Business After Hours for the Ocean Pines Chamber.

August 21, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 53

with Scott Lenox Summer is moving along and though last week was one of the busiest that I’ve seen so far this summer, there are definitely signs that fall is right around the corner. There is talk of kids “going back to school,” I’ve seen Halloween candy in some of our local stores and the meat of fishing tournament season is in our rearview mirror.

As I write this on Monday afternoon one of the last big tournaments of the season is getting underway in the 2020 MidAtlantic Tournament. This is a great event with scales action in Cape May, N.J. and Ocean City and this year there is around $4 million in prize money up for grabs. I’ll be bringing you some of the winners in next week’s column.

With the White Marlin Open having just happened and the MidAtlantic about to happen, last week lots of the offshore fleet was focusing their attention on trolling the canyons for white marlin, blue marlin, tuna and mahi.

White marlin fishing was decent with boats catching and releasing multiple fish on some trips and there were some blue marlin that would have been nice to see during the WMO that

were also caught and released. There were some 30-60-pound yellowfin trolled up in the Poorman’s and Washington canyons last week, but none were as impressive as the 149-pounder caught by the ladies fishing on the private boat Big Stick with Captain Ronnie Fields. When yellowfin tuna get that big they have very prominent “sickle” fins on top and bottom and are referred to as Allisons. This fish was a beautiful example of that. There were also some nice mahi caught last week by boats trolling the offshore canyons with some fish as big as 50 pounds coming up to eat a ballyhoo. There were also smaller fish hanging around weed lines and long line balls that boats were able to bail and fill the box quickly. This time of year mahi are not limited to the offshore canyons as some fish move well inshore with warming water conditions. Water temperatures on the inshore lumps has risen into the upper 70s, which is plenty warm enough for schooling mahi.

Thanks to clean conditions and plenty of bait, inshore party and charter SEE PAGE 54

Captain Kane Bounds put this thankful group on sea bass, ribbonfish and a limit of flounder up to 6 pounds.

Submitted Photos

Page 54

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 21, 2020

Top left, these young anglers had a great day on the RoShamBo with Captain Willie Zimmerman when they released a white marlin and boxed a nice yellowfin tuna and some mahi. Top middle, Chrissie used a live sand flea on the north jetty on the OC Inlet to land this nice 22-inch sheepshead. Top right, this crew released four white marlin and boxed a bunch of mahi on the Spring Mix II with Captain Chris Watkowski. Above left, Captain Drew Zerbe of the Tortuga found seven keeper flounder for this group of party boat fishermen. Above right, the all lady crew of the private boat Big Stick with Ronnie Fields released four white marlin and boxed some yellowfin tuna that included a jumbo 149-pound Allison tuna.

Opposite page, top left, Brian landed this fat 24-inch flounder while fishing on the Oceanic Pier in downtown Ocean City. Opposite page, top right, this lucky bride landed a big keeper sea bass while fishing with Captain Victor Bunting on the Ocean Princess. Opposite page, middle left, Captain Chase Eberle of Chasin' Tides Charters found some bailing sized mahi for this group of lucky anglers. Opposite page, middle right, Susie Werner and Bill Getts display a nice 18-pound mahi that was caught on board the party boat Morning Star with Captain Monty Hawkins. Opposite page, bottom left, angler Walt Smakulski was fishing with Michael Berkheimer when he landed this big 15-pound tripletail at the 19 fathom lump. Opposite page, bottom right, these kids were right on target and landed some houndfish on a night trip with Captain Marc Spagnola of Dusk to Dawn Bowfishing.

... Fish In OC

FROM PAGE 53 boats have been taking advantage of good numbers of mahi in the 3- to 5pound range with some fish as big as 20 pounds. Captain Monty Hawkins of the ocean party boat Morning Star had his best day of mahi fishing ever when he put several fish in the boat and had one gaffer that weighed over 18 pounds. He also put a bunch of nice sea bass in the boat on the same day when they did their usual bottom fishing. I’ve had mahi reported as close as three miles, but most of the fish will be found outside of five miles hanging out under lobster trap floats or any type of debris large enough for bait to hide. Ocean bottom fishing in areas close to where the mahi are being caught is still good to very good depen-

ding on your level of experience.

Sea bass fishing is so good still that even beginner bottom fishermen are able to put some fish in the boat and the local charter and party boats have still been catching a bunch. There are throwback sized fish under the 12 1/2” minimum as close at the south jetty, but the further out one goes, the bigger the fish get and the better the fishing. I’ve had lots of reports from the Judith M, Morning Star, Angler and Ocean Princess with keeper sea bass from most trips with the occasional limit of 15 fish for some anglers.

There are also the occasional flounder, bluefish and triggerfish on these trips. Flounder have been biting well for ocean bottom fishermen specifically targeting them with good numbers of fish up to as big as 7 pounds. Flounder can be found around some of the same structure that sea bass inhabit, but the technique for catching them can be very

different. In most instances flounder will lie on flat, sandy bottom on the outside of wrecks or reefs so anglers will have their best luck pulling up to the structure, dropping baits and then drifting away until bites stop. A long leader rig baited with Gulp or strip baits will work well in this scenario and heavier bucktails bounced right on the bottom will sometimes catch larger fish. Don’t be afraid to throw a 6- or 8-ounce Spro or similar bucktail down there with an 8- or 10-inch strip bait on the hook. I’ve seen some 8- and 10-pound flounder hit the deck for anglers from August all the way through December.

Back bay flounder fishing is still good, but there are a ton of throwback sized fish to weed through. You won’t hear me complain about throwback flounder because throwback flounder is way better than no-back flounder. Anglers fishing all over the back bays of Ocean City have been having success with flounder on

live minnows, shiners and 4- and 5-inch Gulp swimming mullet, but larger fish are being caught on live baits like bunker, spot and mullet that have moved into our bays. I’m always looking for a keeper sized flounder for dinner so I’m using live bunker that I’ve been able to cast net on our Fish in OC Doormat Destroyer live bait rig. If you’re just looking to bend a rod with some kids then I’d use our Deadly Double or Double Trouble rigs with live minnows or Gulp.

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your summer and have some great luck fishing if you get a chance to get out.

Don’t forget to read our daily fishing report online at www.FishinOC.com Until next week, tight lines.

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

August 21, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 55

Page 56

Who’s Where When BUXY’S SALTY DOG/DRY DOCK 28 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Tuesdays: Sean “Spiffy” Styles

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 21, 2020

Best Beats On The Beach

CLARION HOTEL 410-524-3535 • 10100 Coastal Hwy. Lenny’s Beach Bar & Grill: Friday & Saturday, Aug. 21 & 22: Stephen Anthony, Noon-4 p.m.

Friday-Sunday, Aug. 21-23: First Class Monday-Thursday, Aug. 24-27: On The Edge COCONUTS BEACH BAR & GRILL Castle In The Sand Hotel 37th & 38th St. • 410-289-6846 Friday, Aug. 21: Darin Engh, Noon-4 p.m.; Rick & Regina, 5-9 p.m.

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Sunday, Aug. 23: Nate McCormick, Noon-3 p.m.; Chris Brunn Duo, 4-8 p.m.

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JOE SMOOTH & BOBBY WILKINSON Coconuts Beach Bar: Monday, Aug. 24

OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS Seacrets: Tuesday, Aug. 25

CORK BAR & GRILL Wicomico St. & Boardwalk 410-289-6921 Sunday, Aug. 23: Dust N Bones Duo, 3 p.m.

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DOWNY OSHUN 120th St. Bayside 410-670-8025 Every Saturday: Jim Long Band Every Sunday: Monkee Paw Every Thursday: Otto Grundman & Friends PICKLES PUB 410-289-4891 8th St. & Philadelphia Ave. Friday, Aug. 21: Ray Wroten Saturday, Aug. 22: Andrew Robear Sundays & Wednesdays: Beats By Skyler Every Tuesday & Thursday: Beats By Wax SEACRETS 410-524-4900 49th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Aug. 21: Stonewood Duo, 4 p.m., Shake, Shake, Shake Duo, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 22: Stonewood Duo, 4 p.m., Late Last Night Duo, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 23: Steal The Sky Duo, 4 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 24: Full Circle, 4 p.m.

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Wednesday, Aug. 26: Full Circle Duo, 4 p.m.

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JIM LONG BAND Downy Oshun: Every Saturday

DJ ROBCEE Crawl Street Tavern: Every Tuesday

BEATS BY WAX Pickles Pub: Every Tuesday & Thursday Crawl Street Tavern: Every Sunday

RAY WROTEN Pickles Pub: Friday, Aug. 21

STEPHEN ANTHONY Clarion/ Lenny’s Beach Bar: Friday & Saturday, Aug. 21 & 22

OTTO GRUNDMAN Downy Oshun: Every Thursday

SEAN “SPIFFY” STYLES Dry Dock 28: Every Tuesday

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Apply in person Mondays through Saturdays 10am – 4pm on a walk in basis.

CLARION RESORT FONTAINEBLEAU HOTEL 10100 COASTAL HIGHWAY OCEAN CITY, MD. 21842 410-524-3535 ext. 7128 EOE M/F/D/V

Email your resume to: rgmurphy11@comast.net

or call 410-352-5015.

TOW TRUCK DRIVERS We are now hiring for full time tow truck drivers in the Ocean Pines and Clarksville / Selbyville areas.

Must be experienced. Great Pay & Benefits!!

Call: 443-497-0465

La Quinta Inn & Suites NOW HIRING FOR ALL POSITIONS WE PAY MORE - $13-$15 PER HOUR! PLUS SEASONAL AND YEAR END BONUSES

SEE OUR JOB LISTINGS ON INDEED Or Apply In-Person at: 106 32nd St, Ocean City, MD, (410) 289-5762

The Dispatch Is On Facebook, Twitter And Instagram.

Follow Us Today To Get The News As It Happens!

PUT YOUR LOGO IN COLOR FOR JUST $10

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

Deadline For Insertions, Cancellations And Payment Is 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Pre-Payment Is Required. We Accept Visa & MasterCard.

APPLY IN PERSON

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Come Join Our Winning Team!

Now accepting applications for the following positions!

Over Night Front Desk Front Desk Agent Recreation Attendant Room Attendant Houseperson Laundry Attendant Maintenance Server Line Cook Kitchen Utility Cashier Barista Looking for experienced personnel with customer service skills. Must be flexible with hours. Email resume to jobs@carouselhotel.com or stop by and complete an application at the Front Desk.

We require satisfactory pre-employment drug testing and background check.

Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 11700 Coastal Highway Ocean City, MD 21842 EOE

Now Hiring

PHOTOGRAPHERS No Experience Necessary Training and Equipment will be Provided

Send Resumes to: meslin@lifetouch.com

Ride the B in OC! CARPENTERS & CARPENTERS HELPERS

Hiring All Positions

SERVERS BUSSERS COOKS HOSTESSES BARTENDERS

Must have : Tools, Trans, Driver’s License

Apply Within 31st St. Coastal Hwy. 410-289-2581 128th St. Coastal Hwy. 410-250-2304

!

W NO

G IRIN

H

Exp. Required!

PATTERSON & SONS BUILDERS Call 410-641-9530 YEAR ROUND OR PART-TIME

’S E T OC WES UN PLAC F T S R MO TO WO KE MAK A N D $$$$

•COOKS •SERVERS Please apply in person.

Greene Turtle West, Rt. 611, West OC 410-213-1500

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

We Invite You to be a Part of our Family!

Year Round - Full/Part Time ~SERVERS ~BUSSERS ~HOSTESS ~POOL ATTENDANT ~DRIVER ~GRILL COOKS ~DISHWASHER ~WAREHOUSE CLERK ~ROOM ATTENDANT ($13/HOUR) ~LAUNDRY ~HOUSEKEEPING HOUSESTAFF ~SECURITY GUARD EXCELLENT BENEFITS! 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

The Dispatch Classifieds

Page 58

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch PUT YOUR LOGO IN COLOR FOR JUST

$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 And Payment Is 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Pre-Payment Is Required. We Accept Visa & MasterCard.

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

The Dispatch

August 21, 2020

Legal Notices

LEGAL RATES Legal advertising rate is $7 per column inch. Deadline for all legal advertising is Tuesday at noon. For more information, call 410-641-4563 or fax 410-641-0966.

*HOUSEKEEPER FOR PRIVATE RESIDENCE*

THIRD INSERTION

Call Heather at 410-289-5444 Mon-Fri 10am-2pm

B. RANDALL COATES ESQ. COATES, COATES, & COATES 204 WEST GREEN STREET SNOW HILL, MD 21863

Cleaning Services Needed!

Married Couple, No Children, No Pets Flexible Hours - Competitive Salary

Part-Time Custodians

Worcester Preparatory School, a coeducational college preparatory day school serving over 400 students in grades PK-12, is currently seeking PT custodians to clean school buildings daily from 3:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. and 5 p.m – 8 p.m.

CJIS Background Screening required. EOE

Contact: Heather Parsons

410-641-3575 or hparsons@worcesterprep.org

NOW HIRING! YEAR ROUND

COOKS & DRIVERS Apply Within or Call Pam at 410-726-7061

Fire Alarm Technician Entry Level

Johnny’s Pizza & Pub, Bayside, 56th St. & Coastal Highway

Immediate opening Good driving record.

Electrical and/or computerrelated experience a plus To apply contact us at jobs@firepro-md.com or call 410-213-1880 FIREPRO, INC

Currently hiring manpower for

•STUCCO & EIFS MECHANICS •CARPENTERS •CONCRETE BLOCK •COATINGS SPECIALISTS •FLAT CONCRETE •CONCRETE REPAIRS •PT WELDER •COMMERCIAL CAULKING •WINDOW & DOOR INSTALLERS •WAREHOUSE HELP (DRIVER’S LICENSE REQ’D)

CASHIER/ SALES ASSOCIATE Must be friendly & dependable FT/PT-Year Round Various shifts Competitive hourly wage Benefits available Temporary $2 extra per hour until further notice

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

RENTALS

UPDATED 2BR/1BA APT: Beautiful historic downtown Berlin, MD, walking distance to shops and restaurants. $1250/mo with first and last month’s rent due at signing along with a $1250 security deposit. No Smoking. No Pets. Call (410)-641-2111, ask for Jessica.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– WINTER RENTAL: Bayside, 28th St. 1BR, Queen + full. W/D. Wi-Fi. No smoking/pets. Sept. 1-May 30. $800 per mo. + util.’s. $500 sec. dep. 410-768-1791.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– OCEAN CITY WINTER RENTALS: Security deposit and references required. Contact us at Liz@homewatchdelmarva.net or 410-641-5470.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– WEEKLY RENTALS: Time & Tide Condominium. Efficiency and 2BR units with full kitchens. Pool. 2605 Baltimore Avenue. Oceanside near boardwalk. Price Reduced. $800-$1100/week. 410-218-5249.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

SERVICES Ceja’s Landscaping & More!

•YARD MAINTENANCE •PAINTING •POWER WASHING 410-251-3425 410-202-2545 Upcoming Yard Sale?

The Dispatch is the best way to get the word out!

Print & Online

COMMERCIAL OFFICE/RETAIL SPACE FOR RENT: 1,100SF, Main St., Berlin.

Easy on-ground level access, plenty of parking. $1,275 per mo. incl. CAM + all utils. 410-641-0128.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SMALL OFFICE—MEDICAL SPACE FOR LEASE: 10031 Old Ocean City Blvd, Berlin $395 per mo. Util.’s incl. Multiple spaces available 443-856-5241.

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

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– OFFICE FOR RENT: Millville/Ocean View area. Approx.

950sf. Professional Office. No CAM fees. Easy access from Rt. 26, Central Ave., Cedar St., Reba Rd. Beautiful grounds, ample parking, front and rear. 717-989-5365.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– UPSCALE MIDTOWN OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 2,130 sq.ft.

No CAM fees. 443-880-2225.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Are You Getting Your Daily Buzz?

Local News Articles Delivered Daily To Your Inbox

Experience Preferred. Tools, transportation & a valid driver’s license are a plus. Competitive benefit package available.

Please apply in person at 11935 Hammer Rd, Bishopville, MD, or apply online: http://allstatesconst.com/delmarva-renovations-careers

SIGN UP AT WWW.MDCOASTDISPATCH.COM

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18373 To all persons interested in the estate of HAZEL E. WARREN, ESTATE NO. 18373.

Notice is given that BONNIE B. ADKINS, 10304 KEYSER POINT ROAD, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842 was on, AUGUST 03, 2020, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of HAZEL E. WARREN, who died on JULY 24TH, 2020, 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 3RD day of FEBRUARY, 2021.

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, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the 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 AUGUST 07, 2020 BONNIE B. ADKINS 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, 8-07, 8-14, 8-21

SECOND INSERTION

RAYMOND D. COATES JR, ESQ. COATES, COATES, & COATES, P.A. 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY SUITE 300 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18374 To all persons interested in the estate of MARJORIE A. DROOGAN, ESTATE NO. 18374. Notice is given that EUGENE J DROOGAN JR, 238 TRUMBAUERSVILLE ROAD, QUAKERTOWN, PA 18951 was on, AUGUST 04, 2020, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MARJORIE A. DROOGAN, who died on JULY 16TH, 2020, 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 4TH day of FEBRUARY, 2021.

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

The Dispatch

August 21, 2020

Legal Notices

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

LEGAL RATES: Legal advertising rate is $7 per column

inch. Deadline for all legal advertising is Tuesday at noon. For more information, call 410-641-4563 or fax 410-641-0966. 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 un-

Do You Know 7000 People Get The Dispatch’s Daily Buzz Every Day? Sign Up At www.mdcoastdispatch.com And Get Local News Each Day.

(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 AUGUST 14, 2020 EUGENE J DROOGAN JR Personal Representative

True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x, 8-14, 8-21, 8-28

FIRST INSERTION

FRANCIS X. BORGERDING, JR., ESQ 409 WASHINGTON AVENUE SUITE 600 TOWSON, MD 21204 SMALL ESTATE NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18242

To all persons interested in the estate of BERNARD E. ROACHE JR. Notice is given that FRANCIS X. BORGERDING, JR., ESQ, 409 WASHINGTON AVENUE, SUITE 600, TOWSON, MD 21204, was on AUGUST 11, 2020, appointed Personal Representative of the SMALL ESTATE of BERNARD E. ROACHE JR., who died on NOVEMBER 7, 2018 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

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

(2) Thirty days after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the 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,

Page 59

is unenforceable thereafter.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 21, 2020 FRANCIS X. BORGERDING, JR., ESQ. 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 8-21

CHECK OUT

The Dispatch

ONLINE E-DITION mdcoastdispatch.com

Page 60

Be Safe And Thanks For Visiting Ocean City The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

PAGE SPONSORED BY THE DISPATCH

August 21, 2020

August 21, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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Horoscopes

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): A relaxed mood early in the week could give way to high-temperature disputes. The Aries Lamb should resist being pulled into heated quarrels that could really singe your wool.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Satisfy that practical obligation first, then you can feel free to indulge in your creative endeavors. Also, check for hidden or overlooked areas where repairs might be long overdue.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Home is still the Twins' major focus this week.

But outside matters begin to take on added importance, especially those involving possible career moves. Stay alert for signs of change.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22): A travel plan might need to undergo some considerable adjustment because of unexpected changes. Keep an open mind and let the facts guide you on how you want to handle this.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22): Playing cat and mouse with a matter you don't really want to tackle wastes time, energy and, most important, an opportunity. Ask someone with experience to help you get started.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22): A shift in policy might not please you, but before you put up a "no go" wall of resistance, examine the circumstances. You might be quite pleasantly surprised by what you find.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22): Yesterday's critiques about your methods

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

might have already evolved into today's praise for your achievements. Good for you. Now go on and continue to build on your credibility.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21): An occasional temperamental flare-up might occur as you continue to help get things back to normal. Stay with it. You should soon get some idea of where to take things next.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21): A negative reaction to what you believe was a well-deserved request might mean that you need to reconsider your position and make changes accordingly.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19): There's always room for someone new at the Sea Goat's table. And the someone new this week could bring a message you've been waiting a long time to hear.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18): A pile-on of personal matters this week might seem too overwhelming to deal with. But handling them on a one-byone basis could have you out from under it by the weekend.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20): A friend might need your good advice regarding a matter. Be supportive. But unless you can be absolutely sure you have all the facts, be careful about any suggestions you might be asked to offer.

BORN THIS WEEK: Few things make you happier than bringing people together and helping to forge new friendships. © 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

Things I Like ...

OCEAN CITY vanishing

August 21, 2020

WITH BUNK MANN

In the 1950s, a new town known as Ocean Beach was being promoted on the northern end of Assateague Island about five miles south of Ocean City.

The development faced several problems, however, including access — there was no bridge to Assateague in those days and the small ferry could only carry three cars. Another problem was the situation with mosquitoes and greenhead flies on a west wind that could make life unbearable.

At its peak, Ocean Beach boasted several miles of paved roads with street signs and power lines in place. By 1961, several hundred lots had been sold and at least 40 homes had been built. This all ended abruptly when a powerful storm in March 1962 left most of the lots under water and destroyed much of the infrastructure. The development of Assateague ended forever when President Lyndon Johnson signed a bill on Sept. 21, 1965 making Assateague a “national seashore.”

Today wild ponies graze on the remnants of Ocean Beach.

To purchase one of Bunk Mann's books, click over to www.vanishinNational Park Service photo courtesy Allen Sklar goc.com.

The Dispatch Crossword Puzzle

By Steve Green

When friends from out of town visit The air show on a blue sky day A group of kids playing together without electronics

People watching on the beach Little kids wearing masks

Catching a great Seinfeld rerun Addiction recovery stories When hindsight makes a decision look wise

Chris Parypa’s aviation pictures No sea lice ocean days

Pizza and salad for dinner ANSWERS ON PAGE 48

August 21, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 21, 2020