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Boardwalk Lumber Buy Decided

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Two Rehabbed Turtles Released

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BERLIN – The cause of a fire at the Atlantic Hotel in Berlin this week has been identified as “improperly discarded smoking materials,” according to the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office.

The Berlin Fire Company was alerted at 3:53 p.m. Wednesday to report of smoke in the kitchen of the historic hotel and restaurant that dates back to 1895. Firefighters quickly contained the fire to an area below a window leading into the kitchen.

Investigators determined the fire began as a result of a cigarette not being property extinguished.

Berlin was assisted by Ocean City, Ocean Pines, Showell and Newark fire companies. According to Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Robert D. Korb, Jr., the hotel was evacuated for about one hour during the fire investigation. The restaurant was turned over to the Worcester County Department of Environmental Health for follow-up inspections.

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Berlin Fire Company members are pictured on the scene Wednesday.

Photo by Cate Nellans

Authorities Probe Berlin Home Invasion

August 26, 2022

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Law enforcement is seeking the public’s assistance following a home invasion on Broad Street in Berlin.

Police Chief Arnold Downing is asking area residents to review footage from their home security cameras after an armed man forced his way into a Broad Street home Sunday night. Though the homeowner fought the suspect off with a chair, he escaped on foot before police arrived.

“Look at your videos,” Downing said.

On Sunday, Aug. 21 at about 11 p.m., Berlin Police Department officers responded to a home on Broad Street for a reported home invasion. Officers learned a male suspect had forcefully gained entry to the home by throwing an outdoor chair through a large bay window. The home’s male resident struck the suspect with a chair and was struck by the intruder in the face with a gun. The resident was again able to hit the suspect with a chair, forcing him to leave the scene.

Officers with the Berlin Police Department contacted the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) to handle the case.

Downing said investigators are asking area residents who have home security cameras to check footage from the past couple weeks.

“The victims didn’t have a very good description,” he said, adding that the suspect was wearing a mask.

Downing said individuals who used social media to share incidents last week during which their unlocked vehicles were rifled through should also contact the police. He said officers have reviewed Facebook threads for information.

“Folks shouldn’t be surprised if they’re contacted by police,” he said.

As he did last week, he stressed that residents who have concerns need to speak to police directly—not just share their concerns on social media. The police can always be reached by dialing 911 or in non-emergencies at 410-641-1333.

Downing added that his officers were working extra shifts to ensure the town had plenty of coverage during the overnight hours. Extra personnel was seen on Broad Street last night.

During Monday’s council meeting, officials expressed their appreciation for the efforts of Downing and his team. Broad Street resident Melissa Reid said she and her neighbors were grateful for his support during a difficult time on their street.

“This town is incredibly lucky to have Chief Downing,” she said. “It’s been an emotional day for Broad Street. He was incredibly professional. Chief Downing represents the best as a community police officer.”

She encouraged elected officials to seriously consider the department’s needs in the future, as recruitment and retainment of officers has been an issue in recent months.

“It’s important that Berlin Police get the staffing they need to do what they need to do,” she said.

August 26, 2022

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Businesses Urged To Participate In Trespass Program

August 26, 2022

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – With the summer season winding down and more and more businesses reducing hours, resort police this week encouraged business owners to sign up for an established program that allows officers to intervene on private property.

With the offseason nearing, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) is encouraging business owners to sign up for the Trespass Enforcement Authorization Program, or TEAP. Businesses that are not open seven days a week, 24 hours a day

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and 365 days a year this week were encouraged to sign up for TEAP. Many businesses have already signed up for the TEAP program, which as the name suggests, authorizes OCPD officers to go on private property when a business is closed to take enforcement action when necessary. It allows law enforcement to effectively and efficiently address peace and good order issues on private property, such as trespassing, for example.

The TEAP program is especially important during nighttime hours when contacting business owners or managers is inherently problematic and inconvenient.

Without TEAP registration, a business

owner or designated representative has to be contacted in order to allow the OCPD and other local law enforcement agencies to go on private property to enforce violations.

TEAP signs are posted on participating private properties alerting the OCPD and its allied partners on which properties they are authorized to enter and handle situations without the consent of the owner or manager. Often, locating a property owner or resident agent can create challenges during real-time incidents or violations.

While TEAP participation is in effect once a property or business owner is registered and the protections afforded under

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the program are always available, it really has its genesis in some of the motorized vehicle special events, including the troublesome pop-up rally each late September.

As the pop-up car rally in September grew, participation in the TEAP increased in kind. Prior to last year’s event, roughly 150 businesses had signed up and that number is expected to grow. According to the OCPD release this week, the goal is to get every property that is not open 24 hours, seven days a week to join the TEAP. In order to expedite membership in TEAP, the OCPD is waiving the cost of the signs for new participants. To register, visit the town’s website.

Fri-Sun Mon-Thurs

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Aquarium Releases 2 Rehabbed Sea Turtles

August 26, 2022

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

A crowd gathered on the beach at Assateague State Park last week to watch as two rehabilitated sea turtles were released back into the wild.

Photo Courtesy of Phillip Smith/National Aquarium

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ASSATEAGUE – Two rehabilitated sea turtles were sent back into the ocean from the beach at Assateague State Park, the first public release since the beginning of the COVID pandemic.

The National Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Team last Thursday released two Kemp’s ridley sea turtles from the beach at Assateague in front of a large crowd of onlookers watching the rehabilitated creatures make their way across the beach and back into the sea.

For National Aquarium staffers, it was the first public release of sea turtles, seals or other sea creatures in front of a large crowd of onlookers since before the pandemic.

In a typical year, the National Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Team releases rehabilitated sea creatures in publicly announced ceremonies. During COVID, however, the aquarium continued to rehabilitate injured or ill sea turtles, seals and other sea mammals as usual, but the releases were generally private ceremonies because of social distancing, gathering sizes and other pandemic-related restrictions in place.

With those restrictions eased, National Aquarium staffers last Thursday released the two Kemp’s ridley sea turtles back into the wild in front a big crowd at Assateague State Park. The two turtles, named Bassoon and Cello, in keeping with the aquarium’s theme this year of naming rehabilitated sea creatures after musical instruments, made their way back into the ocean in front of the large crowd that gathered to witness the event.

Both came to the National Aquarium last fall as part of a larger group of 28 sea turtles that were rescued by various agencies and organizations along the east coast. Bassoon and Cello came to the aquarium suffering from various injuries and pneumonia. Bassoon notably received acupuncture treatments and physical therapy treatments while in the aquarium’s care.

In addition, the two rescued sea turtles also received typical supportive care with antibiotics, fluids therapy and dietary supplements. After months of careful rehabilitation, both were deemed ready to return to the wild and were released from the beach at Assateague last week.

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (DMd.), who has championed increased federal funding for sea turtle rescue and release programs in Congress, was in attendance for the release last Thursday. Although sea turtles are federally protected, and despite the high costs associated with rescuing and rehabilitating injured or ill sea turtles, there continues to be inadequate federal funding SEE PAGE 79

August 26, 2022

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Proposed Parking Changes Worry Fenwick Businesses

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – A recommendation to keep proposed parking ratios, but to change suggested requirements for mechanical equipment, will advance to the Fenwick Island Town Council for a second reading.

Last Friday, the Fenwick Island Charter and Ordinance Committee met to discuss proposed ordinance amendments pertaining to mechanical equipment and off-street parking in the town’s commercial district. Citing concerns from the business community at a recent public hear-

ing, Mayor Natalie Magdeburger, committee chair, said the goal of the committee meeting was to review the proposed changes and hear business owners’ suggestions.

“We had a hearing regarding some of the proposed ordinances we had a first reading on,” she said. “We got further information as a result of the hearing.”

In a public hearing held last month, several members of the Fenwick Island business community came before the town council to share their opposition to two proposed ordinance amendments involving mechanical equipment and offstreet parking. While the changes would

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apply to new and substantially improved properties, business owners last month argued the changes were onerous and impacted commercial development.

“The setbacks, mechanical equipment location, parking spaces and delivery zone requirements you are proposing make it nearly impossible for any new businesses to be built in Fenwick Island,” said Kinsley Hazel, whose family owns undeveloped commercial property along Coastal Highway.

Back on the agenda for review last week, committee members met with business owners to discuss the two proposed ordinance amendments, the first of which requiring new parking ratios and delivery zones for commercial buildings such as restaurants, retail stores and hotels.

“My personal belief is we are taking steps on this council to try to alleviate the parking situation …,” Magdeburger said.

“If we don’t do something to address this, we will continue to have a parking problem.”

As proposed, the ordinance amendment would change parking ratios to one per 50 square feet of patron space for restaurants, one per 250 square feet of floor area for retail, and 1.5 per sleeping unit and 1.5 spaces for each 10 rooms for hotels. The proposed changes would also require designated space marked for deliveries.

While acknowledging the proposed ratios were more stringent than the current ratios, Magdeburger said they would ad-

August 26, 2022

dress the growing parking problems in Fenwick. She noted that since 1995, the town’s parking space requirements had eroded to the point that they no longer met the needs of the business community.

“These parking ratios and requirements weren’t just to protect the residents, but also to protect other businesses,” she said.

Magdeburger told business owners this week the proposed parking ratios would only apply to new and redeveloped properties and that owners would be able to seek a variance from the Fenwick Island Board of Adjustment if needed. She added that the proposed ratios were also less stringent than those in the Sussex County code.

Several business owners, however, urged the town to keep the current parking ratios until a parking study could be conducted. Attorney Richard Abbott, representing Balsamo Real Estate, pointed out that the town’s comprehensive development plan called for a parking plan.

“Right now, we’re just kind of guessing,” he said, “and that’s not what the comprehensive plan calls for.”

Warren’s Station owner Scott Mumford said that a study was needed to address the town’s parking problems.

“I don’t know if anyone knows what the ramifications would be, what the impact would be on businesses in the future …,” he said. “We all know there is a problem, but I don’t think this is the answer.”

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Resident Shares West Street Safety Concerns Lift Station Will Be

Page 12

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BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – A resident urged the town council to consider pedestrian safety improvements for West Street this week.

Westminster Drive resident Mary Hedlesky approached the council on Monday to share concerns about safety on West Street. She said she’d watched a jogger nearly get hit by a vehicle one recent morning.

“It was kind of scary,” she said.

Hedlesky told the council she was an early morning walker and regularly saw many people out and about. As she was walking one day last week she saw her neighbor, who was jogging, have to jump out of the way of a vehicle. She shared the incident on Facebook and asked other Berlin residents if they had any insight on how pedestrian safety could be improved.

“A lot of people came back with some really good ideas,” she said.

As a result, she said she’d compiled in-

formation regarding a variety of potential solutions, from speed bumps to sidewalks to reflective paint. She said she’d discovered some grant programs that could potentially help the town fund sidewalks for the street.

Mayor Zack Tyndall acknowledged her concerns.

“West Street has been a topic of discussion for a while regarding underlying infrastructure as well as the increased safety for pedestrians and bicycles,” he said. “It is something we’re looking at but we’re looking at it holistically in conjunction with the stormwater concerns. Our engineers are working on what those numbers would look like. And there are some stormwater projects that we’re working through the grant process for.”

West Street resident Marie Velong, who watched Monday’s meeting online, said she was glad to see the issue brought up. She said the road had a significant amount of traffic and yet sidewalks and street lights that only went so far. She said

the stop signs that were added to West Street several years ago helped some but not as much as residents hoped they would.

“Everyone on the west side of the street has large driveways and should be parking in them not on the street,” she said. “That would make room for a sidewalk or a bicycle path. West Street is continually moved down the list when it comes to any work being done to alleviate these problems.”

When asked what exactly was underway as far as West Street following this week’s meeting, Tyndall said engineers were looking at a variety of things.

“We are working with our engineers to determine a preliminary cost to improve the underlying infrastructure along West Street, the cost of continuing sidewalks from Washington Street to Buckingham Lane, stormwater improvements, and any additional work that needs to be done to improve the functionality and safety of West Street,” he said.

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Replaced In Berlin

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Plans to replace the Broad Street lift station are underway in Berlin.

Town staff told officials this week the request for proposals (RFP) regarding the replacement of the Broad Street lift station was being drafted and a survey of the property was in the works.

“We have to get the survey done of the property first so we know what we have to work with before we do the design and the build,” said Jamey Latchum, the town’s director of water resources.

This spring, the Berlin Town Council decided to commit $1 million of the town’s federal COVID relief funding to replace the decades-old lift station on Broad Street.

The lift station, which pumps wastewater from that neighborhood over to West Street, from where it can be sent to the town’s treatment plant, was built around 1940 and hasn’t received extensive work since the 1970s. Latchum said this spring something catastrophic could happen to it at any time. If the pump fails, the town will have to rent a pump and haul wastewater to the treatment plant, a process with significant costs.

Councilman Jack Orris asked for an update on the replacement project this week. Latchum said the necessary site survey should be done within a couple weeks. While crews have been busy with other projects in town, those are wrapping up soon.

“Once they get some of that stuff caught up we’ll be pushing hard on Broad Street,” he said.

Councilman Jay Knerr asked if there was a plan in place in case of a failure at the lift station.

Latchum said while there was no formal procedure he planned to rent a pump and then haul the wastewater to the plant.

While people have objected to pumps in the past because of the noise they create, he said technology had improved in recent years.

“We talk louder than what they sound,” he said. “We could put one of them there for the short-term.”

Latchum believes the tricky part of the replacement project will be the design of the station’s wet well, as that will have to be built on site.

“The wet well’s going to have to be redesigned because it’s a 1940 construction,” he said. “We’re going to try to build a new one in front of the old one is what our plans are.”

He cautioned however that once construction did begin there would be lane closures and congestion on Broad Street.

“There’s probably going to be some lane closures and pickups in the road,” he said. “But I don’t know what else to do.

We don’t own much property down there to park stuff.”

Officials noted that much of the infrastructure in Berlin was aging and would simply have to be replaced in the coming years, something all towns had to deal with at one point or another.

“Berlin is not unique,” Town Administrator Mary Bohlen said.

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 13

OC Moves Ahead With Lumber Bid, Keeping Fall Project On Schedule

Page 14

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – The second phase of a major Boardwalk re-decking project will go off as planned this fall after resort officials this week approved a recommendation for the low bid for the lumber for the project.

The complete re-decking of the Boardwalk has been in the works for a number of years and the first phase was completed last spring in advance of the summer season. The second phase is scheduled to begin this fall after Sunfest weekend in October and is expected to be completed before the next summer season.

After a couple of pandemic-related

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setbacks with lumber costs and supply chain issues, the first phase, which covered the north end from the Boardwalk at 27th Street to 15th Street and the south end of the boards to the pier, has already been completed. The second phase, which will cover from 15th Street south to the pier, is expected to begin this fall and is on track after the Mayor and Council approved the low bid in a bit of an unorthodox way.

During last Monday’s meeting, bids were opened for the lumber needed for the second phase of the major Boardwalk re-decking project. Three bids were opened, the lowest of which came in under the $500,000 budget estimate for the project.

Two of the bids opened last week in-

August 26, 2022

A couple is pictured biking on the newly redecked portion of the Boardwalk in May. Photo by Chris Parypa

cluded alternates for two different grades of lumber, including the number-one prime grade and the more expensive, but slightly more durable, number-one dense

grade. A third bid opened proposed an alternate tropical hardwood grade that was largely not considered.

When the bids were opened last Monday, City Manager Terry McGean explained there was some urgency in the decision-making process because of fluctuations in the lumber industry.

McGean said the council needed to act quickly on the submitted bids because they were subject to change in the market.

As a result, the Mayor and Council approved a motion to remand the opened Boardwalk lumber bids to staff for a review and a recommendation. It’s a common procedure for bid openings and typically the appropriate staff reviews the bids and comes back with a recommendation at the next meeting.

However, because of the urgency required with the bids that were subject to change because of the lumber market volatility, the council broke from tradition and moved forward with a different plan to recommend and approve the Boardwalk lumber bids.

After last Monday’s meeting and with no meeting this week, McGean, City Engineer Paul Mauser and staff reviewed the opened bids for the Boardwalk lumber and made a recommendation to the Mayor and Council via email on Friday.

The elected officials reviewed the recommendation for the lowest bid and had to decide by Monday to accept the Boardwalk lumber bid.

McGean confirmed this week the council had accepted the recommendation for the low bid of around $465,000, which came in under the project budget of $500,000. As a result, the second phase of the Boardwalk re-decking project from 15th Street south to the pier is expected to begin in earnest right after Sunfest weekend, which has been moved back into October this year to accommodate other major special events in the resort.

The winning bid includes the use of the number-one prime grade lumber, which Mauser last week described as more aesthetically pleasing but not quite as strong as number-one dense. He explained the number-one dense grade is more durable but has supply chain issues and is barely available. He explained going with the number-one dense grade, even if it was readily available, would have brought the project in considerably over budget.

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 15

Serial Rapist Nabbed In ‘92 To Serve More Time In Del.

Page 16

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – A notorious serial rapist nabbed 30 years ago by the resort’s nascent bike patrol was paroled in Maryland last week but will likely serve out his remaining years in Delaware.

On Aug. 20, 1992, Michael Siple, now 57, was arrested for rape and sexual assault in Ocean City after Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers heard a female victim’s calls for help while patrolling the downtown area on bicycles.

The OCPD’s bike patrol had only been created a short time earlier thanks to the President Bill Clinton-era bill providing more funding for community policing.

Siple was eventually convicted for his crimes in Ocean City in Worcester County Circuit Court and was sentenced to 32 years. Last week, he was paroled in Maryland after serving 29 years of a 32year sentence with the Department of Corrections, but he was immediately turned over to the Delaware Department of Corrections where he will likely serve out the rest of his life.

Siple was connected to a similar un-

solved sexual assault case in Ocean City in the same unit on St. Louis Avenue in the resort two years earlier. OCPD detectives, collaborating with law enforcement in Delaware, were able to connect Siple to dozens of similar incidents in that state over the course of three years.

Because he was arrested in Ocean City, Siple was charged and eventually convicted in Worcester County and sentenced to 32 years for his crime here.

The state of Delaware also eventually convicted Siple of dozens of cases in that state, and he was sentenced to 50 years to life in that jurisdiction, but Delaware had to wait until Siple had served his time in Maryland to put him behind bars. With Siple’s parole in Maryland last week, he is now in the custody of Delaware.

Bill Paves Way For Bike Patrol As a candidate for president in 1992, one of the planks in Bill Clinton’s platform was enhanced resources for community policing in jurisdictions all over the country. Shortly after being elected, Clinton was able to push through a $200 million bill to provide more resources to local police departments around the

country, including $4.8 million to jurisdictions in Maryland.

The OCPD applied for and received a grant to begin its brand-new bicycle patrol and a handful of officers, including retired cop and now-City Councilman Mark Paddack and officers Brett Case and Glen McIntyre, were among the first to develop and participate in the early program, which proved to be mobile and agile in policing, particularly in the downtown area.

On the night of Aug. 20, 1992, Paddack was patrolling on his police bike downtown in the area of St. Louis Avenue when he heard screaming from a unit. At first, Paddack was not immediately alarmed by the screaming in an area where many young summer workers tended to live and party. However, when he heard a female voice yelling “police” he quickly retreated and called for backup.

Case and McIntyre, also on bicycles, quickly responded and were able to apprehend Siple in a nearby parking lot.

Siple, then 28, had sexually assaulted a young woman in a downtown apartment and fled on foot before the bicycle police

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were able to capture him. Paddack this week recalled the incident from 30 years ago.

“I remember hearing the victim scream on a St. Louis Avenue balcony,” he said. “I almost peddled by her unit, but divine intervention said turn around.

Thank God Brett Case and Glen McIntyre were only two blocks away. They got Siple in a parking lot after my radio calls for backup. I was simply part of a team effort of downtown bike patrol.

Thank God for the collective efforts of the OCPD and teamwork that Siple is in prison for life.”

The OCPD bicycle patrol has become an integral part of the department’s policing and law enforcement over the years and has grown by leaps and bounds. Particularly in the downtown area, the bicycle cops are highly visible, mobile and respond quickly to incidents and calls for service when a traditional vehicle-based officer might be snared in traffic or other obstacles. Paddack himself filled out the grant application for the bike patrol funding and the rest is history.

“The OCPD bike patrol is a mainstay in crime control,” he said. “Decades later, I see the benefits and will support all efforts to support our police. Resort communities are not immune to elements of metropolitan communities just hours away. The OCPD and the town staff are on top of the trends always.”

More Time In Del. For Siple Siple was convicted in Worcester County for multiple counts of rape and sexual assault and was sentenced to 32 years. Shortly after his arrest by the OCPD bike patrol in August 1992, resort detectives collaborated with law enforcement in Delaware to link him to around three dozen similar cases in that state and the surrounding area.

Various law enforcement agencies in Delaware had been investigating a series of rapes and sexual assaults with considerable resources dedicated to the capture of the suspect. At the height of the investigation, about 20 law enforcement officers in various departments were working the case and, eventually, SEE NEXT PAGE

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… Case Spotlights Early Success Of OCPD Bike Patrol

August 26, 2022

the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) became involved to no avail.

Allied law enforcement agencies reportedly waded through thousands of tips and leads but could not identify or locate the suspect in the growing number of cases. When the alert OCPD bicycle patrol officers were able to nab Siple after a sexual assault incident in a downtown apartment on St. Louis Avenue, resort police were able to collaborate with law enforcement in Delaware to link him to a series of similar crimes in that jurisdiction.

Siple was tried and convicted first in Maryland and was ultimately sentenced to 32 years, of which he served 29 prior to being paroled last week. He was also tried and convicted in Delaware for his three dozen or so similar crimes there and was sentenced to 50 years to life.

With his time in the Maryland Department of Corrections served, he was turned over to officials in Delaware to serve out his remaining time there, which will likely be the rest of his life.

OCPD Feted At White House Again, one plank in Clinton’s campaign platform was enhanced resources for community policing, an ironic concept in a new era of efforts to defend local police departments, and the spending bill he was able to push through early in his administration provided resources to local police departments including more personnel, better or newer equipment and other initiatives. One of the early success stories of those initiatives was the OCPD bike patrol, which gained funding through the program.

Clinton was advised of the early success of the OCPD bicycle patrol and the arrest of Siple by then-Senator Paul Sarbanes. As a result, then-OCPD Police Chief Dave Massey, Paddack and McIntyre were invited to the White House to showcase the success of the president’s initiatives. Case was also invited but had to decline because of commitments with the court system to adjudicate cases in which he was involved.

According to reports, Massey explained the success of the OCPD bike patrol to the president. For his part, Clinton said the OCPD bicycle patrol was a shining example of the intent of his community policing program and praised the department for its success overall and for nabbing convicted serial rapist Siple.

During the White House event, Clinton praised the OCPD and local law enforcement agencies all over the country who were having similar success.

“I think all Americans know that we can never be strong abroad unless we are first strong at home,” Clinton reportedly said during the event. “Our ability to make our people secure is the critical element of personal freedom that rests at the root of our strength as a nation.”

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Abandoned Hotel Break-In OCEAN CITY – Two Riva, Md., men were arrested last weekend after allegedly entering an abandoned Boardwalk hotel at 13th Street and kicking in doors and smashing windows.

Around 10:55 p.m. last Friday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to the area of the old Phillips Beach Plaza Hotel at 13th Street and the Boardwalk for a reported breaking and entering. The complainant advised Ocean City Communications two males walked onto the property at the Beach Plaza Hotel, which is a condemned building with a fence around the perimeter of the property, according to police reports.

The complainant advised Ocean City Communications loud noises could be heard coming from the building. OCPD officers interviewed witnesses on the Boardwalk in the area who advised seeing the two suspects, later identified as Boone Gervase, 19, of Riva, Md., and Joseph Smelgus, 19, also of Riva, go up to the second floor of the abandoned hotel.

COPS & COURTS While officers were speaking with witnesses, they observed the two suspects leaving the property. When Gervase and Smelgus saw the officers, they took off running across Baltimore Avenue and into traffic, causing vehicles to brake and slow down, according to police reports.

OCPD officers chased Gervase and Smelgus and were eventually able to detain them in the area of 14th Street with the assistance of other responding officers. According to police reports, Gervase had cuts on his hands and on his feet, but was not wearing any shoes. Gervase reportedly told officers he had been wearing Crocs-style shoes, but they were not on his person. Smelgus was wearing Vans shoes at the time he was detained, according to police reports.

OCPD officers went back to the abandoned hotel and went to the second floor where they observed a two-panel window shattered with glass all over the floor, ac-

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Stolen Vehicle Hit-And-Run OCEAN CITY – A Baltimore man was arrested for motor vehicle theft and other charges last weekend after allegedly swiping his friend’s car and backing into another vehicle at a downtown motel parking lot.

Around 9:30 p.m. last Friday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to a motel parking lot at 19th

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cording to police reports. The officers also reportedly observed a hotel door had been kicked in with fresh footprints on it.

The officers observed the footprints on the door and footprints leading away from where the glass window had been shattered included both Vans and Crocs footprints. Based on the evidence and witness testimony, both Gervase and Smelgus were arrested and charged with theft, malicious destruction of property and trespassing.

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August 26, 2022 Street for a reported hit-and-run collision.

OCPD officers met with a motel manager who advised he had been told by a security guard on the premises his vehicle in the parking lot had been hit and the driver left the scene.

The security guard reportedly advised the motel manager the other vehicle had backed into his vehicle. The security guard advised a white Lexus driven by Preston Gallant, 19, of Baltimore, had struck the manager’s pickup truck while backing up and drove off. The security guard was able to get a picture of the vehicle’s license plate before it drove away, according to police reports.

The manager and security guard went to the motel room on the third floor where they knew Gallant to be staying. While they were approaching the room, the manager and security guard observed Gallant run down the stairs and take a bicycle that did not belong to him from an adjacent motel parking lot and ride north on Washington Lane, according to police reports.

The vehicle’s owner advised officers where he had parked his vehicle but it was not in the space he indicated, nor was it anywhere on the parking lot. The vehicle’s owner was becoming increasingly irate and yelling profanities, according to police reports.

When advised Gallant had taken his vehicle, backed into a truck and then fled on a stolen bicycle, the vehicle’s owner reportedly told police “sounds like him.” The vehicle’s owner was a friend of Gallant, who did not have permission to take the Lexus, according to police reports.

Around 11 p.m. the same night, OCPD officers located Gallant walking on Philadelphia Avenue near 14th Street. Gallant told the officers he did not ditch his friend’s car, and when told it could not be found and that it had been reported as stolen, Gallant offered to show police where he had parked it.

When asked about the bicycle, Gallant reportedly told police he had not stolen it, but rather borrowed it because it was unlocked. He reportedly told police he stashed the bicycle between two dumpsters and that he left the Lexus in a parking space near the hotel.

Gallant could not tell officers exactly where he left the vehicle. He was arrested and charged with motor vehicle theft and other counts. He was in possession of a fake driver’s license, which he admitted he used to purchase alcohol and other things.

Handgun Found In Vehicle OCEAN CITY – A Philadelphia man was arrested last week after a handgun was found in his vehicle following a routine traffic stop.

Around 10:30 p.m. last Wednesday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer patrolling in the downtown area conducted a traffic stop in the area of 36th Street and Coastal Highway. The officer approached the vehicle and its driver, identified as Miguel Ruiz, 30, of Philadelphia, and his female passenger and detected an odor of marijuana coming from the passenger compartment, according to police reports.

OCPD officers determined through the investigation there was a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle, according to police reports. During a search incident to the stop, OCPD officers located on the SEE NEXT PAGE

August 26, 2022

... COPS & COURTS floor of the back seat behind the driver’s seat a handgun with a 14-inch barrel in a gun case.

OCPD officers determined the handgun was considered a regulated firearm in Maryland and Ruiz did not possess a wear and carry permit in the state. When questioned, Ruiz reportedly told officer he had brought the handgun to Ocean City because his home had recently been broken into and other weapons he owned had been stolen. He was ultimately arrested and charged with wearing and carrying a handgun on his person and transporting a handgun on public roads.

Spat Leads To Weapons Arrest OCEAN CITY – A Buffalo, N.Y. man was arrested last week after first getting into a physical altercation with his wife in a downtown restaurant parking lot and later being found with a knife on his person.

Around 8:40 p.m. last Friday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer responded to the parking lot of a downtown bar at 28th Street for a reported domestic incident. OCPD officers arrived and located the couple involved in the altercation, including Kane Cameron, 26, of Buffalo, N.Y., and his wife, according to police reports.

Through the investigation, officers learned Cameron and his wife had been arguing about whether or not to eat at the establishment and the argument turned physical when the female victim grabbed a necklace from Cameron and broke it.

Cameron reportedly became irate and grabbed the female victim, allegedly causing injuries including scratches on her arms and neck among others, according to police reports.

Based on the evidence and testimony, Cameron was arrested at that point for second-degree assault. During a search incident to his arrest, OCPD officers located on his person a spring-assisted knife classified as a martial arts weapon under the town’s code and additional weapons charges were added.

Passed Out In Wrong Unit OCEAN CITY – A Pennsylvania man was arrested on burglary charges last weekend after being found asleep in a bed in a downtown residence.

Around 10:30 p.m. last Friday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to a residence on 12th Street and Baltimore Avenue for a reported breaking and entering. OCPD officers interviewed a female victim who advised an unknown male was asleep in a bed inside the residence, according to police reports.

OCPD officers interviewed other residents of the unit and reportedly none of them knew who the male sleeping in a bed was. OCPD officers woke the suspect, later identified as Christian Bishop, 27, of Waynesboro, Pa. Upon being awakened, Bishop was disoriented and slow to respond to commands, according to police reports, but he eventually exited the bed with assistance from OCPD officers.

Bishop told police he had no idea where he currently was or where he was supposed to be in Ocean City. He was ar-

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch rested and charged with fourth-degree burglary. Residents of the unit advised officers the door had been locked and they were unsure how Bishop had entered.

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Loaded Handgun Arrest OCEAN CITY – A Delaware man was arrested last weekend after getting stopped for allegedly driving while impaired and later being found with a loaded handgun in his vehicle.

Around 11:35 p.m. last Saturday, Ocean City Communications issued a be on the lookout message about a vehicle that was reportedly driving on the shoulder and was swerving all over the road in Delaware on its way to Ocean City. The original caller provided a description of the vehicle and reported last seeing it in the area of 138th Street, according to police reports.

An Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer in the area of Pacific Avenue observed the suspect vehicle, driven by Terry Heinrich, 70, of Selbyville, Del. and conducted a traffic stop. Heinrich reportedly showed signs of impairment and later failed to perform field sobriety tests to the officer’s satisfaction.

Heinrich was taken into custody on suspicion of driving while impaired or intoxicated. Heinrich was transported to the Public Safety Building for processing.

During an inventory of the vehicle’s contents prior to it being towed, OCPD officers located a loaded .38-caliber Ruger handgun in the glove box. Also located in the vehicle were two loaded magazines in the center console. In addition to the DWI charges, Heinrich was also charged with possessing and carrying a loaded handgun.

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Petition Seeks To Rename Road ‘Gavin Knupp Way’

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BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – A petition drive launched last week to consider renaming a portion of Grays Corner Road in memory of a 14-year-old boy killed in a hit-and-run collision there in July appears to be gaining momentum and there is some precedent for the practice.

Around 10:45 p.m. on July 11, a black Mercedes driving eastbound on Grays Corner Road, a service road of sorts that runs between Route 589 and Glen Riddle Lane parallel to Route 50, struck Gavin Knupp, 14, of Ocean Pines, and left the scene. Knupp was reportedly a pedestrian on the roadway and returning to a nearby vehicle when the collision took place. He was transported to Atlantic General Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The vehicle involved fled the scene and did not return. Local law enforcement conducted a search for the vehicle allegedly involved. Six days after the collision, on July 17, the Mercedes identified as a possible link to the fatal hitand-run was seized from a home in the Ocean Reef community near the airport off Route 611.

The vehicle, which had damage consistent with the collision investigation, was towed to the Maryland State Police Berlin barrack for further processing. In

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

the many weeks since the fatal collision, official details about a possible suspect or suspects have been scant as the investigation continues. As of mid-week, no formal charges have been filed nor arrest warrants issued.

Meanwhile, the “Do it for Gavin” movement continues to gain momentum in a community still grieving the loss of the popular local teen and still waiting for answers from the investigation. Just last week, a petition was started on change.org to have a portion of Grays Corner Road where the fatal collision occurred renamed or designated to Gavin Knupp Way. By mid-week, the petition drive had garnered nearly 3,200 signatures.

“He touched so many people’s lives and he deserves to be remembered,” the petition reads. “He was a sweet and caring funny dude that everybody loved.

What better way to honor our friend Gavin than by renaming a portion of Grays Corner Road to Gavin Knupp Way. Let’s all come together to make this happen.”

Grays Corner Road, officially Route 707, is a state-owned and maintained roadway and there is some precedent for at least dedicating or designating a portion of a roadway to an individual or group under certain circumstances. Maryland Department of TransportationState Highway Administration (MDOT-

SHA) Deputy Communications Director Charlie Gischlar said this week a state agency holds sway over a decision to dedicate or designate a portion of a state roadway when requested.

“The Maryland Transportation Commission handles the dedication of state roads,” he said. “These dedications are put in place in memory or honor of individuals or groups of significance to the state of Maryland.”

Gischlar said the General Assembly passed legislation defining the process for which a state roadway could be dedicated. He said renaming a state roadway was more complicated and not the preferred route for the commission to take.

“Designating or dedicating a highway does not change the underlying name or number of the road, but marks a segment of the road in honor of an individual or group,” he said. “Renaming a highway involves changing postal addresses, road signs, mapping services and notifying 911 and emergency responders.

There is legislative precedent for both renaming and designation. The legislature drafted legislation that used the designation language instead of renaming.”

The Maryland Transportation Commission’s website outlines situations in which a roadway or portion of a roadway could be dedicated or designated to an individual or group. Again, renaming a

August 26, 2022

state roadway is the less preferred option, but there is precedent for it.

“The Maryland Transportation Commission prefers that roadways and facilities be dedicated rather than renamed due to associated costs and other considerations,” the site reads. “Dedication is closer to actions taken over the years in response to such requests regarding state roads. As a practical matter, renaming typically requires costly reprinting of maps, replacing signs well beyond the immediate area, changing mailing addresses, and the reorientation of drivers, particularly those traveling through an unfamiliar area. However, under certain circumstances, the commission may recommend renaming of a particular roadway or facility.”

The Maryland Transportation Commission site goes on to describe certain circumstances under which a roadway or portion of a roadway would be recommended for dedication. For example, a dedication could honor an individual who is deceased after a distinguished career in public service to the state, or groups or individuals with special relevance for Maryland. In most cases, a roadway or portion of a roadway is dedicated to a law enforcement officer, firefighter, first responder or highway worker fatally injured in the line of duty. There are multiple examples of those situations statewide and around the Eastern Shore.

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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Commission Asked To Review Code County Sees Jump In Ad Funding

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BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Elected officials agreed this week to have the Berlin Planning Commission review potential changes to the town’s animal control regulations following concerns from a resident.

The Berlin Town Council on Monday voted to ask the town’s planning commission to look into the county’s animal control regulations to see if they could potentially be implemented in Berlin. The request came after resident Gina Velong brought up the fact that Berlin’s ordinances were dated and too constricting.

“I think if we could adopt Worcester County’s language it would be a great asset to the town and a great asset to the neighbors,” Velong said.

Velong, who said she was following up on an email she sent to elected officials, told the council at the end of Monday’s meeting that she was hoping the town could consider updating its code as it related to animals. She said as written, the language was too constricting as it primarily addressed dogs. She pointed out that people did have other pets and that the town should have language in the code that addressed domestic animals beyond just dogs.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

She’s reviewed ordinances from other jurisdictions and said the animal control regulations put in place by Worcester County were the best she’d seen.

“They actually have some really good animal control and shelter laws in place that I couldn’t find anywhere in our books,” she said.

Velong added that having the proper rules in place would provide police with a law to point to on the occasions there were issues.

“Right now they don’t really have a recourse,” she said.

Mayor Zack Tyndall said her concerns were worth considering.

“If our code is silent on some of those things maybe it’s worth taking a look at,” he said.

Councilman Jack Orris said it would be a good issue for the planning commission to consider and made a motion to refer the issue to the commission for review. The council voted unanimously in support.

Worcester County officials approved updated animal control laws in 2018 after urging from citizens who felt the previous regulations didn’t protect animals enough. The new regulations were designed as a way to promote animal welfare while making it easier for animal control officers to enforce the law.

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – A substantial increase in tourism funding from the state will allow Worcester County to increase its advertising efforts.

The Worcester County Commissioners last week agreed to sign off on a grant from the Maryland Tourism Development Board for $1,012,508. The funding will be used for advertising and marketing.

“Worcester County has never seen that amount of money to go toward advertising,” said Melanie Pursel, director of the Worcester County Office of Tourism and Economic Development.

Pursel told the commissioners the county receives a grant from the state for advertising and marketing each year. While the county received just $127,513 last fiscal year, in the coming year the county is set to receive $1,012,508—an $884,995 increase.

Pursel said the grant amount varied each year, in part because of the grant pool and more recently because of the pandemic.

“It is also dependent on the levels of advertising expenditures in all the other counties in the state of Maryland,” she wrote in a memo to the commissioners. “In addition, Gov. Hogan infused an additional $8 million

August 26, 2022

into tourism, specifically for advertising.”

She said it was divided among county destination marketing organizations based on a funding formula.

Worcester County this year will be receiving the second highest allocation in the state, according to Pursel.

“As we know, Ocean City dedicates a large portion of room tax revenue to go toward advertising so we’ve seen them increase their budget over the years,” she said. “Typically we would try to capitalize on those visitors that come to Ocean City and draw them down into the county. This is going to afford us the opportunity to go out of market a little bit this year and really put Maryland’s Coast, Worcester County, on the map.”

Commissioners asked if the funding could be used to help advertise attractions in the southern end of the county such as Furnace Town.

“We typically do that…,” Pursel said.

“We have already been supporting those types of endeavors. This just allows us to do a lot more with it.”

Commissioner Josh Nordstrom said he was thrilled to see the increase in funding from the state.

“I couldn’t believe it when I first saw the increase,” he said. “I cannot wait to see what you do with the rest of this.”

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New Utility Fees In Berlin To Go Into Effect Sept. 1

August 26, 2022

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Town residents will see a variety of fee increases on their utility bills next month.

Rate increases approved by elected officials in July are set to go into effect Sept. 1. The average resident will see their stormwater fee double and the implementation of new capital fees for water and sewer.

“We will put a message out before it goes into effect,” Finance Director Natalie Saleh said.

In July, the town council approved two resolutions aimed at improving the financial condition of the struggling utility funds. The council agreed to double the residential stormwater fee, increasing it from $50 a year to $100 a year, and to increase the non-residential rate to $35 per ERU (equivalent residential unit) annually with a minimum of $100.

The increases are meant to help fund capital projects the stormwater utility hasn’t been able to afford in recent years.

“We’ve been looking at a stormwater fund with no investment in capital projects,” Mayor Zack Tyndall said at the time. “We hear that as one of the chief complaints from the residents, that our streets are flooding and our stormwater system is not up to par.”

During that same meeting, officials implemented new water and sewer fees.

The new capital service fees came after a water and sewer rate study by the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP). One of the key recommendations from SERCAP’s Jean Holloway was the implementation of a new rate to help build a capital reserve.

The resolution approved by the council sets a water capital fee of $5 a month for residential customers and $10 a month for commercial customers. The sewer capital fee would be $14.50 a month for residential customers and $29.50 a month for commercial customers. In all, it equates to an extra $19.50 a month for most residents.

“For water and sewer it’s a fixed fee,” Saleh said during Monday’s council meeting. “It will be called the capital service fee.”

She said the town would create a new bank account to hold the fees.

“That fee will be set aside for future projects for water and sewer capital improvements,” she said.

Tyndall spoke to the fact that much of the town’s piping and infrastructure dated back to the mid 1900s and was in need of replacement. He noted that while the town was using its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for some projects, that money wouldn’t last forever.

“I think the point that sometimes is missed in the fees is that we’re dealing with a lot of aging infrastructure and the saving grace has been ARPA but that is going to run out,” he said.

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Surf Club Donations: Ocean City Surf Club President Tommy Vach and Vice President Rusty Ruszin presented Dunkin’ gift cards to three law enforcement agencies to thank them and show appreciation for keeping the community safe. Above, from left, are Ocean City Police PFC Jennifer Smithhart, Ruszin, Captain D. Bird, Vach and PFC Cliff Goggins. Above right, from left, are State Police Berlin Barrack F/Sgt Johnson, Ruszin, Vach and Lieutenant Earl Starner. Below are Worcester County Sheriff Matthew Crisafulli, Vach and Ruszin. Submitted Photos

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Tram Crew Lauded Following Fire

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OCEAN CITY – Two Boardwalk tram supervisors were recognized this month for their heroic actions in averting potential disaster when a fire broke out last month in the basement of a downtown Boardwalk apartment building.

Around 10 p.m., July 12, the Ocean City Fire Department was dispatched to a working fire at the Colony Apartments on the Boardwalk. First-arriving crews found smoke coming from the old apartment building on the Boardwalk at 3rd Street.

Around 10:15 p.m., a second alarm was struck and more crews and apparatus responded. Fire companies from Berlin, Ocean Pines and Showell responded to the second alarm. In addition, the utility company was called to the scene after it was determined a fire in the basement of the building was caused by faulty electric panels.

By 10:45 p.m., there was still an active fire from the electric panels in the basement. The fire was brought under control a short time later. By 11:30 p.m., all of the fire apparatus was cleared from the Boardwalk.

While the Ocean City Fire Department and other first responders arrived quickly, it was the two Boardwalk tram supervisors who arrived first on the

August 26, 2022

scene who were unsung heroes and were recognized by the Mayor and Council last Monday. Transit Manager Rob Shearman described the actions of Tram Supervisors Craig Coleman and Ty Thompson.

“Craig Coleman is a Boardwalk tram supervisor who was overseeing the boarding process of a tram at Somerset Street when he noticed heavy smoke coming from the building less than a block away,” he said. “Mr. Coleman also happens to be a retired Baltimore County firefighter. He immediately notified emergency services and then began assisting with the evacuation of the building.”

Shearman said while Coleman was helping evacuate people from the building, Thompson began taking steps to ensure the safety of the riders on the trams.

“Ty Thompson, a second tram supervisor working that night’s shift coordinated the effort to secure all trams, communicate with all tram passengers to ensure they were adequately informed about the situation and procure alternate transportation to get them all safely to their destination while impeding neither the evacuation nor the firefighting efforts,” he said. “Two buses were sent from the transportation bus yard to ensure all tram riders arrived at their destinations with a minimum of inconvenience and delay.”

Shearman said combined, Coleman and Thompson made a great team in avoiding what could have been a chaotic scene.

“Mr. Coleman’s quick action, Mr. Thompson’s problem-solving, and both gentlemen’s dedication to the safety of our riders, as well as the other residents and visitors on the Boardwalk, were instrumental in ensuring the incident remained minor and no injuries were sustained,” he said.

For his part, Mayor Rick Meehan thanked Coleman and Thompson.

“On behalf of the Mayor and Council, our residents and visitors as well, I want to thank you guys for taking quick action, for going above and beyond and assisting in what could have been a difficult situation for an awful lot of people,” he said. “Not only did you help evacuate the building, but you also took care of those riding the trams and kept them out of harm’s way.”

Meehan praised their initiative.

“We see it happen all the time in Ocean City, you know, people step up and we want to make sure we recognize those who do that,” he said. “I know you didn’t do it for the recognition, you did it because it just came natural, and that’s what you do. Thank you for making sure this did not become a critical situation for many, many people on the Boardwalk.”

The Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office classified the cause of the fire as electrical and there were no injuries reported.

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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Boat Ramp Gets Major Renovations

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The Mumford’s Landing Boat Ramp is pictured with a new gangway, bumpers and boards.

Submitted Photo

OCEAN PINES – Improvements to the Mumford's Landing Boat Ramp are earning rave reviews from one local group.

Public Works Manager Nobie Violante said a new gangway, bumpers and boards were put into the structure about a month ago.

"We put new walkways from the top of the fixed dock to the floating dock. They used to be wood, and we replaced them with galvanized aluminum so they will hold up better," he said. "We also put new boards on the floating part and new bumpers all the way around it."

He said Marina Dockmaster Ron Fisher added throw rings for safety in case someone falls into the water.

"The walkway was pretty shaky before, so we basically rebuilt it," Violante said. "All in all, our maintenance team worked on it for about a month.”

After the work was finished, Violante

August 26, 2022

said Fisher sent a note letting him know how pleased everyone was with the finished product.

"Everyone has been really happy with it," Violante said. "It took a little longer than we anticipated to get the materials, but other than that everything went well."

John Latham from the Marine Activities Advisory Committee said his group conducted a community survey earlier this year, asking for input on various projects and needs, and the Mumford’s Landing Boat Ramp was a major concern. “[There] was a safety concern at the Mumford's Boat Ramp regarding the hand railings, pier walkway, side rub rails, and lack of safety ring,” Latham said.

“Our committee shared the findings with [General Manager] John Viola, and he reviewed and worked with his leadership team to gain the proper approvals to upgrade and make needed repairs.”

Latham said he and the other committee members were also happy with the results.

“The project was recently completed, and it is a very nice improvement for our community,” he said. “Our committee will continue to encourage community owners to share ideas and we will work to help make recommendations to the OPA Board. The committee remains very excited to help make recommendations for the betterment of the entire community.”

For more information on the Marine Activities Committee, visit https://www.oceanpines.org/web/pages/marine-activities-committee.

Longtime Municipal Employee Named Town Administrator

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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Bohlen Has Worked For Berlin Since ‘91

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Longtime municipal employee Mary Bohlen will lead the Town of Berlin following appointment as town administrator Monday.

Mayor Zack Tyndall swore Bohlen in Monday following the announcement that she had signed a contract to serve as town administrator. The council agreed in closed session on Aug. 8 to hire Bohlen on Tyndall’s recommendation.

“Of all the motions I have made to approve recommendations from the mayor, I found this motion one of the most satisfying I have ever made,” Councilman Dean Burrell said.

During this week’s regular meeting, Tyndall announced that Bohlen had been promoted to serve as town administrator. She has served as acting town administrator since the departure of Jeff Fleetwood in April. She’s held the interim role four times during her more than 30 years of employment with the Town of Berlin.

Department heads were quick to congratulate Bohlen on the new position.

“You couldn’t have picked a better person,” said Jamey Latchum, director of water resources. “Mary’s awesome to work with.”

Bohlen was hired by the town 31 years ago to work at the front counter, answering phones and waiting on customers. From there she moved on to the position of grants administrator.

“When Runaway Bride came to town and I was working with the film crew the question was asked of why was the grants administrator out helping the film crew,” Bohlen recalled during an interview Tuesday. “So at that point the title was changed to special projects administrator.”

Eventually Bohlen was promoted to deputy town administrator and administrative services director. When Fleetwood retired in April, Bohlen was tasked with serving as acting town administrator. While she wasn’t interested in the role the last time it was vacant, after trying it out for a few months she felt she was ready to take it on on a more permanent basis.

“I’m in a different place this time,” she said. “I found I was better able to take it on.”

The contract she agreed to this week puts her in the role until March of 2025 —six months after the 2024 election.

When asked if the deputy town administrator role would be filled, she said that was to be determined.

During her decades with the town, Bohlen—who was at town hall when the first fax machine was installed— has seen countless changes. Primarily, the addition of technology but also growth.

“People not familiar with small towns

have this ‘oh it’s Mayberry’ attitude but we experience all of the same challenges and benefits larger communities do,” Bohlen said.

She’s enjoyed watching the town’s progression and likes solving the issues that come her way at town hall.

“It’s always a new challenge,” she said.

Bohlen praised her fellow municipal employees and their dedication to Berlin.

“I can’t say enough about the town staff,” she said. “We have really excellent people who work extremely hard for the visitors and citizens of the town.”

Town Administrator Mary Bohlen is sworn in by Mayor Zack Tyndall during Monday’s council meeting.

Photo by Charlene Sharpe

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Pines Board OK’s $158K Expenditure For Police Vehicles

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

OCEAN PINES – Officials say the purchase of three new vehicles will allow the Ocean Pines Police Department to implement a take-home car program.

In a special meeting held Tuesday, the Ocean Pines Board of Directors voted 60, with Director Frank Daly absent, to approve an expenditure request of $158,100 for three new police vehicles.

Ocean Pines Police Chief Leo Ehrisman said the new cruisers would be used for a take-home car program aimed at attracting and retaining officers.

“I have lost four officers in less than six months who have gone to local police agencies because they have take-home cars, insurance policies and a pension … ,” he told the board this week. “For me, it’s the perfect time to implement a [take-

home car] policy for the people that I have.”

In his request Tuesday, Ehrisman noted the department was recently presented with an opportunity to purchase three fully equipped police cruisers from a local dealership. Instead of waiting for the yearly budget process to commence, he said he was requesting the expenditure be approved this week.

“We were offered these cars now because they were an over-order from Virginia …,” he said. “If we don’t purchase them now, other agencies are waiting to take them. I don’t have an option to sit for a week.”

Citing recent supply chain issues, Ehrisman noted time was of the essence to acquire the vehicles. He pointed out that the purchase of the cruisers would also save the department time and money, as the vehicles were already fully equipped.

August 26, 2022

“I’m not going to have this opportunity again until April, and I take a chance of not receiving anything …,” he explained.

“The fact that we order two or three at a time puts us at the bottom of the list. Other agencies are looking for large orders.”

General Manager John Viola told the board the purchase of the three vehicles would replace police cruisers that were removed from the fleet last year. He said the $158,100 would be taken from replacement reserves, if the board approved the request.

“It comes out to about $25,000 a year for these three vehicles for insurance and gas,” he added. “With these three vehicles it spreads out the mileage that they use, and we believe we can extend the life of the other vehicles.”

Ehrisman told board members this week the purchase would allow the department to implement a take-home car

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policy, which had existed under the previous administration but was limited to those officers living in Ocean Pines.

As the manpower shortage continues, he said it’s one of the many efforts his department is making to remain competitive.

“This is a huge incentive,” he said.

While he said he supported the police department’s efforts, Director Rick Farr questioned why Ehrisman did not request the additional vehicles in the most recent budget process.

“Why wasn’t this thought of and moved forward with in this past budget, that there would be a need for cars coming up this year?” he said.

Ehrisman noted that police reform measures had only increased workforce competition in recent months. He said local law enforcement agencies have been offering bonuses and incentives to fill ongoing vacancies since January.

“They all upped their game between January and February, but we didn’t get a chance to do that,” he replied, noting that the association’s budget was adopted in February.

The discussion also brought up issues such as pension and pay.

During public comments, association member Joe Reynolds noted that the Ocean City Police Department had a higher starting salary than the Ocean Pines Police Department.

“While vehicles may be necessary, I think the board should meet with the chief and look at pay for officers …,” he said. “I think we’re in a situation here and nationally where it’s important that we offer the best we can offer – within reason – to our officers.”

Association member Amy Peck argued that increasing salaries and offering bonuses would do more to address recruitment and retention.

“I’m asking the board to evaluate carefully such a request,” she said.

When asked about retirement, Viola said the police department had a 401(k) plan with an enhanced match from the association, but no pension plan.

Ehrisman pointed out that while many police departments offer LEOPS (Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System), the Ocean Pines Police Department was not eligible.

“We qualify for it as a police agency, but we don’t work for a government agency,” he said.

Director Stuart Lakernick argued that more needed to be done to support the police department and its recruitment and retention efforts.

“I don’t think it’s just about giving them a car. Give them better retirement, better health care …,” he said. “I don’t mind supporting this, but there needs to be an actual commitment to do better by our police department … The cars are one aspect. The pay is the big thing.”

After further discussion, the board voted 6-0 to approve the purchase request.

“Adding these three vehicles we’re requesting today would let us implement a take-home car policy with the manpower we have now ….” Ehrisman said. “We’ve done the math. I feel it’s appropriate.”

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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BLC Approves Outdoor Expansion Of Inlet Restaurant

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 26, 2022

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

OCEAN CITY – An iconic Inlet restaurant will expand following approval from local officials last week.

The Worcester County Board of License Commissioners (BLC) last week approved a request to expand the licensed premises at Harrison’s Harbor Watch. The restaurant will be adding patio and outdoor bar space.

Attorney Joe Moore told the board that while the BLC had approved a beer, wine and liquor license last year for Bandit’s Bar and Grill in the Inlet Village, that application was being withdrawn by the Trimper family. Instead, Harrison’s Harbor Watch will take over the outdoor space.

“If the board is willing to grant the alteration, Harrison’s Harbor Watch will be expanded for service in the area…,” Moore said. “The entire premises expansion with the exception of the old Bandit’s Bar area is outside.”

Moore said that the outdoor area had been approved by the board last year though for different connections. He said Harrison’s Harbor Watch would now be leasing the space and would take over the outdoor seating space as well as Bandit’s Bar, the space that was once the Frog Bar. “We approved all this last year,” not-

Harrison's Harbor Watch will expand to include a patio area to the west of the existing restaurant.

ed BLC chair William Esham.

BLC member Marty Pusey expressed concern about the potential impact of outside service on nearby traffic entering the Inlet parking lot.

“We always try to be cautious about distracting drivers,” she said.

Jeb Vetock, director of food and bev-

erage for the Harrison Group, noted there was a glass fence around the exterior patio area. He added that there was also an amusement park “that gets quite loud” in the vicinity.

“We assure you there’ll be no problems,” operator Hale Harrison said. “If there are we’ll take care of it.”

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Moore, noting that the stage would be on an interior section of the patio and not close to the road, said the Harrison family had extensive experience in the industry and knew how to operate smoothly.

The board voted 3-0 to approve the expansion for Harrison’s Harbor Watch.

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Fenwick Dredging Talks Continue

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – As the town inches closer to a dredging project in the Little Assawoman Bay, a resort committee convened this week to discuss permitting, funding and site selection.

On Monday, members of the Fenwick Island Dredging Committee met to discuss the timeline for a dredging project in the neighboring Little Assawoman Bay. As officials work to select a deposit site for the dredged material, Councilman Bill Rymer, committee chair, told members this week that a local developer has since expressed an interest in working with the town once more. “[Consultant] Steve Bagnull received contact from the engineering group that represents a real estate developer we worked with last year …,” he said. “We explained that from a permitting process and where we stand, likely construction would start in October 2023.

They said it might work for them.”

Plans for a dredging project in the Little Assawoman Bay began in earnest in 2018, when the town hired Tony Pratt, former administrator for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), to guide them through the funding and permitting processes. By the following year, Anchor QEA, a Lewes-based engineering firm, was brought on board to provide design, bidding and construction managements services.

Simply put, the dredging project is expected to address shoaling in the back-bay system and connect boating channels along Fenwick’s bayside canals to the main channel in the Little Assawoman Bay. As part of that effort, roughly 19,000 cubic feet of dredged material would be moved to another site for reuse.

In 2019, the town began working with Carl M. Freeman Companies to relocate the material to one of its nearby properties, making the public-private partnership one that would save the town millions of dollars. But when the developer was forced to halt its development plans, the town turned to other

August 26, 2022

potential deposit sites.

“Our number one goal is to have a place to put our dredged materials,” Rymer told committee members this week.

In June, Anchor QEA presented the committee with conceptual designs and cost estimates for three potential deposit sites – Seatowne residential community, a nearby kayak launch and Seal Island. Rymer told committee members this week that while the town had agreed to keep the developer updated on its dredging timeline, restoration efforts at Seal Island remained the community’s favored option.

“Obviously there are a couple different balls in the air with the kayak launch and Seal Island,” he said. “Right now, I think Seal Island is still number one.”

Officials pointed out that while using the developer’s property as a deposit site would save the town money, using Seal Island as a deposit site would be more beneficial.

“They will continue to work on their end, and we will continue to proceed on our end …,” Rymer said. “Seal Island would need more funding, but would provide more benefits to the town …

Two very different projects, two very different impacts.”

In the meantime, committee members say they are working with state agencies to determine the best deposit site for dredged material, taking wildlife impacts and engineering into consideration. Once a site is selected, officials can move forward with seeking the necessary permits and grant funding.

“For us to be successful, we have to hone in on a specific project,” Rymer said.

In an update this week, committee members noted the town had recently applied for a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant, seeking $100,000 for permitting and engineering costs.

There was also discussion on hiring a grant writer to seek other funding opportunities.

“We know as a group we need to become more focused on this …,” Rymer said. “As a team, we have to take that next step.”

Officials Celebrate Learning Center

August 26, 2022

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

SALISBURY – Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan joined with community partners and local representatives last week to break ground on the new Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center.

Last Friday, Junior Achievement (JA) of the Eastern Shore celebrated the construction of a new immersive learning facility in Salisbury with a groundbreaking ceremony.

Through its partnerships with The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, The Richard A. Henson Foundation, the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore and local school systems and businesses, JA President and CEO Jayme Hayes said thousands of students will have the opportunity to engage in real-life simulations that teach financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship.

“This will be an MOU, a partnership, with our schools, roping into the curriculum where students can come every single year,” she said. “From day one, 10,000 students.”

Last year, Junior Achievement announced a partnership with the Perdue and Henson foundations for the creation of the Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center. In addition to an anonymous $1 million donation, the two organizations each pledged $1.25 million in matching donations toward a multi-million capital campaign to construct a 25,000-square-foot facility at the former Kmart shopping center off Route 50.

“This will be a true game-changer for the students on the shore, our community, and for thousands of students in our region who deserve real-world experiences that prepare them for the future,” Hayes in a statement, adding that the learning center will “enhance our ability to impact more youth with experiential programming that fuels the workforce pipeline and ensures that area youth grow into career-ready, financially responsible, and entrepreneurially minded citizens.”

The Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center, which is slated to open in the fall of 2023, will house Junior Achievement’s capstone programs, Biztown and Finance Park, as well as a Career Center, JA reports. These capstone programs include an in-classroom curriculum that culminates in a real-life simulation to help students learn crucial life skills, while a mock city will provide students the opportunity to build a foundation upon which they can make intelligent financial decisions.

In last week’s groundbreaking ceremony, Hayes recognized the foundations for their support in making the center a reality. She also recognized the local businesses that will participate in the center.

“What’s important here is that the storefronts you see behind me are sponsored by local businesses right here in our community on the Eastern Shore,” she said. “So each of those storefronts

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

is $25,000 per year and helps to fund this entire experience for students from Caroline, Talbot, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset and Worcester counties.”

JA Executive Board Chair Mike Dunn also recognized the governor for committing $1 million in capital funding toward the project. Hogan, who presented a governor’s citation in celebration of the center, applauded the many partnerships that allowed the center to come to fruition.

“I want to thank both of you for your incredible leadership,” he told Hayes and Dunn. “And I want to thank the Perdue family, the Henson family and the Community Foundation and all of the local partners we had a chance to meet that are going to be supporting this, the school systems and your local elected officials who have done a great job. I’m so impressed with this facility.”

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Gov. Larry Hogan joined Junior Achievement representatives and local officials last Friday for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center.

Photo by Bethany Hooper

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Officer Named SNOW HILL – The Worcester County Commissioners appointed Nicholas Rice to serve as the procurement officer with Worcester County Government (WCG).

On August 15, Rice stepped into this newly created position, which was approved in the fiscal year 2023 WCG operating budget.

“The procurement officer position aligns perfectly with our mission to be responsible with taxpayer dollars.” Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said. “Nick is a consummate professional in this field and will oversee the county’s efforts NICHOLAS to obtain the best value in all of our purchases, from RICE day-to-day expenses to our multi-milliondollar capital projects.”

Rice is certified by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing as a public procurement officer and a professional public buyer. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from the University of WisconsinParkside and a Master of Business Administration from Salisbury University.

He brings nine years of experience in public procurement to WCG. From August 2016 to August 2022, Rice served as the purchasing agent for Wicomico County Government. Prior to that time, he worked as a purchasing associate for the Town of Ocean City.

“I am grateful to the commissioners for this opportunity to serve the citizens of Worcester County,” Rice said. “I look forward to applying my knowledge and experience in public procurement in an effort to positively impact the county.”

Rice will work closely with the Worcester County Commissioners and staff, as well as other local, state, and regional purchasing cooperatives and associations to leverage spend and utilize economies of scale. He will represent WCG in sourcing, procurement, contract administration, inventory management, vendor management, and other related duties.

Hospitality Hire OCEAN CITY, Maryland – The Ocean City Hotel Motel Association (OCHMRA) Executive Director Susan Jones is pleased to announce that Laura Blair will be joining her team as the new business development director.

“Laura will work with the OCHMRA to assist in the Association’s mission to connect industry interests through advocacy,

BUSINESS And Real Estate News education and partnerships with the goal of serving as the hospitality connector,” Jones said.

Specifically, Blair will be assisting with the association’s annual Trade Show, all other OCHMRA events and marketing efforts. Blair brings a myriad of experience and education to her new position including working with the National Association of Underwriters (NALU) in Washington, D.C., LAURA BLAIR as the national community relations director helping its 140,000 members to conduct charitable work in their respective communities.

Blair won accolades for a program called “Our America Matters” and received letters from two sitting U.S. presidents for her work in volunteerism. She also worked in Montgomery County, Md., for the local cable company as the community relations director where she focused on channel launchings and related charitable tie-ins. Blair moved to Ocean City four years ago and more recently has been working for the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce assisting with membership efforts.

Blair is a graduate of The American University in Washington, D.C., where she received her graduate degree in public communications.

Established in 1971, the OCHMRA is a local nonprofit trade association uniting the Ocean City hospitality industry. The OCHMRA is the ultimate people connector working to solve common issues relative to the industry and acts as a clearinghouse for dissemination of information.

Director Announced SALISBURY – Wor-Wic Community College recently welcomed Kara Funkhouser of Frankford, Del., as director of continuing education, workforce development and youth initiatives.

Funkhouser previously worked at Delaware Technical Community College, where she oversaw professional develop-

ment and personal enrichment programs, as well as summer camp.

She has a bachelor’s degree from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va., and a master’s degree from ArkanKARA FUNKHOUSER sas Tech University in Russellville.

Practitioner Welcomed SALISBURY – TidalHealth is pleased to welcome Sarah Proffit, MSN, FNP, to TidalHealth Gastroenterology in Salisbury.

Proffit began her nursing career in 2007, when she worked as a registered nurse in the MedSurg, Progressive Care Unit and in Interventional Radiology at TidalHealth SARAH PROFFIT Peninsula Regional. She graduated from Wilmington University in 2019 with her nurse practitioner degree.

Proffit participated in two medical mission trips to the Dominican Republic in 2018 and 2019.

When she isn’t caring for patients, she enjoys going on adventures with her family, exploring Guyana in South America, where her husband spent the first 11 years of his life, going to the beach, and going to the pool.

New Employees ANNAPOLIS – Ørsted, the U.S. leader in offshore wind, today announced the addition of two seasoned maritime industry leaders to its Mid-Atlantic Marine Affairs team.

Former U.S. Coast Guard Commander Norm Witt and Ocean City, Marylandbased commercial fisherman Dana Nelson will lead outreach to the maritime community in support of its mid-Atlantic projects, including Skipjack Wind.

Skipjack Wind is a 966-megawatt offshore wind project off the Maryland-Del-

August 26, 2022 aware coast that will power nearly 300,000 homes in the region with renewable energy. “Ørsted believes deeply in fostering a collaborative approach with the maritime industry to ensure the successful co-use of our oceans,” said Brady Walker, Ørsted’s head of government affairs and strategy in Maryland and Delaware. “With Commander Witt and Dana Nelson joining our inhouse team of maritime NORM WITT professionals, we will continue to be in consistent and transparent engagement with maritime users about Ørsted’s maritime activities during Skipjack Wind’s development.”

Witt joins Ørsted with over 23 years of experience as a Coast Guard officer with diverse operational assignments during his military career.

After serving as deck watch officer aboard a Coast Guard cutter, he transitioned to marine safety and security and completed multiple operational tours on the east, west, and Gulf coasts. Witt’s most recent assignments include executive officer of the Pacific Strike Team and commanding officer of Marine Safety Unit Savannah. Witt also served four years as an officer in the U.S. Army prior to transitioning to the Coast Guard.

Witt will direct engagement with maritime stakeholders, identifying and addressing navigation safety issues, and working with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Nelson has a diverse career including 12 years as a commercial fisherman in Ocean City and several years as a Department of Defense contractor.

Dana previously served Ørsted as a fisheries liaison officer supporting mid-Atlantic site investigation surveys. Originally from Gibson Island, Md., Nelson has been a resident of Ocean City for the past 40 years.

Nelson will be responDANA NELSON sible for facilitating, maintaining, and improving relationships with local and regional commercial fishing fleets and other maritime stakeholders.

The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. Four years in a row, Ørsted earned recognition as the world’s most sustainable energy company by Corporate Knights, including for 2022. The company is a global clean energy leader and has the largest portfolio of offshore wind energy in the world.

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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COMMUNITY News In Photos

Leaders from Worcester County Public Schools are pictured presenting a check for $67,135.96 to United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore.

On Aug. 18, the Pellinger family spoke to the Rotary Club of Salisbury about the Easterseals Walk With Me Salisbury to be held on Sept. 10. Conor Pellinger, front left, is the ambassador for the inaugural walk. Pictured, from left, is Ford Waggoner, the club's president, with Conor, Tom, Donna and Will Pellinger. To register for or donate to the walk, visit WalkWithMe.org/Salisbury.

Submitted Photos

Comptroller Peter Franchot presented the 2021 William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award for Worcester County to Assateague Island Alliance (AIA) last Friday for advocating for the island’s wild horses. The alliance partners with the Assateague Island National Seashore to promote the awareness and protection of the island’s wildlife and natural resources. Franchot is pictured presenting the award to Lynn Fisher of AIA. The first seven students enrolled in the inaugural class of TidalHealth’s CNA/GNA training program are nearing the midway point of their studies. They are, from the left, front row, Mikayla Karr, Aubrey Pastula, Instructor Juanita Homer and Harlow Baysinger. In the back row, from the left, are Mikayla Karr, Lacey Wagner, Onye’a Thomas, Desiree Dennis and Maha Mousnad.

State and local officials are pictured with Gov. Larry Hogan at a groundbreaking ceremony for the future Pocomoke River Wildlands Trail connecting Snow Hill to the Pocomoke State Forest and Pocomoke River State Park.

Lynn Fisher, vice president of Assasteague Island Alliance, left, is pictured with Karen Roquemore, an Assateague Island Alliance board member, with the William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award the nonprofit received last week.

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Ethan Scott, 15, and Eliza Scott, 11, in Ocean City

Brian George, 9, and Olivia Gallagher, 12, at Assateague Point

August 26, 2022

Hanon, 9, and Yunami Christie, 12, in Ocean City

Kennedy Claire Araiza, 2, on the beach

KIDS of the Summer (Part 1) Each August for the past 16 years we have produced a Kids of Summer photo series, spotlighting kids of all ages, from near and far, enjoying some common summer activities. Whether it’s the pool, beach, bay, miniature golf, arcades or dock fun, it’s enjoyable to see our readers’ submissions each year. If you would like your child(ren) featured, there’s still time. Email us the photo at editor@mdcoastdispatch.com with the child’s name, age and location

Alex, 13, Hannah, 17, and Dylan Mayne, 14, in Ocean City

The Shultz kids at 142nd Street in Ocean City

Alexander Schorr, 5 months old, in Fenwick

Blair Toto, 6 months, in Ocean City

Benjamin Stevenson, 4, in Ocean City

Luke Moser, 10, on Assateague Island

Charlotte Prestley, 3, in Ocean City

Bennett Midock, 3, on Assateague

Tori Wascak, 9, on Assateague

Brody Wascak, 5, on Assateague

Lexi Paugh, 7, in Ocean City

Kamila Naylor, 13, in Fenwick

Alexandria Olson, 8, in Ocean City

Zoey Jones, 4, in Ocean City

Madison Hoke, 9, on Assateague

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August 26, 2022

People in Society Donna Greenwood, Mary Ann Manganello and Liz Dare attended a bench dedication ceremony in honor of Donna Abbott.

by Charlene Sharpe Featuring Those Helping Causes In The Resort Area

Ricky Pollitt of Junior Achievement and Sen. Mary Beth Carozza pause for a photo at Worcester GOLD’s ribbon cutting celebration in Snow Hill.

Nicholas Cranford, executive director of Worcester GOLD, is pictured with Lauren Ansted of the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore at Worcester GOLD’s ribbon cutting celebration.

Justin Vincent and Cory King attended the Great Pocomoke Fair to watch standardbred horses race.

Nick DeMeno and Jenny Martin are pictured at a bench dedication in memory of Donna Abbott, Ocean City’s former tourism director.

Randy Davis and Robin Jones attended an afternoon of harness racing at the Great Pocomoke Fair.

Andy Malis and Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan are pictured at a bench dedication to remember Donna Abbott.

Councilman Matt James and Jim Mathias are pictured attending a bench dedication honoring Donna Abbott, the resort’s former tourism director.

Jason and Ryder Skinner participated in the Great Pocomoke Fair’s annual day of harness racing.

Billy Long and David Rearic are pictured at the annual horse races held during the Great Pocomoke Fair.

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 49

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Edward Lee Carey: The Man Who Started It All

Page 50

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 26, 2022

OCBP Alumni of the Week

(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 – Edward Lee Carey is the only person to have served on the Ocean City Beach Patrol who can make the claim that not only was he on the patrol, but that he was the patrol - the entire Ocean City Beach Patrol.

Ocean City has been around for years.

Since 1875, when the first major hotel was built just off the beach, Ocean City was founded as a haven for visitors seeking fun and relaxation in the sun along the Atlantic Ocean. It was a sleepy little town, with only a couple of places to stay, but it grew steadily as more hotels sprung up season after season. The unusual thing about the growing number of businesses starting up in the coastal town was how many were owned and operated by women. Given the fact that at the turn of the 20th Century, women

didn’t even have the right to vote, let alone the freedom to work any job they wanted, it was extremely unusual to have so much of a town and its property owned and operated by women. One of those women business owners was Savannah Dennis. Her mother had built the Dennis Hotel, and Savannah followed in her footsteps, opening up the Del-Mar Hotel.

In 1911, Savannah met and married Edward James Carey. The very next year, “Ned” (as he was known around town) and Savannah would welcome their son, Edward Lee Carey.

Edward would become possibly one of the first “Boardwalk kids” in Ocean City. Two years earlier, Savannah and several other business owners had gotten together and invested in the construction of a permanent Boardwalk along the beach. They used to have one that they rolled up at high tide and stored on the porches of the oceanfront hotels,

but that proved too difficult to maintain day after day. Now Edward would spend his summer days traveling up and down the five-block walkway, watching as the tourists came and went and studying the ocean in front of him.

He also saw a lot of changes in the sleepy little resort town. As a child he watched as tourists from as far away as Washington, DC were making the trip directly to the beach by train in under six hours. When the 1920’s roared in, it brought a lot of additional wealth and wild times. People had more money and more leisure time, and a lot were heading to the beach to enjoy both. Women’s skirts were going up past their knees on the Boardwalk, jazz music was playing at dance halls, and on the beach the wool bathing suits of the past had made way for lighter cotton ones.

It was a time when people were taking chances in their lives, and that included in the ocean. In the past, few people ever

went into the surf past their ankles, if at all. Visitors to the shore these days were starting to go into the waves up to their waist and further. Unfortunately, this meant people were also getting into trouble.

The lifesaving station in town was run

by Captain William Purnell of the Coast Guard. It was the station’s job to save lives in the Atlantic, and this meant not only rescuing ships and sailors in distress, but swimmers in view of the station’s watchtower. The surf washed right up to, and often under, the Boardwalk at that time. By the end of the 20’s, the beach had gotten so narrow that bathers began moving up the beach beyond North Division Street and out of the visual range of the Coast Guardsmen in the tower.

Purnell became alarmed at the growing number of swimmers who were getting into trouble in the surf and, on ocSEE NEXT PAGE

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August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

casion, drowning. The mayor, William McCabe, was equally concerned about the growing risk to the people who were keeping the town alive. It was 1930 when the two men decided to take action and create a “Beach Patrol” that would be responsible for the safety of their visitors.

They turned to Edward. He was now 18 years old and knew the people in town, the vacationers coming to the beach and the dangers of the surf. The town supplied him with whistle, a bike, and a First Aid kit and sent him out to the Boardwalk.

All alone, Edward was the first beach patrol.

Today, everyone is asked to “swim near a guard.” For Edward, the reverse was true. His instructions were to go wherever the people were. Every morning he would ride his bike down the Boardwalk to any area that seemed to have the most people in the water. By this time, it extended all the way to 15th Street, and it was a lot of beach for the young man to cover. Most days, people stayed and swam around Caroline Street, but with each season, the crowds grew and migrated everywhere along the Boardwalk. The growing number of res-

cues would require more people, so Edward went about recruiting new members to help him serve on the beach patrol. He gathered an assortment of young men including a football player from the University of Maryland, a champion swimmer from Baltimore and some local kids he’d grown up with, including the mayor’s son.

With seven guards, the beach patrol as we know it now was born.

Edward and his patrol kept a watchful eye on the swimmers for the next four summers. Then came Aug. 23, 1933. It was called the “Chesapeake and Potomac Hurricane” and it changed everything for both Edward and the town. Ocean City had seen hurricanes before, but nothing like this. One account read, “in the early morning the terrified inhabitants, looking from their windows facing the ocean, saw an awful sight: the waters had receded toward the southward, and where the Atlantic had rolled the night before, miles of sandbars lay bare to the gloomy light. Then, a dull roar came near and nearer, and suddenly a solid mass of wind and rain and salt spray leaped upon the island with a scream.” A wall of water hit the coast. One man and his grandson

were swept six miles inland by the storm surge, but somehow managed to survive.

When it was over, a giant hole had been carved through town.

Edward watched in the years that followed as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers widened and developed that hole and turned it into the Inlet by adding a protective jetty. Despite the damage the storm had done, the town realized that this new outlet to the sea would be a boom for them. Ocean City would be changed forever.

Edward seemed ready for a change as well. He was 21, and looking for more than just a summer occupation, so in 1935, he left the patrol that he helped found. He would marry Margaret Rogers and move on to other endeavors until 1939, when he would return for three more summers to run the OCBP. In total, Edward ran the OCBP for seven years, which by current standards is a relatively short time. But with every rescue that is made by a member of the beach patrol today, Edward’s impact is still felt.

Edward Lee Carey spent his later life in Berlin. He passed away in 1962.

Page 51

Edward Lee Carey is pictured on a beach patrol he used to get around the town.

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Page 52

Every Sunday: Berlin Farmers Market From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., several streets will be closed to allow producers to display their goods. Live music from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Every Monday: TOPS Meeting 5-6:30 p.m. Atlantic General Hospital, Berlin.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a support group promoting weight loss and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Call Rose 443-880-8444.

Every Monday: Acapella Chorus All ladies who love to sing are invited to the Delmarva Woman’s Acapella Chorus, Ocean Pines Community Center, 239 Ocean Parkway, 6-8 p.m. Contact Mary 410-629-9383 or Carol 302-242-7062.

Every Tuesday: TOPS Meeting Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a weekly support and education group promoting weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. Meetings are held at the Worcester County Berlin Health Department at 9730 Healthway Drive, Berlin from 3:30-4:30 p.m. every Tuesday. 410-289-4725.

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

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

410-250-2645.

Every Thursday: Beach Singles Join the club, 55 plus, at Harpoon Hanna’s in Fenwick Island, 4-6 p.m. 302-436-9577 or BeachSingles.org.

Every Tuesday: Tango Practice Argentine Tango practice 7-9:30 p.m. Experienced dancers and anyone interested in watching or learning more are welcome. No partner required. More information at TangobytheBeach.com.

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

Aug. 26-28: OC Jeep Week OC Jeep Week, beach crawl, Jeep Jam and vendors at www.oceancityjeepweek.com. See website for full schedule.

Aug. 27: Furnace Town Bike Ride The 12th Annual Iron Furnace Fifty Bike Ride at Furnace Town Historic Site, 3816 Old Furnace Rd., Snow Hill. Check in at Furnace Town from 7-9 a.m. Pre-registration required. Go to https://www.ironfurnacefifty.org/ for more infor-

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 26, 2022 per family. No businesses please.

Things To Do mation. 410-632-2032.

Aug. 27: Cat Adoption Event Town Cats of Ocean City will host a Clear The Shelters Adoption Event from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at PetSmart, 11330 Samuel Bowen Boulevard, Berlin.

Aug. 27: Community Shred Day Taylor Bank is sponsoring from 9 a.m.-noon at Sturgis Park in Snow Hill in partnership with J3 Mobile Shredding. Each household can bring up to three banker boxes or bags of documents to be shredded. Remember to remove all binder clips. Event is free to the public.

Aug. 27: Pines Players Open House The Ocean Pines Players is hosting a free “meet and greet” open house this from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m at the Ocean Pines Community Center Pavilion, which is adjacent to the Farmers’ Market vendor area in White Horse Park. Activities include karaoke singing from an extensive song list. Show tunes, classics and contemporary will be available. The Ocean Pines Players’ regular season includes two musical entries, “A Grand Night for Singing” scheduled as dinner theater on Nov. 18 at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club and “Love...or Not?” Feb. 10-12, 2023 at Most Blessed Sacrament School. Ticket sales and audition forms can be found on the website https://oceanpinesplayers.org.

Aug. 27: Tire Drop-Off The Worcester County Commissioners and the Public Works Recycling Division, in conjunction with the Maryland Department of the Environment and Maryland Environmental Services, will host Citizens Scrap Tire Drop-Off Day from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. This event will take place at the Central Landfill in Newark. No agricultural tires will be accepted, and no businesses, commercial haulers of tires or generators of scrap tires will be permitted to participate in the Citizen Scrap Tire Drop-Off.

Aug. 29: Casting Call The Ocean Pines Children’s Theater will be casting for the January production of the musical “Moana.” Auditions will be held at the Ocean Pines Library from 5-6:30 p.m. on Aug. 22 for children in grades 3-8, and on Aug. 29 for those in grades 9-12. Those auditioning for singing roles should come prepared to perform 16 measures of preselected songs from the show. Girls should prepare to sing How Far I’ll Go and boys should prepare to sing You’re Welcome. In addition, participants will be asked to recite or read selected monologues that can be found at http://www.facebook.com/-

opchildrens theater. Copies of the monologues will be on hand at the auditions as well. As was the case in 2021, all attending the auditions will need to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. For further information, please contact us at opchildrenstheater@yahoo.com.

Sept. 3: Free Movie Night From 7:30-9:30 p.m. Briddell Family Foundation, Ocean 98, Transform Your World LLC, Flagship Cinemas and Pepsi are sponsoring a free Back To School Movie Night in Henry Park. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Hosted by Hustle Hard Radio, DJ Rob Little and DJ Tony Vibez.

Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24: Assateague Adventures Berlin library branch will host a Ranger-led adventure featuring crafts, puppets, stories, cool props and live animals from Assateague Island National Seashore. A different adventure each week for all ages.

Sept. 8, 15, 22, 29: Chorus Singers Inviting new singers, both ladies and gentlemen to join the Pines Tones Chorus. 1 p.m.

Ocean Pines Community Center, Dave, 1-610213-7472.

Sept. 10: Recovery Walk The Atlantic Club and Worcester Goes Purple will hold its 2022 Walk For Recovery from 9 a.m. to noon on the Boardwalk. Registration is $25 per person, and proceeds support local scholarships and those in recovery. To register, visit www.atlanticclub.org.

Sept. 10: Small Town Throw Down From 1-6 p.m., free country music concert in downtown Berlin featuring Red Dirt Revolution with special guest Lauren Calve. Beer, food and local artists. Shops open. Bring a chair and enjoy. Sponsored by The Atlantic Hotel and Fagers Island.

Sept. 13-15: Basic Boating Course The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is offering the Maryland Basic Boating Safety Course at the Ocean Pines Library, 11107 Cathell Road from 6 -9 p.m. Cost $20 for all three evenings. Register or get more information by calling Barry Cohen at 410-935-4807, or Email: CGAUXOC@Gmail.com.

Sept. 17: Free Shred-It Event St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Berlin is sponsoring a free community shred-it event from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the church parking lot. St. Paul’s will offer free tours of the 200-year-old church during the event. There is a limit of three boxes

Sept. 22: Fashion Show Luncheon The Republican Women of Worcester County announce the 13th Annual Patriot Day Fashion Show Luncheon at The Grand Hotel in Ocean City. The event’s theme is "Honoring Local Women Who Have Served in the Armed Forces”. Fashions will be presented by Bruder Hill of Berlin. All are welcome. www.gopwomenofworcester.org. Merilee Horvat, 443-6149386.

Sept. 24: Drive-Thru Luncheon Powellville UM Church will host from 10 a.m. until sold out at 35606 Mount Hermon Road, Powellville. Drive thru luncheon features oyster fritter sandwiches, homemade chicken salad, homemade soups including peas and dumplings and vegetable beef. Bake sale items will be available. No pre-orders. Call 410-835-8796 or 443-880-8804 for more details.

Sept. 24-25: Renaissance Faire From 10 a.m.-6 p.m., the 2nd Annual Renaissance Faire at Furnace Town Historic Site, 3816 Old Furnace Rd., Snow Hill. Cost is $15/adult, $10/children ages 5-14. www.furnacetown.org.

Oct. 1: 5K Run/Walk The Wor-Wic Community College Foundation is sponsoring a 5K Run/Walk, along with the 2022 Law Enforcement Team Cup Challenge, at 9 a.m., at the college campus on the corner of Route 50 and Walston Switch Road in Salisbury. Check-in and registration begin at 8 a.m. The entry fee is $25 per person, or $35 per person after Sept. 28. Proceeds will benefit the students of Wor-Wic. For more information or a registration form, visit the college website at www.worwic.edu or call 410-334-2807.

Oct. 12: AARP Meeting Ocean City AARP Chapter 1917 will meet at 10 a.m. in the Ocean City Senior Center located on 41st Street and Coastal Highway (behind the Dough Roller restaurant). Please arrive early at 9:30 for a social half-hour and refreshments. Our guest speaker will be provided by Tidal Health. New members are welcome. Call Bob McCluskey at 410-250-0980 with questions.

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

Nov. 9: AARP Meeting Ocean City AARP Chapter 1917 will meet at 10 a.m. in the Ocean City Senior Center located on 41st Street. Please arrive early at 9:30 for a social half-hour and refreshments.

Guest speaker will be from the Sierra Club.

New members are welcome. Call Bob McCluskey at 410-250-0980 with questions.

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 53

with Scott Lenox There is a feeling of fall in the air recently and I couldn’t be more excited.

We’ve had some awesome, cooler than normal weather lately, but when I say there’s a feeling of fall I’m talking more about traffic, attitude and fishing. Since some school districts have already gone back to school we’ve already seen a decrease in activity in Ocean City over the past week and there is a definite difference in boat traffic on Ocean City’s back bays during the week. We’ve still got packed fishing spots on the weekend, but things are starting to wind down from summer and move into my favorite time of year. September and October are my two favorite months of the year in Ocean City, and I’m hoping the fishing pans out like it can and shows us some of the best of the season.

Speaking of good fishing, it’s definitely not happening offshore right now.

As an example, the MidAtlantic Tournament is underway this week and 78 of the 172 boats fished Monday and only 12 white marlin were released. In last week’s White Marlin Open we saw 155 white marlin releases for the week. The White Marlin Open has averaged 800 white marlin releases for the last 15

years. That’s saying something, and that something is not good. We haven’t had any good water off Ocean City since June and offshore fishing has suffered because of it. Hopefully as the season changes and cooler water moves down and in from our north and east we’ll see some better fishing to close out the year.

It won’t make up for what has been a slow season, but it would help.

All is not completely bleak in the ocean as there is some good mahi fishing even inshore as close as eight or so miles off the beach. Anglers are finding sometimes large schools of mahi congregating under floating debris or fishing markers and catching them on lures or cut bait. The fish are in the 3- to 20pound range and should be around for the next month or so. Mahi, otherwise called dolphin, like warm water temperatures so the mid-70s and 80 degrees that we’ve been seeing is perfect for them. We’ve also seen some more wahoo on the lumps inside the canyons like the Hot Dog, Hambone and Chicken Bone. Wahoo also prefer warm water so conditions have gotten right for more of this toothy critter to show up. Fish are SEE PAGE 54

Summer Knupp, who lost her brother in a fatal hit-and-ruin collision last month, won the Junior Angler Billfish Release in the Poor Girls Open by releasing two white marlin aboard Pumpin’ Hard.

Submitted Photos

Page 54

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 26, 2022

Above top left, Eamonn “Irish” Carey was surprised by this legal bluefin tuna when it crashed his flounder rig bottom fishing at the Jackspot. Above top center, Captain Mike Burt of the Pumpin’ Hard caught this estimated 125-pound tarpon on the eastern shore of Virginia from his kayak. Above top right, there have been some nice mahi caught on the inshore lumps recently like this 20-pound cow aboard the Spring Mix II with Captain Chris Watkowski. Above left, Captain John Prather of OC Guide Service found this group 8 keeper flounder. Above center, Jake Melcher landed one of the largest wahoo we’ve seen this year when he wrestled in this 85 pounder. Above right, first place in the dolphin category of the Poor Girls Open went to the ladies of Fish On with their 22.9 pounder.

Opposite page, top left, Mike G from Pancho & Lefty’s found these three keeper flounder of over 20” in the East Channel. Opposite page, top right, the ladies aboard Boss Hogg won first place in the tuna category of the Poor Girls Open with this 72.4-pound yellowfin. Opposite page, bottom left, Shaun Flaherty kayaked over to Assateague Island and used Roy Rigs to land his limit of keeper flounder. Opposite page, middle right, Blake Gunther used the Fish in OC bottom/ tog jig to catch this 21.5” sheepshead at the south jetty. Opposite page, bottom right, Josh Blume and Gunnar used a live eel to land this beautiful 45”, 35-pound cobia.

... Fish In OC FROM PAGE 53 being caught on ballyhoo and lures trolled at 5-10 knots. Wahoo is one of the fastest, hardest fighting fish that we see off Ocean City and they have got quite the set of teeth. If you troll all mono you’ll know you had a wahoo bite when it looks like Edward Scissorhands got ahold of your rig.

Sea bass fishing on the inshore ocean is hit or miss with the warm summer water temperatures, but flounder fishing has picked up. Anglers fishing for flounder are having good luck on ocean structure with jigs or “chicken rigs”

baited with Gulp or strip baits with the best fishing happening between 100 and 150 feet of water. Captain Kane Bounds of the Fish Bound has seen terrific catches of flounder on his recent charters with limits of four fish per person on most trips with fish as big as 7.5 pounds. Back bay flounder fishing has improved as well with more keeper sized fish coming from deeper water spots like the OC inlet and the east channel.

Larger live baits have moved into our bays in good numbers and hungry flounder are after them when they’re on the prowl. Live bunker, mullet and spot are the best baits to land a keeper and maybe even a doormat flounder since these baits are too big for most throwback sized fish. Hook one of these live baits

in sizes from 2” to 4” through the nose on a live bait or circle hook and send them down to the bottom. Your bites might be fewer and farther between, but most times when you do get bit it’s well worth it. During the Ocean Pines Flounder Tournament, I fished live spot for eight hours and only got one bite. Thankfully it was a 22.75” flounder that weighed 4.6 pounds and was good enough for second place.

Bottom fishing for tautog and sheepshead over the rocks of the OC Inlet is pretty good with the occasional triggerfish being caught as well. Live sand fleas are working best for all three of these species and our Fish in OC bottom / tog jig has been on fire. 3/4, 1 and 1.5 ounce are the best sizes for fishing in the shallow water of the bay, and our white crab

color has been very effective lately.

Next weekend is the Ocean City Marlin Club’s 64th Annual Labor Day White Marlin Tournament with scales action at Sunset Marina on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This is a fish two of three-day billfish release event that includes added entry levels for heaviest meat fish and heaviest white marlin. Scales action will take place at Sunset Marina on Sept. 2, 3 and 4 from 6 until 8 p.m. each night. For more information call the club at 410-213-1613. 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 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 55

Page 56

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 26, 2022

Freeman Arts Pavilion’s Photo Of The Week:

Each week during the season the Freeman Arts Pavilion submits a photo of the week from the Selbyville venue. Above, comedian Nate Bargatze brought the laughs on Aug. 5. Tickets are still available for 2022 performances at freemanarts.org.

Photo by Kenny Pusey/Freeman Arts Pavilion

Time Is Best Medicine For Ocean Jellyfish Stings

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 57

GUARDING THE BEACH

BY DAMIEN SANZOTTI

SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH

OCEAN CITY – After working for the beach patrol for 18 years, there is one menacing ocean creature that can cause problems for our vacationers: the jellyfish.

The number of jellyfish in the water this summer has not been an issue and we have only had a few reports in the past several weeks but no severe reactions.

Though Shark Week gets a lot of attention, the reality is shark attacks are highly unlikely; statistically speaking there is an array of accidents that are much more likely than a shark attack such as being struck by a flying beach umbrella (although this is also a very rare occurrence) or suffocating in a sand hole. A jellyfish sting is more likely to happen than any of these incidents. People will show some discomfort after being stung by jellyfish. I myself was just stung last summer and the mark on my arm from the sting was present for about a week. The type of jellyfish 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 aDAMIEN SANZOTTI way in about 15-30 minutes. There is a slight chance that a person can have a severe allergic reaction or anaphylactic reaction similar to the reaction some people have to a bee sting, which requires immediate medical treatment.

Sea nettles are native to these waters meaning that stings are inevitable. One of the most frequent questions that beach lifeguards 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 crucial 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 latter part of the summer.

Regarding the prevention of being stung, the best thing one could do is stay out of the water. But that’s not really fun, is it? One could also wear a rash guard,

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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.

By this point everyone is thinking, “What is the best medicine if I am stung?”

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 al-

leviated. 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. If you feel that you have been stung, please seek assistance from our surf rescue technicians. As always, remember to “Keep your feet in the sand until the lifeguard’s in the stand.”

(The writer has been with the beach patrol for 19 years and is currently a sergeant. He is a physical education teacher for the Worcester County Public School system.)

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 26, 2022

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

in this space. Above is of the Wicomico Street Pier and some puffy clouds on the horizon. To purchase any of Parypa’s photos, click over to www.chrisparypa.com.

COVID-19 Staff Vaxed Virtual Appts.

Available

Estate Planning Wills & Trusts Powers of Attorney Medical Directives Elder Law 9748 Stephen Decatur Hwy. #112 Ocean City, MD 21842 www.batielaw.com

443-856-4676 Monday-Friday

Flat Fee Available Home Visits Available Upon Request

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

THE DISPATCH Crossword Puzzle

ANSWERS ON PAGE 82

HOROSCOPES ARIES (March 21 to April 19): A good news. But, there's a caution instrong social whirl brings a new round volved: Be sure you protect your rights of good times to fun-loving Rams and to your work before showing it to anyEwes. Also, Cupid is busy aiming ar- one else.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21): A rows at single Lambs hoping for a heartformer colleague might seek to resume to-heart encounter.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): A a working partnership. Ask yourself if romantic incident could take a more se- you need it. If yes, get more information. rious turn if the Divine Bovine consid- If no, respectfully decline the request. ers meeting Cupid's challenge. MeanSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. while, a professional opportunity is also 21): Good times dominate your aspect. about to turn up.

So, why not have a party to celebrate a GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): A bit loved one's success? And do invite that of hardheaded realism could be just special person you want to get to know what the Twins need at this emotionally better. challenged time. Face the facts as they CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19): are, not as you want them to be. Good The shy side of the Sea Goat soon gives luck. way to your more assertive self. This CANCER (June 21 to July 22): should help you when it comes time to Many opportunities are opening up. But, speak up for yourself and your achieveyou need to be aware of their actual ments. pros and cons. Check them all out and AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18): make your choice from those that offer A new period of stability will help you more of what you seek. deal with some recently reworked plans.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22): A more Once you get your current task done, stable situation begins, allowing you to you can devote more time to personal feel more secure about making impor- matters. tant decisions. Meanwhile, be sure to PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20): meet any project deadlines so that you Things are finally much more stable can move on to other things. these days, so you can restart the procVIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22): Con- ess of meeting your well-planned goals gratulations. A new personal relation- with fewer chances of interruptions or ship thrives, as you learn how to make delays. room in your busy life for this wonderBORN THIS WEEK: You love being fully warm and exciting emotional ex- the brightest light wherever you go, and perience. people love basking in your warmth and LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22): A new charm. © 2022 King Features Synd., Inc. contact opens some doors.

That's the ON PAGE ANSWERS 46

Page 59

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 60

Things I Like...

By Steve Green

vanishing

OCEAN CITY

August 26, 2022

WITH BUNK MANN

The Poor Girls Open’s growth A meal of several small plates Surfers Healing photos

Spending a few nights in Ocean City each summer A quick summer downpour Blue sky beach days Sensible criticism

When kids remember their teachers Road trips with little traffic

Food delivered to the beach Thank you notes

Pat Sajak, host of the TV show "Wheel of Fortune," came to town in 2003 to judge a "Vanna White Look-Alike Contest" at the Carousel Hotel.

Sponsored by the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce as a fundraiser, the event received lots of attention from the local media.

Many came out to support their favorite contestants all of whom were prominent male members of Ocean City's business community. As the "Vanna wannabes" pranced across the stage in makeup, dresses, wigs, and high heels, the crowd roared their approval. Sajak shook hands, signed autographs and made friends with all he met.

While no one came close to taking Vanna's place on Wheel of Fortune, City Councilman (and future mayor) Rick Meehan raised the most money and was declared the winner. Pictured, above with Sajak, are Harry How, John Staley, Joe Mitrecic, Bruce Kennington and Fred Wise.

To purchase one of Bunk Mann's books, click over to www.vanishinPhoto courtesy Bruce Kennington goc.com.

OPEN 10AM DAILY • INSIDE & OUTSIDE DINING AVAILABLE

1

$ .99 PER CRAB

ALL YOU CAN EAT

DINE-IN Weekdays 11am-3pm

For Carry-Out Call 410-213-0448 or Online www.shimpboatoc.com Check Out Our Daily Carry-Out Specials On Facebook

• Full Menu Available

Route 611 - On The Road To Assateague • 1/2 Mile South Of Rt. 50 • 9724 Stephen Decatur Hwy. • Ocean City, MD 21842

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 61

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

HELP WANTED KITCHEN HELP: All positions.

Year round & Part time. Apply within. Full Moon Saloon, 12702 Old Bridge Rd, West Ocean City.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– MAINTENANCE: FT, YR. Perfect job for jack of all trades handyman.

Company provided vehicle. Looking for dependable, quality worker.

Call 410-250-1111 or email resume to Fred@paradiseoc.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CLEANERS WANTED FOR OC: If you are a conscientious individual or team looking for great pay & minimal hours on summer Saturdays in OC, then we are the cleaning company for you. Exp. preferred. Cell phone and vehicle required. (443)880-0525. ___________________________

PRAY FOR UKRAINE

C L E A N E R S / VAC AT I O N RENTALS: Needed for Ocean City and Ocean Pines. Experience preferred but not necessary. Text or call 443-397-1189.

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

Friendly work environment.

American Legion Post #166.

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

THUNDERBIRD BEACH MOTEL NOW HIRING PM HOUSEMAN/ MAINTENANCE 4PM-MIDNIGHT

APPLY IN PERSON Monday-Friday 9am-3pm Thunderbird Beach Motel 32nd Street, Ocean City

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

THE SPINNAKER NOW HIRING DAYTIME HOUSEKEEPING NIGHT LAUNDRY MAINTENANCE APPLY IN PERSON 1800 Baltimore Avenue Monday-Friday 10am-3pm

For more information and to apply, go to: https:// ejobs.umd.edu.

Looking For Employees?

Start with

The Dispatch Now Hiring

NOW HIRING! PAYING TOP DOLLAR! •LINE COOKS •FOOD RUNNER •SERVERS •BARBACK Please apply in person.

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

ELECTRICIANS HELPER Salary based on experience.

Benefit Package Call for more details and interview 443-497-0403

WEST OC’S MOST FUN PLACE TO WORK AND MAKE $$$$

Berlin, MD area

Work experience and/or an Associates degree in CAD or closely related field.

Please send your resume and cover letter to 6040 Public Landing Road, Snow Hill, MD 21863 Attn: David Beach We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or disability.

Appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request by calling 410-632-1100 ext. 1221.

S u c c e s s f u l c a n d i d a t e mu s t b e h a n d s o n a n d h ave s t r o n g s u p e r v i s o r y s k i l l s. C o m p e t e n c y u s i n g M i c r o s o f t O f f i c e S u i t e. M u s t h ave t h e a b i l i t y t o e f fe c t i ve l y c o m m u n i c a t e ve r b a l l y a n d i n w r i t t e n fo r m w i t h e m p l oye e s, o t h e r d e p a r t m e n t s, D e p a r t m e n t D i r e c t o r, Tow n M a n a g e r, Tow n O f f i c i a l s, Tow n E n g i n e e r s a n d t h e g e n e ra l p u bl i c .

E x p e r i e n c e : A m i n i mu m o f f i ve ( 5 ) ye a r s o f p r o gr e s s i ve l y r e s p o n s i bl e s u p e r v i s o r y a n d a d m i n i s t ra t i ve ex p e r i e n c e i n p u bl i c w o r k s m a n a g e m e n t . Wa t e r L i c e n s e L eve l 4 a n d Wa s t ewa t e r C o l l e c t i o n C l a s s 2 L i c e n s e i s a h u g e p l u s.

Currently Hiring Manpower For:

Application Deadline: Until position is filled

M/F/V/D

CAD DESIGNER / DRAFTER

Duties include planning, implementing and monitoring grants programs. Prepares budgets, monitors expenditures, tracks results, monitors performance measures and analyzes financial data. This position will serve as the primary point of contact for all grant funding.

Applicants must possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and have one year of experience in grant evaluation and monitoring or budget preparation, presentation and execution. Background check required.

Salary is commensurate with relevant experience.

T h e Tow n o f D e l m a r i s s e e k i n g q u a l i f i e d c a n d i d a t e s t o s e r ve a s t h e n ex t P u bl i c Wo r k s S u p e r i n t e n d e n t . T h i s i s an excellent oppor tunity for an enthusiastic leader to step i n a n d b e a p a r t o f t h e f u t u r e o f t h e Tow n o f D e l m a r. T h e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t p e r fo r m s d a i l y s u p e r v i s o r y, a d m i n i s t r a t i ve, p l a n n i n g , o r g a n i z i n g , d i r e c t i n g w o r k i n t h e P u bl i c Wo r k s D e p a r t m e n t , i n c l u d i n g s t r e e t m a i n t e n a n c e, wa t e r distr ibution and sewer collection systems, stor m drainage, i n f ra s t r u c t u r e p l a n r ev i ew a n d mu n i c i p a l p r o p e r t y m a i n t e n a n c e.

EOE

Closing Date: Sept. 4, 2022

Worcester County Health Department Grants Consultant

F u l l t i m e Po s i t i o n w / F u l l B e n e f i t s S a l a r y : N e g o t i a bl e p e n d i n g E x p e r i e n c e

or in person at D e l m a r Tow n H a l l , 1 0 0 S. Pe n n s y l va n i a Ave nu e, D e l m a r, M D 2 1 8 7 5 Application Deadline: Until position is filled

Employment is contingent upon successful completion and clearance of a Criminal History Record Check.

EEO/AA

Send resume by email to jsalm@jwse.com

TOW N O F D E L M A R Department of Public Works, SUPERINTENDENT

A p p l i c a t i o n c a n b e fo u n d o n o u r we b s i t e https://www.townofdelmar.us/departments/human-resources.htm

Agent Associate (Position 125246) University of Maryland Extension seeks Family Consumer Science/ Financial Educator. Full‐Time, 12‐month, professionaltrack faculty position in Worcester County (Snow Hill), MD. Master's degree preferred. Salary commensurate with experience; Bachelor’s base: $41,435; Master’s base: $43,320. The University of Maryland offers an extensive benefits package, which can be found by visiting https://uhr.umd.edu/benefits.

Now Hiring

MAINTENANCE TECHS Salary based on experience.

Benefit Package Call for more details and interview 443-497-0403

Carpenter | Laborer | Painters Stucco & EIFS Mechanics Concrete Work o Experience preferred. o Tools, transportation & valid driver’s license are a plus. o Excellent pay and a competitive benefits package available.

Please Apply Online: https://www.allstatesconst.com/delmarva-renovations-careers

Or Contact Our Office at 410-352-9800

Page 62

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 26, 2022

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

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

INDIAN RIVER MARINA IS NOW HIRING!

HELP WANTED

SERVERS ALL KITCHEN POSITIONS HOSTESSES APPLY IN PERSON

•Lobster Shanty, 37310 Lighthouse Rd, Fenwick (Rt. 54) •Nantuckets, 601 Coastal Hwy, Fenwick CARPENTERS & CARPENTERS HELPERS Must have:

Tools, Transportation, Driver’s License Exp. Required!

PATTERSON & SONS BUILDERS

Call 410-641-9530

•FUEL DOCK •DOCK HANDS •RAMP ATTENDANTS •BOATYARD •NIGHTWATCH •MAINTENANCE •SHIP STORE CLERK •GENERAL CLERICAL (SEASONAL YEAR ROUND)

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

WINTER RENTAL: 1 BR CONDO, OC. WINTER RENTAL ONLY. AVAIL. OCT 15TH - MAY 14TH Furn, Util.’s incl. . $900 per mo. & $900 Sec. dep. req. GOOD REF’S A MUST. Email inquires to: OCREVENUEMGT@GMAIL.COM –––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Line Cooks Prep Cooks Host/Hostess

Now Hiring For:

Call Matt at 302-593-4141 or email thesterlingtavern@gmail.com

RENTALS

Each of them alone, Truth and faith so obvious, Trees in my backyard!

Got Yard Sale?

Get the Word Out Print & Online www.mdcoastdispatch.com

OFF SEASON RENTALS Utilities Included

Call to reserve now 410-289-8581

ROOMMATE ROOM(S) FOR RENT: Seeking Roommate(s). YR or Seasonal.

Non smoking, pets welcome. Single Family Home, 94th St. area.

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

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

COMMERCIAL OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT:

Available immediately, Approximately 1300 +/- sq ft. $2,200 mo. + util.’s, Please call / text 443-754-5605 or email johanna@ocrooms.com WEST O.C. OFFICE/RETAIL SPACES AVAILABLE: 2 Office/Retail Spaces for Lease.

Plenty of Parking. 443-497-4200.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

SERVICES HONESTLY CLEAN: Trustworthy, reliable & reasonable, professional cleaning services. Specializing in cleaning homes, condos, Apt., & rentals in OC area. Bonded/Insured. For free estimates, contact Mary Ellen , 973-270-3613.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

YARD SALE HUGE YARD SALE: Sat. 8/27, 8am-3pm. Designer bags, furn. clothing, tools, artwork, pool items, & a large variety of items. 280 Powell Circle, Berlin, MD 21811.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ESTATE SALE: Fri. 9/2 12-4pm, Sat 9/3 9am-4pm, & Sun 9/4 9am1pm. We will have a variety of furniture, artwork, kitchen items, and other various knick-knacks. 12613 Sheffield Rd., West Ocean City.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Follow Us On Facebook, Instragram & Twitter

Are You Getting Your Daily Buzz?

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING …

Local News Articles Delivered Daily To Your Inbox

PART TIME/ FULLTIIME FENWICK ISLAND/ OCEAN CITY

TOP PAY NO EXP REQUIRED! OWNER OPERATED RESPECTFUL FRIENDLY WORK ENVIRONMENT

CALL 443 •859•2401

Chairside

DENTAL ASS’T. Experience Preferred Ocean View Email Resume:

molarbiz@yahoo.com

NOW HIRING PT

BARTENDER Tues, Wed, Thurs 5pm-close

Call Pam at 410-726-7061 Or Apply Within at 56th Street

“I really enjoy getting the Daily Buzz articles.

They are informative, helpful and well-written.

This was a great idea. Thank you.”

“Love the Daily Buzz”

“Thank you so much for keeping us aware for those of us not in Ocean City.”

“I love getting The Dispatch by email daily (or just a little taste of it!). Thank you!”

SIGN UP AT WWW.MDCOASTDISPATCH.COM AND JOIN THE 15,000-PLUS WHO RECEIVE THE NEWS BEFORE IT’S PRINTED

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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

The deadline for all legal advertising is Tuesday at noon.

For more information call 410-641-4563 or email classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com Third Insertion NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19327

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 08-12, 08-19, 08-26

forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 12, 2022 ROBERT J. GILSDORF Personal Representative

Third Insertion To all persons interested in the estate of DAVID L. BAINES, ESTATE NO. 19327.

Notice is given that YVONNE BAINES, 5806 ONLEY ROAD, GIRDLETREE, MD 21829 was on AUGUST 03, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of DAVID L. BAINES, who died on JULY 27, 2022 without a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 23rd day of FEBRUARY, 2023 Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or

(2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 12, 2022

YVONNE BAINES Personal Representative

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19329

To all persons interested in the estate of ROBERT T. GILSDORF, ESTATE NO. 19329. Notice is given that ROBERT J. GILSDORF, 8 WHEATLAND CIRCLE, MIDDLETOWN, DE 19709, was on AUGUST 04, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ROBERT T. GILSDORF, who died on JULY 30, 2022 with a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 4TH day of FEBRUARY, 2023

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or

(2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim

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 08-12, 08-19, 08-26

Third Insertion NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19332 To all persons interested in the estate of FAITH M. MUMFORD, ESTATE NO. 19332.

Notice is given that QUINCY SHOCKLEY, 6615 CROOKED OAK DRIVE, SNOW HILL, MD 21863, was on AUGUST 05, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of FAITH M. MUMFORD, who died on JUNE 26, 2022 without a 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 12, 2022

QUINCY SHOCKLEY 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 08-12, 08-19, 08-26

Third Insertion AYRIKA FLETCHER, ESQ. IN-HOUSE COUNSEL BAY CLUB TIME-SHARE ASSOCIATES, INC. P.O. BOX 3307 OCEAN CITY, MD 21843-3307 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, STATE OF MARYLAND CASE NO. C-23-CV-21-000169

BAY CLUB TIME-SHARE OWNERS ASSOCIATES, INC. P.O. BOX 3307 OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND 21843-3307 Plaintiff

Page 63 CONDO- TIME PRICE PURMINIUM INTERCHASER UNIT VAL 301 301 301 301 301 301 301 301 301 301 301 301 301 302 302 302 302 302 302 302 302 302 302 302 303

9 10 11 12 13 14 16 19 43 44 45 49 52 3 9 12 15 17 19 29 40 42 43 48 12

$50.00 BC BC $50.00 $50.00 BC $50.00 BC $50.00 BC $50.00 BC $50.00 BC $50.00 BC BC $50.00 $50.00 BC BC $50.00 $50.00 BC $50.00 BC BC $50.00 $50.00 BC BC $50.00 $50.00 BC $50.00 BC BC $50.00 $3,500.00 LJCH $50.00 BC $50.00 BC BC $50.00 BC $50.00 $50.00 BC

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 12, 2022 TRUE TEST COPY SUSAN R. BRANIECKI Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County, MD 3x 08-12, 08-19, 08-26

Second Insertion NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19334 To all persons interested in the estate of LUCILLE MARGUERITE MCMEINS, ESTATE NO. 19334. Notice is given that WILLIAM WENDELL MCMEINS, JR.13 A SEASIDE DRIVE NORTH, SURFSIDE BEACH, SC 29575, was on AUGUST 09, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of LUCILLE MARGUERITE MCMEINS, who died on MAY 17, 2022 with a will.

vs.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 5TH day of FEBRUARY, 2023 Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will

ROWANTO MCNIGH, et al.

Defendants

ORDERED, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland this 10th day of AUGUST, 2022, that the foreclosure sale of the properties mentioned in these proceedings,made and reported by Ayrika Fletcher, Trustee, be RATIFIED AND CONFIRMED, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 12th day of September, 2022 provided a copy of this Order be inserted in some daily newspaper printed in Worcester County, Maryland once in each of three successive weeks, before the 5th day of September, 2022

The Report of Sale filed in the above case states the amount of the sales to be as indicated below for the referenced time-share interval: TIMESHARES SOLD: BC = BAY CLUB TIME SHARE OWNERS ASSOCIATES, INC. LJCH = Lemonjuice Capital Holdings, LLC

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 9TH day of FEBRUARY, 2023 Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the credi-

tor 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 19, 2022 WILLIAM WENDELL MCMEINS, 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 08-19, 08-26, 09-02

Second Insertion MICHAEL B. MATHERS, ESQ. WEBB, CORNBROOKS, WILBER, VORHIS, DOUSE & MATHERS, LLP 910-115 BROAD STREET SALISBURY, MD 218030910 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19336 To all persons interested in the estate of CAROL ELAINE RAINS, AKA: CAROL. E. RAINS, ESTATE NO. 19336. Notice is given that CHERYL L. STEINBACH, 327 BYNUM RIDGE ROAD, FOREST HILL, MD 21050, was on AUGUST 10, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of CAROL ELAINE RAINS, who died on JULY 20, 2022 with a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 10TH day of FEBRUARY, 2023 Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other

Page 64

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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

The deadline for all legal advertising is Tuesday at noon.

For more information call 410-641-4563 or email classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com 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 19, 2022 CHERYL L. STEINBACH 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 08-19, 08-26, 09-02

Second Insertion LEWIS MCDANIELS, LLC 50 CITIZENS WAY SUITE 305 FREDERICK, MARYLAND 21701 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND Case No. C-23-CV-22-000132 (TAX SALE) DEERCREEK HOME SOLUTIONS, LLC, Plaintiff, vs.

ALLEN B. BLOUNT, JR. The testate and intestate successors of Allen B. Blount, Jr., deceased, and all persons claiming by, through, or under the decedent; E. Scott Tawes; Worcester County, Maryland; any and all unknown owners of the property and premises situate in Worcester County, Maryland, described as 47.6' X 108.6' 523 YOUNG STREET POCOMOKE and being identified on the Tax Roll as Parcel ID: 01-020536, and which may be known as 523 Young St., Pocomoke City, MD 21851, the unknown owner's heirs, devisees, and personal representatives and their or any of their heirs, devisees, executors, administrators, grantees, assigns, or successors in right, title and interest; and, any and all persons that have or claim

to have any interest in the property and premises situate in Worcester County, Maryland, described as 47.6' X 108.6' 523 YOUNG STREET POC-OMOKE and being identified on the Tax Roll as Parcel ID: 01-020536, and which may be known as 523 Young St., Pocomoke City, MD 21851, Defendants.

ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this proceeding is to secure the foreclosure of all rights of redemption in the herein above described property sold, either directly or via assignment, by the Collector of Taxes for the State of Maryland and Worcester County, Maryland, to the Plaintiff in the proceeding.

The Complaint states, among other things, that the amount necessary for the redemption for the subject property has not been paid, although more than six (6) months from the date of the sale have expired, and more than two (2) months from the date that the first of two (2) separate pre-suit notices of the tax sale was sent to each required interested party have expired.

It is thereupon this 10TH day of AUGUST, 2022 by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, ORDERED, that notice be given by the insertion of a copy of this Order in some newspaper having general circulation in Worcester County, Maryland, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, on or before the 5th day of SEPTEMBER, warning all persons having or claiming to have any interest in the property described above to appear in this Court by the 10th day of October, 2022, and redeem their respective property or answer the Complaint, or thereafter a Final Decree will be entered foreclosing all rights of redemption in and as to the property, and vesting in the Plaintiff a title in fee simple or leasehold, as appropriate, free and clear of all encumbrances.

The Defendants are hereby informed of the latest date to file a written Answe1· or Petition to Redeem the property mentioned in the Complaint described above, and that failure to file a response on or before the date specified may result in a Default Judgment foreclosing all rights of redemp-

tion in and as to the property being rendered by this Court against them, Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 19, 2022 BRIAN D. SHOCKLEY JUDGE, Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland TRUE TEST COPY SUSAN R. BRANIECKI Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County, MD 3x 08-19, 08-26, 09-02

Second Insertion NOTICE TO BIDDERS Request for Proposals The Worcester County Local Management Board Bounce Back Program The Local Management Board is requesting proposals from vendors for the development and implementation of the Bounce Back program for Fiscal Year 2023. The Bounce Back Program is designed to provide Worcester County children, grades K-5th, that are impacted by trauma, a safe and caring environment to receive much needed support, coping skills, and the necessary tools in order to manage their trauma.

For purposes of this Request for Proposal, Worcester County’s Initiative to Preserve Families (Worcester County Local Management Board) and the Board of Directors are seeking proposals for Fiscal Year 2023 from providers able to develop and implement a community-based CBITS (Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools) adaptation after school program that will improve outcomes for children between grades K-5th in Worcester County using the Bounce Back curriculum. Funding is available to local 501-(c) not-for-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, and government agencies who are in good standing.

Interested parties must submit one (1) original and five (5) copies of their proposal to the Worcester County Government by the established deadline of September 12, 2022 at 1:00 pm. The Worcester County Government will ensure that all proposals received by the deadline are given to the LMB. Proposals should be

addressed and mailed or hand carried to: OFFICE OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ATTN: MR. JOSEPH PARKER, DEPUTY CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER WORCESTER COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER ONE WEST MARKET STREET, ROOM 1103 SNOW HILL, MD 21863 Evaluation The LMB will utilize an Evaluation Committee to review and evaluate each proposal submitted by the guidelines established on the provided evaluation criteria. A total of five members will serve on the RFP panel. The panel will be assigned a facilitator who will assist the group through the process, but will not have a vote. Members of the RFP panel will receive all proposals once they have been received from the County Administrator. Agencies that are submitting a proposal cannot be part of the panel that reviews the proposals. The top three (3) proposals (those receiving the highest scores) may be invited to be interviewed by a subset of the panel. This interview will be for the purpose of gathering additional information and negotiating terms of a potential agreement.

For questions contact the Worcester County Local Management Board: 410632-3648 Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 19, 2022 2x 08-19, 08-26

Second Insertion NOTICE TO BIDDERS WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND COASTAL RESILIENCY AND LIVING SHORELINE PROJECT The County Commissioners of Worcester County Maryland are currently soliciting bids for construction services for the Selsey Road Coastal Resiliency and Living Shoreline project in West Ocean City. The work scope involves, generally, the construction of a sill and breakwater system as designed, installing inlets to the tidal pond in the middle of the project area as an active feature with associated phragmites excavation, and rock placement to tie into an existing revetment along the road. Interested contractors are encouraged to attend a pre-bid meeting at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at the project site at the eastern end of Selsey Road West Ocean City, MD 21842.

Last day for bid questions shall be noon Thursday,

August 26, 2022 September 8, 2022. Sealed bids will be accepted until 1:00 PM on Monday, September 12, 2022 in the Office of the County Commissioners, at Room 1103 -Worcester County Government Center, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863, at which time they will be opened and publicly read aloud. Envelopes shall be marked "Worcester County Coastal Resiliency and Living Shoreline Project" in the lower left-hand corner. After opening, bids will be forwarded to the Worcester County Department of Environmental Programs for tabulation, review and recommendation to the County Commissioners for their consideration at a future meeting. In awarding the proposal, the Commissioners reserve the right to reject any and all proposals, waive formalities, informalities and technicalities therein, and to take whatever proposal they determine to be in the best interest of the County considering lowest or best proposal, quality of goods and work, time of delivery or completion, responsibility of subcontractors being considered, previous experience of subcontractors with County contracts, or any other factors they deem appropriate. Bid documents are available by contacting the Worcester County Department of Environmental Programs at 410-632-1220 x1302 or by email at kmunson@co.worcester.md.us

Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

THE WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

BRIAN RUSSELL BRADFORD FREDERICKA BRADFORD HARRINGTON Personal Representatives

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 19, 2022 2x 08-19, 08-26

Second Insertion B. RANDALL COATES ESQ COATES, COATES, & COATES 204 WEST GREEN STREET P O BOX 293 SNOW HILL, MD 21863 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19343 To all persons interested in the estate of LOLA MARIE BRADFORD, ESTATE NO. 19343. Notice is given that BRIAN RUSSELL BRADFORD, 7540 FIVE MILEBRANCH ROAD, NEWARK, MD 21841, and FREDERICKA BRADFORD HARRINGTON, 17 FORT SUMTER SOUTH, BERLIN, MD 21811, was on AUGUST 12, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of LOLA MARIE BRADFORD, who died on JULY 06, 2022 with a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the

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 12TH day of FEBRUARY, 2023 Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 19, 2022

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 08-19, 08-26, 09-02

Second Insertion B. RANDALL COATES ESQ COATES, COATES, & COATES 204 WEST GREEN STREET P O BOX 293 SNOW HILL, MD 21863 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19342 To all persons interested in the estate of MICHAEL LEONARD BENSON, ESTATE NO. 19342. Notice is given that VICTORIA A. JONES, 640 GREENBACKVILLE ROAD, STOCKTON, MD 21864, was on AUGUST 12, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MICHAEL LEONARD BENSON, who died on JANUARY 20, 2000 without a will.

Further information can be

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

The Dispatch Legal Notices

Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 08-26, 09-02, 09-09

First Insertion

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

The deadline for all legal advertising is Tuesday at noon.

For more information call 410-641-4563 or email classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com 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 12TH day of FEBRUARY, 2023 Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or ( 2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 19, 2022 VICTORIA A. JONES Personal Representatives True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 08-19, 08-26, 09-02

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

HAROLD MCCABE, JR., 8595 SHAVOX CHURCH ROAD, WHALEYVILLE, MD 21872, were on AUGUST 15, 2022, appointed Personal the of Representative SMALL ESTATE of: ELIZABETH PEPPER MCCABE, who died on AUGUST 03, 2022, with a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

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

All persons having any objection to the probate of the will shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within six months after the date of publication of this Notice.All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, 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, is unenforceable thereafter.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 26, 2022 GARY ALVIN MCCABE RICHARD HAROLD MCCABE, JR. Personal Representative

ESTATE NO. 19344 To all persons interested in the estate of ELIZABETH PEPPER MCCABE. Notice is given that GARY ALVIN MCCABE, 11014 WEST LINE ROAD, BISHOPVILLE, MD 21813 and RICHARD

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 08-26

First Insertion NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19347 To all persons interested in the estate of JOHN G. CABALA, ESTATE NO. 19347.

Notice is given that JOHN J. CABALA, 15019 RUNNING PARK COURT, BOWIE, MD 20715, was on AUGUST 17, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JOHN G. CABALA, who died on AUGUST 12, 2022 with a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 17TH day of FEBRUARY, 2023 Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 26, 2022

JASON W. HARDMAN, SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE PAUL J. COHEN, SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE CIPRIANI & WERNER, P.C. 6411 IVY LANE, SUITE 600 GREENBELT, MARYLAND 20770 INTHE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY Case No. C-23-CV-21-000217 THE PROPERTY THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION IS NOT "OWNER-HARD OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY'' UNDER SECTION 7-105.l(a)(S) OF THE REAL PROPERTY ARTICLE OF THE MARYLAND CODE JASON W. HARDMAN, and PAUL J. COHEN, Substitute Trustees, Plaintiffs, v.

TODD E. SPAHR and TESSA M. SPAHR, Defendants.

SUBJECT PROPERTY: 2 Dorchester Street, Unit 711, Belmont Towers Ocean City, Maryland 21842 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN this 19th day of August 2022, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, that the sale of the real property generally known as 2 Dorchester Street, Unit 711 Belmont Towers Residential Condominium, Phase Two, Ocean City, Maryland 21842 (Tax ID No. 10-758017) (the "Property''), as reported by Jason W. Hardman and Paul J. Cohen, Substitute Trustees (the "Substitute Trustees'') in the abovecaptioned foreclosure proceeding, shall be ratified and confirmed by this Court, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 19th day of September 2022, provided that a copy of this Notice of Foreclosure Sale be published at least once a week in each of three (3) successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in Worcester County, Maryland before the 12th day of September 2022.

The Report of Sale filed by the Substitute Trustees states that the Property was sold for the purchase price of $650,000.00 at the foreclosure sale.

JOHN J. CABALA Personal Representatives

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 26, 2022

True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT

TRUE TEST COPY SUSAN R. BRANIECKI

Page 65 CLERK, Circuit Court WorcesterCounty 3x 08-26, 09-02, 09-09

First Insertion MARIANNA BATIE ESQ LAW OFFICE OF MARIANNA BATIE 9748 STEPHEN DECATUR HIGHWAY STE 112 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19335 To all persons interested in the estate of EUGENE CHARLES CRIST, ESTATE NO. 19335. Notice is given that EUGENE SCOTT CRIST 5090 RICHMOND AVENUE SUITE 319 HOUSTON, TX 77056 was on AUGUST 22nd, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of EUGENE CHARLES CRIST, who died on May 14, 2022 with a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 22nd day of FEBRUARY, 2023 Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 26, 2022

First Insertion B. RANDALL COATES, ESQ. COATES, COATES & COATES 204 WEST GREEN STREET PO BOX 293 SNOW HILL, MD 21863 SMALL ESTATE NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19355 To all persons interested in the estate of CARLTON E. MASSEY, JR. Notice is given that OLIVIA C. MASSEY, 84 FRONT STREET, APT 9D, BROOKLYN, NY 11201 was on AUGUST 22, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the SMALL ESTATE of: CARLTON E. MASSEY, JR. who died on MAY 23, 2022, with a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

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

All persons having any objection to the probate of the will shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within six months after the date of publication of this Notice.All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, 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, is unenforceable thereafter.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 26, 2022

EUGENE SCOTT CRIST Personal Representatives

OLIVIA C. MASSEY 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 08-26, 09-02, 09-09

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 08-26

OC’s Wine On The Beach Event Scheduled For Sept. 9-10

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

OCEAN CITY – After a successful post-pandemic festival last year, Wine on the Beach will be returning Sept. 910 with changes to enhance the visitor experience.

"More sand, more seating, more shade," are among the features promised for this year, according to organizer Chris Nokes.

Nokes said the biggest change is when the event will be held – earlier in September the weekend after Labor

Day. “First of all, we are delighted with the change in dates,” Nokes said. “By moving up to the weekend after Labor Day, our guests can enjoy so many of the summer amenities still operating on the Boardwalk, including the trolley, amusement parks, shops and concessions.”

Logistics have greatly improved, as a streamlined admission system virtually eliminated long lines.

“We were very pleased with how it

worked last year,” Nokes said. "We still recommend buying tickets in advance for the fastest entrance.”

With a larger festival footprint, more beach is available for picnics, listening to music and dancing. Thanks to the Town of Ocean City, there are also more tables and benches distributed on festival grounds. "But guests are still welcome to bring their own blankets and chairs," Nokes added.

Although open containers cannot

SNOW HILL – The Worcester County Fair will be holding a Talent Show for adults and children at this year’s fair on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 3 p.m.

The Worcester County Fair will return to Byrd Park in Snow Hill Sept. 16-18 with hours from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 16 and 17 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18.

Entries for the talent show are due by Sept. 1 and are being sought for the following categories: 7 years and younger, ages 8 through 10, ages 11 through 13, ages 14 through 18 and adults ages 19 and up.

There is no entry fee to participate in the talent show. Talent can be any type of amateur entertaining (singing, danc-

ing, musical, etc.) deemed appropriate for the family atmosphere of the county fair.

The Worcester County Fair Board reserves the right to disallow an act at its discretion. The fair will provide a flat stage, electricity, CD player and microphone for performances. All other props must be furnished by the performer.

Group entries are allowed. Participants can only perform once, either individually or with a group. Each act will be limited to a maximum of five minutes. All judges’ decisions are final.

Participants must be at the stage area by 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 18 for a brief meeting to go over judging score sheets and final questions. Prizes are

cash awards as follows: first place $50 and second place $25. Entries in the 7 years and under category will receive a participation award only.

All entries must be pre-registered with Susan Todd, 7406 Libertytown Rd. Berlin, Md. 21811 or email your entry to worcofair@gmail.com with Talent Show in the subject line. Submission should include full name, address, phone, birth date and what the talent or act will be. If an act is a song, please include the name of the song.

Pre-registration must take place by Sept. 1. Performers must provide their own music on a thumb drive to put on a computer or bring a CD. For more information call 443-523-0497.

County Fair’s Talent Show Deadline Nears

August 26, 2022

leave festival grounds, guests may still exit the festival and still return if they want to stroll the Boardwalk. "We have a return gate for admission with wristband," Nokes said.

Veterans of the annual event have offered a few recommendations. Fold-up wagons are a good idea for hauling purchases. If you don't have one in the garage, they are sold on the Boardwalk.

The Will Call tent for wine purchases has been doubled in size and located by the exit. Also added is a turnaround for cars and space for ride share vehicles.

“We are adding to our music this year,” Nokes said. "Perennial favorite Bird Dog and friends will be back to lead boogeying in the sand. And this year, piano man Larry Lay will bring his popular blend of contemporary and old favorites. Larry, for 25 years a mainstay at Middleton Tavern in Annapolis, has a vast following of weekend vocalists, and takes requests from the crowd. Singing and dancing on the Ocean City beach, while enjoying great Maryland wine with friends and family is an experience like no other."

Nokes added, "It has become an annual event for so many and we hope even more will enjoy it this year."

Hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sept. 910. Admission is $35 at the gate if not sold out and includes a souvenir glass.

Purchase in advance http://winefest.com/tickets-beach.html.

oc Jeep Week returns With Favorites, new events

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City Jeep Week got underway Thursday and runs through Sunday.

The 2022 highlight is what organizers are calling, “The Great Jeep Week Hangout,” when an aerial group photo of more than 1,500 participating Jeeps will take place. The photo op is happening at the West Ocean City Park & Ride on Route 50 on Saturday from 7-8 p.m.

Afterwards head over to Micky Fins restaurant on the West Ocean City harbor for a wrap party with special happy hour pricing with a show badge.

The Roland E. Powell Convention Center is the headquarters for everything Jeep and 4x4. The event will be open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Saturday. Make sure to check out all the vendors that have traveled from all over the country to offer a lineup of diverse products and services.

Kicker audio will be on-site with its 80-foot tractor-trailer with the ultimate audio experience. Attendees can buy those sound systems and have them installed by Audio Works on-site.

The Metal Shop’s huge presence with a tractor-trailer, accented by an overlanding experience, will be quite a sight to see. It will provide a camping out experience in the convention center parking lot.

Alpine will be back after a two-year break, installing the latest products.

Trick Trucks and CC Customs will have two massive tents with products, installations and show specials. Also don’t miss Joe’s Jeep Jungle displaying hemi motor swap Jeeps with other amazing builds.

The parking lot at the convention center is not just for Jeep enthusiasts – it’s open to the public as one of the East Coast’s best 4x4 expos. There will be contests for best-looking Jeeps, the Show & Shine events, on Friday from noon-3 p.m. with some of the hottest Jeeps on the planet. Everything from a 1946 Willys, to a 1976 CJ, to a modern

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8th street & philadelphia ave.

410-289-4891 •picklesoc.com open year-round every day 8th st. liquors open every day

SUNDAY FUNDAY Food & Drink Specials Beats By Styler W/ Late Night

Happy Hour Drinks

Some of the past Jeep Week participants are pictured in the parking lot at the event headquarters, the Roland E. Powell Convention Center.

File Photo

Gladiator built to impress. There will be awards and live music.

On Friday, Jeep Week welcomes national recording artist Jimmy Charles, scheduled to perform from 2-3 p.m.

Then, on Saturday, the Rockoholics will perform from 1-3 p.m. in The Metal Shop Overlanding Zone.

The daily beach crawls are an annual highlight of the event as a parade of Jeeps flow from 29th Street all the way down to the Inlet Parking Lot, starting each morning at 8 a.m. through Sunday. Folks will be watching from the pier and along the route.

Also returning this year is the rollercoaster of obstacle course built into the sand open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The course is located north of the Pier at Somerset Street in Ocean City.

Out in Pittsville, don’t miss the updated Jeep Jam at the Mid-Atlantic Youth Sports (MAYS) complex. You don’t want to miss the Jeeps flexing, crawling and navigating this course of

rocks, stairs, concrete mounds and trails. Organizers thank Superior Construction and the crew at CC Customs.

After the event activities wrap up each night, there are opportunities to relax and enjoy comradery with fellow Jeep enthusiasts.

On Friday, the all-new Pier 23 in West Ocean City will host Jeepers from 6-9 p.m. Live music, discounts with show badge along with stunning views of the West Ocean City commercial harbor.

Late-night Friday is the original Greene Turtle in north Ocean City getting in the fun from 10 p.m.-midnight.

On Saturday, after the photo op at the park and ride, nearby Micky Fins will host a party with discounts with show badge.

Finally, the going-away party is happening Sunday, at the Sinepuxent Brewing Company on Route 611 in Berlin from 1-4 pm. Live music, plenty of parking, and a great way to end your Ultimate Jeep Vacation.

HAPPINESS HAPPY HOUR MONDAY-FRIDAY 3-6PM

MONDAY: UNTIL 6 P.M. Happy Hour Wings

(Some Flavors Not Available)

TUESDAY: UNTIL 6 P.M. $2 Beef, Pork Or Chicken Tacos $3 Tecate WEDNESDAY: UNTIL 6 P.M. 1/2-Price-1/2-Pound Hand-Pattied Burgers

(Some Burgers Do Not Apply) (Food Specials With Purchase Of Beverage Some Restrictions Apply) Friday 9:30pm Beats By Deogee 80’s & 90’s $5 Crushes 10pm Saturday 9:30pm Rogue Citizens

WHOLE HOUSE ELECTRICAL ASSESSMENT & SAFETY INSPECTION

A $249 VALUE FOR ONLY $99 • Check the electrical service panel and wiring • Tighten screws and lugs on circuit breakers to ensure proper functioning • Apply Noalox on branch circuits’ aluminum wires • Check all outlets with tester for loose connections, open grounds, neutral wires, proper polarity

• Test/inspect GFCI outlets and breakers • Check for double tapped breakers to eliminate overloading a circuit breaker • Survey for proper surge protection • Check smoke detectors and make recommendations for compliance with local electrical codes

Call 410-641-1434 Worcester County Lic. #M917 • Maryland Lic. # 3506

Sunday 9:30pm Beats By Styler Late Night Happy Hour Drinks Monday 9:30pm Karaoke w/ Wood $2 Natty Lights $3 Grenades 10pm Tuesday 9:30pm Beats By Wax $4 Seltzers $4 Deep Eddy Shots 10pm Wednesday Weekly Select Craft Beer 6pm Beats By Deogee 9:30pm Thursday 9:30pm Beats By Wax $2.50 Domestics $3 Grenades $4 White Tea Shots 10pm

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 26, 2022

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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Who’s Where When BUXY’S SALTY DOG 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Aug. 26: TBA COCONUTS BEACH BAR & GRILL Oceanfront Castle In The Sand 37th & 38th St. 410-289-6846 Friday, Aug. 26: Darin Engh, Zion Reggae Saturday, Aug. 27: The Everafter, The Bills Sunday, Aug. 28: Jack Worthington, No Clue Trio Monday, Aug. 29: Nate Clendenen, Smooth Rhythm Tuesday, Aug. 30: Endless Ember, Aaron Howell Trio Wednesday, Aug. 31: Rich Walton Solo, Chasing Autumn Thursday, Sept. 1: Shortcut Sunny, Bell Bottom Blues COINS PUB 410-289-3100 28th St. Plaza On Coastal Hwy. Friday, Aug. 26: Lennon LaRicci & The Leftovers Saturday, Aug. 27: Jim Long, Dueling Pianos w/Bill Zee Wednesdays: DJ Wax

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 26, 2022

Best Beats

DJ ROBCEE Fager’s Island: Friday, Aug. 26 & Monday, Aug. 29

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

SEAN LOOMIS Pier 23: Thursday, Sept. 1

MOVIN’ & GROOVIN’ OC Fontainebleu Resort: Friday & Saturday, Aug. 26 & 27

DJ BK Greene Turtle North: Friday, Aug. 26

JIM LONG BAND Coin’s Pub: Saturdays

CORK BAR Sunday, Aug. 28: Jess Arms CRABCAKE FACTORY BAYSIDE 302-988-5000 37314 Lighthouse Rd., Rte. 54 Selbyville, DE Friday, Aug. 26: Lost N Found Sunday, Aug. 28: Bilenki Duo Tuesday, Aug. 30: Jack Bannon Wednesday, Aug. 31: Smooth & Co. CRAWL STREET TAVERN 443-373-2756 Wicomico St. Downtown O.C. Friday, Aug. 26: Scrapple Saturday, Aug. 27: VooDoo Tribe

BRYAN DORSEY OC Eateries: Friday, Aug. 26

FAGER’S ISLAND 410-524-5500 60th St. In The Bay Friday, Aug. 26: DJ RobCee, Sons Of Pirates, Shake The Room Saturday, Aug. 27: DJ Hook, Groovalicious, In Too Deep Sunday, Aug. 28: DJ Willoughby, The 1974 Monday, Aug. 29: The 1974, DJ RobCee, Rev6 Tuesday, Aug. 30: DJ Hector Wednesday, Aug. 31: DJ Adam Dutch Thursday, Sept. 1: DJ Groove, Chesapeake Sons GREENE TURTLE WEST 410-213-1500 Rt. 611, West O.C. Saturday, Aug. 27: TBA

DJ BILLY T Harborside: Friday, Sunday &Thursday

VERTIGO RED Purple Moose Saloon: Friday & Saturday, Aug. 26 & 27

DJ PAPI ROISTEROUS Purple Moose: Wednesdays

DJ DEOGEE Pickles Pub: Fridays, Sundays & Wednesdays

SCRAPPLE Crawl St. Tavern: Friday, Aug. 26

KAROAKE W/JEREMY Harborside: Saturdays Greene Turtle West: Sundays

HARBORSIDE 410-213-1846 South Harbor Rd., West O.C. Fridays: DJ Billy T Saturday, Aug. 27: Rogue Citizens, DJ Jeremy Sunday, Aug. 28: Pickin’ Party, DJ Billy T Thursdays: DJ Billy T OC EATERIES 443-252-3700 12849 Ocean Gateway Rte. 50 West OC Friday, Aug. 26: Bryan Dorsey Saturday, Aug. 27: Endless Ember Thursday, Sept. 1: DJ Karaoke

DJ RUPE OC Fontainebleu Resort: Friday, Aug. 26

JESS ARMS Cork Bar Sunday, Aug. 28

THE 1974 Fager’s Island: Sunday & Monday, Aug. 28 & 29

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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Who’s Where When

9 MILE ROOTS Seacrets: Friday & Saturday, Aug. 26 & 27

ROGUE CITIZENS Harborside: Saturday, Aug. 27 • 1 p.m.

Pickles Pub: Saturday, Aug. 27 • 9 p.m.

VOODOO TRIBE Crawl St. Tavern: Saturday, Aug. 27

ON THE EDGE OC Fontainebleu Resort: Monday-Thursday, Aug. 29-Sept. 1

OC FONTAINEBLEU RESORT 410-524-3535 10100 Coastal Hwy. In The OC Friday, Aug. 26: DJ Rupe, Rachi, Movin’ & Groovin’ Saturday, Aug. 27: Jon Pheasant, Movin’ & Groovin’, The MBD Band Sunday, Aug. 28: Tim Jaudon, Whiskey Graves Monday-Thursday, Aug. 29-Sept. 1: On The Edge OCEAN PINES YACHT CLUB 410-641-7501 1 Mumford’s Landing Road, OP Friday, Aug. 26: Late Last Night Saturday, Aug. 27: Jaded Love Sunday, Aug. 28: Scorpion Rose PICKLES PUB 410-289-4891 8th St. & Philadelphia Ave. Fridays: Beats By Deogee Saturday, Aug. 27: Rogue Citizens Sundays: Beats By Deogee Mondays: Karaoke with Wood Tuesdays: Beats By Wax Wednesdays: Beats By Deogee Thursdays: Beats By Wax PIER 23 410-289-3323 12817 Harbor Rd., West OC Friday, Aug. 26: Margot & Co. Saturday, Aug. 27: Reform School Sunday: Aug. 28: Chino Rankin Wednesday, Aug. 31: Rymac & AJ Thursday, Sept. 1: Sean Loomis

LATE LAST NIGHT OP Yacht Club: Friday, Aug. 26 Seacrets: Saturday, Aug. 27

SMOOTH RHYTHM Coconuts Beach Bar: Monday, Aug. 29 Crabcake Factory Bayside: Wednesday, Aug. 31

LENNON LARICCI & THE LEFTOVERS Coin’s Pub: Friday, Aug. 26

MARGOT & CO. Pier 23: Friday, Aug. 26

SLAMM Purple Moose: Sunday & Monday, Aug. 28 & 29

ENDLESS EMBER OC Eateries: Saturday, Aug. 27 Coconuts Beach Bar: Tuesday, Aug. 30

PURPLE MOOSE SALOON Between Talbot & Caroline Sts. On The Boardwalk 410-289-6953 Friday & Saturday, Aug. 26 & 27: Vertigo Red Sunday & Monday, Aug. 28 & 29: Slamm Tuesday & Thursday, Aug. 30 & Sept. 1 & Saturdays: DJ Adam Dutch Wednesdays: DJ Papi Roisterous SEACRETS 410-524-4900 49th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Aug. 26: DJ Tuff, DJ Davie, Not Leaving Sober, 9 Mile Roots, Kristen & The Noise Saturday, Aug. 27: DJ Bobby O, DJ Cruz, DJ Tuff, Late Last Night, 9 Mile Roots, The Benderz, Crash The Party Sunday, Aug. 28: DJ Bobby O, Triple Rail Turn, Spokey Speaky, DJ Tuff Monday, Aug. 29: DJ Bobby O, Full Circle, Liquid A Tuesday, Aug. 30: DJ Bobby O, Opposite Directions, Liquid A Wednesday, Aug. 31: DJ Bobby O, Full Circle Duo, Shake, Shake, Shake Thursday, Sept. 1: DJ Bobby O, John McNutt Band, Element K

Page 72

28th Poor Girls Open A Big Success

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

SPORTS Local Surfer Bren Advances In National Contest

August 26, 2022

In The News

The crew on the Buck Shot finished second in the billfish release division of the Poor Girls Open last weekend with one white marlin release and two blue marlin releases to go along with this nice yellowfin tuna catch and a dolphin catch.

Photo courtesy of Fish in OC

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

Local surfer Gavin Bren last week finished first in the under-12 division of the Rip Curl Grom Search event in Florida. With the win, Bren advances to the Rip Curl Grom Search national championships in California in December.

Submitted photo

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Local surfer Gavin Bren made a big splash last week in a Rip Curl Grom Search qualifying event in New Smyrna, Fla., winning his division to advance to Race to the Ranch and the national finals later this year.

The Rip Curl Grom Search series returned for the 22nd time this year and the latest event in the four-contest series was held in New Smyrna, Fla., last week. Local surfer Gavin Bren, no stranger to winning in the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) circuit, took first place in the under-12 bracket to advance and gain the opportunity to com-

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pete in the 2022 Race to the Ranch national finals where qualifiers will compete in the North American Grom Search Championships in Lemoore, Calif., in December.

Bren finished first in the under-12 division and earned $500 in prize money along with gifts from host Rip Curl.

With the win, he advances to the Rip Curl Grom Search National Finals later this year. The qualifying event last week in New Smyrna, Fla., was the last in the series. Bren and the other winners now advance to the Rip Curl Grom Search event at the ranch in Lemoore, Calif., slated for December 17 with the national championships on the line.

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OCEAN CITY – The 28th Poor Girls Open last weekend was once again a big success with plenty of fish caught and, most importantly, another big donation to the American Cancer Society.

Sandwiched between the White Marlin Open and the MidAtlantic Tournaments, the Poor Girls Open gives the resort’s lady anglers an opportunity to shine in the spotlight and they did not disappoint again this year. The Poor Girls Open was founded by Captain Steve Harman and his wife Pam in 1994 to provide a ladies-only fishing tournament for a worthy cause.

Last weekend, 161 boats and nearly 800 lady anglers competed in the annual event, vying for about $240,000 in prize money in several categories. Tournament organizers were able to donate over $100,000 to the American Cancer Society for breast cancer research after the event, which has become part of the larger series of pink events in and around the resort area.

In the billfish release division, it was the crew on the Max Bet taking first place with two white marlin releases and two blue marlin releases for a total of 420 points worth $127,760. Finishing second in the billfish release division was the crew on the Buck Shot with one white

marlin and two blue marlin releases for 320 points worth $26,976. The crew on the C-Boys finished third in the division with two white marlin and one blue marlin releases for 310 points worth $17,984.

In the dolphin division, it was the Fish On and angler Melissa Spedden taking first with a 22.9-pounder worth $12,232.

The Grande Pez with angler Jessica Mistr was second with a 22.5-pounder worth $6,439, while the Reel Chaos with angler Jessica Matarese was third with a 16.9-pounder worth $4,293.

In the tuna division, it was the Boss Hogg and angler Jackie Pickering taking first with a 72.4-pounder worth $12,300.

The Billfisher with angler Lindsey Harrington took second with a 69.3-pounder worth $6,480. The Christine Marie with angler Lisa Poore was third with a 66.9pounder worth $4,320.

In the wahoo division, it was the Knot Wright with angler Megan Phillips taking first with a 56.9-pounder worth $11,940.

Brook McGinnis on the Salty Sons took second with a 47.8-pounder worth $5,994, while Alex Mikk on the Mikks’ in it Up took third with a 45.9-pounder worth $3,996.

One of the Junior Angler awards went to Summer Knupp on the Pumpin’ Hard with two white marlin releases, while the second Junior Angler award went to Cora Gerber on the Bet Sea for a dolphin catch.

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 75

Naked Women Arrested For Pool Dip … Fenwick Council To Review Parking

Page 76

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Two New York women were arrested for indecent exposure after resort police found them trespassing at a private pool at a downtown apartment complex.

Around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers were dispatched to Robin Drive for a report of two females trespassing in the pool at the rear of the building. Upon arrival, an OCPD officer could hear two females, Brandy Duxbury, 37, of Greenbush, N.Y., and Mandy Ruggaber, 40, of Liverpool, N.Y., yelling and laughing loud ly from the roadway, according to police reports.

The officer approached the rear of the building and located Ruggaber standing at the entrance gate to a fence surrounding the pool area. According to police reports, Duxbury was on the opposite side of the entrance gate. The officer got closer and observed a chain and a lock securing the gate and also a keypad entry lock to be locked and secured to the fence. There were also signs stating, “pool pass required” and “no trespassing.”

OCPD officers asked Ruggaber how Duxbury got into the pool area, to which Duxbury responded, “I hopped over,” according to police reports. The officer noted in the report that Duxbury was completely naked. At that point,

numerous people in the surrounding buildings were on their balconies to investigate the commotion. OCPD officers obtained a key card from a resident who had come outside and were able to unlock the gate. Duxbury reentered the pool as OCPD officers were unlocking the gate, according to police reports.

Duxbury was ordered to get out of the pool and complied. Officers were able to place a makeshift cover fashioned out of a police poncho over her as she exited the pool in front of the crowds of people that had gathered. As officers were escorting Duxbury from the pool area, Ruggaber continued to yell and scream obscenities and obstructed and hindered the investigation and arrest. Ruggaber was arrested at that point, according to police reports.

Meanwhile, the crowds of observers watching the scene unfold continued to grow. OCPD officers attempted to identify the two suspects, but they refused to cooperate and provided false names, according to police reports. While seated on the curb during the arrest, Ruggaber numerous times kept spreading her legs and laying down on the ground, exposing her private parts to officers, according to police reports.

Each of the suspects was charged with indecent exposure, trespassing, disorderly conduct and obstructing and hindering among other counts.

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FROM PAGE 10 Matt Patton of Matt’s Fish Camp agreed.

“I agree there is a problem, but without a study I think it’s anecdotal to say what that problem is or what the extent of the problem is …,” he said. “I can say with 100% certainty there are very few lots, maybe none, in Fenwick that would be financially viable with the proposed amendments.”

Committee member Ann Riley acknowledged that some adjustments could be made, such as dropping the delivery area requirements and increasing the parking ratio for restaurants from one space per 50 square feet to one per 75 square feet.

She noted, however, that the proposed changes would not impact existing businesses.

“It does not solve the issue we have today, and I think we are accepting that,” she said. “What we are saying is this is for new builds, so that we don’t continue to make the problem worse.”

Committee members Mike Quinn and Jay Ryan, however, said they could understand business owners’ concerns.

“How do you come up with this magic number?” Ryan said. “I’m struggling with that.”

Magdeburger argued that the current ratios were not sufficient for commercial properties. She said the new ratios would better address the parking shortage.

“I think the proposed parking ratios are less stringent than they were in 1995, but they certainly give us a better sense of

August 26, 2022

making sure the required parking is more adequate,” she said. “I’d say most of the businesses could meet this today.”

After further discussion, the committee last week voted 5-2, with Quinn and Ryan opposed, to keep the parking ratios as proposed but to make changes to delivery zone requirements.

“No developer wants one new restriction …,” Riley said. “But we’re not talking about maximizing everybody’s investment. That’s not the job of the town. The job of the town is to balance the needs of the commercial and residential [districts].

So I think it’s important to put something on the books for future builds.”

The committee last week also revisited a proposed ordinance amendment that would, among other things, establish new setback and screening requirements for mechanical equipment and transformers.

As written, mechanical equipment would have to be placed on roofs, screened from view and located no closer than 25 feet from the rear setback line.

In last week’s meeting, however, Southern Exposure owner Tim Collins pointed out the proposed amendment could impact the residential property located behind his store, should it ever be redeveloped.

“My concern is the residential properties that live behind the commercial properties …,” he said. “These units are going to go on the roof, eventually. I don’t think that’s the place for them.”

While he had no issue with the mechanicals being screened, Collins argued that the equipment should be allowed on the ground.

Officials, however, pointed out residents’ concerns regarding noise. The proposed ordinance would require decibel levels at less than 85 decibels at the source and no more than 55 decibels as measured at any residential property line.

“The first issue addressed that was highlighted in the hearing was the decibel levels we had put in place for the mechanicals,” Magdeburger said. “[Resident] Amy Kyle raised the issue as to whether or not they were low enough given the improvements in technology in that regard.”

After further discussion, the committee recommended keeping the proposed decibel levels, but eliminating the requirement to place mechanicals on roofs. Committee members also recommended removing the 25-foot rear setback requirement and maintaining the existing 10-foot rear setback requirement for mechanical equipment.

“It can be outside the 10-foot property line with the understanding it must be no more than 55 decibels at the property line,” Magdeburger suggested.

She pointed out that noise, not location, appeared to be the biggest complaint among community members.

“The purpose of this is to create balance between the business and residential community,” she said. “And the issue we hear from the residential community is noise and that it doesn’t look pretty.”

A motion to send the recommendations to the town council passed 5-2, with committee members Jacque Napolitano and Roy Williams opposed.

“I think what’s proposed represents a reasonable compromise,” said committee member John Nason.

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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OBITUARIES Sylvan Vonna Daugherty BERLIN – Sylvan “Butch” Vonna Daugherty, age 79, passed away at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin on Thursday, August 18, 2022. Born in Rainelle, WV, he was the son of the late Sylvan V. Daugherty, Sr. and Beatrice Rader Daugherty.

Butch graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1965 before going to work for Purnell Properties in Ocean City where he retired in 2010 after 42 SYLVAN VONNA years with the company.

DAUGHERTY He will miss the friends he made while working there. After retirement, Butch and his loving wife Betty joined the RV world and purchased property in Silver Palms in Okeechobee, Fla. where they made many new friends. The pandemic brought one good thing into Butch and Betty’s lives -- their special puppy Tess, a ninepound Cavapoo who quickly ruled their world, stole their hearts and made their lives so much better. Butch and Betty would have celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary Aug. 21, 2022. Paraphrasing a poem they always enjoyed: Betty and Butch shared some wonderful years, for Betty never shut her mouth, and Butch never shut his ears.

Butch is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Daugherty; his sister Brenda Davis (Glenn); brother-in-law, Bill Spence (Margie); sister-in-law, Mary Spence; nephews, Buck Davis, Wesley Buckley, Cody Buckley, Hunter Withrow, Mark Spence (Nicole), Jim Spence (Correy), David Spence (Neva) and John Spence (Gail); and nieces, Bethany Davis, Karen Buckley (Jerry), Kristi Withrow (Jamie) and Kim Silverwood (Jim). Also surviving are cousins, Barbara Brown (Dick), Ann Benton (Jim), Howard Daugherty (Donna), Linda Rader Rutkowski (Ron), Jim Brooks (Laura), and Larry Brooks (Muffy). Jim, Larry and Butch were more like brothers than cousins.

No formal services have been planned at this time. Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

Ralphine Warner Higdon BERLIN – Ralphine “Jodie” Warner Higdon, 89, died Aug. 13, 2022 at Atlantic General Hospital.

She was born Dec. 31, 1932 in Washington, DC, the daughter of Ralph S. and Christia (Peddicord) Warner.

Jodie married the love of her life Kenneth Feb. 3, 1951 and they had 61 years of marriage before his passing in January 2012. Jodie loved her family, was an avid JODIE golfer, and loved fishing, HIGDON crabbing in Claiborne where her family lived. Jodie was the life of the party and was quick to tell a joke. She loved to make people laugh.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Kenneth; her parents Ralph and Bertie Warner; and sisters Leona Jame and Nancy Bramble.

She is survived by her daughter, Patricia Burns and husband Bobby, son Michael Higdon and wife Penny, daughter Kathy Justice an her husband David, grandson Ray Bacon and wife Olga, granddaughter Julia Higdon and partner Will Robinson, great granddaughter Anya Bacon, great grandson Alex Rezinikov and many beloved nieces and nephews. The family will have a celebration of life at a later date.

To send condolences to the family, please visit www.easternshorecremation.com.

Donald William Price BERLIN – Donald William Price was a unique and beautiful soul who intensely loved life. He passed away in the early afternoon of Aug. 16, 2022, at the age of 76 with his wife, Mary Adrian Price, and daughter, Dawn Yvette Stevens, at his side.

Donald “Don” sadly took his last hard-fought breath after battling pulmonary fibrosis. Don was a man of many talents and lived an incredible life full of adventure, love, music, gratitude and appreciation for all life had to DONALD WILLIAM offer.

PRICE Don was, most likely, the happiest man you've ever met.

Consistently, day in and day out, he greeted his loved ones, friends, and the greater world around him with a smile.

Donald was born at home in Baltimore on Sept. 27, 1945. The son of Philip W. Price, Sr. and Helen Petr Price, Donald is survived by four children Dawn Stevens (Jimmy McPhail), Jeffrey D. Price (Joanne Zeller Price), Brian W. Price (Wendy Rodgers Price) and Jason P. Price (Carey Headley Price), and two stepchildren, Maria MacInnes (Zane Marshall) and Louis Allessie. He was the fourth child of six siblings. Philip W. Price, Jr. (deceased), Richard R. Price (deceased), Alan Price (deceased), Sandra L. McLoughlin (John McLoughlin) and Letitia A. Bogie (David Bogie). He also has numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren who all loved him dearly.

In his early years, Donald was an outstanding award-winning bass player in the band The Inner Cyrkle. By popular demand the band played every summer during the 70’s at the Paddock Night Club & Pen-Lucy, to name a few.

The Inner Cyrkle was recently inducted into the Maryland Music Hall of Fame.

After his music career he became the vice president of Eastern Shore Home Health Care with his partner and wife Mary Adrian. After the sale of the business and retirement, he became actively involved in the American Legion Post #123 as a commander.

In lieu of flowers, please consider

donating to the American Legion #123, 10111 Old Ocean City Boulevard, Berlin, Md. 21811.

Joseph Weitzell, Jr. OCEAN CITY – Joseph “Pop” Weitzell, Jr., passed away July 28, 2022.

Born in Baltimore, he was the son of the late Joseph E. Weitzell, Sr., and Mildred Yeager. As a proud veteran of the United States Air Force, Joseph learned the values of teamwork and selflessness, and applied them every single day.

Joseph was a pillar of his community. He JOSEPH was friends with every- WEITZELL, JR. one and worked tirelessly to make his neighborhood a welcoming place. He was always quick to lend a helping hand and took pride in being a good neighbor. Joseph’s favorite memories were the ones he made with his family. From days spent at the beach, being volunteered to help with school projects, leading the way on camping trips, and being the subject of his grandchildren’s pranks—and then pranking them back, Joseph was always at the center of his family, making each and every moment special.

Joseph is survived by his son, George Weitzell (Becky); two daughters, Julia Saffran (Matthew) and Kelly Kfoury (Abe); and his sister, Hilda Weitzell. He is also survived by his five grandchildren, Michelle (Jake), Kimberly, Danielle (Michael), Sarah, and Dominic.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Jaqueline Weitzell.

No formal memorial services are planned at this time. A Celebration of Life is tentatively scheduled for the end of September. Letters of condolence and letters of memories can be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

Richard Byrd Taylor SALISBURY – Richard Byrd (Dick) Taylor, 91, passed peacefully away on Aug. 19, 2022. Born Dec. 29,1930, Dick was raised in Quantico the son of the late Clifford Augustus Taylor, Sr., and Sadie Holt Taylor.

Dick graduated from Wicomico High School, where he was a standout athlete especially in football. He enlisted in the Marine Corps, becoming a Korean War Veteran, shortly after graduation and attended college at the University of Florida, proudly becoming a “Gator”. In later years, he was a Deputy Sheriff in Wicomico County, after 30 years of working as a building inspecRICHARD BYRD tor for the Town of OTAYLOR cean City Dick retired.

He enjoyed daily jogs on the board-

walk and walking his beloved Chesapeake Retriever who was named Taylor. Sadly, he lost his beloved Taylor a couple of months ago. Dick was a member of the Masonic Lodge; he was a true outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, especially waterfowl. He always had interesting stories about his hunting experiences. Whenever you saw Richard, you were always met with a firm handshake, slap on the back, beautiful smile and he always said he “felt like a million dollars”, no matter how he really felt.

He is survived by his children, Richard “Ricky” Taylor Hardy (Marilyn), Robert “Bobby” Taylor and Patty Lou Adams, stepchildren Ken, Cynthia, Donna and Andrew and Teri Hardy. He is also survived by several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews as well as his very special friend and companion, Pasty Stewart and her children.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by wife, Elizabeth “Liz” German Taylor; the mother of his children, Patricia “Pat” Schoonover Taylor Hardy; his siblings, Clifford Augustus Taylor, Jr. (Esther), Orlando “Bunk” Taylor (Jeannette), Eleanor Taylor Horsey “Ernie”, Margaret “Peggy” Sterling (T.R), Emilyne Taylor Couch “Joe”; and his niece Terri Taylor.

A memorial service will be held at Holloway Funeral Home, Salisbury, on Sept. 4, 2022, at noon with a visitation one hour prior.

Joyce Ellen Trader BERLIN – Joyce Ellen Trader, age 66, died on Saturday, August 20, 2022, at her home in Berlin.

Born in Salisbury, raised in Princess Anne, she was the daughter of the late Barry Klempner and Patsy Records Sterling. She is survived by her daughter, Blair Trader Newell and her husband William of New Jersey; brother, Joseph Klempner and his wife Barbara of Salisbury; JOYCE ELLEN niece Kaitlyn Nibblett of TRADER West Ocean City; and former husband and close friend, John Trader of Ocean City. Also preceding her in death were her grandparents, Fred and Mabel Records, and sister Karen Klempner Benner.

A graduate of Washington High School, Class of 1974, she received her bachelor’s degree from Salisbury State College. (Salisbury University). For many years she worked in the food and beverage industry. Ellen, a creative and artistic person, loved helping people and cherished her many friendships.

Loyal and full of life, she was always able to see the silver lining. A loving mother, she cherished her family most of all. Her smile and laugh will be forever missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held on SEE NEXT PAGE

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

... OBITUARIES Friday, Aug. 26 from 3-5 p.m. at Merry Sherwood Plantation 8909 Worcester Highway, Berlin, Md. 21811. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Worcester County Humane Society, P.O. Box 48, Berlin, Md. 21811. The family asks that you bring a favorite photo, if you have any, to share at the gathering. Letters of condolence may be sent via www.burbagefunerahome.com

Suzanne Schmidt Parks BERLIN – Suzanne Schmidt Parks of Berlin passed with peace on August 19, 2022 at the age of 86.

She was born on March 10, 1936 to the late H. Stanley & Merle F. Schmidt.

Suzanne was also a loving little sister to Stanley (Fritz) Schmidt, who preceded her in death in 2008.

Suzanne was a graduate of Towson High School, class of 1954. She then married her longtime friend and love, Douglas M. Parks, Jr. Feb. 5, 1955.

Formally of Easton and Reisterstown, they settled in Berlin in 1977. Suzanne became a valued member of the community and volunteered her services through various organizations including becoming a Deacon at Buckingham

Presbyterian Church. Suzanne and Doug became the successful owners of Berlin Farm Supply where they devoted their lives for 26 years until they retired in 2003. Suzanne was known for her strong will but loving and caring heart. She spent her free time engaged in knitting and crocheting projects, camping and nurturing their many pets.

She loved attending family gatherings and any opportunity to get on the dance floor.

Along with her husband, Doug, she is survived by her sons Stephen F. Parks and his wife, Kathy, of Berlin and Michael W. Parks and his wife, Gina, of Hollywood, Md. Suzanne was an adored grandmother of Terri, David, Corey, Shannon, Whitney, Olivia and Margaret. She was also the proud great grandmother of 13.

Memorial donations may be made to Buckingham Presbyterian Church in Berlin. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Buckingham Presbyterian Church, 20 South Main Street, Berlin, at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30. Reception to be announced after the celebration of life service. Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

… 1st Public Release Since Pandemic Obituaries cost $50 to appear in The Dispatch and photos are no extra charge. Direct all inquiries to editor@mdcoastdispatch.com, fax to 410-641-0966 or mail to P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Md. 21811.

FROM PAGE 8 for the dozens of organizations that rescue and rehabilitate the endangered creatures.

For the last two years, the National Aquarium has led a national effort to increase federal funding for sea turtle stranding response and rehabilitation.

National Aquarium CEO John Racanelli said the problem with sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation is growing more acute each year.

“The National Aquarium has rescued and rehabilitated sea turtles for over three decades, but over half of our patients have come in over the last eight years,” he said. “The science suggests that sea turtle strandings are only going to increase in the years ahead, along with the costs of rescuing, caring for and releasing them. Absent sustained and direct federal funding, it is unclear how long non-profit first responders can continue to provide this service to the nation.”

With Van Hollen’s leadership, more than three dozen members of Congress have already endorsed funding sea turtle stranding response and rehabilitation in the federal budget. For the first time ever, the 2022 federal budget encouraged the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide direct support to organizations

that respond to rehabilitate sea turtles.

Van Hollen and others are leading the charge to make sure NOAA has the funding to do so. For example, the Senate’s proposed fiscal year 2023 budget includes a $1.5 million line item for sea turtle stranding and rehabilitation grants to nonprofit organizations such as the National Aquarium.

Building on that momentum, Congress recently introduced the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act, legislation co-sponsored by Van Hollen, to create a permanent federal grant program to support organizations responding to and caring for threatened and endangered sea turtles. The program, if successful, would allow for more stable and sustainable funding that will ensure more sea turtles recover and return to their ocean home.

“Sea turtles are an endangered species and protecting them helps maintain healthy ocean habitats,” said Van Hollen at the release at Assateague last week. “The National Aquarium’s work on this front has been pivotal and the release of Bassoon and Cello highlights their success. We must continue to invest in protecting these species and I’ll keep fighting to provide the necessary funding to support the organizations that are leading these vital recovery efforts.”

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 26, 2022

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Blueprint Awareness Needed Editor: The first year of implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is over.

The Blueprint is a 10-year education reform and funding plan. How have the Worcester County Public Schools done?

Strong Schools Maryland released their findings about the first year of Blueprint implementation in the form of state and local Progress Reports (find them here: https://www.strongschoolsmaryland.org/ progressreports.) They looked mainly at communication with the community. Worcester County had done well. It has a section on the website dedicated to the Blueprint. The Blueprint is discussed by the School Board at their meetings. But on the other hand, it is one of ten counties that hasn’t create a “stakeholder workgroup” (i.e. parents, the community, educators, and students.)

For the Blueprint to be a success at the end of the 10-year implementation time-

line the community must embrace the vision. This is the reason that community engagement is included in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future law.

The Blueprint is not about how much each county gets in funding; it is about whether each child in Maryland has the funding needed to support their success in school. Children in poverty, children with special needs and children whose first language is not English, all need more help and therefore more funding. There also needs to be enough funding to attract and retain quality teachers.

We are encouraged by the good start made during the first year and look forward to working with the Worcester County School System as they continue to expand early childhood education; create a career ladder for teachers to provide the compensation they deserve; and develop college and career pathways that ensure all graduates leave the system fully prepared for their future.

To realize the vision of the Blueprint, community members and business leaders need to partner with the schools to prepare students for the jobs of the future. For more information about Strong Schools Worcester County go to our Facebook page.

Joan Roache (The writer is the Team Leader for Strong Schools Worcester County.)

Plein Air Festival Success Editor: Our 17th Annual “Artists Paint OC” plein air festival Aug. 10-14 was a big success! Thank you to the 49 professional artists who spread out around the resort for five days and created 241 paintings of our iconic local landscapes.

Our gratitude goes out to our judge, Crystal Moll, who donated one of her original paintings for an Art League fundraising raffle. And to our sponsors of the event who provided $5,500 in cash prizes for the artists: Emily and Paul Schwab, Peter

Glenville Foundation, Laura Jenkins, Todd Burbage/Blue Water Development, Mapleton Farm/Mechelle and Charles Nichols, Shore United Bank, Reese Cropper, Barbara Frankfort-Kollander Patrick, Maryland’s Coast, Ocean City Tourism, and the Ocean City Development Corp., as well inkind sponsors - The Atlantic Hotel of Berlin, The Original Thrashers French Fries, and Heidi Johnson of J&M Meat Market of Berlin.

We are proud to announce the prize winning artists for “Artists Paint OC” 2022: Leo Kahl, first place; John Eiseman, second place; Dennis Young, third place; Ricky Sears and Nancy Fine, honorable mentions. Also, Jim Rehak, Best Use of Light; Jose Ramirez, Best Maritime; Bruno Baran, Best Nocturnal; and William Shulze, Spirit of OC Tourism.

The winners of Sunday’s special “Quick Paint” on the Boardwalk with awards presented by Joe Wilson of the Ocean City Development Corp. were Jose Ramirez, first place; Jim Rehak, second place; Rajendra KC, third place; and Betty Huang, honorable mention.

And another big thank you to the art lovers and art collectors who came out to support the artists and purchase their work during the Wet Paint Sales. The best of the plein air paintings will be on display and available for purchase at the Ocean City Center for the Arts through September. The raffle for Crystal Moll’s painting continues until Oct. 1.

Laura Jenkins Rina Thaler (The writers represent the Art League of Ocean City.)

Developer Issues Statement Editor: Hello, this is Balsamo Real Estate LLC. We have developed properties in Fenwick for over 40 years and take pride in what we do and the quality of tenants that we put in our building. We would like to apologize for the current appearance of the former Dairy Queen property.

We have submitted new plans to the Town of Fenwick Island with intentions to improve and renovate the current property in compliance with the current town code.

Upon our submission, the Town advised us that reconstruction of the building could not be approved until the Town resolves the pending new parking ordinance.

Balsamo Real Estate LLC as well as other local business owners need your assistance. The current proposed parking ordinance inhibits our ability to redevelop the former Dairy Queen property. This proposed ordinance will also create problems for other local business owners that want to improve their commercial properties. If the new parking ordinance is approved, property owners in the commercial district will be faced with little to no benefit to improve or renovate their properties as it will be economical infeasible given the restrictive nature of the proposed ordinance.

Fenwick Island residents that support reasonable, balanced growth of their business community and rehabilitation of older properties should contact town council members PRIOR to the August 26th council meeting.

We thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

Joe Balsamo Fenwick Island

August 26, 2022

The Dispatch Forever In Memory Of Our Founder, Dick Lohmeyer (May 25, 1927-May 5, 2005) The Dispatch, Serving Greater Ocean City Since 1984, Is Published By Maryland Coast Dispatch Inc. Weekly On Friday Mornings MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Md. 21811 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd.

Berlin, Md. 21811 PHONE: 410-641-4561 FAX: 410-641-0966 ONLINE WEBSITES: mdcoastdispatch.com facebook.com/thedispatchoc twitter.com/thedispatchocmd instagram.com/thedispatchocmd J. STEVEN GREEN Publisher/Editor editor@mdcoastdispatch.com

NEWS DEPARTMENT SHAWN J. SOPER Managing Editor ssoper@mdcoastdispatch.com CHARLENE SHARPE Staff Writer/Copy Editor csharpe@mdcoastdispatch.com BETHANY HOOPER Staff Writer/Copy Editor bhooper@mdcoastdispatch.com CHRIS PARYPA Photographer

SALES DEPARTMENT TERRI FRENCH Account Executive Entertainment Editor terri@mdcoastdispatch.com AMANDA FORSYTHE Account Executive amanda@mdcoastdispatch.com

ART DEPARTMENT COLE GIBSON Art Director cole@mdcoastdispatch.com DAVID HOOKS Graphic Artist dhooks@mdcoastdispatch.com PAUL HALLAM Graphic Artist/Webmaster phallam@mdcoastdispatch.com

BUSINESS OFFICE PAMELA GREEN Bookkeeper/Classifieds Manager classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com

The Maryland Coast Dispatch (USPS #015125) is an official and legal newspaper for Worcester County. Periodical postage paid at Berlin, Maryland, and additional mailing offices. The Maryland Coast Dispatch, 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin, Md. 21811, is published weekly on Friday mornings, 52 weeks a year. Subscription rates are $260 per year.

POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Maryland Coast Dispatch, P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Maryland 21811. Maryland Coast Dispatch offices are located at Route 346 and Graham Avenue, Berlin, Maryland.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Positives Possible With Sunfest Change How We See It

Though traditionalists have generally frowned on the date change, the later Sunfest could ultimately be beneficial to all.

The new Oceans Calling Festival essentially kicked Sunfest out of its traditional weekend on the September special event calendar. With an estimated 40,000 tickets being sold for the three-day event, it’s tough to argue against that decision, as the new concert festival has the potential to be a new annual highlight for Ocean City. This is not to say Sunfest has not been a solid event for Ocean City, but it’s true the event – often seen as an endof-season cap off – was not known for putting heads in beds and filling restaurants. It was also largely a boost to downtown businesses with minimal effect on the north end at all.

By moving it from the third or fourth weekend in September to Oct. 20-23, Sunfest remains the bookend event it was always intended. It’s just that September now is a solid month for Ocean City.

Young families with pre-school aged kids enjoy the town and the special events like WineFest and BikeFest have been popular for years. Add this year’s new multifaceted AdventureFest (Sept. 19-25) at the convention center and the popular Oceans Calling Festival downtown (Sept.

30-Oct. 2), major events are planned each week of September. In fact, after Oceans Calling comes the always significant fall Cruisin event (Oct. 6-9), the fall home show (Oct. 14-16) and then Sunfest (Oct. 20-23) coinciding with the first of two weekends for the O.C.toberfests.

Ocean City Business and Tourism Development Director Tom Perlozzo outlined the town’s intent with a reimagined Sunfest last week. A significant change is the city will no longer have headliner live music acts with tickets sold at Sunfest. Instead, the plan is to upgrade the free live music offered on open-air outdoor stages possibly on the beach without a tent. New additions this year will include a craft beer garden, fireworks on Saturday night of Sunfest, drone shows, beach bonfires and hayrides. The city envisions Sunfest working with the O.C.toberfest Halloweenstyle events as well.

Change is tough to stomach for most, but the good news is art and craft vendor demand remains strong with the city’s event despite the date change. Some additions and decisions will be popular while others regretted. City officials seem aware but are willing to accept criticism in the name of rebranding Sunfest to a new audience. Ocean City Special events Director Frank Miller said, “For all of those people who love Sunfest for what it has been all of these years, they will still be able to do all of those things. We’re just adding elements that might appeal to a different demographic …”

It will take time to evaluate whether the city’s move to push Sunfest was a wise one, but we are optimistic the change will ultimately bring more positives than negatives.

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Between The Lines

by Publisher/Editor Steve Green Though it might not have been the case, the internal promotion of Mary Bohlen to the town administrator post seemed planned. Four months ago, Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood retired from the post despite having one year left on his contract. He was willing to stay on the job until the budget process wrapped, but Mayor Zack Tyndall decided he would serve out the week instead. It was clear to all Fleetwood and Tyndall had different leadership styles and disagreed on some key aspects of town governance, especially the property tax rate and the budget. That’s why it was not a huge surprise when Fleetwood opted out of retirement and quickly became the town administrator for Delmar, his hometown for many years.

Bohlen was named acting town administrator, a position she has held four times previously. With no job description or posting activity on the vacancy and Tyndall saying earlier this month progress was being made, it was clear Bohlen would be offered the role. Her promotion was lauded by all the town department heads at this week’s meeting. Long-time Councilman Dean Burrell called his closed-door motion to support Tyndall’s recommendation for Bohlen one of his proudest during his 28 years as an elected official. The decision to promote Bohlen has the robust support of staff because they are familiar with her and respect her 31 years of service and familiarity with the town. For his part, it’s clear Tyndall has a better relationship with Bohlen than he did with Fleetwood.

Though Bohlen’s knowledge of the town and the respect she has from her coworkers is undisputed, Councilman Jack Orris made some good points in explaining why he was the lone vote opposed to Bohlen’s appointment. I personally think a search process should have been launched with Bohlen able to apply for the position. After the position was advertised and candidate resumes reviewed, it may have been obvious Bohlen was the most qualified. It’s clear it was Bohlen’s job to accept as soon as Fleetwood moved on. “My no vote was purely based on process, not person,” Orris said. “Yet again, and still with no steady reporting mechanism from the mayor’s office to the council, council is kept in the dark like mushrooms, and it would appear that only after external pressure the mayor’s office arrived at a recommendation. In my view, an open search — through which any qualified candidate could apply — and at a minimal cost in an electronic world, I believe was the appropriate avenue for our town.”

Timing is everything, and Ocean City Jeep Week’s date on the calendar is the perfect example of it.

With many school systems in mid-Atlantic states back in action or at least pre-season sports underway for nearly all high schools everywhere, there has been a noticeable drop off in visitors this week. It was especially noticeable on the Boardwalk this week. It’s typical and happens each year. It’s why Jeep Week continues to be the perfect addition to the late August schedule. A drive on Coastal Highway Wednesday night found most of the traffic associated with the Jeep event.

Without OC Jeep Week, this could be a quiet end-of-summer weekend ahead of next weekend’s Labor Day. It was nice to see a public statement made about the eyesore that has become the vacant buildings on Berlin’s Main Street. The empty storefronts combined with the seemingly unsafe appearance of the former antique stores, and other spaces, was a bad look for the town’s historic district.

Months of inactivity throughout the summer has resulted in understandable grumblings from citizens about safety concerns as well as the obvious perception of a run-down property at the heart of Berlin. Town staff had been reporting for weeks the property was under contract and subsequently improvements have been halted until closing. Once the planned sale of the property fell through, the long-time property owner, Jack Burbage and his Blue Water Development company, issued a much-needed statement to clear the air. The statement confirmed Burbage is now committed to improving the property with renovations planned for the entire two-story building on the Main Street side as well as those along Pitts and William streets.

“Berlin is his hometown too–Jack grew up on Main Street and worked in the Style Guide for many years. We want to do this right and take this building forward for all of the people of Berlin– residents and visitors–to enjoy for many, many years to come. It will take time and inconvenience while we are in progress and patience as we move along the development road. We just wanted to answer the question and give our neighbors and friends some understanding of the process. We want the project done too, but we want to do it right and that takes time,” the statement reads.

“The designs so far are great and we are hopeful to have the town’s cooperation to bring this project to fruition. We ask that you bear with us as everything takes a lot longer than we think it should, Contractors are super busy so getting bids takes a long time – especially with a project of this size and once all that is done then we may have supply issues to deal with to get the materials. We are keeping our eye on the prize of what the final product will be and how that will bring new eateries, shopping and apartments to the already awesome Town of Berlin.”

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Puzzle Answers

I

August 26, 2022

The Adventures of Fatherhood

by Steve Green

PUZZLE ON PAGE 59

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t was a week.

Over the course of 48 hours, we took our 14-year-old son Beckett to boarding school in Virginia to start his freshman year in high school and spent an inspirational day on the beach with our 12-year-old Carson for Surfers Healing.

For the last several months, we talked of this week often, knowing it would be a parental roller coaster ride to remember. After having a week to reflect on it and taking some time away from work, I have concluded it went about as well as could be expected.

The boarding school drop on Tuesday was busy. The leadup to this day was torturous and much worse than the actual day itself. My emotions never overtook me. I credit the school for knowing the drill. From the moment we got on campus, we were busy working our way through the orientation schedule. Every 30 minutes or so there was a new session to attend and in between all these learning opportunities was moving in and getting Beckett settled in his new home away from home.

With all the new faces around and the campus buzzing with activities, Beckett was certainly not interested in getting his room set up the best he could, but we were adamant in helping him get settled in and unpacked. Leave him in the best organized shape possible was the goal. The frustrations that came along with that specific process helped keep the emotions in check and confirmed he needed this experience.

As our day continued on campus, there really was no time or interest in getting sad over leaving a piece of our heart in Virginia. My thoughts were consumed with pride of being able to provide this amazing opportunity to my son. Everywhere I turned there was something else to be impressed with amid gorgeous visuals of the nearby river and historic buildings. The best part was the people, namely the edu-

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cators who will become his family. As many of them put it, “we all live together in this community.”

Being 14 and swept up in all the newness, I don’t think Beckett knows how fortunate he is yet, but I suspect in time there will be gratitude for this new life experience.

This big change’s impact was evident with Beckett’s little brother Carson, who has Autism. Though he often appears aloof, inattentive and unaware, Carson, who is nonverbal, is cognizant of all things going on around him. He just doesn’t always show interest. In the days leading up to Beckett’s departure, we noticed something with Carson. The weight of Beckett’s departure was on his mind. I feel guilty admitting this, but I had not thought a ton about this change’s impact on Carson. We have steadily prepared him but I’m not sure I grasp what it means for him. It’s a loss for him.

The last couple weeks were focused on getting Beckett ready and covering everything on the checklist the school provided. It was a bit chaotic. During the few quiet times, I tried to keep present and reflect on this period of all our lives. It’s a time we will never forget.

Weeks ago, we assumed Carson would not want to go with us for the long drive to and from Beckett’s orientation day at his new school. We were wrong, as he made it clear he wanted to be involved even after we explained all the details of the meetings, moving in and all. Whenever I asked him if he was sure, he grabbed my hand and shook his head. He was telling me we were not going without him. He was aware and understood what it meant.

On the morning we were to leave, the plan was to get on the road by 5.

Carson was first up around 4. He had set his alarm on his own the night before and packed all his belongings in a book bag to take for the trip. His brother was on his mind.

When it came time to leave him at school, Beckett was rushing to get to soccer practice. Things were getting a little chaotic again because he didn’t listen where his mom said all his soccer clothes were earlier in the day.

Scenes like this played at home every day. It was probably best how it all went down, but I noticed Carson standing closely and moving with Beckett as he was getting his practice clothes together. He was going to say goodbye despite the chaos. He gave his big brother a huge bear hug and we parted ways.

Everything was so rushed it didn’t carry a ton of meaning at the time. Later, with a few days to digest everything, it occurred to me how aware Carson was about everything. Maybe he even more so than his brother because he was the eldest was so engrossed in all the newness. Within minutes of being on the road home, he was asleep in the backseat. It was maybe a relief. We went directly to Ocean City for Surfers Healing the next day (more on that next week).

In the week since we have been home from taking him to school, we have spoken with Beckett several times.

More texting than talking, but he’s busy with three soccer practices a day and life as a boarding student. He’s doing well overall and seems to be adjusting to his new life.

As for us, it’s weirdly quiet around the house. I have felt off all week. It’s an odd transition. It’s just like when a kid goes to college, but four years earlier. I bounce between sadness and excitement but most of all relieved he’s enjoying himself and working through his new life. He’s happy, which is all that matters.

(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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August 26, 2022

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

August 26, 2022