Sept. 30

Fiddlers

It was

beautiful weekend for the 30th Annual Berlin Fiddlers Convention with thousands of people checking out the live music on Friday, Saturday (pictured) and Sunday.

Photo by Daniel and Avery Caton

Photo by Steve Green

Page 8

Photo by Campos Media

Photo by Campos Media

Weather Conditions Cancel First-Ever Music Festival

BY STEVE GREEN EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Public safety concerns have led to the cancellation of the firstever Oceans Calling music festival.

On Thursday, about 24 hours before the first act was to perform, festival promoters were forced to report the show could not go on after all. Doors were to open at 12:30 p.m. on Friday with live music continuing until 11 p.m. The event is expected to return next year with a new lineup, according to city officials.

“We are extremely disappointed to have to cancel Oceans Calling Festival,” said

Mayor Rick Meehan. “We have been working closely with the event promotors since May of 2021. Their hard work, and the hard work of our staff, was evident in every detail of the event planning and preparation.

Although this is disappointing to all of us, we hope to work with C3 Presents to bring Oceans Calling Festival back to Maryland’s Coast next year.”

C3 Presents is an internationally known promoter of music concerts and other special events. The inaugural Oceans Calling three-day music festival was to feature several nationally known and popular acts. The concerts were to take place at three separate stages north and south of the

pier, culminating each night with the major acts -- Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, the Lumineers and Alanis Morissette. Maryland’s own O.A.R. was also to play twice during the weekend, among other national acts. The event was expected to draw 40,000 ticket holders to the resort over the weekend.

Construction crews have been on site all week, erecting the three stages and the associated booths and tents. Most of the equipment was expected to be removed as soon as possible ahead of the pending weekend weather.

The latest forecast predicts rain and wind all weekend, resulting most likely in

flooding in some areas. According to the forecast from The Weather Channel, the chance of rain is 90% on Friday with winds east, northeast at 20 to 30 mph; 100% on Saturday with similar winds; and 80% on Sunday with winds ranging from 25 to 35 mph. Flooding at the Inlet parking lot –where a lot of attractions were set up this week -- was also a major concern.

Throughout the week, despite Hurricane Ian, the intention was to hold the three-day music festival at the south end of Ocean City on the beach. Statements issued said the event was a “rain or shine” festival, but it was ultimately the wind and flooding concerns that caused the event to be nixed.

Family Focusing Attention On Honoring Son With Foundation

BY STEVE GREEN EDITOR

BERLIN – “Active” and “ongoing” remain the words to describe the current state of the investigation into Gavin Knupp’s hit-and-run death.

One month after the agency’s last public statement on the probe, Maryland State Police spokesperson Elena Russo said Monday there were no further updates on the investigation at this time, confirming, “the investigation is active and ongoing.”

In late August, Russo said, “Crash team investigators continue to follow up on leads while talking to witnesses. This case is active and ongoing while police seek anyone with first-hand knowledge of the incident or who may have witnessed the incident to contact police at

410-819-4721. Callers will remain confidential. Once the investigation is complete, it will be presented to the Worcester County State's Attorney's Office for review.”

Knupp was struck and killed by an eastbound black Mercedes Benz on July 11 on Grays Corner Road, which is often used as a shortcut between routes 589 and 50. Knupp was a pedestrian on the road and returning to a vehicle driven by a family member when he was hit by the vehicle, which did not stop and fled the scene. He would die soon after from the collision. The vehicle was recovered six days later from a West Ocean City home in the Ocean Reef community. The motorist has not been officially identified and no charges have been filed in the case to date, as the crash probe continues.

While waiting for the investigation’s findings, the family has recently embarked on a new movement with the creation of the Gavin Knupp Foundation, which aims to keep his memory alive while raising dollars to help the community. The foundation’s initial target is improvements to the skate park in Ocean Pines where the 14-year-old boy spent many days with friends.

At Saturday’s Ocean Pines Association Board meeting, Tiffany Knupp, Gavin’s mother, asked the board to consider renaming the park after her son during the public comments portion.

“I am coming here today to ask you guys for consideration in naming the skate park in honor of him as the Gavin Knupp Skate Park,” she said. “We have started the Gavin Knupp Foundation, and we plan on doing amazing things here. We would like to do improvements to the skate park over the years as far as landscaping, pretty much anything we can think of. We thought of a couple ideas – putting solar powered phone charging stations there, extra seating, things of that nature. And we are working together with our attorneys for a dedication to the skate park through the foundation to make sure things go smooth.”

Association President Doug Parks acknowledged the official request and remanded it for future discussion at another board meeting.

Meanwhile, a website, doitforgavin.com, has been created for the Gavin Knupp Foundation. The website reads, “Gavin was a 14 year old boy who loved hunting, fishing, surfing and skateboarding. He will be remembered for his great sense of humor, his ability to light up a room and his exceptional character. He made friends everywhere he went and will be missed by everyone who knew him. Everyone who had the honor of knowing Gavin is better for doing so.”

A benefit has been planned for Sinepuxent Brewing Company on Oct. 22, 2-7 p.m. The event will feature food, beverages, giveaways, 50/50 raffles, silent auction items and more. Merchandise totaling about $3,000 with the phrase “do it for Gavin” has been sold online as of early this week. The rev-

A memorial is pictured off Grays Corner Road where Gavin Knupp was killed July 11.

Photo by Steve Green

Photo by Sarah Zaia

Photo by Sarah Zaia

Photo by Sarah Zaia

Arrests Drop During Car Rally Weekend

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY –While the unsanctioned pop-up motor vehicle event that has plagued the resort in recent years moved to Wildwood, N.J., last weekend with tragic results, it was comparatively calm in Ocean City judging by arrest statistics.

By way of background, years ago an unsanctioned, but welcomed H2O International, or H2Oi, visited the resort area and was generally well organized and its participants behaved. Over the years, however, the unsanctioned popup event grew with a less law-abiding and more raucous crowd of hangerson, creating mayhem on the streets of the resort during the last weekend of September.

The named H2Oi event a few years ago moved away from the Ocean City area, but the hangers-on who caused the most trouble in the resort continued to come that weekend anyway and their numbers continued to grow to the point town officials, the resort’s police department and its allied law enforcement partners began taking gradual, but drastic steps to curb the lawlessness associated with the event.

The first significant step was the creation of a special event zone in the resort during the troublesome car event, a measure that was approved by the state legislature. The special event zone, similar to a highway construction zone, includes stiff penalties for traffic violations, reduced speed limits, traffic pattern alterations and other measures.

Town officials and their representatives in Annapolis later went back to the General Assembly seeking approval of a bill that would add the charge of “exhibition driving” to the original legislation. Other measures taken in Ocean City included a strong police presence during the unsanctioned and social media-driven event, including support from the Maryland State Police, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and other allied law enforcement agencies.

The results appear to be achieving the desired results. Last year was considerably quieter during the unsanctioned pop-up car rally statistically compared to 2020, when the event reached its crescendo at least locally. This year, there was little to no social media buzz prior to what has been the pop-up car rally weekend, but the town and its partners took all of the appropriate steps last week including the implementation of the special event zone, not just in Ocean City but throughout Worcester County, and a strong police presence from the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) and the allied law enforcement agencies.

As a result, a look at the preliminary arrest statistics reveals a continued declining trend. For example, in 2017, there were 78 total arrests made during

… Unsanctioned Pop-Up Event Moves To N.J. Resort

the pop-up car rally weekend, and 79 made during the event in 2018. In 2019, the total number of arrests during the pop-up rally weekend increased to 121. In 2020, perhaps the most troublesome pop-up car rally weekend, the number of arrests spiked to 277.

With enhanced measures in place, including the special event zone and all that entails, along with the strong law enforcement presence and an enhanced towing ordinance including significantly increased fees for removing a ve hicle from the town’s impound lot, the number of arrests during the pop-up ral ly dropped back down to 134 in 2021.

According to the OCPD, last week and through the weekend during the anticipated pop-up rally, just 41 arrests were made. There were a few significant incidents, but a large number of the arrests made last week were comparatively insignificant.

The special event zone was in place in Ocean City from last Tuesday through Sunday, and while all of the arrests were not related to lingering pop-up rally enthusiasts who did not make the trip to Wildwood, N.J., and the Jersey Shore, the unsanctioned event’s new home, there was minor evidence of the same types of behavior associated with the event.

Despite the relative calm in the lead up to the annual event, resort officials and their partners took all of the usual

precautions in an attempt to “not let their guard down,” and it achieved the desired results, according to OCPD Dep uty Communications Manager Ashley Miller.

“The pop-up rally event is a social media event that does not have an official promoter to work with,” she said in a release on Monday. “Social mediadriven events could change at a moment’s notice and the attendance is unpredictable. While the event did not take place in Ocean City this year, we took every precaution to be prepared as we have in years’ past.”

Miller said later on Monday not all of the 41 arrests during the duration of the special event zone last week and through the weekend were specifically related to the event. She said advanced preparation helped keep the numbers down in general.

“We were out in full force with the an ticipation of having some pop-up rally participants,” she said. “While we really did not see any of the participants, our officers were proactive in handling calls for service and traffic stops.”

OCPD Chief Ross Buzzuro reiterated Miller’s assertion the town was prepared for the worst and continued its operations as if the pop-up event was still coming in full force.

“While the pop-up rally event did not take place in Ocean City this year, we took every precaution as in years past,”

he said. “Our main focus was ensuring the safety of the residents and visitors in the town of Ocean City. We went into this event cautiously optimistic and our law enforcement stayed proactive with their enforcement even when we saw that it was shaping up to be a regular weekend.”

The new unsanctioned pop-up rally host in Wildwood, N.J., was not as fortunate. According to published reports throughout the weekend, hundreds of pop-up rally enthusiasts poured into the Jersey Shore resort town over the week end, creating the same chaos and lawlessness experienced in Ocean City over the years.

Wildwood officials had advanced knowledge through social media platforms the unsanctioned event was likely headed their way and took some precautions, but they reportedly were not prepared for the sheer volume and chaos the event can create. The event in Wildwood took a tragic turn when two people were killed when a one vehicle crashed into another and then hit two pedestrians, according to published reports.

One of the pedestrians, an 18-yearold female, was killed as was a passenger in the struck vehicle. The suspect, a Pittsburgh, Pa., man, fled the scene initially but was later located and arrested. He has been charged with two counts of death by auto, assault and

other offenses.

Last Friday, Wildwood officials issued a warning about the pending unsanc tioned pop-up event. Throughout the weekend, the New Jersey State Police and law enforcement agencies from other surrounding jurisdictions were reportedly called in to control the chaos.

This week, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland issued a statement that could have come from Ocean City officials just a couple of years ago before the town has apparently reined in the unsanctioned event, at least for now.

"I would first like to share my sincere condolences with the families of the two victims who were needlessly killed and those that have been injured,” the state ment reads. “Their lives will be forever changed. Make no mistake that the trag ic and dangerous events over the last several days in Wildwood, Rio Grande, Seaville and surrounding communities are a direct result of the organizers of a pop-up car rally self-identified as H2Oi or H2O22. Directing hundreds if not thousands of people driving high performance vehicles to an area without any planning, staging or permitting created the chaos that led to these deaths and injuries. Anyone thinking of engaging in organizing any type of similar pop up event is forewarned that there will be a swift and appropriate law enforcement and legal response.”

C a l l fo r A c t i o n f r o m t h e Vo t i n g P u b l i c

A referendum petition is now being circulated.

Ocean City voters should sign this petition!

Six members of the City Council just passed Ordinance 2022-23 calling for the abandonment and conveyance of 6000 square feet of city property along Baltimore Avenue between 13th & 14th Streets.

This 20 foot right-of-way conveyance is just the latest concession.

Earlier, the Council allowed the alley within this block to be moved closer to Baltimore Avenue to enhance the project’s architectural design.

The City Council also conveyed air rights above this alley providing 720,000 cubic feet of additional bulk/mass allowing for greater density.

When the city redeveloped 18 blocks of Baltimore Avenue from 15th to 33rd streets and utilized the excess right-of-way for free parking.

Parking is greatly needed for the downtown area. The “highest and best” use for these 16 blocks, where the easement allows, would also be to provide additional needed parking.

Why prematurely abandoned this city property when we do not even know when the enhancements to Baltimore Avenue will be done due to the exorbitant cost estimates?

Margaret Pillas, Petition Coordinator

• Contact Info: 433-366-2656

Discuss Code Changes, Roles

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – The long-awaited joint meeting between the Mayor and Council and the Planning Commission this week was by and large a productive one, but it appears there is still a rift bubbling under the surface between the two bodies.

The Mayor and Council and the Planning Commission met in a joint meeting at City Hall on Tuesday. The aggressive agenda included a definition of the roles and responsibilities of the Planning Com-

mission, an agenda item that on the surface appeared to be the nuts and bolts for the forum, but there was little discussion on that item at least at the outset of the meeting.

The joint meeting then delved into topics such as the upcoming upgrade of the town’s comprehensive plan, employee and seasonal workforce housing issues, sign code compliance and building heights for example. During his opening remarks, Mayor Rick Meehan set the stage for what turned out to be a productive meeting.

“I think this is going to be a very impor-

tant meeting,” he said. “Thank you for serving. It’s essential to have people volunteer for our boards and commissions and you do a terrific job. I know it’s not always easy. We’re not always going to agree with your recommendations, but you do a great job of presenting all of the information to us.”

Longtime Planning Commission Chair Pam Buckley said at the outset of the meeting the commission and the council have always worked together to improve the resort community.

“I’ve been serving for 34 years and we’ve seen many changes, including the good, the bad and the ugly,” she said. “Ocean City has grown into a wonderful community. The planning commissioners spend a lot of time reviewing plans and code amendments and zoning changes. Let’s see what we can work through to make this an even better community.”

At the conclusion of the opening remarks, the two bodies delved into the specific agenda items. It wasn’t until the end of the meeting when an issue from last month resurfaced. In August, the Mayor and Council had before them recommendations from the planning commission to approve two code amendments, both of which were deleted from the council’s agenda with no discussion.

One would modify pyramidal zoning, or zoning in which different mixed uses would be allowed in certain zoning districts. The second would address garage

parking for multi-family residential areas.

Another code amendment that would have allowed for tandem, or stacked, parking for large-scale development projects in order to meet parking requirements was passed by the council, but then vetoed by the mayor. The council ultimately did not override the mayor’s veto.

Near the end of Tuesday’s meeting, the two bodies decided the forum was productive and a second should be scheduled. City Solicitor Heather Stansbury suggested picking up where Tuesday’s planned agenda left off, including further discussion of the recommended code amendments that were rejected by the council and remanded back to the commission. Councilman John Gehrig agreed the meeting was productive in terms of addressing some of the specific agenda items, but said he came in believing it was going to be more of a broader discussion about the relationship between the council and the commission.

“I guess I was just confused,” he said. “I thought we were having conversations about expectations and roles. I thought this was going to be more of a ‘what do you want from us’ conversation. I came in thinking this was going to be a heart-toheart.”

Planning Commissioner Palmer Gillis then took up the issue of the rejected code amendments. How the process works is, the planning commission gets a

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – The shortage of available and affordable workforce housing to meet the resort’s seasonal employee demand was one of the key topics of discussion during a joint meeting this week between the Mayor and Council and the Planning Commission.

The Mayor and Council met with the Planning Commission and staff this week to discuss a variety of issues germane to both bodies. It’s no secret Ocean City has a seasonal workforce housing shortage and continuing to address that remains a key issue for the Planning Commission, and ultimately the Mayor and Council.

There has been progress made on the issue. Just last week, the Planning Commission approved site plans for two housing projects on opposite ends of the town, including a three-story boarding house with 84 beds on a lot on Dorchester Street that has been vacant for over a decade, along with a mixed-use project at an existing business at 82nd Street including retail on the first floor and employee housing on the second floor with 33 beds.

During Tuesday’s joint meeting, Planning and Community Development Director Bill Neville outlined the current inventory of affordable seasonal workforce housing in the resort and the demand, which continues to be a moving target.

Neville said 2020 Census data identified over 30,000 total housing units in Ocean City, of which, over 26,000, or roughly 87%, are considered “vacant” because of their seasonal nature.

The Census data Neville outlined on Tuesday suggested the total number of seasonal jobs in the resort is estimated at 7,500 to 10,000, including an estimated 4,000 seasonal J-1 work and travel visa workers. The data suggests there are 1,100 apartments available in the resort with an average of two bedrooms and two bunk beds per room, netting 8,800 potential beds available.

Last May, the Planning Commission recommended a proposed code amendment that could help address the seasonal workforce housing shortage. The existing code includes a section defining employee housing as an accessory use, or living quarters with a portion of a main building or an accessory building located on the same site to be used by individuals employed on the premises.

However, the code does not currently include a definition for employee housing as a non-accessory use, or housing with close proximity to one or more employers.

The proposed code amendment included other changes relative to workforce housing. However, the council remanded the code amendment back to the Planning Commission for revision, a process that is ongoing. On Tuesday, it was the subject of debate during the joint

meeting. Neville said it was an issue that needed to be addressed with more applications coming in for workforce housing projects.

“What we’re coming back to is to encourage workforce housing restricted to that use depending on the parking,” he said. “The community would benefit from that. The comprehensive plan identifies what the community would like to happen and then the task is to check the boxes for resources to see if it can happen. Our conclusion is we see a benefit for the proposed code amendment. It reached second-reading but was sent back the Planning Commission.”

Planning Commission Chair Pam Buckley said having the conditional use allowing non-accessory workforce housing projects provides some flexibility in approving potential projects.

“The one item we have as a tool in the toolbox is conditional use,” she said. “It’s one item where we can talk to a developer or property owner about how a project is going to impact the surrounding area. It garners a way the public can be protected. Workforce housing as a nonaccessory use is a new thing for us. We thought that was the way to go.”

Planning Commissioner Palmer Gillis said having the conditional use available, if nothing else, would allow the Mayor and Council to weigh in on certain proposed seasonal workforce housing projects.

“It adds another layer of protection for

the community,” he said. “If we’re 90% built out, I don’t see an undue hardship. It does give the council an opportunity to look at some of these things. As a developer, I don’t think it will be that much of a burden.”

City Solicitor Heather Stansbury, who monitored Tuesday’s joint meeting, laid out options for achieving the town’s desired goal of increased workforce housing as a non-accessory use.

“This is a good forum to flesh out these issues,” she said. “One way is to wait for the comprehensive plan update approval and wait it out. The second option is to continue to make adjustments and recognize the need.”

Councilman Peter Buas said he supported the proposed code amendment, but it was remanded for a few tweaks. Buas said he would like to see a clearer definition of the short-term and long-term rental licenses, and an exploration of providing seasonal workforce housing as a conditional use, or a special exception.

“We do want to see the ordinance back in some form,” he said. “It’s just that it seems some of these other issues need to be addressed.”

Buas made a motion to that effect, a motion that passed unanimously. As a result, the Planning Commission will continue to tweak the proposed code amendment and return a recommendation to the Mayor and Council based on their comments and some of the issues raised.

Q&A With District 4 Candidates

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Longtime incumbent Councilman Dean Burrell faces challenger Tony Weeg for the District 4 council seat in next week’s election.

Burrell, who’s served on the council for the past 28 years, wants to continue to use his experience for the betterment of the town. Weeg, an unsuccessful candidate for the at-large seat in the 2020 election, has been active in advocating for recreational opportunities in Berlin and wants to help the town tackle new projects.

The Dispatch asked the candidates to provide answers to four questions to give voters an idea of their viewpoints as they head to the polls.

Berlin’s municipal election takes place Tuesday, Oct. 4. While this year’s election includes District 1, District 4 and the at-large seats, District 4 is the only one with a contested race. In District 1, Steve Green is unopposed and set to take over the seat held by Troy Purnell since 2008. In the at-large category, Councilman Jay Knerr will retain the seat he initially took over in 2020.

For the District 4 voters waiting to cast their ballot for either Burrell or Weeg, they can do so on Tuesday at the Berlin Police Department between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Q. Why are you running for council and what will you bring to the position?

Burrell: I know you have heard this

from every candidate you have interviewed but I feel I am the best person for the job. I bring to the Council great experience and an understanding of the operation and authority of the Council. I also bring leadership, a valued opinion by the Mayor, Council Membership and Staff and above all a sense of fair play.

Weeg: I bring a wealth of computer, communication, and technology expertise that currently does not exist in the chambers. I spend my time engaging projects head-on, rather than waiting for things to come. I hope to motivate all of Berlin into a highly communicative and involved electorate. Organizing people, and getting things done is something that makes sense to me, and I fully intend to use it for Berlin’s good. I will seek to continue action on multiple fronts so that we are not always waiting on the next big thing to come, rather we chew off smaller pieces of projects, work them through in phases, and see incremental growth of amenities through partnerships with non-profits and strategic grant writing. I will collaborate with my colleagues on projects and new initiatives. I am a student of history, and I realize how important our local history is to our collective challenges.

Q. What are the biggest challenges the town is currently facing?

Burrell: There are several challenges of any municipality in the times in which we live. However for the Town of Berlin I would say one of the biggest challenges of all involved in the decision making

… Burrell, Weeg Vie For Berlin Town Council Seat

process for the Town of Berlin including but not limited to the Mayor & Council, the public and the staff is to allow all to be heard without being ridiculed or ostracized for their opinions and beliefs and using those opinions to make the best decision possible for the Town of Berlin.

Weeg: Retaining town employees; specifically, our police force needs to be paid attention to, and LEOPS should be closer to reality than it is today.

● Flooding is a town-wide concern, and it needs to be addressed, not just talked about, every other Monday at the council meeting.

● Berlin has a comprehensive plan, but it’s not been updated since 2010. Supposed to get an update in 2020, but there were other concerns then. Berlin needs to update its comprehensive plan and needs to be intimately involved in the updated

county plan. Our future cannot continue to be “annex and grow.”

● It takes forever to get things done in Berlin: infrastructure projects, slow to get started, languish and stagnate; a community center discussed for years and still not complete; a town code in need of updating and enforcement. We need to implement a multi-threaded approach to getting things done.

● The people want to see progress and they want to be communicated with.

Q. ARPA provided some muchneeded financial support but the town has a long list of aging infrastructure that needs to be replaced or updated. How should the town go about addressing the infrastructure needs not being funded with the federal aid money?

Burrell: The Town should first complete the mapping of all town utility sys-

tems to allow for the development of a comprehensive and informed maintenance plan for those systems based on documented need.

Weeg: Our infrastructure, like many towns founded in the late 19th century, is aging. Some avenues that we can continue to seek funding from are Federal and State grants, and other infrastructure programs. One key part of this process would most likely be a priorities list and knowing what we need to be able to face head-on, from a whole-town perspective, including how we handle storm and wastewater. I am glad to see that we have an RFP out for the new lift station on Broad Street, and we are waiting on a study, but I have to ask – Could we have ordered that back in the spring when the funds were allocated? The bottom line is that raising taxes and increasing fees always seem like the first answer from town hall. I will do my best to make sure that is the last answer you hear.

Q. The town has been considering an offer for Heron Park but there has been little news in recent months. What do you want to see done with the property?

Burrell: First let me say I am very concerned about the impact of any retail development of the area on our Downtown well-being. I think the property should remain with the Town of Berlin and developed by the Town as determined in partnership with the Mayor and Council and the Citizens of all Districts of the Town. I do believe there should not be a rush to sell this property that will only grow in value.

Weeg: Heron Park is currently a drag on our budget—but it has a lot of potential. The Town of Berlin is not a real estate developer, so we cannot develop it alone. We could upzone, make it developer-friendly, and continue to pay the debt down ‘til the perfect plan arrives, or we could sell it to the right developer who can make it a prosperous complement to our downtown, not a competitor. If I close my eyes I can see mixed-use with some retail spaces, a few living spaces, and another restaurant for the north end of town. I can see walking paths, greenspace, a skatepark and an amphitheater. I’d love to see a rail trail that gets us from one end of town to the other that terminates at the park. There is potential within, we need to use the leverage we have — it’s our space.

Dean Burrell

Tony Weeg

FROM PAGE 6

enue raised, according to the website, will “be able to honor Gavin in a way that shows much he was loved and cherished by so many.”

In a statement released Monday through Neil Dubovsky of Dubo Law, LLC, a personal injury law firm in Lutherville-Timonium, the Knupp family said, “Keeping Gavin’s memory alive is our main focus right now. We want to do everything and anything to help kids live a life like Gavin’s. The Gavin Knupp Foundation and renaming of the skate park are the first steps of many in keeping Gavin’s legacy alive and we want to thank the community for the support we have received while piecing together this amazing event.”

Conflict Of Interest Concerns

While family members focus on honoring their son, members of the community have become increasingly outspoken about their concerns about injustice amid the probe’s pace. Drawing ire from some recently was a Facebook comment made by Worcester County State’s Attorney Kristin Heiser before the fatality in early July wishing a happy birthday to Ralph DeAngelus – family member of the alleged motorist involved in the hit-and-run collision. The post was discussed at length online in a Facebook group, “Do It For Gavin-Justice For Gavin,” resulting in a letter writing campaign calling for Heiser to recuse her-

self and allow another prosecution team from a different jurisdiction to handle the case. The Maryland Attorney General’s Office has already been notified. Heiser’s office will receive the full police report when it’s completed and determine the appropriate charges to file.

A sample letter sent to Heiser was shared with this publication. It read, “I am writing to you concerning the death of 14-year-old Gavin Knupp, son of Raymond Knupp of Wicomico County and Tiffany Knupp of Worcester County.

“It has been 71 days since Gavin was killed in a hit and run on Grays Corner Road in Berlin, Maryland. For 71 days, Gavin’s parents and sister, Summer, have agonized over the lack of movement from your office in charging those responsible for Gavin’s death. As you should be well aware, Gavin was a beloved member of this community who’s life was unfairly ended far too soon. His death has left a gaping hole in the hearts of his family, his friends, and the community at large.

“… It has also been brought to my attention that the Worcester County States Attorney, Ms. Heiser has a friendly relationship with Mr. DeAngelus, a partner in a prominent local restaurant group. This is undoubtedly a conflict of interest and I have grave concern that Gavin’s case will not receive the dedication it deserves if it is handled by your office,

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when your friendship with Mr. DeAngelus is evident on social media platforms and beyond. I am urging you to hand this case over to another district so that Gavin may receive the justice he so deserves.”

For her part, Heiser confirmed Monday her office has been contacted through email with similar concerns expressed in the letter shared. She said, “Because the investigation is ongoing, I cannot provide any additional comment.”

Road Lighting Improved

In August, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) said a formal review of Grays Corner Road will be undertaken once the police report is completed. Whenever a fatality occurs in a crash on a state highway, MDOT SHA spokesperson Shantée Felix said policy is for officials to review the police report and then have, “a traffic engineer to the site for an investigation. The engineer will evaluate things such as sight distance, average speeds, lane markings, etc., and will determine if any engineering changes can be made to make the road safer. Once the report is complete, our traffic engineers will consider a number of options including additional lighting and speed limit reductions.”

About two weeks ago, Maryland Senator Mary Beth Carozza spoke to state representatives following a motorized special event task force meeting in Ocean City regarding community concerns about safety on Grays Corner Road following Knupp’s death. She was told a safety assessment for the road would be completed once the police report was completed, but Carozza pressed for short-term changes in the meantime. As a result, transportation representatives visited the road. Eight additional streetlights were added to existing telephone poles along the road, nearly all of them on the stretch from Route 589 to Glen Riddle. MDOT SHA also double striped the road’s center for no passing. It was previously a dotted yellow line.

“I was very encouraged to see that,” Carozza said. “SHA is also doing a longer-term assessment of Grays Corner Road.”

Meanwhile, an online petition started by Michael Reed at change.org continues to collect signatures – 3,452 as of Monday – in a grassroots effort to get the road changed to Gavin Knupp Way.

A large memorial site has been created off Grays Corner Road where Knupp was killed back in July. The site features landscaping rocks in the shape of a heart with a sand surface, solar lights, a surfboard with dozens of personal messages penned on it, photos of Knupp, flowers, a tackle box and a Bible.

Local Arrested For Threats

OCEAN CITY – A Berlin man was arrested last week after a routine traffic stop led to a chase and a first-degree assault charge.

Around 11:50 p.m. last Thursday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer patrolling in the downtown area reportedly observed a truck traveling on Philadelphia Avenue above the posted 30 mph speed limit, lowered because of the special event zone in place. The officer followed the truck as it turned west on the Route 50 bridge, according to police reports.

The truck reportedly reached a speed of 50 mph as it traveled across the bridge. The officer reportedly activated emergency lights and sirens and attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the truck continued to West Ocean City. According to police reports, the vehicle swerved within its lane, nearly striking mailboxes and driving on lawns.

The vehicle eventually pulled into a driveway in West Ocean City. The OCPD officer drew his firearm, approached the vehicle and pointed it at the driver, identified as Christopher Eschenburg, 42, of Berlin, who exited the truck and did not comply with the officer’s commands, according to police reports.

Eschenburg reportedly walked toward the officer, keeping his right hand hidden and began laughing as the officer ordered him to show his hands. Eschenburg then walked toward the rear of his truck, according to police reports. Two OCPD officers attempted to take Eschenburg into custody, but he braced himself on a fence and did not allow the officers to place him in handcuffs.

COPS & COURTS

Eschenburg then reportedly grabbed a wooden fence post with nails sticking out of it and held it up in the air, according to police reports. The suspect reportedly took an aggressive stance, bracing himself and spreading his feet. He raised the fence post with the exposed nails and appeared as if he was going to strike one of the officers with it.

Officers were able to take Eschenburg to the ground, but he continued to reach for the fence post with the exposed nails, according to police reports. Eschenburg continued to resist, at one point kicking an officer, but OCPD officers were ultimately able to take him into custody.

An inventory of the suspect’s vehicle revealed an open container of alcohol in the center console and a set of brass knuckles. Eschenburg was charged with first- and second-degree assault, a dangerous weapon with intent to injure, resisting arrest, and open container and traffic violations.

Assault Arrest Leads To Loaded Handgun

OCEAN CITY – A Virginia man was arrested last weekend after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend on a downtown street and later being found with a loaded handgun in his vehicle.

Around 6 p.m. last Sunday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to a motel at 24th Street for a reported domestic assault that had occurred. OCPD officers had originally responded

to the same reported incident in the area of Talbot Street and Philadelphia Avenue.

OCPD officers arrived in the area of 24th Street and observed the alleged female victim in the area of Washington Lane. Officers also located a male suspect identified as Kevin Brown, 24, of Manassas Park, Va. Both the victim and Brown denied there had been an altercation between them, according to police reports. However, officers reportedly observed fresh injuries on the victim including a bruise on her cheek, and scratches and bruises on her arms.

With no cooperation from either party, OCPD officers viewed City Watch surveillance footage from the Talbot Street area where the incident allegedly originated. The footage revealed the victim and Brown were involved in a verbal argument and Brown grabbed the victim and pushed her toward his vehicle, according to police reports.

The footage reportedly revealed an unidentified male riding his bicycle past the incident and make a U-turn to observe the alleged incident unfolding. Another unidentified male runs into view in the footage and attempts to get a tag number for Brown’s vehicle, according to police reports. Brown and the victim get into the vehicle and drive away.

City Watch surveillance footage showed Brown’s vehicle driving north on Baltimore Avenue with the victim’s head hanging out of the window, according to police reports. OCPD officers interviewed

witnesses who were walking in the area of 23rd Street, who reported the victim’s head was out of the vehicle’s window and she was screaming at the top of her lungs, “Help me,” according to police reports.

Believing the victim was being kidnapped, one of the witnesses began following Brown’s vehicle. City Watch footage revealed Brown’s vehicle stationary in the area of 24th Street.

According to the footage, the victim was seen climbing out of the vehicle’s window and running away from Brown. OCPD officers located Brown’s vehicle in the area of 24th Street and he was taken into custody. A search of the vehicle revealed various quantities of marijuana, including a Mason jar with “High from Ocean City” written on it. Also located in the vehicle was a loaded 9mm handgun in the front driver’s side door pocket.

Based on the evidence and witness testimony, Brown was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, disorderly conduct, and numerous weapons charges.

Assault, Malicious Destruction

OCEAN CITY – An Ocean City man was arrested last week after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend and damaging her vehicle’s taillights and large flat-screen television.

Around 5:40 a.m. last Tuesday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer responded to a residence on 8th Street for a reported domestic assault. The officer arrived and met with a female victim, who was visibly upset and had a fresh wound on her lip that was bleeding along with cuts and abrasions on her arm

and shoulder. The victim’s ears were also red from evidently being pulled and she also had abrasions on her knee and elbow, according to police reports.

The victim reportedly told officers she had been assaulted by her boyfriend, identified as Nathaniel Beard, 22, of Ocean City. The victim said she had an argument with Beard because he had accused her of breaking the mirror on his truck, according to police reports. The victim reportedly told police the argument escalated when Beard struck her multiple times with an open hand. The victim told police Beard had ripped the earrings from her ears, according to police reports.

The victim also told officers Beard had broken the taillights on her vehicle as well as her large 70-inch flat-screen television during an earlier incident. Beard had reportedly broken the items and then bought her replacements. The officer observed a new large screen television still in the box in the victim’s unit, according to police reports.

OCPD officers interviewed witnesses, including the property manager, who reported he had trespassed Beard from the property at 8th Street because of previous altercations with the victim. Another witness, a neighbor, reported hearing the victim’s cries for help while Beard was allegedly assaulting her. That witness ran toward the victim’s unit and found her lying on the floor while Beard ran from the unit, according to police reports.

Officers knew what vehicle Beard drove

from prior interactions and placed a lookout for it. Beard’s vehicle was stopped in the area of 64th Street and he was taken into custody. Beard denied being at the victim’s apartment or having anything to do with the alleged assault, according to police reports. He was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and malicious destruction of property.

Boardwalk Indecent Exposure

OCEAN CITY – A local woman was arrested last weekend after allegedly getting kicked out of a downtown bar and exposing her breasts to families with young children on the Boardwalk.

Around 10 p.m. last Saturday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer was on bicycle patrol on the Boardwalk and observed a female, later identified as Tina Boykin, 53, of Berlin, exiting a Boardwalk bar. The officer observed Boykin scream loudly from at least 70 feet away, “Yeah, we just got kicked out,” according to police reports.

Boykin continued to yell as she exited the establishment. The officer observed Boykin standing in front of the bar and continuing to yell as she lifted her shirt and exposed her breasts completely toward people on the Boardwalk walking toward her, including minors, according to police reports.

The officer reportedly observed Boykin lift her shirt on the public Boardwalk a second time. As the officer began to approach Boykin, she reportedly lifted her shirt and completely exposed her breasts toward a young child under the age of 10, according to police reports.

The child was reportedly accompanied by her mother, who screamed at Boykin,

“What the [expletive deleted] are you doing?” and “Are you kidding me?” according to police reports. Boykin reportedly responded with expletives of her own. Another mother on the Boardwalk also admonished Boykin for her alleged actions, according to police reports. Boykin was arrested and charged with indecent exposure and disorderly conduct.

Probation For Prostitution

OCEAN CITY – A Texas woman, arrested in August on prostitution and solicitation charges after a human trafficking sting operation in the resort, pleaded guilty this week and was placed on probation for three years.

In August, members of the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) NarcoticsVice Unit and the Worcester County Crimi-

nal Enforcement Team conduced a human trafficking operation in the resort. The human trafficking operation targeted females posting ads on various social media platforms offering sex for money in the Ocean City area.

Utilizing one of the posted social media ads, detectives were able to arrange a meeting with a female at a downtown resort hotel. During the investigation, detectives were able to identify the female prior to the meeting as Bryanna Caprese Podest, 23, of Houston, Texas.

Podest arrived at the hotel and agreed to perform a sexual act for money. Podest was arrested and charged with prostitution and procuring or soliciting prostitution. This week, Podest pleaded guilty to one count of prostitution and was placed on probation for three years.

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Resort officials have approved a final version of the three-year strategic plan that was mapped out during work sessions last spring.

Every three years, the Mayor and Council and key staff gather to update the town’s strategic plan, a road map of sorts charting the town’s desired direction in the near future. The last update was completed in 2019 and many of the goals and objectives on that version have been or will be accomplished. The intent of the strategic plan, in simplest terms, is to update the road map and identify what is working and should be continued, what can be approved upon and what that long-range goal is for the future.

City Manager Terry McGean on Sept. 19 presented the updated strategic plan to the Mayor and Council for approval. He explained the process, which included the marathon work sessions, a report from the consultant and a review of the plan with councilmembers, the mayor and department heads in order to reach the final version, which the council unanimously approved. Councilman John Gehrig said the process was challenging, but the final product was worth it.

“It wasn’t fun going through the process, but it was a good process,” he said. “I think it’s a great plan.”

The 2022 strategic plan is a voluminous document to detail, but it provides an outline for the town’s vision, its goals and objectives and pending action items, all of which are prioritized. In short, the stated goals in the document are maintaining a first-class resort and tourist destination, maintaining a financially sound town government, providing excellent service through a high-performing town organization, making a more livable community for residents and revitalizing Ocean City through development and redevelopment.

While the Mayor and Council were pleased with the outcome and ultimately approved the updated strategic plan with little discussion, Gehrig questioned a line in one section that he perceived as slighting the town’s marketing and advertising effort.

One line in the lengthy tome under the “short-term challenges and opportunities” category reads, “Understanding that increased tourism drives a need for additional town services and establishing sources of revenue to provide those services.”

Naturally, with increased tourism, including a growing list of major offseason special events, the need for town services increases in terms of public safety, public works and just about every other department and there is a cost involved in providing those services.

While he was pleased with overall strategic plan, Gehrig said the tenor of that section suggested increased tourism was viewed as a negative in terms of the relationship between the revenue it

Berlin Fire Company Issues New Fee

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – A new emergency response fee is expected to help address financial challenges at the Berlin Fire Company.

In a work session Monday, Berlin Fire Company (BFC) representatives reviewed a new emergency response fee with elected officials. Council members weren’t aware of the fee until they were contacted by a concerned resident who’d been surprised to receive the charge.

“I wish you would have notified residents you were implementing this fee,” Councilman Jay Knerr said. “You could have easily done that in your annual solicitation.”

Mayor Zack Tyndall said Monday’s work session had been scheduled because the council wanted to hear from BFC leadership about the new emergency response fee being charged when the fire company responds to an incident. BFC President David Fitz gerald said the new charge—which can range from $250 to $1,000—was very similar to the EMS fee that’s been billed for several years.

“The fire and rescue billing is some thing we’ve talked about for three, four, five years,” he said.

Fitzgerald said that typically, the fee was covered by insurance—home owners insurance in the case of a house fire, for example, or auto insurance in the case of a car accident.

While BFC membership voted to implement the fee in July 2021, Fitzgerald said billing was very sporadic, as the fire company was learning the process.

In July 2022, the fee began being charged regularly.

“We do send out the bills,” Fitzgerald said. “We talked about a company to do it but we wanted to be more friendly. It’s new.”

He said similar fees were being implemented by fire companies throughout the county as they struggled to generate revenue.

“The funds we receive from county and town, they’re helping us provide the basic service,” he said. “This is the actual response. This is the same thing that’s been done for emergency medical services for years.”

Fitzgerald said that with the irregular bills sent out by the fire company last year, the new fee had brought in about $2,000.

Councilman Jack Orris pointed out that with more than 400 runs, the income could be substantial.

“It could generate revenue for the fire company to help balance the operating budget,” Fitzgerald said.

Knerr and Councilman Dean Burrell both said the fire company should have shared that the fee was being implemented.

“It would have been a very good idea to have given us a heads up,” Burrell said.

When he asked about anticipated revenue, Fitzgerald said it was too early to say.

Knerr pointed out that with the BFC’s annual EMS solicitation, residents who donated a minimum of $50 weren’t responsible for any balance that might remain after insurance com panies were billed. He said the same practice could be implemented for fire and rescue.

“I think if you did that you’d probably generate more revenue,” he said.

Fitzgerald said it was a good idea and could be considered prior to next year’s fire company solicitation.

Burrell reiterated that town officials should have been aware the fee was being established.

“I think we’ve been working on some ways we can improve communication…,” Tyndall said. “When something like this comes up let us know.”

During Monday’s work session Fitzgerald also talked to elected officials about the rising costs of ambulances. He said the BFC’s three ambulances needed to be replaced every 10 years.

“Safety comes in play if you start stretching these ambulances past 10 years,” he said.

Ambulances now, however, cost more than $300,000 and Fitzgerald believes they could eventually exceed $400,000. He said the county had increased the allowance it provided per ambulance—BFC now gets $45,000 a year from the county in ambulance allowances—and he was hoping Berlin would increase its contribution as well. He suggested using casino revenue.

“Dedicate it to all public safety, not just the police,” he said.

He added that the fire company had to know it would have the funding available before placing an ambulance order. He’s anxious to nail down funding details soon because one of the ambulances needs to be replaced in 2025.

“We need to start acting now to make sure we are set up for the 2025 unit,” he said.

Tyndall suggested the fire company share any information it found regarding financing ambulances with town officials. He said providing $90,000 to the fire company for ambulances in the next fiscal year was not likely an option for the town. He indicated the new response fee was a good idea and was no different than the way the town charged its customers for services like water and sewer.

“With all the enterprise funds, we don’t just come back to general fund and say we need the money,” he said. “It’s a charged-out service. You’re there with EMS. You’re headed that direction with fire…. You should be passing that along in billing the same way that we do for other enterprise funds.”

Paddack Post Probe Inconclusive

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office’s investigation into an elected official’s racist social media comment has been completed as inconclusive.

Ocean City Councilman Mark Paddack was accused last September of making negative comments against a local businessman with alleged racial overtones. The comments were shared and quickly went viral through the local community. From the beginning, Paddack asserted his Facebook account had been hacked and was not responsible for the alleged offensive comments.

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, at Paddack’s request, initiated a detailed, multi-party electronic investigation into the incident. The sheriff’s office’s final report obtained last week states the results of the investigation are inconclusive.

The report and the included supplemental reports are lengthy and full of technical details about the forensic investigation into the accounts from which the offensive message was allegedly sent including a probe into different IP addresses. Donna Eno of D. Eno Forensics conducted an independent investigation, and its final report was reviewed and analyzed by the sheriff’s office’s own analysts including Digital Forensics Examiner Peter Kupec of the Criminal Enforcement Team.

Based on the various investigations and reports, the sheriff’s office’s final report is the potential source of the alleged offensive social media messages is inconclusive. Although the final report does not completely exonerate the beleaguered councilman, who shortly after the alleged incident was censured by his colleagues on the council, the extensive investigation could not determine the source.

“Investigators are unable to determine where the posts originated and, therefore, are unable to determine who could have made the posts,” the final report reads. “Case closed.”

The issue arose last Sept. 21 when Paddack allegedly commented on the Facebook page of the recently married wife of a local business owner and longtime resident while the couple was honeymooning in Italy. In a picture from the honeymoon, the recently married groom was apparently seen wearing a baseball-style hat backwards.

Paddack, in a Facebook post sent to the man’s wife, allegedly posted, “Tell the dude to turn his hat back where the white designed the hat to be worn. Where I come from, that is a punk. Immature POS.”

The sheriff’s office’s final report asserts the investigation could not determine if the offensive posts originated from any of the councilman’s personal devices, but public perception remains it was Paddack.

“Digital Forensics Examiner Kupec

reviewed the report from D. Eno Forensics and did not find any evidence that Paddack’s computer or phone were accessed remotely,” the report reads.

“DFE Kupec also noted that based on the summary provided by D. Eno Forensics, it is his opinion that the posts in question did not originate from either of Paddack’s devices. Investigators are unable to determine where the posts originated and, therefore, are unable to determine who could have made the posts.”

The sheriff’s office’s final report states the data collected during the investigation was insufficient to support a conclusion that the posts originated from Paddack’s devices.

“After completing the review of the D. Eno Report, DFE Kupec came to the conclusion that the Facebook post in question was more likely than not to have originated from a source other than the complainant,” the report reads.

“DFE Kupec does not believe the complainant’s computer or phone were physically compromised, but the D. Eno report does not include enough data to determine the exact method used to gain access to the Facebook account.”

The sheriff’s office’s report asserts the investigators are fully confident in the process of the multi-layered investigation.

“Based on the data provided, DFE Kupec believes the data acquisition process for all three sources was completed properly and has no reason to believe the data contained in the D. Eno report is not an accurate representation of the data in question,” the report reads.

The sheriff’s office’s final report pointed out different ways in which a hacker might gain access to another party’s social media accounts.

“The D. Eno report shows inconsistencies in the post activity regarding the initial message from the complainant,” the report reads. “The report also shows how it is possible to use thirdparty software, such as a web browser extension or mobile phone software, to access a user’s Facebook account to post content on their behalf. This software is often used for legitimate purposes, but, as this was the only post created under suspicious circumstances, it is highly unlikely the complainant was regularly using this method to create his posts.”

The report did conclude the Facebook message in question originated from his home’s IP address.

“Mr. Paddack stated that he didn’t have an explanation and that was why he had sent his devices to an expert for analysis,” the report reads. “… Mr. Paddack was asked if there was anyone else in his residence on the night in question who would have had access to his devices and he stated there was not. Mr. Paddack was asked if there was anyone else who would have been given access to his Wi-Fi on the night in question and he stated that there was not. ...”

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Pines Eyes Capital Campaign Study

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

OCEAN PINES – Officials say a feasibility study will allow Ocean Pines to better gauge community support for a fire station capital campaign.

Last Saturday, General Manager John Viola presented the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) Board of Directors with an update on the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department (OPVFD) workgroup, which will assist the association in kickstarting a capital campaign for the construction of a new South Station.

While the group will seek a fundraising professional, Viola noted the association must first hire a consultant to create a feasibility study.

“We’ve taken an extra step on this that we’ve been told is really needed when we go through a fundraising company, and that is you really need a consultant,” he said. “You really need a feasibility study.”

To that end, Viola said the association has released a request for proposals (RFP) for a consulting firm to lead a feasibility study effort.

“This is for the feasibility study and a consultant that will help us with the next stage, which is to do an RFP for the fundraising company,” Viola explained.

The association reports the goal of the feasibility study is to understand the association’s potential for a fundraising campaign and to gauge the level of community support. Questions from potential consultants will be accepted through Oct. 14, with proposals due by Oct. 31.

“I will update the board with a recommendation from the team, probably in November,” Viola said.

In June, OPVFD leaders held a town hall meeting to discuss proposed South Station renovations, and the funding needed to make the project a reality. As officials look to bring the decades-old facility into compliance with standards set by the National Fire Protection Association, Americans with Disabilities Act and local building codes, they told community members they are proposing an extensive ren-

ovation that calls for a demolition of its living and administrative quarters and the addition of a two-story building, as well as a new bay.

“This is not the Taj Mahal,” OPVFD President Dave VanGasbeck said at the time. “We’ve worked very hard to get this down to what we believe to be the bare minimum that complies with all the requirements at this given point in time.”

Preparations for a renovation project at the South Station began last year when the department contracted with Manns Woodward Studios to complete a feasibility study. Of the options presented to the department, officials opted for an $8.6 million renovation.

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

In July, however, Director Frank Daly noted the association and fire department would first have to define the information and activities required before the board could consider a referendum motion on the funding. He said an existing memorandum of understanding between OPA and the fire department excluded funding for South Station improvements.

“It basically said that to address any construction and renovation at the south fire station, there would be a joint capital campaign between the fire department and association to raise funds for such construction,” he explained.

To that end, the board voted unanimously in July to direct the general manager to form a workgroup to evaluate and select a fundraising professional for a capital fundraising effort.

In an update last week, Viola said the workgroup had not only prepared an RFP to hire a consultant but had met with several regional consultants. The workgroup had also produced an online FAQ page for the project.

“Some of the answers may change over time,” Viola said, “but I think the team has done an excellent job.”

Winter Beach Project Planned In Fenwick

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – Town officials say a beach replenishment project will likely run through June of next year.

In a Fenwick Island Town Council meeting last Friday, Mayor Natalie Magdeburger provided an update on a beach replenishment project along Delaware’s coastal communities.

“We’ve heard from DNREC,” she said. “They hope to have all their bids and work starting in the December through June time period. They hope to have it done by June.”

The state, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), typically performs beach nourishment projects in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, South Bethany and Fenwick Island, funded through a cost shared between the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and USACE.

The federal agency has developed a design that includes periodic nourishment at an interval between three and six years. Those projects, however, are dependent on the availability of funding at both the federal and state level.

According to USACE, Philadelphia District, a scheduled replenishment project along Fenwick’s beaches was set to commence last year. But last February, town officials announced the Army Corps would not return in 2021.

In an update last week, Magdeburger noted that state and federal agencies have identified three beach ends as potential staging areas for the upcoming replenishment project.

“When they do get to Fenwick, they intend to shut down Indian, Farmington and Bayard streets while they’re doing their dredging work,” she explained. “In years past, sometimes they’ve used them and sometimes they haven’t. But I think they’re just trying to get all their ducks in a row. That’s what we can expect from beach renourishment at this point in time.”

Magdeburger also provided community members last week with an update on the town’s sidewalk project.

In 2019, Fenwick Island initiated the first phase of its sidewalk construction project, which includes five or six bayside blocks south of James Street. And in February, the Fenwick Island Town Council signed off on a contract with Century Engineering to begin the first phase of construction this year.

With a contract to solicit bids completed, Magdeburger told community members last week the town could see work begin during the offseason.

“Bids should be opened on Oct. 10,” she said. “I think [Councilman] Ed Bishop is going to be contacting those businesses that are affected with right-ofentry documents that will need to be executed. But hopefully we will be able to get some of these sidewalks in during the off season. That’s our goal.”

AGH Adds Robotic Joint Surgery

BERLIN – Atlantic General Hospital became the first hospital on the Eastern Shore this month to offer Mako SmartRobotics™ to patients undergoing joint replacement.

This advancement in joint replacement surgery, which received FDA approval in 2015, has transformed the way total knee and hip replacements are performed.

Robotic-arm assisted surgery is a newer approach to joint replacement that offers the potential for a higher level of patient-specific implant alignment and positioning. The technology allows surgeons to create a patient-specific 3D plan and perform joint replacement using a surgeon-controlled robotic arm that helps execute the procedure with a high degree of accuracy.

Demands for total knee replacements in the United States are expected to increase 189% by 2030, yet studies have shown that approximately 20% of patients are dissatisfied after conventional surgery. Mako Total Knee combines Stryker’s advanced robotic technology with its clinically successful Triathlon Total Knee System, which enables surgeons to have a more predictable surgical experience with increased precision and accuracy.

The Mako system better addresses the increasing need for hip replacement in the community’s active aging population as well. During surgery, the surgeon

guides the robotic arm to prepare the hip socket and position the implant according to the predetermined surgical plan. In a controlled matched-paired study to measure pelvic bone tissue removal, results suggested greater bone preservation for Mako Total Hip compared to manual surgery.

“With Mako SmartRobotics, I know more about my patients than ever before, and I’m able to cut the bone more precisely. For some patients, this can mean less soft tissue damage; for others, greater bone preservation.” said Sean Hooker, M.D., medical director for orthopedics at AGH. “Mako’s 3D CT allows me to create a personalized plan based on each patient’s unique anatomy all before entering the operating room. During surgery, I can validate that plan and make any necessary adjustments while guiding the robotic arm to execute that plan. It’s exciting to be able to offer this transformative technology across the joint replacement service line to perform both partial and total knee replacements and total hip replacements.”

Bonnie Shope, director of surgical services at AGH, added, “We are proud to be the first hospital in the area to offer this highly advanced robotic technology. This addition to our orthopedic service line further demonstrates our commitment to provide the community with outstanding healthcare.”

The surgery team at Atlantic General Hospital receives training on the Mako SmartRobotics system prior to launch of the new service. Submitted Photo

BFC Seeks Funds For Fire Prevention

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – The Berlin Fire Company is seeking community support as Fire Prevention Month approaches.

October is National Fire Prevention Month and the Berlin Fire Company (BFC) is asking for donations and sponsorships to purchase coloring books and hats to offer local children.

“It’s important to reach the children at a young age about fire prevention,” said David Fitzgerald, BFC president. “That can save a life.”

Fire Prevention Month is marked nationwide each October. According to the National Fire Protection Association, this year’s Fire Prevention Week, which is Oct. 9-15, has a theme of “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.”

BFC representatives have long made a habit of visiting local elementary schools and daycare facilities to talk with young children about fire safety during Fire Prevention Month.

“We try to bring the fire engine and maybe Sparky,” Fitzgerald said.

While they still plan to do that this year, they’re seeking donations to enable them to continue to give out the hats and coloring books they typically provide to children during these visits. Fitzgerald said they typically cost the fire company close to $4,500.

“With the cutbacks in the budget that had to be done as a result of the town’s flat funding, the fire company took a re-

duction,” Fitzgerald said. “We are looking for donations.”

He said that in addition to giving away materials to promote fire safety in October, the fire company tried to keep some on hand for the kids who visited the fire station on Main Street or for when fire company representatives attended community events.

While Mayor Zack Tyndall stressed the importance of Fire Prevention Month, he said that the town had nearly doubled the fire company’s funding this year.

In addition to the usual $400,000, the town provided $125,000 for additional personnel, $220,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds for capital needs and $47,500 for EMS capital purchases. He said the first time he had heard that the BFC couldn’t afford to purchase fire prevention materials was during a conversation with Fitzgerald Monday night, just four days before the start of Fire Prevention Month.

“With more notice, there are multiple funding streams we can help them pursue,” he said.

Tyndall, a former BFC member himself, reiterated the importance of teaching fire safety and said it was a valuable service the fire company provided to the community.

He noted that the town couldn’t help with issues officials weren’t aware of, however.

“There’s a lot we can do together but I think we need to know about the challenges first,” he said.

City,

Stoplight Coming To Route 113, South Main Intersection

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Installation of a stoplight at the intersection of Route 113 and South Main Street is expected to begin next month.

Sen. Mary Beth Carozza confirmed last Friday that Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (SHA) crews were expected to being installation of a traffic signal at the South Main Street (Route 818) and Route 113 intersection next month.

“Work will begin in October and weather permitting they plan to have the signal operational by December,” Carozza said.

Local officials have been vocal in their efforts to see safety improvements at the intersection of Route 113 and South Main Street since a fatal traffic accident there claimed the life of a local man in 2020.

In the wake of his death, numerous residents and elected officials have reached out to SHA to advocate for safety improvements.

Carozza said last Friday that during a visit to Wicomico County last week, she’d spoken to SHA officials and they’d confirmed that a traffic signal would be added to the busy intersection.

She praised local elected officials for pushing for changes.

“This just goes to show how community involvement from the very beginning makes a real impact on safety decisions,” she said.

SHA officials also credited local input with making the signal a reality.

“For the last few months, we have been involved in discussions with citizens and the Town of Berlin about how to improve safety at this intersection,” said Shanteé Felix, SHA spokesperson. “We are grateful for the partnership we have with the community and local elected officials who worked to move this project for-

ward.”

Councilman Jack Orris, whose district encompasses the intersection, said seeing a traffic signal there was one of his goals when he was elected.

“I am beyond excited for this safety enhancement at that intersection and am proud, after much time and talk, we are finally able to get things in motion,” Orris said.

Mayor Zack Tyndall said the county’s inclusion of the town’s input in its Consolidated Transportation Plan submission to SHA had included both the signal at Route 113 and South Main Street as well as a signal at the intersection of North Main Street and Route 50.

“We’re glad to see one of those coming to fruition,” he said. “We’re not going to go give up on the other.”

A traffic signal at the intersection of Route 113 and South Main Street, pictured above, will be installed in October.

Photo by Charlene Sharpe

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

SNOW HILL –A Georgia man convicted in June on a second-degree rape charge to which he pleaded guilty was sentenced last week to 20 years in prison, 10 years of which was suspended.

Wayne Eugene White, 46, of Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., in June entered an Alford plea to second-degree rape for the incident in Ocean City last December 3. In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but acknowledges the state has enough evidence to prosecute the case. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered.

Back in court last week, White was sentenced to 20 years, 10 of which were then suspended. He was also placed on supervised probation for three years following his release and will be required to register as a Tier III lifetime sex offender upon his release.

The charges against White arose as a result of Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers being dispatched to a resort condominium last December 3 for a reported domestic assault. Upon arrival, OCPD officers observed a female victim with blood covering her mouth and chin area and staining her sweatshirt. The preliminary investigation revealed the victim had been assaulted and then raped, and she identified White as her attacker. OCPD officers were able to quickly locate and arrest White as the department’s forensic services unit processed the crime scene and collected evidence.

Around 8:20 p.m. last December 3, OCPD officers responded to a residence at 123rd Street for a reported domestic assault. Upon arrival, officers met with a female victim, whose sweat shirt along with her mouth and chin area were covered in blood, according to police reports. The victim reportedly told police she wanted the suspect, later identified as White to leave her residence.

The victim told police she and White had gone to a nearby restaurant earlier and had consumed some alcoholic beverages before leaving around 8 p.m. The victim told police White had become ag-

itated with her as they left because of his perception of his level of intoxication. White reportedly continued to yell at the victim as they got into the car to leave.

The victim told police she asked White to take her home, but he refused and passed her street on purpose, according to police reports. White reportedly drove south on Coastal Highway before stopping abruptly in a travel lane and telling the victim to “get out of the [expletive deleted] car.”

The victim reportedly told police she was scared, so she attempted to get out of the front passenger seat. The victim told officers she had just put her right leg onto Coastal Highway and was still halfway in the vehicle when White started to drive away, according to police reports. The victim reportedly told police White started driving about 10 miles per hour with her still halfway in the car and halfway out of the car.

The victim reportedly told police White struck her with the car’s door frame as he pulled away and that she fell out of the vehicle into the middle of Coastal Highway. The victim said she fell on her right hip and right shoulder and injured both badly, according to police

reports.

The victim reportedly told police as she laid on Coastal Highway, she looked up and saw headlights coming directly toward her and that she was afraid she was going to get run over. The victim was able to get up and out of the travel lane in the middle of Coastal Highway.

The victim told police she did not know what else to do, so she got back in White’s vehicle. The victim told police when she got back in the front passenger seat, White used the back of his hand to hit her in the mouth. White allegedly hit the victim so hard that her mouth and lip were gushing blood, according to police reports.

White then drove himself and the victim back to their unit in which they were staying, and he continued to yell at her in the parking lot. Once inside the unit, White continued to be very angry with the victim and would not calm down, according to police reports. White reportedly then pushed the victim to the floor near the kitchen area of the condo.

The victim told officers White then pulled down her pants and told her at least two times that he was going to

rape her, according to police reports. The victim told police White then forced her face into the carpet and raped her from behind, according to police reports. The victim was reportedly able to get away from White and immediately called 911.

The victim was transported to a local hospital where a SAFE examination was completed. Numerous injuries were identified on the victim’s body as a result of being struck by the vehicle’s door frame and falling into the roadway.

White reportedly admitted that he pulled the victim’s pants down and had sex with her, according to police reports. He also reportedly acknowledged the victim told him at least one time to stop. White reportedly denied that he forced the victim’s face into the carpet and denied hitting the victim with his fist. He also denied that he told the victim he was going to rape her, according to police reports.

White was charged with first- and sec ond-degree assault, second-degree rape and a fourth-degree sexual offense. He entered an Alford plea to the second-degree rape count in June and was sentenced last week.

Public Invited To Archaeology Dig

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – The Rackliffe House Trust is seeking community volunteers to help with an archaeological dig next month.

On the weekends of Oct. 8 and 15, the Rackliffe House Trust will conduct an archaeology dig at the 18th-century plantation property. Archeologists are going to be searching for long-lost building remains detected during a 2018 survey.

“Visitors can learn about the process and help pick artifacts from excavated soil,” said archeologist Aaron Levinthal, a member of the Rackliffe House Trust board.

Thanks to restoration efforts, the Rackliffe House, a 1740s merchant-planter’s home overlooking the Sinepuxent Bay, now serves as a coastal museum that interprets 18th century life along Maryland’s coast. According to Levinthal, who’s been on the board for about 10 years, a 2009 archeological investigation resulted in the site becoming eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

“That means there is a lot of history intact, buried underground,” he said.

A grant-funded ground penetrating radar and magnetometry survey in 2018 built further on those findings.

“The results showed tons of buried what archeologists call subsurface features,” he said.

Those are things like trash pits and cellar holes. The survey also showed

some anomalies. Some of those anomalies are what archaeologists will be investigating in October. Levinthal said one looks like a cellar hole that would have been associated with a house—not the main house—mapped in the 1840s. The other anomaly is close to the dairy.

“We’re thinking it’s probably the location of another outbuilding,” Levinthal said. “We’re hoping we can find evidence of it being a smokehouse.”

He said things like charcoal and bone fragments would support the smokehouse theory.

“You never really know what you’re going to find,” he said.

Archaeologists will be noting the artifacts excavated, which could also include ceramic and metal fragments, and Levinthal will write a report of the findings. Connections of the Rackliffe House are hoping the findings will be interesting enough to put together an additional exhibit for the site.

Attendees at the dig can watch and learn about the archaeology process and help screen for artifacts. There will be two public sessions each weekend day, one from 9 a.m. to noon and another from 1-4 p.m. Volunteers are advised to be prepared for outdoor work, wear sturdy shoes and bring bug spray, sunscreen and water. Space is limited to 16 people per session. To reserve a space, visit rackliffehouse.ticketleap.com/rackliffe-house-archaeology-2022/. For more information call 410-629-1011 or email RackliffeHouse@gmail.com.

Fenwick Council Defers Parking Vote

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – Town officials say they will work with the business community to solve Fenwick Island’s parking issues after voting last week to defer a second reading on parking amendments.

Last Friday, the Fenwick Island Town Council voted unanimously to defer a second reading on an ordinance amendment pertaining to off-street parking in the commercial district.

While the proposed changes would have allowed for new, more stringent parking ratios on new and redeveloped commercial properties, officials agreed to postpone their vote after hearing complaints from members of the business community at last Monday’s public hearing.

“I am going to propose that we defer the vote on this second reading … until December of this year,” Mayor Natalie Magdeburger said. “That will give the ad hoc parking committee an opportunity to come together and meet and hopefully find solutions.”

In July, several members of the Fenwick Island business community came before the town council to share their opposition to a proposed ordinance amendment on off-street parking ratios in the commercial district. As written, the amendment would, for example, change restaurant parking ratios from one per 100 square feet of patron space to one per 50 square feet of patron space and retail parking ratios from one per 300 square feet of floor area to one per 250 square feet of floor area.

Since its introduction earlier this summer, restaurateurs, merchants and commercial property owners have come before the council with concerns the proposed ordinance amendment would impact commercial development. Others, however, have argued the amendment only seeks to address eroded parking ordinances that have allowed for fewer parking spaces on commercial properties.

Those discussions continued at a second public hearing last Monday, when members of the business community urged the town to first implement a Business to Business parking initiative, in which business owners would work together to share unused parking spaces to address summer parking shortages.

“This problem lasts six to eight weeks,” said Warren’s Station owner Scott Mumford. “And you are talking about imposing regulations for a six- to eight-week problem, not a 52-week problem … It’s a slippery slope.”

At last Friday’s town council meeting, Magdeburger said she hoped deferring the second reading would give business owners more time to work with the ad hoc parking committee and come up with solutions to Fenwick’s parking problems.

“I want to thank them again for com-

ing to the hearing,” she said. “One of the things I got from it was that the business community really wanted to work with the ad hoc parking committee. The summer is now over, and they are fully engaged. I take them at their word.”

Magdeburger noted that the committee would meet frequently in the coming weeks and that a second reading would be revisited at the December town council meeting. A vote to defer the second reading on the proposed parking amendments passed 7-0.

“I think everyone is going into it knowing that compromises need to be made and open discussion and dialogue will be a benefit to all,” she said.

Southern Exposure owner Tim Collins thanked the town council for hearing the business community’s concerns.

“We want to make sure the residents, including myself, know what these ordinances mean and how they can affect the town,” he said. “And I think stepping back, as some people recommended, is the way to go. Let’s look at it and see if we can figure it out.”

Mumford agreed.

“I think you’ve made the right choice, taking a pause and seeing if we can figure something out,” he said. “I will be very dedicated to the ad hoc parking committee listing and moving forward in any direction that benefits the town.”

Tax Designation

BERLIN – The Institute of Business & Finance (IBF) recently awarded Jeffrey Montgomery with the only nationally recognized tax designation, CTS™ (Certified Tax Specialist™).

This graduate-level designation is conferred upon candidates who complete a 135-plus hour educational program focusing on personal income taxes and methods to reduce tax liability. The combined top state and federal bracket can easily exceed 40%.

CTS™ certification requires mastery of the basic income tax formula and its computation, retirement plans, deductions, credits, capital gains, depreciation, payroll taxes and tax planning. According to IBF, “No one likes to talk about taxes. Most people are intimidated by the subject matter. Yet, tax reduction can be surprisingly easy.”

BUSINESS And Real Estate News

comico County Health Department, Salisbury Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and TidalHealth launched in 2017. TidalHealth will use the grant to expand the mobile integrated health program throughout Wicomico County. The funding will support additional staff including a part-time nurse practitioner, part-time registered nurse and full-time paramedic.

nician paramedic (EMT-P) who acts as the point person to identify the long-term needs of patients, make necessary referrals, and enroll interested frequent users into the SWIFT program. The team conducts regular home visits to do vital signs checks and work with community health workers to assess and address needs such as transportation, food, housing and access to primary care.

members is essential to ensuring Main Street Americans continue to have access to the affordable, professional financial advice that can help them achieve their financial goals,” said FSI President and CEO Dale E. Brown. “We are proud to count Bruce among our members, and we are very pleased to recognize him for their exceptional contributions to our work on behalf of our industry and Main Street American investors. Bruce truly makes a difference in our profession, and we are grateful for their dedication and example.”

Robson is active in his community, specifically Horizons Delmarva for 18 years and Lower Shore Land Trust for many years, acting as treasurer since January 2022.

Practitioner Welcomed

The student must pass two comprehensive exams, complete a written case study as well as adhere to the IBF Code of Ethics and IBF Standards of Practice and fulfill annual continuing education requirements. The CTS™ program is designed for brokers and advisors who have clients interested in maximizing their after-tax returns as well as reducing their overall tax liability.

JEFF MONTGOMERY

Jeff Montgomery is the founder and president of Montgomery Financial Services, LLC, an independent, fiduciary, registered investment advisory firm headquartered in Berlin, Md., with additional offices in Lewes, Del., and Eldersburg, Md. The team at Montgomery Financial specializes in building long-term financial plans with an emphasis on efficient investment management, proactive tax planning, and long-term income planning. Investment advisory services are offered through Montgomery Financial Services, LLC a registered investment advisor in the state of Maryland, Delaware and Florida. Insurance products and services are offered through MFS Wealth LLC, independent agent.

Grant Award

SALISBURY – TidalHealth announced it and the Salisbury Fire Department are the recipients of a $187,775 grant from the Rural Maryland Council’s Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF).

The grant will further support the Salisbury Wicomico Integrated Firstcare Team (SWIFT) – a collaboration between the Wi-

“This new grant funding helps us to expand the innovative work we are doing with the fire department to break down barriers preventing people from accessing health care,” said Katherine Rodgers, MPH, director of community health initiatives. “We are working as a multidisciplinary team that includes paramedics, nurses, social workers, and community health workers to better meet the needs of residents who may be at high risk for hospitalization because of physical, social or environmental challenges.”

Since October 2017, the SWIFT team has assisted people who frequently call 911 for non-emergency help. The goal of the program is to connect people with primary or specialty healthcare and community-based services to improve their health and quality of life while also reducing unnecessary strain on the EMS and emergency department (ED) systems.

In August 2021, the team added a new model to the program with a nurse practitioner and paramedic responding directly to 911 calls from people who may be better served by receiving treatment in their home because of a lower level of care needed, as opposed to receiving care at the ED.

The original program significantly reduced EMS calls and ED visits among enrolled participants. Last year, participants had a 64% reduction in 911 calls and 68% reduction in ED visits. The new model, which included responding directly to 911 calls, resulted in response to 323 calls and treated 95 people. This prevention activity saved about $200,000 in prevented ED visits.

Salisbury Fire Department EMS serves as the day-to-day primary SWIFT lead, with a dedicated emergency medical tech-

The City of Salisbury is proud to be involved in this partnership with TidalHealth and the Wicomico County Health Department. “The SWIFT members look forward to providing the needed care and access to resources to the vulnerable populations of our local communities,” said David Phippin, NRP CP-C, SWIFT Coordinator for the Salisbury Fire Department. “SWIFT’s team approach to community needs is crucial for meeting the requisites of each person’s community health needs.”

Honoree Named

SALISBURY – The Financial Services Institute (FSI), the leading advocacy organization for the independent financial services industry, has named local financial advisor Bruce Robson of CFS Financial to FSI’s 2022 Advocacy Circle of Excellence for his commitment to FSI’s advocacy mission and ensuring Main Street Americans’ access to affordable, professional financial advice.

SALISBURY – TidalHealth is recently welcomed John McKnight, MD, MBA, to TidalHealth Medical Oncology and Hematology in Salisbury, and Seaford, Del.

McKnight specializes in medical oncology and hematology, which is the combined practice of studying the blood’s physiology and cancerous blood disorders while managing the symptoms these diseases and resultant tumors may present.

McKnight received his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. He completed his internship in Internal Medicine at D.C. General Hospital and his residency at the University of Pittsburgh, Presbyterian University Hospital in Pittsburgh. He then completed his fellowship in medical oncology at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Washington, D.C. McKnight also earned his MBA focusing on medical management from Johns Hopkins University, School of Professional Studies in Business and Education.

BRUCE ROBSON

“I am honored to be recognized among the FSI Circle of Excellence members,” said Robson. “FSI’s mission of educating lawmakers and regulators on how independent financial advisors, such as myself, help clients to secure their financial futures is essential. Working together, we can help Americans achieve their financial dreams.”

FSI Advocacy Circle of Excellence honorees are determined by their contributions to the advancement of the profession and dedication to the industry’s advocacy priorities.

“The steadfast commitment of our

McKnight is board certified in medical oncology from the American Board of Internal Medicine and American Board of Medical Specialties. He is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Medical Association and National Medical Association. McKnight has presented and authored many publications and is involved with several community cancer organizations.

McKnight will see patients at the TidalHealth Richard A. Henson Cancer Institute in Salisbury, Md., and the TidalHealth Allen Cancer Center in Seaford, Del.

JOHN McKNIGHT

People in Society

by Charlene Sharpe

Featuring Those Helping Causes In The Resort Area

Caroline Phillips and Jennifer Kukel were all smiles behind the orange crush bar keeping AGH tournament golfers well hydrated.

Michael Cylc, Lisa Cook, Ryan and Cate Nellans and Sam Glaeser were working the team photo hole during the AGH golf tournament.

Toni Keiser, Steven Sweigert, Laura Powell and Kam LaBrunda are pictured at AGH’s Robert E. Warfield Memorial Golf Tournament.

Charlotte Cathell and Dr. Sally Dowling volunteered their time throughout AGH's Robert E. Warfield Memorial Tournament last week.

Sophia Darling, Tess Waller and Brooke Dubbs are pictured at Furnace Town Saturday during the Renaissance Faire.

Judith Stribling and Jennifer Merritt are pictured at a Lower Shore Land Trust reception to honor Jack Burbage.

Steve and Maggie Fulkrod were among the many costumed attendees at Furnace Town’s Renaissance Faire.

Emily Burris and Hannah Schweikert are pictured at Furnace Town’s Renaissance Faire.

Vicki Talbott and Tracy Kelly paused for a photo at Furnace Town’s second annual Renaissance Faire.

Susan and Bruce Robson and Bud and Allyson Church paused for a photo at last week’s Lower Shore Land Trust reception to honor Jack Burbage.

N.J. Woman Wins Vacation: Throughout the summer, the Coconuts Beach Bar & Grill at the Castle in the Sand Hotel held a Tipsy Tuesday Contest. Each of the week’s winning contestants were entered into a grand prize drawing that featured a five-night vacation at the Green Turtle Club in the Bahamas for two people. As is traditionally the case, the summer’s contestants were invited last Sunday to attend the drawing of the winning ticket at Coconuts and were given a free night at the host Castle in the Sand Hotel. Fifteen of the 20 weekly winners were present last Sunday for the drawing. The contestants were represented by turtles in a small pool with each turtle picked knocking out the individual contestants. The grand prize winner was Jessica Openshaw of Whitehouse Station, N.J. Above left, Openshaw is pictured being congratulated by runner-up Gail Bricker of Ocean City. Above right, Openshaw is pictured with her winning turtle and a list of the weekly winners. At right, from left, are Castle in the Sand Assistant Food and Beverage Manager Paulie Smith; Food and Beverage Manager Jeff Hicks; Security Manager Josh White; Openshaw; Adam Showell, owner of the Castle in the Sand, Coconuts and Green Turtle Club; and Manager Joe Koziol .

Photos by Steve Green

COMMUNITY

News In Photos

The Bikers Without Borders Foundation last week presented a donation of $1,500 to the Autistic Children’s Support Group of Worcester County. The group provides parent-to-parent support for families dealing with autism and developmental disabilities.

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City recognized Ed Ahlquist as “Kiwanian of the Month” for August. Ahlquist, who helps out when the club serves concessions at events, is pictured with Tim Lund, the club’s president.

Wor-Wic Community College employees recently received awards for 10 and 15 years of service. In the front row, from left, are Scott Russen, Dr. Stacey Hall, Laura Paddack, Karen Berkheimer, and Dr. Brenda Mister, all recognized for 10 years of service. In the back row, from left, are Averill V. Anderson, recognized for 10 years of service, and Dr. Karie Solembrino, Daniel R. Pavese III, Bridget Benshetler and Dr. Deirdra G. Johnson, all recognized for 15 years of service.

Photos

Wor-Wic Community College employees received awards for 20, 25 and 35 years of service at a recent all-staff meeting at the college. In the front row, from left, are Renee Dayton of Delmar, Del., and Wendy Postles of Salisbury, both recognized for 20 years of service, and Dr. Lawrence Blasco of Quantico, recognized for 25 years of service. In the back row, from left, are Joyce Nichols and Charles Thomas of Salisbury, recognized for 25 years of service, and Dr. Kimberley M. Roop of Salisbury, recognized for 35 years of service.

AJ Fox won a guitar for his performance at the Berlin Fiddlers Convention. Fox, second from right, is pictured with Ryan Nellans of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce, right, and Daniel and Avery Caton.

Lower Shore Land Trust hosted a reception last week to honor Jack Burbage. Burbage’s gift of property enabled the nonprofit to establish the Jack Burbage Conservation Land Fund. Burbage, right, is pictured receiving a David Turner sculpture from Hugh Cropper, chairman of the board of Lower Shore Land Trust, and Kate Patton, the organization’s executive director.

Annual Film Festival Expands To Include Youth Component

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – A new kids film festival is expected to offer families a night of fun while raising money for Assateague Coastal Trust and its programs.

On Sunday, Oct. 9, Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT) and its Coast Kids program will hold its inaugural Wild Child Youth Film Festival. Held at Burley Oak Brewing Company, the event will feature kids activities, auction items and showings of kid-friendly films.

“This Wild Child collection is specially curated for kids,” said Verena Chase, ACT’s Coast Kids director. “Many are fun and light, but some are really thoughtful and definitely face serious issues such as wildfires, plastic pollution in oceans and things of that nature.”

While ACT will host its 12th annual Wild and Scenic Film Fest in November, organizers say they are eager to add a kids component to this year’s program. The Wild Child Youth Film Festival will feature 16 short films, including “Cracked,” which documents a little girl trying her best to help nature in a drought-stricken village, and “Maneuvers,” a funny, experimental film that combines skiing with stop motion animation.

“This year, the Wild and Scenic Film Fest offered the Wild Child film festival as an addition,” Chase said. “We thought it was a great opportunity because there are some really awesome films that are perfect for kids in the Wild and Scenic Film Fest selection.”

Chase said the inaugural event will be held outside at Burley Oak Brewing Company. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the first hour dedicated to kids activities, Scales and Tales live animal exhibits, a Lucky Chance auction (with gift baskets and goodies from numerous local businesses) and a raffle. The

Street Kitchen food truck will also be selling tacos.

“The films start at 6:30,” Chase added. “The films take about an hour and a half, so the festival will be done by about 8 p.m.”

Chase noted the Wild Child film festival is just one of many activities hosted through the Coast Kids program, which offers hands-on learning experiences to children and families.

She explained that Coast Kids also holds various family and in-school programs throughout the year, with activities such as kayaking, birdhouse building and lessons on bird banding, animal tracks and clean energy.

“We also offer a fabulous outdoor summer camp where we go each day to a different place across Delmarva and explore a new habitat and do fun outdoor things such as paddling, hiking, looking for plankton, and trying out paddleboarding and horseback riding,” she said.

For more information on the Wild Child Youth Film Festival, or to purchase tickets, visit www.actforbays.org/wildchild. Tickets are $5 per person, or $25 for a bundle of six tickets plus a free 30 oz. eco-friendly water bottle.

“Coast Kids is completely run on donations and grants,” Chase said. “So this money will support the Coast Kids program.”

In the event of rain, the Wild Child Youth Film Festival will be moved indoors to MacMullin Hall at the ACT office building, 10959 Worcester Highway, Berlin, MD.

“We invite everyone to come out to have fun, watch a bunch of wonderful movies and support Assateague Coastal Trust and the Coast Kids Program,” Chase said.

ACT recognizes and thanks its Wild Child sponsors: Burley Oak Brewing Company, World of Toys, Mary Mac Foundation, Heart of Gold Kids and Donna Frankowski Realty.

with Scott Lenox

Fall has definitely fallen as we’ve recently seen some low temperatures dipping into the 40s at night and highs on some days not reaching 70 degrees. We’re also starting to see a weather pattern where Mother Nature doesn’t let us go fishing a couple of days a week thanks to wind and/or rain. I still love this time of year because there are no real crowds to speak of and fishing on the days you can get out are usually very good. We’ve got just about every species that we catch in the area still available in the ocean and in the bay and I for one don’t mind throwing on a sweatshirt first thing in the morning.

We had two big fishing news stories last week when not one, but two Maryland state record fish were caught. One definitely outshined the other just because of the size, but both were equally impressive. The first state record was for largest longfin albacore. The previous record was set back in 2004 off Ocean City and was impressive in itself at 74 pounds. The Top Dog fishing out of Sunset Marina with Captain Ryan Knapp landed a huge longfin that weighed in at 77 pounds and topped the 2004 record by three pounds. The big longfin at a

naked ballyhoo on a “dink” rod that was set up for white marlin and was just two pounds shy of the current world record. Just a few days later another Maryland state record fell when angler Jeff Jacobs landed a 393-pound swordfish while fishing with Captain Willie Zimmerman and his crew on RoShamBo. I got to see this big fish in person and it was truly impressive. Jeff fought the big sword alone and hand cranked it to the boat over 5 1/2 hours. Captain Willie knew they had a potential record breaker as soon as he saw it jump out of the water. Maryland DNR only started to recognize swordfish as a state record a few years ago and set a qualifying size of 300 pounds. That mark was set in 2021 at the Big Fish Classic when angler Peter Schultz hand cranked a 301 pounder to the boat and set the pace for swordfish records in Maryland. Before the ink was even dry on Pete’s record, his 301 pound swordfish was bested at the White Marlin Open by angler Jake Bertonnazi when he hand cranked a 318.5 pound swordfish to the surface. And now Jeff Jacobs has set the bar high with this new 393 pound swordfish caught on board RoShamBo with SEE PAGE 48

Jeff Jacobs is in the records books for landing this new state record swordfish of 393 pounds. Submitted Photos

FROM PAGE 47

Captain Willie.

We had some beautiful weather over the weekend last week which allowed several offshore boats to take advantage of overnight trips in the canyons. Overnight fishing can be very productive because you are in the canyons for both the dusk and dawn bites that can be very good. This weekend the bite was very good and boats had multiple billfish releases with blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish all being caught and released. One of the more impressive trips happened on the private boat Blood Money

fishing out of Sunset Marina with our good friends from Hook Optics and Otter Tails on board. Blood Money had four blue marlin releases, nine white marlin releases and also added two stud tunas to the fish box.

Sheepshead fishing at the south jetty was on fire this past weekend with lots of fish caught with several of them in double digits. Captain Jason Mumford of Lucky Break Charters has an insane day that started with a fish over 10 pounds caught by 10-year-old Ethan Collier of Mount Joy, Pa. It was a good day for guys named Ethan as just a little while later Lucky Break mate Ethan Nock of Berlin, MD caught a huge 13.7 pound sheep! Captain Jason saw another double digit sheepshead being caught and I got the photo that evening

showing Austin Deppe’s big 12.3 pounder. It was a great day of fishing on the south jetty and those sheepshead should stick around for at least another month. Live sand fleas are the hot bait.

Fishing at the Route 50 Bridge is picking up nicely as water temps cool down and rockfish and bluefish are being caught in good numbers. Live baits like spot, bunker and mullet are having good success with all sizes of fish between 15” and 36” while “dredging” hard bodied plastics is producing slightly larger fish. Big Bird Cropper and Shawn Flaherty have perfected the dredging technique and last week had a limit of rockfish and some big bluefish to over 30”.

All of this inshore fishing is picking up right in time for next week’s Ocean City Inshore Classic put on by Fish in OC and

Hooked on OC. Registration is Friday, Oct. 7 from 5-7 p.m. in the Sunset Marina activity room. Fishing takes place from lines in on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7 a.m. until lines out on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 3 p.m. and you can fish any or all of that 32 hours. Prizes will be awarded for rockfish, flounder, tautog and open divisions and the first 50 boats to register get our tournament buckets. Last year we only had 31 boats thanks to some crappy weather and we still paid out over $15,000. This year we may have even more. I hope to see you there. 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.)

Above top left, David Beach, Sr. and David Beach II landed keeper flounder of 16.5”, 17.75”, 18” and 24” on live mullet. Above top center, the private boat Blood Money had an insane overnight trip with four blue marlin releases, nine white marlin releases and two stud tuna. Above top right, this 77 pound longfin tuna was caught on the private boat Top Dog with Captain Ryan Knapp and is a new state record. Above left, Big Bird Cropper and Shawn Flaherty had a nice day at the Route 50 Bridge with keeper rockfish and big bluefish. Above right, Tyler Patey caught this big 44.5” black drum on our Deadly Tackle tog/bottom jig. Opposite page, top left, Ethan Nock of Berlin caught this huge 13.7 pound sheepshead fishing with his boss Captain Jason Mumford on Lucky Break. Opposite page, top right, Austin Deppe landed this nice 12.3-pound sheepshead on the south jetty. Opposite page, middle left, this beautiful swordfish was caught on the private boat Reel Escape out of Ocean Pines. Opposite page, middle right, Stone Carey caught this pretty 21”, 7.1 pound sheepshead on a live sand flea. Opposite page, bottom left, Captain Marc Spagnola of Dusk to Dawn Bowfishing put this shooter on a big 36 pound catfish. Opposite page, bottom right, David Moore has been all over the red drum in the Assateague surf releasing fish up to 49”.

Chris Parypa’s Photo Of The Week: Each

staff photographer Chris Parypa is tasked with submitting a photo from his vast library to be featured in this space. Above, members of the Ocean City Police Department’s Mounted Unit work the beach. To purchase any of Parypa’s photos, click over to www.chrisparypa.com.

THE DISPATCH Crossword Puzzle

HOROSCOPES

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): You might not like the sudden setback in your plans. But keep that headstrong Arian temperament in check and wait for explanations. Things will begin to clear up by week's end.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Enjoy the respite from your recent hectic schedule, but be ready to plunge into a new round of social activities. A new contact holds much potential for the future.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): A trusted colleague has news that could change your perception of a current workplace situation. What had seemed unfair might prove to be highly favorable after all.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22): You still need to watch what you say and how you say it. What you assert as honesty, others might perceive as Crabbiness. Be patient. This difficult period clears up by the weekend.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22): Your Royalness needs some time away from the limelight to catch up on things, whether it's tidying up your desk or making those calls you've put off. You're back in the center of things by the weekend.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22): Honesty is the best policy, of course. But, you'll do better at achieving your goals if you can be less aggressive and more circumspect in how you phrase your comments.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22): Your

ability to maintain your balance in confusing situations continues to work for you. Stay on the steady course, one step at a time. The weekend shows improvement.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21): Your indecisiveness could simply be your keen Scorpian sense warning you to be wary of making a commitment. Take this time to do a more thorough investigation.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21): Good news: New information comes your way to help you make a more informed decision on how to deal with the opportunity that has opened up for you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19): This is a good time to reinforce your self-confidence by acknowledging your own good qualities. A lull in your social life ends by the weekend. Have fun.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18): It's a good time to let those recently pentup emotions flow more freely. Why not start by letting the people you care for know how you really feel about them?

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20): Resist offers, no matter how well-intentioned, to help with a personal decision. Only you know what must be done, and you have the emotional strength to follow through.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a talent for getting things done. You also have a gift for bringing people together in both personal and professional relationships.

Things I Like...

By Steve Green

Teens who like volunteering

Overcoming adversity stories

Trusting first impressions

Seeing a foal during an Assateague visit

Cool mornings, warm afternoons

A pile of big leaves

A road trip with little traffic

The last piece of a difficult puzzle

Pulling off a big surprise

Iced tea and lemonade mixed together

A rare weekend nap

vanishing vanishing OCEAN CITYWITH BUNK MANN

Ocean City’s beach and Boardwalk had a different appearance in the years prior to World War II. This photo looks north from Talbot Street. The Boardwalk in those days was narrow and raised about four feet above the beach. On a hot day, bathers would sit under it in the shade and enjoy a picnic lunch.

People dressed up to walk on the Boardwalk in that era. As can be seen in this circa 1940 photo, even in mid-day women wore high heels and men wore long sleeved shirts and ties. The attire was even more formal in the evenings.

The beach was narrow and waves often rolled up to the Boardwalk on high tide. It was well into the 1950s until the rock jetty at the Inlet caused lots of sand to build up at the south end of Ocean City. Today the beach in this location is nearly eight times as wide as it was 80 years ago.

The tower-like structure in the background was caused by the Coast Guard to watch for both boats and swimmers in distress. It was removed at the end of World War II.

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

Postcard from Bunk Mann’s collection

HELP WANTED

CARPENTER: Needed for OC Condo renovations. Call for information. 443-783-1966.

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

PIANIST/ORGANIST

Part-Time 6-8 hours per week

Play hymns, special music, & accompany the choir.

Please submit a cover letter, full contact info, resume, and three references to:

St. Matthews By the Sea UMC

ATTN: SPRC

1000 Coastal Hwy Fenwick Island, DE 19944 Or email: smbts@verizon.net

Paramount Construction Services is seeking experienced professionals to join our organization in Ocean City MD. Applicants should have several years of experience with knowledge of kitchen and bathroom remodeling for residential homes and condominiums. Paramount is currently looking for Project Managers, cabinet installers, tile setters, painters / drywall, electricians and plumbers.

Please call 410-390-5773 or send resume to ocjobs@paramountserv.com

POSEIDON PLUMBING & HOME SERVICES NOW HIRING ALL POSITIONS

We offer paid training, vacation, and personal days, as well as a quality benefits package including health, dental, vision, and life insurance. Wage is BOE from $15-$30/hour. Based in the Berlin/OC area.

POSEIDON

Classifieds

CONTACT INFORMATION

Phone: 410-641-4563

TOWN OF FENWICK ISLAND

Full-Time Maintenance Tech Position Public Works Department

The Town of Fenwick Island is currently seeking applications for a in the Public Works Department. This position would require performing semi-skilled and manual labor work to maintain Town buildings, property, parks, and equipment. The applicant must have the ability to lift (50) fifty pounds, work outside for extended periods of time and during inclement weather. The applicant would also be considered essential personnel and would need to be available for emergency offhour work as needed. Also required:

•Must be 18 years of age

•High School Diploma / GED / vocational school or equivalentwork experience

•Valid driver’s license

•Minor electrical, carpentry, mechanical and landscaping skills

•Be able to operate Town equipment

•Pass pre-employment drug screening test and background investigation including driving record investigation.

The Town of Fenwick Island offers an excellent total compensation package which includes competitive salary, health insurance, a pension plan, and paid vacation.

Applications are available on the town website at: www.fenwickisland.delaware.gov or at Town Hall, 800 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island, DE 19944

Applications must be submitted to the Town Manager by 4pmFriday, October 14, 2022 at Fenwick Island Town Hall, 800 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island, DE 19944 or email to: townclerk@fenwickisland.org.

THE TOWN OF FENWICK ISLAND IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

FULL-TIME PERSONAL BANKER

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

Please email resume to neli.gabby@fbwbank.com or call Neli at 410-250-1512

Application cut off is 10-10-2022

Employment Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer”

Call Matt 302-344-9846

Long Neck,

• Fax: 410-641-0966

Email: classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com

Mail: P.O. Box 467, Berlin MD 21811

FT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

A beautiful award winning community in Ocean View, DE is seeking a motivated, driven, and goaloriented administrative assistant. Must be organized and possess excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must be computer proficient in MS Office and have the ability to multi – task. Must have excellent customer service skills. Previous experience in working with HOAs a plus, but not required. Full-time, yr round 40hrs/wk.

Interested candidates should email resume w/salary requirements to: Susan.Brewer@casinc.biz

The University of Maryland Extension SNAP-Ed program is seeking to fill a full-time SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator and Project Leader position. A full position description along with qualifications and online application can be accessed at the following link:

https://ejobs.umd.edu/postings/99658 EOE

Classifieds

CONTACT INFORMATION

Phone: 410-641-4563 • Fax: 410-641-0966

Email: classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com

Mail: P.O. Box 467, Berlin MD 21811

MILITARY MUSEUM SEEKING HELP INTEREST

RENTALS

OC WINTER RENTAL: Downtown 2BD/2BA Apt. Furn Central HVAC W/D WiFi, Cable incl’d Occ lmtd to 2 No smoking/pets $800 per mo. + util’s 410-202-6353

WOC WINTER RENTAL: 2BD/1BA house Furn Central HVAC, W/D, D/W, WiFi & cable in cl’d Occ. lmtd to 3. No smoking/pets. $975 per mo. + util’s. 410-202-6353.

WINTER RENTAL: 3BR/2BA 117th St. $1350 per mo. + Utlil.’s (no pets,no smoking) Call 410 202-2632.

ROOMMATE

ROOM(S) FOR RENT: Seeking Roommate(s). YR or Seasonal. Indoor Hot Tub. Non smoking, pets welcome. Single Family Home, 94th St. area. Rent negotiable. Call/text for more info. 410-7265200.(Job inhibits phone calls, text if can’t reach by calls).

REAL ESTATE

FSBO: 4BR/3 Full BA. Nice home in desirable community of Deer Point. $500,000.. Appointment only. Call for details between 6am5pm only please. 443-614-3185.

COMMERCIAL

WEST O.C. OFFICE/RETAIL SPACES AVAILABLE: 2 Office/Retail Spaces for Lease. Plenty of Parking. 443-497-4200.

Looking for those interested in helping veterans, teaching history, and working together to help make a military museum to honor veterans in our local communities and to teach people about the facts of war. The museum will be tentatively established in the WorcesterWicomico County area. I’d like to have the military museum be dedicated to both before and after the founding of the United States so as to show where our collective cultures come from, I need help trying to piece this all together. Please, send an email at valorondelmarva@gmail.c om or call Tyler 443-3971074 Serious interest only.

Third Insertion

19376. Notice is given that STEVEN SCHMIDT, 19731 BUCKLODGE ROAD, BOYDS, MD 20841, was on SEPTEMBER 08, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JULIE ANN SCHMIDT, who died on JANUARY 12, 2021 without a will.

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

ANN SCHMIDT, ESTATE NO.

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 8th day of MARCH, 2023

Any person having a claim against the decedent must

The Dispatch Legal Notices

CONTACT INFORMATION

Phone: 410-641-4563 • Fax: 410-641-0966

Email: classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com

Mail: P.O. Box 467, Berlin MD 21811

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 SEPTEMBER 16, 2022

STEVEN SCHMIDT 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 09-16, 09-23, 09-30

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

SEPTEMBER 16, 2022

ALLISON VAN HEE 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 09-16, 09-23, 09-30

jection 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 MARCH, 2023

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates:

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

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch

Date of Publication

SEPTEMBER 16, 2022

HAL O ADKINS

Personal Representatives True Test Copy

TERRI WESTCOTT

will.

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

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

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

All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates:

(1)Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or

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

JACKRABBIT COURT, WALDORF, MD 20603,were on SEPTEMBER 22, 2022, appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of RALPH W. DENSTON, who died on JANUARY 19, 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 MARCH, 2023

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates:

LEONARD, JR., ESTATE NO. 19375. Notice is given that RUFUS JOHNSON, 6599 BONITA AVENUE, SALISBURY, MD 21801, was on SEPTEMBER 22, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MILTON LEONARD, JR.,who died on JANUARY 30, 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 22nd day of MARCH, 2023

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19373

To all persons interested in the estate of DOUGLAS VAN HEE, ESTATE NO. 19373. Notice is given that ALLISON VAN HEE,66 ROCKWELL PLACE, BROOKLYN, NY 11217, was on SEPTEMBER 06, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of DOUGLAS VAN HEE,who died on AUGUST 02, 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 6TH day of MARCH, 2023

Any person having a claim against the decedent must

MICHAEL B MATHERS ESQ

WEBB, CORNBROOKS, WILBER, VORHIS, DOUSE & MATHERS, LLP PO BOX 910 115 BROAD STREET SALISBURY, MD 218030910

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19382

To all persons interested in the estate of NANCY J ADKINS, ESTATE NO. 19382.

Notice is given that HAL O ADKINS, 10334 GOLF COURSE ROAD, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842was on SEPTEMBER 12, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of NANCY J ADKINS,who died on AUGUST 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 ob-

Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House

One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

3x 09-16, 09-23, 09-30

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. 19396

To all persons interested in the estate of JOHN GREGORY CASH, JR., Estate No. 19396 Notice is given that JOHN EDWARD CASH whose address is 12312 N 86TH LANE, PEORIA, AZ 85381, was on SEPTEMBER 26, 2022 appointed personal representative(s) of the small estate of JOHN GREGORY CASH JR, who died on AUGUST 8, 2022 with a

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

JOHN EDWARD CASH Personal Representative

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County

ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 1x 9-30

(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

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

GREGORY WAYNE DENSTON

SUSAN DENSTON HITTE

Personal Representatives

True Test Copy

TERRI WESTCOTT

Register of Wills for Worcester County

Room 102 - Court House

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 SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

RUFUS JOHNSON

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

ESTATE NO. 19393

To all persons interested in the estate of RALPH W. DENSTON, ESTATE NO. 19393. Notice is given that GREGORY WAYNE DENSTON, 212 WALNUT STREET, POCOMOKE CITY, MD 21851 AND SUSAN DENSTON HITTE, 6819

One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074

3x 09-30, 10-07, 10-14

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

ESTATE NO. 19375

To all persons interested in the estate of MILTON

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 09-30, 10-07, 10-14.

JOHN B. ROBINS, IV, ESQ. ROBINS & ROBINS, P.A. 128 EAST MAIN STREET PO BOX 506

SALISBURY, MD 21803-0506

The Dispatch Legal Notices

Phone: 410-641-4563

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

ESTATE NO. 19392

To all persons interested in the estate of ROBYN F. BOSLEY, ESTATE NO. 19392. Notice is given that JAY WILLIAM BOSLEY, 12845 FOX RIDGE COURT, BISHOPVILLE, MD 21813, was on SEPTEMBER 21, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ROBYN F. BOSLEY,who died on SEPTEMBER 02, 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 21ST day of MARCH, 2023

Any person having a claim against the decedent must

present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates:

(1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or

(2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the 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 SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

JAY WILLIAM BOSLEY

Personal Representatives

Fax: 410-641-0966

Email: classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com

Mail: P.O. Box 467, Berlin MD 21811

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 09-30, 10-07, 10-14.

First

MARIANNA BATIE, ESQ. LAW OFFICE OF MARIANNA BATIE 9748 STEPHEN DECATUR HIGHWAY

SUITE 112 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

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

ESTATE 19395

To all persons interested in the estate of JAMES F. ROSEMAN JR. Notice is given that: MARY J. ROSEMAN, 19 EBB TIDE COURT, OCEAN PINES, MD 21811, was on SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 appointed personal representative of the small estate of JAMES F. ROSEMAN JR.who died on JUNE 02, 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 an objection to the probate of the will shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within six months after the date of publication of this Notice.

All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates:

(1)Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or

(2)Thirty days after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the 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 SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

MARY J. ROSEMAN Personal Representatives True Test Copy

TERRI WESTCOTT

Register of Wills for Worcester County

102

W.

Court

MD 21863-1074

OC Proclamation Recognizes Suicide Prevention Month

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY –Though the month is winding down, resort officials last week recognized September as National Suicide Prevention Week with a special proclamation.

Mayor Rick Meehan read into the record a proclamation at the outset of the Sept. 26 meeting recognizing September as National Suicide Prevention Month. He was joined at the podium by celebrity bodyguard and recent Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Bubba Almony and Light Riders OC owner Alicia Rosebud and author of “Girl, Don’t Give Up.”

Almony also represents the organization Bodyguards Against Bullying. According to the proclamation, suicide is the leading cause of death in the U.S. with nearly 46,000 suicides reported in 2020.

Recently, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Life line was established for those experiencing mental-related stress, or who are wor ried about a loved one who may need cri sis support. The 988 hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days per year, according to the proclamation. Meehan said it was important the town of Ocean City recognized the growing mental health crisis.

“This is something that is very important to all of us,” he said. “It’s important not just here, but across the country and throughout the world.”

Almony urged those in attendance to increase their awareness of the growing crisis and take action if and when necessary.

“Suicide is a topic we should not take lightly,” he said. “Together, we can fight this battle side by side and let individuals know that are not alone in this fight.”

Almony said suicide is a crisis that hits

home for him as he has lost loved ones because of it.

“Not only on this day but everyday we need to take the steps to ensure we’re doing all we can to prevent our loved ones from being lost to suicide,” he said. “I’ve seen mental health struggles and I’ve had family members take their own lives.”

Almony urged all to keep an eye on

their family and friends for warning signs of mental crises and depression and take action to prevent a tragic outcome.

“If you see somebody struggling, do what you can to help them,” he said. “Use the hotline, call 911, whatever you need to do. Inspire people and em power them. Anybody that’s going through something occasionally can have those thoughts.”

Pines Audit To Address Vote Total Discrepancy

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

OCEAN PINES – Citing errors in tabulation results, the Ocean Pines Elections Committee will convene this week to hand count paper ballots from the 2022 board election.

On Wednesday, the elections committee announced its plans to hand count paper ballot votes for the 2022 Board of Directors election on Sept. 30, beginning at 9 a.m.

“We accepted the report from the scan ner/tabulation applications, added the online votes, releasing the total candidate votes,” Elections Committee Chair Carol Ludwig said in a statement this week. “When the error in the number of ballots versus the number of votes tabulated was identified, Elections Committee requested an opportunity to count the number of pap er ballots.”

Ludwig noted that ballots from the August election were accessed last Friday, with a count revealing an error in the tabulations.

“This was done with a police officer to witness the removal of the ballots and envelopes from the secure file cabinet they

were placed on Aug. 11 and not accessed until Friday, Sept. 23,” she said. “Only the Elections Committee has access to this cabinet. Verifying that the number of ballots in my report was very close, we were then able to separate the online results from the tabulated votes for each candidate and identified that the error was in the scanner/tabulations results.”

She continued, “Going forward, the Elections Committee will seek a reliable, ver ifiable, and well supported tabulation application.”

Election results were first called into question earlier this month when the committee released its report on the 2022 elec tion.

In August, the committee announced the six candidates received a total of 9,053 votes.

The report, however, states a total of 2,839 online and paper ballots were returned in the 2022 board election. With each property given the opportunity to vote for up to three candidates, that would mean a maximum 8,517 votes could be counted.

While the Elections Committee plans to hold an open meeting Friday to hand count the paper ballot votes, some comm-

unity members have come before the board with questions surrounding the vote discrepancy and the association’s handling of the matter.

In a board meeting last Saturday, Amy Peck, an unsuccessful candidate in this year’s election, said that the Sept. 23 meeting was held without notification and without the presence of all board members and candidates.

“It is a recipe for how to make a bad situation worse,” she said. “So much for promised transparency. Like every homeown er in Ocean Pines, I want my vote to count, and election integrity is crucial.”

She also requested more information regarding election numbers.

“I have written the directors and the election chair two times without the courtesy of a reply regarding the election numbers,” she said. “Simply put, we have more votes than possible given the number of ballots, anywhere from 450 to over 1,000 ‘extra votes.’”

During Saturday’s board meeting, Association President Doug Parks acknowledged the Sept. 23 meeting took place. He argued, however, that the meeting was open to the community.

“When the issue was brought to our at-

tention, counsel suggested as a first step to have the elections committee recount the paper ballots,” he said. “And that was done with the full knowledge of the entire board. It was not a secret meeting. It need ed to be done right away based on the availability of the elections committee folks and the availability of our attorney, who also attended that meeting.”

From that meeting, Parks noted that the elections committee had counted the number of paper ballots and found them to be consistent with the number announc ed at the annual meeting.

“The ballot count is very distinctly different from the vote count,” he said. “The counsel suggested the ballots be counted. The ballots were counted, and they match ed the number of ballots that were reported at the annual meeting.”

In a statement issued Tuesday, Parks called for the elections committee to recon vene to address the discrepan-cy.

“The intent is to have the committee au dit the votes to reconcile the totals as well as research if the ‘weighting’ of ballots for Association members with more than one home, or any other condition had an effect on the final vote tally for each of the candidates,” he said.

city council approves Updated strategic

ates and associated demand on services. It’s largely semantics, but he suggested amending that line to cast a better light on the impact of tourism in the resort town.

“It kind of takes a negative look on tourism,” he said. “We need a more positive outlook on tourism. Inflation is going up and our property taxes are going down. That’s because we pay our bills, and that’s because of tourism. We need to change our attitude towards tourism, and good tourism is even better.”

Gehrig’s comments during the strategic plan presentation mirrored some of his comments made earlier in the meeting during a review of the minutes from the recent Tourism Commission meeting.

“I want to mention a new tool that will be able to monitor the revenue generated by our advertising efforts,” he said. “We have an election coming up and folks need to know this advertising question is on the ballot. There is fear being propagated in the community that advertising is a sin. We need to let our residents know the revenue generated by advertising has

lowered our taxes.”

Gehrig has been a fierce advocate for increased advertising and marketing efforts and a rebranding of the town’s image, including going after the youth sports market. He said investing in destination marketing and advertising can offset the costs of providing services and infrastructure to the growing number of visitors tourism brings to the town.

“We invest money to make money,” he said. “We know that 60% of that is generated goes to the general fund. It’s a revenue source and that’s how we pay our

bills. That’s why we have the tremendous infrastructure we have in our community.”

Gehrig said the state has awarded the town of Ocean City a $1.6 million grant to continue to invest in marketing and tourism.

“All of this marketing that we’re doing is targeting the type of people we want,” he said. “Every business does this. Every business wants a customer that is high value and loyal. The state is rewarding us for investing in advertising.”

While most agree with Gehrig in prin-

ciple, he suggested the town’s marketing and advertising strategy could be enhanced. That’s happening already to some degree with the reconfiguration of the town’s tourism and business development department and bringing on a new advertising agency with a fresh look at marketing the resort.

“We want the people who love us,” he said. “We don’t want to just sit back and cross our fingers and get what we get. That’s a losing strategy. The state is giving us $1.6 million because we’ve done a good job.”

Who’s Where When

BUXY’S SALTY DOG

410-289-0973

28th St. & Coastal Hwy.

Saturday, Oct. 1: Uprizing

COCONUTS BEACH BAR & GRILL

Oceanfront Castle In The Sand 37th & 38th St. 410-289-6846

Friday, Sept. 30: Darin Engh, Monkee Paw Saturday, Oct. 1: Island Fusion, 33 RPM Sunday, Oct. 2: Endless Ember, Colossal Fossil Sauce

Thursday, Oct. 6: Kevin Poole & Joe Mama

COINS PUB

410-289-3100

28th St. Plaza

On Coastal Hwy. Saturday, Oct. 1: Jim Long

CORK BAR

Saturday, Oct. 1: Anna Burgess

CRABCAKE FACTORY BAYSIDE 302-988-5000

37314 Lighthouse Rd., Rte. 54 Selbyville, DE

Friday, Sept. 30: Jack Bannon Wednesday, Oct. 5: Blind Wind

CRAWL STREET TAVERN 443-373-2756

Wicomico St., Downtown O.C.

Friday, Sept. 30: The Quartermen

Saturday, Oct. 1: DJ Willdabeast

FAGER’S ISLAND 410-524-5500

60th St. In The Bay

Friday, Sept. 30: DJ RobCee, Filthy Rich, Pop Stereo

Saturday, Oct. 1: Bad W/Names, The Loop

Monday, Oct. 3: Oyster Bones, DJ Hector

GREENE TURTLE WEST

410-213-1500

Rt. 611, West O.C.

Saturday, Oct. 1: TBA

HARBORSIDE

410-213-1846

South Harbor Rd., West O.C.

Fridays: DJ Billy T

Saturday, Oct. 1: Side Project, DJ Jeremy Sunday, Oct. 2: Opposite Directions, DJ Billy T Thursdays: DJ Billy T

Best Beats On The Beach

UPRIZING Buxy’s Salty Dog: Saturday, Oct. 1

THE QUARTERMEN Crawl St. Tavern: Friday, Sept. 30

POP STEREO Fager’s Island: Friday, Sept. 30

DJ ROBCEE Fager’s Island: Friday, Sept. 30

BRIAN MCCONNELL OC Fontainebleu Resort: Friday, Sept. 30

DARIN ENGH Coconuts Beach Bar: Friday, Sept. 30

JIM LONG BAND Coins Pub:

DJ BILLY T Harborside: Friday, Sunday &Thursday

KAROAKE W/JEREMY Harborside: Saturdays

ANNA BURGESS Cork Bar: Saturday, Oct. 1

BEN DAVIS OC Eateries: Friday, Sept. 30

DJ ADAM DUTCH Purple Moose Saloon: Friday, Sept. 30, Sunday & Wednesday, Oct. 2 & 5

JOHN BAILEY OC Fontainebleu Resort: Saturday, Oct. 1

ECLIPSE (JOURNEY TRIBUTE) Purple Moose: Saturday, Oct. 1

BEATS BY WAX Pickles Pub: Tuesdays & Thursdays

DJ DEOGEE Pickles Pub: Fridays, Sundays & Wednesdays

Who’s Where When

OC EATERIES 443-252-3700

12849 Ocean Gateway, Rte. 50, West OC

Friday, Sept. 30: Ben Davis Thursday, Oct. 6: DJ Karaoke

OC FONTAINEBLEU RESORT 410-524-3535

10100 Coastal Hwy. In The OC

Friday, Sept. 30: Brian McConnell Saturday, Oct. 1: John Bailey

OCEAN PINES YACHT CLUB 410-641-7501

1 Mumford’s Landing Road, Ocean Pines Saturday, Oct. 1: Jaded Love

PICKLES PUB 410-289-4891

8th St. & Philadelphia Ave. Fridays: Beats By Deogee Saturday, Oct. 1: The Dunehounds 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, Sept. 30: Full Circle Duo Saturday, Oct. 1: The Rogue Citizens

PURPLE MOOSE SALOON Between Talbot & Caroline Sts. On The Boardwalk 410-289-6953

Friday, Saturday & Wednesday, Sept. 30, Oct. 1, & Oct. 5:

DJ Adam Dutch Saturday, Oct. 1: Eclipse (Journey Tribute Band)

SEACRETS 410-524-4900

49th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Sept. 30:

DJ Bobby O, DJ Tuff, Late Last Night, The Way Outs, The Benderz

Saturday, Oct. 1:

DJ Bobby O, DJ Cruz, Full Circle, Not Leaving Sober, Gypsy Wisdom

Thursday, Oct. 6: Full Circle Duo, DJ Connair

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 sup port 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 Health way 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. delmarvhanddanc ing.com.

Every Tuesday: Beach Cleanup

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

Every 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. Kitch en 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 op en at 5 p.m. and bingo beginning prompt ly 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.

Sept. 30: Fish Dinner

Bowen United Methodist Church in Newark will host 4:30 till 7 p.m. fried flounder dinner, green beans, mac and cheese, cornbread, beverage, and dessert. Cost $10 carry outs available.

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 co

Things To Do

llege 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. 1: Block Party

Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates, along with the other healthcare providers located on Woodbrooke Drive in Salisbury including Chesapeake Healthcare, Peninsula Imaging and TidalHealth, are hosting a “Block Party” from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., open to the entire community. This event will feature free health screenings such as flu shots, BMI, and blood pressure, education, as well as various other organizations.

Oct. 1: Touch A Truck

From 10 a.m.-1 p.m. check out vehicles used by the Electric, Water Resources, Public Works and Police departments with exhibits, a K9 demonstration. Event by the Town of Berlin Utilities Department at Stephen Decatur Park.

Oct. 1: Fried Chicken Buffet

All you can eat fried chicken buffet starts at 11 a.m. at Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church in Willards. 410-835-8340. All you can eat fried chicken buffet. Beverage included with dine-in only. Carry out platters and additional baked goods available for purchase. Drive-through no longer offered. Adults $15, Children $7.50, kids under 6 are free.

Oct. 1, 15: Mobile Headquarters

The mobile headquarters of the Republican Women of Worcester County will be on Route 50 in front of Sherwin Williams from 1-3 p.m. Information on Republican candidates and campaign signs and materials will be available.

Oct. 2: Crab Feast

The Church of the Holy Spirit at 100th Street and Coastal Highway in Ocean Ci ty will be having a fund-raising crab feast from 2 to 5 p.m. Food will be served until 4:30 p.m. The dine-in menu will include crabs, fried chicken, corn on the cob, hush puppies, lemonade, iced tea, soda and desserts. Carry-out will also be avail able. The carry-out meal will include six crabs, two pieces of chicken, corn on the cob, hush puppies, dessert and a drink. Crabs are medium large/large and will come from Rippon's Seafood. The chicken is being provided by Higgins Crab House. Cost for adults is $45; for children ages 6 to 10, it's $20; children under 6 eat free. Tickets are available now by contacting the Church office at 410723-1973 or by calling Monica at 443235-8942. Proceeds will benefit the Church of the Holy Spirit and its outreach programs. Refunds will be provided only in the event that the crab feast must be canceled.

Oct. 7: Meet And Greet

The Republican Women of Worcester

County will be on hand in Snow Hill for the First Friday event at their mobile unit. Information on Republican candidates and campaign signs and materials will be available.

Oct. 8: Baskets, Bags, Bucks Bingo

Willards Ladies Auxiliary’s 14th annual event will be held at the Willards Lions Club. Doors open at 4 p.m. and bingo starts at 6 p.m. $25 in advance; $30 at the door. For tickets, call 410-726-1583 or 410-835-2285.

Oct. 8: Temple Celebration

Temple Bat Yam is hosting a community celebration to honor the 25th anniversary of its permanent House of Worship from 6-9 p.m. at The BLU Mezzanine overlooking the bay on 24th Street and Coastal Hwy. in Ocean City. The temple invites its members and the surrounding Eastern Shore communities to join the celebration. The event is a fundraiser for the nonprofit temple and will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, plus gifts from the organization’s supporting sponsors including silent and live auctions, a treasure chest of jewelry and a wingspan 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $50 per person. Tickets to the event and more information are available at www.templebatyamoc. org, by emailing Temple Bat Yam at TempleBatYam97@aol.com, or by call ing 410-641-4311.

Oct. 8: Chicken, Dumpling Dinner

The Bishopville Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary will be holding a chicken and dumpling carryout from noon-2 p.m. at the main station. Chicken, dumplings, green beans and sweet potatoes, $14 per dinner. Extra pint of Dumplings is $7 per pint. Call 619-922-9950 to reserve your dinner and pint by Oct. 3.

Oct. 9: Youth Film Festival

Wild and Scenic Film Festival, 'Wild Child', youth film fest featuring 16 inspiring, adventurous, outdoorsy, thoughtful and fun ny films from world renowned filmmak ers. Additional activities include building birdfeeders with Coast Kids, live animals with Scales and Tales, gift basket raffles, food from The Street Kitchen, and so much more. This is an outdoor event, so bring a blanket. The rain location will be at MacMullin Hall at Assateague Coast al Trust's office building on 10959 Worc ester Hwy. in Berlin. Individual tickets $5 each or bundle tickets of 6 for $25 (bundle also includes a complimentary, ecofriendly water bottle.) Tickets are availab le for purchase at the door or in advance by visiting www.actforbays.org/wildchild.

Oct. 11: Animal Blessing

In honor of St. Francis of Assisi, who loved all animals and whose feast day, the Church of the Holy Spirit in Ocean City will hold a Blessing of the Animals ceremony from 11:30 a.m. till 1 p.m. in the church parking lot. The church is located at Coastal Highway and 100th Street. Pets should be on leashes or otherwise under their owners’ control. Any size, shape or type of pet is welcome.

Oct. 11-13: Basic Boating Course

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary is offering the Maryland Basic Boating Safety Course virtually. Cost is $20 for all three evenings. Register or get more information by calling Barry Cohen at 410-9354807, or Email: CGAUXOC@Gmail.com.

Oct. 12: Book Discussion

Worcester County Library will present a special community book discussion, "The Art of Reading Book Club," at 6 p.m. at the Berlin Branch. The discussion will focus on James Reston Jr.'s "A Rift in the Earth: Art, Memory, and the Fight for the Vietnam War Memorial." The program will be facilitated by Poet Laureate Nancy Mitchell and is sponsored through a grant from the Worcester County Arts Council. Books are available at the Berlin Branch circulation desk. This November marks the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam War memorial installation. This memorial was controversial at the time because of the choice of artist and the design, the first of its kind. Today it represents one of the most powerful memorials in our history. To register, Visit worcesterlibrary.org and click on 'Events,' or by calling Adult Progr am Manager Elena Coelho at 443-7836164.

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.

Oct. 15: Fried Chicken Dinner

New Hope United Methodist Church in Willards will host from 11 a.m.-until. Cost is $15 per adult and carryout available. 410-543-8244.

Oct. 20: Furnace Town Tour, Lunch

The Ocean City 50-Plus Center is planning a trip to Furnace Town in Snow Hill and lunch at Blacksmith Gastropub. Call 410-289-0824 for information.

Oct. 20: Farm-To-Library Event

The Friends of the Ocean Pines Library will present as part of the organization’s semi-annual membership meet ing. Local farmers will share their stories. This event is open to the public and refreshments will be served. The membership meeting begins at 10 a.m., followed by the Farm-To-Library event at 11 a.m. The general public is welcome and there is no charge. Guest speakers will be Matthew Harhai, Goat Plum Tree Farm, Berlin; Nan cie Corbett, Bluebird Farms, Berlin; and Carol Cross, Cross Farms, Berlin.

Oct. 22: Chicken, Dumplings

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

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

SALISBURY – County officials this month voted to approve the issuance of two bond bills totaling more than $23 million.

The Wicomico County Council last Tuesday voted unanimously to approve two public improvement bonds totaling $23,378,386 for nine capital projects.

“This is the next step in the process to issue our fiscal year 2023, fall 2022 bonds,” Finance Director Pam Oland told county officials this week.

In addition a tax-exempt bond, which totaled $15 million in funding for six capital projects, the county council this week also voted on a federally taxable bond, which totaled more than $8 million for three projects at the Salisbury airport.

“There are two series, tax exempt and taxable,” Oland explained. “There’s a requirement per the IRS as to how much is allowed to be in a tax-exempt bond by taxable entities … The size of that bond is too large to be included in tax-exempt and not violate IRS regulations.”

Councilman Joe Holloway questioned if the county had paid off existing bonds.

“Did we have any bonds mature that were paid off this past year?” he said. “If so, how much?”

Oland noted that while the county had paid off a lot of debt in 2021, she said she didn’t expect that to happen again for a few more years.

“We’ve obviously paid debt …” she

said. “I think 2025, 2026 is when we have a significant drop.”

Oland told officials this week that the county’s administration would be meeting with the bond rating agencies next week and that a bond sale had been scheduled for Oct. 18.

“The sale is intended to be Oct. 18, which is a day that the council meets,” she said. “Like last year, we’re asking council to have their morning session and be available for an afternoon session to set the rates. We have to accept our bids and come to the council with a resolution to set the rates.”

With no further discussion, the council voted 6-0, with Councilman Bill McCain absent, to approve the bond resolution.

The tax-exempt bond includes $2.6 million for projects at the Old Courthouse in Salisbury – $350,000 for window replacements, $500,000 for exterior masonry repairs and $1.75 million for electrical system upgrades – as well as $1,033,386 for a new Applied Technology Building at Wor-Wic Community College. The bond also includes $1.2 million for the Coulbourn Mill Pond dam project, $10.1 million for a renovation and addition at Mardela Middle and High School and $250,000 in bond contingency.

The federally taxable bond features $8.1 million in funding for three airport projects, including $5.98 million for a runway extension project, $1.5 million for a car rental car wash and $715,000 for a natural gas line extension.

tons of cabinet space, newer appliances and designer tile backsplash. Breakfast area plus a Formal Dining room. Hardwood floors thru out the entire home. Huge canal front Sunroom with its own HVAC system. Oversized 2 car garage with built in

closets. 10,000 lb. boat lift on part of the large dock. Offered partially furnished, if desired and Inventory list in documents. This home combines

coastal living with casual resort fun. Wonderful water views.

Pines MD

SPORTS

The News

Decatur Girls Run Win Streak To Three

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN –Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity soccer team blanked Snow Hill, 4-0, on the road on Monday to run their win streak to three games.

With the win on Monday, the Seahawks ran their win streak to three games and their overall record on

the season to 5-1. During the streak, the Seahawks have shut out each of their opponents, including a 3-0 win over Kent Island and a 4-0 win over Mardela.

On the season, the Decatur girls have outscored their opponents by a combined 31-3 with two of those goals coming in a 2-1 loss to Bennett, their only blemish on the season.

Seahawks Route Wicomico, Improve To 5-1

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

Seahawks Come Back Late Against WiHi

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN –Decatur’s varsity football team scored a big come-from-behind win over Bayside South rival Wicomico last week on the road to improve to 3-1 on the season.

The Seahawks trailed 6-0 after one quarter and 12-0 at the half before mount ing their comeback. Decatur scored a touchdown in the third quarter to cut the lead to 12-7, and then added another late score in the fourth to pull ahead, 13-12.

The Decatur defense bent but didn’t break for most of the game. Wicomico had 331 total yards on the game, including 217 on the ground, while Decatur had 187 total yards. The defense was stout when it mattered, holding Wicomico scoreless in the second half.

Quarterback Brycen Coleman completed 12 of 22 for 120 yards and a touch down, and also ran in a 67-yard touchdown. Luke Mergott caught a 15-yard touchdown pass, while Gavin Solito caught seven passes for 44 yards. David Chandler also had one catch for 44 yards.

Mallards Suffer First Loss To Cape Henlopen

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN –Worcester Prep’s boys’ varsity soccer team suffered its first loss of the season last weekend, falling to Cape Henlopen, 5-1, in a tough non-conference game.

The Vikings led 2-0 at the half and added three more in the second half to cruise to the 5-1 win. Worcester scored its lone tally in the second

half, but the damage was done and Cape Henlopen pulled away.

With the loss, Worcester’s record now stands at 3-1-1. The Mallards started the season with an 8-1 win over Salisbury School, followed by a 1-1 tie with Gunston. Worcester then won two in a row, including a 4-1 win over Delmarva Christian and a 6-0 shutout of Salisbury Christian before the loss to Cape last week.

Decatur running back Caden Shockley breaks through a hole in a come-frombehind 13-12 win by the Seahawks over Bayside South rival Wicomico last week.

Photo by Bayside Sports-Vince Risser

Tough Guy Of The Week: This week’s Hammond Family “Tough Guy of the Week” award went to linebacker Gavin Solito, who had 11 tackles in a tough game with Kent Island. Pictured above is Solito (center) flanked by Coach Jake Coleman and Bobby Hammond. Submitted Photo

BERLIN –Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity soccer team beat Wicomico, 6-1, at home on Monday to improve to 5-1 on the season.

The Seahawks got out to an early lead on Wicomico and cruised to the 6-1 win.

The win on Monday followed a 6-0 rout of county rival Snow Hill on the road last Thursday. Decatur has now won five games, four of which have been shutouts. The Seahawks’ only loss on the season came against Kent Island, 4-1, last week on the road. Decatur hits the road for a game against Mardela next Tuesday.

changes target police recruitment,

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Town officials approved several changes aimed at aiding in police recruitment and retention.

The Berlin Town Council voted unanimously this week to approve a variety of measures meant to bring more officers to the town’s police force. The agency has struggled with recruitment and retention in recent years.

“This proposal is definitely necessary,” Councilman Jay Knerr said.

Mayor Zack Tyndall told the council he, the town administrator and the finance director had been meeting with Chief Arnold Downing since June to talk about ways to help with retention and recruitment. As a result, he said a list of eight changes, which would come at a cost of about $75,000, was being presented for the council’s review.

The changes include creation of a field training officer shift differential for when officers are training new recruits as well as an inclement weather policy in line with what is provided to the town’s other employees.

Also on the list of changes were salary adjustments across the department to equitably compensate officers based on experience and years of service. The town also submitted its application for a study that will be the first step in bringing LEOPS (Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System) to the department.

Downing noted that the department, which is supposed to have 14 officers, currently has nine. Two officers are out on medical leave and there are three vacancies.

“Right now, as with all municipalities, we’re having difficulties getting applicants,” he said. “When we put out an advertisement and it’s sitting beside other agencies’ we’re inferior to those.”

In addition to recruitment, he said he wanted to be sure the town focused on retention of the officers it did have.

“Retaining the experienced officers you have, that know the citizens, that do a good job every day, that should be one of our paramount things,” Downing said.

The changes will cost the town close to $75,000. While it will be covered with residual salary dollars from vacancies this year, it will have an impact next year.

“Do know that our goal is to fill all of those (vacancies) and this will lead to a net increase of about $75,000 next fiscal year,” Tyndall said. “We do have something we need to overcome during the budgeting process but this is the recommendation.”

Staff noted that the actual implementation of LEOPS would also have a substantial budget impact, as it will cost an estimated $240,000 a year. Nevertheless the council praised the proposed changes and voted unanimously to approve them.

Shirley Ann Ferrante

OCEAN CITY – Shirley Ann Ferrante, 87, of Ocean City, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022.

Born in Crisfield, she was the daughter of the late Walter Jones and Anna (Hoffman) Beauchamp.

OBITUARIES

SHIRLEY ANN FERRANTE

She grew up in Manokin, Maryland and graduated from Washington High School. She attended Goldey-Beacom College and held many jobs in Ocean City over the years.

Shirley enjoyed birdwatching, planting flowers, gardening, cooking, listening to music, and spending time with her family and cherished cats.

She is survived by her three sons, Eric Ferrante, Gregory Ferrante (wife Katie) and Todd Ferrante (wife Jill); granddaughters Kerry Ferrante, Maggie Ferrante and Sophia Ferrante; grandsons Michael Ferrante and Jack Ferrante; her brother Woody Beauchamp; nieces Gale Tiso and Tracy Pollitt; nephew Gary Catlin; and several great-nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Betty Catlin.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Worcester County Humane Society at www.worcestercountyhumanesociety.org/donate or to P.O. Box 48 Berlin, Md. 21811, or to Coastal Hospice, www.coastalhospice.org/make-a-donation/ or Coastal Hospice Stansell House 1500 Ocean Pkwy, Ocean Pines, Md. 21811.

Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, Md. 21804. Please visit www.hollowayfh.com to express condolences to the family.

Anna E. Sapia

OCEAN CITY – Anna E. “Betty” Sapia (nee Wrighton) died peacefully on Sept. 22, 2022.

Surfin’ Betty, as she was affectionately known, was a grande dame of Ocean City, where she, along with her late husband James were restauranteurs for more than five decades. That legacy lives on with her son Vince who still runs the family restaurant, DaVinci’s.

baking cookies in early November and by the middle of December she would have made literally over a thousand cookies.” You could be assured if you knew Betty, or one of her boys, you would be getting a cookie tray.

She never hesitated to add a little something special to others’ lives, whether it was making sure a neighbor has Christmas gifts and Easter Baskets or baking cakes to bring into the restaurants for everyone to enjoy. Jamie said, “She knew hard times and recognized when others were going through it.” Betty made everything special for her family, her friends and her guests for whom she was so grateful.

She had a great sense of wit, she loved jokes and the occasional scandalous celebrity story.

She was a larger-than-life character, and certainly made an impression on anyone she met. “Heaven has a hellcat on its hands, and let’s be honest, probably some leopard print,” said her granddaughter Jamie.

She is survived by her sons, James and his wife Louanne of Ft. Myers Fla., Ralph his wife Alyssa of Baltimore and Vince of Ocean City, and five grandchildren, Jamie, James, III, Madeline, Harrison and Sydni.

Floyd Randolph Evans III

SEVERNA PARK – Floyd Randolph Evans III passed away peacefully on Sept. 15, 2022.

Randy was the son of Floyd Randolph Evans Jr. and Jeanette Evans of Severna Park.

He was blessed with family, friends, his life's work, and a long and happy marriage. He was a friend to all and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his sister, Margaret Sullivan, his nephew, Christopher Sullivan, his niece, Kelly Litz, and brother-in-law, Peter Jacobson. Randy was predeceased by his parents and his wife Karen.

Friends and family are thankful for Gail W. Tinker for providing palliative care. Donations can be made in his name to the American Cancer Society.

Vickers Cooper Barrett

OCEAN CITY – Vickers Cooper Barrett, 74, of Ocean City, died Sept. 21 at the Johns Hopkins Hospital after a valiant battle with acute myeloid leukemia.

Vicki, as she was known, was born in Wilmington DE, the daughter of R. Mark Cooper and Wanda Vickers Cooper. She was raised in Kennett Square PA, graduating from Tatnall School, Wilmington. Vicki attended Pine Manor Junior College (now Pine Manor Institute for Student Success of Boston College) in Brookline MA. She received a bachelors degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

cess Anne MD and served its owner, the Somerset County Historical Society, as a board member and volunteer docent at the museum. She also organized professional development sessions for county teachers sponsored by the society in conjunction with the Maryland Historical Society. Vicki’s leadership inspired the creation of the Julia C. Ford Endowment Fund by the Friends of Teackle Mansion honoring a colleague and fellow teacher to be used for educational programming at the mansion. She led several other volunteer arts and preservation efforts in Somerset County.

Vicki is survived by her husband and cousins Martha Perry of Jacksonville FL and Helena Perry of Baltimore.

Funeral services will be held October 7 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 30513 Washington Street, Princess Anne, with internment in the church’s cemetery adjacent to Manokin Presbyterian Church, 11890 Somerset Avenue, Princess Anne. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to the Friends of Teackle Mansion Julia Ford Endowment c/o Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, 134 Belmont Avenue, Suite 401, Salisbury MD 21804.

Arrangements are in the care of Hinman Funeral Home, P.A. of Princess Anne, MD. To express condolences to the family, visit www.hinmanfuneralhome.com.

RANDOLPH EVANS III

Randy was a life-long resident of Severna Park having been raised at Cedar Point in Linstead on the Severn. In his youth, he enjoyed water sports, outdoor adventure, hunting and fishing.

He was an accomplished athlete in high school track and field establishing several Maryland State records.

From 1969 to 1991, Vicki served on the faculty and administration of Meadowbrook School, Weston MA, teaching art in the elementary grades. She later served as the school’s director of development. In 1991 she became director of the Young at Arts program at the Wang Center for the Performing Arts (now the Boch Center) in Boston.

John Simpson League V ANNAPOLIS – John Simpson League V, 51, of Annapolis, passed peacefully on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022.

John was born in Baltimore on July 23, 1971, to John S. League IV and Kathleen Winkel League. He is survived by his sister, Jennifer League Young and her husband Edward; half-sister Beth League Henry; and his nephews, Logan and Cameron Young who consider him to be a legend. John is also survived by his loving girlfriend, Dayna Ryan. A connector by nature, John will forever be the core of an expansive network of lifelong friends.

ANNA E. SAPIA

Betty was born and raised in Baltimore. She and her parents would eat weekly at the Neapolitan on Fawn Street which was owned by the Sapias. In 1953, she and James Sapia were married. Over a span of 40 years together, they raised three sons, owned and operated the Monticello Hotel, the Surf Inn, the House of Pasta, the Ocean View, DaVinci’s and of course Surfin’ Betty’s that was on 17th Street. Their son, Ralph, said, “What made them successful in the tough hospitality business was their love of feeding people. Oh and eating.” Betty loved the activity of a busy restaurant and when things would get chaotic, huff “and people think this is glamorous.”

Betty lived and worked for Christmas. Her son James said, “Mom would start

After attending Salisbury University, Randy began working for the Maryland Department of Transportation. His career spanned 40 years as a Highway Utility Engineer. His work helped to build what is today Maryland's highway system in the Baltimore-Washington corridor.

In 1983, Randy met and married Karen Marie Jacobson, the greatest joy in his life. Randy and Karen shared a wonderful life together on the Magothy River for 40 years. They enjoyed traveling, attending concerts, gardening, and photography. In 1998, Karen and Randy built a second home on the water near Ocean City.

Randy was an expert hunter, masterful fisherman and skilled boat captain. Randy knew all of the trees and animals of the forest and marine life of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. As a teenager, he began surfing, which became a lifelong passion. On his many adventures, he surfed the East Coast, Caribbean, California and Hawaii.

Randy lived a full and productive life.

In 1999 Vicki and her husband, Charles A. Barrett, whom she married in 1972, relocated to Ocean City MD where, until last year, they owned and operated the Inn on the Ocean, the resort’s only ocean front bed and breakfast. Vicki was president of the Maryland Bed and Breakfast Association. Nothing New Under the Sun, a cookbook containing many of the recipes she developed and served in the inn and at catered events, was published in 2006.

Renowned and respected for her energy, generosity and gracious hospitality, Vicki received the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year award in 2012 for her extensive volunteer efforts promoting tourism and business development in the town. She served on the Public Art Committee of the Ocean City Downtown Development Corporation and chaired the Boardwalk Development Committee of the OCDC. Active in the Downtown Development Association, she co-chaired creating a scavenger hunt for children visiting Ocean City. She also co-chaired the Ocean City Beach Birds, a much-replicated public art project which placed 82 fiberglass bird sculptures in Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties.

A supporter of creative education, Vicki developed an elementary school curriculum for use at the Teackle Mansion, an historic house museum in Prin-

John attended St. Ursula Catholic School prior to graduating from Calvert Hall College High School in 1989. He earned a bachelor's degree from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park in 1993. John co-owned and operated Environmental Landcare, serving the Annapolis area for over 25 years.

JOHN SIMPSON LEAGUE V

John always gave everyone and everything his best. Whether surfing, skiing, hunting, fishing or flying, he continuously sought the most "proper” adventure. No detail was insignificant, which any friend can attest to when it came to John's knack for storytelling.

John's positive outlook on life was as contagious as his smile. No obstacle prevented him from living life to the fullest, while helping others do the same. As a contributing member of the Annapolitan club, and many other local organizations, John loved to spend time connecting with his community.

Services were held. In lieu of flowers,

VICKI BARRETT

OBITUARIES

the family requests donations be made to the John Hopkins Colorectal Cancer Center of Excellence. https://secure.jhu.edu/form/ColorectalCancerResearchCenterofExcellence.

An online guest book is available at www.johnmtaylorfuneralhome.com.

William John Burke

BERLIN – William John Burke “Bill”, age 83 passed away on September 24, 2022, at Atlantic General Hospital.

A native of Ireland, Bill came to the United States in 1963 after graduating from St. Patrick’s College, Carlow. He moved to the Eastern Shore in the early 1980’s after spending 17 years in Arizona as a Catholic Priest. He became marketing director for Taylor Bank where he was also involved in debit card programs and in the bank’s advertising. He remained with the bank for 24 years.

Bill was a member of Holy Savior Catholic Church where he was a lector and member of the choir. He was past president of the Ocean City Lions Club where he was named a Melvin Jones Fellow and a Life Member. He was also past president of Diakonia, the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and the Berlin Heritage Foundation. He worked through local non-profits to provide storage buildings for three homes Habitat for Humanity built in Berlin. He was a member of

the Delmarva Irish-American Club and the A.O.H. He was named Berlin’s Citizen of the Year for 2007. He also volunteered at the Berlin Visitor’s Center and was on the town’s Ethics Commission.

Bill loved to walk and ride his bike in the early morning on the Boardwalk. One of the joys of his life was to watch the sun rise over the horizon. Several times a week he spent time having spirited discussions with friends over coffee. Believing laughter is good for the soul he often found humor in unlikely situations.

Bill was a strong believer in community. He believed that each person has a contribution to make so they can leave the community better than they found it. He tried to live his life in accordance with the teachings of Jesus “Come to me all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” He believed that each of us has the capacity to be a bridge over troubled waters – we can reach out and help others carry their burdens.

He was the son of the late Richard and Bridget Burke. He is survived by the love of his life, Donna; stepson Richard Lawrence (Nikia); and five step-grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister and one brother who live in Ireland. He was predeceased by four brothers and two sisters.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on September 30, 2022 at Holy Savior Catholic Church at 1 p.m. Friends may call one hour prior to Mass.

In lieu of flowers a donation in his memory may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Pantry at Holy Savior Catholic Church, 1705 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, Md. 21842 or to the charity of your

choice.

Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.

Ruth Martha Yahde

SELBYVILLE – Ruth Martha Yahde, age 99, of Selbyville and formerly of Ocean City, died Monday, Sept. 26, 2022 at Brandywine Assisted Living of Fenwick Island in Selbyville.

She was born in Baltimore and was the daughter of the late Bernard and Ulia Weiss.

with her friends and family. She also was a caregiver to many. Ruth enjoyed traveling and exploring new places and as a snowbird she had a second home in Fort Myers, FL.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life and husband, John W. Yahde and her dog RJ.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 3 at Bishop-Hastings Funeral Home in Selbyville. Friends may call an hour before the service. Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Baltimore on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 11 a.m.

RUTH MARTHA YAHDE

She was a member of the Ladies of the Elks in Ocean City and the Red Hat Society. Throughout her life, Ruth loved dining, dancing, and socializing

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Worcester County Humane Society, P.O. Box 48, Berlin, Md. 21811.

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.bishophastingsfh.com.

BILL BURKE

History Month Planned

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

OCEAN CITY – Community members are invited to take part in special events, exhibits and workshops in celebration of the inaugural Worcester County History Month.

Throughout the month of October, the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum, Ocean Pines Association, Calvin B. Taylor House Museum, Germantown School Community Heritage Center and the Delmarva Discovery Museum will

host various events and programs in celebration of the first-ever Worcester County History Month.

From Pocomoke to Ocean City and communities in between, Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum Curator Christine Okerblom said there will be activities in nearly every area of the county.

“Delmarva and Worcester County is steeped in history,” she said. “We have so much to celebrate, so much so that we felt we needed an entire month to do so. This offers families an opportu-

nity to not only enjoy fall but to step back in time and give people an opportunity to learn about our heritage in a handson, interactive, family friendly way.”

Last year, the Life-Saving Station joined with local organizations to expand Worcester County History Week, a celebration of Worcester County’s heritage through family friendly events.

The week was so successful, Okerblom said, that organizers have decided to turn this year’s festivities into a month-long event.

“The museum started out with History Week in 2018, and last year was the first year we had other entities participate,” she explained. “October is typically the shoulder season, and for us here at the museum, we had over 1,000 people come through the doors for History Week.”

Okerblom said this year’s Worcester County History Month will feature dozens of free and low-cost events.

The Delmarva Discovery Museum, for example, will feature a “Delmarva Folklore, Myths & Legends” exhibition and other family programs, while the Germantown School will host a Tindley Gospel Sing on Oct. 15.

At the Taylor House Museum, the lawn will be open to events such as Homecoming Harvest and a Clothing & Costume Tour. And at the Life-Saving

Station Museum, community members can take part in book signings, candle making and heritage programming.

“We have a locals week, so from Oct. 10-16, anyone that lives on Delmarva … they get in for free,” Okerblom said. “Throughout that specific week, we’ll have programs and events taking place. That’s a great opportunity for someone who’s never been here to try things out.”

Okerblom added that there will also be weekly programs – including History & Mystery of the American Eel, History of Our Surfmen and Station No. 4 Historic Tour – and fall-themed activities such as a paranormal investigation and a Black Cat Scavenger Hunt.

“One thing that’s not necessarily a program but great for anyone to take advantage of is our fall photo opportunity,” she added. “We set up pumpkins and mums and a full fall display in front of our shark. It makes a great spot for family photos.”

For more information on Worcester County History Month, or to view the list of scheduled events throughout October, visit ocmuseum.org/history-month.

“You can truly find something for everyone, so I would encourage everyone to look at the events and find what really interests them,” Okerblom said. “There’s so much to do.”

… Rift Simmers After Joint Meeting

PAGE

recommendation from staff on proposed code change. After vetting the issue, the planning commission, as the hearing body for the Mayor and Council, holds the requisite public hearing. After the public hearing, the findings of facts and the transcripts are forwarded to the Mayor and Council along with a recommendation. Gillis voiced his concern the recommended code amendments last month were simply removed from the council’s regular agenda with no discussion, a point he has made during other meetings.

“The ultimate goal here is to improve our community,” he said. “To reject something out of hand that took hours and hours and staff time seems short-sighted. We do that out in full view with public input. If you don’t want us to do it, give us the courtesy to tell us not to do it instead of wasting our time. You all just rejected it. You didn’t even discuss it.”

Buckley also raised some concern about the council simply rejecting the recommended code amendments out of hand with no discussion. The code amendments were sent back to the Planning Commission, but there was no direction provided by the council, she said.

“You didn’t give us any indication why you rejected them,” she said. “You can reject them, but then you still have the issue out there. You still have the issue in the code. It’s not going anywhere.”

Gillis agreed that Tuesday’s meeting was productive and was in favor of holding a second forum, but said the commis-

sion’s primary responsibility was to identify flaws in the existing code and make recommendations to the elected officials, who ultimately hold sway.

“Obviously, there is mutual respect at the table,” he said. “We give you recommendations for a reason because we see flaws in the code. At the bare minimum, your constituents need to hear them. I take exception to that. We have issues we need to deal with.”

After some debate, it was decided there would be a second joint meeting including an open and broad discussion about the roles of the commission. The second meeting’s agenda would also include items that were on Tuesday’s agenda but were not addressed. For example, Item 4-A includes the pyramidal zoning code amendment, Item 4-B would address nonconformity, and Item 4-C would address the garage and tandem parking code amendment. While there is clearly a willingness to address some of the agenda items not reached on Tuesday, some on the council had reservations about reviewing the proposed code amendments the council had already rejected, including the recommended pyramidal zoning code amendment.

“I’d be fine talking about 4-C,” said Council President Matt James. “Item A was on the council agenda, and I got a lot of negative feedback from property owners. The general thought was it was too late to make these changes and that if this was going to be done, it should have been done years ago.”

Bishopville Man To Serve 10 Years For Fatal Collision

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

SNOW HILL – A Bishopville man was sentenced this week to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of negligent homicide under the influence following a collision that claimed the lives of two individuals and injured others.

Shavox Church Road for the reported collision.

Upon arrival, deputies identified a total of five individuals on the scene with injuries with one declared deceased and two still trapped in their vehicles.

The investigation and accident reconstruction revealed a Nissan Altima driven by Gray had been traveling east on Whaleyville Road at a high rate of speed when it crossed the center line and collided with a Kia Sorento.

JON GRAY

On Tuesday, Jon Kaleb Gray, 35, of Bishopville was sentenced to 10 years on one count of negligent homicide under the influence and five years on the second count for a total of 15 years to be served consecutively. Five years of the sentence were then suspended, and Gray was placed on supervised probation for three years upon his release.

Gray pleaded guilty to the two counts in August. The state filed notice it would seek enhanced penalties for Gray because of prior criminal history.

The charges against Gray were filed in June 2021 as the result of the headon collision on June 13, 2020. Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area of Whaleyville Road and

One victim was declared deceased at the scene, while a second victim was still entrapped in the front passenger seat.

That victim was extricated and transported by helicopter to the hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Two female passengers of the Kia were located outside the vehicle and were also transported by ambulance to the hospital.

Gray was found unresponsive inside the Nissan and was also transported by ambulance to the hospital.

A forensics services investigation determined Gray’s blood alcohol content at the time of the collision was .13, or well over the legal limit.

Letters To The Editor

Don’t Nancy Pelosi Us

Editor:

Some months ago, I wrote a letter in the Ocean City papers warning that I did not think it was prudent for the Mayor and Council of Ocean City to go on a hiring spree. Subsequently they unanimously voted not only to hire 34 additional full-time employees they hired Mr. Perlozzo, a new paid position in tourism as well as hiring a staff for him.

I pointed out that the council had gone on a similar hiring spree right at the top of the last bull market in 2005 and 2006, although not as large, and that that had resulted in six consecutive years of tax increases to pay for it, from 2009-2015. My advice was ignored and here we go again.

Worse than that the anointed County Commissioner, Mr. Mitrecic, who has never had an opponent, along with the hypocritical Ocean City Councilman John Gehrig started pushing a sports complex, telling us we were against our children if we didn’t vote for it. Or worse, Mr. Gehrig said, “Our taxes would go up” if we didn’t vote for the complex. Mr. Gehrig is a hypocrite because when you ask him if he has any personal debt, he says he doesn’t believe in debt and has none for his family, however he obviously believes it’s okay to increase debt with our money whether it comes out of local taxes or taxes from another taxpayer’s jurisdiction.

After a public petition, the sports complex has become the last item on our

November ballot. With no clarity regarding what it costs, the ballot asks county residents the following: The purpose of this question is to determine whether the County Commissioners may finance a portion of the costs of designing and constructing a Worcester County Sports Complex by issuing a bond -- for or against.

The proposed bond issue is for $11,198,830 but what will the cost be? I recently bought a loaf of bread for $5.99 and was shocked. Nancy Pelosi says, “you have to vote for the bill to see what is in it.” Commissioners please don’t Nancy Pelosi us. We deserve better. We are your taxpayers and voters, show some respect please.

Mr. Richard Addis did a lot of work on costs in an attempt to try to figure out what the commissioners’ proposed Sports Complex would cost The commissioners were never specific. If you’re not specific, no need to get bids either. He determined that DE Turf, a sports complex in Frederica, Del., cost over $27,000,000 in 2016 dollars. Adding 45% for inflation would bring the cost to $39,150,000 and don’t forget the Harrison property at $7,150,000. For a total of $46,300,000. Not counting Mr. Gehrig’s structure. Gehrig has talked about building a structure “two football fields” big estimated to cost another $25,000,000 bringing the total to over $70,000,000, and Mr. Mitrecic has talked about constructing seven or eight athletic fields. Incidentally DE Turf’s land cost was only

$1.

Mr. Virgil Shockley, who is very familiar with the Harrison property, believes that at this location the costs with sewer, water, roads could run $50,000,000 without Gehrig’s structure.

The expenses go far beyond the bond of $11,198,830 we are asked to vote on. The Commissioners are not disclosing the costs of a sports complex nor are they disclosing what it will be composed of.

Should the county taxpayers take on the business risk without even knowing the cost while clearly benefiting West OC hotels and eateries? Is it the job of public tax dollars to take on business risk independent of whatever jurisdiction the taxes are plucked from?

Of equal importance the Harrison land contract signed by Mitrecic at $7,150,000 not only violated the estimated county “land cost $2,385,451” it also appears to have violated the County Code, which states all expenditures over $25,000 require a vote by a majority of the commissioners in writing. Two commissioners, Chip Bertino and Ted Elder, could recall no such vote! Without a specific resolution or bill in writing authorizing the Harrison land purchase what authority did Mitrecic have to sign a contract with the Harrisons on April 6, 13 days before the public hearing?

Mr. Roscoe Leslie, it is not your job to accommodate commissioners, you serve the public sir. Shame on you. Allowing Mitrecic to enter into a significantly large

land contract when county code requires a written vote is a violation of County Code, even if there is an out clause.

Commissioners, we deserve better, don’t expect us to vote on an $11,198,830 bond to spend on a sports complex when you don’t know what it will cost, and have no specific plan telling what it will be composed of. Commissioners don’t Nancy Pelosi us.

I would like to thank Virgil Shockley and Richard Addis for doing the hard work of trying to evaluate the costs of this project.

Tony Christ Falls Church, Va. and Ocean City

Irrational Race Claim

Editor:

Shame on you, Rodger Rudolph, for injecting race into the Gavin Knupp tragedy. Your claim that if a black family owned the vehicle involved, they would be “in jail fast” is flimsy, groundless and irrational.

It’s an insult to the Knupp family and all others lobbying to seek closure. These growing bogus “Cry Wolf” race allegations are quickly becoming old and doing nothing but divide us all.

Rodger, if you are truly so indoctrinated as to believe race and not wealth and social status has stalled this investigation, you need to have a chat with O.J. Simpson or Bill Cosby. You can find them on the golf course.

Phillip Guggenheim Ocean City

C a l l fo r A c t i o n f r o m t h e Vo t i n g P u b l i c

A referendum petition is now being circulated.

Ocean City voters should sign this petition!

Six members of the City Council just passed Ordinance 2022-23 calling for the abandonment and conveyance of 6000 square feet of city property along Baltimore Avenue between 13th & 14th Streets.

This 20 foot right-of-way conveyance is just the latest concession.

Earlier, the Council allowed the alley within this block to be moved closer to Baltimore Avenue to enhance the project’s architectural design.

The City Council also conveyed air rights above this alley providing 720,000 cubic feet of additional bulk/mass allowing for greater density.

When the city redeveloped 18 blocks of Baltimore Avenue from 15th to 33rd streets and utilized the excess right-of-way for free parking.

Parking is greatly needed for the downtown area. The “highest and best” use for these 16 blocks, where the easement allows, would also be to provide additional needed parking.

Why prematurely abandoned this city property when we do not even know when the enhancements to Baltimore Avenue will be done due to the exorbitant cost estimates?

Margaret Pillas, Petition Coordinator • Contact Info: 433-366-2656

The Dispatch

Forever In Memory Of Our Founder, Dick Lohmeyer (May 25, 1927-May 5, 2005)

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How We See It

Wait-And-See On Special Event Zone

What should Ocean City do next year with the traditional pop-up rally weekend?

This is the question after a no show from the troublemakers this year on the heels of last year’s quiet weekend. Though it merits attention and consideration, a decision is not necessary today.

Ocean City deserves praise for its approach to the pop-up rally. The regional partnership between government and law enforcement should be emulated by other areas because it clearly worked. The concept of discouraging visitors to the resort for this one weekend and creating rules to make it miserable for the pop-up rally offenders worked. Massive fines, zero tolerance for infractions, quick towing calls and road alterations accomplished what they set out to do – discourage the people from coming to town who wanted to raise hell on our local streets and disrespect our beautiful beach resort.

It’s clear from social media observations the young culprits who were bent on disrespecting Ocean City for many years have moved on. The scenes that played out in Wildwood, N.J., last weekend were nearly identical to what took place in Ocean City for several years, especially in 2020 when police were unable to control the chaos of vehicles overtaking roads with burnouts, dozens of people dressed as bananas stopping traffic, fireworks being set off in the median, officers being threatened and assaulted, businesses vandalized and tremendous littering.

Ocean City officials, legislative leaders and their allied agencies should be credited for getting rid of this social media-driven gathering. New Jersey folks need to follow Ocean City’s strategy and implement a similar crackdown. It was remarkable to watch the videos of what unfolded in Wildwood last weekend. It was the exact nonsense that took place here for many years.

Moving ahead, the easy track to take is to simply keep the special event zone in place next year in Ocean City to be safe. We do not see it as a simple call. Government must be aware of its expenditures and be responsible with resources. There are overtime costs associated, allied agency support complexities and the city needs to be able to balance responsiveness with responsibility.

We think the right strategy would be to monitor social media heavily for activity in the months leading up to the traditional weekend. If the trend continues away from Ocean City, we encourage the city to drop the special event zone aspect or at a minimum seek flexibility as far as implementation. There is a way to do this in a responsible fashion.

Between The Lines

by Publisher/Editor Steve Green

Gavin Knupp’s death in a horrific hit-and-run in July continues to occupy the attention of many. The prevailing concern is whether justice, or at least something resembling it, will be served.

Time will tell what justice looks like in this specific case, and the worry for many is justice will not be the reality because of the long investigation. I think charges will ultimately be filed but whether they bring the consequences many seek for a lost young life remains unclear. A potential charge against the motorist who struck and killed Knupp and fled the scene could be leaving the scene of a fatal accident. State code says, “A person who violates § 20-102 of this article (“Driver to remain at scene -- Accident resulting in bodily injury or death”) and who knew or reasonably should have known that the accident might result in the death of another person and death actually occurred to another person, is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than $10,000 or both.”

After speaking with four attorneys and multiple police officers, the reality is the investigation is not taking too long. It’s been about 11 weeks since the fatality. Because the case is near and dear to the community’s heart, tensions continue to run high amid conspiracy theories. Drawing some fire this week was Worcester County State’s Attorney Kris Heiser, who in early July – before the fatality – posted a happy birthday message on the Facebook page of an individual connected to the case. A letter-writing campaign ensued calling for her to step away from the case entirely. She could not comment on the matter this week, but the Knupp family attorney Neil Dubovsky released a statement expressing full confidence in Heiser. The statement read, “Having had the opportunity to meet with the State’s Attorney and others in her office, we believe more strongly than ever that those responsible for Gavin’s death will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We thank Kris Heiser, her team and law enforcement for all their hard work to that end.”

The goal here is a conviction, not charges. A rush to charge benefits nobody. If the family can be patient, the community should as well.

When they go to the polls in November, Ocean City voters could face four local referendum questions. There are three matters for voters to decide already, but another petition effort was recently launched.

Former Ocean City Council member Margaret Pillas, who served two terms from 2006-2014, is spearheading this latest petition drive. Pillas is concerned about the recent ordinance that conveyed 6,000 square of city land between 13th and 14th streets along Baltimore Avenue for the Margaritaville redevelopment project. For his part, former Councilman Vince Gisriel, a petition expert who played significant roles in getting the sports complex issue and the room tax matter before voters, said he is “supportive” of the latest petition effort but is not actively knocking on doors.

In her “call for action” advertisement this week, Pillas wrote, “This 20 foot right-of-way conveyance is just the latest concession. Earlier, the Council allowed the alley within this block to be moved closer to Baltimore Avenue to enhance the project’s architectural design. The City Council also conveyed air rights above this alley providing 720,000 cubic feet of additional bulk/mass allowing for greater density. When the city redeveloped 18 blocks of Baltimore Avenue from 15th to 33rd streets and utilized the excess rightof-way for free parking. Parking is greatly needed for the downtown area. The ‘highest and best’ use for these 16 blocks, where the easement allows, would also be to provide additional needed parking. Why prematurely abandon this city property when we do not even know when the enhancements to Baltimore Avenue will be done due to the exorbitant cost estimates?”

Already on the ballot in Ocean City are three referendum questions -whether the county can finance the sports complex project development (a countywide referendum); increasing the annual salaries for Ocean City Mayor and Council members; and a challenge to the approved increase in the percentage of room tax dedicated to marketing and advertising.

It looks like Ocean City might allow electric bikes on the Boardwalk after all. Two years ago, a 4-3 vote prohibited e-bikes over concerns about their speed and mixing them with the crowds of summer bikers. The issue arose again this month when Councilman Tony DeLuca brought the potential conflict with the Americans with Disabilities Act up at the subcommittee level. It reached the council last week.

It seems to me Ocean City ought to be careful here and allow the lowerclass e-bikes on the boards. This is the recommendation of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. The last thing the resort needs is a civil rights allegation through the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Baltimore Sun chimed in on the matter in a sound editorial this week. An excerpt read, “Might just the small e-bikes be permitted? Might all be restricted to going no more than 10 miles per hour? Might people with disabilities be provided a sticker for their bike to demonstrate its necessity? All are possibilities that could yet be presented to Ocean City’s mayor and council in the coming weeks, but here’s what we would humbly recommend: Let the e-bikes be. All bikes, whether powered by pedal or motor, can be operated irresponsibly. Ocean City should simply set standards for the operation of permitted vehicles no matter their physical capabilities (or those of their riders).”

Puzzle Answers

PUZZLE ON PAGE 51

by Steve Green

Laughing may not cure everything, but it sure helps me to see the lighter side of things through this parenting journey of life.

Some examples of late:

•Things have been a bit bumpy with Carson, 12, at school of late as he adjusts to the new faces and environment. Transitions are tough for him, resulting in some challenging days. We have confidence in his team at school. It will just take some time, but the good news is there have been far more good days than bad ones.

My obsession each morning is to get him to school in happy spirits and ready for a good day. I pray what happens inside after that will be smooth and successful, but I view my job as getting him to school in a good psychological place. After a successful drop off each morning at the door, I feel tremendous relief as I head back to my vehicle. In the vein of laughing at myself, one morning this week I was taking a big exhale of relief when I went down hard. I must have been looking up to the sky or something. I wish I could blame it on a curb or an animal, but I tripped over my own feet evidently and fell, hitting my head on my truck’s tire. Graceful it was not. I’m sure someone saw it and had a good chuckle.

Though I had a new ache to worry about, all that mattered was getting my boy into school on a good note.

•Through an immersion trip, Beckett, 14, spent several nights camping along the river near his boarding school this week. The thought of him camping out cracks me up.

Eight years ago, as part of the Boy Scouts, we camped out together. He was much younger then but sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag clearly was not for him nor was becoming one with some of the wildlife. It was just not his thing and has not been something he has enjoyed since. He is just not into roughing it at all.

In advance of this week’s immersion trip with his fellow ninth graders, Beckett seemed to have mixed feelings. On one hand, I think he was dreading the whole camping aspect, while looking forward to hanging with friends off campus.

Knowing his apprehension, it was awesome and hilarious for us to see him on the school’s Facebook page holding a hawk in the woods. He’s smiling and looked happy, but we know him well enough to understand what’s going through his head. It was likely something along the lines of, “get this thing away from me.”

•Pam and I volunteer each Saturday at River Soccer Club’s TOPSoccer program, which pairs volunteer teenage buddies with special needs kids for a session of fun while playing a bit of soccer.

The goal of the program is to allow the parents to relax and watch their kids have fun with their buddy doing some soccer drills and games. It’s a lighthearted program that can be special and memorable for all involved. We have been light on buddies this fall to help so Pam and I have been taking on more of an active role than previous years.

Flexibility and patience are a must when working with special needs individuals. Our life with our own special kid, Carson, has provided us with a wealth of experience with both. We spend most of our life rolling with the punches in an effort to set him on a successful path. We try to apply what works with him to other kids through this program.

We end each session with the “big game,” which is heart warming to see the kids trying to work together. There are highlights and lowlights each time, but always some good laugh sessions too. Though I should be helping other kids, Carson insists I hold his hand and run up and down the field with him. Whenever I try to roll to another kid, he

freaks out. He’s been clingy in these sorts of settings since the pandemic.

With me stuck to Carson, the other buddies encourage the other kids and steer them in the right direction on the field. It’s a lot of fun. During the game last week, I was surprised by what I heard from a young boy with Pam. He was dropping nothing but expletives. Pam seemed surprised but was trying her best to just redirect and keep him focused on the game. At one point, I heard her say, “now let’s not say that.”

Later while eating lunch and reviewing the antics of the day she filled me in on what he was saying exactly. She said he started off laughing and repeatedly saying, “Dad broke the (f-word) computer,”. He then moved on to repeating, “(f-word) this (s-word), I’m ready for lunch.” He would say this while laughing and smiling. Despite what he was saying, he was having a ball.

We ultimately agreed at least he was having fun.

•Whitney Fleming Writes is a website I follow, and she has a great way with words when it comes to parenting.

This week she posted this:

“The only thing I know for certain about raising teenagers is I have no idea what I’m doing.

Every day I’m just hoping I didn’t mess up too badly, trying to do a little better than the previous day.

Stumbling, bumbling, struggling forgiving, talking, ignoring, guiding, praying, wishing, wondering, stressing.

Loving them the only way I know how: with all my heart and everything I have.

And hoping that it’s enough.”

Accepting there will be wins and losses and embarrassments and failures is a good first step if you ask me.

(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.)