OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
FEBRUARY 18, 2022
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
BOAT SHOW
HUNDREDS OF VESSELS
Annual event returns to Ocean City on Friday after year-long pause due to pandemic – Page 51
FREE
Schools await mask decision from state bd. Local private schools end their requirement this week
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY
DIRTY SNOW
Unseasonably warm temperatures on Saturday that reached into the mid 60s were not enough to melt a pile of snow that once reached nearly 20 feet high. State Highway crews relocated the frozen powder from the streets to the open inlet lot after a blizzard struck the area on Jan. 29.
Council weighs gun show proposal Advocates say it could help fill rooms, reduce lodging availability for car rally fans By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (Feb. 18, 2022) When Cliff Sutherland pitched an idea to host a police motorcycle rodeo with K9 training and a gun show to the mayor and City Council of Ocean City back in October, it was a way for the city to saturate the area with law enforcement officials during one of the most notorious weekends in the resort. H2Oi is the unofficial name of an unsanctioned tuner car pop-up rally
in Ocean City that has historically resulted in mostly Asian-manufactured cars with modified exhausts that emit loud popping backfires, spoilers on the trunk, cambered wheels, and bass-boosted sound systems. There is a legitimate H2Oi car rally, but it is held in Atlantic City, New Jersey and has no connection to the vehicular anarchy that has occurred in this resort. Scenes during the event have included intersections becoming blocked off by spectators who watch cars compete in burnout or donut competitions, and racing. Last September, the event barely happened in the resort, and some
credit the city and its police force for cracking down on illegal car modifications and special event zone speed enforcement in areas where the speeds are lowered to 25 across the city. While successful to a degree, city officials, residents and businesspeople remain concerned that the tuner car chaos will return if the city lets its guard down. Sutherland’s plan to saturate the resort with police officers via a police convention of sorts is just one way someone wants to make a difference that weekend, while another plan is to bring in a concert like Lollapalooza See NEGOTIATONS Page 3
By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (Feb. 18, 2022) As school districts across the country ditch indoor mask mandates at increasing rates, Worcester County private schools have jumped on the bandwagon and public schools may not be far behind. In letters sent to Maryland Secretary of Health Dennis Schrader and state Board of Education President Clarence Crawford on Tuesday, Worcester County Board of Education President Elena McComas asked state officials to return the school mask decision to the counties. “While we recognize the important role that face masks have played in keeping our students and staff safe during the height of the pandemic, we feel strongly that the significant improvement in statewide metrics, See SCHOOLS Page 6
County OKs bonds for sports complex, other big projects By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (Feb. 18, 2022) Another sports complex item, another 4-3 vote. The Worcester County Commissioners narrowly approved proposed bond bills and official intent resolution this week to finance several projects through General Obligation Bonds. As usual, Commissioners Chip Bertino, Jim Bunting and Ted Elder comprised the opposition. The projects include $11.2 million See COUNTY Page 7