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FEBRUARY 25, 2022
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
STATE LAWS
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C3 music fest moved back one weekend Company says complicated setup will take more time
GREG WEHNER/OCEAN CITY TODAY
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The 39th Seaside Boat Show returned to the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City last weekend, after a year off because of the covid19 pandemic. This year’s show, staged by the Ocean City/Berlin Optimists Club, featured nearly 350 vessels and scores of marine vendors.
Schools quiet on mask plans State board drops requirement, awaits legislative approval By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (Feb. 25, 2022) With school masking decision nearly back in their hands, Worcester County Public Schools officials may soon decide whether to keep a stateforced indoor mandate in place. But until the light turns green, they are staying pretty mum on definite plans. “Worcester County Public Schools is aware of the action
taken by the State Board of Education today to rescind the statewide mandate of face coverings in school settings,” Superintendent Lou Taylor said in an emailed statement Tuesday. “As today’s action also requires the approval of the state’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review prior to its going into effect, leadership at WCPS will take this time to plan and prepare any changes needed to our current health and safety protocols should the repeal go into effect,” Taylor continued. “If and when the legislature repeals the man-
date, we will communicate any changes to our protocols with our students, staff, and community as soon as possible.” The Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, or AELR, is set to meet virtually at 2:30 p.m. Friday to address the state board’s recommendation. Until then, masks will remain a requirement in schools, as they have been since the beginning of the year. Worcester County Board of Education President Elena McComas, who will also be at the forefront of the mandate discusSee SCHOOL Page 6
By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (Feb. 25, 2022) When Director of Tourism and Business Development Tom Perlozzo introduced Ocean City Council members to Tim Sweetwood of C3 Presents in August, a concept to bring a concert festival the size of Lollapalooza to the resort was born. City Council members expressed excitement because the festival was pitched to counter a tuner car pop-up rally that has descended on in Ocean City in September for the past several years. After months of trying to get the logistics worked out, however, Sweetwood and his team decided they cannot make the festival work when the unsanctioned car rally arrives. On Tuesday, Perlozzo asked the council and the council agreed to See SETUP Page 3
County geared up for sports complex By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (Feb. 25, 2022) Nothing is imminent and nothing is set in stone. But with funds for an eventual athletic complex earmarked in the county general obligation bonds to be issued this year, the means to set this longawaited project in motion are in place. The Worcester County Commissioners last week voted 4-3 to include $11.2 million from that bond issue for the athletic complex. Assigning its funding to the general obligation bonds indicates that the county feels that the athletic complex is a venture that will bring in a revenue stream that efSee COUNTY Page 7
