OC Today-Dispatch FEBRUARY 14, 2025
STUBBORNLY LOCAL, EQUALLY INDEPENDENT
Sign up now for our new, Monday-Friday newsletter. — Page 12
PRICELESS
BRIAN SHANE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
The 42nd Annual Seaside Boat Show, sponsored by the Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club, is underway in Ocean City through Sunday. See page 35 for event details.
Hoax threat leads to lockdown No bull:
PBR event cancelled Oceans Calling reveals fall lineup OC Elementary, county school officials go into student-protection mode, as more than 100 law enforcement officers flood grounds until all-clear signal given. — PAGE 81
After three years downtown, Green Day, Lenny Kravitz, Noah Kahan, Weezer and Fall Out Boy headline three-day fes- bullriding rides into the tival scheduled on beach Sept. 26-28, with 40 acts in all on three stages. — PAGE 10 sunset. — Page 6
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OC Today-Dispatch
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FEBRUARY 14, 2025
FEBRUARY 14, 2025
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OC Today-Dispatch
Crab Bag redevelopment gets site plan extension Resort commission extends start date for restaurant’s project another two years By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor (Feb. 14, 2025) City planners last week gave the connections of the Crab Bag restaurant two more years to begin a phased redevelopment project. At its Feb. 4 meeting, the Ocean City Planning Commission voted unanimously to extend the site plan for the Crab Bag restaurant, located near 130th Street. Regan Smith, attorney for applicant Nolen Graves, said the extension would give his client more time to begin demolition and redevelopment. “It’s exactly the same plan,” he added. In 2023, Smith came before the planning commission to request a site plan extension for the Crab Bag. The site plan, first approved in September of 2021, shows a new 8,665 squarefoot addition to the existing restaurant, plus an additional 857 square feet of enclosed area, all with on- and off-site parking areas. In her presentation last week, Zoning Administrator Kay Gordy told
commissioners that that site plan extension was set to expire this month. “This is an extension request of the site plan that was approved because the expiration is Feb. 15,” she said, “so a week and a half from now.” Smith told commissioners that he was once again seeking a two-year extension. He added that he also wanted the concept of a phased project, which was first presented in 2023, to be reflected in the record. “When we brought that forward [in 2023], one of the requests was to do it as a phased project,” he explained. “Start the project, get it done, get a temporary [certificate of occupancy] for the season, and finish it the next winter. When Kay and I went back to look at this in the fall, the record of that hearing got corrupted, and there was no video or recording. So we wanted to bring this back to actually reaffirm that stepped process so we can get that on the record.” After a brief discussion on the applicant’s demolition permits, the commission voted unanimously to extend the site plan another 24 months. The new expiration date would be Feb. 15, 2027. “I don’t have any problems with this,” Commissioner Palmer Gillis said.
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FEBRUARY 14, 2025
OC Today-Dispatch
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FEBRUARY 14, 2025
serving the community for 45 years
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1 CARAT T.W.
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Reg $2599
Sale $999 PHOTO COURTESY OF GREGORY POULOS
1.5 CARATS T.W.
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Citing financial reasons, officials confirmed the PBR Ocean City Classic will not return to the resort in 2025. A scene from a prior event is pictured above.
Reg $3299
Professional bull riding will not return to resort in 2025
Sale $549 2 CARATS T.W.
Reg $1699
Sale $799 LAB GROWN
Sale $1399
IN 14KT WHITE OR YELLOW GOLD
MANY SIZES AVAILABLE AND IN STOCK!
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor (Feb. 14, 2025) It appears the Town of Ocean City will have a gap in its spring special events calendar after one event was voted down last week and another did not announce its return to the resort. Citing concerns about the success of prior events, as well as the safety of
WE BUY & SELL COINS, CURRENCY, SILVER & PLATINUM Immediate Evaluations & Payment - 1 Piece or Entire Collection
Inside this week Calendar ..............................61 Classifieds ..........................63 Crossword ............................58 Dining Guide ........................56 Editoral/Letters....................84 Entertainment ......................52 Horoscope ............................58 Obituaries ............................89 Police/Crime........................24 Public Notices ......................66 Sports ..................................92 NEWS INQUIRIES: editor@oceancitytoday.net SALES INQUIRIES: sales@oceancitytoday.net CLASSIFIEDS: classifieds@oceancitytoday.net 410-723-6397
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certain event components, the Ocean City Council last week voted down a request from promoters Amanda and Chris Cropper to hold the annual Jeep Week in Ocean City the weekend of May 29 through June 1. It was also during that discussion when the promoters pointed out their event had been moved from mid-May to a later weekend previously held by PBR Ocean City Classic, which was part of the Professional Bull Riding circuit. “I guess since PBR is not happening, they pushed us to PBR weekend,” Chris Cropper said. With both events cut from the lateMay calendar, it remains to be seen if another special event will take its place. However, Tourism and Business Development Director Tom Perlozzo said more effort will be placed on promoting the city’s 150th anniversary celebration. “We are extremely appreciative of PBRs past appearances in Ocean City. As the event finished its third season, financially neither the town nor PBR could move forward in 2025,” he said this week. “As always, we will evaluate and recommend additional opportunities. Currently no replacement event is scheduled to replace things and our emphasis is now directed to the town’s 150th anniversary.” In 2022, PBR held its first event in Ocean City, transforming a portion of the Ocean City Inlet parking lot into a professional rodeo arena for a weekend of bull riding competitions. The event returned in 2023 and 2024, each time during the first weekend in June. Attendance at the 2024 event was noticeably lower than previous years.
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FEBRUARY 14, 2025
LUNCH & DINNER AT DUMSER’S DAIRYLAND NORTH, 12305 COASTAL HWY. With Homemade Sodas & Other Soda Fountain Treats
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ICE CREAM MADE DAILY IN OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Ice Cream Our Specialty. Stop By Any Dumser’s Location For A Wide Variety Of Homemade Ice Cream, Milkshakes, Sundaes, Floats And Much More.
FEBRUARY 14, 2025
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OC Today-Dispatch
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FEBRUARY 14, 2025
OC Today-Dispatch
Oceans Calling Festival lineup announced By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor (Feb. 14, 2025) Green Day, Noah Kahan and Fall Out Boy will be among the headliners at this year’s Oceans Calling Festival, set to return to downtown Ocean City Sept. 26-28. On Wednesday, promoter C3 Presents announced the lineup for the third annual Oceans Calling music festival. This year, more than 40 national acts will perform across three stages. In addition to Green Day, Friday’s concert lineup will include Lenny Kravitz, The Black Crowes, Nelly, O.A.R., Cake, Live, The Fray, Fountains of Wayne, The 502s, Spin Doctors, Letters to Cleo, Ballyhoo!, Bel and Izzy Escobar. On Saturday, the festivities continue with performances by Noah
Kahan, Vampire Weekend, Good Charlotte, Modest Mouse, Jack’s Mannequin, Collective Soul, En Vogue, Franz Ferdinand, Natasha Bedingfield, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Mat Kearney, Wheatus, Bumpin Uglies and Rachel Ana Dobken. The festival will conclude on Sunday with Fall Out Boy, Weezer, Train, Devo, Vance Joy, Ziggy Marley, 4 Non Blondes, Michelle Branch, Blind Melon, Burning Spear and Marcy Playground, with a special set performed by O.A.R. and Friends. The festival returns to Ocean City’s Inlet beach with more than 40 artists performing across three stages throughout the weekend. The entire lineup, and additional information, can be found at www.oceanscallingfestival.com. Ticket sales begin See FESTIVAL Page 14
WE CAN NOT TELL A LIE ... WE’RE STILL THE BEST IN WEST OC!
SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Oceans Calling promoter C3 Presents announced the official lineup for this year’s festival. More than 40 artists will perform throughout the fall weekend.
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16 138th STREET #301 • ISLAND BREEZE • OCEAN CITY • Southern Exposure 1,750 SF End Unit with Balcony Ocean Views & Peeks of the Bay. • Huge Open Kitchen, Dining, Living & Great room with Gas fireplace. • Primary BR Walk-in Closet & Sliding Doors to Balcony. • Primary BR Ensuite BA with Jacuzzi Tu Tub & Separate Shower. • 2 Large BRs & hall Full BA. • Separate laundry room full size washer/dryerr.. • HV VAC- Air handler replaced 11/2023 with 10-year extended warranty. • Private exterior storage closet on this level that comes stocked with beach equipment. $ • Sold fully furnished as shown.
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Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. © 2025 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker is a registered service mark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLS. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Opportunity. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC.
FEBRUARY 14, 2025
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OC Today-Dispatch
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