OC Today
BUSINESS
RAM AWARD FINALISTS Ocean City establishments, restaurant owners in the running; voting ends March 28 – Page 32
WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.NET
MARCH 23, 2018
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
FREE
Securing Boardwalk won’t be work of art A temporary look will be made better when second phase begins
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY
LOVING A PARADE A summer-sized crowd packed Ocean City for the weekend and lined the streets on Saturday to watch the Delmarva Irish-American Club’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade down Coastal Highway. Businesses reported exceptionally high activity during what has become one of the resort’s biggest events any time of year.
Bucks back for Bikefest Council exchanges $20,000 subsidy for ads
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (March 23, 2018) Although OC Bikefest and its swarms of motorcycles may ruffle a few feathers, the
City Council on Monday weighed its financial merits and agreed to renew a sponsorship deal launched last year. See OFFICIALS Page 4
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (March 23, 2018) Reacting to recommendations that Boardwalk security be improved, the Ocean City Council is soliciting bids for a Boardwalk access control project that can be in place by this summer. City Engineer Terry McGean on Monday told the council the two-phase project calls for barricades at 36 access points to prevent vehicles from driving onto the Boardwalk. “Right now, we’re looking to advertise for bids for phase one and the estimated cost is $200,000,” he said. Last November, the council appropriated $80,000 for design bids and in January agreed to pay Hunt Valleybased engineering firm JMT more than $155,000 to complete the task. Among the challenges the
design will need to address, McGean said, is how to restrict access without impeding the tramcar route around the pier. “The consultant came up with an out-of-the box idea and we’ve discussed this with the pier franchise holder,” he said. “We’re going to essentially flip their parking spaces and the train lane.” The barrier will be constructed so the train lane runs ‘Jersey barriers i n s i d e , and some metal gates.’ McGean said. M c G e a n — Terry McGean cautioned the council that first phase of the project will not be a thing of beauty. “This summer is going to be jersey barriers and some metal gates that are not going to be very attractive,” he said. McGean said this season’s temporary measures would be beautified as much as possible before the second phase begins next year. See OC’S Page 7
LAND HO!
New beach shows storms can build up land as well
By Brian Gilliland Associate Editor (March 23, 2018) About 110 years after he died, Mark Twain, who famously said “buy land, they’re not making it anymore,” was proven wrong by the Ocean City inlet. Late last week a small stretch of beach emerged on the resort side of the inlet jetty, in a rare but not unprecedented event. Merely a curiosity, the beach is
about 20 feet wide at its most broad point and extends 100 yards or so from the jetty, close to the southeast corner of the inlet parking lot. This week, visitors and residents clambered over the sea wall rocks to walk along, or take photographs of the small beach. “I’m not sure we have an official answer, but my understanding from speaking to our coastal folks is that, put simply, it’s likely a result See NOR’EASTERS Page 4
BRIAN GILLILAND/OCEAN CITY TODAY
A solitary stroller walks along the empty beach next to the inlet jetty.
Better Management. Better Results. Vacation Rental Specialists for over 35 years. We make your home our key focus. Comprehensive yearly analyses & inspections. Dedicated marketing. Face-to-face interaction with all of your guests.
8606 Coastal Highway • Ocean City, MD 21842
Office: (410)723-4500 • Rentals: (800)756-8223 • Century21NewHorizon.com
Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated