3/26/2021 Ocean City Today

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MARCH 26, 2021

SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY

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Worcester jail one of two in state that holds detainees

By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) A Pennsylvania woman was arrested for drunken driving charges on Sunday night after driving a car into a downtown 7Eleven, shattering the convenience store’s front glass and sending debris and merchandise throughout the shop.

Police said they were called to the 7-Eleven at 26th Street and Philadelphia at 11:50 p.m. on Sunday, and when they arrived, they found a vehicle driven by Chelsea Maggi, 28, of Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, had See STORE Page 4

PHOTO COURTESY OCEAN CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT

(March 26, 2021) It’s time to liberate the garage, unload old furniture and trim the bushes — Ocean City’s annual free residential bulk pickup service will take it all away this Saturday.

Resort government’s “Spring Cleanup” services allows residents to dispose of large household items, such as furniture, appliances, bicycles, carpet and other bulky items that cannot normally be loaded into a standard refuse truck.

Yard debris and shrubs are also permitted, although the maximum diameter of tree limbs accepted is three inches. No trees or large demolition projects. Residents are being asked to place all items curbside on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WRONGFUL DEATH

County fights to keep $5M ICE contract

Door buster crashes into 7-Eleven store

Bulk pickup Sat.

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A Pennsylvania woman crashed her vehicle into a 7-Eleven at 26th Street on Sunday night.

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) Worcester County lawmakers are fighting hard to keep more than $5 million in the local jail budget threatened by a statewide immigration bill gaining traction in the General Assembly.

The bill would ban local jails from receiving money from the federal government to house people detained on immigration matters and would require the two counties — Worcester and Frederick — that hold contracts with ICE to end them by Oct. 1, 2022.

Howard County also has a contract but officials announced this week that they would be ending the agreement and moving the detainees in the next 60 days.

According to a letter from the Worcester County Commissioners sent on Feb. 2 to members of the Eastern Shore delegation, the county has been housing roughly 200 immigration-related detainees under contract with the U.S. Immigration and CusSee LEGISLATORS Page 3

Adkins gets his due with plaque Resort officials dedicate new public works campus to one who planned it

By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) The now complete Ocean City Department of Public Works campus renovation at 65th Street that cost the town $25 million was dedicated to Director of Public Works Hal Adkins on Friday during a

ribbon cutting ceremony that involved city officials and Gov. Larry Hogan.

The announcement of the facility’s name, “The Hal O. Adkins Public Works Complex,” came as a surprise to the director, who many know keeps a pulse on nearly every project taking place in Ocean City. “... Let it be known you all totally caught me off guard yesterday,” Adkins said in a letter to the editor this week that was directed to the mayor and City Council, as well as others. “I don’t like

being caught off guard, but I’ll get over that.”

The campus project was conceptualized in 1984 when the previous public works building was constructed. At the time, Ocean City had 12 short buses, and today it operates more than 60, prompting a need for a larger facility.

Today, the new facility has several bays for mechanics to work on anything from a all-terrain vehicles to fullSee ADKINS Page 2

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Ocean City Today

MARCH 26, 2021

Adkins get his name on plaque Continued from Page 1 size buses.

It also has a car wash for the buses, tire and lube stations, office space for the public works division, training and storage space for police, lifeguards, and EMS, as well as a temporary holding space for juveniles who are taken into custody for breaking the law.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Hogan spoke about his time in Ocean City as a teenager, working at an amusement park that once sat on the same land where the new campus is located, and doing everything from clean-up to ride operation.

The governor attended the event because of the state’s participation in funding the project. Projects of this type are typically paid for using federal, state, and local funding in an 80/10/10 split, respectively, although Adkins said last year that the city paid nothing for portions like the bus barn and fuel depot.

And as far as the city matching its portion of the $25 million, it was able to do so with land value instead of cash.

The land involved was assessed at $4.7 million.

When the project was completed, finding a person to dedicate it to came easy because of Adkins’s hand in the project.

Adkins began working for the town in 1984 as the plans examiner, and by

1989, he had climbed through the ranks to director of public works.

“Hal has truly made his mark on Ocean City and this new Public Works and Transit facility would not be possible without him,” Mayor Rick Meehan said in a press release.

Members of Adkins’s family filed into the room of officials and press just before a plaque honoring the director was unveiled.

Adkins, who had his back to the family, was not wearing his glasses because of the mask mandate. He said in his letter that his glasses were fogging up, and without them, he could not see his family was standing with the mayor.

When the veil was lifted from the plaque, Adkins could be seen wiping his eyes.

The plaque reads, “Dedicated in honor of his exceptional vision, leadership and multiple decades of exemplary service to the citizens and visitors of Ocean City, Maryland, and the efforts he put forth to provide the highest level of quality and professionalism for the town as director of public works.”

“I never, and, yes, I do mean never, set out to build monuments to myself,” Adkins said in his letter.

He later stated, “Thank you for the recognition and arranging for my family to be in attendance. What a memory to cherish.”

Councilman Mark Paddack, Gov. Larry Hogan, Director of Public Works Hal Adkins, and Mayor Rick Meehan cut a ribbon to officially open the new public works campus at 65th Street.

(Left) Mayor Rick Meehan, left, announced last week that the newly renovated Department of Public Works campus be dedicated to the department’s director, Hal Adkins.

GREG WEHNER/OCEAN CITY TODAY

MARCH 26, 2021

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Ocean City Today

Legislators worry about safety “ICE quality control in the last few Continued from Page 1 toms Enforcement Agency, or ICE, years has been quite lacking and has not given us the confidence that their since 1999.

The program has generated signif- judgement should be trusted by these icant revenue for the jail, accounting local governments,” he said. “They’ve for $5.1 million of its total $9.2 million accidentally deported citizens. We had budget in fiscal 2019, according to the forced hysterectomies in some states.

Three facilities in Maryland, audits letter.

Del. Wayne Hartman (R- 38C) about strip searching was conducted, spoke against ending the program and little is ever done to address during a House floor debate, citing what’s going on in respect to that.”

Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-38) both safety and economic concerns.

“These aren’t people who are sit- also sent a statement via email against ting on the beach with a peanut butter ending the program, stating concerns and jelly sandwich and their family. that the move could pave the way for These people are rapists and murder- Maryland to become a sanctuary ers, some are even mass murderers,” state. She called the legislation “dangerous” and echoed the same safety Hartman said of the detainees. “ … We talk about family separa- and financial concerns that she said tion … if an American citizen commit- Worcester County Sheriff Matt Crisated some of these crimes they would fulli and the county commissioners have family separation as well. This expressed. isn’t about immigration status.”

“Making Maryland a sanctuary He added that the financial contri- state would threaten public safety and butions from the program support 26 put Maryland and Worcester County full-time jobs at the detention center, at risk of losing millions of federal dolwhich he said the warden told him lars,” she said. “I will continue to opwould be lost if the program were pose all efforts to make Maryland a sanctuary state.” eliminated.

The bill is currently in a Senate “In Worcester County full- time jobs are hard to find,” he said. “Our committee awaiting discussion. economy is based on tourism and agriculture.

So here we have 26 fulltime jobs lost.”

Montgomery County Delegate David Moon (D-20) spoke in favor of ending the programs during the debate, refuting the claim that all of the detainees are criminals and expressing con- The Worcester County Detention Center may lose more than $5 cerns about ICE million in annual federal funds if a bill that would require the officials’ ability to ade- county to end a long-running contract with the U.S. Immigration quately run the pro- and Customs Enforcement Agency, or ICE, to house immigrationrelated detainees by October 2022 passes the General Assembly. grams.

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Store inconvenienced by car crashing through its doors Continued from Page 1 smashed through the entrance of the store.

“The glass doors and windows of the 7-Eleven were destroyed,” the police report read. “There was debris, broken merchandise and glass scattered throughout the floor.”

Maggi, police noted, appeared to be intoxicated and displayed glassy and bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and sluggish coordination. She also swayed back and forth, according to police.

Maggi reportedly told police that she had consumed three vodka and cranberry cocktails between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. and agreed to a field so-

Wrongful death suit slowed because of covid-19 issues

By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) The civil lawsuit concerning the death of 30-year-old Ashley O’Connor of Plano, Texas, who died from asphyxiation after being buried in the sand on the beach near Second Street on July 31, 2017, could soon begin, as the collection of evidence and statements are set go through April or May. Nearly two years after O’Connor’s body was found, her family filed a lawsuit against the Town of Ocean City, blaming the woman’s death on the town’s “negligence, gross negligence, reckless and or wanton and willful Ashley O’Connor conduct,” according to court documents.

O’Connor and her family were visiting Ocean City the day after a wedding of a family member and, according to reports, her parents had last seen her walking on the beach around 2 a.m. When O’Connor did not return the next morning, her parents filed a missing persons report.

But at that point, her body had been found after a man walking the beach saw O’Connor’s forearm and a bit of hair sticking out of the sand.

O’Connor was found in a hole that was roughly 3.5 feet deep and six feet wide, and she was in a seated position almost 1.5 feet under the sand.

Her family, in the suit, claimed that Ocean City beach sweepers were responsible for her death, as they begin their operations at 11 p.m.

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briety test.

After not performing to the officer’s satisfaction, Maggi was arrested and taken to police headquarters, where she refused to take a breathalyzer.

Ocean City Fire Department spokesman Ryan Whittington said EMS crews were dispatched to the scene as well, and when they arrived, found “subjects trapped” inside the vehicle. Firefighters, he said, were able to help remove them from the car.

Maggi was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired by alcohol, and failing to control the speed of her car to avoid a collision.

In August 2017, Police Chief Ross Buzzuro said during a press briefing that there did not appear to be any sign of foul play in O’Connor’s death after reviewing multiple witness accounts, hours of videography and physical evidence.

Reports state that O’Connor’s blood alcohol content had been beyond .08, the legal limit for driving a vehicle.

Although the lawsuit was filed in 2019, it has been slow-moving, and with the covid-19 pandemic in full force, the suit has come to a crawl.

Documents filed with the court on March 15, 2021 state that the discovery stage in the case has not been completed and has only been slowed by covid-19. In fact, the man who found O’Connor, Charles Hogan, did not appear when the city attempted to take down his statements, delaying discovery. In addition to Hogan’s delay, depositions from additional witnesses that would normally be conducted in person so documents and photos can be reviewed, are still in the process.

“Given the continued uncertainty and interruptions due to the pandemic, progress has been hampered to say the least,” court documents read. “These fact witness depositions need to be conducted in order for the parties’ respective experts to finalize their opinions.”

The documents also note that discovery will continue into April and May unless a deal is made in the case soon, which is “unlikely.”

Once discovery is complete, court dates are expected to resume on June 15.

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MARCH 26, 2021

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Wade’s Law getting close to passage in fifth year proposed

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (March, 26, 2021) On Feb. 22, 2016, Wade Pusey’s life changed forever.

Then just 23 years old, the Seaford, Delaware, resident and road worker was permanently injured in a collision on a Worcester County road. But because of the limits of the state law, the driver of the vehicle who hit him faced only a $500 traffic citation for the offense.

This unjust penalty — as Del. Wayne Hartman (R-38 C) described it — prompted lawmakers to begin fighting roughly four years ago PHOTO COURTESY PUSEY FAMILY to impose stricter penalties on driving offenses Wade Pusey and his wife, Allison. that result in life-altering injuries.

And it look as though their hard work is pay- minute push to bring it to a vote in the House before Monday’s crossover deadline. He added ing off.

This week, versions of Wade’s Law – which that the final version that passed that chamber would establish these types of driving offenses reduced the penalty from 18 months to 12.

“I feel the 18 months is certainly just considas criminal negligence, raise the penalty to up to 18 months in prison and the fine to $5,000 ering the impact on somebody’s life,” Hartman — passed both the House and Senate, gearing said. “I mean one person that testified … she’s it up for final passage by the end of the 2021 permanently in a wheelchair — that sentence will never change.” session.

Like Pusey, Je’Ani Lyles suffered life-threat“The daily struggles that I have faced over the past five years allow me to remember how ening injuries in June 2018 because of a criminally negligent driver. During important the passing of this a hearing on that bill, her law will be for the state of Maryland,” Wade Pusey said ‘The daily struggles that I have mother, Carla Ortiz, described this week via email. “Being a faced over the past five years the horror of the crash, in which her daughter suffered a resident of Maryland [it is] allow me to remember how severing of her T8 vertebrae, critical to show the public how important the passing of and had to endure multiple important it is to drive safely this law will be for the surgeries and paralysis from because it, too, could be their the chest down. family or friends that are afstate of Maryland.’

Ortiz also pleaded for a fected by negligent driving.

Wade Pusey more just penalty to hold With the passing of this law, those who are criminally negmore people will be protected if a terrible accident like this were to happen to ligent responsible for their actions. The driver who hit Pusey, Marion Jones, ultimately faced them.”

Sharon Pusey, Wade’s mother, testified dur- a stricter penalty because the crash killed ing the bill’s hearing and said via email that the Pusey’s coworker, Scott Tatterson. He faced no legislation process has been difficult, as it has charges for injuring Pusey.

On the day of the crash, the vehicle Jones forced her family to relive the day of the crash each year, but she is happy to see Wade’s Law was driving careened into a work site as Pusey and Tatterson were exiting their county dump moving forward.

“The passing of this bill to increase penalties truck. Jones was reportedly trying to drive and potential jail time could help others who, around the site by exiting the travel lane but sadly, in the future may have something similar swerved back to avoid an oncoming vehicle and happen to them,” she said. “We are all hopeful struck both workers.

“Looking back on the day of Wade’s accident, for the bill to be passed this year to protect fuall I can say is we are so thankful to have him ture families in Maryland.”

Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-38), who first in- here with us today’s” said Allison Pusey, Wade’s troduced Wade’s Law in 2017 as a House dele- wife, via email. “Wade currently works full-time gate, said in a news release that she was grateful for Worcester County Public Works for the to everyone who helped move it to a vote in the Solid Waste Division as an equipment operator.

Senate. She called the law “common sense pub- It amazes me each day to see how far Wade has lic safety legislation” that will provide a “just come in the past five years. Wade is thriving, penalty” for offenders like the driver who in- strong, and brave to have overcome something so terrible. Wade has adapted to his new way of jured Pusey.

Hartman has also worked to help pass life since the accident and is able to live his life Wade’s Law and said it required a large last- to his new normal.”

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Planning Commission gives Fager trifecta of approvals

GREG WEHNER/OCEAN CITY TODAY

John Fager was granted approval by the Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission last week to convert office space on the second floor of the old Hall’s Restaurant to retail space.

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The project did not need a site plan review because there weren’t any changes being made to the building itself, according to Schoelkopf.

But because the space is being converted from office to retail, a site plan review was required.

Schoelkopf said the upstairs will be used for retail, even mentioning that the owner is in negotiations to bring in an escape room possibly.

Pam Buckley, the chairperson of the commission, told Fager and Schoelkopf before the commission unanimously approved the changes that she welcomed the fresh idea.

Additionally, Fager had two other applications before the commission.

One was to add a deck to his Bad Monkey restaurant just south of his new property. The commission expressed slight concerns that the deck would include a bar with seating, but Fager described the addition as having a “service bar” without seats.

The other application Fager had before the commission was to make entryway improvements to Fager’s Island.

The improvements consisted of adding a waiting area deck and an open-air bar.

The commission approved both of the applications, welcoming the efforts to use the exterior spaces more strategically during the covid-19 pandemic.

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By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) The owner of the Fager Commercial Center — formerly Hall’s Restaurant — at the corner of 59th Street and Coastal Highway was given approval by the Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission last Tuesday to convert the second-floor space once used as offices into retail space.

Owner John Fager bought the property in 2019, allowing him to have almost complete ownership of the block with the exception of one parcel.

Up until the purchase, the Hall family owned the building since 1972, and when they operated Hall’s Restaurant, the upstairs space was used for offices and the downstairs was the restaurant.

Now, Fager wants to convert the upstairs into retail space to go along with another project to convert the entire building into a shopping center.

“They aren’t actually building on existing use outside ... they are using the space inside,” Karren Gordy told the commission.

Architect Jeff Schoelkopf, who is designing the retail space, told the planning commission that the project to convert the space into a retail shopping center has been under way for about a year and a half.

In fact, on Feb. 26, Fager’s wife, Michelle Fager, opened the first Monkee’s franchise in Maryland, offering

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PHOTO COURTESY GARY WEBER

The Black Eyed Susan riverboat, recently purchased by the City of Snow Hill, is currently docked in Salisbury at Murtech Marine, where it has undergone various repairs and renovations. After overcoming various obstacles to secure funding for the riverboat’s purchasing, the town hopes the Black Eyed Susan will become a vital component of its economy this year.

Black Eyed Susan upgraded After renovations, Snow Hill boat on track to be unveiled this spring

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) The Black Eyed Susan riverboat, recently purchased by the City of Snow Hill, could be fully functional by midApril, local officials said.

The 111-foot paddlewheel boat is currently stationed at Murtech Marine in Salisbury, where it has undergone various repairs and renovations to prepare it for active use.

“The repairs were mostly cosmetics,” said interim Snow Hill town manager Gary Weber.

“Every surface on the exterior has been sanded and painted and some rust areas were cut out and replaced with new steel.

So it’s in really nice condition.”

Other improvements include new plexiglass and carpeting on the second level. The town also elected to expand its kitchen Gary Weber area and add a fixed bar to the second level. There were a couple of minor mechanical repairs but overall, mechanically, the riverboat is in good shape, Weber said.

Snow Hill had to overcome a couple of obstacles to secure the riverboat in late 2020.

Funding for the purchase was secured in the form of a $400,000, no-interest loan from Worcester County in October and the riverboat was purchased for $324,900. Previously, however, there had been confusion over who would be providing the funds for the purchase.

The town has applied for a couple of grants to aid funding, including a state-funded heritage grant and a Department of Housing community development grant that had originally been intended for a local railway.

The Black Eyed Susan had been pursued last summer by the city of Leonardtown in St. Mary’s County, and the city had even secured $100,000 from the same heritage grant. But various logistical and infrastructural complications ultimately derailed Leonardtown’s pursuit of the vessel, creating an opportunity for Snow

Hill.

“Luckily for us, we were ready to go,” Weber said. “We have a pump-out station right where it’s going to dock, electricity, and (the dock) is very close to our main parking.”

Snow Hill is requesting $60,000 from the heritage grant and that the $100,000 DHC grant be redirected to the riverboat.

The first payment on the county loan won’t come due until next January, which affords Snow Hill and its taxpayers some time for the grants to be sorted out as well as earn revenue and profits from the riverboat.

“We’ll have a full season under our belts before we have to pay that note, and basically it was enough money to do the majority of the repairs, plus the purchase and insuring of the riverboat,” Weber said. “The citizens of Snow Hill have not spent a penny yet and we’re hoping that at the end of this first season, they still won’t have to spend a penny.”

“This is a new operation and something that I think will grow and be a new focal point for the town, a new destination, with a cherry on top of this beautiful sundae we call Snow Hill,” Weber said. “ It’ll be a major presence not just for Snow Hill but for Worcester County and the state of Maryland as a whole.”

Weber added that the Black Eyed Susan is one of only a handful of riverboats in the entire state, which will further distinguish Snow Hill as a tourist attraction.

The riverboat will most likely run between Snow Hill and Pocomoke City. But because of the travel time – about three hours one way – it would not be a daily routine, Weber said. A sizable revenue stream for the riverboat could come from the large hotels and convention groups in Ocean City, which would reserve the entire riverboat. Patrons would be bused into Snow Hill and take the riverboat to Pocomoke City, where they could shop and explore the Delmarva Discovery Museum before shuttling back to Ocean City.

Weber said the riverboat will be a boon to Snow Hill’s economy.

“We’re the county seat of Worcester County,” See RIVERBOAT Page 8

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MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

Riverboat bought in 2020 to bring tourists to town Continued from Page 7 Weber said. “It’s going to bring a lot of dollars to town. It will help the existing businesses because these people, before getting on board and after getting on board, they’re walking around town. And that keeps the town vibrant.”

Weber said the town aims to let its citizens enjoy their investment on “Snow Hill” days, when Snow Hill residents can ride the riverboat at a discounted price.

There has been talk of a ceremony to unveil the Black Eyed Susan, including a possible Memorial Day celebration. Weber said no plans or dates are set, but a celebration of some sort is likely.

County ramping up vaccine efforts

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) Worcester County health officials continue to administer as many covid vaccines as possible as the state steadily adds more groups of eligible recipients.

According to Ocean City Fire Department Battalion Chief Richard Koch, the county health department is holding one vaccination clinic a week in Ocean City at Northside Park.

The health department supplies the doses and they vary each week. Koch said the numbers could be as low as 100 to as high as more than 250.

The health department also hosts vaccine clinics at the Worcester County Recreation Center in Snow Hill, West Ocean City Park and Ride, the Elks Lodge in Pocomoke and the health department facility in Snow

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To check when and where the vaccines are offered for the coming week, visit: worcesterhealth.org/ news/1762-worcester-health-expands-covid-19-vaccinations-tophase-2.

Roughly 80 to 85 percent of all fire, emergency medical services and police in Worcester County have received vaccinations, according to Koch, and everyone within those groups who has requested a vaccine has received one.

There is also little to no wait time to receive a vaccine at the clinics, according to the information from the fire department, and after the vaccine is given, recipients Gov. Hogan must wait 15 minutes.

Sarah Yonker, the director of marketing for Atlantic General Hospital, said hospital staff members are also making a push to vaccinate African American residents.

According to a news release, a clinic is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at Atlantic General Hospital to administer first doses of the covid vaccine to members of the congregations of several African American churches in Worcester County. More than 250 individuals will receive vaccines at the clinic.

The release said data shows that individuals of color are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill or dying from covid-19. It also said Black Americans have also expressed a higher level of reluctance to receiving the vaccine.

Vaccine info: As of Thursday morning, Maryland providers had administered 2,358,677 total doses of covid-19 vaccines, according to a news release from Gov. Larry Hogan. The state is averaging 45,855 shots per day.

According to the CDC, 27 percent of Maryland’s total population have received vaccines, including 71.3 percent of residents 65 and older.

The county health department had received 9,570 doses as of Thursday according to its website. So far, the health department has administered a total of 8,209.

Yonker said via email Wednesday that the hospital has received 8,830 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Community members in Phases 1A, 1B and 1C have received 7,778 of those doses and Yonker said officials were set Thursday to hold their first clinics for individuals in Phase 2A. The hospital has 332 staff members who have received the Pfizer vaccine and 343 who have received the Moderna, both first and second doses. Another 22 more employees have received Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccines. Yonkers said 357 staff have administered 357 vaccines at clinics since last week.

Yonker added that the hospital is not set to receive any more Johnson & Johnson vaccines or “first dose” vaccines of any of the brands next week.

Covid case info: As of Thursday, Worcester’s covid19 positivity rate was 3.72 percent, an increase from 2.22 percent last week.

The state’s rate is 4.59 percent.

Also as of Thursday, Maryland reported 403,982 confirmed cases of covid-19.

Worcester County has confirmed 23 new cases since last week, bringing the county’s total cases since March to 3,331.

The Maryland Department of Health reported Berlin and Ocean Pines had 1,346 cases and Ocean City had 832.

Worcester recorded 92 deaths from covid-19.

As of Wednesday evening, one patient with coronavirus was in the intensive care unit at Atlantic General Hospital and one was in the medical/surgical unit, Yonker said.

Hospital personnel have cared for eight patients who have come off a ventilator and Atlantic General had discharged 325 coronavirus patients who are recovering.

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PAGE 9

Ocean City Today

Worcester still waiting for mass vaccination site

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) Gov. Larry Hogan this week announced plans to open six more covid-19 mass vaccination sites in counties across the state of Maryland, none of which were on the Eastern Shore.

At the beginning of April, sites will open at the Timonium Fairgrounds in Baltimore County and Montgomery See STATE Page 10

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Ocean City Today

MARCH 26, 2021

State adding six more mass vaccine sites by end of April Continued from Page 9 College in Germantown. In midApril, Frederick and Anne Arundel counties will welcome clinics, followed by Howard and Hartford counties later in the month, bringing the total number in the state to 12.

The only mass vaccination clinic on the Eastern Shore is in Wicomico County. It equally serves residents in Wicomico, Dorcester and Worcester counties.

Hogan also said during last week’s news conference that officials will on Tuesday begin vaccinating residents in Phase 2B, which includes anyone 16 and older with a disability.

Marylanders in Phases 1, 2A and 2B are all eligible now to pre-register for an appointment at a mass vacci-

nation site by visiting covidvax.maryland.gov or calling 1-855-MDGOVAX (1-855-634-6829). Hogan said Tuesday that more than 150,000 Marylanders had successfully preregistered.

By April 27, Hogan said he expects that every resident will be eligible to receive the vaccine.

As of Thursday morning, Maryland providers had administered 2,358,677 total doses of covid-19 vaccines. The state is averaging 45,855 shots per day.

Hogan also emphasized the importance of getting the vaccine to stop the spread of covid-19 and its variants, which he said are beginning to show up in parts of the state. He pointed out that officials are strug-

gling now to meet the demand with the supply, but he anticipates that will shift and they will eventually “go out looking for people” to get vaccines once the supply catches up.

Snow Hill to name permanent town manager in spring

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) The Town of Snow Hill will select a permanent town manager this spring.

“It is a unique skill set that requires both detailed business acumen and creative, out-of-the-box thinking,” said administrative assistant Margot Restor in a press release. “ Snow Hill is experiencing a lot of positive growth recently, including the end of March arrival of their new acquisition, the Black-Eyed Susan Riverboat, and the groundbreaking of its new, 50-home development, Huntingfields, to name just a few projects.”

Gary Weber, who briefly served as mayor in 2019, has held the position in the interim for the last two years.

The position has remained without a permanent hire, in part, because candidates have either asked for too much money or did not possess adequate qualifications, according to the press release.

General elections for various positions, including mayor, will occur in Snow Hill on May 4. The new mayor will review city manager applications, including Weber’s, and make a recommendation to the town council.

The council will then take a vote to decide the new city manager.

Candidates have until April 12 to apply.

MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

PHOTO COURTESY GLENN IRWIN

OCDC was awarded $50,000 from the state to assist in the organization’s façade improvement program, that helps property owners like 1202 Baltimore Avenue, fix up the exterior of the building.

OCDC façade program gets $50K

By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) The Ocean City Development, or OCDC, received a $50,000 grant earlier this month from the State of Maryland for a program that could help 10 commercial or residential property owners improve the façade of their buildings.

The organization, which concentrates on the revitalization of the downtown portion of Ocean City, applies for the Community Legacy program grant each year to help fund the OCDC Façade Improvement Program, and has received it every year since it was established in 2002.

To this day, Executive Director Glenn Irwin said this week, the money has helped pay for exterior improvements to 246 properties in downtown Ocean City.

The projects included things like siding and porch improvements.

“The $50,000 allows us to do at least 10 projects,” Irwin said Monday.

“Out of the 246 projects completed – that would total over $7 million of private investment – since we started applying for façade grants, we’ve received a little over $1.1 million in grant funds.”

The money has been used for proj-

ects between the inlet and 17th Street.

The way the façade program works is once a project is approved, OCDC will pay one-third of the total cost, which averages to about $5,000 per project.

“We won’t break the one-third rule,” he said, noting that the organization once paid $7,500 to help with a $22,500 job. “We also stay away from condos of more than six units.”

While other municipalities across the Glenn Irwin state have façade improvement programs, Irwin described OCDC’s as a model that others strive to be, saying that other jurisdictions have contacted OCDC for advice on how to operate similar programs.

The façade program is just one that OCDC offers, but also one it can consistently fulfill.

“We’ve received these funds for many years,” Irwin said of the grant his organization gets for the façade program. “It’s a really good program.

We plan on keeping it going every year as long as we can get funding.”

The Town of Berlin, which also has

a façade improvement program, received $50,000 from the state as well.

On March 9, Gov. Larry Hogan announced the awardees for three state revitalization programs managed by the State Department of Housing and Community Development, including the Community Legacy Program, Strategic Demolition Fund, and the Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative.

In total, the state awarded $27 million to 157 projects in 19 counties and Baltimore City to support economic growth and community development, according to a press release.

More specifically, $6 million of the $27 million was awarded to 64 projects in Maryland as part of the Community Legacy program – the same program through which the OCDC received its grant.

“Through the state’s revitalization program, we have a comprehensive toolbox to work with local governments, nonprofits, residents and other partners to improve their communities,” Hogan said in the release.

“These awards will create jobs and support Maryland’s continued economic recovery from the covid-19 pandemic.”

Fire at Nick’s Original House of Ribs an accident

By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (March 26, 2021)A fire that erupted at a popular restaurant in north Ocean City last week has been ruled accidental by fire officials.

Ocean City Fire Department crews responded to a report of a fire at Nick’s Original House of Ribs at the corner of 144th Street and Coastal Highway on March 18. When they arrived, firefighters found a gas-fueled fire in the kitchen.

Crews from the department were able to turn off the gas and extinguish the fire, which according to a press release, caused “minimal damage to the kitchen area.”

The release also stated that one person was injured in the fire and refused to be taken to the hospital for treatment.

“The Ocean City Fire Department is amazing,” Scott Heise, the owner of Nick’s said on Wednesday. “They are so professional. They are fabulous.

Their response time was great and so quick.”

See DAMAGES Page 13

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PAGE 13

Ocean City Today

Damages limited

The Ocean City Fire Department responded to a gas fire at Nick’s Original House of Ribs at 144th Street on Thursday, March 18, which caused very little damage.

Continued from Page 12 Heise said crews were cleaning the kitchen hoods when they hit a gas line that ignited the fryers.

Fortunately, he said, the only damage done was a little discoloration to the hoods. Other than that, the restaurant was fully operational later that night.

An investigation into the cause of the fire by the Ocean City fire marshal’s office determined the incident to be accidental.

Ryan Whittington, the spokesman for the Ocean City Fire Department, had no additional details about the incident when reached this week.

GREG WEHNER/ OCEAN CITY TODAY

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PAGE 14

MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

OC museum tracks covid-19 effects on area residents

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) A year ago, a small city that earns its money by entertaining outsiders closed up shop.

It wasn’t just Ocean City. Around the world, economies and communities were being ravaged by the thennascent coronavirus pandemic.

That scourge has left in its wake countless memories of hardship and tragedy, but also hope, after communities, businesses and governments banded together to survive the challenges ahead.

The Ocean City Museum Society is now documenting Nancy Howard and preserving those memories with the “Save Our Stories” project. “(This project) is a remembrance by the people who either live in Ocean City or visit Ocean City and what they experienced, felt, and how the (pandemic) affected them,” said Nancy Howard, president of the Ocean City Museum Society Board of Directors. “I thought it would be cathartic to tell others what they experienced and what it’s meant to them.”

The museum has fielded around a dozen submissions so far and hopes to add more, especially as the pandemic continues to wind down, said Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum Assistant Curator Cara Downey.

“We’re still in the thick of the pandemic,” Downey said. “People may not yet be comfortable (coming forward), but hopefully people will come through soon.”

Now up on the museum’s website is an 18-minute-long video in which museum staff interview individuals from both the private and public sectors.

In the video, interviewees discuss See UNITY Page 15

CHART COURTESY OF COAST GUARD

The Coast Guard security zone, shaped like a trapezoid, is about 10 miles off the coast of Ocean City. The zone will be off limits to unauthorized boaters from April 25 to May 8.

Temporary security zone off limits Coast Guard-controlled area to close portion of fishing waters off OC

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) A temporary security zone controlled by the United States Coast Guard will be established approximately 8 miles off the coast of Ocean City from April 25 through May 8.

“The (local military) has determined that a security zone is needed for waterborne protection of the public, mitigation of potential terrorist acts, and the enhancing of public and maritime safety and security in order to safeguard life, property and the environment on or near the navigable waters near Ocean City,” according to a press release from the Coast Guard.

While the area is under Coast Guard control, it will be off limits to unauthorized boaters.

Capt. Monty Hawkins, of the Morn-

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ing Star charter boat, said it was too early to tell how the cordoned-off stretch will affect fishing, but remained skeptical. “(The Coast Guard) posted this thing in the Federal Register and said, ‘This is something we’d like to do — have any objections?’ “ Hawkins said. “Well, yeah, we do have objections. We have a strong objections.”

‘Well, yeah, we do have objections.

We have a strong objections.’

Capt. Monty Hawkins While the adverse affects to his business usually aren’t as dire in mid-spring as they would be in mid-summer, Hawkins said, the loosening of covid-19 restrictions could trigger an early-season rush, with which the security zone could interfere.

The area is roughly a trapezoid running north to south, with the short end

on the west side, and its southern end covering a portion of the Bass Grounds fishing area. It is about the length of Ocean City itself offshore. It is parallel to most of Ocean City and the northern half of Assateague Island.

The enclosing coordinates for the zone are 38 degrees 23.56 minutes north latitude and 074 degrees 48.06 minutes west longitude, 38 degrees 21.40 minutes north latitude and 074 degrees 48.33 minutes west longitude, 38 degrees 17.54 minutes north latitude and 074 degrees 49 .57 minutes west longitude, 38 degrees 15.04 minutes north latitude and 074 degrees 51.44 minutes west longitude, 38 degrees 18.52 minutes north and 074 degrees 54.24 minutes west latitude, and 38 degrees 22.55 minutes north and 074 degrees 52.44 minutes west.

The Coast Guard will field questions and concerns from the general public regarding the security zone until April 15. Comments can be made at https://www.regulations.gov/.

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Ocean City Today The Ocean City Museum Society’s “Save Our Stories” project tells the firstperson accounts of Ocean City residents, businesspeople and politicians and their experiences with the covid-19 pandemic. Individuals interested in contributing to the project can do so on the museum’s website.

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Unity during covid-19 to be focus of OC museum exhibit Continued from Page 14 how the pandemic affected their jobs, lessons learned and unforgettable memories, among other topics.

“It was a challenging time, especially for a community that relies on tourism, hospitality and welcoming people,” Susan Jones, executive director of the Ocean City Hotel-MotelRestaurant Association, said in her interview for the project. “When we had to put out the first press release to ask people not to come to Ocean City, it really went against everything we stand for as a tourism community.”

But through the hardships, a sense of unification materialized. “(This project) is a recognition of how challenging it’s been for the community,” Downey said. “People had to think quickly on their feet how to survive this, and as a result, it brought us together.”

Howard said she came up with the “Save Our Stories” idea after considering the positive feedback the museum received for a similar project that documented how Ocean City was affected by the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962, a late-winter

(March 26, 2021) Comcast recently announced it has completed construction in Ocean Pines – expanding the company’s advanced fiber-optic network to 8,352 homes.

In addition to Gigabit internet service, residential customers in Ocean Pines will have access to all Xfinity services, including the awardwinning Xfinity X1 video platform, Xfinity Home, Xfinity Voice and Xfinity Mobile.

Businesses in the area will be able to select from the full suite of Comcast Business products and services, including Ethernet network speeds up to 100 Gigabits-per-second.

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nor’easter that pummeled the midAtlantic region and killed 40 people.

Viewings of that documentary, in normal times, typically fill a room to capacity, Howard said.

Howard said the project’s goal is to have a “Save Our Stories” documentary for future generations to enjoy.

“Hopefully, we get so many submissions that we can’t put them all in the film,” Howard said. “But it would be nice to have a record of what Ocean City experienced at this time on all levels — restaurant owners, visitors, paramedics, teachers. We want information from all. And I’d venture to say 50 years from now (like with the Ash Wednesday Storm today), people will be interested in what happened because this is history.”

Anyone who is interested in contributing to the “Save Our Stories” project can do so by visiting http://ocmuseum.org and clicking “COVID-19 Stories.”

Entries can be submitted in written form or in a five-minute audio recording. Individuals can elect to allow the museum to publish their submission or designate it for archive only.

Comcast grows high speed fiber to Ocean Pines area program, providing low-cost broadband service, digital literacy training and discounted computers.

“We’re excited to bring Comcast’s products and services to some of our residents,” said Ocean Pines Association Treasurer and former President Doug Parks. “We appreciate Comcast’s commitment and investment in our area.”

“Comcast has built a powerful network with a simple purpose – to keep our customers connected,” said Chris Comer, director, Government & Regulatory Affairs in Comcast’s Beltway Region. “We recognize that technology drives innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth, and we are excited for our investment in Ocean Pines.”

PAGE 15

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PAGE 16

MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

Failing downtown bulkhead to be replaced in 2021

By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) Nearly one-third of the $1.5 million that the Ocean City council approved for spending on capital improvement projects will go toward the replacement and repair of a bulkhead on the west end of Fourth Street, where the road meets Chicago Avenue.

Sections of the hardened structure look like rusted lace, as corrosion has eaten away and developed holes throughout portions of the steel.

In order to replace the bulkhead, the city has agreed to spend $450,000.

Terry McGean City Engineer Terry McGean said on Tuesday that work on the bulkhead’s replacement should begin in the fall.

He pointed out that only the portion directly at the end of Fourth Street will be replaced and the rest of the bulkhead, which stretches down to Second Street, will need to be repaired.

But to replace the failing bulkhead, core samples will need to be taken so engineers know what is beneath the seafloor.

McGean said he expects that the new bulkhead will be built landward of the current structure.

When determining which capital improvement projects to fund in 2022, both the City Council and city staff ranked the replacement of the Chicago Avenue bulkhead as critical.

GREG WEHNER/OCEAN CITY TODAY

The replacement of a failing bulkhead along Chicago Avenue was approved by the Ocean City Mayor and City Council as a capital improvement project, costing the city $450,000.

During discussions between McGean and council in March, McGean noted that a giant sinkhole was forming under the sidewalk by the bulkhead. He told members of council that the city will have problems with the street collapsing at some point.

The bulkhead has been patched several times, and it is unclear how long the most recent one would last.

McGean said the city is waiting on permit approval from state agencies such as the Maryland Department of Environment to get the ball rolling on the project.

When it comes to displacing sea life that harbors along the bulkhead, McGean said constructing the bulkhead landward of the old installation should have little impact.

The bulkhead is a popular spot for

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shore fishermen, who during the summertime will line up with their rods leaning up against the rails behind and above the structures. If work begins in the fall, it could have an impact on fishing, though the rest of the bulkhead – or the newer stretch that shoots south from the heavily corroded portion – should still be available.

In addition to spending $450,000 on the bulkhead replacement as a capital improvement project, the council also agreed to spend $500,000 on street paving, $110,000 to replace a power supply at the public safety building, $170,000 to repair the fire headquarters elevator, $100,000 to clean the storm drains, $80,000 to replace the deck at Sunset Park, and $150,000 to replace the west gym floor at Northside Park.

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MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

Gold Coast Beer, Wine and Liquor to move inside mall

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

A bill that cleared the House this week would allow for bars and restaurants to continue offering alcoholic drinks for takeout and delivery after the state of emergency ends. Local lawmakers say the move would help local businesses get back on their feet after the pandemic.

By Ally Lanasa Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) The Worcester County Board of License Commissioners voted 2-1 last Wednesday to allow Mohamad “Mike” Ramadan’s transfer his liquor license for Gold Coast Beer, Wine and Liquor to inside the mall at the former Peebles location.

The license transfer request was for a Class A Beer, Wine and Liquor sevenday license from 11401-A Coastal Highway to 11531 Coastal Highway. Ramadan said he would have the same landlord if the transfer was approved.

“The use that you’re seeking to transfer inside the mall property actually was inside the mall at one time, correct?” attorney Mark Cropper said. “In, I believe, 1989, according to my records, it was … moved from inside the mall out to the site, which is now the parking lot.”

The current Gold Coast Beer, Wine and Liquor building is 3,200 square

feet. The 9,990 square feet at the former Peebles location includes retail space, storage and a hallway leading to a loading dock.

Cropper argued that the liquor, beer and wine store is the only year-round licensed premise in the northern end of Ocean City to the Delaware line that can sell beer, wine and liquor in factory sealed containers off premise. Higgins Crab House on 128th Street can sell alcoholic beverages in factory sealed containers off premise, but it closes during the off season.

Ramadan agreed with Cropper that most of his customers are owners or visitors from “High Rise Row” across the street.

Ramadan has had a 1,500 squarefoot beer and wine store in the Gold Coast area since 1999. At the time, the county had a liquor store there. In 2017, Ramadan acquired the liquor store and See LIQUOR Page 19

Md. Senate passes law on cocktail carryout Bill would extend covid-era allowances on takeout and delivery for two more years

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) While bars and restaurants slowly transition past strict covid capacity restrictions, the option to carry out boozy drinks could linger a little longer.

This week, a bill passed the Maryland Senate that would extend provisions imposed in March of last year permitting licensed establishments to offer takeout and delivery of sealed alcoholic drinks when purchased with

food in the wake of covid-spurred closures.

The measure has moved on now to the House and if passed, would allow counties to opt in or out of extending the provisions for another two years beginning July 1.

Mary Beth Presently, the proviCarozza sion is set to expire at the end of the state of emergency.

Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-38) said in a news release that the extension would especially help bars and restaurants in Worcester County, which have

faced a tough year and rely heavily on food and alcohol sales to stay afloat. She noted that some jurisdictions have made the provisions permanent and argue against the amendment that required it to expire after two years.

“I grew up in the Susan Jones restaurant business. I spent this entire interim on bi-weekly calls with the Maryland Restaurant Association and the Ocean City Hotel-Motel Restaurant Association members working on their very survival and keeping jobs in those restaurants,” Carozza said. “These restaurants were literally shut down, they only had the option for carryout…

When the governor’s emergency order ends, our small businesses in our local communities in each one of our districts, they still have a long road to recovery.”

Del. Wayne Hartman (R-38 C) said he also supports the bill and pointed out that it is low risk because it allows for counties to opt out.

“Whenever there’s enabling legislation, I’m typically supportive of it.

There’s no reason in my eyes [not to pass it],” he said.

Susan Jones, the executive director of the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, said in an email this week that those in the hospitality industry were pleased that the Senate passed the bill and hope that it will ultimately clear the House.

“Given that restaurants have had their ability to generate income restricted for over a year, this has been a welcome option to help spur sales for many of our members. Consumers seem to be enjoying the convenience of to-go cocktails, so it is a win-win. And, let’s not forget the alcohol tax revenue generated certainly helps the State.”

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MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

PAGE 19

Liquor store receives Class A license transfer for move Continued from Page 18 combined it with his establishment.

Since 2018, he said his sales have increased, and went up by 25 percent last year.

Ramadan and Cropper argued that if he had a larger store, he’d be able to offer a greater variety of beer, wine and liquor, and he’d have greater buying power to purchase alcohol at a better rate. Then, Ramadan could pass those savings onto his customers.

He also told attorney Robin Cockey, who served as counsel for business owners who opposed the license transfer, that those businesses had an advantage over him because of their buying power and size. Responding to Cockey, Ramadan said that if he was granted the license it would not impair his competitors.

Three witnesses testified in opposition to the license transfer request.

John Trader, owner of Liquid Assets on 94th Street, said he has also seen an al increase in sales, but if Ramadan was provided the license he would be negatively affected.

“Buying power is everything in our industry,” Trader said.

Liquid Assets is approximately 6,000 square feet with a dining area, a bar area, office space, storage, a kitchen and preparation space and a retail space.

Cropper argued that the entire 6,000 square feet is licensed premise, so beer, wine and liquor could be sold anywhere in Liquid Assets. As the owner, Trader determines how much space is for retail and how much is for storage.

“It’s a different business plan. It’s a different format,” Trader replied. “The business plan Mr. Ramadan is proposing … that is the sort of disruptive thing that is going to unleash a flood of applications before the board of licensees to come and change their licensed premise.”

Michael Hoey, owner of Beer Bellies Beer & Wine on 116th Street, also said he had a slight increase in sales last year because of the covid-19 restrictions of bars and restaurants. Hoey also said Gold Coast Beer, Wine and Liquor, which is a few blocks away, is a direct competitor with the exception that he does not sell liquor at Beer Bellies. He argued that the new location is too close to his establishment, which will affect his sales. Cropper countered that the former Peebles is about 200 feet from the existing Gold Coast Beer, Wine and Liquor.

“I think 10 feet is different,” Hoey said.

“Customers in the summer are walking customers that live in the high rises across the street and down the street.”

Responding to Cropper, Hoey said his licensed premise is about 1,600 square feet of retail space.

ALLY LANASA/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Gold Coast Beer, Wine and Liquor will move inside the Gold Coast Mall at the former Peebles location after the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners approved owner Mohamad “Mike” Ramadan’s license transfer request on March 17.

Then, Robert Higgins, president and owner of the Higgins Crab House locations, including Higgins Crab House on 128th Street, argued that the need is being met for the community with the existing Gold Coast Beer, Wine and Liquor and other neighboring establishments.

Higgins agreed with Trader that the larger the establishment, the greater buying power you will have.

“Do you feel that this request would be detrimental to the general public in Ocean City?” asked Commissioner William Esham Jr. Higgins replied that what could become detrimental is a “keep-up game” among licensed premises. Like Trader, Higgins expressed concern for an influx of applications for license transfers.

Commissioner R. Charles Nichols

asked Ramadan if it was possible to make the retail space smaller.

After a brief break so Ramadan could consult with Cropper, he agreed to decrease to 6,000 square feet of retail space and increase the storage space.

Following the closing statements from Cropper and Cockey, Esham admitted he is friends with Trader, but he did not hear in the testimonies how granting the license transfer would be detrimental to the public.

“I’m not feeling that the need has been established to accommodate the public,” said Commissioner Marty Pusey.

Pusey also expressed concern about moving into warehouse type of liquor stores in Ocean City and voted against the license transfer.

PAGE 20

MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

Liquor Depot in West Ocean City granted Class D license

ALLY LANASA/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Dina Heise, owner of Lion Scale Inc., was granted a Class D Beer, Wine and Liquor seven-day license for the Liquor Depot at 9935 Stephen Decatur Highway in West Ocean City during the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners meeting on March 17.

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By Ally Lanasa Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) Dina Heise, sole owner and president of Lion Scale Inc., was granted a transfer of a Class D Beer, Wine and Liquor seven-day license for the Liquor Depot at 9935 Stephen Decatur Highway by the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners.

The West Ocean City property will be leased with monthly rent. Heise’s husband, Scott, who owns Pizza Tugos next door, will not be involved with the business. Likewise, Heise is not involved with Pizza Tugos the board was told last Wednesday.

Architect Jeff Schoelhopf was hired to make renovations to the property, which has nearly 7,000 square feet of retail space, including storage.

So far, Heise has reorganized shelves at the front of the store. She also plans to remove the bar in the beer garden and incorporate the area into the licensed store.

In addition, the commissioners reviewed a site plan that showed a vestibule at the entrance of the store.

Heise told the commissioners that customers will not be able to enter

from the service entrance, only at the front of the store.

“We’d like you to possibly consider … there’s an existing fenced in area here that’s in the middle of the condo that you can walk out into where that service entrance goes, making that part of the licensed premise because we don’t want to get in trouble if somebody takes alcohol out of the bar,” said attorney Hugh Cropper, who represented Lion Scale at the hearing.

Heise added that she thought that area was already included in the license premise and that she was seeking the same liquor license transfer from Leander Inc. to Lion Scale.

Another bar with 25 seats will remain inside Liquor Depot.

“Entertainment would be in the bar area if we chose to do it,” Heise said.

Furthermore, Heise’s son, Charlie, will be one of the general managers of the liquor store.

The commissioners unanimously approved the license transfer request with the elimination of a restriction that prohibited the sale of alcohol in quantities more than 10 ounces.

ALLY LANASA/OCEAN CITY TODAY

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MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

PAGE 21

Ocean 13 to open in former Sanibel’s on 32nd St. in OC

By Ally Lanasa Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) Ocean 13 restaurant, which was forced to move when the Beach Plaza Hotel permanently closed at 13th Street and Atlantic Avenue in January, has a new home and a liquor license to go with it.

The Worcester County Board of License Commissioners last Wednesday approved the transfer of a Class B Beer, Wine and Liquor seven-day license and a membership change for Ocean 13 at the former Sanibel’s Oceanside at 106 32nd St. Jeremy Brink and Steve Bowers, the owners of Ocean 13, have obtained a lease to operate a business in the La Quinta Inn & Suites. The owners sought a transfer of its existing Class B Beer, Wine and Liquor sevenday license from 1301 Atlantic Avenue to the 32nd Street property and to make the entire hotel part of the licensed premises.

Bowers said they plan to provide alcoholic beverages through room service, similar to what they offered at the Beach Plaza Hotel.

According to the site plan, there is no bar in the upstairs dining room at the new location. On the first-floor level, Bowers and Brink proposed a bar with 24 seats as well as 16 seats for dining tables.

The north deck showed 30 seats between four-top and two-top tables.

Another 10 seats were shown on the site plan for the south deck.

The owners applied to serve alcoholic beverages on the north deck from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. On the south side, they requested permission to serve alcoholic beverages from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. with background music from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. In addition, they asked to be able to serve alcoholic beverages on the pool deck in plastic containers only from 9 a.m. until sunset.

The owners also asked for one bar top video game and live entertain-

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ment with up to four pieces amplified inside seven days a week from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.

“I think it will accommodate the public need and then also make us a viable business for what’s going on around there as well,” Bowers said.

Bowers said Ocean 13 will be open for breakfast, but to his knowledge, none of the previous establishments at that location had served breakfast.

Following a suggestion from License Commissioner William Esham Jr. the board agreed to award Ocean 13 a license with the same restrictions as the former Sanibel’s, which did not include morning service. He said the owners could return to the board to seek changes in the future if necessary.

ALLY LANASA/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Ocean 13 restaurant is moving to the former Sanibel’s Oceanside at 106 32nd St. after receiving a Class B Beer, Wine and Liquor seven-day license from the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners on March 17.

PAGE 22

Ocean City Today

MARCH 26, 2021

WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS

By Ally Lanasa Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) The Worcester County Board of License Commissioners granted several license transfers during their meeting on March 17.

Real Raw Organics The commissioners accepted a request for a Class A Beer, Wine and Liquor seven-day license from Real Raw Organics at 3406 Coastal Highway in Ocean City.

Logan Willey, the owner of the kombucha brewery and café, sought the license for factory-sealed containers for carryout only, rather than for the whole premise.

In addition to a full menu, the business offers a small grocery area with organic snacks. There is also outdoor seating, where customers can partake of carryout items.

Willey, who has been in the restaurant business for 15 years, plans to offer natural wines, specialty beers and hard kombuchas.

Currently, Real Raw Organics is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. but will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day during in season.

Tequila Frogs OC A Class B Beer, Wine and Liquor seven-day license was granted to Tequila Frogs OC at 5401 Coastal Highway Units C1, C2 and C3 in Ocean City.

The floor plan of the Mexican-themed restaurant will remain as it was at the former Ky West restaurant and lounge.

There are about 100 seats at tables inside. The bar area will have roughly 13 seats, and there will be 64 seats outside at tables.

The owners did not request an outdoor bar or any outdoor entertainment.

However, they did ask for background music outside for diners.

In addition, the owners requested indoor live entertainment with five pieces amplified four days a week from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Tequila Frogs OC plans to have about 50 employees.

April Payne, the liquor license administrator for Worcester County, said the previous license for the location permitted indoor live entertainment with three pieces not amplified from 4 p.m. to midnight five days per week.

In addition, outside speakers were allowed from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The restaurant was granted the license with the restrictions of the previous establishment.

Grove Market The commissioners approved a request for a Class B Beer, Wine and Liquor seven-day license from Dale Baker and Leslie Lunga to BetterFetter Grove Inc. for the Grove Market on St. Martin’s Neck Road near Lighthouse Sound.

The same location and footprint will remain with four bar seats.

ALLY LANASA/OCEAN CITY TODAY

The Worcester County Board of License Commissioners granted a Class A Beer, Wine and Liquor seven-day license to Real Raw Organics at 3406 Coastal Highway on March 17.

Kim Griffin, who has been in the restaurant and bar business for 40 years, will be the general manager of the establishment.

Fast Eddie’s The commissioners also granted a Class B Beer, Wine and Liquor sevenday license to Fast Eddie’s at 11805 Coastal Highway in Ocean City.

Francis Raffo was the qualifying resident agent for the application.

Marc Ginsberg is the 70 percent owner of the LLC. and Jonathon Latta, Edward Johnson Jr. and Raffo each have a 10 percent share. The latter three will run the daily operations of the business.

“Mr. Ginsberg will not be involved directly with the management of the property,” said attorney Mark Cropper. “Mr. Raffo will be the director of operations, Mr. Latta will be the head chef [and] Mr. Johnson will manage the front of the house.”

Cropper told the commissioners that the property was licensed previously, adding that the owners were seeking the same entertainment restrictions granted to the licensee. The owners asked for live entertainment with four pieces seven days a week from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. as well as background music outside.

The carryout window will be for food only.

Oceans Market ALLY LANASA/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Tequila Frogs OC will replace Ky West at 5401 Coastal Highway Units C1, C2 and C3 after the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners approved a Class B Beer, Wine and Liquor seven-day license for the establishment on March 17.

The commissioners granted a final request from Oceans Market at 14107 Coastal Highway in Ocean City to upgrade from a Class A Beer and Wine seven-day license to a Class A Beer, Wine and Liquor seven-day license.

Saroj Pratap KC had a beer and wine license since 2015 and was denied a similar request for a license upgrade in 2018. He did receive a letter of reprimand after a hearing for selling alcohol to a minor.

Pratap KC bought the 2,200 squarefoot property on Aug. 21, 2020. The retail space consists of 1,900 square feet.

He said the interior layout of the store would change if granted the license, including shelving for bottles of alcohol.

Between Gold Coast Beer, Wine and Liquor and the Delaware line, there are no other locations open year-round that sell beer, wine and liquor in factory sealed containers to go.

In addition to being a convenience store, Oceans Market is a gas station.

Pratap KC said he has not had issues with traffic or crime, and he has 17 parking spaces on the property.

Cropper added that Pratap KC has plans to improve the property.

Commissioner Marty Pusey expressed concern about surveillance with the current layout of the store. Currently, two people work at the store per shift, but Pratap KC said he was considering adding another employee if his request was approved.

Vincent dePaul Gisriel Jr. also testified in support of approval of the application.

“There’s very little up there in the way of hard liquor,” he said. “This store is within close proximity to hundreds and hundreds of people, many of whom are year around who could actually walk there.”

Gisriel also said Oceans Market could serve neighboring Delaware residents when the Delaware liquor stores close earlier, which brings more revenue to Maryland.

MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

Berlin nudges up property taxes for FY22 by 1.5 cents

By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) The Berlin Town Council spent two hours Monday night vetting a proposal from Mayor Zack Tyndall to keep property tax rates static for FY22 but eventually voted for a minor increase to 81.5 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Tyndall remind the council that it was advised at its March 8 meeting that a $130,000 shortfall existed between expenditures of about $6.5 million revenue and projections of $6.4 million.

Since that point, Tyndall said efforts to reduce the budget gap indicated that ledgers Natalie Saleh could be balanced without increasing Berlin’s current 80-cent real property tax rate.

“I thought we could do it without raising taxes,” he said. Tyndall said employee health care costs and revised revenue projections would be forthcoming.

Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood said department heads were in attendance that evening to answer questions and provide clarifications.

“Yes, the budget is balanced but take a look at the guts of how you got balanced,” he said.

Fleetwood stressed the importance of providing resources for departments to perform adequately.

“We’re all part of the same team,” he said. “It’s a monumental decision on your part.”

Among other means to flatten the budget differential, Tyndall proposed keeping salaries flat for FY22.

Questioning that approach was Planning Director Dave Engelhart, who asked council members to confirm if proposed department funding allocations were on par with initial budget requests.

“It’s balanced on the backs of employees,” he said.

Economic Development Director Ivy Wells said additional input regarding potential budget cuts would have been welcome.

“We were told what we had to cut,” she said.

Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said the current budget process has been the most difficult in his two-plus decades in charge.

“The employees are actually taking the hit,” he said.

Downing said withholding pay increases this year would only serve to exacerbate the situation in subsequent budget cycles.

“Who better than me to tell you what’s needed in the budget?” he said.

“Nobody makes an educated guess better than people that do it full time.”

See BERLIN Page 24

Serving Maryland and Delaware

PAGE 23

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Ocean City Today

MARCH 26, 2021

Berlin looks at slight increase for tax rate Continued from Page 23 Downing said the decision to forgo pay and benefit considerations for FY22 was not communicated properly.

“The council didn’t tell us anything [because] they didn’t know anything,” he said.

Town Finance Director Natalie Saleh said the 60 percent of the general fund comes from tax revenues.

“We can cut the budget to the bare bone but what do we do in two to three years?” she said. “Three years in a row we’ve been tightening.”

Fleetwood said employee heath care rates remain an unknown variable.

“We won’t know until early April what heath care will do,” he said.

While 3 percent is the largest increase to health care costs absorbed over the last decade, Fleetwood said rates have spiked up to 40 percent annually in the past.

Asked why the tax rate would need to be set in advance of pending budget hearings, Saleh said prior to 2019 the order was reversed.

“In the past we would draft the budget and leave the tax rate until the end,” she said.

Councilman Dean Burrell said the tax rate conversation thus far had been one sided.

“If I’m not considering other points of view, what good is talking?” he said.

“The only point of view that we consid-

ered is yours,” he told Tyndall.

Burrell championed treating employees fairly in terms of compensation and benefits.

Tyndall said as mayor his charge is to present tax rates and a balanced budget.

The goal is trying to avoid job cuts or layoffs, Tyndall said.

Councilman Troy Purnell highlighted the importance of assuring adequate roads funding existed.

“We need to put this money aside or we’re going to have pot holes,” he said.

Tyndall said in lieu of financing road repairs on Grant Avenue and Stevenson Lane, funds would be used to purchase a new street sweeper in FY22.

“We can pave two streets or sweep them all,” he said.

Councilman Jay Knerr suggested tax rates should be bumped up to 81.5 cents.

Saleh said the increase would produce roughly an extra $60 for real property assessed at $300,000.

Tyndall said twice that sum would be required to fully cover the budget deficit.

“We would need 3 cents to cover $130,000,” he said.

Engelhart proposed delaying the tax rate decision that evening.

“The budget has to be received 32 days prior to the end of the fiscal year … so the charter would allow us to delay the decision,” he said.

Tyndall disagreed with the approach.

“We put the work in [and] I’m com-

fortable with 80 cents,” he said.

After Purnell’s motion to set tax rates at 86 cents failed to gain traction, Burrell followed with a motion for 83 cents that also lacked a second vote.

Concurring with Burrell’s suggestion was Saleh.

“My professional opinion was 83 cents,” she said.

Tyndall acknowledged Salah’s input but disagreed.

“I understand your professional

opinion, but mine is different,” he said.

Fleetwood also argued that 83 cents was the minimum number required to stabilize the FY22 budget.

Another motion for the 83-cent rate from Councilwoman Shaneka Nichols managed to garner a second from Burrell but was rejected by members Knerr, Purnell and Jack Orris.

The council eventually voted 4-1, with Purnell opposed to set property tax rates at 81.5 cents.

OCEAN CITY WATER TOWER

The sunrise lent its color to all structures in Ocean City, including the water tower, located at St. Louis Avenue and First Street.

GREG WEHNER/ OCEAN CITY TODAY

MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

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MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

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MARCH 26, 2021 Ryan D. Bodley Ayres, Jenkins, Gordy & Almand, P.A. 6200 Coastal Highway, Suite 200 Ocean City, MD 21842 Bluewater East-A Condominium Association, Inc. c/o Ayres, Jenkins, Gordy & Almand, P.A. 6200 Coastal Highway, Suite 200 Ocean City, Maryland 21842 Plaintiff vs.

Loretta Lynn Lowe 13400 Coastal Highway, Unit AS205 Ocean City, MD 21842 Defendant IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF MARYLAND FOR WORCESTER COUNTY STATE OF MARYLAND CIVIL CASE NO. C-23-CV-19-000347

NOTICE

ORDERED, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland this 5th day of March, 2021, that the foreclosure sale of Bluewater East Condominium, Unit AS205, 13400 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Maryland 21842, made and reported by Ryan D. Bodley, Trustee, be RATIFIED AND CONFIRMED, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 5th day of April, 2021, provided a copy of this Order is published in a newspaper of general circulation in Worcester County, Maryland, once in successive weeks, before the 29th day of March, 2021.

The Report states that the total proceeds from the sale of the property to be One Hundred Thousand and Seventeen Dollars ($117,000.00).

Susan R. Braniecki CLERK, CIRCUIT COURT for Worcester County, Maryland True Copy Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County, MD OCD-3/11/3t _________________________________ MICHAEL B. MATHERS ESQ WEBB, CORNBROOKS, WILBER, VORHIS, DOUSE & MATHERS, LLP P.O. BOX 910 115 BROAD STREET SALISBURY, MD 21803-0910

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 18630 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF JOAN THERESE GRIM Notice is given that Margaret Elizabeth Holcombe, 53 Driftstone Circle, Arden, NC 28704 was on March 03, 2021 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Joan Therese Grim who died on December 18, 2020, 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

PAGE 27

Ocean City Today / Public Notices 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 3rd day of September, 2021.

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, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine 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.

Margaret Elizabeth Holcombe Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest Date of publication: March 11, 2021 OCD-3/11/3t _________________________________ MORGAN A. FISHER ESQ. WILLIAMS, MOORE, SHOCKLEY & HARRISON, LLP 3509 COASTAL HIGHWAY OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 18640 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF RUTH ANNE GRANINGER Notice is given that Regan J.R. Smith, 3509 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842, was on March 05, 2021 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ruth Anne Graninger who died on January 26, 2021, 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 5th day of September, 2021.

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, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine 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.

Regan J.R. Smith Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest Date of publication: March 11, 2021 OCD-3/11/3t _________________________________ REGAN J. R. SMITH ESQ WILLIAMS, MOORE, SHOCKLEY & HARRISON LLP 3509 COASTAL HIGHWAY OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 18643 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF ANNA G. SIRMAN Notice is given that Cordelia S. Pearson, 8016 Ninepin Branch Road, Berlin, MD 21811, was on March 08, 2021 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Anna G. Sirman who died on February 8, 2021, 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 8th day of September, 2021.

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, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine 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 pre-

sented 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.

Cordelia S. Pearson Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest Date of publication: March 11, 2021 OCD-3/11/3t _________________________________ ANN KARWACKI GOODMAN ESQ PARKER COUNTS 129 N. WASHINGTON STREET P.O. BOX 1209 EASTON, MD 21601

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 18624 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY A. VANDER CLUTE AKA: DOROTHY A. GREENAWAY Notice is given that Bruce Eric Vander Clute, 43 Moonraker Road, Berlin, MD 21811, was on March 01, 2021 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Dorothy A. Vander Clute who died on January 17, 2021, 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 1st day of September, 2021.

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, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine 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.

Bruce Eric Vander Clute Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County

PAGE 28 One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest Date of publication: March 11, 2021 OCD-3/11/3t _________________________________ James E. Clubb, Jr. 108 N. 8th Street Ocean City, Maryland 21842 410-289-2323 410-289-3417 (fax) jay@jayclubblaw.com BARRY DUFFY, JR. P.O. Box 396 Berlin, MD 21811 FOR Plaintiff vs.

GEORGE F. MANUEL 297 Tietjen Avenue Englewood, NJ 07631-3841 and THE TESTATE AND INTESTATE SUCCESSORS OF GEORGE F. MANUEL BELIEVED TO BE DECEASED, AND ALL PERSONS CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, OR UNDER THE INDIVIDUAL BELIEVED TO BE DECEASED and WORCESTER COUNTY c/o Roscoe Leslie, Esq. 1 West Market Street Room 1103 Snow Hill, MD 21863 and ALL PERSONS THAT HAVE OR CLAIM TO HAVE ANY INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY described as 1.26 Acres North Side George Island Landing Road, Stockton, Maryland George F. Manuel Survey RHO 129-6 Defendants IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY STATE OF MARYLAND CASE NO. C-23-CV-21-000038

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this proceeding is to secure the foreclosure of all rights of redemption from the tax sale on the following property located in Worcester County, Maryland, sold by Phillip G. Thompson, Collector of Taxes for the State of Maryland and for Worcester County, to the Plaintiff, the parcel of land described as follows: 1.26 Acres North Side George Island Landing Road, Stockton, Maryland, George F. Manuel Survey in Liber R.H.O. No. 129, folio 6; deed ref. 0.D.0 No. 51, folio 117, tax account no. 08-007233. The property is assessed to George F. Manuel.

The Complaint states among other things that the amount necessary for redemption has not been paid. The sale was held on May 17, 2019, and more than six (6) months has passed since that date.

It is thereupon this 5th of March, 2021, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, ORDERED, that notice be given by the insertion of a copy of this Order in some newspaper having a general circulation in Worcester County once a week for three (3) con-

Ocean City Today / Public Notices secutive weeks, warning all persons interested in the property to redeem the property or answer the Complaint by May 8, 2021, or thereafter a final judgment will be entered foreclosing all rights of redemption in the property and vesting in the Plaintiff title to said property, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances.

Beau H. Oglesby JUDGE True Copy Test Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County MD OCD-3/11/3t _________________________________

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 18625 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL JOHN MURRAY Notice is given that Kelley Murray Von Blon, 9817 Millwick Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21042, was on March 01, 2021 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Michael John Murray who died on January 31, 2021, 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 1st day of September, 2021.

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, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine 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.

Kelley Murray Von Blon Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest Date of publication: March 11, 2021 OCD-3/11/3t _________________________________

BWW Law Group, LLC 6003 Executive Blvd, Suite 101 Rockville, MD 20852 CARRIE M. WARD, et al, 6003 Executive Blvd., Suite 101 Rockville, MD 20852 Substitute Trustees/ Plaintiffs, vs.

TIMOTHY P. BROWER PATRICIA ANN BROWER 6118 South Point Road Berlin, MD 21811 and Seven Street, Boat Dock #B Berlin, MD 21811 Defendant(s).

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND Case No. C-23-CV-19-000131

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given this 10th day of March, 2021, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, that the sale of the property mentioned in these proceedings and described as 6118 South Point Road, Berlin, MD 21811 and, Seven Street, Boat Dock #B, Berlin, MD 21811, made and reported by the Substitute Trustee, will be RATIFIED AND CONFIRMED, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 12th day of April, 2021, provided a copy of this NOTICE be inserted in some daily newspaper printed in said County, once in each of three successive weeks before the 5th day of April, 2021.

The report states the purchase price at the Foreclosure sale to be $441,000.00.

Susan Braniecki Clerk, Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland True Copy Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County MD OCD-3/18/3t _________________________________ CHRIS S. MASON ESQ WILLIAMS, MOORE, SHOCKLEY & HARRISON, LLP. 3509 COASTAL HIGHWAY OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 18642 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF JAMES ERIC JOHNSON Notice is given that Vonnie Johnson, 9137 Logtown Road, Berlin, MD 21811, was on March 08, 2021 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of James Eric Johnson who died on February 5, 2021, 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 8th day of September, 2021.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present

MARCH 26, 2021 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, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine 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.

Vonnie Johnson Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest Date of publication: March 18, 2021 OCD-3/18/3t _________________________________ MORGAN A. FISHER ESQ. WILLIAMS, MOORE, SHOCKLEY & HARRISON, LLP 3509 COASTAL HIGHWAY OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 18655 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF MARTIN J. MILLER Notice is given that Michelle Humphress, 9 Grice Street, Berlin, MD 21811, was on March 12, 2021 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Martin J. Miller who died on January 21, 2021, 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 12th day of September, 2021.

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, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine 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

MARCH 26, 2021 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.

Michelle Humphress Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest Date of publication: March 18, 2021 OCD-3/18/3t _________________________________

City, that a proposed Charter amendment was introduced at their meeting of September 15, 2020. A public hearing and presentation of the Charter Resolution occurred on March 15, 2021.

Charter Amendment Resolution 2021-02 was adopted by the Mayor and City Council amending Section C-601, Conduct of elections generally, changing the municipal poll closing time from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to coincide with the general election poll closing time.

An exact copy of Resolution 202102 is posted at City Hall, available in the March 15, 2021, agenda packet online at oceancitymd.gov and can be obtained by contacting the City Clerk’s office at 410-289-8824.

OCD-3/18/4t _________________________________

2021-04 was adopted by the Mayor and City Council amending Section C-1001A, Clerk-Treasurer, to reflect the current title of this position is “City Clerk”.

An exact copy of Resolution 202104 is posted at City Hall, available in the March 15, 2021, agenda packet online at oceancitymd.gov and can be obtained by contacting the City Clerk’s office at 410-289-8824.

OCD-3/18/4t _________________________________

TOWN OF OCEAN CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT

RESOLUTION 2021-05 RE: Sabbath observance TOWN OF OCEAN CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT

TOWN OF OCEAN CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT

RESOLUTION 2021-01 RE: Municipal Election Notice is hereby given by the Mayor and City Council of Ocean City, that a proposed Charter amendment was introduced at their meeting of September 15, 2020. A public hearing and presentation of the Charter Resolution occurred on March 15, 2021.

Charter Amendment Resolution 2021-01 was adopted by the Mayor and City Council amending Section C-504, Registration of voters, acknowledging the City Clerk no longer registers municipal voters.

Municipal voters register in accordance with State law and the Town of Ocean City voter roll is maintained by the Worcester County Board of Elections and provided to the Town for each election.

An exact copy of Resolution 202101 is posted at City Hall, available in the March 15, 2021, agenda packet online at oceancitymd.gov and can be obtained by contacting the City Clerk’s office at 410-289-8824.

OCD-3/18/4t _________________________________

RESOLUTION 2021-03 RE: Finances Notice is hereby given by the Mayor and City Council of Ocean City, that a proposed Charter amendment was introduced at their meeting of September 15, 2020. A public hearing and presentation of a Charter Resolution occurred on March 15, 2021.

Charter Amendment Resolution 2021-03 was adopted by the Mayor and City Council amending Section C-721, Purchasing and contracts, updating the Charter so said section is consistent with the Town Purchasing Policy and Procedure Manual adopted by the Mayor and City Council on July 12, 2016.

An exact copy of Resolution 202103 is posted at City Hall, available in the March 15, 2021, agenda packet online at oceancitymd.gov and can be obtained by contacting the City Clerk’s office at 410-289-8824.

OCD-3/18/4t _________________________________

TOWN OF OCEAN CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT

RESOLUTION 2021-04 TOWN OF OCEAN CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT

RESOLUTION 2021-02 RE: Municipal Election Notice is hereby given by the Mayor and City Council of Ocean

PAGE 29

Ocean City Today / Public Notices

RE: Officers and Employees Notice is hereby given by the Mayor and City Council of Ocean City, that a proposed Charter amendment was introduced at their meeting of September 15, 2020. A public hearing and presentation of a Charter Resolution occurred on March 15, 2021.

Charter Amendment Resolution

Notice is hereby given by the Mayor and City Council of Ocean City, that a proposed Charter amendment was introduced at their meeting of September 15, 2020. A public hearing and presentation of a Charter Resolution occurred on March 15, 2021.

Charter Amendment Resolution 2021-05 was adopted by the Mayor and City Council amending Section C-1404, Sabbath observance, deleting this section of the Charter.

An exact copy of Resolution 202105 is posted at City Hall, available in the March 15, 2021, agenda packet online at oceancitymd.gov and can be obtained by contacting the City Clerk’s office at 410-289-8824.

OCD-3/18/4t _________________________________

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 18623 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF GEORGE M. CLARK JR. Notice is given that Maurice Clark Sr., 23 South 2nd Street, Darby, PA 19023, was on March 09, 2021 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of George M. Clark Jr. who died on December 28, 2020, 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 9th day of September, 2021.

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, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine 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.

Maurice Clark Sr. Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest Date of publication: March 18, 2021 OCD-3/18/3t _________________________________ REGAN J. R. SMITH ESQ WILLIAMS, MOORE, SHOCKLEY & HARRISON LLP 3509 COASTAL HIGHWAY OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 18656 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF CHERYL JEANETTE SPANNINGER Notice is given that Charles J. Spanninger, 100 Camelot Circle, Berlin, MD 21811, was on March 15, 2021 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Cheryl Jeanette Spanninger who died on January 21, 2021, 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 15th day of September, 2021.

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, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine 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

PAGE 30

Ocean City Today / Public Notices

unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Charles J. Spanninger Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest Date of publication: March 18, 2021 OCD-3/18/3t _________________________________

NOTICE

of Public Hearing on Maryland Transit Administration Statewide Special Transportation Assistance Program Senior Transportation Funding Grant The County Commissioners of Worcester County are applying for grant funds from the Maryland Department of Transportation. The purpose of this notice is to afford opportunity for a public hearing regarding the proposed Annual Transportation Plan (ATP).

The County Commissioners of Worcester County are applying for grant funding in the sum of $126,975 to continue to operate public and specialized transportation services. These services will be provided by the Worcester Commission on Aging which is a non-profit agency that provides senior transportation services for Worcester County seniors and persons with disabilities.

The public hearing on this application will be held on TUESDAY, MAY 4, 2021 at 10:30 A.M. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Room 1101 – Government Center One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863 The detailed service plan is available for review at Worcester County Commission on Aging building located at 4767 Snow Hill Road, Snow Hill, Maryland from 9AM to 3PM, Tuesday– Friday by appointment only. Please call 410-632-1277 x701 to set time.

THE WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OCD-3/25/2t _________________________________

NOTICE

OF PUBLIC HEARING WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AGENDA

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021 Pursuant to the provisions of the Worcester County Zoning Ordinance, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held in-person before the Board of Zoning Appeals

for Worcester County, in the Board Room (Room 1102) on the first floor of the Worcester County Government Center, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland. Masks and social distancing will be required.

6:30 p.m.

Case No. 21-19, on the lands of William & Carrie Harris, requesting a variance to the Ordinance prescribed side yard setback from 6 feet to 4.48 feet (an encroachment of 1.52 feet), associated with a proposed attached garage addition to a single family dwelling, in the R-3 MultiFamily Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code Sections ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1-207(b)(2), and ZS 1305 located at 83 Newport Drive, approximately 345 feet south west of Bimini Lane, Tax Map 16, Parcel 38, Section 1, Lot 198 of the Ocean Pines Subdivision, in the Third Tax District of Worcester County, Maryland.

6:35 p.m.

Case No. 21-20, on the lands of William Andalora & Laura Matyas, requesting a variance to the Ordinance prescribed front yard setback off of Salt Spray Drive from 10 feet to 0.2 feet (an encroachment of 9.8 feet) associated with a proposed open deck addition to a recreational vehicle in the A-2 Agricultural District, pursuant to Zoning Code Sections ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1-202(b)(12) and ZS 1305, located at 25 Salt Spray Drive, on the north east corner of the westerly intersection with Deep Sea Drive, Tax Map 16, Parcel 85, Section 1, Lot 25, of the White Horse Park Campground Subdivision, in the Third Tax District of Worcester County, Maryland.

6:40 p.m.

Case No. 21-21, on the lands of Kevin & Lori Connor, requesting a special exception to reconstruct a non-conforming second story wrap around deck in the R-3 Multi-Family Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code Sections ZS 1-116(c)(3), ZS 1-122(d)(1)B, ZS 1-207(b)(2) and ZS 1-305, located at 39 White Sail Circle, approximately 1,020 feet north east of Windjammer Road, Tax Map 16, Parcel 38, Section 1, Lot 585 of the Ocean Pines Subdivision, in the Third Tax District of Worcester County, Maryland.

6:45 p.m.

Case No. 21-23, on the application of Donald Littleton, on the lands of Charles Jordan, requesting a variance to the Ordinance prescribed rear yard setback from 25 feet to 16 feet (an encroachment of 9 feet) associated with a proposed deck and screen porch addition in the R-1 Rural Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code Sections ZS 1116(c)(4), ZS 1-205(b)(2) and ZS 1305, located at 11891 Man O’ War Lane, approximately 632 feet east of Battle Colors Lane, Tax Map 26, Parcel 1, Lot 322, of the Riddle Farm Subdivision, in the Tenth Tax District of Worcester County, Maryland.

6:50 p.m.

Case No. 21-22, on the application of Erick Bruder, on the lands of SNRX, LLC, requesting a special exception to increase the height of a fence in a front yard setback to 10 feet tall and a variance to the Ordinance prescribed front yard setback

from an arterial highway from 100 feet to 89.92 feet (an encroachment of 10.08 feet) associated with a proposed greenhouse in the I-1 Light Industrial District, pursuant to Zoning Code Sections ZS 1-116(c)(3), ZS 1116(c)(4), ZS 1-305(b)(2)A and ZS 1305(k)(3)C, located at 11903 Peerless Road, at the northwesterly intersection with Worcester Highway (US 113), Tax Map 15, Parcel 81, in the Fifth Tax District of Worcester County, Maryland.

6:55 p.m.

Case No. 21-18, on the application of Hugh Cropper, IV, Esq., on the lands of Tricia Walsh, requesting a variance to the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area buffer from 100 feet to 23.01 feet (an encroachment of 76.99 feet) and a variance to the Ordinance prescribed rear yard setback from 30 feet to 24.58 feet (an encroachment of 5.42 feet) associated with the proposed construction of a rear screen porch, sunroom, covered porch, and paver patio in the R2 Suburban Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code Sections ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1-116(m)(1), ZS 1206(b)(2) and ZS 1-305 and Natural resources Code Sections NR3-104 (c)(4) and NR3-111 located at 10110 Waterview Drive, approximately 80 feet west of Cropper Creek Lane, Tax Map 26, Parcel 444, Lot 61A, in the Tenth Tax District of Worcester County, Maryland.

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS OCD-3/25/2t _________________________________

NOTICE

of Public Hearing Amendment to Worcester County Water and Sewerage Plan for Reclassification of Water and Sewer Planning Areas Ocean Pines Sanitary Service Area The Worcester County Commissioners will hold a public hearing to consider an application filed by Wave Holdings, LLC, on behalf of Margaret Bunting, owner, to amend the Worcester County Water and Sewerage Plan to reclassify the water and sewer planning areas for a single property, more specifically identified on Tax Map 21, Parcel 72, to accommodate a planned commercial development. The proposed amendment seeks to change the water and sewer planning area designations from W6/S-6 (no planned service) to a W-1/S1 designation (present to 2 years) within the Ocean Pines water and sewer planning areas. The Worcester County Planning Commission reviewed the proposed Water and Sewerage Plan amendment at its meeting of March 4, 2021 and found it to be consistent with the Worcester County Comprehensive Plan and the zoning category for the subject property.

The public hearing on this application will be held on TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021 at 10:30 A.M. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Room 1101 – Government Center One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863

MARCH 26, 2021 The case file for this application may be reviewed on the on the County Website at http://www.worcester.md.us. Questions may be directed to Robert Mitchell, Director of Environmental Programs, by calling 410-632-1220, or by email at bmitchell@co.worcester.md.us.

THE WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OCD-3/25/2t _________________________________

NOTICE

OF PASSAGE OF BILL 21-2 WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Take Notice that Bill 21-2 (Zoning – Signs) was passed by Commissioners Bertino, Bunting, Church, Elder, Mitrecic, Nordstrom and Purnell on February 16, 2021.

A fair summary of the bill is as follows: §ZS 1-338(c)(9). (Adds a new subsection to allow up to eight internal community signs within a residential development for the purpose of conveying community events, amenity and emergency information only, with standards for their placement and design.)

This bill becomes effective fortyfive (45) days from the date of its passage.

This is only a fair summary of the bill. A full copy of the bill is posted on the Legislative Bulletin Board in the main hall of the Worcester County Government Center outside Room 1103, is available for public inspection in Room 1103 of the Worcester County Government Center once County Government Offices are opened to the public. In the interim, a full copy of the bill is available on the County Website at www.co.worcester.md.us.

THE WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OCD-3/25/3t _________________________________ SMALL ESTATE

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18658 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF PRUDENCE RENEE BURNS Notice is given that Margot E. Resto, 108 N. Washington Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863, was on March 16, 2021 appointed personal representative of the small estate of Prudence Renee Burns who died on August 3, 2020, 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.

MARCH 26, 2021 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, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine 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 claim 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.

Margot E. Resto Personal Representative True Test Copy Register of Wills for Worcester County Terri Westcott One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest Date of publication: March 25, 2021 OCD-3/25/1t _________________________________

NOTICE

OF PUBLIC HEARINGS BOARD OF PORT WARDENS Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 106, “Waterways,” Article II – “Shoreline Development” of the Code of the Town of Ocean City, Maryland, hereinafter referred to as the Code, same being the Port Wardens Ordinance of Ocean City, Maryland, notice is hereby given that public hearings will be conducted in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 301 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, Maryland.

Thursday, April 8, 2021 2 PM, Ocean City Hall, Council Chambers Face Coverings Required PW 20-01 Carried over from February 11, 2021. A request has been submitted to install one (1) 7’ x 28’ PWC float, maximum channelward extension of 7’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 724 S SURF RD UNIT 1 Parcel # 9544A-1 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: DARREN BERNSTEIN APPLICANT: HIDDEN OAK FARM, LLC. PW 21-035 A request has been submitted to install one double PWC lift with all associated poles. Maximum channelward extension of 50’.

The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 3603 N CANAL ST SLIP 303 Parcel # 4326 -303 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: ATILIO GARCIA APPLICANT: HIDDEN OAK FARM, LLC.

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Ocean City Today / Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE The motor vehicles described below have been abandoned. The owners and lien holders are hereby informed of their right to reclaim the vehicles upon payment of all charges and costs resulting from the towing, preservation, and storage of the vehicles.

The failure of the owners or lien holders to reclaim the vehicles within three weeks of notification shall be deemed a waiver by the owners or lien holders of all rights, title and interest and thereby consent to the sale of the vehicles at public auction beginning March 11, 2021 or to have it otherwise disposed of in a manner provided by law.

Line No Year 0721-20 2009

Make CADILLAC

Model SRX

Color MAROON

Style SUV

VIN 1GYEE437990155497

Mileage N/A

All vehicles will be sold at auction on-line at www.govdeals.com. For details call 410-723-6643.

AUTH: Ross Buzzuro Chief of Police OCD-3/11/3t ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PW 21-036 A request has been submitted to install a 2’ x 10’ platform addition and one (1) boatlift with all associated poles. Maximum channelward extension of 16’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 1518 SHAD ROW Parcel # 3374 -19 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNFER: WILLIAM PARKER APPLICANT: HIDDEN OAK FARM, LLC. PW 21-037 A request has been submitted to install one boat lift with all associated poles to an existing pier. Maximum channelward extension of 22’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 303 N HERON GULL CT Parcel # 6062A-82 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: SCOTT SIMMONS APPLICANT: HIDDEN OAK FARM, LLC. PW 21-038 A request has been submitted to install one 5’ x 14’ PWC float. Maximum channelward extension of 15’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 2804 PLOVER DR UNIT A Parcel # 4950 -330A in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: DERRICK CHEUNG APPLICANT: HIDDEN OAK FARMS, LLC PW 21-039 A request has been submitted to install one boat lift on existing poles and pier. Maximum channelward extension 20’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 203 125TH ST UNIT W394 Parcel # 5183A-394 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: ROBERT BRUBAKER APPLICANT: HIDDEN OAK FARM, LLC PW 21-040 A request has been submitted to install one boat lift with all associated poles to an existing pier, maximum channelward extension 20’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 203 125TH ST UNIT W294 Parcel # 5183A-294 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: RANDALL BRUBAKER APPLICANT: HIDDEN OAK FARM, LLC.

PW 21-041 A request has been submitted to install one boat lift with all associated poles to an existing pier. Maximum channeward extension of 17.5’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 208 WINDWARD DR UNIT A Parcel # 3849A-100A in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: KEVIN KRABITZ APPLICANT: HIDDEN OAK FARM, LLC. PW 21-042 A request has been submitted to install one boat lift with all associated poles to an existing platform, maximum channelward 17’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 304 WHITE HERON CT Parcel # 5313A-22 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland. PW 21-042 OWNER: JEFFREY KUHL APPLICANT: HIDDEN OAK FARM, LLC. PW 21-043 A request has been submitted to install one boat lift with all associated poles to an existing pier, maximum channewlard extension 18’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 117 70TH ST Parcel # 6636 -42 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: JOSEPH USUPUS APPLICANT: HIDDEN OAK FARM, LLC. PW 21-044 A request has been submitted to construct a 5’ x 18’ pier extension to existing 5’ x 32’ pier, construct an L shaped 8’ x 15’ pier at end, maximum channelward extension of 50’. Install one boat lift with associated pilings, maximum channelward 50’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 1915 MARLIN DR Parcel # 3297 -95 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: MICHAEL LAWSON APPLICANT: MCGINTY MARINE CONSTRUCTION PW 21-045 A request has been submitted to install 62’ of replacement vinyl bulkhead, install (1) platform boatlift, (1) boatlift, (1) jet ski lift; all with associated pilings. Maximum channelward extension of 48.5’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being lo-

cated at 1927 MARLIN DR Parcel # -101 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: KEITH GILBERT APPLICANT: MCGINTY MARINE CONSTRUCTION PW 21-046 A request has been submitted to remove existing 4’ x 20’ pier and build a new 6’ x 40’ pier. Install a 10’ x 20’ floating dock, install 2 boatlifts, 2 PWC lifts all with associated piling, maximum channelward extension 40’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 615 S PACIFIC AVE Parcel # 9970 -35 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: JOHN MCMAHON APPLICANT: MCGINTY MARINE CONSTRUCTION PW 21-047 A request has been submitted to repair with vinyl replacement ~56 lf of deteriorated bulkhead using batter piles, repair by replacement in kind three (3) – 3.5’ x 12’ finger piers and 12 mooring piles, maximum of 18” channelward of existing bulkhead. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 308 13TH ST in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

OWNER: ARONIMINK 5 CONDO C/0 TRUEMAN HASKELL APPLICANT: J. STACEY HART & ASSOC. OCD-3/25/2t _________________________________

NOTICE

OF PUBLIC HEARING BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS TOWN OF OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 110 of the Code of Ocean City, Maryland, hereinafter referred to as the Code, same being the Zoning Ordinance for Ocean City, Maryland, notice is hereby given that public hearings will be conducted by

PAGE 32

Ocean City Today / Public Notices

the Board of Zoning Appeals for Ocean City, Maryland in the Council Chambers of City Hall located on Baltimore Avenue and Third Street, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland on: April 8th, 2021 at 6:00 P.M. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(2), Powers, of the Code, an appeal has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-94(1) requesting a special use exception to allow a leased bicycle rental location in the R-3 Zoning district. The site of the appeal is described as Lots 1-12, Block 62N of the Sinepuxent Beach Company Plat, further described as located on the east side of Baltimore Avenue and the north side of 17th Street, and locally known as the Harrison Holiday Inn, 1701 Atlantic Avenue, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

APPLICANT: HARRISON HI 18 LLC C/O HALE HARRISON, PRINCIPAL (FILE #21-09400004) 6:10 P.M. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(2), Powers, of the Code, an appeal has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-94(3)(a) requesting a special yard exception to the front yard setback to create an open unenclosed porch leaving a maximum 12’ remaining setback instead of 14’ as required by code. The site of the appeal is described as Lot 5, Block 11, Section 3 of the Caine Woods Plat; further described as located on the south side of Twin Tree

LEGAL ADVERTISING Call: 410-723-6397 Fax: 410-723-6511 or E-mail: legals@oceancitytoday.net

Road, locally known as 709 Twin Tree Road, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.

APPLICANT: HAZARD CONSTRUCTION FOR DON PATTERSON, PROPERTY OWNER - (BZA 2586 #21-09400005) Further information concerning the public hearings may be examined in the office of the Department of Planning and Community Development in City Hall.

Alfred Harrison, Chairman Maureen Howarth, Attorney OCD-3/25/2t _________________________________

MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL OCEAN CITY PUBLIC

NOTICE

INVITATION TO BIDDERS TITLE: PACKAGE 2 – RECONSTRUCT RUNWAY 1432 AND IMPROVE RSA OCEAN CITY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT BID NO.: B21-01 Sealed Proposals for this project shall be accepted by: The Mayor & City Council Ocean City Attn: City Manager, Room 230, 301 N. Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, Maryland 21842, prior to 4:30 pm local time on Monday, April 26, 2021. Due to COVID-19, City Hall is closed to the public. Bidders who want to participate in the bid opening at 1:00 pm local time on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 may do so via electronic means; details will be provided at the Pre-bid meeting. Submissions must be marked “Airport Runway 14-32 Proposal” on the outermost packaging.

The Scope of Work under the Contract consists of furnishing all supervision, labor, materials, equipment, tools, and associated work necessary to complete the Package 2: Reconstruct Runway 14-32 and Improve

RSA project at Ocean City Municipal Airport. The scope of work for this project includes reconstruction and paving of Runway 14-32, shift and establishment of new Runway 14 and 32 thresholds, reconstruction and paving of runway-runway intersection, runway lighting and approach aids, and drainage and earthwork improvements to the RSA of Runway 14-32. All work shall be completed in accordance with the Contract Documents.

Contract Plans and Specifications may be obtained electronically upon request by contacting Derek Hollinger, PE, AECOM at Derek.Hollinger@aecom.com. Contract Documents will be available after 10:00 am on Monday, March 29, 2021. Questions regarding this bid will be accepted by AECOM by e m a i l i n g Derek.Hollinger@aecom.com. The cutoff date for questions is Wednesday, April 14, 2021.

A Pre-Bid Meeting for interested bidders will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at Ocean City Municipal Airport. Please limit attendees to essential personnel for social distancing purposes. Bidders interested in inspecting the work areas should do so informally and independently by contacting Jaime Giandomenico, Airport Manager, at 443-235-4434 to arrange such visit.

Each bid shall be accompanied by all completed bid forms (Form of Proposal, Affidavit, Experience, Buy American Preference, Drug-Free Certification, Utilization and DBE form, Disclosure of Interest, Bid Tabulation Forms), and a bid guaranty in the amount of 5% of the total bid amount which shall be a Cashier’s Check made payable to the Mayor & City Council of Ocean City or a bid bond which is underwritten by a surety approved by the Town.

The Bid Package submitted by the successful bidder must be reviewed and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Maryland Aviation Administration prior to award of the Contract. Accordingly, it is intended that the proj-

MARCH 26, 2021 ect be awarded to the successful bidder within 120 calendar days of the date specified above for bid opening.

Following award, a contract will be executed and administrative NTP will be issued to allow for project administrative start-up and material procurement. Construction NTP is then anticipated for August 2022.

Mayor & City Council Ocean City reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to accept any bid, or portions thereof, when, in their judgment, the public will be better served.

OCD-3/25/1t _________________________________ IN THE MATTER 0F: Tara Leigh Staggers FOR CHANGE OF NAME TO: Tara Leigh Vendetti IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY Civil No.: C-23-FM-21-000068

NOTICE

(ADULT) (DOM REL 61) The above Petitioner has filed a Petition for Change of Name in which he/she seeks to change his/her name from Tara Leigh Staggers to Tara Leigh Vendetti. The petitioner is seeking a name change because: been divorced for 10 years now and would like to go back to maiden name.

Any person may file an objection to the Petition on or before the 17th day of April, 2021. The objection must be supported by an affidavit and served upon the Petitioner in accordance with Maryland Rule 1-321.

Failure to file an objection or affidavit within the time allowed may result in a judgment by default or the granting of the relief sought.

A copy of this notice shall be published one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the county/city at least fifteen (15) days before the deadline to file an objection.

Susan R. Braniecki CLERK True Copy Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County MD OCD-3/25/1t _________________________________

Commentary

Ocean City Today Mar. 26, 2021

Page 33

Introducing our veteran reporters Before we introduce the new reporters we now have on board, it’s time to answer a question that’s been asked numerous times over the years.

Why is it, people will ask, that Ocean City Today always seems to be turning over reporters?

It’s a good question, because many people have concluded that we must have been doing something wrong for decades.

The fact is we have been doing what we set out to do from the beginning — prepare new reporters to move up in the business and send them on their way.

This approach locally goes back to the early 1970s, when Gee Williams, former mayor of Berlin, practiced it with the Beachcomber and the Eastern Shore Times.

Then and now, that’s one of the most rewarding parts of an editor’s job: seeing people take what they learned and succeed elsewhere. Reporter Ally Lanasa is doing exactly that, as she moves to Ohio to enter the magazine industry.

But now, the tables have turned in the publishing world, and weekly newspapers have become the more attractive opportunity, as dailies continue to be ruined by sluggish markets and hedge fund operators.

Now, instead of sending committed journalists on their way, we’re able to bring them back and to benefit from their experience elsewhere.

Our cast of reporting veterans, in order of appearance, are Greg Ellison, who’s been with us for five years now; Neely James, a Maryland journalism school grad, who also co-owns Mother’s Cantina; Greg Wehner, formerly of the Southampton Press in “the Hamptons” on Long Island and a Fellow of John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Jack Chavez, formerly of the Capital Gazette and Baltimore Sun community papers; and Mallory Panuska, who stepped down as features editor of the Frederick News Post to join us and who worked at with another paper here in 2005.

Admittedly, this is a different approach to staffing for us, but we like where it’s going and, once everyone is settled in, we think you will too.

Ocean City Today P.O. Box 3500, Ocean City, Md. 21843 Phone: 410-723-6397 / Fax: 410-723-6511.

EDITOR ............................................ Stewart Dobson MANAGING EDITOR ................................ Lisa Capitelli STAFF WRITERS.. Greg Ellison, Ally Lanasa, Neely James, .................... Greg Wehner, Jack Chavez, Mallory Panuska ASSISTANT PUBLISHER .......................... Elaine Brady ACCOUNT MANAGERS.......... Mary Cooper, Vicki Shrier CLASSIFIEDS/LEGALS MANAGER .... Nancy MacCubbin SENIOR DESIGNER ................................ Susan Parks GRAPHIC ARTISTS .................................. Kelly Brown PUBLISHER........................................ Christine Brown ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ...................... Gini Tufts Ocean City Today is published weekly by FLAG Publications, Inc. at 8200 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Md. 21842.

Ocean City Today is available by subscription at $150 a year.

Visit us on the Web at www.oceancitytoday.com.

Copyright 2021

PUBLIC EYE

Canal’s root problem

Having had things go sideways on me a few times, I’m not sure what the big deal is about the container ship MV Ever Given getting jammed up crossways in the Suez Canal.

On the other hand, I suppose there is something compelling about a trapped vessel that’s so long that it can arrive and depart at the same time.

At about 1,300 feet, the Ever Given takes about 15 minutes to walk from stem to stern.

By Sure, you could walk it Stewart faster, but it’s not like you’re Dobson going anywhere, so why hurry? It probably has scenic overlooks amidships, too.

Come to think of it, that could be the reason the ship ended up wedged between the canal’s banks and causing the vessels behind it to stack up like Food Lion shoppers at the toilet paper aisle this time last year.

For all we know, it could be that the bow watch stander saw a problem and it took him 10 minutes to race back to the bridge to report, “Turn right! Turn right!”

“Dang it!” the wheel man replies, “Now you tell me.”

Honestly, we know that wasn’t the case, because the watch stander undoubtedly had a radio, mobile phone or a big flag that says,

READ THE

“Go The Other Way!” And now, because of this impromptu blockade, prices on some consumer goods have begun to rise, as hundreds of ships await their turns to sail on through.

As for the Ever Given’s cargo, I have no idea what it was carrying, except possibly some bills I mailed last November that have yet to arrive at their destination.

That’s my story, anyway, since I have been unable to obtain the ship’s bill of lading. We just don’t have that information, just like we still don’t know for sure how this happened.

My preferred theory on this grounding is that the person guiding the ship through the 120-mile long narrow passage from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean received conflicting orders from not one, but two philosophically opposed officers of the watch who were competing for the leadership role.

“Hard a-port!” says one. “Port-port-portport, more-more-more-more.”

“No, hard a-starboard,” says the other.

“Starboard-starboard-starboard-starboard, more-more-more-more.”

All of which proves that you’re destined to go nowhere when right-rudder and left-rudder extremists have the watch.

As various news outlets have reported, the MV Ever Given, or MV Never Forgiven, then proceeded to give the Suez Canal the wedgie felt around the world.

LOCAL NEWS

in OUR

NEWSPAPERS or ONLINE at: OceanCityToday.com

PAGE 34

MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

Letters to the editor Adkins appreciative for recognition of project Editor, This email was forwarded to OC Today from Hal Adkins, Public Works director, following the March 19 campus projection dedication MCC/Doug/Denny/Mary/Others: I can only hope that all of you realize that I started my career with the Town of Ocean City with specific goals in mind.

In the simplest of summaries, those goals were to silently operate behind the scenes in an effort to assure that those who made Ocean City their vacation destination would make great memories and would reflect/remember OC as a clean and enjoyable place to visit, and for those who decided to make OC their residence, would enjoy public services, and responsiveness, that are unparalleled by any other municipality, and to provide an overall infrastructure that would support redevelopment and growth without the need for building moratoriums, and finally, and of most importance, to achieve these goals by building a team of men and women who would possess a “Can Do Attitude” and a stance of “Treat Others The Way You Would Want To Be Treated.”

At this point in my career, I can only hope I have achieved these goals, or at

least partially.

I never, and yes, I do mean never, set out to build monuments to myself. It was quite the polar opposite.

The concept was to start quietly in 1984 and then exit someday by simply turning off the office light switch and walking out the door and down 65th Street to see what else life has to offer me, or vice versa.

So, let it be known you all totally caught me off guard yesterday (and thanks to “Wear The Damn Mask,” (lol) my glasses were fogging up so I took them off when the initial ceremony started.

Without them on, I’m damn near blind so I didn’t even see my family until I was standing with Rick). I don’t like being caught off guard but, I’ll get over that (lol).

In closing I say THANK YOU for the recognition and arranging for my family to be in attendance. What a memory to cherish.

And, only because “it’s who I am”, I will continue to inform anyone and everyone that may approach me about the dedication that my career has truly been a team effort of many. Some still with me, some who have unfortunately passed, but will remain with me in memory.

Hal Adkins OC Public Works Director

Short-term rentals proposal prompts extended comment

By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (March 26, 2021) Although a motion for short-term rental guidelines was delayed because a town hall meeting on the topic is scheduled next month, Ocean Pines residents spent nearly two hours airing their views on the proposed rules during a board of directors’ virtual meeting Saturday.

Board member Dr. Frank Daly Colette Horn preempted public comments on Saturday by noting the level of interest in the plan warranted delaying a vote on it until after a town hall meeting on April 17 at 9 a.m.

“We’re seeing interest in a virtual and in-person town hall, [but] we don’t have capabilities currently,” she said.

“If we can get 1,000 subscribers on YouTube, we could live stream in the future.”

The OPA YouTube channel had 291 subscribers as of this Monday.

Board member Frank Daly said the motion to adopt short-term rental regulations in Ocean Pines would be revived at the next regular board meeting on April 21.

In light of those developments, OPA

President Larry Perrone opened public comments by asking homeowners interested in the short-term rental guidelines to allow people with other discussion points to speak first.

What followed was a flood of residents worried about unintended consequences of proposed changes to ARC [Architectural Review Committee] rules to establish guidelines for shortterm rentals.

One recurring point raised was that the additional layer of regulations, which were aimed at a small number of irresponsible landlords, could cause hundreds of responsible homeowners to lose rental income.

Daly said the rental initiative was launched nearly two years ago because of problems with a handful of properties.

Aware that Worcester County was then in the midst of establishing shortterm rental licensing, which eventually became effective Jan. 1, 2020, Daly said OPA officials opted to await the outcome before proceeding.

“When the county passed regulations, they said this was Ocean Pines’ problem,” he said.

Daly said county officials advised the association that it could request Pines-specific amendments if need See OP Page 35

Call 410-449-4090 Today for more information or to schedule a visit to our on-site showroom.

Our Staff is Regularly Tested for Covid-19

410-449-4090

MARCH 26, 2021

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Ocean City Today

OP Board looks to help neighbors Continued from Page 34 arose in the future.

The current effort reflects recurring issues with a rental property at 91 Abbyshire Rd. that came to a head last year.

Daly said police had visited the location a dozen times in four years for complaints from neighbors about renters there.

“Unfortunately, county regulations proved ineffective in enforcing,” he said.

Despite Worcester County issuing $100 fines for the unlicensed rental property when online advertisements were noticed, the property owner con-

tinued to flout regulations.

“The person with the Airbnb contract said they had no interest in changing their ways until someone shows up that could evict tenants,” he said.

More recently, Daly said Worcester reported the issue was resolved after a $500 fine was issued.

“So, for four years the person rented for hundreds per night and ultimately got fined $500,” he said.

Following this experience, a shortterm rental work group was formed last summer. It met several times with the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) and public safety officials as well as the Worcester County zoning office.

State accepts claims during pandemic for unemployed (March 26, 2021) Gov. Larry Hogan announced on March 23 that the Maryland Department of Labor (Labor) has begun accepting claims and issuing payments for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Pandemic Unemployment Emergency Compensation (PEUC), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), and Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) federal unemployment insurance programs extended by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

There will be no gap in benefit eligibility or payment for claimants.

“While our state is making great strides in its recovery from the economic impacts of COVID-19, unemployment insurance benefits still remain a critical lifeline for many struggling Marylanders,” said Hogan. “As a result of Maryland’s fast programming and implementation of the newly extended federal programs, eligible claimants will once again continue to receive much-needed financial relief without interruption.”

The federal PUA, PEUC, FPUC, and MEUC unemployment insurance pro-

grams have been extended in Maryland until the week ending Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021.

All claimants received an email over the weekend specifying whether they should file their weekly claim certification or reopen their claim for the week ending Saturday, March 20, 2021 in their BEACON 2.0 portal.

All claimants who are eligible to receive benefits, including regular unemployment insurance claimants, will continue to automatically receive the additional $300 from the FPUC program in their benefit payment beginning Sunday, March 14, 2021, through the week ending Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, as long as they remain eligible for benefits and file their weekly claim certification.

If determined eligible for benefits, claimants will begin receiving payment this week.

To find a detailed overview of the four federal extended unemployment insurance programs, including recently expanded PUA program eligibility requirements, visit MDunemployment.com.

OP Chamber Open Air Expo in White Horse Park May 1 (March 26, 2021) Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce will host its second annual Open Air Community Expo on Saturday, May 1, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., socially distancing at White Horse Park.

Rain date is Saturday, May 8.

More than 50 local businesses and community agencies will be on hand, including health care, education, home services, retail and nonprofits.

There is no cost to attend.

Exhibitor fees are: Chamber partners pay $175 for one exhibition space with 8foot table; $200 for non-chamber businesses and nonprofits and government

agencies $75. Reserve an exhibitor space at https://business.oceanpineschamber.org/events/details/2021-community-expo-12674.

For more information and to register, call the Ocean Pines Chamber at 410641-5306 or email info@oceanpinescahmber.org.

The Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce is a 501 (c) (6) nonprofit corporation comprised of area businesses organized to advance the general welfare and prosperity of the area so that its citizens and all areas of its business community shall prosper.

Daly said the information gathering concluded, as legal counsel advised the association to exhaust all internal options before consulting with Worcester officials.

Association governing documents currently lack guidelines to regulate rentals lasting 29 days or less.

Daly said while a percentage of Pines properties rented for short terms meet county regulations, a far greater number might be ignoring the requirements.

“I’ve been told there are far more rentals in Ocean Pines than 145 and they do not have county licenses,” he said.

Daly said the ARC guideline changes were proposed in lieu of an outright ban on short-term rentals in the Pines.

“This is complaint-driven,” he said Daly said the alternative is the association lacks any ability to assist neighbors reporting nuisance renters.

“If abiding the rules, people won’t have problems,” he said.

In response to multiple residents questioning the wisdom of holding the April 17 meeting in person, Perrone said the board is exploring the possibility of using the Yacht Club’s upstairs ballroom to permit greater capacity.

Regardless of location, Horn said all comments made during the April 17 meeting would be considered when revisiting approval of short-term rental rules at the April 21 board meeting.

Hello Spring ’21 Early Spring Sale

up to 30% off select groups Final on 2020 Clothing 50-75% off orig.

Tribal Habitat Parsley & Sage Democracy Skechers Karen Hart Sky’s The Limit Charlie B Ruby RD.

Representative of styles

Open Mon-Sat 10-4, Sun 11-4

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PAGE 36

MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

REAL ESTATE REPORT

Home sales slip in February after gains in months prior

By Lauren Bunting Contributing Writer (March 26, 2021) According to the National Association of Realtors, existing-home sales declined in February, following gains in both January 2021 and December 2020. However, all four U.S. regions recorded yearover-year gains.

Total existinghome sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, decreased 6.6 percent from January to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.22 in February.

Sales in total climbed year-overyear, up 9.1 percent from a year ago (5.70 million in February 2020).

“Despite the drop in home sales for February – which I would attribute to historically-low inventory – the market is still outperforming prepandemic levels,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.

He cautioned of a possible slowdown in growth in the coming

months as higher prices and rising mortgage rates will cut into home affordability.

“I still expect this year’s sales to be ahead of last year’s, and with more covid-19 vaccinations being distributed and available to larger shares of the population, the nation is on the cusp of returning to a sense of normalcy,” Yun said. “Many Americans have been saving money and there’s a strong possibility that once the country fully reopens, those reserves will be unleashed on the economy.”

The median existing-home price for housing throughout Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties in February was $256,500, as compared to the national average of $313,000.

In all three counties throughout February, new settlements were up 43.6 percent compared to the same time last year. And, the average days on market for the lower shore in February was 37, down more than 53 percent over last year.

– Lauren Bunting is an Associate Broker with Atlantic Shores Sotheby’s International Realty in Ocean City.

Work has begun on the final TidalHealth medical facility project in Ocean Pines.

Work underway for Ocean Pines TidalHealth facility (March 26, 2021) Work has begun on the final TidalHealth medical facility project in Ocean Pines, Palmer Gillis of Gillis Gilkerson (GGI) announced last week.

Gillis said the new structure will complete the 120,000-square-foot healthcare campus on Cathage Road, by adding a variety of medical disciplines to its current offering.

In the new building, TidalHealth plans to add orthopedics, cardiology, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), endocrinology, medical imaging, and weight loss and wellness clinics. The addition of these medical specialties supplements those already in place –

primary care and gastroenterology physicians, a pharmacy and laboratory, an adult fitness center, and the Richard A. Henson Cancer Institute.

“In partnership with Gillis Gilkerson, we broke ground on our Ocean Pines campus in 2014, and over the past seven years we’ve been warmly welcomed by this community,” said Chris Hall, MSM, TidalHealth’s vice president of strategy and business development and chief business officer.

“This final building rounds out the site at nearly 120,000 square feet of healthcare space operated by the largest and most complex healthcare provider in our region. “

April A Month to Believe One Lucky Winner can win up to $2,500.00 Only 100 Raffle Tickets Sold $50.00 per Chance Drawing will be held on Friday, June 11, 2021 Following the conclusion of the Spring Golf Outing

Thank you for your support and generosity during these difficult times For more Information call 410 723-2842

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MARCH 26, 2021

PAGE 37

Ocean City Today

WORLD WAR II

Royal Navy proves victorious in Cape Matapan Battle

By Peter Ayers Wimbrow III Contributing Writer (March 26, 2021) This week, 80 years ago, the Royal Navy administered a decisive defeat to the Regia Marina Italia in the Battle of Cape Matapan, south of the island of Crete.

Now that the Wehrmacht was in Libya, pulling the Italian fat out of the fire, and would soon be doing the same in Greece, it had a larger stake in what occurred in the Mediterranean.

Its forces, especially in North Africa, would need to be supplied across the Mediterranean, and for that it relied upon the Regia Marina to keep the Royal Navy away from the convoys so that Axis forces received the necessary supplies.

Pressure from the Germans, and faulty intelligence indicating that at least two of the Royal Navy’s battleships in the eastern portion of the Mediterranean were damaged and out of action, prompted Supermarina to launch “Operation Gaudo” under the command of Adm. Angelo Iachino.

On March 26, 1941 Adm. Iachino departed the Port of Naples in his flagship, the battleship Vittorio Veneto, and four destroyers. At 45,000 tons and sporting nine 15inch guns in three turrets and 12 6inch guns in four turrets and a top speed of 30 knots, the Vittorio Veneto was an impressive warship.

The plan was to rendezvous with the 1st, 3rd and 8th Cruiser Divisions, commanded by Adms. Carlo Cattaneo, Luigi Sansonetti, and Antonio Legnani. Adm. Cattaneo’s 1st Division was based in Taranto and consisted of heavy cruisers, Pola, Zara and Fiume, together with four destroyers. The three cruisers each weighed 14,000 tons and were armed with eight 8-inch guns and were capable of 33 knots.

Adm. Sansonetti’s 3rd Division, was based in Messina, Sicily, and consisted of heavy cruisers Trieste, Trento and Bolzano and three destroyers. These three cruisers weighed 500 tons less than the Zara class, carried the same armament, and had 2 knots more speed.

Vice-Adm. Legnani’s 8th Division was based in Brindisi, on the Adriatic Sea, and consisted of the light cruisers Guiseppe Garibaldi and Luigi di Savoi Duca Degli Abruzzi and two destroyers.

The cruisers weighed 11,500 tons, were armed with 10 6” inch guns and had a speed of 34 knots.

The “Ultra” Project had alerted the British that the Italians had set sail.

Adm. Andrew Brown Cunningham — “ABC” to his men — countered with

Admiral Luigi Sansonetti

the battleships Warspite, Barham and Valiant, together with the carrier Formidable, and two flotillas of destroyers.

The three British battleships all had served in WWI. They weighed about 33,000 tons and each carried eight 15-inch guns and had a top speed of 24 knots. The Formidable carried 36 attack planes and had a speed of 30 knots.

Adm. Cunningham ordered ViceAdm. Sir Henry D. Pridham-Wippell, based in Piraeus, Greece, to rendezvous with him with his cruiser squadron, which consisted of the light cruisers Ajax, Gloucester and Orion and the Australian light cruiser Perth, together with three destroyers.

The Ajax, Orion and Perth weighed 9,700 tons, were armed with eight 6-inch guns and had a speed of 32.5 knots. The Gloucester weighed 2000 more tons, carried four more 6inch guns and had the same speed as the other three.

When the promised air cover from the Luftwaffe was still not present, at 6 a.m. on March 28, Adm. Iachino ordered his flagship to send its reconnaissance plane to, “Find the British!”

Within the hour it had discovered Adm. Pridham-Wippell’s force. Adm. Iachino ordered Adm. Sansonetti’s 3rd Division to intercept Adm. Pridman-Wippell’s force, while he did the same with the Vittorio Veneto.

At 8 a.m. Adm. Sansonetti’s 3rd Cruiser Division made contact at 25,000 yards. The Italians opened fire, directing their fire against the HMS Gloucester. Adm. PridhamWippell quickly headed towards Adm. Cunningham’s fleet and the protection of the battleships’ 15-inch guns.

Concerned that the Italian ships were getting too close to the range of the Royal Air Force based in North Africa, Iachino ordered Sansonetti to terminate his pursuit and head for home.

When Pridham-Wippell saw the Italians breaking off the action, he changed his course and monitored them. When Iachino learned of this, he, still unaware of the presence of the three British battleships and aircraft carrier, decided to teach the British a lesson!

He hoped to catch Pridham-Wippell’s force between Adm. Sansonetti’s 3rd Division and the Vittorio Veneto. When the Vittorio Veneto

opened fire with its 15-inch guns, Pridham-Wippell prudently decided that retreat was the better course of action.

In the meantime, at about 11:30 a.m., a group of torpedo bombers from the Formidable arrived. Although they scored no hits, they did occupy the Italians for about 30 minutes, which allowed Pridham-Wippell’s force to make its retreat.

With no air cover of its own, Iachino decided to return to his base.

Meanwhile, British planes from Crete were also attacking the Italian ships.

At 3:10 p.m. a second squad from the Formidable arrived. One scored a hit on the stern of the Vittorio Veneto stopping it dead in the water. Within minutes the Italian battleship had taken on 4,000 tons of water. Ultimately her crew got her moving at the reduced speed of 19 knots.

The plane that had delivered the

torpedo was shot down, killing the crew. This would be the only British losses in the battle. Adm. Iachino surrounded the stricken Italian battleship with the 1st and 3rd Cruiser Divisions, while sending Adm. Legnani’s 8th Cruiser Division back to Brindisi. The British were 60 miles away.

The Formidable launched a third strike at 5:35 p.m. At 6:23 p.m. the British planes sighted the enemy fleet, but waited for darkness. At 7:25 p.m., the British aircraft closed. The Pola was hit and her electrical system knocked out and the boiler rooms flooded.

At 8:15 p.m. Adm. Iachino ordered Cattaneo to drop back and attempt to rescue Pola, if possible. Now the Italians were at a disadvantage. None of their ships had radar, while several of the British ships did.

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WORLD WAR II Continued from Page 37 The Italians were inexperienced in night combat, while the British had trained for it.

As the Italian cruisers closed on the stricken Pola, it fired a recognition flare. The British destroyer Greyhound lit her up with a search light.

The British battleships opened up with their 15-inch guns against the Fiumi at a range of only 3,000 yards.

Within a minute, the Fiumi was a huge ball of orange flame.

The Valiant and the Barham, switched their big guns to the lead cruiser, Zara. In a matter of minutes both the Fiumi and the Zara were destroyed. The Italian destroyers attempted a torpedo attack on the battleships, but were intercepted by British destroyers, with the loss of the destroyers Alfieri and Carducci.

At 11 p.m. the Fiumi sank. The Zara was torpedoed by the destroyer Jervis at 2:40 A.M.. The sailors aboard the Pola, figuring that their fate was going to be the same, got into the wine. When the British finally boarded the Italian cruiser, the sailors were drunk and the wine bottles were empty.

At 3 a.m., after removing the crew, the British torpedoed and sank the Pola. At daybreak German bombers arrived and began to bomb the British ships involved in rescue operations. Adm. Cunningham wired Rome advising Supermarina the location of the survivors and left the area, after rescuing 900 Italian sailors.

An Italian hospital ship arrived later that day and was able to rescue an additional 160, while Greek destroyers saved another 110. The Regia Marina lost over 2,300 sailors, including ViceAdm. Cattaneo. The Vittorio Veneto was out of action for five months.

As a result of this battle, the Regia Marina never again seriously challenged the Royal Navy, and once again, Britannia undisputably “ruled the waves.”

Next week: Operation Marita, the Subjugation of Yugoslavia & Greece Mr. Wimbrow writes from Ocean City, Maryland, where he practices law representing those persons accused of criminal and traffic offenses, and those persons who have suffered a personal injury through no fault of their own. He can be contacted at: wimbrowlaw@gmail.com.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Premium take on typical egg salad sandwich in springtime

By Deborah Lee Walker Contributing Writer (March 26, 2021) Now that spring is officially here, your menu should reflect the warmer temperatures.

An egg salad sandwich is a tasty transition from the harsh winter months and is indicative of the warm weather that is coming.

The concept of a sandwich is simple.

Place a protein, vegetable, or a combination of both in between two slices of bread.

Egg salad is also basic in nature and easy to make. But do not be fooled by the plainness and straightforwardness of egg salad sandwiches; there are many considerations for that perfect bite.

If one wants to create a superlative sandwich, you must have a clear understanding of the overall structure of the dish. There is much to discuss, so let’s get started.

Hard-boiled eggs are the essence of this sandwich.

Bring a pot of water to a soft boil.

Gently lower the eggs into the water.

When the water resumes its soft boil, cook eggs for 13 minutes.

Remove the pot from the stove and run cold water on eggs to stop the cooking process. Always peel eggs

while they are warm. Once they are refrigerated, they are harder to peel.

How one chops the eggs is an important step and should be given consideration. Chop half of the eggs finely and the other half coarsely.

This gives the consistency variance, which makes it more interesting.

Typically, egg salad is a combination of eggs and mayonnaise. Memorable occasions go far beyond the norm. The addition of small amounts of celery, green pepper and onions brings the salad to new levels of flavor.

Details equate memorable egg salad. Use the inner part of the celery stalks. They are softer and are better suited for the tender texture of the eggs.

While we are on the subject of celery, always cut it with the ridges of the stalks face down on the chopping board. By doing so, you are able to eliminate the strings that can sometimes form when chopping celery.

There are a wide variety of onions, so which one do you chose? Red and yellow onions have quite a “punch” to them and can overpower the eggs. I prefer sweet onions; they enhance the dish and allow the eggs to be the “star.”

Onions, celery and green peppers contain a lot of juices. Using paper towels, squeeze out the excess liquid.

See FRESH Page 39

MARCH 26, 2021

PAGE 39

Ocean City Today

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Fresh take on warm weather standard lunch fare, snack Continued from Page 38 Otherwise, your salad will become soupy with time.

Most egg salad dressings incorporate one ingredient - mayonnaise.

While this is perfectly acceptable, adding a touch of rice vinegar and Dijon to the mayonnaise brightens the dressing and elevates the overall taste of the egg salad.

To add lettuce or not to add lettuce will be an eternal debate. The choices are numerous and one has to take into consideration its texture, color and flavoring. Green leafy lettuce adds beautification, has substance, and still allows the egg salad to shine.

The subject of bread also needs to be addressed. Pumpernickel is a dark brown bread that originated in Germany. Its dark color is a gorgeous contrast to white and yellow salad.

Pumpernickel has a slight sweet essence, but has a tendency to be a little heavy. Toasting will lighten the bread, distinguish it from the soft salad, and add complexity to the sandwich.

I prefer to serve egg salad sandwiches open-faced. Sometimes the ratio of two slices of bread is too much for the delicate salad. Personal preferences add a touch of distinction.

A sandwich is not a sandwich without sides. Crispy Kettle chips and sweet pickles are a perfect pairing and conclude the deconstruction of an egg salad sandwich.

I have chosen 18 eggs versus 12 eggs so I can share the egg salad with family and friends.

If you love egg salad sandwiches, you must give this recipe a try. Enjoy!

Dressing

1 cup mayonnaise 1 teaspoon rice vinegar 1/8 to ¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard 1. In a small bowl, combine the ingredients until they are fully blended.

Egg Salad 18 eggs 3 soft stalks celery, finely chopped ½ large green pepper, finely chopped ½ small, sweet onion, finely chopped kosher salt to taste pumpernickel bread green leaf lettuce kettle potato chips sweet pickles 1. Bring a pot of water to a soft boil. Gently lower the eggs one at a time. When the water reaches a soft boil, cook them for 13 minutes. I always test one to be on the safe side.

Remove pot from the stove, empty hot water and add cold water to stop the cooking process.

2. Peel eggs, rinse and pat dry with paper towels.

3. Chop one half of the eggs finely and the other half coarsely. Place chopped eggs in a large bowl.

4. Using paper towels, squeeze any excess liquid out of the celery, green pepper and onions. Place vegetables in the bowl with the chopped eggs.

5. Add dressing to the egg salad mixture and mix well. Add kosher salt to taste.

6. Toast bread and top with a layer of lettuce. Using an ice cream scoop, place a large dollop of egg salad onto the lettuce. Serve with chips and a pickle.

Secret Ingredient – Spring. “Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring?”

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Ocean City Today

MARCH 26, 2021

COMMUNITY/SCHOOLS

ALLY LANASA/OCEAN CITY TODAY ALLY LANASA/OCEAN CITY TODAY

SCHOOL VISIT Student Fletcher Chmar guides Gov. Larry Hogan on a tour of several classrooms at Showell Elementary School near Ocean Pines on March 19.

CLEANUP Berlin resident Tony Weeg and Maddox Nichols, Berlin Councilmember Shaneka Nichols’ daughter, help Restore the Shore clean up a ditch between Bay and Flower streets in the town on March 9.

SNACKS PROVIDED

DONATION Dr. Jennifer Leggour, executive director of the Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services, accepts a donation from Ocean City Lions President Mike Hooper.

The Delmarva Chorus of Sweet Adelines International collected and delivered snacks for the healthcare workers who have provided vital services over the years, thanking them for their past, present and future care. The response to this project, along with donations by members of the Ocean Pines Platform Tennis Club, made it possible to provide large buckets and boxes of snacks to Tidal Health Oncology, Radiation, Family Medical and Lab, Cardio Rehab, Divita, Coastal Hospice at the Ocean, Southern Coastal Emergency and the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department. Members of the Delmarva Chorus, from left, are Elissa Mulligan, Carol Ludwig and Jeannette Latzo.

COMMUNITY HELPER Seven-year-old McKenna BirckheadThompson is active in her community and enjoys helping others.

She is a Junior American Legion member, rings the bell for the Salvation Army during the holidays, raises money for Relay for Life and collects soda tabs for the Ronald McDonald House.

She also provided 11 bags of canned goods for her school, Woodbridge Elementary’s, food drive.

PHOTO COURTESY NICOLLE BIRCKHEAD-THOMPSON

OFFICERS INSTALLED The Worcester County Garden Club’s 2021-2023 officers were recently installed during a virtual meeting. Newly installed club officers are: President Deb Young, First Vice Presidents Joan LaHayne and Alison Schweiger, Second Vice Presidents Cristie Ammann and Karen Trigger, Recording Secretary Sandy Buchanan, Corresponding Secretary Susan Fletcher, Treasurer Kelly Brinkley, Assistant Treasurer Suzy Young, and Membership Martha Bennett.

MARCH 26, 2021

PAGE 41

Ocean City Today

New initiative aims for safe drinkable private well water (March 26, 2021) The Assateague Coastal Trust, Center for Progressive Reform, Environmental Integrity Project, and University of Maryland School of Public Health have launched a new initiative designed to assess and safeguard drinking water for residents of Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore who rely on private wells.

The Lower Shore Safe Well Water Initiative aims to protect public health by engaging residents of Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties in citizen science focused on drinking water quality in the region.

“Safe drinking water is a human right and is fundamental to protecting people’s health,” said Darya Minovi, policy analyst at the Center for Progressive Reform. “In communities with heavy agricultural activity, pollutants can enter groundwater, which many people rely on for drinking and cooking.”

Nitrates, one common drinking water contaminant, are colorless, odorless and tasteless compounds that can form when nitrogen from manure, fertilizer, or failing septic systems breaks down.

They are an important plant nutrient, but in excess amounts, they can contaminate drinking water and endanger people’s health.

Many Lower Eastern Shore resi-

dents rely on private wells for their household water, but the state of Maryland doesn’t regularly monitor wells or maintain a public database of well records.

“The goal of the initiative is to protect public health by measuring levels of nitrate in private drinking water wells on the Lower Eastern Shore,” said Kathy Phillips, Assateague Coastkeeper and executive director of Assateague Coastal Trust. “We are seeking volunteers who live in Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties and have a private well to test their water for nitrates and nitrites, another form of nitrogen. Volunteers will be provided with all testing materials and instructions at no cost.”

By participating in the Lower Shore Safe Well Water Initiative, residents can help researchers understand the extent of nitrate contamination in the region.

Volunteers will also help advocates alert their communities and local officials to potential contamination that should be addressed.

For more information about the initiative and how residents can get involved, visit https://www.lowershoresafewells.com /. Residents interested in participating can fill out a short survey at https://forms.gle/F7Dc3cY4JMTcV7b 26.

Rena Bishop of Team Rena, presents a check for $33,606 to benefit the AGH John H. “Jack” Burbage, Jr. Regional Cancer Care Center.

Cancer care ctr. gets donation (March 26, 2021) Sunset Marina and Grille’s Towers and Tails Rena Bishop Broadbill Bash fishing tournament donated $33,606 to the Atlantic General Hospital John H. “Jack” Burbage, Jr. Regional Cancer Care Center.

In early 2020, beloved Sunset Grille employee Rena Bishop was diagnosed with stage 4 triple negative metastatic breast cancer. In extreme attempts to broadcast the most genuine meaning behind “fight with all of your might,” the Rena Bishop Inaugural Broadbill Bash was founded.

The three-day tournament hosted

by Sunset Marina and Sunset Grille was created in an effort to couple

Bishop’s love for the Ocean City community and passion for offshore fishing, while bringing local fishermen together to raise funds and awareness for Atlantic General Hospital and the John H. “Jack” Burbage, Jr. Regional Cancer Center.

“My mission in founding this tournament is to express the importance in fighting to live, instead of living to die,’ Bishop said. “Everyone in life serves a purpose, and I do not plan to leave this Earth without serving mine. This is my next chapter, my chance to remind people to give it all you have. Keep smiling – I always have been and always will be no matter where I end up.”

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PAGE 42

MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

COMMUNITY/SCHOOLS

MEETING

DONATIONS

The Republican Women of Worcester County held its general meeting on Feb. 25, at The Dunes Manor in Ocean City. Pictured, from left, are Sandy Zitzer, first vice president of RWWC; Jane Brady, guest speaker and director of the Delaware GOP; and Sheriff Matt Crisafulli.

Ocean City Jeep Club held its sixth annual Worcester County Humane Society Food and Supply Run on Feb. 20. With over 50 Jeeps in attendance, the club donated a large amount of supplies, including cat and dog food, bleach, laundry detergent, paper towels, dish soap, hand sanitizer and soap, to the Berlin no-kill shelter.

FOOTWEAR

RING CEREMONY

Ocean City Lions join Hope4Recovery in supporting the Worcester Goes Purple Shoe Campaign, helping to fill over 100 bags with donated footwear. Funds collected will help individuals get into recovery, reduce the stigma of addiction, and educate the public. Pictured in front, are Mike Hooper, OC Lions president; Bill Christmas, second vice president; Director Doug Parks; Sam Davis; Barbara McMillan; and Steve McMillan, secretary; and in back, Debbie Smullen, director WGP Against Addiction; Brandon O’Brien, executive director Hope4Recovery; Tish Ottey; Hope4Recovery founder; and John Topfer, past president OC Lions.

The annual Worcester Preparatory School Junior Ring Ceremony took place on Feb. 10, in the Athletic and Performing Arts Center. It is tradition that seniors present juniors with their rings along with a few meaningful comments as to why the recipient is special to them. Juniors, from left, Aria Islam, Hugh Thomas Cropper, Brooke Phillips and Sydney LamsonReich proudly display their new Class of 2022 rings.

CELEBRATION The Worcester Preparatory School Alumni Association sponsored a 100-Day Breakfast celebration on Feb. 19, marking the senior class countdown to graduation. In lieu of a speaker, alums sent in words of wisdom that were shared in the event program. Breakfast was sponsored by the alumni association and Dunkin’ Donuts and each student was gifted a WPS acrylic tumbler. Pictured, from left, are Head of Upper School/Assistant Head of School Mike Grosso with seniors, Mason Brown and Brugh Moore.

ARTWORK The Berlin Intermediate Afterschool Academy Art Club completed a collaborative art piece demonstrating their love for the school. The piece is inspired by the artist Jim Dine and his abstract heart paintings for Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month. Students pictured are Cooper Glover, Luke Riser, Nadia Menendez, Emory Jack, Lily Philavanh and Caitlyn Crockett.

MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

PAGE 43

WP spring sports teams kick off competition

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (March 26, 2021) Worcester Prep spring sports teams only got in a few practices last year before the season was canceled and schools closed because of covid-19.

The seniors missed their final season of high school athletics last spring and underclassmen lost out on the opportunity to compete.

Matt McGinnis Worcester Prep teams got in fall and winter sports competitions this year – with many safety protocols in place – and now the spring season is underway.

“I can’t wait. I’m pumped,” said Director of Athletics for Worcester Preparatory School, Matt McGinnis.

“Everyone is thrilled to be back. You can definitely feel it in the air – the excitement, the happiness, the kids have great attitudes – and you can see it in the way the kids carry themselves. They see a change back into some normalcy.”

Practices began on March 1. Worcester teams have a few less games on their schedules this season – against only Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference opponents and a few Delaware schools – because Maryland public schools they often face will be starting later than usual because of the

pandemic.

Many safety protocols have been put into place in order for teams to have a season.

As an extra safety precaution, McGinnis said plastic face shields were purchased that will attach to the boys’ lacrosse helmets. All ESIAC schools have incorporated this.

Girls do not wear helmets when playing lacrosse. When players are together, they, as well as coaches, will need to wear face coverings.

During tennis match introductions, players will wear face coverings. When changing sides, players will cross on opposite sides. Tennis balls will be rotated out every third game.

For all sports, players will need to social distance when on the sideline.

During the fall season, spectator circles were sprayed on the grass six feet apart for social distancing, and it worked well, McGinnis said. They will be used again for lacrosse and tennis.

Up to four family members are permitted in each circle.

Spots will also be marked on the bleachers six feet apart.

“Athletics play such an important role in their lives,” McGinnis said. “It’s a stress release, they get to be active, be with their friends and have a fun time.

It’s the whole socialization part that comes with athletics. It was very important we made sure [sports] happened

because it’s so worth it. It’s all about the kids.”

BOYS’ LACROSSE: The boys’ lacrosse team is the first to begin its competitive season. The Mallards will take a trip to Easton today, Friday, to battle the Saints Peter & Paul Sabres at 4 p.m.

New Head Coach Drew Haugh has 24 players on his roster.

Eleven of them have varsity experience.

Drew Haugh “This is a luxury.

They didn’t get to play last year so we’ve emphasized to take advantage of the season,” he said. “It’s a good group of kids. They’re so polite and very respectful to all the coaches.

“They’re a lot better than I expected,” he added. “They’re pretty groomed now.

They can catch, throw, dodge, and they’re athletic. They work hard.”

Haugh is comfortable and familiar with the school as he helped coach the girls’ volleyball team in 2015-2016.

Joined by assistant coaches who have been with the lacrosse program has been beneficial and has helped with his tradition taking over.

“I’m loving it,” Haugh said. “I appreciate Worcester Prep taking me on and for the opportunity to coach. It’s just a good fit.”

The goal, he added, is to win the East-

ern Shore Independent Athletic Conference title.

“If you take one game at a time and win every game, you can’t help but win a championship,” Haugh said.

In addition, Haugh wants each player to improve.

Although captains haven’t been chosen yet, Haugh said the senior leadership is strong. The six seniors lead by example and by how they play, he added.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE: The girls’ lacrosse team opens its season on Saturday, April 3, at 1 p.m. against Smyrna in Delaware.

Coach Chris Williams and the girls were disappointed to have just a few practices and two scrimmages last year.

After that second scrimmage, it was the Chris Williams last time Williams saw his team, which included 13 seniors.

“We didn’t have a proper goodbye. It was a tough way to end it,” he said. “I’m very excited for the season. We have a lot of young players this year.”

Of the 22 players on the roster, there are only four with varsity experience, who were members the the 2019 championship team.

“We’ve tasked them with grooming See LACROSSE Page 44

PAGE 44

Ocean City Today

MARCH 26, 2021

Lacrosse and tennis teams ready to compete Continued from Page 43 the younger players,” he said.

Williams has made them captains.

There is a leader on each line – seniors Claire Williams (defense), Sophia Ludt (attack) and CC Lizas (goalie/attack), and junior Myranda Beebe (midfield).

The freshman class is strong, with some talented players. Williams said five or six will be starters.

He also has some soccer players on his roster. They are athletic and picking up the game of lacrosse quickly.

“The girls know it’s going to be a challenge. The last 10 years Worcester has been consistently experienced and a skilled team,” Williams said. “We’re going to work harder that anybody. We’ll be ready for the season.”

Williams praised his assistants whose experience will come in handy with so many young players.

Worcester will play on April 3, then the team’s next game isn’t until April 14.

Williams will use the first game to gauge what the players need to work on.

“It’s more time than ever I’ve had with the team and we need it to get the chemistry going with so many new players,” Williams said.

The overall goal is to win the conference title, but also to cause more

turnovers, win ground balls, and be the loudest most supportive sideline.

“Doing those things will lead us to the end goal,” Williams said.

TENNIS: The boys’ tennis team begins its season with a exhibition match against Severn School at noon on Saturday on its courts in Berlin.

Since the season was canceled last year, the tennis teams didn’t get the opportunity to compete in matches on their brand new courts, something coaches and T. Underkoffler players are looking forward to this year.

Terry Underkoffler, coach of the boys’ team, said they had a few practices last year, the singles and doubles were ranked and they were ready for competition.

“Then I never saw them again. It was sad, especially for the seniors,” Underkoffler said. “The guys returning are finally getting a chance to play. Everyone is glad to be back out there.”

This week Underkoffler said they were working on setting the singles and doubles seeding before Saturday’s match, which he expects to be tough

NOW PLAYING SEACRETS 49th Street and the bay, Ocean City 410-524-4900 / www.seacrets.com March 26: My Hero Zero Duo, 5-9 p.m.; Kono Nation Duo, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

March 27: High Five Swan Dive Duo, 5-9 p.m.; Kono Nation Duo, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

April 1: Opposite Directions, 5-9 p.m.

THE VIEW AT THE CAMBRIA HOTEL

ZANDER JETT

Ocean Pines Yatch Club: Friday, March 26, 5-8 p.m.

13 St. Louis Ave., Ocean City 443-856-4158 / https://www.choicehotels.com/maryland/oceancity/cambria-hotels/md310 March 30: Weekly Karaoke w/host Chuck D, 7-11 p.m.

COINS 28th Street and Coastal Highway, Ocean City 410-289-3100 / www.coinspub.com March 31: DJ Wax, 8 p.m. until close OCEAN PINES YACHT CLUB 1 Mumfords Landing Road, Ocean Pines 410-641-7501 / www.opyachtclub.org March 26: Zander Jett, 5-8 p.m.

KONO NATION DUO

Seacrets: Sat., March 27, 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.

OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS Seacrets: Thurs., April 1, 5-9 p.m.

competition.

“I like to get tested early in the season,” he said. “It will give us an opportunity to see what we need to work on.”

Underkoffler has 16 players on his roster. Only his top two singles players – senior captains Ryan Brafman and Joseph Schwartz – have varsity match experience.

“We’re young, but we have potential. We’ll be learning as we play,” Underkoffler said.

“They’re committed to working hard. There’s a lot of enthusiasm out Thomas Johnston there.”

Underkoffler said the goal is for the players to improve and to learn to compete. For doubles players, he wants them to communicate and play as a team.

“You play better when you’re having fun and when your teammate is supporting you,” Underkoffler added. Singles players are out there alone, so they have to be self-taught and learn how to deal with adversity.”

After their exhibition match, the Mallards’ next competition isn’t until April 9, so it will give the group time to work on what they need to improve.

The Lady Mallards open their season on Wednesday, March 31. Thomas Johnston was looking forward to joining the program as the new girls’ team coach

last year. He is happy to be starting this year.

“I thought it would be a lot of fun and a good fit,” he said. “We’re having a blast.

I’m delighted.”

There are 13 players on the team, and about half have varsity experience.

“We have four freshmen on the team who have never played before and they’re improving rapidly. It’s neat to watch,” Johnston said.

He refers the freshmen as the “fiercesome five.” Lebby Becker is the only one with tennis experience so she has been leading the freshman group.

The seniors – Millie Cammack, Waverly Choy and Summer Walker – have done a good job leading the team overall, Johnston said.

The team has set some goals: to win the conference championship, focus on “doing the right things right,” playing smart, staying focused on the court and supporting their teammates.

“If we do that we’ll be successful,” he said. “They’re all improving, without a doubt. They have really good attitudes and they’re trying hard.”

This week the players were competing in challenge matches to see who will be taking the court at singles and doubles.

“I want to create an environment where they want to come to practice, have fun and enjoy competition,” Johnston said.

SD cross country athletes improving each competition

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (March 26, 2021) The Stephen Decatur cross country athletes outran their competition during last Wednesday’s three-school meet on Decatur’s home course in Berlin.

“I thought we ran pretty well. It was a really small meet and we usually don’t have meets this size during a normal season,” said Decatur Coach Jody Stigler. “Before the race, we kind of established that the goal for

everyone was just to beat their times from last week. I think that everyone basically did.”

D e c a t u r , Pocomoke and ParkJody Stigler side participated in the meet.

The boys’ race consisted of six Decatur and two Pocomoke runners.

Seahawks crossing the finish line See RUNNERS Page 45

MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

PHOTO COURTESY DAN STEARMAN

The Stephen Decatur golf team won Tuesday’s seven-school match at Eagle’s Landing in Berlin.

Pictured, from left, are Abby Wesche, Katelyn Davis, Jacob Bauer, Evan Oglesby and Kole Kohut.

Stephen Decatur golf team wins 2nd match of season

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (March 26, 2021) The Stephen Decatur golf team won Tuesday’s seven-school competition at Eagle’s Landing Golf Course in Berlin.

“Overall, they played pretty good.

The cold temperatures and wind made it tough on everyone,’’ said Decatur Coach Dan Stearman. “The team overall is getting stronger and hopefully with better weather we will really come into our own.”

Decatur’s top four finished with a score of 176.

Freshman Kole Kohut led the Seahawks with a 41 and earned medalist honors for the second straight

match. Also contributing to the victory was freshman Evan Oglesby (42), junior Jacob Bauer (46) and senior captain Katelyn Davis Dan Stearman (47).

Junior captain Abby Wesche also competed and shot a 48.

Parkside came in second place with a 189 and James M. Bennett finished in third, scoring a 213.

The next match is scheduled for Tuesday at Nutters Crossing Golf Club in Salisbury, beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Runners drop time in 2nd meet Continued from Page 44 first through sixth were: senior Liam Foley (17:51.5), juniors Tristan Dutton (18:17.1) and Sam Woodley (19:10.1), senior Silas Cascio (19:54.5), junior Raul Gault (20:32.4) and senior Phillip Becnel (20:55.4).

“I thought that Liam was probably the standout runner,” Stigler said.

“He ran almost two minutes faster than he did the previous week, so I thought that was really good. In general, everyone [both boys and girls] worked hard and improved so I was happy with that.”

The girls’ race consisted of five

READ OUR

runners, three of whom were Decatur athletes.

Senior Mary Mergott won the race in 21:28.4. Senior Avery Braciszewski came in second overall (24:26.9) and sophomore Ava Becnel crossed the finish line fourth (28:32.8).

“We are only allowed to have three-team meets right now because of covid. Decatur boys were the only team that received a full team score.

All other teams had less than five runners so they didn’t get a full team score,” Stigler said.

The next cross country meet is Wednesday at Salisbury City Park at 4 p.m.

LOCAL NEWS in OUR

NEWSPAPERS or ONLINE at: OceanCityToday.com

PAGE 45

PAGE 46

MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

POLICE/COURTS

Assault Karen Esbenshade, 50, of Lititz, Pennsylvania was arrested by Ocean City Police at 10:24 p.m. on March 17 and charged with second-degree assault, failing to obey police, and various other charges.

Police said they responded to a two-car accident on Twin Tree Road, and when they arrived, the two heavily damaged cars. One car was a 2021 Lexus SUV and the other was a 2008 Lexus SUV, both of which were owned

by Jeffrey Esbenshade, Karen’s husband.

Police said Esbenshade was standing in front of the 2021 Lexus and said, “We’re just working out between us.” When they approached Esbenshade, police said they smelled a “strong odor” of alcohol on her breath as well as a cut below her left eye with fresh blood. Esbenshade refused to tell police where she got the cut or where she was seated in the car.

Police said Esbenshade tried to walk away from the officer and go into the house and was ordered to stay in place because she was under investigation for DUI. After trying to go into the house again, police said Esbenshade was taken into custody. Once in the car, police added, she tried to get out of her handcuffs. As she was taken to headquarters, Esbenshade kicked a plexiglass covering repeat-

edly, damaging it.

Erin Esbenshade, 23, said she was driving her mother, Karen, and a friend home from a local restaurant. Erin admitted she was traveling too fast and struck a parked car, then left the scene and walked inside the house where the car was parked. Eevidence showed Erin hit the curb, drove on a sidewalk and lawn prior to striking the parked car, police said.

Erin had slurred speech that was at times incoherent, police noted, and spelled her middle name “Lee” with three e’s.

The police report noted that Erin was injured from the crash, striking her head on the interior of the vehicle, as was a passenger, though no calls were made to 9-1-1 to tend to the injuries. She admitted to police that she consumed alcohol at various bars before driving and performed poorly on the field sobriety tests. She was arrested and charged with driving while impaired and under the influence of alcohol, as well as for hit and run. She was transported to the public safety building where she submitted to a breathalyzer test.

DWI Police responded to reports of a disorderly man at Pickle’s Pub on Philadelphia Avenue in Downtown Ocean City on March 18 at 9:45 p.m.

and when they arrived, they found Michael Maurice Mims, 35, of Washington, D.C. who matched the description.

Mims showed signs of intoxication, police said, swaying back and forth and slurring his speech. Mims was issued a trespass warning by a member of the Pickles staff after being cut off due to being intoxicated. Mims then got belligerent, according to staff members.

Police said they told Mims he could not drive because he had been drinking, although he went and sat inside of a Honda SUV with Pennsylvania plates. At approximately 10:18 p.m., police received a call that Mims left the parking lot in that car at a high rate of speed down Philadelphia Avenue. When police found the car in a parking lot at First Street, they found Mims in the driver’s seat.

Police said the car had significant damage and that the airbag had deployed. Mims, they added, had a bloody lower lip and small cuts to his cheek, though the driver stated he did not get into a crash.

Mims was placed under arrest and taken to headquarters. Ocean City Police Communications was able to see the crash using City Watch, and in the video, Mims can be seen entering the parking lot at 1st street at a speed then crashing into a light pole and coming to an abrupt stop. Mims then

tried to drive over multiple barriers, police said, and leave the parking lot.

After searching his vehicle, police found several burned marijuana joints in the cup holder of a vehicle. Police also found a marijuana cigarette in Mims’s wallet.

gant dining on the bay. Featuring soups, salads, appetizers and entrée specials. Steaks, short ribs, veal, chicken, duck, seafood. salmon, scallops with vegetarian options. Bar menu with cocktails and wine. Open 7 days a week. Sunday through Thursday, 5-9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 5-10 p.m.

JOHNNY’S PIZZA PUB 56th Street, Ocean City 410-723-5600, www.johnnyspizzapub.com $ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Featuring homemade pizzas, 18 gourmet pizzas, a variety of calzones, subs, burgers, sandwiches and jumbo wings with 20 different sauces. Open everyday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Dine in, pickup, carryout and delivery.

LONGBOARD CAFÉ 6701 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City 443-664-5639, www.longboardcafe.net $$-$$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Classic and creative American dishes and cocktails are showcased in a festive, surf-themed setting with weekly specials. Featuring burgers, tacos, prime rib, seafood and more. Closed on Tuesday. Dine-in and curbside pick-up.

MARLIN MOON Located in the Double Tree Hotel, 3301 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City 410-289-1201, www.marlinmoonocmd.com $$ Open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.to 10 p.m. Restaurant and bar with fresh seafood, small plates, desserts and cocktails.

RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT 61st Street Bayside/2nd Floor @ Bayview Bar & Grill, Ocean City 443- 664-7043 $$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Bayfront dining with a casual atmosphere. Specializing in burgers, flat breads, crab cakes, shrimp burgers and full dinner specials. Open Friday and Saturday, 4-11 p.m. and Sunday, 1-9 p.m. Happy Hour Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 4-7p.m.

SEACRETS 49th Street, Ocean City 410-524-4900, www.seacrets.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Open Thursday and Friday, 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. with Island atmosphere.

Jamaican jerk chicken, appetizers, sandwiches, paninis, pizza and fresh seafood.

Assault On March 19 at 7:25 p.m., police were called the scene of a domestic assault on 11th Street and found a woman who appeared to be hiding behind a vehicle in front of the house.

The woman, police said, was crying, shaking, and stuttering her speech, showing signs of someone who was afraid and scared. After speaking with the woman, police said, she said that her boyfriend, Travis Allen McKenna, 42, of Ocean City was inside the house drunk and in an aggressive “I’m gonna fight you” state. The woman had red marks on the side of a neck, which police said, resemble marks left by hands during strangulation.

McKenna was standing behind the glass storm door, police said, and quickly shut the door. When asked to step outside, McKenna refused, according to the report. He also declined to come out when ordered.

Police said he eventually stepped outside, though it took several attempts Continued on Page 48

Dining Guide PRICE RANGE: $, $$, $$$ RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted —————————————

DOWNTOWN

South end to 28th Street CAPTAIN’S TABLE 15th Street and Baltimore Avenue, inside The Courtyard by Marriott, Ocean City 410-2897192, www. captainstableoc.com $$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Breakfast and lunch served Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 8 a.m. - noon and dinner and lite fare served Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 5-9 p.m. Featuring seafood, steaks,and poultry. Daily chef specials. Dine in or carry out available.

COASTAL SALT 16th Street and the Boardwalk, Ocean City 410-973-7258, www.coastalsaltoc.com $$-$$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Enjoy and dine with the beautiful view of the ocean with Reel Eats & High Spirits. Now open Thursday through Sunday, breakfast, lunch and dinner, 8 a.m. until close. Happy Hour, 2-5 p.m.

Wonderful starters, soups, salads, lite fare, and entrees. Famous bone-in ribeye, burgers, crab cakes, tacos, thyme roasted chicken and so much more. Dine in or carry out.

COINS PUB & RESTAURANT 28th Street Plaza and Coastal Highway, Ocean City 410-289-3100, www.coinspuboc.com $$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Casual dining atmosphere for families. Soups, salads, crab cakes, hand cut steaks, fresh seafood, scallops, fresh soft crabs, and specialty dishes. Happy hour daily, 3-6 p.m. with food and drink specials. Early bird daily, 4-6 p.m. with special dinner menu. Open Wednesday through Sunday at noon. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Dine in or carry out.

THE DOUGH ROLLER S. Division Street and Boardwalk 410-2893501; 3rd Street and Boardwalk 410-2892599, www.TheDoughRoller.com $$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar

An Ocean City family tradition since 1980. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Buttermilk pancakes, fresh handmade dough pizza and Italian dinners. We have something for everyone!

HARBOR WATCH 806 S. Atlantic Ave., Inlet Ocean City 410289-5121, www.harborwatchrestaurant.com $$-$$$ | Reservations | Kids’ menu | Full bar Bringing Ocean City the freshest seafood, an award-winning Raw Bar along with certified Angus Beef. Great view of the Ocean City Inlet and Assateague Island. Call for Banquet information. Hours are Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 1-8 p.m.

MIDTOWN

29th to 90th streets 32 PALM Located in The Hilton,32nd Street, Ocean City 410-289-2525, www.32palm.com $$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Open daily, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bar and lounge. Western Caribbean cuisine with a mix of traditional Eastern Shore favorites.

THE DOUGH ROLLER 41st Street and Coastal Highway 410-5249254; 70th Street and Coastal Highway 410524-7981, www.TheDoughRoller.com $$ | Kids’ menu | Online ordering See downtown locations for description.

HIGGINS CRAB HOUSE 31st Street, Ocean City 410-289-2581, www.higginscrabhouse.com $-$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Now for all-you-can-eat crabs, crab legs, fried chicken, steamed shrimp and baby back ribs.

Open Frida,y 2:30-8:30 p.m., Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 8:30 p.m.

THE HOBBIT RESTAURANT IN RIVENDELL CONDOMINIUMS 81st Street and the Bay, Ocean City 410-5248100, www.thehobbitrestaurant.com $$-$$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Opening for the season March 31. Enjoy ele-

UPTOWN

91st to 146th streets HIGGINS CRAB HOUSE 128th Street and Coastal Highway, Ocean City 410-250-2403, www.higginscrabhouse.com $$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar See midtown location for description.

REEF 118 118th Street, in the Carousel, Oceanfront Hotel and Condos, Ocean City 410-524-1000, www.carouselhotel.com $-$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Oceanfront dining in a casual atmosphere.

Great ambiance, salads, soups, lite fare, cocktails, drink specials and service. Enjoy chef’s specials, crab cakes, salmon, chicken caprese and shrimp scampi. Friday and Saturday is Prime Rib Dinner for $19.95. Open Friday and Saturday 4-10 p.m.

OCEAN PINES CLUBHOUSE BAR AND GRILLE 100 Clubhouse Drive, Ocean Pines 410-6417222, oceanpinesgolf.org/dining $$ | Full bar With sweeping views of the 18th hole, the new Clubhouse Bar and Grille serves freshly prepared breakfast and lunch items. Full bar. Open Thursday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.

OCEAN PINES YACHT CLUB 1 Mumford Landing Road, Ocean Pines 410641-7222, www.OPyacht[1]club.com $$-$$$ | Full bar The Ocean Pines Yacht Club offers casual coastal cuisine for lunch and dinner in a beautiful bayfront setting. Fresh seafood, signature drinks, live music and more. Open Thursday through Sunday at 11 a.m.

MARCH 26, 2021

OC Film Festival Drive-In Weekend (March, 26, 2021) The fifth annual Ocean City Film Festival continues with a special outdoor event to bring people together while socially distanced.

The festival will hold a Drive-In Weekend, March 26-27, with three showings on Friday and Saturday at the Ocean City inlet parking lot, where attendees will view films safely from their private cars.

Friday, March 26, at 8 p.m. is Local’s Night featuring two locallyproduced films.

First up is a music video, “Sheena Doesn’t Mind,” by Berlin natives and sister-and-brother team Emmi and Tate Shockley.

The feature film is “Reggie’s Forest,” directed and produced by Dave Messick of Unscene Productions.

This is a new cut of the film that premiered at the 2020 Film Festival about local Reggie Mariner and the preservation of his 600-acre forest in Worcester County.

The Saturday matinee on March 27 at 3 p.m. features eight awardwinning short films from the fifth annual OC Film Festival, plus this year’s Best Feature award winner, “The Lights of Baltimore,” by Parisian movie maker, Dr. Sabrina Bouarour.

Saturday night, March 27, at 8 p.m. is horror night. Mardela Springs native and WBOC alumnus Eric Walter’s movie, “My Amityville Horror,” features the story of the family who lived in the notorious house of horror.

Tickets are $25 per car per showing. There is a limit of 200 cars per showing.

Tickets are available at the inlet or in advance at OCMDFilmFestival.com. Showings are weather permitting, and no refunds will be issued. Gates open one hour prior to showtime. Films are not rated, and viewer discretion is advised.

The Ocean City Film Festival is a project of the Art League of Ocean City, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the arts to the community through education, exhibits, scholarship, programs, and community art projects.

Crossword answers from page 50

PAGE 47

Ocean City Today

EEKLY

PECIALS

BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER BEER • WINE • SPIRITS

Monday– AYCE Fried Chicken $10.99 Tuesday– AYCE Beef & Dumplings $9.99 AYCE Spaghetti $8.99 Wednesday– AYCE Ham & Cabbage $8.99 Meatloaf Dinner $8.99 Thursday– AYCE Chicken & Dumplings $9.99 Friday– AYCE Fried Flounder $16.99 Saturday– Prime Rib 8oz $17.99 12oz $22.99

Taking Reservations for Easter!

FULL SERVICE CATERING AVAILABLE • PRIVATE ROOM FOR OCCASIONS, GATHERINGS & HOLIDAY PARTIES DINE IN OR CARRY OUT 38218 DuPont Highway • Selbyville, DE • 302-436-2112 • doylesdiner.com

APRIL 23 • 24 • 25 2021 R.E. Powell Convention Center 40th Street Ocean City, MD

HOME, CONDO

Fri. 11-5 Sat. 10-5 Sun. 10:30-3:30

& OUTDOOR SHOW

and ART & CRAFT FAIR

www.oceanpromotions.info • events@oceanpromotions.info

Face Coverings are Required • Show Set-Up Will Allow for Social Distancing

PAGE 48

Ocean City Today

POLICE/COURTS Continued from Page 46 for him to come down the steps, at which point police were able to take him into custody. He displayed signs of intoxication, police said, having slurred speech and bloodshot eyes.

Police added that he had alcohol on his breath.

He was placed under arrest, and immediately began to pull away and evade being arrested. In the process, police said, McKenna pushed the officer with his arms and legs twice.

DUI Caleigh Elizabeth Shade, 21, of Ocean City was arrested by Ocean City Police on Saturday at 11:45 p.m. and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired by alcohol and driving without a license.

Police said they saw a 2015 Kia Rio swerving, though never breaking out of the lane, before turning onto 12th street and then northbound on Baltimore Avenue. The vehicle then made an abrupt move to turn into a driveway, causing the officer to slam on the brakes.

The officer then conducted a traffic stop and found that Shade was behind the wheel. After an investigation, police said, they found Shade had no driver’s license. After issuing Shade a ticket for driving without a license and telling her if she drove away, she would be arrested, she apologized to the officer and said she would not drive, police said. A short time later, the officer saw the same Kia going down the road near 13th Street and found Shade behind the wheel again.

She was stopped and arrested. A further investigation revealed Shade was under the influence of alcohol.

Swerving in traffic Bruce Frederick McKeldin Jr., 43, of

Selbyville, Delaware was arrested by Ocean City Police at 1:09 a.m. on Sunday and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving while impaired, among other charges.

Police said officers were informed about a possible drunk driver near 5th Street and found a Mercedes Benz heading north on Baltimore Avenue, swerving in and out of several lanes.

The driver, McKeldin, nearly collided head-on with the Mercedes SUV on Fifth Street, police said. A further investigation revealed he was intoxicated, according to the police report.

Assault Hanna Nicole Minor, 22, of Georgetown, Delaware was arrested by Ocean City Police at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday and charged with second-degree assault.

Police responded to a report of two women fighting and yelling at Sunset Island on Fountain Drive. When the officer arrived, police said, yelling could be heard from over 200 feet away.

When the officer got closer, the two women were seen to be in a physical fight. Minor was flailing and swinging her arms and kicking her feet at Lexis Parker, police said, with Minor striking Parker.

The officer was able to separate the two women, the report said, and after an investigation, Minor was taken to the public safety building for processing.

Weapon Joseph Ganathan Geno Moultrie, 26, of Owings Mills was arrested by police at 8:50 p.m. on Sunday and charged with possession of a dangerous concealed weapon. Police said they spotted a gold-colored Mercury with Maryland tags make a U-turn at 52nd Street on Coastal Highway and

then flash amber-colored lights on the front grill. The vehicle also had a blue light on the rear, police said. The officer followed the Mercury and smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the passenger side of the car. When the vehicle turned into the Quality Inn parking lot at 54th Street, police conducted a stop. Moultrie, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was smoking what appeared to be a marijuana cigarette, according to police, adding that a further investigation discovered he was in possession of a folded knife clipped to his waistband. Moultrie was placed under arrest and charged with having a dangerous concealed weapon and an open knife.

DUI Tatiana S. Alonzo, 33, of West Creek, New Jersey was arrested by Ocean City Police on Monday at 2:11 a.m. and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

Police said they heard someone yell, “Slow down, you’re going the wrong way,” and when the officer looked, a gold-colored Jeep was driving north on Philadelphia Avenue near 6th Street. Alonzo was pulled over, and admitted to police that he had “two drinks.” But when asked on a scale of one to 10, one being completely sober, and 10 being completely intoxicated, Alonzo answered that she was “honestly a six or seven,” police reported.

Weapon Amethyst Anne Briggs, 22, of Westminster was arrested by Ocean City Police at 12:10 a.m. on Tuesday and charged with possession of a dangerous concealed weapon, arson threat and resisting arrest.

Police were investigating a complaint of a disorderly group at a downContinued on Page 49

MARCH 26, 2021

HOROSCOPE ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Don’t shy away from the issues that keep cropping up this week, Aries.

They may cause a few headaches, but they also are making the days much more exciting.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, many people like to live by the mantra “don’t judge a book by its cover,” but many times appearances matter. Don’t regret picking out a nice outfit or a trendy restaurant.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Change may take you in unexpected directions this week, Gemini. The good news is that things are finally turning around for you. Enjoy this exciting time.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, you may be drawn to people who appeal to your analytical side this week. You could be interested in some intellectual debate and need a worthy sparring partner.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, if you see a chance to get ahead this week, jump on it. No matter what is involved or how inconvenient, you do not want to let this opportunity pass you by.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 There is much more clarity in your life this week, Virgo. It’s almost as if a veil has been lifted or if your eyeglasses prescription has been fine-tuned.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, there might be a lot of activity going around you over the course of the week. Whether it’s good or bad, you won’t be directly involved in any of it.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Exercise caution when sharing your secrets, Scorpio. Make sure others can be tight-lipped, as some people cannot resist passing on a little gossip here and there.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 There is great harmony in your life right now and it’s due mostly to the fact that you are working together with people both at home and at work. Keep up the collaborations.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Listen to people around you to get a fresh perspective on various components of life that you share. People may have good ideas and be willing to share their advice.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, if you have been trying to become better acquainted with someone in your personal life or even at the office, pay attention to their body language. It can say a lot.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, trust your heart this week and be honest with how you feel about situations. Not every decision has to be based on analysis. Trust your gut.

MARCH 26, 2021

Ocean City Today

POLICE/COURTS

OBITUARIES

Continued from Page 48 town Boardwalk hotel, when Briggs, ran out of the hotel wearing a long tshirt and underwear yelling, “What right do you have to hold them? This is illegal. They have rights.” Shortly after explaining the circumstances to Briggs, the police report explained, she began yelling again, calling the police “racist.”

Briggs was evicted by the hotel manager, and after getting her belongings, she continued to yell, police said. Police also said when the officer searched Briggs’s purse, they found a black hunting knife inside.

Police said that during processing at the Public Safety Building, Briggs told officers that if they did not let her go, she would, “burn this ******* down.”

JOYCE CARTER Ocean Pines Joyce Carter passed on March 10, 2021, at the Macky & Pam Stansell House of Coastal Hospice in Ocean Pines, Maryland.

Joyce grew up in Glen Burnie, graduating from Glen Burnie High School.

She worked in the clerical/bookkeeping field during her life beginning at the Two Joyce Carter Guys store on Ritchie Highway. After moving to Ocean City several years ago she was employed at the Provident/PNC bank in Selbyville, Delaware.

Joyce enjoyed getting together with family and friends, whether for playing cards or lots of conversation.

She looked forward to the Friday gettogether dinners at Dirty Harry’s restaurant with friends.

Her hobbies included collectibles of figurines and teddy bears. She enjoyed crafts as well starting with ceramics, hanging plant macrame, and more recently counted cross stitch.

She completed numerous pieces with some, at first glance, looking like paintings.

Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Anna Duffey, and brother, Patrick.

Loaded handgun David Edward Mihm, 43, of Finksburg was arrested by Ocean City Police at 12:06 a.m. on Tuesday near 74th Street on Coastal Highway and charged with driving while under the influence, driving while impaired by alcohol, and carrying a loaded handgun in a vehicle, among other charges.

Police said Mihm was seen swerving in and out of his lane while heading north on Coastal Highway. An investigation revealed Mihm was intoxicated, and a search of the vehicle turned up a 9 mm handgun loaded with six rounds. Police said he admitted to being drunk and that he did not have a concealed carry permit.

She is survived by her sons, Paul, Mike and Brian; sister, Rita; six grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is being planned for July at Saint Matthews by the Sea United Methodist Church in Fenwick, Delaware.

Arrangements are in the care of Eastern Shore Cremation and Funeral Service, 504 Franklin Avenue, Berlin, Maryland 21811. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.easternshorecremation.com.

JAMES FREEMAN Ocean Pines James Freeman passed away at his home in Ocean Pines, Maryland, on March 15, 2021.

In his final days, Jim was surrounded by his family and was able to watch the eagles and ospreys dive into the Manklin Creek from his faJames Freeman vorite spot in his sunroom.

He could often be seen prowling the local parks and waterways to capture wildlife with his camera.

When he wasn’t trying to get the perfect shot, he could be found playing platform tennis at the paddleball courts, tending to the tomatoes in his garden, golfing, kayaking and casting a line off the coast of Assateague to

PAGE 49

catch some bluefish.

Jim was a dedicated Marine who served our country with honor. After his service, Jim earned a B.S. from Temple University.

He worked as a seventh grade science teacher at Keith Valley Middle School in Hatboro-Horsham School District for 31 years before retiring to Ocean Pines with his wife, June.

In Ocean Pines Jim always kept active with platform tennis where he made many wonderful and caring friends and served as the president of the platform tennis group for many years. Jim always lived life to the fullest.

Jim was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather. He will be dearly missed by his friends and family.

He leaves behind his wife, June Freeman; his two sons, Jimmy and Dave; daughter-in-law, Nancy; his five grandchildren, Cameron, Jillian, Evan, Owen and Ben; his brother, Nick, and his nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers or donations, in the spirit of Jim, please consider a kind word or random act of kindness.

Arrangements are in the care of Eastern Shore Cremation and Funeral Service, 504 Franklin Avenue, Berlin, Maryland 21811. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.easternshorecremation.com.

Continued on Page 50

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Ocean City Today

MARCH 26, 2021

OBITUARIES Continued from Page 49

expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.

WILLIAM L. GALLAGER Southwest Harbor, Maine William Leicester Gallagher, 85, died after a brief illness, Feb. 22, 2021.

William was born on June 7, 1935, in Mineola, Long Island, New York, the son of William Farrington and Evelyn deLisser Gallagher.

Following graduaWilliam Gallager tion from St. Paul High School, he attended Middlebury College in Burlington, Vermont and later joined the Air Force.

William was medically discharged from the Air Force and went on to become a private pilot, a building contractor and developer in the Hamptons, Long Island, New Yorl.

In 1970, Mr. Gallagher and his family moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland where he lived until 2018.

He was the president of Shamrock Airlines (formerly Wye Aviation) in Easton, Maryland, in the early 1970s.

William’s passion in life was flying airplanes. He took his family on many outings over the years and loved to show off his flying prowess by suddenly doing aerial tricks or buzzing friends on the ground. He was quite the mischievous, but talented, pilot!

William was preceded in death by his wife, Sue Hennings Gallagher; a son, Christopher Michael Gallagher; and a granddaughter, Eurith Faye Hopkins and her husband, Christopher Hopkins.

He is survived by his beloved children, Freya Elizabeth Gallagher of Southwest Harbor, Maine, Katherine Gallagher Payne and her husband, Jeff, of Ocean City, Maryland, Mark Kerr McCandless and his wife, Susan, of Preston, Maryland, Michael William Gallagher and his wife, Jimena, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, Kevin Hennings McCandless and his wife, Laura, of Overland Park, Kansas, and an “honorary” son, Abner Alexander Estrada of Easton, Maryland; seven grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and his beloved Maine Coon kitty cat, Moose.

Along with his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, John Norman Gallagher.

A Celebration of Life for Mr. Gallagher will be private.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember William in a special way may make a donation in his name to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 666758516.

Condolences to the family may be

DR. PHILIP JOHN YOUNG Parkville Dr. Philip (Phil) John Young passed away on March 17, 2021 at home surrounded by his family.

Phil was born on May 20,1939 to Andrew Joseph Young, Sr. and Mary Frances (Brooks) Young of Parkville, Maryland.

He attended Calvert Hall High Dr. Philip Young School and then graduated from Loyola College in 1963.

Phil married his high school sweetheart and loving spouse, Elizabeth Anne (Day) Young, in 1964 and together raised their family in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

Phil was a dedicated licensed psychologist who received a Doctorate from George Washington University in 1977.

Over the next 40 years he worked as a school psychologist for Baltimore County Public Schools, taught psychology and managed a successful private practice.

Phil dedicated his life to working with under privileged, at-risk children as well as adults to identify and address a wide variety of learning and psychological issues.

Phil was an Army veteran, historian, an avid fly fisherman, and a golf and tennis enthusiast who put his love for family above all else.

He was a member of Synepuxent Gun and Rod Club, the National Rifle Association, Ocean Pines Boat Club and the Republican Party, among others.

Philip is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth (Betty) Anne; his children, John, David and his spouse, Marta, and Stephanie (Young) Clayville and her spouse, Brooks Clayville.

He also is survived by five wonderful grandchildren, Patrick, Kevin, Matthew, Jackson and Harris.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 29, 2021 at 11 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11211 Beauchamp Road, Berlin, Maryland 21811.

Interment will follow at All Hallows Episcopal Church, 109 West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863. A Celebration of Life ceremony will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Snow Hill Lions Club, P.O. Box 82, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863.

Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

PEGGY ZELLMAN WELSH Frankford Peggy Zellman Welsh, age 66, of Frankford, died Friday, March 12, 2021 at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.

She was born in Bedford, Kentucky, and was the daughter of the late Clarence W. and the late Christine (Brix) Adams.

Peggy was vice president of Calvin B. Taylor Bank before retiring.

She is survived by her husband, Jerome E. Welsh of Frankford; a son, Chad D. Zellman and wife, Teresa, of Pittsville; two brothers, Frank Adams of Stone Mountain, Georgia, and John Adams of Edgewood, Maryland; three sisters, Rose Dunnivant of Ab-

erdeen, Maryland, Margaret Lancaster of Bel Air, Maryland, and Linda Young of Rising Sun, Maryland; a grandson, Danny Zellman, and Peggy Welsh numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Richard A. Henson Cancer Institute at www.tidalhealth.org/about-us/donate.

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

CROSSWORD

OBITUARY NOTICES Obituary Notices are $50 to publish in the Ocean City Today and online.

E-mail: editor@oceancitytoday.net Mail: Ocean City Today, P.O. Box 3500, Ocean City, Md. 21843 Fax: 410-723-6511 Obituary Notices are published as space allows. Every effort is made to publish all that are received.

Answers on page 47

MARCH 26, 2021

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Ocean City Today

Calendar Fri., March 26 REACH THE BEACH: ALL-STAR NATIONAL

Cheerleading National Competition hosted at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. For event details, visit www.acdaspirit.com, www.theepicbrands.com or call 410-579-8668.

Fans can watch live on Varsity TV.

ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BREAKFAST

Whaleyville United Methodist Church, 11716 Sheppards Crossing Road, 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM. Menu includes pancakes, bacon, sausage, scrapple, scrambled eggs, chipped beef, hash brown potatoes, toast, fruit and assorted beverages. Cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children. Masks are required to enter.

OCEAN PINES BOARD PUBLIC HEARING STORY TIME

John Walter Smith Park pavilion, 6030 Public Landing Road, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM. Registered participants, ages 2-5 years, will have a blast by connecting crafts and songs to the story, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” by Eric Carle. Cost is $5. Register: Kelly Buchanan, 410632-2144, Ext. 2503 or kbuchanon@marylandscoast.org.

KIDS’ NIGHT IN EGGSTRAVAGANZA

Worcester County Recreation Center, 6030 Public Landing Road, 5:00 PM 7:30 PM. Open to students in grades kindergarten through sixth. Participants will enjoy an Easter egg hunt, making their own Easter egg trees and decorating their own jelly bean bracelets. Pizza and Gatorade will be included for dinner. Cost is $30 for the first child and $25 for each additional child. Info: Kelly Buchanan, 410-632-2144, Ext. 2503 or kbuchanan@marylandscoast.org.

OCEAN CITY FILM FESTIVAL DRIVE-IN WEEKEND

Ocean City Inlet Parking Lot, 809 S. Atlantic Ave., 8:00 PM. Friday night is Local’s Night featuring two locally-produced films, Sheena Don’t Mind and Reggie’s Forest (new cut version). Tickets cost $25 per car per showing. Tickets: OCMDFilmFestival.com. Showings are weather permitting and no refunds will be issued. Gates open one hour prior to showtime. View discretion is advised.

Sat., March 27 OCEAN CITY SPRING BULK PICK-UP

This free service allows residents to get rid of large household items, such as furniture, appliances, bicycles, carpet, etc. Yard debris and shrubs are also permitted, however the maximum diameter of tree limbs accepted is three inches.

Residents are asked to place their items curbside from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ocean City’s Solid Waste Division, 410-5240318

REACH THE BEACH: ALL-STAR NATIONAL

Cheerleading National Competition hosted at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. For event details, visit www.acdaspirit.com, www.theepicbrands.com or call 410-579-8668.

Fans can watch live on Varsity TV.

Ocean Pines Community Center, 239 Ocean Parkway, 9:00 AM. The board has scheduled a pubic hearing on a proposal submitted in a petition for a referendum: Should OPA By-Laws Section 5.13.(d)(1) be amended to read If the total estimated cost, capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, of any single capital expenditure exceeds One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00), the proposed single capital expenditure SHALL require approval of the members by a referendum?

7TH ANNUAL SPRING FESTIVAL

Downtown Pocomoke City, 10:00 AM 2:00 PM. Kids are invited to bring their Easter baskets to collect goodies in the Easter Egg Loop. Also featuring free pictures with the Easter bunny (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), antique car show, sidewalk vendors along Market Street, Hook’d on Fishing for kids, petting farm and juggling. Participants are asked to wear facemasks in high traffic areas. Rain date is April 3. http://downtownpocomoke.com

PALM SUNDAY

Community Church at Ocean Pines, 11227 Racetrack Road. Palm Sunday with palms at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. 410-641-5433, http://www.ccaop.org

Ocean City Inlet Parking Lot, 809 S. Atlantic Ave. Saturday matinee 3 p.m., features eight award-winning short films from the 5th Annual OC Film Festival, plus this year’s Best Feature award winner, “The Lights of Baltimore.” Saturday night, 8 p.m., features “My Amityville Horror.” Tickets cost $25 per car per showing. Tickets: OCMDFilmFestival.com. Showings are weather permitting and no refunds will be issued.

Gates open one hour prior to showtime.

View discretion is advised.

FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

Saturdays - White Horse Park, 239 Ocean Parkway, 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Shop for everything from fresh local produce to unique handmade artisan goods. Open to the public.

Sun., March 28 REACH THE BEACH: ALL-STAR NATIONAL

Cheerleading National Competition hosted at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. For event details, visit www.acdaspirit.com, www.theepicbrands.com or call 410-579-8668.

Fans can watch live on Varsity TV.

Furnace Town Historic Site, 3816 Old Furnace Road, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Furnace Town Historic Site will open for the 2021 season. Hours of operation will be Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 410-632-2932

PALM SUNDAY

Bethany United Methodist Church, 8648 Stephen Decatur Highway, 10:00 AM. Attend in person or for Youtube or Zoom visit bethanyberlin.org/worship online or listen in by phone through Zoom at 301-715-8592, meeting ID: 2181121842, password: 21811 or on FM 93.9 on your radio dial from the church parking lot. bethany21811@gmail.com, 410-641-2186

Mon., March 29 PRE-SCHOOL MUSIC & MOVEMENET

Meeting via Zoom, 10:30 AM. Dance and sing to the music of classic silly songs including, “The Freeze Dance” and “We Are Going On a Lion Hunt.”

For ages 2-5 years. Register: www.worcesterlibrary.org under events.

Tues., March 30 OUTSIDER ART

Meeting via Zoom, 6:00 PM. This presentation will discuss the definitions and concepts of outsider art, and will also feature profiles of some of its prominent figures.

Register: worcesterlibrary.org under events.

BINGO FOR RECOVERY OCEAN CITY FILM FESTIVAL DRIVE-IN WEEKEND

FURNACE TOWN OPENING

Greene Turtle West, 9616 Stephen Decatur Highway, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Play bingo for a chance to win one of five beautiful prize baskets. Bingo cards are $2 each and proceeds benefit the WGP Worcester County Warriors Against Addiction. There will also be a 50/50.

Wed., March 31 DIVERSE ABILITIES VOICES MEET UP

Meeting via Zoom, 3:30 PM. Teens register on Beanstack for the Read Woke Challenge at worcesterlibrary.beanstack.org. Choose a book from Diverse Abilities Voices to read and discuss at the Zoom Meet Up. Earn badges that give you a chances to win one of two $500 grand prizes. Register: www.worcesterlibrary.org under events.

Thurs., April 1 CPAP MASK FITTING

Atlantic General Hospital Sleep Disorders Diagnostic Center, 9733 Healthway Drive. Free mask fitting clinic for patients who are having trouble adjusting to their CPAP equipment. By appointment only: Robin Rohlfing, 410-641-9726.

MERRY MAKERS - PENDANT NECKLACES Meeting via Zoom, 10:30 AM. Merry Maker’s April program uses skins from acrylic pour painting to create pendant necklaces. Ten supply kits available for program participants by calling 410208-4014. Register: worcesterlibrary.org under events.

BOOK DISCUSSION: ‘THREE SIMPLE LINES’ BY NATALIE GOLDBERG

Meeting via Zoom, 2:00 PM. Join the group each month for a lively book discussion. Books available on Hoopla (hoopla digital.com) Register: worcesterlibrary.org under events.

MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE WITH HOLY COMMUNION

Bethany United Methodist Church, 8648 Stephen Decatur Highway, 7:00 PM. Attend in person or for Youtube or Zoom visit bethanyberlin.org/worship online or listen in by phone through Zoom at 301-715-8592, meeting ID: 2181121842, password: 21811 or on FM 93.9 on your radio dial from the church parking lot. bethany21811@gmail.com, 410-641-2186

MAUNDY/HOLY THURSDAY

Community Church at Ocean Pines, 11227 Racetrack Road, 7:00 PM. Service with Holy Communion. 410-641-5422, http://www.ccaop.org

ONGOING EVENTS MAC GOLF TOURNAMENT

MAC Inc., the Area Agency on Aging, is sponsoring a golf tournament on May 19 at Nutters Crossing Golf Club in Salisbury. Team registration is underway and sponsors are needed. Cost is $400 per team of four. Register by March 31 for a $50 discount. Individual registration is $125. Tournament registration begins at 8 a.m., with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. Lunch, cash prizes and other awards are planned for 2 p.m. Info: Mike Hedlesky, 410-742-0505, Ext. 166. www.macinc.org.

14TH ANNUAL NATIVE PLANT SALE

On April 30 and May 1, the Lower Shore Land Trust will host the plant sale. The event will be pre-order only with curbside pickup. There will be more than 75 varieties of native plants, shrubs and trees. Info: www.lowershorelandtrust.org or Taylor Carty, 443-234-5587 or tcarty@lowershorelandtrust.org.

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Ocean City Today

March 26, 2021

Call 410-723-6397 Classifieds appear in Ocean City Today & Bayside Gazette each week and online at oceancitytoday.com & baysideoc.com

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Starbucks Stores 123rd & Coastal Highway/ West Ocean City are now hiring 13.25/hour + tips, healthcare, paid sick/vacation time, free college, free coffee, free Spotify/ Headspace & more!

Apply today at www.starbucks.com/careers

TOWN OF BERLIN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Work on the Beach in Ocean City, MD Renting Umbrellas and Chairs to Beachgoers • Work Available Through Oct. 1st • Meet New People • Earn Valuable Sales & Customer Apply Online at Service Skills EightyFiveAndSunny.com • Competitive Wages or • Hourly + Commission + Tips Call 410-251-3359

Applications may be downloaded from our website: http://www.berlinmd.gov Applications must be submitted to the Administrative Managers office located at 10 William St. Berlin, MD 21811 via our drop box. The Town of Berlin is an EEO employer.

Ocean Pines & W. OC Areas We have a busy rental department. We are looking for some additional cleaners for weekly vacation rentals for the 2021 Season. q References Required q W-9 q Certificate of Liability Insurance q Must work weekends and some weekdays as needed q ID Required for all of your cleaning staff If you are interested, please contact us by email

Hileman Real Estate, Inc. hilemanre@aol.com, Attn: Chris

Work At The BEACH...

Work With The BEST!!

Top wages and excellent benefits package available to successful candidates.

Employment Opportunities: Year Round Positions: Room Attendant, Laundry, Lobby Attendant, Overnight Cleaner, Housekeeping Supervisor, Front Desk Supervisor, Front Desk Agent, Night Audit, Reservations, Painter, F&B Manager Seasonal: Server, Bartender, Hostess/Host, Busser, Food Runners, Pool Attendant, Warehouse Clerk, Grill Cooks, Beach Stand, Security

Excellent Benefits

Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel Attn: Human Resources Dept.

10100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842 Phone: 410-524-3535 Fax: 410-723-9109 EOE M/F/D/V

HELP WANTED

Cleaners - Vacation Rentals Needed for OC and the Pines.

Experience preferred but not required. OC Purifiers. Call or text 443-397-1189.

OC Massage seeking PT/FT YR Massage Therapist.

Experienced preferred but willing to train.

Team-work environment.

Send resume to massageoceancity@gmail.com or call/text 410-629-9900 for interview.

NOW HIRING Year-round Positions: • PM Line Cook Inquire within at 32 Palm at Hilton Suites 3200 Baltimore Ave Ocean City, MD

Bali Hi RV Park RV Park Manager. Full Time, 40 hrs/wk. $15 hr.

Call 410-352-3140.

Frog Bar and Grill

The Spinnaker

NOW HIRING DRIVER & BARTENDER Call 410-726-7061 for Interview Administrative Assistant

Cleaners Needed For Property Manager

HELP WANTED

JOB FAIR

Seasonal General Laborer The Town of Berlin is in search of a seasonal general laborer. Duties include but are not limited to grass cutting and trash removal.

The selected candidate must have a valid driver’s license and clean driving record. Normal working hours will range from 20-40 hours per week including weekends.

by Monday 5 p.m.

Full Time - $14 - $15 per hour Franchise Management Services, one of the fastest growing restaurant organizations in the Delmarva region, has an immediate opening Administrative Assistant.

Job Description Responsible for providing administrative, clerical and accounting support to management.

Jobs Tasks and Responsibilities • Filing, Mail, Correspondence and Data Entry • Research, track, and resolve accounting problems • Compile and sort invoices and checks • Manage internal Billing of departments • Work actively with Emails, Word, Excel and Quickbooks • Correspond with customers • Issue checks for account payable • Support accounting personnel • Input, invoices, checks, account statements, reports and other records • Provide front desk customer service • Match invoices to work orders • Utilize computer systems to run databases, pay bills and order supplies • Order Parts and Supplies as needed Education and Experience: • High School Diploma or Equivalent • Previous office experience preferred but this can also be entry level position • Competent computer skills including MS Office, internet skills including use of e-mails, group messaging and data collection, Numeracy and literacy skills Required Key Competencies Organization and planning skills, Work management and prioritizing skills, Verbal and written communication skills, Problem solving ability, Attention to detail, Accuracy, Flexibility, Reliability, Teamwork Apply now or in person at 9919 Golf Course Road, Ocean City, MD, 21842 Serious inquiries only, must live within a 30 minute radius of West Ocean City, MD.

Run your business card in our

SERVICE DIRECTORY CALL 410-723-6397 for pricing!

www.oceancitytoday.com Order YOur Classifieds Online!

Now hiring Full-time, Seasonal Front Desk, Housekeeping Maintenance/Bellman Daytime and Evening positions available Apply in person 1800 Baltimore Ave. Mon-Friday, 11am-4pm

Now Hiring All Positions!

Friday April 2nd, 4-7pm Sat. April 3rd, 10am- 2pm Open Interview's Phone: 410-289-FROG Address: 221 Wicomico St., OCMD 21842 Email Resumes & Inquires to: Frogbaroc1@gmail.com

GROUNDS WORKER II Worcester County Government - Maintenance Division in Snow Hill, MD is currently recruiting for a grounds worker to perform landscaping and property maintenance, minor carpentry and painting. HS diploma or GED required, experience with operating landscaping equipment: zero turn mower, string trimmers, edger, leaf blowers, snow throwers, leaf vacuum and chain saws. Excellent benefits. Apply online: https://worcesterhr.co.worcester.md.us/ EOE

LANKFORD HOTEL - Now Hiring! ~ Front Desk Clerks ~ Housekeeping ~ Housemen Looking to work for a family run business where people care?

We are looking for motivated individuals with a good attitude and a professional appearance. Weekends are required.

Competitive wages. Experience is a plus, but not necessary.

Must have knowledge of computers and be motivated to work.

Please call Mary at 410-289-4041 or email resumes to: oclankfordhotel@outlook.com

NOW HIRING

AWESOME PEOPLE!

*Interviews begin February 13th - March, Apply Saturdays & Sundays 11am-2pm Holding Open Interviews For:

• Servers• Bus Staff •Host/Hostess •Kitchen Staff •Security Come by and join our 2021 Family!

54th Street, OCMD (Behind Chauncey’s Surf Shop) 410-723-5565

• • • •

Convenient Quick No Waiting, No Calls Days, Nights & Weekends

MARCH 26, 2021

PAGE 53

Ocean City Today

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

RENTALS

FOR SALE

MOVING SALE

Summer Office Help Needed. Busy vacation rental company seeking a clerical worker April thru Sept. Must be professional, dependable, and have good customer service skills.

Weekends are required Please email resume to robbieh@centraloc.com.

Bali Hi RV Park, Bishopville MD. Maintenance Man/ Groundskeeper. Grass cutting. Experience in plumbing and electric required. 40/hours per week. $15/per hour.

Call 410-352-3140.

TOWN MANAGER POSITION, SNOW HILL, MD: The Town of Snow Hill seeks a well-qualified candidate for their Town Manager position.

Prior Town Manager experience is required. Please visit www.snowhillmd.gov for more details.

TO APPLY send letter of interest/resume via email to mresto@snowhillmd.com.

Deadline 4/12/21.

Seeking Year-Round & Seasonal Rentals!

Call Howard Martin Realty 410-352-5555

Dual Power Console Loveseat, Theater-Seating, Recliners. Grey leather. Cup holders, storage both arms and center. Automatic head rests. Excellent condition, $600 can't deliver. Call or text 570-239-5322.

Saturday April 3. 7am-1pm.

2381 Worcester Highway, Pocomoke City, MD 21851.

Furniture and misc. items.

410-603-5110

Experienced Cleaners needed for Part-time work in Ocean City. Must have vehicle and cell phone and pass background check.

Please call 410-202-2887.

WORSHIP MUSIC LEADER: Instrumental and vocal. Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral, 11021 Worcester Highway, Berlin, Maryland.

Call 410-641-4882 or email secretary@htcanglican.org.

PAPA JOHN’S Now hiring ALL POSITIONS for the Ocean City area.

Ask for Mary 410-524-1300

Now hiring full-time positions for Front Desk, Maintenance, Housekeeping & Housemen.

Apply within Comfort Suites, 12718 Ocean Gateway (Rte. 50) Ocean City, MD (WOC). 410-213-7171.

Hiring ALL Positions!!

FIVE GUYS HIRING IMMEDIATELY

9942 Elm Street, WOC Sleeps 4, $250 per week Manager onsite 410-213-1764

WEEKLY RENTALS AVAILABLE NOW Pool Front Room ...$215/wk Efficiency..............$245/wk Family Room ........$265/wk 2BR Apartment.....$350/wk Burgundy Inn 1210 Philadelphia Ave. 410-289-8581

Ocean City, MD 136th Street

Bi-weekly bonuses and daily tips

Full time & Part time To apply go to: www.mygcjob.com AUTOMOTIVE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES!!

Large automotive center with auto parts/marine stores, service centers and used car dealership, is now hiring for: -Service & Parts Advisors -Exp. Tow Truck Drivers -Technicians -Maryland State Inspector Exc. Pay & Benefits Call: 302-344-9846

PGN Crabhouse 29th Street & Coastal Hwy. Now Hiring for • Waitstaff • Kitchen Help Apply within after 11:00 am

RAMBLER MOTEL

Call 410-250-1199 or stop in today!!!

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Part-time position in law office. Proficient computer skills, Word Perfect, Dictaphone, telephone and light bookkeeping required. Familiarity with E-filing a plus, but will train.

Please respond by sending resume to P.O. Box 56, Ocean City, MD 21843

Ocean Resorts Golf Club is now accepting applications for Part Time Seasonal Clubhouse and Grounds Maintenance positions. Flexible hours. Golfing privileges included.

Applicants must apply in person at

Ocean Resorts Golf Club,10655 Cathell Rd., Berlin, MD. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted

Now Hiring • DELIVERY DRIVERS Make up to $20/hr.

Call 410-856-5652 or apply in person at downtown location 710 N. Philadelphia Ave.

HIRING ALL POSITIONS!!

Full time & Part time Stop by our location on 52nd street! or call 443-664-2825

Resume and References required. info@WindsorTeakFurniture.com or drop off M-F, 4-5pm 1300 Coastal Hwy., Ocean Bay Plaza, Fenwick Island

We Welcome Pets 7700 Coastal Hwy 410-524-7700 www.holidayoc.com

COMMERCIAL

NOW HIRING!!

Production Crew for our WOC kitchen facility Up to $17.50/hr.

Apply online at: www.delmarvadd.com

Become a Better You in 2021!

To Order Product Call Christine 443-880-8397 or email: snowhillavon@ comcast.net

The contents of mini storage units will be sold on line at Lockerfox.com. Units to be auctioned; S44 / S185 / S204 / S206 / S223 / L5 / O74 / O92 / O29 / O115 / O164. Units are being sold due to non-payment of rent.

Common items in units are, household items, furniture, tools, fishing equipment, paintings,antique and vintage items.

Date: Friday March 26th Time: 10:00AM This will be an online auction. Please go to Lockerfox.com and register.

Feel free to call 410-213-2029 for any questions regarding the online auction.

Saturday, March 27th, 8amtill. 141st Barge Rd., Ocean City. Something of everything! Antiques, toys, fishing gear, tools, games & much more. 443-250-8540 for more details.

DONATIONS DONATIONS Do you have an old bicycle not being used? It could mean a world of difference to a hard-working international student. We are looking to get as many bikes as possible. Your donation will be taxdeductible. Contact Gary at 443-975-3065.

Run your business card in our SERVICE DIRECTORY CALL 410-723-6397 for pricing!

COMMERCIAL

COMMERCIAL

1 Office/Retail Space & 1 Warehouse Unit available in West Ocean City.

Call 443-497-4200 Want to start your own business?

Need an Office Space?

Storefront for Rent.

12th Street, steps from the Boardwalk. $10,000/season.

10% discount if paid in advance Call or text 443-783-0469

ADVERTISE YOUR RENTALS

RETAIL SALES PERSON needed for fast growing, established outdoor furniture company. Exceptional Opportunity to Earn and Learn!

Must be Professional, Detail-oriented, and Courteous.

Occasional deliveries and assembling.

25 hours/week, off Tues. & Wed., 9 months/year.

Hourly pay plus commissions.

Yearly & Seasonal Rentals

AUCTIONS

YARD SALE YARD SALE

410-723-6397 www.oceancitytoday.com www.baysideoc.com

COMMERCIAL SPACE for RENT 416 West Street, Berlin, MD • 2,933 SF/ Possible to Sub-Divide/ Available April 1, 2021 • Ideal for Contractor Shop/ Lt. Manufacturing/ Storage • Includes 3 Overhead Doors/ 25’ Ceiling Height/ Off-Street Parking • Electric, Water & Sewer/ Forklift Use Included in Lease Call of Text Pat (410) 251-2892

SERVICES

BUDGET MOVERS 443-664-5797 LOCAL & EAST COAST MOVING Full Packing Service Piano Movers - Full Service www.facebook.com/OCBudgetMovers COMMERCIAL

Ocean City, MD

Restaurant for Lease

are currently seeking applicants for the following positions for the 2021 season:

203 seat restaurant located on landmark corner & prime hotel row. 5,730 sq ft newly renovated building, plenty of parking, upgraded HVAC, full liquor license, plenty of walk-ins & freezer space.

• NIGHT AUDITOR • FRONT DESK ATTENDANTS • HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES • FOOD AND BEVERAGE STAFF

Ideal for crab house, Mexican, BBQ, sports bar, or Ale House concept.

The Castle in the Sand Hotel & the Barefoot Mailman Hotel

Experienced applicants are preferred, but not required.

We require a satisfactory pre-employment background check by all applicants.

Please contact Bob at 410-289-6846 for further information or to schedule an interview.

To Become an Avon Representative Sign Up at www.

ChristinesBeautyShop.com

Classifieds 410-723-6397 www. baysideoc.com www. oceancitytoday.com

Contact Mark Mayers @ 410-289-4444 mayers@harrisongp.com

Ocean City Today

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BLINDS & SHADES

MARCH 26, 2021

ELECTRICIAN

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Raymond O’Brocki Jr. Master Electrician 443 691 0544 Call or Text Same Rate Day, Evening, Weekends

35 Years Experience No Job Too Small! Free Estimates!

Residential/Commercial/Emergencies!

MD Lic #2268 Worcester Co Lic #M1337

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

PipeLine

Contracting, LLC

“One stop shop for Home Improvement”

Home Improvement Design & Bertch Cabinet Retail • Flooring & Tile • Residential & Commercial • Servicing Maryland & Delaware Beaches

US Veterans Administration Approved Contractor

11312 Manklin Creek, Rd., Ocean Pines, MD ~ Call or Stop in Today!

(410) 208-1518 • (410) 982-8368 pipelinecontracting.net • info@pipelinecontracting.net

atminc4u@aol.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Maintenance Engineering 443-824-3741• EngMaint17@gmail.com

Patrick Schuler

Licensed / Insured Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, HVAC/R Cleaning, Disinfecting and Deodorizing, P-TAC's, RTU'S, Evaporators, Condensers, Water Source Specializing in Servicing Gas Fireplaces, Pellet Stoves

Cell: 410-713-8599

Commercial, Industrial, Residental, Hotels, Lounges, Condominiums

Painting & Powerwashing Interior & Exterior

PAINTING

10% Discount with this ad.

Residential or Office or Commercial Packing or Loading or Unloading or Complete Move Single Item or Certain Items or Full Home

Call Maria: 443-664-5797 Female Owned & Operated

www.Facebook.com/ocbudgetmovers

40+ Years in Business

Licensed & Insured

FREE ESTIMATES

108 Moss Hill Ln., Salisbury, MD 410-831-3938 32295 Nassau Rd., Lewes, DE 302-200-7663

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

ROOFING

FREE Written Estimates

OC REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT, INC.

410-524-5781

Over 31 Years of Roofing You!

• The BEST Warranties • Locally Owned & Operated • Over 20k Served • GAF Master Elite Certified • 5 Star Skylight Specialists • Financing g Ava.

Managing Properties Since 1983

• Contract Review / Administration • Community Web-Portal • Preventive Maintenance Association Specific Software

• Community Inspection • Free 24 Hr. Emergency Service • Secure Lockbox System

www.oc-rem.com • info@oc-rem.com COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS INSTITUTE

LOCAL • ENTIRE EAST COAST

Family Owned & Operated

NOW ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS!

Bill Zimmerman 410-390-5528 ~ cell 443-373-4539

• Online Financial Management • Real Time Accounting • Board of Directors Reports • On-Site Personnel Options

The Area’s #1 Moving Company

Shingle Roofs • Metal Roofs • Flat Roofs

Free Estimates

Licensed & Insured

BUDGET MOVERS

ROOF REPLACEMENT & REPAIRS

• CUSTOM PAINTING • DRYWALL REPAIRS • WALLPAPER REMOVED • DECK & HOUSE STAINING • ALWAYS PROMPT SERVICE

Serving Delmarva for Over 35 Years

410-208-9159

MOVING SERVICES

Ultraviolet Lighting Systems Installed to kill Viral and Bacterial Germs including Corona Viruses such as Covid 19, Influenza, SARS, MERS, Mold Odors and other Impurities

Zimmerman & Son LLC

MHIC#68306

MAINTENANCE SERVICES

• Roofing • Siding • Windows • Doors • Custom Homes • Additions • Repairs • Kitchens • Baths • Tile Work • Decks • Custom Inside Trim Work • Hardwood Floors

PAINTING

Licensed & Insured O.C.#30544 DE#1999201949 Fenwick Island, DE# 04-1489

Interior Trim & Finish Hardwood Floors • Car Ports Structural Repair • Regular & Custom Wood Trim Additions Kitchens • Baths • Ceramic Tile Decks • Windows & Doors

MDHIC # 107489 • DE # 2014100304 • Insured & Licensed

BAYSIDE BUILDERS • Flat Roof Specialist •

Doug Singer

E-mail: singerco45@gmail.com Cell: 410-726-1040 QUALITY WORKMANSHIP AT SENSIBLE PRICES

Call M.E. COMPLETE HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR LICENSED AND FULLY INSURED • FREE ESTIMATES ALL WORK DONE BY OWNER

SINGER CONTRACTING LLC EST. 1970

Home Improvement Services Company • Cabinets & Countertop • Kitchen & Bath Remodeling • General Carpentry & Painting

HOME IMPROVEMENT

5901 Coastal Hwy Suite C • Ocean City, MD 21842 Serving: MD & DE

CMCA® AMS® PCAM®

www.roofers www. ww roofer roof ro roofer offers rs.o .org .org g

410.204.2586 410 204 2586

TRIPLE

CROWN

MARCH 26, 2021

ROOFING Gutter Cleaning BOGO Sale

PAGE 55

Ocean City Today

ROOFING

ROOFING

“Super Stu”

info@stewartenterprisesinc.com

443-203-0001 Ocean City, MD Office 302-232-6900 Selbyville, DE Office 410-798-9898 Edgewater, MD Office 410-255-6900 Baltimore, MD Office

Your Roofing, Siding & Home Improvement Specialist Since 1989 ROOFING • SIDING • DURADEK • WINDOWS • GUTTERS

stewartenterprisesinc.com FULL SERVICE Established in 1977

Mike Moesle 410-629-1573, Fax: 410-629-1946 MHIC 131180

Windows, Roofing, Siding, Patio & Decks, Gutters & Gutter Cleaning, Additions, Garages & Sheds, Kitchens & Baths

10545 Friendship Road, Unit 3, Berlin, Maryland 21811 mmoesle@shoresidingmd.com www.shoresidingmd.com *Licenced in MD, DE &VA

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Ocean City Today

MARCH 26, 2021