More than 400 people walked the Boardwalk Sunday to participate in the “Rally For Worcester County Public Schools,” an event organized by the newly formed Worcester United group. Many of the parents, teachers, students and supports carried handmade signs in support of the cause. See page 20 for more pictures from the event.
Fiori moves to have county staff meet with school board staff to establish understanding, but majority says no OC’s resident master of promotion presents his list of blue sky projects, which includes multi-color bridge lighting. — Page 84
Continuing to lurch toward some kind of school budget for next year, the county commissioners on Tuesday rejected a proposal by Commissioner Eric Fiori to have county and school board staff go over the budget together — Page 83
Council sending letter to county asking for feedback opportunities at meetings
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor(April 19, 2024) The Mayor and Council will send a letter to the county commissioners seeking their reconsideration of public comments.
At the end of Monday’s Mayor and Council meeting, during which an Ocean City resident sought the council’s help in contacting the Worcester County Commissioners regarding his tax bill, the elected body agreed to send a letter asking the commissioners to reconsider instituting a public comment period during their meetings. While the commissioners earlier this year voted down a motion to incorporate public comment into their meetings, Mayor Rick Meehan said it should be revisited.
“I think we all agree – and I think most people do – that the county commissioners should allow public comment at their meeting,” he said. “They’re the only body that I can think of, really, that doesn’t have any public comment allowed.”
Earlier this month, Ocean City resident John Adkins came before the council during a public comment pe-
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riod to share his concerns regarding his tax bill. At that time, the mayor suggested he reach out to the county commissioners.
Back before the council this week, Adkins said he had called the county and had heard no response. He said he also took issue with the fact that the commissioners did not offer a public comment period during meetings.
“The reason I’m here tonight is I want this council or city manager to write the county and I want to be put on their list of things to talk about because I feel I have the right to tell the county about my tax bill,” he said.
Adkins said he wanted to make a comment in a public forum and asked the council’s help in getting on the commissioners’ agenda. For his part, Meehan said he was willing to write a letter to the commissioners seeking the incorporation of a public comment period.
“I can put together a letter to the county commissioners and ask them to institute some type of public comment section because I think it is important,” he said. “You know it’s tough enough in the county that the meetings are in Snow Hill, there’s no afternoon meeting option or evening option. You know it is difficult and without public comment, I think it re-
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ally takes the public out of the process and I think that’s what you are stating. So I’ll be happy to do something.”
Meehan noted that he had reached out to Commissioner Joe Mitrecic, Ocean City representative, earlier this year requesting that the county implement a public comment item on its meeting agenda. He said that while a motion was introduced to allow some form of public comment, it failed in a 4-3 vote. Commissioners Eric Fiori, Caryn Abbott and Jim Bunting and Commission President Chip Bertino voted against it.
“If the council would like me to write a letter to ask that they reconsider that and open up with public comment at their meetings, I certainly will,” he said. “In the meantime, you will have an opportunity to speak about the county budget at the public hearings … I believe they have two public hearings on their budget, one typically in the south end of the county and one in the north end of the county. So you might want to watch for those dates just because that is an opportunity for anybody that wants to stand up and speak about the budget to speak.”
The council ultimately agreed to have Meehan write a letter to the county commissioners.
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(April 19, 2024) Officials say two significant development projects are moving forward in downtown Ocean City.
Last week, Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC) Executive Director Zach Bankert and President Joe Wilson came before the Mayor and Council to present the organization’s annual report. In addition to reviewing grant programs and yearly events, representatives presented elected leaders with an update on two major downtown projects that are currently underway – a police substation and a fee-in-lieu-of-parking development.
Wilson told the council the OCDC is working with the Ocean City Police Department to develop a new substa-
tion on Somerset Street. He noted that officials would be meeting with Gillis Gilkerson, the construction manager, in the coming days as the company works through the competitive bidding and engineering process.
“The building will feature bicycle facilities, public restrooms, a public facing lobby and OCPD offices and conference space,” he said.
ternative for meeting the town’s minimum parking requirements. Simply put, property owners can pay a fee instead of providing some or all of the necessary off-street parking required by code. That fee is then used to pay for public parking.
‘We just cut a check for $25,000 for Don Timmons of Dumser’s to go build two new townhomes, adding 36 beds of student housing,’ OCDC Executive Director
Zach BankertWilson added that the OCDC recently purchased 102 Worcester Street for the development of a fee-in-lieu-of-parking (FILOP) project. Last year, OCDC proposed the implementation of a FILOP program, which would allow developers an al-
“I’m also going to put a commercial tenant in the first floor, and then we hope to do seasonal housing on the second floor there. We are planning on a pretty extensive exterior and interior remodel plan for the 2024 budget.”
“We’ve got three parking parcels that we’re looking to use for the fee-in-lieu-ofparking pilot program,” he told the council last week.
Bankert said the goal for the coming year is to complete both projects. Wilson added that the organization would also continue to focus on grant programs. He said the organization recently awarded its first employee housing grant to Dumser’s Dairyland.
“We just cut a check for $25,000 for Don Timmons of Dumser’s to go build two new townhomes, adding 36 beds of student housing,” he said.
Bankert said OCDC would also continue with its public art projects, including art installations at the redeveloped downtown recreation complex.
“We went out and got a grant for that to help plan those murals,” he explained. “You have one from Annapolis artist Jeff Huntington to take place on St. Louis Avenue. Jeff has done 150 murals in five different countries. He’s really a well-renowned artist. We’re excited for a piece at that very visible location. We also have our local legend Marc Emond, who we’re planning a 20-foot mural in the skaters lounge at the new building there. So we’re very happy to be able to include him in that project as well. Those are two large scale public art pieces that took up a lot of the past year on the public art front.”
As part of OCDC’s presentation last week, the council approved right-ofway use agreements at Somerset Plaza. The agreements will allow local businesses to continue using public right-of-way for bicycle and mobility scooter rentals, as well as café tables.
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As part of the redevelopment, Ocean Plaza Mall representative Jim Flannery said ACME had requested a change to the 94th Street median. Officials say the plan is to create an opening that aligns with the entrance to the shopping center.
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(April 19, 2024) A request to change the median at 94th Street will advance to the Ocean City Mayor and Council with a favorable recommendation follow a resort commission meeting Monday.
Public Works Director Hal Adkins and representatives for the 94th Street shopping center came before the Ocean City Police Commission on Monday with a request to open a portion of the median at 94th Street. Adkins said the request was made to allow better access to the property, which is currently being divided into four parcels for future redevelopment.
“In their land planning for parcel A, they are requesting consideration for modifications to the median at 94th Street …,” he told the commission. “Obviously it’s a traffic flow standpoint, to get people in and out of the proposed grocery store. As you can imagine, they want the flow to come and go on 94th Street.”
Last month, the town’s planning commission voted to approve a preliminary subdivision plan for the 17acre tract of land currently home to the 94th Street shopping center. The owner plans to subdivide the lot into four separate parcels for future development, with a new ACME Supermarket to be located on parcel A, or the northeast portion of the property.
Adkins, however, said he did have concerns with two openings being so close together. He noted there was a current opening in front of East Biscayne Drive.
“From a public works standpoint, I personally don’t have a problem with what they desire to do,” he said. “But I will tell you I don’t like the concept of having two openings in the median so close to each other. I am requesting that Vista, on behalf of the owner, come back with a proposal and supporting logic behind what they’d like to do so that Paul Mauser, city engineer, can do an evaluation.”
Officials also voiced concerns about impact on the nearby neighborhood, as well as the impact on traffic.
“I’m not sure if it will improve the traffic or make it worse,” Mayor Rick Meehan said.
After further discussion, the commission voted 3-0, with Councilman Peter Buas recusing himself to forward a favorable recommendation to the Mayor and Council, but to have the applicant submit further traffic information and design plans to the city engineer.
“My recommendation would be for them to come back with a proposal to Paul,” Adkins said. “My personal thought is to allow the opening but require the current opening to be closed.”
OCDC slated to receive $250K, Diakonia expected to receive $60K in budget
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor(April 19, 2024) Resort leaders have agreed to allocate $374,000 for area nonprofits in the coming year’s budget.
On April 10, the Ocean City Mayor and Council voted to approve $374,750 in special appropriations for several nonprofits and institutions in fiscal year 2025. The funding will provide $250,000 to the Ocean City Development Corporation, $60,000 to Diakonia, $25,000 to the Cricket Center, $20,000 to the Worcester County Humane Society, $10,000 to Wor-Wic Community
College, $9,000 to Worcester Youth and Family Counseling, and $750 to Stephen Decatur High School’s after prom.
“These are the dedicated funds we provide to some area nonprofits,” City Manager Terry McGean said.
In his presentation last week, McGean said the coming year’s budget funds WorWic, Worcester Youth and Family and Decatur’s after prom at the requested amounts. He noted, that the Cricket Center had increased its request from $25,000 to $35,000 and that Diakonia had increased its request from $40,000 to $60,000.
question was asked how much is the county charging [Diakonia] for the sewer EDUs …,” he told the council.
“It is approximately $41,000 so this would more than cover that.”
‘What was the rationale on the Cricket Center? They are a critical service too.’
Councilman John Gehrig
McGean said the town’s special appropriations budget for the coming year kept funding levels for both the Cricket Center and Diakonia at their current levels, $25,000 and $40,000 respectively. Councilman Peter Buas, however, noted Diakonia’s yearly request of $40,000 is typically used to fund operations. He said he wanted to see the council provide additional funding.
“As part of the budget wrap up, the
“I definitely would like to give them what they had last year,
$40,000, but I would also like to give an additional one to cover the cost of the EDUs …,” he said. “I think that would be the right thing to do. Diakonia is a great group.”
For his part, Councilman Will Savage said the county was charging Diakonia for the EDUs, as the proceeds go into an enterprise fund.
“So if they were to just give it to them, it would be off the ratepayer’s back …,” he explained. “But they also said that they would be willing to put in for a grant from the county to reimburse that as well. I don’t know if we want to let that play out or if we want to just do it here.”
Mayor Rick Meehan said the town could allocate $60,000 to Diakonia, but wait to see if the county provides a grant to cover the cost of the EDUs. Council President Matt James agreed.
“I think we should fund it at the requested amount and encourage Diakonia to reach out to the county for the grant that’s been discussed,” he said.
After further discussion, the council voted 7-0 to approve the special appropriation requests, but to increase funding for Diakonia from $40,000 to $60,000. Following the vote, however, Councilman John Gehrig questioned why the Cricket Center did not receive its requested amount.
“What was the rationale on the Cricket Center?” he asked. “They are a critical service too.”
McGean said the agency had approached both the town and the county last year with a similar $35,000 request. At the time, the city agreed to provide whatever the county had budgeted.
“Our council said we will match what the county gives you. The county gave them $25,000 …,” he explained. “That is why we have it in the budget as $25,000.”
A motion was then made to approve the Cricket Center funding at $25,000, but to increase it to $35,000 if the county does the same. The motion passed in a 7-0 vote.
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(April 12, 2024) Ocean City will advance a proposal to rename and restructure its emergency services department.
On Tuesday, Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald sought approval from the Mayor and Council to prepare a renaming and restructuring plan for his department and to report back to city officials. The council ultimately voted to support the request, with those in opposition questioning the need and intent for such a change.
“I just think it’s a little premature,”
Council President Matt James said.
Theobald told officials this week of his recommendation to rename his department to the Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security. He said weather events, terrorist incident, large public events and a pandemic have changed the nature of emergency management, and as such, the name change would better reflect the roles and responsibilities of his department.
“Today our department’s prime focus has expanded to encompass the responsibilities of emergency management and homeland security,” he said. “We work cooperatively with the police department on intelligence, and our end is the response, recovery and consequent management of any potential future attack or natural event in the town. Therefore, it’s my
recommendation to you that the department should be renamed the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to better identify and elevate the actual function of the department in the eyes of the public.”
Theobald said the name change will better reflect the department’s expanded responsibilities. He noted that the communications, electronic services and beach patrol divisions would remain as branches of the department, but that there would be more intergovernmental coordination. He said the restructuring would also focus on improving training programs, enhancing technology capabilities and ensuring administrative, finance, and logistics systems are in place to support them.
Theobald said with the council’s approval, he could begin the process of developing a restructuring plan. He noted, however, that there would be no budgetary impacts in the coming fiscal year.
“At some point we have to look at personnel needs, but that’s not what I’m asking for today and that’s not within the next budget,” he said. “This will not cost anything at this point in time.”
Councilman Peter Buas said he thought emergency services was already responsible for the tasks that would be handled under the restructured department. He said he wanted more detail on the reorganization before the name could be changed.
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“Our government’s focus today should be on response and restoration plans, proactively evaluating and strengthening our infrastructure,” he said. “These actions will reduce risk, and preserve the economic health, history and environmental composition of this community in the future.”
Theobald said the reorganized department would be responsible for planning, operational coordination, intelligence and information sharing, operational communications systems, situational assessments, risk mitigation and public information and warnings. He said the changes would allow the town to not only focus on day-to-day operations, but future challenges.
“By instituting these changes, we’ll bring to the forefront the importance and purpose of what we do as a government,” he said, “and we’ll make Ocean City better prepared as a community to respond to the hazards we face and to recover more quickly and effectively, and setting an example for other municipalities.”
For his part, James questioned how a name change could benefit operations. Theobald said it wasn’t so much about the name change as it was about future planning.
“This is a whole community approach, and we can’t do this alone,” he replied. “There has to be a mechanism in place to ensure that we do these things. This is an every department effort. Our focus is not going to just be on what faces us daily, it has to be a focus on what could happen here over the future.”
James, however, said he had concerns that there was no detail as to how the department would be restructured. He questioned if there would be additional staff or budgetary impacts.
“What’s the plan?” he asked.
“It doesn’t make sense to rename the department unless we know how we are going to restructure the department,” he said.
Councilman Will Savage also expressed his concerns about the renaming and restructuring plan, adding that command staff with the fire department had no knowledge of the proposal. He questioned how the new department would be structured and if there should be future discussions with interested parties.
“Maybe this is something for our strategic planning next month,” he said.
While some questioned the proposal, Councilman Frank Knight noted that this was simply the first step in the planning process. He noted a renaming and restructuring plan would be brought back to the Mayor and Council once completed. City Manager Terry McGean agreed.
“I can tell you that that was my intent,” he said. “I know the sort of broad brushes of what Director Theobald is looking to do, and I thought it was important that it get in front of you all to make sure everybody understood kind of the direction that he was looking to go towards. But there’s a lot of work that needs to happen.”
Councilman John Gehrig said the council wasn’t deciding anything today. He said the plan would be developed with the involvement of other department heads.
“I don’t know if we’re voting on anything today other than giving you approval to spend your time working with the team and developing the plan,” he said.
After further discussion, the council voted 4-3, with James, Buas and Councilwoman Carol Proctor opposed, to allow the emergency services department to proceed with preparing a renaming and restructuring plan, which will be reported back to the Mayor and Council.
(April 19, 2024) The Worcester County Board of Education discussed financial roadblocks to Buckingham Elementary School’s replacement project and new planned safety implementations.
At the April 4 meeting with the Worcester County Commissioners and the school board, Executive Director of the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) Alex Donahue stated that to uphold equity in the distribution of school construction support, the group could not provide Worcester County with additional funds to build larger schools to maintain small class sizes. The policy leaves no state money for the Buckingham Elementary replacement project.
At the April 16 meeting, Worcester County Public Schools Facilities Planner
Joe Price displayed a chart detailing the construction of Ocean City Elementary School (OCES) and Showell Elementary School (SES) to provide context for the dilemma. The presentation examined state and local funding participation, school sizes, and regional and state-rated capacities.
Price’s breakdown showed that the state approved constructing a 47,080square-foot SES, completed in 2020. The finalized building exceeded 102,000 square feet to avoid the implementation of portable classrooms. Local funds accounted for 78.3% of the total cost, which was $48,518,782.
WCPS Chief Financial Officer Vince Tolbert maintained that based on enrollment projections and capacity estimations, the IAC has determined there are open seats at the other elementary schools, which they call “adjacent” facil-
ities. The state will not fund a new Buckingham Elementary School given the extra room.
“They are penalizing us twice,” Tolbert said. “Once, by not giving us enough money to build increased square footage, and then the second time by not giving us any money for Buckingham because of the adjacent seats…Buckingham Elementary, our highest poverty school at the northern end with the highest minority population, is getting treated inequitably by the state through their funding formula.”
Former WCPS Superintendent and current board member Dr. Jon Andes argued that if the school system limited the expansion of SES to what the state recommended, students would be “crammed into every corner.” The staterated capacity for Showell was 850, while the local estimation hovered
around 640.
“If we had built the six projects that I was involved in at state-rated capacity, we would have portables at every single school,” Andes said. “It makes absolutely no sense. It is counterintuitive why you would open a new school and then put portables out back.”
The IAC’s capacity evaluation was based on a class size of 23 to 25 students. WCPS prefers to limit this number to 18 pupils per room.
The board has decided to continue advocating for state funds to replace Buckingham. Andes offered a motion “to go to the IAC to appeal for a change in their policy for funding the school system at state-rated capacity, which they have done for both Ocean City Elementary and Showell. We want to take not only an appeal with the board, but we want to include our county commissioners and our state delegation in that appeal.” The gesture was approved.
WCPS Maintenance and Operations Manager Sam Slacum was also present at the April 16 meeting to request approval for additional projects, like replacing the fire alarm system at Berlin Intermediate School. The update is expected to cost $223,346 and will include the ability to announce live and prerecorded messages for fire evacuations and shelter-in-place. The funding for the initiative is being provided by the local government and is scheduled for summer 2024.
Additionally, WCPS Coordinator of Safety and Security Shawn Goddard sought the board of education’s support to secure front doors and vestibules with access control and door intercoms at Stephen Decatur Middle School, Stephen Decatur High School, OCES, BIS, Buckingham Elementary School, SES, Worcester Technical High School, Snow Hill High School, Snow Hill Middle School, Cedar Chapel Special School, Pocomoke High School, Pocomoke Middle School, and the board’s central office.
The project will include exterior door cameras with two-way intercom capabilities to screen visitors safely before allowing them access to the building. The local Worcester County government will fund it with $224,687. Implementation is scheduled for summer 2024.
(April 19, 2024) Officials last week reviewed several projects in Ocean City’s capital improvement plan.
City Engineer Paul Mauser presented the Mayor and Council last week with the town’s capital improvement plan (CIP) for fiscal years 2025 through 2029. While the planning document features several payas-you-go projects in the coming year, Mauser said major infrastructure projects such as the sports complex and the Baltimore Avenue redevelopment have been scheduled for outyears.
“I just want to emphasize that the CIP is just a planning document,” he said. “It’s not a commitment of town funding. It’s essentially just formalizing what the town’s plans are.”
Mauser noted the CIP featured 15 new projects, all of which are associated with water and wastewater improvements. City Manager Terry McGean added that while there were projects slated for general fund bond financing in fiscal year 2025, he said they would likely be moved to the following year.
A debt service chart presented to the council showed an increase in debt service in the coming fiscal years. McGean said the increase represented debt service for the proposed sports complex.
“The plan is for that money to come from increased room tax,” he said. “So while it’s going to show up as general fund, there is a funding source that has been identified for that.”
As part of last week’s CIP discussion, the council voted unanimously to approve $2.79 million in general fund pay-as-you-go projects for fiscal year 2025. That funding includes $1.2 million for annual street paving, $650,000 for Boardwalk comfort station renovations, $200,000 for canal dredging, and $140,000 for storm drain cleaning, to name a few.
“I want to clarify that this $2,790,000 is actually coming out of the capital reserve fund,” Budget Manager Jennie Knapp said.
‘… So the goal is you don’t want to borrow the money until you’re prepared to spend it within two years.’
City
Manager Terry McGean“There’s nothing really bonded in FY25,” he said. “Actually, what’s shown in FY25 is actually going to get moved to FY26. They were two smaller projects, if I recall.”
Mauser noted that 11 projects have been removed from the proposed CIP, as they were recently completed or funded. Those projects include the Ocean Bowl Skate Park renovations, several water and wastewater improvements and the downtown police substation.
“That project is currently being bid out,” he said. “We have a construction manager, Gillis Gilkerson, hired on, and he is bidding the project out to subcontractors. We have a large meeting on April 16, and essentially we have to make sure that we’re under the $4.26 million amount that was approved by council in August of 2023.”
Mauser told the council there were also some modifications associated with the timeframe or funding of certain projects. For example, he noted that funding associated with the Ocean City Tennis Center reconstruction had been moved to fiscal years 2026 and 2027, $39.86 million associated with the sports complex had been moved to fiscal year 2026, and the Sunset Park phase two pier project would be funded with state grants rather than general funds.
“The hope is that there could be a grant that could fund that work,” he said.
Following a review of the CIP, Councilman Peter Buas questioned if the Baltimore Avenue redevelopment could be included in a fiscal year 2025 bond ordinance. He noted that while the project would not commence until the fall of 2026, he wanted funding readily available.
“We know we’re going to have to delay this to fall of 2026 because of the design changes that will be required with the federal grant, but I’d like to make sure that we get a resolution reimbursement bond, probably this spring or summer, and get on the fall bond ordinance so that Hal [Adkins, public works director] and the whole staff have plenty of time to prepare, source equipment and whatever you need to get started so we can potentially shorten this from a fouryear project to whatever we can.”
McGean, however, said there were some issues with bonding the project too early.
“The issue is if we sell the bonds too early we run into arbitrage, which in the past has not been a problem because of interest rates but now it can cause problems,” he replied. “If you don’t use the money within two years and you are earning more interest on the funds than you’re paying interest on the debt it can be substantial penalties. So the goal is you don’t want to borrow the money until you’re prepared to spend it within two years.”
McGean said staff was working with federal and state agencies to create a timeline for the project. He said the idea of a bond resolution could be revisited in the coming months.
(April 19, 2024) Ocean City officials this week agreed to revisit the naming and branding for the downtown recreation complex, currently known as Third Street Park.
The Mayor and Council on Monday voted 6-1, with Council President Matt James opposed, to schedule a future work session to discuss branding, naming and explore all options for naming rights at the downtown recreation complex. The decision comes less than a week after a 4-3 vote of the council to rename the complex the Third Street Park.
“I don’t think the name is very creative,” said Council Secretary Tony DeLuca. “We can do better.”
Last week, the elected body voted 4-3, with DeLuca and Councilmen Frank Knight and John Gehrig opposed, to approve Third Street Park as the new name of the bayside complex currently under renovation between 3rd and 4th streets. While several names were initially presented to the town’s recreation and parks committee, members failed to reach a consensus and the decision was ultimately brought to the public in an online survey.
Staff told the council last week that 99 of the 300 respondents favored
the Third Street Park moniker used by locals for decades. At the end of this week’s meeting, however, Gehrig asked the council to revisit the naming issue at a future work session.
“I’m just asking for some consideration and maybe adding it to a future agenda,” he said, “just to brainstorm some ideas with our expert team and not rely on 300 random people on social media, 99 of which made this decision.”
Gehrig said he wanted to see the council work with the town’s tourism and business development department to brainstorm naming options, as well as sponsorship opportunities, for the park. While acknowledging that the town could still opt for Third Street Park as the official name, he said he at least wanted to have a more detailed discussion.
“It’s a beautiful park with an ugly name,” he said.
Both DeLuca and Knight agreed, with Knight adding that he would like the park’s name to showcase the neighboring bay. Savage, who voted for the Third Street Park moniker, said he had no strong feelings on the matter.
“I just don’t feel that passionately,” he said. “I could be swayed either way.”
It was noted last week that staff
were seeking a quick decision on the name so that signage could be prepared ahead of the park’s opening. Councilman Peter Buas questioned when the sign would be ordered.
“If it’s three weeks from now, and there’s an idea in the three weeks from now, then we can readdress it,” he said. “But I don’t know if we want to toss it around on the agenda for-
ever. I don’t know if the sign has even been ordered.”
After further discussion, the council voted 6-1 to hold off on ordering a sign and to schedule a work session to explore all naming and branding options for the park.
“Some people have called it 4th Street Park their entire life,” Gehrig noted.
Worcester Preparatory School students Pre-K through Grade 5 students and staff members recently celebrated 100 Days In The Books by dressing as their favorite book characters, and participating in a variety of educational and physical activities.
Consultant originally eyed but staff members prefer to lead element in new doc.By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(April 19, 2024) The Town of Ocean City will not hire a consultant to review a housing element within its comprehensive plan but will instead use staff to complete the work inhouse.
On April 9, the Mayor and Council voted 6-0, with Councilman John Gehrig absent, to prepare an in-house review of a housing element within the town’s comprehensive plan. Planning and Community Development Director George Bendler said that while the town had initially considered a consultant to complete the work, he was recommending that staff do it instead.
“We have a great staff that are highly qualified to do this,” he said. “And I think it would be good to do it in-house because we want it to be unique for Ocean City and not be a boilerplate document that reflects another community.”
During a Dec. 13, 2022 joint session between the Mayor and Council and the Ocean City Planning Commission, the council directed staff to look into consulting services that could assist in reviewing the housing element of the town’s comprehensive plan, which is currently undergoing its 10-year update. At the time, Councilman Peter Buas said he wanted to ensure the town’s zoning code adequately encouraged private developers to utilize residential use for seasonal or year-round workforce housing.
In a joint session two months ago, officials once again asked staff to provide a recommendation regarding a housing study. Bendler told the council at the time that he first wanted to hear from the Maryland Department of Planning, which was scheduled to meet with the planning commission on March 5 to discuss the housing element of the comprehensive plan.
“Council recommended that we bring a recommendation to you for the April 9 work session here today,” Bendler told the council last week. “We met with the Maryland Department of Planning on March 5th and discussed how we go about doing the models and guidelines for the housing element as required by the state of Maryland.”
Following input from the state’s planning department, Bendler told officials last week he was recommending the town complete an inhouse review of housing.
“Maryland Department of Planning staff note that housing should be unique to the community,” he said. “Maryland Department of Planning also said that the true objective of this element is not purely about housing inventory, but looking at the big picture of what housing is. MDP encouraged the town to undertake the Maryland housing element in-house and have the department work on this internally versus hiring a consultant.”
Mayor Rick Meehan questioned if town staff and planning commissioners could do the work in-house. Bendler said they could. He added that the town’s updated comprehensive plan, and the associated review of the plan’s housing chapter, would be completed by June.
Turnover, not finances in mind with change so spaces not used all day
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(April 19, 2024) The Town of Ocean City will add additional paid parking along 3rd and 4th streets.
On Monday, the Ocean City Council voted unanimously to add head-in, metered parking on 3rd and 4th streets. City Manager Terry McGean said the change will allow for turnover at the nearby downtown recreation complex.
“The point of this honestly is not a financial issue,” he said. “The point of doing this is to make sure that there is turnover on that block so that the spaces will be available for people who want to use the park and will not be beach parking all day long.”
Earlier this month, the council voted to approve the first reading of an ordinance that modifies parking at the redeveloped downtown recreation complex. The change, made to an appendix of the town code, will allow for head-in parking along 3rd and 4th streets.
“It also notes the removal of some spots from the closed portion of Chicago Avenue between 3rd and 4th
streets,” City Solicitor Heather Stansbury said at the time, “and it clarifies some details on the meter locations as they existed in the appendix in 2023.”
During a second reading this week, Ocean City resident Vince Gisriel asked the council not to pass an ordinance that expands paid parking. He noted a petition drive in 2013 resulted in the council repealing an or-
‘It used to be parallel parking on 3rd and 4th streets. What we did was we changed out parallel parking to be head-in’ City Manager Terry McGean
dinance that would have allowed for additional parking meters in isolated parts of town.
“One of the concerns at the time that we expressed publicly was that if we didn’t fight that ordinance at that time, it would be the beginning of the erosion of our streets, whereby the town would come back for more streets, more streets over the course of time,” he said during a public comment period Monday. “In this particular ordinance, I understand you’ve lost 12 spots, but you’re picking up, at least according to the body of the or-
dinance, 51, or a net gain of about 39.”
Gisriel said he had no problem with the town replacing the 12 spaces it lost along Chicago Avenue, but asked the council not to add additional paid parking spots.
“To me, it’s a slippery slope that will only get more complicated as we go forward,” he said.
The ordinance as presented would eliminate the 12 parking spaces along Chicago Avenue, a portion of which was closed to allow for the redevelopment of the downtown park. It also adds 26 metered spaces on 3rd Street between St. Louis Avenue and the bay and 25 metered spaces on 4th Street between St. Louis Avenue and the bay.
“It used to be parallel parking on 3rd and 4th streets,” McGean said. “What we did was we changed out parallel parking to be head-in.”
After a brief discussion, the council voted 7-0 to approve the ordinance on second reading. Officials this week also rejected a resolution that would add 24-hour paid parking at the new head-in parking spaces. Instead, they proposed paid parking between 7 a.m. and midnight, or the same enforcement hours provided for street parking throughout town.
“From an enforcement standpoint, it would be simpler,” said Council President Matt James.
Approximately 400 people marched the Boardwalk on Sunday for the “Rally For Worcester County Public Schools,” a demonstration of support organized by the 1,000-plus member Worcester United group. Handmade signs were carried by many of the parents, teachers and students who took part with messages encouraging the Worcester County Commissioners to fund schools at the level proposed by the Board of Education.
Police arrest man once released from hospital from injuries sustained in blaze
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer(April 19, 2024) An arrest has been made in a March 29, house fire in Ocean Pines after the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s office confirmed the cause as arson.
The fire marshal announced Felix C. Rounds Jr. as the suspect in the house fire. The man was evaluated at Tidal Health Peninsula Regional Medical Center on the evening of the incident, which was reported to authorities at 5:40 p.m.
Upon his April 12 discharge from the hospital, Rounds was arrested and is currently being held without
bond. A news release from the fire marshal’s office said Rounds was charged with first-degree arson and reckless endangerment.
On the evening of March 29, members of the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department were alerted to the residential fire on Ocean Parkway. Fire companies from Showell, Berlin, Ocean City, Bishopville, Selbyville, and Frankford also assisted. Responders were met with smoke from the single-story home and told a man was still inside.
A small fire was located in a bedroom, which was “quickly extinguished.” The fire marshal said the house’s resident did not sustain any injuries, and damage to the home was isolated to just one bedroom.
Deputies from the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office con-
ducted an origin and cause investigation, where they determined the fire was deliberately set. Members of the Worcester County State’s Attor-
ney’s Office and the Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office pursued the criminal charges. A motive was not identified.
(April 12, 2024) Police activity remained consistent throughout March.
On Monday, Police Chief Ross Buzzuro presented the Ocean City Police Commission with a report on police activity for the month of March. Comparing monthly totals from the prior year, he said officer calls for service decreased from 1,230 to 1,227, while citizen calls for service increased from 695 to 739. Overall, there were 41 more calls for service when compared to last March.
“We’re right in line with the previous year,” he said.
In the top 25 calls for service, traffic stops decreased from 857 to 838, calls to assist citizens and motorists increased from 168 to 193, and calls to assist fire and EMS increased from
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“Two years ago, they were at 54,” he told the commission.
Buzzuro also noted that calls for suspicious activity increased from 73 to 91, 911 hang-ups decreased from 112 to 88, and parking complaints increased from 28 to 80.
Under March enforcement, custodial arrests decreased from 106 to 92, drug arrests decreased from 10 to nine, drug citations decreased from 4 to 3, and DUI arrests decreased from 27 to 26. Weapons arrests increased from 10 to 14.
When asked about the uptick in weapons arrests, Buzzuro said it was the result of a busy month.
“No overall change in enforcement,” he said. “Obviously we are being very proactive. If you look at March and St. Patrick’s Day weekend, we had a rather busy March.”
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(April 19, 2024) A Berlin man will serve at least one year in jail for distributing child pornography.
On April 4, Pasco L. Allen, Jr., 75, was convicted of distribution of child pornography and sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Brian D. Shockley to five years of incarceration with all but one year suspended. The court placed Allen on three years of supervised probation upon his release and ordered him to register as a Tier II sex offender for a period of 25 years. Allen must also submit a DNA sample.
The charges stem from a cybertip sent by the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children (NCMEC) to the Maryland State Police last fall. The cybertip provided evidence of the possession of child pornography by a reported user, which investigators used to trace back to Allen’s residence. Maryland State Police investigators obtained a search warrant for Allen’s cellphone, which they seized in August of 2023. Digital Forensics Examiners with the Maryland State Police extracted the data from Allen’s phone, and were able to determine that in June of 2023, Allen had sent a saved image of child pornography to another individual using Facebook. Allen was subsequently charged with knowingly distributing child pornography and related offenses.
Worcester County State’s Attorney Kris Heiser thanked NCMEC, the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, and Sgt. Pruitt of the Maryland State Police for their efforts to hold online predators accountable. Heiser also thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Mary-Ann Burkhart who prosecuted the case.
(April 19, 2024) Maryland State Police Berlin Barrack troopers made more than 70 traffic stops Monday during a targeted traffic safety initiative at the intersection routes 50 and 610.
According to a news release from the barrack, the location was chosen because of a high incidence of motor vehicle collisions, some of which involved fatalities. Over the past three years, troopers have responded to over 50 collisions at the specific intersection.
The release said this week’s safety initiative confirmed a combination of drivers on Route 610 disregarding stop signs, and drivers on Route 50 speeding.
The initiative involved staging a seemingly broken-down vehicle equipped with a trooper on the lookout for traffic violations. Troopers targeted numerous instances in which drivers failed to stop before crossing Route 50, a key factor that the release said contributes to the area’s crash rate.
During the four-hour initiative, troopers made a total of 71 traffic stops at the intersection, the majority of which were for failure to come to a full and complete stop prior to crossing Route 50. Other traffic violations included excessive speed and distracted driving violations.
The release said the Maryland State Police Berlin Barrack is committed to ongoing traffic safety enforcement and education efforts. More patrols and enforcement actions are planned to further deter dangerous driving behaviors and enhance road safety.
(April 19, 2024) Hardwire, the Pocomoke City-based provider of advanced ballistic protection solutions, has been awarded four contracts by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to construct ballistic shields, totaling $27 million.
The contracts guarantee a mix of rifle- and pistol-rated safeguards for the FBI. The agreements started on Feb. 1 and April 1 and will run for five years.
George Tunis, the company’s CEO, said that a Request for Proposal (RFP) was distributed to the United States-based industry of defense manufacturers. The first step was to deliver prototypes. Tunis said Hardwire provided upwards of 42 preliminary shields.
“It was basically the back of a semi-truck,” he noted.
User groups, like SWAT teams and FBI agents, tested the shields via mission scenarios. According to the CEO, these training grounds included fake schools and other real-life situations to determine the product's effectiveness.
The shields were then put through temperature testing, where the equipment was exposed to extreme conditions, even reaching negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
“This test allows them to find any weaknesses in the product,” Tunis said. “They need to be able to shoot at all different angles and temperatures.”
More than 15 companies campaigned for the contracts. However, Hardwire’s shields that were ulti-
mately selected utilized innovative and unique technology.
The armor introduces what the defense manufacturer calls the Triclops, “a periscope system that offers visual acuity while providing full protection for the officer’s head,” a press release issued by the business read. “The Triclops accommodates right or lefthanded users and is electronic-free, ensuring 100% reliability without the need for batteries, boot-up, or latency.”
Lighter than a window, the technology allows users to peek around corners left or right and see over fences. Tunis said that unlike traditional viewing spots, which are a shield failure point, the Triclops innovation cannot falter.
The shields are also unique in using turning block technology to intercept bullets. The product knocks the ammunition, causing it to wobble violently, and then catches it sideways.
“It is an elegant way of stopping bullets,” Tunis said. “Ammunition typically rotates at 100,000 revolutions per minute. Our product turns that one axis of rotation on itself and then wobbles at 20,000 rpm. It’s violent. When we first started to do it, it was amazing.”
Hardwire was founded approximately 24 years ago in Ocean City before moving its operation to Pocomoke. Now, the company produces everything from trucks to helicopters to body protection. The company is also the primary supplier of car armor for the New York and Philadelphia police departments.
“We have a diverse customer base,” Tunis said. We enhance humans' survivability and work for whoever needs to stay alive.”
Despite the fierce competition for the contract campaign, Tunes said his company’s exceptional engineers and willingness to discuss the client’s needs helped them succeed.
"Putting ourselves into our customers’ shoes is how we make superior products that perform in the mission,” he said. “We are honored to deliver safety and security to the FBI through scientific innovation.’”
(April 19, 2024) Unexpected insurance savings are expected to help Berlin address more needs within the municipality’s proposed budget.
In a work session this week, staff presented the council with updated cost estimates for health care and workers compensation. With those figures significantly lower than expected, the town should have savings of more than $300,000 that can be used elsewhere. Officials agreed to use some of it to address the funding requested by the Berlin Fire Company for fire and EMS services.
“Everybody here, we’ve got a lot of different levers we need to pull. I think we’ve done a pretty good job of doing that,” Mayor Zack Tyndall said.
At the start of a utility fund budget
work session this week, staff updated Tyndall and the council regarding projected insurance costs for the coming fiscal year. While staff projected a 10% increase in health insurance costs as a budget placeholder, they said Monday the cost was actually only going to increase about 2%. Workers compensation costs, which were projected to increase 8%, actually decreased, meaning the town’s workers comp costs will drop from a budgeted $273,000 to $180,000.
Later in the work session, council members said they wanted to use some of the unexpected savings to increase funding to the Berlin Fire Company for fire and EMS. The department requested $200,000 for fire operating expenses and $150,000 for fire capital. The department is seeking about $605,000 for EMS from the town.
Councilman Jack Orris said he felt increasing the town’s proposed fire operations allocations from about $117,000 to the requested $200,000 was a good goal to reach. Councilman Steve Green agreed.
Finance Director Natalie Saleh noted that would cost the town $83,000 more than included in the proposed budget. Green said he was confident the money would be there once the budget was updated to include the insurance savings outlined earlier in the meeting.
Saleh said the council had asked staff to continue reviewing ways to compensate staff for longevity. She asked if providing the fire company more funding came before employees’ longevity.
“We took a huge step for the employees already,” Councilman Jay Knerr said, referencing the salary and step scale created as well as the step and cost-of-living
adjustment employees were going to see in the coming budget. Town employees are expected to raise a 4.5% salary adjustment between the step and COLA.
Councilman Dean Burrell pointed out that raising the tax rate by a penny would generate an additional $55,000 in revenue.
“Didn’t I see in the news where some town’s tax rate was going to increase 47%?” Burrell said. “We do not want to get the Town of Berlin in that type of situation. As unpopular as it is this is something that we’re going to have to discuss not only with us but the public in general… If we did a penny every other year, or two cent every other year, it would put us in a better situation and avoid not having to say hey this year we have to increase our tax rate by 15 cents or some ridiculous number. We’ve planned for everything else and we have strategies for everything else. We need to be looking at this tax rate.”
Staff also spoke in support of developing plans for incremental tax increases.
“We’re very limited in the options we have for revenues sources but same as everywhere else our costs keep going up. One way or the other someone has to pay…” Town Administrator Mary Bohlen said. “We’re not going to balance the budget with speed camera tickers. We look at the revenues sources we can, but the reality is they’re limited.”
Green said he’d supported small tax increases in the past but felt this wasn’t the year to do one, when the town’s property tax revenues increased $300,000 with a constant tax rate and health insurance and workman’s compensation savings had been realized.
As far as the EMS allocation, the fire company requested about $605,000, up from the roughly $409,000 the town had budgeted. Berlin Fire Company President David Fitzgerald said 93% of the EMS operating budget was spent on personnel. He said the company’s billing rates were already at the level they needed to be so the organization needed more revenue from the town. He said if there was insufficient funding, staff wouldn’t be getting laid off but that empty shifts would not be filled.
Orris pointed out most of the proposed increase would be spent on a new EMS supervisor. Officials pointed out if that position was removed the increase was considerably less. Burrell suggested the fire company look at potentially reducing the planned cost-of-living adjustment of 3% to 2%, which is what town employees are getting.
“I really would want to see that number, what the one percent on the COLA would save,” he said.
At the end of the work session, Orris, said officials did their best during the budget process.
“It’s all important and we, I believe, do not make decisions with the intent of slighting anyone in particular or any group or any department or anybody,”
(April 19, 2024) A text amendment that would allow recreational storage buildings on agricultural land will advance to the Worcester County Commissioners for consideration.
The Worcester County Planning Commission last week voted 3-1 to give a positive recommendation to a text amendment that would allow private, noncommercial storage buildings in the A-1 agricultural district as a special exception use on parcels at least 20 acres in size. Applicant Jonathan Anders said the change would allow him to use his agricultural property for storage despite the fact there’s not a principal structure there.
“If there’s an opportunity to think outside the box that’s what I would ask of the committee,” he said.
Anders told the commission he and two friends had purchased a 30-acre agricultural parcel to build a storage building for their classic cars and boats. It wasn’t until the building was under construction they realized the current code limits accessory buildings to 500 square feet when there’s not a principal structure on site.on agricultural land.
“The million-dollar question to us
becomes is a principal structure really necessary,” Anders said.
The proposed text amendment would allow a building of any size for storage of personal property without a principal residence on A-1 parcels larger than 20 acres with special exception approval by the Worcester County Board of Zoning Appeals.
“Keep in mind this would be county-wide,” said Jerry Barbierri, chair of the commission.
Staff noted that there were 1,716 parcels throughout the county that would be impacted by the change.
“I just have concerns about the precedent it sets,” said commission member Phyllis Wimbrow. “If this is passed it’s applicable to every other agriculturally zoned parcel.”
Commission member Mary Knight said because it was proposed as a special exception use the buildings would still have to each be reviewed by the board of zoning appeals.
“It’s not just a blanket,” she said. “I think that protects the county.”
A motion to forward the text amendment to the commissioners with a favorable recommendation passed 3-1, with Barbierri opposed and commission members Ken Church and Marlene Ott abstaining.
Continued from Page 28
he said. “I believe and I know that we are up here looking out for everybody that is under our stewardship as elected officials.”
Green agreed and said being an elected official was about balance.
“A lot of tonight was great news,” he said, referencing the insurance savings and the fact that the town wasn’t passing the slight increase in health insurance on to employees. He said this marks the
fifth year in a row employees have not had to cover the cost increase. Green added that there were a number of good infrastructure projects included in the proposed budget but that it was clear that a long-term funding solution needed to be identified for the fire company.
Tyndall praised town department heads and said officials were still committed to reviewing potential longevity rewards for staff.
By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor
(April 18, 2024) Dozens of residents shared a wish list of items they’d like to see in a community center on Flower Street at a kickoff meeting last week.
A pool, exercise equipment, office space and a community kitchen were among the numerous ideas voiced by members of the public in attendance at a community center meeting held last Wednesday. Mayor Zack Tyndall said that while the town would have to be realistic with its plans, at this phase officials are still brainstorming for what the new facility will include.
“We really want to make sure that this is a place that everyone feels welcome,” he said.
Close to 50 community members gathered at the Berlin library at the
invitation of Tyndall and the Berlin Community Center Advisory Committee to kick off the planning process for the new facility. For years, the town has been working toward building a new facility on Flower Street to replace the decrepit multi-purpose building. Last year, the committee was formed and the consolidation of the four parcels making up the sixacre site was completed. Now, the committee is asking the public to weigh in on programming and amenities for the future center.
“What it needs is the involvement of each and every one of you,” said Councilman Dean Burrell, a member of the committee. “This project is going to be dependent upon us as a community. We’d like to have the participation of the entire community. I’d like to ask that we share candidly as possible for what we think and what we see.”
Suggestions made included exercise equipment and gym space, meeting rooms and offices, resources to help with recovery and emergency shelter provisions, among other ideas. There was talk of space for junior wrestlers and football players, as well as office space for someone who could do sports physicals. Office space for a social worker and probation officer was also suggested. Other residents said the community needed space to store local historical memorabilia and artifacts. Burrell said there was already a commitment by the group to have a display related to the Flower Street School.
“We are going to incorporate the history of that location and that school so everyone in the town of Berlin can realize how important that place is to the town,” he said.
Committee member Gabe Purnell agreed that it was important to preserve local history which currently was scattered all over.
“I feel this place could really be a vault,” he said.
Committee members stressed that it would take partnerships with a variety of agencies and organizations to make the community’s dreams a reality.
“What we’re doing is ambitious,” said Worcester County Commissioner Diana Purnell, another member of the committee. “We need those partners to develop what we’re trying to do.”
Committee member DJ Lockwood agreed. He pointed out that the project was going to be expensive, as it would cost $1.8 million at today’s prices just to build a new structure the size of the multi-purpose building. He said maintaining a building like that cost about $10,000 a year in maintenance and $18,000 a year in utilities.
“The whole community needs to buy into it,” he said. “We all need to open our minds to partnerships.”
(April 19, 2024) Berlin will celebrate vinyl this month with its firstever Record Store Day.
Berlin Arts and Entertainment District in partnership with Sound Storm Records, is set to host “Vintage and Vinyl in Berlin” to celebrate Record Store Day, showcasing not only vinyl records but also vintage clothing, books and more. The event takes place Saturday, April 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will transform Pitts Street into a haven for enthusiasts of all things retro and musical.
"We are thrilled to invite everyone to join us for this first-time celebration of music, culture, and nostalgia," said Ivy Wells, the town’s director of economic and community development. "Record Store Day is not just an event; it's a testament to the enduring allure of vinyl."
According to Wells, attendees can expect a curated selection of vintage clothing and items from vendors lining Pitts Street. For music lovers, Sound Storm Records, Pitts Street Treasures, Viking Tree, Outten Delights, and Uptown Emporium will showcase an extensive array of both new and used vinyl records. Adding to the festive ambiance, live music will be offered by Journos and friends.
Brandon Zlatniski of Sound Storm Records is thrilled other businesses will be partnering with his to celebrate the staying power of vinyl.
“We’re doing a block party,” he said. “It just shows the beauty of connecting everybody through music. We’re all looking forward to it.”
To mark the occasion, his Broad Street store will have exclusive Record Store Day releases as well as a 15% off sale for general merchandise.
“Go out and support your local record store,” he said.
For more information on Record Store Day, visit the Vintage and Vinyl in Berlin event page on Facebook. Attendees are encouraged to park at Stephen Decatur Park.
Also on Saturday, the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum will host a pig roast beginning at 3 p.m. on its lawn featuring live music by Funk Shue, and beer and games.
(April 19, 2024) Worcester County Public Schools has been honored for the sixth consecutive year with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its commitment to music education.
Now in its 25th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.
To qualify for the designation, WCPS staff answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instructional time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by officials with
The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.
"Music Education is integral to a well-rounded education for all students,” WCPS Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator Tamara Mills said in a news release. “Years of research have proven that students who regularly participate in music demonstrate enhanced cognitive skills, improved academic achievement, and advanced social and emotional development.”
The release said research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music. After two years of music education, researchers found that participants showed more substantial improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores than their less-involved peers, and
that students who are involved in music are not only more likely to graduate high school but also to attend college. Everyday listening skills are also stronger in musically trained children than in those without music training.
Significantly, the release said listening skills are closely tied to the ability to perceive speech in a noisy background, pay attention, and keep sounds in memory. Later in life, individuals who took music lessons as children show stronger neural processing of sound. Young adults and even older adults who have not played an instrument for up to 50 years show enhanced neural processing compared to their peers.
Social benefits also include conflict resolution, teamwork skills, and how to give and receive constructive criticism.
(April 19, 2024) The Democratic Central Committee of Worcester County presented Jim Mathias with a Lifetime Achievement Award at its Kennedy King Annual dinner April 11.
Mathias was recognized at the event as a dedicated Democrat, public servant and esteemed leader who has tirelessly served the people of Maryland for decades. According to a release after the event, “Mathias is a man whose deeprooted connection to the Eastern Shore community, unwavering commitment to public service, and impressive political career make him a true champion of the people.”
After being born and raised in Baltimore, Mathias took on his first summer job at Ponzetti's Pizza on the Boardwalk and he and his father went on to establish a successful amusement and arcade business in downtown Ocean City. In 1978, he married Kathleen "Kathy" Arlee Petry, with whom he proudly shares two children, Lauren and Trevor. In 1987, he began his political career by serving on the Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals. He was elected as an Ocean City councilman in 1990 and later served as mayor of Ocean City from 1996 to 2006.
In 2006, Jim's political journey led him to the Maryland House of Delegates, where he represented District 38B. He later served in the Maryland
State Senate from 2011 to 2019, where he distinguished himself as a dedicated and effective legislator.
His committee involvements included The Governor's Task Force on Eastern Shore Economic Development, Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bay, Maryland Tourism Development Board, Lower Eastern Shore Mayors Association, Lower Eastern Shore Children's Center Advisory Board, Worcester County Delegation, Governor's Commission on Small Business, Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of
Maryland, Joint Committee on Ending Homelessness, and The Maryland Veterans Caucus.
Outside of politics, Mathias has made significant contributions to Worcester County. He is a charter member of the Knights of Columbus #9053, is a life member of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company, past chair of the Worcester County Ambulance Service Committee as well as past chair of the Ocean City Humane Society Commission. He has served on the Maryland Critical Area Commission, the Maryland Tourism Development Board and was the state
chairman in 2004 of the Walk America for the March of Dimes.
Mathias currently serves as the Director of Governmental Relations at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
“Jim Mathias's political career is a testament to his deep-rooted commitment to public service and his ability to connect with and represent the people he serves. His tenure as a community volunteer, mayor of Ocean City and his service in the Maryland General Assembly have left a lasting impact on the Eastern Shore Community and the state,” the media release said.
Program available through innovation grant to WCPS
(April 19, 2024) Worcester County Public Schools has been awarded a $500,000 Career and Technical Education Innovation grant to create a new Digital Music and Video Production program at Worcester Technical High School.
According to a news release, under the technical school’s existing Interactive Media Production visual art pathway, the new program is designed to equip students with marketable skills, including digital music theory, recording techniques, sound design, multi-camera and scriptbased editing, audio mixing, motion tracking and stabilization, and more.
The curriculum will provide realworld experiences, opportunities for partnerships with Salisbury University, and opportunities for youth apprenticeships with local businesses. The program also aligns with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
Students will learn the tools and techniques used by field professionals. The grant will fund program supplies and materials, professional-grade equipment and software as well as contracted services to create a state-of-the-art creative classroom and recording studio.
"We are incredibly grateful to MSDE for this support of the arts and careers in the arts,” WCPS Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator Tamara Mills said in the release. "Digital Music and Video production are valuable skills that can benefit students in many aspects of their lives. Whether they pursue a career in the arts or not, this program will foster creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.”
Brian Phillips, WCPS career and technology education coordinator, added that the grant will allow staff to provide interested students with “cutting edge digital arts education that aligns with the demands of the modern music and video industry.”
Students interested in the new pathway can speak with their high school counselors now about scheduling and program availability for the 2024-25 school year.
(April 19, 2024) Ocean 98.1 WOCMFM with presenting sponsor Seacrets Distilling Company will hold its 16th Annual “Best Bloody Mary on the Shore” Contest from noon to 3 p.m., this Saturday, April 21, at Seacrets’ Morley Hall. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Ocean 98 Cash for College Fund.
The $20 entry fee charged at the door will provide each attendee a judge’s ballot and allows for unlimited tastings of Bloody mary’s prepared for the event by some of the community’s best restaurants. The categories that will be judged
are Best Overall, Best Presentation and Spiciest.
Seacrets Distilling Company returns as the event’s presenting sponsor, and will provide Seacrets Distilling Company Vodka to each competing restaurant to be used exclusively for their competing entry or entries.
This is a 21 and older event.
The Ocean 98 Cash for College fund provides a $5,000 cash award each year to outstanding high school seniors in Worcester, Wicomico and Sussex counties.
(April 19, 2024) The Town of Ocean City and members of the Ocean City Beautification Committee are planning an Arbor Day celebration April 26 at Ocean City Elementary School.
Ocean City Beautification Committee members have partnered with OCES students to bring this year’s program to the community. The students will assist the mayor and City Council members with planting a tree as part of the organization’s TreeMendous Program.
The celebration begins at 9:30 a.m., and will begin with presentation of the flags by the American Legion Color
Guard. Students will present skits, poems, songs and artwork to show the importance of trees in the environment, followed by the tree planting.
The Ocean City Police Department’s mounted and K-9 units will also perform demonstrations for the students.
Residents and visitors are invited to join the beautification committee memebrs, and mayor and council for the event.
For more information, contact Donna Greenwood, beautification committee chairperson, at 410-289-7060 or visit oceancitymd.gov/ocbc.
CAPTAIN’S TABLE
410-289-7192
15th & Boardwalk
In The Courtyard Marriott
Fridays & Saturdays: Phil Perdue on Piano
COINS PUB
410-289-3100
28th St. Plaza
On Coastal Hwy.
Friday, April 19:
Shortcut Sunny
Saturday, April 20:
DJ Giddy Up & Identity Crisis
CRABCAKE FACTORY
BAYSIDE
302-988-5000
37314 Lighthouse Rd., Rte. 54, Selbyville, DE
Sunday, April 21: Uncle Ward
Wednesday, April 24: Brian Bishop
CRAWL STREET TAVERN
443-373-2756
DJ GIDDY UP Coins Pub: Saturday, April 20
DJ GROOVE Fager’s Island: Friday & Saturday April 19 & 20
Wicomico St., Downtown O.C.
Friday, April 19:
Fuzzbox Piranha
Saturday, April 20: Rogue Citizens
FAGER’S ISLAND
410-524-5500
60th St., In The Bay
Friday, April 19:
Bad W/ Names & DJ Groove
Saturday, April 20:
Pineapple Band, Mad Decent & DJ Groove
GREENE TURTLE WEST
410-213-1500
Route 611, West OC
Saturday, April 20:
Zion Reggae Band
Wednesdays:
Bingo w/ Blake
HARBORSIDE
410-213-1846
South Harbor Rd., West End O.C.
Friday, April 19:
DJ Billy T
Saturday, April 20:
Mercury Agenda & DJ Harvey Cinco
Sunday, April 21:
Opposite Directions
UNCLE WARD
Factory Bayside: Sunday, April 21
BEATS BY DEOGEE Pickles Pub: Thursdays, & Fridays
BAD W/ NAMES
Fager’s Island: Friday, April 19
IDENTITY CRISIS
Coins Pub: Saturday, April 20
MERCURY AGENDA
Harborside: Saturday, April 20
Buxy’s Salty Dog: Friday, April 19
HIGHER EDUCATION Pickles Pub: Saturday, April 20
FULL CIRCLE
Seacrets: Saturday, April 20
ZION REGGAE BAND Greene Turtle West: Saturday, April 20
410-289-4891
8th St. & Philadelphia Ave.
Fridays: Beats By DeoGee
Saturday, April 20:
Higher Education
Sundays: Beats By Styler Mondays: Karaoke w/ Wood Tuesdays: Beats By Wood Wednesdays: Beats By Styler Thursdays: Beats By DeoGee
PURPLE MOOSE SALOON
410-289-6953
Between Caroline & Talbot Sts.
On The Boards Friday & Saturday, April 19 & 20:
More More More
SEACRETS
410-524-4900
49th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, April 19: Opposite Directions, 9th Gear, Stealing Savanah, DJ Bobby & DJ Connair
Saturday, April 20: DJ Tuff’s Celebration Of Life, Full Circle, The Way Outs, The Benderz, DJ Cruz & DJ Davie
Thursday, April 25: DJ Connair & Blake Haley
VISTA ROOFTOP
410-390-7905
13801 Coastal Hwy. Friday, April 19:
Steve Khun
Saturday, April 20: George & Dave Monday, April 22: Mike & Dave Tuesday, April 23: Rick Artz Wednesday, April 24: Taylor Knox & Brian Thursday, April 25: Michael Sky
Nancy Bradford and Steve Gragert from the Ocean City-Berlin Rotary Club recently visited Brittany Santoni’s kindergarten class at Ocean City Elementary School to make Easter bunnies with the students.
Ocean City Elementary School second grade students
and
with eggs that are hatching into baby chicks as part of a University of Maryland Extension program lesson on embryology and tracking the chick embryo development.
Emily Knight, second place winner in the Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club essay contest, read her essay to the club at their April 2 meeting. She is pictured accepting her winning check from Club President
Worcester Prep fourth graders
This
‘I strive to support and enrich the lives of my students with each decision I make.’
By Kimberly Patrick Contributing Writer(April 19, 2024) According to an Education Week article, teachers make an average of 1,500 educational decisions each school day. I often liken my brain to a cluttered desktop screen with multiple internet browser tabs and apps open, each representing a decision demanding attention. Despite having small classes, meeting each student’s needs requires mental agility and flexibility.
Yesterday, an unreliable internet connection made delivering my lesson challenging. As I prepare for work this morning, I consider strategies for potential technical issues. I decide to arrive early to copy handouts and provide both paper and online assignments.
Technical challenges resurface as I project school announcements on my Apple TV. While troubleshooting, I
decide to have students grab their textbooks to stay engaged.
In American Literature, students write about the responsibilities associated with freedom, inspired by our reading of historical documents like “The Declaration of Independence” and the “Bill of Rights.” As students write, I manage attendance and help absentees catch up on missed work. Anticipating potential difficulties in understanding the lesson, I offer to stay after school to provide extra help. I get a late-arriving student from guidance settled and continue our lesson. Students make real-world connections and craft a school-specific Bill of Rights.
The bell rings to dismiss class and as new students prepare to enter, I seize a restroom break, knowing I won’t have another opportunity for 90 minutes.
A student-athlete arrives to Ad-
vanced Placement English Literature class with an injured finger and says he won’t be able to write, so I suggest utilizing a speech-to-text feature on his iPad. We dive into an analysis of the poem “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by poet laureate Ada Limon. While students talk, I facilitate discussions and maintain classroom order, reminding students to put their phones in their backpacks. A student tells me she’s expecting a call from her mother, so I offer to let her keep her phone on her desk.
Students move their desks into a circle for a discussion of Frankenstein. Yesterday, I purchased Skittles for them as an incentive to share their thoughts. They eat one after each time they talk. I challenge them to connect the story to modern-day issues. The conversation delves into the ethical considerations surrounding human genome editing technologies and their potential societal impacts, prompting deep reflection among the students.
A student doesn’t look well so I ask if she wants to go to the nurse. The bell rings for the next class. I wish one student a happy birthday while another asks to use the restroom. Amidst the daily interruptions, student requests, and technological hiccups, the mental tabs in my brain are constantly shifting as I navigate through the day’s challenges. It’s not even lunchtime yet.
I’m tired but I am reminded that with the multitude of decisions made and interactions managed, I shape the learning experiences of my students.
I recognize the weight of the decisions faced by the Worcester County Commissioners, and the important issues they must address. Just as I strive to support and enrich the lives of my students with each decision I make, I hope that the commissioners also choose to make decisions that will benefit the students, families, and educators they serve. By fully funding our school budget, they are not just investing in resources; they are investing in the future of our students and the vitality of our community.
(The writer is an English teacher at Stephen Decatur High School.)
During the month of May, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean PinesOcean City will hold its annual food drive.
The organization will be collecting non-expired, non-perishable goods for Diakonia Homeless and Housing Shelter in West Ocean City. Vehicles will be stationed in the Ocean Pines Community Center parking lot from 9 a.m. to noon every Wednesday morning to accept donations.
The Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum is hosting a book signing for “The Making of the World’s Largest Bill Fishing Tournament: The First 50 Years of the White Marlin Open,” featuring the founder of the White Marlin Open, Jim Motsko, and book co-author Joanne Guilfoil, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 17.
Attendees can meet Motsko and learn more about the history of the White Marlin Open and its growth over the past 50 years. The book will be available for purchase from the museum.
For more information about the book signing, visit ocmuseum.org/.
Wor-Wic Community College is currently accepting registrations for credit classes for the summer and fall.
Early registration is encouraged for the best selection of classes. The first summer session begins on May 13, the second summer session begins May 28, and fall classes begin Sept. 4. This fall, credit courses will be offered in both 15-week and sevenweek sessions, allowing students more scheduling flexibility. Visit worwic.edu for more information. New students who need help should call 410-334-2895, or email admissions@worwic.edu and include name and phone number.
Public servant, scholar and Christian leader Gerald “Jerry” Regier will address the 12th annual Salisbury Area National Day of Prayer Breakfast, set for 7 a.m., May 2, at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in Salisbury.
Regier has a long career in both national and international Christian ministry, public service and education.
The Salisbury breakfast, held on the same day as the annual National Day of Prayer, is organized by a committee of area community leaders and chaired by Bonnie Luna.
The breakfast program begins at 7 a.m., and from 6:15 to 6:55, attendees are invited to join local pastors in corporate prayer for the city, region and country. A special area will be set
Continued from Page 42
aside for this preliminary event.
The theme of the 73rd annual National Day of Prayer is “Lift Up the Word – Light Up the World,” based on the text of 2 Samuel 22:29-31.
Tickets for the prayer breakfast are $20, available in Salisbury at The Country House, or by mail. Make checks payable to Salisbury Area Prayer Breakfast Committee, P.O. Box 521, Salisbury, MD 21803. For more information, call Ted Evans at 410430-4189.
Downtown Pocomoke’s first 4th Friday Street Festival is set from 5-8 p.m., April 26.
The block party-style events take place within the two blocks of Market Street between Front and Second streets.
Local artists and vendors will fill the sidewalks of Market Street to sell their work, which includes paintings, photography, jewelry, bath and body products, home decor, fashion, plants, and much more. Participating businesses and restaurants will stay open during event hours.
There will also be food sales, sweet treats, snow cones, and beer and wine.
Live music will be provided by local band, Blue Milkshake.
This month’s theme is Frozen Friday, inspired by the live production of “Frozen Jr.” opening night at the MARVA Theater, sponsored by the Theater Academy of Delmarva. The characters of “Frozen” and other Disney favorites, will be outside the theater before the 7 p.m. production. Advance tickets must be purchased for the production and are available at theateracademyofdelmarva.com/frozen
In the event of rain, the street festival will be canceled and will resume on the fourth Friday of the following month.
For more information, visit the Downtown Pocomoke Association Facebook page, downtownpocomoke.com, or call Pocomoke City Hall at 410-957-1333 ext. 111.
George Eisen, the author of “A Summer of Mass Murder: 1941 Rehearsal for the Hungarian Holocaust” will discussed details of the face-toface mass murder of Hungarian Jews in the summer of 1941 at an upcoming presentation at the library in Ocean Pines.
The event, sponsored by the Friends of the Ocean Pines Library, is set for 2 p.m., April 23.
Most accounts of the Holocaust
focus on trainloads of prisoners speeding toward Auschwitz in the summer of 1944, but a largely overlooked chapter is Eisen’s account of the prequel to those events.
A professor of political science, Eisen has discussed his work throughout the United States and Europe. His book incorporates extensive archival research, interviews, and corresponding literature, along with previously unexplored documents and testimonies.
Wor-Wic Community College has added a new associate degree concentration in risk management and insurance.
Registration is open now for the program, which prepares students to work in the field of risk management and insurance, and to earn relevant industry credentials. Students will learn about the insurance industry, fundamental insurance and financial services concepts, and will develop the professional skills necessary to succeed in the insurance field.
Successful completion will lead to an associate of applied science degree in business management with a concentration in risk management and insurance. Then degrees can lead to careers in insurance sales, claims, investigations, underwriting and more. Classes will cover property and casualty insurance state licensure exams, as well as life and health insurance state licensure exams. Students will also gain real-world experience through internships in the field. The degree is suitable to launch a career or transfer to a four-year institution.
Registration is open now for the new program. Visit worwic.edu for more information. New students who need help should call 410-334-2895 or email admissions@worwic.edu and include their name and phone number where they can be reached.
Mobile order pickups
Standing in line at a church dinner
Laughing with old friends
Biking the boards with the wind
Computer updates that go unnoticed
A freshly striped parking lot
Short meetings with results
Reporting on breaking news
The show, “The Resident”
Not using a stamp to pay a bill
Quiet weekend mornings
Final stage of process will gather residents’ feedback to extensive document
By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor(April 18, 2024) The final stage of the town’s strategic plan process continued this week with a sparsely attended community comment session Monday morning.
A handful of residents shared their
views on the latest draft of the town’s strategic plan with representatives of Salisbury University’s BEACON (Business Economic and Community Outreach Network) at the Berlin library on Monday. They complimented the process and facets of the plan reviewed.
“I think it’s great to come up with a vision like this,” resident Bronwyn Betz said.
In the first of two community input sessions scheduled for this
Ocean City has had its share of colorful characters over the years. The blind musicians Tex, with his 10gallon hat, and Shorty, with his banjo and dog Mandy; “Pop” Wendling with over 200 Popeye tattoos and his novelty joke shop; and the late Boardwalk Elvis (who passed away in 2018) were just a few of the folks who made memories for all those who love Ocean City.
One of the most popular characters in the 1970s was Roy Beckett whose claim to fame was playing a kazoo while standing on his head. Roy lived with his sister in Snow Hill and would catch a daily ride to Ocean City where in addition to performing his act on the Boardwalk he worked for Hall’s Restaurant.
Roy Beckett has not been seen for many years but his legend lives on as part of “Vanishing Ocean City.” It is a certainty that other unique and interesting characters will always be around to entertain future Boardwalk visitors.
To purchase one of Bunk Mann’s books, click over to www.vanishingoc.com. Photo by John “Wonder” Wright
week, BEACON’s Jessica Iacona outlined the latest draft of the town’s strategic plan, which BEACON has been gathering input for during the last several months. The plan is meant to establish priorities for the town and concentrate the town’s organizational efforts and resources.
“We envision a town where our heritage, culture, resilience, friendliness and well-being serve as the guiding principles, fostering a vibrant and inclusive community,” reads the plan’s community mission statement.
The plan goes on to identify each of the community values (heritage, culture, resiliency, inclusivity, wellbeing and vibrancy) and driving strategies as well as action steps.
“These are really what is driving Berlin for the next five years or so,” Iacona said.
Betz said she thought a strategic plan was a good thing for the town and said she particularly supported the references to the need for a recreation center within the plan.
“We don’t have that,” she said. “This town is growing. There are so many kids here.”
Her husband Tyler agreed and said many families traveled to Salisbury or Pocomoke to use recreational facilities.
“An activity center in Berlin is needed,” he said.
He also questioned the references to the need for affordable housing in the area.
“I think that should be examined more,” Tyler Betz said.
Councilman Jay Knerr agreed and said that the town must determine what constituted affordable housing.
“It seems to be a myth in our area,” he said. “Developers build housing but it’s never affordable. We really need to dial it down.”
Resident Donna Main said the plan’s references to culture and heritage tied in with efforts already underway by various historic and cultural entities in town to work together moving forward. She said there needed to be even more cooperation in the future, as combined efforts were more likely to receive grant funding.
“I think more could be done,” she said. “There is money out there for different projects. Sometimes entities are working in silos and not coordinating enough.”
After another input session set for April 17, BEACON is expected to compile feedback to share with town officials. Iacona says her team has appreciated the variety of feedback received and that the process has gone smoothly.
“The town has been awesome to work with,” she said.
by Steve Green
“
as it something I said?”
It was on my mind as I walked out of Beckett’s room one night this week.
I had made the mistake of checking in on him after I got home late from a council meeting. I had not seen him since 7 the same morning and wanted to see how everything was going, though I had already gotten an update from Pam. She let me know there were a few things bothering him after school. It didn’t take a lot of digging on my part, as the 15-year-old of the house went off on a good old-fashioned rant following the silly question, “how was your day?”
It was a nice little complaining session about all the things on his mind. Most of the subjects were mostly trivial in nature, involving social things, but I try not to make light of anything he’s talking to me about or be too critical of something he says. I take to heart the advice I got once from a friend with grown kids living across the country.
My friend told me there will be times when your kid tells you something that irritates and aggravates you to no end, but if you want to keep the lines of communication open it would be best to temper extreme reactions one way or the other. The concept was reacting too negatively or aggressively will lead to our kids not wanting to share details with their parents. In other words, kids will shut down if they feel uncomfortable sharing.
Now I understood that advice well, but I can’t say I am always able to adhere to the guidance. A saying comes to mind: “Good advice is always certain to be ignored, but that’s no reason not to give it.”
It’s just there are limits and some days he may push a button or cross a line. I could be wrong, but there have been situations when I wondered if he was simply trying to elicit a negative reaction or pick a fight
(the current hot topic is his steadfast belief LeBron James is far better than Michael Jordan and I disagree).
Though not all conversations with my son are positive, it’s important to me he is aware he can tell me whatever is on his mind. There are instances when I can see him pull back and not dive too deep into a topic out of concern for my reaction. As he has gotten older, I have tried to deal with this natural reluctance by sharing stories from when I was his age. He particularly enjoys hearing about examples of when I made a bad decision, a mistake or got into trouble for something. Sharing these specifics seems to be working to get him to tell me things, especially when he may in hindsight regret how he handled a particular situation.
At this point in his life, I think communication is important. Pam and I both value it with our kids, but it’s not consistent. It seems to depend on the day and it’s okay. I am sure there are days I am more talkative than others, and I expect that with my boys.
I came across a post on Raising Teens Today that hit home. Under the title, “Our Boys Need Us,” it read, “When our boys become teenagers and begin to shut us out, we often accept it as normal teen behavior – a byproduct of puberty – and we abide by their new rules of engagement. But, we shouldn’t. Just because they become quieter and need more space doesn’t mean they don’t want to talk to us, it means we have to try a little harder and be more selective when and how we talk to them. No matter how old they are, they still need us.”
arson loves washing dishes at our church’s commercial kitchen.
At home he’s not as into it, but he has become a huge helper during our breakfast and dinner fundraisers at Stevenson United Methodist.
Dishwashing is perfect for our Autistic
kid. It’s all about a structured environment with a routine, and I am there to help as needed. The dishes are brought right to him, he washes them down while playing with the dangly hose and puts them through the automatic dishwasher, which the church inherited from a local restaurant years ago.
My involvement is limited, as I carry the tray of washed dishes over to the drying table where another set of volunteers puts them away.
I have learned during our recent spells as dishwashers the end is the worst part. It’s when all the dirty pots and pans come over once the kitchen closes. It’s funny how Carson knows his limits, as he wants no part of the big pots and pans. Last Sunday’s dinner was an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner hosted by and a fundraiser for our youth group. Carson’s older brother, Beckett, worked the front of the house, but most of the time when I saw him he was hitting up the dessert area. When he was “working,” he would bring the plates back and partially do what was asked of him, such as scraping the plates. Fully aware he was not doing his job right, Beckett would plop the plates down and say, “you got this Carson, no doubt about it.” Carson would laugh and point at him seemingly saying to me in his nonverbal way, “what a fool,” before further clearing the plates.
After a few hours, it was clear Carson was toast, as he started gathering the trash cans because he knows the last step of the shift is gathering all the garbage. He was done. Before we left, though he remembered one thing he wanted to do – he soaked me with the hose before carefully placing it back in its hook.
(The writer is the executive editor of OC Today-Dispatch. He and his wife, Pamela, are proud parents of two boys. This weekly column examines their transition into parenthood and all that goes along with it. E-mail any thoughts to editor@mdcoastdispatch.com.)
■ PRICE RANGE: $, $$, $$$
■ RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted
South end to 28th Street
■ BUXY’S SALTY DOG SALOON
DRY DOCK 28
28th Street, Ocean City, 410-289-0973, buxys.com, drydockoc.com
Destiny has a new home in Ocean City. From the ‘burgh to the beach, Buxy’s is your home away from Pittsburgh. Come see what all the locals already know and have known – Buxy’s is the place to come to meet friends, relax and be social with no attitudes. House specialties include “The” Cheesesteak Sub, Primanti-styled sandwiches, pierogis, egg-rolls and homemade crab dip. Dry Dock also features a full menu with soups, salads, kick starters, pierogis and craft pizza.
■ CAPTAIN’S TABLE
15th Street and Baltimore Avenue, in The Courtyard by Marriott, Ocean City, 410-2897192, captainstableoc.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
A local tradition for over 60 years featuring hand cut steaks, premium lobster and perfectly prepared regional seafood. Breakfast daily 7:30-11 a.m. Open daily for dinner: Sunday through Thursday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4-10 p.m. Happy Hour, seven days a week, 4-6 p.m.
■ COINS PUB & RESTAURANT
28th Street Plaza and Coastal Highway, Ocean City 410-289-3100, www.coinspuboc.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
American style local restaurant serving seafood, steaks and chefs specials. Check out the off season weekday specials. Early bird; daily, 25:30 p.m. Sunday’s early bird specials, all day and all night. Happy Hour; daily, 2-5:30 p.m. with food and drink specials. Closed Monday. Open Tuesday through Friday, 2 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. Dine-in, carry out.
■ CORAL REEF RESTAURANT & BAR
17th Street in the Holiday Inn & Suites, Ocean City 410-289-2612, coralreefrestaurant.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Enjoy traditional Eastern Shore cuisine and local favorites that are sure to please your entire party! Choose from a selection of house specialty entrees such as sharables, handhelds and seafood. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Featuring specialty rums. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
■ CRAWL STREET
19 Wicomico St., Ocean City, 443-373-2756, blackoutalley.com
Established in 2020 just a short walk from the legendary Cork Bar. Don’t leave without trying the famous wings, but everything on the menu is solid, including flatbreads, tacos, salads, sandwiches and seafood platters. Be sure to check out the live music offerings as the nightlife is top of the line.
■ DISTRICT 24
BLU CRABHOUSE & RAW BAR, JAY’S CAFÉ & ICE CREAM, THE EMBERS
2305 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, 410-2893322, district24oc.com
Come visit all your culinary options at this block of fun, including the landmark Embers Restaurant with a new, innovative vision as well as Blu where fresh seafood is king. Be sure to stop in Jay’s for a tasty treat as well as an ocean of caffeinated offerings. There’s fun activities for kids of all ages here as well with a miniature golf course and an arcade.
■ FISH TALES
2107 Herring Way, Ocean City, 410-289-0990, ocfishtales.com
Bayfront marina dining offered here with a huge menu to satisfy guests of all ages. Enjoy a drink from a hanging chair or fish tacos at your table while the kids play in a playground build in the sand. Food and drink menus offer enough of a variety to meet all needs.
■ HARBOR WATCH
806 S. Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, 410-2895121, www.harborwatchrestaurant.com
$$-$$$ | Reservations | Kids’ Menu | Full bar
Celebrating our 40th anniversary with fresh seafood, an award-winning raw bar, mouthwatering steaks and the best view of the Ocean City Inlet and Assateague Island. Open Thursday through Sunday. Happy Hour: Thursday and Sunday, all night long featuring $9 select appetizers, $6 crushes, $4 select draft. Call for banquet and large-party details.
■ PICKLES PUB
706 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, 410-2894891, picklesoc.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Easy to find with plenty of free parking, serving lunch, dinner and entire diverse menu until 1 a.m. Also nightly entertainment year-round and a great place to watch all the sports on an ocean of televisions including a giant high-def screen. Also four pool tables on site. Lunch and dinner and entire menu until 1 a.m. Open all year from 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m., seven days a week.
■ PIT & PUB
2706 Philadelphia Ave. and 12701 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, pitandpub.com Ocean City’s home of Pulled Pork and the finest barbecue, the legendary 28th Street Pit & Pub and the Northside Pit & Pub are known for serving up delicious smokehouse specialties. Grab a brew and enjoy the live sports action on one of the big screen TVs. Happy hour daily. Familyfriendly atmospheres at both locations. Weekend entertainment.
MIDTOWN 29th to 90th streets
■ 32 PALM
32nd Street in The Hilton, Ocean City 410-2892525, 32palm.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Elevated cuisine, locally sourced ingredients and allocated spirits are prominently featured in our lounge and dining room. Open year-round for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Routinely updated menus with the highest quality local ingredients for fresh seafood any time of the year!
■ THE BONFIRE
71st Street, Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 410-5247171, thebonfirerestaurant.com
Celebrating 50 years as the best seafood and prime rib buffet in Ocean City. It’s all here – the service, the atmosphere and finest, freshest seafood available and quality meats. Save room for the decadent desserts available as well including homemade donuts.
■ COCONUTS BEACH BAR & GRILL
3701 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, 410-289-6846, castleinthesand.com
A tropical open-air patio steps from the beach. A unique place for lunch or dinner with a menu featuring all the customary items and a few Ocean City-based surprises. Guests can also enjoy beach service for lunch and cocktails. Be sure to check out the daily entertainment schedule.
■ FAGERS ISLAND
201 60th St., Ocean City, 410-524-5500, fagers.com
$$ | Full bar
Dine on the island with an award-winning bayfront restaurant featuring American & Regional dining with a global influence and popular destination featuring impeccably prepared American and Pacific Rim cuisine. Also enjoy our outdoor decks and bar with live entertainment and 32 wines by the glass. A place where the joy of food & the presence of the table are of utmost importance. Dine on fresh seafood and our famous Prime Rib. Enjoy beautiful sunsets over the water. Open 11 a.m. daily. Fine dine at 4:30 p.m.
■ HOOKED
8003 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 410-7234665, hookedoc.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
A Common Ground Hospitality concept, a passion driven restaurant group servicing the coastal community. The goal is honor creativity and innovation by design. With passion at the heart of everything, unique dining concepts are paired with honest hospitality and well-made food sourced with fresh local ingredients and seasonal harvests. Craft and full bar available. Open daily 11:30 a.m.
■ LONGBOARD’S CAFÉ
6701 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 443-6645693, longboardcafe.com
$$-$$$ | Full bar
Casual Dining … Refined. Open for lunch and dinner. A wide range of gourmet burgers, innovative tacos, salads and sandwiches to full dinner entrees featuring fresh local fish prepared in a variety of styles, beef, shellfish and pasta. All our sauces, salsas, dressings, etc. are meticulously house made. We use fresh local sources wherever possible and premium ingredients such as our chuck, brisket and short rib custom blended burgers. Closed Tuesday. Call for reservations.
■ MARLIN MOON RESTAURANT
3301 Atlantic Ave., in the Double Tree Hotel,
Ocean City 410-289-1201, marlinmoonocmd.com
$$ | Full bar
Winner of the Maryland People's choice award, Marlin Moon continues to offer its famous, locally loved dishes and famous happy hour. Enjoy creatively crafted cocktails, fresh selections from the raw bar and luscious desserts. Happy Hour, every day, 3-6 p.m., featuring drink specials. Breakfast, 7:30-11:30 a.m.; Lite Fare, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Dinner, 4-10 p.m.; and Bar open noon to 11 p.m.
■ SEACRETS 49th Street, Ocean City 410-524-4900, www.seacrets.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
CLOSED JAN. 21 AND REOPENING FEB. 1.
Open Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday, 10 a.m. through midnight with island atmosphere. Jamaican jerk chicken, appetizers, sandwiches, paninis, pizza and fresh seafood.
UPTOWN 91st to 146th streets
■ ALBERTINO'S BRICK OVEN & EATERY 13117 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 410-2502000, albertinosoc.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Featuring the best brick oven pizza, always handmade with fresh ingredients, Italian-American mouth-watering seafood specialties, traditional Italian pasta dishes, apps, soups and salads. Full bar with large local craft beer selection.
■ CAROUSEL OCEANFRONT HOTEL & CONDOS 118th Street, Ocean City 800-641-0011, www.carouselhotel.com
Enjoy one of the restaurants at the Carousel. Fine Ocean Front dining with a beautiful view. The Reef 118 is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday through Sunday serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday serving dinner. The Bamboo Lounge is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday and 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
■ THE CRAB BAG
13005 Coastal Highway Ocean City, 410-2503337, thecrabbag.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Featuring consistent hot steamed crabs, eat in or carryout. The Crab Bag is also an Eastern Shore style seafood house specializing in preparing and serving the biggest and the best blue crabs available. The extensive menu promises something for everyone. Winter hours, Friday-Sunday, open 11 a.m.
■ CRABCAKE FACTORY USA
120th Street, oceanside, Ocean City, 410-2504900, crabcakefactoryusa.com
Full-service family restaurant, carry-out and sports bar. Outside seating available. Menu selections include prime rib, chicken Chesapeake, steamed shrimp, beer battered fish, real Philly cheesesteaks, burgers, and a kids menu. Casual attire, full liquor bar, no reservations. Open Year Round. World-Famous Crabcakes are served all day starting at 8 a.m. and can be packed on ice for you while you are eating breakfast.
■ TAILCHASERS RESTAURANT & DOCK BAR
12203 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 443-6647075, tailchasersoc.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
A coastal casual farm to table restaurant with a fun dockside family friendly atmosphere. Menu changes with the seasons and cocktails are handcrafted with care. Bring the whole family for lunch or dinner along the canal. Kids playground available to keep the littles entertained.
■ VISTA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT
13801 Coastal Highway, located in the Fenwick Inn, Ocean City, 410-390-7905, vistarooftopoc.com
$$-$$$ | Full bar
Enjoy a wonderful meal overlooking the ocean and bay. Some of the most unique views in Ocean City. Steaks, seafood, burgers, soups, salads and lite fare. Happy hour, 3-6 p.m. New this year is a boozy brunch Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Live music.
■ CRABCAKE FACTORY BAYSIDE Route 54, Fenwick Island, DE, 302-988-5000, CCFBayside.com
Same award-winning crab cakes and bloody marys. Enjoy waterfront dining. Full-service family restaurant, carry-out & sports bar. Outside seating available. Open daily year-round. Menu selections include crab cakes, prime rib, Philly-style cheese steaks, various seafood, kids menu plus full breakfast menu.
■ DIRTY HARRY’S 100 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island, DE, 302539-3020, Beach-net.com/dirtyharrys
$ | Kids’ Menu | Full bar
Don’t let the name fool you, the food is home cooking at its finest. Established 25 years ago but recently under new ownership. Popular for the breakfast but getting rave reviews for lunch and dinner, too.
■ NANTUCKETS
Route 1, Fenwick Island, DE, 302-539-2607, nantucketsrestaurant.com
Serving the beach great food and spirits for over 30 years. David and Janet Twining will wow you with the finest foods and drinks in the area. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by what one of the coast’s finest dining establishments has in store for guests. Everything here is a house specialty.
■ CLUBHOUSE BAR AND GRILLE
100 Clubhouse Drive, Ocean Pines 410-6417222, Oceanpinesgolf.org/dining
$$ | Full bar
Indoor and outdoor dining with sweeping views of the 18th green and pond, the Clubhouse Bar and Grille serves freshly prepared breakfast and lunch items with a full bar menu. Thursday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
■ OCEAN PINES YACHT CLUB
1 Mumford Landing Road, Ocean Pines 410641-7222, www.OPYachtclub.com
$$-$$$ | Full bar
The Ocean Pines Yacht Club offers casual coastal cuisine for lunch and dinner in a beautiful bayfront setting. Fresh seafood, signature drinks, live music and more. Open Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
■ BREAKFAST CAFE
12736 Ocean Gateway, Route 50 east, West Ocean City, 410-213-1804, breakfastcafeofoc.com
All the traditional breakfast options available here in a casual, diner setting. Open daily closing at 2 p.m.
■ CANTINA LOS AGAVES MEXICAN GRILL
12720 Ocean Gateway #7, West Ocean City 410-390-3914, cantinalosagaves.com
$$ | Kid’s menu | Full bar
Ocean City’s newest Mexican restaurant and bar. Offering delicious and generous portions of the tastiest traditional and not so traditional #MexicanEats you have ever tried. Open daily at 11 a.m. Serving food until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Bar open til 11 p.m.
■ DUMSER’S DAIRYLAND
West Ocean City: Route 50 east; Boardwalk locations: 501 S. Philadelphia Ave., 49th Street, 123rd Street, Ocean City, dumsersdairyland.com
This classic ice cream shop is a tradition for many families. Voted O.C.’s “Best Ice Cream” for the past 20 years, Dumser’s is celebrating decades of serving the shore, and the ‘40s-style décor takes you back in time. With locations throughout Ocean City, treating your tastebuds to this signature homemade ice cream is easy. The 49th and 124th streets locations offer vast lunch and dinner menus (breakfast too at 124th) in addition to a wide variety of ice cream treats.
■ GREENE TURTLE WEST
Route 611, West Ocean City, 410-213-1500
Proudly serving West Ocean City since January 1999, The Greene Turtle features a beautiful 80seat dining room, large bar area with 54 TVs with stereo sound and game room with pool tables. With an exciting menu, The Greene Turtle is sure to please with delicious sizzling steaks, jumbo lump crab cakes, raw bar, homemade salads and more. Live entertainment, Keno, Turtle apparel, kids menu, carry-out.
■ HARBORSIDE BAR & GRILL
12841 Harbor Rd., West Ocean City, 410-2131846, weocharborside.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Home of the original Orange Crush drink with an extensive menu offers a wide variety of appetizers, fresh seafood, steak & pasta entrees, as well as juicy burgers and sandwiches. Whether seeking a full dining experience or just a crush or two, the team will be sure to take excellent care of you and yours. Monday-Wednesday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
■ SHRIMP BOAT
9724 Stephen Decatur Hwy., West Ocean City, 410-213-0448, shrimpboatoc.com
Since 1989, a spot for locals and visitors to enjoy fresh local seafood straight off the boats. Dine-in seating also available. It’s all sourced local and fresh and a free shrimp sample available.
(April 19, 2024) Entertaining is personal and depends on one’s level of experience and budget.
The important thing to remember is to have fun and highlight one’s uniqueness and purpose intended.
Years ago, hosts would diligently follow the rules set before them.
Now, one has the option of liberties. Once pretensions are put aside, success is equated by infusing your own personal style. Remember, approach is not imitation; it is a revelation of yourself.
There has been a tidal wave of information about foods and their possibilities. As a result, cooks are faced with countless choices, which can stifle one when planning a menu.
One way to avoid this dilemma is to get into the habit of considering the practicality of a menu and the palettes of the invited guests. Will the particular dishes work with the number of guests, setting, and service? Will my guests taste buds relish the fruits of my labor?
A competent cook can duplicate a range of complicated recipes, but professional knowledge and dexterity is not mandatory.
Choose a menu, simplify it, and then elevate it to a level of your comfort zone. By doing so, confidence will flourish, and worry makes its way to the back burner.
Height is imperative when it comes to buffets. Height creates drama and excitement, and is a sure way to impress company. Do not forget about color and texture. These additions are more pleasing to the eye, and keep guests coming back for more.
Obsession with details is a must. The smaller the detail, the more successful your event will be. Specificity is what allows one to stand out, and is the difference between good and superior.
For example, a fresh flower arrangement speaks volumes. Supermarkets offer beautiful options at an affordable price. Adding fresh, uncooked peas as opposed to marbles is a creative way to “stand out.”
Adult beverages need consideration when planning your festivities. Not everyone consumes alcohol. Tea is a tasty option. The addition of a tray with an assortment of sugars, creamer, and lemons indicates thought and attention. Do not forget to remove any seeds from the lemons; tea and seeds do not mix.
Amuse bouches, passed hor d’oeuvres, and crostinis are great ways to serve a pricy protein on a budget. “Crostini” means “little crusts” in Italian and that is
exactly what they are. Thin slices of bread, brushed with olive oil, sprinkled with salt then baked until crisp. It’s typically used as a foundation for various toppings.
Consider ribeye crostinis for your next merriment. A toasted slice of baguette, topped with a blue cheese mousse, caramelized onions, sliced ribeye, and a drizzle of reduced balsamic vinegar is de-li-cous and will have your guests oohing and aahing.
Slice a baguette at an angle into thin strips. There are several layers to this dish, so slicing the bread at an angle gives you more circumference area. Brush a little olive oil on it and add a light dusting of kosher salt. Place baguette slices on a baking sheet and bake in a 300-degree oven until crisp.
The blue cheese mousse is a combination of cream cheese and blue cheese. The ratio of cream cheese to blue cheese is two to one. The cheese must be room temperature. A hand-held immersion blender blends the cheeses in a matter of two minutes.
Caramelized onions are the next subject for discussion. Caramelized onions are a fancy term for onions that have been cooked until they are golden brown. When onions are cooked for an extended period of time, the natural sugars in the onions caramelize. Caramelized onions
are sweeter and softer than sautéed onions. In this particular dish, the caramelized onions add to the overall flavor profile and do not overpower it.
Purchase a thin ribeye and either pan sear it or grill it to the desired temperature. Slice the ribeye for easier consumption. A dusting of chopped parsley and kosher salt are the only seasonings you need.
Reduced balsamic vinegar is just what it says. Balsamic vinegar is heated slowly until it reduces. Supermarkets sell reduced balsamic vinegar which completes the straightforwardness of this dish.
We are approaching the month of May, and entertaining will be in full swing. Ribeye crostinis are mouth-watering, imaginative, and are sure to be a hit. Enjoy!
Secret Ingredient – Sharing
“The miracle is this: The more we share the more we have.”
— Leonard Nimoy
After 34-year career in law enforcement, he returned to West Virgina hometown
By Steve Price Contributing Writer(April 19, 2024) This week we are pleased to recognize current life member of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company, Jeffrey (J.D.) Lawson. Lawson’s career in public safety has spanned over nearly four
decades. During that time, he served as an active member with the OCVFC for over 19 years and recently retired as a lieutenant with the Berlin Police Department after 34 years of service in law enforcement.
Following his retirement, JD has returned to his hometown of War, West Virginia and is employed as a heavy equipment operator for the coal and gas industry in the area. He continues to serve his community as a member of the War Volunteer Fire Company, currently holding the position of deputy chief.
Captain Lawson credits his early friendship in Ocean City with Trevor Steedman (now chief/director of emergency services for Palm Beach Shores, Florida) with his interest in the OCVFC. In fact, he was so impressed with the volunteer fire company that he moved to Ocean City and joined the OCVFC in 1997. During his years of active service with the OCVFC, Lawson served as a firefighter, lieutenant, platoon captain and training captain.
Lawson has experienced numerous situations during his 38 years in the fire service, however, the one incident that stands out is his involvement in a successful surf rescue off
the Ocean City beach as Hurricane Floyd passed along the Delmarva Peninsula in the Fall of 1999. He is confident that his “brother firemen” who worked together to accomplish the rescue will never forget that day.
JD said his greatest opportunity in the fire service as “the opportunity to mold new and old members of the OCVFC into a proud team with the skills, ability, and knowledge to safely and efficiently provide fire and rescue services to the residents and visitors
to the Town of Ocean City”.
Captain Lawson would like to stress the following advice to our OCVFC cadets and young men and women with an interest in the fire service: “Always place an emphasis on safety. The only true way to be safe is to learn, master, and practice your skills. This in turn will make you a safer firefighter.”
For membership information, or to learn more about the volunteer fire company, visit ocvfc.com.
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20
Aries, this is a great week for transformation. Be careful where you direct your attention, as what you do will have lasting effects. Choose your plans wisely.
TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21
Use this week’s powerful energy to strip away all of the unnecessary static in your life right now. It is doing more harm than good. Open yourself up to new opportunities, Taurus.
GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21
Gemini, there is a lot of stuff going on around you, and you need to sort through the noise to determine your priorities. Things will start to become more clear this week.
CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22
You are in a great position to make some lasting and strong impressions on others, Cancer. Focus on group work, as this will showcase how well you work with others.
LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23
Leo, you do not know which direction to go in this week, and that is perfectly fine. Try out different options and figure out what fits best. This will require some trial and error.
VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22
Virgo, you have a tremendous amount of power at your disposal this week. Use all of it wisely and thoughtfully. Others will be strongly affected by your presence.
LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23
A conflict in your life that you may feel is beyond your control may crop up at the worst time, Libra. Use this as a learning opportunity on how to cope under pressure.
SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22
Scorpio, you have the power to produce a powerful outcome, even if it seems that forces are working against you. Do not give up; in fact, double down your efforts.
SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21
Sagittarius, take things with a grain of salt if people seem insensitive to your feelings this week. You don’t know what others have going on in their lives.
CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20
Nothing can stop you when you put a lot of gusto behind your efforts, Capricorn. Just be mindful of who you might affect if you take things with a little too much ambition.
AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18
Aquarius, are you getting the sense that something is going on around you that you’re simply not a part of? Maybe your exclusive invitation is just waiting in the wings. Be patient.
PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20
Pisces, stand up for what you want, even if means that you are taking a different stance than others. You don’t have to please everyone in every endeavor.
Worcester County Libraries recently teamed up with members of the Ocean City Surf Club, Assateague Coastal Trust, OC Beach Heroes, Maryland Coastal Bays, OC Surfrider Foundation and the OC Green Team for a beach and community clean up in north Ocean City. Pictured are members and volunteers from the organization during the event.
Applicants required to have family connections to ed support
professionals
(April 19, 2024) Children or grandchildren of current Worcester County Education Support Professional Association members graduating from Worcester County high schools have the opportunity to receive a Bernard Ayers scholarship to help with college costs.
The association represents education support professionals, including educational assistants, nurses, secretaries, custodial/maintenance staff, computer technicians, tech coaches, and cafeteria staff for Worcester
County Public Schools.
Affiliated with the Maryland State Education Association and the National Education Association, the association is dedicated to supporting members through initiatives such as the Bernard Ayers scholarship program.
Eligible applicants must plan to attend college full-time in the academic year which the scholarship is awarded. Interested students should submit the following documentation:
• A completed application signed by the applicant and the support professional association member
• A copy of the applicant’s college acceptance letter
• One letter of recommendation
from a WCPS teacher, administrator, or guidance counselor
• A double-spaced essay, typed, with a maximum length of 300 words, titled “The Impact of My Education on Humanity”
• A completed application signed by the applicant and association member
• A copy of the applicant’s college acceptance letter
• One letter of recommendation from a WCPS teacher, administrator, or guidance counselor
The deadline for submissions is May 5. Completed applications must be turned in to Ivory P. Smith Sr., Scholarship Committee, 12828 Center Drive, Ocean City, MD 21842.
(April 19, 2024) To celebrate Atlantic General Hospital’s growth and community support, the hospital’s foundation will be holding its 31st Anniversary Celebration on May 9.
Guests are encouraged to wear cocktail attire for the outdoor event that will take place, rain or shine, from 6-9 p.m., at the home of Emily and George Tunis in West Ocean City.
Features of the gala include hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and live musical entertainment.
Admission to attend the event is $150 per person and tickets can be purchased online at agh.care/agh31. Event sponsorships are also available. Several sponsorship levels include a number of complimentary admissions to the celebration.
Anniversary Celebration Committee
Co-Chairs Emily Tunis and Sara Hambury coordinated the event.
Visit agh.care/agh31 to purchase admissions or submit sponsorships. All proceeds benefit Atlantic General Hospital Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and all gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
For more information, contact Community Relations Officer Laura Powell at lspowell@atlanticgeneral.org or call the foundation office at 410-641-9671.
(April 19, 2024) The Art League of Ocean is seeking artisan vendors for its fourth installment of Arts Day in the Pines on June 2 at Veterans Memorial Park in Ocean Pines. The event is free to the public.
Arts Day will feature more than 50 vendors offering original arts and crafts, including pottery, paintings, glassware, fiber art, jewelry, photography and sculpture. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the artisans and buy directly from them.
“Last year, Arts Day in the Pines drew more than 2,000 attendees,” Aubrey Sizemore, Art League event coordinator, said in a news release. “So this is a great opportunity for talented artisans to share and sell their creations.”
The event, which will take place rain or shine, will also feature food trucks, a multicultural talent show, a kids’ zone with bouncy houses and face painting, art projects all day, Radio OC giveaways, and wine, beer and soft drinks.
Artisans will provide their own tent shelters, displays, signage, and transaction processing. The art league will actively promote the event and coordinate on the day. More information is available by contacting
(April 19, 2024) During the month of April, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore will celebrate the many efforts and influential work of its volunteers.
According to a news release, volunteers play a special role in the fabric of the organization, from supportive board members who guide the agency and help develop new programs to meet the needs of the community, to mentors who ignite the power and promise of youth through wisdom and guidance. Each day, organization volunteers share their time and talents with their little mentees to help children develop skills and achieve their dreams. Volunteers’ efforts, no matter what role, are appreciated, the release said.
Volunteers support the organization in many ways. Agency representatives especially appreciate volunteers who have given their time in the past year. Some people have had to pause volunteering, others have had to change the way they volunteer, and others have come on board as new volunteers.
To become a mentor or learn how you can support the programs offered by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore, visit shorebiglittle.org, email info@shorebiglittle.org, or call 410543-2447. Experienced program staff will help find the best fit.
Follow the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore National Volunteer Month campaign on Facebook, Instagram @shorebigs, and X, formerly Twitter, @ESBIGS.
(April 19, 2024) The Art League of Ocean is offering two, three-day camps for children at the Ocean City Center for the Arts July 1-3.
One camp will be art related, and the other will be geared toward acting.
The camps are for children ages 6-12 and will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Wednesday. Space is limited to 20 campers per session.
“Kids can immerse themselves in creativity with personalized attention at our 3-day camps,” Rina Thaler, executive director of the art league, said in a news release. “It’s a fun way for children to express themselves without any pressure and hang out with their friends.”
The mini camps, which are sold out for 2024, supplement the regular summer Art Adventure Camps run by the art
league in partnership with Ocean City Recreation & Parks.
In the art camp, art teacher and professional artist Joanne Guilfoil will help kids create fun read-to-hang, animalthemed art pieces with painting, drawing, clay and mixed media techniques.
In the acting camp, Katherine Redden, artistic director of the Lower Shore Performing Arts Company, will lead children in group acting exercises, fostering teamwork and cooperation and teaching public speaking skills.
Campers are asked to bring a lunch and snack for each day. Costs are $95 for art league members and $120 for nonmembers with registration due by May 14.
More information is available at OCart.org or by calling 410-524-9433.
LOCALS DAY WITH OCEAN 98
Coastal Wilds, 34215 Peppers Corner Road, Frankford, 6 a.m.-4 p.m. Rude Awakening Show from 6-10 a.m. All-day, self-guided park access until 4 p.m. Featuring animal encounters, music, breakfast (Turtle Beach Cafe), games and more. Only $9.81. All ages. 302-829-1549
MAHJONG CLUB
Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Fun morning of playing tile Mahjong. Feel free to bring your own tile set. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org
POWERFUL POETRY
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 1:30 p.m. Learn about famous poets, types of poetry and create a poem of your own. For ages 6-11 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org
BOOK DISCUSSION: ‘BLACK GIRL, CALL HOME’ BY JASMINE MANS
Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 2 p.m. Copies of the book are available at the library’s circulation desk. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org
CHAIR YOGA
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 3 p.m.
Nicole Young, certified yoga instructor, helps participants stretch in a safe and low impact manner. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org
FRIED FLOUNDER DINNER
Bowen Um Church Hall, 8423 Newark Road, Newark, 4:30 p.m. Fried flounder dinner, green beans, Mac & cheese, cornbread, dessert and beverage. Cost is $10. Carryouts available.
WSW MURDER ON THE MENU HOPE DINNER
Dove Pointe, Inc., 1225 Mount Hermon Road, Salisbury, 5:30-9 p.m. WSW and Ovation Dinner Theatre present Murder on the Menu New Orleans Style. Tickets cost $65 and include buffet dinner, show and one free drink ticket. Cash bar. Tickets: WSW office or 410-548-7880.
THREE-DAY REVIVAL
St. Paul United Methodist Church, 405 Flower St., Berlin, 7 p.m. Held April 1820. Speakers include Rev. Markel Thomas, Rev. Gary Miller and Rev. Dr. Roxie Dennis. All are welcome. 410-6410270
Sat., April 20
VINTAGE & VINYL ON RECORD STORE DAY Pitts Street, Berlin, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Live
music by Journos & Friends, musicians instrument swap, vinyl records and vintage clothing. Parking at Stephen Decatur Park. https://berlinmainstreet.com
DOGFISH HEAD RECORD STORE DAY
The Globe, 12 Broad St., Berlin, 12-4 p.m., Buy any Dogfish Head beer and receive one free Dogfish Head pint glass and one free raffle ticket. Multiple raffle items and giveaways. DJ Kenny Flight on the decks.
PIG ROAST
Calvin B. Taylor House, 208 N. Main St., Berlin, 3 p.m. Featuring Funk Shué performing, beer and games. Bring a chair. Free event.
www.taylorhousemuseum.org
OCEAN PINES 2024 SEASON KICKOFF & EXPO
White Horse Park, 235 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines, 3-7 p.m. Music, live performances, interactive exhibits, health screenings, giveaways and more. Explore Ocean Pines amenities, organizations, clubs and businesses. Food and beverage trucks.
MEN’S PRAYER BREAKFAST
St. Paul United Methodist Church, 405 Flower St., Berlin, 8 a.m. Join in for prayer, food and fellowship. All men are encouraged to attend, come as you are and bring a friend. 410-641-0270
EARTH DAY BAY TO BEACH CLEANUP
Fenwick Island Town Hall, 800 Coastal Highway, 8:30-10 a.m. Participants gather at Town Hall for refreshments, some educational materials, an appreciation gift and cleanup materials. Street and beach cleanup assignments provided at 8:45 a.m.
WALK WITH A DOC
South Gate Pond, Ocean Pines, 9-10 a.m.
A brief discussion about a health topic with a representative from AGH, then the group will walk around the park’s trail. First 10 to arrive receive a $10 Walmart gift card. 410-641-9268
SPRING CELEBRATION
Coastal Wilds, 34215 Peppers Corner Road, Frankford, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Meet and greet with Bluey, all day access to the facility and kangaroo walkabout, special animal ambassador encounters, live music (10 a.m. to noon), outdoor games, nature craft stations and more. 302-8291549
DRIVE THRU CHURCH LUNCHEON
Powellville Methodist Church, 35606
Mount Hermon Road, Pittsville, 10 a.m.
Featuring oyster fritter sandwiches, homemade chicken salad, baked goods, homemade soups including lima beans and corn, peas and dumplings and vegetable beef. No pre-orders. 410-835-8796
Continued from Page 53
THREE-DAY REVIVAL
St. Paul United Methodist Church, 405 Flower St., Berlin, 7 p.m, Held April 1820. Speakers include Rev. Markel Thomas, Rev. Gary Miller and Rev. Dr. Roxie Dennis. All are welcome. 410-6410270
FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET
Saturdays - White Horse Park, 239 Ocean Parkway, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shop for everything from fresh local produce to unique handmade artisan goods. Open to the public.
OCEAN PINES’ RESIDENTS GOLF DAY
Ocean Pines Golf Club, 100 Clubhouse Drive, Ocean Pines, 2-5 p.m. Free greens fees for OP residents (pay for cart only). Tee times: 410-641-6057. Tee times may be made within 48 hours before date of event. Resident ID cards required for discount. oceanpinesgolf.org. 410-6416057
ARGENTINE TANGO VIBES AND TRY TANGO PLUS MILONGA
Lewes Senior Activity Center Inc, 32083 Janice Road, Lewes, 2-6 p.m. Use back door near the trail entrance. Argentine Tango Vibes event at 2 p.m. for new Tango dancers and a Milonga from 3-5 p.m. Cost is $5 per person. If possible, wear shoes with leather soles. TangoByTheBeach.com.
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES MEETING
Sundays - Berlin Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 212 West St., Berlin, 10 a.m. www.jw.org
BARIATRIC SUPPORT GROUP
Takes place the third and fourth Wednesday of each month. For surgical patients. Atlantic General Bariatric Center, 410641-9568
EARTH DAY ILLUSTRATIONS
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10 a.m.
Using basic shapes, line techniques and shading, learn to capture Springtime blossoms, trees, bugs and more. No prior drawing experience needed. Supplies included. 410-208-4014
STORY TIME: EARTH DAY
Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Crafts, songs and stories. For ages 05 years. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org
WRITING FOR WELLNES
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 1:30 p.m.
Writing about stressful experiences like illness may boost health and psychological well-being. Group uses exercises to stimulate creative expression. 410-2084014, www.worcesterlibrary.org
EARTH DAY STEM
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 4:30 p.m.
Learn about the water cycle and create it with legos. Bring your old toys and learn how to create a brand new toy robot. For ages 6-14 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org
T.O.P.S. OF BERLIN - GROUP #169
Atlantic General Hospital, Conference Room 1, 9733 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 56:30 p.m. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a weekly support and educational group promoting weight loss and living a healthy lifestyle. Rose Campion, 410-6410157
BRIDGE
Mondays - Ocean City 50plus Center, 104 41st Street, Ocean City, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Reserve a spot: Tish, 410-804-3971. www.Worcoa.org/oceancity
DELMARVA WOMEN’S A CAPELLA CHORUS Mondays - Ocean Pines Community Center, 239 Ocean Parkway, 6:00-8:00 p.m. All ladies who love to sing invited. Mary, 410-629-9383 or Carol, 302-242-7062.
OVEREATER’S ANONYMOUS
Mondays - Worcester County LibraryOcean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 7-8 p.m. No dues or fees. 410-459-9100
CREATIVE KIDS CRAFT TIME
Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Stop by to do a spring related craft. For ages 0-5 years and 6-11 years. 410524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org
STORY TIME: ‘FOOD’
Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs and finger plays. For ages 2-5 years. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org
OC KNITTING GROUP
Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Do you love to knit or crochet? Bring whatever project you happen to be working on. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org
THE SUMMER OF 1941: A PRELUDE TO THE HUNGARIAN HOLOCAUST
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 2 p.m. Author Dr. George Eisen examines the killing of 23,600 Hungarian Jews, years before the Holocaust became known to the world. He details how this event foreshadowed more horrors to come. 410208-4014
BEACH HEROES-OC
Tuesdays - Volunteer beach clean-up group meets from 9-10 a.m., year-round. Trash bags, grippers and gloves provided. Check the Facebook page “Beach HeroesOC” for weekly meeting locations. All are welcome.
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES MEETING
Tuesdays - Berlin Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 212 West St., Berlin, 7 p.m. www.jw.org
TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY
Tuesdays - Worcester County Health Department, 9730 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 3:30-4:30 p.m. TOPS is a weekly support and education group promoting weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. 410-289-4725
OC KNITTING CLUB
Tuesdays - Worcester County LibraryOcean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m.
ARGENTINE TANGO PRACTICE
Tuesdays - Experienced dancers and others interested in watching or learning more are welcome, 7-9:30 p.m. No partner required. Info: TangobytheBeach.com.
ZUMBA TONING TUESDAYS
Tuesdays - Northside Park, 200 125th St., Ocean City, 5:30 p.m. Zumba with optional light weights. zumbajoyceoc@gmail.com
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AND WELLNESS GROUP
Tuesdays - Holy Trinity Cathedral, 11021 Worcester Highway, 2-2:45 p.m. Use the weight loss program/app/plan of your choice. Free and open to everyone. 410641-4882, www.htcanglican.org/activities.
SENSORY STAY AND PLAY
Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Get ready to squish, build, splash, shake and scoop through several fun stations. For ages 0-5 years. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org
MARYLAND ACCESS POINT
Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 2 p.m. Maryland Access Point of Worcester County will discuss how they serve as a “one stop shop” for aging adults, individuals with disabilities and their families of all income levels. 410-957-0878
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
Atlantic General Hospital, Conference Room 1, 9733 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 34:30 p.m. The goal of the support group is to provide participants with hope for the future. Gail Mansell, 410-641-9725, gmansell@atlanticgeneral.org
PAINTED TILES
Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 4 p.m. Make designs on ceramic tiles using markers and rubbing alcohol. For ages 6 years and older. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org
PAINT & SIP
Ocean Pines Community Center, 235 Ocean Parkway, 6-8 p.m. Cost is $27 and
includes wine and crackers. Register: 410-641-7052.
BINGO FUNDRAISER
The Sterling Tavern, 119 N. Main St., Berlin, 6-9 p.m. Featuring $2 bingo cards, 50/50 raffle, cool gift and a chance auction. Proceeds support the Lower Eastern Shore Group of the Sierra Club.
KIWANIS CLUB MEETING
Wednesdays - Ocean Pines Community Center, Assateague Room, 239 Ocean Parkway, 8 a.m. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Third Wednesday meetings are offsite and will be updated monthly on the website and Facebook. Guests are welcome. www.kiwanisofopoc.org
STORYTIME: POETRY
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10:30 a.m. Discover your inner poet to create a poem of your own and learn about poetry. For ages 2-5 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org
FIRESIDE CHAT
Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 3 p.m. A popular and entertaining book discussion featuring books you have read and want to share. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org
ZUMBA
Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 5 p.m. Join Zumba instructor Joyce Landsman for an hour of movement. These classes uplift and improve mood. Registration required: 410-524-1818. www.worcesterlibrary.org
BEACH SINGLE 55 PLUS MEET AND GREET Thursdays - Harpoon Hanna’s, 39064 Harpoon Road, Fenwick Island, DE, 4-6 p.m. 302-436-9577, BeachSingles.org.
OCEAN CITY RESTAURANT WEEK
Held April 14-28. Participating restaurants are given the freedom to offer whatever best fits for their restaurant at this time. Several will offer fixed-price menu options others may offer great deals. Reservations are recommended.
Crossword answers from page 50
Crew Wanted: The SeaBoard is seeking a captain and a deck hand for summer ’24. Both positions require ability to lift 40 pounds and climb ladders. Preferred candidates are computer literate and mechanically inclined with boating experience. Send email to info@theseaboard.com
Thunderbird Beach Motel
Now hiring Night Auditor & Front Desk Clerk. Competitive pay. Apply in person. 32nd St., Baltimore Ave.
Monday through Friday from 9am-3pm.
PGN Crab House
29th St. & Coastal Hwy. Now Hiring for • Waitstaff • Kitchen Help Apply within in person after 11:00 am.
PoolGeneral Maintenance.
Outdoor work, lifting heavy objects. Mechanical, basic pool pump & motors, CPO a plus / not required. Able to pass CPO test.
Summer includes weekends & long hours; working alone or with others 410-289-4902
ask for Suzanne.
AUTOMOTIVE - MARINE
Auto Parts / Marine Parts with huge Retail department, is now hiring for: Parts Associates (will train).
Locations in: Ocean Pines, Clarksville & Long Neck. Great Pay & Benefits. Call: 302-344-9769.
Busy Tire & Service Centers
Now hiring for: - Service Associates (will train) - Exp. Technicians
Locations in: Ocean Pines, Clarksville & Long Neck. Great Pay & Benefits. Call: 302-344-9846
Small Engine Mechanic Year-round. Competitive Wages. 443-754-1047
Office Adminstration for Condo Assn. Duties include answering phones, dealing with owner inquiries and other duties as assigned.
Quickbooks experience pref. Mon., Wed.-Fri. from 8am to 4pm. Send resume to kristin.moore@ atlantisocmd.com
Townhouse, 3BR, 2BA, $2100/month, utilities NOT included. Fully furnished. Long term lease only, 1+ years. Address: 438 Ocean Parkway, Berlin, MD 21811
Summer Seasonal Memorial Day to Labor Day. Single family home. 2BR, 2BA. $22,000 + utilities. Cleaning once a month and lawn care will be included. Contact Karen 443-880-5727
Seasonal Weekly Rental (ONLY). Single family home, Berlin, 4BR, 3BA, $625/per night. Call 484-319-7188 for details.
Fully Furnished Townhouse, 4BR/2BA, Living Room, Dining Room. Water, Electric and Cable not included. $2100/month. Located at 438 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines, MD 21811. 410-456-0272
Yearly lease. One month security deposit and one month rent upfront.
Seeking Work: Small and Large Jobs. 44 years experience in construction. Patch work, landscaping, painting, etc. Call/leave a message, 443-754-7709.
Seeking YR & Seasonal Rentals! Call Howard Martin Realty 410-352-5555.
16 Acres. Perked, surveyed and ready to build your home and man cave, horse farm, etc. on. Just outside of Bishopville on 610. $325,000. Howard Martin Realty, 410-352-5555
Industrial Warehouse. Space: 1500 sq. ft. Masonry construction, 18’ high ceiling, large garage door, bathroom, yard and storage shed. Approx. 10x25+/Route 90/Bishopville. Call 443-497-4200.
1 Office/Retail Space available in West Ocean City. Approximately 1656 sq. ft. Call 443-497-4200
Commercial Space For Rent West OC 2500 sq. feet. rental@ ocsandyfeetretreat.com or 910-448-1693
Yorkie Puppies: Home raised. Tiny Toy Yorkies, 2 females. 302-934-8913
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.
WANTED TO BUY: Vintage signs, old advertising items, military memorabilia, antique toys, decoys, and small antique items. Call/text, 443-880-3082
Oyster Harbor Community Wide Yard Sale. Whisper Trace Dr. May 11, 2024, 8am to 1pm.
coating accessories, tackle, nautical items and more. 7:30-11am. Come and shop or rent a space. $30 per space. Call 443-614-7260. Proceeds of space rental go to OC Marlin Club Scholarship Fund.
ESTATE SALES
Estate Tag Sale
April 27
2 MARBLE Fireplaces, mantels & frames, Garden Pedestals & lady busts, 26 mosaics, 2 ammonite bath sinks, 2 Sheryl Wagner marble shell sinks in crates, 4’x8’marble slab, 2 marble tall door surrounds, slate & wrought iron table w/glass top, 4 bar-height chairs, 4 pc. mosaic seating set, garden umbrella, 2 Dutch Tall Case Clocks circa 1750,1780
French Carved Armoire, bed and night table, c1895 Entire Sets of Unused Sample Home Furniture, Bedroom, living room, Dining room set, lamps, twin bed, baby crib, bookcases, Antique door hardware, Antique wood doors, Old wooden store counter, rugs, dishwasher, books pictures, paintings, frames, End tables, loveseat, triple dresser, chandelier, games, plush toys
CRAFTS SUPPLIES
Floral & greenery. Create your own crafts/ wreaths and decorations with new craft supplies Air fryer, small appliances, RC airplanes, EV charger dozens of new
All new in boxes
Under a power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust dated March 26, 2009, recorded in Liber 5235, Folio 489 and re-recorded in Liber 5524, Folio 270 among the Land Records of Worcester County, MD, with an original principal balance of $450,000.00, default having occurred under the terms thereof, the Sub. Trustees will sell at public auction at the Circuit Court for Worcester County, at the Court House Door, One W. Market St., Snow Hill, MD 21863, on
APRIL 23, 2024 AT 4:05 PM
ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND, together with any buildings or improvements thereon located in Worcester County, MD and more fully described in the aforesaid Deed of Trust.
The property, and any improvements thereon, will be sold in an "as is" condition and subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any, and with no warranty of any kind.
Terms of Sale: A deposit of $21,000 in the form of certified check, cashier's check or money order will be required of the purchaser at time and place of sale. Balance of the purchase price, together with interest on the unpaid purchase money at the current rate contained in the Deed of Trust Note, or any modifications thereto, from the date of sale to the date funds are received by the Sub. Trustees, payable in cash within ten days of final ratification of the sale by the Circuit Court. There will be no abatement of interest due to the purchaser in the event additional funds are tendered before settlement. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR THE PURCHASER. Adjustment of all real property taxes, including agricultural taxes, if applicable, and any and all public and/or private charges or assessments, to the extent such amounts survive foreclosure sale, including water/sewer, ground rent and front foot benefit charges, to be adjusted to date of sale and thereafter assumed by purchaser. Purchaser is responsible for any recapture of homestead tax credit. All transfer taxes and recordation taxes shall be paid by Purchaser. The purchaser shall be responsible for the payment of the ground rent escrow, if required. Condominium fees and/or homeowners association dues, if any, shall be assumed by the purchaser from the date of sale. Purchaser is responsible for obtaining physical possession of the property, and assumes risk of loss or damage to the property from the date of sale. The sale is subject to post-sale audit
of the status of the loan with the loan servicer including, but not limited to, determination of whether the borrower entered into any repayment agreement, reinstated or paid off the loan prior to the sale. In any such event, this sale shall be null and void, and the Purchaser's sole remedy, in law or equity, shall be the return of the deposit without interest. If purchaser fails to settle within ten days of ratification, subject to order of court, purchaser agrees that property will be resold and entire deposit retained by Sub. Trustees as liquidated damages for all losses occasioned by the purchaser's default and purchaser shall have no further liability. The purchaser waives personal service of any papers filed in connection with its failure to settle within ten days of ratification and expressly agrees to accept service by first class mail at the address provided by the Purchaser as identified on the Memorandum of Sale. The defaulted purchaser shall not be entitled to any surplus proceeds resulting from said resale even if such surplus results from improvements to the property by said defaulted purchaser. Sub. Trustees will convey either marketable or insurable title. If they cannot deliver one or the other, or if ratification of the sale is denied by the Circuit Court for any reason, the Purchaser's sole remedy, at law or equity, is return of the deposit without interest. (Matter No. 358852-1)
Howard N. Bierman, Carrie M. Ward, et. al., Substitute Trustees
OCD-4/4/3t
B. RANDALL COATES ESQ COATES, COATES, & COATES 204 WEST GREEN STREET, P.O. BOX 293 SNOW HILL, MD 21863
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20133 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF VANESSA MARIE D’ARVILLE
Notice is given that Sasha D’Arville, 1505 Lowell Ct., Crofton, MD 21114-1188, was on March 26, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Vanessa Marie D’Arville who died on February 21, 2024, 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 26th day of September, 2024.
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; 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.
Sasha D’Arville 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: April 04, 2024
OCD-4/4/3t _________________________________
JORHEA N. WRIGHT ESQ ARMISTEAD, LEE, RUST & WRIGHT, P.A.
114 BAY STREET, BUILDING C EASTON, MD 21601
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20138 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF ELLEN SULLIVAN
AKA: ELLEN H. SULLIVAN
Notice is given that Brook R. Sullivan, 2709 Berryland Dr., Oakton, VA 22124-1404, was on March 28, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ellen Sullivan who died on March 10, 2024, 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 28th day of September, 2024.
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; 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
Notice is given that Lisa Goretsas, 1103 Barley Cutter Rd., Hampstead, MD 21074-1510, was on March 28, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Louis David who died on January 05, 2024, 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 28th day of September, 2024.
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; 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. Lisa Goretsas Personal Representative True Test Copy
Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20134
TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF ROBERT P. AUKER
Notice is given that Michael C. Hutnick, Jr., 450 Riverview Ave., Bloomsburg, PA 17815-8224, was on March 27, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Robert P. Auker who died on January 16, 2024, 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 27th day of September, 2024.
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; 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.
Michael C. Hutnick
Jr. Personal RepresentativeTrue 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: April 4, 2024 OCD-4/4/3t
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20136 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF STEVEN W. BAKER
Notice is given that James Baker, 3114 Cedarhurst Rd., Baltimore, MD 21214-3235 was on March 28, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Steven W. Baker who died on March 16, 2024, 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 28th day of September, 2024.
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; 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.
James Baker
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: April 4, 2024
OCD-4/4/3t
COUNCIL BARADEL ATTORNEY’S AT LAW
WAYNE T. KOSMERI ESQ.
125 WEST ST., 4TH FLOOR
ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401-2897
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 20131
Notice is given that the Circuit court of Martin County, Florida appointed Jeffrey S. Mahan, 16 Carvel Dr., Annapolis, MD 21409-6246; and Mark C. Mahan, 1006 Placid Ct., Arnold, MD 21012-1638 as the Personal Representatives of the Estate of Dorothy E. Mahan who died on April 07, 2023 domiciled in Florida, America.
The Maryland resident agent for service of process is Wayne T. Kosmeri, Esq. whose address is 125 West Street, 4th Floor, Annapolis, MD 21401.
At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following Maryland counties: Worcester County.
All persons having claims against the decedent must file their claims with the Register of Wills for Worcester County with a copy to the foreign personal representative on or before the earlier of the following dates:
(1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death; or
(2) Two months after the foreign personal representative mails or 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 cred-
itor presents the claim within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.
Jeffrey S. Mahan
Mark C. Mahan
Foreign Personal Representative
Terri Westcott Register of Wills
One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074
Name of Newspaper:
Ocean City Digest
Date of first publication: April 04, 2024
OCD-4/4/3t
MICHAEL B. MATHERS ESQ. WEBB, CORNBROOKS, WILBER, VORHIS, DOUSE & MATHERS, LLP
P.O. BOX 910115 BROAD STREET
SALISBURY, MD 21803-0910
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20146 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF HARVEY R. KOCH
AKA: HARVEY R. KOCH JR.
Notice is given that Scott Koch, 42 Mystic Way, Burlington, NJ 080164254, was on April 04, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Harvey R. Koch who died on February 22, 2024, 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 4th day of October, 2024.
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; 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
persons interested in the estate of BEVERLY MARIE ARMSTRONG Estate No. 20147 Notice is given that MARYELLEN ARMSTRONG whose address is 15926 COZUMEL DR CORP CHRISTI, TX 78418-6633 was on APRIL 04, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of BEVERLY MARIE ARMSTRONG who died on MARCH 22, 2024 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 4th day of OCTOBER, 2024
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; 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.
for judicial probate of the will dated August 19, 2014 and for the appointment of a personal representative. A hearing will be held at One W. Market Street, Court Room 4, Court House, Snow Hill, MD 21863 on June 04, 2024 at 10:00 AM.
This hearing may be transferred or postponed to a subsequent time. Further information may be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills. Terri Westcott Register of Wills
One W. Market Street
Room 102 - Court House
Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074
Phone: (410) 632-1529
Newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest
Publication Date: April 11, 2024
OCD-4/11/2t
JOHN E. TARR, JR.
C/o: Michael E. Crowson, Esq. 913-B Snow Hill Road
Salisbury, Maryland 21804 and BO E. TARR
C/o: Michael E. Crowson, Esq. 913-B Snow Hill Road
Salisbury, Maryland 21804 and RANDY E. TARR
C/o: Michael E. Crowson, Esq. 913-B Snow Hill Road
Salisbury, Maryland 21804
Plaintiffs v. JONNITA PIERCE
10356 Georgetown Road Berlin, Maryland 21811 and DEANNETTE BRITTINGHAM
10356 Georgetown Road Berlin, Maryland 21811 and THE ESTATE OF ALBERT DALE
10356 Georgetown Road Berlin, Maryland 21811 and KENNETH HAUCK
10370 Georgetown Road Berlin, Maryland 21811 and TAYLOR ECKER
10370 Georgetown Road Berlin, Maryland 21811 and KATHLEEN MALONEY PROTOS
C/o: KATHLEEN MALONEY 10411 Griffin Road Berlin, Maryland 21811 and WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND
Attn: Roscoe R. Leslie, County Attorney
One W. Market Street, Room 1103
Snow Hill, Maryland 21863 and ALL PERSONS UNKNOWN
Claiming any legal or equitable right, title estate, lien, or interest in the real property described in the complaint adverse to the plaintiffs' claim to said real property, more specifically described as an area containing 44,315 sq. ft.+/-, 1.017 Acres+/-, located between 10403 Griffin Road and 10411 Griffin Road, Berlin, MD Defendants
(Action to Quiet Title or, Alternatively, for Declaratory Relief)
Plaintiffs have filed a complaint in the Circuit Court for Worcester County. The object of this proceeding is to quiet title or have the Circuit Court declare the rights to a "Parcel Unknown" with an area of 44,315 Sq. Ft.+/-, or I .OJ 7 Acres+/-, located and binding upon Griffin Road, Berlin, MD, and situated between 10403 Griffin Road, Berlin, MD, and 10411 Griffin Road, Berlin, MD. Plaintiffs are the record owners of the real property located at 10403 Griffin Road, Berlin, MD, and are claiming said Parcel Unknown via adverse possession. Said real property is described as follows:
Being all of a parcel of land located on the North side of Griffin Road (30' wide) in the Third Election District of Worcester County, Maryland and more particularly described as follows: Beginning at an iron pipe found on the Northerly line of Griffin Road at the southeasterly comer of lands currently owned by John E. Tarr, Jr. et al, as described in Liber 8647, Folio 3549, as recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland thence running the following courses:
1. N 06° 40' 00" W - 231.40' to a Found Iron Pipe
2. N 52° 16" 00" E- 188.15' to a Found Iron Rod
3. S 18° 38' 00" E- 166.34' to a Found Concrete Monument
4. S 30° 03' 00" W - 239.24' to a Found Concrete Monument on the northerly line of Griffin Road
5. Thence by and with the arc of a curve having a radius of 1093.10', and a length of58.71'; N 70° 21' 36" W a distance of58.70' to the Point of Beginning; said parcel being found to have an area of 1.017 acres, more or less.
The complaint requests the Circuit Court to quiet title to said Parcel Unknown or, alternatively, to award declaratory relief, in favor of Plaintiffs.
It is thereupon this date of 3rd of April, 2024, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, ORDERED, That notice be given by the insertion of a copy of this Order of Publication in Ocean City Today, a newspaper having a general circulation in Worcester County, Maryland, once a week for 3 successive weeks, warning all persons interested in the property to appear in this Court by the date of June 3, 2024, and assert any interest in or claim to said Parcel Unknown or thereafter a final judgment may be entered quieting title to the said Parcel Unknown, and vesting in Plaintiffs a title, free and clear of any encumbrance or claim of right; and it is further
ORDERED, that not later than fourteen (14) days after the date of issuance of this Order Plaintiffs' counsel shall post in a conspicuous place on the property that is the subject of this action a copy of Plaintiffs' summons and complaint and supporting exhibits, issued to All Unknown Persons; and it is further
ORDERED, that Plaintiffs' counsel shall file proofs that summons has been served, posted and published, as required by this Order or Writs issued by the Circuit Court.
Brian D. Shockley
JUDGE, of the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland
True Copy Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County MD OCD-4/11/3t
ZST Rentals, Inc.
1515 Snow Hill Road Stockton, MD 21864 v.
Estate of Roger D. Watson
c/o Emine Watson, Personal Rep. 56 King Richard Road Berlin, MD 21811
E.M. Joyner, Trustee
725 S. Salisbury, Blvd. Salisbury, MD 21801
P
.L. Ensor, Trustee
725 S. Salisbury, Blvd. Salisbury, MD 21801
Commercial Credit Bank 725 S. Salisbury, Blvd. Salisbury, MD 21801
Worcester County, Maryland
Roscoe Leslie, County Attorney Government Center, Room 1103 1 W. Market St. Snow Hill, MD 21863
Unknown owner of property described as Item No. 20, Account No. 01017071, Property description
55' X 85' N SIDE 217 CEDAR STREET POCOMOKE, Deed
Reference: 4938/663, Assessed to Roger D. Watson, The Unknown Owner's heirs, devisees, and personal Representatives and their or any of their heirs, devisees, executors, administrators, grantees, assigns, or successors in right title and interest
All persons that have or claim to have any interest in the property described as Item No. 20, Account No. 01017071, Property description
55' X 85' N SIDE 217 CEDAR STREET POCOMOKE, Deed
Reference: 4938/663, Assessed to Roger D. Watson
Defendant(s)
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY
STATE OF MARYLAND
Case No.: C-23-CV-24·000063 ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this proceeding is to secure the foreclosure of all rights of redemption in the following property described below and located in Worcester County, sold by the Collector of Taxes for the County of Worcester and the State of Maryland to the plaintiff in this proceeding:
Item Number 20, Account Number 01017071, Property description
55' X 85' N SIDE 217 CEDAR STREET POCOMOKE, Assessed to Roger D. Watson.
The Complaint states, among
other things, that the amounts necessary for redemption have not been paid.
It is thereupon this 3rd of April, 2024, by the Circuit Court for Worcester, County, 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 3 successive weeks, warning all persons interested in the property to appear in this Court by the 2nd day of . .June 2024, and redeem the property described above and answer the Complaint or thereafter a final judgment will be entered foreclosing all rights of redemption in the property, and vesting in the plaintiff a title, free and clear of all encumbrances.
Beau H. Oglesby Judge, Circuit Court for Worcester County
True Copy
Test: Susan R. Braniecki
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Worcester County MD
OCD-4/11/3t _________________________________
ESTATE NO. 20150 NOTICE OF JUDICIAL PROBATE
To all Persons Interested in the above estate:
You are hereby notified that a petition has been filed by Thomas J. Kokolis, Esq., 110 North Washington Street, Suite 500, Rockville, MD 20850 for judicial probate and for the appointment of a personal representative. A hearing will be held at One W. Market Street, Court Room 4, Court House, Snow Hill, MD 21863 on June 04, 2024 at 12:00 PM.
This hearing may be transferred or postponed to a subsequent time. Further information may be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills. Terri Westcott Register of Wills One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 Phone: (410) 632-1529 Newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest Publication Date: April 11, 2024 OCD-4/11/2t REENA J PATEL ESQ
FEBRUARY 12, 2024
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 OCTOBER, 2024.
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; 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.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-4/11/3t
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of JOEL E. GORGODIAN Estate No. 20112 Notice is given that PETER HUGHES whose address is 861 OCEAN PKWY., OCEAN PINES, MD 21811-1579 was on MARCH 25, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JOEL E. GORGODIAN who died on FEBRUARY 28, 2024 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 25th day of SEPTEMBER, 2024
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; 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.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County
ONE W MARKET STREET
ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE
SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-4/11/3t
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 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:
Thursday, April 25, 2024
AT 6:00 PM
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(2), Powers of the Code, an appeal of Section 110-94(2)(b) has been filed to request a special parking exception to waive 3 parking spaces for the reconstruction of a new dwelling. The site of the appeal is described as Lot 54 of the plat entitled “Runaway Bay.” It is further described as being located on the south side of Penguin Drive and is locally known as 613 Penguin Drive, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.
APPLICANT: KRISTINA L.
WATKOWSKI (BZA 2685 #2409400008)
AT 6:10 PM
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(2), Powers of the Code, an appeal of Section 110-94(2)(b) has been filed to request a special parking exception to waive 3 parking spaces for the reconstruction of a new dwelling. The site of the appeal is described as Lot 53 of the plat entitled “Runaway Bay.” It is further described as being located on the south side of Penguin Drive and is locally known as 615 Penguin Drive, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.
APPLICANT: KRISTINA L. WATKOWSKI (BZA 2686 #2409400009)
AT 6:20 PM
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(3), Powers of the Code, an appeal of Section 110-95(1)(a) has been filed to request an after-the-fact variance of 12 feet 7 inches from the 41-foot setback requirement for an existing screened pergola to be 28 feet 5 inches from the front property line along Atlantic Avenue, the Boardwalk. The site of the appeal is described as Lots 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, and
12, Block 56 North, of the plat entitled “Sinepuxent Beach Plat.” It is further described as being on the southwest corner of Atlantic Avenue (the Boardwalk) and 16th Street and is locally known as 1513 Atlantic Avenue, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.
APPLICANT: HERITAGE OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS, LLC (BZA 2687 #24-09500003)
Further information concerning the public hearings may be examined in the office of the Department of Planning and Community Development in City Hall. Christopher Rudolf, Chairman Maureen Howarth, Attorney OCD-4/11/2t
BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF CHABERTON SOLAR SNOW LLC’S APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY TO CONSTRUCT A 4 MW SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC GENERATING FACILITY IN WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND CASE NO. 9714
A public comment hearing in the above-entitled matter is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., via virtual platform, concerning Chaberton Solar Snow LLC’s application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Maryland Public Service Commission.
If you would like to speak at the hearing, please send an email to psc.pulj@gmail.com by Monday, 12:00 Noon on April 29, 2024. Otherwise, anyone wishing to observe the live stream of the hearing may do so via the Public Utility Law Judge Division’s YouTube Channel, https://bit.ly/2X6wLiP. Any questions about the hearing should be directed to psc.pulj@gmail.com.
Written comments on the proposed Project may be submitted electronically through the Commission’s Public Comment Dropbox, which can be accessed through the Commission’s website at www.psc.state.md.us, or by firstclass mail with the Commission’s Chief Clerk, Jamie Bergin, Maryland Public Service Commission, 6 St. Paul Street, 16th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. All comments must include reference to Case No. 9714
Pursuant to the Commission’s March 13, 2020 Notice of Waiver and Relaxed Filing Requirements, no paper copies need to be submitted if the filing is public in nature and no more than 25 pages in length. The Commission encourages parties to use the Commission’s “e-file” system for filing. Instructions for e-filing are found under the “Tools” section of the Commission’s website under the “Make a Public Comment” tab. Which can be accessed via the fol-
lowing
https://www.psc.state.md.us/make-apublic-comment/. OCD-4/11/2t
B. RANDALL COATES ESQ COATES, COATES, & COATES 204 WEST GREEN STREET P O BOX 293 SNOW HILL, MD 21863
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
To all persons interested in the estate of KEILA BROSSET Estate No. 20153 Notice is given that MITCHELL C BOLTON whose address is 33074 VINES CREEK RD DAGSBORO, DE 19939-4182 was on APRIL 08, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of KEILA BROSSET who died on MARCH 20, 2024 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 OCTOBER, 2024
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; 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.
tained 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 OCTOBER, 2024.
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; 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.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE
SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074
OCD-4/11/3t
B. RANDALL COATES ESQ COATES, COATES, & COATES 204 WEST GREEN STREET P.O. BOX 293
SNOW HILL, MD 21863
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20158 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF STEPHEN EDWARD WILSON
Notice is given that Peggy Ann Wilson, 44 Lake Field Xing, Hampton, VA 23666-5538, was on April 09, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Stephen Edward Wilson 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 9th day of October, 2024.
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; 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 cred-
itor 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.
Peggy Ann Wilson 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:
April 18, 2024
OCD-4/18/3t
B. RANDALL COATES ESQ COATES, COATES, & COATES
204 WEST GREEN STREET
P.O. BOX 293
SNOW HILL, MD 21863
SMALL ESTATE
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 20152 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL EDWARD MCCABE
Notice is given that Patricia B. Feeheley, 36908 Bluewater Run E, Selbyville, DE 19975-4336, was on April 08, 2024 appointed personal representative of the small estate of Michael Edward McCabe who died on February 01, 2024, 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 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.
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; 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.
Patricia B. Feeheley Personal RepresentativeTrue Test Copy
Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest
Date of publication:
April 18, 2024
OCD-4/18/1t
RIDDLE FARM WWTP EQUIPMENT UPGRADES
Worcester County is seeking Bids from qualified Vendors to provide Riddle Farm WWTP Equipment Upgrades in conformity with the requirements contained herein Bid Documents.
Work consists of furnishing and installing equipment for: (1) Replacing MBR membranes and related controls; (2) New internal recycle pumps; (3) New blower for the membrane cleaning tank; (4) Replace existing hoist and crane assembly, plus installation of a new mono-rail beam and hoist assembly; (5) New backwash water pump station and reclaimed water settling tank for the adjacent Riddle Farm Water Treatment Plant [ADD ALTERNATE]; (6) Add variable speed drives for the existing Process Blowers; (7) Replace existing aeration diffusers, (8) Provide temporary mobile hollow fiber treatment system. Work includes associated piping, valves, flow meters and appurtenances. The MBR replacement membranes and mobile hollow fiber treatment system was procured by the County and will be furnished by VEOLIA - ZENON and incorporated in the Bid for all Vendors.
Bid Documents for the above referenced project may be obtained from the Worcester County Commissioner’s Office by either e-mailing the Procurement Officer, Nicholas Rice, at nrice@co.worcester.md.us or by calling 410-632-1194 during normal business hours, or via the County’s Bids page on the County’s website. Vendors are responsible for checking this website for addenda prior to submitting their bids. Worcester County is not responsible for the content of any Bid Document received through any third party bid service. It is the sole responsibility of the vendor to ensure the completeness and accuracy of their Completed Bid Documents.
The last day for questions will be Monday, May 6, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. A pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the project site located at 11401 Grays Corner, Berlin, MD 21811. Sealed Bid Documents are due no later than Monday, May 13, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. and will be opened and read aloud in the Office of the County Commissioners, Worcester County Government Center – Room 1103, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863.
Late Bid Documents will not be accepted.
Envelopes shall be marked " Bid Solicitation – Riddle Farm WWTP Equipment Upgrades,” in the lower left- hand corner.
Minority vendors are encouraged to compete for the award of the solicitation.
Nicholas W. Rice, CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP Procurement Officer, Worcester County, Maryland OCD-4/18/1t
To all persons interested in the estate of STEPHEN J. CZONSTKA Estate No. 20148 Notice is given that SCOTT STEPHEN CZONSTKA whose address is 106 JEFFERSON ST., BERLIN, MD 21811 was on APRIL 04, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of STEPHEN J. CZONSTKA who died on NOVEMBER 25, 2023 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 4th day of OCTOBER, 2024
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; 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.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074
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VICTORIA L. O’NEILL ESQ. AYRES JENKINS GORDY & ALMAND P.A.
6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY SUITE 200 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20162
TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF WAYNE ODACHOWSKI
Notice is given that Karen Odachowski, 12312 Pine Rest Dr., Ocean City, MD 21842-9200, was on April 15, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Wayne Odachowski who died on March 22,
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 or to have it otherwise disposed of in a manner provided by law.
These three weeks of notification begins on DATE: 04/19/2024
All vehicles will be sold at auction on-line at www.govdeals.com. For details call 410-723-6643.
AUTH: Ross Buzzuro Chief of Police2024, 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 October, 2024.
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; 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.
Karen Odachowski Personal Representative True Test CopyTerri 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: April 18, 2024
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MAYOR & TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN OF SNOW HILL, MARYLAND
TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2024
PUBLIC HEARING at 7:00 PM
The Mayor & Town Council of Snow Hill will host a PUBLIC HEARING on the Mayor’s proposed Fiscal Year 2024-25 General Operating and Water & Sewer Budgets on the above date and time at the Old Fire Hall, 212 West Green Street, in Snow Hill, Maryland. The public is cordially invited to attend and offer comments and opinions on the budget proposal. Copies of the budget proposal are available from Town Hall or on the Town’s website at www.snowhillmd.gov.
OCD-4/18/1t
TOWN OF SNOW HILL, MD
NOTICE OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION ORDINANCE 2024-08
NOTICE is hereby given by the Mayor and Town Council of Snow Hill that Ordinance 2024-08 was introduced for first reading at their regular meeting of April 9,2024. A complete text of the ordinance is available for review at Town Hall, 103 Bank Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863. The authorize updates to Chapter 131, Entitled Penalties,
period July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, and appropriating said funds in said budget and establishing the levy for said fiscal year.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF SNOW HILL
OCD-4/18/1t
SOUTH
Worcester County is seeking Bids from qualified Vendors to contract for paving services at the South Point Boat Ramp in conformity with the requirements contained herein Bid Documents.
Bid Documents for the above referenced project may be obtained from the Worcester County Commissioner’s Office by either e-mailing the Procurement Officer, Nicholas Rice, at nrice@co.worcester.md.us or by calling 410-632-1194 during normal business hours, or via the County’s Bids page on the County’s website. Vendors are responsible for checking this website for addenda prior to submitting their bids. Worcester County is not responsible for the content of any Bid Document received through any third party bid service. It is the sole responsibility of the vendor to ensure the completeness and accuracy of their Completed Bid Documents.
Fees, Fines and Other Charges. MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF SNOW HILL
OCD-4/18/1t
TOWN OF SNOW HILL, MD
NOTICE OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION ORDINANCE 2024-07
NOTICE is hereby given by the Mayor and Town Council of Snow Hill that Ordinance 2024-07 was introduced for first reading at their regular meeting of April 9, 2024. A complete text of the ordinance is available for review at Town Hall, 103 Bank Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863. The authorize updates to Chapter 131, Entitled Fees, Fines and Other Charges of the Town of Snow Hill.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF SNOW HILL OCD-4/18/1t
TOWN OF SNOW HILL, MD
OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION ORDINANCE 2024-06
NOTICE is hereby given by the Mayor and Town Council of Snow Hill that Ordinance 2024-06 was introduced for first reading at their regular meeting of April 9, 2024. A complete text of the ordinance is available for review at Town Hall, 103 Bank Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863. To approve and adopt the Budget and Capital Improvement Plan for FY 2025 that includes all revenues and expenditures for the
A pre-bid meeting has been scheduled for 11:00am on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, on-site at 5820 South Point Rd Berlin, MD 21811. The last day for questions will be noon on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Sealed Bid Documents are due no later than Friday, May 10, 2024, at 2:30pm and will be opened and read aloud in the Office of the County Commissioners, Worcester County Government Center – Room 1103, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863. Late Bid Documents will not be accepted.
Envelopes shall be marked " Bid Solicitation – South Point Boat Ramp Paving,” in the lower lefthand corner.
Minority vendors are encouraged to compete for award of the solicitation.
Nicholas W. Rice, CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP Procurement Officer Worcester County, Maryland OCD-4/18/1t _________________________________
TABLISH AN ALTERNATE MEMBER TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS, TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE TO RESOLVE TIE VOTES IN TOWN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS; AND GENERALLY RELATING TO PROCEDURES REGARDING THE TABULATION AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF ELECTION RESULTS.
The Ordinance will be introduced for a first reading on Monday, April 22, 2024, at 7:00 PM. The public hearing on the Ordinance will be held on Monday, May 13, 2024, at 7:00 PM. Both meetings will be held during Regular Meetings of the Mayor and Council Berlin Town Hall, 10 William Street, 2nd Floor, Berlin, MD 21811.
The hearing is open to the public, and public testimony is encouraged.
Persons with questions regarding this hearing may call 410-641-2770 for further information.
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AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN, MARYLAND, A MARYLAND MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, SETTING THE REAL PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025
The Ordinance will be introduced for a first reading on Monday, April 8, 2024, at 7:00 PM. The public hearing on the Ordinance will be held on Monday, April 22, 2024, at 7:00 PM. Both meetings will be held during Regular Meetings of the Mayor and Council Berlin Town Hall, 10 William Street, 2nd Floor, Berlin, MD 21811.
The hearing is open to the public, and public testimony is encouraged.
Persons with questions regarding this hearing may call 410-641-2770 for further information.
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TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20161
TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF FREDRIC RONALD SAWYER
Notice is given that Peggy L. Jester, 3023 Johnson Rd., Pocomoke City, MD 21851-2954, was on April 11, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Fredric Ronald Sawyer who died on January 29, 2024, 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 11th day of October, 2024.
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; 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.
Peggy L. Jester 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: April 18, 2024 OCD-4/18/3t _________________________________
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. 20154
TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM G. BUNTING
AKA: WILLIAM GARDNER
BUNTING SR., WILLIAM GARDNER BUNTING
Notice is given that Jane D. Bunting, 10215 Friendship Rd., Berlin, MD 21811-2850, was on April 09, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of William G. Bunting who died on March 15, 2024, 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 October, 2024.
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; 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.
Jane D. Bunting 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:
April 18, 2024
OCD-4/18/3t
LOUIS J. WEINKAM JR, ESQ WEINKAM &WEINKAM, P.A. 1002 FREDERICK ROAD CATONSVILLE, MD 21228
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 19928 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF LINDA LEE HANNA
AKA: LINDA L. HANNA
Notice is given that David Hanna, 8800 Coastal Hwy., Unit 603, Ocean City, MD 21842-2771, was on April 15, 2024 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Linda Lee Hanna who died on August 22, 2023, 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 15th day of October, 2024.
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; 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.
State and County taxes for the 2022 tax levy (and prior years) by the County Commissioners of Worcester County and/or delinquent water, sewer, and assessment charges and/or delinquent nuisance abatements on the properties hereinafter described being due and in arrears and unpaid, and in order to compel the payment of the same, together with interest thereon and costs attending the proceeding, as provided by law, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me as Treasurer, Finance Officer, and Collector of State and County taxes for Worcester County, Maryland, as provided by the Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland, the undersigned Treasurer, Finance Officer and Collector, aforesaid, will sell at public auction to the highest bidder the following properties. This public auction will be held with Real Auction.com. The link is https://worcester.marylandtaxsale.co m
Snow Hill. Assessment $103,133. Total Due $2,346.79
Acct#01011871 Assessed To Allen Bessie For Life. Located At 1951 Colona Rd Pocomoke, Md. Described As 150' X 300' N Side Colona Road S Of Pocomoke. Assessment $53,667. Total Due $1,358.94
Acct#02021943 Assessed To Ames Maurice L Sr. Located At 106 Stevens St Snow Hill, Md. Described As Lot 2 13802 Sq Ft Stevens Rd Subdiv Pl Of Oscar K & Viola F Blake. Assessment $67,133. Total Due $2,726.79
Acct#10356059 Assessed To Analytic Process. Located At Salisbury Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Outlot A 16996 Sq Ft Salisbury Rd Sub Par A Mary Birch Resid Trust. Assessment $83,200. Total Due $2,779.34
Acct#10395380 Assessed To Ball Family Trust The. Located At 10117 Fast Colors Ln Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 393 10000 Sq Ft Fast Colors Ln Riddle Farm Subdiv Ph 16. Assessment $495,000. Total Due $10,710.36
Acct#02006936 Assessed To Ballard Artie H & Elizabeth W. Located At 4239 Market St Snow Hill, Md. Described As Lot 18 Blk 1 Sec 1 W/S Market St 35184 Sq Ft Pl Castle Hill Ests. Assessment $94,400. Total Due $2,228.96
Acct#03120147 Assessed To Bates Kenneth Cody. Located At 11242 Campbelltown Rd Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 2 1.84 Ac E S Campbelltown Rd Bndy Ln Adj Ld Davis/Goo. Assessment $99,667. Total Due $2,361.48
Acct#10769179 Assessed To Bay Rose LLC. Located At 725 Bradley Rd A Ocean City, Md. Described As Unit A S Side Bradley Rd Bay Rose CM. Assessment
Acct#04001427 Assessed To Berdan Pat Godfrey & Godfrey George Lee. Located At 8519 Newark Rd Newark, Md. Described As 24393 Sq Ft South Main St Newark. Assessment $101,200. Total Due $2,144.62
Acct#10265592 Assessed To Bernetta A Vaughan Revocable Livin. Located At 614 Osprey Rd 000f Ocean City, Md. Described As U F Osprey Road Dawn's Cove Th CM. Assessment $270,000. Total Due $8,061.31
Acct#10183162 Assessed To Berrett Rebecca Ann. Located At 607 Twin Tree Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 4 Blk 13 Sec 1D Twin Tree Road Pl Caine Woods. Assessment $242,300. Total Due $7,597.28
Acct#03163377 Assessed To Berzonski Derrick J & Shawnee J. Berzonski. Located At 201 Flagship Cir Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 42 Ph 1S 21781 Sf Flagship Cir Decatur Farms Pl. Assessment $343,700.
Total Due $13,188.24
Acct#05000068 Assessed To Bivens Letitia Rodnay. Located At 9425 Morris Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As 17.19 Acs N Side Morris Road S Of Selbyville. Assessment $92,000. Total Due $2,260.42
Acct#01016954 Assessed To Blake
Richelle Lynnette. Located At 203
Laurel St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 49.66' X 79' X 49.66 X 79' NS 203
Laurel St Pocomoke. Assessment
$71,667. Total Due $1,607.13
Acct#03034569 Assessed To
Bowen Jason Anthony. Located At 210 Flower St Berlin, Md. Described As 60 3 X 92 E Side Flower Street
Berlin. Assessment $72,333. Total Due $3,483.89
Acct#10024935 Assessed To Briele Henry A. Located At Vista Bay Ln W Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 12 Blk 4 S Side 30th St Pl Bay Shore Acres. Assessment $75,100. Total Due $1,220.35
Acct#10246970 Assessed To Bunting Linda M. Located At 314 A 136th St Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 16-A 136th St Pl Resub Lots 16 & 17 Blk 23 Sec 1A Caine Wood. Assessment $187,300. Total Due $5,884.70
Acct#10768889 Assessed To Burke Edward A Trustee & Burke Kathryn D. Trustee & Others. Located At Baltimore Ave Ocean City, Md. Described As Parcel A 1704 Sf Baltimore Ave Resub Of Lts 6 & 7 Into. Assessment $93,700. Total Due $3,101.79
Acct#10229820 Assessed To Burtnick Sam & Burtnick Marybeth. Located At 137 Jamestown Rd B Ocean City, Md. Described As U B Jamestown Rd Shipwreck Haven IV CM. Assessment $221,400. Total Due $7,245.56
Acct#01021427 Assessed To Butler Kenneth D &. Located At 513 Laurel St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 74' X 60' N Side 513 & 515 Laurel St. Assessment $46,000. Total Due $2,069.43
Acct#10112974 Assessed To Centiole Joseph & Marietta. Located At 9500 Coastal Hwy 004C Ocean City, Md. Described As U 4C Beach Hwy Pyramid CM. Assessment $268,000. Total Due $13,393.38
Acct#07000022 Assessed To Chatham Daphne Frances Ball. Lo-
cated At 8052 Meadow Bridge Rd Eden, Md. Described As 42.19 Acs E Side Meadow Bridge Road. Assessment $119,233. Total Due $3,258.15
Acct#03076342 Assessed To Clazey Carl S. Located At 131 Watertown Rd Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-11-293 10095 Sq Ft Watertown Rd Pl Ocean Pines Sec 11. Assessment $210,133. Total Due $4,463.91
Acct#10277256 Assessed To Coastal Getaways LLC. Located At 501 Baltimore Ave Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 7A 4335 Sf Baltimore Ave Subdiv/Partial CM Term P. Assessment $1,054,567. Total Due $23,840.12
Acct#10222079 Assessed To Colletti Ricardo V & Walker-Colletti
Stephanie B. Located At 3801 Atlantic Ave 0110 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 110 Btw 38th & 39th Sts Diamond Beach CM. Assessment $240,900. Total Due $7,872.25
Acct#10222311 Assessed To Colletti Ricardo V & Walker-Colletti
Stephanie B. Located At 3801 Atlantic Ave 0216 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 216 Btw 38th & 39th Sts Diamond Beach CM. Assessment $260,800. Total Due $8,358.09
Acct#03124800 Assessed To Collick Albert B & Collick Renate E. Located At 9309 Seahawk Rd Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 3 3.086 Acs W/S Step Dec High School Rd Subdiv William Smith. Assessment $144,733. Total Due $2,217.16
Acct#03034321 Assessed To Collick Beatrice. Located At 114 Railroad Ave Berlin, Md. Described As 69 3 X 591 36 N Side Railroad Avenue Berlin. Assessment $54,533. Total Due $2,339.18
Acct#01016318 Assessed To Collins Diondre Lamount. Located At 714 Fourth St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 0.456 Ac W Side 714 4th St Near Scotts Allen. Assessment $37,667. Total Due $1,884.03
Acct#02017385 Assessed To Costen Louis & Costen Ada L. Located At 113 Ross St Snow Hill, Md. Described As App 55' X 165' 113 Ross Street Snow Hill. Assessment $77,433. Total Due $3,031.28
Acct#01023608 Assessed To Crippen Alexander & Timmons Phyllis Paulette & Weldon. Located At 410 Linden Ave Pocomoke, Md. Described As 41' X 78' X 54' X 78 S Side 410 Linden Ave Pocomoke. Assessment $47,767. Total Due $2,151.85
Acct#07007876 Assessed To Culver Eric C. Located At 8080 Stevens Rd Salisbury, Md. Described As Lot 1 2.109 Acs E Side Stevens Road
Donald Culver Min Sub. Assessment $211,167. Total Due $4,693.97
Acct#02000512 Assessed To Dale Ollie. Located At 7230 Shockley Rd Snow Hill, Md. Described As 3.66
Acs E Side Shockley Road N Of Snow Hill. Assessment $89,100. Total Due $2,098.39
Acct#10249813 Assessed To Dascoli Salvatore. Located At 10040
Keyser Point Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 10A 5.2212 Acs
Acct#04001184 Assessed
Deberry Annie Tindley. Located At 8513 Tindley Rd Newark, Md. Described As Lot Dirickson Farm N Side Labor Camp Road. Assessment $43,300. Total Due $1,211.61
Acct#01025449 Assessed To Diego Miguel Andres. Located At 302 14th St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 136' X 180'6' 14th Street Pocomoke. Assessment $114,600. Total Due $3,886.02
Acct#10188598 Assessed To Distefano Shawn & Lisa Disterfano. Located At 184 Pine Tree Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 1249 Sec 2 Pine Tree Rd Pl Montego Bay Mob Hm Pk. Assessment $442,000. Total Due $13,853.85
Acct#02011204 Assessed To Dixon Teamer Jr. Located At 3944 Market St Snow Hill, Md. Described As Lot SW/S Market St S Of Snow Hill. Assessment $128,967. Total Due $2,820.89
Acct#03087441 Assessed To Domingo Gloria S Dr. Located At 21 Alden Ct Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot C-11-018 6395 Sq Ft Alden Ct Pl Ocean Pines Sec 11. Assessment $76,867. Total Due $1,805.67
Acct#01001019 Assessed To Donaway Rita Elizabeth. Located At 2514 Worcester Hwy Pocomoke,
cher Ernest T. Located At Torquay Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 23 Blk 28 Sec C W Torquay Rd Pl Cape Isle Of Wight. Assessment $72,600. Total Due $1,621.09
Acct#10369649 Assessed To Flood Livia Robinson. Located At 200 59th St 0408 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 408 60th St Coconut Malorie Resort. Assessment $106,900. Total Due $3,543.66
Acct#02021919 Assessed To Flores Diana & Cabellero Celia. Located At 239 Washington St Snow Hill, Md. Described As 220' X 181' X 284' 239 S Washington St Snow Hill. Assessment $188,800. Total Due $4,675.24
Acct#04003829 Assessed To Foreman Samuel Tyreel & Sean J B Foreman & Others. Located At 6538 Bowden Rd Newark, Md. Described As Lot 9 7.397 Acs S Side Langmaid Rd Pl Langmaid Woods. Assessment $130,600. Total Due $2,057.73
Acct#10755166 Assessed To Four Seasons Park Inc. Located At 12024 Ocean Gateway Ocean City, Md. Described As Imps Lot 21 115 Sh Ocean Gateway Four Seasons Park Co-Op. Assessment $101,633. Total Due $2,418.56
Acct#10008123 Assessed To Freburger Kelly M. Located At 13011 Drum Point Rd W Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 30 N Side Drum Point Rd Pl 1 Sec 1 Captains Hill. Assessment $720,367. Total Due $15,194.86
Acct#10157358 Assessed To Fumich Family Trust. Located At 9 130th St 0107 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 107 130th St Banana Beach CM. Assessment $140,400. Total Due $4,642.31
Acct#10311713 Assessed To Gismo I LLC. Located At 16 Cutlass Dr Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 41 Blk E 4942 Sq Ft Cutlass Dr Mystic Harbour Sec 1. Assessment $180,967. Total Due $3,914.77
Acct#05000548 Assessed To Golphin Enoch & Deborah. Located At Hotel Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As 1 Ac N Side Line Hotel Road S
Acct#05009650 Assessed To Grothe Anthony A & Grothe Teresa A. Located At 13117 Selby Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As 6.0556 Acs W/S Selby Rd Subdiv Of Lds For Elisha W Murray. Assessment $187,800. Total Due $4,331.77
Acct#01025694 Assessed To Groton John & Ralph Groton &. Located At 17 Somerset Ave Pocomoke, Md. Described As Lot 8 Blk B 17 Somerset Ave Pl Pocomoke Heights. Assessment $110,367. Total Due $7,661.53
Acct#03021246 Assessed To Hall
Randolph Freddie Jr. Located At 10209 Germantown Rd Berlin, Md.
Described As Lot X E Side Germantown Road SE Of Berlin. Assessment $80,333. Total Due $1,895.99
Acct#03123898 Assessed To Hall
William E & Hall Christina. Located At 11633 Worcester Hwy Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 1 W/S R-113 Pl Minor Sub Prop Of Mary Griffiths. Assessment $154,600. Total Due $2,278.57
Acct#10226821 Assessed To Harmon Barbara J. Located At 14 136th St 0301 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 301 136th St Sunspot CM. Assessment $214,000. Total Due $7,006.53
Acct#10120071 Assessed To Harper Kevin. Located At 10300 Coastal Hwy 508 Ocean City, Md.
Described As U 508 Coastal Hwy Atlantis CM. Assessment $231,800.
Total Due $7,508.75
Acct#10430755 Assessed To Harris Wayne L &. Located At 4 Hidden Cove Way LUG-B Ocean City, Md.
Described As U-LUG-BE-2E PH 5
Hidden Cove Way The Garden CM Sunset Isl. Assessment $317,700.
Total Due $10,340.52
Acct#10191718 Assessed To Harting Sue H. Located At 219 South Ocean Dr Ocean City, Md. Described
As Lot 63 Sec 3B South Ocean Dr Pl
Montego Bay Mob Hm Pk. Assessment $368,700. Total Due $11,414.86
Acct#10366216 Assessed To Hauser Sheila D. Located At 12506 Deer Point Cir Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 10 14251 Sq Ft Deer Point Circle Deer Point Subdiv. Assessment $342,700. Total Due $6,875.32
Acct#03126013 Assessed To Haynie Mark W & Evelyn M. Located At Timberline Cir Berlin, Md Described As Lot 397 Timberline Circle White Horse Park Phase 3 Assessment $99,600 Total Due $2,272.23
Acct#01020587 Assessed To
Heath Clarence W. Located At 504 Young St Pocomoke, Md. Described As Lot 2 3102 Sq Ft 504 Young St L V Layman Inc Subd Pl. Assessment $36,967. Total Due $1,647.73
Acct#10715768 Assessed To Heise
Michael Scott &. Located At 12625 Sunset Ave 2 Ocean City, Md. Described As U-12625-2 PH 4 Sunset Ave Bayside Professional Ctr. Assessment $108,067. Total Due $2,328.43
Acct#03021564 Assessed To Henry Mary C & Martin L Henry &. Located At Germantown Rd Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 2 NE Side Germantown Road Plat Isaac H Crippen. Assessment $70,600. Total Due $1,746.42
Acct#10768818 Assessed To
Hensley Michael R & Hensley Patience M. Located At 12 Broad Marsh Marina CM M-12 Ocean City, Md. Described As Unit M-12 67th St Broad Marsh Marina CM. Assessment $15,000. Total Due $612.08
Acct#02022079 Assessed To Hillman Emily Dawn. Located At 232 Washington St Snow Hill, Md. Described As 117' X 191' X 162' X 81' S Washington St Snow Hill. Assessment $93,233. Total Due $3,768.08
Acct#10343844 Assessed To Hinkle Gary & Marcia D & Alan Bell. Located At 8343 South Longboat Way Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 366 3000 Sq Ft South Longboat Drive Assateague Pt Resort P 3. Assessment $158,033. Total Due $3,363.53
Acct#01021400 Assessed To Holden Gregory T & Vera L. Located At 509 Cedar St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 60' X 120.4' 509 Cedar St Pocomoke. Assessment $61,700. Total Due $2,282.29
Acct#10072964 Assessed To Hollohan Robert T. Located At 5305 Atlantic Ave 0004 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 4 Btw 53rd & 54th Sts Sea Splash CM. Assessment $607,700. Total Due $19,660.80
Acct#03007022 Assessed To Hudson Alan. Located At Old Ocean City Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 25.92
Acs W Side R-346 Min Sub Alan H Hudson. Assessment $10,300. Total Due $568.17
Acct#03007014 Assessed To Hudson Alan. Located At 9178 Old Ocean City Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 39.81 Acs W Side R-346 Rev Lds Roger A Hudson. Assessment $173,167. Total Due $4,197.09
Acct#03007006 Assessed To Hudson Alan H. Located At Ocean Gateway Berlin, Md. Described As 83.59
Acs P/O 195/4 North Side R-50 South Of St Martins. Assessment $31,800. Total Due $1,557.76
Acct#03159809 Assessed To Hudson Alan H. Located At 9101 Logtown Rd Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 4b 7.69 Acs Logtown Rd Min Subdiv Resub Of Lot 4 A Hudson. Assessment $125,333. Total Due $2,829.50
Acct#03134628 Assessed To Hudson Alan H & Kristin D. Located At 9101 Logtown Rd Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 4A 2.19 Acs Logtown Rd Min Subdiv Resub Of Lot 4 A Hudson. Assessment $170,100. Total Due $3,617.21
Acct#08002029 Assessed To Hudson Sandra J. Located At 2810 Snow Hill Rd Girdletree, Md. Described As 53' X 109' E Side R-12 Girdletree. Assessment $61,767. Total Due $969.81
Acct#10162629 Assessed To Huhra Clint M.
Md. Described As 3 Acs Assateague Road Sw Of Berlin. Assessment $325,167. Total Due $6,463.61
Acct#01025147 Assessed To Kirkwood Cynthia. Located At 1316 Market St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 77 X 198.75 X 133.7 X 191.75 S Side Market St Pocomoke. Assessment $111,200. Total Due $5,267.81
Acct#03128865 Assessed To Kling
Gregory D. Located At 9342 Kitts Branch Rd Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 2 1.61 Acs S/S Kitts Branch Rd
Walter Tingle Subdiv. Assessment $131,400. Total Due $2,388.99
Acct#10131634 Assessed To Kostack Joseph R & Kostack Janice
E. Located At 183 Jamestown Rd 0011 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 11 Jamestown Rd Watergate CM. Assessment $196,500. Total Due $6,445.31
Acct#03144488 Assessed To Kufchak Carl Vincent. Located At 11848 Peyton Ct Bishopville, Md. Described As Lot 3 1 Ac Peyton Court Peyton Acres Pl. Assessment $533,900. Total Due $11,586.11
Acct#10398754 Assessed To Kwedar Michael T & Kwedar Mary
E. Located At 18 Harbour Towne CM 18 Ocean City, Md. Described As Boat Slip #18 Phila Ave & Bayside Harbour Towne CM. Assessment $20,000. Total Due $772.77
Acct#10210976 Assessed To Leblanc Aida L & Dayna L. Hitch. Located At 143 Jamestown Rd 0003 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 3 Jamestown Rd Jamestown Inlet CM. Assessment $214,600. Total Due $6,901.28
Acct#10121140 Assessed To Leonard Eugene & Leonard Sandra A. Located At 10300 Coastal Hwy 1106 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 1106 Coastal Hwy Atlantis CM. Assessment $287,000. Total Due $9,346.54
Acct#07005261 Assessed To Lewandowski Joseph L III. Located At Scotty Rd Snow Hill, Md. Described As 5 Acs W Side Scotty Road W Of Snow Hill. Assessment $48,000. Total Due $1,108.44 Acct#03095169 Assessed To Lewis William D Jr. Located At 40 Nottingham Ln Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-10-035 7500 Sq Ft Nottingham Ln Pl Ocean Pines Sec 10.
ment $91,167. Total Due $2,007.07
Acct#03002101 Assessed To Logan Edna Collins & Catherine Smith. Located At Campbelltown Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 4.43 Acs W Side Campbelltown Rd Edna Logan Et Al Survey. Assessment $73,000.
Total Due $1,856.18
Acct#10065291 Assessed To Lulu H Auger Trust & Auger Ulysses. Located At 4203 Atlantic Ave 0013
Ocean City, Md. Described As U 13
Btw 42nd & 43rd Sts 13 On The Beach CM. Assessment $435,700.
Total Due $14,132.92
Acct#10174279 Assessed To Lundgren Hans & Lundgren Johnness. Located At 417 142nd St
Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 9
Blk 68 50 X 145 142nd St Pl Fenwick. Assessment $275,700. Total Due $8,874.11
Acct#01021249 Assessed To
Lynch Holly Star. Located At 413 Laurel St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 73.5 X 84 X 65.7 X 76.11 NE Side 413 Laurel St Pocomoke. Assessment $66,967. Total Due $2,149.98
Acct#03066142 Assessed To
Mahon Michelle R. Located At 12
Southwind Ct Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-09-207 9750 Sq Ft
Southwind Ct Pl Ocean Pines Sec 9.
Assessment $170,600. Total Due $3,176.72
Acct#03050874 Assessed To
Mahon Sherry L. Located At 44 Brandywine Dr Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot G-13-118 9800 Sq Ft Brandywine Dr Pl Ocean Pines
Sec 13. Assessment $294,800. Total
Due $6,212.77
Acct#10245753 Assessed To Man
Diana Phuong & Sodeth Man &. Located At 3701 Coastal Hwy 0332G Ocean City, Md. Described As U 332
B G P 3 Coastal Highway Bradley
On The Bay CM. Assessment $118,800. Total Due $3,948.11
Acct#03021920 Assessed To Mapp
James D Sr &. Located At 10440 Harrison Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 80 X 150 E Side Harrison Road Se Of Berlin. Assessment $188,867. Total Due $3,754.29
Acct#05003415 Assessed To Mavrakis Magdaline D. Located At 9235 Whaleyville Rd Whaleysville, Md. Described As 2.48 Acs N Side Whaleyville Rd Loc Sur Albert H Powell. Assessment $334,600. Total Due $6,004.17
Acct#10312450 Assessed To Mccleary Eric Todd. Located At 7 Keel Dr Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 108 Blk J 5800 Sq Ft Keel Drive Mystic Harbour Sec 2. Assessment $185,867. Total Due $3,681.47 Acct#10384400 Assessed To Mccormick Family Stone Harbour LLC. Located At 13208 Stone Harbour Ln 4 Ocean City, Md. Described As Unit 4 Ph 5 Jefferson Ave Stone Harbour Villas CM.
Acct#10161142 Assessed To Mdr
Bachelors Hall 2 LLC. Located At 13110 Coastal Hwy 07130 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 713 P 1 Wight St Braemar Towers CM. Assessment $496,500. Total Due $16,016.46
Acct#10161495 Assessed To Mdr
Bachelors Hall LLC. Located At 13110 Coastal Hwy 07140 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 714 P 1
Wight St Braemar Towers CM. Assessment $496,500. Total Due $16,016.46
Acct#05005574 Assessed To Meehan Thomas Joseph &. Located At 9937 Bishopville Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As 148 X 467.85 X 432.90 N S County Rd Near Bishopville. Assessment $80,500. Total Due $1,648.60
Acct#01003054 Assessed To Mills Steven Jr. Located At 1805 Cypress Rd Pocomoke, Md. Described As 197' X 147' W Side Unionville Rd Sw Of Pocomoke. Assessment $11,767. Total Due $521.62
Acct#10317126 Assessed To Milone John S. Located At 507 32nd St 00230 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 23 P 3 32nd St Extd Bay Cove CM. Assessment $190,700. Total Due $6,258.89
Acct#03016595 Assessed To Mister Wesley Heirs. Located At Rose Ln Berlin, Md. Described As Lot North Side Flower St N E Of Berlin. Assessment $26,000. Total Due $697.31
Acct#03156672 Assessed To Moyer Donna M. Located At 4 Chatham Ct Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot 381 4,277 Sq Ft Chatham Court Phase 4 Parke Ocean Pines Sec 16. Assessment $267,633. Total Due $7,143.72
Acct#10267439 Assessed To Muncy Nathan G & Muncy Andrea P. Located At 101 123rd St 0364c Ocean City, Md. Described As U 364 B C P 3 123rd St Jockey Beach Club CM. Assessment $117,100. Total Due $3,893.46
Acct#05000998 Assessed To Murray Leroy E. Located At Hotel Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As 11 1/2 Acs N Side Line Hotel Road S Of Selbyville. Assessment $68,500. Total Due $2,647.88
Acct#10214688 Assessed To Nagle Stacy-Ann. Located At 135 A Jamestown Rd 018A Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 18A S Side Jamestown Rd Pl Jamestown Manor Tnhs. Assessment $181,700. Total Due $5,766.31
Acct#10112389 Assessed To Najem G Reza. Located At 9500 Coastal Hwy 009F Ocean City, Md. Described As U 9F Beach Hwy Pyramid CM. Assessment $192,700. Total Due $3,345.89
Acct#03105830 Assessed To Neelon Cora Daniels. Located At 1300 Ocean Pky Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-10-1129 7725 Sq Ft Ocean Pkway Pl Ocean Pines Sec 10. Assessment $304,133. Total Due $13,018.20
Acct#04001702 Assessed To Lockwood Sylvester L. Located At 8314 Patey Woods Rd Newark, Md. Described As Lots In Blks A C F H & J Patey Woods Rd Newark. Assess-
Acct#01029428 Assessed To Nichols Valarie L. Located At 1307 Market St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 62 X 195 N Side 1307 Market St Pocomoke. Assessment $122,133. Total Due $4,917.77
Hm Pk. Assessment $458,900. Total Due $14,786.65
Acct#10066611 Assessed To Papoulias Konstadina J &. Located At 7 45th St 0225 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 225 45th St Ocean Waye 45 CM. Assessment $76,800. Total Due $2,598.28
Acct#03016188 Assessed To Parker Mabel Sallie Savage. Located At 10811 Maple Ct Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 13 115 X 175 N Side Maple Lane Plat Highland Park. Assessment $85,000. Total Due $2,000.88
Acct#01017314 Assessed To Parsons Karen Annette. Located At 208 Walnut St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 70.12' X 104.5' X 70 X 102' S Side 208 Walnut St Pocomoke. Assessment $123,867. Total Due $4,506.01
Acct#05011361 Assessed To Parsons Richard H & Carol Ann. Located At 10907 Piney Island Dr Bishopville, Md. Described As Lot 55 28916 Sq Ft N Side Piney Island Dr Pl Piney Island Subdiv. Assessment $146,400. Total Due $3,324.40
Acct#10013356 Assessed To Parsons Richard H & Carol Ann. Lo-
Acct#03125971 Assessed To Nokes Stephen P & Maryll S. Located At Timberline Cir Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 394 Timberline Circle White Horse
$54,267. Total Due $1,208.00
Acct#10724775 Assessed To Podowski James Steven. Located At 7 Lookout Landing CM Ocean City, Md. Described As Boat Slip #7 26th St Lookout Landing CM. Assessment $15,000. Total Due $605.75
Acct#01028057 Assessed To Powell Alice Mae. Located At 709 Eighth St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 40' X 100' S Side Eighth St Pocomoke. Assessment $51,633. Total Due $2,424.49
Acct#10769629 Assessed To Prologo Luciano. Located At 205 Bridge Point Cm Ocean City, Md. Described As Boat Slip # 205 Rusty Anchor Rd Bridge Point CM. Assessment $20,000. Total Due $772.77
Acct#03022544 Assessed To Purnell Sharon Denise. Located At 10529 Harrison Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 59 X 260.5 X 70 X 231 W/S Harrison Road Se Of Berlin. Assessment $216,833. Total Due $4,705.18
Acct#10769449 Assessed To PVI Developers LLC Located At F Island Cove CM Ocean City, Md Described As Boat Mooring F N Side 25th St Island Cove CM. Assessment $15,000. Total Due $612.08
Acct#10086906 Assessed To R & R Investments Of Virginia LLC. Located At 75th St Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 16 Blk 108 50 X 120' N Side 75th St Pl Oceanbay City. Assessment $300,000. Total Due $9,644.81
Acct#10431077 Assessed To R & R Investments Of Virginia LLC. Located At 75th St Ocean City, Md. Described As Lots 17 18 Blk 108 N/S 75th St Pl Oceanbay City. Assessment $625,300. Total Due $19,962.02
Acct#10086833 Assessed To R & R Investments Of Virginia LLC. Located At 110 75th St Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 15 Blk 108 Btw 75th & 76th Sts Pl Oceanbay City. Assessment $325,200. Total Due $10,444.05
Acct#10147387 Assessed To R & R Investments Of Virginia LLC. Located At 11700 Coastal Hwy 1101 Ocean City, Md. Described As U T1101 Beach Hwy Carousel Center CM. Assessment $421,100. Total Due $13,609.00
Acct#04002229 Assessed To Redmond Mailon. Located At Patey Woods Rd Newark, Md. Described As Lots In Blk A C F H & J S Side Patey Woods Rd Newark. Assessment $36,900. Total Due $935.16
Acct#01002996 Assessed To Richardson Nichole. Located At 2049 Mcmichael Ave Pocomoke, Md. Described As Part Lot 2 50' X 50' Brickyard Ave. Assessment $13,700. Total Due $774.18
Acct#03020762 Assessed To Rigopoulos Nicholas G & Chamberlain Susan L. Located At 10130 Germantown Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 15810 S F W Side Germantown Rd Bndy Ln Adj Btw Ld Lee E. Assessment $170,600. Total Due $3,752.66
Acct#01020293 Assessed To Rmb Holdings LLC. Located At 508 Bonneville Ave Pocomoke, Md. Described As 40' X 80' 508 Bonneville Avenue Pocomoke. Assessment $31,100. Total Due $2,388.65
Acct#10090687 Assessed To RNR
Due $9,045.33
Acct#01030345 Assessed To Roberts Desmond Jr. Located At 610 Bank St Pocomoke, Md. Described As Lot 40 S Side Bank St Pocomoke. Assessment $40,933. Total Due $1,835.91
Acct#10238129 Assessed To Roemer Scott William. Located At 15 40th St 0014 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 14 40th St Olympic CM. Assessment $112,800. Total Due $3,755.27
Acct#03088839 Assessed To Romersa Arthur R & Romersa Lisa. Located At 41 Watertown Rd Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-11399 7500 Sq Ft Watertown Rd Pl Ocean Pines Sec 11. Assessment $213,767. Total Due $4,536.37
Acct#10245281 Assessed To Ronald Max Heckman Trust & Samuel Adam Heckman Trust. Located At 13200 Coastal Hwy 1001 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 1001 Z Coastal Hwy Excalibur CM. Assessment $298,400. Total Due $9,720.25
Acct#10261651 Assessed To Rose
Aubrey E & Darlene B Rose. Located At 206 8th St 0026 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 26 8th St Surfside 8 CM. Assessment $69,100. Total Due $2,350.81
Acct#10248701 Assessed To Rose
Aubrey E & Rose Darlene B. Located At 711 Edgewater Ave 711 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 711 Edgewater Ave Pier Seven CM. Assessment $147,300. Total Due $4,864.09
Acct#10170486 Assessed To Rose Bryan. Located At 14 W 139th St 0003 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 3 139th St El Gwendo West CM. Assessment $190,400. Total Due $6,249.25
Acct#03156613 Assessed To Roth
James R & Bonita B Roth. Located At 12 Chatham Ct Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot 377 5231 Sq Ft Chatham Court Phase 4 Parke Ocean Pines Sec 16. Assessment $301,833. Total Due $6,407.33
Acct#10343429 Assessed To Russell
Gregory M. Located At 8322 South Longboat Way Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 329 3000 Sq Ft South Longboat Drive Assateague Pt Resort P 3. Assessment $171,033. Total Due $3,732.88
Acct#03033643 Assessed To Sackadorf Larry T &. Located At 223 Graham Ave Berlin, Md. Described As App 176' X 150.2 Near E Side William St Berlin. Assessment $329,733. Total Due $6,873.55
Acct#05006929 Assessed To Sadowski Robert J Sr & Sadowski
Michele M. Located At 11535 Back Creek Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As Lot 1 2.00 Acs N Side Back Creek Road Min Sub W D Cannon Etal. Assessment $258,133. Total Due $4,610.19
Acct#10194865 Assessed To Santangelo Thomas A & Santangelo
Jacqueline R. Located At 185 Beachcomber Ln Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 1132 Sec 3 Beachcomber Lane Pl Montego Bay Mob Hm Pk. Assessment $138,300. Total Due $4,417.67
Acct#01002902 Assessed To
Satchell Cory R. Located At 1409 Unionville Rd Pocomoke, Md. Described As 1.24 Acs N Side
Unionville Rd Bndy Sur Cory R
Satchell. Assessment $53,900. Total Due $1,311.98
Acct#01015974 Assessed To Schoolfield Stephen E & Rudean N Fletcher. Located At 111 Oak St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 5848 Sq Ft N Side 111 Oak St Pocomoke. Assessment $57,500. Total Due $4,946.83
Acct#03011445 Assessed To Shea
William. Located At 11311 Gum Point Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 100 X 300 N Side Gum Point Road East Of Berlin. Assessment $294,333. Total Due $4,750.54
Acct#10125138 Assessed To Sherman Glenn E & Bonnie Gale. Located At 10700 Coastal Hwy 1005 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 1005 Beach Hwy Quay CM. Assessment $246,500. Total Due $7,982.32
Acct#03105326 Assessed To Sipe
Frederick. Located At 44 Footbridge Trl Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-10-189 11967 Sq Ft Footbridge
Trail Pl Ocean Pines Sec 10. Assessment $288,433. Total Due $3,186.83
Acct#03092720 Assessed To Slattery Darrin R. Located At 34 Boston
Dr Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot W-11-045 7675 Sq Ft Boston Dr
Pl Ocean Pines Sec 11. Assessment $90,267. Total Due $2,096.92
Acct#08007438 Assessed To Smith James Harvey. Located At 6247 George Island Landing Rd Stockton, Md. Described As 2.12 Acs N Side George Island Landing Rd. Assessment $40,133. Total Due $1,081.25
Acct#03017672 Assessed To Smith Kathleen B & Nancy Wesby. Located At 9634 Mary Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 100 X 150 X East Side Mary Road NE Of Berlin. Assessment $80,667. Total Due $1,943.57
Acct#03091570 Assessed To Snyder Claude &. Located At 73 Boston Dr Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-11-161 10343 Sq Ft Gloucester Rd Pl Ocean Pines Sec 11. Assessment $265,167. Total Due $5,613.66
Acct#10022746 Assessed To Sobhani Jeffrey. Located At 6618 South Point Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 5.26 Acs SE Side Stephen Decatur Pl Genezar Frm Div 5. Assessment $435,000. Total Due $9,754.88
Acct#01017950 Assessed To Soghomonian John. Located At 406 Second St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 82' X 140' 406 Second St & Walnut St. Assessment $81,067. Total Due $3,947.74
Acct#10155193 Assessed To Soletto Anthony M Jr & Pamela. Located At 9 127th St 0203 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 203 127th St Starfish V CM. Assessment $228,700. Total Due $7,480.17
Acct#05021650 Assessed To Sovereign Edwin P III. Located At 12012 St Martins Neck Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As Lot 4-3.00 Acs S/S St Martins Neck Rd For Consv Pl G Marvin Steen. Assessment $140,933. Total Due $3,139.66
Acct#05006279 Assessed To Spencer Joyce Ann & Spencer Brenda. Located At 12639 Old Stage Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As 1.27 Ac W Side Old Stage Road East
Of Bishop. Assessment $49,467. Total Due $1,318.21
Acct#10356636 Assessed To Struble Lester J. Located At 31 Mystic Harbour Blvd Berlin, Md. Described As Lot 246 Blk J 6753 Sq Ft Mystic Harb Blvd Mystic Harbour Sec 3B. Assessment $190,433. Total Due $2,722.22
Acct#01002090 Assessed To Sturgis Joyce Antoinette. Located At 1536 Unionville Rd Pocomoke, Md. Described As 2 Acs S Side Unionville Road Sw Of Pocomoke. Assessment $58,500. Total Due $1,445.64
Acct#01021559 Assessed To Sturgis Wesley T. Located At 605 Laurel St Pocomoke, Md. Described As Lot 1 Laurel St Pl Fortney & Snyder, Assessment $66,967, Total Due $2,700.20
Acct#10143667 Assessed To SW Condominium LLC. Located At 11500 Coastal Hwy 0607 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 607 Beach Hwy Sea Watch CM. Assessment $351,600. Total Due $11,244.51
Acct#01022970 Assessed To Taylor Kevin E. Located At 109 Fourth St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 60 X 160 E Side 109 Fourth St Pocomoke. Assessment $59,467. Total Due $2,598.25
Acct#10262062 Assessed To Tenanty Patricia A. Located At 107 Convention Center Dr 00250 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 25 P A Convention Center Drive Thunder Island CM. Assessment $288,000 Total Due $9,358.94
Acct#03030431 Assessed To Timmons James B. Located At 303 Bay St Berlin, Md. Described As 65 X 150 N Side 303 Bay Street Berlin. Assessment $185,033. Total Due $6,961.48
Acct#05001250 Assessed To Tingle Norman B &
rich Sandra. Located At 5641 George Island Landing Rd Stockton, Md. Described As Lot Geo Island Landing Rd Stockton. Assessment $61,067. Total Due $19,889.75
Acct#01016121 Assessed To Ulysse Jean Raymond. Located At 809 Second St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 30.1' X 120.5' X 31.83' X 117.75 E S 809 Second St Pocomoke. Assessment $82,567. Total Due $2,774.73
Acct#03172082 Assessed To Velong Gina L. Located At 174 Intrepid Ln 1403 Berlin, Md. Described As Unit 1403 Intrepid Lane Decatur Frm Twhse Ph T14. Assessment $189,667. Total Due $6,823.46
Acct#05031931 Assessed To Vignale Chad Joseph & Vignale Angela K. Located At Back Creek Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As Lot 2 2.36 Acs N Side Back Creek Rd Min Sub S & D Mumford. Assessment $70,700. Total Due $1,672.64
Acct#02023040 Assessed To Walterhoefer Taryn. Located At 208 Federal St Snow Hill, Md. Described As 80' X 120' X 77' X 208 E Federal & Purnell Sts Snow Hill. Assessment $148,367. Total Due $4,783.02
Acct#01044079 Assessed To Ward Only Properties LLC. Located At 738 Ninth St Pocomoke, Md. escribed As Lot 9-9671.46 Sq Ft Near B K Jones Ld On Rr Ninth Street Estates. Assessment $196,033. Total Due $9,148.84
Acct#10264766 Assessed To Watson Roger C & Brenda L. Located At 107 Convention Center Dr 00620 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 62 P B Convention Center Drive Thunder Island CM. Assessment $265,300. Total Due $8,629.95
Acct#10061792 Assessed To West Malinda & Taylor Brenda. Located At 2813 Plover Dr 001D0 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 1D S 1 Plover Drive Bal Harbour CM. Assessment $156,100. Total Due $4,881.28
Acct#05015049 Assessed To West Milton Lee Jr. Located At 11211 St Martins Neck Rd Bishopville, Md. Described As Lot 2 2 Acs N Sde St Martins Neck Rd Min Sub M West Sr Etal. Assessment $309,300. Total Due $4,809.27
Acct#02026716 Assessed To Whaley Raye Gillette. Located At 100 Washington St Snow Hill, Md. Described As 57' X 89.5' S Washington St Snow Hill. Assessment $87,967.
Total Due $3,469.21
Acct#10230322 Assessed To White Bernard H III & Loretta M. Located At 4000 Coastal Hwy 0317 Ocean City, Md. Described As U 317 Btw 40th & 41st Sts Ocean Point No 2 CM. Assessment $118,800. Total Due $3,948.11
Acct#01015605 Assessed To Whitney Licurtis. Located At 108 Oak St Pocomoke, Md. Described As 70' X 140' S Side 108 Oak Street Pocomoke. Assessment $20,200. Total Due $1,091.69
Acct#03014088 Assessed To Widgeon Christopher Bryan. Located At 8936 Cedar Lane Rd Berlin, Md. Described As 9.145 Acs S Side Cedar Lane Rd W Of Berlin. Assessment $296,767. Total Due $6,548.05
Acct#03056465 Assessed To Wienhold Jonathan Christian. Located At 78 Birdnest Dr Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Lot B-06-173 11672 Sq Ft Birdnest Dr Plat Ocean Pines Sec 6. Assessment $280,100. Total Due
$5,058.61
Acct#10405157 Assessed To Wilkinson Donald A. Located At 388 D Island At Hidden Harbo 388 Ocean City, Md. Described As Boat Slip #388 125th St Island At Hidden Harbour. Assessment $15,000. Total Due $612.08
Acct#03088146 Assessed To Willman David M. Located At 438 Ocean Pky 13 Ocean Pines, Md. Described As Unit Am Borderlinks Dr Pl Borderlinks I. Assessment $164,233. Total Due $3,183.34
Acct#10019451 Assessed To Wooden Maryellen. Located At 8209 Stephen Decatur Hwy Ocean City, Md. Described As 100' X 300' Nw Side Stephen Decatur Road. Assessment $126,900. Total Due $2,995.88
Acct#10178428 Assessed To Zimmerman Mark. Located At 618 S Surf Rd Ocean City, Md. Described As Lot 11 Blk 13 South Surf Road Pl Caine Woods Sec 3. Assessment $262,200. Total Due $5,699.61
All bidders must register. Registration for the sale begins at 10:00 a.m. April 19th and ends promptly at 4:00 p.m. May 3rd. Proper identification for individuals and proof of existence for legal entities shall be required by RealAuction for all registrants. In order to bid, an individual or entity must be registered.
ACH will need to be tendered by 4:00 p.m. FRIDAY, MAY 17th on the final date of sale. It shall be in the amount of taxes due including expenses of sale (attorney, auctioneer, advertising and miscellaneous). A receipt will then be issued by RealAuction. A tax sale certificate will be provided by mail to the tax sale
purchaser within thirty days of the date of the sale.
These properties are offered for sale “AS IS”, at the risk of the purchasers and neither the undersigned nor any other party makes any warranties or representations whatsoever either expressed or implied, of any kind or character, with respect to the properties or the title thereto. In the event a tax sale certificate is issued and then voided by the Treasurer, through no fault of the buyer, only a refund of amounts actually paid on day of sale shall be made and shall be the Treasurer’s sole liability and limit thereon. Properties are listed and sold based upon information provided by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation, which is in no way represented to be accurate or correct. The sale, the premises, and the properties are, to the extent provided by law, subject to any and all title defects, claims, liens, encumbrances, covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements, rightsof-way and matters of records. In the event of mistake, defective title, description or nonexistence of property, no refund shall be given.
Bidders should be well versed in the law regarding tax sales and should investigate the properties and titles thereto prior to purchase or bid. Competent legal advice should be sought by prospective bidders prior to the sale. No legal advice shall be given by the County Attorney, Treasurer, or staff.
Bidders representing legal entities are limited to one bidder per property sold. Bidding shall be conducted in accordance with procedures determined by the Treasurer or his agent at the sale.
All costs in connection with the foreclosure of the right of redemption and all other title costs are at the expense of the purchaser or purchasers. All taxes and fees and other impositions including, without limitation, the following: transfer tax, agricultural transfer tax, recordation tax, and recording costs required will likewise be at the expense of the purchaser or purchasers. Terms of sale shall be complied with as determined by the Treasurer, who shall be the sole judge of such.
These requirements are directory as to the Treasurer and not mandatory. They may be altered by the Treasurer at his sole discretion in the interests of justice, fairness, and efficiency or other good and valid reason.
George, Miles & Buhr, LLC recently promoted two employees.
Christopher J. Pfeifer is a new owner of the firm and was promoted to vice president / senior project manager, and Brent R. Jett is an associate of the firm and was promoted to project manager.
Pfeifer joined the company in 2013 after graduating with a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Drexel University. He is a licensed professional engineer in Maryland and Delaware.
He currently leads the Site/Sustainable Design Group, managing a variety of regional land development and stormwater projects. Pfeifer’s work includes The Estuary and The Knoll communities, which are under construction in Sussex County, Delaware, as well as Armada, Ironhook, and Grayrock developments which are in design.
Jett joined GMB in 2019 with over 20 years of professional engineering experience and a distinguished back-
ground in stormwater management along the coastal regions. He holds a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Virginia Tech.
As leader of GMB’s Coastal Resiliency Group, Jett assists local municipalities with mitigating the effects of climate change and sea level rise. He is a professional engineer licensed in Maryland and Delaware, a certified floodplain manager, and a certified climate change professional. Jett is working with the cities of Lewes, Fruitland, and Cambridge, and the towns of Ocean City, Federalsburg, St. Michaels, Oxford, and South Bethany on resiliency goals. He has also successfully assisted clients with procuring grants from state and federal programs.
Calvin B. Taylor Bank has applied with the Maryland Division of Financial Regulation, The Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to establish a new branch location in Virginia.
Raymond M. Thompson, bank president and CEO of Calvin B. Taylor Bankshares, Inc. and Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company, recently announced the effort.
The new branch location is slated for .39 acres at 645 Mason Ave. on
lots 538 and 542, within the town of Cape Charles, Northampton County, Virginia.
The proposed full-service branch will provide general banking services to residents and businesses in the Cape Charles, Eastville, Cheriton, Exmore, and Northampton County, Virginia areas.
Anyone who wishes to comment on the application may file correspondence in writing with John Vogel, Regional Director, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10118.
Comments are due no later than May 6.
The non-confidential portions of the application are on file at the appropriate FDIC office and are available for public inspection during regular business hours. Photocopies of the non-confidential portion of the application file will be made available upon request.
Calvin B. Taylor Bank is a community bank providing deposit and loan services to consumers and businesses through 11 offices in Worcester County, lower Sussex County, Delaware, and northern Accomack County, Virginia, with a loan production office in Salisbury.
Information on the bank is also available at taylorbank.com. Continued on Page 74
Continued from Page 73
The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore celebrated 40 years of impact with the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce at a Business After Hours event on April 11.
CFES is a public foundation serving Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties and works with local donors and nonprofit organizations to create charitable funds, provide grants and scholarships to meet local needs, and provide capacity building support for nonprofits and volunteer organizations. Since 1984, the foundation has awarded $107.5M in grants and scholarships.
In recognition of the anniversary, then foundation unveiled two challenge grants for the giving circles, the Black Excellence Community Fund and the Women’s Fund, encouraging the public to participate to boost the impact for these funds this year.
Foundation members also announced their 40 Under 40 in Philanthropy Awards which will honor 40 individuals under 40 years old who are making a difference in the Lower Shore community. Nominations can be made online at CFES.org/40u40 until May 15.
Wagering data derives from 11 mobile, 13 retail operations across state
(April 19, 2024) While Maryland’s total sports wagering handle was up more then 39 percent this March from 2023, the amount contributed to the state was less, according to a recent report.
A news release from Maryland Lottery and Gaming said more than $4.85 million in contributions were made to the state’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which supports public education programs, from a handle of over $536.7 million last month.
The revenues came from Maryland’s 11 mobile and 13 retail sportsboooks, including one at Ocean Downs.
The release said sports wagering revenues contributed $5.3 million to the state in March 2023, which was 8.6% less than contributions made in 2024. The handle, however, was a 39.1% increase from last year.
The release said that after paying prizes to players, sportsbook operators held $45.1 million last month, or 8.4% of the handle, compared to $47.5 million, or 12.3%, last year.
Sports wagering data is tracked and reported based on the state’s fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30. During the first nine months of Fiscal Year 2024 — July 2023 through March 2024 — sports wagering contributed nearly $42 million to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund.
Detailed numbers can be found at mdgaming.com.
(April 19, 2024) April marks the 56th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act, the landmark civil rights law signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on April 11, 1968, that made discrimination in housing transactions unlawful.
All counties in Maryland abide by federal and state definitions of protected classes listed below. There are several counties and cities that have additional protected classes — i.e. Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset.
Federal protected classes are color, familial status, national origin, physical or mental disability, race, religion and sex (i.e. gender)
State protected classes are marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and source of income.
Under the Fair Housing Act it is illegal to:
• Refuse to rent to you or sell you housing because of your race, national origin, or any of the other Fed-
eral protected classes
• Set different terms, conditions, or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling
• Fail to design and construct housing in an accessible manner
• Refuse to make reasonable accommodations for persons with a disability if the accommodation may be necessary to afford such person a reasonable and equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling
• Tell you housing is unavailable when in fact it is available
• Provide different housing services or facilities
• Deny you property insurance in a discriminatory manner
• Refuse to provide you with information regarding mortgage loans, deny you a mortgage loan, or impose different terms or conditions on a mortgage loan
• Show you apartments or homes only in certain neighborhoods
• Advertise housing to preferred groups of people only
• Conduct property appraisals in a discriminatory manner
• Harass, coerce, intimidate, or in-
See LAW Page 78
Ocean City Fire Fighter/Paramedic Ryan Whittington and therapy/facility dog K9 Max are pictured accepting a donation from Ocean City Lioness Club Vice President Amy Bishop, left, and Pres. Ann Runo. Whittington gave a demonstration of how the AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, at the Lions Den works. The devices improve cardiac-arrest victims’ chances of survival until paramedics arrive.
Broiled Maryland Crab Cake (6oz)
Honey Bourbon Glazed Salmon
Paella Jambalaya
(Shrimp, Chicken, Mussels, Andouille Sausage) served w/ spicy saffron rice
Cochon de lait (NOLA Pulled Pork served w/slaw & cornbread)
Strawberry Shortcake
Blueberry Crisp
Bread Pudding w/ Bourbon Caramelized Glaze
Key Lime Pie
(April 19, 2024) The Town of Ocean City will partner with Worcester Goes Purple to place Narcan distribution boxes in public locations throughout the resort.
Last week, the Mayor and Council voted unanimously to approve further coordination between town staff and Worcester Goes Purple to install Narcan dispensary cabinets at approved locations throughout Ocean City. Worcester Goes Purple President Debbie Smullen said the organization would pay for, maintain and stock the waterproof boxes, but that the town would install them.
“As a tourist town, we do have a lot of people that do come into the town from other locations,” she said. “So this is something that would be used as a
means of saving a life if it were necessary.”
Smullen told the council Narcan, a medication that treats opioid overdose, is offered to the public without a prescription but is often cost prohibitive or not readily available for those who need it. She said the idea is to place the stocked boxes alongside automated external defibrillators (AEDs) that are currently available at public locations.
make Narcan more accessible to the public,” she added.
‘It's not something where we're encouraging people to come to the Boardwalk, to get Narcan or to use drugs.’
Worcester Goes Purple
President Debbie SmullenSmullen said opioid deaths in Worcester County have increased 15% over last year. She said the boxes would also provide an educational component, as a QR code placed on the outside of the box would teach the public how to administer Narcan.
tive. He said that, if approved, he would work with Worcester Goes Purple to install the boxes at locations that work for everyone.
Councilman Will Savage questioned how the Narcan boxes would be maintained. Smullen said they would be checked weekly for resupply.
“There will be a card inside, which will have a number to contact if there is a problem prior to those weekly checks,” she said.
“This would then be sent on as an initiative for the town to the White House as part of their current opioid program where they're asking local governments, towns, municipalities to
“It's not something where we're encouraging people to come to the Boardwalk, to get Narcan or to use drugs,” she said. “We're saying that as a community, we care about the fact that people do overdose and that we want to be prepared for that. Just as we are with the AED or an EpiPen, we are prepared for an emergency. We're not encouraging that emergency.”
City Manager Terry McGean said the town’s police, fire, public works, and recreation and parks departments were in support of the initia-
Continued from Page 76
terfere with anyone exercising or assisting someone else with their fair housing rights
If you believe your rights have been violated, you can call the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights at 410-767-8600, or to initiate an inquiry, visit mccr.maryland.gov.
Lauren Bunting is the broker of record for Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva in Ocean City.
Savage also encouraged Worcester Goes Purple to work with both the fire department and the dispatch center. He said the fire department could check on the Narcan boxes when it serviced the AEDs, while the dispatch center could direct callers to nearby boxes in the event of an emergency. However, he questioned if the boxes would dissuade people from calling 911.
“I mean, any bit of Narcan will help,” he said. “But some of these drugs are also mixed with synthetics, and the false sense of security would be that you go and you get this Narcan, you give it to them, and you delay 911 calls.”
Smullen said that is part of the educational component provided with the boxes. She said the QR code will instruct the public on how to use Narcan and what to do in an emergency.
“This is an education box as well that would give education to the community,” she said.
Councilman John Gehrig questioned if there were better ways to distribute Narcan. Smullen said the medication is available at the health department, as well as at local pharmacies, bars, hotels and other establishments.
“Yes, there are other locations, but overdoses don't happen 9 to 5,” she said.
After further discussion, the council voted 7-0 to have town staff work with Worcester Goes Purple to install the Narcan boxes at management-approved locations in town.
(April 19, 2024) Pocomoke residents could have access to a new library by late 2025.
County staff this week provided an update to the Worcester County Commissioners regarding the new library set to replace the aging Pocomoke facility. Officials were pleased to learn this week that the state will be funding $3.9 million of the project.
“Obviously everyone’s pleased with the way we’re going forward at this point,” Commissioner Chip Bertino said.
A progress report presented to the commissioners this week outlined plans for the new 12,365-square-foot facility planned for the current library site in Pocomoke. The new building, which will feature parking to the west side of the structure, has been designed to be open, airy and inviting, according to the report.
“The main entry is proposed on the southwest corner to a gallery lobby space off of which are the restrooms, community space, and library,” the report reads. “Upon entry from this the service counter is straight ahead, children’s area to the left, collections and reading areas to the right, and workrooms and utility areas behind the counter. Beyond the adult stacks are teen areas, reading areas, and a designated maker space, which is also accessible directly from the lobby. This level also includes some special collections, two small meeting or study rooms, and a local history room. The design allows the multipurpose community space to accommodate meetings when the library areas are closed and locked.”
The site plan, which includes 37 parking spaces, also features a children’s porch as well as raingardens and landscaping around the building.
Worcester County Library Director
Jennifer Ranck told the commissioners this week she’d been working on the new library since 2019 and was happy to see it moving forward. When asked if the county could expect any more than the $3.9 million from the state, she said she could apply for another grant for furnishings for the new facility.
As far as the timeline for the building, staff said the goal was to bid the project in the summer and to have construction start in October with the goal to finish in late 2025 or 2026.
The Worcester County Commissioners will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budgets as requested by the Agencies and Departments which are funded by the Worcester County Commissioners. If you wish to speak or attend in person, we encourage you to pre-register by calling the County Administration office at 410-632-1194. Speakers will be allowed to address the County Commissioners for up to two (2) minutes. Public Comment may also be submitted in advance by email at wchearing@co.worcester.md.us or in writing received on or before 4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on Monday, May 6, 2024 in the County Commissioners’ Office at Room 1103 Government Center, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863. All commenters must identify themselves by their full name and address to be included in the public record. Written comments received by the deadline will be read into the record by Worcester County staff during the public comment portion of the meeting. Anyone not planning to speak may view the public hearing live on the County website at https://worcestercountymd.swagit.com/live. The Public Hearing will be held at:
6:00 P.M.,
General Fund requested expenditures exceed available revenues (based upon current tax rates) by $10,116,174. This difference must be reconciled by the County Commissioners either through reductions in expenditures or increases in taxes, fees and/or use of Budget Stabilization Funds. Copies of the requested budgets are available for public inspection on the Worcester County website at www.co.worcester.md.us.
Local legislators feared negative impact on Ocean Downs Casino revenue
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer(April 19, 2024) Lawmakers in Annapolis continued to deliberate proposed bills impacting residents statewide on the last day of the legislative session including iGaming.
The condominium reserve study bill, which proposed extending fees for building repairs from three to five years, did not survive the legislative process.
A 2022 law requires condominium complexes to receive reserve studies, or evaluations of the structure’s condition. For instance, if the roof needs replacing, fees are imposed on all homeowners in the building to secure the total repair price. The bill stipulates that the association has three years to garner the funds.
The piece of legislation proposed this year would have stretched that timeline to five years. However, it
failed to pass.
“These costs are making condos unaffordable for many potential buyers,” Del. Wayne Hartman (R-38C) said.
Despite House and Senate conflicts, the General Assembly passed a balanced budget with minimal tax increases. According to Hartman, registration fees will be imposed on electric vehicles, as well as a 75-cent levy on all ride-sharing services, like Uber and Lyft, that originate in Maryland.
The proposed iGaming legislation, which would allow gamblers to access table games and slot machines via a mobile device, laptop, or desktop, was shot down.
“I had grave concerns about iGaming,” Hartman said. If passed, the initiative would have shrunk Ocean Downs Casino’s revenue, as profits would be shifted to the electronic alternative. Additionally, the delegate worried about an increase in gambling addiction among Marylanders.
House Bill 1064, Income Tax Sub-
traction Modification-Death Benefits-Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters, survived the legislative session.
The law removes the requirement that monetary death benefits given to the families of fallen police officers and firefighters be reported as taxable income. The bill was partially inspired by Tashica Hilliard, the wife of the late Wicomico County Corporal Glenn Hilliard, who discovered that her $500,000 payment carried a tax liability of $182,000.
Also passed was an increase in
fines for work zone speeding violations. Effective January 1, 2025, tickets for disobeying the posted limit in these areas will jump from $40 to $250. Hartman said that despite an effort to add the amendment that the surge only applies to spots where workers are present, sponsors and supporters were unreceptive, as they hope the legislation encourage drivers to create a habit of slowing down on streets with ongoing construction.
The Maryland General Assembly’s 2024 legislative session concluded at midnight on April 8.
(April 19, 2024) County officials approved plans for Atlantic General Hospital’s annual anniversary celebration.
The Worcester County Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously last week to approve a special exception that will allow the Atlantic General Hospital (AGH) 31st Anniversary Celebration to be held at the home of George and Emily Tunis in Martha’s Landing on May 9.
“This is our largest fundraiser of the year,” Emily Tunis said. “This event brings anywhere from $150,000 to $200,000 for the foundation which goes directly to the hospital to support operations and equipment and education programs that helps enhance the healthcare and accessibility of healthcare to our local community.”
Tunis and attorney Kristina
Watkowski approached the board last week seeking a special exception for a transient use to allow a special event in the R-3 multifamily district. They explained when the tent would be set up, how neighbors had been notified and whether traffic would be an issue. Tunis said there was no reason there should be cars parked on Old Bridge Road because attendees were parking at the park and ride lot and taking a shuttle to the event.
When asked what would happen if a significant storm arrived on the day of the event, Tunis said there was no rain date planned. It was pointed out the fire marshal would be reviewing event plans and could weigh in with inclement weather.
While the board this month granted the special exception for AGH, next month it’s set to review a special exception request from TidalHealth for its annual fundraiser, which is planned for
property owned by Kevin Myers. While both events have been held locally for years, this is the first time they’ve been required to seek a special exception from the board of zoning appeals. Hugh Cropper, Myers’ attorney, questioned the need for the additional step in the event planning process, particularly since the transient use distinction has been typically used for temporary but continuous uses, such as handicap ramps. Cropper believes the board of zoning appeals should have some discretion when it comes to special events for nonprofits.
“Regarding public policy, but I can tell you as the former chairman of the board of AGH, and my wife being on the development committee for many, many years, it is virtually impossible to find a suitable location for these events in Worcester County,” he wrote in an email to Jennifer Keener, the county’s director of development review and permitting. “Kevin Myers has hosted several of these events, apparently without approvals over the past years, and they have all been successful. There has never been a complaint. I stand to be corrected, but I have seen most, if not all, of the county commissioners, state delegates, senators, etc. at all of these events.”
According to Keener, the transient use designation applies to a “use which does not otherwise conform to district regulations.” She said in her response to Cropper that the board of appeals has in the
past approved similar events planned for properties that didn’t have commercial zoning. She noted that her department also issues special event permits for outdoor transient events such as bike week and fishing tournaments.
When contacted this week, county staff said the special event process was being followed the way it should be. While some events might have been missed in the past, when the use of land is not consistent with its zoning, that is considered a transient use which needs special exception approval. With the board of zoning appeals considering the request, neighbors and other members of the public have the opportunity to share any concerns .
“The county permitting departments have been implementing permitting workflow to more efficiently issue permits and keep things from falling through the cracks,” Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said. “In this process, it was determined transient uses, like nonprofit fundraisers, have been getting approval from the liquor licensing staff but not the zoning staff. While a fundraiser for a hospital is a positive thing for the community, in our code it does require a special exception from the board of zoning appeals due to it not being consistent with our residential zoning districts. It should have been enforced in the past and can always be changed in the future.”
(April 19, 2024) A request to have county staff meet with board of education staff to start a dialogue on the budget failed this week with the support of just two commissioners.
On Tuesday, Commissioner Eric Fiori told the Worcester County Commissioners he’d met with Worcester County Board of Education leadership and they wanted the two sides to find a way to work collaboratively. Fiori’s motion to set up a staff meeting, however, failed, with the majority of the commissioners indicating enough staff time has been spent on the education budget.
“We are not here to micromanage their budget,” Commissioner Joe Mitrecic said. “It is their budget. They’re an elected board, they’re there to take care of their budget. We either fund it or not. You just gotta put on your big boy pants and vote yes or no on their budget. We’ve wasted enough time with county staff with this going on this long. I think it’s time we move on. We either fund it or we don’t. Let’s get on with the business of running the county.”
Fiori told the commissioners he and members of the school system’s leadership team he met with wanted their budget staff to meet with the county’s staff to come up with a way to work collaboratively. He said they wanted more of an open dialogue where staff could
come up with some ideas to bring back to elected officials. He said maybe small changes could yield additional dollars for the school system.
“We want all our teachers, support staff and bus drivers to receive their raises,” he said.
Mitrecic, however, said the school system had submitted its budget and sat through six hours of “grueling” questions at last week’s budget work session. He said Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Candace Savage had already spent too much time reviewing the school system’s budget.
“I think they’ve fallen behind on their duties in other areas because of this,” he said. “The county’s a big county it entails more than the board of education budget.”
Commissioner Caryn Abbott disagreed. She said the meeting had been suggested by the school system.
“That is a first,” she said. “I think that we need to meet them there. I for one don’t want to go through all of this every year. I think this would be a good step forward in possibly fixing some of the things that need to be fixed or understanding the things they don’t understand now.”
Fiori objected to Mitrecic’s assertion that time had been wasted on the review.
“We’re talking about 50% of the county budget. Wasted? Disagree sir,” he
said. “We’re not wasting time. We’re looking for value for both our education system and our taxpayers.”
He said he’d requested the staff meeting because the school system approached him and asked for it.
“I think conversation is a wonderful thing and the more conversation we have the more problems we can solve,” he said.
Mitrecic said school system staff was likely busy with the audit process and stressed that the school system had developed and presented the budget as it stood.
“If the board of education comes and brings a budget they feel is responsible, then I feel at some point in time we have to stop micromanaging it,” he said. “It’s not our job.”
Commissioner Chip Bertino acknowledged a significant amount of time had already been spent on the school system’s budget.
“It’s incumbent upon them to present us with a budget that’s approved by their board of education,” he said. “They’ve done that. I don’t think we should get involved deeply into what they should and shouldn’t do, what they should and shouldn’t cut. That’s up to them. They have an elected board that is responsible for doing that.”
When asked for his input, Young said additional conversations wouldn’t hurt but acknowledged that county staff had
a lot on their plate.
“The detail of their budget is the highest we’ve seen yet. From the work session last week, it sounds like they’re looking into what they couldn’t answer, and will make changes to the discrepancies we found. At the end of the day we do not run the schools that is not our background but we do know budgeting.”
Bertino said the commissioners and staff spent six hours talking with school system officials during the budget work session and asked if they’d subsequently provided the additional information they said they would.
“They’re still pulling that,” Young said. “A lot of this was the first time we were seeing it. That’s going to generate more questions than say the sheriff’s office budget will because we’ve seen the sheriff’s office budget in the same format year after year after year. When we see what they presented, that generated a lot of questions. They answered some, they would get back to us on some. We’re optimistic they’ll be able to answer those. I imagine we’ll see something revised at least from the discrepancy standpoint.”
Commissioner Jim Bunting asked Fiori what exactly would be discussed at the proposed meeting. Fiori said staff could review things like budgeting best practices.
Fiori’s motion to have county staff meet with school system staff failed with just Fiori and Abbott in support.
(April 19, 2024) Bridge uplighting, branded beach umbrellas and standardized Boardwalk signage are just some of the ideas being explored within Ocean City’s tourism department.
On Tuesday, Tourism and Business Development Director Tom Perlozzo presented the Ocean City Tourism Commission with a handful of ideas aimed at promoting the town and its offerings. He said the ideas ranged from uplighting on the Route 50 and Route 90 bridges and standardizing the town’s Boardwalk signs to Winterfest improvements and modified events.
“These are all brainstorming ideas,” he said. “They have not been funded, there’s no right or wrong, but we’re just trying to think out of the box.”
Perlozzo told commission members this week one idea being discussed is uplighting on both the north and south bridges. He said a proposal from a lighting company set a cost estimate between $300,000 and $5 million.
“I think it will make a giant impact,” he said.
Another idea, he said, would be to purchase marsh matting, which would be placed in front of the Caroline Street stage. He said the matting would provide an alternative location for events.
“We have talked about how we could get some of these events off the Inlet parking lot and use some space that’s not really used for sunbathing and put it in front of the Caroline Street stage,” he said, “getting 30,000 to 50,000 square feet of marsh matting and having it up from the spring to the fall.”
Perlozzo said the proposed project would also align with planned improvements at the Caroline Street building.
“We approved $650,000 in the CIP this year and it’s really going to go toward the restoration of the building,” he said. “But we do need to look at the stage. We need a larger stage if we want to use it properly. It can be portable, it can fold down. There’s a lot of things we want to look at as we go forward.”
Perlozzo noted that he and City Manager Terry McGean had also talked about signage on the Boardwalk. He said one idea is to inventory town signs and create a standardized design.
“If we want to change the crowd, change what we’re doing, we need to visually look at what’s up there …,” he explained. “We can’t put ‘No Vaping’ on every street sign, ‘No Smoking’, ‘No,’ ‘No,’ ‘No.’”
Perlozzo also pitched the idea of placing the town’s smiley face logo on
beach umbrellas and tourism messaging on the beach boxes. He noted, however, that the concept came with challenges, as beach stand franchises are regulated by the mediation board.
“We think there’s some roadblocks or issues that we need to work on,” he said. “The mediation board really controls the beach stand franchises. They are not permitted to have any advertising on their beach umbrellas, period. So we thought we could get them to do our OC smiley face. When they replace their umbrellas, they go with a logoed umbrella … Again we are trying to enforce our messaging. We want to enforce the logo, the carefree atmosphere, the fun vibe, on our beach.”
Perlozzo also presented ideas for improving access to the Sunset Park and convention center piers. He said there were opportunities to support water-based events inside the convention center and expand water taxi services throughout town.
“If we can get some land and water conservation funds, or something else that can potentially fund this, it might be something for us to look at,” he said.
In terms of events, Perlozzo said the town had explored event stacking, which would utilize the same location and infrastructure for multiple festiv-
ities. He said the town could move the Professional Bull Riding series to the weekend before Springfest and use the stadium for both events. Or the town could pair events.
“Winefest takes up a third of the Inlet parking lot,” he said. “I thought why couldn’t ArtX and Winefest do something together? We make it a bigger and better event.”
Lastly, Perlozzo presented ideas for new events and additions to Winterfest of Lights. He said town had talked of partnering with Trimper’s Rides to bring amusement rides to Winterfest. He added that there were also discussions of adding ice carvings, sand sculptures and horse-andbuggy rides to the winter event.
“For Mondays and Tuesdays, we’re closed during several weeks prior to the kids being off,” he told the commission. “I thought let’s do some sort of romantic evening, where you make a reservation for a horse-and-buggy ride. It can also be for families and kids.”
Simply put, Perlozzo said the ideas presented to the commission were just that – ideas – and that further discussion was needed before anything could move forward.
“All of these are within our reach,” he said. “It’s just how much do we want to bite off or we can bite off.”
(April 19, 2024) Worcester County Public Schools highlights new creative programs to enhance the quality of education students receive and welcomes a new snow day policy for the 2024-25 academic calendar.
At the April 16 meeting of the Worcester County Board of Education, Showell Elementary School Principal Ryan Cowder was joined by Curriculum Resource Teacher Lindsay Dyda and Educational Assistant Keri Payne to present their makerspace.
The SES makerspace, Worcester County Public School’s only specialarea class of this type, provides students with the tools to think outside the box. Payne, currently finishing her teaching degree, is the course’s sole instructor.
“Makerspace provides students an opportunity to think critically, ask questions, and solve problems,” she said. “The students work hard, stay positive, and persevere. Makerspace also provides a space for teamwork and collaboration.”
According to the mentor, the class is less controlled than a traditional science or English lesson. To promote
imagination, the students have read books like “If I Built a Car,” “Be a Maker,” “The Dot,” and “Have Fun Molly Lou Melon” and been introduced to electrical energy via snap circuits. The kids have also learned new vocabulary, how to read and write code, and elements of the engineering design process.
Cowder maintains that the class has seen immense success. “The kids truly have an unbelievable experience in our maker space,” he said. “I knew it very quickly, based on the first parent-teacher conference when, as the parents were showing up to talk to their teacher, they said, ‘Mr. Cowder, can you show us where your makerspace is? The kids come home and talk about what they’re doing in the classroom, that class particularly, all the time.’ Payne goes above and beyond daily to make the class enjoyable for the students.”
Dyda said the program, which received funding from the Worcester County Education Foundation this year, is based on expanding lessons they have in other classes, like science. Payne sees kindergarten and first-graders twice a week and the older students once a week.
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If the Worcester County Commissioner majority intended to justify another flat budget for the public school system this year by continuing to paint the school board as irresponsible, that tactic doesn’t seem to be gaining much traction.
Despite some commissioners’ continued protestations about the way the board of education constructs its budget, along with (false) charges from other county agencies that school crime is running amok, public sentiment in favor of the schools appears to be on the rise.
Sunday’s pro-schools rally on the Ocean City Boardwalk drew somewhere around 400 people calling for full funding of the board of education’s FY 24/25 budget instead of the legal minimum it gave the schools for the current fiscal year.
Although 400 people does not a huge voting bloc make, it’s still a head-swiveling turnout for any political protest in this county given the disparate nature of its populations from the oceanside down to the Virginia line along Route 13.
Add to that the springtime bloom of “Support Public Education” signs throughout the county and the possibility of more endorsements of full funding for schools, and reelection-minded commissioners might start to worry.
Last year, the commissioners got away with what’s called “maintenance of effort funding” by encouraging the belief that the school board was hiding money everywhere.
They tried again this year by suggesting that private money contributed to the schools for specific charitable uses constituted some kind of secret slush fund. Not true, considering that groups and organizations routinely give money and items of value to government-run libraries, law enforcement, fire departments and even the military without question.
If the members of the commissioner majority expected that their blunt instrument approach to school budgeting would result in growing support, it looks as if they miscalculated. Consequently, they might want to tread more carefully in the final weeks of this budgeting season.
You like tomato, I like tomahto ... potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto.
— George and Ira Gershwin
By Stewart Dobson
You never even called me by my name.
— David Allan Coe
Some people call me the gangster of love; some people call me Maurice.
— Steve Miller Band, Shirley, Shirley Bo-berley/ Bo-na-na fanna Fo-ferley/ Fee-fi-mo-mer-ley/ Shirley! — Shirley Ellis
I like Fourth Street; You like Third Street. — Me
Or, like the Gershwins suggested in their 1937 song mentioned above, let’s call the whole thing off, because the business of naming the new park between — hold on — GPS coordinates 38 degrees, 20 feet, 8.6496 inches north and 75 degrees, 5 feet, 11.9472 inches west has become far too confusing (go ahead, look it up).
Apparently, many people have been calling this spot the Third Street park for generations. I, along with many other right-thinking people, have called it the Fourth Street park, or, more specifically the Fourth Street ballfield.
That’s probably because I haven’t used any of the park’s other features, since I’m worse at basketball than I am at carpentry, which is saying something.
I’ve also never been on a skateboard because I’ve always been a little off-balance anyway (or so some people have told me).
Of course, anyone with any sense of direction can see why there’s so much debate about the park’s correct location — the skate park is on 3rd Street and the basketball courts were on 4th Street, with the ballfield was situated between both on St. Louis.
That has left the mayor and City Council of Ocean City in a quandary about what the park’s formal name should be, Third Street or Fourth Street, or something more brochureworthy, such as — and this is just an idea — the Awesomely Astonishing Arena of American Athleticism on the Avenue of St. Louis.
The St. Louis could be silent, if so desired.
But considering that the only thing in Ocean City that isn’t for sale apparently is the ocean view, I’m surprised the pitch hasn’t been made to solve this dilemma by selling a park sponsorship with naming rights.
I mean, who wouldn’t want to visit “Free Hermit Crab With Every Purchase Memorial Park?”
There are others just as good, too, including the city’s own promotion of this year’s 60th anniversary of the Boardwalk trams. Doesn’t “Wham Bam Thank You, Trams Park” have a nice ring to it?
They could go bigger, of course, and pick a national sponsor such as Capital One, which would allow us to say, “What’s in Your Wallet (because we want it all)?”
Those are just ballpark suggestions and not necessarily an endorsement of anything in particular.
Soon enough, though, someone with something good will come forth. Or fourth. Or maybe third.
Even the most ardent of education supporters showed the stink eye this week to a fundraising campaign to pay for three high school graduations. As soon as the “Help Save Worcester Graduations” effort, organized by the Worcester County Education Foundation, was announced on Facebook, the questions started as to why $80,000 was needed about two months before the graduations were to be held. It was disclosed the “countless cuts” to the school budget evidently resulted in the outdoor graduations being unfunded.
Many Decatur senior parents were worried and confused this week, as they have ordered invitations for the graduation planned for the stadium as in recent years. The school’s website says the graduation will be held in the stadium. One parent asked, “Does this mean if the community does not raise $80,000 there will be no graduations?” There’s also bewilderment over graduations for three high schools and about 400 students costing so much money. It’s an unfortunate situation for these parents, as they already are deep in their emotions about having a kid about to graduate and have anxiety about all the matters connected to that reality.
The Facebook post announcing the campaign from the foundation read, “WCEF is rallying the community to raise funds for Worcester County Public Schools to restore outdoor graduations for the Class of 2024. Please help us give our 2024 graduates the outdoor graduation they deserve!”
The confusion led to the fundraising campaign stumbling out of the gate, raising just $40 in three days on the gofundme page but further donations could have been mailed in. It’s clear the effort’s goal of hitting $80,000 is doubtful at best. The education foundation released a statement Wednesday attempting to clarify the situation after hearing concerns. While it's clear the foundation has the best intentions, the timing of the entire effort is problematic. Decatur’s graduation is planned for May 29, for example. It’s wrong to expect the community to fund high school graduation ceremonies, especially without knowing the specifics of the expenses.
The foundation’s clarifying statement issued two days after the campaign was announced read, “It is our understanding that Worcester County’s high schools are moving forward with plans for outdoor graduations as in immediate years past, but the school system is actively seeking funding to cover the cost of these celebrations as a result of current year budgetary cuts. As the Foundation is committed to connecting donors with school system initiatives they feel passionate about, we launched a fundraising campaign: “Help Save Worcester Graduations.” The campaign was designed to give our community members, many of whom want to help support the Class of 2024, an avenue to directly support this effort. We recognize that the announcement of this campaign has been a source of confusion. To be clear, while funding graduation ceremonies does not fall under our mission, the Foundation already has the infrastructure in place to facilitate this fundraising campaign, which is what the Foundation Board agreed to do.”
It's fun to think big, and there are a few exercises in outside-the-box thinking currently taking place in the area.
In Berlin, a group of citizens are brainstorming ideas and concepts to include in a proposed new community center on Flower Street. This has been a goal for Berlin for decades, and partnerships are currently being explored to make it a reality. Last week a brainstorming session was held as far as what amenities need to be included in a community center. Some of the ideas discussed included a pool, indoor recreation space, resources to help with recovery, general community space for historic memorabilia, fields for community use and mental wellness options.
In Ocean City this week, the tourism folks have been doing some dreaming of their own. Some results of the brainstorming including uplighting of the Routes 50 and 90 bridges, creating a new venue in front of the Caroline Street comfort station with marsh matting, improvements in Boardwalk signage away from the current “no” this and that messaging, standardizing rented beach umbrellas with the smiley face logo and adding amusements at Winterfest of Lights, among others. All these ideas are purely conceptual at this point with no funding secured. It was reporting the potential uplighting could cost anywhere between $300,000 and $5 million, but again more research would be needed. A quick internet search of bridge uplighting will show some examples of what’s intended with the concept.
Continued from Page 85
“Watching this program, Leonardo da Vinci is up there going, ‘I wish this had been started earlier.’ Because da Vinci was such a genius in art, science, math, and inventions, and things like this, I applaud you,” Board member Bill Buchanan noted to the Showell presenters.
Additionally, WCPS was awarded a $500,000 Career and Technical Education Innovation grant to create a new Digital Music and Video Production program at Worcester Technical High School.
“The DMVP program is designed to equip students with marketable skills including digital music theory, recording techniques, sound design, multi-camera and script-based editing, audio mixing, motion tracking and stabilization, and more,” a press release issued by WCPS Coordinator of Public Relations and Special Programs Carrie Sterrs said.
The grant will provide supplies, professional equipment, software, and contracted services to create a creative classroom and recording studio.
"This grant will enable us to provide interested IMP students with cutting-edge digital arts education that aligns with the demands of the modern music and video industry,” Dr. Brian Phillips, WCPS Career and Technology Education Coordinator, said.
At the April 16 meeting, Sterrs discussed the new snow day policy for
the school system. Because of Senate Bill 610, Primary and Secondary Education- Virtual Education, local boards can now authorize the Superintendent of Schools to provide online instruction days for inclement weather.
Superintendent Lou Taylor and his team have decided that Worcester County will receive three snow days annually. Once these are exhausted, instruction will be moved to virtual platforms to avoid extending the school year.
WCPS Chief Operations and Academic Officer Annette Wallace maintained that a silver lining from the COVID-19 school closures was the ability to conduct education online.
“If you spoke to any person who works in a school and any child, they would love to finish school before June first,” she said. “Our assessments are finished, and June is challenging. A lesson from the pandemic is that we can pivot to virtual learning, which is more productive than keeping students in school until June 27.”
“The kid comes out in me because there was nothing more exciting than getting that first snow day,” Taylor added. “We give them a taste of that with three, and then we pick up from there … June is a rough month in schools because everyone is ready to go. We live in a resort area, and high school kids want to get to work, so I think it works well together.”
Early bookings for summer months look flat, but not concerning to city officials
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor(April 19, 2024) Reservations are down this coming summer season but officials report a significant uptick in fall activity related to two major music festivals.
Representatives from Zartico, a software company used by the Town of Ocean City to track lodging, spending and other destination performance measures, came before the resort’s tourism commission on Tuesday to provide metrics for 2023 and 2024. While the resort recorded increases in room rates, occupancy and length of stay during fall music festival weekends, summer reservations are down and revenues are flat.
“Historically, I think things look flat this time every year,” said Tourism and Business Development Director Tom Perlozzo. “June, July and August are our heavy months for advertising and promotions, and I think in another month or month and a half, we can get worried. But I don’t see it being the case right now.”
Zartico’s Bill Obreiter told commission members Tuesday that the resort reported year-over-year growth during Oceans Calling weekend. He noted that room rates and occupancy jumped in 2023 and revenues nearly tripled.
Looking ahead to this year’s Oceans Calling and Country Calling festivals, Obreiter said room rates, as well as the number of reservations, have increased. As of April 16, projected occupancy rates were up 22%.
“So people are booking further in advance for these events,” he said.
“It’s a major draw.”
a lot of weekends last year were rained out and people were holding back from those bookings,” he explained.
Breaking down month-by-month data, Obreiter said June performance metrics were flat but that average daily room rates had increased for Air Show weekend in August. He added that performance metrics for July and August were also down.
‘As you get later into the year, in July, you will see July is still struggling from a revenue standpoint. Average daily rate is flat for hotels and up a little for rentals. Into August, all the numbers are struggling. You moved the Air Show, so that will help you in the back half when kids go back to school.’
Bill Obreiter, Zartico RepresentativeLooking at the coming summer season, Obreiter said vacation rentals were performing at the same rate but that hotel reservations were down, particularly in the early summer months.
“From last year, especially in the first part of the summer, I think you’re in a difficult position because
“As you get later into the year, in July, you will see July is still struggling from a revenue standpoint.
Average daily rate is flat for hotels and up a little for rentals,” he said. “Into August, all the numbers are struggling. You moved the Air Show, so that will help you in the back half when kids go back to school.”
While the resort is projecting significant growth in reservations, daily rates and revenues this fall, Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Associ-
ation Executive Director Susan Jones said was concerned about the summer season.
“I know the intent is to grow the shoulder season,” she told the commission. “But the profitability, for the hotels at least, is June, July and August because the rate is more. So we still need to be cognizant of protecting June, July and August.”
Perlozzo said he anticipates bookings and revenues to increase as the weather warms and people start thinking about summer vacations. Obreiter added that discretionary spending tends to decrease in election years.
“But we’re going to be building out a competitive analysis to take a look at Ocean City versus Virginia Beach, Sussex County, Delaware, the Jersey Shore, to see if they are seeing the same apprehension …,” he told the commission. “We see this all the time in presidential elections.”
On a more positive note, Obreiter said the town reported a strong March, with average daily rates, occupancy and guest nights increasing during St. Patrick’s Day weekend. He added that hotel revenues are projected to increase 7% this year.
“That’s directly tied to taxable revenue for the city and county,” he said.
This week, 80 years ago, the Fifteenth Imperial Japanese Army, under the command of Lt. Gen. Renya Mutaguchi, was assaulting the Indian city of Imphal as part of Operation U-GO — the Japanese Invasion of India.
Gen. Mutaguchi’s army consisted of the 15th, 31st and 33rd Infantry Divisions, commanded by Masafumi Yamauchi, K toku Sat and Motoso Yanakida, supported by the 1st Division of the Indian National Army, commanded by Mohammed Zaman Kiyani. The Indian National Army fought with the Japanese and was formed to support the Indian independence movement headed by Subhas Chandra Bose.
The 15th and 33rd Infantry Divisions were tasked with capturing Imphal, which is located 70 miles west of the Burmese border. Today, Imphal has a population of 265,000, and is located on a plain, surrounded by jungle-covered mountains, and is the capital of the Indian state of Manipur.
Manipur is bounded by Burma on the east and the Indian state of Assam on the west. Imphal was important because it was a transportation hub. Running 130 miles north to the supply base at Dimapur was the best road. Today, Dimapur has a population of 122,000.
Another road connected Imphal to Tiddim (“Tedim”), 164 miles to the southwest in Burma. By this time, the British had built six airstrips at Imphal.
Gen. Sat ’s 31st Infantry Division was ordered to capture Kohima, which would isolate Imphal from its supply source. Kohima was an important link in the road to Dimapur, which was the eastern terminus of
the railroad supplying Manipur and the planes flying the “Hump” into China. Today it has a population of 106,000.
Gen. Mutaguchi was so confident that Imphal would fall in 10 days that he provided his troops with only 20 days’ rations. Gen. Mutaguchi had no regard for the British and Indian troops, and little regard for the welfare of his own.
The British Fourteenth Army, commanded by Lt. Gen. William Slim, was tasked with defending the Burma/India Border. Imphal was held by the IV Corps, commanded by Lt. Gen. Geoffrey Scoones. Gen. Scoones’ IV Corps consisted of the 17th, 20th and 23rd Indian Infantry Divisions, commanded by Maj. Gens. David Tennent Cowan, Douglas Gracey and Ouvry Roberts.
All of the Allied divisions were under strength, although each had at least one brigade of Gurkhas. It was once said, “If a man said he was not afraid to die, he was either lying or he was a Gurkha.”
Japanese forces crossed the Chindwin River on March 8, 1944. At that point, the river runs roughly parallel with the Burma/Indian border on the Burma side. After crossing the river, the Japanese then had to cross mountain ranges to the river’s west.
Within a few weeks, the Commonwealth forces were falling back to Imphal as planned. The idea was to lure the Japanese from their base, as it would be almost impossible for them to supply themselves because of the distance and terrain. Gen. Scoones ordered his soldiers to withdraw to Imphal on March 13. Gen. Cowan’s 17th Division withdrew from Tiddam and arrived at Imphal on April 4.
In the meantime, Gen. Slim had sent 12,000 of Ord Wingate’s Long Range Penetration Group — the
“Chindits” — into the Burmese jungle, behind Japanese lines. Their mission was to interdict Japanese lines of communication, distract the enemy and generally raise hell and cause confusion in the Japanese rear.
Meanwhile, the 5th Indian Infantry Division, commanded by Harold R. Briggs, was airlifted into Imphal. Adm. Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia Command, commandeered transport planes from flying “The Hump” to deliver the complete division, including its equipment and transport, from Arakan to Imphal.
This was one of the few Allied divisions to have fought the Italians (in East and North Africa), the Germans (in North Africa) and the Japanese (in Burma & India). Returning to Imphal in a B-25 Mitchell Bomber piloted by Lt. Brian Hodges of the USAAF, Chindit leader Orde Wingate was killed when the bomber crashed in the mountains near Imphal on March 25. Reflective of the opinion of many was Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery’s comment, “... that the best thing he ever did was get killed in a plane crash....”
Gen. Mutaguchi visited the front in Gen. Yanakida’s sector, on April 22.
Continued on Page 90
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He brought with him 20 geisha girls, whom he intended to install at his new headquarters in Imphal. Since his new headquarters were not immediately “available,” he dismissed Gen. Yanakida, and replaced him with Maj. Gen. Nobuo Tanaka. On departing, Gen. Yanakida told his successor, “It’s all hopeless.”
In addition to the lack of food, the Japanese suffered other deficiencies. Because Gen. Mutaguchi had ordered them to travel light, they had no heavy artillery, armor or antitank guns with which to counter the Allied artillery and tanks. On top of that, the RAF and USAAF had complete dominance of the air.
This contributed mightily to the Allied victory, as 19,000 tons of supplies and 12,000 men were flown into Kohima and Imphal, and 13,000 casualties and 43,000 noncombatants
flown out. The airlifted supplies included a million gallons of fuel, more than a thousand bags of mail and 40 million cigarettes.
Commonwealth soldiers from Imphal met their compatriots from Kohima on the road between the two on June 22.
Gen. Mutaguchi finally conceded failure, when none of his division commanders would obey his orders to attack, and on July 8 ordered his men to retreat back across the Chindwin River. The Japanese losses were devastating. Of the 65,000 soldiers who had crossed the river in March, 50,000 died. Only 600 were taken prisoner. The Japanese also lost 17,000 pack animals, many of which were consumed by the soldiers.
It was the last Axis invasion of Allied territory.
Next week: Battle of Myitkyina
Lee Rogers Morris, grandson of the late Richard and Connie Morris and son of Torey Predeoux, was born on May 3, 1981, in Salisbury, and passed away on April 5, 2024, in Berlin, at the age of 42.
Family and friends will receive visitors 1-3 p.m., April 28, at the Carousel Hotel Ocean City, The Maryland Room,11700 Coastal Highway in Ocean City.
WILLIAM CHARLES "CHARLEY" FRIESEN JR. Berlin
William Charles "Charley" Friesen Jr., of Berlin, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the age of 89, after a brief stay at Delmar Manor
Assisted Living in Delmar.
Charley was born Sept. 22, 1934, in Baltimore, son of the late William C. Friesen Sr. and Genevieve Shirley (Reese) Friesen.
Charles was raised in Arbutus, Maryland, and graduated from Catonsville High School with the class of '52. After serving in the Navy during the Korean Conflict he enjoyed a long and successful career with Koppers Co. and Environmental Elements Corp (industrial gas clean-
ing industries) as senior draftsman and senior quality control engineer. While working at Koppers, he saved a coworker’s life and was given a commendation from the State of Maryland. Charley was also a talented saxophone and clarinet player and played several years with Don Straw’s Orchestra.
Charley was very active in his community. He was a life member of Arbutus Athletic Association, where he coached and refereed baseball, softball, football and basketball, coaching several of his son’s and daughter’s teams.
Additionally, he is a past president of Arbutus Fire Department, which he joined in 1956. Other memberships include American Legion Post 109 in Arbutus, Masonic Order AF&AM Lodge #101 in Elkridge, and Fleet Reserve Association in Annapolis. An avid golfer, he was a past member of the Turf Valley CC and more recently, the Ocean City Golf Club.
Charley and his family moved to Howard County in the mid-1970s, where his children attended Glenwood Middle School and graduated from Glenelg High School. Shortly after, he moved to Catonsville, and around 2002, relocated to Bay Vista in West Ocean City for retirement. Here he enjoyed golfing and tending to lawn and garden … and “crossing
The Bridge” for grandchildren’s games and school events.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Brenda D. (O'Brien) Friesen; son Douglas C. Friesen (Peggy) of Eldersburg; daughter Carol L. Wanamaker (Mark) of Annapolis; and grandchildren Matthew Friesen of Denver Colorado, Abby Noble (Tom Orrell) of San Diego, California, Douglas W. Friesen and Zack G. Friesen of Eldersburg, and Sam R. Wanamaker of Annapolis; greatgrandson, Sylan Friesen of Denver, Colorado; beloved sister-in-law, Michele O’Brien of Emmitsburg; and many additional family members and friends.
No formal services will be held at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department, 5200 Southwestern Blvd, Arbutus, MD 21227, or to a charity of your choice in Charley's honor.
Arrangements are in the care of Short Funeral Home in Delmar. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting shortfh.com.
JAMES BREEZE SKINNER
Ocean City
James Breeze Skinner, 86, of Ocean City, passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at his home.
Born in Washington, D.C. he was the son of the late James Benjamin Skinner and Pearl Ellen (Breeze) Skinner. He was the loving husband of the late Carol (Johnston) Skinner.
James is survived by his daughters: Barbara Andersen and husband Tor, Breezy Kammermeier and husband Richie; and granddaughter Remy Andersen as well as his dog Beanie. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Lorraine Skinner Temple and Norma Jean Skinner Harlan.
Jimmy was a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle. He was a friend to all. He and his family have lived in Ocean City since 1981. Jimmy enjoyed golf, travel, boating and fishing. In his “retirement” years he operated swimming pools, installed and maintained irrigation systems, and was president of the Nassau Village home owners association for many years. A man who never used the word “No,” he was always there to help family and friends.
Cremation followed James’ passing. A visitation is scheduled from 24 p.m., Sunday April 28, at The Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.
Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family via burbagefuneralhome.com.
Nelda Lee Warren Dennis passed away on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury.
Born Oct. 18, 1933, she was the daughter of the late William T. Warren Jr., and Elsie Outten Warren.
Nelda graduated from Buckingham High School in Berlin in 1953. Her first job was working in Newark, for Ralph Mason Feed & Cannery. She was also a poultry grower and worked for Eastern Shore Times & The Style Guide in Berlin. She enjoyed watching the Baltimore Orioles and the Baltimore Ravens. Nelda and her husband enjoyed taking bus trips. She was known for her peanut brittle and baked goods that were on the bake table at Mt. Pleasant Church fried chicken dinners. Her husband, Charles T. Dennis, preceded her in death in 2013. She was also predeceased by two brothers, William Warren III and Ralph Warren; as well as her sister-in-law, Odetta Warren.
She is survived by her son, Wayne Dennis; granddaughters Jennifer Dennis and Logan Dashiell (Ben); step-grandsons Kevin Gravenor (Catie), and Kayden Woods; greatgrandchild Barrett Dashiell; and sister-in-law Mildred Warren; along with many cousins, nieces, and nephews. In addition to her family,
she leaves behind her nine cats and her beloved dog.
A funeral service will be held at noon, Monday, April 22, at The Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. A visitation will be held one hour prior from 11 a.m. to noon. Rev. Paul Sherwood and Pastor Howard Travers will officiate. Interment will be at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Willards.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Nelda Lee Warren Dennis to Coastal Hospice P.O. Box 1733 Salisbury, MD 21802, or Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Fund c/o Heather Dennis 36508 Mt. Pleasant Road Willards, MD 21874.
Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in care of The Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.
DAVID JOSEPH BRAND
Berlin
David J. Brand, 65, of Berlin, passed away peacefully Wednesday April 3, 2024.
Born and raised in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania, he was the son of Joseph and Virginia Brand. He was the loving husband of Jeanette Morales-Brand for 33 years.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter Gabriella and husband Alexander Greco, and granddaughter Ava of Minot, North Dakota; and son Christian Brand and partner Christy Umberger of Fort Collins, Colorado. He is preceded in death by his father, Joseph; and is survived by his mother, Virginia; brother Joseph M.
and wife Virginia in Green Bay, Wisconsin; and sister Marie Maass in Palo Alto, California, along with their respective families.
David, as a captain in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1983, started his military career as an ROTC scholarship recipient to Susquehanna University majoring in geology. Among his many accomplishments as an officer, he received the Army Commendation Medal as a first lieutenant and was a combat engineer at Airborne and Bandit at Europe District where he served the Army honorably and dutifully from 1980-85. Following his service, he received his MBA at Boston University and pursued his career as a construction project manager and later obtained his master’s degree in environmental pollution control from Pennsylvania State University.
In his pursuit of an alternate career path, David found his calling in the health sciences, specifically in nursing where he received his BSN degree and later his certification as a certified rehabilitation registered nurse. He was last employed as an RN for Deer’s Head Hospital Center in Salisbury.
David will be fondly remembered for his quick wit, unique sense of humor, loyalty to those closest to him, unparalleled work ethic, and persistent determination to overcome various life obstacles that he faced. He was also an avid golfer, passionate fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and a devotee of the culinary arts. Services are to be announced at later date. Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Condolences may be shared with the family via burbagefuneralhome.com.
A festive parade kicked off another Berlin Little League season last Saturday with players, coaches and parents walking from the Berlin Fire Company to the complex at the south end of town. Following the parade, opening ceremonies were held before the first games of the season were played.
Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity lacrosse team held its Morgan’s Message dedication game at home on Tuesday. Morgan was a Division I lacrosse player for Duke University who died by suicide in 2019. Her family has created a foundation called Morgan’s Message devoted to mental wellness for highperformance athletes. Prior to the game, a video was shown featuring Morgan’s family as well as Decatur players providing mental health statements. The teams are pictured during the video presentation before the game. Decatur won both the junior varsity and varsity girls games in dramatic fashion over Queen Anne’s. The JV game was decided in the final minute by a goal from freshman Betsey Mihaly. In the varsity game, the Seahawks won 10-7. The game was tied 7-7 late in the final frame before Decatur got hot, scoring three goals in a couple minutes.
Before the wind started blowing last weekend, Captain Kane Bounds and his crew on Fish Bound saw some good tautog fishing. Most all trips aboard the Fish Bound have ended with a limit with the largest fish tipping out at 14 pounds, including these beauties.
(April 19, 2024) We recently had quite an interesting week which featured a solar eclipse and two days of sizable, formidable waves. It occurred to me that this solar eclipse might have some effect on the surf.
Upon doing a bit of research I found that no, the solar eclipse had no effect on the surf. But this thought and research did bring up another factor, which is that of gravity and how it affects tides. The surf, as most of us who are interested know, can be and generally is affected
by the tide.
The tide is produced by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun. Yes, the sun’s gravity does play a part, though it’s far less than the moon’s part. Even though the sun is about 27 million times larger than the moon, its effect is much less because it’s so much farther away from the Earth. Thus the moon becomes the main factor.
A little bit of research can lead to more research and hopefully lead to useful knowledge. At any rate, the solar eclipse didn’t have an effect on the surf, though it was quite an event that attracted the attention of a lot of people, from Mexico, the United States, and Canada. It was nice to see so many people come together in a fa-
vorable way, especially with so much division happening as of late.
The tides, by the way, occur roughly four times in a 24-hour period, two low tides and two high tides, about six hours apart, and as was said can have a great effect on the surf conditions.
Getting back to this interesting week there were two days with significant surf. Friday showed a favorably angled south swell with the largest waves in the head high to maybe overhead category. This southerly swell produced by strong southerly winds had just enough west in it to provide clean surface conditions. So often, when we are blessed with a sizable swell the waves will tend to close-out and not offer much of a
wave face to ride. Fortunately, on this day the swell did have that nice favorable angle.
On the following day, the swell was still showing, although it was coming more straight onto the beach. The power and clean westerly winds were present, though the waves produced more of a challenge in this straighton fashion.
So there you have it, a little look at a week in the transitional month of April. Things are warming up. Pretty soon, if not already, gloves, boots and the hood or cap won’t be needed, though the full suit will still be necessary in order to keep your body warm.
Keep an eye on the surf. Good conditions can happen at any time.
