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JULY 4, 2014
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
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Tensions rise over house rentals to disorderly tenants Some resort realtors feeling homeowners’ resentment
OCEAN CITY TODAY/LISA CAPITELLI
Nolan Munroe of Rindge, NH, shows off his skills during the Ocean City Dew Tour Beach Championships Skate Bowl semifinals last Thursday. The Dew Tour Beach Championships took place June 25-29, in the resort.
Dew Tour skates, rides to success Another attendance record set with over 105,000 in stands for competitions
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By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (July 4, 2014) The Dew Tour saw another record-breaking year in Ocean City as an estimated 105,000 guests visited the Beach Championships, June 25-29. “They had terrific crowds and the weather couldn’t have been better. People of all ages were there enjoying being outside and being at the Dew Tour…The Dew Tour has become a signature event for Ocean City,” said Mayor Rick Meehan, who attended competitions including Skate Bowl and Skate Vert. “The Dew Tour is
great for Ocean City…The Dew Tour and Ocean City were made for each other.” Added Alli Sports President, Eric Grilly, “We could not have asked for a better event than this year’s Dew Tour Beach Championships. From the kick-off with Ocean City Mayor Richard W. Meehan to setting a new record with 105,000 people experiencing the Dew Tour, the hospitality and enthusiasm of Ocean City truly helped make the event a success.” Jessica Waters, communications manager for the town, said each year the Dew Tour provides a very special experience for Ocean City, and viceversa. “We are a great team because we have the picturesque setting and the outstanding guests and they provide
the ‘experience’ and the athletes,” she said. “It’s a winning combination and this year was definitely no exception to the ‘magic’ of the Beach Championships in Ocean City.” This was the fourth year Dew Tour hosted competitions in the resort. During its Ocean City debut in 2011, the Pantech Open set a Dew Tour attendance record by drawing approximately 73,000 fans during its four-day run in the resort, July 2124–its first beachfront venue. That record was broken in 2012 as an estimated 93,000 spectators came out to the beach for the Dew Tour Pantech Beach Championships, Aug. 16-19. The Dew Tour, with its world-class athletes, returned to Ocean City for the third year in 2013, and again, a See DEW Page 8
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By Zack Hoopes Staff Writer (July 4, 2014) As summer wears on, issues surrounding the rental and overcrowding of nominally singlefamily homes appear to be getting even more heated for all parties involved. So much so, that the rental agency at the eye of the initial complaint is referring all inquiries to its lawyer. “It’s become very, very controversial,” said a representative from Central Reservations. Attorney Randy Coates did not respond as of press time. However, it appears that some realtors and rental agents in the resort are catching a backlash from the owners of the homes, who claim that they were never made fully aware of the zoning restrictions involved with their properties – and that rental brokers have turned a blind eye as long as the money is right. “I feel totally duped in this whole thing,” said homeowner Lisa Gorman. “I’ve said to my agent, ‘call these people [renters], if they’re not families they can’t be here.’ But they’re not interested in vetting them as long as they pay.” For many years, Ocean City has seen properties in neighborhoods of single-family homes being purchased and used for weekly vacationers – often dozens at a time in some larger homes. Given that many long-time resident owners are used to a quiet neighborhood, complaints about noise, trash, and other rude behavior by tourists abound. “It’s often the natural progression for real estate,” noted Sheila Dodson, Executive Director of the Coastal Association of Realtors. “What we see in Ocean City mimics what we saw in Wicomico County and Salisbury with the college encroaching into neighborhoods.” See TENSIONS Page 6
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