OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
JULY 17, 2020
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Ocean City convention center to host first event – a dance competition – since covid-19 shutdown in mid-March – Page 8
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Restaurants serve safety by closing Testing done after staffers show positive for covid-19
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY
STORM WATCH Visitors to Northside Park on 125th Street enjoy the sunset last Saturday evening, while also watching as a rainband works its way across the bay. Shortly after this photo was taken, rain began to fall in Ocean City.
Council says no trams, and that’s final By Josh Kim Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) The Ocean City Council voted on Tuesday to not operate the resort’s tram services this summer, but to extend its tram and bus advertising contract with Vector
Media. The driving points for the tram decision were social distancing and crowding, employee-customer interaction, reduced ridership, public image and, perhaps most prevalent, mask and spacing enforcement.
“I’m generally in favor of the trams,” Councilman John Gehrig said, noting that trams were amusements in nature. “... It becomes a matter of how we enforce the rules, particularly spacing and enforcement of wearing See TRAMS Page 5
By Elizabeth Bonin and Josh Kim Staff Writers (July 17, 2020) Exercising an abundance of caution, numerous restaurants shut down over the last two weeks after several saw staff members test positive for covid-19. The string of closures began last week on Tuesday, when Longboard Café on 67th Street announced on Facebook that a staff member out on vacation had tested positive for the virus. “We had an employee go out of town to Baltimore and they were in a large family gathering, came back and were not feeling well, so we had them stay out of work,” Longboard General Manager Shana Meyers said. The staff member never entered the restaurant, but Meyers said management and the owner chose to close the establishment anyway to sanitize and test all employees. “None of our employees at that point were exhibiting any symptoms or were feeling ill in any way, but just to be on the safe side not only for our staff, but also for the public as well, we decided to close,” she said. See ABUNDANCE Page 2
Schools outline options on how to proceed in September Plan for Sept. 8 opening will be decided in next board of ed session By Ally Lanasa Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) The Worcester
County Board of Education on Tuesday agreed to keep its options open as it approaches the Sept. 8 beginning of the school year. A draft of its recovery plan, “Responsible Return,” explores three methods of instructional delivery. According to the presentation by
Dr. Dwayne Abt, Dr. Annette Wallace, Denise Shorts and Carrie Sterrs, the recovery model addresses five areas: operations and safety, instructional program, distance learning, communication and stakeholder feedback. Wallace, the chief operating and academic officer (grades 9-12), presented
the three optional methods of instructional delivery for the year with the anticipation of continued public health restrictions. Ideally, educators would prefer to return to face-to-face learning with safety precautions made to the classSee SCHOOLS Page 7
Ocean City Today
PAGE 2
JULY 17, 2020
Abundance of caution leads to closings lishments temporarily. Hammerheads Bar and Grill on the Boardwalk, which had closed on Tuesday to give its employees some R&R, posted on Facebook the next day that it would be closed until further notice after a staff member had symptoms not attributable to fatigue. Longboard Café has since reopened, while Dry Dock 28 and Buxy’s Salty Dog Saloon announced it would reopen July 23 — all others have either not indicated a specific reopening date or are waiting on testing and cleaning to be complete. In a Facebook post, Fish Tales said it believed staff members were setting a positive example. “We will be meeting with health officials to go over the safest procedures to ELIZABETH BONIN/OCEAN CITY TODAY make sure all Longboard Café on 67th Street was the first restaurant last week to an- of our staff nounce a temporary closure after a staff member tested positive for covid- has been 19, despite the fact that the employee had not been in the establishment tested and for some time. It has since reopened. cleared to
Continued from Page 1 Since then, Meyers said, all employees must get tested every week. Like dominoes falling one after another, Purple Moose Saloon off Talbot Street, Dry Dock 28 on 27th Street, Buxy’s Salty Dog Saloon on 28th Street, Fish Tales on 22nd Street, BLU Crabhouse and Raw Bar on 23rd Street, Shenanigan’s Irish Pub on Fourth Street and the Boardwalk and Phillips Crab House on 20th Street, announced that they too had staff members test positive for covid-19, and would close their estab-
work,” a statement from the restaurant said. “We are so grateful for the outpouring love and support we have received from our staff and customers during these trying months.” According to Travis Brown, Worcester County Health Department public information officer, the majority of the closures were selfprompted. “With regard to those establishments who have decided to close due to an abundance of caution, we applaud them for their efforts and are working closely with them to keep their employees and the public healthy,” Brown said. However, Brown said the health department received 100 complaints within the last two weeks — all of which have been or currently are being investigated — and issued a notice of closure for one for, “Staff not wearing masks and improper social distancing,” Brown said. Although Brown did not name the establishment, the Crabcake Factory on 120th Street confirmed on its Facebook page that it had been the restaurant in question. The restaurant stated on Facebook that no employees had tested positive for the virus, and that it has been cleared to reopen as of Tuesday. Other restaurants chose to close to
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sanitize and give employees a day off, even though they had no positive covid-19 cases. Anna Bushnell Dolle, owner of Dolle’s Candyland, said she temporarily closed the locations in Chincoteague and the Boardwalk due to a couple of belligerent customers who did not want to follow the state safety guidelines. “We have employees that have family members that are immunocompromised and have health issues,” Bushnell said. “It’s just a matter of, ‘Hey, wear the mask over your nose and over your mouth,’ and when they come in with a tank top over their ears with it hanging below their chin, that’s not a mask and it’s not helping anybody.” The Boardwalk store was only closed on Monday to allow for two sanitizing companies to clean and to give employees a break. Bushnell said most of the customers follow the guidelines and that Candyland has alternate ways to bring products to customers. “I don’t want to sound like I’m all negative, because 90 percent of it is wonderful,” Bushnell said. “We are very fortunate to be able to continue our tradition this year.” Several establishments have employed the services of local disaster cleanup and remediation company Royal Plus for sanitation efforts. Mother’s Cantina on 28th Street posted a video on Facebook of a new decontamination spray, à la Royal Plus, it will use between seatings and bathroom uses. Pit-n-Pub on 28th street announced on Tuesday that it would temporary close to get all staff tested for covid-19 as a precautionary measure as nobody has tested positive. It will re-open when results are in. The closures have generated a slew of reactions, mostly positive, some negative, as city officials and business leaders praised the restaurants for See HONESTY Page 4
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ELIZABETH BONIN/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Fish Tales on 22nd Street was one of several restaurants and bars that closed in the past two weeks, due to employees testing positive for covid-19.
Ocean City Today
JULY 17, 2020
PAGE 3
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4 CLUBHOUSE DRIVE • OCEAN PINES - NOW $1,229,000
12973 INLET ISLE LANE • OCEAN CITY - $1,399,000
30557 N. MAGNOLIA CROSSING • SELBYVILLE, DE - $924,900
30542 N MAGNOLIA CROSSING • SELBYVILLE - $999,999
6BR/6.5BA 5000 sq. ft. with 150 feet of bulk head. 2 boat lifts & 2 Jetski lifts. Open floor plan, HW floors, cathedral ceilings. Kitchen W/center island, stainless appliances, tile backsplash, custom cabinets, walk in pantry and breakfast area. Off the great room is deck leading to patio. Double sided gas FP. 1st floor master W/FP, and sitting room master bath W/jacuzzi tub, rain shower and double vanities. Garage w/mud room and guest quarters. Office work space, loft area, & multiple waterfront balconies. MLS MDWO108920
5BR/4.5BA in the Estates of Inlet Isle. Deep water access with room for 42ft boat. Desiger decorated and being sold fully furnished, Professional kitchen w/stainless appliances, tile backsplash, quartz counters, & upgraded lighting and breakfast bar. Great room with fireplace and custom waterfall. Cocktail and wine cooler, waterfront deck overlooking OC skyline. Master BR/BA on main level. Additional In-law suite on main level. Multple decks and screened porch. Garage, sprinkler system, elevator, upgraded lighting & ceiling fans, & custom tile work. MLS MDW0111488
5BR/4.5BA Catalina model built by Schell Brothers Luxury Home Builders. Chef’s kitchen w/granite countertops, breakfast bar, SS appliances, walk-in panty, custom cabinets & upgraded light. Dining area & oversized family room flows off kitchen overlooks golf course. Screened in porch. Spacious master suite wi/large deck overlooking the golf course. Elevator, 2 car garage. On one of the premier lots backing to golf course. Now is the perfect time to buy into the most comprehensive resort community in the Delaware Beach region. Easy access to 1st-class amenities including 18-hole Jack Nicklaus golf course, restaurants, pools, splash zones, hot tub, fitness center, clubhouse, beach shuttle, dog park, tennis & more. MLS DESU161552
4BR/3.5 BA located in Bayside! Professionally landscaped grounds. Open floor plan. Chef's kitchen w/granite countertops, breakfast bar, high end SS appliances, walk-in pantry, custom cabinets & upgraded lighting. Dining area flows off kitchen. Stone fireplace. Covered porch w/large dining area & custom grill w/granite countertops. Spacious master bedroom w/his & hers closets and upgraded custom bath. 3 car garage w/custom finishes & lots of storage space. MLSDESU162322
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UNIT 109 • OCEAN CITY - $359,900
8 INLET ISLE LN #8 OCEAN CITY - $3,499,000
12 DOVE LN • OCEAN PINES - $429,900
11000 COASTAL HWY #603 - $379,900
If you are looking for a slice of paradise look no further. Beautiful and affordable 3BR/2BA home situated on the water with dock on wide canal. Home shows pride of ownership and has upgrades throughout. The chef in your family will love the gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite counters, custom backsplash & cabinets plus breakfast bar. Open floor plan, kitchen flows into dining area and family room, perfect for entertaining. Large master bedroom with full bath, 2 additional BRs and another full bath. The outdoor space is fabulous for barbecues and crab feasts, and there is a fire pit for the Fall. You will love the 9ft x 45ft. sunroom, currently set up with bar and craft room facing the water. Full garage with storage galore and lots of room in the driveway to park. This is an affordable home on the water in a terrific community. Come take a look today before it’s sold. MLS MDWO114770
Stunning 2BR/2BA condo hits the market! This spacious condo has been upgraded throughout. Open floor plan and upgraded flooring. Kitchen will delight the chef in your family with granite counters, tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances. Dining area off the kitchen makes a great place to enjoy family dinners. The family room is perfect for entertaining with a deck off the family room. Master bedroom is very large and has upgraded bath. Second BR is large as well and second bath has been upgraded. Southern exposure with panoramic views of Ocean, Bay and Ocean City. Sold turnkey fully furnished. Amenities offer something for everyone, with pool, tennis, game room, sauna, fitness center, basketball and dog walking area! This would make a great second home or rental property. Come take a look today before it's SOLD! MLS MDWO114884
11200 COASTAL HWY #1001 OCEAN CITY - $569,000 Direct Ocean Front 3BR/3BA w/ocean front master BR suite. Tropical decor throughout. Dining room off kitchen. Living area off the dining room w/glass sliders to large direct ocean front deck w/full unobstructed view of the beach & ocean. Family room is spacious, 2nd & 3rd BRs are large as well, Conveniently located up-town & close to many local favorite restaurants & shopping venues.Pool. Come take a look today and make memories! MLS MDWO107176
Stunning 2BR/2BA with every upgrade imaginable hits the market!!! Fully renovated w/beautiful wide plank flooring throughout, open kitchen w/upgraded SS appliances, quartz counters, oversized pantry and custom cabinetry. Family rm opens to large deck with southern exposure and ocean view. New sliders and plantation shutters. BRs are large with oversized master with door to deck & upgraded bath. Completely furnished. MLS MDWO113766
DIRECT OCEANFRONT
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4201 COASTAL HWY #204 OCEAN CITY - $129,500
This unit, conveniently located in midtown OC, was well taken care of & has everything you need at a very affordable price. Light & airy feel. Kitchen w/granite countertops, breakfast bar & fully equipped. Family room w/glass slider to deck. Murphy bed & wall mounted TVs. Full bath & full laundry. Separate storage locker. Would make a great 2nd home getaway or an investment property. Building w/indoor pool, fitness center, game room & elevator. Close to restaurants, shops & the convention center. Come take a look today before it’s sold. Turnkey fully furnished! MLS MDWO113708
206-204-202 DORCHESTER ST OCEAN CITY - $1,549,000 All parcels being sold together. Prime downtown location. Currently has 4 houses Total. Lot sizes are 4927,4824, and 3381 Sq Ft each. This was a summer rental in 2018. Rare opportunity to purchase valuable downtown location! TAX ID 10-028493 Tax ID10-028477 Tax ID 10-028485. MLS MDWO1001420
PRIME LOCATION
5BR/3BA totally remodeled condo. Kitchen has granite counters & stainless appliances. There are 2 separate living areas & multiple decks, and this first floor unit has plenty of room out back to walk the dog or just pull up a chair and relax. Low condo fees of $500 a quarter covers your master flood insurance and maintenance and repairs to the building exterior. Close to the beach, Northside Park, restaurants and shops. MDWO110680
12301 OCEAN GATEWAY RD OCEAN CITY - $899,000
4.5 acre waterfront parcel on Rt50 in West Ocean City! Property is bulkheaded w/100 foot pier into Herring Creek. Build your dream home in this convenient location! It is perfect for boaters because the water is navigable all the way to the ocean from here. Property has many opportunities & potential including possible subdivision. It is zoned R2 & close to everything Ocean City has to offer. Come take a look today before it is SOLD! MLS MDWO105914
PRIME LOCATION
WATERFRONT LOT
NEW PRICE
NEW LISTING
36054 ZION CHURCH RD FRANKFORD $359,000 31.84 acres close to DE & OC beaches. Subdivision possibilities, or private sprawling estate. Property has been surveyed and is available in document's. Property runs on 1 side of Rt. 20, Zion Church Road with about 1468ft +/- on Deer Run Road. Sewer could be a possibility on Deer Run Rd as sewer runs down that road but not to this property. It would need to be annexed into the sewer district & approved by County. MLS DESU132230
14301 TUNNEL AVENUE #1A OCEAN CITY - NOW $339,900
ZION CHURCH RD FRANKFORD $275,000 6.95 Acres with 640 feet of frontage on Zion Church Rd Rt. Prime location for building and development. MLS DESU132268
UNIQUE AND INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY WESTWOOD COMMERCE PARK
12 90TH STREET UNIT 12A&B OCEAN CITY - $1,599,000 TWO Ocean Block TOWNHOMES steps from the beach. 2 4BR/3BA/2HB townhomes each with its own elevator that goes from the carport to the 3rd floor. Each town home is 3400+ sq feet. In total there are 8 bedrooms, 6 full and 4 half baths, 2 elevators, 2 full kitchens and covered parking for 6 cars. Each has 3 decks with views. Gourmet kitchens & top levels consist of hardwood floors. Both units are being sold fully furnished. MLS108902
1751 WESTWOOD DR SALISBURY - $2,390,000
An opportunity to establish a foothold in this increasingly desirable area located within 2-3 hours of Baltimore, DC & Philadelphia. Very modern warehouse/manufacturing/distribution facility on 2.3 acres conveniently located just off the Route 50 & Route 13 interchange in Westwood Commerce Park. Building was completely renovated in 2019. Warehouse is 25,291 +/- sq.ft.; Office Area 1300 +/- sq.ft.; the Covered Loading Dock 2500 +/- sq.ft.; Steel & Concrete Mezzanine Level 1760 +/- sq.ft. Clear Height is 25'. 5 Dock high positions all with levelers & one with 14'x12' drive in door. Building has a new roof deck with R41 insulation, sidewalls with R31 insulation, lighting, dry fire sprinkler system, floor drains, heavy duty power supply & electric service, and plenty of parking for 8 trucks and 30 cars. Property is located in a Maryland Enterprise zone location with tax incentives possible. Best use would be manufacturing and/or warehouse distribution and the professional office space is an added benefit. Previously a large commercial laundry. Bring manufacturing back to the Great USA. (Listing agent is related to seller) MLS MDWC107760
GLEN RIDDLE LOT
LIGHTHOUSE SOUND
NEW PRICE
GOLF AND BAY VIEWS!
10006 SEAPLANE LN BERLIN $449,000
6509 HAMPTON RD LOT 18 • BERLIN $649,900 Do you need a home office or maybe even two? How about a workout room, or maybe a playroom? Are you dreaming of kayaking or paddle boarding off your dock? How about a boat or jet skis? Would you like a nice yard to play in or grow your own vegetables? Well here it is, 5+ acres in a cul-de-sac in the tranquil community of Indian Creek ready and waiting for you. You dream it... You build it... You Live it! All this and two golf courses within two miles and Assateague Island is 3 miles away where you can enjoy the ocean and beautiful white sand beaches. You can be in downtown Berlin or Ocean City in 15 minutes to enjoy the boardwalk and restaurants. So close, yet such a peaceful setting. Come take a look today before it's SOLD!! MLS MDWO100390
5 Bed, 4 full bath single family waterfront home on .29 Acres with views of Assawoman Bay. Gourmet Kitchen with Energy Star Appliances with double ovens and breakfast seating. Additional features include built-ins, recessed lighting and wine storage. 2-Car Garage. Located on a bulk-headed cul-de-sac lot w/42 ft. deep water slip. MLS MDWO114892
Stop! Come walk the lot & look at the water views!!! Build your dream house & enjoy the sandy beach, water views & the OC Skyline. This 28,113 sq. ft. lot will accommodate large home. Pick your builder, design, & build your showcase waterfront home! If you are not ready to build that dream home yet, buy the land & hold it. Once it's gone, it's gone... Lot is in amenity rich community of Glen Riddle. Enjoy the outdoor pool, tennis, fitness center, marina & Ruth Chris restaurant! MLS MDWO112632
0 SOUTHHAMPTON DR #LOT 17 BISHOPVILLE $249,900 Build your dream home on lot 17 in Lighthouse Sound adjacent to hole number 2, one of the largest lots boasting 24,662 sq ft (.57 acres). Will accommodate a large home. Design, build and enjoy your showcase home for years to come! If you are not ready to build that dream home yet,buy the land & hold it.Once it's gone,it's gone. If you are looking for luxury lifestyle both on & off golf course, this community offers it all minutes from OC, restaurants & shopping. Come walk the lot today! MLS MDWO102900
COMMERCIAL
RARE OPPORTUNITY 12334 COLLINS RD BISHOPVILLE $399,900 Large 2.94 acre waterfront lot in Bishopville. Build your dream home here. Lot is surrounded by estate homes & perfect setting for peace & tranquility. Lot backs to the St. Martins River. Pier & dock for multiple boats.No HOA's here or mandatory fees. St Martins river has water access to the ocean. This location is close to 113. Come take a look today & make that dream of building your dream house a reality. MLS MDWO105638
0 RACETRACK RD • BERLIN, MD - $260,000 Zoned C1 across from the Casino on the west side of Rt 589. This is a heavy traffic area for cars to and from RT 50 and RT 90. This 1.01 acre lot has a survey already completed and a septic perk on file. This is a prime commercial location. Buy it before it's SOLD!!! MLS MDWO104326
13010 WORCESTER HWY • BISHOPVILLE, MD - $390,000 0 WORCESTER HWY • BISHOPVILLE, MD - $290,000
Commercial piece w/high visibility w/14.33 acres on corner of Route 113 & Route 610 across from the former Emings BBQ. This is your opportunity to establish a foothold in this increasingly desirable area on the Eastern Shore. Possibilities are endless! Come take a look today before it's SOLD! MLS MDWO113678
Prime 3.61 Acres Property hits the market! It's all out the location & visibility w/high traffic density. Conveniently located on Route 113 & Hamond Road. It is diagonally across from the former Emings BBQ. Owner financing is available w/acceptable contract. Come take a look today before it's SOLD! Possibilities are endless. MLS MDWO113680
The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Real estate 2020 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor agents and are not employees of the Company. ©2015 a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker logo, Coldwell Banker Previews International and the Previews logo are registered and unregistered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. 10771BALT_07/15
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Ocean City Today
JULY 17, 2020
Honesty paramount in dealing with covid-19 Continued from Page 2 being proactive, despite the risk of negative publicity. “These are difficult times, but we commend our community for continuing to step up, be proactive and take the steps necessary to protect the public during the height of our summer season,” Mayor Rick Meehan said in a press release. Meyers said honesty during this pandemic was paramount. “We never wanted to mislead the public,” Meyers said. “This is a big deal, this is a global health crisis, so we never wanted to keep anyone in the dark or lie to our customers.” Nonetheless, the small outbreak has drawn concern from all, including Gov. Larry Hogan, who released a press release on Tuesday calling for strict enforcement of his indoor din-
ing guidelines. “The vast majority of bars and restaurants in our state are in compliance, but some are flagrantly violating the law and endangering public health,” Hogan said. “You have the responsibility to enforce these laws. Violators should be warned, fined, have actions taken regarding their licenses, or closed if necessary. Local health departments, local liquor boards and inspectors, and local law enforcement agencies must work together to ensure public health is protected.” Although the health department is contact tracing all cases, opinion is split on where the spread originates. Susan Jones, executive director of the Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, said that most restaurants are taking all the safety precautions they can. “The issue lies in what happens
after staff leaves the jobsite,” Jones said. “Many of them live together and are socializing after hours, which is not something owners can control.” During Tuesday’s council work session, however, Meehan shifted some responsibility to patrons, who, at times, have caused trouble. “It’s been difficult because they face the wrath, sometimes, of their customers or their patrons who get impatient and don’t understand or realize that restaurants are operating at 50 percent capacity and with a very significant shortage of help. We have to rely on our patrons to be more cooperative, as well,” Meehan said. Additionally, while city officials, business leaders and the public have applauded the restaurant community for being vigilant, fears remain regarding how the outbreaks will affect
Ocean City’s tourism. “Tourism is our livelihood and is an economic engine of our community,” Jones said. “The restaurant industry is a huge part of this engine.” Nevertheless, Meehan said members of the restaurant industry have been working together to keep each other in check, and he asked City Manager Doug Miller to up the ante by increasing the Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office and police department’s enforcement efforts. “We will,” Miller said. “What the governor outlines as the ideal path for enforcement, we’ve been doing.” For reopening guidelines visit worcesterhealth.org/images/EnvironmentalHealth/indoorreopeningguidance.pdf.
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Ocean City Today
JULY 17, 2020
PAGE 5
Trams won’t run this summer Continued from Page 1 masks, which I think would be required on the tram.” The Ocean City Transportation Committee recommended suspending tram activity last week in a “healthover-wealth” vote, despite the financial losses the system would incur. “We, as a town, are already suffering …” Councilman Dennis Dare had said, noting that the council has been accused of putting wealth before health. “I firmly believe we have to put health before wealth in everything we do as a town.” Dare also shared a troubling story, which helped seal the deal among committee members. “I have a relative who works in an environment where they have to enforce the mask, and they’ve been coughed in their face, and people are just passionate about not wearing a mask,” he said. “Why would we open a nonessential service and put additional employees at risk?” Despite research indicating that widespread facemask use could help mitigate the spread of covid-19 dramatically, facemask usage has been extremely polarized and politicized — President Donald Trump, until Tuesday, routinely mocked and dismissed the face coverings. “My biggest concern is having our tram drivers enforce masks,” Gehrig said. “Some people are very compliant and other people consider it an attack on their liberty and they’re taking it to another level. I just don’t know if I want to put our tram personnel in face of … people who refuse to actually participate and wear a mask.” Councilwoman Mary Knight and Council President Lloyd Martin shared their own accounts of mask defiance. “A very good friend of mine works in a retail store in Berlin and she had four women [get into a fight] that she
had to break up … because two of them did not have a mask on,” Knight said. “She almost had to call the police, and these women were older women.” Martin, who owns 7-Eleven convenience stores in the resort, added, “I’m in retail and I can tell you it’s not easy. I have people every day who walk in and say it infringes on their rights. I have to explain to them that this is what the governor’s orders are and this is what we have to do. Whether it’s your right or not, right now it’s my right to be in business and be open.” With that in mind, the council voted unanimously to suspend tram operations for the summer. The council then moved on to a recommendation to extend the resort’s tram and bus advertising contract with Vector Media by one year. Councilman Matt James asked whether the council was allowed to make such a decision, and Public Works Director Hal Adkins said the extension would not pose a problem. The Maryland Open Meetings Act Compliance Board recently chided the council for its closed session negotiations for the city’s pier franchise. “It was a recommendation from the federal government through the states that the locally operated transit systems, not just Ocean City, consider doing so because of the dilemma that everyone is in,” Adkins said. Additionally, the decision would make sense in light of the council’s tram vote. “Vector, working on our behalf, had already sold advertising on the trams, the trams that are now not going to run,” Adkins said. “So by extending the contract a year, they are able to negotiate with those purchasers to soften the blow and stretch us into next summer.” The council voted unanimously to approve the contract extension.
Home is wherre your
JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY
The Ocean City Council voted to suspend its tram operations for summer 2020, partly because of over “passionate” anti-facemaskers who could potentially put tram personnel in harms way.
Police investigate balcony fall (July 17, 2020) The Ocean City Police Department Criminal Investigation Division is investigating a fatal fall from a third-floor balcony at a 29th Street hotel on Sunday. According to police reports, Ocean City police went to the 29th Street and Baltimore Avenue area shortly before 3 a.m. to assist Ocean City EMS after Caleb McCurdy, 22, Ocean City, fell from a third-story balcony. Officers and Ocean City EMS initi-
ated medical treatment upon arrival. McCurdy was flown to University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center by Maryland State Police Trooper 4 where was later pronounced deceased. Preliminarily, investigators believe that the incident was accidental, although the exact cause and manner of death will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore.
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This is not a guarantee to extend consumer credit as defined by Section 1026.2 of Regulation Z. All loans are subject to credit approval and property appraisal. First Home Mortgage Corporation NMLS ID #71603 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). Licensed in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Kari Story, NMLS#476369.
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Ocean City Today
PAGE 6
JULY 17, 2020
Tourism director gives updates on city’s marketing By Josh Kim Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) Interim Tourism Director Jessica Waters updated the Ocean City Tourism Commission on Monday about the city’s recent marketing efforts. “[There was] really positive feedback for all of those commercials,” Waters said. Titled the “Welcome Back” campaign, the marketing strategy consisted of multiple commercials that matched Gov. Larry Hogan’s reopening plan. One set, known as the “It’s Time” commercials, encouraged the gradual return to the resort. It launched in May and ran through June 14 on television with more than 17 million impressions, Waters said. As amusements, arcades and other non-essential businesses began reopening, the city launched its “Favorite Things” commercials on July 1, focusing on all of the fun things visitors were not able to do as a result of the pandemic. Stemming from the latest commercials was a partnership between the tourism department, Ocean City HotelMotel-Restaurant Association, Ocean City Chamber of Commerce and Ocean City Development Corporation to create the “OC United and Strong” campaign. “It seemed now more important than ever to bring together our stakeholders,” Waters said. “So Susan Jones, associa-
PHOTO COURTESY WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
HYBRID Of the three methods of instruction Worcester County Public Schools are considering for the 2020-21 school year, the hybrid learning model offers a rotating A Week/B Week schedule to bring back the maximum number of students. See continuation of story from page 1 on page 7.
tion executive director, Nancy Schwendeman, interim chamber president, and Glenn Irwin, [executive director] from OCDC, we all teamed up and created this OC United, OC Strong campaign.” Working with marketing agency MGH, the group sent e-blasts, social media tips and templates, and tried to create good news in the community. “Not only were they focused on pan-
e
c a r G Sea
demic-related things, but giving businesses a toolkit to highlight the positive aspects of their hotel or restaurant,” Waters said. This has had good results, she said. “What we’ve really found is once we give people some information and detail, it really changes their outlook and attitude and we’ve gotten some positive feedback for the OC United, OC Strong [campaign],” Waters said.
Currently, Waters said the tourism department has been working with MGH to develop a fall marketing campaign. “We’ve never done a fall campaign, but because we essentially had no spring, we thought it was worth exploring the idea of getting people here in the fall and really finishing 2020 off on a high note,” she said. The commission discussed the fall campaign in closed session.
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• Ocean Block Property w/7250 sq ft lot • Steps to the beach, restaurants, shops, bus line, mini golf & Fenwick Island • 2 apartments each with 3 Bedrooms, 1.5 Bathrooms, Living room & Kitchen • Upper apartment has central AC & baseboard heat • Ground level apartment has baseboard heat & window AC units • Property is sold furnished w/few exceptions • Not a currently a rental but rental income is easily $40,000/season a weekly rate of $2000/week/unit for 10 weeks
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Ocean City Today
JULY 17, 2020
PAGE 7
Schools establish options for Sept. opening Continued from Page 1 room and schedule. Another option is hybrid learning, a combination of face-to-face learning and virtual learning through an A Week/B Week model schedule. The third option would be distance learning with opportunities for asynchronous and synchronous learning with teachers and students. Synchronous learning is when groups of students are taught at the same time in live sessions online. Asynchronous learning is when there’s no online interaction between students and teachers. “I am very hesitant to say that that would be the same as what we were doing in the spring, because if you remember in the spring it was continuity learning (a continuation of education in the event of a school closure),” Wallace said. “This would just be full-on distance learning. We would not be exercising compassionate grading. We would be back to a very similar attendance policy as we would have had if students were in school.” In distance learning, students must attend all scheduled synchronous learning sessions and complete all asynchronous work to be marked as present. Shorts, the chief academic officers (grades PK-8), said the distance learning plan will incorporate feedback from students and their families. She added that the draft plan highlights special education considerations to determine if students’ needs are being met and whether they have experienced a regression of skills or lack of progress. The operations and safety section of the model demonstrates how the local school system is following the guidance of the CDC, the Maryland Department of Health, and the Worcester County Health Department for logistics about cleaning, PPE, and facility use. The school system also has assembled an athletic recovery team that meets weekly and has a draft recovery plan of its own. Currently, the schools are operating at a low-risk factor with student athletes doing activities at their houses. No indoor facility use is permitted at this time. The Aug. 12 start date for sports practice has not been changed, said Supervisor of Human Resources Abt. As for facility usage, the Operations and Safety Subcommittee recommends the board prohibit the use of outside organizations at school facilities until the third phase of Gov. Larry Hogan’s recovery plan. Abt detailed multiple options for food service, including classroom delivery and classroom dining with prepackaged meals, cafeteria service with classroom dining or cafeteria service with cafeteria dining at the middle and high schools.
If schools return with virtual learning, a curbside service will be offered. Operational protocols for transportation involve social distancing guidelines and the requirement of PPE. School bus seating for summer school students is staggered, with a maximum of 12 students per bus. “We can exceed 12 if we have family members in the same seat,” Abt said. Bus drivers are also receiving instructions about what cleaning products to use. Safety protocols within schools include a list of proper disinfectants, instructions for frequency of cleanAnnette Wallace ing high-touch surface areas, details on how and when to use PPE, screenings of staff and students, CDC guidelines for social distancing and signs to direct traffic patterns in schools. Carrie Sterrs, the director of public relations and special programs, reported on the importance of communication for a safe return to school. “What the communication subcommittee has done in a ‘Responsible Return’ model is to define the comprehensive communication plan that addresses the varying needs of
each audience, utilizing the resources already at our disposal as well as developing some new channels,” Sterrs said. For internal communication among the system’s faculty and staff, email, automated notifications, social media, childcare resources, and a Responsible Return intranet will be utilized. Students and their families can view the summer school webpage and the Responsible Return webpage on worcesterk12.org, the eNewsletters and social media posts for ongoing communication. Sterrs added that special considerations will be taken for crisis communications, and that school status Lou Taylor alerts will be developed to notify students and their families of any coronavirusrelated closures. The school system is also working to improve its translation services, she said. In addition, the school system is gathering opinions and information through surveys and focus groups. “We plan to put a stakeholder group together that really encompasses our community,” said Superintendent Louis Taylor. “We will put a group together that has been identified already,
and then we will also put this plan out on our website in the near future to garner feedback from our community as well.” Taylor said he aims to present a final school-opening plan at the next board meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Shortly after the Worcester County Board of Education meeting, the Maryland State Education Association, Baltimore Teachers Union, and Maryland PTA held a teleconference via Zoom on Tuesday at 2 p.m. about the risks of returning for in-person instruction this upcoming school year. A joint letter addressed to the governor and State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Salmon calls for Maryland schools to begin with virtual learning and instruction. After one semester, schools could transition into hybrid learning and possibly in-person learning later in the school year. “In the face of no additional funding at the federal, state, or local level — let alone threatened budget cuts — it is not realistic to believe that all schools will be equipped with additional and more expensive necessities to stay safe on a daily basis,” the letter states. The Maryland State Education Association, Baltimore Teachers Union, and Maryland PTA urged state and county leaders to establish a safe and consistent model of learning.
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Ocean City Today
JULY 17, 2020
Convention center hosts first event since mid-March
Construction work payments good to go for several years
By Josh Kim Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) After five months of closure and economic hardships brought on by covid-19, the Ocean City convention center on 40th Street will reopen for its first event of the season this Sunday, when the Starpower National Championship takes place. Since its closure on March 15, the convention center has lost more than $1 million income and will result in up to $17 million in overall economic impact losses. “Starpower is excited and honored to be the first event back in the Ocean City convention center, where we have hosted events for over three decades,” Vice President and National Director Noelle Packett said. “We have instituted a plethora of safety protocols, and we are confident it will be a wonderful and safe event for all.” Starpower is a global dance competition for dancers of all ages and levels who qualified at regional competitions come to showcase their talent. Typically, the event draws 2,0003,000 participants and guests to the convention center, but because of the virus, that number will be slashed. “Usually, they [Starpower] take up the entire building,” convention center Director Larry Noccolino said. “Now, there will be 300 people allowed inside per performance about five times a day.” Performances will take place in the Performing Arts Center, which can hold up to 1,212 people, but capacity will be roughly 50 percent. The convention center has a “no audience” policy that prohibits the at-
By Josh Kim Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) Although covid-19 has wrecked Ocean City’s food tax revenue, a large savings pool will allow the resort to comfortably pay for the third phase of expansion projects at the Ocean City convention center on 40th Street for several years to come. “This would have to continue for months [or years] where we’re collecting very small amounts [of revenue] before I became concerned about it,” City Finance Director Chuck Bireley said. “We have enough right now just in savings as of today to make the next three years worth of bond payments.” Ocean City relies on its food tax revenue to pay for the principal and interest on 20-year bonds it issued to pay for the construction, reconstruction, repair, renovation and equipment of the convention center. The local food tax is .5 percent of the taxable price of food and beverages. From March to May last year, resort government collected $300,501 in food tax revenues — that same period this year the city collected $65,791. The city owes $503,633 in interest this fiscal year, and despite the shortage in food tax revenue, Bireley said this year’s payment should be no sweat. “Currently, we have $3.1 million in food tax revenue,” Bireley said, meaning the city has around $2.6 million more than it needs. Bireley said it would take several years of insufficient food tax revenue for the project’s expense to become an issue for the resort. “As of right now, we’re fine,” he said.
JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Finance Director Chuck Bireley said the city had enough in savings to fund several years of payments for phase three of renovations at the Ocean City convention center on 40th Street.
tendance of anyone outside of participants’ immediate family members. Participants and guests will be required to take temperature checks, health screenings and wear facemasks inside of the building. “The convention center staff will be doing [disinfectant] sprays after every performance,” Noccolino said. Although the convention center has gone dark for several months, Noccolino said the staff has been working day and night to prepare for the center’s reopening. “[I’m] elated,” he said about opening the center’s doors. “We’re working harder now than when we had clients in the building.” While this is a starting point for the center, Noccolino said the revenue generated by the event would be miniscule compared to the money that the virus has killed.
“We pack hotels in the off-season,” Noccolino said. “That’s our job.” The resort’s off-season begins around the end of September and ends mid-May. But this year, the convention center saw mass cancelations in practically every month since March up until January of next year. “The convention center generates $28 million per year in economic impact,” Noccolino said. “Covid-19 couldn’t have had worse timing for us.” Nevertheless, Noccolino said he and his staff are looking at Starpower as a first step forward and he thanked stakeholders and government officials for their patience and support. “It’s [the event] practice for us, and I hope we can build something from it,” he said.
Crossword answers from page 32
Ocean City Today
JULY 17, 2020
PAGE 9
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Downtown upscale Nail Salon located in newer building. Other uses possible. Large front porch with views of the Marina, Front Desk Reception Area, Fifteen Pedicure Stations, Eight Manicure Stations, Drying area with 6 Stools. Three Storage areas, Restroom, and Utility Room with rear exit. Private Office Room 11x8 with ceramic tile. Chair Rails, Crown Molding, Track & Pendant Lighting, 2 chandeliers, granite countertops. Excellent Opportunity to Buy or Possibly Lease! Inventory available for $130,000. Asking $320,000
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In the Whitetail Sanctuary Section of Ocean Pines. New Boat Dock already in place for your Boating Enjoyment! Absolutely gorgeous views of Manklin Creek and the Isle of Wight Bay. Seller will build his design if desired. Located at the end of a peaceful Cul-de-Sac. Opportunities like this don't $329,900 come often!
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Terri
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410-251-6217 SoniaSEZ@aol.com
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Ulrich Associate Broker 410-422-1441 Cell timrealestate9 @gmail.com
from both private master balcony & living room balcony plus open bay & marsh life. 2BR/2BA large unit w/open floor plan, lots of natural light throughout. Carefully selected beach décor. $329,000
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3BR/2BA w/vaulted ceiling & HW floors throughout living, dining, kitchen & hallway. Master BR w/walk-in closet & bath w/newer shower. Cozy screened porch & brick patio paver. Partially floored attic. New roof, water heater, slider, HVAC, dryer & shower.
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3 BRs, 2.5 BAs, 2200 sq. ft. plus large loft overlooking great room Multidimensional design allows for views, light, space and acoustics. Dramatic open entry foyer connecting to 2 level high great room w/fireplace & built-ins, dining area, modern white kitchen w/breakfast bar, newer quartz counters, drop in range and bamboo floors. 1st level master suite with whirlpool, separate shower, walk-in closet and walk-out deck. Special feature is a private room ideal for office, hobbies, exercise or ideas of your own. This limited edition work by DH Sklar was lovingly enjoyed and maintained by the original owners, his parents.
$299,000
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Bayside waterfront 2BR/2BA w/views of Assateague Island & Ocean w/sunset views of inlet & bay. Never been rented. Downtown OC Location. Walk to boardwalk, restaurants, shopping. Community pool, large sundeck & building elevator. 1 assigned parking spot and a shared parking spot. Views are breath taking.
$269,900
PRIME RT. 50 HIGHWAY LOCATION! Large commercial condominium unit opportunity includes Kitchen area plus 1.5 Baths. Second Level offers additional space. Ceramic Tile & Laminate Wood floors. Carpet on 2nd Level. 1900 Sq Ft Total. Currently a Hair Salon. Buy OR Lease for $1,450 plus $250 Common Area Maintenance fee per month.
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Ocean City Today
PAGE 10
JULY 17, 2020
Put your butts on ‘butts’: OC Green Team benches ready By Josh Kim Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) After roughly one and a half years, Ocean City residents and guests finally may put their butts on butts, after the Ocean City Green Team received and installed four benches made out of recycled cigarette filters on the Boardwalk and at a local bar. “We are all very excited to finally have Sandi Smith the benches on the Boardwalk,” said Sandi Smith, Maryland Coastal Bays Program Development and Marketing coordinator. Created by TerraCycle, a private
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recycling company based in Trenton, New Jersey, the benches are the byproduct of hundreds of thousands of cigarette butts collected from Ocean City’s beach. Beginning last spring, the team, via Ocean City Department of Public Works staff, installed cigarette filter receptacles or “butt huts” all over the Boardwalk, and later throughout the resort on beach entry points. Cigarette filters are not only the number one litter in Ocean City, but around the world according to nonprofit group Ocean Conservancy, which is based in Washington D.C. The organization has hosted a beach cleanup event, which is now a global effort, since 1986, and each year the group has found that cigarette butts are the number one item littering coasts — with more than 60 million collected in a little over 30 years. Cigarette filters are made with cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that takes years to break down in the ocean and leeches toxins into the water. In regards to turning the litter into a bench, Smith said the team found a Facebook post that featured a supposed cigarette filter bench. “It was the coolest looking bench ever,” Smith said. The team contacted TerraCycle, and discovered that the company had not created it. TerraCycle later discovered, on behalf of the team, that the bench was not even made out of cigarette butts, Smith recalled. Nonetheless, the faux cigarette bench had acted as a catalyst, and the initiative was in full swing. Traditionally, when TerraCycle produces a bench, it features a small placard that explains its unconven-
JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY
The Ocean City Green Team received four benches made out of recycled cigarette butts. The butts were collected through the team’s cigarette butt hut program.
tional building material, but Smith said the team wanted to send a stronger message. Working with local cartoonist Marc Emond, who created the butt recycling program’s seagull mascot and provided his services gratis, and local sign company Sun Signs, the various partners worked for more than a year and a half on the endeavor. “Marc Emond had come up with the fun little goofy gull that’s on all of the butt huts with the message, ‘Put your butts in here,’ and so we felt like to brand it and market it we wanted that goofy gull on the bench saying, ‘Put your butts on these butts,’ Smith said. The seagull would draw a visitor’s eye to the bench, which would then, hopefully, heighten his or her curiosity to the messaging. “The hope and goal was that people would affiliate that crazy gull with the butt huts and the benches and possibly look for the butt huts to put their cigarette butts in,” Smith said. The four benches were shipped to the city two weeks ago and immediately installed throughout the Boardwalk.
In addition to the main slogan, messaging on the benches include, “This bench is made from recycled cigarette butts that have been kept out of our waterways,” on top, and a 1.800.QUIT.NOW number on the bottom right corner. The program’s seagull mascot rests on the left side of the sign surrounded by freshly flicked cigarette butts. Patrons of Seacrets Bar and Grill on 49th Street also will be able to make butt-on-butt contact, as the establishment had been a long and enthusiastic supporter of the project. “When we originally started this program, they supported it 100 percent and they bought one of the benches — they donated funding for a bench,” Smith said. With the benches installed and ready for sitting, Smith and the green team can finally check the project off their list, for now. “I never thought it would take this long,” Smith said. “Even TerraCycle was like, ‘Kudos for the tenacity.’” For businesses interested in installing a cigarette filter receptacle email Smith at sandis@mdcoastalbays.org.
JULY 17, 2020
PAGE 11
Ocean City Today
R E A L T O R D E L I V E R I N G
A
C O A S T A L
L I F E S T Y L E
Heron Harbor Lot 303 S.Heron Gull Ct Ocean City
310 2nd Street Ocean City
Great Buy on this Waterfront Lot. Build your Coastal Home on one of the last remaining lots in Premier Waterfront Community of Heron Harbour. Featuring deep water dockage, direct access to Bay or Ocean, and Quality Vinyl Bulkhead. Southern Exposure. Dock your Boat or Water Toys outside your backdoor. Boat lifts are permissible. A wonderful community to enjoy jogging, walking, biking or taking your pet for a stroll. Community offers tremendous number of amenities including 3 pools, Clubhouse, 2 tennis courts, fitness center and more. Come see for yourself why this is one of Ocean City~s most desirable Communities.
Fantastic opportunity and buy on this 1800 sq. ft Direct Bayfront Luxury Condo has a all the upgraded features you would expect including a unbelievable expansive Bay View. Large open floor plan that begins with a substantial over sized Kitchen leading to the living area and out to the wrap around Bay Front deck. Master Bedroom adorns the same bay view with all glass to enjoy the impressive sunsets. The residence is optimally located within easy walking distance to the Beach and Boards. As a bonus you have a pool, covered parking and storage locker. Looking for a quiet location were you can watch the activities on the bay, and the impressive sunsets on your deck that is within short walking distance to everything the Island has to offer, then look no further. In addition the property makes for a great rental with over $42k of income potential. Turn key property that is tastefully furnished and ready to move in.
Townsend Road Ocean City
98 Watertown Road Ocean Pines
$479,000
Prime West Ocean City building Lot in the heart of it all. Views of the Marina, Wetlands and partial views Oc skyline Bay and Inlet. Lot has Public Sewer and is ready to build on. Seller has house plans that will convey
$175,000
with the property. One of the few
remaining lots in West Ocean City. You will not need a car to get around at this location. Walk to two World Class Marinas, Finest Fresh Seafood Markets, Best Restaurants and Lounges, Shopping, secluded Beach. No HOA fees and City Taxes.This areas has it all!! Buy it now before it is sold.
$450,000
Direct Waterfront 5-bed, 4-bath home available in Ocean Pines. Perfect for water enthusiasts! The southwestfacing home features a pier with a 20,000 lb boat lift and multiple slips for you and your guest boaters. Ideally located on a wide and deep section of the waterway, these deepwater slips are still 6~ at low tide. The spacious dock also includes two jet ski lifts that swing in for easy use. Direct, easy access to the Bay or Ocean.The family room and kitchen offer views of the water from all angles. This spacious home has an additional 510 sq ft finished and conditioned third floor suitable for 6th bedroom, storage or kid~s hideout. Other features include a first-floor master, corian countertops, remote controlled awnings, and toolshed. This efficient home has a dual zone natural gas heating system, gas-powered backup Generac generator, inground sprinkler system, and two hot water heaters, so that all four bathrooms can be used simultaneously. This property truly delivers a coastal lifestyle.
$635,000
6 7th Street Unit 601 Ocean City
12405 Snug Harbor Road Berlin
One of the best luxury Oceanfront Boardwalk Penthouses in Ocean City, MD. Meticulously maintained 4-bedroom 4-bathroom 2876 sqft property with all the features and upgrades you would expect. Dual Oceanfront master bedrooms with spectacular, direct views of the Atlantic. The unit has two fireplaces and an open floor plan with well-appointed kitchen. Deeded premium parking spots in the covered garage are included with the unit. Large storage room for you beach toys and more. Additional features include a 30 ft oceanfront balcony, two hot water heaters, two dryers, dual-zoned heat, and power storm shutters. South Beach is a secure, private building that is well managed. Amenities include an outdoor pool, indoor pool, and fitness area. This property truly delivers an unparalleled coastal style of living.
At this price you will not find a view like this with a boat out your back door anywhere in this County!! Spectacular Vast Unobstructed Bay, Ocean and Assateague Island National Seashore views from this ready to build on Lot. Public Sewer with EDU. New Vinyl C locking bulk head with walk way. Direct access to bay or Ocean. Great location.There is nothing else available like this or even at this price. Truly Delivers a Coastal Lifestyle.
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PAGE 12
Ocean City Today
JULY 17, 2020
Police commission meeting informal, members absent By Josh Kim Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) Without a quorum present, the Ocean City Police Commission held an informal information session on Monday to discuss June crime activity, cannabis enforcement and electric vehicles on the Boardwalk. Councilmembers Matt James and Lloyd Martin were absent. June 2020 saw fewer police-initiated calls for service, but greater citizen calls for service compared to last year. Police-initiated calls in June were 11,242 and 8,694 in 2019 and 2020, respectively, a 22.7 percent decrease. Citizen calls to police, however, rose from 3,428 last June to 4,563 this June, a 33.1 percent increase. Excluding traffic stops, business checks and assist citizen calls, those numbers slightly diminish, with officer calls at 17.7 percent down and citizen calls 30.5 percent up. The top five calls for service were city ordinance violations, assist citizen calls, disorderly conduct, 911 hang-ups and parking complaints/violations — the latter two increasing, the remaining decreasing. Another somewhat abnormal area of growth in June was public health concerns, which exploded from zero last June to 99 this June. Buzzuro said this was directly related to the novel coronavirus. Custodial arrests were up from 552 last June to 600 this year, although citations were down by nine. Drug and weapon arrests increased, 40 to 62 and 40 to 73, respectively, while drug citations for cannabis and DUI arrests were down, 181 to 144 and 54 to 42, respectively.
JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY
The Ocean City Police Commission was unable to hold a formal meeting on Monday, as it lacked a quorum. Nevertheless, the members discussed June crime activity, cannabis enforcement and electric transportation devices.
Smoking citations saw close to a 500 percent increase this year, from 41 last June to 241 this year. May saw a 1,250 percent increase, Buzzuro added. Related to the increase of smoking citations was cannabis usage, and Councilwoman Mary Knight asked Buzzuro to explain the difficulty of enforcing the drug’s use. “Marijuana was decriminalized about four years ago, and with that marijuana is no longer criminal in nature with 10 grams or less,” Buzzuro said. “We have seen an increase in marijuana activity on the Boardwalk. What can get confusing at times is with the CBD [cannabidiol] plant.” CBD is one of two chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant, the other being tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. CBD and THC have the same chem-
ical formula, but different atom structure, which influences the way the chemicals affect the body. Cannabis plants with high levels of CBD are typically referred to as hemp, while those with high level of THC are referred to as either cannabis or marijuana. Hemp products are completely legal in Maryland, which, combined with the decriminalization of the cannabis plant overall, makes differentiating, and therefore, enforcing violations extremely difficult. “CBD is sold throughout stores, even in Ocean City, so it’s accessible to the public,” Buzzuro said. “The smell of the CBD plant is the same or consistent with the traditional burning of marijuana. Not to say that individuals are only smoking CBD on the Boardwalk, but there is a combination.” Additionally, many traditional cannabis users obtain medical cards allowing the drug’s use, and while police may request to see the card, users are not obligated to comply with police demands. Police Capt. Elton Harmon added,
“We have a lot of visitors coming here from other jurisdictions where it’s not enforced, and they bring their habits here.” Nevertheless, Buzzuro said officers remain vigilant in enforcement on the Boardwalk, as any type of smoking there is prohibited. “That’s part of the almost 500 percent increase in smoking citations,” Buzzuro said, although cannabis drug citations have dropped. Moving on from the cannabis issue, the commission broached the topic of city ordinance 2019-10, which focused on dock less ride-share programs, electric scooters, Segways and standard bicycle use on the Boardwalk. Knight wanted to see if the ordinance could be amended to include electric bicycles, but with no quorum, the commission decided to discuss the issue during a full mayor and City Council meeting. The police commission was also supposed to go into closed session on Monday, but moved the discussion to Tuesday’s council closed session because of the lack of a quorum.
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JULY 17, 2020
Ocean City Today
PAGE 13
J-1s clear for 2021 season after ban expires By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) With the federal ban on work visas set to expire on Dec. 31, the J-1 cultural exchange program for Ocean City should not be affected next year, unless the ban is extended, according to agencies involved in the program. The ban was announced last month in response to the covid-19 pandemic. Before the ban, the J-1 program was already in question because the federal government had advised against nonessential travel and
suspended visa processing at U.S. embassies abroad. In addition, the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs had a 60day pause on its programs that ended on May 13. Kasey Simon, president of the United Work and Travel Program, said overseas recruitment normally begins as early as October or November and goes through March. Participants arrive in Ocean City from mid-May to mid-June and stay from late August to mid-September. Interviews between students and
representatives from the employing organization begin in October, but most take place from December to the end of February, meaning that most students would not need to obtain visas until after the New Year when the ban will have expired. Simon said recruitment for next year’s season will be adjusted. “Sponsors, including United Work and Travel, will find safe and creative ways to have virtual job fairs where our organization, the host company employing organization and the student can all meet virtually and per-
form screenings and interviews, and even orientation beyond that,” Simon said. United Work and Travel will also educate and re-educate host company employers on safe work environments and program-related housing, according to Simon. He added that they will also take a close look at which countries they recruit from and what the covid-19 cases look like there, especially the countries on which the U.S. has a ban. “Looking at it from the student’s See RESORT Page 14
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Resort officials prepare for alternatives to J-1 students Continued from Page 13 perspective, the U.S. currently has the largest number of cases around the world, so we need educate our participants on what we are doing to provide them a safe and functioning program,” Simon said. Simon said he believes that the participation will still be there, although the numbers might look different for 2021. “I think recruitment for the program overall will be more difficult, more time consuming, require more education, and re-education from all stake holders,” Simon said. Ocean City businesses have struggled with employment, as about 4,000 J-1 students typically work in the resort every summer. To prepare for the possibility of fewer or even no J-1 students next summer, Ocean City officials are considering several possibilities, one of which is recruiting workers from Puerto Rico. Susan Jones, executive director of the Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, said that the chamber of commerce in Puerto Rico is running a campaign to connect job seekers with employers in the U.S. mainland. “We reached out to them to de-
velop a relationship specifically for the hospitality related vacancies that have been created as a result of covid19 and the suspension of the J-1 summer work and travel program and travel restrictions for 2020,” Jones said. “They do not act as a full-service employment and recruitment agency, but do act as a liaison connecting job seekers and available jobs through advertising and marketing efforts.” Jones said the drawbacks for the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce are the limited number of workers, increased competition for work across the U.S., the requirement that employees must register with the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and the absence of a guarantee that a person will stay with the company that hired him or her. In addition, it would cost $550 to run the campaign for two weeks. This would also be an expensive endeavor for the recruitment agency, totaling $1,900 per employee. However, no visas would be necessary. If this idea moves forward, Jones said it would be for next summer. “Safety is paramount, which is why this summer is most likely out of reach,” Jones said. “Puerto Ricans are not ready to travel up here yet.”
JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY
The Ocean City Council told City Manager Doug Miller on Tuesday to reiterate its desire for Comcast to maintain its 83rd Street facility, as the two parties negotiate a franchise extension.
City Council says Comcast must maintain physical store By Josh Kim Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) City officials are standing firm in their requirement for Comcast to maintain its brick-andmortar facility on 83rd Street in order for the company to receive the council’s final approval for a franchise ex-
tension. City Manager Doug Miller began by stating why the public and the media was hearing about the two-year effort for the first time on Tuesday. “Typically, we negotiate contracts in closed session,” Miller said. “What See COUNCIL Page 15
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Ocean City Today
JULY 17, 2020
Council opposes company’s five-year ‘hybrid’ proposal Continued from Page 14 we have with Comcast is a franchise agreement, and after the pier franchise [open meetings ruling], we were told that franchises are not contracts, and that they have to be negotiated in public.” The Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board released an opinion in June condemning the city’s closed-door sessions for the pier franchise, which resulted in a $9.1 million extension to franchisee Charles “Buddy” Jenkins. “We are down to the last issue, but I did want to qualify my comments with that so people don’t say, ‘Well you’re just talking about the length of how long a store stays open,’ that’s the reason,” Miller said. He also explained the ins-and-outs of the cable franchise. “Comcast needs our right-of-ways to place their infrastructure in,” Miller said. “They need our streets and our sidewalks.” Following Federal Communications Commission (FCC) standards, Miller said the city is charging Comcast the maximum amount — 5 percent of the company’s gross revenue. “We also … will protect our infrastructure — our sidewalks, our grassy areas, our streets — and what we will also do is govern by FCC regulations,” he said. The franchise has nothing to do with internet service, Miller said, it simply dealt with the coaxial cables that deliver services to customers. He added that the city has no say in Comcast’s programming. The last issue the council and Comcast needed to hash out was whether Comcast would maintain an office in the resort. “Ocean City is unique in the respect that we have an awful lot of nonresident property owners here who, when they set up their places for the summer, they want cable service,” Miller said. “… When they’re at home, they can have a [cable] box delivered by UPS, FedEx or whomever … they can’t do that here in Ocean City.” For this reason, city officials have said they wanted Comcast to keep its phsyical facility on the island, which has caused contention among the two parties. “They want to get away from that, so we have been back and forth, back and forth,” Miller said. Instead, Comcast proposed that, “They will maintain a brick-and-mortar store, 12 months out of the year, for three years, and then have the op-
tion to pair that down to have a brickand-mortar location just during the season,” Miller said on Tuesday. Miller told Ocean City Today, “In their pitch to us, they [Comcast] said that the fast advancement of technology will make standard cable boxes obsolete. They don’t want to obligate to the personnel and operating costs of a fixed location [for that reason].” Councilman Tony DeLuca opposed the proposal. “They’re very bold and they come here and … they want to take the current agreement of five years and they want us to extend that to 15 years, yet they won’t commit to the one line in the sand we drew, that’s [the] brickand-mortar [facility],” DeLuca said. DeLuca said he only would support the agreement if Comcast fully committed to a physical facility for the term of the contract, whether it was operated year-round or seasonally. Miller clarified that the council had proposed to a 10-year term, but with the aforementioned brick-and-mortar contigency, which prompted Comcast’s five-year hybrid proposal. “Keep the agreement for 10 years, require them to have a year-round brick-and-mortar operation for the next three and then move forward with possibly the next seven [years] with a seasonal brick-and-mortar store,” Councilman Matt James said. Mayor Rick Meehan said he would like to see the definition of seasonal clarified and extended. “They’ve [Comcast] got it for three months,” Meehan said. “I mean I don’t know what months they’re talking about. When you talk about our nonresident property owners who are coming down here to open up their units and do everything, it’s really longer than that. I think seasonal is more like five months.” Council President Lloyd Martin said Comcast had valid concerns about the need for the facility down the line because of the technology advancement. However, “They said that, and I’m sure certain people are cutting the cord, but our customers aren’t cutting the cord at that rate, because I think our recent payment was higher,” Councilman John Gehrig said, which DeLuca confirmed. “They’re projecting to be down, basicially saying, ‘Our business is getting killed we want to close [the brick-and-mortar],’ [but] the numbers aren’t saying that.” Miller will present the council’s 10year, brick-and-mortar terms to Comcast and continue the negotations.
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Ocean City Today
PAGE 16
JULY 17, 2020
PHOTOS COURTESY GLENN IRWIN
The Ocean City Development Corporation uses state allocated grant money to assist with various downtown projects, such as this 605 Edgewater Avenue property that received funds from the corporation’s façade program.
Reports are in: OCDC preps for more grants By Josh Kim Staff Writer (July 10, 2020) As the state of Maryland’s fiscal year closed on June 30, the Ocean City Development Corporation has been writing state fiscal and quarterly reports, and is getting ready to apply for another round of grant money later this month. “The grant cycle usually comes up in the spring, but it’s backed up this year because of the budgetary issues going on in the state, [but] that should be back up in July for grant applications,” corporation Executive Director Glenn Irwin said. The corporation typically submits grant applications through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Grant applications often take a full 40-hour week to complete, Irwin said, as the corporation must include an abundance of information and letters of support from various agencies. After submitting the application, all applicants hear back around fall and, if funds are granted, applicants must enter a grant agreement with the state. The work is not over once funding
is granted, however. “In the interim, as you go through the process, every three months you have to do quarterly reports about the status of funds, and they want to know what has been approved and coming up to be spent,” Irwin said. Additionally, “You also have to do reGlenn Irwin quests for payments on a regular basis so you can reimburse those funds. The state usually works on a reimbursement basis. The organization pays the funds out and they get reimbursed through the state. That’s a whole process in itself,” he said. In 2018, the corporation applied for and received in 2019 two $55,000 grants for its façade program and its green building initiative program, as well as $10,000 for a feasibility study for parking lot renovations at the corporation’s headquarters on Dorchester Street. “If we received a $50,000 grant for a façade program, we can usually do about 10 to 12 façade projects with
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that,” Irwin said. The corporation completed 14 projects with its previous façade program funding. “We’ve been fortunate to be able to get grants since we started … [applying] in 2002 Irwin said, and stated the corporation usually seeks $100,000-$200,000. He attributed the corporation’s success to large, private-sector investments. “The state puts a lot of emphasis on the private and public leveraging
ratios, so when we do our façade program, a lot of places require a one-toone match … ours we require a two-to-one ratio of private funds, and what we usually see from the private sector is for every $5,000 they are putting in $30,000,” he said. At the end of the fiscal year, Irwin said one last report must be made. “The finale is after all of the money has been spent, the applicant is required to do a final report summarizing everything that has occurred,” he said.
Shady Side Village passes step two site plan review By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) Shady Side Village residential planned community underwent a step two site plan review by the Technical Review Committee meeting on Wednesday.The 37-unit townhouse development will be located in West Ocean City south of Old
Bridge Road and west of Greenridge Lane. There are 28 sewer equivalent dwelling units available from the West Ocean City Sanitary Service Area for this property. The plans require an additional nine units to be purchased and transferred to the property. Thirty-seven water equivalent dwelling units need to be purchased from the Mystic Harbour Sanitary Service Area. The Worcester County Commissioners passed the findings of fact and resolution for Shady Side on July 7. They granted the property residential planned community status on June 16. On March 5, Shady Side received a favorable recommendation from the county planning commission. The 4.82-acre site is a redevelopment of an already existing property. It is zoned R-4 general residential. The property is surrounded by a motel, trailer park and commercial area. The step two site plan review will next go to the county planning commission.
JULY 17, 2020
Ocean City Today
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Ocean City Today
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JULY 17, 2020
OC Council pushes off shuttle vote More information needed for resort officials to make decision, tabled until Mon. By Josh Kim Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) Citing the need for more information, the Ocean City Council voted on Tuesday to defer to next Monday the decision of whether the resort would provide express shuttles for the White Marlin Open and the OC Air Show. Last week, the Ocean City Transportation Committee voted to recommend not providing either event with dedicated shuttle service based on low bus deployments, social distancing concerns and operating costs. For the White Marlin Open, there were additional concerns with the reduced capacity at Harbour Island near 14th Street, estimated to be 75 percent lower, which could result in overcrowding. However, Mayor Rick Meehan said he did not realize that the shuttle would not only stop at 14th Street near Harbour Island, but also at Third Street, where the White Marlin Open would host a virtual viewing event to help alleviate the social distancing and overcrowding concerns. “If we’re going to have the event, I think we should have an increase in
available transportation, whether it be a dedicated bus or an increase in the number of total buses we have out,” Councilman Matt James said. Councilman John Gehrig said the shuttle would help streamline travel and prevent visitors from congregating at and crowding 14th Street “Third Street is our goal,” said Madelyne Rowan, White Marlin Open co-owner and director. “There are still going to be people who go to 14th Street no matter how much we promote on our social media, [but] being able to move people from 14th Street to Third Street seamlessly would be a big help.” Councilman Dennis Dare, however, remained firm in his opposition to the shuttle and said parking would be available in a nearby municipal parking lot. Councilwoman Mary Knight added that parking at City Hall was also an option. Additionally, Dare said the shuttle would violate Gov. Larry Hogan’s guidelines for public transit, which is technically restricted to essential employees and essential travel. This, in turn, could negate the resort’s eligibility for reimbursements from the federal CARES Act, as it is administered by the Maryland Transit Administration. Transit Manager Mark Rickards
Resort Real Estate, Inc. Resort Rentals, LLC
said the resort should be safe, as the funding is federal and not state-derived, although he wasn’t 100 percent certain. Councilman Tony DeLuca recommended tabling the vote to allow Rickards to verify his assumption. Along with the shuttle recommendation, a request to reserve parking spaces at the Third Street location was also tabled, after Dare pointed out that the recommendation probably needed to include a request to close Chicago Avenue between Third and Fourth streets, as it would cause a safety hazard and obstruct the view of the screen. As for the OC Air Show, the council was more willing to reject the request, as the organizers had not offered any alternative viewing options. With a dedicated shuttle, participants would potentially be shoved into the area of 17th Street, and the council agreed that was not ideal for social distancing. “We’re trying to get people spread out, and this is like pushing people into one place,” Gehrig said. “Did [Chairman] Brian Lilley do anything in terms of alternative areas, like the White Marlin Open?” Special Events Director Frank Miller said the shuttle traditionally had been part of the show’s ticket sale efforts, although Miller asked to defer the question to Lilley. “Have these tickets already been sold for this event that would include a ride from the convention center parking lot to 17th Street? Because if that’s the case, I think we’re a little late,” James said.
JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Special Events Director Frank Miller asked City Council to table a decision on a dedicated shuttle service for the OC Air Show, which the council granted.
Miller said the council may be late, but would need to confirm with Lilley. “Since you’ve deferred conversation on the shuttle for the White Marlin Open until Monday, if you would like some additional information on the air show side, could that be added to the Monday night discussion?” Miller asked. The council agreed and tabled the OC Air Show shuttle request until next Monday. The council did, however, approve a request to revise the air show’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) to acknowledge several date changes and include language to address potential issues related to covid19.
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Tourism Commission meets, members discuss activity By Josh Kim Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) Government and business agencies provided activity updates during the Ocean City Tourism Commission meeting on Monday. Nancy Schwendeman, interim president of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber had little going on in the last month or so. The chamber applied for and received a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s Covid-19 Emergency Response fund, and is doling out the money to chamber members. The chamber is continuing to push out virtual job fairs locally and regionally, and chamber immediate past chair Stephanie Meehan said most of the organization’s special events had been put on hold, and that its annual award ceremony had been rescheduled to the first week of Feb-
ruary. Schwendeman added that the chamber also has teamed up with the Worcester County Tourism Department and the Ocean City HotelMotel-Restaurant Association to look at Puerto Rico as an option for seasonal workers. Mayor Rick Meehan and interim Tourism Director Jessica Waters said city officials and law enforcement were working on a “see something, do something,” video to encourage witnesses of violent and disorderly behavior to call police before recording an incident. This idea came from a meeting held last month, following a string of crimes in early June. Kevin Gibbs, Ocean City Development Corporation president, said business has been running smoothly for the organization. He said it’s façade, green building See CHAMBER Page 21
Ocean City Today
JULY 17, 2020
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Chamber, HMRA, OCDC and others discuss ads, events Continued from Page 18 initiative and business assistant program efforts continue, as do its its public art projects. The first two Sunset Park Dance Party Nights, held on Thursdays from 7-9 p.m., also went well, he said. As for the Ocean City Hotel-MotelRestaurant Association, Executive Director Susan Jones mentioned a potential social media facemask campaign that had been presented during a call with state tourism leaders. Talks are preliminary, however, and Jones said she did not know what would come to fruition. Nonetheless, Jones said one idea was to put masks on figures throughout the resort, such as the Jolly Roger pirate, the Ripley’s shark, the dolphin statue off the Route 90 Bridge, the white marlin statue at the Route 50 entrance and mini-golf dinosaurs. Jones also mentioned a partnership with the Maryland Coast Dispatch newspaper, in which an employee would be highlighted for his or her work. Ocean City convention center Director Larry Noccolino said businesses and city officials need to be transparent with covid-19 outbreaks among restaurant staff. The mayor said restaurants have been proactive in shutting down business, and only one had been shut down by the Worcester County Health Department for not following proper protocol. Special Events Director Frank Miller said the city’s special events were doing well under the current climate, and said he noticed that participant demographic had shifted from older to younger attendees. Unfortunately, he said the resort lost two events in October — the Spartan Race and Corvette Weekend. Following the reports, the commission went into closed session to discuss a fall marketing campaign with the resort’s advertising agency, MGH.
JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY
The Ocean City Tourism Commission met on Monday to discuss business activity.
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CORONAVIRUS CASES IN WORCESTER COUNTY TIMELINE: March 19 – Worcester County confirms its first case of coronavirus, a man in his 30s. March 21 – A woman in her 20s tests positive. March 30 – A third positive case diagnosed out of state is confirmed. April 1 – A woman in her 20s tests positive. April 2 – A man in his 40s tests positive; health department releases three cases from public monitoring. April 4 – A man in his 40s and a woman in her 60s test positive. April 5 – A man in his 60s and a woman in her 30s test positive. April 6 – A man in his 40s tests for a total of 10 positive cases in Worcester; four total cases have been released from public monitoring. April 9 – Six more people test positive. April 13 – Five more people test positive. April 15 – An out-of-county resident tests positive. April 16 – Three more people test positive for a total of 25 cases; nine individuals have been released from public monitoring. April 20 – Worcester counts a total of 33 cases; 11 individuals have been released from public monitoring. April 21 – One more person tests positive; 13 individuals have been released from public monitoring. April 24 – Five more cases diagnosed; 18 cases have been released from monitoring. April 25 – Two cases are diagnosed. April 26 – Two cases are diagnosed for a total of 48. April 27 – Five people test positive. April 28 – One person tests positive; 23 cases have been released from monitoring; a woman in her 80s has died. April 29 – Worcester has 55 confirmed cases. April 30 – Six people test positive for a total of 61 cases; 26 cases
have been released from monitoring; a second case dies. May 3 – Worcester counts 75 cases; 29 have been released from monitoring; a third death is probable. May 4 – Five more people are diagnosed. May 5 – One more person is diagnosed; 40 have been released from monitoring. May 6 – Five more cases are confirmed; three more people are released from monitoring. May 7 – Ten more people are diagnosed for 96 total; 47 total have been released from monitoring. May 8 – Two people are diagnosed; one is released from monitoring. May 9 – Four people are diagnosed; three are released from monitoring; another death is recorded. May 10 – Four people are diagnosed; one is released from monitoring. May 11 – Seven people are diagnosed. May 12 – One person is diagnosed. May 13 – 11 people are diagnosed for a total of 125; eight people are released from monitoring. May 14 – Two people are diagnosed; seven people are released from monitoring. May 15 - Four people are diagnosed; four are released from monitoring. May 17 - Six people are diagnosed; sixteen people are released from monitoring; six people total have died. May 18 - 27 people are diagnosed for a total of 164; four people are released from monitoring. May 19 - Two more people are released from monitoring. May 20 – Five people are diagnosed; one more person is released from monitoring; eight people total have died. May 21 – 12 more people are diagnosed for a total of 181; three more people are released from Continued on Page 24
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JULY 17, 2020
Covid-19 starts to spike in Wor., 44 cases in one week By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) As many states and counties experience a spike in coronavirus cases, Worcester County is following that trend with 44 cases diagnosed since last Thursday, according to the Worcester County Health Department. This brings the county’s total cases since March to 355. There have been 18 deaths in the county from coronavirus. Meanwhile, the Berlin Nursing Home has had 18 deaths, but one was a resiTravis Brown dent of another county. One of the deaths is listed as “probable” because the individual was never tested. The nursing home has recorded 33 staff cases and 68 resident cases, according to the Maryland Department of Health. According to its website, the nursing home has 165 resident beds. Multiple requests over the past couple months for comment from the nursing home have not produced a response. There are 168 cases in the Berlin and Ocean Pines 21811 zip code, 72 cases in the Ocean City 21842 zip code, 41 in the Snow Hill 21863 zip code and 68 in the Pocomoke City 21851 zip code. A zip code must have at least eight cases to be listed. A total of 269 people have been released from public monitoring. Worcester has conducted 6,467 coronavirus tests. As of Thursday, Maryland had 75,664 cases. As of Wednesday afternoon, there were two patients at Atlantic General Hospital with coronavirus – one in the intensive care unit on a ventilator and one in the med/surg unit, according to Toni Keiser, vice president of public relations. The hospital has cared for four patients who have come off a ventilator and have released 27 patients total with coronavirus. Following a string of restaurant closures because of safety precautions or an employee who tested positive, Travis Brown, public information office for the county health department, emphasized personal responsibility when deciding to dine indoors or outdoors. “Make sure the restaurant is following social distancing and all other health and safety guidelines including staff wearing masks,” Brown said. “If they are not, it is your choice to avoid the establishment.” To report a restaurant for not following safety guidelines, call environmental health at 410-352-3234.
He reminded the public to keep up basic health practices. “Nowhere in Maryland or the United States is currently a covid-19 free zone,” Brown said. “Everyone should continue to practice healthy habits and prevention techniques such as frequent handwashing, social distancing, face coverings when appropriate and staying home if sick.” As of Thursday, next door Wicomico had 1,164 cases and Sussex County has 5,153 cases as of Wednesday. According to the Maryland Department of Health, the state positivity rate was at 4.61 percent as of Wednesday. The health department has two free testing sites at its location in Pocomoke City on Walnut Street and at the West Ocean City Park N’ Ride. The testing is for adults at least 18 years old. Those who want to get tested should bring ID. Testing is available for Worcester County residents only at the Pocomoke location on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The West Ocean City testing site is open Monday and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. To 12 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 410-632-1100, ext. 1119. To treat patients, Atlantic General is asking for plasma donations from coronavirus survivors. This is for a Mayo Clinic study through the Blood Bank of Delmarva. The first patient transfusion took place on April 24. Donors must have tested positive for the virus and have been symptom-free for 28 days. Those who have been symptom-free for 14 days may also donate if they have tested negative. When a case is confirmed positive, the health department conducts contact tracing to inform individuals and businesses that may have come into contact with the positive case. If someone suspects they may have the virus, they should call their primary care provider or the health department. Do not show up unannounced to a medical facility. The Worcester County Health Department has a hotline Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to determine if a person should be tested. Call 410632-1100 and select option eight. For general information on the coronavirus call the health department 24/7 at 410-632-4321 or visit worcesterhealth.org. View updates from Atlantic General at atlanticgeneral.org/patients-visitors/covid-19updates/. To track Maryland cases, visit coronavirus.maryland.gov/. To donate plasma, go to delmarvablood.org/cpdonor or call 1-888825-6638.
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CORONAVIRUS CASES IN WORCESTER COUNTY TIMELINE: Continued from Page 22 monitoring for a total of 96. May 23 – Three people are released from monitoring. May 24 – Three more people are diagnosed; two more people die for a total of 10 deaths. May 25 – Two more people are diagnosed; one person dies for a total of 11 deaths. May 26 – Eight more people are diagnosed; five more people are released from monitoring. May 27 – Three more people are released from monitoring for a total of 107. May 28 – Five more people are diagnosed for a total of 198. May 29 - Eight more people are diagnosed; one more person dies for 13 total; nine more people have been released from monitoring. May 30 - Four more people test positive; 27 people are released from monitoring. May 31 - Four more people test positive; one more person is released from monitoring. June 1 - Three more people test positive. June 2 - Two more people test positive; Six more people are released from monitoring. June 3 – One person is released from public monitoring. June 4 – Four more people test positive for a total of 223; one more person dies for a total of 14; four more people are released from monitoring for a total of 152. June 7 - Nine more people are diagnosed; six more people are released from monitoring; one more person dies for a total of 15. June 8 - Three more people are di-
agnosed; Five more people are released from monitoring. June 9 - Four more people are diagnosed. June 10 - Three more people are diagnosed for a total of 243. June 11 – Three more people are released from monitoring for a total of 171. June 12 - Three more cases are confirmed; four more people are released from monitoring; one person dies for a total of 16. June 13 - Seven more cases are confirmed; five more cases are released from monitoring. June 14 - Three more cases are confirmed; one more person dies for a total of 17. June 15 - Two more cases are diagnosed; four more people are released from monitoring. June 16 - Two more people are released from monitoring. June 17 - Seven more cases for a total of 265; four more are released from monitoring for a total of 190. June 18 – Two more cases for a total of 267; two more released for a total of 192. June 21 - Four more cases are confirmed; six more are released. June 22 - Seven more cases are confirmed; eight are released. June 23 - Three more cases are confirmed; four more are released for 210. June 24 - One more case is confirmed for 278. June 26 - Four more cases for 282; six are released from monitoring for a total of 216. June 28 - 10 people are released from monitoring.
June 29 - Four more cases are confirmed; 12 are released from monitoring. July 1 - Three more cases for 289; three more released for 231. July 2 – One more is released from recovery for a total of 232. July 3 - Two more cases are confirmed; two more are released from public monitoring. July 4 - One more case is confirmed; one is released from public monitoring. July 5 - Four more cases are confirmed; two more are released from public monitoring. July 6 - One more case is confirmed; three more are released from public monitoring. July 7 - Four more cases are confirmed; five are released from public monitoring. July 9 – Ten more cases are confirmed for a total of 311; four are released from public monitoring for 248. July 10 – Two people are released from public monitoring. July 11 – Three more cases are confirmed. July 13 – Eight cases are confirmed; 10 are released from public monitoring; one person dies for a total of 18. July 14 – 10 cases are confirmed; four are released from public monitoring. July 15 – Seven cases are confirmed for a total of 339; two are released from public monitoring for a total of 266. July 16 – 16 cases are confirmed for a total of 355; three are released from public monitoring for a total of 269.
Water tests safe in St. Martin River By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) After reports last week that bacteria counts in the St. Martin River next to the Ocean Pines Swim and Racquet Club exceeded EPA safety standards, water sample data from July 8 compiled by Assateague Coastkeeper Kathy Phillips showed that water quality had dropped back to acceptable levels. Enterococci bacteria tests conducted on July 3 from the river, roughly 50 yards off the Swim and Racquet Club beach resulted in readings of 108.4 per milliliter, which was above EPA guidance that requires an advisory for results above 104 organisms per 100 milliliters. The numbers improved to 86.6 for the subsequent testing done by the Assateague Coastkeeper that was
posted online July 10. The river at the swim and racquet club is sampled weekly from May 15 from Sept. 6. Phillips said despite the improvement variable weather patterns could cause quick shifts in water quality. “Those were pulled on Wednesday, July 8 and then we have sixplus inches of rain on Friday,” she said. “Every street, neighborhood, and farm field was flooded with Kathy Phillips so much rain the subsequent runoff into our creeks and bays negated any results from last week.” Phillips said although the 108 reading just off the club’s beach caught the attention of many Pines residents, the same week Turville
oceancitytoday.com Will help baysideoc.com you find a
Creek tested at 1,382 per ml. “There was definitely something going on there at Turville Creek and we’re looking into that,” she said. “Now that’s a number where I would say don’t swim. Turville Creek samples are drawn from the Gum Point Road boat ramp Phillips said a good rule of thumb is to avoid open water swimming for at least 48 hours after strong downpours due to storm water runoff. “We’ll be testing again this Thursday and posting results on Friday,” she said. “With no rain in the forecast this week, I’m sure things will have calmed down by then and our test results should be pretty normal for late July.” Weekly test results are online at theswimguide.org/affiliates/assateague-coastal-trust/
ne Local Business onli
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ELIZABETH BONIN/OCEAN CITY TODAY
The new exhibit at the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum, “A Feminine Touch,” features notable women who contributed to the resort town’s success.
Ocean City museum unveils new ‘Feminine Touch’ exhibit By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) The Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum recently unveiled its new exhibit, “A Feminine Touch,” to tell the story of women who built Ocean City as a resort town. The exhibit starts with women from the “Petticoat Regime,” who owned some of the town’s first hotels in the 1800s. Back then, staying at a hotel for a week only cost around $15. The exhibit includes both a petticoat and dishware from old hotels on display. The exhibit then moves on to the “Steel Magnolias,” a group of some of the most successful businesswomen in Ocean City. Some of the women featured include, Lois Harrison, who built the Harrison Hall Hotel on 15th Street; Ann Showell, who built and operated Castle in the Sand on 37th Street with her husband; and Dorothy Taylor, who started the Kings Arms and Empress motels along Baltimore Avenue. Other notable women highlighted include, Zipporah Lewis, who collected and sold shipwreck remains in the 1850s to purchase land and build a home; Shirley Phillips, who opened Phillips Crab House with her husband; and Annie Spencer Bunting, who operated the Ocracoke Cottages. The exhibit also displays “Women in Uniform,” which includes Timaree Sparks, who served as chief officer of the Ocean City Coast Guard from 2014-2018. Christine Okerblom, assistant curator, said the museum wanted to celebrate the women of Ocean City
around the same time of the 100-year anniversary of the women’s right to vote. It should be noted that this is the anniversary that white women were allowed to vote – Black, Asian, Hispanic and Indigenous women could not vote until years later. “Ocean City is the resort town it is today because of many hard-working women,” Okerblom said. Before Ocean City had its name, it could have been called “The Ladies’ Resort to the Ocean,” according to Okerblom. She said that it is important to spotlight those who were responsible for positive change and success in the town. Okerblom said her favorite part of the exhibit highlights is Naomi Workman, who operated the switchboards in the 1920s during storms. She also survived polio. “She is the unsung hero,” Okerblom said. “She was brave and was there for her community and didn’t let her polio, her disability, stop her in any way.” Another highlight is a collage of photos of women in Ocean City. According to Okerblom, some have strong connections and contributions to Ocean City, while others have looser ties. She added that many of the artifacts on display have been in archival storage until now. “If you come out and see this exhibit, you’re going to see artifacts that you’ve never seen before,” Okerblom said. The exhibit opened about a month See EXHIBIT Page 27
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Jesse’s Paddle event moves online to support scholarship (July 17, 2020) July 18 would have been the 12th annual Jesse’s Paddle, an on-the-Pocomoke event to raise funds for the Jesse Klump Memorial Scholarship and the Jesse Klump Suicide Awareness & Prevention Program. Unfortunately, this is not a normal year. “But, that doesn’t stop the Jesse Klump Memorial Fund from celebrating the need for our scholarship, and the history of over a decade of dedication to ending the threat of suicide, nor does it diminish our need for funding, or of our appreciation for the donations our supporters so generously send us,” said Fund President Kim Klump. “Virtual” doesn’t mean just sitting ELIZABETH BONIN/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Christine Okerblom, assistant curator of the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum, helped bring the new exhibit, “A Feminine Touch,” to the Boardwalk building.
Exhibit recognizes notable women of Ocean City resort Continued from Page 26 ago and will be in the museum for at least three years. Through the covid-19 pandemic, Okerblom said the community has been really supportive. “They’re excited to see new exhibits and new programs,” Okerblom said. “We have just been trying to be a leader and taking the proper precautions. We’ve been able to do that successfully and this year definitely looks different for us, but we have held up well.” The museum, which is located at the southern end of the Boardwalk near the inlet parking lot, has several added safety measures in place. Face coverings are required for those ages 12 and over. Only 20 people will be admitted inside at a time. Hand sanitizer is also available throughout the building. The museum’s new hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It is closed on Sundays. Children age 11 and under with an adult are admitted for free. Admission for youths 12-18 years old is $3, as well as active duty military and seniors 62 years old and up. Admission for adults is $5. For more information, visit ocmuseum.org. S u p p o r t Yo u r Lo c a l R e s t a u r a n t s !
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on the sofa watching TV, she added. “We’re suggesting that our friends do something fun outdoors, send us a photo or video of your outdoor activity and tell us how being out in the fresh air made you feel, how it improved your mental health,” Klump said. Hashtag Facebook pictures/story post to #JessesVirtualPaddle2020, or send the message and the photos to weremember@jessespaddle.org and the organization will post them. There are many ways to make taxdeductible donations. Donors can send a check payable to: “Jesse’s Paddle,” P.O. Box 1786, Berlin, Maryland 21811, or click on the “donate” tab at the top of the See PARTICIPANTS Page 29
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Ocean City Today
Junior Beach Patrol academy kicks off summer sessions By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) Youth ages 10-17 have the opportunity to learn what it’s like to be a surf rescue technician through the Ocean City Junior Beach Patrol academy. The program, which started for the summer last week and has been around for 23 years, is so popular that the four-day sessions are already filled up and there is a waiting list. Participants are split up into four different levels for either a four-day session – morning or afternoon, Tuesday through Friday – or one-day session on Thursday. There are 180 youths signed up for the four-day sessions, but there is still room for the one-day sessions. Ocean City Beach Patrol Lt. Ward Kovacs, director of program, said that the one-day session is a sampling for those who might not have known about the program until later in the week, while the four-day session is more in depth. “They do a lot of different types of rescue scenarios and depending on what level they are, they’ll use different pieces of rescue equipment,” Kovacs said. For instance, level I students learn
ELIZABETH BONIN/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Participants of the Ocean City Junior Beach Patrol academy practice signals during the morning session on Tuesday, July 14.
to use rescue buoys, while level II participants are taught how to use landlines to make rescues. Level III participants learn to use surf rescue boards and those in level IV – the crew chief level – help lead the program. Students are also taught about the ocean and beach environment and meet with local emergency services. “They have a meeting at the firehouse and they meet with paramedics,” Kovacs said. “The paramedics show them all their equipment and the ambulance. They talk about the interactions between the beach patrol and the para-
medics.” Participants usually also visit the Ocean City Coast Guard station, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, they will instead have a presentation by Maryland Coastal Bays. “They’re going to come over and look at all different kinds of animals and seashells and a slideshow, a PowerPoint presentation about all the different marine life we have around Ocean City,” Kovacs said. “They’ll go over what to do if there’s a stranded dolphin or a stranded seal and how we treat them.” In addition, the program includes a visit from the bomb squad.
“The bomb squad will show them all the gear that they use and the robots,” Kovacs said. “They actually get to put on the bomb squad outfits and the protective gear.” The program is important, Kovacs said, because many students spend much of their time on the beach. “We ask them to be our advocates for beach safety,” Kovacs said. “If they see something unsafe, to let the lifeguards know.” He said that many program graduates go on to work as lifeguards. “The program started out as just beach safety outreach and it has morSee ACADEMY Page 29
NOW PLAYING
IDENTITY CRISIS Coconuts Beach Bar and Grill: Sunday, July 19, 4-8 p.m.
ON THE EDGE Lenny’s Beach Bar and Grille: Friday-Sunday, July 17-19, 5-10 p.m.
CAPTAIN’S TABLE 15th St. & Baltimore Ave., Ocean City 410-289-7192 / www.captainstableoc.com Every Friday & Saturday: Phil Perdue on piano, 5-9 p.m. COCONUTS BEACH BAR AND GRILL In the Castle in the Sand Hotel 37th Street oceanfront, Ocean City 410-289-6846 / www.castleinthesand.com July 17: Darin Engh, noon to 4 p.m.; TBA, 5-9 p.m.
July 18: Chris Diller Duo, noon to 4 p.m.; Human Connection, 5-9 p.m. July 19: Nate McCormick, noon to 3 p.m.; Identity Crisis, 4-8 p.m. July 20: Natt Tichon Solo, noon to 3 p.m.; Bob Wilkinson & Joe Smooth, 4-8 p.m. July 21: Jack Bannon, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; The Loomitix, 3:30-7:30 p.m. July 22: Heather Vidal Solo, noon to 3 p.m.; Bilenki Duo, 4-8 p.m. July 23: Lime Green Duo, noon to 3 p.m.; Chris Diller Duo, 4-8 p.m.
OCEAN CLUB NIGHTCLUB
SEACRETS
101st Street, Ocean City In the Horizons Restaurant, in the Clarion Fontainebleau Hotel 410-524-3535 / www.clarionoc.com July 17-18: First Class, 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Lenny’s Beach Bar and Grille July 17-19: On The Edge, 5-10 p.m. July 20-26: First Class, 5-10 p.m.
49th Street and the bay, Ocean City 410-524-4900 / www.seacrets.com July 17: Steal the Sky Duo, 4-8 p.m.; Kono Nation Duo, 8-11:30 p.m. July 18: Opposite Direction, 4-8 p.m.; John McNutt Duo, 8-11:30 p.m. July 19: Benderz Duo, 4-8 p.m.; Late Last Night Duo, 8-11:30 p.m. July 20: Full Circle, 4-8 p.m.; Steal the Sky Duo, 8-11:30 p.m. July 21: Opposite Direction, 4-8 p.m.; Cherry Crush Duo, 8-11:30 p.m. July 22: Full Circle Duo, 4-8 p.m.; Benderz Duo, 8-11:30 p.m. July 23: John McNutt, 4-8 p.m.; Kono Nation Duo, 8-11:30 p.m.
OCEAN PINES YACHT CLUB 1 Mumfords Landing Road, Ocean Pines 410-641-7501 / www.opyachtclub.org July 17: Full Circle, 6-10 p.m. July 18: Beatlegacy, 6-10 p.m. July 19: First Class, 6-10 p.m. July 23: Bone Daddy, 6-10 p.m.
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Ocean City Today
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Academy teaches safety, rescue techniques Continued from Page 28 phed into more than that,” Kovacs said. “It’s still beach safety outreach, but it’s also become a big recruiting tool for us.” Callie Mull, 13, from Salisbury, is a third-year participant and hopes to join beach patrol some day. Her brother, Connor, is a member of the patrol. “He did it [junior beach patrol] when he was younger, so I decided I’ll try it and I really liked it,” Mull said. “I learned it’s good to keep other people safe.” Mirana Shorky, 15, from upstate New York, went through junior beach patrol and is now an assistant instructor. She was inspired to join the program because she grew up seeing guards on the beach and has friends who are lifeguard too. “I loved all the people there [in the program],” Shorky said. “Everyone’s so friendly. It’s like a giant family.” Shorky said she has learned about the water, beach rules and how to stay safe, and has improved personal qualities. “When I started, I was really quiet and shy, and all the people, they helped me build up self-confidence and work for what I wanted,” Shorky said. “I love seeing how me and the other people are growing and continuing to excel.” Shorky will take the test to join Ocean City Beach Patrol later this summer. Kovacs said his favorite part of running the program is seeing the students progress and become comfortable with the ocean. “I remember some of the kids that I know that were 10 years old, barely able to hold a lifeguard buoy, and now I see them driving up and down the beach on ATVs as area supervisors,” Kovacs said. “That for me is rewarding.” Although the program will still run for six weeks as usual, beach patrol
ELIZABETH BONIN/OCEAN CITY TODAY
The Ocean City Junior Beach Patrol academy participants hit the water for their first day of training on Tuesday, July 14.
did have to make several adjustments for covid-19 safety precautions. “The biggest change is we’ve cut the number [of students] in each session to 20 – it’s almost in half,” Kovacs said. “That allows us to spread out in the classroom a little more.” When students visit the police department and firehouse, they must wear masks. Masks must also be worn for check-in and when parents arrive for pick-up and drop-off. The instructors also try to keep all the levels separated from each other. The morning sessions run from 811:30 a.m. The afternoon sessions are from 1-4:30 p.m. The program costs $110 for Ocean City residents and $135 for nonresidents. The one-day session run from 1-4:30 p.m. and cost $30 for Ocean City residents and $35 for nonresidents. For more information, visit https://camps.oceancitymd.gov/junior-beach-patrol-camp/
Participants asked to send photos of outdoor activities Continued from Page 27 www.jessespaddle.org home page. Donations can be made on Facebook as well, or by going to the Jesse’s Paddle 2020 crowdfunding site. Start at www.jessespaddle.org, click on Jesse’s Paddle, and the link to the crowdfunding will appear. At the crowdfunding site, donors can donate in general, on behalf of a friend who has created his or her own crowdfunding page, or create their own pages. The 2020 Jesse’s Paddle Silent Auction is moving online. To see the
items that have been donated, again start at www.jessespaddle.org, click on Jesse’s Paddle and the link to the silent auction. Bidding opens June 18 and continues through July 18. This year’s kayak raffle is online, featuring an Old Town Vapor 12XT solo kayak. There are tabs for the online auction and raffle tickets (and links to both at www.jessespaddle. org. click on Jesse’s Paddle): https://admin.charityauctionstoday.com/np/orgs/198826/auctions https://www.charityauctionstoday.c om/t/jkmf-kayak-raffle-98fc18d4ef.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
HOROSCOPE
Dip beer-battered, crispy onion rings in spicy ketchup By Deborah Lee Walker Contributing Writer (July 17, 2020) The exploration of scientific principles and acknowledgement of personal preferences are the underlying philosophies of cooking. Never allow conventionalism to become the new “norm.” Always ask “why” and satiate one’s inner being with exploration. It is then and only then one understands what it means to be a chef. That being said, cookery has reached an unequivocal state of proficiency. The absence of complexity does not always mean the introduction of simplicity. Details and their finer counterparts are critical for the success of a dish. This process must be carefully thought out, no matter the degree of difficulty. With that thought in mind, let us delve into the mastery of onion rings. One might ask, how complicated is it to fry a battered slice of onion? Read on, you might be surprised. First, one should consider the type of onion that should be used. Red onions are strong in flavor, yellow onions produce average results, but vidalia or sweet onions are the preferred choice. Their natural sweetness along with the crispy coating is a winning combination. The batter is another consideration and the results can range from a cake-like texture to a coating that barely covers the actual onion. On the Eastern Shore, the most popular batter is a beer-based batter where the beer acts a leavening agent. My kitchen has been turned into a lab and I became a mad scientist where I tried every combination possible. I soaked the onion rings in buttermilk and dredged them with a combination of flour, panko and cornmeal. I thought the panko and cornmeal might give the rings extra texture. The results were very disappointing. The coating fell off of the onions and produced limp, soggy rings. I was not going to give up on this idea, and double-dipped the rings. This would surely solve the problem. Wrong again. The thick batter absorbed too much oil and produced disappointing results. My next train of thought was to add an egg to the batter. Big mistake. I ended up with a dish that looked like it was a cross between onion rings and funnel cake.
JULY 17, 2020
Ocean City Today
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I went back to the drawing board and found that equal parts of flour and cornstarch produces the right consistency for crispy onion rings. I tried this combination and was pleasantly surprised. There was enough coating to provide the coveted crunch, but it did not overpower the onion. But there are still a few critical steps that need to be addressed for mouth-watering onion rings. The next issue at hand is transferring your cooked onion rings to a resting place before serving them. Do not place your fried foods on a plate lined with paper towels. This step is probably the worst thing one can do when frying foods. You have worked so hard to develop a crispy crust, and the last thing you want to do is have them sitting on soaking wet paper towels full of grease. The solution is easy. Place the fried foods on a cooling rack. You will be amazed at the difference. Also, when the hot, cooked onion rings are placed on the cooling rack, this is the time to salt and pepper them. The hot outer coating will absorb the seasoning and produce a tastier bite. In closing, cookouts are in full swing. Surprise your guests with something different. Crunchy onion rings accompanied with spicy ketchup will have them asking for more. Enjoy!
Spicy Ketchup 2/3 cup ketchup ½ cup barbecue sauce ½ cup steak sauce ¼ cup wing sauce ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper ¼ teaspoon garlic powder ¼ teaspoon onion powder 1. In a medium bowl, whisk all the ingredients until thoroughly incorporated. Cover with plastic and refrigerate until ready to use. Allow to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.
Onion Rings 2 large sweet onions, peeled and sliced into ½-inch thick rounds 3 cups beer (preferably lager or pil-
sner) 2 teaspoons malt vinegar kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 quarts peanut or canola oil ¾ cup all-purpose flour ¾ cups cornstarch 1 teaspoon baking powder 1. Marinate onions, 2 cups beer, malt vinegar and a few pinches of salt in a large Ziploc bag for 15 minutes. 2. In the meantime, heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat to 350 degrees. 3. While the oil is heating, combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder and a few pinches of salt in a large bowl. Slowly whisk in 1 cup of beer. 4. Drain onion rings, separate rings, and blot with a paper towels. Working in batches, dip rings into batter, one at a time, and fry until golden brown. Do not overcrowd the pan. Otherwise, the temperature of the oil will drop and you will end up with a soggy mess. 5. Remove cooked onion rings and place on a cooling rack underlined with paper towels. Salt and pepper onion rings. Continue the cooking process for the remaining onion rings. – Secret Ingredient – Onions. “Life is an onion – you peel it year by year and sometimes cry.” – Carl Sandburg
Berlin Peach Day to host scavenger hunt, food vendors By Ally Lanasa Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) The Calvin B. Taylor House Museum on North Main Street in Berlin will hold a Peach Day on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. instead of the traditional festival because of coronavirus concerns. Museum curator Susan Taylor said the 12th annual event will take place throughout downtown rather than on the museum lawn to encourage social distancing. Local nonprofit vendors will be offering products on their properties. See ANNUAL Page 31
Try to keep the peace with other people this week, Gemini. Lead by example rather than telling others what to do. This approach will be more warmly received by others.
CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 You may want to look up old friends who you haven’t seen for a while, Cancer. You may be feeling sentimental or sociable and a simple text or phone call can be effective.
LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 You like to have the final say in all matters, Leo. But there is a fine line between taking charge and being a control freak. Let others’ reactions help you fine tune your delivery.
VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 You will be able to get to the root of problem this week if you put in some serious effort, Virgo. It may involve receiving and analyzing feedback from many different people.
LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 This week’s overall outlook is positive for you, Libra. However, you may have to work a little bit for that positivity. The attitude you present is what you will get in return.
SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, embrace your creative side rather than your analytical side. Employ your creativity this week and you may be surprised at the results.
SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 You may have to rethink certain principles that you have adhered to for years, Sagittarius. After some reflection, you may realize life has changed and you must adjust.
CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 It may not be easy to get things done this week, Capricorn. You might find it challenging to muster up the energy to be effective. If so, look to others for motivation.
AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, lately you have been challenged to assert yourself in many different ways. You tend to thrive in a leadership role, but don’t let the stress get the best of you.
PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Many things come to you naturally. Examine your strengths and figure out how to be as productive as possible in the days ahead.
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Annual Berlin festival shortened to one day Continued from Page 30 “Stevenson Church will be selling their crabcakes on the church’s lawn,” Taylor said. Buckingham Presbyterian Church will be selling their pies that were normally on our lawn. They’ll be selling them at their church lawn. Baked Desserts is still going to have the peach dumplings that they had on our lawn, but it will be at their business downtown. So, the idea is to get people to filter through downtown instead of congregating in one place.” Commerce Street will be closed off for the event to allow for more food vendors. Island Creamery, On What Grounds?, Sisters, Uncle Jon’s, Beach Memories and Bruder Hill will be offering peach-flavored treats throughout the celebration. “We are preparing a little map of businesses that are doing like special deals or that want to be involved,” Taylor said. A scavenger hunt is also planned to have people spread out through town. “Businesses around town will have peach-related questions in their shops, and people can start the scavenger hunt, bring back the completed questionnaire to the museum, and we’re going to have a drawing and pick a winner,” Taylor said. No craft vendors will participate this year. “There were just too many people on the lawn,” Taylor said. “It would draw too many crowds.”
Taylor said the modern-day peach festival that is now a popular event in Berlin was inspired by a one-day celebration of peaches in the early 20th Century. The first “Great Peach Fest” took place in Berlin on July 31, 1913. J.G. Harrison & Sons hosted the event, according to a post on Calvin B. Taylor House Museum’s Facebook page. The “Great Peach Susan Taylor Fest” brought together 2,000 horticulturalists to inspect the orchards at Harrisons’ Nurseries and learn about the spraying method used to preserve the year’s peach crop. Taylor said the museum members read 50 years’ worth of newspapers to research an exhibit and learned about the “Great Peach Fest.” “The article mentioned they had like a big picnic in front of the Harrison House, which is in town here, the one where the nursery offices were. There were pictures of all the people on the yard, and it mentioned how much food they had,” Taylor said. The peach festival is one of the biggest fundraisers for the museum and surrounding nonprofits. “We want it to be a community event to help boost the economy of Berlin,” said Jan Quick, museum committee member.
During this year’s Peach Day, the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum will sell peaches on the lawn by the bag for $8 or half bushel for $70, homemade peach jam for $8 and museum totes filled with books about Berlin and Worcester County and jam for $30. Pre-ordering will be available until July 28, with a $40 minimum. Quick said the prices may be slightly higher than in the past, but customers should view their purchases as a dona-
tion to the museum. Customers must pre-pay by credit card and pick-up on Aug. 1. Masks are required when on the museum lawn to pick up peaches. The George and Pat Bilenki Duo will perform on the lawn, providing background music for shoppers. For more information, follow the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum and Town of Berlin pages on Facebook or call the museum at 410-641-1019.
OC fundraiser this weekend to benefit Special Olympics (July 17, 2020) Join Pfc. Neshawn Jubilee, the Worcester County coordinator for Special Olympics Maryland, members of the Ocean City Police Department and Special Olympics Maryland athletes on Friday, July 17 from 2-8 p.m. and Sunday, July 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for the second annual Cover the Cruiser Law Enforcement Torch Run fundraising event. A marked Ocean City Police Department vehicle will be parked at North Division Street underneath the Boardwalk arch. Any pledge amount or the purchase of Law Enforcement Torch Run mer-
chandise is accepted and will allow guests the opportunity to place a pledge card on the cruiser. The goal of the event is to cover the cruiser with pledge cards. All proceeds raised will benefit Special Olympics Maryland. Law Enforcement Torch Run 2020 T-shirts, in adult and youth sizes, and hats will also be available for purchase for $15 each. For more information, email Pfc. Jubilee at njubilee@oceancitymd.gov, or Ashley Miller, deputy communications manager, Ocean City Police Department, at 410-520-5395 or amiller@oceancitymd.gov.
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ON GUARD
Difference between rip current and rip tide By Kristin Joson Contributing Writer (July 17, 2020) If you spend anytime at the beach and listen to local television or radio at this time of the year, you will hear about the dangers of rip currents. I get a lot of questions about what the difference is between a rip current and a rip tide and what makes them so dangerous. You will see on local and national news coverage stories about rip currents. Although they are often mistakenly referred to as “rip tides,” they are in fact, a current. A current is simply a volume of water moving from one location to another. In contrast, tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun and occur about every 12 hours. What makes a rip current dangerous is that it moves water away from beach and out to sea, where north or south currents (littoral current) just move water along the beach. As water flows away from the beach, in the rip, anything or anyone in that water will also be pulled steadily away from shore. This action not only accounts for how unsuspecting bathers and people that never intended to go out further than their waist are pulled into water that is over their heads. It also is responsible for creating the telltale signs that identify a rip current to the trained eye. As waves break and stir up the sandy bottom and create foam this discolored water and foam are carried away from the shore clearly marking the location of a rip current. While the mechanics of a rip current are easily understood, they still remain the greatest surf zone hazard for anyone enjoying water activities at any beach (80 percent worldwide) and account for over 95 percent of all water-related rescues in Ocean City and are responsible for most ocean drownings. Rip currents are such a well-known natural hazard that the National Weather Service has identified them as the third-leading cause of weather-related death. If you question the seriousness of this threat then just take a moment to realize that not all states could even contribute to this statistic because not all states have ocean beaches. So being the third-leading cause of weather-related death is quite significant. Already this summer there have been dozens of rip current drowning around the U.S. as well as in the Great Lakes, yes even the Great Lakes has rip currents. To understand how to escape a rip current it is important to understand what causes rip currents. Rip currents occur when water that comes into the beach by wave action
and wind needs to make it’s way back out. Because a sand bar runs the length of Ocean City, water that has come over the sand bar needs to make its way back out. Because wave action continues to bring water over the sandbar, the water has difficulty going out against the incoming flow. Water will take the path of least resistance and find a lower spot along the sandbar to become the natural path for the flow of the water. As more water comes across the sandbar the volume in the trough (water trapped between the beach and sandbar) increases and this additional volume of water causes an increasingly greater volume of water to flow through this path. As water flows along this path it will move sand and creates a deep underwater channel from the shoreline through the sandbar. As waves break near the beach they cause a change in bathometry (the contour of the ocean bottom), which causes a constant change in the sandbar and thus rip current locations and severity are constantly changing. Rips can open up at any given time, sometimes referred to as “Flash Rips.” Just last week I was out swimming and I could see little rips opening up where just minutes before there weren’t any in the area where I was swimming. It was a rough choppy day and the sandbar was being broken away. Another factor that has an influence on the frequency and severity of rip current activity is water depth, which is directly related to changing tides. This is why rip current risk may be reported as moderate at 1 p.m. and become high at 4 p.m. The Ocean City Beach Patrol provides rip current assessments to NOAA three times each day. We have also worked directly with scientists to understand rip currents and how to better forecast and predict them. Rip currents do not pull a person under water as a lot of people believe. It is the deep channel cut into the sandbar that gives the impression that a swimmer maybe pulled down. In reality what is happening is a nonswimmer who intended to remain only in waist-deep water is being moved by the rip current into increasingly deeper water channel. Since they cannot swim, they try to stand on the bottom and as they move away from the shore the water becomes over their head and they are no longer able to keep their head above water. Therefore, a person watching from the beach may think that what they believe they are seeing is a person being pulled under. In fact, it is a non-swimmer who does not have the ability to keep their head above water. If this occurs while the beach patrol is on duty, the lifeguard will simply as-
sist the person back to safety. However, if this occurs while lifeguards are not on duty, the outcome could be deadly (over 98 percent of all drowning deaths in Ocean City over the past 90 years have occurred when the beach patrol was not on duty). You may believe that only non-swimmers drown as a result of rip currents while in reality, many rip current drowning victims had moderate to good swimming ability. This brings up the question, why
would a person who knows how to swim, drown? The answer is simple. Panic, fatigue and lack of ocean awareness all contribute to the outcome. A rip current is very much like a treadmill. As water is flowing away from the beach, a swimmer attempting to swim straight in will make little or no progress against this outgoing current. Since a rip current may flow faster than an Olympic swimmer can swim, swimming against this current only See AWARENESS Page 33
CROSSWORD
Answers on page 8
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ON GUARD
Awareness aids safety of ocean swimmers Continued from Page 32 causes a person in this situation to become fatigued while getting no closer to the beach. Eventually they become so fatigued that they are no longer able to keep their head above water and once they slip below the water’s surface and are no longer able to get air, they become unconscious and only have moments before they become a statistic. In contrast, a swimmer or someone with a flotation device can easily escape the pull of the rip. By nature, a typical rip current is not very wide – usually 20 yards at most – which means that a person who is being pulled out can be out of the rip after a few swimming strokes. Also once the rip current flows through the cut in the sandbar the pull disperses and the current no longer continues to pull you away from shore. With these facts in mind, if you find yourself being pulled away from shore, do not panic, simply swim parallel to shore and once you no longer feel the pull of the rip, swim back into shore. If you feel you are unable to swim across the rip relax, let it take you out to the sandbar and then swim back to shore. Whatever you do, never abandon a flotation device and always signal the
lifeguard if you want their assistance. In most cases they will already be on their way to assist you back to safety. Even our lifeguards will not attempt to swim straight in against a rip current. They use their knowledge of the ocean to swim parallel to the beach until they are out of the rip current and then make their way back into safety with a victim in tow holding onto the buoy that they handed them as a flotation device to keep them above water. If you can remember the word RIP then you can remember what to do to save your life, R = Relax and do not panic, I = I need help (wave your arm), P= Swim Parallel to return to safety. For additional information about rip currents and other water safety topics visit our webpage, www.ococean.com/ocbp and follow the safety button. NOAA also has a very informative site to learn more about how they occur and how to remain safe. To learn more, visit www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/. Not only do our surf rescue technicians play an important role in educating the public about rip currents and beach safety, as an organization, we have been involved in scientific research about rip currents and surf zone hazards, with NOAA, University of
Delaware, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland Sea Grant as well as being recognized internationally for our educational outreach efforts. It’s always exciting to be able to network with other organizations including NOAA about current rip current and surf zone research. NOAA also presented the beach patrol with an award for “Rip Current Awareness and Prevention” at a meeting of the Mayor and City Council a couple of seasons ago. Scott Schumann, IT officer from NOAA comes each year to train our lifeguards as we continue our partnership
for identifying, predicting and understanding rip currents. My best advice to you is to only swim when lifeguards are on duty and you can always approach any of our friendly and knowledgeable lifeguards and ask them to talk to you about current conditions and information about rip currents as well as looking at the rip current diagram on the back of every stand along the beach. If you think you would like to make a difference and have an exciting fulfilling position with the beach patrol, ask any of our guards or visit our website at www.ococean.com/ocbp.
OP organizations receive funds (July 17, 2020) The Women’s Club of Ocean Pines recently announced that it has awarded $1,100 in community donations for 2020. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, the awards ceremony normally held in May was canceled. The following organizations will be receiving their letters and donation checks in the mail: Ocean Pines Recreation & Parks, Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department (EMT), Coastal Hospice, Mid-
Atlantic Symphony Student Outreach Program, Shore Elite, Stories Love Music, Town Cats, Women Supporting Women, and Worcester County Veterans Memorial “Flags for Heroes.” Throughout the year, monies are raised by the women through fundraisers. The use of these donations is limited to organizations that promote the welfare and interests of the residents of Ocean Pines.
Dining Guide ■ PRICE RANGE: $, $$, $$$ ■ RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted ________________________________
DOWNTOWN
South end to 28th Street ■ ANGLER RESTAURANT 312 Talbot St., Ocean City 410-289-7424, www.angleroc.net $$ | Kids’ Menu | Full Bar Enjoy a $5 cruise with meal. Celebrating 82 years of serving visitors and locals. Bayfront lunch and dinner. Offering historical favorites as well as fresh new creations. Seafood is our specialty but great landlubber choices are available. Enjoy Boat Bar Happy Hour, 3-6 p.m. Live local entertainment Thursday through Sunday. ■ CAPTAIN’S TABLE 15th Street and Baltimore Avenue, inside The Courtyard by Marriott 410-2897192/7191, www. captainstableoc.com $$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Breakfast served Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dinner served 7 days a week, 5-9 p.m. Featuring seafood, steaks and poultry. Early Bird served Monday through Friday, 5-6 p.m.; daily chef specials. ■ THE DOUGH ROLLER S. Division Street and Boardwalk 410-2893501; 3rd Street and Boardwalk 410-2892599 $$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for S. Division Street and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. for 3rd Street. Breakfast served daily at 3rd, 41st, 70th and WOC. Carryout available at all locations. Order online for 41st, 70th and WOC at www.TheDoughRoller.com. ■ FISH TALES BAR & GRILL 22nd Street, bayside 410-289-0990, www.ocfishtales.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Home of the Bumper Tables. Waterfront restaurant with American pub eats and seafood, plus a dock bar and playground on the sand. Open 7 days a week. ■ PHILLIPS SEAFOOD, CRAB HOUSE 21st Street, Ocean City 410-289-7747, PhillipsSeafood.com $$-$$$ | Full bar Traditional dining and carry out. Hooper’s Island crab cakes, steamed blue crabs, ultimate seafood feast, fried chicken and more.
Known for their famous steamed crabs. Outdor dining. Casual seasonal seafood stop for steamed crabs, with all-you-can-eat specials. Also take outs available. ■ SEACRETS 49th Street, Ocean City 410-524-4900, www.seacrets.com $$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Island atmosphere. Soups, salads, Jamaican jerk chicken, appetizers, sandwiches, paninis, pizza and fresh seafood. Outdoor dining.
MIDTOWN 29th to 90th streets
91st to 146th streets
■ BJ’S ON THE WATER 75th Street, Ocean City 410-524-7575, www.bjsonthewater.com $-$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Bayside venue with deck seating. Serves pub grub and seafood. Take out only, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Open Thursday through Tuesday. ■ THE DOUGH ROLLER 41st Street and Coastal Highway 410-5249254; 70th Street and Coastal Highway 410524-7981 Hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday. See description under downtown location. ■ JOHNNY’S PIZZA PUB 56th Street, Ocean City 410-723-5600, www.johnnyspizzapub.com $ | Kids’ menu | Full Bar Featuring homemade pizzas, 18 gourmet pizzas, a variety of calzones, subs, burgers, sandwiches and jumbo wings with 20 different sauces. Open everyday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in, pickup, carryout and delivery. ■ PGN CRAB HOUSE 29th Street, Ocean City www.pgncrabhouse.com $$ | Beer & wine
UPTOWN
■ BREAKERS PUB 10100 Coastal Hwy./Clarion 410-524-3535 $ | Full bar Open Daily, 4 p.m.-til. Happy Hour, Sunday through Friday, 4-7 p.m. 9 Hi-Def TVs. ■ HORIZONS OCEANFRONT RESTAURANT 101st Street, Ocean City 410-524-3535, www.clarionoc.com $-$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Carry-out daily: breakfast, 7 a.m., light fare and menu items, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. ■ LENNY’S BEACH BAR & GRILL 101st Street, Ocean City 410-524-3535, www.clarionoc.com $-$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Outdoor dining, 11 a.m.-til. ■ REEF 118 118th Street, in the Carousel Oceanfront Hotel and Condos, Ocean City 410-5241000, www.carouselhotel.com $-$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Oceanfront dining in a casual atmosphere. Serving breakfast, Friday through Sunday 7-11 a.m. Featuring a breakfast buffet or special order from the regular menu. Enjoy our delicious 3 Course Dinner for $25 served every Friday and Saturday, 4-9 p.m. with the choice of appetizer, entree and dessert.
WEST OCEAN CITY ■ THE DOUGH ROLLER West Ocean City, 12849 Ocean Gateway 410-213-7655 Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. See description under downtown location. ■ SHRIMP BOAT 9724 Stephen Decatur Hwy., West Ocean City 410-213-0448 $-$$$ | Kids’ menu | Beer & wine Orange Crush, frozen cocktails, steamed crabs and shrimp, full menu, appetizers, fresh seafood and more, Open everyday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dine-in - inside and outside, carryout and delivery.
OCEAN PINES ■ JOHNNY’S PIZZA PUB 11019 Manklin Meadows Lane, Ocean Pines 410-208-1212, www.johnnyspizzapub.com $ | Open everyday, noon to 8 p.m. for dining, pickup, carryout and delivery. Pizza and wings. ■ OCEAN PINES YACHT CLUB 1 Mumford Landing Road, Ocean Pines 410641-7222, www.OPyachtclub.com $$-$$$ | Full bar The Ocean Pines Yacht Club offers casual coastal cuisine for lunch and dinner in a beautiful bayfront setting. Fresh seafood, signature drinks, live music and more. Open daily, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. ■ CLUBHOUSE BAR AND GRILLE 100 Clubhouse Drive, Ocean Pines 410-6417222, oceanpinesgolf.org/dining $$ | Full bar With sweeping views of the 18th hole, the new Clubhouse Bar and Grille serves freshly prepared breakfast and lunch items. Full bar. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, weather permitting.
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Calendar Fri., July 17 COVER THE CRUISER - TORCH RUN SPECIAL OLYMPICS N. Division Street, 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM. The Ocean City Police Department will park a cruiser on the boardwalk under the Boardwalk Arch. Any pledge amount of the purchase of Law Enforcement Torch Run merchandise is accepted and will allow participants the opportunity to place a pledge card on the cruiser. The goal is to cover the cruiser with pledge cards. All proceeds benefit Special Olympics Maryland.
FREE MOVIE ON THE BEACH 27th Street Beach, 8:30 PM. Sit in the sand and enjoy a free movie. Featuring “Cars.” Participants are asked to practice physical distancing. All titles are subject to change without notice. All movies are weather permitting. Attendance is at your own risk. Ocean City Recreation & Parks, 410-2500125, http://www.oceancitymd.gov
TRIMPER’S GREENMARKET Fridays through Thanksgiving - Trimper’s Rides, 700 S. Atlantic Ave., 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. The market will include all types of produce including mushrooms, fruits and vegetables as well as flowers and herbs. Farms interested in participating can apply online at www.trimperrides.com.
Sat., July 18
“Jaded Love” (American rock tribute band) and various free activities and entertainment for children. Prepackaged ice cream will be available for purchase. Take a picnic basket and beach chairs. The night will end with a fireworks display at 9 p.m. Participants are asked to practice physical distancing. Attendance is at your own risk. 410-289-2800 or 800-626-2326, https://ococean.com/events
THE BERLIN FARMERS MARKET Sundays through Aug. 30 - Located on Pitts Street and Main Street, 9:00 AM 1:00 pm. Special senior shopping time from 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM. www.berlinmainstreet.com
Mon., July 20 STARPOWER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Ocean City convention center, 4001 Coastal Highway. World championship competition for dancers who qualified at regionals held across the U.S. General information: 301-870-9550. Registration questions: daniella@starpowertalent.com. 301-8709550, https://starpowertalent.com
TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY MEETING The meeting will be held via conference call, 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM. Dial 605-4725789, wait for voice command, then press 944874. TOPS is a weekly support and educational group promoting weight loss and healthy lifestyle. Berlin group No. 169. Rose Campion, 410-641-0157
FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET Saturdays - White Horse Park, 239 Ocean Parkway, 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Shop for everything from fresh local produce to unique handmade artisan goods. Open to the public.
Sun., July 19 COVER THE CRUISER - TORCH RUN SPECIAL OLYMPICS N. Division Street, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. The Ocean City Police Department will park a cruiser on the boardwalk under the Boardwalk Arch. Any pledge amount of the purchase of Law Enforcement Torch Run merchandise is accepted and will allow participants the opportunity to place a pledge card on the cruiser. The goal is to cover the cruiser with pledge cards. All proceeds benefit Special Olympics Maryland.
STARPOWER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Ocean City convention center, 4001 Coastal Highway. World championship competition for dancers who qualified at regionals held across the U.S. General information: 301-870-9550. Registration questions: daniella@starpowertalent.com. 301-870-9550, https://starpowertalent.com
FREE DRIVE-IN MOVIE Ocean City convention center, 4001 Coastal Highway, 8:00 PM. Featuring “Dolittle” (101 minutes). Movie audio is via FM radio frequency (monitor your car’s battery). Participants are reminded to stay inside their vehicle unless using available amenities. Portable restrooms will be available. All movies subject to weather-related conditions. 800-OC-OCEAN or 410-289-2800, https://ococean.com/events/drive-inmovies2020
Tues., July 21 STARPOWER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Ocean City convention center, 4001 Coastal Highway. World championship competition for dancers who qualified at regionals held across the U.S. General information: 301-870-9550. Registration questions: daniella@starpowertalent.com. 301-8709550, https://starpowertalent.com
BOOK CLUB (AGES 6-12) (YOUTH)
SUNDAES IN THE PARKS
The group will discuss Mercy Watson to the Rescue (book 1) and Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride (book 2) by Kate DiCamillo, 2:00 PM. Both are available on Hoopla. Register: https://worcesterlibrary.libcal.com/event/ 6832828
Northside Park, 200 125th St., Ocean City, MD, 7:00 PM. Featuring free music by
FREE FAMILY BEACH GAMES
27th Street Beach, 6:30 PM. Held Tuesdays through Aug. 11. Participants are asked to practice physical distancing. Attendance is at your own risk. https://ococean.com/events/family-beachgames2020Hel
FREE DRIVE-IN MOVIE Ocean City convention center, 4001 Coastal Highway, 8:00 PM. Featuring “Field of Dreams” (107 minutes). Movie audio is via FM radio frequency (monitor your car’s battery). Participants are reminded to stay inside their vehicle unless using available amenities. Portable restrooms will be available. All movies subject to weather-related conditions. 800-OC-OCEAN or 410-2892800, https://ococean.com/events/drivein-movies2020
Wed., July 22 STARPOWER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Ocean City convention center, 4001 Coastal Highway. World championship competition for dancers who qualified at regionals held across the U.S. General information: 301-870-9550. Registration questions: daniella@starpowertalent.com. 301-870-9550, https://starpowertalent.com
ART STUDIO: TROPICAL LANDSCAPES (YOUTH) The group will look at a variety of paintings and painting techniques, 2:30 PM. Optional supplies: acrylic paints, paint brushes, a surface to paint on, pencil and paper. Register: https://worcesterlibrary.libcal.com/event/ 6823959.
FREE MOVIE ON THE BEACH Carousel Resort Hotel and Condominiums, 11700 Coastal Highway, 8:30 PM. Sit in the sand and enjoy a free movie. Featuring “Toy Story 4.” Participants are asked to practice physical distancing. All titles are subject to change without notice. All movies are weather permitting. Attendance is at your own risk. Ocean City Recreation & Parks, 410-250-0125, http://www.oceancitymd.gov
Thurs., July 23 STARPOWER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Ocean City convention center, 4001 Coastal Highway. World championship competition for dancers who qualified at regionals held across the U.S. General information: 301-870-9550. Registration questions: daniella@starpowertalent.com. 301-8709550, https://starpowertalent.com
general.org, 410-641-9725
CARD MAKING (SERIES 3 OF 3) (ADULT) Beginning at 2:00 PM. Materials needed: card stock, glue, colored paper, colored pencils or markers, scissors, print outs (will be send to you via email). Register: https://worcesterlibrary.libcal.com/event/ 6750730.
PLANT CLINIC (ADULT) Ask Master Gardener Ginny Rosenkranz your questions and even show her your plants via Zoom, 3:30 PM. Participants can also call the first phone number on the Zoom link to listen in. Registration closes 24 hours before the event begins. Register: https://worcesterlibrary.libcal.com/event/ 6779335.
FREE FAMILY BEACH GAMES Carousel Resort Hotel and Condominiums, 11700 Coastal Highway, 6:30 PM. Held Thursdays through Aug. 27. Participants are asked to practice physical distancing. Attendance is at your own risk. https://ococean.com/events/family-beachgames2020Hel
TALES FROM THE GOOD EARTH (YOUTH) Pocomoke Library, 301 Market St., 7:00 PM. New Moon Theater’s Julie Kurzava shares folk tales from around the world in her theatrical performance. See it Drive In style, register to see the show on Zoom or watch the recording on the library’s Facebook page from July 24-27. https://worcesterlibrary.libcal.com/event/ 6780539
SUNSET PARK PARTY NIGHTS Sunset Park, 700 S. Philadelphia Ave., 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Grab a bite to eat from the food truck and enjoy music by “8 Track Mind” (‘70s dance party band). Admission to the park is free, while beverages, including beer, are available for purchase. It is recommended to bring your own seating. Partakers must adhere to State guidelines in practicing physical distancing. Attendance is at your own risk. 410-289-2800, https://ococean.com/events/sunset-parkparty-nights020
FREE OC BEACH DANCE PARTY Caroline Street Beach, 8:30 PM. Each week a new DJ hits the Caroline Street Stage where participants can dance under the lights on the beach. The event leads into the fireworks at 10:30 p.m. Partakers must adhere to State guidelines in practicing physical distancing. Attendance is at your own risk. https://ococean.com/events/ocbeach-dance-party2020
ONLINE CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
THURSDAY’S DOWNTOWN BEACH FIREWORKS
Meeting via video call, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM. An informal gathering of people whose lives are affected by the caregiving needs of another. An opportunity to share in the wisdom, insight and humor of fellow caregivers. Gail Mansell, gmansell@atlantic-
Talbot Street Beach, 10:30 PM. Partakers must adhere to State guidelines in practicing physical distancing. Attendance is at your own risk. 410-289-2800, https://ococean.com/events/thursday-s-downtownbeach-fireworks
JULY 17, 2020
35 Classifieds now appear in Ocean City Today & the Bayside Gazette each week and online at oceancitytoday.com and baysideoc.com.
HELP WANTED Hiring ALL Positions!! Full time & Part time To apply go to: www.mygcjob.com
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
Billy’s Sub Shop Now Hiring Immediate Openings! All positions Up to $15 per hour Apply in person Rt. 54 West Fenwick, or 140th & Coastal Hwy.
Local Law Office and Tax Preparation Office seeking individual for part-time employment 2 to 3 days per week (flexible hours). Must be people oriented with computer skills and math skills. Excellent opportunity to gain office experience and/or exposure to the legal and accounting professions. Please send resume to lyndaj0331@comcast.net
Comfort Inn Gold Coast We are seeking to fill the following positions:
~ Maintenance ~ Night Audit ~ Hourly rates starting at $14/hour Experience preferred, but we will train the right person. Apply in person at the Comfort Inn Gold Coast 112th street, Ocean City, next to the Gold Coast Mall
Hiring experienced care givers with flexible availability, weekends required. Must have vehicle, pass drug & background checks. Call office Mon.-Fri., 9a-3p
410-641-0901
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
Five Guys North Ocean City Hiring On The Spot!!!!! Call 410-250-1199 for inquiry!!
PGN Crabhouse 29th Street & Coastal Hwy. Help Wanted • Kitchen Help • Waitstaff Please call 410-289-8380
AUTOMOTIVE / MARINE Carquest Auto is now hiring for:
Parts Advisors / Store Associates We have Full and Part Time positions available. Great pay & benefits.
Call: 302-539-8686, Ext. 3014
Now Hiring
WORCESTER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT Community Health Nurse II - Temporary Position
Photographers
Duties include but not limited to providing community health nursing services in assigned programs to individuals and/or families in the community, using the nursing process. Services provided include, but are not limited to epidemiological investigations and testing for COVID-19, immunization services, and providing public health guidance and education. Must possess a current license as a Registered Nurse from the Maryland Board of Nursing. Valid driver’s license required. Background check & drug screening required. Please send resume and cover letter by August 7, 2020 to Kristy Kagan, 6040 Public Landing Road, Snow Hill, MD 21863, e-mail kristy.kagan@maryland.gov or fax to 410-632-0064. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or disability. Appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request by calling 410-632-1100 ext. 1221
HELP WANTED
No Experience Necessary. Training and equipment will be provided. Send Resumes to: meslin@lifetouch.com
Coconuts at Castle in the Sand Hotel
NOW HIRING!! Production Crew for our WOC kitchen facility Up to $17.50/hr. Apply online at: www.delmarvadd.com
AUTOMOTIVE POSITIONS We are a full tire & service center that has been established for 36 years. We have a clean, completely remodeled work environment with State of the Art equipment. Exc. Pay & Benefits. We are now hiring for: - Maryland State Inspector - Service Advisors - Technicians - Tow Truck Drivers Call Matt at 302-344-9846
www. oceancitytoday.com www. baysideoc.com
is hiring for immediate start:
• GRILL COOKS • AREA ATTENDANTS Pay Starting at $12-$14/hour
Outstanding working environment. Come join our family!
NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION MANAGER Responsible for community impact events & developing an Aging in Place home repair and preservation program. For more info & to apply, click Careers tab at:
Apply in Person. Ask for Jeff or Paulie. 37th Street & Oceanfront, Ocean City, MD
SussexCountyHabitat.org SCHFH is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Come Join Our Winning Team! Now accepting applications for the following positions!
HELP WANTED NOW
Over Night Front Desk Front Desk Agent Recreation Attendant Room Attendant Houseperson Laundry Attendant Maintenance Server Line Cook Kitchen Utility Cashier Barista
$15.00 AN HOUR
3:30 PM TILL 11:30 PM SHIFTS PIZZA MAKERS AND EXPEDITORS. NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED. I CAN TRAIN ANYONE IN JUST 2 SHIFTS. FYI: DRIVERS NEEDED ALSO AT $11 AN HOUR PLUS TIPS, BUT NOT TILL AFTER I OBTAIN 5 MORE KITCHEN CREW FIRST. HIGH SCHOOL AGE WELCOME TOO. THIS JOB IS LIKE YOUR RUNNING FOR 8 HOURS. THE LAST 90 MINUTES IS EXTRA HARD CLEANING AND PREPPING. ALL EMPLOYEES MUST BE VERY PHYSICALLY CAPABLE TO LIFT HEAVY ITEMS, HEAVY PREPPING, AND HEAVY CLEANING. I PLAY 80`S MUSIC. FOOD PLAN. FREE UNIFORM. PAID BI-WEEKLY. PART-TIME OR FULL TIME. VISIT MY 81ST STREET SHOP BETWEEN 6PM AND 10PM FOR INTERVIEW, OR FEEL FREE TO TEXT ME YOUR FACEBOOK LINK TO MY CELL AT 410-422-478O TO COMMUNICATE. THANK YOU, JIM HOFMAN OWNER/OPERATOR SINCE 1992. AKA SAUCE BOSS!
ssifieds la C r u o Y r e Ord
Looking for experienced personnel with customer service skills. Must be flexible with hours. Email resume to jobs@carouselhotel.com or stop by and complete an application at the Front Desk. We require satisfactory pre-employment drug testing and background check.
Online
Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 11700 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842 EOE
8765432381 0/.078.-52/,.3-+.--5-7*.,3780 *.8)(5'.8&%.*,&2381 *.--5$#"-! $- "" 5 5 5 725 . -(578-38/5 5
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www.oceancitytoday.com
Convenient, quick, no waiting, no calls ~ Days, nights and weekends
PAGE 36
JULY 17, 2020
Ocean City Today
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
RENTALS
REAL ESTATE
P/T Y/R Maintenance Tech for premier local community. 15 hours a week and extra hours when needed. Regular work days are Wed., Thurs. and Fri., 8:30am-1:30pm. Must have reliable transportation. Call 410-213-1554.
Housekeeping Room Attendants Needed. Immediate hire. Ask about our summer bonus program. Call/Text Peggy at 443-497-1574.
Experienced Cleaners needed for Part-time work in Ocean City. Must have vehicle and cell phone and pass background check. Please call 410-202-2887.
West OC Waterfront Cottage. Available through October. No pets. 443-831-9898
WORK ON THE BEACH RENTING UMBRELLAS AND CHAIRS. FULL AND PART TIME. HOURS 9 till 5. Call or text Patti 410-726-0315.
PAPA JOHN’S Now hiring ALL POSITIONS for the Ocean City area. Ask for Autumn 410-524-1300
CUTE, CUTE, CUTE 3BR HOME HUGE backyard. Deck. Perfect for entertaining! $199,000. Selbyville, DE. Call Howard Martin Realty 410-352-5555.
Worcester County Government Is currently hiring for the following full-time jobs: Correctional Officer Trainee ~ Transfer Station Attendant Roads Worker ~ Maintenance Mechanic Plant Operator ~ Building Maintenance Landfill Operator ~ Vehicle & Equipment Mechanic Accounting Clerk EOE/AA Job descriptions and application available: http://www.co.worcester.md.us/departments/hr/jobs. Excellent Benefits. Call 410-632-0090 or fax applications to 410-632-5614 e-mail to Ann Hankins- ahankins@co.worcester.md.us
Work At The BEACH... Work With The BEST!! Top wages, excellent benefits package and free employee meal available to successful candidates.
HIRING ALL POSITIONS!! Full time & Part time Stop by our location on 52nd street! or call 443-664-2825
Hiring Cooks ($15), Receptionist, Expeditor, F/T Janitorial Cleaners, Sound Engineer, Boutique Sales, Cashiers, Hosts & Security. Apply in person or online at seacrets.com
Excellent Benefits
Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel Attn: Human Resources Dept. 10100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842 Phone: 410-524-3535 Fax: 410-723-9109 EOE M/F/D/V
Come Join Our Winning Team!
HOUSEKEEPING ROOM ATTENDANTS We are looking for motivated and dependable candidates to work in our diverse housekeeping operations. The candidate should possess a solid attention to detail and dedication to high standards. Must be able to work weekends and holidays. Prior housekeeping experience a plus but not required. Excellent starting pay for beginners and 14.00/hr for experienced housekeepers.
Multiple positions available Weekends & reliable transportation required Apply today at www.vacasa.com/careers Or text “Vacasa” to 97211
RENTALS RENTALS Weekly Rentals in Downtown OC 2BR Apartment for $675/week 410-289-8581
HIRING FOR MAJOR HOTEL RESORTS IN O.C. MD AND DELAWARE BEACHES IMMEDIATE OPENINGS • HOUSEKEEPING/ ROOM ATTENDANTS • LINE & SHORT ORDER COOKS • DISHWASHERS • MANAGEMENT & ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS Apply online: www.easternshorejobs.com Send resume: frontdesk@qssjobs.com Visit: 1237 N. Salisbury Blvd. Salisbury, MD 21801 Call: 410-742-2600
9942 Elm Street, WOC (Behind Starbucks) Sleeps 4, $250 per week Manager onsite 410-213-1764
We Welcome Pets 7700 Coastal Hwy 410-524-7700 www.holidayoc.com
ROOMMATES ROOMMATES Seasonal/YR, House Share in O.P. 2 rooms w/shared bath. Full house privileges. Employed Females ONLY. Dog friendly house, Smoking Outdoors ONLY. Safe area. $825/mo. Utilities included. 443-513-3078
YARD SALE YARD SALE 7-18-20 Multi-family Annual Yard Sale at THE REFUGE, 37510 Leisure Dr., Selbyville, 8:00-4:00 - Maps at Entrance
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.
Classifieds Deadline is 5pm Monday
443-880-2486 HELP WANTED
Become a Better You in 2020!
www.baysideoc.com www.oceancitytoday.com
RENTALS
$1500 per person for the season
Apply within 56th Street, Ocean City ~ Bayside
To Become an Avon Representative Sign Up at www. ChristinesBeautyShop.com
RETAILERS WILL COME! 92nd St. Princess Royale gift shop. Going Out of Business suddenly. Selling ALL merchandise. Make an offer!! Closing 1st week in August. Call 410-723-0110, 443-373-1436, 410-641-0079.
DONATIONS DONATIONS
Close to Beach, Malls, Bus Stops
NOW HIRING!
To Order Product Call Christine 443-880-8397 or email: snowhillavon@ comcast.net
Classifieds 410-723-6397
OUT GOING GOING OUT BUSINESS OFOF BUSINESS
Large Kitchen. All Utilities Included.
• Cooks
You are applying for work with a franchisee of Dunkin’ Donuts, not Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Any application or information you submit will be provided solely to the franchisee. If hired, the franchisee will be your only employer. Franchisees are independent business owners who are solely responsible for their own employees and set their own wage and benefit programs that can vary among franchisees.
Yearly & Seasonal Rentals
Large House to Share Summer Seasonal
Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 11700 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842 EOE
Competitive Salary: $17 - $20/hr. depending on experience. • Help build and maintain Delaware and Maryland's fastest growing restaurant group • Perform interior and exterior finish work, such as drywall, painting, paneling, ceiling and floor tile, plumbing repairs, heating and air conditioning system repairs • Perform routine and emergency repairs on restaurant equipment, including diagnostics on electrical and refrigeration components • On call on a rotating emergency schedule for weekends and holidays • Basic skill sets must include some Electric, Plumbing, Carpentry, Refrigeration Benefits: Health Insurance, 401K, Sick Leave Fax to 410-520-0199 For faster processing please apply online at www.joindunkin.com.
1 Office/Retail Space & 1 Warehouse Unit available in West Ocean City. Call 443-497-4200
RAMBLER MOTEL
Email resume to: jobs@carouselhotel.com or come in and complete an application at the front desk. We require satisfactory pre-employment drug testing and background check.
Maintenance Technician
Berlin Office Space Available First floor, 1000 sq. ft. $1000/ month. Second floor, 225 sq. feet. $400/month. 450 sq. feet $750/month. Utilities included. Call 410-726-5471.
Seasonal Staff Needed!
Employment Opportunities: Year Round, Full/Part Time: Servers, Bussers, Hostess, Pool Attendant, Driver, Grill Cooks, Dishwasher, Warehouse Clerk, Housekeeping ($13/hour), Maintenance, Laundry
COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL
SERVICES
BUDGET MOVERS 443-664-5797 LOCAL & EAST COAST MOVING Full Packing Service Piano Movers - Full Service www.facebook.com/OCBudgetMovers
CLASSIFIED AD NETWORK Serving the Newspapers of Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia since 1908.
BUSINESS SERVICES Bulk advertising at its best: advertise in over 70 newspaMARYLAND STATEWIDE pers and reach millions of readers with ONE call. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Broaden your reach and get NETWORK results for pennies per reader. Call Wanda at 410-212-0616 AUTOMOBILE DONATIONS or email DONATE AUTOS, TRUCKS, wsmith@mddcpress.com. RVs Lutheran Mission Society FARM EQUIPMENT of MD. Compassion Place LOW CROP PRICES ministries help local families with food, clothing, counsel- HURTING FARM INCOME? ing Tax deductible. MVA li- Lease hunting rights and get paid. Strong hunter demand. censed #W1044. Call the Pros today 410-636-0123 1-866-309-1507. www.CompassionPlace.org www.BaseCampLeasing.com MDDC - 410-723-6397 Promo Code: 193
REAL ESTATE New homes priced from the low $100’s available immediately in active adult 55+ landlease community in Smyrma Delaware. Close to DE Beaches and Dover Downs. Low taxes. 302-659-5800 or www.BonAyreHomes.com SERVICES-MISCELLANEOUS: Increase your customer base and get great results by placing your ads in the MDDC – Classified Advertising network! Call today 410-2120616 Ask for Multi-Media Specialist - Wanda & watch your results grow.
JULY 17, 2020
PAGE 37
Ocean City Today
BLINDS & SHADES
COSMETICS the company for women
• cosmetics • skin care • body care • fragrances • gifts • & more!
CHRISTINE BROWN independent sales representative
443-234-5262
order online: www.christinesbeautyshop.com
ELECTRICIAN
Raymond O’Brocki Jr. Master Electrician 443 691 0544 Call or Text
FIREPLACES
ELECTRICAL/CONSTRUCTION
emerGency service available
410-251-3153 residential & commercial service
additions • interior/exterior lighting Tanner: Owner/Operator lampRobert & light repair & serviceSince 1989 Wall outlets – microwaves • Generator installs
Call Turner Today 410-251-3153 BERLIN • OCEAN PINES • OCEAN CITY
HOME IMPROVEMENT
* SALES, SERVICE, AND INSTALLATION * * GAS, WOOD BURNING, AND PELLET * * CUSTOM MANTELS & ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS *
Same Rate Day, Evening, Weekends
35 Years Experience
302.436.9250
No Job Too Small! Free Estimates! Residential/Commercial/Emergencies! MD Lic #2268 Worcester Co Lic #M1337
38205 DuPont Blvd. Selbyville
HOME IMPROVEMENT
HOME IMPROVEMENT
BAYSIDE BUILDERS
COMPLETE HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR LICENSED AND FULLY INSURED • FREE ESTIMATES ALL WORK DONE BY OWNER
• Flat Roof Specialist • • Roofing • Siding • Windows • Doors • Custom Homes • Additions • Repairs • Kitchens • Baths • Tile Work • Decks • Custom Inside Trim Work • Hardwood Floors
Cell: 410-713-8599
PAINTING
Zimmerman & Son LLC Painting & Powerwashing Interior & Exterior Serving Delmarva for Over 35 Years Licensed & Insured
Free Estimates
Bill Zimmerman 410-390-5528 ~ cell 443-373-4539
ROOFING
Contracting, LLC
NOW ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS!
PAINTING
“One stop shop for Home Improvement”
Home Improvement Services Company Home Improvement Design & Bertch Cabinet Retail • Cabinets & Countertop • Kitchen & Bath Remodeling • General Carpentry & Painting
• Flooring & Tile • Residential & Commercial • Servicing Maryland & Delaware Beaches
US Veterans Administration Approved Contractor
11312 Manklin Creek, Rd., Ocean Pines, MD ~ Call or Stop in Today!
(410) 208-1518 • (410) 982-8368 pipelinecontracting.net • info@pipelinecontracting.net MDHIC # 107489 • DE # 2014100304 • Insured & Licensed
ROOF REPLACEMENT & REPAIRS
• CUSTOM PAINTING • DRYWALL REPAIRS • WALLPAPER REMOVED • DECK & HOUSE STAINING • ALWAYS PROMPT SERVICE
10% Discount with this ad.
PipeLine
atminc4u@aol.com
ROOFING
FREE Written Estimates Over 31 Years of Roofing You!
• The BEST Warranties • Locally Owned & Operated • Over 20k Served • GAF Master Elite Certified • 5 Star Skylight Specialists • Financing g Ava.
Shingle Roofs • Metal Roofs • Flat Roofs Family Owned & Operated
FREE ESTIMATES
108 Moss Hill Ln., Salisbury, MD 410-831-3938 32295 Nassau Rd., Lewes, DE 302-200-7663
ROOFING
Your Roofing, Siding & Home Improvement Specialist Since 1989 ROOFING • SIDING • DURADEK • WINDOWS • GUTTERS
Mike Moesle 410-629-1573, Fax: 410-629-1946 10545 Friendship Road, Unit 3, Berlin, Maryland 21811 mmoesle@shoresidingmd.com www.shoresidingmd.com *Licenced in MD, DE &VA
www.roofers www. ww roofer roof ro roofer offers rs.o .org .org g
410.204.2586 410 204 2586
YOUR BUSINESS
Your Business Card Here! Call Nancy 410-723-6397
TRIPLE
CROWN
PAGE 38
Ocean City Today / Public Notices
JAMES E. CLUBB, JR., ESQ. 108 N. 8th Street Ocean City, Maryland 21842
TRUSTEE'S SALE
OF TIME-SHARE INTERVALS IN THE CLUB OCEAN VILLAS II CONDOMINIUM OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND By virtue of a Claim of Lien recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland, and pursuant to the Order of the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, Case No. C-23-CV-20-000111, the undersigned Trustee will offer for sale at public auction at the Club Ocean Villas II Condominium Building, located at 105 120th Sreet, Ocean City, Maryland, the following described property located in the Town of Ocean City, in the Tenth Election District of Worcester County, Maryland, on FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 AT 9:00 A.M. Units
Time Intervals
267 276 210 246 223 252 274 252 274 199 269 216 267 259 238 248 270 257 250
21 29 33 34 33 35 34 32 20 24 26 34 29 34 23 32 31 26 25
Each time interval being one week per year of the corresponding unit, each unit being part of the Club Ocean Villas II Condominium, including an undivided interest in the common elements thereof, as established pursuant to a Condominium Declaration and By-Laws recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland, and subsequent Declarations of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions as to each condominium unit, and recorded among the aforesaid Land Records. The property 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 warranties or guarantees. A secured party may bid and shall be excused from deposit requirements. The Trustee reserves the right to reject any and all bids. Terms of Sale: A deposit in the full amount of sale per time interval will be required at the time of sale, such deposit to be in cash or check. Cost of all recordation and transfer taxes, 2020 maintenance fee, If applicable, and all other incidental settlement costs shall be borne by the purchaser. The date of settlement shall be fifteen (15) days after final
ratification by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, time being of the essence; otherwise, the deposit will be forfeited and the property will be resold at the risk and expense of the defaulting purchaser, or in any manner designated by the Trustee; or, without forfeiting deposit, the Seller may exercise any of its legal or equitable rights against the defaulting purchaser. For more information, call: James E. Clubb, Jr., Esq. Trustee 410-289-2323 OCD-7/2/3t _________________________________ JOHN P. CUSTIS, ESQ. LONG, BADGER AND SHELLER, LLP 124 E. MAIN STREET SALISBURY, MD 21801
NOTICE
OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 18338 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL ADAMS BUNDICK Notice is given that John P. Custis Esq., 124 E. Main Street, Salisbury, MD 21801, was on July 02, 2020 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Michael Adams Bundick who died on February 13, 2020, 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 2nd day of January, 2021. Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent’s death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills. John P. Custis Esq. 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: July 09, 2020 OCD-7/9/3t _________________________________
NOTICE
OF PUBLIC HEARING BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS TOWN OF OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 110 of the Code of Ocean City, Maryland, hereinafter referred to as the Code, same being the Zoning Ordinance for Ocean City, Maryland, notice is hereby given that public hearings will be conducted by 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, JULY 23, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-93(2), Powers, of the Code, an appeal has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Section 110-94(5) requesting a special use exception to allow outdoor display of merchandise incidental to the on-premise use (renewal). The site of the appeal is described as Lots 1-12, Block 84, Sinepuxent Beach Company Plat, 1891; further described as located on the east side of Philadelphia Avenue and north side of 28th Street and locally known as Beach Variety, Holiday Shopping Plaza, 2802 Philadelphia Avenue, in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland. APPLICANT: BEACH VARIETY – (BZA 2554 #20-09400007) Further information concerning the public hearings may be examined in the office of the Department of Planning and Community Development in City Hall. Alfred Harrison, Chairman Ryan Bodley, Attorney OCD-7/9/2t _________________________________
NOTICE
OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 18336 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF JAMES STEPHENS HALL Notice is given that Carol Ann Beres, 12520 Ocean Reef Drive, Berlin, MD 21811, was on July 02, 2020 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of James Stephens Hall who died on June 2, 2020, with a will. Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney. All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 2nd day of January,
JULY 17, 2020 2021. Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent’s death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills. Carol Ann Beres 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: July 09, 2020 OCD-7/9/3t _________________________________
NOTICE
OF INTRODUCTION OF BILL 20-6 WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Take Notice that Bill 20-6 (Zoning - Home Occupations in E-1 District) was introduced by Commissioners Bertino, Bunting, Church, Elder, Mitrecic, Nordstrom and Purnell on June 16, 2020. A fair summary of the bill is as follows: § ZS 1-339(a)(10). (Repeals and reenacts this subsection regarding home occupations to include the E-1 Estate District as a zoning district in which a home occupation of up to three thousand square feet in gross floor area may be permitted in an accessory building located on a parcel greater than eighty thousand square feet in area in the A-1 or A-2 Agricultural Districts and now the E-1Estate District as well.) A Public Hearing will be held on Bill 20-6 at the Commissioners' Meeting Room, Room 1101 - Government Center, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland, on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. This is only a fair summary of the bill. A full copy of the bill is posted on the Legislative Bulletin Board in the main hall of the Worcester County Government Center outside Room 1103, is available for public inspection in Room 1103 of the Worcester County Government Center once
JULY 17, 2020 County Government Offices are opened to the public. In the interim, a full copy of the bill is available on the County Website at www.co.worcester.md.us . THE WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OCD-7/2/2t _________________________________
TOWN OF OCEAN CITY
ORDINANCE 2020-06 RE: Chapter 106, Waterways Notice is hereby given by the Mayor and City Council of Ocean City, that an ordinance was introduced for first reading at their meeting of July 6, 2020. Second reading is scheduled for July 20, 2020. A complete text of the ordinance is available for review in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall 3rd Street and Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, MD 21842, or online at oceancitymd.gov in the June 6, 2020, agenda packet. Proposed amendments were first presented at the April 14, 2020, Mayor and Council Work Session. This amendment allows a maximum one-time encroachment channel-ward for bulkhead replacement provided the minimum 40-foot-wide navigable waterway remains open. Other minor amendments incorporate previously adopted construction standards and submission requirements. OCD-7/16/1t _________________________________
Town of Ocean City
PROPOSAL SOLICITATION
General Construction Management Services Fire Station #3 Mayor & City Council Ocean City (Town) are seeking proposals from qualified and experienced vendors to provide General Construction Management Services for Fire Station #3 in conformity with the scope of work detailed in the Proposal Documents. Proposal Documents for the General Construction Management Services may be obtained from the Town’s Procurement Department by either e-mailing the Procurement Manager, Catrice Parsons, at cparsons@oceancitymd.gov or by calling 410-723-6647 during normal business hours, or via the Bid tab on the Town’s website. Vendors are responsible for checking this website for addenda prior to submitting their bids. The Town is not responsible for the content of any Proposal Document received through any third party bid service. It is the sole responsibility of
Ocean City Today / Public Notices the vendor to ensure the completeness and accuracy of their Completed Proposal Documents. A pre-proposal meeting will be held via a virtual meeting on Wednesday, July 29th at 9:30 a.m. All interested parties whom wish to attend the pre-proposal meeting will need to use the following information to join the Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/ 84338170103 Meeting ID: 843 3817 0103 Or dial in 1 301 715 8592 Sealed Proposal Documents are due and will be received and acknowledged on Thursday, August 13, 2020 by 1:00 p.m. Proposals are to be submitted to Mayor & City Council Ocean City, Attn: Procurement Manager, 214 65th Street, Ocean City, MD 21842. Late Proposal Document will not be accepted. Minority vendors are encouraged to compete for award of the solicitation. OCD-7/2/1t _________________________________
NOTICE
OF PROPOSED CHANGE IN ZONING
propriate to preserve, improve or protect the general character and design of the lands and improvements being zoned or rezoned or of the surrounding or adjacent lands and improvements, and the advisability of reserving the power and authority to approve or disapprove the design of buildings, construction, landscaping or other improvements, alterations and changes made or to be made on the subject land or lands to assure conformity with the intent and purpose of applicable State laws and regulations and the County Zoning Ordinance. Maps of the petitioned area, the staff file on Rezoning Case No. 423 and the Planning Commission's recommendation which will be entered into the record of the public hearing are on file and are available to view electronically by contacting the Department of Development Review and Permitting, Worcester County Government Center, One West Market Street, Room 1201, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm (except holidays), at 410-632-1200 as well as www.co.worcester.md.us. Joseph M. Mitrecic, President OCD-7/16/2t _________________________________
EASTERLY SIDE OF ELM STREET SOUTH OF US ROUTE 50 WEST OCEAN CITY TENTH TAX DISTRICT WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND Pursuant to Section 1-113 of the Worcester County Zoning Ordinance, Rezoning Case No. 423 has been filed by Hugh Cropper, IV, attorney, on behalf of Antique Woodwork, Inc. and Francis Scott Key Motel, LLC, property owners, for an amendment to the Official Zoning Maps to change approximately two acres of land located on the easterly side of Elm Street, to the south of US Route 50 and north of Old Bridge Road Road in West Ocean City, in the Tenth Tax District of Worcester County, Maryland, from R-3 MultiFamily Residential District to C-2 General Commercial District. The Planning Commission has given a favorable recommendation to the rezoning application. Pursuant to Sections 1-113 and 1114 of the Worcester County Zoning Ordinance, the County Commissioners will hold a PUBLIC HEARING on TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. in the County Commissioners' Meeting Room Room 1101 Government Center, One West Market Street Snow Hill, Maryland 21863 At said public hearing, the Commissioners will consider the rezoning application, the staff file on Rezoning Case No. 423 and the recommendation of the Planning Commission, any proposed restrictions on the rezoning, other appropriate restrictions, conditions or limitations as may be deemed by them to be ap-
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
NOTICE
OF PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 110, Zoning, of the Code of the Town of Ocean City, Maryland, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be conducted by the Planning and Zoning Commission in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 301 Baltimore Avenue in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland on: TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2020 At 7:00 pm ITEM #1 To consider amending Article IV, Division 15. DMX Downtown Mixed Use District, Section 110-666(7) Bulk Regulations. (Existing language in bold, proposed language addition in italics) a. Maximum building height: 40 feet and/or four stories. Building height shall be measured from base flood elevation. a. b. Except as set forth in paragraph b c of this subsection, between Baltimore Avenue and St. Louis Avenue from North Division Street to 3rd Street, the maximum building height shall be no more than 35 feet and shall be no more than three stories. Height shall be measured from grade as defined in section 110-2. b. c. Between Baltimore Avenue and Philadelphia Avenue, from North Division Street to 3rd Street, the maximum building height may be increased to 40 feet and four stories provided that, on the first floor fronting Baltimore Avenue, at least 75 percent of the buildable width of
PAGE 39 the parcel is dedicated to a commercial use permitted in section 110662, accessible to the general public, exclusive of residential uses including single-family, multiple-family, two-family, hotel and motel units. Height in this section shall be measured from base flood elevation. ITEM #2 To consider amending Article IV, Division 23. Downtown Design Overlay Zone District, Section 110831.28(b)(2)c. Benefits of Incentives Program. (Existing language in bold, proposed language addition in italics) c. A project that provides a pitched roof (no greater than 9/12 pitch) and dormers may use 50 percent of its upper floor area for residential and commercial uses, and an additional 25 percent of its upper floor for onsite employee housing, notwithstanding the definition of building height in section 110-2 of the zoning code, unless otherwise prohibited by the building code. Dormers must be of traditional style and must appear to be part of a functioning interior. ITEM #3 To consider amending Article IV, Division 23. Downtown Design Overlay Zone District, Section 110831.27(e)(2) The following signs are permitted and require a sign permit. (Proposed language addition in italics) i. Boardwalk side street building corners – the intersection of the Boardwalk and side street locations is an important location for pedestrian traffic in downtown Ocean City. Therefore, such building corners should be consistent with the Boardwalk facades in terms of signage and color, and subject to review under the Downtown Design Guidelines. (i) This section shall only apply to the side street facades intersecting with the Boardwalk (Atlantic Avenue) south of, and including, 3rd Street. This area may include a maximum of the distance of one-half of the side street right-of-way. For example, such treatment along Dorchester Street, which has a rightof-way of 50 feet wide, shall not exceed 25 feet west of the Boardwalk line. This sign area may only be permitted for first floor walls and roofs directly above this first floor. (ii) Wall signs, awning signs, and roof signs shall be consistent with the Boardwalk façade signage, but shall not exceed 5 feet per each linear foot of side street façade length. Such signage may not be higher than 15 feet above floor grade. Roof signs and lettering signs may not be taller than 5 feet. Such signage cannot block architectural details. (iii) Projecting signs shall be consistent with projecting signage facing the Boardwalk, especially on building corners, but may not be higher than 15 feet above grade. (iv) Electronic signs shall not be permitted on side streets. (v) Awning signs shall follow the requirements of the Downtown Design standards. Such signage, other than roof signs, shall be confined on the valance of the awning and be no greater than 1 foot tall. (vi) Color designs that are con-
PAGE 40
sistent with the Boardwalk faรงade may be permitted within these side street wall distances, subject to review. ITEM #4 To consider amending Chapter 66. Signs. Section 66-16(4) Exemptions. (E Existing language in bold, Proposed language addition in italics) (4) A-frame signs on the boardwalk of Atlantic Avenue, only between the dates of September 15 October 1 and May 15 April 30, except that from May 1 to May 15 and from September 15 to September 30 said signs shall not be allowed on weekends or holidays, including Sunfest, and provided that: a. Said signs do not exceed 12 square feet in area per side; and b. Said signs may extend no more than 5 feet from the western edge of the boardwalk of Atlantic Avenue. APPLICANT: PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION (FILE #20-14100001) No oral or written testimony will be accepted after the close of the public hearing. Public hearings that are not completed at one meeting may be continued without additional advertised notice provided the Commission Chairperson announces that the hearing will be continued and gives persons in attendance an opportunity to sign up for written notice of the additional hearing dates. For further information concerning this public hearing, please contact the Department of Planning and Community Development, Room 242, City Hall, 301 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, MD 21842. Phone 410-289-8855. PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION PAM GREER BUCKLEY, CHAIRPERSON WILLIAM E. ESHAM, III, ATTORNEY OCD-7/16/2t _________________________________
OCEAN CITY TODAY Legal Advertising Call NANCY MACCUBBIN 410-723-6397, Fax: 410-723-6511 or E-mail: legals@ oceancitytoday.net
Ocean City Today / Public Notices
JULY 17, 2020
ITEM #4 Existing language in bold (4) A-frame signs on the boardwalk of Atlantic Avenue, only between the dates of September 15 and May 15 , except that from May 1 to May 15 and from September 15 to September 30 said signs shall not be allowed on weekends or holidays, including Sunfest, and provided that: a. Said signs do not exceed 12 square feet in area per side; and b. Said signs may extend no more than 5 feet from the western edge of the boardwalk of Atlantic Avenue. APPLICANT: PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION (FILE #20-14100001)
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Commentary
Ocean City Today July 17, 2020
Page 41
Businesses’ rights must be respected Let’s speak plainly about covid-19 and mask wearing. People who think their rights and individual liberties are the same wherever they go are wrong. The freedoms they think they have do not extend fully to private property. They just don’t, no matter how many times, how loudly, or how angrily one says they do. It’s as simple as “No shoes, no shirts, no service.” As the Freedom Forum expressed it, “The Bill of Rights provides protection for individual liberty from actions by government officials.” That means a candy shop owner, for instance, can order anyone not abiding by the shop’s rules to leave, and enlist the aid of the police if necessary. Why some people refuse to accept the simple premise that an owner has the right to make his or her own rules (with some exceptions), could be indicative of why the covid-19 pandemic is getting worse. A little thought is required. The worst aspect of the objections to wearing a mask in businesses is that it is threatening thousands of livelihoods. Over the last several days, numerous restaurants have closed voluntarily to respond to the threat of a covid-19 infection. At a time when these businesses are struggling to exist, much less make any kind of a living, shutting down operations for any duration is a huge sacrifice. And it is made out of concern for the well-being of the public, some members of which are clearly incapable of following suit. Since last week, Worcester County health officials reported an increase of 44 cases of covid-19, twice as many as the week before, and even though these numbers are miniscule as compared to the surge in cases in the south and west, it’s still going in the wrong direction and that’s concerning. Our businesses don’t just want to stay open, they must stay open to survive, and each new coronavirus case makes it that much harder to do. So, please, whether you agree or don’t agree with these health-safety requirements, abide by them or go elsewhere. To be completely clear, show some respect for the people who are trying to serve you, despite a lack of staff, long hours and a depleted bank account, or get out of town.
Ocean City Today P.O. Box 3500, Ocean City, Md. 21843 Phone: 410-723-6397 / Fax: 410-723-6511.
EDITOR ............................................ Stewart Dobson MANAGING EDITOR ................................ Lisa Capitelli STAFF WRITERS .................. Greg Ellison, Joshua Kim, ........................................Elizabeth Bonin, Ally Lanasa ASSISTANT PUBLISHER .......................... Elaine Brady ACCOUNT MANAGERS.......... Mary Cooper, Vicki Shrier CLASSIFIEDS/LEGALS MANAGER .... Nancy MacCubbin SENIOR DESIGNER ................................ Susan Parks GRAPHIC ARTISTS ................ Kelly Brown, Kyle Phillips PUBLISHER........................................ Christine Brown ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ...................... Gini Tufts Ocean City Today is published weekly by FLAG Publications, Inc. at 8200 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Md. 21842. Ocean City Today is available by subscription at $150 a year. Visit us on the Web at www.oceancitytoday.com. Copyright 2020
PUBLIC EYE
A modified approach
Hyperbole, superlatives and strong but misleading verbs — our communications world is literally being smothered by them. Whoops, I meant to say figuratively smothered. Here’s one example we all know: “I gave 110 percent on the field last week,” an athlete tells a reporter, thereby suggesting he must have borrowed 10 percent from somebody else. “This week,” he says, “I gave 80 percent, because I owed 10 to Tony from last week, and Manny wanted to give 110 percent, so I lent him By 10 of mine.” Stewart We live with those kinds of Dobson statements, because they’re made by athletes, who haven’t exactly dominated the Nobel Prize for Physics in recent years. If they had, they’d know that anything filled to 110 percent of its capacity is destined to blow up sooner or later. “He’s at the 20, the 30, the 40 … he’s giving it 110 percent … ” KA-BLAM! “Ewwww. That’ll take the grounds crew a few minutes.” Again, we excuse sports hyperbole, because we know the Kansas City Chiefs did not actually hammer the 49ers in the last quarter of the 2020 Super Bowl. They outscored them, yes, but did it without using hand tools. But speaking of tools, one would be whoever is in charge of script writing for The Weather Channel, where no storm is too small to have its own name and where every cloud carries within the threat of human extinction. Two weeks ago, as the disturbance that
was to become Tropical Storm Fay ran up the coast, The Weather Channel ran this headline on its update: “Fay Lashes North Carolina.” Below that was a panel that showed the current wind speed: 9 mph. I’ve actually survived winds up to 9 mph, so I’m relatively certain that even a sustained wind of that magnitude couldn’t lash a bucket of packing peanuts, much less an entire coast. On the other hand, 9 mph is faster than the average speed of a bumblebee (6.75 mph, in case you’re wondering) so it would have been more appropriate if The Weather Channel had said, “Fay arrives in North Carolina — owners of pet bumblebees are advised not to leave them chained up in the yard.” But as bad as The Weather Channel is, elected officials, political appointees and lobbying groups are worse. In recent weeks, in separate statements, involving separate situations, a governor, the treasury secretary and a lobbyist all said, “This will be a tax on the hardworking people of (fill in the blank).” What about the other working people? Would these taxes not also apply to the moderately working people, the clock-watchers, the malingerers and screwups every workforce seems to have at one time or the other? Why are they getting a tax break, when we hardworking people are carrying the freight? And what about the idle rich? You never hear anyone say, “This will be a tax on the lazyass idle rich.” Clearly, our ability to communicate is broken and we need to return to plain-spoken and honest straight talk. In fact, let’s give that effort 110 percent and a real lashing, or die trying. Figuratively speaking, of course.
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JULY 17, 2020
Lankford Hotel gets BZA OK for setback variances By Josh Kim Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) An almost century-old beach hotel is on its way to a total replacement, following the Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals’ approval last Thursday of setback variance requests made by the Lankford Hotel on the Boardwalk. Plans are to raze the existing structure in its place build and a 76-room, twosuite hotel. Zoning Administrator Kay Gordy began the hearing by dismissing a 23parking space waiver request, as density calculations found it to be unnecessary. The more important decision to be made that night involved the setbacks. “The decision that you’ll need to make is whether this should be considered under the variance criteria or under the exception criteria [for] the special yard exceptions,” Planning and Community Development Director Bill Neville said. He later added, “To me, one of the differences between the two is that a variance is typically very unique to that property. The special yard exception is a more generalized option available to other properties.” Attorney Joe Moore, who represented the applicant, said his client was seeking an area variance, rather than a special yard exception.
He addressed the elevated deck setback and presented multiple photos of neighboring properties, all of which had elevated decks. “Our request, even if we did not have nonconformity, which we enjoy, is not out of character with properties that are along the Boardwalk,” he said. Further, architect Heather Morrison testified that the elevated deck was needed, as the space underneath the main structure would house an underground parking RENDERING COURTESY KAY GORDY garage — which she stated would have an excess of park- The Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals approved setback variances for the Lankford Hotel on 807 North Atlantic Avenue and the Boardwalk, as it prepares to raze its current property and redevelop it. ing spaces, 80 to be exact. She also explained that the length of the front ramp had been de- had also benefited from setback al- yard setback is limited to no more than signed to allow for an incline that would lowances. 48 inches above the Boardwalk; design not exceed a 5 percent slope, which is in “Your client got to take full advantage of steps, ramp system, wall and planting accordance with the Americans with of, instead of a 32-foot setback, a 20-foot areas were to meet design criteria of the Disabilities Act (ADA). setback,” the board member said to the upper downtown district; no signs shall “Only for two and a half levels [of the opposing attorney. “Your client has also be permitted on foundation walls; and structure] are you actually on the prop- enjoyed the benefits of the different zon- that the site development will be in suberty line,” Morrison said, adding that the ing.” stantial conformance with the submitted redevelopment would not cause any After a lengthy discussion, the board architectural drawings. harm to adjacent properties. voted to address the requests as a variTo view the staff report for the hotel The owner of an adjacent property ance, rather than a special yard excep- visit https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/decontested this setback argument, but a tion, with the conditions that the partments/planning-community-develboard member noted that this property elevation of the deck within the front opment/board-of-zoning-appeals/
Y L I DA
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Ocean City Today
JULY 17, 2020
Md. finds 47,500 fraudulent claims for unemployment By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) More than 47,500 fraudulent unemployment claims totaling more than $501 million have been discovered by the Maryland Department of Labor, Gov. Larry Hogan said during a Wednesday press conference. Payments were stopped by state labor Gov. L. Hogan officials before the schemers managed to collect, and the investigation helped helped uncover related activity in at least a dozen other states where payments were also blocked. At work, Hogan said, was a massive identity theft scheme, using information gleaned during previous national data breaches. Tiffany Robinson, secretary of the state department of labor, said the pandemic unemployment assistance program allows individuals to selfcertify that they are unemployed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which increased the potential for fraud. “A recent spike in criminal activity led the FBI to issue a national warn-
PAGE 43
Berlin ranks first in national contest By Ally Lanasa Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) Downtown Berlin was named the “Best Small Town for Shopping” in a USA Today 10Best contest out of 18 nominations. “It’s another indication in our community’s philosophy that is quality over quantity,” Mayor Gee Williams said. Williams added that he is pleased to see a continued focus on interpersonal relations with customers downtown. “Locals are known to our businesses and guests are always welcome,” he said. ing about fraud in the unemployment insurance system,” Robinson said. Hogan and Robinson both reiterated that the claimant’s personal information had not been compromised. Robinson added that the department is committed to getting unemployment assistance to those who need it as quickly as possible, while also protecting the integrity of system. Any Marylander who thinks their personal identification has been used to file a fraudulent claim, they should email ui.fraud@maryland.gov or visit labor.maryland.gov/employment/unemployment.shtml.
Berlin has more than 50 retail shops, selling antiques, jewelry, art and clothing downtown. Williams believes Berlin is deserving of such an award because of the variety of boutique shopping and convenient dining that is offered. “There is a nice Mayor G. combination of busiWilliams nesses and business people,” he added. A panel of experts joined 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, then the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Voting was closed on Monday, June 29. The top 10 winning small towns were announced on 10Best.com on Friday, July 10. Williams commended the business owners for working cooperatively over the years to benefit the local economy and earn the town national recognition. Several new business owners were also thrilled about the award. Christine Carpenter, the co-owner of Beach Gypsy on Williams Street, is honored to be a part of the historic district’s success.
“It’s very exciting, and I think it showcases what our wonderful town has to offer,” Carpenter said. “It’s just great that people are recognizing it.” Beach Gypsy moved from Ocean Pines to downtown Berlin in January after the owners, Christina Mullaney and Carpenter, fell in love with the area. Melissa Stover, the owner of Victorian Charm on North Main Street, agreed. “Being that I’m kind of the newbie to Berlin, the new owner [of Victorian Charm], I’m super excited for the town,” Stover said. “It just goes to show what a great town we have.” In January, Stover bought the boutique from Steve and Debbie Frene. Frene opened the shop with her mother, Carole Smith, in the 1990s. Berlin was also ranked first in the contest in 2018. “I’m grateful and happy that our community has been on this course for some time,” Williams said. The mayor encourages the local business owners to “keep up the good work!” For the full list of winners, visit www.10best.com/awards/travel/best -small-town-for-shopping/.
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Ocean City Today
PAGE 44
JULY 17, 2020
Bushnell debuts Candyland book New release details history of 110-year-old Boardwalk shop with historic pictures By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) Residents and visitors who are enthusiasts about history, Ocean City and candy can enjoy the new book, “Dolle’s Candyland, Inc.,” written Anna Dolle Bushnell, which tells the story of the 110-year-old local candy store and Boardwalk staple. Famous for its saltwater taffy and caramel popcorn, the store opened under the Dolle family and has been passed down since. The family originally purchased property in Ocean City for a carousel, but when a man offered his candy business to the Dolles, they learned to make candy in addition to operating the carousel. Store owner Anna Dolle Bushnell took six months to sort through pictures, piece together history and write cutlines for the photos. “We have thousands of pictures. Thank goodness that our relatives
saved everything and did take pictures,” Bushnell said. “We sorted through everything and picked our favorites.” She said that for a while, she had wanted to bring the photos together for the book, and then rediscovered old photos of Candyland when she moved. Bushnell said she became the family “history holder” when her father moved out of the house he was born in. Although some photos had been previously published in other books or museums, there were many Bushnell had never seen. “It was interesting for me and my family to go through things,” Bushnell said. “It’s also cool because you can see so many of the places throughout time that are still here.” She wanted to make sure the history wasn’t lost, so Bushnell asked her cousins and father about the people in the pictures. She also consulted newspapers.com, an online archive of old newspapers. “I was able to put pieces together,” Bushnell said. “For instance, my cousin said that her grandmother made all of her clothes.”
She then discovered more about her great-aunt through old articles. “I later found out she was actually a very well-known seamstress,” Bushnell said. “In Salisbury, she had little sewing groups and you can see who was in attendance in her sewing groups. It seems very trivial to put in a newspaper, but back then, it was what they had.” She added that it is important to recognize history. “To look at what we used to be, it’s really quite fascinating how things have changed, but how things have stayed the same as well,” Bushnell said. “It’s [Candyland] definitely part of the culture of Ocean City.” Her favorite part of the six-month process was seeing the finished product. “My children are coming up in this business and for them to actually hold something that is organized, it’s not just flipping through pictures, it’s actually the stories behind each one, so they can see where they are and where they came from and who they came from,” Bushnell said. After a successful book signing on Saturday, Bushnell said she will have
PHOTO COURTESY ANNE DOLLE BUSHNELL
Anna Dolle Bushnell at a signing last weekend for her new book, “Dolle’s Candyland, Inc,” which details the history of the candy shop.
more, but dates have not yet been determined. The 127-page book can be purchased on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and at Candyland stores and website for $21.99. In the future, it will be available at the Greyhound Indie Bookstore and Fine Art Gallery in Berlin.
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Ocean City Today
JULY 17, 2020
COMMUNITY/SCHOOLS
CRAFTER Mary Stover was named Crafter of the Month for July by the Pine'eer Craft Club of Ocean Pines. Stover’s creations, along with other artisans’ works are available at the Pine'eer Artisan and Gift Shop, 239 Ocean Parkway, in Ocean Pines.
VOLUNTEER The Ocean City Surf Club presented its 2020 Volunteers of the Year Award to Amella Mehan and Sam Woodley. Pictured with Woodley are OC Surf Club President Tommy Vach, left, and Vice President Rusty Ruzsin.
PHOTO COURTESY BUBBA ALMONY
SHOWS SUPPORT Stephen Decatur High School alum, Bubba Almony, a celebrity bodyguard and the international ambassador for Bodyguards Against Bullying, fifth from left, recently brought his team to Ocean City after seeing the acts of unruliness and violence in early June that took place. During the group’s time in the resort, they donated meals and water to the Ocean City Police Department day and night shifts, Maryland State Police day and night shifts and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department to show their appreciation. They also checked on businesses and assisted a few places that need professional security services.
DONATION The Ocean City Lions Club donated $5,000 to US Kennels to support its mission of helping disabled vets while saving shelter animals. The program rescues, rehabilitates and trains dogs in advanced obedience and medical tasks. Pictured, from left, are Past President Norm Cathell, First Vice President Mike Hooper, US Kennel President Mirela Hardy, Founder Chris Hardy, Head Trainer Dan Ray Atkinson, President of US Kennels Ladies Anne Marie Atkinson, and President OC Lions John Topfer. They are joined by dogs Gus, Brody and Ace.
ART PROJECT
PRAYER VIGIL
Artist Jessica Schlegel of Salisbury has completed a four-sided mural on the utility box at Wicomico and Philadelphia streets in Ocean City depicting local scenes and celebrating the resort. The ongoing utility box painting project is part of the Art League of Ocean City’s outreach mission and the Ocean City Development Corp.’s Public Art Program.
The Worcester County NAACP Car Prayer Vigil for George Floyd, held on June 5, was hosted by Rev. Betty Smith of Tyree AME Church in Berlin. Pictured is NAACP President Ivory Smith and his daughter, Natasha, welcoming approximately 75 cars to the service. Eight racially-diverse religious leaders shared their message of hope and solidarity following the tragic death of George Floyd.
Ocean City Today
JULY 17, 2020
WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONER BRIEFS By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) The Worcester County Commissioners made the following decisions during their meeting last Tuesday:
Board of Education The Worcester County Board of Education requested a fund balance transfer for the design fees for the Pocomoke Middle School roof replacement project. The design fees were approved for $117,000 and the estimated construction cost approved was $2.7 million. According to Superintendent Lou Taylor, the board is working with U.S. Communities, a nationwide government cooperative procurement and purchasing organization. This provided pre-bid and pre-approved manufacturer’s costs and services. The board of education will purchase all roofing materials from Garland UBS, pre-approved by U.S. Communities. As a result, the designer agreed to reduce its fees for a cost savings of $82,000. The commissioners granted Taylor’s request to use the cost savings for a new above-ground storage tank, as the underground tank was 30 years old.
Public Works The commissioners approved several bid requests for Public Works projects: rehabilitation of Ocean Pines treatment unit 3, construction administration and inspection of Ocean Pines treatment unit 3, Ocean Pines pump stations S&P and a roof replacement for the Worcester County Commission on Aging and Snow Hill Animal Control building. Commissioners awarded the contract to rehabilitate Ocean Pines treatment unit 3 to M2 Construction for $469,476. They awarded construction administration and inspection of the same project to George, Miles and Buhr for $16,650. The actual cost of the contract will depend on time expended.
Commissioners awarded Retallack and Sons the contract for the rehabilitation of Ocean Pines pump stations S and P at a cost of $390,719.63. For the same project, they awarded EA Engineering with the contract for construction administration and inspection for $39,280.39. The actual cost of services will depend on time expended. The commissioners approved bid documents from Davis, Bowen & Friedel Inc. for the roof replacement of the Worcester County Commission on Aging and Snow Hill Animal Control building. There are assigned funds of $300,000 for the senior center and $50,000 for the animal control building.
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Traffic concerns A constituent complaint about traffic and safety on Bishopville Road and St. Martin’s Neck Road going into Ocean City got the commissioners’ attention, but they could make no immediate changes. In a memo, Roads Superintendent Frank Adkins explained that Bishopville Road is a state highway and that Worcester County takes maintenance responsibility over St. Martin’s Neck Road about 0.3 miles south of Bishopville Road. John Tustin, director of public works, emphasized that since Bishopville Road is a state highway, it is a state issue. He said the state sent a request to GPS companies to reroute traffic away from the intersection, but it was unwilling to do so. Tustin added that the intersection at Route 90 has a traffic signal operated by the State Highway Administration that gives preference to those driving into Ocean City. There is a short right turn lane for those traveling to Ocean Pines. County Commissioner Joseph Mitrecic said it was not a problem unique to Worcester. “As soon as you start pushing the beach traffic out to try to get around the traffic, you wind up with more traffic,” Mitrecic said.
Ocean Pines Police Chief Massey set to retire Aug. 1 (July 17, 2020) Ocean Pines Police Chief David Massey is retiring, again. This time, however, he apparently intends to stay retired, as he pursues interests that he has had to delay for 46 years. After 17 years as chief of the Ocean Pines department, and 29 years with the Ocean City Police Department, including almost 13 as chief, Massey will leave active-duty policing on Aug. 1. Moving into that billet will be 34year department veteran Lt. Leo Ehrisman.
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“I’ve spent 46 years where I’ve worked every Fourth of July and every summer,” he said. “I want to go to Normandy and see where my dad landed. I’ve never been able to get out of the country long enough to do that, because I’ve always felt my responsibility was in my community. “I plan on having a punch list, with my wife, to go visit some places around the world, to go back to England and see where my mother grew up, those kinds of things,” he added. See LEAVES Page 48
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Ocean City Today
JULY 17, 2020
Leaves active duty after 46 years of service in county Continued from Page 47 Massey, who holds a doctoral degree in education and teaches policing-related courses at Wor-Wic Community College, also plans to continue writing, having already penned one police textbook. Born in Easton, in Talbot County, Massey said he originally intended to become a schoolteacher Dave Massey and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in what was then Salisbury State Teacher’s College. But then, after graduation in 1974 and a job as a substitute teacher, he signed on as a summer police officer in Ocean City … and stayed to become the resort’s first police chief who had worked his way through the ranks to the top. Massey retired from that post in 2002 to pursue his doctorate, swearing he “would never get another police job.” “Then, this job [in Ocean Pines] suddenly became vacant and it was the only place that I would go and be a chief, because of the nature of the community,” he said. Massey stepped in with the retirement of Ocean Pines’ first police chief, Rod Murray. During his tenure at that department’s reins, he saw it evolve from a “special,” or limited-authority agency, into a state-certified member of the law enforcement community. That evolution included his creation of a criminal investigation division and now, the expansion of the department’s humble and modestly equipped station into a state-of-theart headquarters. As for his future, Massey said he will remain in the area. “I’m going to be working part-time and on my own terms, but you just know when it’s time,” he said. “I’ve always said a chief’s job is to leave the department better than you found it.
PHOTO COURTESY WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
A new special education teacher at Pocomoke High School and an additional speech pathologist will help meet the needs of Worcester County Public School students with disabilities, Supervisor of Special Education Rae Record said during the Worcester County Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, July 14.
WCPS adds special education staff By Ally Lanasa Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) The Worcester County Board of Education on Tuesday addressed changes to the school system’s special education staff for the 2020-21 school year, including a new teacher at Pocomoke High School and an additional speech pathologist for elementary schools. Supervisor of Special Education Rae Record, who presented the annual staffing report, said staffing is constantly evaluated based on the needs of students to be provided a free, appropriate public education. “When we have a plan for staffing, it If you can say that, you did your job. And I feel like I’ve done my job. “I originally felt that last year I was going to retire, but I wanted to fight for this new building, and I said I would stick around until it’s done. It’s just about done, so I’m punching that list too,” he said.
isn’t about numbers, it’s about need,” Record said. According to the October child count, 12.39 percent of students with disabilities served by the disability category in Worcester County Public Schools were identified with autism. “Students that are identified with autism sometimes have a cogRae Record nitive disability, so they will need specialized instruction,” Record said. “[Some] have a communication disability, so those students will need speech and language therapy, and students with autism usually have some kind of a sensory perception disability, which will require occupational therapy.” Over 80 percent of students with disabilities in Worcester County Public Schools spend more than 80 percent of their day inside the general education classroom. Although most students with disabil-
ities are in full inclusion in general education, the school system provides services inside and outside the classroom to meet the needs of all students, Record said. “At the end of that continuum, where students need more services and a more restrictive environment, we have our special school,” she added. County public schools offer programs for people with disabilities, starting at birth. The infants and toddlers’ program serves children up to 3 years old in their natural environment. “We also have itinerant [services], which means that sometimes the parent may bring a child into an elementary school to receive speech or occupational therapy, just depending on the need,” Record said. Services are also provided for that age group at Head Start, childcare centers and nursery schools. Staffing for the infants and toddlers’ program consists of two speech theraSee EMPLOYMENT Page 49
JULY 17, 2020
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ALLY LANASA/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Worcester County Public Schools Facilities Planner Joe Price shared that the construction of the 9,600-square-foot Showell Elementary replacement school off Route 589 is almost done during the Worcester County Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, July 14.
Construction of school almost done By Ally Lanasa Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) Worcester County Public Schools Facilities Planner Joe Price on Tuesday updated the board of education on the two-year Showell Elementary replacement school project as it nears completion. According to the floor plan, storefront and curtainwall windows have been installed and light fixtures hung. Kitchen equipment and ceiling tile have also been placed. Price said painting is being finished, insulation is being installed and final cleaning is being conducted within the facility.
Next month wood stage flooring will be laid inside the building. Pictures in Price’s presentation show an administration office on the right of the main entrance and a cafeteria on the left. A media center will be located near the secondary entrance of the school. Currently, demolition of the existing slab and footings is underway, Price said in reference to the site plan. The construction team is also completing the road and parking asphalt paving, site sign and final grading and topsoil placement. New exterior concrete, curb and gutter are being added as well.
Employment based on need of students with disabilities Continued from Page 48 pists, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, a home educator, a case manager, a teacher of the vision and hearing impaired, an assistive technology teacher and a behavioral coach. Early childhood intervention services for children with disabilities aged 3 to 5 include an inclusive 3-year-old program, an inclusive prekindergarten and an inclusive kindergarten within the general education classroom. In addition, the Worcester County Public Schools provide special education services from grades first through 12th. “We have a High Road Program for students who have more intensive behavioral needs,” Record said. Other programs for older students are the Community Work Experience Transition Program and the Tri-County Wor-Wic Project for high school students between 18 and 21 years old. Record said there is nonpublic school placement as well if necessary. “We usually have very few students in nonpublic because we are able to provide the services within Worcester County,” Record added. “Our goal is to narrow the gap for students with disabilities, and we do that by providing services in the natural setting.”
Generally, there are special education teachers per grade level in grades prekindergarten through fifth in most schools as well as in each core content area at the secondary education level. “Then, of course, related services are provided as indicated in the student’s [individualized education program] IEP,” Record said. Relative service providers are speech therapists, occupational therapists and physical therapists. Special service providers vary by need such as, transition facilitator, audiologist, school psychologists, behavior intervention teacher and assistive technology teacher. The special education staffing plan is determined by obtaining public input, collaborating with building level administration on staffing needs, monitoring the service currently provided and needs of the students and monitoring caseloads of case managers and service providers. This upcoming school year, a new special education teacher at Pocomoke High School will help with the intense need of students there and an additional speech pathologist will help elementary schools with a high volume of students with autism that require speech services, Record said.
Within the next 30 days, a site gate will be installed, and site stabilization will take place. The construction has remained on schedule for the first day of school on Sept. 8, if in-person instruction resumes. The new 9,600-square-foot building will eliminate the need for nine portable classrooms that were utilized at the former 5,200-square-foot school off Route 589. Payments up to July 14 totaled $32,418,809.29. The remaining project balance is $6,205,502.21. For more information, visit worcesterk12.org or showellelementary.org.
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WORLD WAR II
Field marshals named at ceremony By Peter Ayers Wimbrow III Contributing Writer (July 17, 2020) This week, 80 years ago, the German Führer interrupted his speech to the Reichstag, in which he was giving Great Britain one last chance to surrender, and named 12 new field marshals in recognition of the Wehrmacht’s overwhelming triumph in the recently completed campaign against France, Belgium, Holland and Great Britain. The ceremony was held in the Kroll Opera House in Berlin, where the German Parliament met following the Reichstag fire. Der Führer created more field marshals on this single day than had been created in any two decades in German history. Of course, the conquest of France, Belgium, and The Netherlands in such a short time was also the greatest triumph in the history of German arms. Three Luftwaffe generals — Albert Kesselring, Erhard Milch and Hugo Sperrle —were bestowed with the honor while the remaining nine came from the Army (Heere). In addition, since Luftwaffe Chief Hermann Göring was already a field marshal, and with his ego, could not remain one among many, a new title was created for him — Reichsmarshal. The Luftwaffe had contributed significantly to the German victory in this campaign, as well as in the Polish Campaign. Of the three, only Albert Kesselring would seriously participate in future combat. Field Marshal Sperrle remained in France until relieved of his command in August 1944. Until then, he enjoyed all that France had to offer a conquering German Field Marshal — wine, women and food ‚— growing fat and indolent in the process. Headquarters’ men Wilhelm Keitel and Walther von Brauchitsch were also rewarded with the coveted baton. Von Brauchitsch was commander-in-chief of the Army (Heere) and as such was head of Oberkomando Heere (OKH). Keitel was head of Oberkomando Wehrmacht (OKW) — all German armed forces. Within a year, new field marshals Gerd von Rundstedt, Feodor von Bock, Baron Wilhelm von Leeb, Walther von Reichnau and Günther von Kluge would be leading Axis armies against the Soviet Union in the greatest offensive in history — “Operation Barbarossa.” Von Rundstedt was the senior, and most respected, German general. He had commanded Army Group South in the Polish Campaign, and his Army
Group A had delivered the knockout punch in the Battle of France. In Operation Barbarossa, he commanded Army Group South, which attacked through the Ukraine. During the invasion of Poland, Walter von Reichnau had commanded Tenth Army, which had been a part of von Rundstedt’s Army Group South. He commanded Sixth Army during the invasions of France and the Soviet Union, again under Gen. von Rundstedt. He was only commander of Army Group South for a month and a half before he died, of natural causes. Feodor von Bock commanded Army Group B during the Battle of France. It had been tasked with the invasion of Belgium and The Netherlands. During the Polish Campaign, he had commanded Army Group North. In Operation Barbarossa, he was given command of the strongest German force — Army Group Center — with the most important objective — Moscow. Field Marshal Günther von Kluge was named to succeed Field Marshal von Bock as commander of Army Group Center. Before that, he was commander of Fourth Army. As Fourth Army’s commander, he issued the order that, “Women in uniform are to be shot.” He also led the Fourth Army during the invasions of Poland and France. In Poland, it was a part of von Bock’s Army Group North, but for the French campaign it, and von Kluge, were transferred to von Rundstedt’s Army Group A. Baron von Leeb had commanded Army Group C during the Battle of France, stationed opposite the Maginot Line. He would command Army Group North during Operation Barbarossa. Wilhelm List commanded the Fourteenth Army, in von Rundstedt’s Army Group South, during the invasion of Poland. During the Battle of France, List commanded the Twelfth Army, also in von Rundstedt’s Army Group A. In the spring of 1941, he commanded the German troops which, along with Hungarian, Italian and Bulgarian troops, invaded and conquered the Kingdoms of Yugoslavia and Greece. After Field Marshal von Bock was relieved of command of Army Group South in 1942, that Army Group was divided and Field Marshal List was given command of Army Group A, consisting of the German Eleventh, Seventeenth, First Panzer and Fourth Romanian Armies, which he held until Sept. 9, 1942, when he was re-
lieved of command. During the Polish Campaign, Erwin von Witzleben commanded the First Army, stationed in the West, tasked with protecting the Reich from attacks by the British and French, while the Germans finished Poland. After the successful completion of the French Campaign, he was named Commander-in-Chief West, which he held until leaving, a year later, for health reasons. He was an ardent anti-Nazi and an active participant in the failed plot to kill Hitler. After its failure, he was arrested, tried, sentenced to die, and executed the same day by hanging from a meat hook in Plötzensee Prison in Berlin. His execution was filmed so that Hitler could watch. In the movie “Valkrie,” he is portrayed by David Schofield. At a ceremony in the Reich Chancellery, der Führer presented batons to the nine new Field Marshals of the Army (Heere) and the Reichsmarshal’s baton to Luftwaffe Chief Hermann Göring. The three new Luftwaffe field marshals were presented with their batons after the Battle of Britain had died down, on September 4,1940. Before the war was over, Hitler named nine other men field marshal. Each baton was a work of art, with the recipient’s name and date inscribed near the top, in its own personalized case. The shafts of the army batons were covered in red velvet, while those of the Luftwaffe were covered in blue velvet. The shaft of the reichsmarshal’s baton was ivory, embossed with 20
A portrait photograph taken on the occasion of the Reichsmarshal’s 52nd birthday.
gold eagles and 20 platinum crosses, with platinum endcaps encrusted with 640 small diamonds. In addition to the batons, the officers also wore shoulder boards of gold braid adorned with crossed batons. The field marshals were issued interim batons for everyday use, which were similar in appearance to a riding crop. In addition to these trinkets, each new field marshal received an annual, tax free, lifetime salary of 36,000 Reichsmarks — in today’s dollars between $600,000 & $1,200,000. Next week: Disappearance of the Baltic Countries Mr. Wimbrow writes from Ocean City, Maryland, where he practices law representing those persons accused of criminal and traffic offenses, and those persons who have suffered a personal injury through no fault of their own. He can be contacted at: wimbrowlaw@gmail.com.
Investigation continues for shooting near Flower Street By Ally Lanasa Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) Worcester County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting on Tuesday about 10 p.m. near Flower Street in Berlin. No injuries were reported, but two residences and three vehicles were struck by gunfire. Sheriff’s deputies turned the case over to the Worcester Bureau of Investigation and the Maryland State Police Forensics Science Division was called in to process the scene for evidence. Witnesses told investigators that a private gathering was being held at a
residence, when a dark colored passenger vehicle allegedly pulled into the area. Apparently, the occupants of that vehicle were denied entry to the private party. Witnesses said when the vehicle left the residence, numerous gunshots were fired from the vehicle. The investigation is continuing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation or Worcester County Sheriff’s Office at 410-632-1111. Callers may remain anonymous by contacting the Lower Eastern Shore Crime Solvers at 410548-1776.
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Ocean City Today
JULY 17, 2020
WC BOARD OF ED BRIEFS
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
By Ally Lanasa Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) The following took place during the monthly Worcester County Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, July 14:
Happy Birthday
William Gordy Superintendent Louis Taylor said District 4 board member William Gordy was not present for the meeting because he is receiving treatment for leukemia at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Taylor asked the community for prayers.
Attorney reappointed The board approved the reappointment of Heather Stansbury of Ayres, Jenkins, Gordy & Almand law firm in Ocean City as the attorney for the Worcester County Board of Education for the upcoming school year.
New bus contractor The board approved the recommended bus contractor, Jessica Cathell, to fill a contract vacancy. Cathell will serve in the northern county area for the 2020-21 school year. The manager of transportation, school vehicle driver instructor and supervisor of human resources in the school system served on the selection panel to interview eligible school bus drivers on July 9.
Financial report The board approved the monthly financial report presented by Chief Financial Officer for Worcester County Public Schools Vince Tolbert for the period ending June 30. The total was $11,511,244.39, divided into $5,814,675.22 for monthly salaries and $5,696,569.17 for other expenditures.
Improvement committees Worcester County Public School principals annually recommend members for the upcoming school year’s School Improvement Committees. Schools will begin to meet with their committees to develop goals for the 2020-21 school year. For the full list of members recommended in June, visit go.boarddocs.com/mabe/worcester/Board.nsf/files/BRARFL6D7F04/ $ f i l e / 2 0 2 0 2021%20SIAC%20List.pdf.
Long-time First Presbyterian Church member Dorothy (Dot) Ross turns 100 years old on Friday, July 17. Ross was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the oldest of six children. Her father owned a small restaurant on the north side of the city. She graduated from Dorothy Ross Perry High School with honors in 1938. On Dec. 6, 1941, the day before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, she married Chester Ross, the love of her life. They raised four children (two girls and two boys) in Pittsburgh before moving to Salisbury in 1969, where Chester joined an architectural/engineering firm. There they became members of the Wicomico Presbyterian Church, where both were actively involved. Dot also served as a very creative and well-respected pre-school teacher for almost 20 years. They retired to Ocean Pines in 1997, joining First Presbyterian in Ocean City, where Dot was active in the WOW women’s group and Grace Parker Breakfast activities. They were married for 57 years before he passed away in 1999. Dot currently resides at The Woodlands in Ocean Pines and loves hearing from her friends, and is a role model for many.
Optimist Club awards Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club recently gave away $34,000 in scholarships to several Stephen Decatur High School graduates. Since the start of the scholarship program in 1989, the club has awarded over $2 million in scholarships. Students who received scholarships are: Grayson Liam Wolf, University of Maryland College Park, $8,000; Hunter Sabastian Wolf, UMBC, $7,000; Madi-
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Grayson Wolf
Hunter Wolf
M. Birckett
Brandon Manuel
D.C. and the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis. He is also a Ben Carson Scholar. At Snow Hill High School, BirckheadMorton was the secretary in the National Honor Society and a member of Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. He was a member of the school’s track team, marching band, legal intern and Future Business Leaders of America. He is also involved in the Appalachia Service Project and Adopt-a-Highway program. This fall, Birckhead-Morton will attend Yale to study Political Science and Economics.
Attends conference
Prutha Patel
Matthew Wrench
son Birckett, Penn State University, $5,000; Brandon Manuel, Towson University, $5,000; Prutha Patel, University of Maryland College Park, $5,000; and Matthew C. Wrench, Towson University, $4,000.
Scholarship Craig Birckhead-Morton, a Snow Hill High School graduate, was selected as a National Honor Society Scholarship semifinalist. Birckhead-Morton was chosen from nearly 7,000 applicants and will receive a $3,200 scholarship toward higher education. Craig BirckheadBirckhead-Morton is Morton an Eagle Scout, he served as a page for the United States Senate in Washington,
Lindsay Birckhead-Morton of Snow Hill High School, was one of more than 200 diverse sophomore student leaders representing all Maryland counties during the 41st annual Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Maryland LeadL. Birckheadership Seminar held Morton June 19-21. The three-day virtual seminar brings together a select group of students (HOBY ambassadors) to interact with distinguished leaders in the business, governmental and educational arenas to discuss relevant present and future issues. Following the seminar, HOBY ambassadors are challenged to return to their respective cities and participate in community service projects where they are to perform at least 100 hours of community service within the year.
Graduate Marley B. Rakow, daughter of Steve and Kelley Rakow, of Bishopville, recently graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Continued on Page 52
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COMMUNITY BRIEFS Continued from Page 51 Kings Point, New York. Rakow earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the U.S. armed forces. She also earned a Merchant Marine officer license, qualifying her to serve as an officer on any ship in the U.S. flag merchant marine. Rakow is a graduate Marely Rakow of Stephen Decatur High School. The United States Merchant Marine Academy is a federal service academy that educates and graduates licensed Merchant Marine officers. In addition to the rigorous academic and physical requirements for admission, applicants must be nominated by their Congressman or Senator. Rakow was nominated by Sen. Ben Cardin and Congressman Andy Harris. As part of her four year education, Rakow spent one year training as a cadet aboard ocean going vessels. Rakow will be going to sea aboard merchant ships as a third officer.
Dean’s List Worcester County residents named to the Dean’s List for their respective schools are: Jillian Griggs of Berlin, Adelphi University; Whitney Van Kirk of Ocean City, James Madison University; and James Church of Ocean City, McDaniel College.
ELIZABETH BONIN/OCEAN CITY TODAY
ARCADE Though many sporting events and activities have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, games are alive and well inside Sportland Arcade on the Boardwalk.
First responders help man through mental health crisis By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (July 17, 2020) Ocean City police officers responded to a man threatening suicide on Monday at 10:59 a.m. at a condo building near 115th Street, according to Ashley Miller, public information officer for the Ocean City Police Department. The man was standing on the outside railing on the 17th floor. Officers began speaking with the man and then the Crisis Negotiations Team arrived to take over the situation. Miller said that after several hours, negotiation team members and an Ocean City Fire Department
rescue team helped the man get back on the other side of the railing. “This was an exemplary performance of the professionalism and dedication by the Ocean City Police Department and the Ocean City Fire Department,” Miller said. “Their teamwork and actions greatly contributed to the safe conclusion of this incident.” Anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts should call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1800-273-8255, Life Crisis in Salisbury at 410-749-4357 or the Ocean City Police Department at 410-7236610.
House fire investigation ongoing (July 17, 2020) The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fire, which occurred on Thursday, July 8, at 612 2nd Street, Pocomoke City. The fire was reported at 10:51 a.m. and arriving firefighters found smoke showing from the second floor windows and gables of the two-story, single-family residence. Firefighters from Pocomoke, Stockton, Snow Hill and New Church were on the scene for two hours.
An employee for Hendrick Alexander Townsend, the owner of the property, was treated for minor injuries on the scene by Pocomoke EMS, but not transported. The house was under renovation at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire is listed as intentional or arson. Anyone with information regarding this fire is asked to call the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office at 410-632-5666 or the Maryland Arson Hotline at 1-800-492-8477.
www.oceancitytoday.com
JULY 17, 2020
Ocean City Today
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POLICE/COURTS
Assault Police arrested Brent D.Decker II, 31, of Williamsport, after he allegedly assaulted a bouncer at a downtown bar last Friday. A little after midnight an officer reported going to the bar for an assault. A different officer had already completed an investigation and released Decker from the scene. However, the reporting officer saw Decker approach a group of males and attempted to entice them into fighting, the police document said. The officer reported approaching Decker, who exhibited signs of intoxication, and ordered him to lower his voice and escorted him back to his hotel room. Five minutes later, Decker exited his room and approached another male and attempted to fight him, too, police reported. The officer reported arresting Decker, who allegedly resisted arrest, although another officer arrived to assist. He faces two counts of second-degree assault, and one count of disorderly conduct, failure to obey a lawful order and resisting arrest.
Burglary Police arrested Justin C. McCargo, 31, of Ocean City after he allegedly committed first-degree assault last Friday. Around 9:30 p.m., police reported going to a downtown rental unit for a
breaking and entering in progress. Upon arrival, an officer reported that the front window slider had been taken off the tracks, and police could hear noise coming from inside the unit. The complainant told police he had been behind the property when heard a loud banging noise. He came to the front of the building and saw a male remove the window slider and enter from the window above his unit. Officers stationed themselves in the back and front of the unit and announced their presence. Police reported a male, McCargo, approached the front door and jiggle the door handle, but when he saw the officer he turned around and walked to the back. An officer ordered him to the ground, but he allegedly did not comply and turned to walk back inside. The officer grabbed his arm and put him on the ground in a sitting position inside the rental unit, the police report said. Police detained McCargo, and during an interview he reportedly told police that he had permission to be in the unit, though he later backtracked his statement, police reported. Police reported that McCargo made several incoherent statements, and exhibited signs of intoxication. The renter eventually returned to his unit, and said McCargo did not have permission to be there. Police arrested McCargo and charged him with first-degree burglary.
JOSH KIM/OCEAN CITY TODAY
HITS BUILDING On July 11, Ocean City police arrested 45-year-old Carolyn Long, of Henderson, for a slew of charges, including driving under the influence and reckless driving, after she crashed into two other vehicles and apparently hit Anthony’s Carryout on 17th Street, although the building seems to have not suffered any serious damage. Police reported that no injuries have been reported at this time.
Auto theft Police arrested Brian B. Arndt, 50, of Hanover, Pennsylvania after he allegedly stole a vehicle last Saturday. An officer on bike patrol reported going to 900 Baltimore Ave. for a suspicious person call. On site, the officer reported seeing Arndt with another officer next to a silver Subaru Forester, and said he or she had recognized it as a stolen vehicle. The officer reported confirming that Arndt was the suspect based on a photograph, description and questioning and arrested him. While he was being arrested, Arndt allegedly blurted out that he had stolen the
vehicle, and police confirmed the theft using the vehicles identification number. Arndt told police he had switched the license plate. During a search of the vehicle, police found a pocketknife, a glass pipe with burnt residue, apparently methamphetamine, and Arndt reportedly told police that he had used a needle located in his backpack in the trunk. Arndt faces charges for sale and possession of manufactured drugs, possession of serial number for fraud, theft, motor vehicle theft, unauthorized removal of a vehicle, possession of a concealed deadly weapon and two charges for possessing a controlled dangerous substance.
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REAL ESTATE REPORT
Legislation to impact real estate contracts By Lauren Bunting Contributing Writer (July 17, 2020) Below is a summary of the 2020 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly on items that were passed and put into legislation affecting the real estate industry as it relates to Real Estate Brokerage and Contracts. All listed are effective Oct. 1, 2020. For the complete list, visit mdrealtor.org. HB 93/SB 155 – Consumer Protection – Mobile Home Purchasers – Establishes a duty of good faith, restrictions on steering, and notice about foreclosure on mobile home retailers. HB 116/SB 164 – Home Builder Guaranty Fund – Award Limitations – Increases the aggregate limitation on Home Builder guarantee fund payouts to $500,000 from $300,000. Individual payouts are still limited to $50,000. HB 241/SB 170 – Real Property – Ground Leases – Past Due Ground Rent – Permits title companies to stop escrowing three years’ worth of ground rent if it was never registered. HB 481/SB 131 – State Highways
– Commercial Signs in Rights–of– Way – Penalties – Although these bills were not identical, both increased the penalties for violations of commercial signs in state right-ofways. SB 131 was passed and keeps the current fine at $25, but increases the fine to $100 if the commercial sign is affixed to a state sign, signal or marker. HB 1077 – Real Property – Deletion of Unlawful Ownership Restrictions – Exemption from Fees and Surcharges – Prior legislation created an easier process to remove illegal covenants affecting race, religious belief or national origin from property records for community groups and homeowners. This legislation eliminates fees associated with recording such documents. HB 1446/SB 350 – State Real Estate Commission – Continuing Education Requirements – Ethics and Professionalism – Requires a professionalism component as part of the three-hour mandatory Ethics Class. Does not increase the total number of hours required for continuing education. SB 570 – Real Property – Notice of Easements, Covenants, Restrictions, and Conditions – Recordation –Au-
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thorizes a notice of easement, covenants or other property restriction to be recorded in the land records. Because title searches do not examine the entire title of a property, there are times when easements and other property restrictions are missed. By allowing a notice to be recorded
closer to sale, the property restriction is more likely to be discovered by a title search. The bill is not mandatory but allows parties who wish to enforce their rights to record the notice. – Lauren Bunting is a licensed Associate Broker with Atlantic Shores Sotheby’s International Realty in Ocean City.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
New director Worcester County GOLD, Inc. (Giving Other Lives Dignity), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing emergency assistance for Worcester County residents in times of crisis, announces the Board of Directors and Executive Committee have selected Nicholas Cranford as its new executive director. Since arriving in NoN. Cranford vember, Cranford has trained closely with outgoing Executive Director Sandy Sipes. With a background in education, technology and private business, Cranford hopes to use his skills to serve Worcester County residents in need. He lives in Newark, with his wife, daughter, and two little dogs. “I am beyond excited to continue my work with GOLD in this new role. I feel honored to be a part of GOLD’s rich history of service,” he said. “With issues like unemployment, food-insecurity, and poverty currently on the rise, we need to rely on our strong partnerships more than ever to continue to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable among us. As a small organization, we could never hope to address the growing level of need, but together, there is no limit
to what we can accomplish.” GOLD continues to provide emergency financial aid for housing, utilities, transportation, medical need, and employment. Visit www.worcestergold.org for additional information and updates.
New therapist Worcester Youth and Family Counseling in Berlin announces the addition of a new therapist to its clinical team. Madi O’Malley is a licensed graduate professional counselor, who has experience working with diverse populations. She has also worked as a school counselor. She earned her Master’s Degree from Johns Hopkins University with a dual concenM. O’Malley tration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. She uses, primarily, a person-centered approach while incorporating cognitive behavioral techniques, trauma processing techniques, and dialectical behavioral interventions. She is passionate about multicultural and LGBTQ + counseling. She works with most populations having experience in play therapy, adoContinued on Page 56
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BUSINESS BRIEFS Continued from Page 54 lescents and teens, adults, and couples. The agency has been conducting teletherapy throughout the Covid-19 crisis and is currently accepting clients. Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services, Inc. is a nonprofit organization located in Berlin, that has been serving the community since 1975. For more information about the organization’s youth programs, CASA, community resources, or counseling services, call the office at 4106414598, or visit www.gowoyo.org.
coverage. This is Fisher Architecture’s fourth Ocean City Development Corporation award. In 2015, it earned the “New Residential” award for Island View Townhomes on Fifth Street in Ocean City, and in 2014, the “Facade Project” for the Marina Deck at 306 Dorchester Street; as well as “Business Assistance Project” for DeLazy Lizard Brew Pub on 25 Philadelphia Avenue. For more information on Fisher Architecture LLC, visit www.fisherarchitecture.com or call 410/742-0238.
Award
Donation
Fisher Architecture LLC, a locally owned, architectural firm providing functional design and construction solutions to clients, announced it has been awarded the New Construction Award for the Cambria Hotel at Cropper’s Landing on the site of the former Cropper concrete plant just north of the Route 50 Bridge. When the Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission approved the site plan for the reconfigured hotel, it allowed for the development to be moved from a north-south alignment to the center of the property. This helped expand the number of rooms, reduced the impacts on neighboring properties and on the downtown view. It also significantly minimized the square footage of lot
The Atlantic General Hospital Foundation announces the Leslie Kopp Group has donated $10,000 to support programs that help fulfill Atlantic General Hospital and Health System’s ongoing mission to provide access to quality care, personalized service and education to create a healthy community. “As these heroes battle covid-19 and provide exceptional care to patients with all types of illness, we want to help and also send our most sincere thanks,” said Leslie Kopp. “We are very grateful to the Leslie Kopp Group. Their support, and that of all our donors, helps us ensure we meet our mission to the community,” said AGH President and CEO Michael Franklin.
Fisher Architecture LLC has been presented the New Construction Award for the Cambria Hotel, just north of the Route 50 Bridge, by Ocean City Development Corporation.
Nonprofit seeks school supplies (July 17, 2020) Worcester County GOLD, Inc. (Giving Other Lives Dignity), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing emergency assistance for Worcester County residents in times of crisis, is seeking help from the community to provide children with school supplies. While some students will be able to participate in online learning, many will not. Without access to devices or broadband internet, some students in the area
may be at an educational disadvantage. With the assistance of community members, GOLD can provide these students with backpacks filled with gradelevel appropriate school supplies, and lessen the impact of the digital divide. Visit WorcesterGOLD.org to see a list of school supplies to donate, or fill out the sponsor form. For additional information, email WorcesterCountyGOLD@gmail.com or call 410-677-6830.
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PHOTO COURTESY OCEAN CITY FISHING CENTER
The Big Stick crew won the Single Largest Tuna Division of the 33rd annual Ocean City Tuna Tournament, held last weekend, with Jacob Prather’s 195-pounder. The team was awarded $135,527.
OC Tuna Tournament altered, but goes well By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (July 17, 2020) Despite being modified a few times due to weather and fishing conditions brought on by Tropical Storm Fay, the 33rd annual Ocean City Tuna Tournament was still considered a success. “It definitely had its ups and downs, but it went well,” said Jennifer Blunt, tournament director. “We were happy with the final outcome.” The tournament was originally scheduled to take place last Friday through Sunday, with teams fishing two of the three available days. It was then moved to Saturday and Sunday, with crews fishing one of the two days. Seventeen boats dropped out, but 13 were gained with registration extended on Friday, so the tournament ended up with 32 entries. Three boats headed offshore on Saturday and 29 fished on Sunday. Blunt said with only three boats competing on Saturday, the activity at the Ocean City Fishing Center scale was more relaxed. But on Sunday, the weigh-ins were much busier. Twenty of the 29 boats that fished on Sunday came to the scale.
The Big Stick crew won the Single Largest Tuna Division with Jacob Prather’s 195-pounder. The team was awarded $135,527. A large portion of that money came from the Level H Pro Tuna Jackpot, which is a winner-take-all pool for the largest single tuna. That pot totaled $90,000. It costs $5,000 to enter and 19 of the 32 tournament boats registered for the calcutta. Point Runner took second with Rusty Rader’s 134-pound tuna. The team also scored first place in the dolphin division, with Steven Strine’s 26-pounder. The team was presented $30,677. Mitchell Hill’s 54-pound tuna landed him and his Theresa Jean teammates in third place. The were awarded $9,475. The Espadon crew won the Heaviest Stringer Division. Their tunas weighed a total of 443 pounds. The group received $100,001. A large portion of that money – $56,250 – came from the Level G Heaviest Stringer Jackpot. Twenty-four out of 32 boats registered for the calcutta. The Three’s Enough team finished in second place with a stringer weight of 264 pounds. They won $14,077. The Sea Wolf crew took third with
a stringer weight of 240 pounds. The group was presented $9,385. Following behind Strine’s firstplace dolphin, was Brent Decker, who caught a 20-pound fish. Decker and his Reel Teaser teammates received $1,000. J.L Cropper came in first place in the Ladies Division. The 51-pound tuna she reeled in aboard Myra HT was worth $1,500. El Bendidos anger, Julie Dimanni, finished in second place with a 49pound tuna. She was awarded $1,000. Rachel Pennington landed a 48pound dolphin while fishing on Myra HT. She earned $500. Nine lady anglers competed in the tournament. Five junior anglers (age 16 and younger) were registered for the tournament. Reel Current angler Shaun Gagnon, 15, won the division with a 44-pound tuna. He received $1,000. The Marlin crew took home $10,597 for the On the Board Reward calcutta on Saturday. Tommy Distefano landed the largest fish, weighing 50 pounds. The group’s total stringer weight for Saturday was 236 pounds. The Sushi team was awarded $10,012 for a stringer weight of 217
pounds. Frank Gorski’s 49-pounder was the largest. The Espadon, Big Stick and Point Runner teams each received $2,475 for Sunday’s On the Board Reward. Overall, a total of $346,995 was awarded to the winners. “We were happy we were able to pull it off. We really didn’t want to cancel because there was still people who wanted to fish,” Blunt said. “Everyone pulled together and did a great job. We’re very appreciative of all the boats the fished and the sponsors.” The beneficiary of the Level Q charity donation calcutta will be Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) this year. According to its website, “Each year, between 140 and 160 officers are killed in the line of duty and their families and co-workers are left to cope with the tragic loss. C.O.P.S. provides resources to help them rebuild their shattered lives.” A total of $1,620 was generated from the calcutta and the tournament will add another $1,100 to that. The 2021 Tuna Tournament is scheduled for July 9-11. For more information, visit https://octunatournament.com.
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OCMC Kid’s Classic this weekend By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (July 17, 2020) About 300 young anglers participated in the Ocean City Marlin Club’s 15th annual Kid’s Classic tournament last year, reeling in hundreds of fish. A number of junior anglers are expected to take part this year, but the tournament has been altered a bit due to covid-19. Many participate annually and “enjoy the camaraderie, spending a day (or two) fishing with their friends/families [and] spending quality time together on the water,” said Amanda Shick, the Ocean City Marlin Club’s operations manager/event coordinator. Final registration for the 2020 tournament, a partnership with Wish-A-Fish Foundation, will begin today, Friday, at 6:30 p.m. at the Marlin Club on Golf Course Road in West Ocean City. One representative from each boat can register their participants. Social distancing and masks are required. Over-the-phone registration is also available by calling 410-2131613. A virtual captains’ meeting will be on Facebook and the Marlin Club’s website, www.ocmarlinclub.com. The tournament is open to anglers 19 and younger. The cost is $200 per
boat, with an unlimited number of anglers. Those who don’t have access to a boat can participate for $25 and fish from areas including the surf, Route 50 Bridge, Ocean City fishing pier and Assateague Island. The tournament is slated for Saturday and Sunday with participants having the option to fish one or both days in the bay or ocean. Weigh-ins will take place Saturday from 3-6:30 p.m. and Sunday, 3-6 p.m. at Sunset Marina in West Ocean City. Only two anglers can be in the weigh-in area due to covid-19 restrictions. Masks and social distancing are required. All participants will receive an award. There are additional first-, second- and third-place prizes for most billfish released and heaviest fish including bluefish, bonita, dolphin, flounder, mackerel, rockfish, sea bass, tog, tuna, wahoo and “unusual catch.” Stringer weight includes five fish in a bucket per angler per day for croaker and spot. The carnival and awards ceremony has been canceled this year because of covid-19. Close to 200 participants fished from 48 boats last year. In addition,
children from the Wish-A-Fish Foundation fished for free on five boats. Close to 100 anglers, which included special needs children as well as those who are underprivileged/disadvantaged and in foster care signed up. Including siblings, friends, family members and chaperones, as well as those on hand to assist during the tournament, that number jumped to about 200. They usually celebrate with a cookout after. Unfortunately, the Wish-A-Fish portion of the tournament has been canceled this year due to safety concerns. The tournament will still benefit the organization, whose mission is: “We can’t cure an illness, make a disability vanish, or remove the daily stress a family with special needs children has to endure. We just try to make one day a little better for the whole family by taking them out on the water for some fun and fishing. The smiles and excitement on the children’s faces when they catch their first fish (and their second, and their third...) is a wonderful experience and a memory that will last for years.” The Classic has raised more than $62,000 for the foundation since its inception.
Poor Girls Open canceled, safety of anglers in mind By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (July 17, 2020) Organizers of the Capt. Steve Harman’s Poor Girls Open announced on Wednesday that this year’s tournament, slated for Aug. 1315, has been canceled. “In an abundance of caution and responsibility, we are not going to hold Poor Girls Open this year. We feel it is impossible, because most of our members are cancer survivors,” said Shawn Harman, co-director of the tournament and owner of Fish Tales restaurant and Bahia Marina on 22nd Street, bayside. “We don’t think we’d be safe. We can’t space the people out enough so we decided to go on a one-year hiatus.” A record 925 female anglers fished on 184 boats during the 26th annual tournament last year. A total of $269,940 – a new tournament record – was presented to the winners. “We had 925 ladies fish last year, that’s just far too many people to have in any combined spot during this covid crisis,” Harman continued. “We really apologize. We hope you all understand.” Many women, including cancer survivors, make it a tradition to fish annually. Women enjoy fishing in the See MANY Page 60
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Huk Big Fish Classic next weekend By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (July 17, 2020) Numerous records were broken during the sixth annual Huk Big Fish Classic last year, and co-director Brian Roberts, anticipates the 2020 event will be successful as well. “We’re expecting a really good turnout,” he said. “I think it’s going to be great. I think people are ready to get out and fish.” About two dozen teams have already registered. Roberts encourages crews to sign up in advance to avoid congestion on final registration day, Thursday, July 23. In-person registration has also been extended and will begin at noon next Thursday at M.R. Ducks on Talbot Street, bayside, and run until about 8 p.m. Social distancing and masks will be required. One representative from each team can sign up the group. Several new teams have already registered from New Jersey, Roberts added. Crews from North Carolina, Florida and some local groups have also signed up. “A lot of new participants have signed up,” he said. “We’re just wishing for great weather and a great tournament.” Roberts expects a more than $600,000 payout to tournament winners this year. Records were set for both participation and payout in 2019. Seventy-
two boats were registered for the tournament and a total of $503,302 was distributed among the winners. The final day to sign up is Thursday. A captains’ meeting will follow and be available on Facebook. The cost to enter the tournament is $900 per boat. Teams can choose between two 32-hour slots: 7 a.m. Friday, July, 24 to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 25, or 7 a.m. Saturday, July 25 to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 26. Crews can fish the entire 32 hours or come back to the dock and head out offshore again after a break with the same or different anglers. There are several added entry-level divisions, or wagering pools, which range in cost from $300 to $1,500, and include billfish, tuna, meatfish (dolphin, wahoo and shark) and small boat (38 feet and under). There is also a billfish release division. “Talbot Street Stringer” calcutta has three levels to enter this year, which cost $500 and $1,000. The Heaviest Stringer Winner Take All costs $1,000 to enter. Teams can select any four fish they catch in 32 hours for a combined total weight. Roberts said there will be more money awarded this year in the white marlin and swordfish divisions as well as the release category. Boats can depart from any port be-
tween New Jersey and Virginia and can leave as early as 2 a.m. Teams can fish up to 125 nautical miles from the Ocean City sea buoy. All fish must be weighed at the Talbot Street Pier. Tournament weigh-ins will take place from 4-9 p.m., Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25. The scale, located between M.R. Ducks and the Angler in downtown Ocean City, will be open from 4-8 p.m. Sunday, July 26. Roberts said tournament organizers are still working out the logistics of the weigh-ins to allow for social distancing. The weigh-ins will also be streamed live. Talbot Street Pier is the original spot where some of the first fish caught off the coast of Ocean City were weighed. Nearly 100 years ago, the pier in downtown Ocean City was bustling with activity as anglers took their daily catches there. Organizers of the Big Fish Classic wanted to bring the action, and big fish, back to the pier. A record 900 pounds of meat from fish caught during the 2019 tournament was donated to Diakonia, which provides emergency housing, food services, counseling and assistance for its guests, and the Ocean City Baptist Church. Fish will again go to those groups this year, Roberts said. For more information, visit www.bigfishclassic.com. Updates will also be posted on the tournament’s Facebook page.
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Many Poor Girls Open participants cancer survivors Continued from Page 59 tournament because it benefits a worthy cause — breast cancer research. Proceeds are donated to the American Cancer Society and earmarked for breast cancer research and program development as part of the “Pink Ribbon Classic at the Beach Series” – an assortment of local activities to raise breast cancer awareness while garnering money for the organization. Poor Girls Open organizers presented a check for $140,000 to the American Cancer Society during the awards banquet last year. Since 2005, the total donated to the American Cancer Society by the Harman family through the tournament and other events is over $1.1 million. “As a member of the American Cancer Society committee, I would like to commend the Harman family. This was a very difficult decision but I believe it was the right decision,” Chris Butler posted on the Poor Girls Open Facebook page following the announcement. “I know a lot of people are disappointed but please consider that if we save even one life, it will be worth taking a year off. It would be irresponsible and selfish to proceed without regard to the health and wellbeing of the cancer patients and survivors that we are doing this event for. “If you still want to fish that weekend, please do,” she added. “If you want to support the Poor Girls Open, please buy some apparel.” Money is still being raised for the American Cancer Society and apparel is available at ocfishtales.com. In 2004, the tournament was renamed to honor the founder of the event, the late Capt. Steve Harman. He and his wife, Pam, started the Poor Girls Open in 1994 to provide women with an opportunity to compete for prizes and money in a ladiesonly tournament, and to raise money for local charities. Harman died in February 2004, so organizers thought it was appropriate the tournament be renamed in his memory.
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OBITUARIES BURTON JAMES JARMAN Ocean City Burton James Jarman, 83, passed away on July 7, 2020. Burton was the son of Beatrice (Hall) and James N. Jarman, and an Ocean City native. He served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1966, after that he attended the University of Maryland ColBurton Jarman lege Park and began his long career in teaching history in public high schools in Prince George’s County. During the summers, Burton worked for his father at Jimmie’s Beach Service and later calling Bingo on the Boardwalk. In addition to his parents, he was proceeded in death by one brother and two sisters. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Anna Jarman of Ocean City; nieces, Melanie Jarman of Ocean City, Stacy Jarman of Ocean City and Abby Miller (KC Miller) of Pittsville, Maryland; as well as, great nieces, Emersyn Englar and Sawyer Miller. In lieu of flowers, donation can be made in his brother, Christopher Jarman’s name to the John H. Burbage Jr. Regional Cancer Care Center, 9707 Healthy Dr., Berlin, Maryland 21811. A private service will be held. RUSSELL M. APPLEGIT Berlin Russell M. Applegit, age 76, of Berlin, Maryland, died peacefully at home with his family by his side on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. He was born in Irvington, New Jersey, and was the son of the late Russell M. and Jeanette (Ripmeester) Applegit. Russell Applegit He was a retired certified orthotist and president of Unit Surgical Inc. in Newark, New Jersey. Russell was a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Ocean City Marlin Club, Worcester Wheelmen, and past member of the Ocean Pines Boat Club and Ocean Pines Anglers Club. He served in the U.S. Army with a tour of duty in Vietnam for which he received the Bronze Star Medal. Russell was an avid fisherman and cyclist. After retiring to Ocean Pines from Tewksbury, New Jersey, there was nothing he loved more than to go fishing with friends and his sons on his boats and to ride miles and miles on his bicycle with his Wheelmen buddies. He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Carol A. Applegit; two sons, Todd R. Applegit and partner, Jodi L. David of LeRoy, New York, and Brent M. Applegit and wife,
Denise M. Lackey of Boulder, Colorado. He was a beloved uncle to his many nieces and nephews and dear brother-in-law to Dorothy M. Landaeta. He was preceded in death by his sister, Joan J. Torro. A Mass of Christian burial was held on Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at St. Luke Catholic Church in Ocean City, Maryland. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Ocean City Reef Foundation, P.O. Box 1072, Ocean City, Maryland 21843, or Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, Maryland 21802. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.bishophastingsfh.com. ELLY HORNATKO (NEE FANT) Selbyville Elly Hornatko, age 81, of Selbyville, Delaware, formerly of Glen Burnie, Maryland, passed away Monday, July 6, 2020 at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. She was the daughter of the late Marshall E. and Elenora V. Fant. Elly Hornatko She is survived by children, Stephen Joseph Hornatko (Jen Sullivan) and
Stephanie Hornatko Snyder (Ken), along with 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her younger sister and best friend, Pamela Jones (Steve); older sister, Madeline McGinnis (Paul); and sisters-in-law, Lynn Pierce and Robin Johnson. Preceding her in death were her beloved husband of 56 years, Stephen Hornatko, Jr.; oldest daughter, Debra Cox; and sisters, Robin Sierakowski and Clara Fischer. Mrs. Hornatko was a homemaker for many years and later in life worked as a medical receptionist doing patient and insurance billing. She volunteered for decades in her children’s schools, served as team mom alongside her husband who coached soccer, dedicated time to the Meals on Wheels program, and supported many charitable organizations. She enjoyed walking the beach collecting shells, bowling, Bingo and playing the slots with her sister, Pam. Most of all, she loved spending time with and doting on her family, hosting holidays and celebrations, and making sure everyone knew they were loved. Donations can be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org/donate). A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are in the care of Eastern Shore Cremation and Funeral Service, 504 Franklin Avenue, Berlin, Maryland 21811. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.easternshorecremation.com. FREDRICK ROBERT MUELA, SR. Ocean City Fredrick Robert Muela, Sr., age 73, passed away on July 9, 2020 at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. Born in York, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Libourio Mule’ and Idella Hayes Muela. He is survived by his beloved wife of 34 F. Muela, Sr. years, Patricia (Tish) Muela, and children, Fredrick Muela Jr. and his wife, Cathy, Tammy Kinser and her husband, Doug, and Amy Stottlemyer and her husband, Scott; and stepsons, Michael Lysinger and his wife, Jen, and Thomas Lysinger and his wife, Shelley. There are six grandchildren. Also surviving is his brother, David Muela and his wife, Kim; and sisters, Martha Muela, Idella Muela and April Muela Lane. He was preceded in death by his Continued on Page 62
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OBITUARIES Continued from Page 61 sister, Carmen Muela Groff. Mr. Muela had served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. After returning to civilian life, he was owner/operator of a window installation company. He and his wife retired to Ocean City where he enjoyed fishing, boating and his dogs. During the holidays, one of his greatest pleasures was to dress up as Santa, visit family and neighborhood children and also cheer up patients in the hospital. He was a member of the American Legion Color Guards in Ocean City and VFW in York, Pennsylvania. Cremation followed his death. Funeral service will be held Sept. 5, 2020 at 2 p.m. in the gardens at Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Donations, in his memory, can be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America via: VVA.org. Letters of condolence may be sent via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. JOHN M. KAISER SR. Selbyville John M. Kaiser Sr. passed away on June 28, 2020 in Selbyville, Delaware. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on Jan. 24, 1938 to the late George T. Kaiser and Nina K. Donnan. He served proudly in the United States Navy as a seaman boatswain mate on the USS Hale DD642 Destroyer from 1957-1959. In those two years he traveled the world receiving numerous certificates and medals. He remained on reserve for three years. John married the love of his life, Elizabeth A. Sitterly, on July 10, 1965. He was a long-term resident of Pasadena, Maryland. For almost 33
years, he worked for Unilever, formerly Lever Brothers, in Baltimore. He retired in 1992 and lived in Ocean Pines, Maryland, and finally settled in Selbyville, Delaware. John was a long-time member of the Severn Elks Lodge, Tin Can Sailors and an originating member of the Omega Club of Baltimore. Throughout the years he enjoyed bowling, coin collecting, woodworking and watching old war and western movies. John is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, of 54 years, and his three children, Deborah Legare (Richard), John Kaiser Jr., and Dawn Busby (Craig), as well as his four grandchildren, Danielle Legare, Jacob and Alex Busby and Johnny Kaiser. He is also survived by his half-sister, Marguerite Wildasin. He was preceded in death by his older half-sister, Mildred Emmonds. A private service will be held in the future at the Baltimore National Cemetery, 5501 Frederick Ave., Baltimore, Maryland 21228. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Saint Jude’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, or the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 15829, Arlington, Virginia 22215. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.bishophastingsfh.com. DOROTHY LAVONNE RORABAUGH Selbyville In the early morning hours of July 11, 2020, Dorothy Lavonne (Keltner) Rorabaugh, 86, passed away peacefully. Early in life, she was a hostess for the USO, where she met her husband, Arthur Rorabaugh who was a member of the United States Air Force. They were married 63 wonderful years and raised two great children. As her children grew, she was involved in all of their activities. She es-
pecially loved her role as a Cub Scout den mother and Camp Fire Girl leader. She had a long career as a switchboard operator for several companies. D. Rorabaugh Dot was an amazing woman who spent a busy life raising her children and working full time. Her husband and children loved to camp and enjoyed their time in Chincoteague, Virginia, near the water. She had a very loving and generous heart, making friends with everyone she met. Art and Dot moved to Selbyville, Delaware, upon their retirement and Dot spent much of her time involved with her community and friends as a member of the Selbyville Community Club. Art and Dot loved to travel throughout their life, camping and exploring the country with their children. After retirement, they continued to travel and took along their granddaughter on several trips. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Arthur Rorabaugh; children, Dale and Debbie (Robin); granddaughter, Brandi (Michael); and two great-grandsons, Nicholas and Zachary, all of whom she loved very dearly. She is also survived by sister, Doris Davison of Missouri. She is preceded in death by her sisters, Roberta Eastmead, Eileen Knight and Louise Blackford. Family and friends wishing to pay their respects may visit the family on Friday, July 17, 2020, from 10-11 a.m. at the Bishop Hastings Funeral Home, 19 S. Main Street, Selbyville, Delaware 19975. Dorothy will be laid to rest in a small, private interment ceremony at a later time.
Due to restrictions surrounding covid-19, masks and social distancing will be mandatory. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association in Dorothy’s name. Donations can be mailed to: American Heart Association P.O. Box 417005 Boston, Massachusetts 02241-7005 or made online at: www.heart.org/ Condolences may be sent by visiting www.bishophastingsfh.com. NORMA MAY FERRESE Millsboro Norma May (Shockley) Ferrese, age 87, of Millsboro, Delaware, went peacefully at her home, to be with the Lord, July 3, 2020. She was the daughter of the late John Shockley and Gertrude (Lane) Shockley. She was the beloved wife of AnNorma Ferrese thony R. Ferrese. In addition to her husband, Norma is survived by her son, Robert Ferrese and wife, Shelley, of Summerville, South Carolina; daughters, Deborah House and husband, Dwight, of Middletown, Maryland, Carol Linton and husband, George “Fuzzy,” of Myersville, Maryland, and Victoria Ferrese, of Millsboro, Delaware; sister, Alice Amos, of Bridgewater, Virginia; 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by sisters, Marie Ellwood and Jody Lawrence; and brothers, Wilbur Shockley and John Shockley Jr. Norma was a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Berlin. She enjoyed gardening, canning, taking family trips, cruises and playing cards and Parcheesi with her family and friends. She loved her Irish setter, Roxy, and her Cockatiel, Petey. Family was the most important part of Norma’s life and she will be greatly missed by all those who loved her, especially Rosemary Britton. A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 20, 2020, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11211 Beauchamp Rd, Berlin, Maryland. The family will receive friends and family at the Burbage Funeral Home, 108 William St., Berlin, Maryland, from 9-10 a.m. Monday, July 20, 2020. A second visitation and interment will be in the care of Hick’s Home for Funerals, 103 W. Stockton St, Elkton, Maryland, Tuesday, July 21, 2020, from 1-2 p.m. with a service at 2 p.m. Norma will be laid to rest in the Bethel Cemetery in Chesapeake City, Maryland. Arrangements are in in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home, Berlin Maryland. Condolences may be shared with the family via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com.
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JULY 17, 2020
Ocean City Today
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with an Ear of Corn
19
$
with 2 Ears of Corn
34
95
$
95
1 lb. Steamed Shrimp in Old Bay® & Onions
19
$
95
½ lb. Steamed Shrimp ½ lb. Alaskan Crab Legs with an Ear of Corn
DINE-IN or TAKE-OUT
1995
$
LIVE MUSIC
9:30PM-2AM Friday, July 17 & Saturday, July 18 Friday, July 24 & Saturday, July 25
Open 11am - til
LIVE MUSIC
5pm - 10pm
Friday, July 17 thru Sunday, July 19
ON THE EDGE
FIRST CLASS
Monday, July 20 thru Sunday, July 26
FIRST CLASS
~ Serving Lite Fare & Steamer Specials Daily ~
Food Specials
4pm-7pm
Choice of Kosher Hot Dog, Polish Sausage, Hamburger or Grilled Chicken Sandwich
and
Food Specials
Sunday - Friday 4pm-7pm
Available at Lenny’s, Breakers Pub & the Pool Bar *Dine-In Only
OPEN DAILY 4PM – ‘TIL 9 HI-DEF TVs
Reduced DRINK PRICES & FOOD Specials Sunday – Friday 4-7pm
POOL BAR OPEN DAILY 11am - ‘til Terrace Level
6AM - ‘TIL