OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
AUGUST 24, 2018
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
LIFESTYLE
OCEAN CITY JEEP WEEK Ninth annual event this weekend includes beach parades, obstacle courses and vendors – Page 26
FREE
Jellyfish event proposal goes swimmingly Council buys into project, but will monitor spending
GREG ELLISON/OCEAN CITY TODAY
DRAKEN ARRIVES Ocean City welcomes the world’s largest replica Viking dragon ship, the Draken Harald Hårfagre, to port on Wednesday. The hand-built ship will be docked at Third Street and Chicago Avenue on the bay through Aug. 29, with daily ticketed deck tours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Center expansion awaits legislature Third phase has Hogan’s support, but funding must clear General Assembly
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Aug. 24, 2018) City officials accompanied Gov. Larry Hogan last Thursday as he announced plans for the state to contribute $20 million for the final phase of expansions at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. Hogan has authorized the Maryland Stadium Authority, in partnership with Ocean City, to pursue funding during the upcoming legislative session in January for the $34 million third phase of convention center improvements. The resort will contribute $14 million toward the
capital project. Hogan said the convention center expansion would create hundreds of employment opportunities and is anticipated to have an economic impact of up to $67 million.
‘I’m very happy to have the governor as an ally on the project that I’ve worked on in public service for 20 years.’ State Sen. Jim Mathias “This facility has long been an important economic driver for Ocean City, bringing in thousands of visitors for conferences … and allowing local businesses to stay open and continue to hire year-round,” he said.
Hogan made the announcement at the convention center during the Maryland Association of Counties 2018 Summer Conference in Ocean City, where he was joined by Mayor Richard Meehan, Maryland Stadium Authority Chairman Tom Kelso and Executive Director Michael Frenz, and Ocean City Convention Center Executive Director Larry Noccolino. Although unable to attend the announcement, State Sen. Jim Mathias (D-38) expressed gratitude for the bipartisan effort during a phone interview on Wednesday. “I’m very happy to have the governor as an ally on the project that I’ve worked on in public service for 20 years,” he said. The Maryland Stadium Authority See BIGGER Page 76
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Aug. 24, 2018) After sorting through entertainment funding concerns, on Monday the Ocean City Council approved a memo of understanding with producers of the Jellyfish Festival, a family-oriented three-day music/extreme sports event slated for June 21-23, 2019. The event is being produced by Live Wire Media’s Brad Hoffman and Endless Summer owner Salty Selt, who have joined with Illusion Sound & Lighting owner Brian Giblin to produce a marriage of what they say are top-flight musicians and extreme sports stars. Last week, the Ocean City Recreation & Parks Committee voted to forward the MOU to the City Council for approval. See HARTMAN Page 75