OCTOBER 9, 2025
FREE
BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
Janet Stephenson’s skills on display.
Halloween face-off for charity SUBMITTED PHOTO/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Too much? Members of the Historic District Commission indicate that may be the case with Evan Fitzgerald’s proposed mural, which incorporates a touch of whimsy.
Pines woman seeks votes in fundraising competition
Commission cool on mural art
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Oct. 9, 2025) An Ocean Pines resident is seeking votes to advance to the next round in a spooky, Halloweenthemed contest that raises funds for hospitalized children, offers $13,000 in prize money, and provides the opportunity to meet Hollywood icon Jamie Lee Curtis. Local Janet Stephenson has advanced through a series of six rounds of the fundraising competition Face of Halloween, showcasing her expertise in frightening special effects makeup and costuming. Stephenson continues to secure enough votes to advance to the subsequent stage each week. There are three elimination cycles left, with See LOCAL Page 11
Historic District Com. asks if Evan Fitzgerald’s flights of fancy go too far afield By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Oct. 9, 2025) The Berlin Historic District Commission opted to delay a vote on a mural proposed for a building in town, citing concerns about its historical character and unique design elements. At a meeting last week, Berlin’s Historic District Commission reviewed a mural, to be painted by local artist Evan Fitzgerald, planned for the exterior side of
the Poole Building at 10 South Main Street. The wall decoration would conceal the structure’s unattractive cinder block and further the town’s mission to highlight native talent and prioritize artistry, creating a colorful and attractive place to live and visit. Ivy Wells, Berlin’s economic and community development director, was present at the meeting, requesting permission from the historic body for the mural’s placement on behalf of the municipality’s Arts and Entertainment Advisory Board. The mural would be funded through a grant. The presented work showcases a
marshy area familiar to the Eastern Shore, featuring wildlife such as a crab, a peculiar-looking fox, and a blue heron, alongside a visual of a young girl in a headdress strumming a guitar. Wells highlighted Berlin’s commitment to local artistry ahead of the commission’s critiques of the mural. “When we hire local artists, like [Fitzgerald], we’re not only showcasing authentic Eastern Shore talent, we’re also investing right back into our community,” she said. Wells added that engaging pieces of creative work not only elevate the aesSee HISTORIC Page 10
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Bayside Gazette
October 9, 2025
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October 9, 2025
Restaurant chefs to participate in food tournament
Bayside Gazette
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O Oasis Travel Nightt
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Featuring Tuesday, October 14th, 2025
Two Roadie Joe’s cooks will likely prepare a wild game dish at international event By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Oct. 9, 2025) Two Roadie Joe’s chefs will represent the Eastern Shore at a large-scale international food competition in Indianapolis, Indiana, this month. On Thursday, Oct. 16, Josh Morrison, the head chef at Roadie Joe’s Berlin, and Daniel Burke, the chef from Roadie Joe’s Salisbury, will compete in the general chef category at the World Food Championship (WFC) tournament, which is set to kick off on Wednesday, Oct. 15 and conclude on Sunday, Oct. 19. Chefs from all United States states and countries across the globe, like England, Australia, Japan, and Italy, will be represented in the competition, going head-to-head with the local culinary experts. The general chef category is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 16, where Morrison and Burke will have 90 minutes to create and plate their dish for the opening round, said the WFC’s website. The top five highest scoring cooks from each of the 10 categories will move onto the final round on Sunday. Chefs will be given an hour for the final round. The rules stipulate that in the last series, both a required and a mystery ingredient must be featured in the dish. Roadie Joe’s was given the opportunity to compete at the WCF following a qualifying event at the Berlin Farmer’s Market in August. During the preliminary occurrence, local Berlin chefs, including Justine Zegna of Blacksmith Berlin, Toby Gilbert of Gilbert's Provisions, Yancey Carapico of The Cap’ns Slice, and Morrison of Roadie Joe's Bar and Grill participated in a Guy’s Grocery Games-style competition. At the Berlin contest, the competing chefs had to choose a protein from one of the Maryland farmers, with options including a seafood item caught by Skilligalee Seafood, a pork item from Foxhound Farm, or mushrooms from The Bay Mushrooms. Once the participants made their first selections, they picked out three additional ingredients from other Maryland farms at the market to include in their dish. The chefs returned to their stations, where they cooked the creations live. The winner of that challenge was promised a ‘golden ticket,’ or a qualifying slip to attend the WFC this month. According to Roadie Joe’s coowner and executive chef Jason See LOCAL Page 4
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