OCTOBER 16, 2025
FREE
BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
Study finds availability of homes at crisis stage Survey paints stark picture of prices outpacing income
PHOTO COURTESY OF BERLIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BERLIN HOSTS CLASSICS About 100 classic cars cane to Berlin last Saturday for the Berlin Chamber of Commerce’s Cruisers event including this spooky ride and additions.
Fire dept. gets major FEMA grant $291K award will be used to replace aging breathing apparatus for firefighters By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Oct. 16, 2025) The Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $291,428 earlier this month to replace essential firefighter breathing equipment. The OPVFD announced via a press release that they had been selected to receive nearly $300,000 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency (FEMA). The funds will be used to replace 34 aging Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) units. According to the Department of Homeland Security’s website, an SCBA “is designed to protect personnel in hazardous, toxic, or oxygen-deficient environments…SCBA systems are used when emergency responders need to have a supply of breathable air to work in fouled atmospheres that may pose an imminent danger to health and life.” Now, the Ocean Pines fire group will get a new set of these essential units, replacing the bunch that is nearing the end of its useful life. The apparatuses will
guarantee the team complies with the most recent standards from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). “This award represents a major step forward in ensuring the safety of our members and the community we serve,” said Joe Enste, OPVFD president, in the department’s press release. “SCBAs are among the most critical pieces of equipment for firefighters. These new units will allow our crews to operate more effectively in dangerous environments and return home safely after every call.” The department’s announcement adds that the community fire team apSee GRANT Page 19
By Brian Shane Staff Writer (Oct. 17, 2025) For renters in Worcester County, the outlook is grim: vacancies are nearly nonexistent, rents have soared beyond what most can afford, and home ownership is “increasingly out of reach.” That’s according to a new 127-page study by the Colorado-based firm Matrix Design Group, which says Worcester County’s housing market is in a fullblown affordability crisis. The report, released Sept. 22, surveyed 673 residents between February and June. It paints a stark picture of the housing market where prices are “far outpacing” incomes, leaving many households one emergency away from financial instability. “Younger residents appear to be navigating a fragile housing path, where one unexpected expense or rent increase could tip the balance,” the report says. By conventional standards, housing costs should not exceed 30% of household income. With the average county renter earning $46,000 a year, it sets a monthly affordability threshold of $1,149. But the study found that the average rent in Worcester County jumped 13.3% in a single year – from $1,966 in May 2024 to $2,228 in May 2025 – requiring a household income of $100,000. Family-sized rentals are even less attainable. The average three-bedroom unit plus utilities rents for more than $3,000 per month, requiring a household income of more than $125,000. See COUNTY Page 19
SAME GREAT OWNER, SAME AMAZING STAFF Serving the Community for over a Decade
GARDNER PT of Ocean Pines 11204 Racetrack Rd, Suite 101 • Ocean Pines, MD, 21811 410-208-1525
GARDNER PT of West Ocean City 12472 Sea Oaks Ln, Unit 1 • Berlin, MD 21811 410-747-3522