OC Today-Dispatch NOVEMBER 28, 2025
STUBBORNLY LOCAL, EQUALLY INDEPENDENT
Sign up now for our new, Monday-Friday newsletter. — Page 68
PRICELESS
Chief Downing says he’ll retire after 34 years Will leave top job with Berlin police on March 1, after starting in 1991 and working his way up to leadership post. — PAGE 12
PHOTO COURTESY OF DRISCOLL DRONES
DRAGGING BOTTOM The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredge Murden maneuvers for position just off Martha’s Landing as it removes the shoal in front of the West Ocean City Harbor. The shoaling off the vessel’s port side is in view from this drone photo of the West Ocean City waterfront. See page 3 for story.
Resort tourism efforts deliver state honors
Ocean City government department captures multiple awards, D3 Corp wins best small Presented with multiple ways to handle the insertion of short-term business at Maryland’s rental properties in single-family neighborhoods, the City Council agreed only to talk some more as members fail to reach a concensus 44th Travel and Tourism Summit. — PAGE 14 on which solution might work here. — PAGE 18
Rental reg talks continue
PAGE 2
NOVEMBER 28, 2025
OC Today-Dispatch
The Perfect Holiday Gift G – Good to Use at 11 OCMD Restaurants
e l a S d r a C Gifft
IN-PERS SON O ON NLLY Y Friday riday & Saturday, Novem mber 28 & 29th m
Receive a $10 bonus bonus with a $50 g gift card p purchase Receive a $25 b bonus with a $100 gift card purchase
More infoormation at OCMDrestaurants.com Drestaurants.com Certain Restrictions apply, see restaurant ant for more information.
Buyy in-person at these locations:
32PALM.COM 410.289.2525
MARLINMOONOCMD.COM 410.289.1201
CAPTAINST TA TA ABLEOC.COM 410.289.7192
CORALREEFRESTTA AUR RANT.COM 410.289.26122
HARBORWA ATTCHRESTTA TAURANT.COM 410.289.5121
NOVEMBER 28, 2025
PAGE 3
OC Today-Dispatch
Dredge work continues at Ocean City Inlet By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor (Nov. 28, 2025) The Army Corps dredge Murden returned to Ocean City late last week to begin removing roughly 5,000 cubic yards of dredged material from the inlet. Last Thursday, the Murden began dredging the Ocean City Inlet, with the corps’ Baltimore District office saying the goal is to finish clearing the entrance to the West Ocean City Harbor, a project that began earlier this year. “We are proud to continue oversight of safe and reliable navigation in the Ocean City region with a new round of dredging operations within the Inlet,” Baltimore District Commander Col. Francis Pera said. “Ensuring local waterways remain accessible to our U.S. Coast Guard partners as well as commercial and recreational users is critical to both safety and economic security.” In July, the Army Corps sent its sidecaster dredge Merritt to remove nearly 8,000 cubic yards of material from the Ocean City Inlet in advance of this year’s White Marlin Open tournament. The vessel was sent from the agency’s Wilmington, N.C., district, as its usual dredges – the Murden and Currituck for this region– were unavailable. However, unlike the Murden and Currituck, which takes dredged spoils away, the Merritt casts the material approximately 85 feet from the vessel,
where it settles at the bottom of the waterway. Just days after the Army Corps concluded its emergency dredge work, boaters began alerting the public of increased shoaling in the channel. “We appreciate the work, but it doesn’t do the job the Murden does,” Sonny Gwin of the Waterman’s Association of Worcester County said earlier this year. From the outset, officials said the issue would be temporary, as the Army Corps had plans to return to Ocean City once repairs on the Murden were complete. Back in the area this week, the Army Corps focused its efforts on “Priority Area #1,” which includes the entrance to the Sinepuxent Channel. The Murden’s operations were expected to conclude before the Thanksgiving holiday, but the Army Corps reports that additional work days would be added if the project is not complete by then. In addition to ongoing dredge work at the Ocean City Inlet, the Army Corps plans to conduct a beach replenishment in Ocean City late next year. As part of that proposed project, the Army Corps – in conjunction with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management – conducted a supplemental environmental analysis of Weaver Shoal, a borrow area where sand is taken for replenishment. The plan consists of moving forward with a renourishment project in the winter of 2026-2027, and dredging sand from Weaver Shoal.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DRISCOLL DRONES
The Murden, pictured above, is shown at work in the Ocean City Inlet on Monday afternoon.
Black Friday EMAIL gift card special through Cyber Monday at ccfbayside.com. Get a jump on shopping!
BREAKFAST Monday-Friday 9-11am Saturday-Sunday 8am-Noon ($10 Breakfast Mon.-Thurs.)
HLIVE ENTERTAINMENTH TRUE COUNTRY FRIDAY 11/28 • 5PM KEVIN POOLE WEDNESDAY 12/3 • 5PM
HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS Monday-Friday Drinks Noon-6pm Food 3-6pm
WE HAVE THE NFL TICKET with In-House Sunday Specials 1-7pm Online Ordering Available ccfbayside.com Check Our Facebook Page Daily
MINGO MONDAY, TRIVIA TUESDAY & BAR BINGO THURSDAY 6PM
OFF SEASON SPECIALS ~ 3PM-CLOSE FRIDAY: BURLEY OAK BEER BATTERED ROCKFISH w/ Hand-Cut Fries $20 STEAMER BOWL Shrimp, Clams, Mussels, Crab Legs, Sausage & Corn $42 SUNDAY: TWO CHESAPEAKE BAY CRABCAKE DINNERS w/ Hand-Cut Fries, Slaw 5 oz. $35 MONDAY: PHILLY CHEESESTEAK w/ Hand-Cut Fries $12
TUESDAY: CRABCAKE COMBOS Smoked Brisket or Chicken w/ a 5 oz. Chesapeake Bay Crabcake and Two Sides $25 WEDNESDAY: CHEF’S CHOICE TWO CHESAPEAKE BAY CRABCAKE DINNERS w/ Hand-Cut Fries, Slaw 5 oz. $35 THURSDAY: FULL RACK OF RIBS w/ Hand-Cut Fries & Coleslaw $22 BUILD YOUR OWN BURGER w/ Hand-Cut Fries $12
BLACK FRIDAY GIFT CARD SPECIAL Purchase $50 Gift Card Get $10 Free Card Purchase $100 Gift Card Get $25 Free Card Purchase $200 Gift Card Get $55 Free Card Purchase $300 Gift Card Get $85 Free Card Purchase $400 Gift Card Get $120 Free Card FREE CARDS EFFECTIVE 01/01/2026
LUNCH SPECIALS $12.50 ~ MONDAY-FRIDAY 11AM-3PM 37314 LIGHTHOUSE ROAD • RT. 54, SELBYVILLE, DE • 302-988-5000/302-993-6959