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DECEMBER 9, 2016
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
SPORTS
WINTER TEAM PREVIEWS Stephen Decatur High School sports programs ready for action – Page 33
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Council: no marine sanctuary Agrees to send letter opposing petition by aquarium officials
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY
CHRISTMAS PARADE Ocean City Deputy Fire Marshal Ryan Whittington rollerblades along Coastal Highway last Saturday during Ocean City’s 34th annual Christmas parade, reminding spectators to change the batteries in their smoke detectors. As children received candy from parade participants, he encouraged them to brush their teeth after the event.
By Katie Tabeling Staff Writer (Dec. 9, 2016) Hoping to help block the National Aquarium’s petition to make the Baltimore Canyon a marine sanctuary, the Ocean City mayor and council agreed Monday to send a letter to state officials declaring their steadfast opposition. The council’s action followed an appeal by attorney Mark Cropper to join the local sportsfishing industry in opposing the designation sought by the aquarium officials in Baltimore. “In any method that we can convince the National Aquarium in Baltimore not to file the petition due to the concerns of Ocean City and the fishing community, that’s the best of all worlds,” said Cropper, who represents the Sunset Marina, Ocean City Fishing Center Marina, the White Marlin Club and several recreational anglers and See FISHERMEN Page 3
DNR considers regs banning bow riding on boats Local legislators backing measure in wake of fatal OC accident last summer
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Dec. 9, 2016) The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is considering changes to boat safety regulations that would prohibit boat passengers from riding up forward on
the bow, following a meeting of the department’s Boat Act Advisory Committee last Thursday. Mike Grant, the committee’s state liaison, said the discussion lasted close to two hours, including a presentation from Sen. Jim Mathias, but nothing has be decided yet. “The group was presented with a proposed list of changes for a change to the current negligent operations regulation, which would include
some language pertaining specifically to bow riding and how that is being handled,” Grant said. “It’s left in the hands of staff right now to come up with the final language and resubmit to the Boat Act Advisory Committee for final approved recommendations, which will then go to the (DNR) secretary (Mark Belton) for his signature.” Maryland State Delegate Mary Beth Carozza also met with boating
industry officials to express her support for addressing the issue of bow riding. “After I met with them, I was vey comfortable seeing that DNR police was working so closely with the boat rental and Jet ski rental operators and that they were … in agreement that we needed to clarify and strengthen the bow safety regulations,” she said. See NEW Page 5