OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.NET
DECEMBER 25, 2015
HOLIDAYS OUR SCHEDULE The offices of Ocean City Today will be closed Thursday and Friday for the holidays and will reopen Monday.
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Amusement district adds Trimper lot Rezoning reflects use rather than development value
Frequent contributing photographer Ed Serembus captured this scene looking down on the Winterfest layout at Northside Park at 125th Street. The ground-level view has been seen by 20 percent more people this year, as the event’s popularity continues to grow.
So far, it’s a record Winterfest Weather, timing, promotion, contribute to 20 percent increase in attendance
By Katie Tabeling Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2015) The growing popularity of Winterfest of Lights at Northside Park on 125th Street is often mentioned, but the numbers
released last week prove that it’s so. According to Frank Miller, special events superintendent for the Town of Ocean City, attendance is up approximately 11,500 people over the same period last year. “Last year was a benchmark year, and we never thought we could duplicate its success,” Miller said. “We’re grateful for the people that
come out in the great weather conditions.” An annual holiday event, Winterfest of Lights takes visitors on a 12minute tram ride through 58 acres of more than 400 displays that feature fairytale characters to the 12 Days of Christmas. The layout of the light displays See WEATHER on page 6
By Zack Hoopes Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2015) The Ocean City Council voted Monday to expand the downtown amusement district after expressing its view that the change would, in the long run, protect properties adjacent to the rezoned site, even though those neighbors themselves disagreed. The rezoning ordinance will expand the Amusement Overlay District, a zoning classification that gives additional land-use rights to whatever “base” zone lies beneath it. This expansion will include the former “Tank Battle” lot on the west side of Baltimore Avenue currently used as a staging and repair yard for Trimper’s Amusements, albeit with the condition that any conversion to an actual amusement use will be subject to direct review by the council. “I do feel you are protected,” Council Secretary Mary Knight told the property’s neighbor. “I think future councils will take into consideration what is surrounding and what is happening in the neighborhood.” “I like [no change] better, but this is better than not [having the condition],” said Gary Steger, whose home abuts the Tank Battle lot. The zone expansion was introduced to allow the former H2O Club property at 14 Worcester Street to be See COUNCIL on page 5
One random act of generosity, just in time for holidays
By Kara Hallissey Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2015) When Ocean City resident Phyllis Mosmiller, 68, walked into a resort cell phone store during the Thanksgiving holidays, she was not expecting to leave with a new phone. All she anticipated was buying new batteries for her existing phone.
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What she got, though, was much more than that. Mosmiller was shopping with her daughter when she decided to stop in the store to buy a replacement battery for her phone. There were two young clerks and a man standing at the counter when one of the employees informed Mosmiller they no longer sold batter-
ies for her model that she should upgrade instead. Mosmiller was disappointed by the suggestion and replied that she would have to wait until after Christmas to do that. She then started to walk towards the exit when the customer at the counter told her not to leave. Over Mosmiller’s objections, the
man – an Ocean City contractor – proceeded to buy her a new cell phone, a charger, case and screensaver, which altogether totaled $145. “I was in shock by his generosity and startled by his offer,” Mosmiller said. “Despite all the sadness in the world, killing and terrorism, for a moment in time, this gentleman See UNIDENTIFIED on page 3
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Ocean City Today
PAGE 2
DECEMBER 25, 2015
New Year’s Eve Menu soups, salads
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Lobster Bisque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11
Black Angus Filet Mignon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $37
chunks of fresh lobster meat in a creamy sherried lobster bisque
rubbed with fresh herbs, pan seared in virgin olive oil, topped with a wild mushroom ragout, port demi glaze
Clams Casino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9
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little neck clams stuffed with peppers, bacon and garlic butter baked and topped with gruyere and gouda cheese
seasoned and broiled, lemon & white wine then served w/ drawn butter
Seared Ahi Tuna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13
Prime Rib Au Jus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $34
seasoned and seared rare, then drizzled with yuzu-wasabi mayonnaise served on seaweed salad with red pepper and cucumber
slow roasted with herbs and served with horseradish créme and au jus
Creole Shrimp & Grits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11
half warm water lobster tail, swordfish, shrimp, scallops and crab cake broiled with butter and white wine
shrimp sautéed with andouille sausage, peppers and onion on a cheddar-chive grit cake, and finished with cajun butter sauce
Spiced Rum / Mango Glazed Pork Chops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$25
Broiled Seafood Platter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $48
boneless center cut grilled and basted
Five Onion Soup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8 caramelized mix of onions in a sherried beef broth, topped with ciabatta croutons and glazed with gruyere and smoked gouda
Caribbean Caesar Salad
Seafood Mac & Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $32 shrimp, jumbo lump crab, lobster and pollack tossed with a three cheese cream sauce and penne pasta then baked with a panko crust
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Crab Cakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $34
crisp hearts of romaine lightly coated with our own island caesar dressing, homemade croutons, and asiago cheese
broiled and served with a sweet chili remoulade
House Salad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10
Surf & Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $48
spring mix and romaine with sundered cranberries, fresh orange sections, feta cheese and sunflower seeds served with our raspberry-shallot balsamic dressing
combination of 6oz. broiled lobster tail and pan seared petite certified black angus filet with a rich demi glace and drawn butter
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Ocean City Today
DECEMBER 25, 2015
PAGE 3
No free parking at inlet for fundraising run By Katie Tabeling Staff Writer (Dec 25. 2015) Ocean City is welcoming a new charity run this summer, but with one notable stipulation from the City Council. The council on Monday did approve the Lyme Disease 5K event to be held in May, but rejected its request that its participants get free parking at the inlet lot. The Lyme Disease 5K, proposed by Angela Burke of the Lyme Disease Association of the Eastern Shore, will be held on May 15 on the Boardwalk from the south tram station to 15th Street. All proceeds of the event will go to the association. Event organizers asked for the use of the city’s judging stand, metal fencing and free parking at the inlet parking lot for participants for volunteers. While the council had little problem with allowing use of the stand for $125 per day, several council members raised issues on free parking. Councilman Tony Deluca pointed out that the council just approved a three-year arrangement for Walk MS that requires participants to pay for parking in the same 1,100-space lot. “They’ve been doing … parking for 350 spaces, and all their participants are paying for parking. I’m curious to why they’re [Lyme Disease Association] asking for free parking for a new event,” Deluca said. Burke told the council she hoped that the free parking would make it
Unidentified elf purchases phone, supplies for local Continued from Page 1 made me feel that there are still some good people in this world. I will remember that moment in time forever.” Mosmiller wants others to know of his good deed. “I want to wish this stranger and his family a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year,” Mosmiller said.
Ocean City Today Business ..................................35 Calendar ..................................58 Commentary..............................69 Classifieds ................................60 Entertainment ..........................46 Lifestyle ....................................37 Obituaries ................................27 Public notices ..........................64 Sports ......................................29 News: editor@oceancitytoday.net Sales: sales@oceancitytoday.net Classifieds: classifieds@oceancitytoday.net Phone: 410-723-6397 Visit us on the Web at www.oceancitytoday.net and at Facebook/Ocean City Today Published Fridays by FLAG Publications, Inc. 8200 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Md. 21842 P.O. Box 3500, Ocean City, Md. 21843 Available by subscription at $150 a year.
attractive for people to attend the 5K. The association estimated approximately 200 people will participate. “This is the first year, so we’re just encouraging people to come out,” she said. The event date was also a driving point in the council’s discussion, since the second Saturday in May could see people packed in the inlet parking lot. Councilman Dennis Dare suggested that the Public Works Department could look at past parking numbers for that date early in the morning, since the 5K is set for 6 a.m. to noon. If the lot is normally full around that time of year, the council and event organizers could reach a compromise. But some council members stood firm on their stance of no free parking, even with a suggested compro-
mise. “I know it’s an important cause, but the free parking does bother me regardless if the lot is full or not,” said Councilwoman Mary Knight. “May 15 could be a lot like this past Thanksgiving and you wouldn’t have a lot of parking. I know that early in the morning there’s a lot of street parking and additional places.” According to Burke, free parking for the Lyme Disease 5K would be an incentive to keep people shopping on the Boardwalk, but removing it would not kill the event. Metal fencing was another point of debate among the council members. Dare said that the Recreation and Parks Commission recommended that it would be too expensive to use for the 5K. The metal fence is $5 per piece to rent a day, according to the agenda.
The council suggested using cones to mark off the staging area of the inlet lot instead. Cones would be quick and inexpensive to use. However, Angela’s husband, Cullen Burke, raised some safety concerns about not using the fence. “The fencing keeps cars from driving through were people are milling about. It’s one of those things that cordons off the area authoritatively,” Burke said. “The tourists will drive anywhere and they’ll park anywhere. I think it’s a legitimate concern.” The decision of barricade options was left open to the council. The event organizers, the Public Works department and parks and recreations officials will meet to address fencing. “The idea is to keep cost down for you so you can raise more money and for us so that we don’t spend more tax dollars,” Dare told Angela Burke.
MERRY CHRISTMAS! WE WILL BE CLOSED DEC. 24 & 25 So that our staff may enjoy the holiday with their families
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