12/25/2020 Ocean City Today

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DECEMBER 25, 2020

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LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

SANTA SUPPORT

Santa stopped by Ocean City Fire Department Fire Station 5 on Keyser Point Road in West Ocean City last Saturday. The department escorted him through neighborhoods in West Ocean City on Saturday and around Ocean City on Monday evening.

Winterfest’s crowds better than expected Walking tour draws praise for event, with one more week remaining to see it

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) New Year’s Eve will be less bright in Ocean City, after this year’s fireworks display was canceled because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, residents and guests may continue to get their fill of holiday gleam and cheer at the 28th annual Winterfest of Lights at Northside Park on 125th Street.

This year’s holiday light display, which takes place Wednesday through Sunday, from 5:30-9:30 p.m., is a walking tour, rather than a tram excursion.

This decision was made back in September, as tram rides were deemed unsuitable during a pandemic.

At the time, some city officials shared concerns with a walking tour, specifically in regards to cold weather and dark pathways, but since opening night on Nov. 19, patrons have had nothing but glowing reviews for the event, according to special events See WALKING Page 4

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Ocean City Today

DECEMBER 25, 2020

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 3

OC officials reflect on impact of coronavirus Despite many local event cancellations, resort saw resiliency throughout year

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) As 2020 comes to a close, Ocean City officials reflected on a turbulent year gripped by a global health crisis, and reckoned with the uncertainty of what lies in store for the new year.

The novel coronavirus took the world by storm in January, and has killed more than 1.7 million people globally and more than 300,000 in the United States.

As of Monday, the virus has killed 43 Worcester County residents, 18 of whom resided at the Berlin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

“It was in February that I talked to the city manager [Doug Miller] and I said, ‘We really need to begin to discuss the covid-19 virus. I think it’s something we’re going to be faced with,’” Mayor Rick Meehan said.

He said despite the lull that preceded the virus’s onslaught in this country, it had been clear to him that Ocean City would not be spared.

His assumption would become reality soon thereafter.

“The benchmark, the very first

thing that happened is we canceled the St. Patrick’s Day Parade,” Meehan said. “That was the middle of March, and that’s when we really began to take actions and [saw] ... how this would affect the operations of Ocean City over the course of the summer.”

From there, events fell one after the other: Gov. Larry Hogan began implementing restrictions and the city began to take its own measures, such as closing down the beach and Boardwalk in March and temporarily banning short-term rentals in April.

A resort typically bursting with activity in the spring grew eerily quiet.

While prompt action both statewide and locally helped save Ocean City from the deadlier aspects of the virus, as a tourism-driven community, those measures have dealt a critical blow to the city’s finances.

Event cancelations racked up millions in lost profits at the Ocean City convention center on 40th Street, as well as money that would have been spent at hotels, restaurants and amusements. The City Council voted to not operate the resort’s tram service, which would be another $600,000 to $700,000 blow to the coffers. Hotels, particularly in the spring, suffered historically low occupancy rates.

Many businesses could not open

until mid-June, while restaurants were limited to carryout and delivery services.

As if the local business community had not suffered enough, it was dealt

another massive setback this summer when international travel bans, travel anxiety and associated health risks killed the J-1 student visa program.

See TRIUMPHS Page 5

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PAGE 4

Ocean City Today

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Walking tours could become future feature of Winterfest

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

A 50-foot tree, whose lights dance to music, is just one of the many Winterfest of Lights displays at Northside Park on 125th Street. Visitors can stroll around the park and view the displays, Wednesday through Sunday from 5:30-9:30 p.m. until Jan. 2.

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timate experience, one in which guests control their pace and can directly interact with displays and features.

Overall, people were just pleased to have an event to attend in a year when so many had been canceled, Moore said.

Winterfest of Lights will remain open until Jan. 2, which means as of this Friday, guests will have just seven more opportunities to attend the holiday event.

Tickets cost $5 per guest 12 years and older, and facemasks are required as per a Worcester County Health Department advisory.

Tickets may be purchased online at https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/winterfest-of-lights-a-walk-thru-holidayevent/ or at the festival entrance.

Hot chocolate is available for purchase at the entrance of the park, although guests are welcomed to bring their own snacks and hot beverages to keep them energized during the walking tour.

New this year is a scavenger hunt, which includes looking for reindeer in flight, a famous furry friend and some sparkly bling. There is also a “Junior Reindeer Navigation Test Maze,” a large fire truck to check out and several stops for photo opportunities.

To visit Santa Claus or the gift shop, guests must have their temperature checked and wear their masks.

As Winterfest of Lights comes to a close, special events staff remain hopeful, but uncertain, about what Winterfest 2021 will look like.

“We’re still learning along with the rest of the world what is going to be expected in 2021,” Moore said.

“We’re trying to move forward with all of our events in a very healthy and positive way. We’ll definitely look at public response to changes, but nothing is definitive yet.”

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Continued from Page 1 staff. “[The response has been] extremely positive,” Special Events Coordinator Brenda Moore said. “The public is actually vying for more walking tours in the future. We’ll see where that goes, but they’re very pleased.”

Save for a few rainy nights, weather conditions have been favorable, and pathways are well lit and safe to traverse.

“We put a lot of extra lights up along the pathway and the trees in addition to displays so it would be bright and safe enough for everyone,” Moore said.

Additionally, unlike the tram ride, the walking tour was condensed to a half-mile pathway around the park’s lagoon, with a shortcut in the middle and plenty of rest areas for tired patrons to sit and relax with their hot chocolates.

To accommodate elderly and disabled patrons, scooters and power wheelchairs are available for rent for $10. Standard wheelchairs are also available.

Contact Scooters-4Rent.com or 302-280-6203.

These steps, as well as new displays, hundreds of lit trees and “Christmas gifts” (Easter Eggs), seemingly have paid off.

The first four nights boasted 6,635 participants, a marginal 9 percent decrease compared to last year’s number of visitors.

As of Tuesday morning, Moore said the total number of visitors was 55,529, a 15.6 percent decrease compared to last year.

Moore also mentioned that online ticket sales are up 88.4 percent compared to advanced ticket sales last year, meaning the department’s goal of minimizing interaction and contact was working.

One of the highlights of the walking tour is that it allows for a more in-

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Government offices closed for Christmas, New Year’s (Dec. 25, 2020) Worcester County Government offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Dec. 24-25, 2020, and Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays.

They include: Worcester County Government Center and Cape Isle of Wight satellite offices, Worcester County Recreation Center, the County Library, Central Landfill in Newark, and the Home Owner Convenience Centers

in Berlin, Pocomoke and Snow Hill.

In addition, library branches will be open by appointment on Saturday, Dec. 26 and Saturday, Jan. 2, and will close at noon on Dec. 31.

The Shore Spirits Retail Liquor Store in Pocomoke will be open Dec. 24 and closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

For more information on WCG hours of operation, contact Kim Moses, public information officer, at 410-6321194.

www.oceancitytoday.com

DECEMBER 25, 2020

PAGE 5

Ocean City Today

Triumphs included visitors, budget approval Continued from Page 3 “That cut our workforce,” Meehan said. “We have approximately 4,000 J-1 students during the summer and that probably equates to 7,000 jobs because most work two jobs.”

Councilman Tony DeLuca, who serves as council secretary, said staff in the city’s finance department coined this year’s budget as the one from “hell.”

The pandemic also put a pause on the council’s operations, as it had to go online to avoid spreading the virus among members and the public.

Both DeLuca and Council President Matt James said while the virtual meetings were necessary, it stymied meaningful debate and discussion.

“I understand why we did them, but I think we are a much more productive group when we meet in person,” James said. “When you meet in person, you can see how the others in the room are responding [and] I think people are more open to conversation.”

He added, however, that the council would return to virtual meetings if need be.

In addition, DeLuca said the public spoke more at in-person meetings versus online ones.

Meehan reflected on the backlash he received because of his mandates from people who said he went too far or did not go far enough.

He said although some decisions were painful to make, he did not regret doing what he believed was right at the time.

“The health, safety and welfare of the community is our number one responsibility,” Meehan said. “I knew I had to be steady, consistent and I had to be open minded as to exactly the ramifications of everything we did and the long-term effects of everything we tried to do.”

Aside from the pandemic, the city had other obstacles to contend with, such as an eruption of criminal behavior in June and, of course, the annual pop-up car rally that has plagued the resort for years every September.

DeLuca, James and Meehan expressed optimism about how the city plans to respond to the pop-up rally this year, as police last year used new tactics that seemed effective against the rowdy drivers.

Yet, “It’s similar to the issues we had in June, the dynamic is a lot different now,” James said. “These are not car enthusiasts — well,some of them are — but we see a lot of people

come to Ocean City just to cause DeLuca mentioned the budget problems.” passed in April as another achieveJames said the city’s strong re- ment, as it did not increase property sponse to the pop-up rally could have taxes. been a double-edge sword.

In fact, he said, those with the “The ones that are here to cause Maryland Homestead Tax Credit saw problems were probably a small a slight decrease. group before, and once we decided And of course, the distribution of that we were going to take action the novel coronavirus vaccine was against them, I think that motivated also a huge victory for all. them to reNevertheally cause less, despite more probbetter-thanlems and to expected come in summer businumbers,” ness and reJames said. cent medical Despite relief, city ofthe immense Rick Meehan ficials and Matthew James Tony DeLuca challenges, staff will be there were triumphs, as well, most faced with the task of resolving notably the return of guests in the budget shortfalls and attempting to summer. prepare next fiscal year’s budget.

“I think a lot of people thought this As is his M.O., DeLuca said he resummer was going to be nonexistent mained firm in his stance against and not see much travel to Ocean raising property taxes.

City,” James said. “That wasn’t the “No matter what that number [the case. While our visitor numbers were budget shortfall] is, I’m not going to down a bit, we still saw a lot of peo- support raising [property] taxes,” ple, and nobody expected that.”

DeLuca said.

Meehan, James and DeLuca Instead, he offered three other sopraised the business community for lutions — raise the room tax by .5 its resilience, creativity and willing- percent, sell surplus properties or ness to adapt to the circumstances. draw from the city’s rainy day fund.

“Businesses did a great job of folIncreasing the room tax by .5 perlowing guidelines set in place by the cent has been estimated to generate health department, and restaurants $1.6 million in revenue. were able to adapt and really focus on DeLuca, among other city officials, outdoor dining,” James said. have argued that the city’s room tax As businesses shuttered in the is one of the lowest in the state, and spring, the City Council and staff would remain so with the increase. worked to develop a temporary-use Perhaps most important in 2021 building permit to allow restaurants will be the city’s rainy day fund balmore outdoor dining space. ance, which as of last June had $21 The permit went online the first million. week of June, immediately following Budget Manager Jennie Knapp Hogan’s reinstatement on outdoor previously told Ocean City Today that dining. the fund balance is derived from the “They [businesses] knew that they difference between revenue and exhad to do their part to get us to each of those [reopening] phases and they did it, and that’s something we should all be proud of,” Meehan said.

While many events were canceled, three major ones — the OC Air Show, the White Marlin Open and the Winterfest of Lights — remained on schedule, albeit modified.

Meehan saw this as another triumph of 2020.

“What we’ve learned is that, hopefully, as they become events that the public can join and participate in [once more], there’s now a virtual component that expands those opportunities and allows many more people to view those events,” Meehan said.

penditures.

“Our reserve policy is to maintain a minimum of 15 percent of our expenses for something like this [the pandemic],” Knapp said. “We’ve always thought of it as recovery from a hurricane … or another natural disaster. This is going to have a very similar effect on town, in fact it may have a prolonged effect.”

Through frugal spending habits, the city has accumulated well over the 15 percent threshold. This has sparked debate among councilmembers and residents, as some argue the city should spend it or reduce the tax rate.

As more data on the pandemic’s effect on the local economy becomes available, the mayor found abandoning the city’s penny-pinching habits more and more indefensible.

“I look back and there were a lot of discussions of our fund balance prior to the passing of last year’s budget, and how many thought it was excessive. Well, I don’t think people think that anymore,” Meehan said. “We were able to sustain our operations and also … [did] not deplete all of our resources because we have been conservative and we have planned for the future.”

In six days, Ocean City will officially enter a new year full of uncertainty and anxiety, as the pandemic continues to rage the country.

However, James, DeLuca and Meehan were optimistic that the council has the ability to tackle the resort’s issues and work with partners to lead the city on the road to recovery.

“I want to give a thank-you to our residents and to our visitors for sticking behind us and being with us and realizing the challenges,” Meehan said. “I think everybody was trying to be part of the solution and I think that’s what typically defines Ocean City.”

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DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

Carozza, Hartman preview General Assembly Safety precautions taken to protect health of delegates during session in Annapolis

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) The Maryland General Assembly 2021 session will begin next month almost the same way last year’s session ended in the spring — with a focus on covid-19.

The 2020 session ended early on March 18 because of the coronavirus pandemic, and when the legislature convenes in Annapolis on Wednesday, Jan. 13, its 47 senators and 141 delegates gathering according to numerous covid-19 safety guidelines.

Delegate Wayne Hartman (R-38 C) said the goal for the House of Delegates is to have its members on campus as little as possible to avoid spread spreading, or catching, the virus. That will present a challenge for the House, as committee work will be conducted virtually, he said.

“It limits our interactions with not only our fellow delegates, but it limits people’s ability, the public, to weigh in to talk to the various committee members,” Hartman said.

On the positive side, he said, this would allow more of the public to view sessions.

As for regular sessions and voting, the House will be separated into three areas: the House floor, the annex and the gallery, all of which will be joined through digital video connections.

“I think it’s going to be less effective when you have groups split in different areas,” Hartman said. “Unfortunately, I think it’s going to be more challenging, trying to get a message across.”

Delegates were randomly selected for their seating assignments. Hartman was chosen for the House floor.

The Senate has an advantage with fewer people to accommodate. According to Sen. Mary Beth Mary Beth Carozza (R-38), there Carozza will be three stages, with stage three being the ideal situation with all senators on the floor and little to no spread of covid-19.

All senators will be separated by plastic barriers.

Stage 2 would signal an upstick in cases among senators, and would involve additional restrictions. Stage 1 would be an outbreak and all operations would be conducted the online connections.

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“Everything that we’re preparing is for Stage 3,” Carozza said.

Another challenge Carozza mentioned is that senators can only be on the floor for a maximum of two hours. In previous years, senators might spend all day on the floor toward the end of session for voting.

All representatives will have testing available to them.

The public can still meet with representatives, but any individual entering the capitol building will be required to undergo a health screening and wear a mask. Constituents will be escorted in and out of their representative’s office and must social distance.

Meetings will be Wayne Hartman limited to just two people.

Interns will only be working virtually.

Looking back on 2020, Hartman said a few pieces of legislation he supported or co-sponsored were lost because of the early adjournment. One measure called for a prohibition on balloon releases. Two others were a bill to automatically grant a concealand-carry gun permit for people in high-risk occupations, and Wade’s Law, which would increase penalties for criminally negligent driving that results in life-threatening injuries.

“The bright side of that is bills that didn’t make it through … what I’m going to do is look at how they were amended and take the feedback from committee,” Hartman said. “When I put those bills in this year, I’ll put them in the amended form so, hopefully, it’ll help that legislation move through quicker, more smoothly this year.”

Two new bills for Hartman is one that would add first responders to the protected class of hate crime legislation and another would reduce the required marijuana abstinence for police officer candidates from three

years to two years.

“With legalized marijuana in some states, a candidate for law enforcement could’ve used marijuana legally in a state like Colorado, came back here and applied for a job in law enforcement and be disqualified,” Hartman said.

Carozza said her 2020 highlights and 2021 priorities are related to covid-19. Two highlights were that the General Assembly used $50 million from the rainy day pay for anticipated covid-19 expenses, and passed the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency Protection act to expand health care access and protections.

Another was the special event zone legislation for Worcester County to increase penalties for exhibition driving in an effort to tame a pop up car rally, colloquially known as H2oi.

“Chief Buzzuro [Ocean City police chief] reported that the passage of that legislation was helpful in controlling the vehicle side of the pop-up event,” Carozza said.

As for 2021, Carozza will focus on assisting small businesses affected by the shutdown and increasing broadband availability.

As the legislature’s only constitutional responsibility is to pass a balanced budget, Carozza said that would be another 2021 priority.

“We know already that . . . every level of government is strained, whether it’s municipal, county, state or federal, so that will put more pressure on passing a balanced budget that also funds our priorities, and that the shore receives its fair share,” Carozza said.

Part of that will be opposing any tax increases.

Finally, Carozza said she will oppose any police reform that weakens law enforcement.

“I am very concerned that law enforcement has not had their voice involved in moving forward in any police reform measures that may pass,” Carozza said.

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Ocean City Today

Penguin Swim modified for covid-19, no indoor activities

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) Join the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation for an icy dip in the Atlantic Ocean on New Year’s Day for the foundation’s 27th annual Penguin Swim fundraiser event.

“It’s a great opportunity for everyone to wash away 2020, while honoring and supporting the healthcare heroes in our community,” event cochair Michael Cylc said.

The Penguin Swim came to life almost three decades ago under the direction of Atlantic General Hospital emergency room physician Dr. Daniel Carlin.

The inaugural event took place at the beach behind the Carousel Hotel on 118th Street, and participants raised more than $10,000.

“People that raised $100 were presented with a terry cloth robe with the Penguin Swim logo provided by Mr. John Howard Burbage, owner of the Style Guide in Berlin, [and] they were officially inducted into the Penguin Club,” Cylc said. ” While the robes have long since been discontinued, Cylc said the foundation is considering bringing the prize back in the future.

Proceeds raised during the event help fund essential services, hospital programs, equipment and staff at Atlantic General Hospital.

“The event has continued to grow since then,” Cylc said, adding that it relocated to the Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort on 91st Street in 1997.

Last year, 713 “penguins’’ or participants joined the chilly charitable festivities and raised more than $89,000.

As of Monday morning, 173 partic-

ipants have registered and have already raised $37,210 of an $80,000 goal.

This brings the total amount raised since the event’s inception to approximately $1.5 million.

“The Penguin Swim is very much a community event,” Cylc said. “We know this year has been extremely hard on everybody so everybody that has given even the smallest amount, a penny, we have been extremely thankful for because every bit helps.”

This year’s Penguin Swim will look a bit different because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Traditionally, the event takes place both indoors and outdoors at the Princess Royale, but all indoor components have been eliminated this year.

Additionally, facemasks will be required at all times, save for those who plan to fully emerge themselves in the water. Once they are out of the water, however, masks must go back on.

The event’s footprint has expanded, as well, and encompasses the beach from 91st to 94th streets.

“Once people drop off their money that they’ve raised at any of our [drop off] locations — 91st, 92nd, 93rd and 94th [streets] — then they will get their T-shirts and wristbands, which will enable them to cross the dune and go to one of 200 cones that we’ll have set up on the beach.”

There is no registration deadline, and participants may pre-register online or on-site. Registration costs $25 per swimmer.

Advanced check-in, both online and on-site, will begin on New Year’s Eve from 1-5 p.m., at the Princess Royale.

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Ocean City Today

Event proceeds to benefit AGH staff, fund programming Continued from Page 7 at 10 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m., again at the Princess Royale, and the swim will begin at 1 p.m.

A virtual award ceremony is in the works, with special recognition awards for oldest and youngest swimmers, as well as first, second and third place trophies for those who raise the most money in each sponsorship division.

As of Monday morning, the top fundraisers in the business, community group or organization, youth/family and celebrity challenge divisions were: Bull on the Beach on 94th Street ($2,255); OC Ravens Roost #44 ($4,120); Team jedi and The Brrrrrrr’ng Kirbys ($500); and the Glen Riddle Golf Club ($2,625), respectively.

Individual participants who raise more than $100 will be eligible to win an official 2021 Penguin Swim longsleeve T-shirt, while supplies last.

Participants quarantined because of the virus, or those who feel uncomfortable attending the event, may still participate by registering and fundraising online and uploading online a photo or video of themselves diving into the icy Atlantic using the

Hundreds of people participate in the 26th annual New Year’s Day Penguin Swim, held at the beach on 91st Street, Jan. 1, 2020. The swim benefits Atlantic General Hospital and its various programs.

hashtag OCPenguinSwim.

“We all look forward to embracing a much healthier and better 2021,” Cylc said.

For more information, call 4106419671, visit www.aghpenguinswim.org or find the event on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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The New Year’s Day Atlantic General Hospital Foundation Penguin Swim will take place on Friday, Jan. 1. Members of the swim committee, from left, are Phillip Cheung, Kam LaBrunda, Joy Stokes and Michael Cylc.

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PAGE 9

Ocean City Today

TAKING A BREAK

A harbor seal rests on the jetty at Assateague Island last Saturday. When a seal lays on a beach, or in this case rocks, it is hauling out, a normal behavior associated with pinnipeds of temporarily leaving the water between periods of foraging activity for sites on land or ice. Hauling out is necessary in seals for mating, giving birth, predator avoidance, thermal regulation, social activity, parasite reduction and rest. Seals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is against the law to touch, feed or otherwise harass seals. When viewing, you are required to stay at least 50 yards from the resting seal. If you should encounter a seal on the beach, call the National Aquarium stranding hotline at 410576-3880.

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Full sized in-law apartment, all wood and ceramic tiled floors, 10' ceilings, 2 sided fireplace from family room to deck, crown molding, columns, archways, 2 whirlpool tubs, 4 walk-in closets, gourmet island kitchen with granite and stainless steel top-of-the-line appliances, wine cooler & ice maker. On 1.5 acre lot! No HOA fees. $619,990

Enjoy dazzling sunsets, wildlife, & magnificient views of a pictureques waterway! With this builkheaded lot, you can even dock your boat! Building envelope allows for garages and multiple floors to enjoy the views! Follow the path $269,900 to the water for viewing!

Hileman OWNER/BROKER GRI & CRS Licensed in MD, DE

443-235-5982 Cell Debbie@Hileman RealEstate.com

FULLY FURNISHED RANCHER ON A PARK LOT! Brand new washer and heat pump in 2020, dishwasher and water heater in 2016. Vaulted living room ceiling, upgraded kitchen appliances, whirlpool tubs in both bathrooms, screen porch. attached storage shed, and paved driveway. Only $227,900

Sonia

Zaffiris Associate Broker GRI, CRS

Licensed in MD, DE

410-251-6217 soniasez@aol.com

Call Debbie Hileman at 443-235-5982

Chalet-Style Charmer nestled in the trees on a cul-de-sac street! Over 1600 sq.ft. includes 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, loft, front deck and a 3 season room. The Great Room features skylights, cathedral ceiling, & a wood burning fireplace.

Partially Furnished and waiting for YOU! Only $239,990

YOUR SEARCH IS OVER!

BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME HERE!

Debora E.

JUST LISTED!

BUILD YOUR NEW HOME Almost 1/2 acre! Just 3 Miles south of Berlin.

No HOA or TOWN TAXES! Approved for standard septic and well. Convenient location with a country feel. $69,900

Tim

Ulrich WALK TO BEACH & BOARDWALK 3BR/2BA w/outdoor pool & nice open floor plan. Great investment opportunity. Condo fees include: hot water, pool, summertime security & direct tv. $212,028

WHAT A VIEW!

PENDING

Great mid town location. Relax on your spacious balcony or by the large pool & enjoy sunsets. 1BR/1.5BA. 2 short blocks to beach for easy access. Close to shopping & many restaurants. Well maintained building w/lots of parking. Large private storage closet.

Associate Broker 410-422-1441 Cell timrealestate9 @gmail.com

Kevin D.

Heselbach REALTOR , RSPS ®

Licensed in MD & DE

410-723-9450 Office kheselbachHRE @gmail.com

$259,900

PERFECT LOT FOR BUILDING YOUR PERFECT HOME

Terri

in Colonial Village of Ocean Pines! Literally a short walk to Ocean Pines Yacht Club and pool as well as boat ramp and Mumford Pool. Sweet colonial style homes are the design requirements for this area, but the options are endless for your personal touches for our very own custom home. Call for details of this great opportunity that is awaiting you. $45,000

SPACIOUS WATERFRONT!

REDUCED

5BR/4BA w/new LVP floors throughout 1st floor, carpet, light fixtures, newer roof.

Open dining/kitchen w/new granite countertops, newer SS appliances, lots of cabinets & center island w/breakfast bar. 1st floor BR w/2 closets, BA w/soaking tub, dual sink vanity & separate shower. Sunroom overlooks canal. Office/play room w/glass block wall that lets natural light in. Possibilities for living quarters on 2nd floor w/its own entrance. $732,900

Bradford Associate Broker, GRI

Bethany

Drew

Associate Broker, GRI

Licensed in MD, DE

Terri: 410-430-6875 Bethany: 410-430-2602 www.PO2Team.com Powerof2@PO2Team.com

PAGE 10

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

More covid vaccines coming to Worcester Testing offered in Snow Hill, West OC for free to county residents in Dec. and Jan.

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) With phase 1A of covid-19 vaccinations underway, more help is on the way, as the Federal Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization for the Moderna vaccine last week.

Worcester County began vaccinating health care workers with the Pfizer vaccine, a week ago. Phase 1A also includes staff and residents of long-term care facilities and first responders.

Phase 1B will be those at a high risk for a severe covid-19 infection.

According to a statement from the Worcester County Health Department, vaccination information will be provided at individual worksites, hospitals and care facilities.

“Targeted clinic appointments will be made available to these persons via their employers,” the statement reads.

It says that as more vaccines become available, information on how, when and where to get a vaccine will be distributed.

“We anticipate clinics to be available at several locations within the county, including health department sites,” the statement said.

This information will be available

at MarylandVax.org and WorcesterHealth.org.

As of Tuesday, Worcester’s covid19 positivity rate was 8.65 percent, a drop from 9.65 percent last week.

That’s still higher than the state’s rate of 7.36 percent.

Since last Friday, Worcester has confirmed 139 new cases, nearly the same from 140 last week. This brings the county’s total cases since March to 1,936.

Worcester has recorded 43 total deaths from covid-19.

As of Wednesday, Berlin and Ocean Pines had 716 and Ocean City had 536. By comparison Pocomoke City had 325, Snow Hill had 197, Bishopville had 88, Stockton had 27, Newark had 28, Whaleyville had 19, and Girdletree had 15.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 17 patients with coronavirus were in Atlantic General Hospital – 12 in the medical/surgical unit and five in the intensive care unit, according to Toni Keiser, vice president of public relations. There is one patient under investigation and awaiting a covid-19 test result.

Hospital staff has cared for six patients who have come off a ventilator.

Atlantic General has discharged 112 coronavirus patients who are recovering.

In the meantime, public health officials are encouraging anyone who feels sick, or who may have had con-

tact with someone who is to get tested. All Worcester County residents, employees and their children 8 years and older who are experiencing covid-19 symptoms are eligible for testing.

People who suspect they may have the virus should call their primary care providers or the health department. The Worcester County Health Department has a hotline Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to determine if a person should be tested. Call 410-632-1100 and select option eight.

The Worcester County Commission on Aging at 4767 Snow Hill Rd.,

in Snow Hill, offers covid-19 testing Monday, Dec. 28 from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Tests are also available at the same time Jan. 4 and 11.

Worcester County Health Department offers testing Thursdays from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Park and Ride, 12848 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, Maryland 21842, Dec. 31. Dates are also scheduled for Jan. 7 and 14.

To track Maryland cases, visit coronavirus.maryland.gov/.

To report a restaurant or bar for not following safety guidelines, call the county environmental health department at 410-352-3234.

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

The Worcester County Health Department is offering covid testing at the West Ocean City Park & Ride on Thursday, Dec. 31, and Jan. 7 and 14, by appointment, from 12:30-3:30 p.m.

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DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

Gov. Hogan adds restrictions, $180M to economic recovery

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) Gov. Larry Hogan announced several public safety regulations and another economic relief package during a press conference on Thursday, Dec. 17.

The Maryland Department of Health issued a public health advisory to decrease gatherings from 25 to 10 people. It also advises against nonessential activity.

People who do travel out of state and to Maryland must obtain a negative covid19 test result or quarantine for two weeks.

Starting on Mon- Larry Hogan day, state agencies ceased all customer-facing operations for two weeks.

“We find ourselves in another pivotal moment in our battle against covid-19,” Hogan said.

With that, he also praised Maryland for not meeting the surge in cases that public health officials predicted or that to which most other states have risen.

According to Hogan, Maryland had a three percent increase in cases last week. It also has the eighth lowest positivity rate and ninth lowest case rate.

Hospitalizations decreased last Thursday by 60. Acute beds were down by 55 and intensive care unit beds were down by five. Hogan said hospital admissions have remained steady for the past two weeks.

He warned that after doing so well for so long, Marylanders cannot afford to let their guard down.

“Our message today is simple — you are safer at home for the holidays this year,” Hogan said, encouraging Marylanders to stay with their imme-

diate household for the winter holidays.

He said that in addition to the $900 billion pandemic economic relief package coming from Congress, Maryland passed an additional $180 million in state economic relief.

Of that, $50 million will go toward the hotel and hospitality industry for payroll expenses, rent and utilities.

“This sector was among the first to suffer and will be among the last to recover from the crisis,” Hogan said.

Local jurisdictions will receive $30 million to distribute to restaurants and bars.

Entertainment venues will receive $15 million, rural businesses will receive $5 million, and the Temporary Cash Assistance benefit fund will receive $40 million.

Health care providers will receive $40 million from the state to increase pay for developmental disability care.

Separately, Hogan announced more than $8 million for tourism-related nonprofits through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

The economic package from Congress, which passed Monday, would provide direct payments of $600 for those making under $75,000 a year, an extra $300 a week for unemployment benefits, $284 billion for first and second forgivable Paycheck Protection Program, $25 billion in emergency rental assistance, $20 billion to purchase vaccines, $8 billion for vaccine distribution, $20 billion for covid-19 testing, $82 billion for public schools, $2.75 billion for private K-12 education and $10 billion for child care assistance.

There will be no funding for local and state governments.

Other additional funding could be included as the package undergoes final negotiations.

OC offers free bus service on NYE for essential travel (Dec. 25, 2020) The Town of Ocean City is once again offering free bus service on New Year’s Eve. Bus services will be free starting at 6:20 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, until 1 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1, and run every 20 minutes.

At all other times following 1 a.m.

New Year’s Day, bus service is available from 6:20 a.m. until 11:35 p.m. daily, running every 40 minutes, $3 “ride-all-day” per person.

Keep in mind, due to covid-19 and by order of Gov. Larry Hogan; the use of public transit is for essential travel only. Do not use public transit if you are sick.

A mask is required to ride and must cover the nose and mouth at all times. Physical distancing is required. Maintain a distance of six feet between non-household members.

Disinfectant wipes are available on each bus, and try to avoid high-frequency touch areas.

On behalf of the Town of Ocean City, United Way fund drive free-will donations will be accepted at the fare box.

To track the real-time movement of Ocean City buses, go to www.oct.transloc.com. For questions or more information, call Ocean City Transportation at 410-723-1606.

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Ocean City Today

DECEMBER 25, 2020

County students start winter break Some expected to return to in-person learning in Jan.; safety in education urged

By Ally Lanasa Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) Students in Worcester County are getting their winter break before returning to school in person or online in the new year.

Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School on Racetrack Road in Berlin is following the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington’s direction to return virtually after winter break from Jan. 48, 2021.

The private school had a half-day last Friday, as students entered a two-week winter break.

Amanda Evans, director of admissions and advancement at Most Blessed Sacrament, added that the academic calendar originally called for school days on Monday and Tuesday, but students were provided with two extra days to self-isolate before any holiday travel or celebration with relatives.

Worcester Preparatory School on South Main Street in Berlin began winter break last Friday.

“We were supposed to have a halfday,” said Dr. John McDonald, head of school. “Normally, we have a … holiday celebration, and we couldn’t do it, so we felt we’ll cancel our half day and start our break.”

Students are scheduled to return for in-person instruction on Jan. 4.

“We’re going to be doing another deep cleaning during the break, and we’re going to maintain all the protocols that we’ve had since September, which have been very effective,” McDonald said. “We’ve been complimented by the Worcester County Department of Health on our protocols, so we’re just going to maintain what we’re doing.”

McDonald admitted that he and his Worcester Preparatory faculty and staff are concerned about the rise of covid cases in the county and across the state.

“We just hope people will practice the guidance from the governor and from the department of health and the CDC,” he said.

McDonald added that the school uses desk and teacher dividers, facial coverings and air scrubbers. Students and teachers also maintain a safe distance of six feet apart for in-person instruction.

“Whenever the CDC makes a different recommendation and the Worcester County Department of Health accepts that recommendation, then we communicate that to our families and to our staff,” he said.

In addition, McDonald is proud that Worcester Preparatory has been

practicing in-person instruction since September.

“We’ve had very few disruptions.

No schoolwide disruptions,” he said of covid cases among the school’s population.

As for Worcester County Public Schools, Superintendent Lou Taylor said at this time about 20 percent of the school population is expected to return to in-person instruction on Jan. 4, 2021.

“We’re going to continue to monitor it on a regular basis over the holidays,” he said. “We’ll continue to watch it.

The metrics are one segment of our information to bring kids back.”

Karen Salmon Public school students in the county engaged in distance learning until winter break began this Wednesday.

“I strongly believe that we have got to get our kids back in John McDonald school, but it has to be in a safe environment,” Taylor said.

“We want our teachers to be safe. We want our kids to be safe, but I am a strong advocate for our kids being back in the Lou Taylor schools, and I think most of our community is saying the same thing.”

For families who are uncomfortable having their students participate in in-person instruction can opt to continue distance learning.

“That’s the unique thing about this,” Taylor added. “We can serve all our kids who either want to be there or don’t want to be there.”

Throughout December and early January, teachers have received almost daily covid-19 training.

“The purpose of the training is to give our educators more information on proper social distancing, on mask wearing, on hand washing – all the protocols that we have in place,” Taylor said. “We want to make sure we review all those protocols with our staff and answer any questions they may have as they prepare for Jan. 4.

We just want to make sure we try to keep everyone as safe as possible, share any information that would allow teachers and other personnel to make good decisions as we bring our young people back into our schools.”

In addition, Worcester County Public Schools has received a $218,492 Safe to Learn Grant that can be used to purchase additional PPE and sanitizing materials.

Dr. Abt, the chief safety and

human relations officer for the school system, said the notice of the grant award was for the period of July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020. It has been extended twice because of covid-19.

He added that the first extension was Dec. 31, 2020, but it has now been extended to June 30, 2021.

“The committee had not officially requested the grant amendment but has discussed items that would be most beneficial to the district,” Abt said. “Purchasing additional electrostatic sprayers for disinfecting schools and equipment was the consensus of the group.”

On Dec. 15, Maryland Schools Superintendent Dr. Karen B. Salmon asked the Maryland Department of Health to include teachers, school staff and early childcare professionals as the first priority in the plan to start covid-19 vaccinations for essential employees in the state.

In a letter addressed to Dr. Jinlene Chan, Maryland Department of Health Acting Deputy Secretary of Public Health Services, Salmon wrote “the safety and education of our children demand immediate attention.”

“It is essential that we return to full or hybrid instructional models for the overall well-being and success of our pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students. Prolonged school closures have resulted in our children experiencing diminished academic achievement and social-emotional distress,” she wrote. “We care about all of our education and childcare professionals, many of whom have continued to work on the frontline throughout the pandemic, and we are requesting that they be prioritized for the COVID-19 vaccine in the earliest stages of distribution to essential employees.”

Clarence C. Crawford, president of the Maryland State Board of Education, added that “continued school closings impact all of our children, especially those in underserved communities and vulnerable to abuse.

Prioritizing distribution of this vaccine to our teachers and school staff will help expedite the return of full inperson instruction for our students.”

The request includes early childcare workers who are providing critical education and care services.

“Childcare professionals have played a crucial role in the state’s frontline pandemic response and recovery efforts,” Salmon wrote. “The safety of these programs must be maintained to protect childcare staff and the families they serve.”

The Maryland Department of Health submitted its Covid-19 Vaccination Plan to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Oct. 16. The plan includes workers deemed essential in critical industries, including education.

Your Online Community: www.oceancitytoday.com

DECEMBER 25, 2020

PAGE 13

Ocean City Today

O HOLY NIGHT

Members of SonRise Church in Berlin, 10026 Main St., donned Biblical costumes to present a drive-through live Nativity on Monday night as the Christmas story was recited to visitors through 93.3 FM radio.

ALLY LANASA/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Worcester stays in WHP lawsuit after motion withdrawn Trial date postponed until May because of covid-19

By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) The motion to dismiss Worcester County from the lawsuit regarding the full-time residents of White Horse Park and the White Horse Park Association has been dropped.

Attorney Hugh Cropper, representing the full-time residents, withdrew the motion last week.

A hearing had been scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 15.

Worcester County had opposed the motion to dismiss, con- Hugh Cropper IV tending that it had already spent time and resources on the case, and that the county law would still apply even if the full-time residents win the lawsuit over the association.

“If Worcester County wants to fight in court, then we’ll go fight them in court,” Cropper said.

He said he thought that the county would want out of the lawsuit, given that it has spent at least $50,000 on the case.

“Given the fact that we’re down to 37 people out of 465, which is about 8 percent, so 92 percent is in compliance, I assume that Worcester County would no longer have an interest in spending taxpayer money,” Cropper said.

The full-time residents of the park have been fighting to stay at the seasonal park for the past several years.

See WHP Page 14

PAGE 14

Ocean City Today

DECEMBER 25, 2020

WHP settlement conference held last Wednesday

PHOTO COURTESY POCOMOKE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Students at Pocomoke Middle School engage in hands-on creating and coding in the media center during and after school hours.

PMS media center provides ‘maker space’ for students

By Ally Lanasa Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) Worcester County Public Schools are giving students opportunities to grow educationally through modern library programs, Jennifer Beach, the media specialist at Pocomoke Middle School, told the Worcester County Board of Education last week.

Beach said media specialists transform a traditional library program by encouraging Jennifer Beach students to use educational technology and hands-on skills.

In connection with the county school system’s “Flip2FutureReady” initiative, this multi-faceted library program supports literacy and creativity through technology as well as hands-on development of their creations, she said.

The media center at Pocomoke Middle School has a designated “maker” space for students to create

during and after school hours.

Students engage in making friendship bracelets, 3Doodler 3-D printing pens, a rubber band loom, origami, Legos and Makey Makey invention kits.

“We have a 10-by-10 Lego wall in our school,” Beach said. “We have contests that are theme-based, and they get to create on that.”

One of the favorable student activities is called “Food Truck Entrepreneurs.”

“They get to create their own food truck business,” Beach said. “They interview a food truck owner to find out what it really takes.”

Then, students create 3-D renderings of their food tucks.

Students can also learn coding through programs and exercises such as Ozobot robot coding and Girls Who Code programs. In addition, career and college-ready research resources are available, including Gale, World Book and SIRS. With a focus on literacy, the Pocomoke Middle School media center has book initiatives, such as the Maryland Association of School Libraries’ Black Eyed Susan Books as well as over 300 graphic novels.

“We make it a point to buy awardwinning books,” Beach said.

She also tries to make her “purchasing more deliberate, buying books that mirror my school’s population.”

Beach added that student requests of books are fulfilled almost immediately.

Continued from Page 13 Out of the 465 residents in the park, there are 37 full-timers out of the original 55.

“I contend that when you’ve got 465 people, if they [Worcester County] root out my remaining 37, there will be a couple more. It’ll go on forever,” Cropper said.

A settlement conference was held on Wednesday, Dec. 16, but an agreement was not reached, according to Cropper.

An announcement from the White Horse Park Association states that during the settlement conference, the county attorneys indicated that the Worcester County Commissioners were unlikely to agree to allow the residents to remain in the park until they move, sell the property or die in order to give them time to find alternative housing.

It further reads that Cropper agreed to share the age, financial condition and health of the full-time residents via a confidentiality agreement to assess the situation and facilitate future discussions.

The trial date was rescheduled for Tuesday, May 18 and Wednesday, May 19. It was originally scheduled for last week, but was rescheduled because of Cropper’s request to delay, citing the coronavirus pandemic.

The zoning code for White Horse Park states that from Sept. 30 to April first, residents can only occupy their unit for 30 consecutive days or an aggregate of 60 days. Many residents are older and struggle with disability or low incomes.

Melissa Peters, acting president of the White Horse Park Association Board of Directors, has said that most of the full-time residents are actually younger than 80, with some as young as 40.

The full-time residents have claimed that they were either not properly informed of the zoning code or encouraged to live at the park full time, while the county and association claim that the zoning code has been available to view and that the park’s infrastructure was not built for full-time residents.

The residents have attempted both a zoning amendment and an appeal to allow them to stay in the park until they sell the property, move or die.

Both the amendment and appeal were rejected last year.

Worcester County did not respond to a request for comment.

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 15

PZ approves site plan for Chipotle in Northside Mall

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) Chipotle fans should be excited, after the Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission last Tuesday approved a site plan to replace the Blue Ox Steakhouse with the Tex-Mex chain restaurant.

The former steakhouse is sandwiched between 125th and 127th streets, locally known as Northside Mall and has been vacant after subsequent tenants failed to make a go of it.

City Zoning Administrator Kay Gordy explained that the 9,227 square-foot restaurant, portions of which are attached to another establishment, would be demolished and replaced with a 2,325 gross square foot, free standing Chipotle restaurant with a drive through.

Because of the decrease in square footage, the redevelopment would actually result in more parking.

“The actual gross square footage of the new structure would require 24 parking spaces … and they are actually going to provide … 50 code-compliant parking spaces, so that is going to better that situation there,” Gordy said.

Planning and Community Devel-

opment Director Bill Neville said planners were concerned initially about whether the drive-through lane would conflict with parking, but the applicant revised the site plan to provide enough space for both.

“What we got out of it was a little extra green space in the parking area and a confirmation from them that this particular restaurant and drivethrough lane will be adequately served by the number of stacking spaces that you see there on the plan,” Neville said.

Nevertheless, commission member Peck Miller had some reservations about the drive-through area.

“Where would a car stack up if they’re going to have, like with Starbucks, 20 cars in line?” he asked.

“Would they come down between the parking and the new building?”

Gordy reiterated that the downsized structure would provide double the required parking spaces required by code.

“The only question I would have for the designer would be what is the plan or what happens when 15 or 20 cars are in place and can that be accommodated as easily as it possibly can, even though it’s not required by

Pit & Pub to expand in front of restaurant for operations

By Josh Kim Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) The Pit & Pub restaurant on 28th Street is on its way to reconfiguring its building, after the Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission approved a site plan for its new design last Tuesday.

According to the site plan, the Pit & Pub is seeking to add 400 square feet of space in the front of the restaurant to expand its carryout operations, while relocating 600 square feet of existing outdoor dining space to its rooftop.

The need for the space was simple — the restaurant had outgrown its current operation and needed to accommodate the growing demand for carryout services.

City Zoning Administrator Kay Gordy explained that the property where the restaurant sits has been developed several times, and received Board of Zoning Appeals approval on three occasions.

First, in 1995, the zoning board approved a variance for a covered dining in the front yard setback.

Four years later, it approved another variance to “close 530 square feet of indoor dining area in the front yard setback within 5 inches of the property line and a special parking

exception to waive 11 parking spaces for this purpose.”

Most recently, on Oct. 22, the board approved a special yard exception to extend the existing nonconforming front yard further south to allow for the aforementioned additional space and rooftop dining.

Stipulations of the approval required that the carryout space “will be located no closer to the lot line than the existing structure, with a minimum 7.5-inch setback at the most northern corner of the addition.”

As the space was expanded, so was its minimum parking space requirement. However, the board ultimately chose to waive the additional four spaces required.

In regards to why the board approved to waive the parking, Gordy told Ocean City Today, “I believe it was because this is 400 square feet of carry-out space, so, yes, that does benefit the business with walk-up traffic and no additional seating.”

During the October meeting, Pit & Pub owner Steve Hoffman told the board that 70 percent of the restaurant’s patrons come by foot.

“You come on a summer night and the parking lot is empty, but you can’t See RESTAURANT Page 16

The Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission last Tuesday approved a site plan to replace the Blue Ox Steakhouse with a Chipotle, located between 125th and 127th streets.

our code?” Miller asked.

Developer David Sullivan explained that Chipotle varies in its business model in that it has eliminated the traditional menu board in favor of online ordering through an app.

“You can’t go in the line and order,” Sullivan said. “When you get to the site you have to pull into a parking space if your order isn’t ready, and they give you a notice on the app when your order is ready to go into the line.”

Sullivan later added that customers will pay through the app, as well, further eliminating potential

line build ups.

“That’s a great solution, so that’s good to hear,” Miller said.

Frederic Wine, a principal of the applicant Northside Hotel Limited Partnership, assured the commission that the company was cognizant of the parking situation, as it owns the adjacent property.

“We own the hotel that’s there and the last thing I want to do is put something in front of it that’s going to be a problem for the hotel,” Wine said.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the site plan, with member Palmer Gillis absent.

PAGE 16

Ocean City Today

DECEMBER 25, 2020

COMMUNITY BRIEF

Dean’s List Kai McGovern, class of 2023, has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2020 semester at the University of Vermont. McGovern from Berlin, is enrolled in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources.

The Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission approved a site plan for the 28th Street Pit & Pub restaurant’s new design last Tuesday.

FILL

Restaurant sees growing demand for carryout in OC Continued from Page 15 get into the restaurant because it’s so [crowded],” Hoffman said, mentioning the surrounding hotels.

Additionally, he added that the carryout space would provide space for a much needed walk-in freezer, which the restaurant currently does not have.

He said he did not believe the additional space would necessitate more parking, and could even reduce the need because it would ameliorate the carryout operations.

During last Tuesday’s planning and zoning meeting, commission members had little to say about the site plan.

“It seems pretty straightforward to me,” commission member Joe Wilson said. “I know carryout has really changed the game for restaurants … the BZA approval that they got doesn’t scare me whatsoever.”

Commission member Chris Shanahan asked about three additional parking spaces in the back of the restaurant, and whether those were available for parking.

“That is part of a much bigger parking lot that the Harrison Group owns,” project architect Rick Schoellkopf, of the Atlantic Planning & Development Group, said.

He said the owner of the restaurant had an agreement with the Harrison Group to use 12 numbered spaces of the lot, but not the three mentioned by Shanahan.

“Those three are not designated for anything but common use between the hotel that is toward the ocean and the Pit & Pub,” Schoellkopf said.

The commission approved the site plan, with member Palmer Gillis absent.

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Smoked salmon amuse bouche appetizer recipe

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Santa waves as he leaves Ocean City Fire Department Fire Station 5 on Keyser Point Road in West Ocean City last Saturday. He visited neighborhoods in West Ocean City on Saturday and was escorted through Ocean City on Monday evening.

By Deborah Lee Walker Contributing Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) Christmas is finally here!

I do not know about you, but it seems like turmoil coincides with the holiday season.

Emotions are heightened and drama goes without saying.

Advertisers spend millions of dollars promoting the most glorious day of the year. We must remember this is time of peace, gratitude and much needed joy.

My constant revision of my shopping list is imperative; I must make sure no one has been left out. But these continual adjustments play havoc on my mind.

I have placed a call to my therapist, but can you believe he is on holiday.

If that is not enough, I have been cooking around the clock. Last night, I could not understand why my eggnog cheesecake was not setting.

After retracing my steps over and over, I finally came to the conclusion it was not me. So, the next logical question is, “What went wrong?”

After a bottle of Chateau St. Jean, I finally realized my stove wasn’t working.

This is just great; it is a pity when one assumes what else is going to go wrong. But that seems to be the story of my life.

I am physically and emotionally exhausted, and all I have to do is get through one more day. Family is arriving on Christmas and I need a quick appetizer that is worthy of this special occasion.

We adore smoked salmon. By incorporating it into a dip or mousse, one is able to capture the luxurious taste of salmon without the hefty price tag.

Following are three smoked salmon appetizers that will please even the most discerning palate.

If time is of the essence, this smoked salmon amuse bouche is a winner.

Combine one (5.2 ounce) container of Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Gournay cheese, 3 tablespoons minced smoked salmon and splash of fresh lemon juice in a small bowl.

Slice an English cucumber at a 45degree angle. Pipe the filling onto the individual slices of cucumber and garnish with salmon caviar.

You will need to use a large piping tip so it does not get clogged by the filling. That is all it takes to whip up a fabulous bite-size appetizer. How simple is that?

If the idea of a dip strikes your fancy, the richness of the salmon will See SMOKED Page 19

DECEMBER 25, 2020

PAGE 19

Ocean City Today

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Smoked salmon dip, parfait for Christmas hors d’oeuvres Continued from Page 18 stand up to the creaminess of the hors d’ oeuvre.

Combine 8 ounces of whipped cream cheese (room temperature), ½ cup sour cream, 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 ½ tablespoons minced fresh dill, plus extra for garnishing, 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish (drained), ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and 8 ounces minced smoked salmon.

Blend the cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, dill, horseradish and salt with an electric mixer.

Transfer mixture and smoked salmon to a blender and puree the dip.

Chill for at least 2 hours and serve with crackers, toasted baguettes slices, or raw vegetables. Garnish with fresh dill.

If your artistic skills want to be chal-

lenged and are looking for a stunning appetizer, consider a smoked salmon parfait.

Shot glasses with mini serving spoons brings a level of sophistication to any occasion. They can be purchased online and are very economical, especially since you can reuse them.

Set aside 8 ounces of plain, whipped cream cheese. Then in a medium bowl, combine 4 ounces of smoked salmon, 2 tablespoons heavy cream, 8 ounces of whipped cream cheese, ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice, ¼ to ½ prepared horseradish, 1 teaspoon minced sweet onion, 2 teaspoons fresh dill, and kosher salt to taste.

Blend until the mixture is very smooth.

Using a piping bag, pipe a small

amount of plain cream cheese in the base of the shot glass.

Using a second piping bag that contains the smoked salmon mousse, pipe a small amount of salmon mousse on top of the plain cream cheese. Keep alternating until the shot glass is full.

Garnish with either fresh dill or salmon caviar. Serve with the mini spoon on the side.

The art of piping not only elevates your dishes, but allows you to include the children. Piping kits can be purchased at Amazon for a very reasonable price.

Entertaining is not about impressing your guests; it is about expressing your own personal style. It is important to be comfortable with your choices but at the same be willing to venture from your comfort zone.

These smoked salmon recipes have been carefully chosen for beginners and more advanced cooks. The recipes

do not take much time to prepare which is always a blessing during the holidays.

You can buy smoked salmon that has been cured from the deli section of your neighborhood supermarket. If you own a smoker, feel free to smoke fresh salmon on your grill. Either type of smoked salmon can be used for these recipes.

If you have never tried smoked salmon, you must give it a try. Smoked salmon amuse bouche, smoked salmon dip, and smoked salmon parfait are fun ways to incorporate a delicacy into your holiday menu at an affordable price.

Have a happy and safe holiday and enjoy these salmon options.

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PAGE 20

Ocean City Today

DECEMBER 25, 2020

COMMUNITY/SCHOOLS

EVENT PROCEEDS

TREE SALE Taylor Bank employees, family members and students help sell Christmas trees for the Ocean CityBerlin Rotary Club at its tree lot on Route 589. Pictured, from left, are Chase Ponton, Tammy McCabe, T.J. Jones, Liam Boyle and Debbie Jones.

Sunset Grille’s annual Pink Party, in honor of Hope Palmer, and its inaugural Bishop Broadbill Bash, in honor of Rena Bishop, raised $7,972. The proceeds from both events benefit Atlantic General Hospital’s John H. “Jack” Burbage, Jr. Regional Cancer Care Center. Pictured, from left, are Jack Burbage, past chairman of the Board of Trustees at Atlantic General Hospital and CEO of Blue Water Development; Caroline Phillips, development officer at Atlantic General Hospital; Hope Palmer, Blue Water Development; Mary Mullins, director of the Burbage Regional Cancer Care Center; Michael Franklin, president and CEO of Atlantic General Hospital; and Buddy Trala, Rena Bishop and Hillary Mozeik, of Sunset Grille.

DELIVERY

COAT DRIVE Staff members of the Art League of Ocean City, from left, Katie Brown, Cassie Wait, Rina Thaler and Megan Burak, delivered 21 bags containing 146 winter coats plus a box of hats, gloves and scarves to Diakonia shelter in West Ocean City on Dec. 10, for its annual coat drive. Members of the Art League and community members donated the coats.

For more than a dozen years, every November around Thanksgiving, the Color Guard of Ocean City American Legion Post 166 has been delivering warm clothing and socks to veterans hospitalized at the Perry Point, Maryland, VA Hospital. Pictured, from left, are Johan Nykvist, Tom Bussard and Color Guard Captain Glen Reely with boxes containing 177 heavy winter hooded sweatshirts.

BOOKS PROVIDED PHOTO COURTESY D.J. LANDIS, SR.

BLANKET DONATION In the spirit of Giving Tuesday on Dec. 1, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines/Ocean City, represented by Steve Cohen, president, presents a large supply of handcrafted afghan blankets to the Lower Shore Shelter in Princes Anne. Accepting the donation on behalf of the shelter is Valerie Drummond, house manager. The blankets were donated to the Kiwanis by Josephine Alexander, wife of the late Jack Alexander, who was a former member of the local club.

The General Levin Winder Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently concluded a project to promote literacy skills in the very young and enable them to succeed as future readers.

Members either enrolled in a Kellogg’s-sponsored Feeding Reading program during the summer that offered credits redeemable for free books with the purchase of participating products, or contributed books they purchased. Combined, a total of 32 books were donated to the Worcester County Judy Center during American Education Week on Nov. 18 in memory of member Beatrice Batchelder Frank, an avid reader who passed away in February 2020. Pictured, from left, are General Levin Winder Chapter member Pat Arata and Regent Gail Weldin delivering books to Judy Center Secretary Suzanne Truitt.

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 21

Wor. Arts Council accepting proposals for new initiative (Dec. 25, 2020) The Worcester County Arts Council, in partnership with the Worcester County Library, announces a new initiative: “Artist in Residence” program.

This program is intended to connect the community with local, working artists and to provide free-of-charge creative and educational opportunities to residents.

The Arts Council is accepting proposals from artists who are accustomed to virtual interaction, who are willing to produce online art content with the assistance of the library’s resources, and who have a direct connection to the local arts community.

Artists spanning all mediums (traditional/fine art; performance; filmmaking; musical; creative writing, poetry, PHOTO COURTESY ADRIANO “BUBBA” ALMONY

Professional bodyguard Adriano “Bubba” Almony, who was named the 2020 Humanitarian of the Year by LV Magazine, was featured on a billboard in Times Square with members of the Berlin Heat Dance Team on Dec. 10.

Celebrity bodyguard receives humanitarian of year award

By Ally Lanasa Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) Professional bodyguard Adriano “Bubba” Almony was named 2020 Humanitarian of the Year by LV Magazine for his charitable efforts on the Eastern Shore and around the world.

Almony, 26, grew up in Ocean City and graduated from Stephen Decatur High School in 2012.

In June, Almony was on the cover of LV Magazine. This month, he received receive the 2020 Humanitarian of the Year award.

“It really hasn’t fully sunken in yet, but this award obviously means a lot to me,” Almony said. “This has been a lifetime commitment since I was 17.

So, going on a decade, I’ve done philanthropy and mentorship and coaching and humanitarian work not just in our local communities but across the nation and parts of the globe as well.”

Almony’s efforts include feeding local first responders and medical professionals, sending tens of thousands of medical supplies to people in need in Worcester and Wicomico counties during the pandemic, sending personal protective equipment (PPE) to people across the country and providing meals for thousands of families in India.

Almony believes it is important to give back to the communities that provided opportunities for him growing up.

Through the Bodyguards Against Bullying organization, which Almony heads, he and his team donated bodyguard services to youth in the Berlin

and Ocean City areas, who have experienced serious or consistent bullying.

On Dec. 10, he was featured on a billboard with members of the Berlin Heat Dance Team in Times Square.

The photo was taken about a year ago during a community event with the dance team in Snow Hill. “[I] just let them know in life, even though we might be from a small town of the Berlin, Snow Hill surrounding areas, that it’s not where you’re from in life, it’s what you’re made of,” Almony said, recalling the event. “You can be anything you put your mind to in life.”

Lakina Hayward, the coach of the Berlin Heat Dance Team, said Almony motivated the dancers to work hard.

“Some of the young ladies were asking questions to see if women as well could do what he does, and he reassured them that they could,” she said.

Hayward and her team were overwhelmed with excitement about the billboard in Times Square, with one dancer joking that she was famous now.

“They work really hard, so it was good for them to see that their hard work paid off in some type of way and to know that, again, as long as you work hard anything is always possible,” Hayward said.

The team members range from ages 6 to 14 and do hip hop, lyrical and Christian praise dances.

Almony encourages youth in Worcester and Wicomico counties to See ALMONY Page 22

etc.) are encouraged to apply.

Each artist is expected to plan and present at least two interactive sessions, workshops, public programs or other forms of community engagement during each month of the residency. These can be for a specific age groups or open for all.

Resident artists will receive a monthly stipend and a virtual exhibition/celebration of artist’s work via Worcester County Arts Council and Worcester County Library website and social media platforms.

Proposals for the winter residency (January - March 2021) will be accepted until Dec. 31. Application for Art in Residence Program is available on the Arts Council’s website: www.worcestercountyartscouncil.org.

PAGE 22

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

Almony speaks to Worcester youth and donates food

ALLY LANASA/OCEAN CITY TODAY

CHRISTMAS STORY

Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School students wished drivers a Merry Christmas as they presented a drive-through live Nativity scene with stable animals on Dec. 18 in Berlin.

Continued from Page 21 work hard, have faith and make good investments in themselves, he said.

“We all have the same 24 hours in the day as Oprah, as President Obama, as all these great people that have done great things … and the only limitations in life are what we will put on ourselves,” Almony added.

Almony, who has a martial arts background, became involved in security through the Dew Tour in Ocean City at 17 years old.

“Just right away I was truly blessed to discover it was my passion, purpose and true divine calling in life,” he said.

Over the years, his clients have included Vinny Guadagnino from “The Jersey Shore,” P. Diddy’s family, motivational speaker Demarjay Smith and eyewear designer Corey Woods.

He added that the process of becoming a bodyguard consists of extensive training, such as medical and firearm training. He also learned about firearm laws, de-escalation strategies and emergency and defensive driving maneuvers.

“You need a guard’s license, you need an armed guard’s license, you need a bodyguard’s license,” Almony said.

In addition, he emphasized the necessity of building trust with clients as a bodyguard.

“You have to have a critical soft skillset: your integrity, your character, your respect, your discipline, your presentation. – all those things are crucial,” he said.

Bodyguards also follow a “flight over fight” mantra.

“That’s what we try to get across to kids, especially with the Bodyguards Against Bullying,” Almony said. “You don’t want to do a decision you may regret or may come with a consequence, so we just instill that into them as best as we can.”

This year, Almony launched “Bubba’s Bodyguard Podcast,” which is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, to highlight “great people doing great things,” he said.

Episodes feature conversations with former Berlin Mayor Gee Williams, three-term White House Chef Andre Rush and Olympic gold medalist Carmelita Jeter.

Almony is hosting a celebrity charity basketball game in Snow Hill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021.

“It will be to make a big impact of raising awareness and proceeds with cancer and bullying,” he said.

Currently, Superbowl Champion Jacoby Jones, Chef Andre Rush, Ravens players and Harlem Globe Trotters are expected to attend. Special guests will be announced in the future.

For more information, visit bubbaalmony.com.

DECEMBER 25, 2020

PAGE 23

Ocean City Today

Authors release children’s books

By Ally Lanasa Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) Two local authors have recently released children’s books that could make great presents or stocking stuffers this holiday season for young readers.

Ocean Pines resident Ellen Krawczak has released her second children’s book, “Zo Zo Loses Her Stripes,” which is about a zebra who wakes up one morning and discovers she has lost all her stripes.

“The story is about how she has misplaced her stripes and how she

gets them back,” Krawczak said. “Essentially, she has loaned out her stripes to help people who need a stripe, such as the barber, whose barber pole’s stripe is ripped.”

“Zo Zo Loses Her Stripes” targets children between the ages of 4 and 6.

“I hope children like it,” Krawczak said.

The title of the book, which was published by Time Flys, was inspired

by Krawczak’s second granddaughter, Zoey, whom she affectionately calls “Zo Zo.” Krawczak’s first children’s book,

“Ollie Gives a Hoot,” which was published in September 2019 by Salt Water Media, features a monkey named after her first granddaughter, Maggie.

“So, when the second granddaughSee LESSONS Page 24 PHOTO COURTESY MEAGHAN AXEL

Snow Hill Elementary School Librarian Meaghan Axel’s second book, “The Power in Words: An Empowering Guide to Speaking With Purpose,” which teaches young readers about positive self-talk and the impact of words, is available now in hardcover, paperback and ebook versions.

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DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

Lessons about kindness, honesty Continued from Page 23 ter, Zoey, came along, I felt I needed to write something for her,” Krawczak said. “It just came to me. I kind of ruminate on what I want to write and eventually an idea pops into my head and then I write about it.”

Prior to her literary adventure, Krawczak had a varied career as a paralegal, a substitute teacher, and then she worked on real estate settlements.

She retired in 2009 and moved to Ocean Pines.

Her short story, “Seven Postcards From My Unmarried Aunt Betsy,” was published in “30 Ways to Love Maryland,” a 2019 Maryland Writers' Association Anthology.

Krawczak has been on the editorial board for the Bay to Ocean Anthology, which contains fiction, poetry and nonfiction by members of the Eastern Shore Writers Association, for the last two years. She has

PHOTO COURTESY ELLEN KRAWCZAK

Ocean Pines resident Ellen Krawczak’s second children’s book, “Zo Zo Loses Her Stripes,” for ages 4 to 6, is available now in paperback at The Greyhound Independent Bookstore and Fine Art Gallery in Berlin and on Amazon for $10.

two short stories being published in 2020 Bay to Ocean Anthology as well.

“Zo Zo Loses Her Stripes” and “Ollie Gives a Hoot” are available in paperback at The Greyhound Independent Bookstore and Fine Art Gallery and on Amazon for $10.

For more information about any upcoming book signings or her books, contact Krawczak at egkraw@outlook.com.

Meaghan Axel, a librarian at Snow Hill Elementary School, published her second book, “The Power in Words: An Empowering Guide to Speaking With Purpose” on Nov. 24.

“I was inspired to write it because I read this book years back – I read it a few times – called ‘The Four Agreements’ by Don Miguel Ruiz, and the first agreement is to be impeccable with your word, which means that you don’t speak out against other people or yourself,” Axel said. “I loved the book, and I loved that concept, but reading it as an adult you can go back and say, ‘Wow, I wish I had applied this earlier in my life.’ So, I wanted to take that concept and make it kid-friendly.”

Axel’s narrative encourages children to choose their words and actions kindly. Through rhyme and thought-provoking illustrations, young readers will learn how broken promises, gossip and inconsiderate words affect others and themselves.

She hopes children read the book and realize what they say matters.

“I hope they think about what they say to others,” Axel said. “I hope they think about gossip and the way it makes others feel. I see that a lot in elementary school around the end of second grade and third grade. You start to see the way that young people start to feel negatively when they feel that others are speaking about them behind their backs or they know that others are speaking behind their

backs. And I hope they feel that they deserve to be spoken about positively.”

Axel has incorporated “Your Powerful Words in Action,” which is a list of compliments for others, in “The Power in Words.”

“When I read out loud to students, I say, ‘You can say these kind things to others, but you have to mean them.’ People will know if you say something and you don’t mean it,” she said. “So, your compliments have to be genuine.”

To teach young readers about positive self-talk, Axel has included affirmations in the back of the book that are “I am” statements.

“You want to start speaking confidently early, so that you don’t kind of get used to talking negatively about yourself and putting yourself down,” Axel said.

She practices affirmations with her 3-year-old daughter, Sloan, at home.

“Sometimes we practice saying ‘I am brave’ when she’s nervous to do something, so that she can kind of channel that inner braveness,” Axel said.

“The Power in Words,” which targets children between second and fourth grades, was self-published through Axel’s imprint Joyful Breath Press.

“But adults are also learning from it,” Axel said. “That’s the funny thing with picture books is that adults get reminded of concepts by reading them.”

The book is available at Barnes & Noble as well as on Amazon and Bookshop for $17.99 in hardcover and $11.99 in paperback. “The Power in Words” is also available on Kindle for $3.99.

Parents and educators can find free downloadable resources to accompany the book at the author’s website.

oceancitytoday.com Will help baysideoc.com you find a

Axel’s debut children’s book, “The Power in Me,” teaches young readers how to control anxiety and fears through breathing exercises.

The book was published on Jan. 6 and is available at Walmart and Barnes & Noble as well as on Bookshop and Amazon.

“Because I am a school librarian, I always like to say how children can lose themselves and find themselves in books,” Axel said. “Reading is a healthy way to escape pressures of reality, but then when children connect with characters in books, they can learn life lessons through witnessing the characters’ experiences. So, I think a lot of social emotional learning happens when children read books and discuss them.”

Axel grew up in rural Connecticut and moved to Salisbury in 2014 with her husband, Justin Axel, the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the men’s lacrosse team at Salisbury University.

For more information about any upcoming book signings or her books, contact Axel through her website,https://www.meaghan axel.com/.

ne Local Business onli

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 25

Commentary

Ocean City Today Dec. 25, 2020

Page 26

A wonderful time of year Bah, humbug.

Oh, pardon me. I was referring to something else, not Christmas, never Christmas, that special time of year that the Hallmark Channel begins to celebrate around Memorial Day. Not that it By bothers me, Stewart but I don’t Dobson understand how something like “Frosty’s Christmas Miracle” on Hallmark is relevant in, say, July, when half the population is on the beach crisping up around the edges, most of the other half just got back from the beach, and a small percentage is still out flounder fishing, drinking beer and cracking jokes about Frosty, snowballs and reconstructive surgery.

But I am and have been a Christmas person for as long as I can remember.

I even went through a period of going to bed on Christmas Eve with my clothes on, so I’d be ready to

PUBLIC EYE

Ocean City Today P.O. Box 3500, Ocean City, Md. 21843 Phone: 410-723-6397 / Fax: 410-723-6511.

EDITOR ............................................ Stewart Dobson MANAGING EDITOR ................................ Lisa Capitelli STAFF WRITERS....................Greg Ellison, Joshua Kim, ........................................Elizabeth Bonin, Ally Lanasa ASSISTANT PUBLISHER .......................... Elaine Brady ACCOUNT MANAGERS.......... Mary Cooper, Vicki Shrier CLASSIFIEDS/LEGALS MANAGER .... Nancy MacCubbin SENIOR DESIGNER ................................ Susan Parks GRAPHIC ARTIST .................................... Kelly Brown PUBLISHER........................................ Christine Brown ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ...................... Gini Tufts Ocean City Today is published weekly by FLAG Publications, Inc. at 8200 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Md. 21842.

Ocean City Today is available by subscription at $150 a year.

Visit us on the Web at www.oceancitytoday.com.

Copyright 2020

unwrap presents at the first sound of stirring in the household. My wife didn’t care for it, but you know …

Just kidding, of course. I stopped doing that sort of thing long ago, when my parents said, “Look, you’re 25 now …”

No, really, I’ll admit having gone to bed fully attired when I was 10 years old or so.

I remember it because that was the year of the Bubble Gum Betrayal, when my younger brother and I got stockings full of Double-Bubble.

That, we both thought, was unimaginably fantastic: 100 individually wrapped pieces of bubble gum each.

We chewed, snapped, stretched and peeled gum off our faces all day long after blowing Hindenburg-sized bubbles.

The next night, though, I dipped into my stocking and … nothing, an abyss, empty.

One dollar’s worth of pennyapiece Double-Bubble hijacked by … by … my own 7-year-old brother, who didn’t chew it — No — he sold it to the neighborhood kids for two-cents apiece.

This explains how he retired six years ago and I’m still working. I’ve been chew-

ing on that for a long time.

One Christmas memory that turned out much better, however, occurred a year before, when a mean older kid named Butch shot me in the rear-end with his new BB gun.

I was a little guy and Butch was a towering 4-feet, 11inches tall.

Happily, Butch was destined to be a human Vienna Sausage and remained at 4feet, 11-inches for a long, long time.

How long I couldn’t say, except that the time period was long enough, as was the barrel of his BB gun.

My favorite Christmas, though, is always the one just past.

The memories remain vivid: rising at dawn, the exchange of presents, then breakfast, then the stockings, the great feast, the dog rolling on me like I’m something on the bottom of a car tire and the day’s closing words, “I don’t care how excited you are, you are NOT sleeping in your clothes next year.”

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year. As for 2020, all I’m going to say is if it was something in the yard, my dog would roll on it.

DECEMBER 25, 2020

PAGE 27

Ocean City Today

WORLD WAR II

Australians lead siege of Giarabub Gen. Wootten’s troops head takeover of Italian garrison located in African desert

By Peter Ayers Wimbrow III Contributing Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) This week, 80 years ago a regiment of the 6th Australian Division, under the command of George Wootten, was besieging the Italian garrison of Giarabub, commanded by Maj. Salvatore Castagna.

Giarabub, now known as Jaghbub, is located in the eastern Libyan desert, 200 miles south of the Mediterranean port of Bardia.

The administrative seat of the Jaghbub Basic People’s Congress, it is 40 miles west of the Egyptian border, and just north of The Great Sand Sea in the Butnan District. It currently has a population of less than 3,000, mostly Berber.

Giarabub was a part of Egypt, until December 1925, when the British forced Egypt to cede it to Italy, as belated partial compensation for Italy’s help in WWI. This was highly unpopular with the local Bedouin, because Sayyid Muhammid ibn Ali as-Senussi was buried there.

He was the founder of the Senussi religious movement to which many of

the Arab tribes adhered.

His grandson, King Idress I was born in Giarabub. He was the leader of the Senussi, and following World War II was made King of Libya by the United Nations.

He claimed to be descended, through his grandfather, from the Prophet Mohammad, through the Prophet’s daughter, Fatimah.

The Italian administration, under Marshal Rodolfo Graziani, built a barbed wire fence, stretching from Bardia to Giarabub. The wire was 5.6 feet high, stretched from concrete bases.

Forty miles east of Giarabub, in Egypt, is Siwa, which has a population of about 32,000, mostly Berbers, which served as a base for the Australians.

Maj. Castagna’s forces, garrisoned in Giarabub, numbered 1,350 Italian, and 750 Libyan soldiers.

On Dec. 2, 1940, the Australians began arriving at Siwa to relieve the existing British garrison. The first contact between the Australians and the Italians occurred at the Italian outpost at Garn-el-Grein, which is 40 miles north of Giarabub, on Dec. 12.

After some sparring, the Australians on Dec. 24 captured an outpost at Ain Melfa, on the east side of

Giarabub, which had been defended by colonial troops. Shortly thereafter, they captured El Qaseibieya, southwest of Giarabub.

An Italian relief convoy was destroyed on Jan. 8, 1941, by the Royal Air Force. This was the last attempt to supply the garrison by land.

After that, it would be up to the Regia Aeronautica. By this time, Commonwealth forces had defeated the Italian Tenth Army and were threatening Tripoli.

On Jan. 9, 1941, the German warlord decided to intervene to prevent his Italian ally from being embarrassed by the loss of Libya.

He opted to send a small force, which, when combined with the Italians, would prevent the further encroachment of Commonwealth forces into Libya. On Feb. 19, the German force became known as “Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK).”

With the air strip subject to bombardment, supplies had to be dropped to Giarabub’s defenders, and they were insufficient to feed the garrison. Libyans began to desert.

By the end of February, most were gone, with 629 captured. In the meantime, the first Germans were arriving in Tripoli, along with their commander, Gen. Erwin Rommel.

Major Salvatore Castagna

On March 17, the heights south of Giarabub were taken by the Australians, and Gen. Rommel sent the garrison his congratulations on their stout defense of the isolated oasis, promising relief soon. Two days later, the heights southeast of Giarabub were taken.

The Australians launched their final attack at 5:15 a.m. on March 21.

The next day Deutsches Afrikakorps captured El Agheila, located on Libya’s Mediterranean coast, which had been occupied by CommonContinued on Page 28

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Ocean City Today

DECEMBER 25, 2020

REAL ESTATE REPORT

WORLD WAR II

Real estate year-end observations

Continued from Page 27 wealth forces during their pursuit of the defeated Italian Tenth Army.

After about two days of heavy fighting, the Aussies took Giarabub.

During the siege, the Australians lost 17 men killed, and 77 wounded.

The entire Italian garrison was either killed or captured. The next day, Gen. Rommel launched his first offensive, driving Commonwealth forces out of Libya, except for Tobruk. After capturing the garrison, the Aussies withdrew to Siwa, leaving the oasis to the Berbers.

The defenders of Giarabub were hailed as heroes by the Italian government.

Scalera Film produced a movie, “Giarabub,” lionizing the defenders.

Goffredo Alessandrini, who was married to Anna Magnini, directed the film, which starred Carlo Ninchi as Maj. Castagna.

Renzo Rossellini, brother of director and producer Roberto Rossellini, composed the score.

Next week: Australians Capture Bardia Mr. Wimbrow writes from Ocean City, Maryland, where he practices law representing those persons accused of criminal and traffic offenses, and those persons who have suffered a personal injury through no fault of their own. He can be contacted at: wimbrowlaw@gmail.com.

By Lauren Bunting Contributing Writer Dec. 25, 2020) This year has produced noticeable real estate market shifts, and in many cases the surge in real estate demand was fueled by the effects of covid-19.

Here on the shore, we saw increases in feeder market sales due to the consumers desire to have a safe, drive-to vacation spot.

Various other factors all supported this surge in sales, such as historically-low interest rates throughout the year, an increase in the use of retirement funds for downpayment monies due to some lightening of the withdrawal penalties in 2020, and an

overall sense of “what am I waiting for” attitude being a psychological byproduct of the virus and the quarantining.

With having historically-low interest rates through 2020, buyers ask how long can the low interest rates last?

It seems the Federal Reserve will be in a holding pattern on the shortterm rates as the economy shows some signs of a slowdown at the end of 2020 and this will help keep interest rates down for the foreseeable future.

The Freddie Mac weekly survey shows rates for a 30-year, fixed-rate loan closed out the week of Dec. 17 at 2.67 percent, four basis points lower than the previous low of 2.71 percent seen for the past two weeks.

This is a slightly steeper decline than most weeks when the rates would only take one or two basis points off to reach their new low.

Forbes.com reports “it is looking very possible” that rates could dip under the 2 percent threshold for 15year loans.

As reported through November by Maryland Realtors, the average sales price for homes across the state of Maryland has risen 11.4 percent to $394,901 as compared to $354,416 in 2019.

For Worcester County specifically, the November sales price average was $347,572.

– Lauren Bunting is an Associate Broker with Atlantic Shores Sotheby’s International Realty in Ocean City.

AGH teams virtually with Medocity (Dec. 25, 2020) Atlantic General Hospital and Medocity announced a collaboration to enable expanded virtual care management capabilities for patients with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, COPD, and heart failure.

The not-for-profit communitybased healthcare system originally launched its remote patient monitoring program in 2017, so care coordinators could closely follow the progress of individuals at greater risk of their health deteriorating after a hospital stay as well as those with certain chronic conditions, 24/7.

The new Medocity service, launched this month, allows for greater access to more patients with chronic conditions.

The program will evolve over the

next few months to include patients undergoing treatment for cancer as well as individuals recently discharged after surgery at Atlantic General, thereby further reducing avoidable hospitalizations and improving outcomes for patients throughout Maryland and Delaware.

“We are thrilled to help AGH bring care to their patients, especially during this pandemic when many patients are concerned about going out of their homes to get much-needed care,” said Laura Giostra, senior director of clinical services at Medocity.

“This is especially true with high-risk patients suffering from chronic conditions such as CHF and diabetes, and from complex illnesses such as cancer.”

The Medocity Digital Care Platform enables AGH providers to stay connected with their patients remotely, monitor symptoms and vital signs, receive real-time alerts and interact with their patients via secure texting or televisits – all within the security of the same virtual ecosystem.

In addition, patients will be able to access customized resources and guidance tailored for each individual to help address social determinants, including information directing patients back to AGH services through links to their own programs and clinics.

“Digital adoption and smart phone ownership have been rapidly increasing across our region, and we’ve

made significant investments in telehealth to better service Atlantic General’s patient population, including our rural and underserved communities,” said Charles Gizara, director of integrated care management at AGH. “We’ve partnered with Medocity to help us deliver next-generation virtual services, furthering our commitment to improving health care in the communities we serve.”

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

Area nonprofits grants top $69K (Dec. 25, 2020) A total of $69,800 has been granted to 14 Lower Shore nonprofits by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore to support nonprofit sustainability amid a time when many organizations are struggling.

The grants were made possible through the Community Needs Grants program. Grants are available twice a year to nonprofits providing a variety of services in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties.

These grant recipients provide programs that serve a variety critical community needs including homelessness, hunger, youth development, education and addictions recovery.

The global coronavirus pandemic has created financial hurdles for nonprofits, while the need for their services become more critical than ever.

In response to covid-19, the Community Foundation shifted the focus of the Community Needs Grant Program to support the general opera-

tions of local nonprofits, helping to supplement operational challenges and maintain the viability area nonprofits.

The following nonprofits received funding: • 4STEPS Therapeutic Riding Program • Assateague Coastal Trust, Inc. • Child & Family Foundation Inc. • Hope4Recovery • Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore, Inc. • Little Sisters of Jesus & Mary, Inc. • Maryland Coastal Bays Foundation, Inc. • Maryland Food Bank Inc. • Salisbury Urban Ministries • Tri-community mediation • U.S. Kennels, Inc. • Village of Hope Inc. • Women Supporting Women Inc. • Worcester Warriors Against Opioid Addiction The semi-annual Community

Walk at Assateague Island on New Year’s Day canceled (Dec. 25, 2020) After several meetings and discussions with Assateague State Park personnel, Assateague Coastal Trust has made the decision to cancel the New Year’s Day Iliah Fehrer-Judy Johnson Memorial Beach Walk.

Instead, Assateague Coastal Trust is encouraging people to spend the new year’s weekend outside with family or for a solo hike, walk, paddle, or even simply finding a quiet bench along a trail.

“On Jan. 1, and everyday for that matter, I strongly encourage you to take to the trail, or off the trail, get in the woods, get on the water, take time to reflect and remember what is important,” said ACT’s Billy Weiland.

“Turn off the news, leave the phone at home, and find what Judy Johnson loved best about Assateague Island – nature at its most ‘genuine.’ Because

the genuine nature of the outdoors is and will always be solace for the human race, regardless of current events.”

He suggests finding elements that speak to you and document them with a journal entry or a photograph.

Photographs, videos, or stories people want to share about their time outdoors can be emailed to Weiland at billy@actforbays.org, or tag the photos with #actforbays and #4Judy.

The annual beach walk has been a longstanding tradition for Assateague Coastal Trust. Since the first walk in 1980, members from the local community and afar have gathered with the organization to celebrate a new year on the National Seashore and State Park, Assateague Island.

The first Assateague Beach Walk, held on Jan. 1, 1980, was hosted by ACT’s founding member Ilia Fehrer.

S u p p o r t Yo u r L o c a l R e s t a u r a n t s !

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aNeeds Grant (CNG) Program benefits organizations serving the Lower Shore of Maryland with a $5,000 maximum award per nonprofit.

Applicants must be 501c3 nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations providing non-sectarian programs, or eligible programs within government agencies serving citizens on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland.

The next deadline for CNG grant applications is Feb. 1, 2021.

For additional information, visit CFES.org or call 410-742-9911.

As leaders, grant makers and stewards of philanthropy, the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore connects people who care to causes that matter for the common good of the Lower Eastern Shore.

It is a 501c3 nonprofit with a history of fostering charitable endeavors, and has provided $89 million in grants and scholarships to the local community since 1984.

It collaborates with individuals, families and businesses to match their charitable interests with community needs and strengthen local nonprofits through grants and resources.

It is devoted to improving the regional community and believes in the power of philanthropy.

For information, contact Victoria Kent, marketing officer, at 410-7429911 or vkent@CFES.org.

PAGE 29

OC Reflections of Life project (Dec. 25, 2020) In celebration of the holiday season, the Ocean City Beautification Committee is presenting a special offer to the public for the committee’s Reflections of Life project.

The project provides a distinctive means of recording important events and interests in the lives of individuals, their loved ones and businesses by placing a gift of a bronze, silver or gold leaf or stepping stone on the “Reflections of Life” bronze tree sculpture mounted inside the lobby entrance of the Roland E. Powell Convention Center on 40th Street.

The Beautification Committee special that began Nov. 11 and runs until the end of December, features leaves at 50 percent off the normal price. Order gold leaves for $250, silver leaves for $175 and bronze leaves for $125.

Tax-deductible donation forms are available at two locations in the convention center, at the project site near the main entrance and in the visitor center, along with Northside Park, 125th Street bayside.

Forms can also be found on the town’s website at https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/city-hall/mayor-andcity-council/beautification-committee/ refelection-of-life/.

Checks should be made payable to the Town of Ocean City. For more information, call Toni Wagner at 410250-0892.

PAGE 30

Ocean City Today

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Second suspect sentenced in June attack Boardwalk beating nets Cephas six years in prison with three years probation

By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Dec. 25, 2020) Davione Cephas, 20, of Cambridge was sentenced last week to serve six years in prison, as one of five people charged in a Boardwalk beating on June 9 that left the victim with permanent physical injuries and lasting psychological trauma.

Cephas was sentenced on Friday to be incarcerated for 10 years, with all but six Davione Cephas suspended, after pleading guilty to second-degree assault. He also will serve three-years of probation upon release.

State prosecutor Paul Haskell told Judge Brian Shockley that Cephas was among a group of up to 10 people that attacked a man on June 9 about 10:15 p.m. on the Boardwalk near 11th Street.

Marquis Demby, 22, of Lincoln, Delaware, who was also implicated in a June 9 stabbing on the Boardwalk near 15th Street, was the first person sentenced for the attack and received

a 10-year prison term for second-degree assault on Nov. 23.

Haskell said the victim will require surgery from some of the injuries, which included facial wounds and shoulder damage.

The court was presented with two videos of the attack, including footage that was posted on YouTube and later discovered online by police.

Haskell also presented a videotaped victim impact statement in which the man recollects details of the gang attack.

“Everything was pointless,” he said. “I did nothing to provoke this.”

The victim said the incident began after he bumped into a group of people on the Boardwalk and was subsequently pushed from behind and sucker punched.

“I pleaded for the guys to get away but they wouldn’t listen,” he said.

The man said once pushed to the ground, he instinctively covered his face as multiple people began kicking and stomping.

“I was hit so hard with an object that I thought it was a 2x4,” he said.

“I don’t remember much after that.”

The victim, who was taken to Peninsula Regional Medical Center, said he was in and out of consciousness after the beating.

“I can’t remember getting into the ambulance,” he said.

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Video footage later revealed the victim was struck in the head with a skateboard that caused two lacerations to his right temple, along with swollen eyes and severe shoulder damage.

“It easily could have killed me,” he said. “I don’t know who these guys were or why they did this to me.”

Representing Cephas was attorney Sandra Kelly who said, in addition to lacking any prior criminal history, her client was the first person interviewed at the scene and fully cooperated with law enforcement.

“His participation was certainly not the worst,” she said. “He fell into doing what everyone else was doing.”

Kelly asked that her client, who has been in jail since the June 9 incident, be sentenced to time served with an extended period of probation.

“His heart wasn’t in it,” she said.

Kelly said her client’s actions were egregious and should not have transpired but attributed the behavior to “extreme cabin fever.”

For his part, Cephas apologized for the assault and claimed he was attempting to “fit in” with peers.

“I shouldn’t have put myself in that predicament,” he said. “I should have been the bigger person and walked out.”

Cephas asked the court to grant probation so he could return home to live with his mother, while completing his G.E.D. and seeking employment.

Judge Shockley characterized the case as difficult and disturbing.

“The case is bad enough but the video reinforces how horrific,” he said.

Shockley said the victim characterizing the attack pointless was poignant.

“The conduct of the group was astounding,” he said.

Shockley said the beating left a profound impact on both Cephas and the victim.

“Luckily there is no type of brain damage, or at least no indication, but the physical damage is enduring,” he said.

Shockley also rejected the defendant’s rationale regarding peer pressure.

“You’re responsible for the acts of the group,” he said. “Peer pressure is never an excuse Although taking into account both age and lack of prior arrests, Shockley told Cephas that consequences need to be within the level of harm.

“It gives me pause to what’s in your heart,” he said.

Three other suspects, all residents of Cambridge, are still facing charges of reckless endangerment, along with first- and second-degree assault, including: Marcus Butler, 27, motion hearing on Jan. 15; Orlando Nichols Jr., 20, motion hearing on Jan. 27; and Xavier Spence, 19, jury trial on March 3.

DECEMBER 25, 2020

PAGE 31

Ocean City Today

State settles investigation regarding Accurate Optical (Dec. 25, 2020) Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh announced this week that the office’s Consumer Protection Division has entered into a settlement resolving an investigation into Drs. Steven M. Zeidman, John F. Lynch Jr., and Charles I. McDonald, the owners of Accurate Optical, a company that operated a chain of now-closed stores in Maryland and Delaware that offered eye care and eyewear services.

Accurate Optical closed its stores located in Berlin, Cambridge, Easton, Ocean City, Salisbury and Kent Island, as well as two in Delaware.

After the Consumer Protection Division began receiving complaints from former Accurate Optical customers that they did not receive purchased eyewear or refunds, the

Consumer Protection Division launched an investigation.

The settlement requires Zeidman, Lynch and McDonald to stop selling goods that they cannot provide, and to pay back all money the company collected from consumers for goods that were not delivered.

“It is illegal to take consumers’ money and fail to provide the promised goods in return,” Frosh said. “I am pleased that our settlement will ensure that customers of Accurate Optical will either receive their purchased eyewear or be paid full refunds.”

Consumers who are owed refunds from Accurate Optical may call the Consumer Protection hotline at 410528-8662 or 888-743-0023 (tollfree).

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PAGE 32

Ocean City Today

DECEMBER 25, 2020

COMMUNITY/SCHOOLS

TREE DECORATION It’s an annual tradition at Ocean City American Legion Post 166 on 24th Street to decorate a Christmas tree, and then in a special, separate ceremony, to have members add ornaments to it for each service and historic service-related events. (Left) Marie Gilmore holds a United We Stand United ornament, while her husband, Bob, shows a World War II one. (Right) Nelson Kelly, president of the Ocean City Chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America, hangs a Vietnam veterans ornament.

SPORTS AWARDS Worcester Prep Middle School students presented team awards during the fall sports season were: Max Carpenter (seventh grade boys’ soccer, MVP), Jake Campbell (seventh grade boys’ soccer, Coaches Award), Ben Holloway (seventh grade boys’ soccer, Most Improved), Ben McGovern (eighth grade boys’ soccer, MVP), Ryan Mann (eighth grade boys’ soccer, Coaches Award), Jack Fernley (eighth grade boys’ soccer, Most Improved), Caitlin Shimko (girls’ soccer, MVP), Danielle Carr (girls’ soccer, Coaches Award), Lydia Schwartz (girls’ soccer, Most Improved), Mike DePalma (golf, MVP), Frankie Miller (golf, Coaches Award) and Kain Crossett (golf, Most Improved).

LAP ROBES The General Levin Winder Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution donated lap robes to the Coastal Hospice “We Honor Veterans” program at the Macky and Pam Stansell House in Ocean Pines. Pictured are Chapter Regent Gail Weldin and Coastal Hospice Director of Business Development Bob Miller, Sr.

DONATION Brandon O'Brien, Hope4Recovery executive director, spoke to the Ocean City Lions Club recently about recovery and the role recovery houses play in successful long-term sobriety. Hope4Recovery provides a safe, sober and structured living environment for those in recovery from substance use disorder. It is the only recovery house in Worcester County. Pictured, from left, are Ocean City Lions First Vice President Scott Stark, O'Brien, Lions President Mike Hooper and Second Vice President Bill Christmas.

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 33

Delmarva Power winter grid work underway (Dec. 25, 2020) Delmarva Power is completing work to prepare the local energy grid to meet customer demand this winter.

Employees are completing maintenance and inspections, as well as upgrades and critical repairs to prepare for winter weather.

This work is a component of providing safe and reliable service for the company’s approximately 532,000 electric and 136,000 natural gas customers through the winter.

“As our customers spend more time at home during the pandemic, reliable energy service is going to be more important than ever this winter,” said Gary Stockbridge, Delmarva Power region president.

“Our team of dedicated lineworkers, engineers and others have worked hard to strengthen our system and prepare for severe winter weather. Our preparation efforts are essential to not only providing the reliable service our customers have come to expect, but also ensuring we are ready to respond safely and quickly when customers need us most.”

On the local electric grid, preparation includes inspecting and upgrad-

ing equipment; trimming trees, which cause about 24 percent of power outages; building new underground equipment; and installing stronger, tree-resistant aerial cable.

Delmarva Power also continues to install smart technology that can automatically identify the location of damage, restore service more quickly, or isolate damage.

The company’s investments in the local energy grid resulted in customers experiencing the lowest frequency of electric outages ever in 2019—the third straight year that Delmarva Power customers experienced record reliability.

Delmarva Power also has prepared its natural gas delivery system. Seasonal preparation and ongoing investments include completing more than 68,000 seasonal leak inspections; inspecting and conducting preventive maintenance on equipment; modernizing more than eight miles of existing natural gas mains each year; and refilling the company’s natural gas storage tank, which provides critical gas supply for customers.

Just as Delmarva Power prepares, the company encourages customers also to be ready for severe weather

that the winter season can bring.

• Assemble an emergency storm kit. Include a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, a batterypowered or windup clock, extra batteries, medications, a multi-purpose tool, cell phones with chargers, and a list of important/emergency phone numbers.

• Have a supply of bottled water and easy-to-prepare, non-perishable foods available.

• Keep a flashlight with fresh batteries on each floor of your home.

• Identify an alternate location for you and/or your family in case of an extended outage.

• Review the manufacturer’s instructions for safe operation of your generator. Do not connect a generator directly to your home’s wiring.

Never use a generator in any enclosed area.

• Download Delmarva Power’s mobile app at delmarva.com/mobileapp.

Being prepared is a responsibility everyone should take seriously. If a severe winter storm strikes, customers should monitor local weather reports regularly and follow the advice of local emergency management

officials. Immediately report downed wires or service issues by calling 800898-8042, visiting delmarva.com, or through the company’s mobile app.

Customers can also report an outage by texting “Out” to 67972. Customers must first text “ADD OUTAGE” to 67972 to sign up for this service. If an outage does occur, the company’s interactive online outage map and its mobile app provide estimates of how quickly power is expected to be restored.

If you smell natural gas, leave the area immediately and then call Delmarva Power at 302-454-0317. More tips, resources and safety information are available at delmarva.com/storm.

Customers who are past due on their Delmarva Power bill should contact the company immediately for payment arrangements and energy assistance. A Delmarva Power statement said the company will work with every customer to help identify the support necessary to continue energy service. To learn more about assistance options customers can call 800-375-7117 or visit delmarva.com/help for additional information.

Your Online Community: www.oceancitytoday.com

PAGE 34

Ocean City Today

DECEMBER 25, 2020

MSPB advises actions to prevent evictions (Dec. 25, 2020) Mid-Shore Pro Bono (MSPB) is ready to help tenants who are being evicted, even after Gov. Larry Hogan’s executive order halted certain evictions during the covid pandemic.

And while Maryland courts have also issued their own halt for failure to pay rent cases through the end of the year, people are still being evicted from their homes.

While currently there are limited protections available for tenants, these protections do not automatically prevent eviction. These protections may delay an eventual eviction, but they do not mean that tenants do not have to pay their rent. Rent will eventually have to be paid.

Tenants will still need to take the following actions to safeguard themselves and their families: • Sign a statement about the im-

pact covid-19 has had on their ability to pay rent.

• Provide proof that their income was affected by the pandemic, and could include loss of job, loss of wages, closure of the place of work, or the need to miss work to take care of school-age children.

• If a tenant receives an eviction notice or is served a summons to appear in court for a landlord tenant issue, they must appear in court to protect their rights.

MSPB is advising tenants to apply for local emergency assistance and to keep records of the programs they apply for and if funding was provided.

They need to know that their landlord can still evict them if their lease is ending and the landlord does not agree to renew the lease.

Tenants may have defenses to a fail-

ure to pay rent case under the Center for Disease Control Declaration, which provides protections for people who have made an effort to get assistance, earned less than $99,000 in 2020, lost income or experienced increased medical expenses due to covid-19, made best efforts to make partial payments, if evicted, would likely become homeless.

Evictions are still taking place and landlords are obtaining judgements which gives them the ability to collect the rent later.

In general, when a tenant fails to pay rent, the landlord can file a complaint with the court to either recover the rent money or evict the tenant.

There are usually two steps in the process. The first is a failure-to-payrent hearing. If the tenant is unable to come up with the rent money, then the landlord can file for a warrant of resti-

tution, which if successful will result in the tenant being evicted.

Maryland’s courts have gone back to Phase II, which means that until Jan. 15, 2021, the courts are limiting the types of matters they are hearing, limiting in-person appearances in court, and encouraging use of remote technology.

During this time, landlords can file a complaint in District Court, but their matter will not be heard until after Jan. 15, 2021. Failure to pay rent hearings scheduled between Nov. 15, 2020 and Jan. 15, 2021 have been postponed and will be re-scheduled by the court. If you have questions about when your hearing is scheduled, you should call the court.

Tenants in Worcester County who are behind on rent can seek help online at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-eviction-declaration.html, or contact Diakonia at 410-213-0923 or online at https://diakoniaoc.org/.

State police to monitor travel in Md. over holidays (Dec. 25, 2020) Even though residents are expected to reduce their travel because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Maryland State Police will still be monitoring motorists’ behavior on the highway during the holidays.

Troopers from each of the 23 Maryland State Police barracks will continue to focus enforcement efforts on impaired driving, aggressive driving, speeding, distracted driving and other violations that often contribute to highway tragedies, especially during the holiday season.

Additional troopers will be working overtime assignments throughout the month funded by highway safety grants from the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office.

State troopers will also be using a variety of patrol initiatives between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day to keep traffic moving, respond quickly to highway incidents and take enforcement action when violations are observed that threaten the safety of travelers.

According to the state’s Highway Safety Office, an average of 145 people died from impaired driving crashes, 159 died from distracted driving crashes and 32 from aggressive driving crashes annually from 2014-2018 in the state.

Over the same span, an average of 2,124 people were injured by impaired drivers, 17,908 were injured as a result of distracted driving and 1,550 were injured by aggressive drivers in Maryland.

Troopers are urging motorists to avoid impaired driving and plan for a designated driver or a sober ride home.

Help us keep Maryland highways safe throughout this holiday season.

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 35

Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is…

Dear Santa, This year for Christmas I would like a magic eight ball and a hatchimatls colleggtible season 8 and 1 more thing a panda jungle treehouse Lego set.

Merry Christmas, Caroline Penninie

My wish list is …

Present Pets Lego Advanture Storybook – Belle Puffy charms super set Two wheel scooter with a basket Twisty Petz – Kitty Love, Alexis

Dear Santa, My name is Lauren Koziana. I am 4 years old. My favorite color is blue! I have been a good girl this year!

My wish list is …

1. Crayola Light-up Tracing Pad 2. Present Pets 3. Lego Frozen Storybook Adventure 4. Lego Friends Glamping Lauren

Dear Santa, I hope you have a fantastic Christmas Santa. I hop that Covid will be over before Christmas Eve! Dundie award Confie gray chair Pretty light colored markets Fairy lights Pretty alarm clock Clear umbrella Office name tag Soft confie gray sweatshirt Barbie stuff Barbie dolls iPad (mini) iPad (mini case) hoverboard Sophia, Over and Out

Dear Santa, I would like these gifts for Christmas please.

1. Dinosaur with hotwheels 2. Legos Mario time 3. Window toys 4. Thomas Train super big track 5. dump truck 6. A lot colors 7. Games to play with Mom and Dad 8. Snow, star, sun, moon toys 9. Pistolas de agua 10. flashlight 11. Microphone to sing 12. Dinosaur control Connor Dear Santa, For Christmas I would like.

Magnetic Ball Building blocks.

A spy kit.

White Ericdress Patent Leather Knee high high heel boots.

Riverdate southside serpent Light Pink Contrast checked sleeved crop top Slogan graphic cop top (sweet but psycho CreazyBee school casual O-neck Lace up Tartan Thanks, Love, Alana J. Dear Santa, My name is Alexis Rose Kozlana.

I am 6 years old. My favorite color is teal. I have been a good girl this year.

Dear Santa, I have for elfs and I want mor becaas a lot of peopl bo’t have elfs. And I wuent to give them elfs.

What I want fo Christmas wich game Moreo cart 8.

Thank you, Amelia Dear Santa, Can I please have: an electric scooter.

Thank you Love: Tatiane Dear Santa, For Christmas I would really like: 1. purple truck that has that mud on it.

2. Barbie with the stroller with the two pups 3. L.O.L. camper 4. Chesi camper 5. Kitten cafá If really good Adrian and Merrinette dolls.

Thank you From Myla Dear Santa, May I please have: An Electric scooter Zurg from Toy Story Mr and Mrs potato head Stinky dog And a Kindle/pink Please and thank you Love: Francine Dear Santa Claus!

This year for Christmas I would like…

• Soggy Doggy • Mario (Build your own course) • Pirana game • Ryans world toys • Pie face Sky high • Pie face cannon • Mario Plush

• More fun games!

- Andrew Thomas Diehlmann Dear Santa, I hav bin a good boy most of the time. Here is my list.

1. Andrea’s beach house 2. Mia’s house 3. Tiger hto air balloon rescue 4. Summer Fun Waterpark 5. Any new Lego set 6. Harry Potter legos Thank you.

Love, Miles Dear Santa, For Christmas this year I would like some amiibo cards, far animal crossing.

Another thing that I would like is a pillow. To make my room brighter. It would be nice to have some fairy lights.

I saw somewhere that there is a Harry Potter Coding set.

Another thing that I would like for Christmas is a Moon lamp. Second last thing is new earrings. Lastly, Surprise me! What any 10 year old girl would love!

Greatly Appreciated!

Merry! Christmas!

- Cecilia Rose Diehlmann Dear: santa This year there are a few things I want for Christmas, please.

1. Vans and Santa Cruz shirts 2. Paint pens 3. Santa Cruz baseball hat and/or beanie 4. Santa Cruz skate board 32 inch black grip tape and if there are words on

the top then maybe have it say “santa cruz” in the middle but I would prefer nothing on the grip tape.

On the bottom of the board no hand.

By: Shane Dear Santa, I hope you are well & are enjoying nice weather at the North Pole.

My name is Willam Savage.

I am 7 years old.

I live at Ocean City, Md. I’ve been mostly good this year!

For Christmas, please may I have Nintendo Switch.

Thank you!

Lots of love from, Willam Dear Santa, I have been moderately well behaved this year. Please see my Christmas list below: - blanket - baby doll - cookies Love, Lilly Rego, age 2 Dear Santa, This Christmas, I am 7 years old.

This year, I have been good some of the time.

What I would like most this Christmas is a purple watch and a Polly Pocket Megg Mall.

And I promise to leave out cookies and milk for you!

Merry Chrismas, Santa!

Love, Adelyn McGuinness P.S. Please say “Hi” to Dancer for me!

Ocean City Today

PAGE 36

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Award winners honored, grant efforts praised (Dec. 25, 2020) The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore honored four award recipients and celebrated annual grant-making efforts at its virtual Annual Meeting and Report to the Community on Nov. 12.

The foundation celebrated a total of $5.5 million in grants made in fiscal year 2020, including more than $539,000 in scholarships to local students.

“While 2020 has been unique to say the least, for every challenge that demanded we be creative, nimble and resilient we were joined by others who were willing to adapt and respond to needs in our community, and for that we are so thankful,” said CFES President Erica Joseph. “The continued generosity of time, talent and financial resources within our small, rural region demonstrates that philanthropy is an intrinsic value in our community.”

The Mary Gladys Jones Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Shawna Kearsley for her many years of dedicated service to others and passionate volunteerism.

Shawna brings energy and joy to each situation as she works to connect people and organizations to better her community, always out on the front line, shoulder to shoulder with other volunteers.

When faced with a challenge, she doesn’t step back, but steps up and seeks solutions.

She was a team leader for the Na-

tional Folk Festival Bucket Brigade in 2018 and 2019, tasked with recruiting, training, and leading hundreds of volunteers to gather on-site donations during the three-day festival.

Her current projects include, the Crisfield Community Gardens, video-casts of local events, leading the Crisfield Steering Committee on the Local Food Federal Assistance Grant, and coordinating support for the Somerset County Summer Arts & Education Series.

She is a board member for the Minds in Motion Children’s Museum, The Salisbury Chamber of Commerce, and serves as executive director for the Crisfield Arts Syndicate.

For her dedication to making her community a better place, Kearsley will receive a $1,000 gift to designate to the charity of her choice.

The Nonprofit Award of Excellence honoring Richard A. Henson was presented to Operation We Care.

Founded in 2007 by Jeff and Diana Merritt, Operation We Care is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to supporting U.S. military and first responders and understands the value of demonstrating gratitude to those who keep communities safe.

Their efforts include annually sending over 2,000 care packages to deployed military troops around the world, purchasing items needed by first responders like

smoke detectors, K9 ballistic vests, PPE, and other supplies and equipment needed.

Operation We Care works to show appreciation for military and first responders through events such as “Thank a Police Officer Day,” where they deliver meals to every shift of every police department in the immediate service area.

The organization also rallies community together at its semi-annual “packing parties,” where hundreds of volunteers assemble care packages to be sent around the world.

Throughout the pandemic, Operation We Care helped to bring resources and inspiration to healthcare providers as they responded to the impact of covid on friends and neighbors.

Operation We Care will receive $5,000 to support their work.

The Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award was given to Grace Murdock for her exemplary leadership, vision, integrity, compassion and dedication to community.

Murdock has been a public servant for over 30 years, having worked as an educator, administrator and as a community advocate.

As the founder of Wicomico Grows Kindness, her vision was to facilitate the spread of kindness.

She volunteers by making meals for neighbors in need, reading to children in classrooms, filling Operation We Care packages for troops, mentoring college

students, volunteering at Camden Community Garden, and leading the Kindness Commission for the City of Salisbury.

She taught Girl Scout Troops how to create kindness keychains and has inspired One Year to Empowerment students by sharing her story about the positive impact of kindness.

Throughout the covid-19 pandemic, she has shown her fellow citizens how to be kind to each other by setting up a HERO station where she encourages neighbors to participate in photo ops thanking our community heroes.

In honor of the award, a $1,500 gift will be made to the charity of Murdock’s choice.

The Chairman’s Award was presented to Dr. George Whitehead III for his dedication to the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore and his many community efforts.

Whitehead is a passionate ambassador for the Community Foundation and has served on the foundation’s Board of Directors since 2016.

He has also served as the chairman of the Community Needs Grant Committee.

This year as the foundation was challenged to adapt and respond, he was an integral part of the foundation’s COVID Response Fund, and used his time to support foundation efforts and to collaborate and connect through CFES to meet needs in the community.

■ LONGBOARD CAFÉ 6701 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City 443664-5639, www.longboardcafe.net $$-$$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Classic and creative American dishes and cocktails are showcased in a festive, surf-themed setting with weekly specials. Featuring burgers, tacos, prime rib, seafood and more. Closed on Tuesday.

Dine-in and curbside pick-up.

■ MARLIN MOON Located in the Double Tree Hotel, 3301 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City 410-2891201, www.marlinmoonocmd.com $$ Open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.to 10 p.m. Restaurant and bar with fresh seafood, small plates, desserts and cocktails.

■ SEACRETS 49th Street, Ocean City 410-524-4900, www.seacrets.com $$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Open Thursday, 4-11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Island atmosphere.

Soups, salads, Jamaican jerk chicken, appetizers, sandwiches, paninis, pizza and fresh seafood. Outdoor dining.

phere. Serving breakfast, Friday through Sunday 7-11 a.m. Featuring a breakfast buffet or special order from the regular menu. Enjoy our delicious 3 Course Dinner for $25 served every Friday and Saturday, 4-9 p.m. with the choice of appetizer, entree and dessert.

Dining Guide ■ PRICE RANGE: $, $$, $$$ ■ RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted ________________________________

DOWNTOWN

South end to 28th Street ■ CAPTAIN’S TABLE 15th Street and Baltimore Avenue, inside The Courtyard by Marriott 410289-7192/7191, www. captainstableoc.com $$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Breakfast served Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dinner and lite fare served Friday through Tuesday featuring seafood, steaks, and poultry. Early Bird served Friday through Tuesday, 5-6 p.m. Daily chef specials.

■ THE VIEW AT CROPPER’S LANDING Located in the Cambria Hotel, 13 St. Louis Ave., Ocean City 443-373-4095 $$-$$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Casual dining with beautiful bay view.

Breakfast served Saturday and Sunday, 7-11 a.m. Light fare, small and large plates menu items served Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 4-10 p.m. Happy hour, 4-7 p.m. Featuring local craft beers and signature cocktails. Open Christmas Day, 4-10 p.m.

MIDTOWN

29th to 90th streets ■ 32 PALM Located in The Hilton,32nd Street, Ocean City 410-289-2525, www.32palm.com

$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Open daily, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bar and lounge.

Western Caribbean cuisine with a mix of traditional Eastern Shore favorites.

■ BJ’S ON THE WATER 75th Street, Ocean City 410-524-7575, www.bjsonthewater.com $-$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Entire dining menu served Thursday through Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., year-round. Dine in or carry out. Daily specials, daily duck feeding. Bayside venue with deck seating. Serving pub grub and seafood.

■ THE DOUGH ROLLER 41st Street and Coastal Highway 410524-9254; 70th Street and Coastal Highway 410-524-7981 Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday. See description under downtown location. Breakfast served daily at 41st, and 70th streets.

Carryout available at all locations. Order online for 41st, 70th and WOC at www.TheDoughRoller.com.

■ JOHNNY’S PIZZA PUB 56th Street, Ocean City 410-723-5600, www.johnnyspizzapub.com $ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Featuring homemade pizzas, 18 gourmet pizzas, a variety of calzones, subs, burgers, sandwiches and jumbo wings with 20 different sauces. Open everyday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in, pickup, carryout and delivery.

UPTOWN

91st to 146th streets ■ REEF 118 118th Street, in the Carousel Oceanfront Hotel and Condos, Ocean City 410-524-1000, www.carouselhotel.com $-$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Oceanfront dining in a casual atmos-

WEST OCEAN CITY ■ THE DOUGH ROLLER West Ocean City, 12849 Ocean Gateway 410-213-7655 Hours are Friday through Monday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (no breakfast). See description under midtown location.

OCEAN PINES ■ CLUBHOUSE BAR AND GRILLE 100 Clubhouse Drive, Ocean Pines 410641-7222, oceanpinesgolf.org/dining $$ | Full bar With sweeping views of the 18th hole, the new Clubhouse Bar and Grille serves freshly prepared breakfast and lunch items. Full bar. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, weather permitting.

■ OCEAN PINES YACHT CLUB 1 Mumford Landing Road, Ocean Pines 410-641-7222, www.OPyachtclub.com $$-$$$ | Full bar The Ocean Pines Yacht Club offers casual coastal cuisine for lunch and dinner in a beautiful bayfront setting. Fresh seafood, signature drinks, live music and more. Open Thursday through Sunday at 11 a.m.

DECEMBER 25, 2020

PAGE 37

Ocean City Today

Scholarships for high school golfers offered (Dec. 25, 2020) Applications for 2021 college scholarships awarded by members of the Ocean Pines Golf Club are now available through guidance offices at Stephen Decatur High School and Worcester Preparatory School.

Additionally, students from other local high schools who feel they may qualify can request information and an application from Scholarship Chairman Bob Long at rmlong@aol.com.

Long said the Ocean Pines Golf Members’ Council has awarded more than $22,000 to 21 local seniors during the last four years. Students receiving these awards have shown an interest in the game of golf and are judged on the totality of their record.

Participation in competitive golf is not a requirement.

This year, the golf members of Ocean Pines — including members of the golf club, the Ocean Pines Ladies’ Golf Association and the Ocean Pines Men’s Golf Association — raised more than $12,000 for the scholarship fund, and matched last year’s record amount despite having to forgo the annual Ocean Pines Taylor-Bank Scramble and other fundraising events because of the covid-19 pandemic.

“Our members found creative ways to give generously to this favorite cause in a challenging year,” Long said.

Members of the men’s and ladies’ associations chipped in weekly amounts after rounds of golf, and raised a total of $3,000. Many members also cleaned out their garages and donated unused clubs and equipment toward an online yard sale that raised more than $4,000.

Several individual members made generous lump-sum contributions as well.

Tee-box advertising signs that are a part of most golf fundraisers were sold to members, friends and local businesses, and were put on display at the entrance to the new Ocean Pines Clubhouse. This effort raised another $1,700.

Taylor Bank, title sponsor of the Ocean Pines-Taylor Bank Scramble, supported the scholarship fund with an annual contribution of $2,000.

Deely Insurance, a regular platinum sponsor of the event, again contributed $500.

“We are grateful for the support of our friends and neighbors at Taylor Bank and Deely Insurance, especially in 2020,” Long said. “Their contributions will help fulfill the education

goals of deserving local students.”

Long said the membership had little idea in March, as things began to close down, how it would be able to raise funds in the coming months.

“After a summer and fall different from any they ever witnessed, the

Ocean Pines Golf members are now looking back on how many small contributions turned into something special,” he said. “Those receiving Ocean Pines Golf Members’ scholarships in the spring will be the beneficiary of these various efforts.”

County suspends recreation programming through Jan. 8 (Dec. 25, 2020) Throughout this pandemic, Worcester County Recreation & Parks has continued to follow the protocols and advisories from Gov. Larry Hogan and local health department officials.

In the most recent address, Gov. Hogan issued an advisory, refraining Marylanders from attending indoor gatherings of more than 10 individuals at one location.

With this, WCRP will suspend all recreation programming through Jan. 8, 2021.

This will include all adult drop-in classes, fitness classes and the open ice skating that was scheduled to begin next week.

WCRP will continue to keep the fit-

ness room open and allow walkers to utilize the indoor track at the Worcester County Recreation Center in Snow Hill.

Through Jan. 8, the recreation center will close at 6 p.m. instead of 9 p.m.

Registration will be opening for winter 2021 programs, including fitness classes, youth clinics and adult leagues, which are scheduled to start the week of Jan. 18.

As WCRP winter programs resume, staff’s priority will remain the health and well-being of community members.

WCRP staff will continue to work closely with state and local officials and follow any advisories set by Gov. Hogan and local health department officials.

For more information, contact WCRP at 410-6632-2144.

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Give Us A Call to Reserve e Your tlight T d B i ss S Busines Spotlight Tod day

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Ocean City Today

County Library offers reading challenge in 2021 for prizes (Dec. 25, 2020) Worcester County Library has been selected as a recipient of a $1,000 Beanstack Black Voices Microgrants.

The library partners with Beanstack to power reading challenges, especially the Summer Reading Program. Beanstack has offered these microgrants to help the library create its own program to promote diverse books and encourage reading among teens.

The library has created a Teen Reading Challenge on Beanstack and will use the grant money to provide prizes. Participating teens will select books to read by authors from a variety of backgrounds, highlighting the rich diversity of the American experience.

Each book they read will earn them a chance to win one of two $500 grand prizes. This challenge

will last throughout 2021, and the prizes will be awarded at the end of the year.

“The scholar Rudine Sims Bishop famously said that books for young readers should be both mirrors and windows,” said Assistant Director Rachael Stein. “They should reflect the experiences of the reader and also provide a glimpse into unfamiliar cultural worlds. The aim of this project is to offer teens those mirrors and windows, and to encourage them to look into as many new worlds as they can.”

The library will also host a monthly discussion program on Zoom, where teens can meet, share book recommendations and talk about the books they’re reading.

Visit www.WorcesterLibrary.org beginning on Jan. 1, for more information and to register for the program.

Christmas tree recycling in Wor. (Dec. 25, 2020) The Solid Waste Division of Worcester County will host its annual collection of Christmas trees through Jan. 15.

Area residents can drop off Christmas trees at the Central Landfill in Newark and the Berlin, Pocomoke, and Snow Hill Homeowners Convenience Centers at no cost.

Businesses and organizations that

sold trees will not be permitted to drop off trees at the convenience centers, but may take them to the Central Landfill where applicable tipping fees will be assessed.

The trees will be ground into mulch for use at the Central Landfill.

For more info, contact Recycling Manager Mike McClung at 410-6323177.

Worcester Co. Arts Council awards grants for projects (Dec. 25, 2020) The Worcester County Arts Council awarded $9,613 in the Community Arts Development Grants program for art projects and events to be presented by local nonprofit organizations during the sixmonth granting cycle beginning Jan. 1.

Grant projects are evaluated based on overall quality of cultural excellence, community outreach and public impact and financial/administrative merit.

Organizations and their projects that received a Community Arts Development Grant are: Berlin Heritage Foundation - Film Fest Brown Box Theatre Project - Mox Nox Premiere Production Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra – 2021 spring concerts Snow Hill Elementary School Arts and Movement Under the Stars Worcester County Board of Education/Worcester Goes Purple - The

Starfish The Community Arts Development Grant program is designed to support a wide variety of creative and innovative projects that are of outstanding artistic quality and demonstrate community benefit, enhancing the lives of everyone living and visiting the Worcester County.

In FY 2021, the Worcester County Arts Council awarded more than $21,613 to local nonprofit organization through this program which is funded and supported by the Maryland State Arts Council.

The deadline to receive grant applications for the Community Arts Development Grant Program for July 1 to Dec. 31, 2021, is April 15.

Grant application form and guidelines are available on the Arts Council’s website: www.worcestercountyartscouncil.org . For additional information, call 410641-0809.

Your Online Community: www.oceancitytoday.com

OBITUARIES JAMES D. KEITHLEY Ocean City James D. Keithley, of Ocean City, passed away at Atlantic General Hospital on Dec. 11, 2020.

Son of Thomas Keithley and Elizabeth MacMillan, James was born Dec. 4, 1961, in Havre de Grace, Maryland.

James was a propJames Keithley erty caretaker for Vacasa.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Rebecca Thompson Keithley; their son, Noah, also of Ocean City; and daughter, Jenna, of Aberdeen.

Another daughter, Sarah, passed away in 2019.

He is also survived by five grandchildren, Nehemiah, Leah, Jaiden and Malachi, who reside with their grandparents, and Atarah, of Aberdeen.

A donation in his memory may be sent by this link: www.gofundme.com/f/christmasfor-the-keithleys to help with funeral expenses. Letters of condolence may be sent to: www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

ROLAND FREDERICK ADKINS, JR. Berlin Roland Frederick (Sonny) Adkins, Jr., 89, of Berlin, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020.

He was born on Dec. 23, 1930, in Salisbury, Maryland, a son of the late Roland F. (Sparky) Adkins, Sr. and Louise Scott Adkins.

R. Adkins, JR. Sonny was raised by his mother, grandfather (William Samuel Scott), and grandmother (Liza Jackson Scott) in Newark, Maryland.

While three of his uncles were away in the military, he worked for his grandfather in the logging business in Newark and they were air raid wardens and plane identification specialists during World War II. He and his grandfather supervised German POWs at the POW camp located where Stephen Decatur High School is today.

After World War II, rather than attend college in Salisbury, Sonny decided to continue working with his grandfather in the family logging business in Newark. In 1949, his family moved to Berlin.

Sonny married his sweetheart, Margaret Ann Donaway, on Oct. 10, 1951, shortly before being drafted in the U.S. Army due to the Korean Conflict.

He received an Honorable Discharge shortly thereafter due to a medical problem.

After separation from military service, Sonny began working for Day Continued on Page 39

DECEMBER 25, 2020

HOROSCOPE ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Someone could be extremely generous to you soon, Aries. It may be out of the goodness of his or her heart, or it may be because of a guilty conscience. You may never know.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Avoid power struggles at work or even among your circle of friends, Taurus.

It is not worth the trouble to get involved, and things will calm down soon. Keep your distance.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, this week may be well suited to contemplation about certain decisions that have been on your mind.

Find a quiet place and put all of the puzzle pieces together.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, if you feel like you are ready to make a difference in someone’s life, then be honest about what you can take on. You may need a little help along the way.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, if you need someone to motivate you, seek out a trustworthy friend with your best interests in mind. A qualified mentor might be the way to go.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, sometimes a daily routine can land you in a rut. This is the time to change things up a bit. Mix up your regular schedule by trying a new activity or taking a trip.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Rough patches will quickly smooth over if you don’t fret about them, Libra. Just have a little patience and everything will work out for the best.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Right now stability means much more to you than taking risks. Stick with those people who support you, and don’t worry about sitting on the sidelines for a bit.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, you may not realize it, but you have been slowly pulling back from those around you for some time now. Make a concerted effort to focus on important relationships.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 A healthy hobby like exercise can be just what you need at the moment, Capricorn. Slowly increase your workout frequency and take a friend along for the ride.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, try to be artistic this week.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to create a masterpiece. Working on creative projects can be a form of meditation and help alleviate stress.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 You are open to change more so than other people you know, Pisces. It’s a good thing, because last-minute changes are coming.

DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

PAGE 39

OBITUARIES Continued from Page 38 and Zimmerman as a lineman building high voltage lines for electric utility companies.

A few years later, he became a journeyman lineman with Eastern Shore Public Service (now Delmarva Power). Later, he also worked for Sinclair Refining Company with many of his closest friends.

In 1964, Sonny became self-employed as an electrical contractor and incorporated his business in 1972 known as Adkins Electric Company Co., Inc. His company had many long-time accounts he serviced in the BerlinOcean City area and beyond.

Also, he was an avid Lionel toy train collector for many years with a huge collection of trains and toys, and along with his son, J. Paul, was a Lionel dealer and service center for a few years.

In addition, he was a talented harmonica player his entire life with a large impressive collection of harmonicas. He played Gospel and Bluegrass music in local churches with a local musical group.

Sonny loved his entire family and always had time for his children and grandchildren. He especially liked entertaining them and played his harmonica for them every chance he was able.

Sonny was a long-time member of Stevenson United Methodist Church in Berlin and as a child attended Bowen United Methodist Church in Newark with his family.

He was a life member of the Berlin Fire Company serving as an engineer during his active years.

He was also a 60-plus year member of Evergreen Masonic Lodge No. 153 AF & AM in Berlin and a proud member of the American Legion Boggs Disharoon Post 123 in Berlin, having served as past vice commander and chaplain, and he had been a Berlin town councilman for eight years.

Sonny is survived by his son, J. Paul Adkins and wife, Patsy Elliott Adkins; daughter, Janie L. Goslee and husband, David L. Goslee, Jr.; three grandchildren, Jennifer Paige Adkins Jacoby and husband, Adam, Lindsey Nicole Giblin and husband, Dan, and David (Lewis) Goslee III; three great-grandchildren, Jordin MaLynn Adkins Jacoby, Clara Faith Adkins Jacoby and Ryan Daniel Giblin; and several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Margaret Ann Adkins (2017), and grandson, John Paul Adkins II (2001).

A memorial service for Sonny will be held later in 2021 at Stevenson United Methodist Church in Berlin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Stevenson United Methodist Church, 123 N. Main Street, Berlin, Maryland 21811; Berlin Fire Company, 214 North Main Street, Berlin, Maryland 21811;

or Coastal Hospice, P. O. Box 1733, Salisbury, Maryland 21802.

Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.

Condolences may be shared with the family via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

LEILA MAY BEDARD Ocean Pines Leila was born to Columbus and Marion DeCristofaro in Quincy, Massachusetts, as the youngest of three, joining Jean and Jimmy.

She was raised in Rockland, Massachusetts, and graduated from Rockland High School.

As Leila, she enlisted and proudly served in the U.S. Navy after high school, stationed in the Washington, D.C. area and was honorably discharged.

It was during her service that she became known as “Cris,” pulling from her maiden name, with Leila reserved for her parents and siblings.

While her marriage to John “Buzz” Clark led to divorce, there were two bright spots, daughter, Cheryll and son, Dean.

She went on to find love and subsequent marriages, first with Robert “Bobby” Leahy and then Roger Bedard. They both preceded her in death.

After early years of raising Cheryll and Dean, Cris worked as a draftsman for the C&P Telephone Com-

pany in Wheaton, Maryland, and then as a manpower/budget specialist and EEO counselor for the Naval Security Group in Washington, DC. She was a member of the station’s bowling team.

After she stopped working, Cris became an avid swimmer at Leila Bedard the local Y and changed her daily walks to hikes on the C&O Canal, covering all 184 miles over the course of several years.

Cris was a Washington football fan as a seasons ticket holder for many decades and had fond memories of attending Super Bowl XXII in San Diego in 1987.

Cris was first introduced to Ocean City, Maryland, in the late 60’s, first enjoying a second home there and then permanently relocating from Montgomery County, Maryland, to Ocean Pines in 2002.

While Cris left behind many friends and colleagues on the other side of the bridge when she moved to the Eastern Shore, she made new friends through new activities in and around Ocean Pines and Ocean City, including swimming, Beach Singles, and the Art League.

Cris’ last several years were spent at Catered Living at Ocean Pines.

Cris’ pride and joy were her chil-

dren and their spouses, Cheryll Ann Bissell with Tom (Berlin, Maryland) and Dean Allyn Clark with Susan (Ellicott City, Maryland); grandchildren, June Clark, Nicole Clark with Justin Green, Jacklyn “Jackie” Clark, Danielle “Dani” Clark, Morgan Bissell, and Corey Magill with Dave; and great grandchildren, Paige and Molly Magill and Shaelyn and Shamus Bissell.

The lasting memory they will have are the cuddly blankets she made for each one.

A lasting thought many will have of Cris is her being fiercely independent and self-sufficient and she firmly believed that to be her role as a parent, to teach her children to be independent and self-sufficient too.

The youngest grandgirlie said it best: A feisty one is about to meet the big man.

In addition to her children and their families, Cris leaves behind a sister, Jean Baggs; a sister-in-law, Joan Coble and her family, many nieces and nephews and their families, and several special friends.

As an expression of sympathy, donations can be made to the Art League of Ocean City.

The featured pictured was from one of her happiest moments in recent years, taken at Fager’s Island in November 2019. It was to celebrate Veterans Day and she was proud to Continued on Page 40

PAGE 40

Ocean City Today

DECEMBER 25, 2020

OBITUARIES Continued from Page 39 tell everyone about her service and show her service card.

The flag she received that day was very important to her, she proudly displayed it on her door.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

CHARLES CURTIS SHULTZ Ocean City Charles Curtis Shultz, 85, of Ocean City, Maryland, died Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, at home, surrounded by his family.

Born on Jan. 29, 1935, at home in Drums, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Charles and Martha (Hess) Shultz.

Charles graduated from Hazleton High Charles Shultz School in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, with the class of 1953, and from Villanova University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1971.

Charles worked as a draftsman for Atlas Powder Company in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, and then transferred to Audubon, Pennsylvania.

He and his first wife, Betty (Polgrean) Shultz, raised their family of four daughters primarily in Hazleton and in Audubon, Pennsylvania.

In 1973, he moved his family to Marion, Ohio, when he accepted a position as a mechanical engineer for Marion Power Shovel Company.

He traveled the world repairing steam shovels, power shovels and dragline excavators, until he moved to Pittsburgh and formed his own consulting firm, Pittsburgh Field Inspection Company, through which he designed, created and patented his own parts.

In 1994, Charles married the love of his life, Marlene (Palamone) Sims, in Fenwick Island, Delaware. They made their home in Ocean City, Maryland, and Marathon, Florida.

Together, they lived a fairy tale life.

They traveled the world and enjoyed skiing trips.

Charles enjoyed listening to music, especially the blues and jazz of New Orleans artists, reading World War II spy stories, skiing and politics.

He loved the ocean views and marshes of Maryland and Florida, as well as the deserts of Arizona. His award-winning pen and ink drawings, water colors and oil paintings reflect that love.

He made the best homemade chocolate peanut butter fudge in the world, hands down, and it was a family treat for years.

Chuck, as he was known to friends, is preceded in death, in addition to his parents, by a daughter, Sharon Burtch, in 2018; a sister, Betty (Shultz) Schaffer Smith, in 2020; brothers-in-law, Sylvester Giuliani, in 2010 and Michael Palamone, in 2020; former brother-in-law, John “Jack” Polgrean, in 2008; and former sister-in-law, Virginia “Ginny” (Myers) Polgrean, in 2010.

He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Marlene; three daughters from his first marriage, Debra (Dale) Horton, Galion, Ohio, Mary Beth (Paul) Wittkopf, New Plymouth, Ohio, and Krista McGinnis, Delaware, Ohio; four grandchildren, Megan, Natalie and Thomas Wittkopf, and Christopher McGinnis; a sister, Carol Giuliani, Poughkeepsie, New York; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association.

In obedience to his wishes and due to covid 19 concerns, there were no services. Arrangements were in the care of Eastern Shore Cremation and Funeral Service, 504 Franklin Avenue, Berlin, Maryland 21811.

To send condolences to the family, please visit www.easternshorecremation.com.

He is also survived by his brothers, James (Yvonne), Brad (Valerie) and Kevin (Barbara); and his sister, Carol White (Jim), as well as a A. Mumpower large family of nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Lou was an avid fisherman, which explains why he never lived far from the water.

He fished the Susquehanna and Bush Rivers with his father, brothers and sister while growing up, the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay with

his sister when he lived with Carol and her husband for a while in California, and the Atlantic Ocean and inland waterways while living and working in Ocean City.

Lou’s favorite stories always involved “fish tales.” Contrary to what his brothers thought, Lou always considered himself to be the better fisherman.

To protect his many family and friends during the current health crisis, a memorial service will be delayed. A “Celebration of Life” will be held with his family and friends this summer in Harford County, Maryland.

CROSSWORD

ADDISON MUMPOWER Ocean City Addison “Lou” Mumpower, 63, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep of natural causes at home in Ocean City, Maryland, on Dec. 15, 2020.

Lou was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland in August 1957, to Hartsel and Elaine (Sullivan) Mumpower, both of whom preceded him in death.

He is survived by his daughter, Laura Barnes (Bill), and grandchildren, Brittany Young, Morgan Young and Kaitlyn Barnes.

OBITUARY NOTICES Submitted obituaries will cost $50.00 for print and online publications in the Ocean City Today A sales representative from our office will contact you for payment once your submission is sent.

E-mail: editor@oceancitytoday.net Mail: Ocean City Today, P.O. Box 3500, Ocean City, Md. 21843 Fax: 410-723-6511 Obituary Notices are published as space allows.

Every effort is made to publish all that are received.

Answers on page 8

DECEMBER 25, 2020

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Ocean City Today

Calendar Submit calendar items to: editor@oceancitytoday.net.

Submission deadline is 5 p.m. Monday, the week of publication. Local submissions have priority. Area event listings are subject to space availability.

Mon., Dec. 28 STORY TIME - HIBERNATION AND MIGRATION Meeting via Facebook, 10:30 AM. Learn the answers to hibernation and migration questions in this program for children ages 6-10 years. No registration required. http://www.worcesterlibrary.org

CEREMONY It’s an annual tradition at Ocean City American Legion Post 166 on 24th Street to decorate a Christmas tree, and then in a special, separate ceremony, to have members add ornaments to it for each service and historic service-related events. Shannon Hardester, who served 12 years in the Coast Guard, hangs the ornament for her military branch.

The Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum is asking community members to send in their accounts as to how COVID19 has impacted them. The submissions can be a specific experience, direct answers to the prompt questions, or a combination. No story is too long or too short. To submit, visit www.ocmuseum.org. Info: Christine@ocmuseum.org.

TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY MEETING Meeting via conference call, 6:00 PM 6:30 PM. Dial 605-472-5789, wait for voice command, then press 944874.

TOPS is a weekly support and educational group promoting weight loss and healthy lifestyle. Berlin group No. 169.

Rose Campion, 410-641-0157

LIGHT UP SNOW HILL

LIGHT UP A SNOWMAN STEM CRAFT KIT MEET UP

Consider registering to be included in the 2020 Light Up Snow Hill House Tour.

Simply make sure your lights are on every evening from December 14-28 from 5-8 p.m. and enjoy seeing all of the holiday cheer as visitors drive by on their way through the tour route. Also consider sending in a picture of your decorated house after registering to be included in the competition portion of this event.

Register your home: https://www.snowhillchamber.com.

Meeting via Zoom, 10:30 AM. Pick up your kit at any Worcester County library (while supplies last). Join in on Zoom to show off what you made, or to ask questions about the kit. Suggested for ages 711 years. Register: www.worcesterlibrary.org.

Beginning Dec. 1, log your books, attend virtual programs and explore activities to earn badges and chances to win the grand prizes. Sign up for free at https://worcesterlibrary.beanstack.org.

Tues., Dec. 29

Wed., Dec. 30 HOLIDAY SCAVENGER HUNT Meeting via Zoom, 10:30 AM. It’s a race to find holiday items around your home.

Look for Hanukkah, Kawanzas and Christmas items and learn about holiday symbols. Suggested for ages 5-11 years. Register: www.worcesterlibrary.org.

Thurs., Dec. 31 BAYSIDE BALCONY BALL DROP Residence Inn by Marriott, 300 Seabay Lane, 6 p.m. Featuring music by Randy Jamz, 6-8 p.m.; Marky Shaw & Friends, 8-10 p.m.; and karaoke with Donnie Berkey, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. View the midnight ball drop from private balconies; Seabay Lane, bayfront; or the hotel’s second floor lobby. Guests must be seated for service. Masks and social distancing to be observed. http://www.residenceinnoc.com

ONGOING EVENTS ‘SAVE OUR STORIES’

WINTER READING CHALLENGE

KIWANIS 2021 LOTTERY RAFFLE The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City is selling tickets for their 2021 Lottery Raffle. All sales must be completed by Dec. 31 to be eligible. All Kiwanis members have tickets to sell and the club will also be selling tickets at the Ocean Pines Farmer’s Market every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. For only $20 a ticket, the purchasers get 365 chances to win.

Match your number to the Maryland “Pick 3” Evening drawings. Winners will automatically be sent a check. Proceeds support local scholarships and youth programs. www.kiwanisofopoc.org, Facebook.com/Kiwanis Club of Ocean Pines/Ocean City.

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

LITTLE VILLAGES Walking around the Ocean Pines South Gate Pond, visitors will see little villages at the base of some of the trees in the wooded area.

50PLUS BOOK BUS Every Wednesday, the bus rotates between north and south Worcester County, with books, puzzles, auto tapes and Census 2020 help. Check Facebook.com/wor50plus for more details.

CURBSIDE BINGO Every first (400 Walnut St.) and second (Stephen Decatur Park) Thursdays of each month. Info: 410-632-1277.

ALLY LANASA/OCEAN CITY TODAY

LINE WORK Electric utility employees conduct line work along 82nd Street and Coastal Highway on Dec. 14.

42

DECEMBER 25, 2020 Classifieds now appear in Ocean City Today & the Bayside Gazette each week and online at oceancitytoday.com and baysideoc.com.

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To Order Product Call Christine 443-880-8397 or email: snowhillavon@ comcast.net

RENTALS RENTALS Seeking Year-Round & Seasonal Rentals!

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RAMBLER MOTEL

For more information and to apply, go to: https:// ejobs.umd.edu Employment is contingent upon successful completion and clearance of a Criminal History Record Check. EEO/AA Closing Date: January 1, 2021

Do you have an old bicycle not being used? It could mean a world of difference to a hard-working international student. We are looking to get as many bikes as possible. Your donation will be taxdeductible. Contact Gary at 443-975-3065.

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Restaurant for Lease

Worcester Preparatory School, a coeducational college preparatory day school serving over 400 students in grades PK-12, is currently seeking a Head Coach for Boys Upper School. Minimum of 2 yrs. experience and CJIS Background Screening required.

EOE

Agent Associate (Position 125246) University of Maryland Extension seeks FCS Financial Capability Educator.

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Ocean City Today

DECEMBER 25, 2020

BLINDS & SHADES

PAGE 43

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DECEMBER 25, 2020

Ocean City Today

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TRIPLE

CROWN

DECEMBER 25, 2020 McCabe, Weisberg & Conway LLC 312 Marshall Avenue, Suite 800 Laurel, Maryland 20707 301-490-3361 Laura H.G. O’Sullivan, et al., Substitute Trustees Plaintiffs vs.

Sheryl Diane Rowland, Rhonda L. Disbrow and Donald A. Rudkin Defendants IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND Civil No. C-23-CV-20-000045

NOTICE

ORDERED, this 2nd day of November, 2020 by the Circuit Court of WORCESTER COUNTY, Maryland, that the sale of the property at 74 White Horse Drive, Berlin, Maryland 21811 mentioned in these proceedings, made and reported by Laura H.G. O’Sullivan, et. al, Substitute Trustees, be ratified and confirmed, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 4th day of January, 2021 next, provided a copy of this notice be inserted in some newspaper published in said County once in each of three successive weeks before the 28th day of December, 2020, next.

The report states the amount of sale to be $115,000.00.

Susan R. Braniecki CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND True Copy Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County, MD OCD-12/10/3t _________________________________ Ryan D. Bodley Ayres, Jenkins, Gordy & Almand, P.A. 6200 Coastal Highway, Suite 200 Ocean City, MD 21842 Harbor Lights Condominium Association c/o Ayres, Jenkins, Gordy & Almand, P.A. 6200 Coastal Highway, Suite 200 Ocean City, Maryland 21842 Plaintiff vs.

Matthew B. Rhodes 722 Anchor Chain Road Unit 14 Ocean City, MD 21842 Defendant IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF MARYLAND FOR WORCESTER COUNTY STATE OF MARYLAND Civil Case No. C-23-CV-19-000358

NOTICE

ORDERED, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County this 2nd day of December, 2020, that the foreclosure sale of Harbor Lights Condominium, Unit 14, 722 Anchor Chain Road, Ocean City, Maryland, made and reported by Ryan D. Bodley, Trustees, be RATIFIED AND CONFIRMED, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 4th day of January, 2021, provided a copy of this Order is published in a newspaper of general circulation in Worcester County, Maryland, once in three

PAGE 45

Ocean City Today / Public Notices successive weeks, before the 28th day of December, 2020.

The Report states that the total proceeds form the sale of the property to be Ten Dollars ($10.00).

Susan R. Braniecki CLERK, CIRCUIT COURT True Copy Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County, MD OCD-12/10/3t _________________________________

NOTICE

TO HOLDERS OF CLASS "B", "C", AND "D" ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSES ISSUED BY WORCESTER COUNTY An ad has gone out to the newspapers in error regarding New Year's Eve. The hours for Class "B", "C' and "D" alcoholic beverage licenses have not been extended on January 1, 2021 until 4 a.m. The closure time is l 0 p.m. as dictated by the Governor's Order as a result of COVID-19.

BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, William E. Esham, Jr., Chairman R. Charles Nichols, Member Marty W. Pusey, Member *********************** April R. Payne, License Administrator OCD-12/17/2t _________________________________ McCabe, Weisberg & Conway LLC 312 Marshall Avenue, Suite 800 Laurel, Maryland 20707 301-490-3361 Laura H.G. O’Sullivan, et al., Substitute Trustees Plaintiffs vs.

Andrea Leigh Bounds Defendant IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND Civil No. C-23-CV-20-000054

NOTICE

ORDERED, this 15th day of December, 2020 by the Circuit Court of WORCESTER COUNTY, Maryland, that the sale of the property at 12512 W. Torquay Road, Ocean City, Maryland 21842 mentioned in these proceedings, made and reported by Laura H.G. O’Sullivan, et. al, Substitute Trustees, be ratified and confirmed, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 18th day of January, 2021 next, provided a copy of this notice be inserted in some newspaper published in said County once in each of three successive weeks before the 11th day of January, 2021, next.

The report states the amount of sale to be $166,000.00.

Susan R. Braniecki CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND True Copy Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County, MD OCD-12/17/3t _________________________________

Law Offices of Jeffrey Nadel 4041 Powder Mill Road, Suite 200 Calverton, Maryland 20705 Jeffrey Nadel Scott Nadel Daniel Menchel Doreen Strothman 4041 Powder Mill Road, Suite 200 Calverton, MD 20705 Substitute Trustees Plaintiff v.

Scott A. Mitchell 1510 Cedar Street Pocomoke City, MD 21851 Defendant(s) IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND Civil No. C-23-CV-20-000191

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given this 16th day of December, 2020, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, that the sale of the property mentioned in these proceedings, made and reported, will be ratified and confirmed, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 18th day of January, 2021, provided a copy of this notice be inserted in a weekly newspaper printed in said County, once in each of three successive weeks before the 11th day of January, 2021.

The Report of Sale states the amount of the foreclosure sale price to be $103,191.17. The property sold herein is known as 1510 Cedar Street, Pocomoke City, MD 21851.

Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court True Copy Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk of the Circuit Court Worcester County MD OCD-12/24/3t _________________________________

NOTICE

OF PASSAGE OF BILL 20-8 WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Take Notice that Bill 20-8 (Zoning – Accessory apartments) was passed

by Commissioners Church, Elder, Mitrecic, Nordstrom and Purnell on November 17, 2020.

A fair summary of the bill is as follows: §ZS 1-338(b)(2). (Eliminates the requirement that the property owner reside in either the primary dwelling unit or the accessory apartment on the premises.)

This bill becomes effective fortyfive (45) days from the date of its passage.

This is only a fair summary of the bill. A full copy of the bill is posted on the Legislative Bulletin Board in the main hall of the Worcester County Government Center outside Room 1103, is available for public inspection in Room 1103 of the Worcester County Government Center once County Government Offices are opened to the public. In the interim, a full copy of the bill is available on the County Website at www.co.worcester.md.us.

THE WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OCD-12/10/3t _________________________________

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 18514 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF JUNE STIELPER AKA: JUNE FRANCES STIELPER Notice is given that Michael Stielper, 31 Timber Lane, Hanover, PA 17331, was on December 03, 2020 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of June Stielper who died on October 18, 2020, with a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 3rd day of June, 2021.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent’s death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Michael Stielper Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest Date of publication: December 10, 2020 OCD-12/10/3t _________________________________

NOTICE

OF PASSAGE OF BILL 20-7 WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Take Notice that Bill 20-7 (Zoning – Casino Entertainment District) was passed by Commissioners Bertino, Church, Elder, Nordstrom and Purnell on October 20, 2020.

A fair summary of the bill is as follows: §ZS 1-103(b). (Adds the definition for “Casino” in the Zoning and Subdivision Control Article to describe a building or structure in which gaming tables, wagering devices or machines, or other games of chance are

PAGE 46

Ocean City Today / Public Notices

present and available for persons to wager. It does not include games of chance that are operated by a charitable organization licensed under County Law.) §ZS 1-103(b). (Adds the definition for “Gaming Facility” in the Zoning and Subdivision Control Article to describe a “casino” as well as the associated amenities, such as but not limited to a restaurant, bar, hotel, retail establishment, or exhibition hall.) §ZS 1-202(b)(20). (Adds “Casino entertainment district” to the list of uses permitted in the A-2 Agricultural District.) §ZS 1-352. (Adds this entirely new section to the Zoning and Subdivision Control Article to establish an overlay district for the “casino entertainment district” with the intent of encouraging comprehensive planned gaming facilities or casinos under a unified plan of development that allows for flexibility while also requiring harmonious design within the development and ensuring compatibility with and minimum impact upon existing and future development in the surrounding area; establishes requirements for the district, including: a minimum lot area of fifty acres; direct access to a major collector or arterial highway; provides a list of permitted uses; parking and pedestrian circulation requirements; open space and landscaping provisions; architectural design; height limitations; and establishes a review and approval process with specific standards and criteria to be evaluated by the Planning Commission.)

This bill becomes effective fortyfive (45) days from the date of its passage.

This is only a fair summary of the bill. A full copy of the bill is posted on the Legislative Bulletin Board in the main hall of the Worcester County Government Center outside Room 1103, is available for inspection in Room 1103 of the Worcester County Government Center, and is available on the County Website at www.co.worcester.md.us.

THE WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OCD-12/10/3t _________________________________

NOTICE

OF INTRODUCTION OF BILL 21-1 WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Take Notice that Bill 21-1 (Zoning – Height regulations in the A-1 and A-2 Agricultural Districts) was introduced by Commissioners Bertino, Church, Elder, Mitrecic, Nordstrom

and Purnell on November 17, 2020.

A fair summary of the bill is as follows: §ZS 1-201(e)(1). (Adds a new subsection to establish a special exception provision for the increase in the height of residential accessory structures in the A-1 Agricultural District.) §ZS 1-202(e)(1). (Adds a new subsection to establish a special exception provision for the increase in the height of residential accessory structures in the A-2 Agricultural District.)

A Public Hearing will be held on Bill 21-1 at the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Room 1101 – Government Center, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.

This is only a fair summary of the bill. A full copy of the bill is posted on the Legislative Bulletin Board in the main hall of the Worcester County Government Center outside Room 1103, is available for public inspection in Room 1103 of the Worcester County Government Center once County Government Offices are opened to the public. In the interim, a full copy of the bill is available on the County Website at www.co.worcester.md.us.

THE WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OCD-12/17/2t _________________________________

against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent’s death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not pre-

DECEMBER 25, 2020 sented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

David Richard Gado Personal Representative True Test Copy Terri Westcott Register of Wills for Worcester County One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 Name of newspaper designated by personal representative: Ocean City Digest Date of publication: December 17, 2020 OCD-12/17/3t _________________________________

STEVEN W RAKOW ESQ 5700 COASTAL HIGHWAY SUITE 305 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 18521 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF SHIRLEY MCCAFFREY Notice is given that David Richard Gado, 150 Nottingham Lane, Berlin, MD 21811, was on December 10, 2020 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Shirley McCaffrey who died on November 18, 2020, with a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 10th day of June, 2021.

Any person having a claim

OCEAN CITY TODAY Legal Advertising Call Nancy MacCubbin 410-723-6397, Fax: 410-723-6511 or E-mail: legals@oceancitytoday.net

DECEMBER 25, 2020

PAGE 47

Ocean City Today / Public Notices

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Ocean City Today

DECEMBER 25, 2020