OCEAN CITY, OCEAN PINES WILL PUT FIRE IN THE SKY INSIDE
Beach Patrol begins soft enforcement of tent rules
With tents now outlawed on resort’s beach, lifeguards have explained new law to more than 700 beachgoers who were unaware of it.
— PAGE 20
Happy 60th Assateague
Nat’l Seashore
As the park marks its anniversary, members of the park’s staff talk about their dedication to it and the National Park Service as well as what fuels their passion for Assateague Island. — PAGE 50
PHOTO COURTESY OF OCEAN
U.S. Army Corps responses to emergency dredging request
By Stewart Dobson Editor
(July 4, 2025) The Baltimore District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has received approval of its emergency request to use the corps’ Wilmington District’s dredge Merritt to remove roughly 7,500 cubic yards of dredged material from the Ocean City Inlet this month.
This emergency dredging is based on the need for the U.S. Coast Guard to be able to respond in the event of an emergency, a statement issued by the corps said.
With increased boating traffic during the summer months and the arrival of the White Marlin Open fishing tournament in early August, the Coast Guard believes there is an increased risk that it will be called on to respond to a maritime emergency.
“We’ve heard the concerns from mariners and local officials and understand how critical this waterway is to both safety and economic security for the region,” said Baltimore District Commander Col. Francis Pera. “Dredging in the Ocean City Inlet is extremely important work and we’ve taken the necessary additional steps to ensure the waterway remains navigable.”
Dredge Merritt is expected to arrive in Ocean City the third week of July. Dredging will occur the week of July 21
and will focus on the priority area along the northern half of the channel near the harbor. The dredging cycle will take approximately eight days to complete.
The request to use the side-caster dredge Merritt is in response to the unavailability of dredges Currituck and Murden, which usually perform annual maintenance on the inlet. Both vessels are undergoing maintenance work themselves. The Merritt is able to perform maintenance dredging in navigation channels as shallow as 5.5 feet. The dredge will side-cast material approximately 85 feet from the vessel, where it will settle to the bottom of the waterway.
Boasting a top speed of 10 knots loaded, the Merritt didn’t start out as a dredge, but began its life in 1943 as a Navy seaplane wrecking derrick. These derricks were self-propelled lift platforms of sorts used at naval air stations to recover disabled aircraft from the water.
The 104-foot-long vessel was transferred to the Army and renamed Merritt in August 1960 and was converted to a dredge in 1964 at Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard in Baltimore.
As for the cost of the operation, the Baltimore District announced in May that it had received $9.6 million in funding for maintenance dredging for Ocean City Harbor, the inlet and Sinepuxent Bay.
BREAKFAST
Monday-Friday 8-11am Saturday-Sunday 8am-Noon
The dredging vessel Merritt is pictured removing material during a recent dredging operation.
Rare Waterfront Gem in Bethany Beach - A oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to own an exceptional piece of coastal paradise in the highly desirable Bayview Park community. Offered for the first time, this charming single-family home spans two lots, providing unparalleled panoramic bay views with the Ocean City and Fenwick Island skylines in the distance. Nestled amidst protected lands, this property combines privacy with proximity to the beach - just a short walk away. Enjoy breathtaking sunsets, stargazing under the moonlight, and the serene sounds of the bay. Whether you're seeking relaxation or adventure, this home offers the best of both worlds. DESU2088470
This stunning 4-bedroom, 4-bath corner unit townhome offers unparalleled waterfront living with a 24,000
STUNNING 5 BEDROOM, 5.5 BATH ESTATE with
This prime mixed-use property is located on the highly trafficked Route 54 corridor, just one mile from both Fenwick Island Beach and Ocean City Beach. Zoned C-1/ and Residential for commercial use, it offers outstanding visibility and signage opportunities, making it ideal for a variety of business ventures. The location provides the perfect balance between residential comfort and commercial potential, with easy access to coastal attractions. DESU2085740
Welcome to a truly exceptional residence where luxury meets waterfront tranquility. This stunning 5-bedroom, 6-full-bathroom, and 2-half-bathroom Bayfront home, epitomizes coastal elegance with 145 feet of direct bay frontage and captivating southern exposure. Step through the elegant front door and be immediately entranced by the intricate details and high-end upgrades throughout. MDWO2014714
CHARMING WATERFRONT HOME on DOUBLE LOT
DIRECT BAYFRONT
733 BRADLEY ROAD OCEAN CITY
12323 VISTA WAY • BISHOPVILLE • $1,999,900
GOLF COURSE VIEWS
D.A. Kozma Jewelry & Coins Making
Ocean City Memories
CUSTOM DESIGNS
We specialize in creating custom-designed jewelry that is as unique as you are. Create a custom piece, update your current jewelry, or simply explore our collection.
(July 4, 2025) Motorists heading to or driving around the Ocean City area this weekend should be aware that the Maryland State Police is increasing its enforcement efforts to combat impaired, aggressive, and distracted driving throughout the holiday.
As of Friday, Maryland State Troopers from all 23 barracks across the state will conduct high-visibility patrols from Friday July 4 to Sunday, July 6. The State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort (SPIDRE) team – a specialized unit trained to identify impaired drivers—will also work to reduce impaired driving-related injuries and deaths.
In this region, troopers from the Berlin, Centreville, Easton, Princess Anne, and Salisbury barracks will conduct high visibility enforcement along U.S. Routes 13, 50, 90, 301, Maryland Route 413, and throughout their respective counties.
Elsewhere, troopers from the Maryland State Police Annapolis, Glen Burnie, La Plata, Leonardtown, and Prince Frederick barracks will conduct high visibility enforcement along U.S. Route 50, Maryland Route 295, Interstate 97, and throughout their respective counties.
Troopers from the Maryland State Police College Park, Forestville, Golden Ring, Rockville, Waterloo, and Westminster barracks will conduct high visibility enforcement along Interstates 495, 270, 695, Maryland 185, 97, 193, and throughout their respective counties.
Troopers from the Maryland State Police Cumberland, Frederick, Hagerstown, and McHenry barracks will conduct high visibility enforcement along U.S. Routes 220, 40, and 65, Interstates 8, 68, and 70, and throughout their respective counties.
Troopers from the Bel Air, JFK Memorial Highway, and North East barracks will conduct high visibility enforcement along U.S. Route 40, areas known to have a higher number of impaired driving crashes and throughout their respective counties.
YOUTH FIRE SAFETY CAMP
Harris views bill as ‘death blow’ to offshore wind farm
New restrictions could axe controversial wind energy project off resort’s coast
By Brian Shane Staff Writer
(July 4, 2025) An offshore wind farm off Ocean City’s coast could be in mortal peril, thanks to a provision in a Congressional budget bill that revokes federal subsidies for green energy projects not completed in the next 18 months.
The Senate version of Congress’s fiscal 2026 budget reconciliation bill, a.k.a. the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act, passed Tuesday. It rolls back energies subsidies as granted in the Inflation Reduction Act. The restriction applies to wind and solar facilities that aren’t placed in-service by December 31, 2027.
Now, to take effect, the House of Representatives version of the budget bill would have to include this provision. President Donald Trump has said he wanted to see the bill passed and ready for his signature by today, July 4. The end-date provision now jeopardizes the future of a proposed 114-turbine wind farm located about 11 miles off the coast of Ocean City.
wind project that hasn’t started.”
“It’s a very, very expensive way to generate electricity,” Harris added. “Even if it didn’t interfere with so many things as offshore wind does –such as commercial fishing, such as the viewscapes, such as potentially defense considerations, how that interacts with marine mammals – there are many, many considerations that needs to be taken into account. I don’t think they were.”
Harris is already opposed to the Senate’s version of the budget bill, saying in a June 25 tweet that it doesn’t do enough to eliminate healthcare waste, increases the deficit, and “backtracks” on throttling green energy policies. He’s pushed for the House to adopt language in its version of the bill that would end solar and wind tax credits.
‘Both agree that offshore wind is a bad idea, again, because it’s an inefficient way to produce energy.’
Congressman Andy Harris,
Developer US Wind has met all stages of state and federal approval after a years-long effort. The company has stated in interview that it’s already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the project, which hasn’t yet begun construction. US Wind did not respond to a request for comment.
Notably, while the Senate’s bill does require wind and solar projects to be “placed in service” by the end of 2027, it also guts the benefit by including a last-minute carveout for projects that “begin construction” a year after enactment, according to Anna Adamian, a spokeswoman for Congressman Andy Harris, who represents Ocean City.
“This may create a race to do the minimum 5% construction spending to lock in subsidies well past 2027,” she said in an email.
Harris has been a vocal critic of offshore wind. He supports the diminished financial incentives for wind developers and said this week in an interview that “we should use any means possible to bring an end to this project.”
“I think that effectively will probably bring about the end of all the offshore wind projects that aren't started yet,” Harris (R-1st, Maryland) told OC Today-Dispatch on Monday. “The bill, in the current state it’s in, would, I believe, deal a death blow to any offshore
The US Wind project has already drawn the staunch opposition of Ocean City and Worcester County elected officials, who have filed a federal lawsuit to slow or stop the project. County officials also have seriously discussed invoking eminent domain, or even a multimilliondollar land buyout, to prevent US Wind from building an operations and maintenance facility at the West Ocean City commercial fishing harbor.
Harris said he’s been in constant contact with local officials in their fight against US Wind and agrees with them. The congressman also said he’s personally spoken with high-level federal officials, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, about this project.
“Both agree that offshore wind is a bad idea, again, because it’s an inefficient way to produce energy. I think the (Trump) administration is dead set against these projects and that’s one of the reasons why I don’t think the project off the coast of Ocean City will ever come to completion,” Harris said.
Gov. Wes Moore last week told OC Today-Dispatch that he supports offshore wind because the state’s energy crisis means all forms of power generation, including solar and nuclear, are on the table.
Maryland lawmakers are still grappling with the aftermath of a billiondollar budget shortfall handled in a contentious legislative session. If the budget provisions pass, Harris says he doesn’t believe the state could replace those lost federal dollars to keep the wind project alive.
“If the federal funds are withdrawn, I think there is no way it gets completed, because the state has plenty of budget issues of its own,” said Harris.
The Ocean City Junior Fire Camp was held last month with participants learning the ins and outs of fire safety, including how to apply water to an active blaze.
#1: 50 Wings, 3 Sides, 4 Cornbreads
#2: 8 Chicken Tenders, Large Fry, 4 Applesauce Cups
#3: 10 Chicken Tenders, 5 Hot Dogs, Large Fry, 5 Applesauce Cups
(July 4, 2025) Ocean City residents for and against proposed short-term rental restrictions will have an opportunity to cast their ballots later this month.
Tuesday, July 1, marked the last day to register to vote in this month’s special election, which will ask the city’s electorate to vote for or against an ordinance that sets a five-night minimum stay for short-term rentals located in the R-1 residential and MH mobile home districts in 2025 and 2026, and a 31-night minimum stay beginning in 2027.
As the city code defines short-term rentals as 30 days or less, the ordinance would ban limted term vacation rentals in those districts in two years.
Now, as the countdown begins, those on both sides of the debate are making the final push to encourage residents to vote on July 22.
Short-term rental owners, community members seek to vote down ordinance
Terry Miller, a local real estate agent, has long fought the restrictions, which she argues violates the rights of R-1 and MH property owners. And in May, the city validated a petition Miller and her group – OCMD Property Rights – submitted to bring the
ordinance to referendum.
From the outset, those in support of the ban in the two districts argued that short-term rentals are a business, and as such are not allowed in singlefamily neighborhoods. Officials have also reiterated the need to preserve those residential districts and minimize the noise, trash, and parking issues that are sometimes associated with short-term rentals.
However, Miller said the ordinance adopted by the Ocean City Council in March failed to fix those problems, which she said mainly occurred in zoning districts outside of the R-1 and MH communities.
She also argues the short-term rental restrictions do not reflect the values of Ocean City, which she said is built on tourism.
“We should be promoting all the things that make the town special,” she said, “and not fight about the people staying next door to us.”
Miller argued that vacation rentals are not businesses, as they continue to be used as a residence.
She also noted that such properties provide a lodging alternative for vacationers, all while generating tax revenues and giving individuals a chance to own property in Ocean City. She added many short-term rental owners are second-homeowners with plans to
eventually live in town.
“The vast majority of these people have real deep roots here,” she said. “Most inherited or bought the family home. And it does bring money to the local economy – to handymen, painters, cleaners, management companies.”
However, she said the city is at risk of losing that money – and its visitors – if it moves forward with the proposed restrictions. Miller also shared her concerns about the nonconforming, multifamily properties located within the single-family residential districts.
“There are currently condos and townhouses that are affected …,” she said. “We’ve been waiting to see how they carve them out. The mayor said they’re not going to take their rights away.”
Miller also contended that shortterm rentals keep residents in their homes and raise property values for others in the community.
“If you drive through the neighborhoods, the worst looking homes are not the short-term rentals,” she said. “If anything, they are the best looking homes because they have to look inviting … and a lot of these people who stay in these neighborhoods, and buy in these neighborhoods, end up living in these neighborhoods.”
Miller said those opposed to the short-term rental ordinance are not “greedy” investors and real estate agents, but property owners and residents who care about the community. She added that many of the petition’s signers are year-round residents who wanted to support her group’s efforts.
“It has not been a great process,” she said, “but I believe we have rights, and these rights shouldn't be taken away. And I’m willing to fight for this.”
Year-round residents ramp up campaign
As Miller and her group continue to fight the ordinance, a group of citizens – organized under the nonprofit Citizens for Ocean City – are asking residents to vote “for” the length-of-stay restrictions.
Gordon Kretser, a year-round resident of the Mallard Island neighborhood off 15th Street, said the outcome of this month’s election will chart the course for Ocean City’s future.
“Everyone is talking about how to make Ocean City better, how it will look in the future,” he said. “It feels great to be part of that.”
Kretser said he and his wife moved from an oceanfront condo to a home in Mallard Island to raise their two kids in a quiet neighborhood. Now, he said, they are forced to deal with park-
OC not only Maryland town debating short-term rentals
By Alex Mann
Baltimore Banner
(July 4, 2025) When Pat Zeno lived on quaint Cornhill Street in downtown Annapolis, she could turn left out her door to see Maryland’s State House. If not for a slight bend in the road to her right, she could see City Dock.
“For a number of years when we lived on Cornhill, we had great neighbors,” Zeno recalled. “Some of the neighbors owned their properties and some of them rented. We would help each other out and get together for parties.”
By 2020, Zeno and her husband had retired. Annapolis was getting too expensive and they wanted to move closer to family. But something else was driving them away from the historic district they’d loved for the last 25 years: new homeowners renting out their properties on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo.
“With the short-term rentals, there were no neighbors, there were just people renting on the weekends. It was a total change,” Zeno said. “It was sad. It was very sad for us.”
Such rentals proliferated after Zeno and her husband moved to Florida late in 2020, with short-term rental listings increasing 27.5% since 2021, an analysis by a company hired by the city found. Annapolis currently has 327 short-term rental licenses, according to the city. Most of them are in the downtown historic district.
The Annapolis alderman who represents that district, Democrat Harry Huntley, wants to prevent what’s happened on Cornhill Street, where there are hardly any owner-occupied houses, from spreading all over the city. This month, he introduced an ordinance that would limit future shortterm rentals.
Huntley’s legislation would prohibit the city from issuing new shortterm rental licenses on any block where they account for 10% of homes. The bill would grandfather existing short-term rentals, meaning people who have licenses on blocks that already exceed the threshold wouldn’t lose them.
“It’s not the existence of short-term rentals, it’s feeling like they’re taking over a neighborhood so much that we don’t have neighborhoods,” Huntley said. “Short-term rentals can be part of our community, but they can’t be all of our community or we won’t have a community.”
Democratic Mayor Gavin Buckley credited Huntley with “working to resolve the complex issue of housing,” which he said requires getting “the balance just right.”
“We need some short-term options, but we also need to ensure that rental housing remains available to working families — and that they are not priced out of the housing market,” Buckley
said in a statement. “In this area Annapolis is not alone — cities across the country are all working to strike a balance between short-term rental availability and housing availability.”
The proliferation of short-term rentals increases rent costs because it decreases the rental stock, said Jeremy Schwartz, chair of economics at Loyola’s Sellinger School of Business and Management. The phenomenon also can boost housing prices because “any time you have an option on any kind of asset, it should be worth more.”
But there are risks. Schwartz said property values in an area inundated with short-term rentals can drop because people may not want to buy in places without neighbors. Not to mention the possibility that too many rentals changes the fabric of a place.
Jurisdictions across the country, particularly those like Maryland’s capital that attract tourists, have been grappling with how to rein in the industry.
Garrett County, home to Deep Creek Lake, began requiring licenses for vacation rentals almost 20 years ago. In 2018, Baltimore mandated that new short-term rental owners use the residence as their primary home. Ocean City recently implemented a five-night minimum stay for rentals in some neighborhoods, a figure that will rise to a 31-night minimum in 2027.
Huntley’s bill is the latest attempt by Annapolis lawmakers to regulate the vacation rental industry, with the City Council having passed approximately 10 ordinances or resolutions about them since 2019. The proposed per block cap for short-term rentals mirrors one the city has for traditional bed and breakfasts.
In Annapolis, people who want to list their properties on the likes of Airbnb and Vrbo must get a $400 annual license and pay the same tax a hotel does. One person can only own one short-term rental and either the owner or a property manager has to live in the city.
Some involved in the business think those regulations are adequate.
On a recent morning, Annapolis native Megan Moore, 49, tidied up after visitors checked out of a pinkdoored house on Charles Street — one of 22 short-term rentals she manages through her company, Moore Accommodations.
“I think there’s better time spent on the City Council than short-term rental legislation. I mean, I get what they’re saying, the whole city doesn’t need to be short-term rentals,” Moore said.
But, she added, “it’s kind of picking at something that doesn’t necessarily need to change unless there’s some major issue that I’m not aware of. But
The
Property rights key to OC referendum push
ing issues and noise associated with an investment property next door.
“We can’t have our windows open anymore …,” he said. “It gets under your skin. It wears on you.”
Kretser said single-family neighborhoods are vital to the fabric of Ocean City, as residents in those communities serve on the city council, volunteer on boards and commissions and work in the local fire stations. However, he said that way of life could be threatened by the proliferation of short-term rentals.
“My wife is a fourth-generation full-time resident, and our kids will be fifth-generation full-time residents,” he said. “Will there be such a thing as a fifth or sixth generation if we don’t have a place where we can live somewhat peacefully?”
Kretser said short-term rentals in single-family neighborhoods have only inflated home values, making it more difficult for families to live yearround in Ocean City. He also claims that such vacation rentals went against the city’s zoning code.
“There’s something to be said about property rights,” he said, “and there's something to be said about taking property rights away from those who live in those residential zones.”
Kretser said he views the city ordinance as a compromise, as it would give short-term rental owners time to adjust their bookings before a 31night minimum stay takes effect in 2027.
He also noted the ordinance wouldn’t affect rental properties outside R-1 and MH communities.
Kretser said conversations with those who signed the petition revealed many did not know what they were signing.
“A lot of the push for signatures came from nonresidents getting signatures from residents who will be completely unaffected,” he said.
Many signers, Kretser added, were oceanfront condo owners outside of R-1 and MH districts. He said many feared the ordinance would lead to restrictions in other areas of town.
“The city has no interest in restricting a large source of room tax revenues …,” he said. “The mayor and council also went on the record saying that.”
Kretser said residents supporting the short-term rental ordinance are not a group of “retired, uninvolved rich people,” but families that call
Ocean City home. However, he said that is what R-1 and MH communities could become if those restrictions are voted down.
“By not coming out and voting for this ordinance, we will see a decline in community involvement, a reduction in full-time residents, and a reduction in school buses picking up kids in our neighborhoods,” he said.
Election set for end of month
The Town of Ocean City will hold its special election on the short-term rental restrictions Tuesday, July 22, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Registered Ocean City voters will be able to cast their ballots for or against the ordinance at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, located at 4001 Coastal Highway.
Those wishing to vote by absentee ballot must submit their absentee ballot application to the Board of Supervisors of Elections of Ocean City, c/o the Office of the City Clerk, 301 N. Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, Maryland, 21842, no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, July 21.
The city asks that voters allow ample time to receive the ballot in the mail and to return the ballot to the Board of Supervisors of Elections.
State grant funds drying up for body camera program
By Brian Shane Staff Writer
(July 4, 2025) As body-worn cameras become mandatory this week for all police officers in Maryland, state grants to cover local law enforcement agencies' costs for the program have declined sharply.
In the last three years, the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy awarded the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office with more than $800,000 in grant funding toward body cameras. But this year, they won’t know for a few more weeks how much they’ll get. The department had applied for $300,000, the maximum available this grant cycle.
This grant is administered under the Police Accountability, Community, and Transparency (PACT) grant program, and the money flows from the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy.
Law enforcement agencies in Maryland must use body-worn cameras starting July 1, 2025, according to a provision in the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021. That law also repealed the Law Officer’s Bill of Rights and required police agencies to create multiple oversight boards.
Ahead of that deadline, sheriff’s deputies in Worcester County started
Sheriff asking for $300,000 body cam grant
Continued from Page 14
using body-worn cameras in January 2023. The program’s $411,542 annual cost includes equipment, cloud storage, warranties, licenses, and tech support.
However, very little county money went toward body cameras in the first two years, the sheriff’s office says, because they were awarded PACT funding to defray costs: $379,905 in fiscal year 2023, and $382,566
But last year, despite asking for more than $400,000 in grant funding, the state came back with only $40,000 in funding.
Sheriff Matt Crisafulli says the availability of grant money has likely shrunk because there are far more police agencies applying for the same grant money ahead of the July 1
deadline.
A total of $4 million in state funding was made available for 50 applicants in the PACT program for fiscal year 2026, according to Arinze Ifekauche, a spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy. He said all hands are on deck within his agency to review and award grants as quickly as possible.
In Worcester, 105 body-worn cameras are used by deputies, animal control officers, and fire marshals. For deputies, 42 in-car cameras are in use for patrol vehicles.
Deputies also are equipped with a sensor on their gun holster that automatically activates all Axon-brand cameras when a gun is pulled, according to the county’s grant application, which is public record.
Nearly 44,000 gigabytes of digital information have been gathered in the 30-month life of the program, though older footage is purged from the system after a set retention period as new footage is uploaded.
“While it is undeniably a high-cost endeavor, we have found that the body-worn camera program significantly enhances public transparency and police accountability,” the application stated.
The program also provides valuable evidentiary material for criminal prosecutions. County officials said more than 90% of cases have been assisted by camera evidence, according to the grant application.
Separately, the sheriff’s office also has applied for an $8,110 grant from the Sex Offender Compliance and En-
forcement Program, which is also administered by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy. Those awards will be revealed later this month, according to Ifekauche.
Funding would go toward the personnel cost of deputies conducting in-person compliance checks on registered sex offenders. The sheriff’s office maintains its own dedicated sex offender registry unit with two deputies specifically assigned. Last year, the same grant program awarded them $9,096.
The county has 92 people on its sex offender registry, with 16 incarcerated, according to the grant application. From March 3-14, the sheriff’s office and partner agencies arrested eight listed offenders for failing compliance checks.
Debate on short-term rental spreads in Md.
from Page 13
I haven’t heard any of these things other than, ‘We don’t like it on our street.’”
Over the years, Moore has hosted people from celebrities and globe-trotters to countless midshipmen’s families visiting for Naval Academy
milestones. Short-term rentals, she said, are a boon for downtown businesses.
“I get to see their receipts,” Moore said. “I get to see their to-go containers. And they spend money.”
Annapolis officials said they don’t know how much money the city
makes on short-term rentals. The city doesn’t track how many licenses it issued in years past.
Airbnb earned its average Annapolis host $18,500 in 2024, according to the company.
“Short-term rentals are an important part of Annapolis’ tourism econ-
omy, helping residents pay bills and stay in their homes as well as bringing visitor spending to local small businesses,” Kathy Burcher, Airbnb policy manager, said in a statement. “Limiting short-term rentals will only harm responsible residents while reducing options for families seeking affordable alternatives to hotels.”
About half the houses on Carl Larkin’s block on Prince George Street are short-term rentals. He worries about impacts on parking, safety, neighborhood upkeep and the fabric of their community.
Larkin, 86, and his wife June have lived in their home for 23 years. It’s less than a block from the William Paca House, once the home to one of Maryland’s signers of the Declaration of Independence.
“It was a pretty street, much prettier than it is now,” Larkin said. “The downtown area catered more towards the history of the town than it does now.”
As neighbors left, the Larkins started renting a room out with a short-term rental license. They’ve enjoyed meeting new people, but distinguish what they do from those who buy a house as an investment to rent out.
An amendment to Huntley’s bill would exempt owner-occupied shortterm rentals, which account for just 8% of such rental properties in Annapolis, from the cap.
Larkin doesn’t think Huntley’s bill goes far enough.
“It’s better than nothing,” Larkin said. “I would like to see them be more restrictive and push short-term rentals to be more dispersed through the city rather than right here on this street.”
(This story is reprinted from the July 1 edition of the “Baltimore Banner.”
With tents, lifeguards give tag of ban news
OC Beach Patrol tasked with educating public of new canopy restrictions
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(July 4, 2025) The Ocean City Beach Patrol is keeping it friendly this summer as it embarks on a mission to educate beachgoers on the city’s new tent ban and canopy restrictions.
Capt. Butch Arbin said lifeguards are spreading the word about a new city ordinance, which bans beach tents and sets several restrictions on open-air canopies.
He said in the first week of its educational campaign, the Beach Patrol had 700 “contacts” with beachgoers regarding the new rules.
“Were just doing our best to educate and inform the public so they can make other arrangements,” he said this week.
This spring, the Ocean City Council passed legislation to ban all beach tents, with the exception of baby tents. The ordinance also prohibits beachgoers from erecting beach canopies before 10 a.m. and then leaving those canopies unattended; prohibits beach canopies larger than 10-by-10 feet; requires a 3-foot separation around a canopy’s perimeter; and requires the anchoring for such canopies to be contained within the canopy’s footprint.
However, officials made it clear to staff that they wanted this summer to be focused on educating visitors – an approach similar to the one the Ocean City Police Department took in
2015, when the city implemented a smoking ban on the Boardwalk.
To that end, Arbin said lifeguards are talking to beachgoers throughout the day and hanging tags on offending tents and canopies when visitors are not around.
“In the morning, when we come across a tent and no one is there, we will hang a tag that informs them of the violation,” he explained. “The tag informs them of the ordinance and motivates them to come talk to us.”
Arbin pointed to trouble areas in front of the high-rise condos in uptown Ocean City. He said by 8 a.m., many canopies are already set up for the day.
Arbin said lifeguards are also finding canopies with sandbag anchors to be a big issue on the Ocean City beach. He said the Beach Patrol has
seen a proliferation of this newer style of beach canopy in recent years.
“It’s in violation because the sandbags extend beyond the canopy’s footprint,” he said.
However, Arbin said beachgoers have been understanding of the new rules.
While violations of the ordinance are considered misdemeanors and subject to fines, he said education will continue throughout the summer season.
“It is falling on us, no question about that. We’re the ones out there, walking up and pointing violations out …,” he said. “If we’re directed to do anything other than that, we will.”
Multi-car crash downtown ties up Coastal Highway
Bus service also affected in 33rd Street traffic collision
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(July 4, 2025) The Ocean City Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit continues to investigate the cause of a Saturday night collision that disrupted traffic on Philadelphia Avenue for nearly an hour.
On June 28, at approximately 9:34 p.m., officers of the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) and Worcester County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to 33rd Street and Philadelphia Avenue for a reported collision.
According to the OCPD, two vehicles were involved in a crash in the northbound lanes of the intersection. In an attempt to avoid the collision, a third vehicle veered, striking a fourth vehicle.
“One individual from the original collision was transported to Atlantic General Hospital with minor injuries,” Deputy Communications Manager Ashley Miller said this week.
As a result of the accident, northbound Philadelphia Avenue at 33rd Street was closed to traffic for nearly an hour last Saturday evening. Northbound traffic was diverted to Baltimore Avenue at 32nd Street, and southbound Philadelphia Avenue at Hitchens Avenue was reduced to two travel lanes.
The accident also disrupted service to the northbound Ocean City Beach Bus, which reported delays as first responders attended to the scene.
On Monday, the OCPD reported that the Traffic Safety Unit continues to investigate the cause of the collision.
Berlin man sentenced after three separate arsonist acts
A local man will serve time for purposefully setting fires across Worcester County
(July 3, 2025) On Friday, June 27, Felix Rounds, Jr., 38, of Berlin, was sentenced to 40 years of incarceration after being convicted of first-degree malicious burning, reckless endangerment, and first-degree arson.
Judge Beau H. Oglesby of the Worcester County Circuit Court suspended all but 15 years of active incarceration, placed Rounds on five years of supervised probation upon release, with the condition that he complete mental health counseling for pyromania, and ordered Rounds to pay over $12,000 in restitution to multiple victims for property damage.
The charges stem from three separate reports of structure fires which occurred throughout northern Worcester County between Nov. 21, 2023, and March 29, 2024. These incidents were investigated by both the Ocean City and Worcester County Fire Marshal's Offices and allied law enforcement agencies and fire departments.
The first fire occurred in a house on Sinepuxent Road in Berlin, where witnesses observed smoke and fire coming from an open front window. A witness also saw an individual, later identified as Rounds, running behind the house at the time of the fire. The Worcester County Fire Marshal's Office responded and determined that the fire was intentionally
set in a bedroom of the home.
The second fire was reported in March of 2024 by a cleaning crew working at an Ocean City hotel, who discovered fire damage to one of the hotel rooms. Investigation by the Ocean City Fire Marshal's Office revealed that Rounds had rented that hotel room hours before the fire occurred and had left the hotel without checking out soon thereafter.
The third fire was intentionally set a few weeks later, on March 29, 2024, inside a house on Ocean Parkway in Ocean Pines. Investigation revealed that Rounds, who had been staying at the residence, had barricaded himself inside a bedroom and began lighting clothing and other items within the room on fire. As firefighters breached the bedroom door, Rounds jumped out of a window and was eventually apprehended by police. He was transported to the hospital for an emergency evaluation and officers placed him under arrest after the evaluation was completed.
Rounds was indicted by a Worcester County grand jury in May of 2024 on charges related to all three fire investigations.
Worcester County State's Attorney Kris Heiser thanked the Worcester County Fire Marshal's Office, the Ocean City Fire Marshal's Office, and all allied first responders and law enforcement for their work on these investigations, and praised their dedication and combined efforts in linking these fires to the same suspect. Heiser also thanked her team of prosecutors, investigators and support staff at the Office of the State's Attorney for their diligence and attention to detail in preparing the case for successful prosecution.
Snow Hill fatal pedestrian crash under investigation
(July 4, 2025) Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian accident that occurred last Friday morning in Worcester County.
The deceased pedestrian is identified as Dehart Herbert Lamb, Jr., 69, of Snow Hill. He was pronounced deceased on the scene by Snow Hill emergency medical services personnel.
Around 4:21 a.m. on June 27, troopers from the Maryland State Police Berlin Barrack responded to the area of Route 12 (Snow Hill Road) and Carmean Road for a report of a pedestrian crash.
According to a preliminary investigation, the pedestrian, later identified as Lamb, was walking along Snow Hill Road when he was struck by a vehicle.
The vehicle that struck him remained on the scene. Police do not believe impairment was a factor in this crash.
Deputies from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office as well as officers from the Pocomoke City Police Department and Snow Hill Police Department responded to the scene to assist.
Personnel from the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration assisted with the road closure.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. Driver
Felix Rounds, Jr.
onic mas J. Mar Thomas J. Mar
Woman arrested after leaving son on beach
By Brian Shane Staff Writer
(July 4, 2025) An Ocean Pines woman is facing multiple criminal charges after she allegedly left her 5year-old son on the beach with a stranger so she could find a place to charge her phone.
According to charging documents, the child’s father contacted Ocean City Police on June 29 to say his ex-girlfriend, 44-year-old Emily Elsen, was 45 minutes late in returning the boy by an agreed-upon deadline of 6 p.m. Meeting officers near the beach at 65th Street, the father told police he has full custody of the boy.
He had last spoke to Elsen earlier in the day “and believed she was impaired based on her slurred speech and answers,” court documents show. He also showed police text messages that Elsen said she’d gone to a restaurant on 48th Street. Police tried calling
her phone, but it was turned off.
The report sent police looking on 48th Street, where Elsen showed up to the restaurant alone with alcohol on her breath. She told officers her son was on the beach. Police asked her to show them where she’d left him on the beach, court documents show.
When walking toward the beach with officers, “Emily became extremely agitated and began screaming,” and then began to run away from the officers, according to court documents.
Police found the boy on the beach, unharmed and safe, and then called for backup.
Elsen continued screaming and creating a disturbance on the beach to the point that others emerged from nearby balconies to see what the commotion was about, police said.
When officers placed her under arrest, she kept screaming and resisting being handcuffed, police said. Officers
who were walking her off the beach reported Elsen was unsteady on her feet, and her eyes appeared bloodshot and glassy. She continued to scream and utter profanities at arresting officers.
As Elsen was removed from the scene, a witness told police that Elsen had been seen with her son all day at the beach. “Emily had asked this witness, whom she had just met ... to watch (the boy) so she could charge her phone. Emily left (the boy) with this person, not knowing anything about them,” police wrote in charging documents.
Court documents also state that a manager at the restaurant told police Elsen had arrived intoxicated, swearing and yelling at her son, before ordering three servings of bourbon and two burgers for herself. Bar staff cut her off when she ordered a fourth drink.
“The woman was not physically
abusive,” the manager told police, “but it was an uncomfortable situation for everyone to witness.”
Elsen faces criminal charges of desertion and neglect of a minor child, disorderly conduct, failure to obey a lawful order, and second-degree assault, among other criminal charges. Bond review was held Tuesday, and she has a trial scheduled for Aug. 11 in Worcester County District Court.
Online court records also show Elsen is scheduled for a Sept. 3 jury trial in Worcester County Circuit Court on a separate matter, facing two counts of neglect of a minor.
Records also show in 2023 she received a probation before judgement in district court on a drunken driving charge. Last year, police charged Elsen with one count of illegally confining a child, which resulted in the charge being placed on the court’s inactive docket.
Thank You! Thank You!
To everyone who supported the Ocean City Paramedics Foundation…. You are making a difference and helping us carry out our mission!
Our mission is to assist the paramedics and supplement the medical needs of the community through education, equipment purchases and public awareness.
In more than 40 years the foundation has contributed well over $1 million in equipment and training. A small portion of equipment and training including: ALS and pediatric simulation mannequins • Stryker stretcher mechanical CPR, • stair chair, • advanced cardiac monitors
LIFEPAK 15 monitor/defibrillators • Boardwalk AED cabinet police bike w/EMS package • infant and obstetric mannequin high-rise firefighting • HAL simulation • advanced life support training dive training • mannequin training, including cadaver training.
Robert T. Adkins, MD Scholarship
Established in 2015, the Foundation has awarded over $200,000 in scholarships to Ocean City Paramedics, and those who are training to become an OC Paramedic
OC PARAMEDICS FOUNDATION INC.
PRESIDENT
Walter C. “Buck” Mann
VICE PRESIDENT
Douglas “Buxy” Buxbaum
SECRETARY
Nancy L. Howard
TREASURER
Earl Conley
Hal Adkins
Delbert “Del” Baker
Dr. Nicholas Borodulia
Susan Caldwell
Billy Carder
Jim Conkel
Gary Figgs
John Gehrig
Jim Harbour
Dan Harris
Jay Knerr
John Lynch
Rick Pairo
Sidney Ward
Martin Weinstein
PHOTO COURTESY OF DREW HAUGH
City.
Ocean
planning race, festival, fireworks on holiday
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer
(June 26, 2025) With summer in full swing, Ocean Pines gears up for its annual Fourth of July celebration with fireworks, music, and refreshments.
On Friday, July 4, the Ocean Pines Association’s Recreation and Parks Department will host its Independence Day
Carnival at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial Park, located at 11144 Cathell Road. The event will feature games, music, and food. Attendees can make their way to the patriotic festival at 4 p.m. A fireworks show will kick off at approximately 9:15 p.m.
Admission into the Fourth of July Carnival is $20 per wristband. Parking
Annual Freedom race starts early
will be available next to the Taylor Bank and the Ocean Pines Library. Handicapped spots will be accessible on-site in designated areas at the Veterans Park.
In addition to the festival and fireworks show, Ocean Pines is once again hosting its July 4 Freedom 5k. Racers will take their marks at 8 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in Ocean Pines and run the 3.1 miles around the wooded community.
Race contestants are encouraged to wear their most patriotic outfits. In addition to awards for the top three male and female runners and a grand prize trophy, recognition will be given to the 5k competitor who dresses in the best Americanthemed costume.
The race is $30 for advanced registrations and $35 for day-of sign-ups. Those interested in competing in the 5k can register ahead of time, through July 1, at runsignup.com. T-shirts will be reserved for all pre-registered runners. Preferred sizes are not guaranteed for day-of registrations.
All ages are welcome to participate in the run. Racers can pick up their 5k packets at Ocean Pines Community Center on Thursday, July 3, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Contact the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department, the event organizers, at 410-641-7052 for more information about OP’s Independence Day celebration lineup.
Ocean City set for double fireworks displays
(July 4, 2025) Tonight, Ocean City will light up the night sky with two simultaneous fireworks displays in celebration of the nation's Independence Day. From beach chairs and blankets, residents and visitors can watch the fireworks sparkle over the beach and the bay.
The northern celebration at Northside Park, 125th Street and the bay, will kick off at 8 p.m. with DJ musical entertainment by Radio Ocean City followed by a spectacular fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.
“Northside Park is the perfect place for families to watch the colorful displays light up the evening sky and lagoon,” said Mayor Rick Meehan. “We encourage spectators to get there early to claim their spot to watch the fireworks.”
The soccer field and walking path on the northwest side of the park will be closed from viewing due to state and local safety precautions as the fireworks display will move off the west pier into the park to bring the experience closer than ever before.
On the south end of town, guests can head to Ocean City’s famous Boardwalk with its bright lights, an assortment of food, family fun and more. This celebration will kick off with DJ Kutt at 8 p.m. on the beach at Caroline Street Stage. The official fireworks show will begin at 9:30 p.m.
“The July Fourth Celebration in Ocean City is a unique opportunity to watch fireworks over the ocean,” Meehan continued. “Our Caroline Street Stage allows visitors to bring beach chairs or blankets and claim a spot on the
Parking operations for the Inlet Parking Lot will stay the same for the holiday, Friday, July 4, however; the parking rate for the Inlet Lot will increase to $6 per hour for the day. Visitors are reminded that parking is extremely limited at both fireworks locations and significant traffic delays are expected after both shows.
sand
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS PARYPA/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
A time lapse collection from a previous fireworks display in south Ocean City is pictured.
Traffic delays expected on Ocean City roads, waterways
Continued from Page 33
Coastal Highway bus service will be available from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Patrons can ride for only $4 for a ride-all-day pass and are reminded to anticipate delays and full buses due to event-related traffic and ridership.
The West Ocean City Park & Ride on Route 50 is another transportation alternative, offering free parking and $4 ride-all-day shuttle service downtown to and from Dorchester Street and St. Louis Avenue.
The service running to and from the West Ocean City Park & Ride to Dorchester Street and St. Louis Avenue will be available from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Expect traffic delays and high rider demand at the West Ocean City Park & Ride. West Ocean City Park & Ride passes are also valid on Coastal Highway buses.
Finally, area boaters should note that on the evening of July 4th, the span of the Route 50 Bridge will remain closed to marine traffic at the usually scheduled 10:25 p.m. and 10:55 p.m. opening times.
The Route 50 Bridge will reopen for boaters at 11:25 p.m. on the evening of July 4th.
With safety in mind, the Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office (FMO) is
also urging spectators to leave the fireworks to the professionals.
“The power and danger of fireworks should not be underestimated,” said Ocean City Fire Marshal Joe Sexauer. “In addition to causing damage, fireworks can cause injuries and we want people to be safe during their holiday stay in Ocean City. The safety and wellbeing of all residents and visitors of the Town of Ocean City is the primary goal of the Ocean City Fire Department.”
Although the State of Maryland has approved the use of ground-based sparkling devices such as cylindrical and cone fountains, these are not legal to use or possess in Ocean City. Further, all other fireworks that may be sold in neighboring states are not legal for use by the public anywhere in Maryland.
“Fourth of July in Ocean City is a tradition that brings our community and visitors together in celebration,” Meehan finished. “With fireworks lighting up both the beach and the bay, there’s no better place to enjoy the holiday. We’re proud to offer a safe, family-friendly atmosphere that honors our nation’s independence in true Ocean City style.”
For more information about July Fourth activities, visit ococean.com/events or call the Ocean City Welcome Center at 410.723.8600.
• The history of Ocean City, Md., from its beginning in the 1870s to the present day. Over 500 photo images.
• A hardbound, 220-page coffee table book featuring cover by noted artist Paul McGehee.
• Over seven years in the making with personal memories of Ocean City’s locals and visitors. Recall your own favorite memories of Maryland’s famous beach resort.
• Revisit the old restaurants and long-vanished hotels, relive summer nights on the Boardwalk, go fishing on the ocean or the bay, and learn about the fires and storms that changed the town forever.
Vanishing Ocean City is available for $49.95 at select locations in Ocean City, Berlin, Ocean Pines and Salisbury. It can also be ordered online at vanishingoc.com. Visit the website for further information and photos.
City!
All Three Of Bunk Mann’s Books A “Must Have” For All Who Love Ocean
Lifeline screening set
Residents living in and around the Ocean City can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and other chronic, serious conditions with affordable screenings by Life Line Screening.
St Peter s Lutheran Church will host this community event on July 17 on 103rd Street.
Screenings can check for the level of plaque buildup in your arteries, related to risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and overall vascular health; HDL and LDL Cholesterol levels; diabetes risk; and kidney and thyroid function, and more.
Screenings are affordable and convenient. Free parking is also available.
Special package pricing starts at $159, but consultants will work with you to create a package that is right for you based on your age and risk factors. Call 1-877-237-1287 or visit
www.lifelinescreening.com. Pre-registration is required.
Lottery has local winner
Monday night’s Multi-Match drawing produced two jackpot-winning tickets sold in Ocean City and Silver Spring. The winners will split the $1.8 million jackpot.
The winning numbers for the June 30 drawing were 4, 13, 14, 20, 25 and 31.
The Ocean City ticket was sold at the Food Lion at 9936 Stephen Decatur Highway in Worcester County. The winning Silver Spring ticket was purchased at the Giant store in Montgomery County.
Both retailers will receive a bonus of $900 for selling the winning tickets.
Each winner has the choice between the annuity or the cash option. Since there were two winning tickets sold, if a winner chooses the annuity, they will receive $900,000 paid in 25 equal installments. If a winner selects
the cash option, they will get $440,000 before taxes.
Lottery officials encourage the winner to sign the back of the ticket and keep it in a safe location. The player has 182 days after the date of the drawing to claim the prize.
Zoo mourns sloth
It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Linne’s twotoed sloth, Bayou. At 4 years old, Bayou had been a cherished member of the Salisbury Zoo, whose gentle spirit and charm made her a favorite among staff, volunteers, and visitors.
Recently, the Zoo’s animal care team observed a rapid decline in Bayou’s health which included weight loss, polyuria, and inappetence. She was promptly evaluated at the Ron Benton Animal Health Clinic, where diagnostic testing revealed she was experiencing
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
end-stage renal disease — a serious and irreversible condition affecting her kidneys and overall quality of life. Given the severity of her condition, and in consultation with veterinary specialists, the difficult but compassionate decision was made to humanely euthanize Bayou to prevent prolonged suffering.
Bayou was an active participant in her own veterinary care. She voluntarily engaged in positive reinforcement training sessions, which included blood pressure checks, blood draws, and administration of fluids - all accomplished in a low-stress and cooperative manner. In addition to her medical treatments, our Animal Care staff dedicated time to ensuring she had ample opportunity to receive diet directly, and to also provide supplemental fluids orally, ensuring Bayou received all the care & comfort she required. Every effort was made to maintain her well-being, dignity, and quality of life including receiving favorite enrichment, social time with Animal Care staff, and time outdoors in the sunlight.
“Bayou brought so much joy to our team and our guests,” said Zoo Director Chuck Eicholz. “She had a calm presence and a curious personality that made her truly special. This is a heartbreaking loss for all of us.”
Bayou was a Linne's Two-Toed Sloth who arrived at the Salisbury Zoo in 2022 from the Audubon Zoo. She was born in November 2020, and her parents, Buttercup and Raven, were residents of the Salisbury Zoo until they were transferred to the Audubon Zoo in October 2020. Bayou quickly became one of its more recognizable and adored residents. Whether she was snoozing in her favorite hammock or exploring her habitat with slow, deliberate grace, Bayou captured the hearts of many.
While her time with us was far too short, Bayou’s impact was profound. She served as an ambassador for her species and helped inspire a love of wildlife and conservation in thousands of visitors.
“Please keep the Salisbury Zoo staff in your thoughts as we grieve this tremendous loss,” said Chuck Eicholz, Zoo Director.
Wor-Wic opens new cyber range training program
(July 4, 2025) Wor-Wic Community College recently cut the ribbon on a new cybersecurity training facility as part of its participation in Maryland’s Cyber Workforce Accelerator (CWA) program. The new cybersecurity laboratory features the BCR Cyber Series 3000 Cyber Range, a high-tech training system that simulates cyberattacks and introduces students to cybersecurity concepts and operations.
The CWA was established in 2024 by the Maryland Association of Community Colleges and BCR Cyber. It provides cyber ranges to all 16 Maryland community colleges for training across the IT and cybersecurity spectrum. Wor-Wic will now have access on site to the cyber range using dedicated remote workstations that can be used for cybersecurity curriculum development and course inclusion. Students will now be able to demonstrate their knowledge in a hyper-realistic and stimulating environment.
“Our cybersecurity program has been growing to meet the needs of our community and our students,” said Deborah Casey, Ph.D., president of Wor-Wic. “This cutting-edge training reflects our commitment to equip students with the tools they need to keep their skills sharp for this highdemand field.”
Once students complete their studies, the program assists in placing these students in industry jobs while also helping address the urgent needs of Maryland’s cyber workforce.
“The Cyber Workforce Accelerator program, with its cutting-edge cyber ranges, will be a game-changer for cybersecurity education in Maryland,” said Brad Phillips, executive director of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges. “We are proud to support this initiative at Wor-Wic and its positive impact on its students and the state’s economy.”
“There is a significant need here in Maryland for skilled IT and cybersecurity professionals. Community colleges play a vital role not only in helping meet this need but also helping to facilitate meaningful employment for job seekers,” said Michael Spector, president of BCR Cyber. “We are excited about the launch of the cyber range at Wor-Wic and the opportunities it presents.”
To learn more about cybersecurity at Wor-Wic, visit worwic.edu.
SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Deborah Casey, Ph.D., president of Wor-Wic Community College, wields the scissors at a ribbon cutting held in partnership with the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, of the new cybersecurity training facility at the college as community members, state and local officials, employees and students look on
ITALIAN STUDENTS WELCOMED
As they do every year, the members of the Ocean City Lodge of the Sons and Daughters of Italy welcomed Italian university students who travel to the resort city every year to fill summer help jobs. This year 36 students from throughout Italy came to Ocean City to work at hotels, restaurants and amusement parks. The first to arrive were treated to a typical American food often served in summer, fried chicken, smoked brisket, baked beans, mac and cheese and salad. For dessert they shared with members two sheet cakes one of which said in Italian Buona Estate a Ocean City. Then they were gifted with tote bags filled with some goodies and summer necessities assembled by Lodge members. Each student also received a Salisbury University shirt courtesy of members Pat and Al D’Annunzio, whose daughter attends the school.
Who’s Where When
BURLEY OAK BREWING COMPANY
443-513-4647
10016 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin
Fri., July 11: Joey Hickey
BUXY’S SALTY DOG & DRY DOCK 28
410-289-BUXY
28th Street Coastal Hwy.
Fri., July 4: Jack & T
Sat., July 5: DJ Wax
Sundays: Local Party w/ DJ Deogee
Wednesday: Karaoke w/ DJ Hundley
Thurs., July 10: Johnny Cardo
CAPTAIN’S TABLE
410-289-7192
15th & Boardwalk
In The Courtyard Marriott
Fridays & Saturdays: Phil Perdue
CARIBBEAN POOL BAR
410-289-6181
In The Plim Plaza Hotel
109 N. Atlantic Ave.
Fri., July 4: Spangled Hustlers & Permilla Project
Sat., July 5: The Runner-Ups & Mercury Agenda
Sun., July 6: Funk Shué & Steve O’Boyle
Mon., July 7: DJ Bobby O & John Cardo
Tues., July 8: No Hesitation & Mama & Briggs
Wed., July 9: Fil Rhythm & Dust N Bones Duo
Thurs., July 10: Mike & Eric & Lost Figures
COCONUTS BEACH BAR
410-289-6846
Oceanfront At Castle
In The Sand Hotel 37th & 38th Streets
Fri., July 4: Opposite Directions & Monkee Paw
Sat., July 5: Homeskool Dropouts
& Chris Diller Band
Sun., July 6: Rick & Regina
& The Doug Kaetz Band
Mon., July 7: Sean Loomis & Fred & Wilma
Tues., July 8: Neil Helgeson Solo & The Chest Pains
Wed., July 9: Shortcut Sunny & Blissful Wizards
Thurs., July 10: Kevin Poole Solo & Lime Green Band
COINS PUB
410-289-3100
28th Street Plaza On Coastal Hwy.
Fri., July 4: Shortcut Sunny
Sat., July 5: Jim Long Party & DJ Giddy Up
Tues., July 8: Karaoke
Thurs., July 10: DJ Wax
CRABCAKE FACTORY BAYSIDE
302-988-5000
37314 Lighthouse Rd.,
Rte. 54, Selbyville, DE
Sun., July 6: Uncle Ward
Wed., July 9: True Country
CRAWL STREET TAVERN
443-373-2756
Wicomico St., Downtown O.C.
Fri., July 4: Michael Sky Band & The Harbor Boys
Sat., July 5: LNJ Sessions & Last Resort
FAGER’S ISLAND
410-524-5500
60th St., In The Bay
Fri., July 4: Radio Hero, DJ RobCee & Here’s To The Night
Sat., July 5: Kittyback, DJ Cruz & Here’s To The Night
Sun., July 6: Crushing Day & DJ Stinson
Mon., July 7: DJ Wax, Crushing Day, Decade 80 & DJ Dnial
Tues., July 8: DJ RobCee, Bryan Clark & Latin Night
Wed., July 9: Lowercase Blues & DJ Accelerate
Thurs., July 10: DJ Groove
& Dustin Showers Band
Best Beats On The Beach
BOND & BENTLEY Pickles Pub: Saturday, July 5
JACK & T
Dry Dock 28: Friday, July 4
THE CHEST PAINS
Beach Bar: Tuesday, July 8
THE HARBOR BOYS
Crawl Street Tavern: Friday, July 4
OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
Coconuts Beach Bar: Friday, July 4
Harborside: Sunday, July 6
Fish Tales: Tuesday, July 8
HERE’S TO THE NIGHT Fager’s Island: Friday & Saturday, July 4 & 5
SCHIZOPHRENIC BOOGIEMEN
Jolly Jellyfish Beach Club: Friday, July 4
Greene Turtle West: Saturday, July 5
The Wedge: Tuesday, July 8
4
SHOUT AT THE DEVIL (Motley Crue Tribute) Purple Moose: Thursday, July 10
GO GO GADJET Seacrets: Thursday, July 10
July 5
Who’s Where When
FISH TAILS
410-289-0990
22nd St., & Bay
Sun., July 6: Colossal Fossil Sauce Duo
Tues., July 8: Opposite Directions
Wednesdays: DJ Wax
Thurs., July 10: Joe Wood
GREENE TURTLE WEST
410-213-1500
Route 611, West OC
Sat., July 5: Schizophrenic Boogiemen
HARBORSIDE
410-213-1846
South Harbor Rd., West End O.C.
Fridays: DJ Billy T
Sat., July 5: Cecilia’s Fall & DJ Bigler
Sundays: Opposite Directions & Charlie Travers
Wednesdays: DJ Billy T
Thursdays: Dust N Bones
JOLLY JELLYFISH BEACH CLUB
443-664-6147
98th Street Coastal Hwy.,
Plaza Condominium
Fri., July 4: Schizophrenic Boogiemen Sat., July 5: John Schwartz
Sun., July 6: The Rockoholics
Mondays: First Class
Tuesdays: Lost Figures
Wednesdays: Joe Mama & The Friends
Thursdays: Beach Bandits
PICKLES PUB
410-289-4891
8th St. & Philadelphia Ave. Fri., July 4: Beats By DeoGee & Ashley LaRue Band Sat., July 5: Bond & Bentley
Sun., July 6: On The Edge
Mondays: Karaoke w/ Wood
Tues., July 8: Beats By Wax & Homegrown
Wednesdays: Beats By Madame Dutchess
Thursdays: Beats By Connair
PURPLE MOOSE SALOON
410-289-6953
Between Caroline & Talbot Sts. On The Boards Fri., July 4 & Sun., July 6 (2pm): Sean Loomis Fri., & Sat., July 4 & 5: Doc Marten & The Flannels
Sat., July 5 (2pm): Keith & Ralph Sun., July 6: Under The Covers
Wednesdays: Balkan Party w/ DJ Papi
Thursday., July 10: Shout At The Devil (Motley Crue Tribute)
SEACRETS
410-524-4900
49th St. & Coastal Hwy.
Fri, July 4: 5 DJs, Jah Works, Hometown Radio & Stealing Savanah Sat., July 5: 6 DJs, Radio Stranger, Jah Works, Tommi Boi & Lost In Paris
Sun., July 6: 4 DJs, & G. Love & Special Sauce (Ticket Event) & Lost In Paris
Mon., July 7: DJ Wax, Blake Haley
& DJ Mary Jane
Tues., July 8: DJ C-Miller, John McNutt Duo, DJ Mary Jane & Steal The Sky
Wed., July 9: DJ E-State, Full Cirlce Duo, DJ Wax, Cherry Crush Band & Joe Samba (Ticket Event)
Thurs., July 10: Faith Noel, Go Go Gadjet & 3 DJs
THE WEDGE
410-289-5121
806 S. Atlantic Ave.
Sun., July 6: Jason Lee
Mon., July 7: Lauren Glick
Tues., July 8: Schizophrenic Boogiemen
Wed., July 9: Kasey Briggs & Charlie Travers
Thurs., July 10: Joe Esham
ASHLEY LARUE BAND Pickles Pub: Friday, July
Coconuts
MERCURY AGENDA Caribean Pool Bar: Saturday,
A hidden danger at beach is digging too deep
By Kristin Joson Contributing Writer
(July 4, 2025) Each summer, one of the most common questions we hear from beachgoers is: “Are there sharks in the water?” While sharks do spark curiosity, they are not the greatest danger beach visitors face. In fact, rip currents, lightning strikes, and sand hole collapses have all caused more deaths than shark encounters. Among these hazards, the dangers of sand hole collapses remain the least understood and potentially the deadliest. Sand hole collapses are a hidden risk that kill or injure several children each year in the United States. Most people don't realize how quickly and silently a hole can cave in. What starts as innocent digging, often just a fun beach activity for children, can turn tragic in seconds. One such tragedy occurred after 7:00 PM when a 12-year-old along the beach known as Condo row was buried and the OC Fire Department was called to locate his body. This had such an impact on the responding firefighters that one of the past chiefs had the news article on his wall as a reminder.
Here in Ocean City, the Beach Patrol enforces a local ordinance that limits the depth of sand holes to no deeper than the knee height of the smallest person in the group. That means if a parent is digging a hole for a child, the hole must be shallower than that child’s knees, not the adult’s. This regulation is in place for everyone’s safety.
Although our last near fatal sand collapse was in a shallow tunnel and the boy’s legs were exposed, it still took a dozen people and several long minutes to dig him out. Because this was on a heavily populated area of the beach surrounded by umbrellas the SRT was unable to see what was happening. Luckily another child noticed it and alerted her father who yelled for the SRT, who worked with other SRTs who responded to extricate the buried boy. Once out of his almost grave, they initiated CPR and I am happy to report that after a short hospital stay, he is perfectly fine. But not all cases in OC have ended with a happy ending. Never attempt to tunnel under the sand or dig into the side of a sand mound.
Tunneling or digging into the sides of sand mounds is especially dangerous. Sand is both heavy and unstable. When it collapses, it does so without warning and can quickly bury a person entirely.
The sand doesn't just fall, it continuously refills the hole as rescuers try to dig someone out, making successful rescue efforts extremely difficult. Even when a victim's location is known, it can take dozens of trained rescuers and specialized teamwork to attempt a recovery. Often, there just isn’t enough time.
Last year, a 7-year-old girl from Indiana tragically died while digging a hole with her brother on a Florida beach. In a chilling video, nearly 20 adults are seen frantically trying to rescue the chil-
CROSSWORD
dren, only to have the sand repeatedly collapse back into the hole. Her brother was rescued with his chest exposed, but her body was fully buried. In 2023, two teenagers, ages 17 and 18 died in separate incidents in North Carolina and New Jersey. A landmark study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that 3 to 5 children die each year in the U.S. from sand hole collapses. Many others survive but require CPR or emergency care.
Sadly, Ocean City is not immune.
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20
Career developments may be a bit unclear this week, Aries. Your motivation may need a little extra boost. You might have to consider if a career change is in order.
TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21
A lack of information is proving confusing, Taurus. If you suspect there’s more details to uncover, choose a course of action and do your best to get as clear a picture of the situation as possible.
GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21
Keep your money in your wallet this week, Gemini. You might want to spend it or give it away impulsively and that could affect your finances in an impactful way.
CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22
Cancer, this isn’t a good time to sign contracts or make any significant purchases. Keep your money safe and try to keep your savings account full at this point.
LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23
People have been asking you to take on too many responsibilities lately, Leo. This could be stressing you out or taking away from your own needs. Learn to turn others away for now.
VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22
Virgo, this week may present an opportunity to restore your self-confidence. For too long you have been floundering and not finding the traction you need and deserve.
LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23
Libra, something could be distorting your perspective right now and making it difficult to concentrate and communicate. Take a few days off from your responsibilities.
SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22
Scorpio, after some gloomy feelings the last few weeks, good news has you feeling like you are on cloud nine. Savor it and celebrate.
SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21
This is a good week to try to enhance your love life, Sagittarius. Take every opportunity to woo your significant other, and plan a special event for the two of you.
CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20
You may want some magical force to whisk away all of the little difficulties that have been affecting you, Capricorn, but it will require hard work to do that.
AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18
Lately there have been a lot of thoughts swirling through your head, so much so that you can’t get any peace, Aquarius. It may be beneficial to sit down with someone to talk it out.
PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20
Pisces, try something new this week even if it scares you. It is good practice to challenge yourself once in a while to test your resilience to change.
A child died here years ago after a deep hole collapsed in the evening after our lifeguards had gone off duty. That’s why we ask: If you see someone digging a large hole, or an unsafe situation on the beach when lifeguards are not present, call 911.
When we are on duty, Surf Rescue Technicians (SRTs) remain alert and proactive. Each one is trained in sand collapse rescue techniques and will not hesitate to intervene when they see deep holes being dug. If a guard sees a
hole deeper than knee height, they will ask you to stop digging. In some cases, they may immediately begin filling it in. You can help by leaving shovels and other digging tools at home, and by encouraging others to do the same.
One of the most frustrating moments for an SRT is when they try to explain the danger to parents who respond with: “We’ve got it under control.” The reality is, you don’t. Sand collapses without warning, and even if you see it happen, you may not be able to dig fast enough
to save someone especially a child.
And holes don’t just pose a risk during the day. At night, they are a danger to our maintenance crews and nighttime patrols. That’s why we say: If you dig it, fill it.
We’re glad you’re here in Ocean City. We want you and your family to enjoy your time at the beach safely and return home safely. Stay smart, stay aware, and if you see something unsafe, speak up. Together, we can prevent a tragedy before it happens.
Rookie SRTs are pictured practicing a technique developed by the OCBP to save a victim of a sand hole collapse as the instructors watch.
Dining Guide
■ PRICE RANGE: $, $$, $$$
■ RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted
DOWNTOWN
South end to 28th Street
■ BUXY’S SALTY DOG SALOON
DRY DOCK 28
28th Street, Ocean City, 410-289-0973, buxys.com, drydockoc.com
Destiny has a new home in Ocean City. From the ‘burgh to the beach, Buxy’s is your home away from Pittsburgh. Come see what all the locals already know and have known – Buxy’s is the place to come to meet friends, relax and be social with no attitudes. House specialties include “The” Cheesesteak Sub, Primanti-styled sandwiches, pierogis, egg-rolls and homemade crab dip. Dry Dock also features a full menu with soups, salads, kick starters, pierogis and craft pizza.
■ CAPTAIN’S TABLE
15th Street and Baltimore Avenue, in The Courtyard by Marriott, Ocean City 410-2897192, captainstableoc.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
A local tradition for over 60 years featuring hand cut steaks, premium lobster and perfectly prepared regional seafood. Breakfast daily 7:30-11 a.m. Open daily for dinner: Sunday through Thursday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4-10 p.m. Happy Hour, seven days a week, 4-6 p.m.
■ COINS PUB & RESTAURANT
28th Street Plaza and Coastal Highway, Ocean City 410-289-3100, www.coinspuboc.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
American style local restaurant serving seafood, steaks and chefs specials. Check out the off season weekday specials. Early bird; daily, 25:30 p.m. Sunday’s early bird specials, all day and all night. Happy Hour; daily, 2-5:30 p.m. with food and drink specials. Open Monday through Friday, 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. Dine-in, carry out.
■ CORAL REEF RESTAURANT & BAR
17th Street in the Holiday Inn & Suites, Ocean City 410-289-2612, coralreefrestaurant.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Enjoy traditional Eastern Shore cuisine and local favorites that are sure to please your entire party! Choose from a selection of house specialty entrees such as sharables, handhelds and seafood. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Featuring specialty rums. Open daily, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
■ CRAWL STREET
19 Wicomico St., Ocean City, 443-373-2756, crawlstreet.com
Established in 2020 just a short walk from the legendary Cork Bar. Don’t leave without trying the famous wings, but everything on the menu is solid, including flatbreads, tacos, salads, sandwiches and seafood platters. Be sure to check out the live music offerings as the nightlife is top of the line.
■ DISTRICT 24 CRAFT BAR, JAY’S CAFÉ & BLU CRABHOUSE & RAW BAR
2305 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City 410-2893322, district24oc.com
There is more at District 24. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, pastries and coffee at Jay’s Cafe. CRAFT Pizza, Beer & Cocktails at CRAFT Lounge. Fresh Seafood at BLU Crabhouse & Raw Bar. Enjoy an elevated dining experience with great chophouse dishes and charcuterie boards, along with a Wine Spectator Award Wining Wine Menu at Embers Rooftop Restaurant. There is something for everyone at District 24 like live music in the courtyard, mini golf, arcade play and axe throwing.
■ FISH TALES
2107 Herring Way, Ocean City, 410-289-0990, ocfishtales.com
Bayfront marina dining offered here with a huge menu to satisfy guests of all ages. Enjoy a drink from a hanging chair or fish tacos at your table while the kids play in a playground build in the sand. Food and drink menus offer enough of a variety to meet all needs.
■ HARBOR WATCH
806 S. Atlantic Avenue, Ocean City 410-2895121, www.harborwatchrestaurant.com
$$-$$$ | Reservations | Kids’ Menu | Full bar
Celebrating our 41st anniversary with fresh seafood, an award-winning raw bar, mouthwatering steaks and the best view of the Ocean City Inlet and Assateague Island. Open every day. Monday through Wednesday open at 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday open at 11:30 a.m. Call for banquet and large-party details.
■ PICKLES PUB
706 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, 410-2894891, picklesoc.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Easy to find with plenty of free parking, serving lunch, dinner and entire diverse menu until 1 a.m. Also nightly entertainment year-round and a great place to watch all the sports on an ocean of televisions including a giant high-def screen. Also four pool tables on site. Lunch and dinner and entire menu until 1 a.m. Open all year from 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m., seven days a week.
■ PIT & PUB
2706 Philadelphia Ave. and 12701 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, pitandpub.com
Ocean City’s home of Pulled Pork and the finest barbecue, the legendary 28th Street Pit & Pub and the Northside Pit & Pub are known for serving up delicious smokehouse specialties. Grab a brew and enjoy the live sports action on one of the big screen TVs. Happy hour daily. Familyfriendly atmospheres at both locations. Weekend entertainment.
■ THE WEDGE BAR
806 S. Atlantic Ave, Ocean City, www.thewedgeoc.com
$-$$ | Full bar
Panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, bay and Assateague Island. Enjoy small plates, sandwiches and grilled burgers. Open every day, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
MIDTOWN
■ 32 PALM
32nd Street in The Hilton, Ocean City 410-2892525, 32palm.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Elevated cuisine, locally sourced ingredients and allocated spirits are prominently featured in our lounge and dining room. Open year-round for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Routinely updated menus with the highest quality local ingredients for fresh seafood any time of the year!
■ THE BONFIRE
71st Street, Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 410-5247171, thebonfirerestaurant.com
Celebrating more than 50 years as the best seafood and prime rib buffet in Ocean City. It’s all here – the service, the atmosphere and finest, freshest seafood available and quality meats. Save room for the decadent desserts available as well including homemade donuts.
■ COCONUTS BEACH BAR & GRILL
3701 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, 410-289-6846, castleinthesand.com
A tropical open-air patio steps from the beach. A unique place for lunch or dinner with a menu featuring all the customary items and a few Ocean City-based surprises. Guests can also enjoy beach service for lunch and cocktails. Be sure to check out the daily entertainment schedule.
■ FAGERS ISLAND
201 60th St., Ocean City, 410-524-5500, fagers.com
$$ | Full bar
Dine on the island with an award-winning bayfront restaurant featuring American & Regional dining with a global influence and popular destination featuring impeccably prepared American and Pacific Rim cuisine. Also enjoy our outdoor decks and bar with live entertainment and 32 wines by the glass. A place where the joy of food & the presence of the table are of utmost importance. Dine on fresh seafood and our famous Prime Rib. Enjoy beautiful sunsets over the water. Open 11 a.m. daily. Fine dine at 4:30 p.m.
■ HOOKED
8003 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 410-7234665, hookedoc.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
A Common Ground Hospitality concept, a passion driven restaurant group servicing the coastal community. The goal is honor creativity and innovation by design. With passion at the heart of everything, unique dining concepts are paired with honest hospitality and well-made food sourced with fresh local ingredients and seasonal harvests. Craft and full bar available. Open daily 11:30 a.m.
■ LONGBOARD CAFÉ
6701 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 443-6645693, longboardcafe.com
$$-$$$ | Full bar
Casual Dining … Refined. Open for lunch and dinner. A wide range of gourmet burgers, innovative tacos, salads and sandwiches to full dinner entrees featuring fresh local fish prepared in a variety of styles, beef, shellfish and pasta. All our sauces, salsas, dressings, etc. are meticulously house made. We use fresh local sources wherever possible and premium ingredients such as our chuck, brisket and short rib custom blended burgers. Closed Tuesday. Call for reservations.
■ MARLIN MOON RESTAURANT
3301 Atlantic Ave., in the Double Tree Hotel, Ocean City 410-289-1201, marlinmoonocmd.com
$$ | Full bar
Winner of the Maryland People's choice award, Marlin Moon continues to offer its famous, locally loved dishes and famous happy hour. Enjoy creatively crafted cocktails, fresh selections from the raw bar and luscious desserts. Happy Hour, every day, 3-6 p.m., featuring drink specials. Breakfast, 7:30-11:30 a.m.; Lite Fare, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Dinner, 4-10 p.m.; and Bar open noon to 11 p.m.
■ SEACRETS
49th Street, Ocean City 410-524-4900, www.seacrets.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Open Sunday through Friday at 11 a.m., 10 a.m. on Saturdays, close at 2 a.m. Enjoy a tropical atmosphere and dine under the palms in our outdoor, kid friendly dining area or try a Seacrets Beachin' Cocktails in the Bay with live music every day open to close. The club is open every night in the summer. Try our famous jerk chicken with homemade honey mustard sauce, Pushcart Trio, a true Jamaican dish or a hearty wrap, sandwich or delicious burger. We have it all at Seacrets.
tions include crab cakes, prime rib, Philly-style cheese steaks, various seafood, kids menu plus full breakfast menu.
■ DIRTY HARRY’S
100 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island, DE, 302539-3020, Beach-net.com/dirtyharrys
$ | Kids’ Menu | Full bar
Don’t let the name fool you, the food is home cooking at its finest. Owned and operated by Ginny Swann and family for 19 years. Popular for the breakfast but getting rave reviews for lunch and dinner, too.
■ NANTUCKETS
Route 1, Fenwick Island, DE, 302-539-2607, nantucketsrestaurant.com
Serving the beach great food and spirits for over 30 years. David and Janet Twining will wow you with the finest foods and drinks in the area. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by what one of the coast’s finest dining establishments has in store for guests. Everything here is a house specialty.
Reservations | Kids’ Menu “A funky little place at the edge of town.” Classic New England fare, lobsters, steaks and burgers. Bird watching and magical sunsets await. Open for lunch and dinner. Reservations are suggested.
■ ALBERTINO'S BRICK OVEN & EATERY
13117 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 410-2502000, albertinosoc.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Featuring the best brick oven pizza, always handmade with fresh ingredients, Italian-American mouth-watering seafood specialties, traditional Italian pasta dishes, apps, soups and salads. Full bar with large local craft beer selection.
■ CAROUSEL OCEANFRONT HOTEL & CONDOS
118th Street, Ocean City 800-641-0011, www.carouselhotel.com
The Carousel Oceanfront Resort offers a family friendly casual dining experience with their Reef 118 restaurant. Offering dinner Thursday through Saturday from 5-9 p.m., featuring AYCE Crab legs. Serving breakfast on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. Their new "Go for 2" happy hour features $10 appetizers as a buy one get one free. $1 oysters during all open hours.
■ THE CRAB BAG
13005 Coastal Highway Ocean City, 410-2503337, thecrabbag.com
$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar
Featuring consistent hot steamed crabs, eat in or carryout. The Crab Bag is also an Eastern Shore style seafood house specializing in preparing and serving the biggest and the best blue crabs available. The extensive menu promises something for everyone. Winter hours, Friday-Sunday, open 11 a.m.
■ CRABCAKE FACTORY USA
120th Street, oceanside, Ocean City, 410-2504900, crabcakefactoryusa.com
Full-service family restaurant, carry-out and sports bar. Outside seating available. Menu selections include prime rib, chicken Chesapeake, steamed shrimp, beer battered fish, real Philly cheesesteaks, burgers, and a kids menu. Casual attire, full liquor bar, no reservations. Open Year Round. World-Famous Crabcakes are served all day starting at 8 a.m. and can be packed on ice for you while you are eating breakfast.
■ JOLLY JELLYFISH BEACH CLUB
9800 Coastal Highway, Ocean City 443-6646147, jollyjellyfishbeachclub.com
Oceanfront bar with casual island style outdoor dining with awesome ocean views focused on cool beach vibes. Open for lunch and dinner and suitable for the entire family. Diverse menu available for every type of diner and featuring a cocktail menu with six housemade kegged cocktails. Every Sunday all summer features a “big deck energy party.” Entertainment daily, 4-7 p.m. Located in the Plaza Condominium with plenty of free parking.
■ VISTA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT
13801 Coastal Highway, located in the Fenwick Inn, Ocean City, 410-390-7905, vistarooftopoc.com
$$-$$$ | Full bar
Enjoy a wonderful meal overlooking the ocean and bay. Some of the most unique views in Ocean City. Steaks, seafood, burgers, soups, salads and lite fare. Happy hour, 3-6 p.m. New this year is a boozy brunch Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Live music.
■ CRABCAKE FACTORY BAYSIDE
Route 54, Fenwick Island, DE, 302-988-5000, CCFBayside.com
Same award-winning crab cakes and bloody marys. Enjoy waterfront dining. Full-service family restaurant, carry-out & sports bar. Outside seating available. Open daily year-round. Menu selec-
■ ASSATEAGUE BAR AND GRILL 9636 Stephen Decatur Highway, West Ocean City 443-664-8158, abarngrill.com
$$ | Full bar Full service, family friendly, casual dining to please everyone. Offering breakfast lunch and dinner with breakfast being served all day. Classic American cuisine with a selection of delicious Maryland favorites. Happy hour everyday from 16 p.m. with bar specials and tasty bites. Daily specials Monday through Friday. Dine-in and carry-out.
■ BREAKFAST CAFE
12736 Ocean Gateway, Route 50 east, West Ocean City, 410-213-1804, breakfastcafeofoc.com
All the traditional breakfast options available here in a casual, diner setting. Open daily closing at 2 p.m.
■ CANTINA LOS AGAVES MEXICAN GRILL 12720 Ocean Gateway #7, West Ocean City 410-390-3914, cantinalosagaves.com
$$ | Kid’s menu | Full bar
Ocean City’s newest Mexican restaurant and bar. Offering delicious and generous portions of the tastiest traditional and not so traditional #MexicanEats you have ever tried. Open daily at 11 a.m. Serving food until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Bar open til 11 p.m.
■ DUMSER’S DAIRYLAND
West Ocean City: Route 50 east; Boardwalk locations: 501 S. Philadelphia Ave., 49th Street, 123rd Street, Ocean City, dumsersdairyland.com
This classic ice cream shop is a tradition for many families. Voted O.C.’s “Best Ice Cream” for the past 20 years, Dumser’s is celebrating decades of serving the shore, and the ‘40s-style décor takes you back in time. With locations throughout Ocean City, treating your tastebuds to this signature homemade ice cream is easy. The 123rd Street location offers lunch and dinner menus in addition to a wide variety of ice cream treats.
■ GREENE TURTLE WEST
Route 611, West Ocean City, 410-213-1500
Proudly serving West Ocean City since January 1999, The Greene Turtle features a beautiful 80seat dining room, large bar area with 54 TVs with stereo sound and game room with pool tables. With an exciting menu, The Greene Turtle is sure to please with delicious sizzling steaks, jumbo lump crab cakes, raw bar, homemade salads and more. Live entertainment, Keno, Turtle apparel, kids menu, carry-out.
■ HARBORSIDE BAR & GRILL
12841 Harbor Rd., West Ocean City, 410-2131846, weocharborside.com $$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Home of the original Orange Crush drink with an extensive menu offers a wide variety of appetizers, fresh seafood, steak & pasta entrees, as well as juicy burgers and sandwiches. Whether seeking a full dining experience or just a crush or two, the team will be sure to take excellent care of you and yours. Monday-Wednesday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. ■ OC DINER 12744 Ocean Gateway, Rt 50 east, West Ocean City, 410-390-5112
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Salad bar and dinner are back. Local’s favorite, homemade meals. Breakfast served all day. Kids’ menu. Dine-in and carry-out. Open 7 days a week: Sunday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m
UPTOWN 91st to 146th streets
FENWICK ISLAND
WEST OCEAN CITY
On Assateague, ‘a bad day’s still a good day’
By Brian Shane Staff Writer
(July 4, 2025) The famous ponies may steal the spotlight, but it’s the men and women working tirelessly behind the scenes at Assateague Island National Seashore who keep the place humming.
Thanks to their commitment and diligence, more than two million visitors a year can enjoy the magic of Assateague – a level of popularity to rival iconic National Park Service landmarks like Mount Rushmore.
As the park celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2025, OC Today-Dispatch spoke to four park staffers and one volunteer who shared, in their own words, what fuels their passion for Assateague and their steadfast dedication to the mission of the Park Service.
Eric Sherry
Chief of facilities management
The things that can make for a great visitor experience at Assateague Island National Seashore also happen to be its most unglamorous: having clean restrooms, empty trash cans, and a working wastewater system. The man who oversees it all is Eric
Sherry, the park’s chief of facilities management.
His team handles the parks roughly 40 public restrooms, which must be cleaned daily and pumped twice a week in summer, as well as trash collection at the park’s active and popular campground. Their work also extends to the Virginia side of the park in Chincoteague, which is open seasonally.
“Restrooms is one of the most important things we do,” he said.
“Everybody that visits the island at some point in time uses the restrooms. That can change their entire visitation, their experience, from a positive one to a negative one – or vice versa.”
Sherry’s entire 20-year career with the National Park Service was spent here at Assateague, but he wasn’t always in charge of the maintenance crew. A decade ago, he was a biological science technician tasked with wetlands restoration. You could find him on the bayside, working to fill mosquito ditches dug in the 1930s and 40s.
“It was a lot of heavy equipment operation, a lot of project manage-
ment. I kind of was on the fence between a facility management type of role and a biological science type of role,” he said.
When an opportunity arose to get into supervision on the maintenance side, Sherry took it. He’s since worked his way up to running the division, a job he’s held for seven years now.
Having a science background, he said, means he better understands the landscape and how to care for it.
“To be honest with you, even like if you're an ‘interp,’ or if you're in law enforcement, or the people that collect the fees, people that work in maintenance – a lot of us have a background in science. There's a lot of us that came from that world and then just made our way to where we belong,” he said.
We walked from the park’s visitor center to the maintenance quad. Hidden from public view by trees, the public works compound includes garages, workshops, storage, as well as the island’s own sewage treatment facility.
“We kind of are under the radar, and that's intentional,” Sherry said.
“This is the support side of things. This isn't what the visitors' here to see. We plant the vegetation [screening] so people are just kind of driving right past this part."
It’s usually teeming with staffers, but today, everyone’s out on the island. When summer comes, Sherry’s crew begins the day with a 6 a.m. briefing.
Early starts are a must because there’s only one way on and off the island, meaning the maintenance team has to beat the crowds and the cars that jam up the entrance with long wait times.
“Getting on and off the island is, is a struggle, you know? So, we tend to focus our maintenance operations to the midweek, then we focus on just keeping the place afloat on the weekends when everybody's here,” he said.
Looking back on his career, Sherry says what he’s truly loved is putting his energy and effort into the Park Service’s mission of preserving and protecting our natural resources for the benefit of future generations.
While he doesn’t always get onto the island because of administrative tasks back at the office, Sherry on oc-
BRIAN SHANE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Eric Sherry is Assateague Island National Seashore’s chief of facilities management.
BRIAN SHANE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH Park Ranger Nichole Leiby is pictured with a group of elementary school students on a field trip.
BRIAN SHANE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Lindsay Ries is the supervisory biologist for the resource management division.
BRIAN SHANE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Park Ranger Markus Williams and volunteer Reber Whitner are pictured last month.
casion will find himself standing on the beach, taking it all in.
“You have to stop and just absorb it once in a while,” he said. “Working here every day, you do tend to take it for granted: You’re working for the National Park Service at a National Seashore on the coast of the Mid-Atlantic. You're looking out at the beautiful ocean. It doesn't get much better than that. If you're gonna make a living doing that, you're doing pretty good. A bad day's still a good day.”
Lindsay Ries
Supervisory Biologist for the Resource Management Division
Growing up in Anne Arundel County around the Chesapeake Bay, Lindsay Ries said she always wanted to pursue a career in conservation. With a biology degree in hand, she interned and worked seasonally at National Park properties in Maine and New Jersey before a position opened up at Fire Island National Seashore on New York’s Long Island.
But, after 12 years there as a wildlife biologist, she decided it was time to find a Park Service job closer to home – no easy task, with jobs like hers in short supply.
In 2020, the stars aligned, and she got hired at Assateague Island National Seashore.
“I grew up go vacationing in Ocean City, coming to Assateague, so when this position opened up, it was a dream,” she said with a laugh. “Little bit of a boomerang, yeah, being able to now work somewhere where I used to come as a kid.”
Today, Ries supervises a team of biological scientists, plus seasonal staff and interns in their wildlife and vegetation programs. Like the maintenance crew, the resource management team starts field work early. You can find them out and about
at sunrise, binoculars and spotting scopes in hand, monitoring wildlife from both the sea and the land.
“It’s just easier to get out to the island early and start those surveys, which takes several hours,” Ries said. “We don't want to be disturbing birds when it's middle of the day. We want them to rest and not be bothered by us.
“You may not see us out on the boat – boaters would – but, you know, just visitors coming to the island may not see us as much doing things like that,” she added.
The species most closely monitored is the piping plover. Assateague is the only place in Maryland where these precious birds nest, mainly on the north end of the island.
The federally threatened plovers breed where humans want to sunbathe and walk, so visitors may come across signs warning not to walk near their nesting area.
“For that bird in particular, adults don’t bring food back to the nest,” Ries said. “Once they hatch, they’re off to the races and have to feed themselves. They’re like cotton balls, toothpicks with legs, you know, so they’re very small and hard to see.”
Park biologists also keep tabs on the island’s famous herd of wild ponies, conducting a census six times a year.
Two decades ago, the island had around 175 horses. After implementing an innovative contraceptive program for mares, the population fell a decade ago to 97. As of March, the herd has 79 ponies, and the contraceptive part of the management plan has since been put on hold, because the population is stable, Ries said.
“We're trying to keep the numbers between 80 to 100, and that's to protect the ecosystem out there they’re
foraging on, make sure that’s naturally staying in good health. That number is helpful for their genetic viability too over time,” she said. “Some foals being born, some mares and stallions dying over the winter. Just constantly changing.”
(Park Superintendent Hugh Hawthorne said they used formally announce pony births, but not anymore. “People start following the babies around, which is not good,” he said.)
Biologists here also monitor water quality of the coastal bays over time and treat invasive non-native plants in protective suits with backpack sprayers.
New research projects include keeping tabs on other endangered species like the Eastern black rail, a bird with beady red eyes, and a nocturnal beetle called the Bethany Beach firefly.
“I feel like we've been studying a lot of things on the island for so long, but then yet there's still some surprises with things we're finding out there,” Ries said. “Honestly, I just love the variety. Every day is something different, every season is something. So, for me, I think that's what I really love and appreciate.”
Markus Williams Park ranger and social media coordinator
Raised out West, on the Idaho side of the Teton Mountains, Markus Williams’ mother was a seasonal park ranger. He spent multiple summers as a small child at Grand Teton National Park in seasonal park housing.
Her father before her, Williams’ grandfather, was also a seasonal ranger there, a gig he held while on summer breaks from his job as a teacher.
But Williams hadn’t considered a
career with the National Park Service until he took some outdoor recreation classes in college, “and I was reminded that this is a career path that one can take.”
After earning his degree in outdoor recreation and resource management, he got his first job with the Park Service. Today, he’s an interpretation lead and the social media coordinator here at Assateague – and a third-generation park ranger.
“I certainly am proud of being able to continue that legacy,” he said, “even a little bit more so in that I’m a permanent employee. That is my career, not a summer job.”
Williams’ quiet demeanor belies a deep passion for the Park Service and its mission. As lead interpreter here at Assateague, it’s his job to “translate” ¬the park’s resources into something people can understand, connect with, and care about – just as he does.
BRIAN SHANE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Wild ponies graze at the edge of Sinepuxent Bay on a recent morning on Assateague Island National Seashore.
BRIAN SHANE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
The entrance to the ranger officers at Assateague Island National Seashore
National Seashore marks 60 years of service
Continued from Page 51
His mix of teaching, inspiration, and advocacy are all part of a deliberate strategy to build empathy and excitement for conservation.
“For most people, of course, hard science isn't the right way to connect with something. I'm one of those people, you know? The science is too deep for me,” he said. “But with our visitors, we’re trying to explain why something's cool, why something's interesting, why we should protect it. What we're trying to interpret is the knowledge of this place.”
His division of the park oversees environmental education programs. That involves either going to schools, or having schools come here for a lesson, one that reaches students at their grade level and even touches on academic state science standards.
Williams said he especially relishes programs for pre-K and kindergarten students – an age, he noted, where nothing is “too cool,” and they’re on board with everything being shared, like the touch tank full of horseshoe and hermit crabs inside the park’s visitors center.
“It's such an important program, trying to get the children in this area interested and excited about nature in general, about the science they're learning, reminding them that this is
all rooted in the world around us,” he said. “Some of them, it'll be the first time they ever visit us here at Assateague. It's awfully fun when we get to be a part of that.”
Sharing his enthusiasm with the public for Assateague doesn’t necessarily need to be face-to-face. That’s where Williams’ role as social media coordinator comes in.
His interpretive staff produces content for Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube that hits all the same notes as in-person interpretation – sharing something cool and interesting about the park and its resources – but for an audience that may never actually set foot on the island.
“Personally, I love sharing with people,” he said. “I am a very curious person. I gain personal excitement from learning new, weird things, interesting stuff. Why does something work the way it does? And as much as I can share that with our visitors, that just makes me happy. It's a lot more fun when we're all kind of excited about cool stuff.”
Ed Boyer Park ranger
Ed Boyer takes it very seriously that his face might be the first you see when arriving at Assateague Island National Seashore.
His main job at the park is a fee
collector, meaning he’s one of the park rangers who sit in the entry booth and take your $25 admission fee. The brief moment when visitors grace his drive-through window? That’s his time to shine.
“That's one of the things I love about the job,” Boyer said, “because I get to meet people from all over the country, or all over the world, even.”
At the same time, though, it’s not lost on Boyer how visitors can spend a long time waiting in the entrance queue, as long as an hour, resulting in a driver’s patience coming up short. It can be stressful.
“I'll talk to them as much as I can, give them as much information without overwhelming them,” Boyer said. “Because a lot of people ask the same question – where are the horses? –but to each person that pulls into the window, it's important to them.
“It might be the 100th that somebody asks you that question,” he added, “but you can't treat them like that. You gotta treat 'em like it's the first time. I mean, the parks are for everybody, so try to treat everybody fair.”
This is Boyer’s second summer at Assateague Island National Seashore. Prior to this, he also worked at one of the iconic Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the United States,
BY THE NUMBERS
• Founding date Sept 21, 1965
• 79 wild ponies
• $25 standard pass
• 37 miles long
• 41,320 acres
• 2.25 million visitors (2023)
• 168 campsites
• 6 hiking trails
• 24 hours a day operation
• 145 OSV vehicles allowed at once
and also worked in interpretation at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in his native New Jersey.
Boyer has always loved the National Parks. He studied wildlife management at Paul Smith College in upstate New York and hopes one day to transfer into a position with the Park Service where he can work with wildlife or biology.
What’s he’s finding about himself, though, in his time here at Assateague, is that he’s breaking free of his shyness. Working in the booth, talking to
A sense of protection exists among workers
people, has helped him to open up.
From behind his glasses, his eyes light up when talks about the possibility of pursuing a park service role that’s more public facing.
“I do, I love working with people,” he said. “I'm learning that – as I'm working here, really – it's becoming something that I want to continue to do. I like to spread knowledge wherever I can.”
He’s also an enthusiastic birder –that’s a birdwatching aficionado, for the uninitiated – a hobby he wants to share in earnest with park guests he meets at his booth.
“I go birding in the park every day. If they're asking about birds, I could just tell them what birds I saw and then ask them what they were seeing and where, and point them in a direction, maybe help them find a target,” he said.
When he’s not toll-taking, Boyer’s other duties include campground management. He patrols the 12 miles of undeveloped backcountry to make sure campsites are up to snuff. He’ll also help people check into their campsite or can issue guests a pass to the drivable beach, the Over-Sand Vehicle zone, or OSV.
Whether park visitors make the trek to Assateague for a day at the beach or a week in a campsite, “I like to give them the best experience, based on what they're looking for,” he
said. “I really like to try to try to give people all the resources that they need to have the most enjoyable time.”
Reber Whitner
Longtime park volunteer
Reber Whitner’s been a volunteer at Assateague Island National Seashore for six years. Or maybe seven? He’s not sure. He doesn’t worry too much about that, because Whitner is retired and loving it.
“After I retired from my living job,” he said, “a friend of mine said, ‘how come you're not working at a National Park?’ Because I enjoy the outdoors and he and I actually spend a lot of time bike riding and doing those things. And I said, ‘I don't know.’
“So, he said, ‘well go to Assateague and see if they need volunteers,’” he added, “so that's how I got here.”
Briefly a schoolteacher and an entrepreneur, Whitmer ended up working for Giant Food for 20 years. Now, as a park volunteer, he helps out at the front desk at the visitor’s center. He likes to bring the park rangers donut holes as a treat. Whitmer just plain likes people.
“I love the fact that I get to introduce and help people discover this island, our natural resources,” he said. “I love the fact that this is something that our government has decided it is worth preserving and needs to be
preserved and protected.”
While other volunteers are seasonal, Whitner is here year-round.
“There can be days during the winter where when we only see two people,” he said.
One of the things he really likes about Assateague Island National Seashore is that two of their main trails are accessible.
“If you have a wheelchair, if you have crutches, they have designed these trails so that you can literally –there's a specific degree to the ramp, so it's not too sharp,” he said. “There's observation areas where they took the old railing down and put up a wire see-through fence. I thought that was really thoughtful and brilliant.”
Whitner says he’s even more amazed by how the park’s Marsh Trail offers a ramp that not only lets wheelchair users roll down to the beach, but also offers a raised observation ramp to see over the dunes.
You can also find Whitner volunteering on weekend kayak excursions, which he says offer “an entirely different view of the park.”
“When you're sitting in a kayak,” –he holds an outstretched hand at waist height – “you're looking at this level. So, you're almost at the horse level. I'm the sweep. We usually use a ranger for the lead, so I'm the last guy in line.”
When speaking in general about the park and what it offers, Whitner beams. This is his happy place, where he wears his joy and gratitude on his sleeve. That he’s unpaid is irrelevant to the fact that he considers himself a steward of the park’s legacy.
To that point, and perhaps most important of all, he says, is the park’s environmental education program.
“At some point, your kids, my kids, are gonna be the leaders of our country – wouldn't it be really nice that we gave them a background into what this is about?” he said. “Because this is about protecting this, you know? It's about making it something that people can experience and learn from, but protecting it, so that it will be here for the next 10 generations.”
BRIAN SHANE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH Park Ranger Ed Boyer is pictured.
vanishing vanishing OCEAN CITY
WiTh Bunk Mann
One of the more unique amusement rides in Ocean City’s history was “Tank Battle,” an attraction run by Trimpers in the early 1990s. Two riders –one to drive and another that sat in a turret inside the tank and fired balls from an air powered cannon – made up the crew. As many as four tanks participated in a screened arena on the west side of Baltimore Avenue near S. 1st Street.
Tanks were 9 feet long, 5 feet wide, and about 4 feet tall and had targets on their body which gave off sound effects when hit by an opponent. Riders had to be over five feet tall and wore lacrosse helmets for protection. Small Honda built motors powered the tanks.
Air powered guns lined the side of the arena and spectators could participate in the game. A bucket of balls cost $5 and onlookers enjoyed firing tennis balls at the slow moving tanks.
Tank Battle only existed for about five years but for those who played it the memories have lasted forever.
To purchase one of Bunk Mann’s books, click over to www.vanishingoc.com.
courtesy Stephanie Trimper Lewis
Things I Like...
By Steve Green
Exhausted kids on a summer evening
ESPN’s ’30 for 30’ documentaries
Learning a new computer
Being stumped by a restaurant menu
Cold fruit and peanut butter
Leaving the office early after deadline
Videos of my kids as toddlers
A fishing trip with a lot of catching
Early-to-bed Sunday nights
Learning background from archive newspapers
A stocked fridge after a grocery run
Photo
COMMUNITY/SCHOOLS
OT
ASSISTANT GRADS
SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Wor-Wic Community College graduated seven occupational therapy assistant students in May. The department held an awards and recognition ceremony to signal completion of the occupational therapy assistant program and an official invitation into the profession. Picutured, from left, are Wor-Wic Community College occupational therapy assistant graduates Maxime Fatal and Talia Matthews of Salisbury, Marysol Pereyra of Newark, Savannah Bolick of Hurlock, Ahydia Ward of Salisbury, Kelsie Ridpath of Delmar, Del., and Patty Cubbage of Pocomoke City.
WOR-WIC
PRESENTS DEGREES
SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Thirty Wor-Wic Community College associate degree in nursing (ADN) graduates recently participated in an awards and recognition ceremony. The nurse pinning ceremony, modeled after a tradition started by Florence Nightingale in the 1860s, initiates nurse graduates into the profession. WorWic’s most recent pinning for ADN students took place on the campus in Salisbury. The event this year featured a keynote address by Alana L. Long, assistant professor of nursing. Special awards were presented by Dr. Brenda J. Mister, department head and professor of nursing. Jana Fisher was the student speaker. Associate degree in nursing graduates of Wor-Wic Community College who participated in a recent awards and recognition ceremony are shown in a group photo after the ceremony.
SPECIAL PRE-K WEDDING AT WPS
Worcester Preparatory School PreKindergarten students announced the wedding of Q and U on Friday, June 6. The event was held outside on school grounds, where Head of School Dr. John McDonald and Head of Lower School Dr. Sara Timmons officiated the ceremony. Entertainment was provided by Angie Bunting and Cheryl Marshall’s first grade wedding band. A casual reception immediately followed in the Guerrieri Library Lecture Hall.
Front, from left, are Emilia Crist, Aubrey Thiede, Sophia Kendall and Emma Jaszemski; second row, Wesley Brittingham, Everett Pinto, Izzy Hall, Ethan Fortunato, Ellis Hitchens, Manuel Escamilla Aliullov, Colton McCready, Flora Robison, Bethany Iacangelo and Sebi Corcinschi; and, back, PreK teacher Mrs. Courtney DeVito, Sydney Jackson, Jane St. Arnold, Pierson Hankerson, Crew Sands, pre-k teacher Kim Zaccagnini, Timmons and McDonald.
SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
ROTARY WORK DAYS
Ocean City-Berlin Rotary Club representatives Margaret Mudron and Cliff Berg attended Rotary Work Days at Camp Fairlee, an Easter Seals Camp in Fairlee, Md. to help spruce up the camp for summer campers. The club meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at Don’s Seafood at the South Gate of Ocean Pines. For more information email ocberlinrotary@gmail.com
On Thursday, June 26, the Republican Women
standing, Senator Mary Beth Carozza, RWWC President Jean Delcher, Worcester County Commissioner Chip Bertino, RWWC 1st Vice President Carol Frazier, NFRW’s Nikki Beaver and RWWC Recording Secretary
SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
RWWC HOLDS LUNCHEON
of Worcester County held their Annual June Red, White and Blue Luncheon at the Lighthouse Sound Restaurant. The guest speaker was Julie Harris, President of the National Federation of Republic Women. Pictured, seated from left, are Harris and Sharon Carrick, President of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women; and,
Gwen Crisafulli.
Calendar
Submit calendar items to: editor@octodaydispatch.com. Submission deadline is 5 p.m. Monday, the week of publication. Local submissions have priority. Area event listings are subject to space availability.
Fri., July 4
JULY 4TH FIREWORKS - DOWNTOWN OC
Caroline St. Stage, 2 N. Atlantic Ave., Ocean City. 8 p.m. Music by DJ Kutt from 8-9:30 p.m. followed by a spectacular fireworks display. Bring a beach chair or blanket and arrive early.
Northside Park, 200 125th St., Ocean City, 8 p.m. Music by Radio Ocean City’s BK and Chrissy from 8-9:30 p.m. followed by a fireworks display. Bring a beach chair or blanket and arrive early. https://www.ococean.com/event/july4th-fireworks/2301/
4TH OF JULY CARNIVAL & FIREWORKS
Veterans Memorial Park, 11144 Cathell Road, Ocean Pines, 4 p.m. Carnival games, music, food & fun. Carnival admission fee: $20/wristband. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. Parking available in green lot next to Taylor Bank and the OP Library. Handicapped parking onsite.
JULY 4TH FREEDOM 5K
Veterans Memorial Park, Race Track Road, Ocean Pines, 8 a.m. Day of registration begins at 7 a.m. Cost is $30 for advance registration and $35 for day of. T-shirts included. Wear your best patriotic outfit. Pre-register: events.elitefeats.com/25oceanpines. 410-641-7052
43RD ANNUAL OCMC CANYON KICK-OFF
O.C. Fisherman’s Marina, 12806 Sunset Ave., Ocean City, 5-7:30 p.m. Weigh-ins held from 5-7:30 p.m. https://ocmarlinclub.com
SIPPIN’ WITH SLOTHS
Coastal Wilds, 34215 Peppers Corner Road, Frankford, 6-8 p.m. Music TBD. Cost is $40 and includes sloth encounter, self-guided tour, and one complementary glass of wine. Tickets: https://book.singenuity.com/469/activity/details/2284/rates. 302-829-1548
Sat., July 5
OCEAN PINES FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET
Saturdays - White Horse Park, 239 Ocean Parkway, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shop for everything from fresh local produce to unique handmade artisan goods. Also featuring family-friendly activities,
music and unique shopping experiences. Open to the public, year round. 410-6417052, https://www.oceanpines.org/web/pages /farmers-artisans-market
43RD ANNUAL OCMC CANYON KICK-OFF
O.C. Fisherman’s Marina, 12806 Sunset Ave., Ocean City, 5-7:30 p.m. Weigh-ins held from 5-7:30 p.m. https://ocmarlinclub.com
FLEA MARKET AND BAKE SALE
Bethany United Methodist Church, 8648 Stephen Decatur Highway, Berlin, 8-11 a.m. The event is held outside. Vendors, to reserve space, contact 443-6412186 or bethany21811@gmail.com.
SATURDAY WRITERS
Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 10 a.m. Novice and established writers share their fiction, non-fiction, poetry and creative writing projects. Structure includes critiques, appreciation, market leads and writing exercises. Drop-ins welcome. 410-641-0650
RED, WHITE AND ROO
Coastal Wilds, 34215 Peppers Corner Road, Frankford, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Kangaroo Walkabout, self-guided tour, special animal ambassadors, live music, outdoor yard games, kids crafts & more. Cost is $25. Tickets: https://book.singenuity.com/469/activity/details/2292/ra tes. 302-829-1549
Sun., July 6
43RD ANNUAL OCMC CANYON KICK-OFF
O.C. Fisherman’s Marina, 12806 Sunset Ave., Ocean City, 5-7:30 p.m. Weigh-ins held from 5-7:30 p.m. https://ocmarlinclub.com
SUNDAES IN THE PARK WITH FIREWORKS
Northside Park, 200 125th St., Ocean City, 7-9 p.m. Featuring “Radio Tokyo” (Hip hop/R&B/pop with some rock and a touch of country). Kids enjoy free activities and entertainment. Ice cream and beverages available for purchase. Concluding with fireworks.
BERLIN FARMERS MARKET
Sundays - Pitts Street, Commerce Street and Main Street, Berlin, May through October, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. Producers only market featuring more than 50 farmers, food cultivators, bakers, distillers, seafood, meat and more.
Also featuring a petting farm (9-11 a.m.), free kids art station and live music. TheBerlinFarmersMarket.com
SEWING FOR A CAUSE
Sundays - Buckingham Presbyterian Church, 20 S. Main St., Berlin, 10:30 a.m. to noon. Learn how to sew while making a difference. 410-641-0234
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES MEETING
Sundays - Berlin Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 212 West St., Berlin, 10 a.m. www.jw.org
Mon., July 7
OC BEACH DANCE PARTY WITH FIREWORKS
Caroline St. Stage, 2 N. Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Ocean 98.1 WOCM Presents. Fireworks show starts at 9 p.m. https://www.ococean.com/ things-to-do/free-family-fun/oc-beachdance-party/
STORY TIME: COWS
Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Crafts, songs and stories. For ages 0-5 years. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org
MOVIES AND MUNCHIES
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 2 p.m. Are you ready for an adventure? Munchies included. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org
ESL CONVERSATION CLUB
Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 2 p.m. Join other non-native English speakers for casual conversational practice and a short lesson prepared by an ESL instructor. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
John H. “Jack” Burbage, Jr. Regional Cancer Care Center, 9707 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 3-4 p.m. Offering a safe place for families, partners & other caregivers who share the same challenges and rewards of providing care for adults who have any type of serious illness. Nicole.Fry@TidalHealth.org, 410-6412626
WARHAMMER
Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 4 p.m. Use the library’s armies or bring your own. Tutorials and demos will be available, so novice and veteran players alike are welcome. For ages 12-18 years. 410-6410650, www.worcesterlibrary.org
FIBER CRAFT MEET-UP
Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 4 p.m.
Bring your work in progress for community and shared knowledge. Held in the meeting room or in the garden, weather permitting. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org
T.O.P.S. OF BERLIN - GROUP #169
Atlantic General Hospital, Conference Room 1, 9733 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 5-6:30 p.m. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a weekly support and educational group promoting weight loss and living a healthy lifestyle. Rose Campion, 410641-0157
BRIDGE
Mondays - Ocean City 50plus Center, 104 41st Street, Ocean City, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Reserve a spot: Tish, 410-8043971. www.Worcoa.org/oceancity
DELMARVA WOMEN’S A CAPELLA CHORUS Mondays - Ocean Pines Community Center, 239 Ocean Parkway, 6:00-8:00 p.m. All ladies who love to sing invited. Mary, 410-629-9383 or Carol, 302-2427062.
OVEREATER’S ANONYMOUS Mondays - Worcester County LibraryOcean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 7-8 p.m. No dues or fees. 410-459-9100
Tues., July 8
STORY TIME
Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 10:30 a.m. A story time geared for ages 0-5 years featuring seasonal themes designed to support early literacy skills with stories, songs and fingerplays. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org
STORY TIME @ THE DELMARVA DISCOVERY MUSEUM
Delmarva Discovery Museum, 2 Market St., Pocomoke City, 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs and crafts that feature one of the museum’s special animals. For ages 0-5 years. 410-957-0878, www.worcesterlibrary.org
BRIGHT STAR THEATRE: PETER PAN Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 10:30 a.m. Meet Lenny and Mabel as they hilariously work to bring this literary classic to life in a hysterical play within a play. For families. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org
PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP
Atlantic General Neurology at the Atlantic Health Center, 9714 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 3:15-4 p.m. Providing discussions and mutual support, along with education on exercise, nutrition, coping techniques, medications and developments in treatment. Kay Kinnikin, Kay,Kinnikin@TidalHealth.org, 410641-4765
CALENDAR
OC KNITTING GROUP
Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Do you love to knit or crochet? Bring whatever project you happen to be working on. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org
BRIGHT STAR THEATRE: STORYBOOK TALES
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 2 p.m. Meet Lenny and Mabel as they bring their traveling show featuring Gepetto and his little wooden boy Pinocchio. Then encounter great capers with Robin Hood. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org
SEAFOOD NIGHT WITH THE KNIGHTS
Knights of Columbus Hall, 9901 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Held Tuesdays in the Columbus Hall behind St. Luke’s Church. Pre-order crabs Monday or Tuesday morning of that week: 410-524-7994. Non-seafood options will be available.
SONG
CELEBRATION
Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 6 p.m. Bring a song you would like to share with other players and writers in a welcoming and encouraging space. Original compositions encouraged. Listeners welcome. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org
BOOK CLUB @ TIDES & VINE: ‘THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM’ BY MARIE BENEDICT
Tides & Vine, 106 W. Green St., Snow Hill, 6 p.m. An evening of books and wine. Stop by the Snow Hill Library to pick up your book anytime, then meet for a great discussion at Tides & Wine. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org
CROSS FARMS POP-UP FARMERS MARKET
Tuesdays - Flower Street Field across from Henry Park, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Accepting Maryland Department of Agriculture FMNP (WIC & Seniors) Checks and Maryland WIC Fruit & Vegetable Checks. Also offering a "Produce Bucks" program, which doubles purchases for eligible residents. https://www.facebook.com/theberlinfarmersmarket.
BEACH HEROES-OC
Tuesdays - Volunteer beach clean-up group meets from 9-10 a.m., year-round. Trash bags, grippers and gloves provided. Check the Facebook page “Beach Heroes-OC” for weekly meeting locations. All are welcome.
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES MEETING
Tuesdays - Berlin Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 212 West St., Berlin, 7 p.m. www.jw.org
TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY
Tuesdays - Worcester County Health Department, 9730 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 3:30-4:30 p.m. TOPS is a weekly
support and education group promoting weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. 410289-4725
OC KNITTING CLUB
Tuesdays - Worcester County LibraryOcean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m.
ARGENTINE TANGO PRACTICE
Tuesdays - Experienced dancers and others interested in watching or learning more are welcome, 7-9:30 p.m. No partner required. Info: TangobytheBeach.com.
ZUMBA TONING TUESDAYS
Tuesdays - Northside Park, 200 125th St., Ocean City, 5:30 p.m. Zumba with optional light weights. zumbajoyceoc@gmail.com
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AND WELLNESS GROUP
Tuesdays - Holy Trinity Cathedral, 11021 Worcester Highway, 2-2:45 p.m. Use the weight loss program/app/plan of your choice. Free and open to everyone. 410-641-4882, www.htcanglican.org/activities.
Wed., July 9
MOVIES ON THE BEACH
Carousel Oceanfront Hotel & Condos, 11700 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 8:30 p.m. Featuring “Peter Pan.” Free, family-friendly event. Bring blankets, chairs, snack, drinks and warm clothing. Weather permitting. www.ococean.com /things-to-do/free-family-fun/
BARIATRIC SUPPORT GROUP
Meets the first and second Wednesday of each month. For non-surgical patients. Atlantic General Bariatric Center, 410-641-9568
BABY TIME
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10 a.m. Songs, stories and giggles. For ages 0-2 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org
BRIGHT STAR THEATRE: PETER PAN
Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Meet Lenny and Mabel as they hilariously work to bring this literacy classic to life in a hysterical play within a play. For families. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org
MERRY MAKERS: UPCYCLED SUMMER
WREATH
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 11 a.m. The group will use both found and new materials to create a cheery indoor wreath. Registration required: 410-208-4014. www.worcesterlibrary.org
STROKE SUPPORT GROUP
Atlantic General Neurology at the Atlantic Health Center, 9714 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 3:15-4 p.m. For stroke sur-
vivors, family and friends. 410-6414765, Betty.Darby-Glime@TidalHealth.org
BOOK CLUB AT 50PLUS CENTER: ‘WHAT THE EYES DON’T SEE’ BY MONA HANNA-ATTISHA
Snow Hill 50plus Center, 4767 Snow Hill Road, 11 a.m. Stop by the Snow Hill Library or the 50plus Center to pick up your book, then meet for a great discussion. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org
NAILED IT! MELTING ICE CREAM CUPCAKES
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 3:30 p.m. Time to test your decorating skills. For ages 6 years and older. Call to register: 410-208-4014. www.worcesterlibrary.org
TABLETOP ROLE PLAYING GAME
Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 5 p.m. Come play a selected role-playing game for teens. Registration required: 410632-3495. www.worcesterlibrary.org
FAMILY FUN NIGHTS
Wednesdays (through Aug. 20) - Ocean Pines Yacht Club Pool, 1 Mumford's Landing Road, 6-8 p.m. DJ, games and prizes. Food available for purchase. Admission is $3 for OP swim members, $5 for OP residents, $7 for non-residents and free for non-swimmers. Cash only. 410-641-7052, oceanpines.org
KIWANIS CLUB MEETING
Wednesdays - Ocean Pines Community Center, 239 Ocean Parkway, 8 a.m. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Last Wednesday of the month meetings are offsite and information can be found on the website and Facebook. www.kiwanisofopoc.org.
Thurs., July 10
SUNSET PARK PARTY NIGHTS
Sunset Park, 700 S. Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, 7-9 p.m. Free concert by Tranzfusion, views of the sunset over the Isle of Wight Bay and free admission. https://www.ococean.com/things-todo/free-family-fun/sunset-park-partynights/
CONCERTS IN THE PARK
White Horse Park Pavilion, 235 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines, 7-9 p.m. Featuring music by Uptown Band. Free family entertainment. Bring chairs, blankets, etc. Food will be available for purchase and BYOB is acceptable. Smoking area is in the rear. 410-641-7052
STORY TIME: COLORFUL ART
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10:30 a.m. Songs, dancing and crafts. For ages 2-5 yearsl. 410-208-4014
PLAY TIME
Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 10:30 a.m. Join in for a variety of activities and
toys. Play and socialize with other families. For ages 0-5 years. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org
BRIGHT STAR THEATRE: PETER PAN
Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 10:30 a.m. Meet Lenny and Mabel as they hilariously work to bring this literacy classic to life in a hysterical play within a play. 410641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org
OC CHESS CLUB
Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Enjoy a relaxing game of chess every Thursday at the library. 410-5241818, www.worcesterlibrary.org
BRIGHT STAR THEATRE: STORYBOOK TALES
Mar-Va Theater Performing Arts Center, 103 Market St., Pocomoke City, 2 p.m. Meet Lenny and Mabel as they bring their traveling show featuring Gepetto and his little wooden boy Pinocchio. Then encounter great capers with Robin Hood. 410-957-0878, www.worcesterlibrary.org
FANCY NANCY PARTY
Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 2 p.m. Join in for “tea,” tattoos and tutus. Boys and girls of all ages are welcome. Register: 410-208-4014. www.worcesterlibrary.org
ONGOING EVENTS
FREE SUMMER PROGRAMS AT THE OC LIFE-SAVING STATION MUSEUM Summer programs take place at the OC Life-Saving Station Museum, 813 S. Atlantic Ave., from 10-10:30 a.m., Monday through Saturday, July 7-Aug. 29. Monday - History of Our Surfmen Tuesday - Beach Safety Wednesday - Knot Tying Thursday - All About Sharks Friday - Land, Sky & Sea Saturday - Aquarium Feeding For more info: 410-289-4991, emma@ocmuseum.org
CREATIVE KIDS CORNER: COLOR BY NUMBER
Ocean City library, 10003 Coastal Highway, July 1-31. Grab an art kit to create at the library or take it with you. Most supplies are included. For children ages 0-11 years. 410-524-1818
Crossword answers from page 46
SPEEDWORLD Small Engine Mechanic. Year-round. Wage starts at $15/hr & up based on experience. Benefits available. 443-754-1047
CARPENTERS & CARPENTERS HELPERS
WOC BOAT YARD
Person needed for Mechanical Work and Yard Work at WOC boat yard. Excellent pay. Call 410-213-1383
AMERICAN LEGION Assistant Manager, PM Shift 2 Line Cooks, experience required. Part-time. Apply at Post, 2308 Philadelphia Avenue or call for information at 410-289-3166
MAINTENANCE
FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND Competitive Salary, Health Insurance, 401K, Paid Vacation. Apply in person or call. Pyramid Condo 9500 Coastal Hwy., OC 410-524-4479
CLEANERS WANTED Vacation rental cleaners needed for OC and The Pines. Exp. preferred, but not required. OC PURIFIERS. Call or text 443-397-1189 or email Karen@ocpurifiers.com
RENTALS
RENTALS
WOC YR HOUSE 3BR, 3BA, W/D Unfurnished $3,000 per mo. 410-430-9185
WATERFRONT BAYSIDE
Newly remodeled 2BR, 2BA Condo in North OC. Full kitchen, LR, DR, W/D, balcony for sunsets. Perfect for crabbing, fishing, kayaking. 10 min. walk to beach. Weekly summer rentals & long term seasonal Nov.-May. Contact Julie, 443-223-4623
Seeking YR & Seasonal Rentals! Call Howard Martin Realty 410-352-5555. SUMMER BAYSIDE CONDO near Jolly Rogers. 2BR, 2BA, W/D, A/C, Wi-Fi, fully furnished. Sleeps 4-6. 2 units available. May-Sept. Call Mike at 410-603-6120. www.mbjcproperties.com COMMERCIAL
2 Office/Retail Spaces available in West Ocean City. Approximately 1656 sq. ft. and 1728 sq. ft. Call 443-497-4200
SERVICES
LARRY’S HANDYMAN
SERVICE
No job too small. Entrance doors, interior doors, storm doors, shower doors, drywall repairs and paint, laminate floors, interior paint. Over 40 years of carpentry experience. Please call Larry, 410-251-9066
MARYLAND
MISC. FOR SALE
Get Boost Infinite! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 855-977-5719
Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HDDVR Upgrade, 80,000 OnDemand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-855-4076870
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.
He wants me to know, The map, topographical. The choices are mine!
Run your business
CLASSIFIED AD NETWORK
REAL ESTATE
Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-855-993-0969 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.
VEHICLES WANTED DONATE YOUR CAR/TRUCK/ RV - Lutheran Mission Society of MD Compassion Place ministries help local families with food, clothing, counseling. Tax deductible. MVA licensed #W1044. 410-228-8437 www.CompassionPlace.org
We Buy Houses for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-866-541-7929
SERVICES
DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-337-5228 www.dental50plus.com/ MDDC #6258
1099 WINTERSON ROAD, SUITE 301
LINTHICUM HEIGHTS, MARYLAND 21090 www.cgd-law.com/sales
SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES' SALE OF IMPROVED REAL PROPERTY
8203 ATLANTIC AVENUE #8PH OCEAN CITY, MD 21842
By authority contained in a Deed of Trust dated January 4, 2006 and recorded in Liber 4621, Folio 66, among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland, with an original principal balance of $417,000.00, and an interest rate of 3.500%, default having occurred thereunder, the Substitute Trustees will sell at public auction at the Courthouse door for the Circuit Court for Worcester County, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863, on
July 21, 2025 AT 11:00AM
ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE property more fully described in the aforesaid Deed of Trust. The property being sold is a condominium unit and all common elements appurtenant thereto.
Terms of Sale: The property will be sold “as is” subject to any conditions, restrictions, easements and agreements of record affecting same with no warranty of any kind. A deposit of $38,000.00 by certified funds only (no cash accepted) required at time of auction. Balance of the purchase price to be paid within 10 days of ratification of sale by the Court, with interest at the note rate from date of sale to settlement. If settlement is delayed for ANY reason, there shall be no abatement of interest or taxes. All private utility, water and sewer facilities charges, front foot benefit payments, ground rent, or condo/HOA assessments, not otherwise divested by ratification of the sale are payable by purchaser without adjustment. Real estate taxes and all other public charges, or assessments, to be adjusted as of date of sale. Transfer and recordation taxes, and all other costs incident to settlement, shall be borne by purchaser. Purchaser shall be responsible for obtaining physical possession of the property.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. If purchaser fails to go to settlement within ten days of ratification, or otherwise fails to comply with the terms of sale, the Trustee may declare the entire deposit forfeited and resell the property at the risk and expense of defaulting purchaser, who agrees to pay reasonable attorneys' fees and costs if a motion to resell the property has been filed, purchaser waives personal service of any paper filed in connection with such motion, and agrees to accept service of any such paper by regular mail to the address provided at time of sale. If the Trustee cannot convey insurable title, or the loan servicer determines that the sale should not
have occurred, the sale shall be null and void, and purchaser's sole remedy shall be the return of deposit without interest.
This property will be sold subject to the IRS right of redemption for a period of 120 days after the sale.
Richard E. Solomon, et al., Sub. Trustees
Tidewater Auctions, LLC (410) 825-2900
www.tidewaterauctions.com
CGD File #: 461769
OCD-7/3/1t
BWW Law Group, LLC
6003 Executive Blvd., Suite 101 Rockville, MD 20852 (301) 961-6555
SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES' SALE
OF REAL PROPERTY AND ANY IMPROVEMENTS THEREON
128 B NEWPORT BAY DRIVE OCEAN CITY, MD 21842
Under a power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust dated March 23, 2006, recorded in Liber 4670, Folio 399 among the Land Records of Worcester County, MD, with an original principal balance of $428,000.00, default having occurred under the terms thereof, the Sub. Trustees will sell at public auction at the Circuit Court for Worcester County, at the Court House Door, One W. Market St., Snow Hill, MD 21863, on
JULY 8, 2025 AT 4:05 PM
ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND, together with any buildings or improvements thereon located in Worcester County, MD and more fully described in the aforesaid Deed of Trust.
The property, and any improvements thereon, will be sold in an "as is" condition and subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any, and with no warranty of any kind.
Terms of Sale: A deposit of $26,000 in the form of certified check, cashier's check or money order will be required of the purchaser at time and place of sale. Balance of the purchase price, together with interest on the unpaid purchase money at the current rate contained in the Deed of Trust Note, or any modifications thereto, from the date of sale to the date funds are received by the Sub. Trustees, payable in cash within ten days of final ratification of the sale by the Circuit Court. There will be no abatement of interest due to the purchaser in the event additional funds are tendered before settlement. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR THE PURCHASER. Adjustment of all real property taxes, including agricultural taxes, if applicable, and any and all public and/or private charges or assessments, to the extent such amounts survive foreclosure sale, including water/sewer, ground rent and front foot benefit charges, to be adjusted to date of sale and thereafter assumed by purchaser. Pur-
chaser is responsible for any recapture of homestead tax credit. All transfer taxes and recordation taxes shall be paid by Purchaser. The purchaser shall be responsible for the payment of the ground rent escrow, if required. Condominium fees and/or homeowners association dues, if any, shall be assumed by the purchaser from the date of sale. Purchaser is responsible for obtaining physical possession of the property, and assumes risk of loss or damage to the property from the date of sale. The sale is subject to post-sale audit of the status of the loan with the loan servicer including, but not limited to, determination of whether the borrower entered into any repayment agreement, reinstated or paid off the loan prior to the sale. In any such event, this sale shall be null and void, and the Purchaser's sole remedy, in law or equity, shall be the return of the deposit without interest. If purchaser fails to settle within ten days of ratification, subject to order of court, purchaser agrees that property will be resold and entire deposit retained by Sub. Trustees as liquidated damages for all losses occasioned by the purchaser's default and purchaser shall have no further liability. The purchaser waives personal service of any papers filed in connection with its failure to settle within ten days of ratification and expressly agrees to accept service by first class mail at the address provided by the Purchaser as identified on the Memorandum of Sale. The defaulted purchaser shall not be entitled to any surplus proceeds resulting from said resale even if such surplus results from improvements to the property by said defaulted purchaser. Sub. Trustees will convey either marketable or insurable title. If they cannot deliver one or the other, or if ratification of the sale is denied by the Circuit Court for any reason, the Purchaser's sole remedy, at law or equity, is return of the deposit without interest. (Matter No. 372188-1) Howard N. Bierman, Carrie M. Ward, et. al., Substitute Trustees
OCD-6/19/3t
NOTICE
OF PASSAGE OF BILL 25-02
WORCESTER
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Take Notice that Bill 25-02 (County Government – County Real and Personal Property and County Buildings) was passed by Commissioners Abbott, Bertino, Bunting, Elder, Fiori, Mitrecic, and Purnell on May 20, 2025.
A fair summary of the bill is as follows:
The bill amends Section 4-404 of the County Government Article of the County Code to refine restrictions on camping at certain locations including County property, clarifying the ability of the County to remove abandoned personal property on
County and other property, and making violations of this provision a misdemeanor rather than a civil citation.
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-6/19/3t
JOSHUA I. BIENSTOCK, ESQ. BIENSTOCK LAW, LLC 21 CHURCH ST., STE. 600 ROCKVILLE, MD 20850-4207
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20707
TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF JULIA COLETA SMET
AKA: JULIA SMET
Notice is given that John M. Smet, 7801 Wingate Dr., Glenn Dale, MD 20769-2024, was on June 11, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Julia Coleta Smet who died on November 07, 2024, 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 11th day of December, 2025.
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; 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.
John M. Smet
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: June 19, 2025
OCD-6/19/3t
NOTICE
Disposal of Surplus Vehicles and Equipment to be Auctioned on GovDeals.com
"Disposition of County Personal Property no longer used by the County"
The following described personal property, including vehicles, furniture and equipment, have been determined to be no longer required for County use by the County Commissioners of Worcester County, Maryland and deemed to be surplus property:
SURPLUS VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT
Surplus vehicles, listed by make and model (with model year), as follows: Ford F150 2WD (2001); International 2674 (1991); Ford F250 4x4 (2004); Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4 (2014); Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2WD (2006); Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4x4 (2005); Ford Econoline 150 VAN (2006); Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4x4 (2003); Ford F350 CREW CAB DUMP (2006); Dodge Caravan (2006); Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4 (2012); Ford Crown Victoria (2008); Ford Crown Victoria (2009); Ford Crown Victoria (2008); Ford Crown Victoria (2009); Ford Crown Victoria (2010); Chevrolet Tahoe (2009); Chevrolet Tahoe (2013); Chevrolet Tahoe (2013); Chevrolet Tahoe (2012); Chevrolet Tahoe (2013); Ford Crown Victoria (2011).
Surplus furniture and miscellaneous equipment, including: Portable PA System With Amplifier; Wood Desks and Shelving; Ornamental Light Poles; LB White Heater; Hydraulic Hose Machine; Misc Automotive Filter/Parts/Manuals; Coats Tire Mounting Machine Model 40-40A; Old Battery Powered Tools; Tire Balancing Machine, Hunter Road Force; Electrical Power Banks; Soda Machine, Industrial Air ILA3606056 Air Compressor; Parts Washer; Ranger T-5-500; Misc Soccer Goals; Misc Gas Powered String Trimmers; Misc Printers; Misc Computers.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE AND CONVEYANCE: The County Commissioners propose to solicit competitive bids via an Internet-based auction system operated by GovDeals, Inc. for which the winning bidder pays a buyer's premium of twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) of the winning bid for each transaction so that there is no net cost to the County. All of the above referenced surplus property will be offered for sale "AS IS, WHERE IS." The County Commissioners make no warranty, guaranty or representation of any kind, expressed or implied, as to the merchantability or fitness for any purpose of the prop-
erty offered for sale. The County Commissioners warrant to the buyer that the property offered for sale will conform to it description. The County Commissioners reserve the right to reject any and all bids as they see fit and to withdraw from sale any of the items listed. Payment in full by successful bidders shall be made to Worcester County Commissioners.
OPPORTUNITY FOR OBJEC-
TIONS: Anyone objecting to the proposed conveyance of the above surplus vehicles and equipment shall do so in writing prior to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2025, or in person at the regularly scheduled meeting of the County Commissioners to be held at 10:00 a.m. on July 15, 2025 in the County Commissioners Meeting Room, Room 1101 - Government Center, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863.
WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OCD-6/19/3t
JOHN F. ROBBERT ESQ. CHESAPEAKE LEGAL COUNSEL LLC
2661 RIVA RD., STE. 410A ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401-7335
NOTICE
OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Estate No. 20686 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF MAJORIE L. DODGE
AKA: MAJORIE DODGE WORTH
Notice is given that Stephanie Staib, 313 Reed St., Milton, DE 19968-1640, was on June 12, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Marjorie L. Dodge who died on March 19, 2025, 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 12th day of December, 2025.
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; 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.
Stephanie Staib 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: June 19, 2025
OCD-6/19/3t
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of BRUCE GORDON KNUTSON Estate No. 20705 Notice is given that HEATHER MCDONALD whose address is 339 REDWOOD GROVE CT., MILLERSVILLE, MD 21108-1876 was on JUNE 11, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of BRUCE GORDON KNUTSON who died on MAY 22, 2025 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 11th day of DECEMBER, 2025
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; 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.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-6/19/3t
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 20695
NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Register of Wills court of Sussex County, Delaware appointed (1) Catherine Northcraft, 21068 Cool Spring Rd., Milton, DE 19968-3318 as the Administrator of the Estate of Catherine R. Oswald who died on December 07, 2023 domiciled in Delaware, USA.
The name and address of the Maryland resident agent for service
of process is (1) Ellen Ora Vanderham, 2708 Appleseed Rd., Finksburg, MD 21048-2206.
At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following Maryland counties: Worcester County.
All persons having claims against the decedent must file their claims with the Register of Wills for Worcester County with a copy to the foreign personal representative on or before the earlier of the following dates:
(1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death; or (2) Two months after the foreign personal representative mails or 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 claim within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.
(1) Catherine Northcraft Foreign Personal Representative Terri Westcott Register of Wills One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074
Name of Newspaper: Ocean City Digest
Date of first publication: June 19, 2025
OCD-6/19/3t
ALEXANDER M. PAGNOTTA 183 HARRY S. TRUMAN PKWY., STE. 104 ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401-7579
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20710 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF GEORGE A. PURNELL
Notice is given that Frances S. Purnell, 1546 Teal Dr., P.O. Box 460, Ocean City, MD 21842-5555, was on June 16, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of George A. Purnell who died on May 13, 2025, 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 16th day of December, 2025.
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; 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 de-
livery 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.
Frances S. Purnell 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: June 19, 2025
THE TOWN OF BERLIN, MARYLAND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Monday, July 14, 2025 6:00 PM
To consider the Re-zoning of the Parcel of Property identified as Tax Map 25, Parcel 57
OCD-6/19/3t
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20704
TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF SANDRA PECK
AKA: SANDRA ANN PECK
Notice is given that Ryan B. Wolfgram, 17994 Woods Overlook Dr., Dumfries, VA 22026-3111, was on June 12, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Sandra Peck who died on June 05, 2025, 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 12th day of December, 2025.
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; 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.
Ryan B. Wolfgram
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: June 19, 2025
(2) Two months after the foreign personal representative mails or delivers to the creditor a copy of this publishe notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claim within two months from the mailing or delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-6/26/3t
NOTICE
Pursuant to the Town of Berlin, MD Code Sections 108-214 and 108215, the Berlin Mayor and Council will hold a Public Hearing during its regularly scheduled meeting on the date and time indicated above in the Council Chambers of Berlin Town Hall, 10 William Street, Berlin, MD 21811 to consider the recommendation of the Berlin Planning Commission for the change of zoning classification of the above indicated parcel. The Planning Commission passed, by unanimous vote, a motion to recommend the rezoning of 10009 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin, MD from R-1 Residence District to B-2 Shopping District at its meeting held on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
The hearing is open to the public, and public testimony is encouraged.
Persons with questions regarding this hearing may call 410-641-2770 for further information.
OCD-6/26/2t
RAYMOND D. COATES JR, ESQ COATES,COATES, & COATES, P.A.
6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 300 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842
NOTICE
TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES ESTATE NO. 17401
NOTICE IS GIVEN that the CIRCUIT court of WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA appointed (1) STEVEN PETER YEATRAS whose address is 12 140TH ST UNIT 3 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842-6329 as the PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE of the Estate of PETER S YEATRAS who died on MARCH 20, 2015 domiciled in VIRGINIA, USA
The name and address of the Maryland resident agent for service of process is (1) RAYMOND D COATES JR whose address is 6200 COASTAL HWY STE 300 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842-6678. At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following Maryland counties: WORCESTER COUNTY
All persons having claims against the decedent must file their claims with the Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY with a copy to the foreign personal representative on or before the earlier of the following dates:
(1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or
OF
PUBLIC HEARING
WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AGENDA
THURSDAY JULY 10, 2025
Pursuant to the provisions of the Worcester County Zoning Ordinance, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held in-person before the Board of Zoning Appeals for Worcester County, in the Board Room (Room 1102) on the first floor of the Worcester County Government Center, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland. Audio and video recording will take place during this public hearing.
The public is invited to view this meeting live online athttps://worcestercountymd.swagit.co m/live
6:30 p.m. Case No. 25-40, on the lands of Dara and John Wooten, requesting a variance to the side yard setback from 7 feet to 4 feet (to encroach 3 feet) for a proposed landing with steps in the A-2 Agricultural District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(4), ZS 1-202(b)(5), ZS 1122(c)(1) and ZS 1-305, located at 10610 Flower Street, Tax Map 25, Parcel 97, Tax District 3, Worcester County, Maryland.
6:35 p.m. Case No. 25-39, on the lands of Donald D’Aquila, on the application of Hugh Cropper IV, requesting three (3) variances to reduce the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Buffer (1) from 100 feet to 41.79 feet (to encroach 58.21 feet) for a proposed dwelling; (2) from 100 feet to 29.71 feet (to encroach 70.29 feet) for a proposed garage; and (3) from 100 feet to 13.79 feet (to encroach 86.21 feet) for a proposed driveway in the A-2 Agricultural District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(m), ZS 1-202(b)(5) and ZS 1-305 and Natural Resources Code §§ 3-104(d)(4) and NR 3-111, located at 8718 Grey Fox Lane, Tax Map 33, Parcel 206, Tax District 3, Worcester County, Maryland.
6:40 p.m. Case No. 25-41, on the lands of Everett Glenn Holland Revocable Trust and Jean Truitt Holland Revocable Trust, on the application of Cedar Hall Energy Center LLC, requesting a special exception for a public utility structure (battery energy storage system) in the R-2 Suburban Residential District, pursuant to Zoning Code §§ ZS 1-116(c)(3) and ZS 1-206(c)(10), located on the north side of Cedar Hall Road at its intersection with the
Pocomoke Beltway, Tax Map 91, Parcel 68, Tax District 1, Worcester County, Maryland.
OCD-6/26/2t
JOSEPH E. MOORE ESQ WILLIAMS, MOORE, SHOCKLEY & HARRISON
3509 COASTAL HIGHWAY OCEAN CITY, MD 21842
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of KAREN MARY ASKLAND PIPPIN Estate No. 20715 Notice is given that JORDAN J PIPPIN whose address is 3 PENDERS CT BERLIN, MD 21811-1462 was on JUNE 18, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of KAREN MARY ASKLAND PIPPIN who died on JUNE 01, 2025 without 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 18th day of DECEMBER, 2025
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; 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.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074
OCD-6/26/3t
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 20714
Notice is given that the Register of Wills of Bucks County, Pennsylvania appointed (1) Dawn Hartman, 1270 Paso Fino Dr., Warrington, PA 18976-1945 as the Executrix of the Estate of Eleanor M. Gladkowski who died on January 28, 2025 domiciled in Pennsylvania, USA.
The name and address of the Maryland resident agent for service of process is (1) Ron Gladkowski, 736 Mooring Rd., Unit B, Ocean City, MD 21842-4912.
At the time of death, the decedent
owned real or leasehold property in the following Maryland counties: Worcester County.
All persons having claims against the decedent must file their claims with the Register of Wills for Worcester County with a copy to the foreign personal representative on or before the earlier of the following dates:
(1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death; or
(2) Two months after the foreign personal representative mails or 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 claim within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.
(1) Dawn Hartman
Foreign Personal Representative
Terri Westcott Register of Wills
One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074
Name of Newspaper:
Ocean City Digest
Date of first publication: June 26, 2025
OCD-6/26/3t
NOTICE
OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Estate No. 20718 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF WALTER SHRIEVES SR.
Notice is given that Robin Nock, 2304 Bird Hill Rd., Stockton, MD 21864-2054, was on June 20, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Walter Shrieves Sr. who died on April 13, 2024, without 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 20th day of December, 2025.
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; 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.
Robin Nock Personal Representative
PUBLIC NOTICE
The motor vehicles described below have been abandoned. The owners and lien holders are hereby informed of their right to reclaim the vehicles upon payment of all charges and costs resulting from the towing, preservation, and storage of the vehicles.
The failure of the owners or lien holders to reclaim the vehicles within three weeks of notification shall be deemed a waiver by the owners or lien holders of all rights, title and interest and thereby consent to the sale of the vehicles at public auction or to have it otherwise disposed of in a manner provided by law.
These three weeks of notification begins on DATE: 6/20/2025
AUTH: Raymond J Austin Chief of Police
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: June 26, 2025
OCD-6/26/3t
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Estate No. 20716
TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF CHARLES CARROLL WAESCHE AKA: CHARLES CARROLL WAESCHE SR.
Notice is given that Kathy Sue Henninger, 3401 Westminster Dr., Myrtle Beach, SC 29588-7716, was on June 20, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Charles Carroll Waesch who died on May 22, 2025, 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 represen-
tative 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 20th day of December, 2025.
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; 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.
Kathy Sue Henninger
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: June 26, 2025
OCD-6/26/3t
VICTOR H. LAWS ESQ. LAWS, INSLEY & BENSON, P.A. 209 E. MAIN ST., P.O. BOX 75 SALISBURY, MD 21803-0075
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20724 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF DOLORES S. COLEMAN AKA: DOLORES SUSAN COLEMAN
Notice is given that John J. Coleman III, 10 Citrus Dr., Rochester, NY 14606-4333, was on June 23, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Dolores S. Coleman who died on May 12, 2025, 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 represen-
tative 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 23rd day of December, 2025.
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; 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.
John J. Coleman III 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: June 26, 2025
OCD-6/26/3t
MICHAEL B. MATHERS ESQ. WEBB, CORNBROOKS, WILBER, VORHIS, DOUSE & MATHERS, LLP
P.O. BOX 910115 BROAD STREET SALISBURY, MD 21803-0910
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20712 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF BENJAMIN C. PENNEWILL
Notice is given that Kathryn A. Mulcahy, 612 N. Pinehurst Ave., Salisbury, MD 21801-6161, was on June 23, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Benjamin C. Pennewill who died on April 29, 2025, without 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 23rd day of December, 2025.
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; 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.
Kathryn A. Mulcahy
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: June 26, 2025
OCD-6/26/3t
MICHAEL B MATHERS ESQ WEBB, CORNBROOKS, WILBER, VORHIS, DOUSE & MATHERS, LLP POBOX 910115 BROAD STREET SALISBURY, MD 21803-0910
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES
ESTATE NO. 20721
NOTICE IS GIVEN that the PROBATE court of BANDERA, TEXAS appointed (1) JACK L RAUSCH whose address is 7904 24TH PL HYATTSVILLE, MD 20783-2622 as the PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE of the Estate of JACK LEE RAUSCH who died on JUNE 09, 2013 domiciled in TEXAS, USA
The name and address of the Maryland resident agent for service of process is N/A. At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following Maryland counties: WORCESTER COUNTY
All persons having claims against the decedent must file their claims with the Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY with a copy to the foreign personal representative on or before the earlier of the following dates:
(1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or
(2) Two months after the foreign personal representative mails or delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written no-
tice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claim within two months from the mailing or delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-6/26/3t
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS BOARD OF PORT WARDENS
Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 106 ”Waterways,” Article II – “Shoreline Development” of the Code of the Town of Ocean City, Maryland, hereinafter referred to as the Code, same being the Port Wardens Ordinance of Ocean City, Maryland, notice is hereby given that public hearings will be conducted in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 301 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, Maryland.
Thursday, July 10, 2025 2:00 PM
PW 25-047 A request has been submitted to install 225’ of replacement vinyl bulkhead, to construct a 6’ x 30’ pier and install one boatlift with associated pilings, maximum channelward extension 30’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 162 CHANNEL BUOY RD Parcel # 1467A-35 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.
OWNER: Keith Ebersole
APPLICANT: McGinty Marine
Construction
PW 25-051 A request has been submitted to construct a 6’ x 20’ pier extension for a total length of 50’ and to install one boatlift with associated pilings maximum channelward 50’. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 609 BAYSHORE DR UNIT 40 Parcel # 5347 -40 in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.
OWNER: St. Clair Revocable Trust
APPLICANT: J. Stacey Hart
PW 25-052 A request has been submitted to install one elevator type boat lift with associated pilings not to exceed 9’ maximum channelward extension. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 207 26TH ST UNIT 402 – Slip 4 - Parcel # 5753 - in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.
OWNER: John Leach
APPLICANT: Kayla Short
PW 25-053 A request has been submitted to install 3 boatlifts and extend two catwalks by 2’2”. Total channelward extension for all work will be 19.2’. These are deeded slips by the condominium to include units 4, 6 and 8. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 607 OSPREY RD Parcel # 5260 -in the Town of Ocean City, Maryland.
OWNER: Crab Cove CM/Dan Stedman, President
APPLICANT: Paul Murphy OCD-6/26/2t
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE
Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Class: "B" BEERWINE-LIQUOR License: 7 Day, By: Julie Lynn Wallace, 5005 Nassawango Road, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863; Robert Steven Dornes, 5005 Nassawango Road, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863.
For: Hang 10, LLC
For the premises known as and located at:
T/A: Hang 10 104 West Green Street
Snow Hill, Maryland 21863
There will be a public hearing on the application at the Worcester County Government Center, Room 1102, Snow Hill, Maryland, on: July 16, 2025 @ 1:05 P.M.
The Board welcomes written or oral comments at said public hearing from any interested party. Information regarding this hearing can be found at www.co.worcester.md.us
OCD-7/3/2t
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE
Application has been made by the Undersigned for a Promoter’s License.
For: OC Rock and Ride, LLC
T/A: OC Rock and Ride OC Rock and Ride – September 10, 2025, through September 13, 2025 Hours of Alcoholic Beverage Sales –Begins 1:00 p.m. and ends 10:00 p.m. each day
Ocean City Inlet parking lot, Ocean City, Maryland 21842
There will be a public hearing on the application in the Board Room, Room 1102 in the Government Center, Snow Hill, Maryland, on: July 16, 2025 @ 1:15 P.M.
The Board welcomes written or oral comments at said public hearing from any interested party.
OCD-7/3/2t
LEWIS MCDANIELS, LLC 50 Citizens Way Suite 305 Frederick, Maryland 21701
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND
Case No. C-23-CV-25-000160 (TAX SALE)
Insight Real Estate, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. Louis Costen; Ada L. Costen; Worcester County, Maryland; any and all unknown owners of the property and premises situate in Worcester County, Maryland, described as APP 55'X165' 113 ROSS STREET SNOW HILL and being identified on the Tax Roll as Parcel ID: 02-017385, and which may be known as 113 Ross St., Snow Hill, MD 21863, the unknown owner's heirs, devisees, and personal representatives and their or any of their heirs, devisees,
executors, administrators, grantees, assigns, or successors in right, title and interest; and, any and all persons that have or claim to have any interest in the property and premises situate in Worcester County, Maryland, described as APP 55'X165' 113 ROSS STREET SNOW HILL and being identified on the Tax Roll as Parcel ID: 02017385, and which may be known as 113 Ross St., Snow Hill, MD 21863, Defendants.
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this proceeding is to secure the foreclosure of all rights of redemption in the following property situate in Worcester County, Maryland, sold by the Collector of Taxes for Worcester County, Maryland, and the State of Maryland:
described as APP 55'X165' 113 ROSS STREET SNOW HILL and being identified on the Tax Roll as Parcel ID: 02-017385, and which may be known as 113 Ross St., Snow Hill, MD 21863.
The Complaint states, among other things, that the amounts necessary for redemption have not been paid.
It is thereupon this 24th of June, 2025 by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, ORDERED, that notice be given by the insertion of a copy of this Order in some newspaper having general circulation in Worcester County, Maryland, once a week for three (3) successive weeks, the last insertion on or before the 21st day of July, 2025, warning all persons interested in the property to appear in this Court by the 23rd day of August, 2025, and redeem the property and/or answer the Complaint or thereafter a final judgment will be entered foreclosing all rights of redemption in and as to the property, and vesting in the plaintiff a title free and clear of all encumbrances.
Beau H. Oglesby JUDGE
True Copy
Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk at the Circuit Court Worcester County MD OCD-7/3/3t
PETER S. BUAS, ESQ. WILLIAMS, MOORE, SHOCKLEY & HARRISON, LLP 3509 COASTAL HIGHWAY OCEAN CITY, MD 21842
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20678 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF LARRY J. PIZZA
Notice is given that Kimberly Pizza, 18 East Wind Dr., Berlin, MD 21811-9629, was on June 25, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Larry J. Pizza who died on December 11, 2023, without 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 25th day of December, 2025.
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; 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.
Kimberly Pizza 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:
July 03, 2025
OCD-7/3/3t
SINAN CESUR Plaintiff v. ESTATE OF PAUL MCMANUS
WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND
S/O Roscoe R. Leslie, Esq.
STATE OF MARYLAND
Office of the Attorney General
S/O Anthony Brown, Attorney General
All persons who have or claim to have any interest in the Tax Rolls of the Finance Officer and Collector of State Taxes for WORCESTER COUNTY as follows: 75' X 165' W SIDE PIT CIRCLE RD FRANKTOWN
Defendants IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND
CASE NO.: C-23-CV-25-000095
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this proceeding is to secure foreclosure of all rights of redemption from tax sale on the property known as 75' X 165' W SIDE PIT CIRCLE RD FRANKTOWN, sold by the Finance Officer of WORCESTER COUNTY, State of Maryland, to SINA CESUR, the Plaintiff.
A description of the property in substantially the same form as the description appearing on the Certifi-
cate of Tax Sale is as follows: 75' X 165' W SIDE PIT CIRCLE RD FRANKTOWN. The Complaint states, among other things, that the amount necessary for redemption has not been paid.
It is thereupon this 24th of June, 2025, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, ORDERED that notice be given by the insertion of a copy of this Order in some newspaper having a general circulation once a week for three consecutive weeks, warning all persons interested in the property to appear before this Court by the 23rd day of August, 2025, and redeem the property and answer the Complaint or thereafter a final judgment will be entered foreclosing all rights of redemption in the property and vesting title to the property in the Plaintiff, free of all liens and encumbrances.
Beau H. Oglesby Judge, Circuit Court for WORCESTER COUNTY True Copy Test: Susan R. Braniecki Clerk at the Circuit Court Worcester County MD OCD-7/3/3t
JOHN P CUSTIS ESQ
JOHN P CUSTIS, LLC ATTORNEY AT LAW
1408 S SALISBURY BLVD
SALISBURY, MD 21801-7127
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of JOHN F JONES JR Estate No. 20731 Notice is given that ANN I JONES whose address is 7942 WHITON RD SNOW HILL, MD 21863-3144 was on JUNE 26, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JOHN F JONES JR who died on APRIL 22, 2025 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 26th day of DECEMBER, 2025
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; 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.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE
SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074
OCD-7/3/3t
COATES, COATES, & COATES, P.A.
RAYMOND D. COATES JR., ESQ. 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 300
OCEAN CITY, MD 21842
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 20732
NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Circuit Court of Winchester County, Virginia appointed (1) Steven P. Yeatras, 12 140th St., Unit 3, Ocean City, MD 21842-6329 as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Pitsa V. Yeatras who died on November 17, 2019 domiciled in Virginia, USA.
The name and address of the Maryland resident agent for service of process is (1) Raymond D. Coates, Jr., 6200 Coastal Hwy., Ste. 300, Ocean City, MD 21842-6698.
At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following Maryland counties: Worcester County.
All persons having claims against the decedent must file their claims with the Register of Wills for Worcester County with a copy to the foreign personal representative on or before the earlier of the following dates:
(1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death; or
(2) Two months after the foreign personal representative mails or 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 claim within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.
(1) Steven P. Yeatras
Foreign Personal Representative Terri Westcott Register of Wills One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074
Name of Newspaper: Ocean City Digest
Date of first publication: July 03, 2025
OCD-7/3/3t
BREZA & ASSOCIATES, LLC
ELIZABETH A. GREEN ESQ. 11019 MCCORMICK RD., STE. 400 HUNT VALLEY, MD 21031-1407
NOTICE
TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 20733
NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Circuit Court of Palm Beach County, Florida appointed (1) Jay Taustin, 11491 Key Deer Cir., Lake Worth, FL 33449-8450 as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Cheryl M. Taustin who died on August 05, 2024 domiciled in Florida, USA.
The name and address of the
Maryland resident agent for service of process is (1) Elizabeth A. Green, 11019 McCormick Rd., Ste. 400, Hunt Valley, MD 21031-1407.
At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following Maryland counties: Worcester County.
All persons having claims against the decedent must file their claims with the Register of Wills for Worcester County with a copy to the foreign personal representative on or before the earlier of the following dates:
(1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death; or
(2) Two months after the foreign personal representative mails or 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 claim within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.
(1) Jay Taustin Foreign Personal Representative Terri Westcott Register of Wills One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074
Name of Newspaper: Ocean City Digest
Date of first publication: July 03, 2025
OCD-7/3/3t
MICHAEL B. MATHERS, ESQ. WEBB, CORNBROOKS, WILBER, FORHIS, DOUSE & MATHERS, LLP
P.O. BOX 910 115 BROAD STREET SALISBURY, MD 21803-0910
NOTICE
OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Estate No. 20717 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF MARTHA JANE ARTHUR
Notice is given that David Stanton, 9 52nd St., Unit 6, Ocean City, MD 21842-3657, was on June 27, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Martha Jane Arthur who died on May 26, 2025, 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 27th day of December, 2025.
Any person having a claim against the decedent must present
LEGAL ADVERTISING
Call: 410-723-6397
Fax: 410-723-6511
or E-mail:
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; 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.
David Stanton 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: July 03, 2025
OCD-7/3/3t
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO
CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of DONALD EDWARD GRANT
Estate No. 20719 Notice is given that DAVID ALAN GRANT whose address is PO BOX 301, ATLANTIC, VA 23303-0301 was on JUNE 23, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of DONALD EDWARD GRANT who died on JUNE 05, 2025 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 23rd day of DECEMBER, 2025
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; 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.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of
Wills for Worcester County
ONE W MARKET STREET
ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE
SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074
OCD-7/3/3t
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
Estate No. 20689
TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF GEORGE T. ROCHE
AKA: GEORGE THOMAS ROCHE
Notice is given that Kathleen R. Davenport, 1212 Topiary Pl., Virginia Bch., VA 23455-2268, was on June 24, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of George T. Roche who died on May 18, 2025, 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 24th day of December, 2025.
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; 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.
Kathleen R. Davenport 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: July 03, 2025
A. LINTNER who died on MARCH 15, 2024 without 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 shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within 30 days after the date of publication of this Notice. All persons having an objection to the probate of the will shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within six months after the date of publication of this Notice.
All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them 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; or
(2) Thirty days 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 claim within thirty days from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Any claim not served or filed within that time, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-7/3/1t
SMALL ESTATE NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of GARY CARL DOBRANSK Estate No. 20726 Notice is given that SHIRLEY MARGARET DOBRANSK whose address is 13800 N. OCEAN RD., UNIT K, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842-1924 was on JUNE 24, 2025 appointed personal representative(s) of the small estate of GARY CARL DOBRANSK who died on MARCH 15, 2025 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.
OCD-7/3/3t
SMALL ESTATE NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of NANCY A. LINTNER Estate No. 20727 Notice is given that SHERRY STULL whose address is 11523 N. DOLLY CIR., BERLIN, MD 21811-3220 was on JUNE 24, 2025 appointed personal representative(s) of the small estate of NANCY
All persons having any objection to the appointment shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within 30 days after the date of publication of this Notice. All persons having an objection to the probate of the will shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within six months after the date of publication of this Notice.
All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them 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; or
(2) Thirty days 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 claim within thirty days from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Any claim not served or filed within that time, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074
OCD-7/3/1t
SMALL ESTATE NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 20693 TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE OF JAMES WATERS
AKA: JAMES FRANCIS WATERS
Notice is given that Donna Andrews, 1264 Old Manchester Rd., Westminster, MD 21157-3830, was on June 25, 2025 appointed personal representative of the small estate of James Waters who died on May 16, 2025, without 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 shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within 30 days after the date of publication of this Notice. All persons having an objection to the probate of the will shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within six months after the date of publication of this Notice.
All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them 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; or
(2) Thirty days 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 claim within thirty days from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Any claim not served or filed within that time, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter.
Donna Andrews Personal Representative
True Test Copy Register of Wills for Worcester County Terri Westcott
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: July 03, 2025
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of RUSSELL S. BAGNALL Estate No. 20729 Notice is given that ROSEMARIE BAGNALL whose address is 321 BUTTERCUP CT., BERLIN, MD 21811-1190 was on JUNE 26, 2025 appointed personal representative(s) of the small estate of RUSSELL S. BAGNALL who died on DECEMBER 13, 2024 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 shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within 30 days after the date of publication of this Notice. All persons having an objection to the probate of the will shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within six months after the date of publication of this Notice.
All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them 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; or
(2) Thirty days 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 claim within thirty days from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Any claim not served or filed within that time, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074
OCD-7/3/1t
SMALL ESTATE
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of LARRY G. BLACKWELL Estate No. 20730 Notice is given that ELIZABETH RAMSEY whose address is 229 CHATHAM LN., ANNAPOLIS, MD 21403-1017 was on JUNE 26, 2025 appointed personal representative(s) of the small estate of LARRY G. BLACKWELL who died on JUNE 15, 2025 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.
with the Register of Wills within six months after the date of publication of this Notice.
All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them 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; or
(2) Thirty days 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 claim within thirty days from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Any claim not served or filed within that time, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074
OCD-7/3/1t
COATES, COATES, & COATES, P.A.
RAYMOND D. COATES JR., ESQ. 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 300
OCEAN CITY, MD 21842
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 20735
NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Surrogate’s Court of Morris County, New Jersey appointed (1) Kodsia Najem, 44 Battle Ridge Rd., Morris Plains, NJ 07950-3418; (2) Nazifa Najem Given, P.O. Box 330609, Miami, FL 33233-0609 as the Foreign Personal Representative of the Estate of G. Reza Najem who died on February 04, 2025 domiciled in New Jersey, USA.
The name and address of the Maryland resident agent for service of process is (1) Raymond D. Coates, Jr., 6200 Coastal Hwy., Ste. 300, Ocean City, MD 21842-6698; (2) Raymond D. Coates Jr., 6200 Coastal Hwy., Ste. 300, Ocean City, MD 21842-6698.
At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following Maryland counties: Worcester County.
All persons having claims against the decedent must file their claims with the Register of Wills for Worcester County with a copy to the foreign personal representative on or before the earlier of the following dates:
Foreign Personal Representatives
Terri Westcott
Register of Wills
One W. Market Street Room 102 - Court House Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074
Name of Newspaper: Ocean City Digest
Date of first publication: July 03, 2025
OCD-7/3/3t
RAYMOND D. COATES JR, ESQ COATES,COATES, & COATES, P.A.
6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 300 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842
NOTICE
OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of RUBY G HALE Estate No. 20736 Notice is given that SHARON GIDDINGS UNDERWOOD whose address is 11117 BELL RD P O BOX 49 WHALEYVILLE, MD 21872-2004 was on JUNE 30, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of RUBY G HALE who died on JUNE 20, 2025 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 30th day of DECEMBER, 2025
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; 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.
OCD-7/3/1t
All persons having any objection to the appointment shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within 30 days after the date of publication of this Notice. All persons having an objection to the probate of the will shall file their objections
(1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death; or (2) Two months after the foreign personal representative mails or 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 claim within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.
(1) Kodsia Najem
(2) Nazifa Najem Given
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-7/3/3t
CHARLES T. CAPUTE ESQ
MCALLISTER, DE TAR, SHOWALTER & WALKER LLC
100 N. WEST STREET EASTON, MD 21601-2710
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of JOHN OLIVER SMITH JR Estate No. 20737 Notice is given that
BRIAN SMITH whose address is 9407 SHOCKLEY RD BISHOPVILLE, MD 21813-1410 was on JUNE 30, 2025 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JOHN OLIVER SMITH JR who died on MAY 30, 2025 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 30th day of DECEMBER, 2025.
Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned per-
sonal 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; 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.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of
Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE
SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074
OCD-7/3/3t
JAMES E. CLUBB JR, ESQ 108 N 8TH ST. OCEAN CITY, MD 21842
SMALL ESTATE
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS
To all persons interested in the estate of GAYLE I DRIESSEN Estate No. 20738 Notice is given that BRENT RICHARD DRIESSEN whose address is 4117 SLATER AVE NOTTINGHAM, MD 21236-
2719 was on JULY 01, 2025 appointed personal representative(s) of the small estate of GAYLE I DRIESSEN who died on SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 without 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 shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within 30 days after the date of publication of this Notice. All persons having an objection to the probate of the will shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within six months after the date of publication of this Notice.
All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them 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; or
(2) Thirty days 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 claims will be barred unless the creditor presents the claim within thirty days from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Any claim not served or filed within that time, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter.
TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for WORCESTER COUNTY ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 OCD-7/3/1t
Area agencies recognized for heroic rescue last Sept.
(July 4, 2025) Members of the Ocean City Fire Department joined the Ocean City Beach Patrol during their Monday morning roll call for a special presentation from the United States Lifesaving Association and the Sussex County Lifesaving Association.
The recognition stems from a multiagency water rescue that occurred on the night of September 14, 2024, in north Ocean City. OCFD was dispatched for a water emergency involving a male victim struggling in the ocean in complete darkness, unable to return to shore. The victim was not visible from shore, which required swimmers to enter and begin searching for the lost swimmer.
Through a coordinated effort between Ocean City Fire Department rescue swimmers, Ocean City police’s drone unit, and the Ocean City 911 Communications Center, the young victim was located and safely rescued — several blocks south from the original call loca-
tion.
“This is why our personnel train for these worst-case scenarios,” said Fire Chief Josh Bunting. “That night, the training and skill of our fire department rescue swimmers, the commitment of our Beach Patrol responding afterhours, and the technology and coordination provided by our police department’s drone team all came together to save a life. It’s a powerful example of what collaboration between public safety agencies can accomplish.”
During the ceremony, Captain Butch Arbin and Lieutenant Skip Lee introduced Rich Szvitich and Matt Farlow from the United States Lifesaving Association, who presented the National Lifesaving Award to the agencies and the Heroic Acts Award to the individual responders involved.
The OCFD reminds all residents and visitors: Do not enter the ocean when the beach patrol is off duty.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OCFD
At Monday’s weekly morning meeting, members of the agencies involved in a rescue last September were recognized.
Next Wave Beach Bash will benefit museum foundation
(July 4, 2025) Shaun Tomson, former world champion surfer, author and motivational speaker, will take the stage at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center on Thursday, July 31 at the Next Wave Beach Bash, a fundraiser for the Ocean City Museum Society.
Tomson, who competed on the pro surfing circuit for 17 years, went on to develop “The Code,” which his website describes as “an academically validated self-development program that inspires, uplifts and connects individuals and teams. It helps activate internal strength to combat despair and emotionally re-engages individuals through the power of purpose.”
Attesting to the popularity of his talks, Tomson, who was born and raised in Durban, South Africa and now lives in Santa Barbara, California, has lectured across the world and inspired corporations such as General Motors, Cisco, Price Waterhouse, Google, Disney and The Gap.
He also has written best-selling books and co-produced the documentary film, “Bustin’ Down the Door,” about how a group of young South African and Australian surfers created modern surfing as it’s known today.
Tomson, 70, won 19 major pro events including the World Championships in 1977, as is rated as one of
the 10 greatest surfers of all time by Surfer Magazine.
Tickets for his talk to are $25
A screening of Bustin’ Down the Door will follow his address.
In addition to the talk and film screening, guests will have the opportunity to purchase and have Tomson sign his book, “The Surfer and the Sage.” Tickets may be purchased online at etix.com.
Large open floor plan unit with new carpet just a short walk to the beach! Kitchen granite countertops, SS appliances & lots of cabinet space. Indoor pool, elevator, large balcony & storage for bikes & beach gear. With the modern amenities, this condo has everything you need & more. Enjoy income from this year’s rentals already booked. Yearly income average $50,000$60,000! For rental income or to schedule a viewing, contact me today. Start living the beach life you've always dreamed of!
Shaun Tomson
Berlin chamber to celebrate Taylor Bank at vintage party
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer
(July 3, 2025) To celebrate 135 years of Taylor Bank in Berlin, the town’s chamber of commerce is hosting a 1920s-themed event later this month as an ode to the business’s earlier days.
On Saturday, July 12, the Berlin Chamber of Commerce is hosting a “Hot Summer Swing” concert with live music, dancing, street performers, and food and beverage vendors. The festivities will kick off at noon and finish up around 5 p.m.
According to Berlin Chamber of Commerce President Garrett Neville, this will be the organization’s first “Hot Summer Swing,” which will be held in conjunction with Taylor Bank.
“It’s to celebrate their 135 years in business,” Neville said. “They are certainly a staple here on the Eastern Shore.”
The party will feature live music from the appropriately named Gatsby Gang Band. There will be kids’ games, and, as a highly different part of the day, a stilt walker will trek up and down Main Street.
“The swing theme is an ode back to vintage Berlin,” Neville said. “It’s something a little bit different but also very family-friendly. We wanted to pick a genre that encouraged hot summer
nights and dancing with family and friends on historic Main Street, Berlin.”
The first 200 children will receive complimentary cotton candy, while the first batch of adults will enjoy complimentary beer from Evolution Craft Brewing Company. Food vendors will also be on-site for attendees to purchase lunch or dinner.
To celebrate Taylor Bank’s 135th anniversary, the Gatsby-themed band will take a break every hour, allowing representatives from the banking group to offer history lessons and stories about the Eastern Shore and the business’s legacy in the community.
Shore leaders will also speak at the Hot Summer Swing.
“At 3 p.m., there will be presentations from various elected officials from the Eastern Shore, just saying wonderful things about Berlin and Taylor Bank,” Neville added.
The chamber president hopes the event will be filled with dancing and fun, appropriate for the whole family.
“This will showcase another incredible event that the Berlin Chamber can put on for the community,” Neville said. “There will be good music and just something for everybody to do. It’ll just be a good way to spend a summer evening. We hope everyone comes out, and we can make this an annual event.”
Weekly summer programs back at Ocean City museum
(July 4, 2025) The Ocean City LifeSaving Station Museum is once again hosting free daily programs Monday through Saturday this summer.
From July 7 through Aug. 29, stop by the museum at 10 am to learn more about the following topics during these half hour programs:
Mondays: History of Our Surfmen: Learn about the U.S. Life-Saving Service and the heroic men who rescued ships in distress off the coast of Ocean City.
Tuesdays: Beach Safety: Learn to be safe in the surf and spell your name using semaphores. The famous OC Beach Patrol is on hand with everything you need to know.
Wednesdays: Knot Tying: Become an expert at nautical knots with help from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Thursdays: All About Sharks: Discover what types of sharks are found off the coast of Ocean City.
Fridays: Land, Sky, and Sea: Learn how the island was formed, what birds fly overhead, and what creatures inhabit our ocean and coastal bays.
Saturdays: Aquarium Feeding: Discover the wildlife that inhabit our ocean and coastal bays as you watch our aquarium animals eat their morning meal.
For more information, visit ocmuseum.org or follow us on social media for updates.
The Ocean City Museum Society is dedicated to preserving the history of Ocean City through programming and exhibits, fostering an appreciation for local culture, and serving as a resource for research and preservation.
BEAC
JOLLY JELLYFISH BEACH CLUB
KIDS CRAFTS
The Art League of Ocean City continued Saturday Kids Crafts on June 21 where kids made colorful wind chimes out of recycled plastic bottles. The free kids' crafts program continues every Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. through the summer at the Ocean City Center for the Arts, 94th St. bayside. Pictured are, top, Bryce, Carolyn and Alyssa Crouch of Chesapeake Beach; above left, Bobbi and Tahraji Clark of Milford, Del.; and, above right, Noah Snyder of Takoma Park, Md.
Cell tower proposed for OPA could have minimal benefits
a copy of your receipt/pictures. Sasha@AtlanticAssemblers.com 302-569-9732
Structure will improve the community’s poor service, but
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer
unknown
(July 3, 2025) A cell phone tower proposed for Ocean Pines may help some residents of the community, but the extent to which it will benefit all residents remains unknown, according to a presentation last week by tower construction company Milestone Towers.
Ocean Pines Police Department
Chief Tim Robinson has been working with Milestone Towers on a plan to construct a cell phone tower in Ocean Pines to address spotty cell service. The project has been discussed at Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors meetings since the fall.
Robinson proposed building a cell site in Ocean Pines last year. He said that last summer, he noticed that he was unable to make phone calls during the season’s busiest weekends. This was particularly concerning in emergency situations, Robinson said, adding that police can’t respond to an emergency if the person experiencing
that emergency can’t call a 911 dispatcher.
Lastg week, Matt Forkas, project manager at Milestone Towers, discussed the cell tower’s location, impact, and design with the board of directors and staff.
If the tower is approved, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile will offer service from that location, Forkas said. He also said Milestone Towers would put up the structure at its cost and that Ocean Pines would not incur any expense.
Forkas also told the board that each carrier would pay $2,500 a month to provide service out of the structure. Milestone Towers would receive 40% of all gross revenue generated.
“In this case, we have three carriers, and after the revenue is split, it would be $36,000 annual revenue to Ocean Pines,” Forkas said.
The contractor has identified the site behind the maintenance building on the Ocean Pines golf course as the ideal spot for the tower.
“That location was chosen because it's a central location in the community and can provide the most efficient service to the customers here,” Forkas said.
EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST
Tower may not fix reception for all Ocean Pines citizens
However, the tower may not improve reception for everyone in Ocean Pines if built.
With the tower, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile customers within a one-mile radius would see the most increase in cell phone reception. Those outside the circle, like the more southern end of the community, such as The Point at Ocean Pines and Sherwood Forest, would likely feel some benefit, but the level of impact is unknown.
“The best impact will be in the one-mile radius, but the individuals outside that one-mile radius, you’re communicating with this tower, so there will be a growth of service even outside that service,” Robinson said.
“You may get improved service, but you may not get the most reliable service,” Forkas added.
Forkas noted that even though the tower may not radiate to “south south” Ocean Pines, the carriers could implement solutions to improve the signal on the outskirts of the radius.
“Verizon could propose small cell solutions, which would be essentially smaller towers like very small, 40 feet, they could put them on light posts, and they can target certain
neighborhoods,” Forkas said. “I would assume that if there is enough need in that specific area, there could be a solution Verizon could propose that wouldn't necessarily require a whole new tower in Ocean Pines.”
Discussions of a second tower in Ocean Pines did come up, but Forkas said he would have to confer with the carriers to see if that would be a financially viable option for them.
“We need to make sure our entire community is seeing a benefit, not just those in a one-mile radius,” said Director John Latham.
If built, the tower could be made to blend in with the community. While the standard design would be a single piece of steel in the air with visible arrays, the camouflaged version could look like a tree.
“You guys have a beautiful community, and we want to honor that,” Forkas noted.
A town hall will be scheduled to provide more in-depth information to the community. Forkas said that to build the tower, they first need approval from Ocean Pines, and then they will work with Worcester County on permitting. If approved, it could be over a year before cell phone reception improves.
Nantuckets recognized for wine program by magazine
By Steve Green Executive Editor
(July 4, 2025) Nantuckets Restaurant in Fenwick Island has been recognized with the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator in its annual restaurant awards program.
There were 2,010 winners in this year’s Award of Excellence category. Wine Spectator’s website says of the award winners, “These wine lists, which should offer at least 90 selections, feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. Whether compact or extensive, focused or diverse, these lists deliver sufficient choice to satisfy discerning wine lovers.”
Each year Wine Spectator presents three awards – the Award of Excellence, which Nantuckets won; the Best of Award of Excellence, which had 1,704 winners; and the Grand Award, which feature 97 winners.
To even be considered for an award through Wine Spectator, a restaurant’s wine list must present to customers thorough and accurate information, such as vintages and appellations of each selection. Among the considerations are the overall presentation of the list, complete producer names and correct spellings are mandatory.
At Nantuckets, Delaney Twining is the restaurant’s sommelier. The restaurant business in Twining’s blood as his parents, David and Janet, founded the restaurant in 1990, followed by the Lobster Shanty in 2010.
“I've been training to be a sommelier since 2015 and achieved that goal in 2018,” Twining said. “I've grown up in the restaurant industry my entire life and I thought it was a great opportunity to expand the potential of Nan-
tuckets. The award came to recognition because I thought our wine list deserved it. I've been a big fan of Wine Spectator and I also feel like they represent the wine world really well.”
Twining said he takes great pride in his work and is fortunate to be able to learn and refine his craft every day at the restaurant.
“The award means a lot to me and the restaurant. To me, it shows that the hard work I put into making our wine and cocktail list has paid off. I'm very lucky that our food and dining experience is consistent,” Twining said.
Twining added, “I'm lucky that I get to play in the sandbox and show off wines that some customers are used to. The award means a lot to the restaurant, because I think it gives our cuisine to shine, even after being open for 35 years in Fenwick Island.”
(July 4, 2025) The Mayor and Council and Planning Commission of the Town of Berlin have announced the release of Request for Proposals (RFP) for a full update to the town’s comprehensive plan.
The RFP was opened to interested parties beginning July 1, with final proposals due by 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5.
Questions from prospective bidders will be accepted until Aug. 1 with responses provided and posted publicly by Aug. 8. All deadlines are subject to change at the town’s discretion.
“The current Comprehensive Plan has served as a valuable tool in guiding Berlin’s growth and land use decisions,” said Mayor Zack Tyndall. “However, it was adopted in 2010 and, reviewed without change in 2020, so it is due for a thorough review and update. It’s time for a fresh look to ensure we are meeting the needs of our current and future residents.”
An internal review committee, including the mayor, members of the council, planning commission and town staff developed the RFP and will evaluate submitted proposals in September. The committee will interview selected firms and make a recommendation to the Mayor and Council for contract award.
The selected consultant will lead a thorough update of the town’s comprehensive plan, addressing key areas such as population trends, land use, infrastructure and utility needs, environmental sustainability, stormwater management, and future growth. A strong emphasis will be placed on community engagement, with a variety of public outreach methods including in-person meetings, surveys, and workshops. The final plan will be submitted for review by the planning commission before formal consideration and adoption by the Mayor and Council.
Those interested can access the full document and submission details on the town’s website at www.berlinmd.gov/government/request-for-proposals
Updates on the planning process and opportunities for public involvement will be shared over the next 12–18 months via the town’s website.
Sweet and spicy strawberry jam a holiday weekend treat
By Deborah Lee Walker Contributing Writer
(July 4, 2025) The Fourth of July is here and sparkled celebrations will grace the Eastern Shore in patriotic abundance.
Grills will be smoking, libations are understood, and company is expected.
A good old-fashioned cheese board is a fast, easy way to satisfy guests until the main course arrives.
While cubed cheese and fresh grapes accompanied with crackers are perfectly acceptable, they do not make for a memorable dish.
Building a dazzling cheese board can be intimidating, but understanding the principles makes preparation easy.
Cheese boards focus on cheese while charcuterie boards highlight meat. Creativity knows no boundaries and combining the two styles showcases a stunning, decadent presentation.
Stylish marble or wood boards are standard plating for this appetizer. Heirloom platters are another way to showcase this dish. Fresh flowers and seasonal herbs add elegance and should be considered.
When choosing cheeses, opt for odd numbers. Odd numbers are more visually appealing than even numbers. Three different types of cheeses are a good number to start with.
Many specialty cheese shops will offer samplings and a quick tutorage about the various types of cheese they offer.
Experiment with different flavors and textures: brie, camembert, and chevre are tasty soft cheeses. Fontina, Gouda, or muenster are delicious semi-soft cheeses. Manchego, Gruyere, or Comte are mouthwatering semi-firm cheeses. Aged cheddar or Parmigiano-Reggiano are decadent firm cheeses. No matter what cheese you decide to go with, make sure it is room temperature.
Meat adds variance and depth of flavor. Prosciutto and salami are great choices and pair beautifully with most ingredients. Asparagus wrapped in prosciutto are mouthwatering and finger friendly.
A cheese board should include something that has a briny quality such as olives, cornichons, pickles, or pepperoncini. One might ask why is this important? A cheese board includes many rich foods, so a briny component helps break up the intensity and at the same time cleanses your palette.
You might be tempted to serve fancy, bold-flavored crackers. Remember, the cheese is the star and the crackers are meant to support and not over power them.
Most cheese boards include some type of nuts. Nuts should be toasted: they have more flavor and texture. Candied-ginger pecans are an innovative alternative and easy to make. Finely chop the crystalized ginger and mix it with the chopped nuts.
The natural oil of the nuts will act as a glue for the crystallized ginger.
Last but not least, a cheese board should include some type of mustard or jam. I like to serve honey, grain mustard, and a sweet and spicy jam.
Sweet and spicy strawberry jam is ideal for this time of the year. A few helpful hints follow.
Strawberries have a lot of natural juice so it is important to cook them long enough so the mixture reduces and obtains that jam-like consistency.
Because of the cooking time, cut the strawberries very coarsely. Reserve half of the strawberries and add towards the end of the cooking time so they retain their texture.
Because of the length of cooking time and amount of sugar, use a heavy bottom pan to avoid burning the jam.
Sweet and spicy strawberry jam is easy to make and very cost effective. Not only is it a fabulous addition to cheese boards, but it can be used as a condiment for grilled proteins, an addition to bagels and cream cheese, and a garnish for savory omelets. On other words, the possible usages are endless.
Sweet and spicy strawberry jam also makes great gifts.
Straberrries are in season, and sweet and spicy strawberry jam is an innovative “bang” to your July 4th celebrations.
Ingredients
2 pounds fresh strawberries, green tops removed, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ small yellow onion, finely chopped
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
4 tablespoons rice vinegar
1. Combine half of the strawberries with the remaining ingredients. Place in a heavy bottom pot and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until mixture becomes thick, about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add remaining strawberries and continue cooking until it has a jamlike consistency. The mixture will thicken as it cools.
Secret Ingredient = Creativity
Creativity doesn’t wait for the perfect moment.
It fashions its own perfect moment out of ordinary ones.
— Bruce Garrabrandt
Calvert Hall alum announce annual reunion in resort
(July 4, 2025) The annual Cardinals at the Beach gathering will take place on Thursday, July 19, as members and friends of the Calvert Hall College High School Alumni Association will convene at Ropewalk in Ocean City.
The all-male college preparatory school, whose mascot is The Cardinal, is rich in Baltimore history, having opened in 1845, 30 years before Ocean City was founded in 1875.
The bayside event is open to CHC alumni, their families and friends. Ropewalk owners and Calvert Hall graduates Bill and Mark McFaul will host the day-long celebration.
Among the group of longtime Ropewalk revelers are friends from the CHC class of 1972. As young men, they travelled to Ocean City for what is now known as Senior Week —parties on the beach, cruising Coastal Highway and pounding the boards.
The classic cars of today were the daily drivers of that era, with Mustangs, Camaros, Cougars, Olds 442's, and a Chevy Nova or two were common sites along Coastal Highway.
These rides provided plenty of room and horsepower for the three-hour road trip from Towson to Ocean City.
Today, many Ocean City landmarks of that time have vanished, as has been chronicled by local writer and historian Bunk Mann. Favorites of the 1972 crew included The Yankee Clipper on 32nd Street, The Admiral on 8th Street and Maimi Court Motel on 22nd Street.
By 1973, the drinking age in Maryland had been lowered to 18 years old. That gave these new grads entre' to some of the best watering holes in town. The Kitty Hawk Bar near 46th Street, Trader Lee's Bluegrass Night off Route 50 and the after-hours rooftop bar above the Sandbar Lounge on 33rd Street. The rooftop is still visible from Coastal Highway after all these years.
Some from this class chose summer employment in Ocean City while attending college. The condo boom in the 1970s provided lots of job options. CHC Alumni helped build the Braemar Towers on 131st Street and the Capri on 110th Street. These condo projects have stood the test of time and define the skyline of north Ocean City known as Condo Row.
Trips to the beach grew less frequent as living became more demanding.
Decades later, members of that same class of '72 reunite each summer for the annual CHC event. Age has taken its toll, but the old stories and tall tales of our misspent youth still bring laughter 50 years later.
On July 19, members of the class will pay homage to the close friends present and those with them only in spirit.
At one time, though, they all were the "boys of summer.”
by Steve Green
The Adventures of Fatherhood
The following is a reprint from July 10, 2014.
It’s not a welcome tradition in my family, but nonetheless it is one.
Friday morning (Fourth of July) marked the third time that one of our kids put us in the Emergency Room at AGH on either a holiday or a special occasion. This time it was Independence Day and a head injury for Carson.
The previous two special day ER visits were his older brother’s injuries. When he was just 19 months old, Beckett on Christmas morning needed stitches on his head after falling off a Diego potty that Santa had brought him and hitting his head. I remember that Christmas quite well, obviously. The good thing was it happened early in the morning, and we were back from the hospital by 9 in the morning. Carson was just seven weeks old at this time. It was merely just a blip and by the end of the day the trip to the ER seemed like it was a couple days prior.
A little under two years later, Beckett on his third birthday returned to the ER for stiches in his eyebrow after getting cut during a fall inside a shed that we decked out as a surf shack for his birthday. That left a scar.
About two years later, it was back to the ER for Beckett after he ignored our repeated warnings and jumped backwards into the pool hitting his chin on the side on the way down. That wound resulted in some sort of glue being applied to it and another scar. However, that incident was not a special occasion.
It appears Carson was feeling left out of all the ER fun because on Independence Day he and I found ourselves driving to the ER after a strange household accident. He was running to use the bathroom when he tripped over a child gate we still had set up for some reason. Somehow when he tripped over it he brought the entire thing down on top of
him. Apparently, and this is an odd thing considering it’s a child’s gate, there was a sharp piece on the gate that caused a sizable laceration to his head. It was deep enough to worry us so off we went to the ER.
After Carson rearranged the entire ER waiting room’s furniture, cleared a couple shelves in another waiting area and stripped the hospital bed of all its linens, he was patched up with the help of three staples and we were back on our way. He was his normal self soon after, but his shrieks of pain and claw marks on my neck during the staple process will stay with me forever.
All these hospital visits got me thinking this week about all the various ailments and medical situations we have had as a family over the last six years. It’s remarkable to me.
Beckett has recorded four total ER visits in his six years; Carson has had two surgeries, numerous tests and an ER visit in his four years; I have had two separate surgeries for a double hernia and appendectomy since becoming a parent; and Pam had major back surgery eight months after Beckett was born.
Yes it sure is an adventure.
t’s funny what scares kids and what doesn’t.
Beckett will jump off the top of a playground, try to body surf a wave twice his height, go on the scariest ride at the amusement park and try the largest slide at the water park. He’s a daredevil, consistent with his gregarious personality.
However, fireworks are another matter altogether.
In fact, his fear of loud sounds has kept us from taking in any of the larger fireworks displays in the area on the 4th of July since he was born. This year we decided we were going to take him to one of the area’s displays. We didn’t bring Carson along, mainly because he’s
a mess past his bedtime, and we thought we might have our hands full with our oldest child anyway.
When we told Beckett about our plans to take him to the fireworks in Willards, he had some reservations, informing us that he “would give it some thought and get back to you over the next couple days.” Even the idea of a playground, bounce houses and his cousins being there were not enough to convince him initially.
Over the next couple days, we broached the subject every now and again and told him how much fun it would be and that we would bring earphones along if the noise was too much for him. He still was not convinced. He remained that way all the way until and during the fireworks.
In all, he handled them well. He complained some about the sound and delivered a verbal play-by-play account that went something like this: “ok that wasn’t too loud,” “that was a little bit loud,” “Why was that so loud?” and “that’s not too bad, just keep them like that, and don’t make them any louder … oh you did it again.” He was apparently just talking himself through it and was overly concerned about the sound rather than taking in the impressive sights.
The next day Beckett was quick to tell Carson what he did the night before. We usually don’t like to tell Carson if we take Beckett to something without him for obvious reasons. Nonetheless, Beckett, who knows better than to rub it in, told his little brother that he would have never been able to handle fireworks because they were too loud.
Carson immediately ran to the door, started jumping up and down and signed he wanted to go see them now. It looks like he will be coming along next year.
(The writer is the executive editor of OC Today-Dispatch. He and his wife, Pamela, are proud parents of two boys. This weekly column examines their transition into parenthood and all that goes along with it. E-mail any thoughts to editor@octodaydispatch.com.)
Warm ocean temp welcomed after last year’s chill
Prolonged upwelling last summer was abnormality
By Dave Dalkiewicz Contributing Writer
(June 27, 2025) The 4th of July is a big deal in this area as I’m sure it is in the rest of our vast country.
Most people think of it as part of the big three summer season weekends. The other two would have to be Memorial Day and Labor Day. The 4th doesn’t always connect directly to a SaturdaySunday as it does this year but instinct would suggest that even when it doesn’t most folks would try to combine it with “other” days off in order to string it together for a longer stay in our resort centered locales. Ironically most people that work in the area probably end up putting in more hours even if only battling the traffic in getting to and from.
What might the holiday weekend mean to the surfer? Hopefully the ocean will co-operate and there will be something to ride. Despite the many surf forecasts available on the internet it’s really difficult to predict what the surf will be like although the closer one gets to the actual day/date the more accurate it should be.
Oft times our conditions will be in the knee to waist range going from low to high tide, frequently combined with a southerly wind but naturally it all depends on many factors. Surfers deal with nature and all that it entails. Tide, wind, bottom contours, swell and swell direction.
More local winds can create wind swell. Winds out to sea can create what is known as ground swell. It’s probably not as predictable as one might like but it’s all part of the boon and bane, the benefit and frustration.
Another strong point that has rapidly increased is the water temperature. It has warmed into the mid-70’s and should be comfortable for any ocean activity. Barring any upwellings the warmer water should continue into the next few months.
At any rate this holiday weekend should be a good one for all concerned. Hopefully the surf will co-operate with conditions being at least ridable. We’ll have to see how it all pans out.
- Dave Dalkiewicz is the owner of Ocean Atlantic Surf Shop in Ocean City
Public hearing held about new fire station vote
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer
(July 4, 2025) The Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department will have a new South Side Station within the next couple of years, if community homeowners approve a referendum to authorize Ocean Pines Association’s contribution of up to $3.4 million to the project. The rebuild could result in a $50 increase in residents' annual assessment fees if it’s green-lit.
Materials for OPA’s 2025 Board of Directors election will be mailed and emailed to residents on July 8, and in that packet will include a referendum question asking Ocean Pines citizens to approve a contribution of around $3.4 million to the new South Station.
The ballot question is worded as follows: “Do you authorize the Ocean Pines Association’s Board of Directors and Administration to proceed with the construction of a new South Fire Station at a target cost to OPA Inc. of up to $3.4 million, with a possible cost variance of up to ten percent (10%)?”
A public hearing on the matter was held last week. Residents were allowed to ask OPA and OPVFD representatives questions about the project.
Fire Department President Joe Enste also outlined the current building’s deteriorating condition and the plans for the new structure.
According to Enste, OPVFD’s South Station, located at 911 Ocean Parkway, must be replaced to meet the fire company's needs. The fire president noted that the department has wanted a new building for decades, with the initial idea for the construction project dating back to 20o1.
The association’s leadership and the department are anxious to get the initiative underway. The current facility is hindering public safety, and the price tag will only increase as time passes, Enste said.
“Where we’re at today is that it is now 2025 and we are still discussing the same thing,” Enste said. “And the cost of everything has gone up significantly. So again, we are at the point where we need to decide on how we are going to progress and make sure that it is set up for the future and not just, ‘oh, we can get by for now.’”
Enste said that the South Station was built in 1981. In 1985, a 4,200square-foot addition was added to accommodate the new EMS side of the department. In 1987, a 500-squarefoot addition was made for administrative offices. Since those modifications, only minor improvements have been made to the building, like paintings and replacing kitchen cabinets.
“Structurally, this building has stayed the exact same as it has been since 1987,” Enste said.
The design and conditions of the South Station have created issues for the department’s staff and volunteers
726-5020
Worcester Library
(July 4, 2025) The Worcester County Library has announce a yearlong series of events commemorating the upcoming Semiquincentennial of the United States, marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The kickoff event will feature “Travel Through Time with Mary Katharine Goddard,” a living history program researched, written, and performed by Rosemarie Law. The event is on Monday, July 14 at the Ocean Pines Library at 2 p.m. This engaging portrayal will delve into the life and contributions of the woman responsible for printing the first broadside of the Declaration of Independence that included the names of the signers.
“We are thrilled to begin our celebration with such a unique and educational program,” stated Elena Coelho, Adult Services Coordinator for the Worcester County Library. “Ms. Law’s performance promises to be informative, offering our community a deeper understanding of a pivotal figure in American history.”
This program is the first in a series that will explore various facets of Colonial America. The Worcester County Library invites the public to participate in this enriching journey through American history.
Stay informed with our digital newsletter
Interested in getting more information more quickly than our weekly OC Today-Dispatch delivers? Our five-days-a-week digital newsletter might be just what you need.
We have developed an in-yourmorning-email product (with updates for breaking news) and invite you to give it a try.
If you sign up now, you’ll get a free three-month trial subscription, to what will become available by paid subscription only for a nominal charge. How nominal? $1 a month or $10 a year to cover our production costs.
Sign up and get three months free by emailing subscriptions@octodaydispatch. com or visit the OC Today-Dispatch online.
Property owners will vote soon
Continued from Page 89
and hinder the quality of fire protection service available for the community, according to Enste.
The engine bay’s current setup includes a ladder truck, a rescue truck, a fire engine, three medic units, and all the personal protective equipment for both volunteer and career teams.
“That is challenging for a number of reasons,” Enste said. “Number one, when we have an emergency, we have volunteers and career staff coming from different directions to get out into that engine bay.
“At the same time, people are trying to drive these vehicles in and out in an emergency response mode. It provides challenges you need to be aware of, like, is anyone going to run across because they forgot their keys, and things like that.”
The engine bay’s doors are also only 12 feet wide. Enste said that in 1981 this was standard, as fire trucks were smaller. Now, the size of these vehicles is growing.
“It’s a challenge trying to back a multi-million dollar piece of equipment with maybe six inches of room on each side of you,” Enste said.
There is also no proper decontamination area in the South Station, which Enset said was particularly worrisome during the covid-19 pandemic. While this issue is not as prevalent today, the firefighters still need a space to clean
off if exposed to smoke and illness. The area designated for decontamination now is missing a shower, leaving just one in the building for the staff.
There are also drainage issues, leaks, and mold concerns. Furthermore, bunk rooms do not have gender separation and are built for one to two overnight employees, as opposed to four today. Enste added that these conditions have made it difficult for the fire company to retain and recruit volunteer staff.
“It’s no secret that volunteerism, when it comes to being involved in the fire department, is lessening and lessening every year,” he said. “There are still great people out there, and we are still bringing great people in every year, but the days of having a waiting list to be a part of the volunteer fire department are long gone.”
Resident Karen Kaplan asked at the public hearing why OPA and the fire department have chosen to construct an entirely new facility rather than renovate the current building. Enste said that the original plan from 2001 was a renovation, but a lot has changed since then. A building committee was created to talk to career and volunteer employees to formulate a list of company needs. This process revealed that a reconstruction was required.
The department’s needs include a decontamination room with a shower and toilet, an EMS and fire workshop, fire storage, a storage mezzanine, sep-
Renovation not option in Pines
arate career and volunteer bunk rooms with optional gender separation, multiple toilet and shower rooms, a laundry room, a secure lobby, and training rooms, among others, to ensure a fully operational fire facility.
“Renovation would not be a fiscally responsible decision,” Enste said. “There are serious life hazards there. We have plumbing that is backing up. There are places with rusted out ceiling tiles with leaks coming in. We also realized that the way this firehouse is laid out, because it was pieced together, it's an inefficient layout, and the last thing we want to do is put another piece to the puzzle to continue to make it inefficient.”
As such, the plan is to do a partial renovation with new construction. While most of the building will be brand new, the engine bay will be renovated.
“There are still good bones in that engine bay,” Enste said. “What we are going to do is go through there, fix the drainage, fix the leaks. We’re going to expand that area and push out one of the walls to make sure it can fit, so we don’t have the fire truck and medic units smashed back to back together.”
Once operational, the new South Station would be approximately 15,000 square feet. Shovels are expected to go into the ground in October. It will take around 65 weeks to complete.
Enste noted the department has secured $1.7 million in grants and
bonds and has an additional $750,000 from fundraising efforts and savings allocated for the project.
“That leaves us about $3.4 million we are looking for in support [from OPA],” Enste added.
If residents vote to allow OPA to contribute up to $3.4 million, the project could result in an additional cost of up to $50 on annual assessment fees, OPA General Manager John Viola said. However, this figure is not firm.
While discussion among residents at the hearing revolved around how to best maintain emergency response time during construction and the potential cost to residents, the majority of community members present at the meeting seemed to back it.
“I am in support of providing our firefighters with a building that they need to continue their outstanding service to us,” said homeowner Marlene Ott.
Board members also emphasized that pushing the project forward is necessary to avoid more price hikes.
“The longer we push it down the road, the more expensive it is going to become,” OPA Board member Elaine Brady said. “It is important to ensure this firehouse can get what they need and do it quickly. If it costs a little but more money, it needs to be spent. We wait to get bids and sign a contract every month, and it keeps escalating. ... We need to get it started.”
Included ’s Everything he — Th Ev — E ven T
AC
Delaware
Acadia Landing LEWES, DE
Now Selling Single Family Homes from the Mid $500s
Bridgewater SELBYVILLE, DE
Now Selling Single Family Homes from the Mid $600s
Draper Farm MILFORD, DE
Coming Soon Single Family Homes and Villas
rtty east MILLSBORO, DE
Now Selling Single Family Homes from the Upper $300s
Milos Haven FRANKFORD, DE
Now Selling Villas from the Low $400s
Newdale acres
ELLENDALE, DE
Now Selling Single Family Homes and Toownhomes from the Low $300s
Somerton Chase
MILLSBORO, , DE
Coming Soon Single Family Homes
Plantation Lakes ryyClub
Golf & Countr
MILLSBORO, , DE
Now Selling Single Family Homes, Villas Toownhomes from the Upper $200s
Schooner Landing
SELBYVILLE, DE
MIL
Heritage creek LTTON, DE
Now Selling Single Family Homes from the Upper $400s
Pelican Point MILLSBORO, DE
Now Selling Single Family Homes from the Low $400s
High Tide at lighthouse bay
OCEAN CITY, , MD
lakeside at trappe
TRAPPE, MD
Now Selling Single Family Homes and Toownhomes from the Low $300s
Now Selling Single Family Homes from the Mid $300s
Maaryland
Tides at River Marsh
CAMBRIDGE, MD
New Phase Toownhomes from the Low $700s andT , and T
Now Selling Single Family Homes, Villas, Toownhomes from the Low $300s
Achievement award
Re/MAX recently presented Elaine Davidson of Re/MAX Advantage Realty, with the prestigious Re/MAX Lifetime Achievement Award.
This award recognizes high achieving RE/MAX associates for their service to buyers and/or sellers during their career and honors their outstanding commitment of trust and professionalism to clients.
“Elaine’s tireless dedication to serving her clients, consumers and community has allowed her to achieve this high honor,” said Alex Karavasilis, broker/ owner of Re/MAX Advantage Realty. “Winning this award is a significant accomplishment and we’re extremely proud that Elaine is a member of our team.”
Davidson has been serving her community as a Broker Associate with Re/MAX Advantage for over 20 years and has extensive experience in all aspects of the real estate industry. Among Davidson’s list of achievements, she has earned are the Re/MAX Hall of Fame Award, Community Service Award and Ambassador of the Year Award. She is an active member of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
She is licensed in both Maryland and Delaware.
Radio work recognized
Delmarva Public Media (DPM) recently was honored for local news coverage at the Chesapeake Associated Press
Broadcasters Association’s (CAPBA’s) annual convention, winning 13 awards including four for student-produced work in the College Radio division.
The seven first-place and six-second place awards were for work done in 2024 for DPM, comprised of three listener-supported public radio stations that operate via a collaboration between Salisbury University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore: WSCL 89.5 FM, WSDL 90.7 FM and WESM 91.3 FM.
Contributing reporter Brian Shane and Dr. Michael O’Loughlin, SU professor emeritus of political science, won awards for feature reporting and best editorial commentary, respectively, while longtime DPM news director Don Rush brought home awards for outstanding public affairs and enterprise reporting.
DPM also received a second-place award for best news organization in the Radio/Non-Metro Division.
In the College Radio division, DPM’s weekly, all-student-produced newscast, The Five Minute Fly-By, won first place for best newscast. SU alumnus and former DPM intern Nathanael Miller placed first for general news reporting for his Nathanael on the Street series.
Reporter Kevin Diaz and SU student journalist Rodolfo Rubio-Guerra were recognized for their work for the station’s Intergenerational Beats Initiative, which pairs a seasoned journalist with an aspiring student journalist to cover a local “beat” together.
The pair took home two second-place
awards for general news and outstanding feature.
“I am very proud of the work that our small but mighty team of professional and student reporters are doing each and every day here in our community,” said Delmarva Public Media Chief Content Officer Bryan Russo. “Local news coverage is getting harder and harder to do well in this ever-changing media landscape, and the Associated Press awards are always a good way to take a moment to celebrate the hard work and dedication it takes to deliver thorough, interesting and objective news and information to our region.”
Twenty-seven news organizations in Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C., submitted 326 entries in the contest, featuring news and sports from 2024.
College VP appointed
Dr. Karie Solembrino, dean of health professions, was recently selected to fill the position of vice president for academic affairs at Wor-Wic Community College.
Solembrino has 25 years of higher education experience, starting in 2000 as a part-time faculty member at Wor-Wic. In 2007, she became department head and assistant professor of radiologic technology, and in 2019, she was appointed dean of health professions. She was a first-generation college student at WorWic, where she was the board of trustees
scholarship recipient for Wicomico County, and received her associate of applied science in radiologic technology. She has a bachelor of science degree from AdventHealth University in Orlando, Fla., and master of science and doctor of education degrees from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minn.
“As a community college president, it is not often you can celebrate a person who started as a student and has risen through the ranks to an executive leader. I am incredibly excited for Dr. Solembrino both personally and professionally,” said Deborah Casey, Ph.D., president of WorWic. “She is truly inspiring and I look forward to her complementing the outstanding executive leadership team of Wor-Wic Community College.”
Solembrino will be responsible for academic affairs and the continuing education and workforce development division, overseeing curriculum and course planning, as well as the development and evaluation of all programs and the coordination of the collegewide accreditation process.
“I am deeply honored to be selected as the next vice president for academic affairs,” Solembrino said. “It is my privilege to serve the Wor-Wic faculty as we work together to support student success. I will partner with our outstanding faculty in creating positive learning experiences for students and providing relevant academic programs, certifications and continuing education opportunities to meet community needs.”
Tenant protections listed in Maryland’s new list of rights
By Lauren Bunting Contributing Writer
(July 4, 2025) Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Secretary Jake Day announced that the State of Maryland has published the first statewide Tenants’ Bill of Rights in the nation. The department’s Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs has published the first version of the Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights (MTBR) as required by the passage of the Renters Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024. Landlords and tenants can find the Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights document by visiting the DHCD’s website at https://dhcd.maryland.gov/ Tenant-Landlord-Affairs/Pages/Tenants-Bill-of-Rights.aspx. Under state law, landlords must attach a copy of the current Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights to every lease, beginning July 1, 2025
As defined on DHCD’s website: The Tenants’ Bill of Rights summarizes key renter rights and protec-
tions established by federal and state laws. The Tenants’ Bill of Rights is not a complete list of every tenant right. It does not cover every detail, exception, or difference that may apply on a case-by-case basis. A landlord may not edit or modify the Tenants’ Bill of Rights from the Maryland DHCD-published version in any way.
Annually, DHCD will update and release a new Tenants’ Bill of Rights by September 1, with an effective date of October 1. This annual release will include major changes to federal or state renter laws in addition to updates based on feedback from tenants and housing partners.
The Tenants’ Bill of Rights has been optimized for use of plain language and is accessible for individuals using screen readers or other assistive devices. It has also been translated into 18 languages. If you are a housing industry professional that needs technical assistance or have questions regarding the Tenant Bill of Rights requirements, contact otla.dhcd@maryland.gov.
— Lauren Bunting is the Broker of Record for Keller Williams Realty Delmarva in Ocean City, Maryland.
OC green lights contract for improved service downtown
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(July 4, 2025) City officials this week approved a license agreement to have Verizon install additional small cell antennas downtown.
In an attempt to improve cell service during the spring and fall C3 Presents concerts, both AT&T and Verizon submitted requests to install small cell antennas in and near the inlet parking lot.
While discussions with AT&T were tabled last month, the Ocean City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to move forward with a 25year licensing agreement with Verizon.
“This is a massive investment to put a permanent solution in place,” Adam Brixius, Verizon’s consultant, told officials this week.
The licensing agreement presented to the council this week allows Verizon to install five small cell antennas in the inlet parking lot during the first phase of the project and four small cell antennas on the Boardwalk during the second phase of the project.
The plan, Brixius said, is to keep the same pole design that currently exists in the downtown area.
“We already have a presence here but this would allow for more control with our streamline deployments, as far as the project at hand and future need as the community develops,” he said.
Brixius said Verizon currently has macro towers installed on water towers and tall buildings throughout town. But he said more localized coverage was needed at the inlet and along the Boardwalk, where large music festivals are held each year.
“Currently we set up temporary facilities annually and have been doing that in the town for many years to support these events,” he said.
Brixius said the nine small cell antennas will provide enough capacity for an additional 60,000 users. Council President Matt James, however, questioned how many poles were enough to provide adequate coverage in town.
“That would come back to the capacity …,” Brixius replied. “The macrotowers that are already there are not enough.”
Officials also questioned if the company had considered installing one or two macro towers instead of nine small cell antennas.
See CELL Page 100
Cell antennas at inlet parking lot
Continued from Page 98
“They look like Star Wars to me, like we’re being invaded,” Council Secretary Tony DeLuca said of the small cell antennas. “Nobody really sees a macro.”
For his part, Brixius said macros “are as plentiful as they can be in town.” He said the only other alternative was constructing 80- or 90-foot macro structures.
“Verizon is on every water tower we have …,” City Manager Terry McGean added. “I leave it up to the council if you would rather see these, or a 90-foot tower downtown.”
Ocean City resident Holly Donovan also came before the council this week with her concerns regarding the proposed licensing agreement. One of those concerns, she said, was the 25-year term.
“The reason that comes to my at-
NOTICE OF ELECTION
Town of Ocean City SPECIAL ELECTION
JULY 22, 2025
The Town of Ocean City is holding a Special Election at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Hall A.
A sample ballot detailing the Referendum Question is provided below. Municipal Election voters will fill in the oval to the left of their chosen answer. Absentee Ballot Applications are available at https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/cityclerk/2025-ocean-city-municipal-special-election/.
Once the application is received and vetted, an absentee ballot, along with a self-addressed, return envelope, will be mailed to you. Absentee ballots can be returned by mail or dropped in the white mailbox located outside of City Hall and labeled Municipal Election Absentee Ballots Only. Absentee Ballots can also be obtained in person at City Hall.
Questions regarding the Special Election can be directed to the City Clerk at 410-289-8824.
tention is the rapidly evolving technology that's happening with cellular technology satellites,” she said. “I do believe Verizon and T-Mobile, several of the cell carriers, are now utilizing satellites. Verizon is only using it for text purposes at this time but I do believe they are honing in on making it more for talk eventually.”
Officials said a 25-year term was standard. They also addressed Donovan’s concerns regarding the installation of “technology gardens.”
While the agreement prohibits the installation of poles and small cell antennas in R-1 residential and MH mobile home districts, it included an exception for designated “technology gardens,” which would require the approval of the respective community association and the Ocean City Council.
“These small cells are heavily reg-
ulated by the FCC, and the FCC severely limits what we as a local government can do about regulating them …,” McGean said. “One reason the exception was in there was to not fall afoul of the FCC.”
Brixius reassured Donovan that Verizon had no immediate plans to install small cell facilities in singlefamily neighborhoods.
“It’s not in the budget, it’s not in the plan,” he said. “It could very well happen, but not today.”
After further discussion, the council voted 7-0 to approve a licensing agreement with Verizon. With that agreement in hand, permits for the installation of the small cell antennas can be submitted to the city’s engineering department for review.
Brixius said the goal is to have the small cell antennas installed by the end of the year.
SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Ocean City officials recently approved an agreement with Verizon for small cell antennas at the inlet parking lot to improve reception during festivals.
SHA plans virtual meetings in July
State agency seeks public input on bicycle, pedestrian needs throughout Maryland
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(July 4, 2025) Representatives of the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (SHA) will gather public opinion on bicyclist and pedestrian needs, beginning with a virtual hearing for community members on the Eastern Shore.
In an effort to improve road safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, the State Highway Administration is seeking public comments. The feedback will be used to update the agency’s Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Assessment.
“Vulnerable road users are particularly susceptible to being killed or injured in a crash and account for a growing share of transportation fatalities in Maryland and across the United States,” a news release from Maryland SHA reads. “The purpose
of Maryland’s VRU Assessment is to evaluate safety needs for pedestrians, cyclists and any other non-motorists and to update the state’s plan to improve safety for these travelers.”
This month, the State Highway Administration will host five virtual public meetings, when residents can ask questions and provide feedback on their areas of interest. Meetings will be held from 4-6 p.m. through Microsoft Teams and will focus on specific geographic areas.
The local meeting for 10 of the Eastern Shore counties – including Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset – will be held Tuesday, July 8. The link to join the meeting will be posted on the SHA website. Participants can also join by phone at 1-677-262-2962 (passcode 56292696#).
In addition to the virtual meetings, SHA has also posted an online survey conducted by the agency’s Office of Traffic and Safety. The survey will remain open through midnight, Aug. 7.
“The survey allows participants to use a digital map to provide feedback on their experience walking, biking
and rolling on routes that have been identified through the analysis as corridors of interest and suggest enhanced biking and walking infrastructure that could help make Maryland’s roads safer for all users,” the news release reads.
Maryland’s first VRU Assessment was completed in November 2023 and is being updated this year in conjunction with federal requirements, SHA reports. After this year, the assessment will be updated every five years.
According to the agency, the VRU Assessment reinforces the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Serious About Safety initiative – an enhanced, department-wide program to drive safety goals and save lives – as well as the Complete Streets policy that prioritizes safe, reliable, equitable and sustainable travel across all modes to make roads safer and connect Marylanders to jobs, education and economic opportunity.
For more information about State Highway projects, visit the SHA Project Portal at roads.maryland.gov.
wwww..octodaydispatch.com
REAL ESTATE MARKETPLACE
Local officials continue offshore wind battle
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(July 4, 2025) Ocean City’s state representatives say senior officials with the U.S. Department of the Interior are allowing them to make their case for opposing the US Wind project off Maryland’s coast.
On Monday, Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-38) and Del. Wayne Hartman (R38C) participated in a virtual meeting with senior members of the U.S. Department of the Interior to discuss local opposition to the US Wind project, which involves the construction of 114 wind turbines off the coast of Ocean City, with the closest about 11 miles offshore.
Arranged by Congressman Andy Harris, the meeting focused on the lawsuit the Town of Ocean City and several co-plaintiffs filed against the department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the agency’s response to local concerns.
“It was so refreshing to be in a meeting with federal officials and know that they truly were listening to our specific concerns about the negative impacts of the offshore wind project off Maryland’s Coast,” Carozza said. “In the past, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management officials dismissed several ‘unavoidable’ negative impacts of Maryland’s offshore wind project as only small possibilities or having little impact. Now, we have
federal officials who are doing a hard and detailed review of the many negative impacts of offshore wind generation off Maryland’s Coast.”
In May, Carozza and Hartman issued a joint letter urging Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to take action to ensure the US Wind project is reexamined and subjected to President Donald Trump’s Jan. 21 executive order, which withdraws areas of the Outer Continental Shelf from any new offshore wind leasing and halts the issuance of any new or renewed permits, leases or loans for onshore and offshore wind projects, pending the completion of a federal review.
In an interview Tuesday, Hartman said he and Carozza raised concerns about federal permits that were “rushed through” at the end of the Biden administration. He said federal officials were asked to address concerns about the economic and environmental impact the US Wind project might have on Ocean City and its surrounding areas.
“There are a lot of concerns that are unique to Maryland, and we are asking the secretary’s office to look and make sure the i’s were dotted and t’s were crossed,” he said.
Hartman said he and Carozza will now “have some homework to do” to make their case for opposing the project. He said questions were raised about the true cost of the project and its impacts on tourism and commercial fishing, in
particular.
“The U.S. Interior Department officials now are allowing us to make the specific unique case for Maryland in opposing the offshore wind project,” Carozza said. “We will continue making the case that the earlier process was rushed during the closing days of the Biden Administration with the economic impact numbers grossly underestimated when you factor in the loss of our West Ocean City Harbor and impact on our commercial fishing industry; devalued Ocean City residential and commercial properties; and the risk to our military operations given the presence of Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland.”
Hartman said Monday’s meeting was one of several ways local officials are attempting to fight the offshore wind project. He also highlighted the U.S. Senate’s passage of the Federal Budget Reconciliation Bill this week, which he said could result in the elimination of offshore renewable energy credits for solar projects beginning construction after 2027.
“We want to thank Congressman Andy Harris for his leadership in opposing the offshore wind project in Maryland and in arranging this meeting for us with the U.S. Department of the Interior so we could continue to bring new information about the devastating impact of the offshore wind energy project on Maryland’s Coast,” Carozza and
Hartman shared in a joint statement.
While Trump continues to rail against offshore wind projects, and Ocean City officials continue to fight a legal battle against BOEM, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore last week reiterated the state’s commitment to wind energy. Maryland has also joined a multi-state lawsuit over the president’s executive order.
“My position is that Maryland needs to have an energy future that can create sustainable and affordable and reliable energy for every Marylander,” he told the OC Today-Dispatch last week. “It’s the reason that I’ve been pushing for not just wind, but also solar and nuclear energy, and just more energy sources that can make things a little bit easier for the people of our state and for the people of Maryland.”
From the outset, officials with US Wind, as well as state and federal agencies, have highlighted the benefits offshore wind could bring to Maryland.
The project would be built in phases and would include, in addition to the turbines themselves, four offshore substation platforms, four offshore export cable corridors and one meteorological tower.
US Wind said the installation is expected to generate more than two gigawatts of renewable energy for the Delmarva Peninsula and support nearly 2,700 jobs over the next seven years.
New laws have local effect, delegation says
to raise revenues will cost its residents and businesses.
that will give the state more control over local solar projects.
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(July 4, 2025) Members of the local delegation to the Maryland General Assembly say new fees and tax provisions taking effect this week will affect Worcester County residents.
During the 2025 legislative session, the General Assembly passed its Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act, which makes several changes to Maryland’s tax law beginning July 1, the start of a new fiscal year.
The legislation includes new provisions for income tax – such as adding new tax brackets, repealing the phase-in of the standard deduction, increasing the standard deduction by 20% and more.
The act also establishes a 2% surcharge on capital gains income in excess of $350,000, and implements a 3% sales and use tax on certain data and information technology services.
“We’ll see that tax showing up in everything from your data processing, to media streaming, to film and music services, and computer software design services,” Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-38) said. “It will hit everybody.”
Both Carozza and Del. Wayne Hartman (R-38C) shared their disappointment this week over several new taxes and fee increases, which they say will place an economic strain on local residents already struggling to make ends meet.
They argued the state’s approach
“Today is money day,” Hartman said, “and with Maryland facing a $3 billion deficit, unfortunately there were a lot of tax increases for Marylanders.”
Gov. Wes Moore has said the legislation would balance the budget, provide structural deficit relief and spur economic growth. In his testimony before the House Appropriations and Ways and Means committees this winter, he said the bill increases revenues while providing tax cuts for two-thirds of Marylanders and protecting key industries.
However, Hartman argued the legislation could push high earners and consumers, particularly those on the Eastern Shore, into neighboring states.
“People will do things differently to avoid paying those taxes,” he said. “It will include moving for some.”
Local officials also pointed to increased fees for vehicle registration, new tires and emissions tests, as well as new fees for the processing and issuance of on-site sewage disposal permits and individual well construction permits.
“It is no doubt that tax and fee increases will hit Marylanders across the board,” Carozza said. “These are significant increases, which is why I am opposed to them. And when you get to the Eastern Shore, these fees for onsite sewage disposal permits and well permits will hit us hard.”
In addition to new taxes and fees, local representatives say other bills take effect this week, including one
Specifically, the legislation gives the state’s Public Service Commission the final say on the potential size and scope of large-scale solar farms in rural areas. The bill also says local jurisdictions must process site plan applications for solar fields generating up to five megawatts of electricity as a permitted use.
Solar fields generating more than five megawatts would be prohibited in higher density or growth areas, and capped at 5% on forest or agricultural land marked for preservation.
Local lawmakers said the legislation would be revisited at the next session of the Maryland General Assembly.
“Given the fact that this solar bill will continue to be opposed at the local level, and given that we pushed to have the governor veto the legislation, you will see efforts to try and lower that cap on solar development in each county’s priority preservation area next session …,” Carozza said.
“Of all the bill hearings I participated in this past session, this had the highest number of participants coming from the shore in person to testify in Annapolis, and it was extremely emotional as we had farm families explaining and advocating for our way of life on the Eastern Shore.”
Other notable bills taking effect this week include the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act, which received the support of both Carozza and Hartman. Carozza said the legislation encourages more ecofriendly farming practices.
“It’s a way to recognize that our farmers can play even more of a role in protecting the environment by the type of sustainable practices they put into effect …,” she said. “It also allows our commercial fishing industry to process fish using a Japanese technique known as ikejime and selling directly to restaurants.”
Ikejime, which involves separating a fish’s brain and spinal cord, is viewed as a faster and more humane way of dispatching fish once caught. That process reduces bacterial infection and the release of stress-related hormones.
Carozza also highlighted new legislation that will suspend, rather than revoke, a waterman’s oyster authorization for committing the first violation.
“It eliminates the lifetime revocation of a waterman’s oyster license for a first-time violation,” she explained. “It will enable more of our watermen to return to work.”
A complete list of bills taking effect July 1 can be found on the Maryland General Assembly website.
New water, sewer rates take effect this week
By Brian Shane Staff Writer
(July 4, 2025) User rates for public water and sewer customers in Worcester County will be increased across the board for the new fiscal year – which still doesn’t help the county’s enterprise funds break even after falling into a deficit.
The Worcester County Board of Commissioners approved the new rates at its June 17 meeting. The rate changes are the direct result of seven of 11 wastewater districts falling into a deficit because they hadn’t been charging enough money from user fees to break even.
The new rates are effective July 1, but customers won’t be charged the updated fees on their bills until October.
County leaders only found out last year that the financial mismanagement had led to, at one point, a collective
deficit topping $2 million. Each watersewer district operates as its own account, separate from the county’s main fund, and is expected to break even.
According to Worcester County Enterprise Fund Controller Quinn Dittrich, the new water-sewer rates still don’t put the individual funds in a position to break even. He said only Ocean Pines and Lighthouse Sound are operating at a surplus with their new rates.
It’s been a months-long process for county officials to wrap their heads around the problem and agree upon a solution.
The commissioners admitted that inconsistent oversight led to the crisis and pledged not to pass the burden to ratepayers without exploring alternatives. Some commissioners publicly committed to opposing steep rate hikes. The commissioners also formed their
own internal subcommittee to investigate inefficiencies and propose fixes.
To make up for the deficit, officials initially talked about increasing user rates in areas where the user rates fell short of expenses, before pitching another plan: distribute the $2.1 million deficit evenly among all 18,000 water and sewer customers. Under this proposal, customers’ quarterly bills would have risen $32 per household, regardless of which district incurred the debt.
By December, at a packed public hearing in Snow Hill, residents expressed outrage over the proposed increases, which would have been almost double in some areas, and denounced the lack of prior notice.
Residents of financially healthy wastewater districts, like Ocean Pines, pushed back. They said it was unfair to make them cover something they had nothing to do with. Even Ocean Pines’ representative, Commissioner Chip Bertino, condemned the blanket fee proposal as a “stupid plan” because it punished customers who didn’t create the problem.
Ultimately, this universal rate hike was abandoned, in part because it may have violated a county code that requires each district’s rates to be set separately. For service areas operating at a deficit, the commissioners finally agreed to cover the deficit using loans
and grants from existing county funds. The following are the new rates as approved by the Worcester County Commissioners: Assateague Point. Quarterly flat user rates are established at $181.50 per park trailer, which includes water and sewer service. Quarterly flat user rates are set at $309.38 per equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) for sewer service only. The quarterly commercial flat rate is $136.13 per EDU for sewer service only. Unimproved lots shall pay a quarterly accessibility charge of $191.25 per EDU (not yet connected). Briddletown. Quarterly flat domestic user rates are set at $90 per EDU, including water service only. Quarterly minimum commercial user rates are set at $50 per EDU, including water service only, with additional commercial water charges of $11 per 1,000 gallons. A flat swimming pool charge of $100 quarterly and a flat irrigation system charge of $100 quarterly are established. Unimproved lots shall pay a quarterly accessibility charge of $42.50 per EDU.
Edgewater Acres. Quarterly user rates are set as follows: domestic minimum water and sewer $230; additional water charges of $8 per 1,000 gallons up to 22,500 gallons and $15 per 1,000 gallons over 22,500 gallons; flat domestic water only (not metered) $220; and flat domestic sewer only
Photo by Susan Lyons
Change driven by deficit in 7 enterprise funds
(not metered) $190. Unimproved lots shall pay a quarterly accessibility charge of $119 per EDU. Quarterly assessment for debt service is established at 2 cents per linear front foot. The Landings. Quarterly domestic and commercial user rates are set as follows: minimum water and sewer $360 per EDU, with additional charges of $5 per 1,000 gallons up to 22,500 gallons and $15 per 1,000 gallons over 22,500 gallons. Unimproved lots shall pay a quarterly accessibility charge of $306 per EDU. Lewis Road domestic wateronly minimum is set at $60 per quarter.
Lighthouse Sound. Quarterly flat domestic and commercial user rates are set as follows: improved lots pay $276.38 per EDU for sewer service only, and unimproved lots pay a quarterly accessibility charge of $163.20 per EDU. Mystic Harbor. Quarterly domes-
tic and commercial user rates are as follows: minimum water and sewer $300 per EDU, with additional charges of $5 per 1,000 gallons up to 22,500 gallons and $15 per 1,000 gallons over 22,500 gallons. Flat rate domestic sewer-only service is $309.38. The Sunset Village Homeowner’s Association shall pay $75 per EDU quarterly for water service. Sewer assessment for debt service is $66 per EDU quarterly. Unimproved lots shall pay a quarterly accessibility charge of $255 per EDU. Newark. Quarterly domestic and commercial user rates are: minimum water and sewer $280 per EDU, with additional charges of $5 per 1,000 gallons up to 22,500 gallons and $15 per 1,000 gallons over 22,500 gallons. Quarterly flat domestic sewer-only service is $294.38 per EDU. Newark water assessments are set at $27 per
water EDU quarterly, and sewer assessments at $55 per sewer EDU quarterly. Unimproved lots pay a quarterly accessibility charge of $238 per EDU.
Ocean Pines. Quarterly domestic and commercial user rates are set as follows: minimum water and sewer $209 per EDU, with additional charges of $5 per 1,000 gallons up to 22,500 gallons and $15 per 1,000 gallons over 22,500 gallons. Quarterly flat domestic sewer-only service is $241.13 per EDU. Standard assessments for debt service are $36 per EDU quarterly. White Horse Park lots pay a quarterly flat rate of $160 per lot for water and sewer. Unimproved lots pay a quarterly accessibility charge of $177.65 per EDU.
Riddle Farm. Quarterly domestic and commercial user rates are: minimum water and sewer $350 per EDU, with additional charges of $5 per
1,000 gallons up to 22,500 gallons and $15 per 1,000 gallons over 22,500 gallons. Unimproved lots pay a quarterly accessibility charge of $297.50 per EDU. Riddle Farm assessment for debt service is $9 per EDU quarterly. River Run. Minimum quarterly water rates of $73.15 per EDU, with additional charges of $1.25 per 1,000 gallons up to 22,500 gallons and $3.75 per 1,000 gallons over 22,500 gallons. User rates are set as follows: flat sewer $254.38 per EDU per quarter. Unimproved lots shall pay a quarterly accessibility charge of $206.68 per EDU.
West Ocean City. Quarterly domestic and commercial user rates for sewer are set at a flat rate of $139.38 per EDU. Unimproved lots shall pay a quarterly accessibility charge of $46.75 per EDU.
ANGLERS CLUB HOSTS TEACH A KID TO FISH DAY
Over 40 youth plus parents and grandparents attended the Ocean Pines Anglers Club Teach A Kid To Fish day at the South Pond in Ocean Pines. Young aspiring anglers were introduced to tackle, bait selection, regulations, casting and safe environmental practices. Many young anglers tried out their newly acquired skills and were rewarded with several nice catches. A free drawing was held for a Rod & Reel. OPAC would like to thank the Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club, ACSA and OPA Rec & Parks for their assistance in hosting the event.
Above left, young angler Henry won one of four casing prizes shown with a club member.
Left, a mom holds a sunfish caught by son Bruno; Above, Kevin Poff is pictured with Grandson Owen and his 23-inch bass.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Knupp family files civil suit after ‘22 fatality
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
(July 4, 2025) The family of Gavin Knupp, the 14-year-old boy killed in a hit-and-run accident in 2022, has filed a civil suit against several co-defendants, including Tyler Mailloux, two of his family members, and his former employer.
On June 25, Tiffany and Ray Knupp and their daughter, Summer Knupp, filed suit in Worcester County Circuit Court against Mailloux, the Berlin man serving 18 months for a traffic offense in Knupp’s death, his mother, Kearston Frey, his stepfather, Ralph DeAngelus, his employer, Matt Ortt Companies and the Ocean Pines Association, which has a working relationship with the company.
The suit seeks damages on all 16 counts, which includes negligence, wrongful death, negligent entrustment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
“This lawsuit is the next step in holding accountable all those responsible for Gavin’s death,” Neil Dubovsky, the Knupp family’s attorney, said in a statement this week. “Beyond that we will have no comment while litigation is ongoing.”
The 40-page lawsuit details the events that occurred the night of July 11, 2022, when Knupp was struck and killed by a motorist on Grays Corner
Road, as well as the days that followed.
Specifically, the suit claims Mailloux, as the driver of the black Mercedes involved in the accident, “made no attempts to stop and/or render aid to Gavin Knupp, failed to provide his insurance information to Gavin or Summer Knupp, never returned to the scene, and failed to report to emergency services that he had just struck a pedestrian.”
The suit also claims that Mailloux, Frey and DeAngelus hid the Mercedes in a garage at their Berlin residence immediately following the hit-and-run. The court document alleges the vehicle had damage consistent with a collision involving a pedestrian, including a cracked windshield, a broken headlamp, and a shoeprint on the front, right bumper.
“In addition, even if it was unknown on the evening of the collision at issue that the object Defendant Mailloux struck was a human, this would have been abundantly clear the following day,” the suit reads. “Knowing this, Defendants Mailloux, Deangelus, and Frey continued to obstruct the ongoing police investigation into the collision, by among other things, continuing to hide the vehicle in the aforementioned garage.”
The lawsuit also alleges that Mailloux had consumed alcohol after finishing his shift at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club the night of the accident. The Yacht Club is
owned by the Ocean Pines Association and was operated by Matt Ortt Companies during the time of the accident.
“Upon information and belief, employees of the Ocean Pines Yacht Club, including Defendant Mailloux, were served alcohol, free of charge, at the location immediately before the collision at issue,” the lawsuit reads. “Upon information and belief, employees of the Ocean Pines Yacht Club consumed alcohol while employed at the facility, including consuming alcohol during post-shift ‘cleanings’ and consuming ‘shot(s)’ of hard liquor to celebrate the end of a ‘good day’ at the business. This was apparently a regular occurrence and occurred with the knowledge and consent of the employers, owners and/or managers of the Ocean Pines Yacht Club.”
The lawsuit claims the alleged wrongdoings by the defendants inflicted pain and suffering on the Knupps. The suit also details the emotional toll the accident had on Summer Knupp, who was present the night of the collision and performed CPR on her brother until emergency services arrived on scene.
“Plaintiff Summer Knupp, while sitting several feet from where Gavin Knupp was standing, endured having to hear her brother scream before hearing him struck by Defendant Mailloux’s vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed,” the lawsuit reads. “Further, since Defendant Mailloux made the knowing deci-
sion to flee the collision without stopping and attempting to help secure emergency aid for Gavin Knupp, Plaintiff Summer Knupp was forced into a position where she had to be the one to provide emergency aid for her brother. Plaintiff Summer Knupp was also forced to report the collision to emergency services and to perform CPR on her dying brother. While Plaintiff Summer Knupp was performing CPR on Gavin Knupp, Summer Knupp became covered in her dying brother’s blood that was quickly spilling from his body.”
Mailloux has been incarcerated in the Worcester County Jail since Feb. 25, when he entered a guilty plea to leaving the scene of the hit-and-run accident where the driver “knew/reasonably knew accident must result in death and death occurred.” And in March, he was sentenced to 10 years, with all but 18 months suspended.
At the time of the accident, both Frey and DeAngelus worked for Matt Ortt Companies – Frey as the general manager of the Ocean Pines Yacht Club, and DeAngelus as the managing partner. Their business relationships with the company were reportedly terminated in the months that followed.
George Psoras, the attorney who represented Mailloux in his criminal case, and Bruce Bright, the association’s attorney, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Opinions
Happy July 4th, keep it that way
Among the more important rules to observe this Fourth of July weekend are, 1. have fun; 2. put politics on hold; 3. enjoy the day.
Otherwise, things can sour quickly.
As historian Kevin Kruse observed in a 2019 “Washington Post” article “... any effort by one side to claim the day as theirs, and theirs alone, invariably sparks an angry reaction from the other.”
That’s what happened on July 4, 1970, when President Richard Nixon’s administration staged the “Honor America Day” rally for his supporters. The idea was to show strong support for escalating U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. What occurred, however, was a melee featuring tear gas and marijuana smoke at the Lincoln Memorial, as hordes of anti-war protesters descended on the scene to espouse the opposite view, flout marijuana laws ... and, just for good measure, jump into the Reflecting Pool naked.
Of course, we all can agree that deep differences of opinion among Americans is hardly new. We’ve been disagreeing with each other since the early days of the republic, going back to the two-party rivalry between the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.
In fact, it was this political disagreement that led to Aaron Burr’s fatal shooting of Federalist Alexander Hamilton in a duel on July 11, 1804. All because Burr said Hamilton had insulted him.
Makes perfect sense, right?
Of course it doesn’t, just as it makes no sense to argue about who has the greater right to honor this holiday. We decided on July 4, 1776 that everyone is entitled to celebrate our inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
So, let’s do that and keep the recipe for this July 4 simple: put something on the grill, have some cold drinks, happy conversation and maybe some fireworks. Leave politics out of it and just have a good time.
PUBLIC EYE
GTO not looking fine
To begin with, this column is about cars, fast cars to be specific, and how they can get you into trouble even when you’re not out on the road “turning it on, winding it up and blowing it out, little GTO.”
NEWS
EDITOR STEWART DOBSON; EXECUTIVE EDITOR STEVE GREEN
OC Today-Dispatch is published Fridays by FLAG Publications, Inc. 11934 Ocean Gateway, Suite 6, Ocean City, Md. 21842 410-723-6397 All content copyright 2025
By Stewart Dobson
I say that because it was a Pontiac GTO that caused me to stall out out on the corner of Bad Timing and Deadman’s Curve.
It all started when I was driving on Route 50, after having escaped the in-town traffic and the usual conspiracy of standup scooter people who are apparently out to get me. As I headed west, I spotted a 1964 Pontiac GTO in the right lane next to me.
I was admiring it and recalling that boys of a certain age once lusted after that big, bad machine, when the song from the 1960s, “Little GTO,” which paid homage to one of the original Muscle Cars of the era, surfaced from a mental storage locker.
As expertly delivered by Ronny and the Daytonas and later by The Beach Boys, the lyrics go like this: “Little GTO, you’re really lookin’ fine; three deuces and a four-speed, and a three-eighty-nine. Listen to her tachin’ up now, listen to her whine; C’mon and turn it on, wind it up, blow it out, GTO.”
That’s real prose, isn’t it? Anyway, The GTO was the real deal, the bad news beast, the tire-smoking monster of the main drag, or so I believed until last week. That was when I had to satisfy my curiosity about how fast it was by Googling its 0-to-60 mph acceleration time: about 6.6 seconds ... which is the same as my Hyundai.
Really? Yes, really, and yet not one pop group today has blessed us with “...turn it on, wind it up, blow it out, little Hyundai.” Ditto the Beach Boys’ “Giddyup, giddyup, 409,” an ode to the super speedy Chevy that, it turns out, wasn’t crazy fast either as compared to, say, a nicely equipped current car model.
Although I could blame the absence of a song about this particular vehicle on waning public interest in music of a vehicular nature, I suspect the real reason is that “Giddyup, giddyup Kia Carnival SX,” doesn’t have the right rhythm for a good pop music number.
It is a fact, though, that the Carnival could have kept up ... on the way to soccer practice. And it’s because automotive engineers have learned a thing or two over the years.
But even then, these electric-powered cars — with no rumbling exhaust, four-speed shifters and other chrome go-fasters — are running past everything and they will get you into trouble.
So, what happened is I heard someone on TV say the Porsche Taycan Turbo would go from “zero-to-wet-your-pants” in 1.7 seconds.
“Zero-to-wet-your-pants” is such a great line that I didn’t want to use it without attribution, so, stupid me, I Googled it.
Trust me, searching online for anything containing the line “wet your pants” will produce varied results. Very varied.
No sooner did I send my inquiry than the screen filled with all sorts of interesting headlines and observations, followed by the sound of the door to my hideout opening, followed by, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING???”
Unlike the GTO, I was not looking really fine. Incidentally, it takes longer than 1.7 seconds to shut down a computer.
Between the Lines
By Steve Green
Ocean City’s approach to the recent tent and enclosed canopy changes on the beach is reminiscent of the first-year approach 10 years ago to smoking on the beach and Boardwalk.
At the request of Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan in the spring, the City Council passed an ordinance banning beach tents, placing size restrictions on canopies, requiring a separation around canopy perimeters to prevent private villages from being created, restricting canopy anchors from extending beyond the shaded footprint and setting 10 a.m. as the earliest beach canopies can be set up on the beach, unattended. At the May meeting, Meehan reminded the council in recent summers the mayor’s office has been receiving concerns from citizens and visitors about the abundance of canopies ruining the beach experience.
A friend in Ocean City over four days last week learned about the ordinance change thanks to a tag placed on his canopy. Like so many others, his habit for many years has been to set up his camp close to the ocean with a canopy and a couple beach umbrellas. On the first morning, around 11 a.m., he learned of the new ordinance through a hanging tag. Once he learned it was informative without a fine, he opted to continue to do what he has always done and now has a collection of tag souvenirs. More than 700 interactions were evidently had during the first week of enforcement, according to Beach Patrol Captain Butch Arbin.
Next summer the situation may be different as far as enforcement, moving away from mere education. The smoking ban on the beach, Boardwalk and public parks followed a similar track of informing the visiting public at first followed by fines and citations in following years. On one hand, it may seem silly to pass a law if there’s no teeth in the enforcement. After all, the city has made no decision on fine amounts yet. However, with Ocean City’s transient nature, a season with a lax approach is the fairest approach.
A political talking point of late has been how much gasoline prices have dropped recently. For the last few weeks, the claim has been bothering me, considering on Wednesday the price was $3.19 for a gallon of unleaded gasoline at my local serving station in Berlin. Gasoline prices still seem high to me, but AAA Mid-Atlantic has been reporting weekly that fuel prices are about 20 cents less than this time last summer in Maryland.
In its weekly gas price report, dated June 27, AAA reports, “Drivers are getting a break at the pump with summer gas prices, which are the lowest they have been since 2021. This year, the price of crude oil has kept gas prices on the lower side, and drivers are paying more than 20 cents less a gallon than they were this time last year. The national gas price average is $3.20, compared to $3.45 last year. Maryland’s average of $3.19 is about 35 cents less than last year’s average of $3.55.”
A more detailed look shows gasoline prices are indeed trending down from recent years, especially in 2022 when gallon prices reached a shocking $4.77 on average in Maryland. However, back in 2017, it’s worth pointing out the average was $2.21.
***
It’s difficult to get a read on how Ocean City residents will vote on July 22 on the short-term rental referendum. My sense is the vote will be tight. If voters support the ordinance passed in the spring, Ocean City will move ahead with its five-night minimum stay in certain districts with a plan to increase to 31 days in two years. The intent is clear – to ban short-term rentals in the city’s year-round neighborhoods. What will be fascinating to see will be next steps if voters reject the current ordinance at the polls. My guess is Ocean City will go back to the drawing board and try a different approach. There is an ocean of precedents to review across the country as short-term rentals are a constant source of concerns for destinations as well as college towns.
It's why we included in the paper this week a story from the Baltimore Banner on the challenges Annapolis is facing. The state’s capital currently has 327 short-term rental licenses, mostly in the downtown district.
A proposed bill gaining traction in Annapolis would prohibit shortterm rentals on any city block from exceeding 10% of the homes on the block. For example, if there are 40 dwelling units on a block, only four short-term licenses would be permitted but existing ones would be grandfathered.
“It’s not the existence of short-term rentals, it’s feeling like they’re taking over a neighborhood so much that we don’t have neighborhoods,” Alderman Harry Huntley said. “Short-term rentals can be part of our community, but they can’t be all of our community or we won’t have a community.”
Deceitful tactics used for Big Beautiful Bill push
Editor,
“Liar, liar, pants on fire” is my immediate reaction to Sena. Markwayne Mullin’s, (R) Oklahoma, interview on “Meet the Press” on 6/29. Mullin claims the President’s tax bill will result in the “largest deficit cut by any congress ever in history.”
He then goes on to say “the average family of four will bring home pay of over $10,000 more a year this year than last year” if the bill passes.
Folks, if you believe this, I’ve got the route 90 bridge I’d love to sell you for a low, low bargain price. I’m so tired of lies from our politicians! Congressional Budget Office reports the House bill will increase the deficit by $2.4 trillion. The Non-partisan Committee for Responsible Federal Budget claims that the Senate bill will add an extra trillion dollars over the bill passed by the house last month.
Fox News poll (June 13-16) reports 59% of Americans oppose the “one big, beautiful bill”. Two to one folks think the bill will help the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. A recent poll from Pew Research Center shows 58% of Americans want to raise taxes for households with incomes over $400,000.
Sounds like most citizens feel it’s more important to make the billionaire class pay their fair share in taxes than it is to harm everyday folks by cutting programs like Medicaid by $900 billion. If the bill would have just kept the same tax rates passed in 2017 for those making $400,000 or less and cut the ’17 tax breaks for those with higher incomes, the bill would have saved $2 trillion.
It makes me sick to hear our President say that anyone who votes against his bill is “committing the ultimate act of betrayal”. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) stated on Face the Nation “everyone in the House, they know the peril they’re in if they vote no on this thing.”
Let’s fight bulling tactics! Let’s break apart this big bad bill and reconsider passing appropriate bills like Senator Lankford’s bipartisan bill on border security.
What can we do? Call Andy Harris at 202-225-5311 if the Senate revises and sends the bill back to the House. Tell Dr. Harris that sitting on the fence and voting “present” isn’t acceptable! Peacefully protest at rallies. Attend town halls (Representative Harris has Zoom town halls).
Tish Michel Ocean City
FEMA funding critical in protecting coastal towns
Editor,
As a resident of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, I write to express deep concern over the recent and proposed cuts to FEMA programs that support flood mitigation and insurance coverage in our region.
For decades, communities like Crisfield, Ocean City, and many others have depended on FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to recover from devastating storms and prepare for rising sea levels. With much of the Shore just a few feet above sea level, our homes, businesses, and public infrastructure face constant threats from flooding, made worse by climate change.
The NFIP is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline. Thousands of Eastern Shore families rely on this federally backed insurance because private alternatives are either unaffordable or simply unavailable. Cutting funding to flood protection programs while eliminating FEMA-supported insurance options puts real people in real danger. It threatens livelihoods, depresses property values, and leaves us more vulnerable to the next disaster.
The Maryland First Congressional District has more to lose than any other district in the state. On federal flood maps, the entirety of the Worcester County seaside is listed as Continued on Page 110
needing major shoreline protection, in some places in the northern county as much as 6 miles inland. More than half of Somerset County is listed as being in a floodplain. Nearly every county on the Eastern Shore has miles of shoreline and coastline, more than counties west of the Chesapeake. Every bit of that is at risk, billions of dollars lost, if the National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA are gutted. The expense of relocating families, rebuilding, loss of life and environmental devastation will dwarf the cost of doing the right thing now.
We urge our state and federal leaders to restore critical FEMA funding, reauthorize and modernize the NFIP, and treat flood resilience as the national priority it is. Maryland’s coastal communities deserve the same level of protection and support as any other region in the country.
Sincerely,
Ronald W. Pilling Bishopville MD
Vote ‘against’ Ocean City’s short-term rental ban
Editor,
I am writing to urge OC residents to vote against the short term rental ban recently forced on R-1 and MH (mobile home) districts by the mayor
and City Council. I am also writing to correct the many errors in Mr. John Wright's June 27 letter to the editor.
Mr. Wright falsely claims that ads opposing the rental ban are "deliberately misleading" for stating that the ban would affect 24% of the land area of OC . The 24% figure comes directly from the Comprehensive Plan. I have attached a link in case you missed it.
The Single Family Residential and Mobile Home districts are 24% of the land mass of Ocean City and 40% of the available residential land. There are over 3,800 homes, mobiles andyes even condos, apartments, duplexes and townhouses that are affected by this ordinance. Please see the Ocean City Today-Dispatch article May 30,2025 page 16.
I have been fighting issues not individuals. We were able to get the necessary signatures to bring this to referendum because the facts support overturning the short term rental ban. We don’t appreciate John Wright attacking the residents which include Realtors who volunteered their time and worked tirelessly to uphold the democratic process
It is a fact that the R-1 and MH districts are responsible for less than 1% of the crime and 2% of the noise complaints. The overwhelming majority of these rentals have NEVER had a complaint. The rental ban is a heavy handed "solution" for a largely non-existent
problem. Enforcement of current noise and other laws can take care of any problems that do arise in these districts.
ALL (100%) of mobile homes and 90% of single family homes in OC are affected by this rental ban ordinance and the owners of about 200 condos, townhouses and duplexes will also lose their rights.
Single family property owners in OC (excluding Mallard Island, which initially was governed by restrictive covenants ) have ALWAYS had the right to rent their property, shortterm or long term. This has worked well for our town for the more than 60 years that I have lived here.
So what is the motivation for the ban? The initial push for the ban came from residents of Mallard Island, who didn't renew their covenants and are now trying to take away rental right i from ALL R1 and MH property owners. Please see the Washington Post article that references this:
In the over 60 year history of short term rentals in the R-1 and MH areas, short-term rentals are less than 10% of the properties (excluding Mallard Island, where those rentals are now 15%). In these areas (again, excluding Mallard Island) strictly 2nd-home
owners who do NOT rent outnumber residents and owners of short-term rentals by 2 to 1.
Mr. Wright it is interesting that you have decided that I am in this for the money, having never spoken to me.
Let me assure you that this campaign has not made me a nickel nor was it intended to. I have spent considerable time, energy and money fighting to protect our property rights. Why would I do that if not for money? Because it is the right thing to do period.
Sixty-one years ago my grandfather bought a 4 plex on 26th Street. In our family we say that started our love affair with Ocean City. My mother moved here in 1969 with five small children. I feel blessed to live in this wonderful town and to be able to share it with others that hopefully will love it too.
Our group wants to work with the town to fix the few problems that exist in all areas not just the ones affected by the ban.
One thing Mr. Wright did get correct: large numbers of citizens showed up at the many hearings held on this matter to oppose the ban and to support their property rights. Unfortunately, the City Council refused to listen to the overwhelming number of citizens. Now we need to make our voices heard at the ballot box.
Please registered Ocean City voters on July 22 vote against the short term rental ban. Polls are open at the Ocean City Convention Center on 40th Street from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. I hope to see you there.
Terry Miller Ocean City
Grateful for scholarship support from community Editor,
As a 2025 Stephen Decatur High School graduate, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation to the many individuals, organizations, and non-profits in our community who have supported local students like me through scholarship offerings. The generosity shown to us during our academic journey has been nothing short of remarkable, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunities that this community has created.
These scholarships have not only alleviated some of the burden of mounting tuition costs, but they have also shown us the power of community support. It is clear that these investments go beyond just financial aid—they are a vote of confidence in the potential of our Worcester County students. This encouragement has personally made a lasting impact on my outlook and has inspired me to give back to the community in the future, just as so many have given to me.
I also want to thank our incredible Worcester County educators who work tirelessly challenging and preparing us for the next level –whatever that may be, and the countless volunteers and donors who make
2025 WORCESTER PREP LOWER SCHOOL PLAY
Prior to the end of the school year, Worcester Prep’s Lower School entertained the school and parents with the annual spring performance.
Anya Murukutla (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Avery Freitas (Dagsboro, DE), Priya Garg (Berlin), Jaanvi Pandher (Berlin), Lila Holland
front from
Joey Kraeuter (Berlin), Know Luttrell (Delmar, DE), Jace Zervakos (Selbyville, DE), John Freitas (Dagsboro, DE) and Mykolas Doyle (Selbyville, DE).
Second row, from left, are Carter Harrison (Ocean City), Grant Messner (Berlin), Piper Coyle (Berlin), Bia Prosekova (Selbyville, DE), Madelyn Tull (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Kingsley Giardina (Berlin), Kate DelliGatti (Berlin), Charlize Damouni (Lewes, DE), Nora Rafinski (Berlin), Isabella Labin (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Jude Waked (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Tobi Blaska (Ocean City) and Avrum Gudelsky (Ocean City).
Back, from left, are Freddy Hertrich (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Roz Hagner (Berlin), Teo Conev (Berlin), Marshal Hidell (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Maverick Pyne (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Peter Van Dalen (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Jack Parks (Salisbury), Amalia Gjikuria (Ocean City) and Aaralyn Lillquist. byville, DE), Grace Tunnell (Lewes, DE), and Sloane Kremer (Snow Hill, MD).
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Continued from Page 110
these scholarships possible. It is truly inspiring to see how much our community values education. It is this kind of support that not only helps our dreams become a reality, but also helps our community thrive.
To all of the non-profits and individuals who dedicate their time, energy, and resources to ensuring students like myself can succeed, please know that
your generosity is truly appreciated. The foundation you provide us is not just financial — it’s a belief in our generation. That belief will undoubtedly continue to fuel the prosperity of our community for years to come.
Thank you once again for your kindness, your faith in us, and your commitment to the future.
Brooke C. Berquist Bishopville
SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Pictured,
left, are Abigail Kratzer (Bishopville),
(Berlin),
WORCESTER PREP MIDDLE SCHOOL PLAY
This year’s talented cast of the WPS middle school production of 101 Dalmatians is pictured before school adjourned. Seated, Mariella Anthony (Frankford, DE), Elif
Lynch (Dagsboro, DE), Kylee Hutton (Millsboro, DE), Sophia Nguyen (Dagsboro, DE), Lily Barker (Ocean City), Hannah Coyle (Berlin), and Sadie Kremer (Snow Hill). Standing, Sydney Parker (Snow Hill), Will Schlesinger (Ocean Pines), CJ Labin (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Rodolphe Crevecoeur (Seaford, DE), Nonda Gjikuria (Ocean City), Aiden Finnerty (Seaford, DE), Jaden Washington (Ocean View, DE), Samuel Baker (Salisbury), Hunter Harrison (Berlin), Juliet Webster (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Kaylin Zervakos (Selbyville, DE), Emerson Bofinger (Ocean View, DE), Zachary Montague (Selbyville, DE), Keller Hoch (Salisbury), Sebastian Correa (Ocean City) and Jack Hornung (Newark).
SUBMITTED
Tekmen (Bishopville), Vivian Spraul
Deweerdt
Brianna
24 Hour Awake Staff
All Private Rooms & Baths
Three Home-Cooked Meals a Day!
All Inclusive Pricing
In-House Doctor Visits
VA and MAC Subsidy Approved
Respite Care and Hospice Care
The puppy dalmatians ertr played by Emma Deweerdt (Berlin), Brianna Lynch (Dagsboro, DE), Madelyn Bobenko (Berlin), and Nikol Petkova (Ocean City).
Sergeant Tibbs, played by Rodolphe Crevecoeur (Seaford, DE), with the dog narrators: Elif Tekmen (Bishopville), Haviland Russel-Wood (Berlin), Vivian Spraul (Ocean View, DE), and Sadie Kremer (Snow Hill).
The Dogcatcher and Police Officer take Cruella De Vil and her henchmen Horace and Jasper away as they are caught kidnapping the puppies. Pictured, from left, are Emerson Bofinger (Ocean View, DE), Kaylin Zervakos (Selbyville, DE), Juliet Webster (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Nonda Gjikuria (Ocean City), Samuel Baker (Salisbury), and Jaden Washington (Ocean View, DE).
8th grader Juliet Webster (Rehoboth Beach, DE) shines in the role of Cruella De Vil in the WPS middle school production of 101 Dalmatians.
1945 election win secures Attlee as new PM
Labor party gains majority in Parliament, paving way for new leadership abroad
By Peter Ayers Wimbrow III Contributing Writer
This week, 80 years ago, voters in the United Kingdom went to the polls to cast their votes for members of their Parliament. British democracy functions differently than that of the U.S. It is a parliamentary system, in that voters elect their representatives to the House of Commons, which is the lower House of the British Parliament.
The upper House — the House of Lords — consists of members of the nobility, and has almost no power. Most members of Parliament, or MPs, are also members of a party. The three largest parties are/were: the Conservatives, Liberals, and Labor. Whichever party controls the majority of Parliament is invited by the monarch to form a government.
The Conservatives had won a substantial majority in the 1935 election, which resulted in the party’s leader, Stanley Baldwin, being named the prime minister. Upon his resignation on May 28, 1937, he was succeeded
by Conservative Party Leader Neville Chamberlain.
From May 7 - 9, 1940, the House of Commons held what has become known as the “Norway Debate.” The government had come in for much criticism over its handling of the war, especially the Norway debacle.
As a result of the debate, it was agreed that a coalition “National Government” should be formed. However, the Liberal and Labour parties refused to serve in a government with Chamberlain as prime minister. At 8 p.m., on the first day, Leo Amery was recognized. After 40 minutes he ended by quoting Oliver Cromwell’s speech to the “Long Parliament.”
"You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!”
On the second day, 77-year-old, WWI Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, advocated for a coalition “National Government,” helmed by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Conservative Party member Sir Winston S. Churchill.
The House had still not decided who would lead it on the morning of May 10. Once it was learned the Germans had launched their assault
against France and the Low Countries, Chamberlain advised the king that he was resigning in favor of Churchill.
Churchill’s War Cabinet consisted of him, Chamberlain as Lord President of the Council, Labour Party Member Clement Attlee as Lord Privy Seal, Conservative Party Member Lord Halifax as Foreign Secretary, and Labour Party Member Sir Arthur Greenwood as Minister Without Portfolio.
So, there were three Conservative Party members, and two Labour Party members. Later that year, Labour Party Member Ernest Bevin joined as Minister of Labour and National Service. Canadian Lord Beaverbrook joined, on Aug. 2, 1940, as Minister of Aircraft Production. Conservative Party Member Sir Kingsley Wood joined as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
There were two replacements that year. Chamberlain resigned on Sept. 22, 1940, and would die on Nov. 9, and was replaced, on Oct. 3, 1940, by Scotsman Sir John Anderson. Conservative Party Member Anthony Eden replaced, on Dec. 22, 1940, Lord Halifax, who became ambassador to the U.S.
Lord Beaverbrook, on May 1, 1941, became Minister of State. Two months later he became Minister of Supply. Conservative Party Member Oliver Lyttelton became MinisterResident for the Middle East.
Churchill addressed the House, in October 1944, and said that, "...we must look to the termination of the war against Nazism as a pointer which will fix the date of the next general election.”
With elections coming in July, and the war winding down, the Labour Party withdrew from the Wartime Coalition government, as it sought electoral control of Parliament.
Labour left the Coalition Government on May 23, 1945, and Churchill resigned as Prime Minister, leaving the United Kingdom without a functioning government.
King George VI stepped in and asked Churchill to form a government, which he did. This was known as the “Churchill Caretaker Ministry.” It included most of the Conservatives who had served in the War Cabinet, as well as Gwilym Lloyd George, son of WWI Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, who continued in his role as Minister of Fuel and Power.
The election was held on July 5, 1945, but the votes were not counted until July 26, to allow for the arrival of the overseas ballots. Because of the uncertainty, Churchill was accompanied to the Potsdam Conference, which began on July 17, by Labour Party Leader Clement Attlee, who had served as Deputy Prime Minister in the War Cabinet.
The result of the election was a surprise to many, as Labour gained 239 seats in Parliament, giving it a majority of 145 seats, and making Attlee the Prime Minister. It was the first time that Labour had won a majority in Parliament.
Attlee and Churchill left Potsdam, when the counting began, and returned to London. Although Churchill handily won his district, his party, the Conservative, was crushed. No one was more surprised at the outcome than Stalin, who assumed that Churchill would “rig” the vote, or count, so that he would win!
After the results were announced, Churchill went to Buckingham Palace and tendered his resignation to the King. Minutes after Churchill’s departure Attlee and his wife,Violet, arrived for an audience with the King, who, having grown fond of Churchill during the war years, was distressed
SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Clement Attlee with Harry S. Truman and Joseph Stalin at the Potsdam Conference in 1945.
OBITUARIES
STEPHANIE JANE DIETZ
Newark
Stephanie Jane Dietz, 59, of Newark, passed away on June 21, 2025. Born on October 24, 1965, Stephanie's early years on a farm shaped a lifetime of love for animals and nature. She was known for her deep connection with her pony, Rocket, her pig, Wilbur, and a menagerie of pets and strays that found solace in her care.
Stephanie's mechanical aptitude was evident from a young age, as she could fix nearly anything. Stephanie was a baker at Layton's Dip and Donuts for 35 years. Her culinary talents didn't stop at her career; she was an exceptional cook and baker at home, known for her cross-stitching
WORLD WAR II
Continued from Page 114
at the outcome.
Neither man spoke, until finally, Attlee said, “I’ve won the election.” The King responded, “I know. I heard it on the Six O’Clock News.”
President Truman later remarked to Churchill that Atlee struck him, “... as a modest man.” Churchill replied, “Indeed, he has much to be modest about!”
When the King offered Churchill membership in The Order of the Garter, the Kingdom’s highest Order, he refused, saying that he was unable to accept the honor since the voters had just given him the, “...order of the boot!” (He would accept the honor when offered by Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953, when he was, again Britain’s prime minister.) Churchill took a long vacation in the south of France, and spent much of his time painting.
In October 1951, the Conservatives again won a majority, and Churchill was named Prime Minister. He served until 1955, when, at the age 80, he retired.
Also attending the Potsdam Conference was Anthony Eden, as Secretary of State for War. One of his ancestors, Sir Robert Eden, was the last Colonial Governor of Maryland.
After the election, and change of the British government, he was replaced, at Potsdam, by Earnest Bevin, who had served as Minister of Labour and National Service, in the War Cabinet. Eden, who was married to Churchill’s niece, Anne, succeeded him, in 1955, as Prime Minister.
Next week: Baron von Richthofen 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.
and a range of hobbies including gardening, birding, camping, and fishing.
Her straightforward, resilient nature was balanced by a generous heart. Stephanie's marriage to Michael Dietz was marked by deep companionship and love, enduring for 21 years until her passing.
She is survived by her husband, Michael; her mother and stepfather, Cheryl and David Pace of Glen Arm; her father and stepmother, Stephen and Carol Neukam of Belington, W.Va.; her siblings, Lisa Dehorty of Annapolis, Christine Neukam of Middle River, Md., Lauren Thomas of St. Thomas, USVI, and Jonathan Neukam of Elkins, WV; along with several nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Coastal Hos-
pice or the Worcester County Humane Society, honoring Stephanie's love for animals and her community.
MICHAEL PYLYPCZUK
Berlin
Michael Pylypczuk, born Aug. 20, 1937 in Ukraine, passed away on Sunday, June 22, 2025 at the age of 87 at a nursing home in New York. Michael was a graduate of Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin. He then attended Maryland Institute of Art and graduated from Johns Hopkins University before being drafted into the United States Army. After serving, he became an art teacher, working in Maryland and then New York. Once he retired from teach-
ing, he focused on his art and studying his Ukrainian heritage. Michael had one son, Andrew Pylypczuk, who preceded him in death (2021).
He is survived by one brother, Joe Pylypczuk (Berlin), two granddaughters, and nieces and nephews.
ROBERT C WAUHOP
Berlin
On June 20, 2025, Robert C Wauhop passed from this life into the Kingdom of God after a long battle with Alzheimer's.
Robert Wauhop
He was the beloved husband of Katherine Wauhop and father of Michael Wauhop and brother to sister Kathleen Wauhop and grandfather of Christopher Saunders and Samantha Saunders.
.
Stephanie Dietz
M. Pylypczuk
PHOTOS COURTESY FISH IN OC
Mike Bostic and his crew, above left, had a great day on board his MARLI with Captain Mark Hoos at the helm boxing three nice yellowfin tuna and releasing a white marlin. Above right, Kevin McNelis, Sr. fished ocean structure landed this big 25”, 6.5 pound flounder.
PHOTOS COURTESY FISH IN OC
Above left, the crew of the private boat Instigator fishing out of Sunset Marina had an insane overnight trip with a limit of yellowfin tuna, a limit of tilefish and two huge bigeye tuna of 188 and 198 pounds. Above middle, this young angler caught himself a stud sea bass while fishing on board the Morning Star with Captain Monty Hawkins. Above right, this crew released a white marlin and boxed four big yellowfin tuna aboard the Foolish Pleasures with Captain Dale Lisi. Below left, it was a haul of four yellowfin tuna for this family fishing on board Wound Tight with Captain Shawn Gibson. Below middle, Captain Billy Brown of the private boat Gulfstream put this young squad on a great catch of yellowfin tuna. Below right, Captain Brian Porter of the Boss Hogg put this group on a great catch with six yellowfin tuna, a big mahi and a bigeye.
SHARK HOOKED
last
DISTRICT 8 CHAMPIONS
Berlin Little League All Stars were recently crowned District 8 champions in the 8-10-year-old
be headed to Thurmont, Md. on July 12 to compete for the state title against ball clubs from across
If successful, the team will land a spot in the East Region Invitational in Cranston, Rhode Island beginning Aug. 1.
While fishing offshore
week, local resident Wes Bocian, a bartender at the Purple Moose Saloon on the Boardwalk, caught this eight-foot sand tiger shark estimated at about 350 pounds. The shark was hooked aboard Captain John Forman’s The Bottom Bouncer.
