PRIMARY ELECTION 2026
Key County Races Drawing Attention in Pines
Contested commissioner, sheriff races headline Republican primary as early voting begins June 11
By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor
Voters in Worcester County will head to the polls June 23 for Maryland’s gubernatorial primary election, with several closely watched local races expected to draw strong interest in the Ocean Pines area.
Among the most closely followed contests is the Republican primary for the Worcester County Commissioner District 5 seat, which represents all of Ocean Pines. Longtime incumbent Commissioner Chip Bertino is facing challenger Joe Schanno in the Republican primary. The winner will advance to the general election to face Democrat Vicky A. Wallace.
Another high-profile local race is the Republican primary for the District 6 Worcester County Commissioner seat, which includes part of Ocean Pines. Long-time Worcester County educator and former Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor is facing media personality and relative newcomer to the area Sherrie Clifford. Because no Democrat filed for the race, the June 23 Republican primary will effectively decide the seat.
The race for Worcester County Sheriff is also expected to generate significant voter attention. Incumbent Sheriff Matt Crisafulli is challenged in the Republican primary by Jeff Buhrt, a colonel with the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.
No Democratic challenger filed in the race, meaning the Republican primary winner will claim the office.
County offices appearing on the primary ballot include Worcester County Commissioners, State’s Attorney, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Register of Wills, Judges of the Orphans’ Court, Sheriff and Board of Education seats for select districts.
State offices on the ballot include Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, State Senator and House of Delegates, along with Democratic and Republican Central Committee races.
Federal offices on the ballot include U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative. Judicial races for Circuit
The Ocean Pines Association ended its fiscal year with approximately $460,000 in favorable budget performance despite unexpected blizzard cleanup expenses and increased county water and wastewater costs, General Manager John Viola reported during the May 30 Board of Directors meeting.
Page 15
The cost of water and wastewater services billed to the Ocean Pines Association by Worcester County has ballooned to roughly four times historical levels, forcing the association to absorb hundreds of thousands of dollars in unexpected expenses and contributing to increased homeowner assessments.
To illustrate Mackenzie’s impressively accurate sense of smell, Ocean City Police Officer Devin Bartrom asked a co-work-
er to hold a square of gauze in her hand for a moment and then squeeze it.
At Coastal Drug Pharmacy, we believe in more than just filling prescriptions — we believe in caring for our community. That’s why we’re proud to offer the GUIDE Program, developed for Medicare clients living with dementia and their cargivers.
What is GUIDE?
GUIDE is a program developed for Medicare dementia clients and their caregivers to offer increased support and education to individuals with mild, moderate, or severe dementia. The goal of the program is to provide compassionate, person-centered support for the dementia client and their caregiver that promotes quality of life and reduces stress.
GUIDE Program Highlights:
• Services are covered at no additional cost to the client or caregiver.
• $2,563 annually for in-home or adult day center respite (time off for the caregiver).
• Comprehensive Assessments: To understand the specific challenges and strengths of each individual and caregiver.
Who Qualifies?
• If you/your loved one has a diagnosis of mild, moderate, or severe dementia you may qualify.
• You have traditional Medicare parts A&B (not enrolled in Medicare Advantage).
• Personalized Care Plans: Tailored care that adapts as needs evolve.
• Ongoing Support: Regular check-ins to help you navigate the complexities of dementia care with confidence.
• Caregiver services include training on how to best care for your loved one living with dementia, education, and respite services.
• You live in a home, assisted living facility, group home, or rest home; you cannot live in a nursing home long term.
• You are not enrolled in a SCO/One Care, PACE or hospice.
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 5
Republican voters in the Worcester County Commissioner District 5 can choose between two candidates, incumbent Chip Bertino and challenger Joe Schanno, in the primary election to see who will run against Democrat Vicky Wallace in the November general election.
Chip BertinoJoe Schanno
By DAVID BOHENICK Contributing Writer
After serving as commissioner for 12 years, incumbent Commissioner Chip Bertino is choosing to run again as he said there’s still work to be done and he wants to continue serving the community by retaining the District 5 all Ocean Pines commissioner seat.
“I believe I’ve demonstrated over the years that I’ve been a conscientious, engaged and responsive representative at the county level, and I would hope if [residents] recognize that then they would vote for me and support me for another term as their representative,” he said.
Bertino regularly hosts town hall meetings at the Ocean Pines Library, with the most recent session held on the evening of April 2 addressing proposed water/wastewater rates
for customers of the Ocean Pines Service Area.
Since the meeting, Bertino has also announced the debt service charge on
water and sewage bills would decrease by half for OP ratepayers following the retirement of 2014-2015 bonds and the utilization of unspent project savings.
Bertino has openly worked to alleviate the high water rates brought on by an oversight from previous fiscal year budgets and has negotiated a plan already approved by the
MARONICK Criminal Defense
By DAVID BOHENICK Contributing Writer
Lifelong Ocean Pines resident Joe Schanno first thought about running for commissioner last year when he said local officials dismissed his concerns over the drastic increase in his and other homeowners’ water bills. This inspired him to look into other ongoing issues where he noticed problems piling up that he wanted addressed, he said.
“Like many homeowners, I got my water bill last year or so and it went up quite substantially and when I went to call some local officials about it I kind of got stonewalled,” he said. “It kind of inspired me to look more into what the county was doing and, much like peeling an onion back, I found more and more problems that the county government has allowed to fester. Everything from education
funding to funding our sheriffs office.”
Now, the Ocean Pines service area customers are expected to pay a decreased
quarterly water bill in the next fiscal year, but Schanno called the decision to pay some of the debt service with reserve funds fiscally irresponsible. Rather than focus on repaying existing debt, Schanno wants to focus on maintaining facilities to a high standard and completing deferred maintenance.
“The way I like to tell people is:
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Thomas J. Maronick Jr
Chip Bertino
Joe Schanno
Chip Bertino
From Page 3
commissioners which would cause base quarterly bills to be $7.55 lower than current rates, and decrease debt service charges from $36 to $18. While county leaders are still awaiting a response from the Maryland Department of the Environment as to whether a $15 quarterly Bay Restoration Fee is necessary for OP ratepayers after cold temperatures affected the plant, Bertino’s work toward continually reducing the fees means customers will get at least $3 decrease compared to the previously proposed rates.
Recent county budget discussions have also included disagreements over the Worcester County Public Schools budget, with Bertino taking a stance not to approve additional taxpayer money being allocated to the school system without results from an impending financial audit. Bertino said he does support the staff and workers in the education system and wants to fund them accordingly but wants more confidence in the financial oversight of the board’s policies and practices.
“I very much support the teachers, the bus drivers and I support the staff for the salary packages that they’ve negotiated with the Board of Education,” Bertino said. “I fully support them and would vote to fund them accordingly. But beyond that, I think given the uncertainty and the lack of confidence in the financial oversight by the Board of Education over the school system’s finances, we need to get the results of the financial audit that the Board of Education has put an RFP out, and once we get those results after they’ve conducted their investigation we can move forward from there.
“Until we have increased confidence in [the financial oversight], I would not be responsible as a steward of taxpayer money on behalf of taxpayers by allocating more money.”
Superintendent of Worcester County Public Schools Dr. Annette Wallace recently announced she put forward a Request for Proposal for independent forensic audits conducted by outside accounting firms following an embezzlement scandal. Bertino has also openly opposed the proposed wind farm in Ocean City for years and said it will still be a priority of his moving forward. He believes Worcester County’s primary economic sources are at risk
with the development of the offshore wind project and has publicly condemned the actions of Maryland state legislatures and state agencies for overlooking the county’s residents and way of life.
In regard to county expansion, Bertino emphasized how important the continuous development and modernization of Route 589 has been, saying it’s been a priority since he was elected. However, he also said acquiring funding to install wanted additions has been difficult.
“[The expansion of 589] has always ranked in the top three priorities that the county has sent to the state with regard to allocating money for improvements, but the state has not provided the funding necessary to do the improvements that we’d all like to see here in the Ocean Pines community,” Bertino said.
While Bertino recognized Route 589 development as a priority, he also acknowledged Worcester County as a whole is still a rural community and that leaders need to balance development with preserving the local environment.
“I think we need to be mindful of the fact that we need to balance the character of what Worcester County is, and Worcester County is a farming community for the most part,” Bertino said. “And we need to protect that.
“We need to be very careful and defend against encroachment from the state that has tried and continues to pursue avenues to remove local autonomy from planning and zoning of the county, and that is a threat that we need to be very mindful of and very much guard against.”
Bertino has served as Worcester County Commissioner since 2014 and is running for his fifth term in office. From 2022 to 2024, he also served as the president of the Commissioners. In December 2024 Governor Wes Moore appointed him to serve on the 2025 Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Board of Directors, a role Bertino has continued to fulfill this year. He has also served on the MACo Legislative Committee since 2019.
Bertino moved to Worcester County in 1991, and while the decision to move at the time was job related, he said Ocean Pines has felt like home since. Since then, he became a member and past president of the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce and served as a board member for the Worcester County Veterans Memorial.
Joe Schanno
From Page 3
if you skip oil changes for a year on your car, yes, you save $200,” he explained. “But now you’re staring at a massive repair for your engine because you have neglected it, and that’s not the way to ensure a well-managed, and high functioning facility.”
Schanno said by prioritizing the high-standard operation of the service areas, the potential Bay Restoration Fee from Maryland Department of the Environment could have been avoided. He also believes the funds used to pay the debt should have been saved for unforeseen repairs or accidents.
“Reserve funds are there for major maintenance, replacements and accidents. God forbid we have a hurricane or other natural disaster,” he said. “We need to be able to have the funds there and ready to go to build or entirely enhance an existing facility.”
Moving forward, he’d like a thorough review of every water / wastewater plant in the county to see what maintenance is necessary and to ensure an outside party inspects new sub developments to prevent a previous issue seen at the Glen Riddle service area, according to Schanno.
Schanno believes outdoor recreation is a vital part of Worcester County. Once serving as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, he called outdoor recreation one of the fastest growing leisure activities in the county and emphasized the beauty of the local parks and their habitats.
“I think we have a beautiful asset in Assateague Island, and we’ve also got Shad Landing and these locations need to be supported as much as possible because they bring in a lot of tourists and tourist dollars,” he said. “The other part of it is that it’s a beautiful natural resource that locals get to partake in.”
Schanno is an Eagle Scout and also serves as committee chair for Scouting America Troop #261. He is openly opposed to the proposed offshore wind project off the coast of Ocean City, and is advocating for local solutions that would preserve the environment.
Schanno also hopes to secure more funding for Route 589 from the state than previous years, as he claims it’s one of the busiest corridors on the entire Eastern Shore.
He said a project widening the highway has been a contingency plan for years and he wants to personally advocate for funding in Annapolis on behalf of the county.
“A lot of our people in the district and in Ocean Pines have seen a dramatic increase in traffic over the past 5-10 years and it’s even worse during the summertime,” Schanno said. “So, I’d like to make sure our voices are heard in Annapolis to widen the road and try to alleviate some of that congestion.”
He recognizes the population surge in the summer and said more than 300,000 visitors come to Ocean City and its surrounding areas. Not only is Schanno concerned with improving infrastructure, but he also wants to ensure public safety by providing necessary resources for law enforcement before facing the seasonal population increase. Schanno said he was endorsed by the Worcester County Fraternal Order of Police.
Having graduated from Stephen Decatur High School, Schanno also supports the Worcester County school system. He hopes to preserve the system’s financial stability, its wide range of pathways available to students and the school’s control of decisions affecting families and students. Schanno was also endorsed by the Worcester County Teachers Association.
After meeting and talking to hundreds of residents during his time campaigning, Schanno said he sees these issues are affecting everyone, and said he wants to be the representative looking to solve these problems.
“I’m honored to have received the amount of support that I’ve gotten from the community doing this. I’ve knocked on over 500 doors in my community and I’ve talked to hundreds and hundreds of people, and the gist I’m getting from everybody is that they want to see smart solutions for Worcester County,” he said.
Schanno has a career in banking but he also has a background in politics, including studying political science at Salisbury University. He also worked within former Governor Larry Hogan’s administration from 2014 to 2018.
He is a member of multiple community organizations dedicated to supporting assistance for residents, including roles as vice president of the Worcester County GOLD Board of Directors and a member of the Bearded Men Society of Ocean City.
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 6
With long-time Commissioner Jim Bunting retiring from the public office, Republican voters in the Worcester County Commissioner District 6 can choose between two newcomers to fill the soon to be vacant seat, former Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor or local publisher Sherrie Clifford.
Lou TaylorSherrie Clifford
By DAVID BOHENICK
Contributing Writer
Lou Taylor said he was encouraged for years to run for senator or delegate after retiring, but he had no desire to run against the already-elected leaders and to leave Worcester County for Annapolis. He said he loves where he lives, and because of that the commissioner role enticed him.
“If I have the opportunity to serve this county as a county commissioner, I commit to doing the same thing I’ve always done: rolling up my sleeves, working hard, taking care, listening to people and doing the very best job that I’m capable of doing,” Taylor said.
Born and raised in Worcester County, Taylor served within the Worcester County school systems for 41 years. He was principal of Stephen Decatur High School from 1995 to 2012 and retired in June 2025 while serving as the superintendent of schools for Worcester County Public Schools.
Taylor said “he takes great pride in being a good listener” and called it paramount for the commissioners to work together as a collective body. He said it’s great for people to bring different views, but he doesn’t want to see leaders dismiss county agencies, operations and organizations.
“We as a county government have to first be very prideful with what we have– both as a government agency and as a community– or you
Taylor
shouldn’t be sitting in those seats,” he said. “I’m not saying all that to say there’s not some things that need to be fixed, that’s why you have people in place, but to not show that you take pride in the things that your governing is a real issue with me, and I’m hearing a lot of that on the campaign trail.”
He emphasized the commissioners can only get decisions done as a collective body and recognized he’s only 1/7 of the vote. He wants to see a more collaborative effort, and cites an example by mentioning the strained relationship between some county leaders and officials of the Town of Ocean City.
“Some of the negative things that I’ve heard come out of the mouths of some of our elected officials about Ocean City as a city is very appalling to me,” he said. “I think we have to work with that government over there.
“We have to work with that town and it’s not always ‘well, if you give me this, I’ll give you that.’ It’s not about giving to each other. It’s about
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By DAVID BOHENICK Contributing Writer
Sherrie Clifford refused to speak with the Progress as part of our election coverage. Information presented here is credited to her Ocean Pines ROC Edition and Facebook Q&A.
Clifford moved to Worcester County in 2020 and started the Ocean Pines Resident Oversight Community (ROC) Inc., an independent news and media corporation located and focused in Ocean Pines. She founded the ROC Edition newspaper and the ROC Buzz podcast.
Based on information provided through ROC, Clifford’s platform appears to be primarily focused on financial discipline and holding local leaders accountable. She reportedly has 25 years of experience in oversight-driven communities environments where accountability, transparency and accuracy are required, according to her Community Q&A in her own Ocean Pines ROC Edition.
“Above all, accountability matters,” she wrote in the May 1 issue of the ROC Edition. “Leadership means asking the tough questions, understanding the details and making decisions that are clear, responsible and in the best interest of the community.”
Clifford also allegedly has experience in financial systems, budgets and data management, working
within stock exchanges and nationwide financial institutions. She now serves on the Ocean Pines Budget and Finance Committee.
According to her Q&A in her own publication, she is also prioritizing protecting the Worcester public school system, supporting first responders and assuring public safety. She explained this means ensuring the school system and first responders receive proper oversight and necessary resources to do their jobs effectively.
She has reportedly followed the ongoing county budget discussion and is in favor of fully funding the public school system and agrees an independent audit needs to be approved and followed closely. She said in her written comments she believes in supporting education while protecting taxpayers, but above all there needs to be a focus toward “understanding what went wrong.”
“Accountability matters at every level, especially when it involves our schools and the protection of children,” she wrote on her Q&A Facebook Commissioner Page. “Strong leadership means recognizing problems early, ensuring proper oversight and taking responsibility when systems fail.”
The discussion follows the recent incident where a former Worcester County Public School Executive Denise Shorts was charged with felony theft of over $100,000 after alleged
Lou
A Letter to the Community
Greetings Friends and Neighbors,
June 23 is the Republican Primary Election. I ask for your vote.
For nearly 12 years I have been working and advocating for our community. I know who I represent – the residents and taxpayers of the Ocean Pines district, NOT special interest groups.
I voted to lower our property tax rates. I voted to lower the Homestead Tax Credit Cap. The county income tax rate of 2.25% remains the lowest in the state. And within the past four years, the County’s credit rating has been upgraded to Triple A.
Last year I fought to ensure that Ocean Pines water ratepayers were not responsible for the losses in other water districts, saving Ocean Pines ratepayers thousands of dollars. This year, I worked with County staff to reduce by half the Ocean Pines water district area debt service. As a result, ratepayers will save $18 per quarter beginning in July.
Additionally, I voted to refund money to multi-EDU commercial ratepayers based on a corrected billing formula. This will return hundreds of thousands of dollars back to commercial property owners throughout the county.
ALWAYS ADVOCATING FOR OCEAN PINES
CONSERVATIVE GOVERNANCE TAXPAYER INTERESTS NOT SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS LOWERED TAXES
SUPPORTS LAW ENFORCEMENT & FIRST RESPONDERS
ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY RESPONSIVE TO CONSTITUENT CONCERNS
HOSTS REGULAR TOWN MEETINGS ESTABLISHED BUSINESS OWNER OPPOSED TO WIND TURBINES
I worked to lower by millions of dollars the County taxpayer burden to replace Buckingham Elementary and Berlin Intermediate schools with state-of-the-art facilities. I worked to ensure that nearly the entire county now has internet connectivity.
I repeatedly voted to support county law enforcement and first responders.
I voted consistently in opposition to wind turbines off our coast.
I have met and talked with many of you at my regular town meetings, at the supermarket, on the phone or through email answering questions, discussing various topics and resolving issues. That is my primary responsibility as your Commissioner.
If you believe I represent your best interests, that I am a responsible steward of your tax money and am an effective advocate on your behalf, I hope you will vote for me in the Republican Primary on June 23 so that together we can ensure the best for our community.
Reelect
Lou Taylor
From Page 7 doing what’s right.”
Taylor clarified he hasn’t seen this behavior from every county leader but still recognized its presence. He also emphasized enhancing a collaborative relationship with Ocean City since it generates 64 percent of the county’s tax base.
Recently former Worcester County Public Schools Executive Denise Shorts was charged with embezzlement charges and felony theft over $100,000 after prolonged misuse of a school-issued credit card, and as superintendent at the time Taylor said he has been transparent and cooperative during the ongoing scandal.
He explained a separate department looks at all the receipts for the school’s purchases, but the receipts were already altered in a manner difficult to pick up on. Taylor would provide the final signature for each purchase card after at least two other signatures confirmed the receipts had been checked and each purchase was properly coded.
Taylor also said the school has been audited every year by an outside agency for years even before he served as superintendent, with a legislative audit occurring every five to seven years. One of the school system’s most recent legislative audits came up during the pandemic, and the state offered to waive the audit for Worcester public schools
Primary Election
From Page 1
Court, Court of Special Appeals and Court of Appeals also will appear on the ballot.
According to election officials, Worcester County has 44,313 registered voters countywide.
Polls on Election Day will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The last day to register to vote or change party affiliation before the primary is June 2. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot delivered by mail or fax is June 16, while the deadline to request a ballot delivered electronically via the internet is June 19.
Early voting will run from Thursday, June 11 through Thursday, June 18 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. Election officials note that voters who cast ballots during early voting cannot also vote on Election Day or by mail-in ballot.
because of the ongoing audits from outside agencies, Taylor said.
Once the legislative audit caught the discrepancies, Taylor said he offered to speak with anyone necessary but was never contacted by state prosecutors. After enduring the process, Taylor says he is for audits and wants them to be conducted regularly for county government and other county agencies.
As a founder and former board member of the Worcester County Education Foundation, Taylor explained he’s in favor of the proposed increases for the Worcester County Public Schools Budget because the submitted $12 million increase primarily addresses salary shortfalls. Taylor said the county’s school system is ranked 23 out of 24 for starting teacher salaries, and by law the starting annual salary needs to increase to $60,000.
He also claimed the county currently has the funds to fulfill the proposal without concern. He said if the money wasn’t available he would decline to spend it on the budget, and that the school system would be in a better position if they were given a bigger budget last year when the county also had money available then.
“The money is there. Last year, our county government could give the school board $1 million more and we would’ve been in a lot better shape, and they still had a $26 million fund balance at the end of the year, so it wasn’t ‘well, we just don’t
Worcester County will operate one early voting center, located at the Ocean Pines Community Center Assateague Room, 235 Ocean Parkway.
Ocean Pines area polling locations for Election Day are:
• Precincts 05-001 and 06-002
— Showell Elementary School
• Precinct 05-002 — Ocean Pines Library
• Precinct 06-001 — Ocean Pines Community CenterAssateague Room
• Precinct 06-003 — Bishopville Volunteer Fire Department
A ballot drop box for the primary election also will be available at the Ocean Pines Community Center.
The General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Early voting for the General Election begins Oct. 22 and ends Oct. 29 in Maryland.
For more information, visit https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2026/index.html.
have the funds,’” Taylor said.
“If they don’t have the funds, I would totally agree. We’re not gonna break the bank on the backs of the school system or any other department, but you’ve got the funds and you have quality people making decisions about what the needs are, i.e. the superintendent of schools and her team and the school board who are elected just like the county commissioners.”
Taylor is also concerned with the expansion and modernization of Route 589, and wants to ensure any growth is done responsibly, with suitable infrastructure provided for proposed projects.
He said he’s “just an outsider looking in” and emphasized he won’t know details until in the role, but having grown up in the area before Ocean Pines existed, he wants to make sure the area continues to handle its growth.
“When I was 14 years old, Ocean Pines was just a big wooded area. I’ve seen the growth of 589,” he said.
“And I don’t know what I don’t know, so this is just me assuming before I get in there and take a look at what’s been done and how, but if we’re going to grow as a county and do what’s right, we’ve got to make sure before we move forward that the infrastructure is in place to grow the area that we’re concentrating on and find ways to do that.”
Taylor is against the proposed offshore wind project off the coast
Sherri Clifford
From Page 7 prolonged misuse of school funds.
Clifford also openly stated she is in favor of raising the budget for the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department, claiming it would help toward reinforcing public safety but that any increase must be done responsibly.
“Supporting our deputies and protecting taxpayers go hand in hand,” she wrote in her Q&A series. “With the right oversight, we can ensure law enforcement has the resources they need while maintaining financial discipline.”
She reportedly believes workers in law enforcement and the fire department deserve a fair voice when negotiating pay, working conditions and benefits, supporting collective bargaining. Collective bargaining means understanding costs and creating fair, transparent agreements between taxpayers and employees
of Ocean City, specifically because of national security issues, environmental safety and a concern with aesthetics. He claimed he has not been approached by a resident in favor of the project to date on his website.
Taylor also wants to prioritize public safety by providing modern equipment and competitive salaries for first responders and law enforcement.
Regardless of the election’s outcome, Taylor is grateful to have received overwhelming support and countless compliments for his previous work in education.
He said if he wins, he plans on serving the residents the same way he always has.
“During this campaign, win or lose, I have met some of the nicest, genuine people and it’s been a very humbling experience for me because over and over and over again I have heard in all neighborhoods, thank you for what I’ve done in the past in my 41 year career,” he said.
“For every one negative comment, I bet I’ve heard 50 positive comments and that’s been very humbling for me.”
In addition to his roles in the Worcester County school system, he has also served on several boards including the Worcester County Local Management Board, Board of Trustees for Atlantic General Hospital and the Worcester County Board of Zoning Appeals.
but not ignoring fiscal responsibility, she wrote in her Q&A on Facebook.
“These are the people who answer when we call for help, walk into dangerous situations and carry responsibilities most of us will never face,” she wrote.
“With proper oversight, clear policies and strong procedures, collective bargaining can strengthen communication, improve morale and help Worcester County remain competitive in recruiting and retaining qualified public safety personnel,” she wrote.
She also reportedly supports restricting or preventing large-scale Data Centers and opposing Cable Landing Centers in the county, based on current discussions and proposals. With her reported background in Information Technology and work within technology-driven environments, she wrote that she understands what is being proposed and what will likely follow.
SHERIFF SHOWDOWN
Incumbent Sheriff Matt Crisafulli is facing off against challenger Jeff Burht in the Republican primary race for Worcester County Sheriff. With no Democrat opponent having filed, the race will be decided in the primary election.
Matt CrisafulliJeff Burht
By PROGRESS STAFF
In conversation, Worcester County Sheriff Matt Crisafulli expounds his fierce dedication to his deputies and staff, vows to continue training and protecting them but also stresses high standards, saying he expects the best from them.
“It is my responsibility. You elected me for a reason and I take that very, very seriously,” Crisafulli, who has served two, four-year terms and is campaigning for a third term, said during a recent conversation with the Progress.
“When I look in the mirror I realize, ‘Matt. That is your responsibility to be sure your people are protected.’ We don’t just put bulletproof vests on them. We also provide mental health awareness and resources so we can protect them between the left ear and the right ear. What we created over the last eight years, particularly in the last five years, we’ve worked very hard. I established a very solid command team. We are very vigilant with the mental health of our men and women in the sheriff’s office. We partner with a mental health clinician who provides services immediately after critical incidents. This is all part of our culture of support,” he said.
The sheriff, who manages a $22 million annual budget and oversees a staff of about 100, is running for sheriff against Col. Jeff Buhrt. Crisafulli credited former Worces-
ter County Sheriffs Chuck Martin and Reggie Mason, both who he called “great leaders.” Martin hired him in 1999 from the Pocomoke City Police Dept. and Mason succeeded Martin.
“Then, it was time for me to pick it up and kind of modernize and professionalize the organization during a very tough time. It is not lost on me that we have human beings out here performing duties that can be stressful. They can be involved in critical incidents in a matter of minutes. They have to think quickly on their feet. I have really taken the reins and increased training in the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office over the last eight years. Our deputies have more training now than they ever have.
“On any given day in the conference room there is some kind of learning going on to better our men and women every day and mitigate potential for liability or a deputy acting out of the scope of policy that could put this county in a position of
To Page 11
By PROGRESS STAFF
Jeff Buhrt is a colonel at the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, where he continued his career after retiring from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office after 27 years, retiring as a lieutenant – and now he wants to lead that office.
The 60-year-old father of two and former U.S. Marine is running for sheriff against incumbent Matt Crisafulli, who is seeking a third, twoyear term.
Because both candidates are Republicans and no Democrats filed for office, the winner will be decided in the June 23 primary and take over in December.
Buhrt ran for sheriff four years ago, but lost to Crisafulli.
“But that is because I didn’t get to participate in the campaign as much as I wanted to,” he told the Progress, because at that time, he had just started working in Somerset County so he hadn’t accumulated much time off, plus there were setbacks including his eye surgery.
“I decided to run this time because I believe I can bring change to the sheriff’s office. I served in Worcester County during the same time he was sheriff and I did not like what I saw at all. Right now there is a lot of violence on the south end of the county with shootings and stuff in Pocomoke City. They are reactive instead of proactive.
“They don’t have enough guys on
the street. Every time they get more guys for road patrol they put them in a specialized division, like courts. A lot of times -and this is everywhere – a lot of times they only have three people working for the entire county. That was the same in 1996 when I started,” Buhrt said, adding during his Worcester County days, his shift partner was current Snow Hill Police Chief Andy McGee.
“It used to just be he and I on the night shift. If Andy was sick there was only one of us. At that time we had four different shifts -- daytime, afternoon, evening and midnight. It didn’t happen a lot, to have only one deputy on patrol, but it did happen,” he said.
Burht said he’s also concerned about the number of people, 52, being killed on Worcester County roadways in traffic accidents, plus more being injured, although he wasn’t sure if that is an increase from years past.
“Some of his supporters will say most of those were on state highTo Page 11
Jeff Burht
Matt Crisafulli
Crisafulli
From Page 10 Burht
liability. The cost of doing this type of work is, there is always going to be that potential lawsuit or somebody coming after you. It’s the cost of doing business with law enforcement and that’s why you have to prepare yourself and prepare your men and women so when they pull away from the sheriff’s office and are in the community I want the best for the community,” he said.
“Nationally, where our law enforcement offices were under a lot of fire from a lot of different people, and there were reforms against law enforcement from some national incidents, that really put a spotlight on law enforcement.
“Nationwide, law enforcement agencies are struggling to get officers, with incidents like Freddie Gray and George Floyd. Maryland has some of the most aggressive law enforcement reforms. I believe there should be accountability in all organizations, especially a law enforcement organization. When you are putting a gun on somebody’s hip, when you are putting a badge on their chest, you have to do a very, very thorough background check because they are a direct reflection on the office, on me and on this community. I take this very, very seriously,” he said.
Gray, 25, died from a severe spinal cord injury after being arrested in 2015 in Baltimore. Floyd, 46, died from suffocation after being arrested in Minneapolis in 2020.
“We’re human beings doing a function and we can always improve. We have to be able to look in the mirror and see our own mistakes and we, like everyone, make mistakes. Our team has worked hard to build a strong, supportive and professional law enforcement organization,” Crisafulli, the 52-year-old father of two, said.
Crisafulli -- who with his wife, Gwen, has daughters Monica, 28, and Natalie 25, and who is expecting the family’s first grandchild, a boy, this month – has set even more goals as he works to be reelected.
“No. 1 is keeping children safe. We have a school resource officer, one officer, in every public school in this county. They go through a lot of specialized training. They go through training to deal with people with special needs. There is a lot of deescalation training. It’s our responsibility to be on top of all the
From Page 10
ways. Well, we still answer calls from businesses and residences that are on state highways,” Buhrt said, referring to Crisafulli.
“As far as the internal workings of the sheriff’s office, I would like to have fair promotional tests. I will not hire people from outside of the agency and bring them on as command staff. I would rather promote from within. The only time I understand doing that is if the sheriff brings in their own chief deputy. Also the climate now with anything police officers do. They are so scrutinized.
“I can’t speak for everyone but there are guys who say, ‘I’m just going to go to my calls and I’m not going to be aggressive’ but I would encourage deputies to go out and do stuff. Sometimes the pay isn’t as great as at other agencies but if the leadership is good, that’s one reason guys and girls stick around.
“I know of quite a few who are looking to leave the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. I don’t know if that has changed because of the pay package they just got. They got a pretty good pay package. In Somerset County, we got a pay package but it wasn’t as good as other places,” he said.
Last month, the Worcester County Commissioners fully funded Crisafulli’s request to increase deputies’ starting salaries to more than $70,000, effective July 1, and to increase the department’s overall fiscal year 2027 budget to $22.2 million.
Buhrt, of Stockton, who has a son, Chris, also a Somerset County deputy, and, with his wife, Sue, a 12-yearold daughter named Maura, posted on his Facebook page that Worcester County “isn’t just where I built my career – it’s my home.”
“I care deeply about this community, the people in it and the men and women who serve it every day. I’m ready to lead with experience, integrity and accountability and to continue building a sheriff’s office the community can trust.”
Buhrt served in the military 13 years. He was in the U.S. Army Reserves and had two combat deployments, in 2004 to 2005 and 2008 to 2009, both times in Iraq.
“I learned leadership abilities and standards, through the Marines especially. I had to do a lot of quick thinking. I was on the very first Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team, To Page 13 To Page 13
Crisafulli
From Page 11
difference changes in society, changes in mental health, changes in human behavior. Our deputies have to have that specialized training.
“My team has worked very diligently to stay ahead of the national trend and changes in behavior. Our school resource officers are phenomenal human beings. They are looked up to by the children in this county.
“Deputy Patty Donaldson at Showell Elementary School is renowned. She has influenced so many people. She is out there every day, helping kids get off the bus, helping kids get out of the car. Those children who see Deputy Donaldson from the time they are in pre-K until they are in third grade, that is a lot of years. She has created lifelong relationships with a law enforcement officer,” he said.
Crisafulli has served as a Drug Abuse Resistance Education Officer, known as DARE, in schools and said he wants educators to be able to teach children in environment free of danger so they can concentrate on learning.
“I firmly believe that accountability is key in any organization, particularly a law enforcement organization. I believe it’s incumbent upon law enforcement leaders to hold
Burht
From Page 11
known as FAST, while I was in the Marines,” he said, referring to the quick-reaction force that protects naval and national assets.
During his career he was on specialized units including the Sheriff’s Tactical Armed Response, or STAR, and was a counter sniper.
“When I got into law enforcement I still strived to be the best I could. I originally got hired in Ocean City. They don’t’ have the seasonal program any more, which, for lack of better words it was like cherry picking. You have all these kids that are interested in law enforcement and you could recruit from there. When I was with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, I used to assist Ocean City with Bike Week and other events as much as possible,” he said.
If he’s elected sheriff, he said he will keep sheriff’s deputies in public schools as school resource officers and start an unarmed, volunteer reserve unit.
“You have 18-year-olds and older
their men and women accountable.
“We do that here. We do that very well on the Shore. I take that role very seriously. My men and women know they are going to get support from me and from their command team but they also know they are held to a higher standard and they have to act with professionalism even in the eye of duress, even in the eye of critical incidents. We have worked very hard over the last eight years to bring our office forward and provide a foundation of support for our men and women. The better I take care of my men and women, the better service they provide,” he said.
After recent Worcester County Commissioners’ approval, the sheriff’s office will have a staff of more than 100, including the sheriff, and starting salary of more than $70,000, necessary, he said, because recruitment is difficult and agencies must be competitive.
“When you wake up every morning, the question should be, ‘How can I better my community today?’ That is my vision – always learning, surrounding yourself with the best people that you can, understanding you can always get better. You do that through training. You do that through self-reflection and my mission is to do the absolute best,” he said.
entering into police work. You get them in and mentor them before you send them to the academy. It doesn’t have to be somebody who wants to be a police officer,” he said, adding he enjoyed being a reserve office and found it educational.
Crisafulli, Buhrt said, “has all the money and backing but I’m doing this on my own, my own dime as you would call it.”
“I’m not beholden to anybody except for the voters,” he said, adding he didn’t accept donations to his campaign, asking would-be donors to help charities instead.
“I saved a lot of my stuff from the last time, my campaign signs, bumper stickers, stickers so I don’t have a lot to buy. I have 35 years in law enforcement, a military background. I have been forced to make quick decisions and most of them have been right. High-stress things -- combat, being put on the SWAT team.
“I wish people would look into the backgrounds more. It’s very easy to be a Monday morning quarterback,” he said.
Progress Staff Photo Cali Carver, 13, left, and 11-year-old Avery Powell sell lemonade on a sunny spring day in the Pines.
OPA Ends FY With $460K Favorable Budget Position Despite Cost Increases
By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor
The Ocean Pines Association ended its fiscal year with approximately $460,000 in favorable budget performance despite unexpected blizzard cleanup expenses and increased county water and wastewater costs, General Manager John Viola reported during the May 30 Board of Directors meeting.
Viola presented the association’s April 30 unaudited year-end financial report, noting that April 30 marks the end of the association’s fiscal year. He explained that final audited numbers are expected sometime in July after review by external auditors.
“They’re final once the external auditors come in and that will all be final somewhere around July,” Viola said. “We do take a little more time in April so that we can get all the invoices and everything in there so
that it’s less work during the audit.”
Viola said the association has had few audit adjustments in recent years.
“We’ve had minimal audit adjustments over the seven years and the one or two that we had we’ve explained them thoroughly,” he said. “They were timing because an invoice or something doesn’t come in on time.”
For April alone, the association finished approximately $40,000 favorable to budget. Viola said Ocean Pines finished favorable to budget in 11 of the 12 months during the fiscal year.
Golf operations continued to outperform expectations, he said, noting that growth has been organic and bolstered by food and beverage activity tied to golf operations.
“We definitely budgeted more golf this year,” Viola said. “We have the favorability we had because golf has
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(in000's)
APRYTDOpIncome/(Loss) Favorable/ (Unfavorable)
Amenities:BudgetCurrentYearBudget GolfCombined4894945
Aquatics1(30)(31) BeachParking608586(22)
RacquetSports(38)(84)(46) Marinas26331047
Food&Beverage497495(2)
SubtotalAmenities1,8201,771(49)
Recreation&Parks(505)(473)32
Safety: Police(1,792)(1,730)62
Fire/EMS(1,154)(1,154)0
Support: Administration/GMOffice5,1795,21435
PubWorks/CPI/GenMain(2,359)(2,213)146 Finance(934)(774)160
Marketing(255)(181)74 TOTAL0460460
truly organically grown. Now we have it with food and beverage and that’s helping and that’s a good one.”
Viola said the year-end favorable balance was consistent with forecasts he had shared with the Board throughout the year.
“So the year to date I guess rounded to $460,000 favorability to the budget,” he said. “That is consistent with the number that I have given out throughout year.”
He added that the favorable balance comes despite several significant financial pressures, including increased county utility costs and storm-related expenses from the winter blizzard.
“That $460,000, just to remind you the mechanics of it, that gets rolled over into the next budget cycle,” Viola said. “It goes into our retained earnings.”
To Page 17
Fee Increases Quadruple OPA Water, Wastewater Costs
By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor
The cost of water and wastewater services billed to the Ocean Pines Association by Worcester County has ballooned to roughly four times historical levels, forcing the association to absorb hundreds of thousands of dollars in unexpected expenses and contributing to increased homeowner assessments.
OPA officials detailed the financial impact during the May 30 Board of Directors meeting, where Senior Director of Finance Steve Phillips outlined the sharp escalation in county charges tied to water and wastewater services.
“We’ve heard a lot the last year about the increases in the bills,” Phillips said. “So I wanted to just show the impact and then show you a little bit about the breakdown of how Ocean Pines is actually charged.”
Historically, the association budgeted about $90,000 annually for water and sewer-related expenses. Phillips said that remained relatively consistent until last year, when costs surged dramatically.
“In the unaudited statements that I just sent out last night, we incurred $263,000,” Phillips said.
For the current fiscal year, the
OPA Financials
From Page 15
A breakdown of amenity performance showed racquet sports, aquatics and beach parking unfavorable to budget, with food and beverage also slightly below projections.
Marinas and golf operations, however, finished favorable to budget.
Viola estimated retained earnings at approximately $3 million, a dramatic turnaround from seven years ago.
“To put into perspective to benchmark it, when we all took over seven years ago, we were negative $1.6 million,” he said. “With all the maintenance and building we’ve done, still in a better position.”
Viola credited homeowners, the Board and association staff for the improvement.
The reserve summary showed anticipated year-end reserves totaling approximately $6.4 million.
“Again, we’ve been forecasting this,” Viola said. “That’s what we
OPA budgeted approximately $300,000 for the full 12 months, though Phillips warned the final amount could rise even higher.
“The bottom line impact was $300,000,” he said, adding even that number is still changing and expected to increase.
Phillips estimated total costs could ultimately reach about $310,000, plus an additional $17,000 related to a new Bay Restoration Fee.
It ends up being about four times what the OPA historically had to pay in the water and sewer expenditures, he said.
The added costs are translating directly into higher assessments for Ocean Pines property owners. Phillips said the water and wastewater increases alone added approximately $19 to each property owner’s annual assessment.
OPA General Manager John Viola later clarified that the current year’s assessment increase included about $15 tied specifically to the water and sewer expenses, with the OPA offsetting about another $4 in the increase costs but cutting expenses elsewhere. Another $25 increase in the assessment was related to the community fire station project.
“Our assessment last year was $875,” Viola said. “This year includes
should end the year with in our reserves.”
He noted future reserve contributions and expenditures are already budgeted and approved by the Board.
“The $6 million is a healthy number,” Viola said, adding that reserve balances are largely consistent with recommendations from the DMA reserve study. “We have maybe a high cycle a few years down the road, but we’re working on that, too.”
Director Stuart Lakernick praised Viola and staff for maintaining positive financial performance despite unexpected expenses.
“I just want to make sure everybody is aware the $460,000 that’s favorable that this team has been able to accomplish is in spite of massive expenses with the cleanup from the blizzard, a huge increase for our water,” Lakernick said. “And he’s able to still keep us lean and mean and keep us in the black.”
“That’s a hell of a job, John,” Lakernick told Viola.
a $25 increase for the fire station project and $15 increase because we got hit with this water bill.”
Phillips explained that standard water usage charges themselves have remained relatively stable. The dramatic increases instead stem largely from higher service fees and newly imposed accessibility fees.
“The usage fees, which is just the gallon usage, that’s pretty typical each and every year,” Phillips said. “Wasn’t a big difference this year versus previous years.”
The debt service fee, meanwhile, may actually decrease next fiscal year. Phillips said Worcester County officials have indicated the current rate of $36 per equivalent dwelling unit, or EDU, could be cut in half to $18 per EDU for customers for fiscal year 2026-27.
“The big charges actually are the accessibility fees and the service fees,” Phillips said.
According to Phillips, service fees previously totaled only about $20,000 annually. Under the county’s new structure, that figure has jumped to approximately $142,000
after the EDU rate increased to $209 per unit. OPA has 287 EDUs.
The association is also now paying accessibility fees totaling about $87,000. Those charges apply to unconnected EDUs and mailbox lots.
“We’re charged $177 per our unconnected EDUs,” Phillips said. “We have about 80 of those. And then also on our mailbox lots, we have about 40 of those.”
Phillips also warned of another new expense stemming from water quality standards.
“There’s another Bay Restoration Fee aspect to it,” he said. “They’re going to be assessing a $15 Bay Restoration Fee per quarter.”
That fee alone is expected to add roughly $17,000 annually.
Viola said OPA staff worked to offset some of the financial impact through operational savings and additional revenue generation, but the fee increases still created significant pressure on the budget.
“This was all not planned for,” Viola said.
The increased county charges are
To Page 19
OPA Prepares for Summer Board of Directors Election Candidate Forum Set for June 13
By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor
The Ocean Pines Association is preparing for its 2026 Board of Directors election this summer, with officials encouraging homeowners to attend the upcoming candidate forum and participate in the voting process.
During the May 30 Board of Directors meeting, Director Jeff Heavner, liaison to the committee, outlined the election timeline and emphasized the work of the Ocean Pines Elections Committee to ensure a smooth process.
The Election Committee has been meeting on a regular monthly basis and their mission is to ensure that everyone receives a ballot and that their vote counts, Heavner said.
The next major event in the election cycle will be the candidate forum, scheduled for Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Clubhouse Meeting Room at 100 Club-
Farmers Market Tour of Lancaster Set for June 20
Join Ocean Pines Recreation & Parks for a scenic bus ride to Lancaster on Saturday, June 20.
The bus will be making stops at three of the best farmers markets in the county, including:
Kitchen Kettle Village: experience 40+ unique outdoor shops featuring baked goods, fudge, yarn, leather goods, handmade craft jewelry, and more, as well as restaurants.
Lancaster Central Market: offering the best of Lancaster under one historic roof with a vast array of producers growing the freshest Lancaster County produce, meats, and dairy products.
Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market: a favorite destination for locals, as well as out-of-town visitors, featuring tons of delicious offerings.
The bus departs the Community Center at 6 a.m., with the approximate time in Lancaster from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The cost of the trip is $70 per person, which includes transportation.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call 410-641-7052.
house Drive.
“Please, please attend,” Heavner said. “You’ll have an opportunity to meet all your candidates and to ask them questions.”
The Elections Committee is also asking homeowners to submit questions in advance for the forum.
Questions may be emailed to elections@oceanpines.org through Friday, June 5.
According to the committee, the forum will include three rounds of questions: questions from the Elections Committee, questions submitted by association members, and questions candidates ask one another. Candidates will also deliver opening and closing remarks.
This year, five candidates are seeking three open seats on the seven-member volunteer Board, which serves as the governing body of Ocean Pines. The seats currently held by John Latham, Elaine Brady and Pat Lehnerd are up for election.
The ballot order was determined during the May 26 candidate draw conducted by the Elections Committee using a series of playing cards. The results were Amy Peck, John Latham, Bill Pickett, Pat Lehnerd and Elaine Brady. The draw also determines the seating order during the candidate forum.
Heavner said candidates were asked to submit biographies, position statements, answers to three questions and photographs by June 3.
Ballots are scheduled to be mailed and emailed June 22. Heavner noted the community has entered the 45day window for campaign signage, meaning candidates may begin placing election signs throughout the community.
The final voter eligibility deadline
Water Fees
From Page 17
also affecting Ocean Pines businesses and vendors.
Viola said OPA food and beverage vendor Touch of Italy has been hit with an additional $60,000 to $70,000 in water and wastewater-related expenses.
“I’m hoping every homeowner and certainly the Board knows so they can put this in perspective with the next budget,” Viola said.
is July 1. If a property owner wants to vote, that’s important, Heavner said.
Updated ballots for homeowners who correct eligibility deficiencies will be mailed and emailed shortly after that date.
Voting will close at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 5, a change from previous years when voting remained open later in the day. Ballots collected at the Ocean Pines administration building will then be overnighted to MK Elections for tabulation.
The official vote count is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 7, ahead of the Ocean Pines annual meeting on Saturday, Aug. 8.
“We did that on the next day, but it was kind of rushed,” Heavner said, explaining the decision to move the count to Friday to better prepare for the annual meeting.
Heavner praised MK Elections, the company administering the 2026 election, for its work during
last year’s election process.
“In 2025, they performed in a most professional and exemplary manner,” he said.
He also highlighted the association’s outreach efforts, including electronic sign announcements, information published in This Week in Ocean Pines, and news releases.
“The information is getting out there,” Heavner said. “So, please, please vote.”
The field of candidates was finalized after the application deadline was extended to May 19 in accordance with Resolution M-06, Elections and Referendums Procedures. Under the resolution, when the number of eligible candidates is fewer than two more than the number of vacancies, the Board is required to solicit additional candidates for seven days after the original filing deadline.
Residents with election-related questions may email elections@ oceanpines.org
OPA Turns to Work Groups Following Elimination of Advisory Committees
By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor Steve Zeigler.
After the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors voted last year to eliminate most of the association’s advisory committees, the administration is now turning to a new model aimed at increasing resident involvement through smaller “work groups” focused on specific amenities.
General Manager John Viola announced during a May 30 Board meeting that the association has begun forming amenity-based work groups to provide feedback, discuss conditions at facilities and share ideas for improvements and future projects.
The advisory committees, which for years provided recommendations and resident input on issues ranging from golf and recreation to environmental matters, were largely dissolved by the Board in 2025.
At the time, Board members supporting the move said the committees had become inefficient and at times duplicated the work of staff and directors.
Critics of the decision argued the eliminations reduced opportunities for homeowners to participate in association governance and provide organized feedback to leadership.
Viola said the new work groups are intended to be different from the former committee structure.
“So work groups, let me talk a little bit about this. Hopefully I can explain it,” Viola said. “This is different than a committee. I’ve used them in the past. I’ve had a lot of success with it.”
According to Viola, the groups are designed to bring together residents with constructive ideas and professional experience to focus on specific operational issues and improvement projects.
“You bring constructive professional people in a room and you let them do their thing,” he said. “When people don’t have agendas or whatever, it’s amazing what gets done.”
The first work group to begin meeting focuses on golf operations. Its inaugural meeting was held May 15.
Members of the golf work group include Frank Brown, John Ellis, Kathy Monaco, Kitty Sawchak, Denise Stevens, Darin Stuiber and
Viola said the group has already produced positive results and generated a list of suggested improvements and priorities.
“So we have a whole list, it’s been posted, of what they would like to see,” Viola said. “A lot of it we were working on, the team’s working on, and we are addressing it. And I’d
like to thank all of them.”
Additional work groups are now being organized for racquet sports, aquatics and recreation.
The racquet sports work group is scheduled to hold its first meeting June 2. Members include Deb Downing, Cathy Levatino, Jack McLaughlin, Michele Starks and Claire Walker.
Viola said he expects the same level of collaboration and success from the additional groups as was seen with the golf work group.
The administration is working on setting up racquet sports and aquatics, and Viola said he is sure they’ll have the same success with those as they have with the golf work group.
Advisory committees that were terminated by the Board last year included aquatics, racquet sports, golf, environment and natural assets, bylaws and resolutions, and marine activities, and communications.
Board Approves GM Contract Extension Options
By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor
The Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors unanimously approved a motion May 30 authorizing additional contract extension options for General Manager John Viola, potentially allowing him to remain in the position through June 30, 2031.
OPA President John Latham presented the motion during the Board meeting, citing Viola’s continued leadership and strong organizational performance.
Based on continued strong performance, results, and leadership by the GM, the motion was to provide John Viola with the option to extend his tenure up to three years, through June 30, 2031, beyond the current term of the contract, Latham said.
Viola’s current contract runs through June 30, 2028, and already includes an option for a one-year extension through June 30, 2029. The approved amendment grants Viola two additional one-year renewal options, allowing the contract to potentially continue through 2031.
Latham said the action was intended to provide long-term stability and continuity for the association.
Viola has served as Ocean Pines’ general manager since 2019, initially stepping into the role on a temporary basis following the resignation of former General Manager John Bailey. He later signed a six-month agreement that was extended multiple times before receiving a fouryear contract extension in 2024.
During discussion of the motion, Director Jeff Heavner praised Viola’s leadership and the association’s current financial condition.
“Ocean Pines has never been in the financial shape that it is today,”
To Page 23
John Viola
OPA Addresses Bridge Damage, Sinkhole Repair
By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor
Ocean Pines officials are addressing two roadway-related issues following recent damage to infrastructure, including repairs to the North Gate bridge after it was struck by a vehicle and an emergency sinkhole repair completed on Ocean Parkway.
During the May 30 Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors meeting, General Manager John Viola updated Board members on both projects and said the association is continuing to work with contractors and insurance providers to address the problems.
Viola said the North Gate bridge was damaged May 9 when it was struck by a truck.
“You can see the damage on the right. A truck hit it,” Viola said during the meeting.
He added that both the Ocean Pines Police Department and the driver of the truck reported the incident to the association.
According to Viola, the estimated cost to repair the bridge is $3,120 and the matter has been submitted as an insurance claim.
The OPA is working with the insurance company, he said. “We’re actually trying to repair it in house. Hopefully we get the insurance money on it.”
Viola also discussed an emergen-
GM Contract
From Page 22
Heavner said. “It’s unbelievable what’s been done. The maintenance hasn’t been in any better shape than it is today.”
Heavner also credited Viola’s long-term planning and fiscal management.
“John brings with him such experience, integrity, promises made, promises kept, and John has an eye for the long game,” he said. “This isn’t a short game thing that we play here, and it’s going to show when John tells us and forecasts favorability, it’s spot on every time. He accounts for every penny of our money, and it’s much appreciated.”
“We’d be stupid not to try to keep John as long as we can and his staff,” Heavner added.
Following the unanimous vote, Heavner said, “Make sure we record that as unanimous. Congratulations, John. Thank you. And thank your entire staff.”
cy sinkhole repair completed May 19 near 903 Ocean Parkway, close to the intersection of Ocean Parkway and Cathell Road.
The repair work was completed by Deppe Brothers at a cost of $27,325.
Viola said the sinkhole area was temporarily filled with stone and later patched over by a contractor.
“We brought in an outside company, we call these preferred vendors. They’ve done a lot of work with us,” Viola said. “They did a great job.
They’ve done work like this for us before. I think they had the whole thing done in a day and a half.”
Viola said the pipe underneath the roadway involved in the sinkhole will be included in this year’s cured-in-place pipe, or CIPP, lining project being performed by Pelican Underground.
Over the last several years, the association has used pipe lining to reinforce aging underground infrastructure without completely re-
placing pipes.
“Over the last few years OPA has been lining pipes,” Viola said. “We’re going to line that pipe. We actually have them coming in in a couple of months. That pipe was actually scheduled to be done.”
He added that lining the pipe will reinforce the repaired section.
“It’ll reinforce even the piece that was corrected with sheet metal … it’s going to last another 50 years,” Viola said.
BREAKFAST SANDWICHES
Served on Bagel, Roll or Bread (White, Wheat or Rye Croissant or a Wrap
Egg & Cheese ..................................…
$7.55
Meat, Egg & Cheese …............................ $8.95
Your choice of Bacon, Sausage, Ham, Turkey Sausage,Ham, Taylor Ham or Morning Star Vegetarian Sausage
PLATTERS & OMELETS
Two Eggs Any Way with Meat ............. $7.80
Your choice of Bacon, Sausage, Ham, Turkey Sausage,Ham, Taylor Ham or Morning Star Vegetarian Sausage
Cheese Omelet .................................. $8.75
Veggie Omelet …................................... $9.50
(green peppers, onions, tomatoes, carrots, celery)
Quiche ................................................... $6.25
BAGELS WITH ...
Bagel with Butter ...….......................... $2.90
Bagel with Cream Cheese ….............. $4.50
Bagel with Cream Cheese and Jelly ..... $4.50
Bagel with Peanut Butter and Jelly ..... $5.25
Cinnamon Crunch Bagel
With Butter $3.40 With Cream Cheese $5.00
Bagel with Nova Cream Cheese ......…... $7.55
Bagel with Sliced Nova or Lox Salmon … $11.50
LUNCH SPECIALTIES
Homemade Soup Small ........................ $4.00
Chicken Pot Pie ..................................… $6.25
Pizza Bagel ~ Plain $6.75 - Pepperoni $7.50
Bagel Dog ............................................. $6.25
LUNCH
SANDWICHES
Served on Bagel, Roll, Sliced Bread, Croissant or a Wrap Includes a Side of Macaroni Salad
Ham …………............................….……. $9.45
Turkey ………...................................….. $9.95
Roast Beef …..................................…… $10.45
Cappicola …….................................….. $9.45
Genoa Salami …................................… $9.45
Italian Combo …...........................…… $10.45
(Roast Beef, Cappicola, Salami and Provolone)
Roast Beef & Turkey Combo ..............….. $10.45
Liverwurst …...............................……… $7.95
Bologna ................................................. $7.95
Chicken Salad ...................................... $10.50
Egg Salad ….............................………… $8.45
Tuna Salad ………..........................…... $10.25
Whitefish Salad ….................………… $10.50
Grilled Cheese ……........................……. $7.25
Add to any sandwich
Cheese $1.50 • Avacado $.80
FRESH PASTRIES
Scone (blueberry, cranberry or raisin) ..$4.25 Lemon/Pecan Bar …….....................…… $3.00
Manklin Creek Road, South Gate Ocean Pines (Manklin Creek Road & Ocean Parkway)
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Community Pharmacy locations
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O 410-641-9240
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O 410-543-4769
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O 410-629-6240
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Art League’s First Friday to Feature New Exhibits, Clay-A-Palooza
The Art League of Ocean City invites the public to its June First Friday art openings on Friday, June 5, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the Ocean City Center for the Arts, 94th Street bayside. The public is invited to attend this free event with refreshments sponsored by The Buzzed Word and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Live music by artist, singer, and songwriter Callum.
During First Friday, the Art League will also announce its 2026 scholarship winners, continuing its support of local students seeking higher education in the arts. Since the Art League first began granting scholarships in 1991, the nonprofit has awarded over 100 scholarships to date.
“What Gathers” is the new exhibition by Matthew Meinhardt, on view June 5 to 27 in the Thaler Gallery at the Art League of Ocean City. The Ocean City native, now based in Los Angeles, continues his exploration of perception, reality, and media, inviting viewers to consider how visuals and narratives shape truth. The paintings merge recognizable entertainment motifs and insect-like silhouettes against atmospheric backdrops, pairing aerial forms with portraits of “witnesses” whose bewildered gazes drive a pseudo-narrative about truth.
The Sisson Gallery hosts “Ride, Glide, Cast: A Coastal State of Mind,” a mixed-media show featuring the watersports of surfing and fishing, with the street sport of skating to explore the unique rhythm of coastal life on the Eastern Shore. Artists are invited to draw inspiration from surfing—the curl of a wave, the board slicing through salt and spray; skating—the grind of concrete, the curve of movement, urban waves of motion; fishing—the patient cast, the landing, the line between human and sea.
The annual Clay-A-Palooza event will take over the remainder of the Arts Center on First Friday, including Studio E, the Spotlight Gallery, and the Artisan Showcase, displaying fun and functional ceramics created by the Clay Guild of the Eastern Shore. Founded in 2005, the Clay Guild serves the southern part of the Eastern Shore with members in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Work shown includes handcrafted, one-of-a-kind ceramics made by local potters, including Robbie John-
son, Sarah Halcott, Patricia Rose, and others.
During First Friday, attendees can explore the Clay Guild marketplace and sculpture garden all evening. Special events include demonstrations and artists’ talks, as well as Pottery Ping Pong, where guests toss a ping pong ball into a piece of pottery and take the piece home if they land the shot. Visitors will also have a quick try at the wheel.
The Global Travel Photo Show’s
past entries will be displayed on gallery monitors, offering a rotating glimpse of travel-inspired imagery from years past. If you would like to enter your photo into this year’s contest, visit https://www.gogophotocontest.com/globaltravelphotocontestaloc. Voting ends June 22 at midnight.
Satellite galleries: The Princess Royale, 9100 Coastal Highway, hosts Jim Halvorsen with Ocean City Yacht Shots, while The Coffee
Beanery at 94th Street showcases Carly Whittington, a plaster artist and photographer based in Berlin, Maryland.
The Arts Center shows, and the satellite galleries will be on display through June 29. More information is available at OCart.org or by calling 410-524-9433.
The Art League of Ocean City is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the visual arts to the community.
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TRACKING TROUBLE: OCPD Bloodhound Mackenzie Sniffs Out Suspects, Missing People
By PROGRESS STAFF
To illustrate Mackenzie’s impressively accurate sense of smell, Ocean City Police Officer Devin Bartrom asked a co-worker to hold a square of gauze in her hand for a moment and then squeeze it.
A few minutes later, in a lot just north of the police department, Bartrom, a six-year veteran, put Mackenzie’s harness over her head, let her quickly sniff the gauze, said “Go!” and, holding her long leash, trotted behind the amiable dog. Mackenzie took off running, through the parking lot, a few more yards, then turned left down a side street, where the co-worker who squeezed the gauze was waiting.
As the co-worker praised her, the dog, who isn’t quite 2, gobbled up her reward, a packet of Pedigree wet dog food as Bartrom, hearing compliments from a spectator, nodded knowingly.
“We’ve had one person we found and we found a burglary suspect,” he said, referring to an incident on March 27, posted on Facebook by the police department.
“The Ocean City Police Department is proud to highlight the outstanding work by Police First Class Bartrom and K9 Mackenzie, whose teamwork and determination led to the successful apprehension of a suspect following an incident involving a physical altercation,” the post states.
A little after 1 a.m., police responded to 83rd Street in the resort.
“Officers observed evidence of a physical alteration that had taken place both inside and outside a residence … the suspect was asked to leave but unlawfully re-entered the unit where an additional altercation took place before the suspect left the area on foot as officers responded,” the post states.
Bartrom and Mackenzie responded and, using the scent from an item the suspect left behind, began to track. Mackenzie followed the suspect’s path from 87th Street onto the beach, south through multiple
blocks and parking areas, then back toward the original incident. The suspect was found inside a parked vehicle, the post states.
“Police dogs are crucial. If I could do what Mackenzie can do, I wouldn’t have her,” Bartrom later told the Progress.
“We trailed somebody from 26 hours ago and she led me to them. I can’t smell somebody after 26 hours and know where they went. I can’t do that. I’m sure if we pushed it, she could probably do longer. It’s funny because I have wanted a bloodhound ever since I was a little kid, so I was glad we were getting a bloodhound. I would have taken the bloodhound over a dual-purpose apprehension dog,” Bartrom said.
Mackenzie was donated by Public Safety Dogs, Inc., a nonprofit organization originally founded as Cannes for Kids in 2003, according to a police department Facebook post.
“Beginning Nov. 17, Pfc. Bartrom and K9 Mackenzie completed an extensive, six-week training program, led by Wynn Warren of Diesel Dogs K9. Mackenzie is trained to trail and locate criminal suspects, missing vulnerable adults and abducted or missing juveniles. Pfc. Bartrom and K9 Mackenzie hit the streets on New Year’s Eve,” the post states.
Later in January, the two responded to a call from the Ocean Pines Police Department to help find a lost child. Mackenzie worked with another officer who has a bloodhound and the child, who had wandered away, was found.
The Ocean City police department also has Edge, a German Wirehaired Pointer, trained to detect bombs and explosives as well as to track people.
“When you walk on grass, you’re breaking the grass. You’re crushing the vegetation. That leaves an odor from the dirt being moved, from you breaking the blades of grass. You’re moving something, which makes an odor for those dogs. That is tracking. Tracking is kind of like footprint to footprint,” Bartrom explained.
Zorro, a German Shepherd, is a dual-purpose dog who can sniff for
drugs and is used for apprehension and tracking. Finn and Cido, both Belgian Malinois, are used for drug detection, apprehension, tracking and narcotics.
“I’m around our police dogs a lot. We all go to training together. I see the dogs a lot so I’m not scared of them. They see me. They come up to me and they jump on me and I pet them. They are good dogs. But I wouldn’t assault their handler in
front of them. I wouldn’t do something that would purposefully spark, them,” Bartrom said.
Police bloodhounds such as Mackenzie – descended from hounds brought to England by William the Conqueror in the 11th Century -specialize in trailing individuals after smelling items the person held, such a pen, metal hook or knife.
“She’s going to make mistakes
Progress Staff Photo
Ocean City Police Officer Devin Bartrom and Mackenzie.
From Page 27
just like everybody. There are a lot of variables. There is wind and that kind of stuff. If you’re leaving scent and it’s 24 hours old, it’s going to blow away. With her there is no aggression at all. She would go up to the person she found expecting food because that is her training response. That is her reward. The other dogs, the aggression dogs, would hold the suspect there.
“When she’s home with me, she is a normal dog. Unless I go to the grocery store, I’m with her. She comes to work with me. She goes pretty much everywhere with me. She’s a food-driven dog. The other dogs are toy driven. She gets Pedigree wet food dog packs. That is her reward. She wants the person and the pats and the love from the person but she’s also getting fed. Her paycheck is food. The other four dogs we have here at the Ocean City Police Department, their paychecks are toys.
“I know Edge has a Kong dog toy that is extremely, extremely valuable to him to a point where, ‘OK, you’re not always going to get the Kong. You’re going to get a tennis ball.’ Because the Kong is the greatest reward. The Kong is what he
wants the most. That is his favorite toy,” Bartrom said, adding bloodhounds are not always obedient.
“When Mackenzie is stuck on something and she isn’t focusing, she’ll get corrected because she needs to focus. If we’re just at home. she’s sniffing everything all the time,” he said.
Mackenzie is Bartrom’s first K9, granted after he submitted an application of interest and underwent an interview.
“I had one-on-one training with the instructor. We did three weeks in Virginia and three weeks here and we got certified,” he said, adding Mackenzie is certified in scent discrimination.
The first bloodhound for the Ocean City Police Department, Mackenzie didn’t arrive obedience or potty trained but does well now and has a friendly relationship with Bartrom’s other dogs at home and with his family.
At first his dogs, who are older, didn’t want anything to do with Mackenzie “but they’re fine now,” he said.
“I think Mackenzie is my daughter’s favorite dog,” he said. “Mackenzie is curious about her. She just wants to know what’s going on.”
K9 Mackenzie
Progress Staff Photo Ocean City Police Officer Devin Bartrom putting protective gear on K9 Mackenzie.
Veterans Memorial Foundation honors Marie Gilmore
The Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation honored Marie Gilmore for her 21 years of service at a special luncheon on Memorial Day, May 25.
Gilmore was first appointed to the board in 2005 and served in various positions, including secretary, vice president, and president. She was instrumental in many of the memorial enhancement projects, such as the addition of the Patriots Pathway, POW/MIA Chair of Honor, The Battlefield Cross, and hosted The Walls That Heal event, honoring Vietnam Veterans and receiving a retired wall panel.
Gilmore oversaw the construction of the Veteran Gazebo at Veterans Memorial Park, a joint project between the Ocean Pines Association and the Veterans Memorial Foundation.
This gazebo has enhanced the experience for students attending the Veterans Memorial on annual field trips.
In May 2025, the Worcester County Veterans Memorial was designated as an official “Gold Star Memorial Site” and dedicated on Memorial Day by the Federated Garden Clubs of America and the Worcester County Garden Club.
Gilmore was instrumental in the “refresh” of the memorial, which included regrading of the site, new cement and brick work, refreshed landscaping, and the addition of the new Space Force wall and flag.
“Marie, your dedication to our
Berlin Student
Receives Fully-funded Education from ECU
Kathryn “Kate” Miller-Vail, a senior at Stephen Decatur High School, is among the 21 selected for the newest cohort of Brinkley-Lane Scholars at East Carolina University. She intends to major in theatre arts and is the daughter of Saundra Miller, Kathleen Vail and Rebecca Vail of Berlin.
Housed in the Honors College, the Brinkley-Lane Scholars program is the most prestigious undergraduate award program offered at ECU. The four-year merit scholarship recognizes outstanding academic performance, commitment to community engagement and strong leadership skills.
veteran’s community and the veteran’s memorial is a reflection of who you are, and we thank you for your continued service to our community,” said Rick Farr, president of the Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation.
At the luncheon, several proclamations were presented to Gilmore for her service from State Senator Mary Beth Carozza, Delegate Wayne Hartman, Commissioner Chip Ber-
tino, the Town of Ocean City, OPA Board President John Latham, and members of the Worcester County Veterans Board of Directors.
The Worcester County Veterans Memorial in Ocean Pines recently underwent extensive renovations to restore its structural integrity and enhance its surrounding grounds.
Upgrades include beautifully landscaped walkways, updated commemorative plaques, and improved
seating areas designed to provide a more reflective environment for visitors.
Community members gathered for a special Memorial Day ceremony at the newly refurbished Veterans Memorial.
The goal with this refurbishment of the veterans memorial was to ensure that the memory of our fallen heroes is preserved with the dignity and respect they deserve.
PRO SERVICES
COATES, COATES & COATES, LLP
Progress Staff Photos Celebrating Memorial Day at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines.
OC Chopsticks Owner Blends Tradition With Modern Fusion
By PROGRESS STAFF
Jack Chen has been living in America so long his tastes have changed It was with a laugh that Chen -- the good-natured owner of OC Chopsticks Asian Bistro in the White Marlin Mall, plus more establishments in nearby towns -- made that statement, explaining there’s a difference between the type of food he ate when he lived in his native China and what’s typically on his plate today.
“When I came to the United States and I ate Chinese food I didn’t like it too much and now, you know what? I say, ‘Oh, it’s good. I like it.’ I have been here so long I like it. Americans like a lot of sauces. I eat the sauces all the time. The next generation, my son, my daughter, their tastes have changed. So when we eat at home we cook the real Chinese food but, no, they don’t like it. My mom, she cooks the food so I eat it. My son and my daughter will taste it but they don’t like it. I can tell,” Chen said.
Often, customers visit OC Chopsticks, introduce themselves and tell Chen they live in Ocean Pines.
“They say, ‘I am coming here for you because the taste is different.’ That is what I hear from customers from Ocean Pines. And OC Chopsticks’ decoration style is different. We keep the restaurant clean looking and people like it. They like our bar, too,” said Chen, who has more than 26 years’ experience in the restaurant business and who does cooking demonstrations on WBOCTV’s show DelmarvaLife.
“They have a show with a kitchen and cooking. They like to ask me to DelmarvaLife to show how to make sushi. I have been in this area so long so everywhere I go I always have people recognize me. Some people, they see me and they say, ‘Oh, you’re on TV’ but I try not to tell people. I try to keep it low and humble.
“Channel 47 has Foodie Friday. They come to my different restaurants. Customers like fancy sushi because right now people are eating with their eyes so it looks pretty. We decorate it pretty and people eat it with good health. It’s different. People care about food quality, eating healthy and want it to be colorful so it looks pretty,” Chen said.
Chen not only owns OC Chopsticks but also East Moon Japanese Steakhouse and Fuji Ramen House, both in Salisbury, Lucky Star Chi-
After arriving in America alone as a teenager, restaurateur Jack Chen built a regional restaurant group by adapting authentic Asian cuisine to evolving American tastes while keeping family traditions alive.
nese and Japanese restaurant in Fruitland, Peking House Restaurant in Cambridge, Chopstick Ancient Bistro & Sushi in Easton and Oishii Sushi & Hibachi in Camden, Del.
Chen learned to cook growing up in a family that owned restaurants in China, and furthered his knowledge in America.
“When I was teenager I came here to the U.S. I was 19. I first came to Queens in New York. I walked into a Chinese restaurant and worked for them. I went to school to learn sushi in New York. I started in New York and then after New York I moved to Virginia and after Virginia I went to Baltimore, then I went back to New Jersey and then to New York again. Then I came to Salisbury.
“I was just a teenager. I came to the U.S. by myself but I was not scared. I always wanted to go out and see what was new. I saw magazines
about America. I always wanted to see a different world. My mother was worried but I talked to her and she understood. I said I wanted to go out to a different country to see New York.
“I came in 1992. After 911 everything has changed and everywhere you go there is security. Everything has changed because 911 changed people, more security, and then covid changed dining with more take-out and working styles changed,” he said.
Despite a difficult economy, OC Chopsticks is “doing really well,” he said.
“We opened six years ago after the pandemic. I remember it was 2020 and there was covid. I opened in September. I was worried about it because we started doing construction before covid and then the covid was coming and we don’t know what is going on because in March to April
a lot of restaurants were closed for one month. Everybody was scared. We didn’t know what’s going on. We had to sign a lease but we were worried. We opened the same year in September,” he recalled.
It worked out fine.
Customers like the menu, with Chinese items, a sushi menu and Thai selections.
“Our meals are really good quality. The most popular Chinese dishes we sell is General Tso Chicken. Spring rolls. We have vegetable eggrolls, regular eggrolls. We have vegetarian combinations, vegetables with bean curd and also vegetarian fried rice, vegetable lo mein. In sushi, too, we have vegetable rolls. A sushi roll is like an egg roll but you use rice to wrap it. You put the ingredients inside, wrap it, cut it in pieces, wrap it like an egg roll shape or longer, then that cut in six pieces,” he explained.
To please the American palate, Chen said, it’s necessary to make a few changes.
“American taste, I would say, is less spicy and more sauces. As I said, American people like sauces. And also it needs to be sweeter. Like, say we go to McDonalds. Everything is with sauces -- barbecue sauce, honey mustard sauce. Americans use all kinds of sauces.
“In sushi maybe you only use soy sauce and wasabi so you can taste the fish but in America here people like sauces. If you make Hawaiian rolls, you might use mango, avocado and you use mango sauce, spicy sauces. My mom is here in America now. She likes to cook the food and if we eat it she is happy. They want you eat everything but my kids say, ‘I want pizza,’” he said about his children, 22 and 18.
They help at his restaurants but he encourages them to choose different careers.
“If they want to do the restaurant business I am OK with that. We are restaurant family. All of my family members, my cousins, brothers, we do the restaurant business,” he said.
“At OC Chopsticks, the style has changed now. The generation has changed. The Chinese food and the sushi compared to 20 years ago is a different taste. That’s why at OC Chopsticks in Ocean City I try to put Chinese and Thai together. That’s why we took off some old style and added some new style,” Chen said.
“It’s more like modern fusion.”
Progress Staff Photo Jack Chen of OC Chopsticks.
New Berlin Police Chief Howard Drewer Brings Decades of Experience, Community-First Vision
By PROGRESS STAFF
Col. Howard Drewer is the new chief of the Berlin Police Department, succeeding longtime Chief Arnold Downing who recently retired after 24 years. Prior to arriving at the police department on April 20, Drewer served in the military, reaching the rank of Army sergeant major and worked for the Salisbury Police Department. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, while at the Salisbury Police Department, he worked on the Wicomico Narcotics Task Force and the SWAT Team. A native of Crisfield and resident of Salisbury, Drewer joked that once Crisfield “got rid of me they tried to burn down the bridge but I sneaked back in.” He and his wife, Denyne, a Berlin native, have two children, Jaynah Owes of Owings Mills, Md., and Alexander of Delmar, Md.
Q. Is it true Berlin is America’s Coolest Small Town?
A. It absolutely is. Somebody asked me one time, “Why Berlin? Why did you want to come to Berlin?” My wife’s from here. So, we come over a lot for family and for the events, but Berlin, I will tell you, they have figured out the magic. Small towns – Crisfield, Princess Anne, Snow Hill – they could do so much more. Berlin has figured out how to keep that historical feel, that small-town feel, but there is modernization in a lot of things. Not a lot of towns can grasp that but Berlin has capitalized on that and done a wonderful job.
Q. You are succeeding Chief Downing, who is highly respected. He is an institution in Berlin.
A. Yes. He has institutional knowledge. He’s got that knowledge of saying, “You may have done this in Salisbury but Berlin is a little bit different” and then he will give his advice. He is a good friend. He’s a mentor. I run in certain circles between my family and his family. He is a good Christian man. One of the things I asked of him is that we will talk periodically.
Q. Does the Berlin Police Department have a connection to the Ocean Pines Police Department?
A Yes. The chief in Ocean Pines, Chief Tim Robinson, we were always counterparts so when I reached out and told him I was coming here, we were like, “We’re working togeth-
er.” He’s a great guy. I can’t speak too highly of him. He’s just that guy. Ocean Pines has a prize there. Because Ocean Pines is not a municipality, because they work for a board of directors, there are some hurdles … but we can find a path forward. We will figure out a memorandum of understanding for our agencies and we will work together.
Q. The Berlin Police Department has a police dog, known as a K-9. If Ocean Pines needed the help of that K-9, would it be able to them?
A. Oh, absolutely. When there is a need, we will meet the need.
Q. Before coming to Berlin, you worked for the Salisbury Police Department for almost 28 years.
A. I was a month shy of 28 years. I moved up through the ranks there all the way up to assistant chief of police. I worked directly for Chief (David) Meienschein and a lot of different assignments there. I’ve been in Operations Patrol, under cover. I’ve worked for the Criminal Investigation Department. I worked
in the administration. I worked on the SWAT Team. My first chief was Chief (Coulbourn) Dykes. I served under Chief Dykes. Chief (Allan) Webster, Chief (Barbara) Duncan and now Chief Meienschein. Salisbury gave me my first opportunity and I stayed because, as a man once told me, “I stayed because a man shook my hand.” Chief Dykes shook my hand and said, “Welcome aboard” and you know you want to honor that. He gave me an opportunity and I felt like I needed to see it through.
I love the pace. I loved doing the things I was doing. I loved working with the people I was working with. I loved the community. Toward the end things got a little more difficult I had several legacy projects I wanted to do while I was there. I had pretty much completed all three. You look back and it’s like, “I need somebody else to step in at this point, to give somebody else an opportunity.”
“This opportunity in Berlin came along right at the right time. It was
perfect.
Q. Are there many differences between working for the Salisbury and Berlin police departments?
A. The size, obviously, is a big difference. The makeup of Berlin is different. The department itself. In Salisbury we had three different divisions, multiple people working in those divisions. A lot of different resources. Even the nature and location of Salisbury gives you the opportunity to have different resources. You have a strong mental health facility there. You have a hospital right there, a university. Here it’s a little bit more of outlier. There is only one division, operations-wise. A lot of people think size makes a difference but it’s all relative. Don’t look at the numbers. Look at the percentages.
Q. Do you worry about the reputation of police?
A. They passed a new law for the Maryland Independent Investigative Division, or IID, within the attorney general’s office. Everybody thought they were going to come down and do a witch hunt. And then you realized no, they are trying to get to the bottom of it. IID is an independent investigative division of the attorney general for officers involved in shootings, officers involved in pursuits that end in death or any type of death that is as the result of an officer’s involvement. So, Salisbury had a shooting in October. IID had to come down and do the investigation as the result of that.
It’s a good thing, because there’s an amount of transparency, but when you don’t know what that organization is about a lot of people get nervous.
We educated them in Salisbury so they felt less nervous. Plus, what you see in the national media about how terrible cops are, you’re taking one example and wanting to apply it broadly. For example, Delmar Police Cpl. Keith Heacook, (who, at 54, was killed in the line of duty while responding to an incident in Delmar, Del., in April 2021). Do you remember what his uncle said at his funeral? His uncle told the governor, “You know who hates bad cops the most? Good cops.” And that’s a very real statement.
Cpl. Heacook was a good guy. He
Progress Staff Photo
New Berlin Police Chief Howard Drewer.
Knights of Columbus Announces 250th Event
The Knights of Columbus Pope John Paul II Assembly #2454 of Ocean City will hold an Open House to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America.
The event, to be held on June 20 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., aims to honor the spirit of local and national patriots who have shaped the nation’s 250-year history of independence, service and freedom.
As a Fourth Degree Assembly, Assembly #2454 embodies the principle of patriotism, promoting civic responsibility and honoring the defense of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
This 250th anniversary is a moment for the community to pause and reflect on America’s history, strengthening the shared patriotism of the Ocean City area and surrounding communities.
“This milestone is a momentous occasion that reminds us of the sacrifices made to build this country,” said SK Charlie Bell, Faithful Navigator of Assembly #2454.
“Our special event will not only honor the patriots of 1776 but also the veterans and citizens in our own community who uphold these principles today.”
Police Chief
From Page 37
went to the academy with me. He was a very, very solid guy and always wanted the best for this community and there is a lot of reality in that. When we see bad things that happen with cops that are not right, we know what they’ve done is wrong. It’s like, ‘Come on, man. You know, we’re making so much headway over here and now this?’ And it’s hard.
Q. Do you see integrity among Berlin police officers?
A. Absolutely.
Q. How many officers does the Berlin Police Department have?
A. We are staffed at 15. Right now, we have six, including me. We just hired a new hire and he will make seven and we have a couple in the pipeline.
Q. How many police officers are there in America?
A. One estimate is 750,000. Let me give you an example. The New York Police Department is supposed to be staffed at 35,000. That is bigger than the city of Salisbury and that is just one agency.
COMMUNITY NOTES
The assembly’s initiative aligns with nationwide efforts to mark the Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, encouraging community-led
The Pine Tones Goes to the Movies
The annual spring concert presented by the Pine Tones Chorus will take place on Friday, June 5, at 7:30 p.m. at Community Church at Ocean Pines.
This year’s theme, Pine Tones Goes to the Movies, features standards, favorites, and hidden gems from films spanning nearly seven decades.
Selections include “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “As Time Goes By,” “Hakuna Matata,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” and “When You Wish Upon a Star.” As always, audience members will be invited to join in during a sing-along portion of the evening.
General admission tickets are $20. This year, PTC is also offering discounted tickets for young music lovers ages 10 and under for $10. In an effort to keep costs down and make concerts more accessible, pay-
Q. How would you describe the average police officer?
A. Committed to their community. Wanting to do the right thing. I know many of those guys who would pay to put a homeless person in a hotel because their car broke down, hand out turkeys at holiday events. Work in communities, build up communities. One of my former colleagues made a statement one time and I always liked what he said: “I work for everybody who feels like they are a hostage in their own home.” So, the ones that get arrested make people feel like that, and people should not feel like that in their own home.
Q. What are the characteristics of an exemplary police officer?
A. Integrity is at the top. Integrity is a lot more than “I don’t lie.” Integrity is in our actions. Integrity is how we act behind closed doors when nobody sees us. One of the things we teach at the academy is, “What do you do when nobody sees?” I was brought up in the community policing model. In the community policing the model, there is a very simple way to look at it, if you think
ment at the door on the day of the concert will be accepted by cash or check only.
In the weeks leading up to the performance, PTC members planned to visit local senior centers to present shortened versions of the concert for These outreach performances allow residents who may not be able to attend the main event to enjoy the music, while also giving the chorus valuable rehearsal experience before live audiences.
Funding for this event is in part provided by the Worcester County Arts Council, the Maryland State Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts, organizations dedicated to cultivating vibrant cultural communities where the arts thrive.
Follow PTC on Facebook or @pinetoneschorus for updates and additional information.
Swim Social at the Yacht Club
Afun evening of swimming and music is scheduled at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club on Tuesday, June 2.
The Swim Social will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. and will feature
about the old-style New York cop. They were part of the community. They would get out there and play ball with the kids. They would help the kids with their homework. But they were also out there making sure the stores were locked up and if somebody was out there breaking the law they would chase them down because they had the best interest of the community.
That’s what makes a great cop. The money is a side effect. I want to hire them because they know their “Why.” They want to work in the community. They want to solve problems. They want to protect and defend the innocent who are unable to defend themselves.
Q. What is your goal as Berlin Police chief?
A. My goal is to make the community feel safer, to be sure our officers are out there more, to make Berlin a more professional police department. That is a big thing. When people look around they will say, “That is a community police department that holds a higher standard for professionalism.”
music by D.J. Donnie, as well as food and drink specials. Guests must be 21 and older to enjoy drink specials. This event’s theme is “White Out,” and attendees are encouraged to dress in all white.
White Tea Shots will be available as a special.
Admission is $5 cash per person, payable at the gate. Please note, this fee is separate from regular pool entrance fees.
Mermaid Swim at Sports Core Pool
Swim like a mermaid on Saturday, June 20, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Ocean Pines Sports Core Pool.
Practice mermaid-style swimming, glide with a tail, and tackle obstacle courses. Tails will be provided. Participants should bring their bathing suit, goggles, and a towel.
This event is open to experienced swimmers ages 10 and up. Swimmers should be able to swim in water up to 12 feet deep.
The cost to participate is $25 for swim members, $30 for residents, and $35 for non-residents. Parents/ guardians are free.
To register, call 410-641-5255.
What Gathers exhibit at Art League of OC
The Art League of Ocean City, 94th Street bayside, is pleased to present “What Gathers,” a new exhibition by Matthew Meinhardt, on view June 5 to 27. Centered in the Thaler Gallery, the exhibition debuts with a free First Friday reception on Friday, June 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. This extended time frame accommodates the evolving audience drawn to Meinhardt’s work, allowing for a more fluid and leisurely experience throughout the evening.
Originally from Ocean City and now residing and exhibiting in Los Angeles, and beyond, Meinhardt chose the Art League of Ocean City in his hometown to unveil “What Gathers.” Expanding on Meinhardt’s ongoing interest in perception, reality, and media, the paintings in this show traverse themes of sight, interpretation, and belief, inviting viewers to reflect on how visuals and narratives shape our sense of truth. An artist talk is planned for Tuesday, June 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Art League for those who are interested to learn more about Meinhardt’s work.
Bertino, Taylor Earn Endorsement for Commissioner Seats
As Worcester County voters prepare to cast ballots in the June 23 primary election, two candidates for county commissioner stand out for their proven commitment to public service, their communities and the residents they seek to represent.
For District 5 commissioner, Republican voters should return Chip Bertino to office.
Bertino has repeatedly demonstrated that he is willing to work hard and fight for the interests of Ocean Pines and the district he serves. During his time as a Worcester County Commissioner, he has built a reputation for being engaged, accessible and informed on the issues affecting residents. Whether dealing with county spending, infrastructure concerns or the unique needs of Ocean Pines, Bertino has shown up, done the work and advocated for his constituents.
His challenger, Joe Schanno, also brings impressive credentials and clearly has a desire to serve the community. However, elections are ultimately about results and performance. At this point, there is little reason to replace a sitting commissioner who is already doing the job voters elected him to do and doing it effectively.
Experience matters in county government. Worcester County continues to face important decisions related to growth, public safety, development and quality of life issues. Bertino’s understanding of county
COMMENTARY
operations and his willingness to ask difficult questions and advocate for his district make him the clear choice in the District 5 Republican primary.
Rota L. Knott Publisher
In District 6, Republican voters should support Lou Taylor.
Taylor has spent decades serving Worcester County through a distinguished career in education, including as superintendent of schools. Few candidates can point to a lifetime of public service that has touched as many families and communities throughout the county.
His career reflects a deep and longstanding commitment to Worcester County and its future. Taylor understands the challenges facing local families, students and communities because he has spent years working directly with them. His leadership experience, professionalism and knowledge of the county would make him a valuable addition to the Worcester County Commissioners.
At a time when voters are looking for experienced and steady leader-
The Ocean Pines Progress is a journal of news and lifestyles published monthly throughout the year. It is distributed to every occupied home in Ocean Pines and at newsstands in the community and surrounding area.
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Rota L. Knott pinesprogress@gmail.com 443-880-3953
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David Bohenick dbohenick2003@gmail.com
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ship, Taylor offers both. His record speaks for itself, and his dedication to public service has already been proven over many years.
Another factor voters should consider is a candidate’s willingness to engage openly with the public and the press. Refusing to speak with local media during the election process does not bode well for the kind of leadership and collaboration expected from a county commissioner. Public officials must be willing
Restrictions for Section 14B
The following comments to the OPA Board of Directors was submitted to the Progress.
During last year’s candidate forum, a current Board member stated that the occupancy definition of “family” would not be enforced. However, the Declaration of Restrictions (DRs) clearly limits occupancy to no more than five members of a family per residence. The subsection ends with the statement “It is the intent of this subsection to strictly limit the use of property to single family residential use.”Now that this has come to light that it will not be enforced, we’re seeing homes advertised for short term rentals—as short as a single day—with listed occupancies of up to fourteen people. That’s… quite a leap and changes the whole character of the neighborhood.
The DRs also specify that the roads and parks within Section 14B are private. Yet when a complaint was submitted about a solicitor, the response from info@oceanpines.org indicated that the roads are public. To add to the confusion, the Ocean Pines website presents the park as a public amenity with no restrictions mentioned.
With these mixed messages, it seems clear that we need one of two things:
An update to the DRs, or a formal, unambiguous clarification of which provisions will—and will not—be enforced.
And whatever the decision is, it should be communicated plainly and made easily accessible to all lot owners. Consistency shouldn’t be
to answer questions, communicate transparently and work constructively with fellow county leaders, organizations and residents. In the District 6 race, Sherrie Clifford’s refusal to participate in that process raises legitimate concerns about how she would approach the responsibilities of public office.
The June 23 primary election will shape the future leadership of Worcester County. For voters in District 5 and District 6, Chip Bertino and Lou Taylor are the candidates best prepared to serve and represent their communities effectively.
this mysterious Thanks for your time and service.
Donald Whitcomb Ocean Pines
Endorsement for Lou Taylor
Editor,
It’s fair to say Lou Taylor is a well known, well liked and well respected member of our community. I don’t remember the exact year I met Lou but my guess is it was in the 1980’s. He was a PE teacher. I didn’t know a parent or student who didn’t like and respect him.
Our paths have crossed many times over the years as Lou moved up the ladder in education and I became more involved in the workings of my adopted home.
As a former member of the Ocean City Council and a longtime community volunteer, I have had the advantage of seeing Lou interact with people on so many levels and I’m truly amazed at his ability to put people at ease while listening to their issues.
It’s impossible to be in his company without someone thanking him for a decision he made or bringing up a story from years before that left some kind of mark.
Lou is a Worcester County people person.
I believe he is dedicated to bringing his years of experience to a seat on the County Commissioners. I believe he will be just and fair. He will listen, he will be kind, and he will give it his all.
I am happy to support his candidacy and would encourage the voters in District 6 to elect Lou to the County Commissioners.
Nancy L. Howard
Ocean City
