12-2025 Ocean Pines Progress

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Higher county water, sewer rates hit Pines ratepayers Ocean Pines Service Area ratepayers are seeing significant increases on their latest quarterly water and wastewater bills, driven by higher service fees, new accessibility charges for some properties, and structural changes to the county’s billing system. ~ Page 9

Racetrack Village Development Plan Reviewed By County A significant new housing proposal along Route 589 took a step forward this month as Worcester County’s Technical Review Committee evaluated the Step I Concept Plan for Racetrack Village. The project is a 137-unit multifamily residential community. ~ Page 19

LIFESTYLES Decatur Icon Lehman Honored for 46 Years inspiring Students Dozens of Gwen Lehman’s former students praised her, posting on the Friends of Gwen Freeman Lehman’s Facebook page that the honor was well deserved and that, in the classroom, she impressively taught the finer points of theater. ~ Page 23

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Residents Urge Caution as OPA Weighs Concept for Clubhouse Boat Slips

By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor he Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors heard extended public testimony on Nov. 22 as residents raised concerns about a preliminary proposal to install transient boat slips along the canal at the Ocean Pines Golf Course. While General Manager John Viola emphasized several times that the idea remains exploratory and has not been approved by the Board, speakers urged caution, citing navigational dangers, golfer safety, environmental impacts, and doubts about whether the project would generate meaningful revenue.

The concept, which Viola first discussed publicly in October, envisions four transient boat slips of two structures, each with two dock fingers, near the 10th tee, with a stone-dust walkway leading boaters from the canal shoreline toward the clubhouse. Viola said similar dock-

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ing structures have been used at Harborside and other OPA facilities, and that early estimates place the cost at approximately $14,000 for the slips, not including the walkway.

“This is just high-level right now,” Viola told the Board. If the Board decides to move forward at any point, he would have much more detailed plans available for review. “These numbers are preliminary so everyone understands what we’re even talking about.”

Viola reiterated multiple times that the Board has not voted on the project. “There have been discussions,” he said. It has not been approved by the Board. Rather, the OPA is just gathering ideas about it.

He described the layout as two slips each able to berth two vessels and set in a canal that he noted is “probably one of the widest canals we have.” A stone-dust path would run inside the golf-course fence line so boaters would not use the cart

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path or interfere with golf operations.

However, many homeowners who live along the canal said the location is precisely the problem.

Eric Swanson, a 31-year Ocean Pines resident, professional sea captain, and expert witness in maritime safety and admiralty law, delivered the longest set of concerns.

Swanson said he was unable to attend the October meeting due to his work captaining a container ship, but upon returning home, he reviewed the proposal and immediately saw significant navigational risks. He also conducted a written risk-assessment and submitted it to the Board prior to the meeting.

Swanson pointed out the curvature of the waterway and the traffic patterns typical of summer boating.

When boats come in from the bay, they stay on the north side of the canal, he explained. Outbound trafTo Page 3

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fic runs port-to-port on the opposite side. That’s the normal passage, he said.

Introducing slips in this section, he said, would force inbound boaters to cross the canal, cutting across the standard traffic flow and creating what he compared to a three-lane highway during the busy summer months.

“This bend here is the worst spot to put two slips,” Swanson said.

Boats are coming in from one direction, boats coming out from the other, and he has a dock nearby as well.

Swanson also questioned OPA’s assumption that each slip could host two boats. The physical dimensions of 4 feet by 25 feet per finger pier would realistically only fit one vessel at a time, he said, unless they were “two 9-foot skiffs or jet skis.”

From a safety standpoint, environmental standpoint, navigational standpoint, and a golfer-experience standpoint, he said he doesn’t see the benefits at all. “I love Ocean Pines. I appreciate looking outside the box for revenue.” But this doesn’t make sense, he said.

Swanson, an avid golfer as well as a boater, also described quality-of-play issues. Golfers teeing off on the 10th hole, he said, should not have foot traffic in their peripheral vision.

“You’re going to be inviting people to walk on the golf course during play,” he said, noting that historically, OPA has discouraged pedestrians from using the course when golfers are active. “Now you’re going to get non-golfers walking on the 10th tee.”

He also referenced environmental impacts, including a rookery of blue herons that nests near the tee. Increased engine noise, exhaust, and boat maneuvering could disrupt the habitat, he said.

Board member Stuart Lakernick asked Swanson whether boats currently pull up along the bulkhead near his property. Swanson confirmed they do, but said boaters today walk directly across the 10th tee to reach the clubhouse, something the proposed walkway is intended to eliminate. But he argued the walkway simply moves the problem rather than resolves it.

People will now be hovering along the fence line instead, he said. “And before they even reach that, they’re still on the 10th tee.”

Resident Jean Higgins, who lives adjacent to Swanson, said her written letter submitted in October out-

December 2025 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 3

“You’re going to be inviting people to walk on the golf course during play.”

- Property Owner Eric Swanson lined many of the same concerns.

She added a key new factor: the depth and width of the canal will change significantly once OPA finishes its bulkhead replacement project.

The diagram of the proposed dock showed 94 feet of canal width, Higgins said. But when the bulkheads are replaced, both sides are going to come in at least 18 inches, maybe more. That brings the piers in, it brings the boats in, and “you effectively lose three feet or more of navigable width.”

She questioned whether this reduction had been factored into OPA’s planning.

Higgins also asked for clarification on project cost. “The $14,000— does that include the walkway, or is that just the slips? If you’re doing a true cost-benefit analysis, it needs to be soup-to-nuts.”

Viola responded that the $14,000 figure was for the slips only. The walkway would be constructed inhouse, he said, and “was not expected to be a big number,” though he acknowledged it still carries a cost.

“If we go forward, we will break out the numbers and provide a full estimate,” he said.

Resident Amy Peck said her concerns centered on financial viability.

To be revenue-producing, the clubhouse would need to sell $215,385 more in food revenue, she said, citing her own calculations. With only two usable slips, that does not seem likely, she said.

Peck said she initially assumed the project would cost around $40,000 and was relieved to hear the estimate was lower. Even so, she said, “This is a convenience project for boaters only.” If golfers take a boat to play 18 holes, that’s a four- to five-hour round—so that slip is tied up the whole time, she said.

She urged the Board to analyze “the realistic revenue” alongside the growing list of safety concerns.

Resident John O’Connor reminded the Board of a past decision to add six slips at the Yacht Club marina so boaters could access the restaurant.

Those slips, he said, ended up being placed in the marina’s budget rather than the Yacht Club’s, which created

operational challenges.

“Those slips had to be monitored,” he said. When the gas dock was open, monitoring fell on marina staff. When the gas dock was closed, Yacht Club staff had to take responsibility. “You’re going to face the same thing here—the slips will have to be monitored, or people will tie up and stay.”

John Yeager, another resident with 50 years of maritime experience, echoed Swanson’s warnings.

“I don’t see the benefit,” he said.

People coming in by boat to eat should go to the Yacht Club—that’s what it’s for, he said.

At the Clubhouse he was concerned about boaters coming in for a sandwich and a drink, and then a long boat ride back out after consuming alcohol.

Yeager also raised concerns about the proposed stone-dust path run-

ning beside Swanson’s property. People are going to be dumping trash, throwing stuff onto his property or onto the golf course. “Who monitors that?” he asked.

Like others, he said the 25-foot slips were too small to hold more than one boat each. “Unless someone shows up in a kayak or canoe, you’re getting one vessel per slip.”

Both Higgins and Swanson emphasized that the residents are not angry or opposed to OPA improvements in principle, but want meaningful discussion before decisions are made.

“We’d appreciate the time to discuss this with somebody and hear all of our concerns,” Higgins said.

“It’s not just two piers we’re concerned about—it’s everything else that comes along with them.”

The Board did not take any action on the proposal during the Nov. 22 meeting, and Viola reiterated that the project remains in a conceptual phase.

If the Board expresses interest, Viola said staff would prepare detailed engineering plans, cost estimates, including the walkway, and further analysis of feasibility and environmental impact.

4 Ocean Pines PROGRESS December 2025

OCEAN PINES

Viola Reviews Proposal for Transient Boat Slips

By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor

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aced with an audience of concerned neighbors, General Manager John Viola during the Nov. 22 Board of Directors meeting provided an overview of a proposal to install four transient boat slips near the 10th tee of the Ocean Pines Golf Course.

The slips would provide water access to the Clubhouse Bar & Grille via the Clubhouse canal from the St. Martin River.

The proposal calls for four transient slips arranged on two docks, each accommodating two boats. Viola noted, “So, it’s two docks. Each one would have two per the per the idea, per the design, the plans, it would be two boats for each one.” A stone pathway would connect the slips to the side of the Clubhouse fence near the golf course.

“It’ll be along the fence inside the golf course. It will not be utilizing the cart path that are there. It’ll be up near the fence. So we will have a

stone dust path similar to what you have at the uh South Gate pond,” Viola said.

The total cost for the project is estimated at $14,000.

He added, “If you want an idea on the slips, if you ever went to Harborside or whatever, you have the piles, you have some cleats, that’s how you would tie up the boats. That canal is probably one of the widest canals we have.

“I know there’s been some questions about traffic in there or whatever. We’re just trying, I’m just trying to answer it. If that was a normal canal, you would normally have houses on both sides. Here we have the golf course, so we don’t have houses, but if you did have houses on that side, you would have many boat slips similar to the other canals.”

Clarifying the design and cost, Viola said, “There would be two slips.

And each slip has two docks. Each slip will be able to accommodate two boats. So, it’ be four boats total.”

“And the cost per slip, as I understand, that would be $7,000. So, the total cost is $14,000.”

He also described the planned setup along the bulkhead. “There’d be a ladder.”

While still in the planning stages, the slips are proposed to be installed near the 10th tee of the golf course and allow access by boat to the Clubhouse Bar & Grille. Minimal to no effects are expected on golf course play.

The proposed boat slips would be accessed through the Clubhouse canal from the St. Martin River, which measures 94.4 feet wide and is sufficient for two-way navigation.

According to an Ocean Pines fact sheet, there are no anticipated safety issues, as the proposed slips will be flush against the Ocean Pines owned bulkhead to not cause any navigational safety.

The fact sheet says boats will still have ample space to turn around instead of backing out. As the canal is wider in this area, there are no blind

spots, it says.

Environmental impacts are expected to be minimal, since these are transient slips and only to be used for a limited time, it is not like a marina where the boats are stored overnight, according to the OPA fact sheet.

The fact sheet says neighboring properties have been notified, and “The closest dock to the proposed slips is 60’ away and can still navigate safely.”

The slips will be maintained by OPA golf course personnel, with repairs handled by Ocean Pines, and a security camera will also be installed to monitor any potential vandalism.

Noise will be the normal noise heard from other boats entering the canal and no more than any residential property, the OPA claims.

The slips are intended to be “an enhancement to the customer experience at both the Clubhouse Grille and to the entire community as well,” the fact sheet says.

OCEAN PINES

December 2025 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 5

County to discuss water and wastewater rate increases at Dec. 2 meeting

By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor

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nundated with complaints from residents across several service areas including the Ocean Pines Service Area, the Worcester County Commissioners will discuss dramatic increases in rates for service and accessibility charges at a Dec. 2 meeting.

Commissioner Chip Bertino, who represents the Ocean Pines district, raised concerns about recently implemented water and wastewater rates at the Nov. 18 meeting, saying the issue has become a frequent topic of conversation across multiple service areas in recent weeks.

Bertino said he “was surprised as a lot of other people” when he received his own bill and encouraged residents with questions to seek clarification. He encouraged anyone who has any questions or concerns about the rate increases to attend the Dec. 2 meeting or to contact the county.

Bertino said the extent of the rate increase “caught me by surprise.”

Application of the rates that the commissioners approved in June and “how it manifested itself in real billing” was unexpected, he said.

He added that the rate structure was “something that we put in place that may or may not have been misapplied,” noting he did not understand what the practical outcomes of the changes would be.

During the Public Comments section of the commissioners meeting, a resident asked about speaking on the water and wastewater rate increases. Commissioner President Ted Elder didn’t allow the person to speak because the issue was not on the meeting agenda. Elder announced that water and wastewater rates will be discussed at the commissioners’ Dec. 2 meeting.

In a press release issued in November, Worcester County said water and sewer users are seeing increases in their bills beginning this quarter in each of the 11 water and wastewater sanitary service areas to cover actual operating and maintenance costs increases.

The county argued that service areas were designed to fund themselves, but they were underfunded for years. If the rates remained flat

from FY25, revenues would not cover actual expenses for FY26 in each of the service areas.

Base fees per EDU increased and usage tiers changed for residential and commercial customers.

Expenses reflect increased operating costs, including higher chemical prices and additional regulatory requirements to test for PFAS, often

referred to as forever chemicals.

The county also implemented accessibility fees in FY26 to undeveloped properties with one or more equivalent dwelling units. Some, but not all, service areas were already charging accessibility fees.

Undeveloped properties that are holding EDUs are guaranteed future access to public water and/or

sewer, and they play a key role in supporting the operating and maintenance needs of the service areas where they are located.

Any owner of an undeveloped property that has been allotted an EDU may be able to return the EDU. However, due to capacity limitations and development demands, EDUs may not be available if a property owner decides later to develop the land. Furthermore, the property owner would be required to buy the EDU back at the cost assessed at the time of purchase.

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By DAVID BOHENICK Contributing Writer ollowing the countywide water and wastewater rate increases, some Ocean Pines residents and businesses are discussing the changes while others are fighting it.

South Gate Grill is an Ocean Pines area restaurant that has garnered attention on social media.

Owner Gray Reeves said the restaurant started charging $2 for water to bring attention to the drastic increases in the county’s water bills.

“We did it to get everyone’s attention on the rates. I hate to say it, but the best way to spread awareness and to get everyone’s attention was to pinch nerves,” he said. “We sold $2 waters for two days and it reached 110,000 people on Facebook, and I’d say about 90 percent of the people on Facebook had our back and supported us.”

Reeves said the water and sewer bill for the restaurant’s third quarter of the year jumped from $3,094 to almost $11,000. He said the rates alone had an annual increase of 185 percent, and accounting for higher usage compared to last year, the bill has increased by 251 percent

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OCEAN PINES

Ocean Pines Residents React to Increased County Water, Wastewater Rates compared to this time last year.

Reeves also calculated the annual rate with these increases and said he is expecting to pay $25,000 more compared to last year, which would be an approximate 290 percent increase from his previous rates.

He also mentioned Public Works had inspected both the bill and the meter reading, confirming there were no leaks and the bill was accurate. Reeves is now conducting his own research and is expecting to speak at the Dec. 2 County Commissioners Meeting at 10 a.m. 1 W Market St. He’s also encouraging other residents to reach out to local politicians.

“It looks like the annual surplus is around $1.34 million, and those are extremely conservative figures,” he said. “I understand what [the lawmakers] were trying to do, but there is a precedent set that it is ille-

gal. Either they’re doing something illegal or they’ve made a huge mistake with their math.”

Following the virality of the $2 water, Reeves said the restaurant only made $60 in the two days they were charging for waters. They also offered one free drink per customer on Nov. 14 and 15 with the purchase of a food item and gave around $600 worth of drinks, according to Reeves.

Year-round Ocean Pines resident John Donaldson said his rate had increased around $30 and said an increase as extreme as Reeve’s was “absurd.”

In a separate interview, fellow resident Danny Lewis noticed his

bill had increased about $25 and expects the new rates to stay.

“I think it’s going to keep going up along with everything else,” he said. “I’m about ready to reach out to [the county commissioners.]”

The increases in the water bill have also caught the attention of Mystery Wintermyer, a part-time Ocean Pines resident who lives in York County, Pa. She said not only have the rates increased in Worcester County but are also increasing in Pennsylvania.

“It’s everywhere. I see people in Pennsylvania saying their rates went up drastically. And we just got our bill back at home and our electricity is also going 8.9 percent higher,” she said. “Everything’s going up but our wages aren’t.”

If residents believe they received an inaccurate bill, they can request a meter check and a usage history review through the Worcester County Treasurer’s Office.

Association Faces Steep Rise in Water, Wastewater Costs

By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor esidents of Ocean Pines aren’t the only ones experiencing a sharp increase in water and wastewater costs this quarter.

The Ocean Pines Association’s own bills have risen significantly, a change that will have a noticeable impact on the community’s budget.

OPA General Manager John Viola addressed the issue during the Nov. 22 Board meeting, noting the broader implications for both residents and the association’s facilities.

The county-approved increase in quarterly water bills has resulted in costs averaging nearly triple what they were in the previous quarter.

“Now that we have been billed, $21,” Viola said, explaining that this figure represents the amount on the assessment for all Ocean Pines property owners.

During the discussion, the magnitude of the increase was made clear.

When asked about the cost for the same quarter last year, Viola noted, “$20,000 and now it’s $80,000 or more. This is a big number.”

Viola emphasized that the increase affects not just individual properties, but Ocean Pines facilities as well, and it is already being reflected in the proposed budget.

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While this quarter has likely seen the highest usage, the cost increase will influence budget planning for the months ahead.

He explained that the new costs would be factored into the proposed budget and carefully reviewed during upcoming planning sessions.

He added that some of the increase could be allocated to individual amenities, which could affect fees for areas such as aquatics and food and beverage. “It’s a big hit to our outside food and beverage contractor,” Viola said.

Viola also addressed the issue of EDUs, or Equivalent Dwelling Units, which are essential for water and wastewater connections. Every house or building needs an EDU. The owners of some undeveloped lots are now paying and EDU accessibility charge, a change from prior billing practices.

Viola said the OPA holds about 100 EDUs in reserve in case it needs them for its facilities. “They’re valuable,” he said, adding “If we were to build a bigger building we would need them. Probably around $30,000 just to hold onto them.”

Viola confirmed that returning EDUs would mean the association would not get them back without paying for them.

December 2025 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 7

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OCEAN PINES

December 2025 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 9

Higher Water and Sewer Bills Hit Pines Ratepayers

By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor cean Pines Service Area ratepayers are seeing significant increases on their latest quarterly water and wastewater bills, driven by higher service fees, new accessibility charges for some properties, and structural changes to the county’s billing system. Officials say the increases are tied to rising operating costs and capital needs within Worcester County’s water and wastewater system, and not to a previously discussed idea of spreading service area deficits across districts.

During a June review of service area budgets, County Administrator Weston Young explained that, “Ideally an enterprise fund should bring in enough revenue to cover their operations maintenance, capital costs, and reserves.” He noted that the “bulk of the revenue comes from charges for services and that over half of the expenses are for salaries and maintenance and services.”

Young said that with the fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2025 revenue struggled to keep up with expenses, and “when you throw in capital and depreciation that’s what usually tips things over.’”

According to Young, capital expenditures are a particular challenge because “the capital costs tend to be large and irregular so the service areas typically have to borrow money to cover those improvements.” The county is also seeing increases in personnel, supplies and materials which include things like chemicals needed for the various treatment processes, maintenance and services, consulting fees, grounds maintenance, vehicle operating costs and utility bills, as well as property and liability insurance.

For fiscal year 2026, Young reported that the Ocean Pines service area includes approximately “8,500 customers in the service area holding about 9,200 equivalent dwelling units of capacity and there’s a projected increase of nearly $1 million in expenses over what was budgeted in fiscal year 25.

He also explained changes to how customers are billed, saying, “a base fee per equivalent dwelling unit or EDU is charged to ratepayers that have an EDU and it is in service.”

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An EDU is a standard measurement to bring water or Wastewater usage relative to a single-family home.

Worcester County Commissioner Chip Bertino addressed concerns from ratepayers in a special message, writing, “Many ratepayers in the Ocean Pines Water District have received their quarterly bills in the past couple days and have been reaching out to me about the rates reflected on their invoices.”

He emphasized that Ocean Pines residents are not subsidizing other districts, stating, “Ocean Pines ratepayers are not paying for other service areas.” Bertino explained that, “It was decided that each service area would be responsible for its own debt/shortages.”

Bertino reiterated Young’s comments from the meeting months ago about rising costs, saying, “Chemicals have been steadily increasing, additional regulatory standards require mandated testing not previously needed, and maintenance is needed for the aging facility.”

He added that “Capital items total $1.2 million in this year’s budget,” and warned that “if the rates were not increased from the FY25 budget, there would have been a shortfall of $864,000 with the expenses that were approved in the FY26 budget.”

He detailed the new rate structure: The base fee of $207 increased $2 to $209 per EDU. The usage tier system also changed to $5 per 1,000 gallons used up to 22,500 gallons; and then $15 per 1,000 gallons used over 22,500 gallons.

Some ratepayers are also seeing a new accessibility fee. Bertino explained that these fees are applied to undeveloped properties holding EDUs and ensure “that all properties that benefit from access to a public water and/or wastewater system contribute proportionally to the costs to build and maintain that infrastructure.”

He acknowledged the frustration among residents, saying, “Increases are never welcome. Unfortunately, ever-increasing costs and an enhanced regulatory environment are realities that the County must manage.”

Bertino also noted delays in billing and added, “the payment grace period has been extended.”

Debra Allen photo

Santa arrives at the Ocean Pines Hometown Christmas, with a tree lighting and holiday festivities on Nov. 29.

10 Ocean Pines PROGRESS December 2025

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December 2025 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 11

OCEAN PINES

Groups Warn Sign Rules Are Crippling Fundraisers

By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor cean Pines community groups urged the Board of Directors to reconsider recent restrictions on event signage, saying the rules have sharply reduced attendance, damaged fundraising efforts, and jeopardized long-running traditions that return thousands of dollars each year to the community.

During the public comments portion of the Nov. 22 meeting, representatives of the Pine’eer Craft Club and the Kiwanis Club delivered emotional remarks about what they described as devastating consequences of no longer being permitted to place temporary event signs along Ocean Parkway and at the Route 589 entrances.

The first to speak was Sharon Puser, president of the Pine’eer Craft Club, who said she came before the Board to share a letter she had recently sent to Recreation and Parks Director Debbie Donahue. The letter detailed the impact that the new restrictions had on the club’s Nov. 1 holiday craft fair, one of the group’s two major fundraisers

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Attendance Off For Community Events each year and the largest event they host. After receiving instructions that they could no longer put out signs for their fundraisers or even for their small shop, Puser said the club decided to fully comply and refrained from placing any signs until the morning of the event.

She said the consequences were immediate and severe. For 45 years, the club had been permitted to place professional signs along Ocean Parkway for two weeks leading up to each fundraiser. Those signs, she said, created a reliable stream of visibility for anyone driving into or through Ocean Pines.

“People were used to seeing the signs,” Puser told the Board. Without them, longtime attendees assumed the fair had been canceled.

The club tried to compensate with an aggressive advertising push, adding another newspaper, enlarging their ads, posting on Facebook, hanging flyers around town, securing a mention in the OPA quarterly magazine, and receiving PR assistance to get

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coverage in local newspapers.

“But the impact is not the same,” she said.

Attendance dropped by approximately 50 percent, according to Puser. All of the fair’s vendors complained, with reports that sales were down roughly 30 percent compared to last year. One vendor told the club she wasn’t sure if she would return, and others echoed concerns that the reduced traffic made participation less worthwhile. Even the craft fair’s bake sale, known for selling out before noon, struggled to move inventory; the club ultimately had to discount items at the end of the day just to clear the table. If the Pine’eer Craft Club loses vendors, that is the end of the craft fair, Puser warned.

What stung even more, she said, was discovering that the Community Church had placed two signs in Ocean Pines advertising their event, which was held on the same date and time as the craft fair. She said their event reportedly drew a

large crowd. “The feedback we got was that people thought our event had been canceled because they didn’t see any signs,” she said.

Puser emphasized that the loss of visibility extends beyond Ocean Pines’ borders. Years ago, banners at the entrances helped alert surrounding communities that events were happening inside the Pines— visibility that is now gone. All electronic signage is located inside the community, she noted, and can only be seen by residents already driving in or out.

“We have no visibility with the public,” she said. Without signs there is nothing on Route 589 to attract other local communities to any of the club’s events, programs, or fundraisers.

Customers who visited the group’s shop the weekend after the fair were shocked to learn they had missed it. Puser said several told her they enjoy the event every year and assumed it had been canceled because they never saw any signage.

That confusion is especially troubling, she noted, because the club To Page 12

12 Ocean Pines PROGRESS December 2025 Event Signs From Page 11

had record success at its August craft fair. Vendor turnout and sales were strong enough that 36 vendors signed up for the 2026 fair on the spot—a figure far higher than normal, driven by the strong response and foot traffic in August. Now, she fears that momentum will evaporate if visibility continues to decline.

“Our concern is what happens if we don’t get the traffic like we did last year and we start to lose vendors,” she said.

The impact is not just about sus-

taining traditions, she added. The Pioneer Craft Club donates all of its profits back to the Ocean Pines community. Last year alone, the group contributed more than $10,000.

Since its founding, it has donated over $195,000 to Ocean Pines. “The primary mission of the Pine’eer Craft Club is to raise money and donate it back to the Ocean Pines community,” Puser said. “Please help us fulfill that commitment.”

The signage restrictions have also hurt the club’s year-round shop, which had long benefited from traffic generated by the Ocean Pines Farm-

OCEAN PINES ers Market. Puser said Sunday sales had always been much lighter than Saturdays, so the club began placing small signs announcing they were open on Sundays.

Sales “improved dramatically,” she said, until they were told to remove all signs and flags. Without them, Sunday sales plummeted, dropping to just $15 on one recent weekend.

After Puser appealed to Donahue, the club was given permission to display a Sunday sign again as long as it was removed at the end of the day. Once restored, sales rebounded

immediately. “The sign made the difference,” she told the Board.

Puser closed by asking the Board of Directors to restore the longstanding practice of allowing signs and banners to be placed along Ocean Parkway and at the Route 589 entrance two weeks prior to each of the club’s two major fundraisers.

Following her remarks, longtime resident Candace Foreman stepped forward to echo the concerns on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Ocean Pines/Ocean City.

Foreman, who has lived in the community for nearly 19 and a half years, said her organization has experienced similar declines since the new restrictions were imposed. The club’s most recent pancake breakfast, a popular event that typically draws a steady turnout, saw its attendance “down considerably,” she said.

Foreman noted that residents frequently ask when the next breakfast is scheduled, underscoring that in Ocean Pines, “old-fashioned signage” is still how many people reliably learn about upcoming events.

While the group uses newspapers, social media, and other advertising, many attendees depend on the visual reminder of a sign posted shortly before the event.

“We are also very concerned about not being able to display local signs,” she said, adding that the Kiwanis Club also donates money back to the community each year and relies on event revenue to sustain its programming.

Like Puser, Foreman urged the Board to consider allowing organizations to post professionally made signs for approximately two weeks before their events, calling it a reasonable, practical solution that would help local groups maintain their service to the community. In order for the club to continue to do that and support its programs, it needs to be able to make the revenue from it events,” she said.

The two speakers said their request is not about violating rules but about preserving community traditions, supporting local organizations, and ensuring residents remain connected to the events that have long shaped life in Ocean Pines. Both groups emphasized that they give back all the proceeds they raise and that declining attendance threatens the future of those charitable contributions.

Board members listened but did not take immediate action.

OCEAN PINES

December 2025 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 13

Viola Offers Updates on Golf Irrigation, Tee Renovations

By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor

P

reparations for Phase II of the Golf Course Irrigation Project are underway. General Manager John Viola said during a Nov. 22 Board of Directors meeting.

“It’s November. If you look in the parking lot, you can see they’re starting to stage. They’ll start working on it. Same drill as last year. They’ll start in November, the end of November. They’ll be finished

by March,” he said.

Viola said once this phase of the irrigation work is finished replacement on the front nine holes will be complete. He noted the contractors will using the 19th green.

Tee renovations have also begun on holes 1, 2, 7, and 8, with Iron Cutter Bermuda grass sod delivered, existing sod stripped in some areas, and tees aerified in preparation for installation.

“A lot of stress because we had a lot of rounds, more rounds than any other year. That’s part of it,” Viola said regarding challenges on the course this summer.

To improve course conditions, he said he has given the go-ahead to use a different type of turf, Iron Cutter Bermuda. He said it was installed on a tee and “It lasted a lot better.”

Now the OPA is going to put that same type of turf on the tee boxes and try to increase the airflow on them to help keep the course in good condition. “So that’s just a couple of the things that we’re doing to try to alleviate this happening next year.”

Viola said he also has approved closing the golf course for a few days during the period when the crews are doing aeration. “Let’s shut

the golf course down for a couple of days. They do sand the greens. That takes some time for that sand to get into the ground, especially if it doesn’t rain. That adds to the golfer unpleasantness. So, I think the couple days there will help.”

South Fire Station Construction on Track Construction on the new South Firehouse is expected to begin this winter, likely in January, as Ocean Pines Association continues to move forward with plans.

“We are in the process of obtaining bids. We actually got all the bids. We are leveling them as we speak. We hope the next week or two to have everything in an update on it, but we’re very pleased with the amount of contractors that were looking to bid on it,” General Manager John Viola said during a Nov. 2 Board meeting.

He said staff is working on the transition plan for relocating Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department staff, volunteers, and equipment to public works while the new building is under construction. Public Works is configuring their office and building for use by the Fire Department.

Bids will be presented to the Board as a recommendation at the December meeting, Viola anticipated.

Beach Club, Yacht Club, Clubhouse Pavilion Projects Viola reported that an agreement has been signed with Atlantic Planning & Development for $75,000 for basement plans and engineering design at the Beach Club. “They’re already working on that so it is a tight time frame to do

1,

the work we want to do this year to be ready for May but everybody and all indications are we’ll be on track,” he said.

At the Yacht Club, engineering design for an outdoor kitchen is moving forward with Vista Design at a cost of $40,800.

Similarly, plans for an outdoor pavilion at the Golf Clubhouse, at a cost of $51,000 for work by Vista Design, are progressing.

Public Works Replaces HVAC, Decorates Public Works is installing a replacement HVAC unit at the Community Center, at a cost totaling $14,155.54, and paver installation at the Bocce Courts is nearly complete.

Viola also praised the team for ongoing holiday beautification efforts, including decorations throughout Ocean Pines and in the medians on Ocean Parkway. “We’ve said every year we will enhance beautification, especially for the holidays. I believe we’ve done it.

We’ve lit up almost every building so far. It looked pretty nice to me last night.”

Ocean Pines App, Technology Updates The Ocean Pines App is now live on the App Store and Google Play.

“Our app is live,” said OPA IT Manager Keith Calabrese. He said the OPA soft launched it with the Golf Course and Racket Center but now it is more widely available for use.

“And this is only the first iteration.

Our partner vendor Northstar will be providing us with an updated and bigger, better version next year,” he said.

“We want everyone to get started with it and it’ll continue to grow and hopefully add new functions as we go forward,” Viola said.

The app allows residents to access their membership account, make payments, review statements, book tee times, keep up with news, and receive notifications.

In another IT project, telephones at most OPA facilities have been replaced, with those at aquatics in progress and the Administration Building scheduled for early next year.

Fiscal Year 2026–27 Budget Process Preparations for the FY 2026–27 Budget are underway.

Viola explained the budget process: “It’s bottom up. I know that I’ve been doing it for 20, 25 years.

“As part of the process, we will go through it with Budget and Finance (Advisory Committee. It’s my understanding now that the Board is requesting or telling me, which is fine.”

He said there will be separate presentations to both the committee and the Board. “Hopefully each one will be one day, but we will do whatever it takes,” he said.

Meanwhile, Viola said he is still waiting on the the DMA draft reserve study to finalize the budget.

North Gate Mailbox Replacement Questioned During a Nov. 22 meeting Board members asked about the status of replacement for the North Gate mailbox, which was recently demolished.

“That mailbox is not Ocean Pines.

That’s the post office. I don’t have To Page 15

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OCEAN PINES

December 2025 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 15

Viola Reports Flat October Financials, $335,000 Year-to-Date Favorability

By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor

T

he Ocean Pines Association reported a year-to-date favorable position of $335,000 against budget through October 2025, General Manager John Viola said during the Nov. 22 Board of Directors meeting.

He emphasized that this favorability does not represent surplus funds but is applied in the budget to help maintain lower member assessments.

“We do utilize this favorability in the budget which keeps your assessment low. I always want to match that number otherwise there would be an effect on budget in future,” Viola said, noting that the current assessment of $875 remains below the highest assessment of $996 in previous years.

For October, financial results were nearly flat, showing approximately $6,000 favorability to budget. Viola said the spike in water and wastewater costs was unexpected, calling it a “high and tight fastball.”

“This is part of business; I understand that,” he said but added he was not prepared for such a large increase in water and wastewater rates from Worcester County. Viola walked Board members through the numbers, noting that some impact was reflected in the Ocean Pines portion of the bill for that quarter.

“Outside of that, I got to be honest with you, I was very pleased. I mean, look, that’s a fact of business.

It’s just something that’s going to happen.”

Adjustments to the food and beverage budget contributed to favor-

GM Report From Page 13

any knowledge of what their plans are,” General Manager John Viola explained in response. “I thought they were going to replace it, but I have no knowledge on that. But that’s not us.”

OPA staff said they had contracted the postal service, which said it has no immediate plans to replace it. A mailbox is located in White Horse Park and residents are encouraged to use that one in the meantime.

ability this month. Viola explained that insurance costs had not initially been included in the budget. “We did not include in budget insurance costs. We made that adjustment.

That’s favorability this month seeing it now,” he said, noting that this adjustment had been discussed and approved in a previous Board meeting.

Viola also cited positive contributions from recreation and parks initiatives, payroll efficiencies, and marina operations, including the use of multiple suppliers and careful cost management.

He added that unbudgeted grants received by the administration office also helped the association’s bottom line.

Viola emphasized that favorable results are applied strategically in the budget. “Keep in mind, and I will highlight this at the annual meeting… the favorability we’ve had in the past does wind up on the balance sheet. We have utilized it when we do the budget which keeps the assessment down,” he said, underscoring that these measures are designed to benefit all property owners.

Reviewing the association’s reserves, Viola described them as a reflection of overall financial health.

To Page 16

16 Ocean Pines PROGRESS December 2025

OCEAN PINES

Residents Raise Concerns Over Dumpsters, Marina Rates, Leaves and Deer Strikes

By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor

S

everal residents used the public comments portion of the Nov. 22 Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors meeting to raise concerns about persistent maintenance issues, rising marina slip fees, and what they described as declining volunteer morale within the community Don Wolski, a former chair of the now-disbanded Environmental and Natural Assets Committee, addressed three separate issues he said have gone unresolved for months.

Wolski began by revisiting a complaint he said he first brought forward in June regarding two deteriorating trash dumpsters in the Yacht Club parking lot.

He described the dumpsters as “unsightly” with lids that do not close and holes large enough to allow rodents such as rats and foxes to enter. He said the condition appears

to be a clear public health concern and questioned why the problem has lingered for almost half a year.

Although a new blue dumpster was delivered in August, Wolski said it was placed directly in front of the damaged ones, blocking their removal and leaving both the holes and overflowing trash unaddressed. He said he checked again the morning of the Nov. 22 meeting and found the situation unchanged.

“It was my expectation that those two dumpsters would be removed because they were unhealthy,” Wolski told the Board. A new dumpster was installed, but it does not make it possible for the other two dumpsters to be removed.

He then shifted to the issue of marina slip rental rates. Wolski, who has rented a slip at the Yacht Club marina for six years, said he has seen dramatic rate increases in recent years, including a 12 percent hike last year and a 7 percent increase the year before. Earlier years,

he noted, saw increases of only 3–4 percent annually.

With the marina listed as the community’s second most profitable amenity, Wolski questioned how revenue streams are reported in OPA budget documents. He said marina income appears to combine fuel sales, store sales, and slip rental fees, and he urged the Board to separate those categories so slip holders can better understand what drives pricing decisions.

“A 12 percent increase is kinda crazy if you ask me,” he said. “Please be reasonable when decisions are being made about slip rental rates.”

Wolski’s final concern centered on the Board’s decision to eliminate several advisory committees earlier this year, including the committee he chaired.

He said he reviewed past comments by Board members and argued that volunteers were not the source of communication issues cited in justification for the committee cuts.

Instead, he pointed to Board liaisons, noting that one attended nearly every meeting of his committee. If there was an issue with communication, he said he thinks it was an

Financial Report From Page 15

“This is where all our assets are that we need going forward for replacement,” he said, noting that reserves support infrastructure projects such as bulkheads, roads, and drainage, totaling approximately $5.9 million.

Treasurer Monica Rakowski reported that as of Oct. 31, the association held approximately $16.5 million in cash. Viola added that while cash levels are strong, funds are earmarked for planned projects including the firehouse, irrigation improvements, and other capital work.

Viola also encouraged transparency and open communication with members regarding the numbers. “If somebody doesn’t understand that, email us at info or come in to talk to me and I’ll go through the numbers with you,” he said.

Despite challenges like the unexpected water and wastewater increase, Viola concluded that the association’s finances remain strong.

issue with the Board liaison rather than the committees themselves.

The Board’s action left him discouraged enough that, despite being invited to join the OPA’s Architectural Review Committee, he declined.

“It’s got me into an apathetic funk,” he admitted, adding that while he used to serve on a planning commission in Pennsylvania, he no longer feels motivated to volunteer within the OPA structure.

He said he will continue volunteering elsewhere with community groups. Among the local causes champion by the former Environment and Natural Assets Committee that he wished he could continue supporting were oyster gardening, improving water quality in the St. Martin River, removing invasive vines around South Gate Pond, litter cleanup, and promoting native vegetation.

Dr. Paul Rogers used the public comments session to urge the community to take deer-related traffic risks more seriously, citing statewide data and several recent deer-vehicle incidents, including one inside Ocean Pines earlier this month.

Rogers began by recounting his own close call. Nearly a year ago, while driving out of The Point at dusk, a deer suddenly crossed his path on Ocean Parkway. He struck the animal, which fell but then got up and ran off, and there wasn’t any damage to the car.

He noted that other drivers have not been as fortunate. Over the past year, he said, the average cost of repairing vehicle damage from deer collisions is about $10,000. He also pointed out that roughly 1,000 people are injured annually in Maryland due to deer-related crashes, and about five to six fatalities occur each year statewide.

Rogers highlighted a Nov. 3 deer collision inside Ocean Pines that required an EMS response and resulted in facial injuries to a young girl.

He also referenced a deadly crash in Salisbury two years ago in which a struck deer was launched into the opposite lane, entering a vehicle and fatally injuring a 67-year-old woman.

“These deaths do occur,” Rogers emphasized. He said he was bringTo Page 17

December 2025 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 17

OCEAN PINES Public Comments From Page 16

ing this information up because it’s something the community needs to think about.

He encouraged the Board to consider community-level preventive measures, calling it an opportunity for “preventative medicine.”

Among his suggestions were improved signage in high-risk areas, enhanced driver education for residents, and other strategies to reduce the likelihood of serious collisions with deer.

Another resident used the public comments period to raise concerns about neglected yard maintenance in her neighborhood, overgrown ditches she fears pose a fire hazard, and confusion over the fate of the community’s long-unused leaf collection truck.

The resident said she came to the meeting because of ongoing issues with leaves, ivy, and debris piling up along the ditch line in front of her home.

She explained that two neighboring properties have not maintained their yards, allowing ivy to spread and the drainage ditch to become clogged. She said she has repeatedly tried to clean the ditch herself, even hiring people to dig it out, but the problem keeps returning.

She asked whether the neglected ditch is considered common property. She expressed concern that the accumulation of leaves and dead vegetation could create a fire hazard.

Her second concern was the status of the association’s leaf collection truck, which she said staff had previously told her was sold. However, when she went behind the facility, she said she saw the truck still sitting on the property, appearing unused.

OPA General Manager John Viola responded that he did not believe the leaf vacuum truck had been sold and promised to check into the matter. “I will look into it. I don’t think it was sold.”

The speaker also pressed for clarity on whether the ditch in front of her home is classified as common property.

Bruce Bright, the OPA’s, legal counsel, cautioned that the answer depends on the specific location and the property’s easements. He encouraged her to email him with any specific questions she has about her property and the associated boundaries.

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18 Ocean Pines PROGRESS December 2025

OCEAN PINES

PINES NOTES

Treasurer’s Report Shows $16.5M in Cash As of October 31st, the association had approximately $16.5 million in cash. Cash decreased $519,000 from the same time period last year. Cash decreased $631,000 from September 2025.

The OPA has $7.9 million invested in CDARS and realized $50,000 in interest income.

The remaining $8.6 million is insured sweep accounts, treasury bills, money market, and other operating accounts diversified between two local banks.

General Manager John Viola said he gets questions about the amount of cash the OPA is holding. “There’s cash there. I don’t want to use the word a lot, but those are the numbers,” he said.

Viola reminded members that there are numerous project pending that will reduce the cash on hand.

He urged members to “keep in mind” projects like the new southside firehouse, golf course irrigation, and replacement projects will be paid for using that “cash” allocation before the next property assessment.

New ARC Chair Appointment Made The Board of Directors unanimously appointed a new member and chair for the Architectural Review Committee during a Nov. 22 meeting.

Jason Casares was voted in as chair of ARC.

New Vehicle Purchase Approved for Public Works The Ocean Pines Board of Directors on Nov. 22 unanimously approved a capital request to purchase a new vehicle for the Public Works Department.

The request, presented as part of the association’s routine capital agenda, sought authorization to move forward with staff’s recommendation to buy a 2025 Ford Bronco from Pittsville Motors at a cost of $40,039.

The new Bronco will replace an aging Ford Escape currently used in the department’s vehicle pool. The vehicle is more than 6 years old and was scheduled to be replaced in the upcoming budget.

The motion passed, allowing Public Works to proceed with the acquisition

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as part of the department’s ongoing equipment replacement schedule.

The new vehicle is expected to support daily operational needs and improve reliability for field staff as they manage maintenance, repairs, and service responsibilities throughout the community.

The vehicle will be added to the overall OPA car pool, General Manager John Viola said. He said by moving to a car pool model for the association the OPA was able to reduce its non-police vehicle fleet by six vehicles.

Board Finds Property In Continuing Violation The Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors voted on Nov. 22 to move forward with enforcement actions against a Sandy Hook Road property after determining that a continuing violation had not been corrected despite multiple notices.

According to staff, the property at 94 Sandy Hook Road received both first and second violation notices in accordance with Resolution M-01.

The homeowner did not request a hearing with the Board and the violations remain unresolved. Although the official citation referenced only one violation, staff told the Board that four separate issues exist on the property.

The violations involve multiple gazebos that were installed as permanent structures.

“This is a temporary structure, right?” one director asked during discussion.

Staff replied no, they’re affixed in concrete, adding that four gazebos are present and some elements of the hardscape extend over the property line.

With no further questions, the Board voted to refer the case to legal counsel for processing and to suspend the property owner’s voting and amenity rights until the violations are resolved. The motion passed unanimously.

Staff Reviews Dashboard Data As of Oct. 1, there were 135 property violations outstanding with the Compliance, Permits, and Inspections office. Another 26 violations were initiated in during the month, including 2 box trailers, 1 deck screening, 1 grass, 3 maintenance, 1 multiple boat trailers on property 7

no permit, 3 trash/debris, 2 trees, 2 vehicle parking, and 1 wire fence.

CPI closed out 27 violations during the month, but there were still 134 remaining as of month end, including 49 maintenance, trash, or debris, 31 no permit, 5 trees, and 49 miscellaneous.

Public Works had 188 open work orders as of Oct. 1 and received 71 new work orders during the month, including 8 bulkheads, 16 drainage, 8 grounds or landscaping, 2 roads, 5 signs and 32 general maintenance.

It had 195 open at the end of the month, with 72 of those open work orders for drainage issues.

The OPA had 47 customer service contacts in October, including 13 for amenities, 8 for CPI, 22 in general questions or comments, and 4 for public works.

Public Works Collects Bagged Leaves The Ocean Pines Public Works Department will collect bagged leaves through Dec. 31, providing residents with a convenient way to manage seasonal yard debris.

Bagged leaves will be picked up on days opposite residents’ regular trash collection schedules. For example, if your trash is collected on Mondays and Thursdays, bagged leaves will be picked up on Tuesdays and Fridays. Likewise, if trash is collected on Tuesdays and Fridays, leaf pick-up will occur on Mondays and Thursdays. This service is free of charge.

In addition to the regular pickup, Republic Services will conduct curbside leaf collection days during NoDecember.

The Northside schedule includes Dec. 12, while the Southside schedule is Dec. 6, and Dec. 20.

Residents are reminded that leaves must be placed in paper bags only, as plastic bags are not permitted. Paper bags are available for purchase at the Public Works Building, offering a discounted alternative to retail stores like Home Depot.

The Public Works Yard will also be open for leaf and yard waste dropoff through Jan. 3, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., excluding holidays and Sundays. The yard will be closed Dec. 24-26, and Jan. 1.

As in prior years, the leaf vacuum will not be operating, and property owners are responsible for bagging leaves themselves.

Any leaves raked to the road or into the ditch will receive a violation notice.

WORCESTER COUNTY

December 2025 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 19

County Reviews Major New Housing Development Proposed for Route 589

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site plan, consistent with the Transportation Corridor Plan for Route 589 adopted by County Resolution 98-18. All setbacks for buildings and parking areas will be calculated from the future right-of-way line rather than the existing boundary.

The development will rely on the existing signalized intersection constructed years ago to serve the medical campus, a feature designed for a the more intense commercial buildout originally envisioned for the proeprty. State Highway Administration officials responded that Racetrack Village would have no negative impact on state roadways and offered no comments or objections.

The plan proposes 137 multifamily units constructed in phases.

County staff emphasized that all perimeter landscaping, stormwater management ponds, entry drive landscaping, and the required parking lot and building landscaping must be completed as part of the first phase to ensure the site has appropriate buffering and visual cohesion even before full buildout.

The project includes a total of 344 parking spaces, subject to Worcester County’s landscaping requirements, which mandate tree islands, interior parking lot landscaping, and buffered edges. Planners reminded the applicant that one tree is required for every six parking spaces, planted within designated landscaped islands of at least eight by twenty feet, spaced at intervals of no more

FOREST CONSERVATION AREA

22

By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor significant new housing proposal along Route 589 took a step forward this month as Worcester County’s Technical Review Committee evaluated the Step I Concept Plan for Racetrack Village.

The proposed project is a 137-unit multifamily residential community planned for the corridor just north of Taylorville Lane and directly across from the Atlantic General Hospital/ TidalHealth medical campus.

The project, proposed by Maryland Medical Owners II, LLC and designed by Vista Design, Inc., represents one of the largest residential projects to come before the county in recent years and is positioned to serve as an infill development between Ocean Pines and the commercial corridor that has grown steadily along Racetrack Road.

The property, consisting of two parcels totaling roughly 22.86 acres, was rezoned earlier this year from C-2 General Commercial to R-3 Multifamily Residential following a protracted public process and Worcester County Commissioner approval.

That rezoning established the basis for the developer to seek approval for a Residential Planned Community, which must proceed through multiple review phases. The TRC’s review marks the beginning of the formal approval process.

The TRC also instructed the developer to show the Maryland State Highway Administration’s required 40-foot right-of-way widening on the

COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF WORCESTER CO MARYLAND DEED 1993/576 CURRENT USE : WELL LOT #3 (EXEMPT) ZONING: R-2 RESIDENTIAL

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20 Ocean Pines PROGRESS December 2025 Racetrack Village From Page 19

than ten contiguous parking spaces.

The availability of water and sewer capacity in the Greater Ocean Pines Sanitary Service Area represents one of the most significant infrastructure considerations for the project. Environmental Programs confirmed that the site currently has only one EDU assigned to it and will need an additional 136 EDU allocations to serve the full development. The county stated that adequate EDUs exist but must be

purchased and secured before final site plan approval can occur.

The developer has already held preliminary meetings with Public Works, Environmental Programs, and the County Attorney to discuss the necessary upgrades and extensions to water and sewer service and to coordinate infrastructure design with broader future needs in the surrounding area. Public Works noted that utility plans must meet the county-approved GMB Route 589 study, that water main looping may be required where feasible, and that

escrows must be paid in full before water and wastewater review can proceed.

Developers indicated that the project carries the potential for mixed-use elements in a future Step II submission, including commercial or retail components.

TRC members requested more detail on those possibilities during the next phase. They also noted that the proposed swimming pool and pool house will require separate review and permits from the Worcester County Health Department, while

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11304 Manklin Creek Road, South Gate Ocean Pines (Manklin Creek Road & Ocean Parkway)

signage, recreation areas, and all landscaping will require additional zoning permits at the time building permits are submitted. Should the developer ever pursue short-term rentals, an additional dedicated parking space per unit would be required under county code. The TRC’s review is the first of several steps in the county’s RPC approval process.

The Worcester County Planning Commission, which will meet with the applicant, will ultimately formulate its own recommendation to the commissioners regarding approval or denial of the Step I Concept Plan. After receiving the Planning Commission’s recommendation, the commissioners must hold a public hearing on the proposed development plans.

The developer submitted a comprehensive narrative with the Step I application. The document emphasizes that the site is designated an Existing Developed Area under the county’s Comprehensive Plan, meaning it is an area where infill residential development is encouraged, especially where it serves as a transition between established neighborhoods and commercial corridors.

The developer argues that the multifamily buildings will provide that transition between Ocean Pines’ single-family lots and the busier commercial and medical uses along Route 589.

A recorded Forest Conservation Area already exists along the rear of the property, buffering the Ocean Pines homes and protecting nontidal wetlands. That easement will remain permanently in place and, following public concerns raised during the rezoning hearing, will be supplemented by a six-foot vinyl fence along the residential edge.

The developers also reiterate the strong local demand for housing, noting the surge in population following COVID-era real estate shifts and continuing need for workforce-accessible units near major employers such as Atlantic General Hospital.

The property’s location at a signalized intersection was highlighted by the developers as a particular advantage. The traffic light and turn lane system were originally engineered for a two-story outpatient surgery center with four operating rooms and multiple ancillary commercial uses, a development that would have generated more traffic than the residential approach now To Page 21

WORCESTER COUNTY Racetrack Village From Page 20

proposed, according to the developer. The developer’s traffic engineer testified during the rezoning case that the July 2025 updated traffic counts showed Level of Service A at all major intersections in the vicinity and noted that multifamily residential use generates fewer average trips per day than single-family residential or commercial uses.

While the commissioners expressed some skepticism about the precision of traffic counts during the rezoning hearing, they independently concluded that a residential proj-

Isle of Wight Offices Closed for Renovations Worcester County Government’s satellite offices at Isle of Wight, located at Route 90 and St. Martins Neck Road, will be closed for renovations through spring 2026. Services provided at this location by the Treasurer’s Office and Health Department will temporarily be relocated.

For the convenience of northern Worcester County residents, a Treasurer’s Office payment drop box has been placed in front of the Ocean Pines Library. The drop box is monitored regularly, and all items will be processed by the Treasurer’s Office in Snow Hill.

Citizens may also visit the main office in the Worcester County Government Center in Snow Hill or take advantage of online services by visiting https://www.co.worcester.md.us/ departments/treasurers-office.

The Health Department’s Environmental Health services have temporarily relocated to the Ocean City Health Center, located at 4 Caroline St., Ocean City.

Riddle Farm Repair Projected Completed Following a successful renovation and repair project, the Riddle Farm Wastewater Treatment Plant is once again fully operational. The rehabilitation project, which got underway with M2 in June 2024, came in within budget and on time.

Clogging issues associated with filter membrane cassettes installed in 2017 resulted in a significant reduction in the wastewater treatment plant’s ability to treat wastewater. Repeated attempts to alter the treatment process and reduce membrane clogging over the years were unsuccessful. From 2018 to November 2025, crews were required

December 2025 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 21 ect would cause far less traffic than the commercial center that could be built under the former C-2 zoning.

They also required, as part of the rezoning conditions, that there be no vehicular connection from Route 589 through the development into Ocean Pines or Triple Crown Estates, addressing concerns raised by nearby residents about cut-through traffic.

The TRC review follows a lengthy and at times contentious rezoning process that included public testimony from Ocean Pines residents concerned about lighting, loss of tree buffers, increased traffic, and

the pace of development along Route 589.

The commissioners ultimately supported the rezoning after concluding that the R-3 Multifamily Residential designation aligns with the Comprehensive Plan, which identifies the area as suitable for infill development and acknowledges the pressing regional need for housing. They noted that the project site is already in the S-1/W-1 category of the county’s water and sewer plan, meaning it is intended for near-term service. They further concluded that the residential use would create a more appropriate and less impactful

WORCESTER COUNTY NOTES to pump and haul effluent from the Riddle Farm treatment plant to the Ocean Pines treatment plant and West Ocean City sewer system to be treated.

All effluent generated within the Riddle Farm Sanitary Service Area is once again being treated onsite at the Riddle Farm treatment plant “We sincerely appreciate the public’s support while we worked to get the Riddle Farm WWTP up and running again,” Baker said.

Project partners include Public Works Water and Wastewater, George, Miles and Buhr, Veolia, and M2 Construction.

“A big thanks goes out to our phenomenal team who did a knockout job getting the work done,” Public Works Director Dallas Baker said.

“Also, none of this would have been possible without the support of the Worcester County Commissioners.”

County Accepts Funds For Shared Use Path The Worcester County Commissioners on Nov. 18 approved two state-administered grants totaling more than $1.5 million to fund the full design of Phase 1 of the Route 611 Shared-Use Path, a longplanned project aimed at improving bicycle and pedestrian access along the busy corridor leading to Assateague Island.

In a memo to the commissioners, Public Works Director Dallas Baker Jr. said the department was requesting approval and signatures for two documents related to grant awards from the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Program and the state Bikeways Program. The design phase is fully covered by these grants, with the county providing a

required local match.

The project funding includes: TAP Grant, $1,156,716.75; Bikeways Grant, $246,771.00; Local Match, $138,801.25; and Total Project Funding, $1,542,289.

The county match has already been incorporated into the Assigned Funds process as a small project request. The county attorney reviewed and approved all related documents.

Phase 1 of the shared-use path will begin at the existing trail at the southeast corner of the intersection of routes 50 and 611, extending along the east side of Route 611 to Mystic Harbour Boulevard. The design will prepare the project for construction funding applications, which Public Works intends to submit to the same MDOT programs once plans are complete.

The larger vision for the multiphase project is to create a continuous path connecting the current Route 50 shared-use trail to the existing path at Assateague State Park. Future segments may include crossing to the west side of Route 611 further south.

The Transportation Alternatives Program officially approved the county’s application for Phase 1 design with a total award of $1,542,289. The funds, administered through the Maryland State Highway Administration, include both federal and state requirements that the county must follow throughout the design process.

Commissioners Approve Service Area Expenditures At their Nov. 18 meeting, the Worcester County Commissioners approved a request from the Department of Public Works to cover endof-year over-expenditures in several

land use pattern adjacent to Ocean Pines than the commercial uses originally envisioned under the C-2 zoning.

The TRC’s review is the first step in the county’s RPC approval process. The Worcester County Planning Commission will ultimately formulate its own recommendation to the commissioners regarding approval or denial of the Step I Concept Plan.

After receiving the Planning Commission’s recommendation, the commissioners must hold a public hearing on the proposed development plans. water and wastewater accounts for the Ocean Pines and Riddle Farm service areas.

In a memo to the commissioners, Public Works Director Dallas Baker Jr. explained that the county’s Budget Officer notified the department on Nov. 6 that a number of accounts had exceeded their approved budgets due to allocations from support and construction divisions, as well as standard year-end journal entries. The overruns required commissioner authorization before the fiscal year could be closed.

For the Ocean Pines Water and Wastewater Service Area, the department reported over-expenditures in four accounts: $41,568 in the water account, $174,728 in the treatment plant account, $8,643 in the collections account, and $52,883 in the vehicle and equipment account. Baker said the overspending was caused by increased electric and gas rates, under-budgeted tipping fees resulting from higher volumes of sludge and debris being hauled to the landfill, and unanticipated repair costs for work performed by outside contractors. Allocations from the Support and Construction groups also contributed to the overages.

The Riddle Farm Service Area recorded a larger over-expenditure totaling $559,133. According to the memo, this was due to unbudgeted payments to the Ocean Pines service area for water supplied to Riddle Farm, under-budgeted payments to the Ocean Pines service area for the treatment of Riddle Farm’s wastewater, and higher-than-expected transportation costs associated with wastewater movement.

With the commissioners’ approval, Public Works can now reconcile the accounts and complete year-end financial closeouts. Baker noted that To Page 22

22 Ocean Pines PROGRESS December 2025

LIFESTYLES

Annual Worcester Prep Bazaar Features Santa and 30+ Vendors

S Vendors will offer a variety of goods at the Worcester Prep bazaar.

anta Claus will lead story time as wide-eyed children listen, then pose for photographs with the jolly elf at Worcester Preparatory School’s 53rd Annual Holiday Bazaar, starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Brent Thompson Field House at the school in Berlin.

Visitors to the free event can admire and shop for items made by local vendors at the Holiday Market and visit the Holiday Lunch Café,

Coffee & Cocoa House and Winter Bakery, where cakes, cupcakes and cookies will be for sale.

Students will singing carols and adults can take part in the Basket Ticket Auction. The Holiday Raffle features a $2,500 travel experience featuring gift cards for American Airlines, Airbnb stays and for luggage and spending money.

“It’s wonderful to see our campus filled with smiles, laughter and holiday spirit. The Holiday Bazaar is one of our favorite traditions because it brings families, students, alumni and community members together in such a joyful way,” Worcester Prep Development Coordinator Maria Zeller said.

“This event is a true team effort.

Our volunteers work tirelessly behind the scenes. Our vendors bring such creativity and our families show up each year ready to celebrate. We’re so thankful for everyone who helps make the Bazaar such a success,” she said.

To Page 23

Worcester County From Page 21

the department will review budgeting practices and cost estimates to help avoid such discrepancies in future fiscal years.

Treatment Plant Work Wrapping Up Worcester County Commissioner Chip Bertino raised concerns Nov. 18 about ongoing noise at the Ocean Pines water and wastewater treatment plant. Bertino said residents living near the facility have been “serenaded” by loud sounds associated with cleaning work on Unit 4, adding that “the sounds of cleanliness are really very disconcerting to a lot of the people around there.”

Public Works Director Dallas Baker told commissioners the cleaning should be finished by the end of the week. Crews have been working from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., including weekends, to speed up the process.

Baker said the county initially expected the work to take about a week but faced delays tied to challenges with the contractor, which attempted to issue a $300,000 change order that the county rejected. He emphasized the need to complete the work quickly so the tank can be brought back online.

December 2025 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 23

LIFESTYLES

Decatur Icon Lehman Honored for 46 Years of Inspiring Students Inducted Into Worcester County Teachers’ Hall of Fame

By Ocean Pines Progress Staff ozens of Gwen Lehman’s former students, pleased to learn she had been inducted into the Worcester County Teachers’ Hall of Fame, praised her, posting on the Friends of Gwen Freeman Lehman’s Facebook page that the honor was well deserved and that, in the classroom, she impressively taught the finer points of theater.

“She made the world come alive in the most wonderful way. Thank you for your many years of dedication and making our high school years a time of healthy self-expression,” Kandi Choisser wrote.

“Phenomenal teacher, super deserved,” Ethan Call commented.

“She did not just teach me, she inspired me. She believed in so many of us, when many of us confused teenagers didn’t believe in ourselves.

There is no one more deserving of this honor,” Reg Mason recalled.

“You work that long and you build something and it is nice. It’s something that sort of cements your legacy for people in the future,” Lehman, of Berlin, who taught at Stephen Decatur High School 46 years before retiring in 2015, told the Progress during an afternoon conversation.

“I don’t think anyone has been at Decatur longer than I have. They named a hall in the school after me when I retired. I started a lot of things that had never happened before. The Children’s Theater has been in existence going on 50 years now. We are the only school that built an outdoor theater where we

D

Worcester Prep From Page 22

Students in the lower school, The Mallards, will be caroling at noon and middle and upper grade students will perform at 2 p.m.

“The biggest draw is the ticket auction. We have almost 20 baskets curated by each classroom and they have all different themes -- arts and crafts, back yard cooking, pizza oven and one that is more than a basket.

It looks like a hardware set with shelves and drawers. Tickets cost $25 for 40 tickets. There is something for everybody at our bazaar, from musical performances to visits with Santa, homemade baked goods.

It’s a really good family event. Our

Gwen Lehman was recently inducted into the Worcester County Teachers’ Hall of Fame.

do Shakespeare every spring,” Lehman said, adding by the time she retired there were performances for 10,000 adults and children from 40 schools.

“I still remember a woman at my high school who directed theater programs. When she retired that all stopped.

“A former student of mine, who’s a professor at Frostburg (State University) made a film about me a number of years ago and in that film she mentioned it was important to

Holiday Market has more than 30 vendors selling jewelry, woodworking, pottery, homemade bait like fishing bait, stuffed animals, fine art. There’s a whole gym full of kids’ games, a book fair,” Zeller said, adding items are available from $5 to $500.

Proceeds from the bazaar will benefit Worcester Prep projects including upgrading the playground and cafeteria and performing arts at the school, where 500 students attend, in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Proceeds from story time with Santa will benefit the school as well as Coastal Hospice. Apple Discount Drugs is sponsoring Santa this year.

her that the theater program didn’t die after I left,” Lehman said.

Lehman, who spent all but one year of her career at Decatur, moved to Ocean City in 1969. At the time, she and her first husband were working for the Connor family that owned hotels in Ocean City, and matriarch Thelma Connor didn’t want her husband to return to western Maryland after summer ended, but to stay and work at the former Santa Maria Hotel on 15th Street. Connor contacted Gladys Burbage, principal of Decatur at the time, asked if she had any openings at the school and Lehman was hired.

“We moved here permanently,” she said, recalling she eventually started the first theater program in Worcester County while also teaching English and psychology. She had, for some time, been interested in theater and studied theater in graduate school. Burbage, whose family operated Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin, and who Lehman praised as a model educator, asked if anyone was interested in teaching theater and Lehman immediately responded.

Now, Brandon Cater, who was once Lehman’s student, oversees the program.

“He’s in his 30s now. His mother

was vice principal at Decatur. He was visiting her before she retired and he and two other students had always teased me, ‘When you retire we’re going to come back and take over the theater program.’ One of them is a professional actress. The other guy … is in the area and working at the Milton Theatre now. I saw Brandon in the building and I said, ‘I’m going to retire.’ He was, at the time, working for a private independent theater company in Baltimore, Imagination Stage,” Lehman said.

Retiring was a difficult decision, but Lehman said she doesn’t miss “the things they have to deal with in schools these days.”

“I was glad I retired before covid hit. It would have been heartbreaking,” she said, recalling Cater’s students were ready to present a performance when schools abruptly closed.

“They had the costumes, the sets up. They were doing rehearsals and everything shut down. I was glad I wasn’t dealing with it,” she said.

These days she stays busy moderating a book club, being involved with the Worcester County Retired School Personnel Association and Worcester Youth & Family Counseling and volunteering at the Art To Page 24

24 Ocean Pines PROGRESS December 2025

LIFESTYLES

Berlin residents preserve gravestones at church

By DAVID BOHENICK Contributing Writer n the morning of Nov. 1, members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Berlin hosted a community event where residents were given materials to help clean gravestones in the cemetery.

The ultimate goal was for residents to connect with Maryland’s history while learning the proper preservation process. Church member Mike Wiley was one of the residents who got his hands dirty cleaning in the graveyard.

“It’s a slow process, but every little bit helps,” he said.

Equipped with cleaning solutions, brushes and printed instructions, residents were taught how to properly clean the dirt and moss off grave markers.

First, the residents would spray the grave marker with water and scrub with a soft-bristle brush.

Then, they’d spray the marker with a cleaning solution and allow it to sit on the tombstone. Finally, they’d scrub the marker again, either with the same brush or a smaller scraper to clean inscriptions.

The tombstone cleaning was one of multiple events the church has hosted to celebrate its bicentennial year. Prior events at the church, located at 3 Church St., include a walking tour of the stained glass windows and guest speakers.

The cemetery preservation was also part of a state-wide workshop initiative hosted by The Campaign for Historic Trades, a program within Preservation Maryland. Preservation Maryland is Maryland’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to preserving historic spaces.

The Campaign for Historic Trades has planned these workshops in 18 different counties for the past few years, including every county in Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore.

According to Preservation Maryland’s website, the program was initially funded by a grant from Rural Maryland Council.

Parishioner Sarah Hooper said the events were successful and the church would soon organize packages for residents to preserve graves on their own time.

“We saw people were interested in it, and pretty soon we want to put special cleaning packages together so people can come to the church whenever they want and clean a grave or two as a fun activity,” she said.

O

Gwen Lehman From Page 23

League of Ocean City, where her paintings are on display.

Former Worcester County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jon Andes originally suggested a Hall of Fame for teachers, Lehman said, adding Burbage was the first to be inducted and she was second. Nominations for 2026 are now being accepted.

Winners are honored during a ceremony at a Board of Education meeting and inductees receive commemorative plaques.

The Gwen Lehman Scholarship Foundation was started by Lehman’s former students after she

David Bohenick photos

Top: Two church members standing beside four grave markers, three of which are already cleaned and one currently getting preserved. Bottom: Resident Mike Wiley spraying a grave marking with water.

retired and now there is a website, Facebook page and seven-member Board of directors.

The foundation awards at least one scholarship to Decatur seniors who want to major in any form of theater, from script writing to acting to directing. The first scholarship was given in 2016.

Theater is not a typical college major, Lehman said. “It’s risky business so some years we only have a couple applicants,” she said, explaining recipients have included a student studying at Wagner College in New York, N.Y., and a filmmaker.

Funding for scholarships comes from donations, including from for-

mer students, family and friends.

Lehman and her husband, Don, also contribute. Details are at www.freemanlehmanscholarship.org “It’s good for kids to have arts in general but it’s especially important for kids who can have some difficulty finding a home in other places.

It has such broad appeal. My classes were big. One year I had in my drama class 44 students, 22 boys and 22 girls. That group of students was so diverse in their academic skills, their social skills, but they all worked together and got along.

I had kids with Asperger’s working with kids who were in the National Honor Society. Kids played multi-

ple sports. Kids were in the student council. Kids in special education.

They were all mixed in together and they all supported each other. I saw them help each other with their math homework.

“You are teaching them psychology, sociology, language and all the other arts. There is music in the background so they learned music as well as dance, visual arts, set, costumes. They learned how to sew. Theater teaches them a broad range of skills and in many ways to be more human and to understand other people’s lives,” Lehman said thoughtfully.

“Most of the arts do that.”

December 2025 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 25

LIFESTYLES

Santa’s Letter Tradition Continues, Reaching Nearly 1,000 Children

By Ocean Pines Progress Staff t was newspaper editor Francis Pharcellus Church who, in 1897, penned a tender reply to 8-yearold Virginia O’Hanlon, who was questioning the existence of Santa Claus.

“Alas! How dreary would be the world if there was no Santa Claus … there would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence … the eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished,” the editor of The New York Sun wrote.

Yes, Virgina, he told the little girl, there is a Santa Claus, who illuminates Christmas with the magic Berlin resident Colby Phillips has kept alive for the past 14 years by sending letters to local fellow believers as well as those who live in Wicomico and Accomack counties and as far away as Hawaii, California and Canada.

“Of course l believe in Santa Claus. It’s the magic of Christmas,” Phillips, founder of Letters From Santa, said, adding again this year she has “partnered with the North Pole.”

“My daughters Remy and Sadie are now 19 and 24. When they were 5 and 9 I went online to get a letter from Santa for them but it cost like $15 so I thought, ‘I am just going to write it myself’ and I offered it to friends who had kids. I came up with a fun letter and it’s just grown over the years. What I really enjoyed was creating the story and the characters. The children who have been receiving my letters since I started still wonder what’s going on with the characters in the story,” she said.

Now, every year, starting in October, she plans and organizes and, with help from those who contribute time, postage costs and printing, sends correspondence to close to 1,000 children, using “enough glitter over the years to fill several large warehouses.”

“My house glistens for a few months, and I usually have someone tell me I have glitter on my face at some point,” she said.

“Because I have always believed in Santa Claus, he trusts me to help him carry out this important tradi-

I

tion. He truly is a jolly person and his sweet tooth is as big as mine, so we enjoy discussing letters over sweets. The reindeer are wonderful. I like to make the letters based around a continuous story. Several years ago, I introduced Peppermint the Reindeer, who was welcomed by the children with such excitement and love. Two years ago, our story introduced Gumdrop the Elf, who has a very big, sweet tooth.

Last year, we introduced Oli the Floppy Rabbit, who happens to also be the mail carrier for the North Pole.

This year’s story includes Santa’s new puppy, Josie. A coloring page drawn by the very talented Richard Von Ludwick will also be included of Josie as well,” she said.

Von Ludwick, of Captain’s Cove in Greenbackville, Va., where Phillips is senior general manager, drew Peppermint, Gumdrop and Oli “exactly as Santa and I had envisioned so I am excited to share Josie with all the children,” she said, thanking Thom Gulyas and Emily Davis of Ace Printing & Mailing in Berlin, who print the letters and labels.

“I don’t know 95 percent of these kids but I get so much enjoyment,” said Phillips, who, for the past 32 years, has worked for the Ocean City Beach Patrol. Every letter is personalized for each child, including one, several years ago, sent to a little girl whose mother died.

“I sent her a different letter and I included a necklace and talked about how Santa made it special for her to remember her mother. Another time there was a couple that lost their baby at 32 weeks into the pregnancy and they wanted to keep her memory alive. I wrote a letter mentioning her. Another little girl was being bullied at school and I wrote her a special letter, too,” she said.

She receives requests from children, including one from a little girl who asked for a horse.

“That was a tough one,” she said.

Children commonly ask for cell phones and baby brothers or sisters.

“I had one sweet request from a

child who wanted her dad to come back from war in the military and those are really touching. I save them all,” she said.

During covid, she started including adults and now writes to about 100, making sure that mail is different and will bring a smile.

To receive a letter from Santa, e-mail Colby Phillips at santaphillips@yahoo. com before Sunday, Dec. 7. Include the child’s name and address. Children can write to Santa and take letters to the Ocean Pines Post Office or the front desk at Captain’s Cove Marina Club in Greenbackville, Va. Santa will reply, but don’t worry, Mom and Dad. He won’t make any promises.

“I have a traditional adult letter and one that is humorous. Last year Santa wrote about Mrs. Claus and how she was struggling with menopause and how she wasn’t baking as much because she was so hot. I had fun with that one. I love the innocence of children. I really think that is why I love doing it. It brings joy to people,” she said.

“I get great joy from that but holidays are about faith. It’s always about faith but it’s also about keeping that magic alive. Christmas is a joyful time. People are nicer. I love everything about it.”

OPEN SATURDAYS OR

BY APPOINTMENT PLEASE CALL 410-251-7528

26 Ocean Pines PROGRESS December 2025

LIFESTYLES

COMMUNITY NOTES

Vox Concordia Brings Holiday Concert Debut Vox Concordia, a premier choral group on the Eastern Shore, will present a program of seasonal music on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Berlin.

This will be Vox Concordia’s first performance in Worcester County.

The program, “Into the Light” under the direction of Veronica Tomanek, explores the power of light and how it captures the warmth of the season through grace, thankfulness and faith. The event will feature music of all styles, from

composers around the world, including seasonal music from the Renaissance, traditional carols set by contemporary composers such as Peter Warlock and Roland Carter, and music about light and warmth

by Australian composer Sally Whitwell, African American composer B.E. Boykin, American composers Eric Whitacre and Billy Joel and others.

Vox Concordia, founded in 2022, is a chamber choir dedicated to

keeping the arts alive with music from all styles and periods. Members of Vox are teachers, authors, Pulitzer Prize winners, journalists, small business owners, doctors, clergy, lawyers, chemical engineers, college administrators, gardeners, and historic home renovators.

Tickets for “Into the Light” concert are available online or at the door. General admission $20, seniors $15, students $10. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is located at 3

Church St., Berlin.

This concert is made possible from grants and support from the Salisbury Wicomico Arts Council, the Maryland Arts Council, Salisbury University, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Berlin.

Delmarva Chorus Holds Sing Along Delmarva Chorus will hold a Holiday Sing Along at the Ocean Pines Community Center on Monday, Dec. 8 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.

Enjoy cookies and beverages at the event.

Delmarva Chorus is a chapter of the Sweet Adelines International directed by Carol Ludwig. For more information visit www.delmarvachorus.org.

Kiwanis Club Gives Back to Diakonia Every week, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City partners with the Berlin Food Lion and Panera Bread to deliver food to those in need amidst the loss of SNAP benefits.

Food is picked up every Monday and Friday by volunteers and delivered to Diakonia. Occasional special food pickups are also added to the schedule when needed.

The Kiwanis Club says this type of work is even more vital right now, as SNAP benefits have ceased due to the government shutdown.

If you are interested in volunteering with this program, visit https:// www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0b44aca72da7fe3-diakonia?useFullSite=true#/ For questions or more information, contact Seth Thatcher at seth. thatcher@verizon.net or 703-9994057.

Light Up the Pines Contest Returns

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Ocean Pines residents and property owners are invited to help spread holiday cheer by taking part in this year’s “Light Up the Pines” outdoor decorating program.

Registration opened on Nov. 17.

To participate, households should submit their name, address, and phone number by emailing info@ oceanpines.org or calling 410-6417717 ext. 3014. Participants are also asked to send a photo of their decorated home to be featured in a special holiday video.

Those who register by Dec. 12 will be entered into a drawing to win To Page 27

LIFESTYLES

December 2025 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 27

Community Notes From Page 26

one of three $50 bill credits from Choptank Electric Cooperative. The first 25 homes to register will also receive goodies from Choptank Electric.

Residents may continue to register after the December 12 deadline and throughout the holiday season to have their homes added to the online holiday lights map.

Ocean Pines Rec & Parks Brings Holiday Spirit Join Ocean Pines Recreation & Parks for several fun holiday events at the Ocean Pines Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 6.

From 8-11 a.m., bring the entire family to enjoy Breakfast with Santa. Santa will arrive at approximately 8:30 a.m. and will be available for photos until 11 a.m. The cost is $6 for ages 4-10, $10 for ages 11 & over, and free for ages 3 and under and includes pancakes, sausage, juice, milk, coffee, pastries, and fruit. Attendees are encouraged to bring an unwrapped gift to be donated to local charities in Worcester County, or non-perishable food to be donated to Ocean Pines families in need.

The Reindeer Lane Gift Shop will

take place in the East Room from 8-11 a.m. This special holiday shop gives children ages 12 and under the opportunity to purchase gifts for their loved ones. All items are sold to kids for $5 or less, with many items to choose from for both kids and adults. Admission is free, but donations of new or slightly worn items are greatly appreciated.

New this year is the Holiday Vendor Fair, happening from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. in the Community Center Gym. Browse a variety of vendors offering great items for Christmas gifts, including products from Pampered Chef, paper crafts, jewelry, custom art, tumbler cups, candles, and more. Admission is free and open to the public.

For more information on any of these events, contact Katie Goetzinger at 410-641-7052 or kgoetzinger@oceanpines.org.

Aquatics Launches Angel Tree Program The Ocean Pines Aquatics Department is once again seeking generous community “angels” to help brighten the holidays for local families and children in need.

The department’s Angel Tree program, launched in 2014, provides

SOCIAL SECURITY

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Call for times, date and location

Carrie Dupuie, AAMS

Captain Tom Ottenwaelder (TommyO, retired U.S. Coast Guard) and owner of Guardian Marine Services, an NSBC Certified Instructor and Marine Surveyor spoke at Novembers Ocean Pines Anglers Club meeting. TommyO (left) being thanked by meeting administrator Rick Kuhar.

an opportunity for residents to give back by purchasing gifts for individuals and families identified through Worcester County GOLD, a local nonprofit supporting those facing financial hardship.

A Christmas tree decorated with angel ornaments is now on display in the lobby of the Sports Core Pool.

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(Financial Advisor Financial Advisor Name) (Approved Title)

215 North Main Street Berlin, MD 21811

(Address) 410-208-1704 (City, ST 00000) Carrie.Dupuie@RaymondJames.com (000-000-0000) I (Toll-Free: 800-000-0000) Fax: (000 000 0000)

Subject to availability and price change. Minimum purchases may apply. The yield is the lesser of yield to maturity or yield to call. Interest is generally exempt from federal taxation and may also be free of state and local taxes for investors residing in the state and/or locality where the bonds were issued. However, bonds may be subject to federal alternative tax (AMT), and profits and losses on tax-exempt bonds may be subject to capital gains tax treatment. Ratings by Moody’s/Standard & Poor’s. A credit rating of a security is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold the security and may be subject to review, revision, suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by the assigning Rating Agency. Insurance pertains only to the timely payment of principal and interest. No representation is made to any insurer’s ability to meet its financial commitments. Ratings and insurance do not remove risk since they do not guarantee the market value of the bond.

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28 Ocean Pines PROGRESS December 2025

LIFESTYLES Community Notes From Page 27

Each ornament represents a local child or family. Community members who wish to participate may select an angel from the tree and record their name and contact information on the corresponding signup sheet.

The deadline to return gifts is Dec. 8. Gifts may be returned wrapped or unwrapped, but the angel must be returned with the gift. Call the Sports Core Pool at 410-641-5255.

Pine’eer Craft Club Offers Extended Hours The Pine’eer Craft Club has extended their Artisan Gift Shop hours during the month of December for shopping convenience.

The extended hours are: Fridays before Christmas, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.; and Sundays 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

For more information find them on Facebook at “Ocean Pines Pine’eer Craft Club.”

Community Encouraged to “Be a Santa to a Senior” Progress Staff photo

Winterfest of Lights is illuminating Northside Park in Ocean City.

110

Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department has kicks off collection for the annual “Be a Santa to

a Senior” program.

The tree and collection box are located in the lobby of the Ocean Pines Community Center. Those interested in helping have the option of selecting an item from Home Instead’s Be a Santa to a Senior wishlist at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MY69PI4AX6V1?ref_=wl_ share.

Donors can also purchase a gift card or any of the items on the Christmas Wish List: body wash and gift sets/personal hygiene items, large print crossword or word search puzzle books, toiletry items, cozy throw blankets, socks, slippers with hard bottoms, sweaters, hats, scarves, gloves, canvases and art supply sets.

Gifts should be dropped off to the Community Center no later than Dec. 10. Gifts do not need to be wrapped. Contact 410-641-7052 or rec@oceanpines.org.

Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Yacht Club Ring in 2026 in style at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

The evening begins at 7 p.m. with passed hors d’oeuvres, featurTo Page 29

December 2025 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 29

LIFESTYLES Community Notes From Page 28

ing chorizo empanadas, filet mignon sliders, bruschetta, and a chopped kale Caesar plated salad.

Guests can choose from one of three main courses: Surf & Turf, Salmon Royale, and Double-Cut Pork Chop. A vegetarian dish will be available upon request. For dessert, guests will enjoy chocolate mousse topped with whipped cream and a luxardo cherry.

Entertainment will be provided

by Great Train Robbery. Attire for the event is dressy cocktail.

Tickets are $149 per person plus tax and gratuity, which includes the plated meal, open bar, and a complimentary champagne toast.

To purchase tickets, call 410-6417501 and press 1.

Swim with Santa At Sports Core Pool The community is invited to enjoy an afternoon of fun and cheer with Santa Claus in the indoor, heated Sports Core Pool, on Saturday, Dec. 20.

The event, happening from 12 to 3 p.m., will feature crafts, music,

and games, with food available for purchase.

Entry is $8 for swim members, $10 for residents, $12 for non-residents, and $3 for non-swimmers.

All children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult in the facility. Any children that cannot swim or wears a flotation device must be accompanied by an adult in the pool. Call 410-641-5255.

Make Wool Critters For Weaving Project The Art League of Ocean City invites the public to two free art

classes where they will make wool “felted” creatures that will adorn the completed “Community Weaving Project.”

The free class for ages 13 through adult, and will be held on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 12-2 p.m. at the Ocean City Center for the Arts, 502 94th St. bayside. Walk-ins are welcome, and pre-registration is available at OCart.org/classes.

A large Seascape Tapestry will be the end result of the project, created as individual small weavings. Felting is the art of rolling or pressing raw wool into shapes.

30 Ocean Pines PROGRESS December 2025

OPINION

December 2025 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 31

Reflecting, Reporting, and Giving Thanks: The Progress Shares Holiday Message to the Community

COMMENTARY

By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor

A

s another year draws to a close in Ocean Pines and throughout Worcester County, the staff of the Ocean Pines Progress extends our warmest wishes for a peaceful holiday season and a wonderful New Year to all of our readers, advertisers, and supporters.

This time of year provides an opportunity to pause, reflect, reconnect, and appreciate the many people who make our work meaningful, and we are deeply grateful for the continued trust and engagement of those who turn to the Progress as a vital source of information about our community.

For more than 20 years, we have been honored to bring you news from Ocean Pines and Worcester County, and it is your support—your dedication, your readership, and your encouragement—that allows us to remain an independent, reliable, and accurate voice for local news, civic updates, thoughtful analysis, and the stories that define daily life in this remarkable place.

Throughout the past year, we have covered moments of celebration, challenge, change, and growth, all of which reflect the unique character of Ocean Pines and the sense of connection that binds neighbors together. We have reported on local government decisions, community events, long-term planning initiatives, fiscal debates, infrastructure improvements, and the many achievements of individuals, businesses, and organizations that contribute to the area’s vitality.

Each story, whether large or small, represents an effort to serve a community that values transparency, clarity, and accuracy. None of this work

would be possible without the readers who open each issue, the advertisers who partner with us to reach this engaged audience, and the supporters who understand the importance of a strong, independent local newspaper. Your involvement, in every form, allows the Progress to continue our mission of providing journalism that informs, inspires, and strengthens the bonds within our community.

As we prepare to enter a new year, we are reminded that local journalism thrives only when it is anchored in trust. Trust is built through consistency, fairness, and a commitment to delivering news that is timely, factual, unbiased, and relevant. It comes from listening closely to what matters to the people who live and work here, and from ensuring that all voices have the opportunity to be heard. We are proud of our longstanding reputation for clarity, depth, and accuracy, and we remain committed to upholding those standards in every edition we publish. Whether reporting on policy decisions that affect property owners, highlighting community events that bring neighbors together, or documenting milestones that shape our shared history, we approach each story with the responsibility it deserves.

We also recognize that the heart of Ocean

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.

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Rota L. Knott pinesprogress@gmail.com 443-880-3953

ADVERTISING SALES Frank Bottone frankbottone@gmail.com 410-430-3660

CONTRIBUTING WRITER David Bohenick dbohenick2003@gmail.com

Send your community news releases, letters to the editor, and upcoming events information to us at: pinesprogress@gmail.com

Follow us on Facebook for news and community updates all month!

Pines and Worcester County lies not only in government meetings or major events but in the everyday moments of kindness, creativity, and community spirit that define life here. From volunteer efforts and neighborhood initiatives to anniversaries, celebrations, and the accomplishments of residents young and old, the stories we tell are ultimately stories about people. The resilience, generosity, and pride of this community continue to inspire us, and we look forward to bringing forward more of those stories in the coming year.

Your willingness to share your experiences, photos, perspectives, and news tips helps enrich the fabric of our reporting.

To our advertisers, we extend a special note of gratitude. Your partnership is essential not only to the sustainability of the Progress but to the economic vitality of our community. Through your support, you help ensure that local businesses remain visible and connected to residents who value quality services, trusted professionals, and the opportunity to shop local. Your investment in our publication strengthens the entire region by allowing us to continue producing journalism that informs and engages while also helping you reach an active and loyal readership. We are proud to serve as a platform where community businesses and community members come together.

To our readers, thank you for making the Progress a meaningful part of your monthly routine.

Whether you explore each issue in print, follow updates online, share articles with friends, or simply keep a copy on your table as a reminder of what’s happening around town, you play a crucial role in ensuring that local journalism remains strong. Your questions, comments, and conversations help guide our coverage, shape our priorities, and remind us of the importance of maintaining an open dialogue with those we serve.

To our supporters, including those who offer encouragement, guidance, expertise, or simply a kind word, we extend our heartfelt appreciation.

Your belief in the value of local reporting motivates us to keep asking questions, keep digging into issues that matter, and keep sharing stories that reflect the character and complexities of the place we call home.

As we celebrate the holiday season, we wish you days filled with warmth, comfort, and time spent with the people who matter most. May the New Year bring opportunities for growth, moments of joy, and a renewed sense of connection within our community. We look forward to continuing our work in 2026 with the same dedication and integrity that have guided us for more than two decades, and we are excited for the stories yet to unfold. Thank you for being part of the Progress family, for welcoming us into your homes, for supporting our mission, and for making Ocean Pines and Worcester County a community rich in stories worth telling. From all of us at the Ocean Pines Progress, Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year.

32 Ocean Pines PROGRESS December 2025

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