New golf clubhouse could still open in April, says Viola Lost in all the pervasive focus on the Corona virus and the Ocean Pines Association’s responses to government edicts to shutter operations is the fact that work has been continuing on the new golf clubhouse, with the possibility that the building will be completed and available for a soft opening in April. That, of course, depends on whether the contractor, Whayland Construction, continues to send crews to work on the project, General Manager John Viola said. ~Page 7
County officials pitch golf course irrigation Worcester County officials, during a town hall meeting on March 12, made a sales pitch for a proposal to begin using highly treated effluent to spray irrigate the Ocean Pines golf course. Officials underscored that no decisions have yet been made, but said $25,000 for a feasibility study is in the proposed Ocean Pines Water and Wastewater District budget. ~ Page 15
Yacht Club stays open for deliveries five days a week With mandated restaurant closings statewide because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Ocean Pines Yacht Club has moved to delivery only, effective immediately, of food, beer and wine. Until further notice, the restaurant will be open for delivery each Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, from 4-8 p.m., and Saturday, from noon to 8 p.m. Calls to the Yacht Club may be made beginning a half hour before the delivery hours. ~Page 5
March 2020
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THE OCEAN PINES JOURNAL OF NEWS & COMMENTARY
COVER STORY
OPA battles Corona outbreak with partial facility closures Golf course remains open; Yacht Club offering free delivery of food, beer and wine; administration building, indoor pool, community center closed to membership By TOM STAUSS Publisher he week of March 15, 2020, and the weeks that follow, will be remembered as a time when Ocean Pines faced an unexpected calamity known as the Carona virus or Covid-19. The outbreak and government’s response to it closed down most of the facilities operated by the Ocean Pines Association to its membership. Nothing like this has ever happened in the 50-year history of Ocean Pines. Among the closures were the Sports Core indoor pool and all activities in the Community Center managed by the Parks and Recreation Department. By mid-week the Administration Building’s front desk operations were also closed, with property owners advised to drop off their assessments in a drop-box in the entrance foyer or pay by phone at 410-641-7717. There were exceptions. The golf course remained open, with flagsticks removed and carts and rakes wiped down frequently. While closed to sit-down dining, in conformance to a statewide ban announced by Governor Larry Hogan, the Yacht Club operated by the Matt Ortt Companies began offering free delivery of food and wine Wednesday through Sunday. No one knows how long the statewide closure of restaurants, fitness centers, spas and theaters will last. There have been some immediate casualties in the form of layoffs: hourly workers employed by the OPA such as lifeguards and attendants at the Sports Core indoor pool and wait and kitchen staff at the Yacht Club restaurant. The longer-term damage depends on when the moratorium on a wide swath of the state’s To Page 6
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BERLIN i.g. Burton www.igburton.com 10420 Old Ocean City Blvd, Berlin, MD 410.641.0444
Board considering deadline extension for assessment payments By TOM STAUSS Publisher he Board of Directors conducted a closed session after the open segment of a special meeting March 20 to discuss various options for providing relief to Ocean Pines Association members adversely affected financially by the Corona virus pandemic. Perhaps the most likely of the options is a property assessment extension beyond the May 1 due date, the Progress has learned. Currently, the policy is to assess penalties and interest on June 1 if a property owner hasn’t paid the assessment by then. The federal government has announced a threemonth extension of the federal income tax filing and payment deadline from April 15 to July 15. That was said to be the inspiration behind the idea to extend the assessment payment deadline in Ocean Pines. The federal government is also waiving interest and penalties for taxpayers who take advantage of the extension and file their returns and pay taxes owed by July 15. A three-month extension for payment of the OPA lot assessment would take the deadline from May To Page 6
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