Issuu

October 2026

issuu.com/oceanpinesprogress p g prog

District 5 Race Tops Contests in General Election

A JOURNAL OF NEWS & LIFESTYLES FOR NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY

Peck’s White Horse Boat Ramp Study Proposal Gets No Traction With Board By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor proposal by returning Ocean Pines Association Director Amy Peck to study use of the White Horse Park boat ramp and create a work group to address overcrowding, parking and increased use by non-residents got little traction from the Board of Directors on Sept. 26. Peck brought the long-standing issue before the Board during its discussion agenda, proposing the creation of an ad hoc work group to evaluate conditions at the ramp and recommend operational changes. Her proposal included consideration of a placard or sticker system, improved parking enforcement and clearer towing protocols. But after hearing from several directors and General Manager John Viola about the history of the issue,

the cost of additional enforcement and the availability of previous studies, the Board took no action to establish the work group. Peck, who previously served a one-year appointed term on the Board in 2021 and has returned as an elected director, said she believes the issue deserves attention before conditions become more difficult and expensive to address. “This isn’t a new issue,” Peck acknowledged during the discussion. But she said the purpose of her proposal was not simply to respond to current congestion. “The proposal isn’t just about today’s overcrowding,” she said. “It’s about planning for the increased demand we know is coming and the challenges then will become significantly more difficult and costly to address.” Peck said the White Horse Park

ramp experiences significant congestion during peak boating seasons, with boat trailers sometimes parked outside designated areas and traffic flow becoming difficult or unsafe. She also said residents have raised concerns about blocked access and the increasing number of non-residents using the facility. Her proposal called for an ad hoc committee to evaluate the current conditions, review how other communities manage similar boat ramps and develop recommendations for access controls, signage, enforcement, towing procedures and communication. One option would be a placard or sticker system that would allow authorized users to be identified quickly. Peck suggested that placards or stickers could potentially be sold to non-residents, generating revenue

HUNGRY? @ oe , [@ o G Á Go¤ o G Á Go¤

To Page 3

Election Day, set on Nov. 3 this year, is fast approaching and Worcester County residents will have the ability to finalize their statewide and local candidates vying for various elected positions. The Ocean Pines District (District 5) is the only district where the Worcester County Commissioner seat is still up for grabs in the General Election. ~ Page 9

TidalHealth’s Mammography Goes Mobile Having a new, bright pink Mammography Mobile Unit in the community, offering breast cancer screenings is “absolutely beautiful,” Kathryn Fiddler, vice president of population health at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury, said. ~ Page 24

Resource Ofﬁcer Builds Bonds with SES Students So popular is Showell Elementary’s school resource officer, that Worcester County Sheriff Matt Crisafulli plans to keep her exactly where she is. ~ Page 26

2 Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2026

COVER STORY

October 2026 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 3

Boat ramp From Page 1

that could help offset maintenance costs associated with the ramp. The committee also could examine the cost of any proposed changes, their operational impact and a potential timeline for implementation, she said. The proposal immediately prompted questions about whether the association has already examined the problem. Director Stewart Lakernick asked General Manager Viola, “Didn’t we do this already?” Viola said the issue has been discussed repeatedly over the years. “Yes, this has been around, as I’ve mentioned, probably 20, 25 years,” Viola said. He recalled that the issue came up repeatedly when he was involved with the association’s Budget and Finance Committee. “It came up every year,” he said. “They wanted to put a gate and every year it was shot down that they felt it wasn’t feasible, it was too expensive and wasn’t totally sure if it actually would make it better.” Viola said that when he first joined Ocean Pines management approximately eight years ago, he was

aware of concerns about the ramp and had staff monitor the situation. “We did go down. We did monitor it,” he said. At that time, management did not believe additional measures were necessary, Viola said, adding that he had not received similar complaints during the subsequent seven or eight years. “That doesn’t mean it’s not happening,” he said. Viola said management would work with an ad hoc work group if the Board chose to create one. But he also cautioned that additional monitoring during peak periods would require staff time and money. The association’s proposed budget does not include funding specifically for monitoring the boat ramp, he said. Monitoring the boat ramp is not in the proposed budget that he is working on, Viola said. “But I’m certainly open to it if that’s what [the Board] feels is necessary.” Viola said he has not been at the ramp every day and could devote resources to the issue if directed by the Board, but emphasized that doing so would come with a cost. OPA President Jeff Heavner

MARONICK

To Page 5

Criminal Defense Lawyers The Lawyers Locals use

• Criminal Offenses • DUIs • Traffic Offenses • Open Containers • Fake IDs • Special Event Zone Citations Thomas J. Maronick Jr

• Bail Reviews • Protective Orders

Progress Staff photo

The boat ramp in White Horse Park.

4 Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2026

23(1 DAILY OPEN '$,/<

11021 NICHOLAS LANE OCEAN PINES, MD 410-208-4260

+$33< +285 HAPPY HOUR '$,/< DAILY 3 72 TO 6 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

FOR SPECIALS, EVENTS, AND MORE!

MONDAY TRIVIA 6 TO 8 PM TUESDAY BINGO 6 TO 8 PM WEDNESDAY KARAOKE 7 TO 9 PM

GAME G AME D DAY AY S SPECIALS PECIALS

ALL A LL DAY DAY HAPPY HAPPY HOUR HOUR $11 W $ WINGS INGS $2 $2 HOT HOT DOGS DOGS

$10 $ 10 CHEESESTEAKS CHEESESTEAKS $ $12 12 P PITCHERS ITCHERS AND AND MORE! MORE!

LIVE MUSIC

THE HE M MIXX IXX SATURDAY T 10/24 TO 10 PM 7 T O 1 0 P M FRIDAY 10/30 1 0/30

BREATH B REATH O OF F F FRESH RESH A AIR IR COSTUME PARTY TO 10 C OSTUME P ARTY 8 T O 1 0

COVER STORY Boat ramp From Page 3

also questioned whether additional study was warranted. “We’ve studied this before,” Heavner said, arguing that the costs associated with a new effort could be substantial relative to the potential benefit. “The costs are high for a small incremental improvement,” he said. “It’s called mission creep.” Heavner said the OPA already faces major expenditures and competing priorities. “We have generational expenditures going out this year and we’re focused on accomplishing that, and this will just distract that,” he said. Director John Latham said some of the information Peck was seeking may already exist within the association. “The Marine Activities Committee did look at this and we could actually resurrect some of that information because they did do some work probably a couple, three or four years ago about it,” Latham said. Latham also said the problem at White Horse is not unique within Ocean Pines. He lives in Marina Village near the Mumford’s Landing boat ramp and said similar problems occur there during the summer.

October 2026 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 5 “There’s been conversation about a gate there or a sticker system,” he said. But Latham said the biggest question surrounding any access-control system is not necessarily how to create it, but who would enforce it. Peck’s proposal specifically called for “consistent enforcement,” Latham noted. “Who’s going to do it?” he asked. Latham said a sticker or placard system could be developed, but someone would have to administer it and monitor the ramp. Residents already complain about vehicles and trailers at the ramp based on their license plates, he said. “Folks complain. They walk around and send me pictures and say, ‘Well, this is a Delaware tag. This is a Pennsylvania tag. This is New York,’” Latham said. But an out-of-state license plate does not necessarily mean the person is a non-resident of Ocean Pines, he pointed out. “Guess what? They live in this community too,” he said. Latham questioned whether the Ocean Pines Police Department should be tasked with checking vehicles for placards. “I personally don’t believe that a use of our police department looking

for stickers on a car is a great use of our resources,” he said, while acknowledging that others might disagree. He said the issue has been discussed for roughly 15 years and that Ocean Pines could probably develop a solution, but “it would just be costly.” Director Rick Farr similarly focused on the staffing implications. “When we talk about resources, we’re talking about staff,” Farr said. “And when we talk about staff, we’re talking dollars.” Farr said he did not believe hiring someone to manage a placard system or patrol the ramp to determine which users were residents would be an appropriate use of association resources at this time. “Yes, it does get busy,” he said. “I just don’t think that this is something that we need to entertain, especially if we’re going to have additional exposure and hiring more personnel to manage or count placards.” Farr acknowledged the concerns about trailers and vehicles parking along roads when the ramp area becomes crowded. “I understand it does get busy and it overcrowds and it gets residents upset if there are

trailers or cars that are parked on the side of the road,” he said. But with the association already facing a tight budget, he said the proposal was not a priority. “At this moment in time, I don’t think it’s something that we need to have at this moment, especially when we’re talking adding resources to a very, very tight budget already,” Farr said. Peck responded by emphasizing that she was not proposing that the Ocean Pines Police Department routinely patrol the ramp or that the association immediately spend money on a new system. Instead, she said, the proposed committee could investigate the problem and determine whether relatively simple measures could address it. Peck said she believes the situation is likely to become more challenging because of broader changes occurring on the Eastern Shore. She pointed to Worcester County’s 2026 comprehensive plan, which she said recognizes a significant geographic divide in water traffic and identifies waterways north of Assateague Road as experiencing substantial bottlenecks and crowding. “White Horse Park is at the heart of this zone and we are bearing the To Page 7

LO YOUR LOVE BATHROOM BA ATHROOM AGAIN Fall in lov love e wit with th your bathroom this September!

BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION NOW

410-543-23 410-543-2324 324 www.peninsulabath.com www.penins sulabath.c com 36893 Bi State Blvd. Delmar, DE 19940

6 Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2026

OCEAN PINES

October 2026 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 7

Boat ramp From Page 5

brunt of it,” Peck said. “I do walk down there every weekend and I see the problems.” Peck also raised concerns about what she described as commercial spillover from other public boat ramps. She said county officials have been discussing restrictions involving commercial charters, bow-fishing guides and boat repair businesses using public ramps. As restrictions increase at some public facilities, she said, boaters may seek alternatives that are less regulated. “As the county tightens regulations and public ramps are becoming more restricted, recreational boaters are actively seeking out unmonitored alternatives, and unfortunately, White Horse Park is at the top of their list,” Peck said. She also pointed to development and population growth in nearby Delaware as another factor that could increase pressure on local waterways. “We have a massive, massive influx coming from Delaware,” Peck said. She argued that population growth in Delaware has increased demand for access to inland waterways and that boaters from com-

munities such as Selbyville and Frankford may look for nearby alternatives. “For a resident Delaware resident living in Selbyville or Frankford pulling their trailer, our unmonitored ramp offers a free gateway that our residents are paying to maintain,” she said. Peck also cited Maryland’s 60day reciprocity provisions for out-ofstate boaters as a factor she believes contributes to the issue. She said some Maryland counties have begun taking steps to charge for access to their waterways. Recently, Queen Anne’s and Kent counties started charging a $75 annual landing permit, she said. “So, I think that the problem is just going to get worse.” Peck suggested that clear signage and a towing policy could provide a relatively inexpensive deterrent. She pointed to the association’s experience with special parking at the Yacht Club, where a towing company has been used to enforce parking restrictions. “I guarantee with signage your car could be towed,” Peck said. “It’s only going to take a couple cars with trailers towed and the word’s going to get out there, and the problem will solve itself very quickly.”

Touch of Italy Creates New Facebook Pages Following Recent Hack By DAVID BOHENICK Contributing Writer

he Touch of Italy Hospitality Group was forced to make five new business pages following an incident in September where numerous pages belonging to the company were compromised by unauthorized individuals. Brian Bishop, marketing director of Touch of Italy Hospitality Group, confirmed in an email to the Progress that five new Facebook pages brandishing the names and likenesses of the company’s properties are authentic. Despite efforts to regain its social media accounts, Bishop said the company remained unsuccessful after two weeks and changed its course to getting the compromised pages removed. “We have filed with the Maryland OAG [Office of Attorney General], the FTC [Federal Trade Commission], and submitted an IC3.gov (Internet Crime Complaint Center) report, as well as opening cases with Meta Verified,” Bishop wrote via email on Oct. 3. “As of now we have not been able to regain control of our business pages.” “We made the decision to start fresh,

while we work to get the stolen pages taken down.” According to information retrieved from Facebook, the account belonging to Touch of Italy in Ocean City had more than 10,000 followers before its compromise. Now, the most followed account among their properties is the page for the Ocean Pines Yacht Club with less than 500 followers as of Oct. 4. Touch of Italy management alerted the Delmarva public of its compromise on Sept. 14 in a press release, announcing unauthorized individuals were using the business pages to post inflammatory content outside of management’s administrative control. They encouraged members of the community not to interact, engage with or share any of the content originating from the affected pages and recommended online users exercise caution when opening messages, links and any solicitation attempts from suspicious or likely-compromised accounts. “Touch of Italy Hospitality Group wants to make absolutely clear that this content was not created, authorized, endorsed, or approved by the company,” the Sept. 14 press release announced. To Page 9

Berlin Liquor Store COLD & WARM BEER

! LARGEST LIQUOR STORE IN OC AREA

Delmarva Gas Appliance Repair, LLC Gas Fireplaces, Space Heaters, Tank & Tankless Water Heaters Serviced & Repaired

302-676-1075 Owner John Webb Licensed & Insured

BEER • LIQUOR • WINE Every Thursday & Sunday Senior Citizens Get

10% OFF Liquor & Wine

10% OFF Liquor & Wine (On Orders of $50 or More)

10% OFF ALL CASES OF WINE, 7 DAYS A WEEK

10818 Ocean Gateway, Berlin, MD 21811 • 410-973-2873 .PO 8FE BN QN 5IVST 4BU BN QN 4VO BN QN

8 Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2026

OCEAN PINES

October 2026 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 9

District 5 Commissioner Race Highlights 2026 General Election By DAVID BOHENICK Contributing Writer lection Day, set on Nov. 3 this year, is fast approaching and Worcester County residents will have the ability to finalize their statewide and local candidates vying for various elected positions.

District 5 Commissioner Race The Ocean Pines District (District 5) is the only district where the Worcester County Commissioner

Touch of Italy From Page 7 “It does not reflect the views, opinions, or values of Touch of Italy Hospitality Group, its management, staff, or employees.” “We want our community to know unequivocally that these posts are not coming from us,” an unnamed Touch of Italy representative shared in the same press release. “We are working diligently to resolve the situation and regain control of our pages as quickly as possible.” Bishop shared the links for the new restaurant pages, including a page for each Touch of Italy location, the Yacht

seat is still up for grabs in the General Election. The options for voters are Democratic candidate Vicky Wallace and Republican candidate Joe Schanno, who bested incumbent Commissioner Chip Bertino by 31 votes in this summer’s primary election. Since the neck-in-neck contest a couple months ago, Schanno, a community banker, said he hasn’t been taking his campaign for granted and continues to remain active in the community. Not only is he still

hosting events and door-knocking initiatives, Schanno said, but he is approaching the county’s lone commissioner race with the same mindset he had during the primary election. “I take the whole race seriously,” Schanno said. “The people of Ocean Pines told me they wanted change, and I want to keep earning their vote every day.” While Schanno’s platform consists of various local issues from opposing wind farms to ensuring prop-

Club in Ocean Pines where Touch of Italy workers manage and provide food and beverage operations, and the brand’s “exclusive, ticketed-only dining venue” called The Chef ’s Table, in Rehoboth Beach. The first recorded activity of every new page begins on Sept. 30, except for the account belonging to the Yacht Club which first records activity on Sept. 24. If a community member is unsure about an account’s authenticity, Touch of Italy in Ocean City can be contacted during their business hours 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 410-524-5252, or by emailing info@touchofitaly.com.

Residents can also still access their website: https://touchofitalyoceancity. com/#contact_v3 New Official Business Pages Belonging to Touch of Italy: Ocean Pines Yacht Club - https:// www.facebook.com/YachtClubOceanPines Touch of Italy (Ocean City) - https:// www.facebook.com/TOIOceanCity/ Touch of Italy (Rehoboth) - https:// www.facebook.com/TOIRehoboth Touch of Italy (Lewes) - https://www. facebook.com/TOILewes/ The Chef ’s Table (Rehoboth) - https:// www.facebook.com/TheChefsTableDE

DELMARVA’S CHOICE FOR

HOME REMODELING PROTECTING HOMES FOR 25 YEARS

ROOFING - SIDING - WINDOWS - DOORS GUTTERS - GUTTER HELMET & MORE

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR

FREE QUOTE *ASK ABOUT OUR MULTI PROJECT DISCOUNT!

(410) 546 - 1190 www.SpicerBros.com w ww ww.SpicerBro os.com

er funding and resources for county infrastructure, law enforcement and educational systems, he shared that one of his most important focuses inspired him to begin his whole campaign: the Ocean Pines water and wastewater management. He wants to ensure the water and wastewater rates are calculated “correctly” and that residents of Ocean Pines aren’t overpaying for their services in an effort to resolve “other district’s shortcomings,” he said. Schanno serves as a member of the Worcester County Economic Development Board and as vice president for community-assistance organization Worcester GOLD (Giving Other Lives Dignity). Schanno, an Eagle Scout, is also an outdoor recreation enthusiast, previously serving as special assistant to the secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and is the current committee chair for Scouting America Troop #261. He is also involved with local social group Bearded Men’s Society of Ocean City, which supports fundraisers and shelters around the community. To Page 11

10 Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2026

Sales 10422 Racetrack Rd Berlin, MD 21811 443-513-4176 sales@racetrackoc.com

$25 Voucher

$25 off Car or Boat Detail

Racetrack Marine SALES, SERVICE, PARTS, STORAGE, DETAILING, BOTTOM PAINTING, TRAILER REPAIRS, SHRINK WRAP, WINTERIZATION, PICK UP & DELIVERY, BROKER BOATS.

Service 10438 Racetrack Rd Berlin, MD 21811 410-641-5204 racetrackmarine@yahoo.com

OCEAN PINES Election From Page 9

Wallace decided to run for the commissioner seat after regularly attending and participating in school board meetings. Her support for the county’s school system and its budget, along with her belief that the commissioners “needed another voice” gave her the encouragement to run. “I wish all districts [in the county] had a democratic component but they don’t,” Wallace said. “As much as we encourage people to get out there and sign up to run for office, it’s a big decision, and I am not sure if the fact we don’t have competition in those districts means people are happy with what they are getting.” “I think I have something to offer and I hope the voters give me a chance to show that.” Wallace is also worried about county infrastructure, believing ‘the area needs to grow but it needs the proper infrastructure to do so,’ she said. She referenced the ongoing increase of traffic in the area, and cited the opening of the Ocean Downs Casino in 2011 to emphasize the longterm nature of her concern. She also voiced disapproval of the recently proposed data center along Route

October 2026 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 11 611, claiming the facilities had no plans to operate on an independent water system and has little-to-no benefit on the local job market. Previously a president and vice president, Wallace is still involved with the local Democratic Women’s Club. She’s also a treasurer and past president of the Democratic Club of Worcester County, and is currently an elected representative for the Democratic Central Committee of Worcester County, which she describes as an organization providing financial and social support for local democratic candidates. Wallace openly expressed her appreciation for the support her own campaign received from club members, as well as residents she met through events and door-knocking. Statewide and Local Elections Current Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller are competing to hold onto their positions against Republican candidates Dan Cox and Rob Krop, respectively. Andy Ellis and Owen Silverman Andrews are representing the Green Party in the same contest, while Cathy White and Cathy Parker of the Working Class Party are the final options for governor and lieutenant governor.

Democratic candidates Anthony G. Brown, acting as attorney general for 4 years, and Comptroller Brooke Lieberman are on the ballot against James B. Rutledge, III. (R) and Sonya Dunn (R), respectively. Maryland’s first congressional district representative Andy Harris (R), who has represented the Eastern Shore area of the state since 2011, is defending his position from Dan Schwartz (D) after both prevailing in the primary election. Mary Beth Carozza (R), who has served as a state senator for District 38 since 2019 and as a representative of the district since 2015, is facing Lino V. Cresotti in this year’s general election after neither endured any competition during the primary. Current delegate for District 38C Wayne Hartman (R) is now expected to reassume his position after running for reelection. His competitor, Laurie Anne Brittingham, will no longer compete in the general election after her filing status was “declined” on Aug. 8, according to Maryland.gov’s 2026 general candidates’ page. District 38A, which spans from Berlin to Smith Island within Somerset County, is now the only house

delegate position in contention in Worcester County. Shelley Johnson (D) and C. L. Marshall, III (R) are both competing for their first term after current delegate Kevin Anderson (R) is not running for reelection. Four candidates are vying for three available seats as sitting judges in the Worcester County Orphans’ Court, and are listed by the order provided on elections.maryland.gov’s sample general election ballot: Martin A. Radinsky, Mary F. Burgess, Cheryl K. Jacobs, and John Simms, III. Radinsky is the only Democratic candidate of the four options, while Jacobs is the only candidate currently serving as a judge. This is the only race in the election where Worcester County voters will be able to select up to three candidates per ballot instead of one. Two non-partisan races regarding the Board of Education are ongoing in Worcester County, with Kathy Cater and Jackie Cutlip’s county district 6 contest reaching ballots in Ocean Pines. Caroline H. Bloxom and Glen Ennis face-off in the county’s other board of education race held in the county’s first district, represented by Commissioner Caryn Abbott, and located in southwest Worcester.

12 Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2026

N A C ! U S YO ON U T N U O C

Royal Plus Services

OCEAN PINES

October 2026 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 13

Board Declines to Pursue Uniform Amenity Veriﬁcation Process By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor espite Director Amy Peck’s concerns about inconsistent verification of Ocean Pines property owners at association amenities, a majority of Board members said Sept. 26 that they do not believe there is a significant problem with nonresidents receiving resident rates or staff failing to check membership cards. Peck proposed a uniform policy requiring members to present a valid membership card or other Board-approved identification to receive resident rates at all OPA amenities. Other directors characterized the issue as primarily an operational or staff-training matter rather than one requiring a new Board policy. Peck said the proposal followed a July 2026 OPA reminder that property owners must present their membership card to receive the resident golf rate and that at least one member of each group must be a property owner. She said the requirement should be applied consistently across all OPA amenities. The policy should be implemented consistently across all OPA amenities to ensure proper verification of residency and appropriate application of resident rates, Peck said. According to Peck, golf operations require membership cards for resident rates, while other facilities may rely on an honor system or verbal identification of an Ocean Pines address. She said a uniform process would promote fairness for property owners who pay annual assessments and provide consistency for members, guests and staff. It also could give OPA better information about amenity usage for budgeting and

planning. Peck cited the pools as an example, saying some people simply identify themselves as residents and receive the resident rate without showing a membership card. At especially at the pools, people just come and they say they are a resident, Peck said. “Sometimes the front desk person might ask their address. Oftentimes they’re not. They just say resident and they’re given the resident rate.” Peck said the concern was heightened by capacity problems during the 2026 summer season, when residents with swim memberships were unable to enter pools after they reached capacity. “I just think it makes sense that we advertise you should have your membership card,” she said. That way front desk staff isn’t put in an awkward position, she said. Director John Latham questioned whether there was a significant problem with verification. “When owners are going to our amenities, we have our identification card,” Latham said. “So are you suggesting that if someone just says, ‘I live here in Ocean Pines,’ we give them a rate and they don’t show any ID?” Director Stewart Lakernick also said he is routinely asked to show his membership card and questioned whether enforcement differed among amenities. Director Monica Rakowski said she would like to see a sample policy, including costs and how staff would handle disputes, before considering further action. Peck said she raised the issue in September so it could be addressed during the offseason and potentially implemented before Memorial Day.

Latham said the issue was more about staff training than policy. “I think this is more of a training issue,” he said. “I’m not quite sure a policy is going to make that happen.” General Manager John Viola said OPA already has a structure and policy governing resident rates but acknowledged that enforcement can be difficult during busy periods. He said management would reinforce existing requirements through staff education and signage, including reminders for visitors to have

their cards ready. Viola said a spot check at the Yacht Club Pool found eight people who did not own homes in Ocean Pines among those using the facility that day. Lakernick asked whether that meant approximately 98 percent of pool users were Ocean Pines residents. “Correct,” Viola said, while noting the figure was based on a single check and that OPA does not conduct such checks every day.

Elevate

Your Outdoor Living Space with Beautiful, Low Maintenance, and Environmentally Sustainable Timbertech Decking available at Adkins Company

IN-STOCK Timbertech Decking in Slate Gray & Brownstone 12’, 16’ and 20’ lengths

3 Harrison Avenue Berlin, MD 21811 410-641-2200

Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:30pm • Closed Sat & Sun

www.adkinscompany.com

14 Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2026

äěäÙŅÁőĆĢú ̣̞ ¯äÁŅŉ ĆĢ ŖŉĆĢäŉŉ a# H ' ` Ha' H ¯g Zg Z Dg H·'# H#'© ' g #' Z' ͥ #gaΔ ;g <' ©' ' Z g ¯g Dg H·'# ·HWH ` Ha' #' Z' DH ͠

8&=147 74&) &((42&( :& ;;; &3)5.5*72&7.3* 3*8

October 2026 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 15

5IFSF JT OP CFUUFS UJNF UIBO OPX UP HFU ZPVS CPBU SFBEZ GPS ZFBST PG BEWFOUVSF PO UIF XBWFT XJUI B OFX 4V[VLJ PVUCPBSE PS TV[VLJ TFSWJDF BU TBOEQJQFS NBSJOFǢ 5BZMPS 3PBE "DDPNBD 7" XXX TBOEQJQFSNBSJOF OFU

16 Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2026

October 2026 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 17

OCEAN PINES

Peck’s Hybrid Meeting Proposal Gets No Second By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor proposal to restore virtual public comment during Ocean Pines Association meetings received no support from the Board of Directors Sept. 26, when Director Amy Peck’s motion failed to receive a second. Peck proposed authorizing OPA members in good standing to provide public comments virtually through Microsoft Teams during Board meetings, committee meetings, annual meetings and town halls. The proposal would have maintained in-person meetings while giving property owners who cannot attend in person another way to participate in OPA governance. Under the motion, virtual comments would have been permitted according to procedures established and published by the Board. Peck said the purpose of the proposal was to expand member participation and engagement by reinstating hybrid public comment

opportunities. She cited part-time residents and working property owners who may face scheduling or travel limitations that make attending meetings in person difficult. “Ocean Pines Association membership includes numerous parttime and working property owners who face scheduling or travel constraints,” according to the background provided with the motion. The proposal also pointed to OPA’s experience with virtual meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Peck’s background information, the association successfully conducted virtual meetings during the pandemic and implemented hybrid public comment procedures in 2021 and 2022 without significant operational difficulties. Reinstating virtual public comment, Peck said in the proposal, would continue OPA’s commitment to accessible governance while allowing the Association to maintain its in-person meeting format. To Page 19

ATTENTION

WORCESTER COUNTY RESIDENTS ONLY!!!

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Saturday, 2FWREHU , 202 10 AM-2 PM Collections to be held at

&(175$/ /$1'),// &(175$/ 6,7( /$1( 1(:$5. 0'

Household Hazardous Waste Collection WHAT WILL BE ACCEPTED: Computers & Laptops (No Other Electronics) Gasoline • Gas/Oil Mixtures • Fuels • Acids Cleaners • Solvents • Automotive Fluids • Bleach Ammonia • Pool Chemicals • Pesticides Dark Room Supplies • CFL Light Bulbs • Batteries Insecticides • Herbicides • Oil-Based Paints Thinners • Turpentine • Wood Preservatives Wood Strippers • Etc. All of these materials will go to a HAZ MAT disposal site. Dispose of solidified water based paint in trash. (to solidify – add dirt, sand, kitty litter, mulch, etc.) THESE ITEMS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT &(175$/ /$1'),// &(175$/ 6,7( /$1( 1(:$5. 0' 2&72%(5 20 $0 30

WHAT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED:

! "##

$%&

! ())

$%&&

Explosives • Ammunition • Medical Waste Radioactive Materials • Picric Acid • Asbestos Televisions • TV Remotes • Keyboards Mouse • Printers • Modems • Scanners • Cables Misc. Computer Parts • VCR’s • CD Player’s Calculators • Cell Phones • Radios • Stereos CB Radios • Fax Machines • Misc. items

ELECTRONICS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

! " # $ # % &&' % $ " ! " # $ # % ((' %) & $ " *" )+ ! , -. / " - - / " 0 " /1 $ 0" " / 0 2 2 / " 0 3 / 45 * 5 /1 / $ *" 0 " 2 $ " ' " /1 $ / ' " " *" $ 2 $ +5 / / 0 " $ . $ $ ,*6 7 ' / 0 " " , 0 8 5" ! / , 0 9 0 / $ 3 : 6 : 0 2 " / ; # / # < / *" $ . $ $ =# $ ( ' # 0 2 < / / ## 2 > / 0 2 < / ! . , * $ 5 21 / ## $ < / / / . / 21 " 0 "

For more information on this event, Please call %RE .HHQDQ Recycling Manager 410-632-3177 Ext. 2405 or email at ENHHQDQ@co.worcester.md.us No Materials will be accepted from Business, Industrial or Commercial Sources.

18 Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2026

410-213-0119

12547 Ocean Gateway (next to Popeye’s) 8 am - 6 pm Monday through Friday 9 am - 5 pm Saturday and Sunday

URGENT CARE NO APPOINTMENTS - Just Walk In!

WHERE THE LOCALS GO

OPEN YEAR ROUND www.westocinjurycenter.com Joseph Crisanti, MD

Cynthia Randolph, PA-C

October 2026 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 19

OCEAN PINES

Pines Projects Advance, Stafﬁng Remains a Challenge pdates on the new South Fire Station, cell tower, and other ongoing projects were among the highlights presented by General Manager John Viola during his General Manager’s Report at the Sept. 26 Board Meeting. The status of the Fire Station is officially green, with construction beginning on Sept. 21. Completion is estimated to take 55-60 weeks and be complete by November/December 2027. Renovations at the Beach Club are also moving forward. Officials met with the Town of Ocean City on August 25 and are currently awaiting permits. OPA is also working with architects and engineers in this project. Final permits were received this month to begin construction on the

new cell tower, which will be located behind the golf maintenance building. Work is being completed with Milestone Towers, with an estimated completion date sometime in November 2026. Viola also presented two capital requests related to a Cured-in-Place Pipe project. The first request totaled $212,000 for liner installation by Pelican Underground, while the second totaled $50,000 for cofferdam installation by Fisher Marine Construction. The Board unanimously approved both requests. The Ocean Pines Golf Club hosted a successful Veterans Memorial Golf Tournament on September 16, with two additional tournaments scheduled this fall. The Pink Lady Tournament is set for Wednesday, Oct. 7, followed by the OPVFD Golf

St. Paul’s Holds Shred Day Event

Hybrid Meetings

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will hold its annual Community Shred Day on Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the church parking lot on 3 Church Street in Berlin. There is no fee. Just bring a nonperishable food item for the Spirit Kitchen.

The motion specifically called for virtual participation during four types of OPA gatherings: Board meetings, committee meetings, annual meetings and town halls. The proposal did not seek to replace in-person meetings with virtual meetings. Instead, it would have added a virtual option for members wishing to provide public comment while attending remotely. The Board did not take a vote on Peck’s proposal.

Anglers Club Meeting Scheduled The Ocean Pines Anglers Club will meet on Saturday, Oct. 10, 9:30 a.m. in the Ocean Pines Library. The speaker will be Adam Burtson, owner of the custom rod/repair shop BC Rods. Adam will discuss his techniques that ensure the quality of workmanship and talk about his approach to custom rod building and repairs. All are welcome.

Clubhouse Bar & Grille offering NFL specials Spend your Sundays at the Clubhouse Bar and Grille this football season. Start the day with the Clubhouse’s Brunch and Bloody Mary Bar, offered every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stick around for football and Sunday drink specials beginning at 1 p.m. Drink specials include $1 off draft beer, wine and rail drinks, excluding Dogfish Head products. Guests can also enjoy buckets with six cans for the price of five and $5 off pitchers. The Clubhouse will also feature rotating food specials each Sunday.

From Page 17

Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 1. Numerous potholes in Ocean Pines were filled by McNeil Paving during the month of August, including 10 locations on Ocean Parkway and 5 locations on side streets. Additional work has been completed over the last two years, per the request of the Bike and Pedestrian Coalition. Viola also provided an update on staffing levels across several Ocean Pines departments. Golf Maintenance is currently down three seasonal employees, one full-time employee, and one assistant superintendent, while Public Works is down five laborers. The Police Department currently has eight officers, compared with a recommended staffing level of 15.

One comparative compliance candidate is currently on board and is expected to officially start in November. One additional candidate is attending the police academy, while two others could enter the academy in January. The department is also receiving support from Worcester County. Work has also begun on the new Ocean Pines Association website, which is currently in the design phase. Staff members are meeting weekly with Northstar, with completion targeted for the end of December. Ocean Pines finished the month of August with $106,000 favorability to budget. The Year-to-Date financials show a favorability of $192,000.

Precious Paws Animal Hospital Full Service Veterinary Centers Providing Exceptional Care Monday through Saturday

John Maniatty, VMD • Ali Lovins, DVM • Justin Maniatty, VMD Fantasia Maniatty, DVM • Scott Hemenway, DVM OCEAN CITY, MD.

410.213.1170 OCEAN VIEW, DE.

302.539.2273

20 Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2026

LIFESTYLES

October 2026 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 21

Mobile Mammography Brings Screenings to Shore Women By PROGRESS STAFF aving a new, bright pink Mammography Mobile Unit in the community, offering breast cancer screenings in Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset and Dorchester counties in Maryland and Sussex County in Delaware, is “absolutely beautiful,” Kathryn Fiddler, vice president of population health at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury, said. “The technology is cutting edge. We have not had a mobile mammography unit available to women in many years. We haven’t had it to this level of quality and available in a long time. This is so helpful for women trying to figure out how to get a screening mammogram, when it comes to child care, missing work, transportation. “The goal is to make sure every woman has access to screening mammograms as well as to additional testing. We are hearing a lot of excitement from the public. People are asking, ‘How do I get an appointment?’ People who have gone on the unit said, ‘Super simple. Seamless.’ That’s the kind of care we want, easy and accessible,” she said. “I am honored to be part of a community that wanted to put this on the road and made sure we provide access to the community in a variety of different ways,” especially since there are rural areas in the four lower Maryland counties and slightly higher rate of breast cancer, and because cancer is often found at a later stage, said Fiddler, who is among those who manage the unit, which has been on the road since early July. About the size of a very large recreational vehicle, the mobile unit is available for women whether or not they have a primary physician or referral. Anyone can make an appointment and nobody is turned down for lack of insurance or inability to pay, but it isn’t available to men. “Men do need mammograms and are at risk, a much lower risk, for breast cancer,” Fiddler said. A screening mammogram is a routine x-ray to detect breast cancer in women with no symptoms. A diagnostic mammogram is used to investigate specific problems such as a new lump, nipple discharge or unusual area found on a prior screening. Screening mammograms are used for routine early detection even if the patient has no symptoms and

takes 10 to 15 minutes. The radiologist reads the images and patients receive letters with results within a few days. The mobile unit – which cost $1 million and was further supported by a $645,000 Maryland Community Health Resources Commission grant – has been stopping at “community locations including employer sites, community events, health fairs, TidalHealth locations, partner organization and areas where ac-

cess to preventative screening may be limited,” a TidalHealth news release states. To make an appointment, see www.tidalhealth.org The goal is to serve areas like Sussex County because while screenings are accessible in Lewes and Seaford, they aren’t as easy to find in the towns between “so we will go in neighborhoods where it is harder to get care,” Fiddler said. “We will go anywhere in Sussex,

to large employers, where people can’t easily take time off work to go get a mammogram. The same in Maryland, on the Lower Shore. Except for Berlin and Salisbury there is limited access on the Lower Shore so they have to drive half an hour or 45 minutes. “With this mobile unit, we will go into neighborhoods and work with health centers, with primary care offices, to figure out where there are To Page 22

410-543-4848 • 302-468-1811 MHIC #159659 • www.dryteckcrawlspace.com

Crawl Space Encapsulation • Antimocrobial Treatment • Sump Pumps • Crawl Space Insulation 818 Brown Street, Salisbury, MD. Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.- 4 p.m • Friday 8 a.m. - noon • Closed Saturday & Sunday

22 Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2026

LIFESTYLES Mammography From Page 21

TidalHealth’s mobile mammography unit.

gaps. We have been working with health departments in Delaware and Maryland to see exactly where there are gaps. It’s just one step. Identifying and getting women connected and having follow-up care. If we do have a test that is concerning, getting the next step very quickly for them. If they don’t have insurance we have a team that will help them with that. “We believe breast cancer is discovered at later stages because of lack of access to breast cancer screenings. Sometimes it’s hard to find access. “For a woman to have to drive to get a screening, to take three hours off work, get her kids to daycare. Sometimes they think, ‘If I have to do all that I’m not doing it because it’s just too much work,’” Fiddler said. “By bringing mammography services closer to where people live, work and gather, we are helping more people take an important step in detecting breast cancer early,” she said. The vivid unit – pink because that is the breast cancer awareness shade -- offers “lifesaving 3D mammograms directly into neighborhoods, workplaces and community gathering places,” the news release states, adding access to preventive care is “essential to improving the health of our community.” Jessica Hales, vice president and chief philanthropy officer and president of the TidalHealth Foundation, also quoted in the news release, described the unit as “a powerful reflection of what our community can accomplish together.” “Because of the generosity of our donors, we are able to bring critical screening services directly to our neighbors, helping to remove barriers and save lives through early detection,” she said. Kat Rodgers, director of community health initiatives at TidalHealth, added through partnerships with employers, community organizations and community health workers, “We are proactively connecting women with preventive care, helping them navigate challenges that may stand in the way of screening and ensuring they receive follow-up care when it is needed.” “This is a community health strategy designed to improve outcomes, not just increase screenings,” Rodgers said.

October 2026 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 23

LIFESTYLES

Fundraiser to Support Wig Program

air from the Heart,” a fundraiser to support providing wigs for cancer and other patients who have suffered hair loss, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Ocean Down Casino. The event is organized by Next Level Healing Hair, a Berlin nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals experiencing hair loss due to cancer or autoimmune conditions. The $50 ticket includes food, champagne, one complimentary beer or wine, and $10 in casino play. Risky Business, an energetic 1980s cover band, will provide live music. Guests may also participate in a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle. Michele Harrington, owner of Berlin’s Oh My Hair Salon, who founded Next Level Healing Hair, stressed the importance of the fundraiser. “Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those experiencing hair loss through no fault of their own,” she said. “Having a full head of hair can restore confidence, dignity, and hope when it’s needed most, and provide a positive attitude for those going through an extremely challenging time in their lives. Together, we can restore hope and confidence, one wig at a time.” Cancer therapies and other diagnoses can take a toll on the body not only physically but emotionally. Looking into a mirror and seeing clumps of hair falling out makes everything worse. Harrington’s goal is to alleviate some of that stigma. For Harrington, it was her sister’s cancer diagnosis that led her to establishing the nonprofit Next Level Healing Hair. The name Next Level comes from the private space Harrington occupies upstairs from her Berlin salon, where she and her staff meet with clients who are suffering hair loss due to cancer therapy and need their help in obtaining a natural-looking, custom-made wig. “Having access to a high-quality wig isn’t just about appearance,” Harrington continued. “It can restore a sense of normalcy, boost self-confidence, and help a person feel less defined by their illness.” Tickets are $50, now on sale at www.eventcreate.com/e/hair-fromthe-heart-2026 or by calling 443513-4461.

w} tw ɪ O':'U#w tZZNA'w AUw tAq}AZUw >ZOA# :A9}w

> OO Z9 9 T'tw ZU'ȭZ9ȭZU'w : T'ȭ w'# qA' 'w t t' 9AU#w ɪ TZt'

ZĨÐĊ Ǧ #řĮ ÐÐā ɳ ǠǡǢ :īåðÐăÌ qīāœřș ĊðĴ Ǧ ɳ '}> U ' >

#FUIBOZ4QPSUT$BSET1MVT DPN

0DU 8FE o 1. #3*/( :063 $"3%4 .",& 40.& 53"%&4 .&&5 05)&3 $0--&$5034

$ISJTUJBO $IVSDI PG #FUIBOZ #FBDI 5BCFSOBDMF %JOJOH )BMM

24 Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2026

LIFESTYLES

Showell’s Deputy Patti Builds Lifelong Bonds, Resources With Students By PROGRESS STAFF o popular is Showell Elementary’s school resource officer, that Worcester County Sheriff Matt Crisafulli plans to keep her exactly where she is. “That school, that is where she belongs and the kids there absolutely love her,” Crisafulli said about Deputy Patti Donaldson, retired after 27 years as a Maryland State Trooper and now happily keeping the school safe as she builds meaningful connections with the students. “I wanted this assignment because I love kids,” Donaldson told the Progress one recent afternoon as she led the way to a kindergarten class taught by Andrea Kominos. As she walked through the hall, a little boy in another classroom, standing by the doorway, waved at her and she called, “Hello.” “I have a good relationship with

Progress Staff Photo

Deputy Patti Donaldson, Showell Elementary’s school resource ofﬁcer, visiting a classroom.

them. I greet them. I hug them. There are fist bumps with both the boys and the girls,” she said, explaining she is in front with other school officials as children arrive every morning. “I say hello to everyone. Every one of them has to be important,” she said. “Deputy Patti Donaldson is renowned,” Crisafulli earlier told the Progress. “She has influenced so many people. She is out there every day, helping kids get off the bus, helping kids get out of the car. Those children who see Deputy Donaldson from the time they are in pre-K until they are in third grade, that is a lot of years. She has created lifelong relationships with a law enforcement officer,” the sheriff said. Donaldson is at the school early each morning, checking the doors, making sure the building is secure,

LIFESTYLES keeping an eye on cameras, walking through the halls. “And I have fun with the students. I love being with them. They talk to me. You know how kids are. They are so innocent and they blurt things out. “You never know what they’re going to say. One little girl, her father was here for a meeting and she told me, ‘My dad is here today.’ She was so excited. They just say whatever they are thinking. They crack you up. They are fascinated with everything I wear on my uniform. They look at everything,” Donaldson said, explaining in Worcester County there is one deputy in each public school. She has had special training to work in the school, including active shooter training, and said she is prepared “if it ever happened.” “It can happen anywhere but it doesn’t worry me. I am prepared and we have back up,” said Donaldson, the daughter of the late Denny Donaldson, a former homicide detective in Washington, D.C., who later represented Prince George’s County in the Maryland House of Delegates. Her mother, Gerri Donaldson, lives in Florida. Two of her brothers are also police officers. “No. 1 is keeping children safe,” Crisafulli said. “We have a school resource officer, one officer, in every public school in this county. They go through a lot of specialized training. They go through training to deal with people with special needs. There is a lot of deescalation training. It’s our responsibility to be on top of all the difference changes in society, changes in mental health, changes in human behavior. Our deputies have to have that specialized training. “My team has worked very diligently to stay ahead of the national trend and changes in behavior. Our school resource officers are phenomenal human beings. They are looked up to by the children in this county,” he said. That’s true in the classrooms and during recess, when Donaldson has gotten involved in games of kick ball or played softball with little ones. “They like how I can throw a football,” said Donaldson, a native of Prince George’s County and graduate of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. “They talk about her all the time,” Kominos said, standing in her cheerful classroom where, posted on the door, are the words, “You are responsible for the energy you bring

October 2026 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 25 into this space.” “They all want to run to her and say hi. She is like a friend to them. She makes them feel safe and she is always present in the building. She has come in and done lessons about community safety, about when to call 911,” Kominos said. In that classroom, students including 5-year-old Vivian Lewis, ran to Donaldson, offering her tastes of their snacks and telling her about their days, hobbies, little brothers and sisters, even a sore finger and announcing, “She’s my friend” and

“She gives me a hug every morning.” “Knowing she is here makes the kids feel better,” Kominos said. “It makes me feel better, too.” “To do this job, you have to love kids. You have to be patient and have a good personality. They will pretty much listen to me, all ages, no matter what I tell them. I might tell them to slow down, not to run, but I don’t bark orders at them,” Donaldson said. In her office, Donaldson keeps a treasure – a framed picture of little Emma Trimper, dressed like a

school resource officer, complete with blue shirt, badge, cap and sunglasses, standing beside a beaming Donaldson, also in uniform, cap and sunglasses. “I was surprised. Her mom framed this picture for me,” she said, smiling at it. “This is a great school. The people are great and the teamwork,” she said about Showell, where about 650 students are in pre-kindergarten through fourth grades. “I love it here. I love to come to work every day.”

410-208-0707 Limited Seating Indoors

Hours Wed - Sun 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. Closed Mon & Tues

We Now Have Panini Sandwiches BREAKFAST SANDWICHES

LUNCH SANDWICHES

Served on Bagel, Roll or Bread (White, Wheat or Rye Croissant or a Wrap Egg & Cheese ..................................… $7.55 Meat, Egg & Cheese …............................ $8.95 Your choice of Bacon, Sausage, Ham, Turkey Sausage,Ham, Taylor Ham or Morning Star Vegetarian Sausage

Served on Bagel, Roll, Sliced Bread, Croissant or a Wrap Includes a Side of Macaroni Salad Ham …………............................….……. $9.45 Turkey ………...................................….. $9.95 Roast Beef …..................................…… $10.45 Cappicola …….................................….. $9.45 Genoa Salami …................................… $9.45 Italian Combo …...........................…… $10.45 (Roast Beef, Cappicola, Salami and Provolone) Roast Beef & Turkey Combo ..............….. $10.45 Liverwurst …...............................……… $7.95 Bologna ................................................. $7.95 Chicken Salad ...................................... $10.50 Egg Salad ….............................………… $8.45 Tuna Salad ………..........................…... $10.25 Whiteﬁsh Salad ….................………… $10.50 Grilled Cheese ……........................……. $7.25 Add to any sandwich Cheese $1.50 • Avacado $.80

PLATTERS & OMELETS Two Eggs Any Way with Meat ............. $7.80 Your choice of Bacon, Sausage, Ham, Turkey Sausage,Ham, Taylor Ham or Morning Star Vegetarian Sausage Cheese Omelet .................................. $8.75 Veggie Omelet …................................... $9.50 (green peppers, onions, tomatoes, carrots, celery)

Quiche ................................................... $6.25

BAGELS WITH ... Bagel with Butter ...….......................... $2.90 Bagel with Cream Cheese ….............. $4.50 Bagel with Cream Cheese and Jelly ..... $4.50 Bagel with Peanut Butter and Jelly ..... $5.25 Cinnamon Crunch Bagel With Butter $3.40 With Cream Cheese $5.00 Bagel with Nova Cream Cheese ......…... $7.55 Bagel with Sliced Nova or Lox Salmon … $11.50

LUNCH SPECIALTIES Homemade Soup Small ........................ $4.00 Chicken Pot Pie ..................................… $6.25 Pizza Bagel ~ Plain $6.75 - Pepperoni $7.50 Bagel Dog ............................................. $6.25

FRESH PASTRIES Scone (blueberry, cranberry or raisin) ..$4.25 Lemon/Pecan Bar …….....................…… $3.00 Mufﬁn …….........................……………. $4.25 Brownie ….................................……….. $3.00 Crumb Cake ............................................$4.25 Turnover ………..........................……… $4.25 Croissant Pastry/Danish ……….............. $4.25 Cinnamon Bun ..................................…. $4.25 Éclair ………..................................... $4.40 Big PB Cup/Chocolate Chip Cookie ...... $3.85

Black and White Cookie (seasonal) .... $3.85 Mrs. Peggy’s Sugar Cookies .................. $2.50 Two-pack Cookies ......................... $2.50 Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal, Double Chocolate, Sugar, M&M

Linzer Tart ..................................... $3.85 Dog Biscuits .................................. $2.50

FRESH BAKED BAGLES Plain • Cinnamon Raisin • Sesame Onion • French Toast • Garlic Honey Wheat • Asiago • Everything Everything Wheat • Rye Marble • Egg • Pumpernickel Poppy • Berry Sundried Tomato • Cinnamon Crunch 1 Flagel (weekends only) .............. $1.50 Bagel ………..............................…. $1.50 Half Dozen Bagels …..........……… $8.50 Dozen Bagels …............….......… $15.50 Cinnamon Crunch Bagel ….....….. $2.00 N.Y. Kaiser Roll ……............….. 95 cents Portuguese Roll ……........…….. 75 cents Knot Roll ................................... 75 cents

WHIPPED CREAM CHEESES Plain • Light • Veggie • Light Veggie Walnut Raisin • Almond • Scallion Scallion & Tomato • Chive • Olive Spinach & Cheese • Nova Spread Seasonal: Crab, Pumpkin, Strawberry Plain Cream Cheese 1 lb. …......… $6.40 Flavored Cream Cheese 1 lb. ...... $7.90 Nova Cream Cheese 1 lb …………$10.90

All prices subject to change

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

26 Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2026

LIFESTYLES

Trail of Lost Souls Haunts Pines’ Woods By PROGRESS STAFF ouble, double toil and trouble is brewing in Ocean Pines as this year’s Trail of Lost Souls is being planned for two weekends at the White Horse Park Boat Ramp Trail. The community’s sixth annual Halloween event, set for 7 to 10 p.m. on the weekends of Friday and

Saturday, Oct. 16 and 17, and Oct. 23 and 24, with an admission charge of $10 per person, promises scary surprises, said Debbie Donahue, the Pines’ director of recreation and parks. “This year we’ve kind of moved some things around. We changed the pathway. We don’t want it always to be same. We added new features and taken out some of the old things. This year we will have a Family Fun Zone at the end, in the big gravel parking lot where boats are parked. We will have a food truck and music and games. There will be chairs for those to sit who don’t want to go through the trail. We will have little games and food and hot chocolate. We are having a concession this year. And there might be another one, a dessert truck. We have a trailer that is not a food truck but we can work out of it and sell water. It has a hot dog roller and nacho machine. There will be a charge for the concessions. We’ll also have popcorn, cider, hot chocolate and other beverages,” she said. Guests can play corn hole and blow-up games and sit by a bonfire at the Fun Zone, at no charge. “On the trail, it’s going to be a little more spooky. A lot of surprises. There will be things in there that you know don’t whether they are real or if they are mannequins. We have lots of volunteers that, we give them an idea, like we are going for the lost souls idea, and they play off that. They set the pace and we say, ‘OK, we’re going to run this piece and it’s going to run into this piece and it’s going to run it not this piece.’ Different volunteers choose where they want their locations to be and they bring their own makeup and they do their own costumes,” Donahue said. Those visiting the trail can wear costumes but it isn’t encouraged so characters performing on the trails aren’t confused with guests. A core group of volunteers -including Timmy Cooper, Christy Cooper, Brooks Henry and Erica Henry -- started working on the haunted trail in February, coming up with ideas. “These guys volunteer all of their time to make this exciting To Page 27

OCEAN PINES LIFESTYLES Trails of Lost Souls From Page 26

event. They get a lot of credit along with Josh Vickers. It’s amazing the things he has in his mind and the way he can make things work. If I tell him I want to go upside down, he does it,” Donahue said about Vickers, who was formerly chief inspector for Compliance, Permits and Inspections and who has no move to Recreation and Parks. “He is very knowledgeable in a lot of things and he is a man of all trades,” Donahue said. Those 18 and older interested in volunteering can e-mail Donahue at ddonahue@oceanpines.org. Guests at Trail of Lost Souls will walk, in the dark, through the forest and arrive at 12 eerie spots. “We kind of shortened the pathway so it flows together. We have a clown section, and the cemetery. That is always where lost souls go. We want it to be a surprise but there are a lot of new things this year that we have put together,” she said. Originally, the annual Halloween festival was in the Community Center but it was moved to the woods because at that time a new floor was being installed in the Community Center, but Donahue said the woods “works so much better.” “When we were in the Community Center a couple years ago, we were having to build walls out of pallets and store those and a lot of the work that comes with it. While we

October 2026 Ocean Pines PROGRESS 27

Local Halloween and fall events planned

ther area Halloween events include a Spook Out Party at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Ocean City Recreation & Parks Center on 125th Street. There will be an inflatable corn maze, carnival games, a costume parade and treats. Admission is one full bag of wrapped candy per child attending. Ashore Resort Ocean City on 101st Street in Ocean City will present Film Festival Horror Night on Saturday, Oct. 17. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and at 7 p.m. “a rare, 16mm big-screen screening of Night

are planning, nobody could use the facility for two weeks. In the woods, we can use the trees and pathways. It’s a lot of work but we figured out how to make it a lot easier, less work, although it is still a lot of work. They work every weekend now putting things together. We added some things. We put up a mock-up of what we want it to be. They come down at nighttime and light it up and do all these mock things and when we come back and set everything up we know where to put it,” Donahue said, laughing about the way volunteers play tricks on each other and startle her. “They like to get me. I scare easily but I love it. I love Halloween. It’s my favorite holiday,” she said.

The Ocean Pines Progress is a journal of news and lifestyles published monthly throughout the year. It is distributed to every occupied home in Ocean Pines and at newsstands in the community and surrounding area. 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

of the Living Dead” will be shown and there will be a horror-themed costume contest. Admission is free but registration is encouraged. Call Ashore at 410-524-3535. Berlin Oktoberfest & Fall Sidewalk Sale is planned for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17. The Dunehounds and The Lost Lederhosen Band will perform and there will be German foods, craft beer, cider and wine, a costume contest and professional pumpkin

carving demonstrations by Nancy Baker from The Food Network’s “Halloween Wars.” There is no admission charge. Truck-N-Treat in Berlin is planned for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Stephen Decatur Park on Tripoli Street. Children can go trick or treating, see town maintenance and safety trucks and enjoy demonstrations. Pets are welcome if they are on leashes. There is no admission charge.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ATTORNEYS

COATES, COATES & COATES, LLP General Practice of Law • Real Estate Settlements • Wills & Estates • Civil Litigation • Taxes

• Incorporation • Criminal • Landlord-Tenant

Thomas K. Coates Raymond D. Coates, Jr. W. Hank Fisher III Morgan A Fisher Sean J. Colgan 6200 Coastal Hwy., Suite 300, Ocean City 410-723-6000

B. Randall Coates

(Former State’s Attorney for 12 Years)

204 West Green St., Snow Hill ~ 410-632-3090 REALTOR

28 Ocean Pines PROGRESS October 2026

12741 Ocean Gateway Suite 890 West Ocean City In the OC Outlets

Offering A Wide Array of Authentic Chinese, Japanese and Thai Food for Dine-In & Carry-out Order On-line www.occhopsticks.com OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! Sunday Thru Thursday 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday & Saturday 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. Closed Tuesday

O C C H O P S T I C K S. C O M • 4 1 0 - 8 0 1 - 1 1 1 1