of Touch of Italy represents a shift toward brand consistency, higher culinary standards and enhanced guest service across all three venues. Preparations for the opening have included interior updates, menu testing, hiring and staff training and adjustments to back-of-house operations. Association officials say they expect the community to respond well to the new vendor’s commitment to quality and the broader dining experience.
Outdoor dining on the Yacht Club patio, with views of the bay and marina, will remain a central part of the guest experience. During summer months, the live music series and themed events are expected to drive increased traffic, while the full-service bar and indoor seating offer a year-round dining option for residents and guests alike.
More information about reservations, entertainment and upcoming events will be available on the Ocean Pines website and social media channels in the days leading up to the opening.
Gymnasium floor at OP Community Center being replaced after water damage
By Sherrie Clifford ROC Edition Publisher
Work is now underway to replace the damaged gymnasium floor at the Ocean Pines Community Center following a water intrusion incident that left portions of the flooring unsafe to walk on. The repair and replacement project, which began in late April, is being managed by Ocean Pines Public Works in coordination with a professional contractor.
The damage to the gym floor occurred after a coupling in the radiant heating system failed, allowing water to spray into the interior wall cavities and seep beneath the floor. The resulting moisture infiltration caused sections of the hardwood surface to buckle and warp. As a result, the Recreation and Parks Department suspended or relocated scheduled programs, including indoor pickleball, youth sports, senior walking groups and group activities.
Ocean Pines Public Works crews began removing the damaged gym floor on April 21. Once the surface
is fully cleared and prepared, a new athletic-grade floor will be installed by Dynamic Sports Construction. Work on the new surface is scheduled to begin by May 12, with completion expected by June 2, scheduling permitting. The total cost of the replacement project is $62,300.
The gymnasium is a popular indoor space in Ocean Pines, serving a wide range of recreational and fitness needs for residents of all ages. In recent years, interest in programs such as pickleball, youth basketball and exercise classes has continued to grow, making the availability of this space even more critical to the community. Officials are working to minimize disruption by relocating programs to other venues where possible, while others will resume once the facility is fully restored.
The new floor is expected to meet current performance standards for indoor recreation, providing a durable and safe surface suitable for various sports and community events. Once completed, the restored gym will once again be able to accommodate the wide range
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
Crews began removing the damaged gym floor at the Ocean Pines Community Center in April, with installation of a new athletic-grade surface set to begin May 12 and completion expected by June 2.
of activities that have made it a central part of community life in Ocean Pines.
In the meantime, residents are encouraged to stay informed by checking Ocean Pines’ official website and social media channels for updates on construction progress, facility closures and adjusted programming schedules. The Recreation and Parks Department has stated its goal is to return the
gymnasium to full operation as quickly as possible while ensuring a quality, long-lasting result. This project is part of ongoing efforts to maintain and improve community amenities across Ocean Pines. While the temporary closure may inconvenience some residents, the end result will be a fully restored facility designed to serve the needs of the community for years to come.
Berlin mayor reminds residents of tax rate hearing, town applies for Special Projects grant funding, holds engagement meetings for future Community Center
By Giovanni Guido Staff Writer
Mayor Zack Tyndall of the Town of Berlin announced at the April 28 council meeting that the real estate tax rate will be staying at a flat rate of 0.8275 cents per $100 of assessed property value. There will be a public hearing held during the next town council meeting on May 12 to allow the public to voice their opinions on this fiscal year’s tax rate before it is officially approved.
BERLIN APPLIES FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
The Berlin Mayor and Council authorized the submission of an application to the Community Development Block Grant program for an amount that will not exceed $300,000. If awarded for this fiscal year, the funds from the grant program will go towards the demolition of the multi-purpose building on 130 Flower St.
The Mayor’s Executive Assistant Sara Gorfinkel explained to the public that the multi-purpose building needs to be demolished due to its hazardous nature. Because of
its age, the building contains leadbased paint and asbestos, both of which have major health risks. And after all these years, the building is in a state of disrepair.
An application for this grant program had been submitted by the town in the past for this fiscal year, but Gorfinkel specified that this new application is for the Special Projects Application that the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development offers through its grant program.
“Last year, we applied for a $500,000 grant to CDBG … We were not awarded the full $500,000; we were awarded a $100,000 grant … and throughout the process we found out that there are funds available for a special project that we could now reapply for—up to $300,000 … So, this is super specific to only demolishing the multipurpose building,” Gorfinkel said.
BERLIN TO HOLD MEETINGS FOR FEEDBACK ON THE FUTURE COMMUNITY CENTER
Two meetings will be held by the Town of Berlin as a way to receive feedback from the public to help form the future Community Center
on Flower Street. The first meeting will take place at the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on Tuesday, May 6, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. On the following day in the Town Hall Council Chambers, another meeting will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m.
The town previously commissioned BEACON of the Salisbury University School of Business to create a survey, through which the town has received a lot of feedback from residents about what they hope to see from the Community Center.
“This is kind of taking it from paper into a 3D modeling situation,” the Mayor’s Executive Assistant Sara Gorfinkel said about the two engagement meetings.
Attending the meetings will be the project’s architectural team from Haley Architecture who has finished the draft work of the building. These meetings are being held in order for the architectural team to get even more feedback from anyone who is interested, not just town residents.
“You don’t even have to live right in the Town of Berlin to be able to participate in these community engagement sessions. If you think you are somebody who would be using the Community Center, and
you want to know more about it” you should attend these meetings, Grofinkel said.
REPLACEMENT OF 17-YEAR-OLD VAC TRUCK APPROVED
With the Town of Berlin’s current VAC truck being 17 years old, the Mayor and Council authorized the purchase of a new VAC truck in an amount not to exceed $624,000.
“It’s at its life expectancy. Usually, they recommend 10 years. We’ve made it 17 just because of trying to keep up on the maintenance,” Director of Water Resources Jamey Latchum said.
He then explained how they are trying to get this approved quickly due to some new tariffs which have the potential of increasing the amount the town would have to pay. The potential tariff impacts could amount to a 20% increase, which is roughly an extra $125,000 and would put the town significantly over its funding for the truck purchase.
Once the new truck is purchased, Latchum told the council that the 17-year-old truck will be appraised to determine its value and then be put up for sale on govdeals.com.
Broken Elections, Broken Trust: It’s time for change in HOA governance
The 2025 Ocean Pines HOA Board of Directors election is just around the corner, and this year three board seats will be up for grabs. Three current board members are expected to run as incumbents, hoping to retain their positions and continue shaping the future of our community. But after four consecutive election cycles marred by chaos, controversy and a growing distrust among homeowners, it is clear the stakes have never been higher.
The past four elections have been a chaotic and embarrassing fiasco, undermining the trust homeowners once had in a process that should serve as the foundation of fair governance. In 2021, one board member sued the association to secure a seat, sparking costly legal battles and deepening public division. The 2022 election saw paper ballots recounted after certification had already been completed, when it was discovered that nearly 1,000 more votes had been counted than was mathematically possible given the number of voters. This, combined with no transparency or clear
COMMENTARY
Volunteerism is the cornerstone of strong communities. It is built on selflessness, integrity and the belief that service should be its own reward. But when volunteer leadership becomes entangled with perks, politics or personal status, the spirit of true volunteerism is lost.
Across many homeowners associations, members of Board of Directors wield significant influence over budgets, operations and community life. With that responsibility comes an even higher expectation for ethical behavior and a clear separation between service and self-interest.
True volunteers do not serve for personal gain. They do not expect free amenities, discounted memberships or preferential treatment. Board members, above all others, should pay full membership
fees and contribute equally to the community’s upkeep. Leadership is not a prize; it is a duty.
When Board members accept free use of amenities or arrange perks for themselves, it creates the appearance, if not the reality, of a conflict of interest. Worse still, it signals to the broader membership that volunteering is about what you can get, not what you can give.
Equally troubling is the use of volunteer committee appointments as political rewards. Too often, Board members favor personal friends or political allies over qualified, willing volunteers. This dilutes the strength of committees, discourages fresh perspectives and undermines the very purpose of volunteer advisory groups: To offer independent, honest feedback.
Even recognition of volunteers
answers regarding concerns about the electronic voting system, further eroded homeowner confidence.
Rather than addressing the public’s growing unease, the board shifted the 2023 election processing thousands of miles away to an out-of-state vendor and eliminated electronic voting altogether. Yet communication failures, delays in mailing ballots and questionable ballot handling only deepened community distrust and forced weeks of delay in holding the required annual meeting.
In 2024, yet another change was made, this time switching election processing to a Pennsylvania company and reintroducing electronic voting alongside paper ballots. Problems persisted. Ballots were again mailed late, and online voting began without voters receiving the proper documents required by the association’s governing documents, leading to a special corrective mailing. During the ballot counting process, a box containing hundreds of unprocessed paper ballots was discovered, forcing the election process to halt while officials worked to incorporate the missing ballots. Homeowners were left waiting for certified results, while the situation was further marred by an online fiasco in which unverified election results were mistakenly shown live to viewers during a chaotic and unprofessional scene.
As we approach the next election, the community faces a divided Board
can fall victim to misplaced priorities. Some HOA Boards spend upwards of $10,000 on “Volunteer Appreciation” dinners. Yet rather than honoring the many residents who selflessly give their time and financial support, these events sometimes serve as little more than political showcases. Handpicked media outlets, local politicians and Board allies are invited, while many true community volunteers are overlooked.
In the spirit of true volunteerism, a simple certificate, a letter of appreciation or public acknowledgment at a Board meeting should suffice. The reward for giving back should not be lavish dinners or public grandstanding, it should be the quiet satisfaction of knowing you helped build a stronger community.
Removing volunteers from committees because they question decisions or challenge the status quo further weakens the fabric of volunteer governance. Healthy organizations value honest debate and welcome diverse viewpoints. Volunteers should not be punished for raising concerns; they should be respected for their willingness to speak up.
True volunteerism is not about what you receive, nor about the power or recognition you feel by holding a title. It is not about perks,
influence or political maneuvering. It is about service pure and simple. It demands humility, integrity and a willingness to place the community’s well-being above personal pride or personal connections.
Board members must lead by example: Paying their own way, rejecting special favors, appointing committees based on merit and recognizing all volunteers equally, not just those within their inner circle.
Sherrie Clifford Publisher, ROC Edition
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Habitat for Humanity Restore in Ocean Pines
Dear Editor:
I frequently notice homeowners in Ocean Pines placing used household items and furniture, marked “free” for taking, in front of their home. As a regular volunteer at the Habitat for Humanity Restore in Ocean Pines, I know that nearly all of these items could be donated to the Restore.
I have observed many families happy to find great deals on beautiful furniture, a young couple happy to find a low-cost appliance and the regular handyman or carpenter finding tools for a small fraction of the cost of new tools.
The Restore can take a wide range of items: Housewares, dishes, undamaged furniture, bed frames, working appliances, working grills, clean rugs, tools, hardware, bikes, exercise equipment, unused paint, boxes of new tile and flooring materials, kitchen cabinets, bathroom fixtures, lamps and light fixtures, framed mirrors, artwork, flatscreen TVs, CD players, stereo
systems, decorative pillows, Christmas decorations, etc.
In general, the Restore cannot take fabrics or clothing of any kind, badly stained furniture or mattresses. These sales help to fund the building of new homes for less fortunate families in the county.
The Restore is located in south Ocean Pines in the Manklin Creek shopping center, near the Seafloor store and My Backyard bird shop. For pickup of large furniture, you can arrange for pickup for a $25 fee, but it will take two to three weeks to schedule these pickups. You can arrange for pickups on the website: https://habitatworcester.org/ restore/donate.html.
I recommend residents of Ocean Pines to stop by and be amazed at what is offered, and if you have items to give away, please bring them to the store.
All obituaries must be accompanied by a name and telephone number of a family member. A ROC Edition staff member will call the family member who sends the obituary, obtain additional information if necessary and write the obituary in standard newspaper style.
Photographs are accepted.
ROC Edition is published each month on the 1st and 15th. The deadline for obituaries is the 21st and the 7th of each month.
Tim Peck Ocean Pines
Ocean Pines gears up for Bocce Ball League play this
By Sherrie Clifford ROC Edition Publisher
Ocean Pines is getting ready to roll out a major addition to its amenities with the construction of two new bocce ball courts located near the Yacht Club. The project, which is expected to be completed on or before Memorial Day, is already drawing strong interest from residents eager to take up the popular and fast-growing sport. Organized league play is anticipated to begin in June.
According to Debbie Donahue, Director of Recreation & Parks, the new courts are expected to attract over 100 players when organized play begins. Already, 88 players have signed up for the inaugural league season, with a separate list of substitutes ready to step in if a league member is unable to play.
The two bocce ball courts are being built side by side, end to end, maximizing the available space and allowing for multiple matches to be played simultaneously. The courts are being constructed at a cost of $50,692 and are part of an ongoing effort to diversify recreational options for residents of all ages.
Bocce ball, a sport that combines gentle strategy with competitive precision, has seen a remarkable surge in popularity in Ocean Pines. General Manager John Viola stated that interest in bocce has now surpassed that of our 50-60 platform tennis players, a longtime favorite among the community’s athletic offerings.
The location, nestled close to the Yacht Club and its surrounding amenities, is expected to make the courts a hub for social gatherings and friendly competition throughout the summer and beyond.
League play and casual games are expected to become a regular feature of community life. With 88 players already signed up and a substitute list in place, strong participation is anticipated when play begins in June. Informal social games and opportunities for new players to learn the sport are likely to develop as interest continues to grow.
While bocce ball may seem like a modern trend, the game itself has a rich and ancient history that spans centuries. Its origins date back as far as 5,000 years, with early versions of the game played in ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire. Roman soldiers are credited with spreading the game across Europe, where it took hold strongly in Italy. By the Middle Ages, bocce was a well-established pastime
Construction is underway on two new bocce ball courts near the Yacht Club, with league play expected to begin in June and more than 80 players already signed up.
among European nobility as well as common citizens.
The word “bocce” is derived from the Latin “bottia,” meaning “ball,” and the sport as we know it today is most closely tied to its Italian roots. Italian immigrants brought bocce ball to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the game gradually built a strong following, especially in cities with large ItalianAmerican populations.
Played on a flat, narrow court, bocce ball combines elements of bowling, lawn games and strategy. Players take turns tossing or rolling bocce balls with the goal of getting closest to a smaller ball called the “pallino.” The game emphasizes skill and accuracy over speed or strength, making it accessible to players of nearly all ages and abilities.
In Ocean Pines, the timing of the new courts taps into a broader national revival of interest in classic outdoor games, particularly among communities seeking low-impact, highly social sports. The simplicity of the rules, combined with the competitive excitement of a close match, has made bocce ball one of the fastest-growing recreational activities across the country.
As Memorial Day approaches, excitement is building not just for another summer season in Ocean Pines, but for a new tradition of friendly competition rolling onto the courts near the Yacht Club.
For more information, contact Club Director Michael Galello at 410-430-8491 or mgalello@aol.com.
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
Berlin residents and tourists are encouraged to make a day of going to the
farmers market
and the
first art and vintage market
By Giovanni Guido Staff Writer
Despite its name, the Berlin Farmers Market attracts a wide variety of people who hope to participate in the event, not just farmers or food vendors. In particular, there have been plenty of inquiries from local artists who have wanted to participate, many of whom could not due to the event’s focus being on food vendors. The Town of Berlin plans to remedy this through its partnership with The Merry Haven to host the 2nd Sundays Art & Vintage Market, which will feature many local artists.
Starting on May 11, this new event will be held in the parking lot of the Berlin Welcome Center every second Sunday from May to October, hence the name. Local artists will display their work, vintage items will be sold and live music will be featured. These Sunday events will have the same time slot as the farmers market, which is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Berlin Farmers Market
will be held every Sunday, starting May 4 until October. Berlin has been putting this event together with its Economic and Community Development department for roughly 10 years, according to Allison Early, the Administrative Assistant of that department.
“It’s a producers-only market, meaning everything that you see for sale there at the market was made by the person you’re buying it from,” Early said.
This event typically attracts around 1,000 people every week, and more than 50 vendors will be participating. Attendees will be able to see many of the same popular vendors that attend every year but also a few vendors who are new to the event.
“Everybody usually comes back. We very rarely have anybody drop out that’s why we usually don’t have any openings, but we do allow Berlin businesses to join when they like … and we’ll do our best to add them to the market,” Early said.
The Inn Berlin, 2nd Wave Coffee & Social and Cafe Berlin are all
participating in the farmers market for the first time this year. Some of the event’s crowd favorites include BayBees Honey, Baked, Mandala Pies, Burley Oak, Berlin Beer Co., Lyon Rum and Eastern Shore Kettle Korn, according to Early. BayBees Honey will feature educational material to teach the community the importance of beekeeping and pollinators. Since Lyon Rum is located in St. Michaels, it always attracts event-goers who are unable to visit the distillery as
much as they would like to. Eastern Shore Kettle Korn is quite popular and will be making its kettle corn on site. And for The Inn Berlin’s first year at the farmers market they will feature gluten-free desserts.
Early said residents and tourists can spend the day exploring the farmers market and the art and vintage market when they coincide, and to also visit The Merry Haven, which is located at the back of the parking lot where the art and vintage market is held.
