Maryland State Police continue to investigate accident that killed landscaper in the Pines last month
Staff Report
As Maryland State Police continue investigating the accident on Ocean Parkway that killed a 35-yearold Salisbury man working on a landscaping job, the driver is fully cooperating, but deeply saddened, according to a family member.
“His heart is broken. He is very distraught,” his brother, Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis told ROC Edition days after the truck driven by William R. Lewis of Parsonsburg hit Ramón Ramirez Castillo the morning of Saturday, Nov. 16, between Briarcrest Drive and Beacon Hill Road.
In the police report, Lewis’ truck is described as traveling off the right side of the roadway and striking Castillo, who owned Castillo Landscaping Services.
William Lewis couldn’t be reached for comment but the sheriff said the night before the incident, his brother was watching the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul boxing match on TV and was up late. At 6:30 the next morning, he got a call that someone who works with his construction
company in Parsonsburg needed materials in Ocean Pines.
“He got up unexpectedly Saturday morning to drop off materials and pick up a trailer for a sub-contractor and he said he fell asleep at the wheel. There is no evidence he was speeding or that he was being reckless. My brother is not a drinker.
“Maryland State Police did their due diligence. They are reconstructing the accident. They seized his cell phone to be sure he wasn’t texting. I told him that is a minor imposition. If anything, it will help validate he wasn’t texting. He said, ‘Mike, I wasn’t texting. I wasn’t even talking on the phone,’” Lewis said.
William Lewis has not yet been charged, the sheriff said, explaining law enforcement has one year and one day, or 366 days, to charge someone.
“That allows us to do a comprehensive investigation and to be fair to all parties. Maryland State Police will give their findings to the state’s attorney’s office and they will determine what the charges are. He was taken to TidalHealth in Salisbury. He was in his seatbelt but his lower
Sheriff
said his
has not been in touch with the family of the deceased.
“He wanted to go to the funeral. I told him ‘I would advise you not to. You don’t know how the family is going to react or there might be other people who might start ques-
Ocean Pines Board agrees to join OC, other plaintiffs in lawsuit to stop wind turbines
By David Bohenick Staff Writer
The Ocean Pines Board of Directors has joined more than 20 plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to keep wind turbines out of Ocean City, stipulating the OPA will not be responsible for any legal fees.
Proposed is erecting 114 windmills 10.7 miles off the coast of Ocean City and Fenwick Island.
The wind turbines would stand more than 900 feet tall, and be
lighted at night. Energy developer US Wind, Inc., a subsidiary of the Italian company Renexia SpA, would provide services at the site.
In the lawsuit, plaintiffs are claiming the government’s approval of the project has violated numerous environmental protection laws including the National Environmental Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act and the National Historic Preservation Act.
The lawsuit also alleges the federal
government has ignored adverse effects the project will have on the beaches, the tourism industry and the commercial and recreational fishing economy. Because the Ocean Pines Beach Club, located in Ocean City, is an oceanfront property, the OPA claims it has a direct interest in the case.
Speaking at the Saturday, Nov. 23, OPA meeting before the board voted on joining the plaintiffs, Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan, who adamantly opposes the turbines, said he first got involved eight years ago.
OCEAN PINES • WEST OCEAN CITY • BERLIN MD
back is sore from the impact,” his brother said.
Lewis
brother
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher Turbines close to the shoreline have some opponents wondering if they could end up that close to the beach in Ocean City and other areas.
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
ACCIDENT
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tioning you,’” Lewis said, adding Castillo lived less than a mile from him in Salisbury.
“From what I have been told by (Ocean Pines Police Chief) Tim (Robinson) and my chief deputy, and I talked to a state trooper, the young man who was killed had crossed the street. He was leaning in a window of a Mercedes that was stopped and providing an estimate for his services. My brother ricocheted off the car. He had not a clue he had struck anybody.
“He doesn’t drink. He has never even been to bar. He’s a businessman. He has two adult children. He is 65 and he’s expecting his first grandchild,” the sheriff said.
A celebration of life for Castillo was on Nov. 21 at Oak Ridge Church in Salisbury.
In his obituary, he is described as being born into a “warm and close-knit community of El Palmar Chichiquila Puebla” and was a man who spread “warmth and joy wherever he went.”
“Ramon was a beloved brother to Angel, Bernardo and Jose Ruben Castillo … After completing high school, Ramon found his calling in
the outdoors and came to work with T. Oliphant Lawn Care where he was a truly loved member not only of the business but of the family. After 14 years of dedicated service, Ramon branched out and established the Ramon R. Castillo Landscaping business. His dedication to his work and the beauty he brought to his community will be remembered by all who had the pleasure of witnessing his talent,” the obituary states.
He is further described as a man interested in soccer, movies and music and “could often be found humming a tune or quoting lines from his favorite films.”
“Above all, Ramon’s favorite pastime was spending time with his loved ones. Whether it was a family barbecue, a quiet evening at home, or a spontaneous adventure, Ramon was happiest when surrounded by the people he cherished the most,” the obituary states.
“Those who knew Ramon will remember him as a funny and friendly individual who brought light and laughter into every room … Ramon’s presence will be profoundly missed, but the impression he left on our hearts is indelible.“
At 89, West OC’s Roger Marino honored for starting Mountaire’s Thanksgiving for Thousands 30 years ago
By Susan Canfora News Editor
Roger Marino, the longtime Director of Community Relations at Mountaire Farms, was honored with the Service Award for Vision and Leadership on Delmarva during the annual Thanksgiving for Thousands.
Thirty years ago, Marino, 89, of West Ocean City, started that event, bring together scores of volunteers who gather in the warehouse at the Selbyville facility and pack boxes of fresh chicken, canned vegetables and stuffing and brownie mixes for families in need. This year, more than 14,500 boxes were packed before being delivered.
But before assembly began, on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 23, the spotlight was on Marino.
Zach Evans, who now is in the community relations department at Mountaire, presented Marino, dressed in a jacket and baseball cap, both with the Mountaire logo, with the Service Award.
“This means everything,” Marino said as he held the award, a clear plaque with words etched in white.
“In two and one-half months I
will be 90 years old. So when people say ‘Roger, wave’ I wave my cane now,” a beaming Marino said to laughter.
He is currently writing an autobiography and said he will include his belief that “Blood is kin. Love is family.” And that love, he said at the 30th annual Thanksgiving for Thousands, is how he felt about the many volunteers who were at the warehouse by 7:30 a.m. donating time so others could enjoy a holiday meal.
In 2019, after that year’s event, Marino, who was still working there as director of community relations, drove home, got out of the car, slipped on a landscaping stone in the driveway of his home, fell and broke his neck, leading to his retirement.
“If I hadn’t broken my neck, I’d still be here,” he said to cheers and applause.
The number of volunteers and boxes of food “grow every single year,” said Delaware Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, one of many dignitaries who attended to honor Marino.
“Roger, I can’t thank you enough. You’ve always been a great man. You’ve always been a great friend to so many people,” Pettyjohn said.
Estimate for Pines Racquet Center renovations jumps $45,000
By Giovanni Guido Staff Writer
The Ocean Pines Board of Directors was presented with a new, higher estimate to upgrade the Ocean Pines Racquet Center, now expected to cost $185,000, $45,000 more than originally expected.
OPA General Manager John Viola said the project has grown in scope from what was first approved at the Dec. 16, 2023, OPA Board meeting, when $140,000 was approved.
The main focus of the project, when first put forth by Viola, was expanding and improving the restrooms, pro shop, director’s office and storage, but Viola explained in an email to ROC Edition that the project now includes “creating better visibility of the racquet courts for staff” as well as expanding “the building to the end of the roof line.” The second of these two additions is
the reasoning behind the need for a new estimate, he added.
The Whayland Company of Laurel, Del, was awarded the building contract. Viola said the company was chosen for its track record of starting work on the new golf clubhouse, renovating the police station in 2019 and constructing the new Worcester County Veterans Memorial Gazebo.
Frank Brown, a local builder and former board member, has been helping over the last two years to develop plans and designs, Viola said.
Renovations to the racquet building have been discussed since April 2023 when Viola proposed the idea to the now-defunct Racquet Center Advisory Committee. In April, by a 6-1 vote, the board dissolved that committee due to allegations of mold and membership option controversies.
Committee member Suzanne Russell first brought the concerns of
See RACQUET page 5
30
go,
ROC Edition • Submitted
Roger Marino, who started Thanksgiving for Thousands at Mountaire Farms in Selbyville
years
accepts an award during a ceremony before boxes of fresh chicken and canned goods are packed the morning of Saturday, Nov. 23.
WINDMILLS
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“That was the first time I saw the renderings of this project as they were presented by the Public Service Commission of Maryland. And at that time, the wind turbines were half the size they were today, and at that time I objected and asked them to reconsider and to take a better look at this project, not just for a visual standpoint but how it affects this entire area. That was eight years ago. Since that time, I’ve made the same request more times than I can imagine, and each time it’s been ignored,” Meehan said.
Maryland’s Board of Public Works approved US Wind’s Tidal Wetlands License Application to build an industrial pier in West Ocean City on Nov. 20. The application requested the reconstruction and extension of a concrete pier in the Sinepuxent Bay and 383 feet of steel bulkhead as part of US Wind’s proposed Operation and Maintenance Facility.
“We were not surprised that the Board of Public Works approved the wetlands permit for the West Ocean City Pier as both the state and the federal governments continue to fast track the permitting processes associated with the US Wind project,”
Meehan stated in an email response to ROC Edition.
Meehan added that he remains concerned about how the proposed changes could impact the local commercial fishing industry, as well as the industrialization of the West Ocean City Harbor.
“The commercial fishing community is part of the history, culture and economic base of our local area. This project still needs to receive local permits to proceed and we will continue to stand in opposition. This approval will not stand in the way of us proceeding with our lawsuit against BOEM,” Meehan said.
Six board members approved the motion, but Steve Jacobs, saying he doesn’t see the project as a direct threat to Ocean Pines and adding enough concerns were raised during the discussion to make him abstain.
“US Wind made a presentation for our board, I think it was in the spring or summer, and the presentation was pretty well received overall from what I can recall. There was enough for me to say this may or may not be a good idea, but I’m not too sure,” Jacobs said.
Ocean Pines now joins plaintiffs including the town of Ocean City, Worcester County, the town of Fenwick Island, the Ocean City
Chamber of Commerce, the White Marlin Open, the Ocean City Development Corporation, the Harrison Group, Time, Inc. and the Coastal Association of Realtors.
Meehan confirmed via email to ROC Edition that Ocean City is funding the total cost of the lawsuit.
“We want to thank the Ocean Pines Board of Directors and the
Ocean Pines community for joining our lawsuit and supporting our opposition to a bad project that threatens our ecosystem, our economy, our property values and the beauty of the area we all love and call home. It has become very apparent that if we don’t stand up for ourselves no one else will,” Meehan said.
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
These turbines, near the shoreline in Crisfield, are unwelcome in Ocean City. The Ocean Pines Board of Directors recently voted to join about 20 plaintiffs suing to keep them out of the resort.
RACQUET
Continued from page 3
mold to the board at the March 23 meeting.
“We are concerned that the building may not be safe due to a potential mold, mildew issue behind the walls, which is making the employees sick and in some case contributing to them quitting,” Russell said.
Due to the possible mold issue and other safety concerns the committee “voted to halt the racquet center renovations in favor of a proper expansion of the building,” she said.
This expansion proposition is one the committee has discussed and approved in the past. Because members say the center could not be expanded beyond the footprint of the building, the renovations project was decided upon instead.
Things took another twist when the committee learned “permits to build beyond the footprint could be
easily obtained for proper expansion.” The group voted to stop the renovations project.
Following the mold concerns, the OPA closed the racquet center to investigate the claims. No traces of mold or mildew were found, and the OPA Board moved to dissolve the committee at the April 20 meeting.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, audience members tried to convince the board to rethink the motion but board members stood firm, voting 6-1 for the dissolution, with Director Steve Jacobs opposed.
The renovations were eventually resumed. At the April 20 meeting, Viola said, “The board has instructed me, and rightfully so, to continue on what’s been approved and we still are focused on that.”
Permits have been obtained, architectural sketches are being finalized and construction is set to begin this winter with completion expected in May 2025.
Berlin officials considering sale of town parcel at park; deal with Coastal Ventures has been discussed since summer
By Giovanni Guido Staff Writer
The Town of Berlin is negotiating the purchase and sale of the former Tyson Foods processing plant on Town Parcel 57, located at Heron Park.
The town council and Palmer and Sandy Gillis of Coastal Ventures Properties have been working on the deal since mid-summer and during the Monday, Nov. 12, council meeting, Mayor Zack Tyndall said there are several matters to work out before negotiations can be completed.
“[Doing so] is going to put us in the best possible position,” Tyndall said.
Coastal Venture Properties is entitled to a 180-day period to inspect the parcel before purchase. Previously, the Gillises requested recategorizing the property as zoned for B-2, community business district, before the due diligence period begins.
“We believe that the best way to address this is to not sign the contract with the developer until the
property has been actually rezoned,” Tyndall said.
Council cannot proceed with rezoning because the Planning Commission is currently in a moratorium, or suspension of activity, due to the death of Planning Director Dave Engelhart, who died in April. That position has not yet been filled.
Tyndall said he hopes to see the sale of the property complete within two years. The two-year period would begin once the property has been rezoned, Coastal Venture Properties has completed its due diligence period and obtained a certificate of occupancy and after the town and the company have finalized the settlement.
The settlement would be completed within 60 days of the end of the due diligence period.
“We’re not saying somebody needs to be in the door but we don’t want it sitting in its current condition,” Tyndall said.
Council agreed with Tyndall that two years was a reasonable amount of time for Coastal Venture Proper-
ties to meet the requirements.
A request to consider moving the roadway entrance to the property slightly east is also being considered. Project developers say doing so would allow more room for parking.
Moving the roadway entrance would cost about $1.1 million, Tyndall said, adding doing so could also encroach on the neighboring parcel of private property.
“The town could move the road over… but in return [the property owners] wanted the same amount on the rear part of their property,” he said.
Making changes to property access could impact future projects, such as planned improvements to the public works facility at Heron Park, he said.
The mayor suggested instead that the roadway entrance begin on Parcel 57 and continue toward Parcel 191, located between the private property and the skate park on Parcel 410. This option would keep the roadway entrance on town property.
“I think we need to hold firm on a
‘[Doing so] is going to put us in the best possible position.’
-Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall
couple things that are really true to us and that’s keeping it on town land,” Tyndall said.
He called the request reasonable said it would not jeopardize the agreement with Coastal Venture Properties. Council would be open to participating in a deal between the parcel owners and the developer, he said.
Town officials will update the draft purchase and sale agreement, originally written on Aug. 28. Tyndall said he expects to have an updated contract by January 2025.
“If we can get it moving quicker than that I’d like to do that,” he said.
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
The Racquet Club building in Ocean Pines will not be razed but will undergo renovations both inside and out. Operations will be out of another facility while work is being done.
ROC Edition • Submitted
Berlin Town Council approves plan to meet earlier; Funding, appointments, proclamations on agenda
By Giovanni Guido Staff Writer
The Berlin Town Council, at its Monday, Nov. 12, meeting, unanimously agreed to meet an hour earlier.
Meetings, on the second and fourth Monday of each month, will now be at 6 p.m., with closed sessions at either 5 or 5:30 p.m.
Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall said this change will not apply to meetings immediately following elections. Council will investigate whether that section of the town charter can be changed, Tyndall said.
LEFTOVER ARPA FUNDS TO BE USED FOR PARKING
Council agreed to reallocate some of the remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds to address parking concerns in the downtown shopping district.
About $64,000 in leftover funds from the Rails and Trails project, as well as an additional $100 from
a completed strategic growth plan, will be use for the initiative.
Tyndall said that although the funds are not nearly enough to fully address downtown parking concerns, they will be useful.
PUMP TO BE REPAIRED
A pump at one of the town’s spray sites will be repaired using $46,000 approved by Town Council.
After an initial inspection of the pump, experts from A.C. Schultes of Delaware Inc., estimated the cost at $45,925. Repairs will be extensive and include reworking the motor and installing new rubber bearings and stainless steel hardware and line shafts.
Finance Director Natalie Saleh said the town’s remaining $115,000 in wastewater funds will cover the project.
A&E ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS REAPPOINTED
Cassandra Brown, Sara Hambury and Opal Hambury were reappointed
to the Arts and Entertainment Advisory Committee. They were sworn in by Tyndall.
CITATIONS ISSUED FOR SERVING ON THE PARKS COMMISSION
Sarah Hooper and Mike Wiley received citations for their respective service on the Parks Commission.
“We really, really appreciate your service to the Parks Commission,” Tyndall told them.
Hooper and Willey have each served more than 20 years on the commission.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY
In response to a constituent’s request, the Town of Berlin will now recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day in its handbook and on its website.
The federal holiday was previously known as Columbus Day.
Town Administrator Mary Bohlen said the federal government allows local jurisdictions to make their own decisions on such matters.
Councilwoman Shaneka Nichols
moved to approve the request and the council vote was unanimous.
COUNCIL PRESENTS TWO PROCLAMATIONS
Mayor Tyndal proclaimed the month of November as Municipal Government Works Month.
“In an effort to educate citizens about the municipal government and the importance of their participation, the town of Berlin is proud to promote municipal government awareness,” Mayor Tyndall said.
November was also proclaimed as Veterans and Military Families Month.
“We recognize and honor the Town of Berlin’s veterans and all military families who support our armed forces as they protect our state and our country,” Mayor Tyndall said.
The mayor also gave a statement of support for the National Guard and Reserve.
Construction of pedestrian and bicycle path parallel to railroad tracks in Berlin gets nod from town council
By Giovanni Guido Staff Writer
The Berlin Town Council, at the Tuesday, Nov. 12, meeting, approved a project to construct a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Route 113 to link Berlin and Snow Hill.
The project was funded by a $1.2 million dollar federal Neighborhood Access and Equity grant. U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen secured $1.2 million for the project under the Inflation Reduction Act.
“The grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation will allow the town of Berlin to make meaningful progress toward providing equitable and safe access to schools, shopping and healthcare services for all community members,” Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall stated in a news release about the project.
Tyndall estimated that roughly $1 million of the grant will be used for planning and design of the bridge. The remaining $200,000
will be used to help complete the 1.8-mile Berlin Bikeway project.
The town is partnering with the State Highway Administration for the project.
“If we were to try to navigate the federal process on our own, that’s a bit of a complex process. It requires a lot of new learning for us because it’s rare that we get direct federal dollars in the forms of grants … So, what we’ve done here is try to alleviate some of the complexity by partnering with the State Highway Administration,” Tyndall said at the council meeting.
The Berlin Bikeway project was planned to construct a pedestrian and bicycle path that will be parallel to railroad tracks from Heron Park to Old Ocean City Boulevard. The path would then extend to the town limit at Evans Road. The initiative was formerly known as the Rails and Trails project.
Funds from the grant could also be used to conduct a feasibility study about connecting the future Ber-
lin Bikeway to similar paths in the Worcester County Greenways and Trails Master Plan.
Town Administrator Mary Bohlen clarified the grant will only cover the design of the bridge and Berlin Bikeway and not result in construction.
The overall project will be done in three phases and grant money will be distributed for each phase.
Phase I is the planning portion of the project and will receive an estimated $250,000 in grant money. Phase II, the preliminary design portion, will receive an estimated $350,000 and Phase III will receive the remaining $600,000 to cover final designs.
Planning and design of the bridge could be completed by 2030. Tyndall emphasized town officials are making estimates based off of “the longest possible time frames.”
“They’re obviously not our time frames but it’s how long the federal government says you have to complete the project. We of course would like that to happen much
more quickly,” Tyndall said.
Mayor Tyndall said a new a committee will be formed to focus on the planning and design of the bridge by the beginning of 2025.
“It would be a committee that would help work through the feedback that we received to help make sure that the ideas that we’re putting forward as a potential solution represent what people have asked for in the community… and make sure that certain… destinations within town are capable of being accessed.”
ROC Edition • Town of Berlin, Maryland Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall
Resident calls for speed bumps to slow Ocean Pines drivers
By David Bohenick Staff Writer
Ocean Pines Board members heard a plea to slow speeding drivers in the Pines and to improve road safety.
Speaking during the Public Comments portion of the Saturday, Nov. 23, meeting, resident Tim McMullen suggested installing speed bumps.
“I think there should be speed bumps on Ocean Parkway. And, you pick and decide where you’re going to put them but if that means someone slows down from 40 miles an hour to 25, we could be saving the life of a child,” McMullen said.
Other residents also called for better safety measures on Ocean Pines roads.
JOIN SANTA FOR BREAKFAST
During the meeting, it was announced Breakfast with Santa Claus is planned for 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Ocean Pines Community Center.
Tickets are still available for the Vienna Boys Choir, with a performance set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center in Ocean City.
Swimming With Santa will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21 at the Sports Core enclosed swimming pool in Ocean Pines.
POLICE REPORT
Police Chief Tim Robinson, while presenting his monthly report to the board, said during October, the police department responded to 138 traffic violations, including 50 incidents of speeding, four collisions, two DUIs and four stop sign violations. The department made one domestic assault arrest, an arrest for possession of heroin and two arrests for thefts by fraud, Robinson said.
Robinson confirmed that the fatal accident that killed a landscaper who was working at a home on Ocean Parkway on Saturday, Nov. 16, did not occur on the roadway. He said he was unable to provide any new information because the matter is still under investigation. Maryland State Police are leading the investigation.
Robinson discussed the proposal of a new cellphone tower to be constructed by Milestone Towers. He said viable property locations are being reviewed. Initial plans would require Milestone Towers to pay a one-time fee prior to building the tower, including a monthly 40 percent revenue share for Ocean Pines.
HOLIDAY SAFETY
Joseph Enste, president of the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department, offered tips for holiday safety, advising using outdoor turkey fryers
far away from houses. Enste also advised fully thawing turkeys before cooking.
He suggested keeping live Christmas trees watered and away from heat sources.
GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT
General Manager John Viola, while presenting his monthly report, said additional brick work, architectural design, increase in contractors’ fee, lumber and roofing were not a part of the original estimate for the Veterans Memorial Pavilion.
The driving range at the golf course is scheduled to be completed in December, while the bridge on the fourth fairway is scheduled to be completed in January, he said. The project is estimated to cost $40,000. Viola added that there would be minimal disruption to the golf course. Renovations to the Racquet Center are also scheduled to begin in the winter.
Viola presented a slide with the words “Current contract for food and beverage services ends April 30, 2025” but he did not comment on it.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Ocean Pines Board Director Monica Rakowski, who is also treasurer of the board, while presenting her monthly report, said the OPA has about $17 million in cash. Rakowski
added that cash has decreased by $400,000 from the same time period as last year, and by $900,000 from September 2024.
ANNUAL LEAF COLLECTION
It was announced the Public Works Department started collecting bagged leaves on Nov. 25 and will continue until Friday, Jan. 3. Workers will not pick up leaves raked to the road if they are not in bags.
CONCERN ABOUT WATER QUALITY
Sue Challis of the Marine Activities Committee and Taylor Swanson of Assateague Coastal Trust told the board preliminary water quality studies indicated positive results. However, they added they want to keep conducting tests for both nutrients and bacteria.
“It will be important that this program continue for some time so that we can start to see trends throughout the years. You can never know when you’re going to have a certain spike from an anomaly and we don’t want to be presenting data to you that’s not statistically significant,” Swanson said.
Proceeds from sale of decorative garden flags to benefit fund to build Berlin community center
By Giovanni Guido Staff Writer
To help raise funds to build a new Community Center, the town of Berlin is selling 12-by-18-inch and 3-by-5-foot garden flags with the town seal.
Flags cost $30 each and are available at Town Hall at 10 William Street.
During the discussion of the sale of flags, at the Monday, Nov. 12, Berlin Town Council meeting, Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall said proceeds will “go toward the future construction or any necessary community engagement that’s needed to get us to construction of the Berlin community center.”
“All of those funds go into a designated account. It cannot be used for other things, only for the community center,” the mayor said.
The community center is at 130 Flower Street.
The town has “combined four parcels of property on Flower Street, formerly the site of the Flower Street School, for a future community
center,” according to the website at www.berlinmd.gov/community
“The group is focused on a community center that will serve the entire town of Berlin with necessary classroom space for SHORE UP! Inc., community meeting space, recreational activities and access to services,” the website states. Those wishing for additional information about how to support the future community center may e-mail the mayor at MayorZack@berlinmd.gov
In 2024, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development provided $100,000 for the effort through the Community Development Block Program.
The town received $489,000 in community facilities funding from congressionally directed spending for community, Berlin Executive Administrative Assistant Sara Gorfinkel said.
The town has allocated nearly $390,000 to be put toward the project.
The town launched a survey in partnership with SHORE UP! and the Berlin Community Improvement
Association. The report was prepared by BEACON at Salisbury University. Paper copies of the survey were available at Berlin Town Hall, and it was also posted online.
The survey consisted of 10 questions, and collected community suggestions from the future commu nity center.
More than 300 people filled out the survey. The majority of respondents requested activities such as youth programs, fitness classes and social events in the community center. They also showed a desire for a swimming pool, exercise equipment and a multi-sport indoor recreation space.
The town has not made final decisions on what will be included but town officials confirmed part of the plan involves new classrooms for SHORE UP!’s Head Start program, to prepare young children for public school.
Town officials are reviewing and working with Daniele Haley of Haley Architecture to begin preliminary designs. A feasibility study is also in order for the community center.
ROC Edition • Submitted, Sara Gorfinkel
The town of Berlin is selling two sizes of flags, suitable for garden decor, to raise money to build a new community center.
Don’t drink and drive Being responsible means staying put, finding designated driver after imbibing
As the holiday season unfolds, it brings with it a time for family gatherings and workplace parties. However, beneath the twinkling lights and cheerful music lies a sobering reality: the spike in alcohol-related accidents during this time of year.
The combination of increased alcohol consumption and more vehicles on the road makes the holidays one of the most dangerous periods for traffic accidents.
Organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving work to prevent these tragedies. Founded in 1980, MADD has been instrumental in raising awareness about the dangers of drunk driving, supporting victims and their families, and advocating for stricter laws.
Every choice to drink and drive is a choice to endanger lives. Stories of families losing children, spouses or parents to drunk drivers during what
COMMENTARY
should be a season of joy serve as a devastating reminder to what is truly at stake.
If you plan to drink, arrange for a designated driver, use rideshare services or stay where you are until it is safe to drive. Friends and family please step in to prevent an intoxicated friend or family member from getting behind the wheel.
This holiday season, make responsible choices. Don’t risk your life or the lives of others by driving under the influence. Celebrate the season with care, and remember that getting behind the wheel while impaired can turn your vehicle into a weapon, shattering lives and dreams in an instant. Together, we can create safer roads and ensure this season of giving is filled with joy, not overshadowed by preventable tragedies. Celebrate responsibly because every life matters. Please do not drink and drive.
Professional journalists applauded for dedication, accuracy, capturing raw emotion of those involved
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With the rise of social media content, the line between fact and speculation has become increasingly blurred. This underscores the critical importance of our role as professional journalists. By being present at the scene, we can distinguish truth from rumor, ensuring our reporters gather verified information and authentic images.
We are deeply grateful to our reporters, photographers and editors who work tirelessly to connect our community with the news. Their words and images not only inform and inspire but often spark meaningful change. They remind us that behind every headline are real people, real stories and real moments that deserve respect and thoughtful consideration.
As we continue to grow ROC Edition, Your Trusted Community News Source, we stay committed to responsible journalism by providing our team with the tools and resources they need to fulfill their vital work. It is through their lens that we gain a clearer and deeper understanding of the world around us each day.
For the stories they chase, the risks they take and the truth they share, we thank them. And for the trust you place in us as readers, we thank you too.
Sherrie Clifford Publisher, ROC Edition
Your Trusted Community News Source www.ROCedition.com
The ROC Staff
Sherrie Clifford Publisher 856-873-6029 sclifford@oceanpinesroc.com
Susan Canfora News Editor 410-208-8721 scanfora@oceanpinesroc.com
Giovanni Guido Staff Writer gioguido56@gmail.com
David Bohenick Staff Writer dbohenick2003@gmail.com
Tessah Good Staff Writer tessahgood@icloud.com
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Worcester County BOE District 5 Election
Dear Editor,
The Worcester County Board of Education District 5 race demonstrated our community’s dedication and commitment to education. Elena McComas, reelected with 54% of the vote, demonstrated her strong connection to the community and her track record of leadership on the board. Her campaign highlighted her experience, her understanding of state and federal mandates, and her ability to articulate the board’s role effectively.
Dorothy Shelton-Leslie’s campaign, while falling short, cannot be overlooked. She received 45% of the vote. Her message resonated with voters and brought issues like school safety, library materials, and gender identity policies into the spotlight. These are not easy challenges, but they reflect genuine community concerns that demand careful and open discussion.
This election also showed the tension between Worcester County’s predominantly conservative values and Maryland’s broader state policies. Balancing these dynamics is a difficult task for the school board, but transparency and proactive communication are crucial.
Congratulations to both candidates for running campaigns that brought important issues to the forefront. As the board moves forward, addressing these concerns constructively and openly will be vital to maintaining trust from the community.
Respectfully,
John Huber
Ocean Pines
ROC Life
Soup’s on at Pines Cafe where salads, sandwiches, variety of desserts, coffee satisfy hungry patrons
By David Bohenick Staff Writer
At 4:30 p.m. Phil Cropper ended his day just like he had started it –standing behind the counter of The Pines Cafe.
The café has been open two months and Cropper credited the students who run it for its success.
The menu includes sandwiches for breakfast and lunch, soups, salads, grab-and-go dinners, baked goods and coffee. Bakery items rotate daily. Vegetarian options, like avocado toast, are also available.
The Chicken Pomodoro and The Cuban are the most expensive lunch items, priced at $13. Take-home dinners can range up to $30.
The cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Customers can dine-in or order online through the café’s website, www.pinescafe.com
Cropper is a full-time instructor of the Worcester Technical High School Culinary Arts Program in Snow Hill. He only has the time to prep for the following day after the cafe closes. If it wasn’t for students, Cropper said the cafe wouldn’t be operational.
“The idea is the cafe has to be 100 percent self-sufficient. We don’t have a school budget. We don’t have money designated for us from the school system. So, whatever we spend, we have to pay,” Cropper said.
The Pines Café is located inside TidalHealth’s Cathage Building at the North Gate of Ocean Pines. It opened Sept. 9. The cafe is run by three student workers and two managers. All the revenue the cafe generates returns to the high school’s culinary arts program.
“At the end of the year, whatever money is left, we’ll put away for a reserve for next year… and then the goal is to ultimately have a small amount of money that we can move from the cafe, every year, into the culinary program to help offset the cost of the culinary arts program at the tech school. I don’t get paid any extra. I don’t get a profit from it. It’s completely run by Worcester County
public schools,” Cropper said.
Cropper, who has been an instructor 14 years, said students must meet certain criteria when applying to work at the café. They must complete chef certification through the American Culinary Federation, pass state tests, school assessments and the Culinary Arts and Pastry Arts programs offered during their junior year.
“As seniors in high school, they’re doing this almost like a job, like a work study. They’re enrolled in the Maryland Apprenticeship Program so they get paid the whole time they’re here,” Cropper said.
Thirty-two students are enrolled in the culinary and pastry program.
“As far as the cafe is concerned, we only have four paid Maryland apprenticeship spots, which means the students have to work hard to meet the criteria to be selected to work in the café,” Cropper said.
The Pines Cafe is already outperforming what Cropper says he expected.
“I was hoping to do 40 to 50 pounds of chicken salad when we opened… and last week we did 180 pounds. It varies, we start with 100 pounds and we keep making it until we don’t need anymore,” Cropper said.
The café does not have a kitchen in the back. Instead, students prepare the food at school and Cropper transports it back to the cafe after classes end.
“We do a lot of the baking and the cooking for the cafe at the tech school because we have no kitchen here. It’s very tiny,” Cropper said.
Even with limited space, the workers at The Pines Cafe still sell an extensive number of goods, including products from other purveyors.
“All [the products] started during COVID when we were doing distance learning. We needed a way for the kids to be able to still do something active, so they started researching recipes and coming up with our own signature line of salad dressings, spice blends, jams, jellies etc.,” Cropper said.
Top, Phil Cropper, who oversees Worcester Tech students as they run the new Pines Cafe, pauses in the dining area after a busy day. At bottom left, merchandise including spices, cookbooks, sauces and cake mixes are for sale near the front counter. At bottom right, the front counter, after the cafe closes one afternoon, with utensils, caramels, pretzel twists and baked goods.
Cropper added that he plans to step away from the operations as soon as the new year.
“I’m slowly passing the torch. Every week I give them one more job that they’re doing and I just kind of check up on them to make sure they’re doing it properly. I’d say probably by the first of the year, when school comes back from Christmas break, the kids will be doing this 100 percent on their own,” Cropper said.
Cropper has worked in the food service industry for decades. He said he understands the mechanics of the kitchen and has applied his find-
ings to students to set them up for success. Cropper said the cafe gives them hands-on experience.
“The culinary arts kitchen at the tech school is a $3.5 million facility. The students do everything. They scrub the floors, they sweep and mop, they take out the trash, they rotate the stock, they clean all the equipment, they learn it all, from management to nutrition to sanitation day-in and day-out. It’s just like working in the industry,” Cropper said.
ROC Edition • David Bohenick
‘Bee’
looking for new pollinator gardens on Ocean Parkway; bright signs mark the spot for beauty, environmental benefits
By Tessah Good Staff Writer
As fall 2025 approaches, several tiny pollinator gardens in the median on Ocean Parkway will be abloom with smooth aster, sweet goldenrod and blue mistflower.
Look for “an edging of grape hyacinths to create definition in the spring and in each center there will be a grouping of switchgrass and little blue-stem grass,” Ocean Pines Garden Club Co-Vice President Barbara Miller said.
Each garden is marked with bright yellow signs with a drawing of a bee at the top left and the words “Please BEE patient. Native pollinator garden under construction.”
Gardens are on Ocean Parkway near the North Gate and South Gate and across from Pintail Park.
Club members expect the first blooms to appear in May and continue through fall. Gardens will not require watering.
“In spring, we’ll see beardtongue, blue false indigo and Bradbury
beebalm to name a few. Summer brings butterfly weed, our state flower the Black-Eyed Susan, purple coneflower, threadleaf coreopsis,” Miller said, adding the pollinator gardens offer environmental benefits, such as providing pollen sources for native pollinators and reducing the need for mowing.
And, perhaps most importantly to passersby, the gardens will offer enjoyable scenery, she said.
Garden club Co-President Ann Shockley said pollinator gardens are vital for the community.
“Bees and other insects that make everything grow, not just in your garden but everything, are welcomed. It fosters a vision of what a garden can be,” Shockley said.
The little gardens are only the beginning of the garden club’s plans to protect native pollinators.
“The long-term goal is that it [the project] is successful enough so that we can expand the gardens,” Miller said.
The gardens, a joint project of the garden club and the Ocean Pines
Association, will also provide a habitat for wildlife.
The garden club has been planning since summer and members were eager to bring the pollinator habitats to the Ocean Pines community, Miller said.
“It was my idea. I brought up the question and whether we thought it could happen and what we need to do to make it happen,” Miller said, explaining native plants can tolerage Maryland’s unique climate.
Nancie Corbett of Bluebird Farms near Ocean Pines and Eddie Wells of the Ocean Pines Public Works Department helped plant the gardens. Wells cleared the grass, tilled the soil and provided markings for each site. Corbett provided the plants.
Miller said Corbett worked closely with master gardener Sandy Gaffigan to select plants that would display the most vibrant possible scene year-round.
Ginny Rosenkranz, agent for the University of Maryland Extension, was just one of those who gave helpful suggestions, Miller said.
Little gardens are being planted in the median on Ocean Parkway to attract bees and other pollinators and provide habitats for wildlife.
Rosenkranz proposed planting plugs in the fall, rather than waiting for a spring seeding. She explained plugs help provide ground coverage, and have a much better chance of surviving the colder months.
Kids’ Corner Kids’ Corner
For ages 12 and under. Entries selected at the discretion of the editor. Submit artwork to: info@oceanpinesroc.com
SUBMITTED BY: Paisley G. of Ocean Pines
ROC Edition • Susan Canfora, News Editor
Pines Tones’ Christmas Memories Concert to feature holiday favorites at Community Church in OP on Dec. 6
By Tessah Good Staff Writer
The Pine Tones Chorus will continue its 40-year tradition of celebrating the holidays with a free Christmas Memories Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, at the Community Church at Ocean Pines. Donations will be accepted.
The focus will be on family-friendly songs including classics like “O’ Holy Night” and “The Little Drummer Boy” but modern Christmas songs are also planned, including “Where Are You, Christmas?” from How the Grinch Stole Christmas and “My Christmas Tree” from Home Alone 2.
Soloists include altoist Karen Adcock, sopranos Dorothy Leslie and Robin Robbert, altos Deborah Airey, Stacy Hromanik and Donna Pasqualino and tenors Chris Hromanik, Patrick Lehnerd and Paul Yannuzzi.
The non-profit, all-volunteer community choral singing group includes about 40 singers and is under the direction of Jenny Anderson.
When Pine Tones Adcock moved to Ocean Pines, she was involved in care-giving and didn’t have the chance to meet anyone. That changed when Adcock took her mother to a Pine Tones concert.
“The music was good but the main thing that stuck with me was how happy everyone in the group seemed to be. I ran into some of the women in the bathroom after the show and asked about it and they
all said how fun it was. So, I joined the Pine Tones. Honest to goodness, probably every friend I have now and everything I do now, started through friends I made in the Pine Tones. It’s a wonderful, supportive, welcoming group,” Adcock said.
There are two concerts each year, one in the spring and one in December.
“In the run up to each of our main concerts, we spend two weeks
traveling around to as many local rehabs and nursing home facilities as we can, usually around eight or nine. We do mini versions of our concert at those places where the people are not able to get out. We like to do it,” Adcock said.
At this year’s concert, bags filled with holiday treats including cookies and candy canes, will be distributed. Cookies are from Monroe’s Bakery. Owner Jamie Monroe donated several hundred cookies.
There will also be bags designated for children filled with several small toys. “We wanted to make sure we give some type of hospitality to the people who come,” Adcock said.
The concert is funded by Worcester County Arts Council, Maryland State Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
To become a member of the Pine Tones, call Chorus President Dave Holloway at 610-213-7472 or Director Jenny Anderson at 443-655-5636.
For more information see the Facebook page Pines Tones Chorus.
Kiwanis hosts annual breakfast for the community
By Tessah Good Staff Writer
The Kiwanis of Ocean Pines and Ocean City spread holiday cheer with a community breakfast Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Ocean Pines Community Center.
Pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice lined the rows of tables in the festively decorated Assateague Room.
Each year, the Kiwanis sponsors three community meals.
Club Spokesman Dave Landis has attended the holiday breakfast every year since he became a member 20 years ago. He also helps cook.
“It’s good for us to keep a face i n the community,” Landis said.
Many members of the Kiwanis Club, such as Chairwoman Candy Foreman, as well as student volunteers from Stephen Decatur Middle School and Stephen Decatur High School, worked together to make sure there wasn’t an empty cup or plate in sight.
The student volunteers are a part of the Builders’ Club, or Key Club, student programs sponsored by the Kiwanis.
Jameson Guard was one of the many student volunteers and was busy pouring juice and coffee.
“It makes us feel good because the community works together,” Guard said.
Children 12 years old and younger were admitted free. Others paid $9 for the meal, with proceeds
benefiting student programs sponsored by the Kiwanis. The money also funds a Kiwanis scholarship that will be awarded next June to a graduating senior in Worcester County.
“The real reason we charge is because all the funds we raise go back into the community, mostly for programs like scholarships that we give out every year. Last year it was $16,000,” Landis said.
This year more than 190 children and adults attended the breakfast.
The Kiwanis were able to raise more than $1,000.
The breakfast is just one of the Kiwanis’ many community outreach projects.
In November, the Kiwanis collected coats and toys for the winter season. Every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon, members of the Kiwanis gathered in the parking lot of the Community Center to collect donations.
Donations go to Worcester G.O.L.D., an organization that assists Worcester County residents living in low-income households by providing emergency financial assistance and necessities, according to the organization’s website.
Attendees did not need to take donations to the event but were encouraged to stop by one of the coat and toy drop off locations.
If interested in becoming a member of the Kiwanis of Ocean Pines and Ocean City, attend at least one meeting. See kiwanisofopoc.org.
enjoy a hearty breakfast and the company of family and friends at the Kiwanis Club Breakfast at the Community Center in Ocean Pines on Saturday, Nov. 16. Pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage were on the menu, cooked by dedicated Kiwanis Club members and volunteer students from Worcester County Schools kept cups filled.
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher Families
Make a tail wag with donation to Worcester Humane Society; canned food, toys, blankets all make ‘purr-fect’ gifts
By Tessah Good Staff Writer
The Worcester County Humane Society is more than just a building with four walls and employees. It’s home to many animals, the place where a dedicated team feeds them and sees that they are clean and safe every day of the year.
Both cats and dogs rely on humane society staff for not only shelter but also compassion.
Staff has put animal welfare first for more than 48 years, since a group of volunteers founded the organization and settled on Eagle’s Nest Road, off Route 611 in Berlin, in 1976. Since then, it’s been run as a private, no-kill shelter, a safe place for animals to stay until they are adopted, or as pet lovers like to say, find their “fur-ever” homes.
A successful operation requires the support of the community, Anne O’Connell, treasurer and volunteer, said.
“As of our last fiscal year that ended July 31, our operations to manage the shelter was $781,000,”
she said, adding there is no funding from the national Humane Society or from Worcester County, although there is collaboration with the Ocean City Animal Control, the agency that houses stray, lost or abandoned animals found in the Ocean City area.
The town of Ocean City provides a small grant to the humane society but O’Connell said it relies “100 percent on donations.”
“We are private and get no money from the Humane Society of the
United States and we get no money from Worcester County. We have in the past asked for funding from Worcester County and the several times we did, we were turned down. Our fundraising, our donations and our thrift store are really what keeps us going,” O’Connell said, adding donations of dog food, cat toys. rubber gloves, thermometers, blankets and cash are needed. See www.worcestercountyhumanesociety.org.
Those who frequent its thrift store also help by buying items. The thrift store, at 12703 Sunset Ave in Ocean City, is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 410-213-9400.
Donations can also be made to the Edgar Poe Abused Animals Fund to care for animals who have not been treated kindly.
That fund was created after two kittens, Edgar and Poe, were abused by juveniles by being dunked in a bucket of water and thrown against a wall. They were rescued by a humane society member and police officers in Princess Anne. The kittens were adopted together and are now
healthy adults living happily in their owners’ home.
Donations will soon be accepted to fund another building since the current structure is at full capacity for dogs and has more than 20 cats, all needing homes.
“We are in the beginning stages of a capital campaign for a new building. Our goal is to build a new building in our same general area and we are looking at different configurations that would give us the ability to house more animals,” O’Connell said.
If the humane society is at full capacity, or receives another animal such as a guinea pig, ferret or rabbit bunny, staff works with other agencies to find the animal a home.
Ocean City’s popular Winterfest of Lights opens; trams not running through Northside Park this year
By Susan Canfora News Editor
As Maryland StThe popular trams that carry visitors through Northside Park in Ocean City to see the popular Winterfest of Lights won’t be running this year, meaning guests will walk through the 58-acre park or, if needed, rent mobility devices.
Town officials decided not to have the trams at Winterfest, which opened on Nov. 21, after a 2-yearold boy was killed after being hit by a tram on the Ocean City Boardwalk near Dorchester Street in late August.
Trams haven’t run on the Boardwalk since that accident and Ocean City Manager Terry McGean has told news agencies there’s a good chance they won’t return for the 2025 busy tourist season.
McGean said town officials have received notice about a possible lawsuit.
He would not provide details but said trams would most likely be absent next year as the accident is investigated.
Winterfest is open from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays, then every night from Dec. 25 to Dec. 31.
Admission costs $6 for adults and free for children younger than 11.
Promised are animated displays, a walking path, visits with Santa Claus, a gift shop, hot chocolate and cookies for sale, firepits, amusement rides, augmented reality games and spots to pose for photographs, as well as light displays.
ROC Edition • Town of Ocean City
Festivelylighting up ePines Festivelylighting up ePines Festivelylighting up ePines
Santa Claus arrived at White Horse Park in an Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Engine Saturday evening for the annual Light Up the Pines event. Scores of guests enjoyed about 60 trees, each sponsored by a local business including ROC Edition, complimentary hot chocolate and musical entertainment.
ROC Edition • ROC Staff
Merry givers have until mid-December to donate favorites to Toys for Tots
By David Bohenick Staff Writer
Toys for Tots is providing a big way to give back this holiday season.
The organization is collecting unwrapped toys at nearly 400 drop off locations scattered around Worcester County. Toys for Tots will accept donations until mid-December.
Local Toys for Tots coordinator Dena Holloway, who also oversees collection in Wicomico and Somerset Counties in Maryand and Accomack County in Virginia, said Richard Hasen and Missy Hasen are responsible for the Ocean Pines area. She and her husband pick up toys in Berlin, West Ocean City and Pocomoke City, she said.
Holloway said she loves the role she plays in the community. She has seen the impact first-hand that the non-profit makes on those in need.
“Words can’t explain it. It’s very gratifying. It’s very hard. Some families have nothing and they are just so grateful,” Holloway said.
Volunteers help collect donations, and take them to local warehouses in Snow Hill and Salisbury, where they await shipment. The toys are then delivered to different facilities, some of which are prepared to be given to children as soon as the shipment arrives.
“When we deliver to churches, some of them have little kids waiting in the other room and they get so excited when they see us come in,” Holloway said.
Toys for Tots also accepts specific toy requests but must work with a limited budget. Holloway explained that’s why the non-profit is always looking for sponsorships.
“We’re only allowed to spend $35 on a specific toy and $100 on a bike. Sponsors are allowed to spend more,” Holloway said.
The most popular requests are LEGO, sports balls, baby dolls, and board games.
Toys are separated by age range and gender before distribution. Once the toys are sorted, the volunteers make sure each child gets two toys that best fit their demographic.
While some areas hand all donations out personally, Holloway is focused on getting the toys to different distributors.
“For my unit, we collect the toys and distribute them to different facilities. Some units hand the toys out to individual people. The one in Delaware does, but we do not,” Holloway said.
Holloway says distributors appreciate the program.
“Everybody is so appreciative. The location in Virginia, for example, is extremely grateful and the fact that we deliver everything to them. They’re appreciative of it all,” Holloway said.
“The Marines contact us and they ask us if we want to be a drop-off point. We’ve only had it for a couple of weeks and it’s already full,” Branch Manager Harry Burkett said.
Burkett said the library location has been successful in collecting donations in years past. He estimated that the volunteers unload collection boxes two or three times every season.
“We just give them a call when it gets full and they get it taken care of for us,” Burkett said.
Don’s Seafood and Chophouse in Ocean Pines is another drop-off location. Manager Rachel Cloud said volunteers are frequent visitors at the restaurant.
“We’ll let them know when the box is full but the [volunteers] are really good about it. They’ll come by and check it often,” Cloud said.
Local businesses can request to become drop-off locations through the Toys for Tots website.
Toys collected in the local campaign will be sent to facilities the week of Dec. 15 for final distribution.
As Christmas nears, Toys for Tots boxes are distributed throughout the community, ready for good-hearted donors to place dolls, LEGO and other toys inside to make the holiday bright for children in need.
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
A rainy Thanksgiving morning didn’t deter dedicated runners and walkers from participating in Diakonia’s Third Annual Turkey Trot on the Boardwalk in Ocean City. Runners got into the spirit by wearing turkey costumes and including their dogs in the fund raiser for Diakonia, a temporary shelter in West Ocean City. This year, the event raised $35,000, up from $23,000 last year. About 350 people registered, more than in 2023.
Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
