Ribbon cut, new OP Memorial Pavilion dedicated preceding patriotic Veterans Day ceremony
By Giovanni Guido Staff Writer
As the dedication of the new, $200,000 Worcester County Veterans Memorial Pavilion began, Memorial Foundation President Marie Gilmore told attendees they were looking at “the fruition of several years of wishing and years of planning and building.”
“We are grateful to the Ocean Pines Board of Directors and Ocean Pines General Manager John Viola who so willingly joined us in our mission,” Gilmore said at the Monday, Nov. 11, event.
“We have something very special here and this certainly is a part of it,” Viola said.
He joined Gilmore and members of the Ocean Pines Board of Directors and Memorial Foundation to snip a yellow ribbon draped across the 10-sided, 40-foot wide, 22-foot high structure.
It is similar to the gazebo at White Horse Park.
The Veterans Memorial Foundation paid $70,000 of the cost for the pavilion and the OPA Board funded the remainder.
At a recent OPA Board meeting, Viola explained the cost increased from the original estimate. When Viola first brought construction of a pavilion to the board’s attention, in December 2023, he estimated the cost at $100,000 and said it would be split equally between the OPA and the Foundation.
Foundation members “have given me the permission to go forward to work with an outside contractor,” he said, referring to The Whayland Company in Laurel, Del.
The board approved the request for construction of a pavilion and at the time Viola estimated the project to be finished by May 2024, but the start was postponed until September.
“Based upon discussions with the Veterans Memorial Foundation, it was mutually decided to wait,”
Viola told ROC Edition, replying to a reporter’s e-mail.
Later, during the community’s annual membership meeting on Aug. 10, the general manager said he met with Gilmore to make changes to the sketches and designs of the pavilion. Extra lighting and a generator were added as well as security
WWII veteran recounts his life in the war
By Giovanni Guido Staff Writer
World War II veteran Morris Semiatin proudly displayed the Purple Heart hanging around his neck, awarded for being injured in the Battle of Iwo Jima, as friends and fellow veterans snapped photographs and stopped by to say hello to him at the Ocean Pines Veterans Day Salute on Monday.
It’s been 80 years since the 98-year-old Semiatin enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, in 1944, and he still cherishes that Purple Heart.
After the war, his son, Ben, with whom he makes his home in Ocean City, said, his father returned to his home in Baltimore to pursue a career in photography, eventually becoming a White House photographer. He photographed anybody who set foot in the White House from world leaders, politicians, royalty, movie stars, athletes and, of course, presidents.
As a high school graduate, the elder Semiatin knew he would be
drafted sooner or later because by 1944 America was in the thick of WWII and his father had just turned 18. He didn’t want to end up in the U.S. Army like his older brother did and be shipped to Europe, so he joined the U.S. Marine Corps.
The elder Semiatin was sent to the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, S.C., where he was
ROC Edition • Giovanni Guido
A smiling Morris Semiatin, attending the Veterans Salute in Ocean Pines on Veterans Day, holds the Purple Heart he was presented for being injured during World War II.
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher Ocean Pines dignitaries gather for the ribbon cutting and dedication of the new Veterans Memorial Pavilion, just before the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Memorial Park this week.
As the U.S. flag, and flags representing every branch of the military, fly over the Worcester County Memorial in Ocean Pines, scores of guests gather for the annual Veterans Day Tribute on Monday, Nov. 11. The event included patriotic songs performed by local school children and the Delmarva Chorus as well as speakers and posting of colors. Before the event began, the crowd applauded the dedication of the new Memorial Pavilion.
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
PAVILION
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measures, all causing the price to increase to $150,000.
At the Sept. 28 board meeting, Viola quoted the price as $200,000.
When OPA Director Steve Jacobs questioned the increase, Viola said costs “came in higher than what we were expecting.
“A lot of it was the brick work and the detail and the structure,” he said.
Board Vice President Rick Farr, writing on the Ocean Pines Forum, a website to discuss community matters, stated, “While the cost of materials have gone up, which some are questioning, there is no price tag on those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we have as a nation.”
He added the pavilion “will be a wonderful addition to the memorial.”
Viola mirrored Farr’s sentiments in an email reply to a ROC Edition reporter, saying the pavilion will “enhance the experience at the Veterans Memorial, specifically for school field trips.”
A pleased Gilmore said she and Foundation board members are “very excited to be able to use this beautiful gazebo for our programs and
are especially delighted to be able to share it with the community.”
“I can only imagine that there will be many joyous family occasions celebrated at the gazebo as well as many Ocean Pines special events there. We look forward to incorporating this into our educational instruction during next year’s school visits,” she added.
The foundation’s Board of Directors has already reserved the pavilion for May 2025, when local fifth-grade classes take field trips to the Veterans Memorial. On one of the pavilion’s sides, a storage shed is attached to store tables and chairs.
“The entire community of Ocean Pines has now gained a beautiful spot to enjoy time with friends and family while visiting this memorial site,” Gilmore said during the dedication ceremony.
“We see a future full of great events in the park, both public and private, enhanced by having this beautiful gazebo in which to gather. We hope you will visit it often, this belongs to all of us now,” she said.
The Whayland Company will now renovate the Ocean Pines Racquet Center. That project is still in the planning stage but work is expect ed to begin later this year or early
next year with the hope of having it finished by April 2025.
As the Veterans Day Tribute began at 11 a.m., Michelle Winemiller, emcee at the Veterans Day ceremony, Foundation board member and U.S. Air Force veteran, welcomed guests to the Veterans Day ceremony by recognizing “those who wore the uniform and returned home.”
“To all the veterans here today, whether you served at home or abroad, in war time or in peace, whether you proudly served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or the Space Force, thank you for raising your hand and swearing the oath,” she said.
Robert Hanson, Commissioner of Maryland Veteran Affairs and Family Services, was keynote speaker. He talked about fellow veterans he admires, including his grandfather and father-in-law, and of the time he served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War.
histories. We were just a band of brothers there to do a job,” he said. Hanson is involved with the Department of Veterans and Military Families, which provides a trust fund for veterans in need. See https://veterans.maryland.gov/ veterans-trust-fund/.
U.S. Navy veteran James Curry Jr. recited his poem “Keepers of the Nation,” dedicating it to “all my fellow veterans and all our active duty personnel who are currently serving this great country of ours.”
Mary Adair, treasurer of the Veterans Memorial Foundation and widow of U.S. Army veteran Col. Robert Adair, read the poem “Military Wife.”
Students from Seaside Christian Academy and The Delmarva Chorus sang patriotic songs.
American Legion Posts 123, 166 and 231 fired a volley of 21 shots from seven rifles, three shots each, over South Gate Pond.
Continued from page 1
trained for combat, then went to different boot camps, one in North Carolina, one in California and finally one in Hawaii. After spending only a short time in Hawaii, he was shipped, with tens of thousands of other Marines, to the invasion of Iwo Jima, an island in Ogasawara, Tokyo, Japan, according to an interview for the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
The historic battle began on Feb. 19, 1945, and lasted until March 26, but Semiatin, who was a part of the Fifth Marine Division, which invaded Iwo Jima alongside the Third and Fourth Marine Divisions, was only on Iwo Jima about a week. And this was his first and only mission.
Hunkered down in a foxhole with his fellow marines, he was wounded on March 12 when an enemy Japanese soldier threw a hand grenade into the foxhole. Although the enemy soldier was killed, the grenade caused heavy damage. Shrapnel exploded everywhere, burying itself into Semiatin’s right leg and wounding the Marines in the foxhole.
The injured Marines were carried out of the foxhole to safety, but his father, who was not as badly wounded, walked out, returning to his
ship with the other Marines where they all received medical treatment. Semiatin would later receive a Purple Heart, awarded to those who were injured or killed while serving in the military, for his bravery shown on that day.
His son said while his father was in Iwo Jima, before he was injured, he witnessed history being made when six Marines raised the American flag atop Mount Suribachi, captured on Feb. 23 and memorialized in Joe Rosenthal’s famous photograph.
During his time in the Marines, Semiatin became good friends with one of the flag raisers, Ira Hayes.
He stayed on the ship for the rest of the battle, due to his injury, and was eventually shipped back to Hawaii where he went through more training to prepare for the invasion of Japan. However, not long after his training began, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and then another was dropped on Nagasaki, leading to the surrender of Japan, according to the National WWII Museum interview.
With the war over, he was discharged from the Marines at 20 years old in 1946 and had no trouble readjusting to civilian life.
He pursued a career in photography, eventually opening his own
studio before landing a job as a White House photographer from 1959 until 1985. During his years as a photographer he snapped photos of presidents from John F. Kennedy to Ronald Reagan.
Later in life, he developed dementia and is cared for by his son who made a promise to his mother: “I would take care of my dad for the rest of his life.”
As the years progress, he has learned even more about his father’s interesting life.
“That’s why for the last 10 years, I’ve been making sure that not only people in Ocean City know who my dad is. I want the world to know who my dad is,” he said.
Semiatin has arranged interviews for his father with local newspapers and TV shows. The pair always tries to take part in as many events as they can, such Veterans Day ceremonies.
“I challenge you to find another living person who has been through as much history, seen as much and met and photographed as many famous people as he has in the last 80 years,” his son said.
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
World War II veteran Morris Semiatin is thanked for his service during World War by fellow veteran Crystal Heiser during the Veterans Day Tribute in Ocean Pines on Veterans Day.
Accidents on Ocean Parkway lead to road signs
By David Bohenick Staff Writer
Six road signs indicating a turn along Ocean Parkway were erected on Sept. 17 near 302 Ocean Parkway after a series of car accidents at the location.
Carole Taylor, who lives at 304 Ocean Parkway, requested the signs along the road’s curve and told ROC Edition she was concerned about her safety and the safety of her grandchildren and neighbors.
“My grandkids are 3, 2 and 1. I’m just not risking that,” Taylor said.
The most recent incident involved a truck the she said crashed crashing into her neighbor’s truck on Ocean Parkway in the early morning hours. The impact caused the neighbor’s truck to hit Taylor’s KIA Sportage, parked in her driveway.
“It would’ve come right across (the driveway) and hit that room and that’s where my grandchildren. Right in the front bedroom,” she said.
That wasn’t the first time she’s had to deal with traffic accidents occurring on her property. Taylor recalled five other accidents since moving there in 2016.
“It’s been six accidents since I’ve been here, all on that turn, and it’s such a slight turn. I had no idea this would’ve been a problem. I hadn’t even had the car for a year parked first in my driveway and it gets hit,” she said.
Taylor wrote two letters to the Ocean Pines Association asking for the signs.
“It wasn’t quick. It took them time to ship the signs but they were good to work with and they totally understood because they saw the police report,” she said.
Josh Vickers, Chief Inspector for the Ocean Pines Association, heard Taylor’s story and worked to get the signs installed for her.
“I told John Viola, the general manager, that the safest and cheapest option was to put in two new speed limit signs and six curve signs that tell people to slow down. It seemed like a logical solution,” Vickers said.
Taylor said she is hopeful the signs will stop future accidents, but not everyone is pleased with them, including Pines resident Melissa Shimkus Creswell, who commented on Facebook after seeing a photograph of them.
“I just saw these on Friday night, the most stupidest thing for the smallest curve in all of Ocean Pines.
Clockwise from top, missing tree bark is the result of a car missing the curve on Ocean Parkway and striking the tree, a photograph of the accident caused by a driver who missed that curve and the row of bright yellow signs the Ocean Pines Association erected to alert drivers that the road curves in that area.
Ridiculous money and they are so freaking ugly,” she wrote.
Diane Paul Ayers of the 800 block of Ocean Parkway, wrote that two drivers went “into our ditch, knocked over address posts (with reflector lights) and landed in [the] neighbor’s yard.”
“Yesterday’s driver got her car stuck between two tree trunks. I don’t understand since we’re not on a curve and both accidents were in the daylight,” she wrote.
Taylor said five of the six accidents occurred at night and she suspected distracted driving.
“Technology is a wonderful thing until people stop paying attention,” she said. “Looking at phones and not paying attention.”
Taylor was surprised by the Facebook comments.
“I just can’t believe these people are saying this stuff on Facebook. The drivers are coming across our driveways and hitting trees. You try living here,” she said.
ROC Edition • David Bohenick
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
Diakonia to host Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning
By David Bohenick Staff Writer
Diakonia will host its third annual Turkey Trot at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day to bring more attention to the temporary shelter in West Ocean City and garner support from the community.
Susan Blaney, Diakonia’s Community Coordinator, said she is excited about the five-kilometer walk and run, beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28, starting on First Street on the Ocean City Boardwalk, with music and associated activities beginning at 8 a.m.
“You’ve got those really serious people that want their time determined. That’s what I was going to do. I was going to train for the 5k but I didn’t because I’m going to be at the registration table and I’m just going to chill, but there will be those people that want their time determined,” she said.
All age groups are welcome.
Blaney said there was a large crowd participating last year, some from out of state.
“We encourage out-of-towners, anyone who’s here visiting. I put it
out to all my volunteers so hopefully they will bring all their visitors,” she said.
Diakonia Executive Director
Ken Argot said the Turkey Trot is a fundraiser to raise money to build a second property the non-profit recently acquired. The plan is to add 42 new residential units plus a veterans’ center.
“Really, what we need are sponsorships. We’re hoping to get $25,000 in sponsorships and we’re trying to raise $10,000 for individual registrations,” Argot said.
Registration for the Turkey Trot costs $35 before Thursday, Nov. 21, and $40 afterward, until the day of the event.
Diakonia, in West Ocean City, provides shelter for those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless as well as food and clothing. While certain programs are only running during select hours, emergency staff is available 24 hours each day.
Founded in 1972 by the Mennonite Church in Ocean City, Diakonia has continued to expand for more than 50 years thanks to federal, state and local funding. Diakonia is
a Greek word meaning “service to others.”
“The community is our biggest resource, besides grants. We have a food pantry and it’s almost completely donations. There’s a grant for $7,000 that feeds 50 people three meals a day all year. It’s really grants and donations. We work with the health department, social services and all the sheriffs’ offices because we have a rapid response
team. If you go on Facebook, you’re going to see so many other things that we do,” she said.
“Our rapid response team goes out and assesses homelessness on the street and the members go with the sheriff’s department, go out in the woods, help the homeless and take them what they need. We’ve called social services to help people so we have partnered with everybody,” she said.
Skaters, bikers display ‘gnarly’ talents at OP Skatepark
By Susan Canfora News Editor
The father of three skateboarders who, in his mid-50s, also became interested in the sport, will contact The Skatepark Project, formerly the Tony Hawk Foundation, to request funding to improve the Ocean Pines Skatepark.
Dale Verzi is seeking financing to purchase benches, expand the skate pod, pressure wash the park and build a walkway “so our feet aren’t muddy going onto the skate park,” he said.
“If you have dirt on your shoes, your shoes can’t grip the board and it can be dangerous,” he explained.
Also needed are repairs to the coping, the material at the top of a transition in a skatepark that skaters slide on, and restrooms that remain open on weekends when skaters are there.
“On Sunday the restrooms they have now are all locked. They have a porta-potty that the whole public uses but we’d like to have restrooms. If we need funds to get an expansion
and it isn’t in the Ocean Pines Association budget, if you reach out to the Skatepark Project, they usually will help out,” Verzi said.
Founded in 2002, The Skatepark Project is a non-profit skateboarding organization that helps communities construct public skate parks for youth. More than 600 parks have been built worldwide.
To bring skaters, parents, spectators – and even their dogs – together, Verzi planned the fall Skate and Bike Jam at the Ocean Pines Skatepark on Oct. 27 and it drew a crowd of about 70 young men and women eager to show off their skills as they socialized.
“It was fantastic. We had a great turn out. We put it together at the last minute but everything fell into place perfectly. Ramps were available to use that we didn’t even know were coming.
“The goal was to get kids outside, off their phones and other devices, to show them there are other things to do. A lot of kids are just starting to skate because they hear other kids talking about it and how much fun
they have and they want to try it. It’s been a really good outlet for the kids. It’s good exercise and they’re outside – fresh air, all the good things that come with being outside,” Verzi said.
As he arranged pouches of Capri Sun on a table at White Horse Park, near the skate park, and heated a grill to cook complimentary hot dogs and hamburgers, Verzi said another Skate and Bike Jam will be planned in May.
His son, 13-year-old Brody, has been skating about 10 months and his two daughters, 11-year-old Ellery and 15-year-old Brinnley, also started and they wanted him to join them, he said.
Sponsors and performers at the event included Vernon Zweifel of Radville BMX and Fenwick Cycles; Vinny Higgs of Radville BMX Club Community, who displayed his biking talents; Get Gnarly Skate Shop in Ocean City and Jimmy Ferrell, who is with Fang Face and who provided prizes including skate decks, T-shirts, hats and stickers.
The Ocean Pines Association approved the event and Scotland Yards Landscaping paid for insurance for the day.
“Radville Club does events and families get involved. The sport is old enough now that entire families can do it together,” Higgs said.
“I wanted to get everybody together in one day” Verzi said, as he watched skater McCoy Jack performed his first 9-foot drop into the skate bowl.
“Skating with your kids is a way to bring a father and their children together with all the other kids who like to skate. I was walking around in Berlin on Halloween. Ellery and I were walking by the meat market there and I heard, ‘Mr. Dale!’ All the skate kids were walking together and everyone knows me as Brody’s dad, Mr. Dale,” he said.
He and Brody have gone to the skate park every day for more than 400 days and set the goal of going daily for two years. If one of them is ill, or can’t attend, the other makes a video for them to watch together.
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
A beaming Diakonia Kitchen chef Tosh Zeller displays her culinary skills.
SKATEPARK
Continued from page 6
“It was something Brody thought of. He wanted to do 365 days, so we did that and when we go to the 365th day, my daughters joined in and said we had to do it for two years,” Verzi said.
He realized how much skating has helped his children enjoy being outdoors when, during a recent camping trip, Brody told his father he hadn’t looked at his phone for three days.
“He told me, ‘Now I know I am not addicted,’” Verzi said.
“A lot of kids are riding the ramps here in Ocean Pines. They aren’t on their phones playing games or on other devices. They are doing what they should be doing. They are outside having fun.”
Ellery Verzi, daughter of Dale Verzi, who organized the event to get youth off their phones and exercising outdoors, holds her skateboard.
McCoy Jack skates down the ramp as he enjoys the afternoon with fellow skaters at the Ocean Pines Skate Park. That day, he performed his first 9-foot drop into the skate bowl.
Zweifel’s dog Barry Allen, a Worcester County Humane Society rescue, gets involved, enthusiastically watching skaters and bikers.
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
Dolls to dump trucks: donations to Toys for Tots brighten holiday for children
By Susan Canfora News Editor
One recent afternoon around 5 p.m., Bob Davis received a call from a man who wanted to donate to Toys for Tots.
“He said he was at our warehouse. I went out there with another man. I thought he might have a few toys, but he donated 30 bikes and 43 toys,” said Davis, coordinator of the Nassau Central district for Toys for Tots, the organization known for making sure every child has gifts to open on Christmas morning.
“We try to give out at least three or four toys per kid. We’ve had pretty good donations this year. Last year, we sent out over 8,000 toys in Sussex County. We gave out about four toys per child last year. We also try to give toys to groups that help families and kids. Our volunteers have 19 routes in Sussex County. They go and collect toys, drop them off at our warehouse and sort them by age and gender and put them on shelves,” Davis said.
About 210 Toys for Tots boxes are in 187 locations throughout Sussex County. Boxes were put out starting in October.
Nassau Central, administered by the Diamond State Detachment No. 704 of the Marine Corps League, Millsboro and assisted by the Devil Dog Detachment No. 780 in Seaford, serves towns including Long Neck, Millsboro, Georgetown, Oak Orchard and Rehoboth Beach. In 2018, 8,830 toys were distributed and 2,550 children supported.
Also last year, through the Ocean View district, which includes Ocean View, Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island and Dagsboro, 5,787 toys were distributed and 4,248 children supported.
To better execute collection and distribution of toys, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was created by the U.S. Marine Corps in 1991 and is governed by a board of directors whose members are veteran Marines and business leaders. The mission is to assist the Marine Corps in “providing a tangible sign of hope to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas.”
Nationwide, volunteers distributed 18.6 million toys to 7 million children last year, with campaigns in 805 communities in every U.S. state, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.
Families in need can apply for toys on a form on the Toys for Tots Website, at www.toysfortots.org, where the welcoming message is that a new toy helps to bring the joy of Christmas and “sends a message of hope to America’s less fortunate children.”
Once approved, families are directed to a central location for pick up.
Among families applying for toys, the No. 1 request is for bicycles, but all toys, for children up to age 10, are appreciated, including books and games. The national organization stipulates children up to age 14 may receive toys, but Davis said those in that age group generally asks for electronics and computers, which are rarely donated.
It was Diane Hendricks of Los Angeles, the wife of Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks, who, in 1947, started Toys for Tots. She made a few handcrafted dolls and asked her husband to deliver them to an agency that supported youngsters in need. He came home and told her he couldn’t fine such an organization. She told him to start one.
The major and Marines in his reserve unit collected and distributed 5,000 toys that first year.
The commandant directed all Marine Reserve sites to implement a Toys for Tots campaign and the organization became a national community action program the next year, in 1948.
“It’s a great program. I’m glad I got involved in it,” Davis said.
Volunteering for Toys for Tots not only gets him out of the house – where he isn’t in his wife’s way, he joked – but has also changed his perspective.
“I’m a retired policeman but through Toys for Tots, I started to see the good in people. I was very cynical for long time, always seeing the worst in people who are griping at each other. But now I see nice people who volunteer,” he said.
“This year, we’re seeing a lot of single women with kids applying for help – single, divorced. There may be some out there that abuse the system, try to take advantage, but I don’t think they do,” Davis said.
As Christmas nears, Toys for Tots boxes are distributed throughout the community, ready for good-hearted donors to place dolls, LEGOs and other toys inside to make the holiday bright for children in need.
“A lot of them are embarrassed but there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I’ll tell you, we hear a lot of sad stories.”
ROC Edition • David Bohenick
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the very first edition of ROC Edition. We are thrilled to bring you a fresh, thoughtful, and community-centered publication that reflects the unique spirit and energy of Ocean Pines and the surrounding areas. Our goal is simple but powerful: to create a space where the stories and voices of our communities are amplified, and where every edition welcomes your voice and opinions.
As we launch ROC Edition, we’re focused on delivering a blend of news, culture, and stories that capture the pulse of Ocean Pines. From in-depth articles about local issues to highlights of neighboring communities, businesses and events with each page being crafted with the idea that information and transparency empowers us to strengthen our community.
In this inaugural issue, you’ll discover profiles of individuals making a meaningful impact in Ocean Pines, Berlin and West Ocean City. We’re also highlighting sections on upcoming events, uncovering hidden gems in the area, and sharing perspectives from voices that reflect the rich diversity of our region.
Editorial ROC Life
Welcome to the ROC Edition A Message from the Publisher
At ROC Edition, our readers are at the heart of everything we do. We invite you to share your thoughts, stories, and suggestions as we grow together. Whether there’s an issue you’d like us to dive into, a local hero you’d like us to recognize, or an event you want to see covered, we’re here to listen. We’re committed to being your trusted source for engaging, factual, relevant and thoughtful journalism.
Thank you for reading our first issue and for welcoming us into your routine. We hope you find inspiration, information, and perhaps even a bit of joy in our pages. Here’s to making ROC Edition not just a newspaper, but a valued part of our community. We can’t wait to see where this journey takes us all.
Warm
regards,
Sherrie Clifford Publisher, ROC Edition
Safe Holiday Giving – Know Who You’re Donating To
The holiday season, a time for family, joy and generosity, brings with it a strong spirit of giving. For many, this time of year is an opportunity to share their good fortune with those in need. From toy drives and food banks to seasonal charity campaigns, there are countless ways to make a difference. However, in the holiday rush to help, it’s essential to be mindful of where your donations are going. Unfortunately, not all appeals are legitimate, and some donations may end up in the hands of scammers rather than those who truly need help. Taking a few extra steps to verify who you’re giving to can ensure your generosity has the impact you intend.
During the holiday season, charities and organizations work especially hard to reach potential donors. Many legitimate charities create seasonal campaigns, appealing to the warm, giving nature of the season. But scammers are also aware of this heightened generosity and can prey on people’s holiday goodwill with fraudulent websites, fake social media pages and even unsolicited phone calls. Before giving, take a moment to verify the legitimacy of any charity you’re considering.
High-pressure appeals can be red flag. Scammers may create a sense of urgency, telling you to “act now” to help families or children in crisis. While some legitimate charities do conduct urgent campaigns around the holidays, most are happy to provide information, answer questions and give you time to decide on your donation. Any organization that won’t do so deserves a second look.
When in doubt, consider donating to well-known organizations that have a long history of transparency, or look for local charities that work with reputable partners.
During the holiday season, giving is a beautiful way to celebrate and spread joy to others. Making sure your donations go to trustworthy charities not only protects your money but also strengthens the power of your gift. Safe holiday giving is about more than protecting yourself from scams; it’s about ensuring that your generosity truly brings warmth and joy to those who need it. By taking a few simple steps to verify, you can help make the holidays brighter for everyone.
Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
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
Ocean Pines ROC Inc. 11202 Racetrack Road Ocean Pines, Md. 21811 www.OceanPinesROC.com
Press Release
November 1, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ocean Pines entrepreneur launching newspaper
ROC Edition to debut in November
COVERAGE AREAS INCLUDE BERLIN
Charming Small Town Living
OCEAN PINES A Vibrant Coastal Community
WEST OCEAN CITY
Coastal Living on the Eastern Shore
To arrange interviews or for further information please contact:
SHERRIE CLIFFORD Publisher 856-873-6029
SUSAN CANFORA News Editor 410-208-8721
OCEAN PINES – With the goal of assuring every reader in Ocean Pines and the surrounding areas receives the latest, most factual news, local resident Sherrie Clifford is launching a newspaper. The first issue is expected to be published online at www.ROCedition.com on Friday, Nov. 15. Look for future issues on the first and 15th of each month, beginning on Dec. 1.
The print edition will be published in coming months.
ROC Edition will contain articles about Ocean Pines, West Ocean City and Berlin. Readers will find news, feature articles, editorials, columns, information about local events and sports. Letters to the editor will be accepted.
Clifford also has a podcast ROC BUZZ, bringing listeners informative and entertaining interviews with locals who keep the community running. She operates the Ocean Pines ROC Facebook group, where more than 3,500 members find updates and answers to questions.
“Ocean Pines is a community of inquisitive and engaged residents who seek and deserve transparency from Board members they elect in good faith, including insights into decisions being made and how association funds are used. That is the mission of ROC News, to inform readers, while also educating them and keeping them entertained with feature articles about the most fascinating residents in the mosaic that is Ocean Pines, West Ocean City and Berlin,” Clifford said.
“This is an independent newspaper and is not affiliated in any way with the Ocean Pines Association or its board of directors. We at ROC Edition are excited to unveil this fresh publication and invite you to join our community of readers,” Clifford said.
Clifford has extensive experience in contract negotiations, project management, software development, and database management. As a successful entrepreneur and business owner, she provided the most accurate trade data to the options industry on Wall Street. Throughout her career, she has excelled at building and leading teams, advancing technological capabilities, and fosters informed decision-making. Clifford is also known for her ability to collaborate effectively with individuals at all levels of an organization, ensuring seamless communication and productive outcomes. Ocean Pines ROC Inc., 11202 Racetrack Road, Ocean Pines, Md. 21811 www.OceanPinesROC.com
Sneak peek of the first issue of ROC Edition newspaper.
SHERRIE CLIFFORD
ROC Life
Talented Pines woman creates detailed outfits for American Girl dolls
By Susan Canfora News Editor
Years ago, as Sharon Puser was sewing trendy outfits for her two granddaughters’ American Girl dolls, she had an idea – the outfits would be a popular addition to the Pine’eer Artisan Gift Shop that carries items, hand made by Ocean Pines residents.
“It just blossomed. I couldn’t believe it. The thing is, I really enjoy doing it. I get to play with dolls without playing with dolls. The first time I made a mitten for a doll I got all excited. I get a lot of joy out of it and you get joy when somebody says they like it,” Puser told ROC Edition during a recent visit to her Ocean Pines home, where two large rooms
are filled with piles of material, a variety of scissors, cute little dresses with holiday themes including Halloween and Mardi Gras, rows of frilly dresses on hangers at the top of the stairway, colorful outfits hung and on display on dolls, some with little matching purses, many that include necklaces.
Today, Puser’s granddaughters, Ashley Campbell and Brianna Nichols, sisters who live in New Jersey, are in their 20s. The Pine’eer gift shop is celebrating its 50th anniversary and Puser is still enjoying making doll clothes.
“I make a doctor set with a nurse, a scrub nurse, a patient, a little mask. The patient has a hospital
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ROC Edition • Susan Canfora, News Editor
Sharon Puser, who has been making doll clothes since her granddaughters were little girls, adds detail to an outfit in the sewing room of her Ocean Pines home.
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gown on and I bought a little wheelchair for display. I have the pattern to make an IV drip. My husband, before he died, made me stethoscopes,” she said.
There are birthstone gowns for the dolls, each with a bracelet, bow, necklace and glittery shoes, as well as sleeping bags with matching pajamas and slippers.
American Girl dolls lovers know the dolls, each named, have hobbies, such as skiing, ballet or baking so Puser makes clothing to match, even adding accessories such as rolling pins and cookie cutters.
Outfits sell for about $20, considerably less than American Girl brand clothing. To order, e-mail to s.puser@verizon.net
“I have had grown women come into the shop and say, ‘I don’t have a Christmas dress for my doll’ or ‘I don’t have a Valentine’s dress for my doll.’ They still have their dolls. My granddaughters still have their dolls. One doll is the original Samantha. One of my granddaughters got the
American Girl Bitty Baby,” she said.
Among her favorite creations is a black and white Halloween dress with black bats and orange underneath and pajama and robe sets.
“Part of the fun of it is getting the fabric and matching it up and deciding how I am going to decorate it,” Puser said.
Over the years, she has made thousands of doll coordinates to sell in the gift shop and at the Holiday Craft Fair, this year on Nov. 2 in the Community Center in Ocean Pines.
“And I have so much fabric. I keep saying I’m not going to buy any more fabric. I have enough fabric here at my house that I could probably make dresses for at least three or four years without having to buy fabric. But I use it. There is a lot of hand sewing. During the Olympics I did a soccer outfit, beach volleyball, swimming, track and they all sold. For soccer, I give them a soccer ball and chin guards. I put flip flops with bathing suits.
“I don’t just make an outfit. Some people tell me it’s hard to choose because there is so much selection,” she said.
Ocean Pines and Berlin Celebrate the Christmas Season
By Giovanni Guido Staff Writer
On Nov. 18, residents of Ocean Pines can start signing up for the community’s annual Light Up the Pines event. The holiday event shines a light on the residents’ homes by encouraging them to decorate their homes and display their holiday spirit.
“There’s nothing quite like the magic of Christmas lights to brighten our community and lift our holiday spirits,” Ocean Pines Association’s Marketing Coordinator Nancy MacCubbin said.
“The Light Up the Pines program allows Ocean Pines residents and property owners to share their festive displays, bringing joy to all who drive through our beautifully decorated neighborhoods. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the season and come together as a community.”
Formerly a contest, the outdoor decorating event attracts plenty of residents every year since 2019 when the competitive element was abandoned to encourage more people to participate.
Hundreds of fancy dresses and clothing that reflect each holiday, many including purses, necklaces and other accessories, are on display in Sharon Puser’s home and the Ocean Pines Pine’eer Artisan Gift Shop.
Although the event has changed in some ways, Choptank Electric Cooperative is continuing to sponsor it, and the company has for many years. And just like the previous years the company is providing gift baskets for the first 25 residents who sign up.
Interested residents can email names, addresses and phone number to info@oceanpines.org or call 410-641-7717 by Dec. 13.
Homes will be added to an online Google map, showing locations for a self-guided tour
It’s possible to sign up after Dec. 13, but those who do won’t be eligible to receive one of three $50 bill credits, donated by Choptank. The drawing will be on Monday, Dec. 16.
Winners will be called and pick up their credit at MacCubbin’s office.
Ocean Pines isn’t the only town celebrating the holidays with upcoming events.
The Town of Berlin will host Ice sculptures and the annual Tree Lighting on Nov. 29 beginning at 5 p.m.
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Berlin’s Mayor Zack Tyndall will light the 30-foot tree at 6 p.m. in front of the Atlantic Hotel on the corner of Main and Jefferson streets. It will be lit nightly until after Christmas Day.
Throughout town, ice sculptures, provided by Ice Concepts of Pennsylvania, chipped and shaved into different shapes and sizes, will adorn the town’s sidewalks. More than 30 sculptures will be placed in front of local businesses sponsoring the ice art.
Every year, 25,000 guests attend, listen to music, shop and dine at downtown businesses open late that evening.
The Kringle Kottage will return to Berlin on Nov. 29-31, Dec. 7-8, Dec. 14-15 and Dec. 21-22.
Families can take their children to Artisan’s Green next to House Berlin and Honey Water Candles on Artisans Way, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., where they can visit with Santa Claus.
The Town of Berlin will host the 53rd annual Berlin Christmas Parade on Dec. 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. Roads will be closed from 3 to 10 p.m.
With Santa Claus leading, the parade will begin at the Berlin Welcome Center and end at the Berlin Fire Company. The crowds of people
that line the streets will see local businesses, local nonprofits, multiple schools, marching bands, fire companies, vehicle clubs and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
Parade participants will create their own floats with some even staging performances in the spirit of the parade’s theme, “Christmas Toys Throughout the Decades.”
Professional judges will be from Mid Atlantic Judges Association and will assess marching bands, ROTC and the commercial entries to decide the winner in each category. For other categories, such as nonprofits, schools, fire companies, vehicle clubs and performing, the town appointed local volunteers as the judges.
Five judges will watch from the stage near the Taylor House Museum at the intersection of West and Main streets. Tom Sholtis will be emcee. Winners will receive trophies made by local artist Jeffrey Auxer.
The Beach Bum West-O will be presents its first Christmas Cabin Spectacular on Nov. 23 and 30.
Through Dec. 31, the motel and cabins, at 12308 Old Bridge Rd., “will be draped out in Christmas lights,” Ieva Sekace, one of the owners, said. “We will have several holiday light displays throughout the property. One of the cabins will become Santa’s Workshop where visitors can line up to take a photo with
Santa on the two event days.” The event’s North Pole Vendor Village will let families “get some holiday shopping done while supporting local small businesses.”
The event will also feature “a snowball fight area, bounce house, face painter, arts and crafts for kids.” Sekace said. “We will have hot cocoa, a food truck and Berlin Beer Co. on site,” she said.
The event is free and open to the public with a nominal fee charged to play at the bounce house, face painting and arts and crafts.
And for those who want to help a local animal shelter, there will be donation boxes “out at all times for
those who enjoy the lights to drop in a donation on any day they visit,” Sekace said. Donation boxes will be secured across the property until Dec. 31. Proceeds will benefit the Worcester County Humane Society.
And In order to get visitors more involved in the fundraising for the Worcester County Humane Society, there will be tickets sold on the two event days for a 50-50 drawing. Anyone who buys the tickets will be eligible to win half of the money from the drawing if that person’s name is drawn on Nov. 30 at 8:30 p.m., with the other half being donated to the animal shelter.
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
Talented Ocean Pines residents, devoted to holiday decorating, string hundreds of lights and arrange decorations in their yards every year.
Oh, Christmas Tree
Dozens of decorate trees to be lit at annual Pines event
By Tessah Good Staff Writer
Do you hear what I hear? Santa Claus is coming town for the14th Annual Hometown Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, Nov. 30, at White Horse Park in Ocean Pines.
Those attending the free event, open to the public and planned for 6:30 to 8 p.m., will greet the jolly elf around 7 p.m. when he arrives on an Ocean Pines fire truck, just before the big community tree, and all of the smaller, carefully decorated trees at the park, are lit after a countdown.
Until 8 p.m., children can line up at the Santa House to talk about how well behaved they’ve been and to review their Christmas lists.
Santa will make spirits bright, but so will those who sponsor and decorate the trees, including local organizations, families and businesses, including ROC for the third year as a sponsor.
Sponsors will decorate more than 50 trees, each 6 to 8 feet high and most with a theme, a few days before the event. Sponsorships are available until Monday, Nov 25. The cost for new sponsors is $100 and $75 for returning sponsors.
“It is my 11th year doing the tree lighting and each year I’ve added more trees. When we started out, we had about 35 trees and now I’m up to more than 50 trees. The money goes to cover the cost of the trees,” Goetzinger said.
The trees will be lit nightly until after the New Year.
The festival will also feature musical performances by Corville and a band called The Local Vocals, each performing for about one hour, and complimentary hot chocolate and holiday cookies.
Winners of the Pup of the Pines and 2025 Pup of the Pines dog photo contest will be announced.
Dozens of trees with unique decorations and themes line the walkway at White Horse Park in Ocean Pines at last year’s Annual Hometown Christmas Tree Lighting event, featuring complimentary hot chocolate and cookies and a visit from Santa Claus, who arrives on an Ocean Pines fire truck.
Pines’ fourth Haunted House offers howling good time
By Tessah Good Staff Writer
Little ones in Spiderman and Black Panther costumes tightened grips on their parents’ hands as they saw, in the distance, a masked man walking toward them, dragging a shovel that sparked from the friction.
Behind them, the sudden rev and brrrr of a chainsaw caused adults to jump and teens to scream as they waited in line for the fourth annual Haunted House in Ocean Pines to open the weekend before the holiday.
Haunted Farmhouse was the theme this year, featuring costumed actors, including Michael Myers from Halloween movie fame and The Joker from Batman welcoming waring batches of visitors whose eyes widened at the sight of a large plastic rat sitting on a stovetop and a man with the head of a pig jumping out of a refrigerator.
In another room, a writhing character chained to a bed tried to crawl away.
The Haunted House was also filled with a variety of props from rows of long corn stalks hanging from the ceilings, to children dressed like the twins from the horror movie
The Shining walking toward the visitors, some who backed away or looked for the nearest exit.
Skeletons dangled from fenceposts and the words “Keep running” were written in what appeared to be blood.
More than 600 brave souls walked through the haunted house on Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26, said Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Director Debbie Donahue, who called the Haunted House a success.
“It was great. We have had a lot of compliments on the overall event,” she said.
The Haunted House event was created by Compliance, Permit and Inspections Chief Inspector Josh Vickers with help from volunteers Timmy and Christy Cooper and Brookes and Erica Henry.
“They work hard to be able to hold this event for this community. Without these two families the haunt would not be possible,” Donoway said.
The overall work that goes into this project is largely done by volunteers who, Donahue said, “took vacation time this year to help bring their vision to life.”
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
