Tax break may not be enough for recruiting The mayor and Town Council of Berlin have the right idea as they contemplate offering property tax incentives to first responders who live in town. Ostensibly, this idea aims to help the Berlin Fire Company recruit volunteers more than anything else, although police and career emergency services… Read more »
Editorial
03/26/2026 Bayside Editorial: Don’t get hung up on making a few dollars
Don’t get hung up on making a few dollars One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so they say, except it might also be said that trash should not be designated as trash if it’s paid for with taxpayers’ money. In that instance, one needs to be aware that throwing out old government property comes… Read more »
03/19/2026 Bayside Editorial: Fire companies face recruiting problems
Fire companies face recruiting problems Local fire companies have had trouble filling their volunteer rosters for years as the number of people willing and able to serve as volunteer firefighters and EMTs seems to be constantly dwindling. There are multiple reasons for that. One, as Berlin Fire Chief Andrew Grunden told the mayor and Town… Read more »
03/12/2026 Bayside Editorial: What’s taking so long with Parcel 57 sale?
What’s taking so long with Parcel 57 sale? People generally have little sympathy for real estate developers, who, like reporters, lawyers and politicians, are often suspected of being up to something. Nevertheless, some pity is due builder/developer Palmer Gillis who, at the Town of Berlin’s invitation, has been trying … and trying … to buy… Read more »
Letter To The Editor: Legislation worth letters of support
Legislation worth letters of support Editor, Did you know that, currently, the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) is not required to conduct an analysis of the full costs and benefits of the various sources of electricity generation in the state? The PSC is the independent administrative agency that regulates the public utilities in Maryland. As… Read more »
03/05/2026 Bayside Editorial: Town, OPA do their best to draw public
Town, OPA do their best to draw public It might be said that Berlin and Ocean Pines don’t have much in common beyond sharing the 21811 zip code. But recently they, as in their leadership, are thinking about how to ensure the public’s presence at their meetings. In Ocean Pines’ case, the community association’s board… Read more »
02/26/2026 Bayside Editorial: Electric service must be better protected
Electric service must be better protected There must be a better way, and it must be a way that the public can afford, because otherwise society is completely helpless without it. That would be how to deliver electric service, without which our world ceases to function. And yet, the distribution of power to consumers is… Read more »
Letter To The Editor: Register Democrat to vote this June
Register Democrat to vote this June Editor, The primary is coming up in June. Maryland only allows voters registered as Democratic or Republican to vote in the primary. If you are not registered or are registered as Independent, Libertarian, Green or Constitution Party, you may not vote in the primary. The Worcester County Democratic Committee’s… Read more »
02/19/2026 Bayside Editorial: Pedestrian bridge talk should shift its focus
Pedestrian bridge talk should shift its focus The continuing conversation about the possibility of having a pedestrian bridge built over Route 113 to connect the main portion of town with its east side has been doing exactly that for quite a while — continuing and continuing. As a symbolic connection of black and white Berlin,… Read more »
Letter To The Editor: Accountability and transparency needed
Accountability and transparency needed Editor, Any incident that ends with a civilian shot by a federal officer demands clear, independent scrutiny — not rushed conclusions. When Congressman Andy Harris weighs in on the Minneapolis encounter, it reflects how quickly national immigration debates can shape the story before all the facts are known. But relying primarily… Read more »