Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (April 11, 2019) A year ago, all eyes were on the Matt Ortt Companies as they prepared to take over operations of the Ocean Pines yacht and beach clubs, which had just finished losing nearly $800,000 in the preceding 12 months. This fiscal year, under Ortt, the facilities project to break… Read more »
Tax objections continue at Town Council mtg. By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (April 11, 2019) For the last several months, Berlin officials have fought criticism of proposed tax and fee increases by advancing the notion they didn’t know public opposition was so strong because so few people attended council meetings. On Monday night, the latest in a… Read more »
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (April 11, 2019) The Ocean Pines Board of Directors on Saturday approved spending $3.185 million for three major projects: expanding the police and administration building, rebuilding the country club, and building a new golf cart barn. Discussions on each of the projects had dragged on for several years. Reports of mold… Read more »
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (April 11, 2019) Colby Phillips has been named the new director of operations for the Ocean Pines Association. The position was created at the Saturday board meeting and on Monday Phillips was appointed to the role by interim General Manager John Viola. According to a motion by Association President Doug Parks,… Read more »
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (April 4, 2019) The Ocean Pines Board on Saturday voted 4-0 to appoint John Viola as general manager on an unpaid, volunteer basis. Viola has served as chairman of the association’s budget and finance committee for several years. Last June, he was appointed association treasurer, a role he will apparently continue… Read more »
Board promises no one will lose money on cards By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (April 4, 2019) Ocean Pines Association leadership several times on Saturday promised to sort through a recent argument about pool access coupon cards. Apparently, for many years the association offered refillable cards for access to Ocean Pines pools, with balances rolling over… Read more »
General fund budget cuts total 18 percent, $1.3M By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (April 4, 2019) Some departments were cut more than others, but the numbers in the staff-prepared draft of Berlin’s general fund budget presented to the mayor and Town Council Monday night were 18 percent lower than the previous year’s spending. To go along… Read more »
Berlin fire claims life of at least one pet; one missing By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (April 4, 2019) A house fire at 12332 Snug Harbor Road in Berlin on Monday claimed the life of at least one pet and another was missing as of Monday evening. Berlin Fire Company 3rd Assistant Chief Robert J Rhode… Read more »
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (March 28, 2019) Two men familiar with the Berlin Town Council dominated the public comments portion of a meeting Monday night, hammering elected officials on issues of taxes and roads. First was Jason Walter, a Berlin resident who in 2008 ran for the District 2 council seat. He and current At… Read more »
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (March 28, 2019) Just a few years ago, downtown Berlin bustled with life during monthly 2nd Friday art strolls, with virtually each shop offering some kind of display of local artwork, as well as refreshments and special sales for visitors. More recently, the events have been limited to just a few… Read more »