By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (July 31, 2025) The Town of Berlin’s effort to appeal a property tax assessment of Dollar General, which yielded a reduction in property value of more than 20%, failed as the state tax office affirmed the lowered valuation. In May, Wayne Hartman, owner of the property leased to Dollar General… Read more »
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Voting deadline approaches for Ocean Pines board seats, referendum
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (July 31, 2025) Ocean Pines homeowners will have until this Wednesday, August 6, to cast their votes for the three open seats in the community’s board of directors’ election. The Ocean Pines Association’s Board of Directors, a seven-person body tasked with community-wide police setting, has three positions available for this… Read more »
Current Berlin council favors uplighting trees downtown
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (July 24, 2025) Uplighting will replace the current in-tree string lighting found in the trees in downtown Berlin, along Main Street, per a favorable vote by the municipality’s council last week. On Monday, July 14, the Berlin Town Council green-lit a change in downtown that will see the transition away… Read more »
State says wind permit rules have been properly followed
By Brian Shane Staff Writer (July 25, 2025) We’ve done it the right way, federal rules don’t apply here, and we won’t be reissuing any permits. That’s the upshot of a July 17 letter from Maryland’s Department of the Environment (MDE) to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a response that pushes back against the… Read more »
Proposed cell service plan would disguise tower as part of natural tree cover
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (July 24, 2025) Ocean Pines residents will have the opportunity to hear from project representatives at a town hall meeting next week, where they will detail the proposed wireless cell tower for the wooded community. Ocean Pines is hosting a virtual town hall on Monday, July 28, from 6 p.m…. Read more »
New mixed-use project proposed for Berlin
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (July 24, 2025) Burley Building Company, a Berlin-based construction business, is looking to create a multi-phase mixed-use project in its hometown to include the business’s headquarters, additional commercial space and employee housing. The Berlin Planning Commission reviewed the project’s conceptual site plan at its meeting on Wednesday, July 16. The… Read more »
Berlin making tweaks to new parking lot; Usage solid last weekend, officials say
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (July 17, 2025) Progress at Berlin’s new parking lot, located on the corner of West and Washington streets, is moving along, with ongoing discussions about possible improvements, including signage, fencing, landscaping, pay-to-park software, and a recommendation to prohibit on-street parking in areas near the property. The new car park, which… Read more »
Berlin’s first sign auction raises $10K-plus for community center effort
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (July 17, 2025) The Town of Berlin’s street sign auction, launched earlier this month, has drawn to a close, securing over $10,000 in revenue for the municipality’s community center project. To raise funds for a community center in Berlin, the town’s leaders auctioned off retired street signs, including stop signs,… Read more »
Berlin approves old chicken plant property rezoning; Residential determination ruled a mistake
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (July 17, 2025) Following a public hearing, the Berlin Town Council approved a request from developers to rezone parcel 57 at Heron Park from R-1, residential, to B-2, shopping district, to allow for the space’s renovation. Heron Park’s parcel 57, the site of the former Tyson Foods poultry processing plant,… Read more »
Tennis community honored Dale and Mitzi Ash for years served
By CINDY HOFFMAN Contributing Writer (July 17, 2025) Dale and Mitzi Ash were honored for their longtime dedication to the tennis community with a planting and tree dedication on June 21 in the Remembrance Court, a garden area at the Racquet Center that was created in 2004 to honor players who have passed away. While… Read more »