Restoring wastewater fund, building community center also make list for 2020 By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Jan. 2, 2020) Finances, infrastructure and policy goals are top priorities that Berlin’s elected officials hope to tackle this year. “First and foremost to get the finances in order. That’s absolutely priority one,” said Councilman Troy Purnell. Despite a tumultuous… Read more »
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Operation Warm gives coats to Wor. children
By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Jan. 2, 2020) More than 400 Worcester County public school students received a new winter coat last month as part of Operation Warm, an initiative sponsored by area firefighters to provide outerwear to children in need. Sean Sullivan, a firefighter paramedic for the Ocean Pines Fire Department, said the Worcester County… Read more »
Wolf intends to focus environmental efforts
(Jan. 2, 2020) OPA Environmental & Natural Assets Committee Chairman Ken Wolf, freshly reinstated to the post in October, hopes to focus the group work this year on establishing achievable benchmarks for long-standing goals. “The real concern that I had is that we were trying to do a lot of good things and we weren’t… Read more »
Janasek, Perrone, Rogers win board seats
(Dec. 26, 2019) Of seven candidates vying for a trio of open seats during the Ocean Pine Association Board of Directors 2019 election, the top vote totals were compiled by Tom Janasek, Larry Perrone and Camilla Rogers, who joined the board in August. Garnering the top total to serve a three-year term was Janasek at… Read more »
Year in Review 2019: Heron Park chemical spill: space still closed
By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Dec. 26, 2019) The spill of sodium hydroxide at Heron Park this year turned out to burn more than the grass around it — it was projected to burn through more than $280,000 by the time the cleanup of the caustic chemical could be completed. The park, previously known as Berlin… Read more »
OP sees major financial turnaround
(Dec. 26, 2019) After Ocean Pines Association members started the year with a proposed increase to annual assessment charges from soon-to-be-departed General Manager John Bailey, the subsequent leadership upheaval handed the reins to current General Manager John Viola, who employed expertise from existing personnel to produce profitable budget figures while continuing to erase prior fiscal… Read more »
Berlin’s NYE comes in two editions
Children, adult ball-drops to take place on Tuesday night throughout downtown By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Dec. 26, 2019) Thousands of residents and visitors can ring in the new year, and the new decade, next Tuesday in downtown Berlin with two ball drops. Ivy Wells, Berlin’s economic and community development director, said the festivities started about… Read more »
Planning officials continue to look at rental policies
Town wondering what kind of regs to impose on Airbnb By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Dec. 19, 2019) Members of the Berlin Planning Commission discussed the status of a short-term rental policy in town for the third consecutive meeting last Wednesday. Chairman Chris Denny asked Planning Director Dave Engelhart about the procedures for staying in rental… Read more »
Berlin police officer named ‘Everyday Hero’
By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Dec. 19, 2019) Berlin Police Officer Joseph Kerr represented the state of Maryland as an “everyday hero” and received an award for his contributions last week. “It was a proud moment,” he said. Kerr said his wife, Christy, nominated him in the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Encore Moments campaign, which aims to… Read more »
OPA Recreation Committee returning to action
Inactive for months, it will resume its facility reviews as budget sessions begin (Dec. 19, 2019) With the Ocean Pines Association budget process kicking into high gear in January, board of directors member Larry Perrone said a reconstituted Recreation and Parks Committee is slated to meet next month to examine facility upgrades and program expansions…. Read more »