By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (March 19, 2026) The Berlin Fire Company gave town officials its semiannual update last week, revealing that filling the ranks with volunteers remains a struggle for the department. Berlin Fire Company President David Fitzgerald and Fire Chief Andrew Grunden attended the Berlin Town Council’s meeting on March 9. The department… Read more »
News
Berlin eyes room tax rate to pay for parking lot upgrades
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (March 19, 2026) The Town of Berlin appears likely to adopt an ordinance dedicating funds collected from an increase in the hotel room tax to making repairs to municipal and quasi-public parking lots. At a Town Council meeting last week, Councilmember Jack Orris presented his proposal to create a new… Read more »
Berlin meetings temporarily relocate
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (March 19, 2026) Town of Berlin staff and officials are gearing up to move out of Town Hall as the long-awaited structural renovation project begins. Meetings will be relocated to the library and police department until the work has been completed. Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall said last week that the… Read more »
Former Pines Clubhouse manager convicted of felony theft
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (March 19, 2026) A former employee of the Ocean Pines Clubhouse Bar and Grille was convicted of felony theft earlier this month following a 2025 investigation that revealed more than $13,000 in bank deposits had gone missing over several weeks. On March 6, former clubhouse manager Grayson Ashley Mitchell, 39,… Read more »
Berlin Arby’s bans students from dining in, mother says
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (March 19, 2026) A policy at an Arby’s restaurant across the street from Stephen Decatur High School permits students to order food but does not allow them to eat inside the establishment, one mom says. According to Shannon Jones, the parent of a senior at Decatur, her daughter was asked… Read more »
Former Pines GM sentenced in federal tax case
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (March 19, 2026) Former member of the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors and interim general manager Brett Hill was sentenced to 18 months in prison last week after a federal jury convicted him on 16 counts of failing to collect and pay employment taxes. In addition to ordering his… Read more »
Commission OK’s plans for 12-unit apartment building
By Brian Shane Staff Writer (March 19, 2026) Worcester County officials approved plans for a 12-unit apartment building in West Ocean City, one the developer hopes will soon provide new year-round rental opportunities for working families. The county’s planning commission on March 5 gave its unanimous approval to the Park Place Villas project along Route… Read more »
Speed humps planned for Gum Point Road
By Brian Shane Staff Writer (March 19, 2026) In response to resident complaints about speeders, Worcester County will institute a speed hump pilot program on Gum Point Road in Berlin. Gum Point Road was selected for the pilot program after residents told county officials about drivers exceeding the 30-mph speed limit. Many inquired about a… Read more »
Mobile gaming bill stalls in General Assembly
By Brian Shane Staff Writer (March 19, 2026) Proposed state legislation that would let Maryland’s licensed casinos expand their operations into gambling apps for smartphones appears to be stalling ahead of an important deadline for the 2026 legislative session. Two bills to enact internet gaming, or “iGaming,” had been pending this session of the General… Read more »
Petition asks school system to reassess 26-27 calendar
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (March 12, 2026) The online petition expressing dissatisfaction with the Worcester County Board of Education’s 2026-27 school year calendar hit 644 verified signatures on Tuesday. Whether that’s enough to get the school board to reconsider the calendar — and address the major complaint of school starting before Labor Day —… Read more »