Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette
Young students participate in read-alouds, repetition of sounds and storytelling By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer (March 25, 2021) Pre-kindergarten classrooms at Buckingham Elementary School in Berlin adopted curriculum resources for the 2020-21 academic year through a district initiative including American Reading Company 100 Book Challenge, Fundations and Fountas and Pinnell read-alouds to prepare students for… Read more »
By Greg Ellison Council says mayor’s plan to keep old rate won’t work (March 25, 2021) The Berlin Town Council spent two hours Monday night vetting a proposal from Mayor Zack Tyndall to keep property tax rates static for FY22 but eventually voted for a minor increase to 81.5 cents per $100 of assessed value…. Read more »
By Greg Ellison (March 25, 2021) The Berlin Town Council voted unanimously this week to approve a previously rejected general fund reserve policy. Finance Director Natalie Saleh said no additional changes or adjustments were made to a draft version of the reserve policy discussed in detail during the mayor and Council meeting on March 8…. Read more »
By Greg Ellison (March 25, 2021) Ocean Pines General Manager John Viola provided status updates on current projects and year-to-date financials during the Board of Directors meeting on Saturday. Viola said association members’ assessment dollars are currently dedicated to recurring and new updates for amenity facilities. In addition to completing normal court maintenance at the… Read more »
Plan proposes to improve working environment and directors’ professionalism By Greg Ellison (March 25, 2021) The Ocean Pines Board of Directors is launching a self-evaluation process to gauge the performance of directors and officers. Director Dr. Colette Horn introduced the proposal, which would begin with board members completing a detailed survey. Horn said the evaluation… Read more »
By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer (March 25, 2021) The town of Berlin is working through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Backyard Buffers program to offer free tree seedlings to county landowners, who have a creek, drainage ditch, stream or other waterway on or near their property. The Backyard Buffers program started as a pilot in Frederick County in… Read more »
By Greg Ellison (March 25, 2021) Although a motion for short-term rental guidelines was delayed because a town hall meeting on the topic is scheduled next month, Ocean Pines residents spent nearly two hours airing their views on the proposed rules during a board of directors’ virtual meeting Saturday. Board member Dr. Colette Horn preempted… Read more »
By Greg Ellison (March 25, 2021) Ocean Pines Treasurer Doug Parks reported on assessment collection totals, reserve balances, investment rates of return and referendum costs during the Board of Directors meeting on Saturday. Parks said the percentage of uncollected assessment fees for the current fiscal year continues to dwindle with more than $8.9 million received… Read more »
By Greg Ellison (March 25, 2021) The recently formed “Ocean Pines — Get Involved” Facebook community group and the soon-to-be-unveiled online “residents academy” dominated discussions during the Communications Committee meeting last Thursday. Committee member Jenny Cropper Rines said the Get Involved Facebook group should provide insight on issues of concern to the community. Rines, who… Read more »
By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer (March 25, 2021) The following occurred during the Worcester County Board of Education meeting last Tuesday: Proclamation The school board presented Lauren Williams, the coordinator of school health services, with a proclamation for School Social Work Month this March as well as a special recognition for her services. “Lauren Williams… Read more »