Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer A new public parking lot planned for the corner of West and Washington streets in Berlin will not be paved and will likely be grass in its first season with only modest improvements. The Town of Berlin has struggled to increase its available parking supply for years. To remedy the… Read more »
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer After a successful run at their state competition, Worcester Technical High School’s SkillsUSA participants are gearing up for the national contest, where the students will display their real-world abilities as they compete against peers from across the country. This June, over 20 Worcester Tech students will travel to Atlanta, Georgia,… Read more »
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Berlin Planning Department budget is proposing a 102% increase in funding for fiscal year 2026, including two new employees, new professional services, an updated comprehensive plan, a vehicle and modern equipment. At a Berlin budget workshop on April 7, the town’s acting planning director, Ryan Hardesty, went before the… Read more »
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Berlin Mayor and Council plan to keep the property tax rate flat for fiscal year 2026 at $0.8275 per $100 of a property’s assessed value. The Berlin Mayor and Council met for a general fund budget work session earlier this week. While stagnant, the property tax rate will generate… Read more »
By Brian Shane Staff Writer A Pocomoke City defense contractor has been awarded a long-term contract valued at $416 million to produce body armor for U.S. soldiers on the battlefield. The Department of Defense announced March 14 that Hardwire LLC won a bid to produce Lares Small Arms Protective Inserts, part of what the Army… Read more »
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Ocean Pines Community Center will soon have a new gym floor after a pipe break in February caused water damage to the current hardwood. At a meeting earlier this week, the Ocean Pines Association’s Board of Directors unanimously approved proceeding with the staff recommendation to pay $62,300 to Dynamic… Read more »
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer Two new bocce ball courts are coming to Ocean Pines this spring for a cost that community officials claim will pay for itself within seven years. At an Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors meeting last week, the governing body approved proceeding with a staff recommendation of $50,692 to an… Read more »
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer Worcester Technical High School’s live stream, called the “Kidding Kam,” is offering agricultural students a deeper dive into the intricacies of animal health this semester. The Kidding Kam is a project spearheaded by the WTHS agricultural program to provide students with a deeper look at the labor process of goats…. Read more »
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer Worcester County and Ocean Pines officials pledged at a public meeting this week to fight a proposed budget plan that could increase Pines ratepayer bills to make up millions of dollars in water and wastewater debt despite the wooded community’s minimal contribution to the deficit. At a March 29 meeting… Read more »
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Town of Berlin Electric Utility Department has earned a Gold Designation under the American Public Power Association’s Safety Award of Excellence for maintaining safe operating practices in 2024. Per a release issued by the town this week, Berlin’s Electric Utility Department was recognized for its commitment to safety through… Read more »