By Tara Fischer Staff Writer Electric residential utility accounts in Berlin will see a credit of $54 on their next bill as part of a statewide energy relief refund passed earlier this year. According to Natalie Saleh, Berlin’s finance director, the State of Maryland recently passed a bill, the Legislative Energy Relief Refund, that aims… Read more »
News
Berlin to tweak home bulk pickup program; Public Works Department will offer monthly service for fee to meet demand
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Town of Berlin will begin offering its residents optional monthly bulk pickups for a fee of $25, officials decided this week. Starting in September, Berlin citizens with bulk trash to dispose of will be able to pay $25 to have the municipality’s public works team collect and dispose of… Read more »
Free parking could be going away in Berlin
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Aug. 14, 2025) Although a timeline has not been established, paid parking could be introduced in the Town of Berlin to generate money to cover the repair for existing spaces, potentially ending the longstanding practice of free downtown parking. Parking issues and their solutions have been a recurring topic of… Read more »
Berlin Community Center wish list totals $35M, study finds
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Aug. 14, 2025) A proposed community center in Berlin could take the steep price of $35 million to get off the ground. This week, Daniele Haley of Haley Architecture presented a community center feasibility study conducted by the firm, which revealed the proposed space, incorporating each and every resident wish,… Read more »
OPA officials reveal annual economic report
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Aug. 14, 2025) The Ocean Pines Association is in stellar financial health, officials said last week. On Saturday, Aug.9, OPA held its annual membership meeting. Here, community leaders provided residents with updates on ongoing initiatives and the homeowner association’s financial position. Reports revealed that Ocean Pines’ coffers are in good… Read more »
Berlin loses nearly $1M in funding for Route 113 work; mayor calls grant cut ‘heartbreaking’
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Aug. 14, 2025) The future of a project to create safe bicycle and pedestrian crossings on Route 113 in Berlin now looks bleak, as a significant portion of already awarded funding has been rescinded due to an action by the federal government. An initiative aimed at improving pedestrian and biking… Read more »
Berlin sets new fee structure for peddler licenses
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Aug. 14, 2025) The Berlin Council adopted an ordinance this week that restricts peddling in town outside the hours of Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and prohibits the practice on holidays. A new fee structure for solicitors was also implemented. At its meeting on Monday, Aug. 11,… Read more »
New Berlin regulation gives council power to revoke business permits
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Aug. 14, 2025) The Berlin Mayor and Council now have the authority to revoke business licenses from town establishments if their operation creates a risk or nuisance for residents and tourists. At the governing group’s meeting on Monday, Aug. 11, the body unanimously passed an ordinance that allows the municipality… Read more »
OPA haunted house volunteers honored with Sam Wilkinson Award
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Aug. 14, 2025) Ocean Pines’ annual haunted house volunteers were recognized this past week with the Sam Wilkinson Award, an honor given each year to an individual or team that lends a helping hand to community-wide efforts. On Saturday, Aug. 9, at the neighborhood’s annual membership meeting, the crew responsible… Read more »
Incumbents return, fire station referendum passes
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Aug. 14, 2025) For the Ocean Pines Association, the board of directors will remain as is, as incumbents Monica Rakowski, Steve Jacobs, and Stuart Lakernick secured the most votes in this year’s election. In OPA’s 2025 Board of Directors election, four residents campaigned for the governing body’s three open seats…. Read more »