By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Ocean Pines Association continues to upkeep its amenities and utilities, including the racquet center, the golf course, and neighborhood parks, officials said at a community monthly board meeting. Last week, OPA General Manager John Viola updated the association’s board and residents on ongoing and recently completed maintenance projects. Viola… Read more »
News
Upgrades eyed for food, beverage
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Ocean Pines Association’s food and beverage facilities are likely to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of improvements over the next few years to enhance the customer experience, with costs split between OPA and the vendor Touch of Italy. The work will include basement renovations, an ADA (The… Read more »
Ocean Pines to relocate helicopter landing
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer A new, larger, and more capable helicopter pad is being installed in Ocean Pines in the near future to accommodate the increased size of modern emergency aircraft. At the OPA’s Board of Directors meeting on Saturday, Sept. 20, the community’s general manager, John Viola, presented plans to shift the current… Read more »
New fire house start date pushed to winter
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The construction start date for the new fire station planned for Ocean Pines’ south side has been pushed back from fall 2025 until winter 2026, officials said this week. At the Ocean Pines Association’s board meeting on Saturday, Sept. 20, community general manager John Viola provided an update about the… Read more »
County chooses Keller firm to manage BES construction
Company would oversee school construction project expected to start May ‘27 By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Worcester County Board of Education unanimously approved hiring a construction manager to oversee the Buckingham Elementary School replacement project, pushing that undertaking closer to officially breaking ground. At its meeting this week, the school board approved a contract,… Read more »
Ocean Pines eager to get new cell tower
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer An update on the proposed cell phone tower for the Ocean Pines Association was provided this week, as community officials, carriers and the construction company hope to get the project underway soon. Ocean Pines Police Chief Tim Robinson, who is leading the project, said he plans to inform the cell… Read more »
Board kills advisory committees not mandated by bylaws
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Ocean Pines Association’s advisory committees, who are charged with identifying needs and possible improvements in their assigned areas, are officially a thing of the past. The OPA Board of Directors on Saturday voted 5-1 to dissolve most of the association’s committees, effective immediately, despite passionate pleas from association members… Read more »
Residents set to receive electric bill credits
By Brian Shane Staff Writer Marylanders should start seeing the first of two rebates hit their electric bills this month after state leaders agreed to pledge $200 million in direct relief for ratepayers. In fact, Berlin residential customers received a $53.88 credit. A note in the most recent bill from the town read, “Maryland House… Read more »
Deputies honored for heroic car fire rescue
By Brian Shane Staff Writer From a short distance in the dark of night, the fire on the highway appears only as a bright, flickering glow on the grainy police bodycam footage. Only as the sheriff’s deputy hustles closer does the video become clear: stopped in the road, there’s a car on fire – and… Read more »
Fiddlers rosin up bows for Berlin
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer Berlin’s popular and enduring Fiddler’s Convention is back this weekend for its 33rd year of bluegrass, folk, and country tunes. Berlin’s Chamber of Commerce is gearing up to host the convention on Main Street, which will begin Friday at 6 p.m. and conclude at around 10 p.m. The festival will… Read more »