(Jan. 2, 2020) With the new year underway, organizers with the Ocean Pines Community Gardens are now soliciting reservations for plots during 2020. Co-organizer Tracy Jones said a small waiting list has formed, while past participants are contacted to confirm continued involvement with the garden area in the Manklin Meadows complex next to the playground…. Read more »
News
Berlin mayor, council goals focus on repairing finances
Restoring wastewater fund, building community center also make list for 2020 By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Jan. 2, 2020) Finances, infrastructure and policy goals are top priorities that Berlin’s elected officials hope to tackle this year. “First and foremost to get the finances in order. That’s absolutely priority one,” said Councilman Troy Purnell. Despite a tumultuous… Read more »
Clubs Committee 2020 objectives
Amenity-focused advisory group has number of ideas for yacht and beach clubs By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Jan. 2, 2020) With another year just beginning, Ocean Pines Association Clubs Committee Chairman Gary Miller outlined a number of objectives the group plans to tackle during 2020. Miller said the clubs committee, which focuses on association amenities,… Read more »
Wolf intends to focus environmental efforts
(Jan. 2, 2020) OPA Environmental & Natural Assets Committee Chairman Ken Wolf, freshly reinstated to the post in October, hopes to focus the group work this year on establishing achievable benchmarks for long-standing goals. “The real concern that I had is that we were trying to do a lot of good things and we weren’t… Read more »
Year in Review 2019: Berlin Fire Company unveils new Station 3 on Route 50
By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Dec. 26, 2019) The Berlin Fire Company opened another station this year so it could provide better service to people in its fire service area, which extends far out of town. The new station is on a two-acre piece of property on Ocean Gateway, about a mile outside town. It was… Read more »
Viola takes over as GM after Bailey bobbles budget
(Dec. 26, 2019) After raising community ire in January by proposing increasing annual assessment fees more than $100, Ocean Pines Association General Manager John Bailey was replaced by OPA Treasurer John Viola, who, beginning in March, quelled fiscal concerns sufficiently to warrant a contract extension to December. The dissension with Bailey was on display during… Read more »
Janasek, Perrone, Rogers win board seats
(Dec. 26, 2019) Of seven candidates vying for a trio of open seats during the Ocean Pine Association Board of Directors 2019 election, the top vote totals were compiled by Tom Janasek, Larry Perrone and Camilla Rogers, who joined the board in August. Garnering the top total to serve a three-year term was Janasek at… Read more »
Year in Review 2019: Route 50 annexation in Berlin gets pushback
By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Dec. 26, 2019) The annexation of a proposed gas station and convenience store on Route 50 experienced some pushback earlier this summer. The agreement incorporated roughly six acres of land on Route 818 across from Berlin Main Place near its intersection with Route 50. Now called Athena Plaza, the parcel was… Read more »
Year in Review 2019: Heron Park chemical spill: space still closed
By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Dec. 26, 2019) The spill of sodium hydroxide at Heron Park this year turned out to burn more than the grass around it — it was projected to burn through more than $280,000 by the time the cleanup of the caustic chemical could be completed. The park, previously known as Berlin… Read more »
OP sees major financial turnaround
(Dec. 26, 2019) After Ocean Pines Association members started the year with a proposed increase to annual assessment charges from soon-to-be-departed General Manager John Bailey, the subsequent leadership upheaval handed the reins to current General Manager John Viola, who employed expertise from existing personnel to produce profitable budget figures while continuing to erase prior fiscal… Read more »