By Kara Hallissey, staff writer, and Josh Davis, associate editor (March 23, 2018) A proposal for a rehabilitation center on William Street in Berlin was apparently withdrawn on Thursday by the applicant. The home would have required approval by the Berlin Board of Zoning Appeals, but Berlin Planning Director Dave Engelhart said Patrice Hamilton-Ottey of… Read more »
News
Ocean Pines GM weighs in on audit and budget deficit
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (March 22, 2018) It’s a popular misconception the projected $2 million budget deficit in Ocean Pines is somehow connected to multiple theft allegations that recently led to approval of a forensic audit, General Manager John Bailey said this week. “The [deficit] is dealing with red ink in the current year… Read more »
Tinkergarten ask sparks debate on public, private use
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (March 15, 2018) Using public parks for private gain sparked some contention at Monday’s Berlin Town Council meeting, as elected officials weighed in on both sides of the issue. Resident Alison Giska, a literacy coach with the Worcester County Board of Education, asked about using town parks for Tinkergarten classes, a… Read more »
Snow Hill’s event roster to add new Fifth Friday Fests
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (March 15, 2018) Snow Hill Economic Development Coordinator Michael Day hopes to bring beer to the upcoming Fifth Friday Festivals, a new series of events starting later this month. The Downtown Merchaants Association will run the events — on March 30, June 29 and Aug. 31 — but because that… Read more »
Group pitches rehab home in Berlin
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (March 15, 2018) The Berlin Town Council on Monday declined to endorse a proposed rehabilitation house in the town, although officials said they supported the concept. Hope4Recovery Inc. Executive Director Patrice Hamilton-Ottey, an Ocean Pines Police detective, founded the Douglas K. Hamilton House for Recovery in the Newton neighborhood of… Read more »
Pines committee seeking volunteer
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (March 15, 2018) The Ocean Pines Election Committee, which organizes candidate forums and administers the voting process for board of director elections, is looking for one additional member. A recent game of musical chairs has left the committee with four active members, one short of its full complement. Resolution C-08… Read more »
Search committee could again submit package of reforms
Pines advisory board also looking for BOD candidates By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (March 15, 2018) In its 2017 report, the Ocean Pines Search Committee recommended several changes to the resolution that governs how it operates, but what happened to those recommendations remains unclear. Although they were considered by the bylaws advisory committee, the suggestions… Read more »
Berlin BZA approves Henry’s Mill exception
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (March 15, 2018) Meeting for the first time in more than a year, the Berlin Board of Zoning Appeals last Wednesday wasted little time approving a variance for lot 21 in the Henry’s Mill subdivision. Applicant Mary Greenwood requested a setback variance for two areas in the rear and side… Read more »
Berlin committee takes deliberate approach
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (March 15, 2018) The Berlin Falls Park Committee continues to get its dozen members up to speed on a number of studies and surveys done during the last two years. Committee Chairwoman Amy Field described the most recent meeting, last Thursday, as a “fact-gathering session” that reviewed concepts from 2016… Read more »
Reform on Tap Act ‘is very much still alive’
By Josh Davis, Associate Editor (March 15, 2018) While local support is strong for the Reform on Tap Act, which would loosen restrictions on craft brewers, proponents of the measure can only guess how the Maryland General Assembly will vote if it gets to the floor. Last Tuesday, the Worcester County Commissioners expressed unanimous support,… Read more »