Last year, when Marty Clarke was vice president of the Ocean Pines Board of Directors, he proposed several changes to a fiscal-year budget draft that would have saved residents $130 in assessments. It did not go well, and the ensuing debate led Clarke to declare he would not seek reelection this past year. This week,… Read more »

Berlin’s inaugural Restaurant Week was a triumph for the town with many restaurants seeing an increase in sales and foot traffic. “It was a wonderful success,” said Ivy Wells, Berlin’s economic and community development director. “Businesses were busy and appreciative of the event.” More than a dozen restaurants offered special prices on select menus from… Read more »

A new capital facilities planning document released in Ocean Pines on Jan. 4 outlines more than $29.5 million in proposed new capital projects, spread out over the next decade. According to the document, which the Gazette obtained last week, the last such plan was updated in November 2014. The plan noted that several of the… Read more »

Following a 5-2 board of directors vote, it took two months to officially schedule a meeting between the Ocean Pines Association and golf management company Landscapes Unlimited. That meeting will take place as a town hall today, Thursday, at 6 p.m. at the country club, with LU Regional Manager Scott Nissley fielding questions. One director… Read more »

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program and the Lower Shore Land Trust are teaming up with Burley Oak Brewery in Berlin for a winter fundraiser on Monday, Jan. 25, from 6-9 pm. Darin Engh and Nate Clendenen from the Saltwater Stringband and Sean Loomis of Drymill Road are slated to perform, while Shelly Messick from West… Read more »

Raymond M. Thompson, president and CEO of Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company in Berlin, recently announced several promotions. Peggy Welsh has been promoted to executive vice president. Welsh has been with the bank for 37 years. During her career, she has primarily worked in the Ocean City market as a branch manager, and later, served… Read more »

Due to the popularity of the annual Delmarva Birding Weekend, organizers are now offering two of the celebrated birding extravaganzas in both January and April. “We enjoy such a big difference in bird species in winter and spring, it just made sense to open up two weekends,” said Worcester County Tourism Director Lisa Challenger. Now… Read more »

While no one has yet won the more than $1 billion national Powerball prize, one lucky person did purchase a winning $1 million ticket from the Berlin Food Lion last week. The Maryland Lottery announced that the winning “second-tier” ticket was sold on Jan. 9 in Berlin to a 51-year-old Worcester County man, and a… Read more »

Following nearly two years of discussion, along with several communitywide meetings, an audit and studies on feasibility and environmental impact, Berlin finalized its plans to buy the former Tyson’s Chicken plant this week. On Monday, the Town Council voted unanimously to approve a 30-year, $3 million bond from the Bank of Ocean City to purchase… Read more »

The Ocean Pines man who held up a branch of BB&T bank last March pleaded guilty last Friday, U.S. Attorney for Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announced Monday. In a release from his office, Rosenstein said Jeff V. Hare, 53, pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. According… Read more »