BERLIN—Despite its tranquil small town external characteristics, Berlin’s internal politics can go to the mat with the feistiest of hardball combatants and this year was no exception. Merchants, pols and residents alike proved time and again this year they do not lack the passion to battle for issues they care about. The appropriateness of merchants… Read more »

(Dec. 27, 2013) Join the Assateague Coastal Trust for its 34th annual Ilia Fehrer/Judy Johnson New Year’s Day Beach Walk at Assateague National Seashore on Wednesday, Jan. 1. A former National Park Service Ranger will lead a group north from the State Park parking lot, highlighting some of the natural and historic elements of the… Read more »

BERLIN/OCEAN PINES—The Lower Eastern Shore was bursting with fresh new business ideas and enthusiasm this year. Even several established businesses made additions or refurbishments. For example, Buck’s Place at the intersection of Routes 611 and 376 and Kathern Slaughter’s O.C. Pet Spa, in West Ocean City, added architectural updates to give their locations a fresh… Read more »

(Dec. 27, 2013) From champagne to fireworks, romantic dinners to over-the-top celebrations, Ocean City goes all-out for New Years. Here are just a few of the events taking place in the area this Tuesday to kick off 2014: Ocean City: Seacrets, 49th Street: Dinner seatings at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. There will be… Read more »

BERLIN—Nearly half of the property parcels that are currently required to carry flood insurance in Berlin and Ocean Pines will no longer be required to do so, if preliminary flood insurance maps proposed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are implemented. FEMA is proposing changes to its flood insurance rate maps (FIRM) that will essentially… Read more »

OCEAN PINES – The Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a murder mystery dinner and show  in the Community Center on Jan. 17. The case of the “Family” business in Ocean Pines will be performed by Get a Clue Productions. Guests will be able to test their detective skills by attempting to solve a… Read more »

BERLIN–Maryland’s historic town of Berlin placed third in the preliminary voting round of Budget Travel’s “America’s Coolest Small Town” contest. The Web site’s polls opened the first week of October and asked Americans to nominate small towns that they felt were the “coolest.” The rules stated the town must have fewer than 10,000 people, have… Read more »

For Berlin’s redistricting plans, Monday was a start. Based on the 2010 U.S. Census, Berlin’s population has grown from around 3,000 to 4,496, and with all of these new residents, Berlin must adjust its election districts to maintain – as best as possible – an equitable number in each one. This would mean that each… Read more »

MARYLAND–State Sen. Senator Jim Mathias (D-38) filed to run for re-election last week, hoping to return for another four years of representing the lower Eastern Shore. Mathias counted among his accomplishments in his last four years since moving up from the House of Delegates, co-sponsoring legislation to make it easier for small businesses to hire… Read more »

BERLIN—In a move that surprised at least one observer, the town council voted on Dec. 9 to approve a proposal by Joseph Moore, a partner with Ocean City-based law firm Williams, Moore, Shockley & Harrison, that the town close and transfer part of their right-of-way interests to an unpaved street near Stephen Decatur Park to… Read more »