By Hunter Hine, Staff Writer (March 30, 2023) When the Worcester County Board of Education opened the floor to individual comments at their meeting on March 21, many took the chance to air concerns about the Health Education Framework Bill (HB119), state legislation that outlines sex education requirements for public schools. Most community speakers used… Read more »
News
Berlin disagreeing with state board open meeting violation
By Jack Chavez, Staff Writer (March 30, 2023) The Town of Berlin received a wag of the finger on Friday from a state advisory board after it issued an opinion that a closed meeting earlier this year should have been open to the public. But some officials, including town attorney Dave Gaskill and Mayor Zack… Read more »
Mayor and Council OK wish list topped by new skate park
By Jack Chavez, Staff Writer (March 30, 2023) The Town of Berlin reordered its project priorities for the state’s 2024 Program Open Space (POS) Monday, as it prepares to seek grants to help pay for the recreational undertakings that it hopes to pursue. The official order of the list is the first phase of a… Read more »
Stop diamondback terrapins from drowning in crab pots
By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Writer (March 30, 2023) Crabbing season is almost here. That’s great news for crab lovers, but not so great for Maryland’s state reptile, the diamondback terrapin. Diamondback terrapins are aquatic turtles that were once plentiful but today are struggling to survive, largely because of the human presence: their greatest threat is… Read more »
Teacher of the Year Jaimie Ridgely of Decatur Middle
By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Writer (March 30, 2023) Jaimie Ridgely, a 7th and 8th grade literacy and tech ed teacher at Stephen Decatur Middle School, has been named Teacher of the Year by Worcester County Board of Education. “There are so many amazing educators across our county and cohort,” Ridgely said. “This is humbling, amazing, exciting…. Read more »
Board of Education Briefs
By Hunter Hine, Staff Writer (March 30, 2023) The Worcester County Public Schools Board of Education discussed the following during its March 21 meeting: Kindergarten Readiness Assessment results The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) results showed that 73 percent of Worcester County’s incoming kindergarteners were primed for the classroom, with the rest of the state trailing… Read more »
Electronic signs proposed for OP North Gate entrance
By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Reporter (March 23, 2023) The results are in and 61 percent of those who answered the survey are in favor of electronic signs in Ocean Pines. The survey, issued by the Ocean Pines Association’s Communications Advisory Committee, sought to determine interest in “replacing the marquee-type information signs located throughout the community… Read more »
OP elections solutions still not decided
By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Reporter (March 23, 2023) The election debacle of 2022 continues to be a point of contention during the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) board meetings. Significant problems with the election process in 2022 resulted in an over count of ballots, which led to a 940-vote error. The current Election Committee found that… Read more »
Ocean Pines GM report for March positive
By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Reporter (March 23, 2023) General Manager John Viola provided updates on various efforts around Ocean Pines during Saturday’s Board of Directors meeting. He noted that the Police Department is still aggressively looking to fill five to six positions. The department has begun using a written and physical test before cadets go into… Read more »
Safe boating course offered in OP
By Hunter Hine, Staff Writer (March 24, 2023) The Ocean City Power Squadron is offering local boaters a free three-day course focusing on safety at the Ocean Pines Library starting Tuesday. OCPS is a volunteer organization dedicated to cultivating safe and skilled boating. It serves as part of the United States Power Squadron, according to… Read more »