By Jack Chavez, Staff Writer (March 16, 2023) The skateboard wheels are in motion in Berlin. Last Tuesday, representatives from the nonprofit We Heart Berlin briefed the Berlin Parks Commission on the progress toward a town skate park, which is quickly headed toward the design phase. We Heart Berlin’s Brian Robertson said the nonprofit has… Read more »
News
Berlin Planning Commission recommends urban design contractor
By Jack Chavez, Staff Writer (March 16, 2023) The Berlin Planning Commission voted 6-0 on March 8 to recommend bringing aboard an urban designer to determine how and where growth in the town should be handled. Dhiru Thadani, a Washington, D.C. architect and designer, would come to Berlin for a few days and review several… Read more »
Buckingham replacement design approved
By Jack Chavez, Staff Writer (March 16, 2023) A new Buckingham Elementary School is about to become more than a listing on the public school system’s wish list, now that the Worcester County Commissioners agreed to spend $60,000 on a design for the school’s replacement. Following a presentation detailing the two options for the school… Read more »
‘Rails and Trails’ picks up steam
By Jack Chavez, Staff Writer (March 16, 2023) After years of discussion, Berlin is gearing up to move on the “Rails and Trails” project that will place a shared-use bike and pedestrian path along the railroad in town. Berlin Planning Director Dave Engelhart briefed the mayor and Town Council on construction funding and plans for… Read more »
County redistricting underway
By Jack Chavez, Staff Writer (March 16, 2023) With the 2022 election cycle out of the way and 2020 census data secured, Worcester County officials agreed to begin the redistricting process on March 7. In a unanimous vote, the commissioners agreed that Director of Development, Review and Permitting Jennifer Keener will provide them with multiple… Read more »
Commissioners OK Shell Mill boat ramp fee, commercial use review
By Jack Chavez, Staff Writer (March 17, 2023) It’s going to cost non-Maryland boaters to launch at the Shell Mill boat ramp in Bishopville soon. The Worcester County Commissioners voted 4-3, with commissioners Joe Mitrecic and Ted Elder opposed and Diana Purnell abstaining, to initiate a pilot program that will charge out-of-state users $10 to… Read more »
Commissioners decry change to sex ed bill
(March 9, 2023) As far as Worcester County government’s leadership is concerned, the state’s comprehensive health education framework bill just keeps getting worse. The House bill found its way in front of the House of Delegates Ways and Means Committee on Monday and left with amended language that might make it harder for parents to… Read more »
Globe leaseholder and HDC meet over property concerns
(March 9, 2023) After an incendiary February meeting in which the Berlin Historic District Commission tore into a representative for a property owner of The Globe for ignoring the commission’s orders and protocol, March’s meeting with the property’s leaseholder went much smoother. Jon Lane, the former operator of Braddah Barney’s in West Ocean City, took… Read more »
Towns ask for more county $$
Requests reflect inflation’s effect on local budgets (March 9, 2023) Across the board, Worcester County municipalities and the Ocean Pines Association want more money to keep up with the costs associated with inflation. Each municipality plus the Ocean Pines Association made its FY24 budget requests to the Worcester County Commissioners on Tuesday and while there… Read more »
Town Cats marks 25 years of fixing felines
By Cindy Hoffman Staff Reporter (March 9, 2023) Free roaming, feral and abandoned cats that live in Worcester County and surrounding areas have been lucky to have Town Cats around for the last 25 years. Many summer visitors regularly feed the cats they find outside, but when they leave in the fall, most of these… Read more »