BALTIMORE — As this column was being written, Thanksgiving Day was imminent, Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are approaching and 2013 is coming to an end. The year 2014 appears over the horizon, but our vision of what it will look like is clouded by the events of 2013 as well as by societal and cultural… Read more »
Opinion
Bethesda municipal lawyers’ group urging U.S. Supreme Court to save law
BALTIMORE – Saying localities need the money, a Bethesda-based municipal lawyers’ group is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to save a law that bars Maryland residents from deducting, from city or county taxes, the tax they pay to other states when they earn money there. The International Municipal Lawyers Association has filed a brief supporting… Read more »
Sign the petition
Tuesday’s public meeting in Berlin was a good beginning. Obviously community members are still processing the horrible news of Friday night, Nov. 8, when two teenage brothers were struck by an unmarked police car at the intersection of Route 113 and Bay Street. Tymeir Dennis, 16, died of his injuries. His brother, Tynise Bowen, was… Read more »
In Tymeir Dennis memory, state needs to take the right route
Tuesday night was cold with a biting wind, the kind of weather that would suggest one stay within the warm comforts of home. Yet, finding a parking place behind or around Berlin Town Hall required some patience and parallel parking. It was just as difficult to find an empty seat in the crowded Town Council… Read more »
Md. Health Connection enrollment
BALTIMORE — Maryland Health Connection is chugging along, despite continued reports of technical difficulties on the state-run health insurance exchange. As of Friday, there were twice as many households enrolled in one of those plans as a week ago, bringing the total number of enrollees to 2,393 — according to figures released Friday by Maryland… Read more »
Letters to the Editor
OP Chamber of Commerce presents awards Editor, The Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce presented the annual Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year awards at a “roaring twenties” themed event catered by Galaxy 66 Restaurant which was held at the Ocean City Lions Club on October 18. Owner Bob Hammond of… Read more »
Shortage in wide range of occupations
BALTIMORE – If you’re a small-business owner who is having difficulty finding key talent, you’re not alone. Despite high unemployment, there is a shortage of qualified people in a wide range of occupations in the Baltimore area and across the country. Several key trends suggest these skills gaps are going to get worse. According to… Read more »
More than 30,000 nonprofit organizations in Maryland
A report issued this week by the Tax Foundation ranked Maryland among one of the worst in the nation for its state tax policies. The Foundation has just released its 2013-2014 State Business Tax Climate Index, ranking states based on corporate tax rates, individual income taxes, sales taxes, unemployment insurance and property taxes. Overall Maryland… Read more »
Depreciation expense clarified
I feel obligated to comment on the article by Sheila Cherry on the Ocean Pines Board of Directors’ Training Retreat, which appeared in the September 19, 2013 edition. My comments relate specifically to depreciation expense on the new Yacht Club and its impact on the OPA annual assessment. I believe Ms. Cherry made a sincere… Read more »
OPA Board needs to regain control
Why is the Ocean Pines Board permitting its governing and fiscal authority to be usurped? Why has the General Manager been allowed to make change orders beyond his authority? Why, after making such changes, has his authority been raised from $15,000 to $40,000? Why is he being allowed to change community-approved plans for the appearance… Read more »