By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Sept. 17, 2026) Berlin’s outdoor burning policy returned to the council agenda this week as officials try to maintain town safety while acknowledging the needs of large property owners, who require special considerations for disposing of yard and storm debris. Under a proposed code amendment discussed at Monday night’s Town… Read more »
News
Town debates standards for state-mandated accessory units
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Sept. 17, 2027) Berlin officials are finalizing the municipality’s guidelines for building accessory dwelling units ahead of a state-mandated Oct. 1 deadline, with this week’s discussion focusing on how big or small these structures should be. On Monday, the Berlin Planning Commission, the mayor and Town Council met for a… Read more »
Yacht Club Facebook page among those hacked
(Sept. 17, 2025) Touch of Italy Hospitality Group is warning customers and the public that several of its business Facebook pages have been compromised and currently are outside the company’s control. The company said unauthorized individuals have posted inflammatory and inappropriate content on the pages that is unrelated to Touch of Italy Hospitality Group or… Read more »
Berlin advances stormwater project
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Sept. 17, 2026) The Town of Berlin approved a contract with Groundwork Solutions Inc. on Monday to handle its Westminster, Abbey and Upshur stormwater management upgrades project. The $605,684 project, approved by the Berlin Town Council in July, will improve water quality in Newport Bay and help reduce flooding. Groundwork… Read more »
Fiddlers: rosin up your bows
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Sept. 17, 2026) The Berlin Fiddler’s Convention returns for its 33rd year this weekend with a name change and rebrand intended to feature the traditional blue grass, country and classic old-time music while also highlighting the area’s distilleries and breweries. The event’s 2026 iteration, set for Friday, Sept. 18 and… Read more »
Kenneth Richard Bliss
Kenneth Richard Bliss Berlin Kenneth Richard “Kenny” Bliss, 64, died unexpectedly on September 3, 2026, following a period of declining health. During the last two years of his life, Ken faced increasingly serious health problems and handled them with grace. Ken was born on April 13, 1962, the son of Elizabeth (Loveland) Bliss and the… Read more »
Mason Pollin
Mason Pollin Ocean Pines Adam Mason Pollin, of Ocean Pines, Maryland, was born on June 15, 1971, in Washington, D.C., and passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on August 28, 2026. Adam is survived by his parents, Alan and Alice Sydney. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters, Shane Pollin (Amy), Jill Madone (Mike),… Read more »
09/17/2026 Bayside Editorial: New ADU rules precise and possibly pointless
New ADU rules precise and possibly pointless As Berlin officials have already discovered, establishing the rules for the state’s new semi-solution to the housing shortage — Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) — is tricky business. Building one could be just as challenging. That’s because the state law allowing these secondary homes on property zoned for single-family… Read more »
BREAKING NEWS: Barring write-ins, three Berlin council candidates to assume open seats
Incumbent Jay Knerr, newcomers Matt Stoehr and Tony Weeg likely to be sworn in as Oct. election likely to be canceled By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Sept. 10, 2026) Berlin’s municipal election isn’t shaping up to be the most energetic of contests, with three candidates officially filing to run for the three Town Council seats… Read more »
Letter To The Editor: Remembering 9/11 & what it taught us
Remembering 9/11 & what it taught us Editor, On Sept. 11, 2001, I had just finished teaching a dance aerobics class and went into the women’s locker room to change. On the radio, I heard what I thought was an updated version of Orson Welles’s famous 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast, based on H.G…. Read more »