By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Ocean Pines Association and the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department continue to work toward a new South Fire Station, with an estimated construction start date of October 2025, given the timeline remains on track. At the Ocean Pines Association’s Board of Directors meeting on Saturday, Feb. 22, OPVFD President… Read more »
News
County bolsters vehicle insurance coverage due to spike in accidents
By Brian Shane Staff Writer A rising trend of costly car crashes in Worcester County-owned vehicles has prompted officials to upgrade their auto insurance policy to include comprehensive and collision coverage. Without this coverage, the county bears the full financial burden of repairing or replacing vehicles damaged by accidents, weather events, or deer strikes, according… Read more »
County tables WOC zoning code aimed at halting wind project
By Brian Shane Staff Writer Worcester County officials this week stopped short of tweaking the zoning code in order to prevent an offshore wind developer from legally operating as a public utility in the West Ocean City fishing harbor. The county’s Board of Commissioners at its Feb. 18 meeting considered a bill that would make… Read more »
Possible cell tower remains in talking phase
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer Officials said a potential and controversial cell phone tower is still possible for Ocean Pines, yet the project is still in its earliest stages. At the community’s Saturday, Feb. 22, board of directors meeting, Ocean Pines Police Chief Tim Robinson updated the neighborhood on the poor reception alleviation initiative. Robinson… Read more »
‘Keep Berlin Cool’ effort hoping for grant support
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Berlin Horticulture Advisory Committee will move ahead with plans to apply for a mini-grant from the Maryland Coastal Bays Program for tree plantings following the town council’s approval Monday. The horticulture group will apply for a grant from MCBP for a “Keep Berlin Cool” tree-planting initiative. The maximum request… Read more »
Ocean Pines to review meeting space costs
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer Ocean Pines leadership will consider a new multi-purpose meeting space, provided a cost analysis, drawings, and blueprints are compiled. Per a unanimous vote by the Ocean Pines Association’s Board of Directors, General Manager John Viola will prepare estimates of cost, drawings and blueprints of “appropriate renditions for a modular meeting… Read more »
OPA budget approved with slight assessment increase
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors unanimously approved the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget at the community’s regularly scheduled meeting last Saturday. The final spending plan includes revenues and expenses of $12,846,393 and sets the basic non-water assessment rate, which consists of 6,775 lots, at $875 (up slightly from $850… Read more »
9,084 speeding tickets issued in Berlin in 6 months
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The speed cameras implemented in Berlin last summer have been successful in reducing speeding on Flower Street and Seahawk Road, officials said this week. Each apparatus has two camera heads, for a total of six among the three locations of Flower Street at Railroad Avenue, Flower Street at Peach Lane,… Read more »
Mayor breaks council tie on EDU financing request
Tara Fischer Staff Writer In a tie vote broken by Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall, the Town Council approved a property owner’s request to purchase and finance four equivalent dwelling units (EDUs) for an addition to a Bay Strreet housing complex. At the municipality’s Monday, Feb. 24 meeting of the Mayor and Council, the council authorized… Read more »
Michael Hrechka
Michael Hrechka Berlin Michael Hrechka, age 95, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Salisbury. Born in Vita, Manitoba, Canada, he was the son of the late Wasyl and Mary Bugucka Hrechka. Mike was a dedicated laborer most of his life. As a teen, one summer, he worked as a lumberjack. Before marriage and… Read more »