By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer (March 4, 2021) We Heart Berlin Inc. has been established as a Maryland-based nonprofit to raise funds for town projects. Organizer Tony Weeg said he used LegalZoom to set up the nonprofit, and is now embarking on the next step of pursuing tax exempt status through the federal government. As… Read more »
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Virtual props workshop about film
By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer (March 4, 2021) As part of the fifth annual Ocean City Film Festival, prop masters on Disney’s 2002 romantic fantasy and coming-of-age film, “Tuck Everlasting,” will live stream a free workshop about their Berlin experiences and their work in the film industry in and around Baltimore for more than 30… Read more »
Auto Zone site plan approved for Route 50
By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer (March 4, 2021) A site plan for a beige Auto Zone store that would replace the former McDonald’s building on Route 50 in Berlin was approved by the Berlin Planning Commission last Wednesday at a virtual special meeting. Applicant Kevin Murphy told the commission the new landscaping plan showed additional… Read more »
Phillips joins Captain’s Cove as senior general manager
Virginia seaside community changing its management structure, creates new post By Greg Ellison (March 4, 2021) After recently resigning following more than a decade with the Ocean Pines Association, Colby Phillips is heading south to become senior general manager at Captain’s Cove Golf & Yacht Club in Greenbackville, Virginia. Phillips is set to take the… Read more »
Proposed school budget approved by board
By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer (March 4, 2021) The Worcester County Board of Education unanimously approved the school system’s Fiscal Year 2022 proposed operating budget of $118.13 million during the board meeting on Feb. 16. The FY22 budget process began last September, as principals were asked to submit a list of budget priorities for their schools,… Read more »
New superintendent of Berlin Public Works
By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer (March 4, 2021) James (Jimmy) Charles will step into the full-time role of the Berlin Public Works Department superintendent when Dave Wheaton retires near the end of March. Charles, 50, is originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania and worked for a printing company for 15 years. “I’ve had little side businesses of… Read more »
OP Board votes down sharing B-08 reports
By Greg Ellison (March 4, 2021) Despite talk of transparency, the Ocean Pines Board opted this week not to release two recent B-08 ethics complaints against sitting directors. Board member Frank Daly withdrew an earlier motion to publish related investigative reports during a special board meeting on Monday. The board voted unanimously to enter closed… Read more »
Baker has rare disease surgery at Hopkins
By Greg Ellison (March 4, 2021) After a lingering medical condition was finally diagnosed correctly as a rare internal tumor, Ocean Pines resident Dave Baker is headed to Baltimore for surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital on Friday. Baker said the diagnosis came in mid-January when doctors at Atlantic General Hospital located an internal mass later… Read more »
OP residents lead Worcester Bike Coalition
By Greg Ellison (March 4, 2021) Ocean Pines resident and bicycle enthusiast Patti Stevens is uniting area partners to improve safety and accessibility for two-wheeled peddlers or two-footed pedestrians throughout Worcester County. Last spring, Stevens teamed with longtime area bicycle advocate, and Pines neighbor, Tres Denk to establish the Worcester County Bike and Pedestrian Coalition…. Read more »