By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Dec. 26, 2019) The Berlin Fire Company opened another station this year so it could provide better service to people in its fire service area, which extends far out of town. The new station is on a two-acre piece of property on Ocean Gateway, about a mile outside town. It was… Read more »
News
Janasek, Perrone, Rogers win board seats
(Dec. 26, 2019) Of seven candidates vying for a trio of open seats during the Ocean Pine Association Board of Directors 2019 election, the top vote totals were compiled by Tom Janasek, Larry Perrone and Camilla Rogers, who joined the board in August. Garnering the top total to serve a three-year term was Janasek at… Read more »
Year in Review 2019: Route 50 annexation in Berlin gets pushback
By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Dec. 26, 2019) The annexation of a proposed gas station and convenience store on Route 50 experienced some pushback earlier this summer. The agreement incorporated roughly six acres of land on Route 818 across from Berlin Main Place near its intersection with Route 50. Now called Athena Plaza, the parcel was… Read more »
Year in Review 2019: Heron Park chemical spill: space still closed
By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Dec. 26, 2019) The spill of sodium hydroxide at Heron Park this year turned out to burn more than the grass around it — it was projected to burn through more than $280,000 by the time the cleanup of the caustic chemical could be completed. The park, previously known as Berlin… Read more »
OP sees major financial turnaround
(Dec. 26, 2019) After Ocean Pines Association members started the year with a proposed increase to annual assessment charges from soon-to-be-departed General Manager John Bailey, the subsequent leadership upheaval handed the reins to current General Manager John Viola, who employed expertise from existing personnel to produce profitable budget figures while continuing to erase prior fiscal… Read more »
OPA reaches agreement for Comcast digital
(Dec. 26, 2019) Apparently responding to Ocean Pines’ residents requests for competition among digital service providers, the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors agreed in September to give Comcast the rights of way it needs to build a project that will put it up Mediacom. The beginning of the end of Mediacom’s decades-long exclusive contract… Read more »
Year in Review 2019: Toy Town debacle ends in Snow Hill
By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Dec. 26, 2019) Despite a tumultuous year, Toy Town’s Snow Hill location is open for business. But getting to that point was one big mess. In 2016, the Town of Snow Hill offered Richard and Debbie Seaton the deed to the former Outten building at the intersection of Market and Washington… Read more »
Berlin’s NYE comes in two editions
Children, adult ball-drops to take place on Tuesday night throughout downtown By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Dec. 26, 2019) Thousands of residents and visitors can ring in the new year, and the new decade, next Tuesday in downtown Berlin with two ball drops. Ivy Wells, Berlin’s economic and community development director, said the festivities started about… Read more »
Year in Review 2019: Kirwan recommendations going to legislators
By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Dec. 26, 2019) Policy recommendations designed to revamp the state’s public education system will go before the Maryland General Assembly next month. The Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, which is also known as the Kirwan Commission, is led by its chairman William “Brit” Kir- wan. The legislation, known as… Read more »
Year in Review 2019: Town Council passes budget, tax rate increase
By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer (Dec. 26, 2019) The Berlin mayor and Town Council approved a $15.2 million budget for fiscal year 2020, but getting to that final vote involved one of the most tumultuous budget processes in years. “This has been a challenging budget cycle – that’s an understatement,” said Mayor Gee Williams about the… Read more »