State grant to fund major infrastructure projects By Tara Fischer Staff Writer To ensure access to quality water and to comply with federal mandates, the Town of Berlin will begin a search-and-replace project to remove any service lines that contain lead. With the assistance of a state grant, the town will begin by examining line… Read more »
News
Marina Village seeks rental restrictions, but first must rally enough voters to create quorum to decide fate of amendment
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer Marina Village in Ocean Pines may restrict short-term rentals if it can secure an adequate number of voters to approve a change in its rules. In an open meeting last week, Marina Village Townhome Association’s board of directors discussed an amendment to its community rules. Marina Village is run by… Read more »
Berlin wants to consider emergency service funding model change
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer Town of Berlin is weighing a request to the county about funding for in-town fire and EMS services. At a work session of the Berlin mayor and council with the Berlin Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services on Monday, town officials proposed a new, simplified means for the fire and… Read more »
Students look to form Turning Point chapter
Questions about school’s policy on clubs arise but guidelines being followed By Tara Fischer Staff Writer Reactions to recent political events have reached Worcester County, where students at Stephen Decatur High School have kick-started a conservative thought-based group. According to an Instagram post from last month, some SDHS students have conducted their first meeting of… Read more »
Berlin’s skate park effort scores good news as grant application advances
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer Leaders of the proposed skate park in Berlin received word this week a grant application for approximately $487,000 has been elevated from the state level to the federal level, where it will undergo final review and, hopefully, approval. Tony Weeg, founder of We Heart Berlin, a nonprofit dedicated to recreation… Read more »
Newly implemented roadway laws encourage safe driving
By Brian Shane Staff Writer Excessive speeding can now land drivers in jail, one of dozens of new laws that took effect this week in the state of Maryland. Oct. 1 was the effective date for more than 150 bills that the General Assembly passed into law during this year’s Legislative Session. Many happen to… Read more »
10/02/2025 Bayside Editorial: Lead testing project proactive, not reactive
Lead testing project proactive, not reactive Luckily for Berlin — and every other government in Maryland that supplies drinking water to residents — the state Department of Environment says any lead found in water delivered through publicly-owned systems would be insignificant by Environmental Protection Agency standards. And that’s if any lead at all is found,… Read more »
OP’s Viola provides monthly report
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Ocean Pines Association continues to upkeep its amenities and utilities, including the racquet center, the golf course, and neighborhood parks, officials said at a community monthly board meeting. Last week, OPA General Manager John Viola updated the association’s board and residents on ongoing and recently completed maintenance projects. Viola… Read more »
Upgrades eyed for food, beverage
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer The Ocean Pines Association’s food and beverage facilities are likely to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of improvements over the next few years to enhance the customer experience, with costs split between OPA and the vendor Touch of Italy. The work will include basement renovations, an ADA (The… Read more »
Ocean Pines to relocate helicopter landing
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer A new, larger, and more capable helicopter pad is being installed in Ocean Pines in the near future to accommodate the increased size of modern emergency aircraft. At the OPA’s Board of Directors meeting on Saturday, Sept. 20, the community’s general manager, John Viola, presented plans to shift the current… Read more »