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Commentary
Commentary Ocean City Today Jan. 29, 2021 Page 25 BJ’s closing ends chapter for many
BJ’s on the Water — the long metal and wooden bar and the familiar faces of people lined up along it, stationed as they were on what sometimes seemed to be assigned seating. The football crowds on Sundays, the Maryland basketball fans standing shoulder-to-shoulder in March and screaming at the televisions, the opportunity to peruse the newspaper sports pages tacked up on the men’s room wall and appearances on the small bar stage by the beloved house band, Teenage Rust.
The daily duck feedings, the artwork next to the wall telephone that declared salespeople would be shot on a rotating basis, the caricatures of long-time patrons and friends displayed near the entrance, the beer-soaked canoe races in July, the many, many fundraisers and free popcorn.
City government department heads, elected officials, attorneys, Realtors, businesspeople filing in for lunch, the long table of recent years where members of the highly informal Dead Chicken Club met on Thursdays for rotisserie chicken and other specials, the roasted red pepper soup of the day. Frequent visitors from elsewhere the staff knew, and frequent visitors from elsewhere whom the staff pretended to know.
Seafood skins, steaks, fish, old-time rock ‘n’ roll and always open. Still the same.
Except that it won’t be anymore.
Billy and Maddy Carder, after 41 years of presiding over one of Ocean City’s landmark restaurants and bars, are moving on and the building at the end of 75th Street on the water will pass into different hands. Eventually, it will be replaced by a new, well-appointed creation by the Ropewalk restaurant group, whose other area restaurants have experienced great success. Odds are the group will experience the same thing at 75th Street.
But for long-time residents, patrons and friends, the page is turning on an extended chapter of their personal histories. We thank the Carders for their hospitality, for the privilege of their company and for the many good deeds they have done for the community. We wish them well, as time moves on for them and all of Ocean City. It’s a new day now, and it won’t be the same.
Ocean City Today
P.O. Box 3500, Ocean City, Md. 21843 Phone: 410-723-6397 / Fax: 410-723-6511.
EDITOR ............................................ Stewart Dobson MANAGING EDITOR................................ Lisa Capitelli STAFF WRITERS ..............Greg Ellison, Elizabeth Bonin, ............................................Ally Lanasa, Neely James ASSISTANT PUBLISHER .......................... Elaine Brady ACCOUNT MANAGERS.......... Mary Cooper, Vicki Shrier CLASSIFIEDS/LEGALS MANAGER .... Nancy MacCubbin SENIOR DESIGNER ................................ Susan Parks GRAPHIC ARTIST .................................... Kelly Brown PUBLISHER........................................ Christine Brown ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ...................... Gini Tufts
PUBLIC EYE These bulletins just in
By Stewart Dobson Editor/Publisher booth this season. No reason was given, except possibly that he was more popular than
With so much to report this week, I have many of the players, because we knew his no choice but to offer a long summary of name. some of the more noteworthy events. As for the players, with a couple of excepFirst, this bulletin: former tions, insiders say their names were drawn in Ocean City Police Chief a 50-50 raffle that also supplemented players’ Bernadette DiPino, who I be- paychecks by allowing them to keep half the lieve liked me about as much proceeds. as a case of hives, has re- Of all the old broadcast crew, only Hall of signed as the chief of police Famer Jim Palmer gets to stay, and the reafor the City of Sarasota, son for that is they’re afraid if he leaves the Florida. booth he’ll turn into ashes before our eyes, According to reports, it since he’s really 239 years old, but looks 42
By could have had something to because of the monkey gland extract clause in
Stewart do with her alleged comment about wanting to fire a Taser his contract. It’s true. I saw it on the Internet. • More baseball. You do realize that base-
Dobson at a babbling homeless guy to ball is one of the few things these days that inshut him up. Someone volves grown men carrying big sticks that thought that was insensitive and filed a com- isn’t threatening some part of society or the plaint. A stunning development, to be sure. other. • House Bill 32 in the General Assembly Even if it did, we could still take comfort in this session calls for the legalization of mari- knowing that if a group of baseball players juana for recreational use, and to invest the were to confront any of us and start swinging, tax revenue collected from legalized mari- there’s a 77 percent chance they wouldn’t get juana in the state’s four historically Black col- a hit. leges and universities, including the • Meanwhile, all-time home run leader University of Maryland Eastern Shore, as well Barry Bonds, got a good whacking from Hall as communities impacted by the “war on of Fame voters recently when they denied drugs.” him entry into the shrine because of suspi-
Actually, I’m all for legalizing and taxing cions that he was aided by performance-enmarijuana for recreational use. As far as hancing substances. recreation is concerned, it’s cheaper than golf, I can understand how he might be enticed would convert slow-pitch softball into to do such a thing, considering how many sloooowwww-pitch softball, and make not emails I receive each week about how I could catching fish a lot more fun by adding a whole improve my performance. new meaning to the term, “drift fishing.” On the other hand, I’m not sure if a prod• In other news, MASN, the television uct guaranteed to help me “Become the Ringhome of the Baltimore Orioles, will not be master in the Circus of Love” would do much bringing Gary Thorne back to the broadcast for anyone at the plate.
Artrip family appreciates AGH staff compassion
Editor,
Thank you to Atlantic General Hospital for all their dedication and compassion that they showed our grandfather, Harold Artrip who tragically passed away on Jan. 3.
We specifically want to thank all the nurses and doctors on the 2-North floor for their immediate diagnosis and kindness. You will always be remembered for all that you did for our Pops.
With Love, The Artrip Family Northeast, Maryland
Gisriel takes issue with OC Public Works expansion
Editor, After months of trying to obtain answers to costs involved in the massive construction project at Ocean City’s Public Works complex known as the “Campus Plan,” I am now making progress.
While not all of my questions have been answered, I have a better understanding of this very complicated undertaking.
First, I want to thank our city manager, Doug Miller, for inviting me to City Hall to meet with him along with key department directors to obtain answers to my questions.
In December, I met with Doug, Jennie Knapp, director of budget & management, Hal Adkins, public works director, and Chuck Bireley, finance director. I also want to thank Jennie, Hal and Chuck for their help in providing answers.
They were helpful at the meeting and with follow-up inquiries. I appreciate their time and assistance.
Early on I knew that the campus plan was a complex financial project involving many millions of dollars.
Initially, we were told that it would cost $25 million with the town paying $11 million from a bond sale and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants paying $14 million. When one delves deeper into the project, they will find that it is much more costly.
Initial Needs Assessment studies, Design and Engineering cost the town over $1.75 million, and the MTA funded an additional $1.75 million.
Construction and construction management oversight cost the town nearly $11.1 million, and the MTA funded an additional $18.5 million.
Land at 64th Street, originally purchased for wastewater treatment plant expansion, but now developed as a ground level parking lot as part of the campus plan, along with early land improvements and interest paid on the 2010 bond to fund the acquisition cost the town nearly $2.28 million.
Interest over the next several years on the 2018 bond to fund the campus plan construction is over $4.9 million. These totals will cost the town over $20 million.
The MTA has funded a total of $20.3 million. Thanks to a bond premium of almost $950,000, which is cash applied to the construction, along with almost $376,000 in interest on bond proceeds, the town is able to reduce their costs by over $1.32 million. With this reduction, the cost to the town drops to $18.7 million.
What was presented as a $25 million project will now cost at least $39 million .
However, that is not all. There is already consideration to revisit the construction of an employee parking garage and helipad which was initially scrapped due to exorbitant bids.
If the mayor and City Council proceed, it is to be built on the groundlevel parking lot on the land acquired with the 2010 bond.
That alone could cost $8 to $10 million based on earlier estimates and actual bids. If MTA shares part of the financing as previously planned, it could cost the town $4 to $5 million in additional funds.
I have recently learned that in 2016, the town stated plans to swap a portion of the 64th Street land purchased in 2010 with land under the existing Public Works administration building.
That swap would allow for future wastewater treatment plant expansion to be built where the admin building sits, thus allowing the 64th Street land to be used for the campus plan.
This will require the demolition of the admin building which was built in 2002. No one at the meeting could tell me the estimated added cost of the demolition of that building.
To facilitate the replacement of the admin building, an unfinished area or shell has been built on the second floor of the new purchasing building.
It is to be finished to house the future administrative offices after the demolition of the existing building, if and when the wastewater treatment plant is expanded. No timeline has been provided; but more important, I have no idea of what the added cost is to complete the unfinished office space.
To date, no one has provided any cost estimate on the eventual relocation of the impound lot which is earmarked to be relocated somewhere other than the campus plan complex. This could involve land acquisition Continued on Page 27
Dining Guide
■ PRICE RANGE: $, $$, $$$ ■ RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted —————————————
DOWNTOWN
South end to 28th Street ■ CAPTAIN’S TABLE 15th Street and Baltimore Avenue, inside The Courtyard by Marriott 410-289-7192, www. captainstableoc.com $$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Breakfast and lunch served Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to noon and dinner and lite fare served Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., featuring seafood, steaks and poultry. Daily chef specials. MIDTOWN
29th to 90th streets ■ 32 PALM Located in The Hilton,32nd Street, Ocean City 410-2892525, www.32palm.com $$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Open daily, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bar and lounge. Western Caribbean cuisine with a mix of traditional Eastern Shore favorites. ■ THE DOUGH ROLLER 41st Street and Coastal Highway 410-524-9254; 70th Street and Coastal Highway 410-524-7981, www.TheDoughRoller.com An Ocean City family tradition since 1980. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. From our buttermilk pancakes, fresh handmade dough pizza, and Italian dinners, we have something for everyone! ■ JOHNNY’S PIZZA PUB 56th Street, Ocean City 410723-5600, www.johnnyspizzapub.com $ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Featuring homemade pizzas, 18 gourmet pizzas, a variety of calzones, subs, burgers, sandwiches and jumbo wings with 20 different sauces. Open everyday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dine in, pickup, carryout and delivery. ■ LONGBOARD CAFÉ 6701 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City 443-664-5639, www.longboardcafe.net $$-$$$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Classic and creative American dishes and cocktails are showcased in a festive, surf-themed setting with weekly specials. Featuring burgers, tacos, prime rib, seafood and more. Closed on Tuesday. Dine-in and curbside pick-up. ■ MARLIN MOON Located in the Double Tree Hotel, 3301 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City 410-289-1201, www.marlinmoonocmd.com $$ Open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.to 10 p.m. Restaurant and bar with fresh seafood, small plates, desserts and cocktails. ■ SEACRETS 49th Street, Ocean City 410524-4900, www.seacrets.com $$ | Kids’ menu | Full bar Open Thursday and Friday, 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. with Island atmosphere. Jamaican jerk chicken, appetizers, sandwiches, paninis, pizza and fresh seafood.
■ CLUBHOUSE BAR AND GRILLE 100 Clubhouse Drive, Ocean Pines 410-641-7222, oceanpinesgolf.org/dining $$ | Full bar With sweeping views of the 18th hole, the new Clubhouse Bar and Grille serves freshly prepared breakfast and lunch items. Full bar. Open Thursday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.
