FEBRUARY 29, 2024
BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
FREE
Burley Oak sales plea tapped out Request to sell separately at chamber events gains no traction with town council
CHARLENE SHARPE/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Berlin Council member Shaneka Nichols makes a point during Monday’s council meeting while discussing a request from Burley Oak Brewing.
New survey initiatives considered Communications comm. members want to inform residents of what OP offers By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Feb. 29, 2024) The Ocean Pines Association’s communications advisory committee is considering new survey initiatives to spur more community involvement and feedback in Ocean Pines. With first-time members Connie Corbett and Cindy Hoffman officially on the roster, the group met on Feb. 22 to discuss plans to foster the Ocean Pines neighborhood spirit and specifically the Ocean Pines Season Kickoff and Expo. According to committee chair Linda Yurche, roughly 600 additional residents move into Ocean Pines each year. The expo allows these new mem-
bers to explore the 61 clubs and organizations available, such as the Democratic Women’s Club, the bowling league and the Delmarva Chorus. The event is slated for April 20 at White Horse Park. The communications committee, which is heavily involved in its planning, wants to give new and old Ocean Pines residents a chance to browse all the community offers. The group also discussed new proposals. In 2018, Yurche said the committee conducted a survey to determine how residents received Ocean Pines information and what community matters were of the most concern. At the time, 62% of the 1,773 respondents indicated they obtained OPA news through the Bayside Gazette. The communications team also determined that infrastructure, drainage, facility upkeep and dissat-
isfaction with Mediacom were top issues. The board used this information to establish priorities. At the most recent communications meeting, the members expressed their intention to recommend an updated survey, as the world has changed significantly within the last six years. “I think people were receptive to what we put out before,” committee member Marlene Ott said. Corbett noted the need to distinguish demographics when reviewing the results. The study would differentiate between new, long-time, yearround, and part-time residents and families, single people and couples. At the conclusion of the meeting, the committee agreed to discuss the proposed assessment tool with Elaine Brady, the board liaison, and see if they wish to proceed. “I would love to see the updated data,” Yurche said.
By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor (Feb. 29, 2024) Elected officials asked for more cooperation between a local business and the town’s chamber of commerce this week before taking no action on the business’s request to serve alcohol at events. The Berlin Town Council on Monday opted not to act on a request from Burley Oak Brewing Co. to sell alcohol at ‘… Bypassing the four town people in charge events. Curof the event is rently, the chamber han- not necessarily a dles alcohol sales good look.’ at the town’s Councilwoman events. Shaneka “Those are Nichols c h a m b e r events,” Councilwoman Shaneka Nichols said. “Those are the people this conversation should be had with. Bypassing the people in charge of the event is not necessarily a good look.” Matt Burrier of Burley Oak approached the council this week with two requests. First, he said the brewery wanted to be able to provide free samples and sell its packaged products at the Berlin Farmers Market. Officials said that was actually a request that could be handled at the staff level by Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells. Wells noted that Lyon Rum and The Buzz Meadery operated similarly at the market, selling their product and offering free samples. With no action needed from the council for that request, officials moved on to discussion of Burrier’s request to have Burley Oak sell alcohol See BREWERY Page 8