FEBRUARY 6, 2025
FREE
BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
Sheriff says ICE won’t go into schools Crisafulli assures parents they have nothing to fear
SUBMITTED PHOTO/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Phil Cropper and Nick Zlotorzynski were celebrated last week after receiving Maryland ProStart Teacher of the Year and Maryland ProStart Student of the Year, respectively. ProStart is is a nationwide, two-year high school program that aims to develop future food service leaders.
Pines Cafe pair earn state honors Worcester Tech restaurant training ground produces teacher, student of year By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Feb. 6, 2025) The Pines Café can now accommodate more dine-in customers, as the Worcester Technical High School-operated shop has added chairs and tables in the space’s waiting area. Furthermore, the store’s creator Phil Cropper and student apprentice
Nick Zlotorzynski were recently recognized for their dedication to culinary arts as the Maryland ProStart Teacher of the Year and Maryland ProStart Student of the Year, respectively. The Pines Café sits between the main lobby and the pharmacy in building number one of the Ocean Pines TidalHealth Campus, near the community’s North Gate Entrance. The store opened in September and offers baked goods, sandwiches, soups, and salads prepared by WTHS students to patients, medical staff,
and OPA residents. The eatery is an interactive project created by Cropper, the head chef of the WTHS culinary and pastry arts program, to offer students real-life experience running a retail food business. When the initiative kicked off last fall, the space included 12 seats for patrons who prefer to enjoy their breakfast or lunch as a dine-in experience. The café has now increased that by three tables and eight seats to accomSee PINES Page 8
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Feb. 6, 2025) Anxiety over immigration crackdowns has found its way into Worcester County, but law enforcement has assured the public there are no plans to target local school children. On Jan. 29, Worcester County Public Schools released a message to families in light of a US Department of Homeland Security order permitting certain immigration enforcement tactics. To uphold the Trump adminis- ‘Their primary tration’s camfocus is paign promise of criminal mass deportaenterprises, tions, the DHS iscriminal gangs, sued a directive on Jan. 20 that and other allows immigracriminally tion officers to related carry out enforcebehaviors.’ ment tactics in “sensitive areas” Sheriff such as schools Matt Crisafulli and churches. “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” a DHS spokesperson said in the department’s Jan. 21 policy announcement. The WCPS communication emphasized that because of the potential increase in this type of regulation, school officials will do their best to maintain a disruption-free learning environment. “Last week, the Department of Homeland Security issued a directive allowing immigration enforcement actions to occur in sensitive areas, including schools and bus stops,” the WCPS message said. A link was attached for recipients to see how the See SHERIFF Page 6
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