FEBRUARY 13, 2025
BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
FREE
Racquet sports fans against combo deal Sports’ director says more revenue necessary to pay for needed improvements By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Feb. 13, 2025) Racquet sports players in Ocean Pines continue to oppose the transition from separate rates to a single, multi-sport membership choice and the increased prices as a result. In an effort to increase revenue and avoid logistical headaches, Ocean Pines has opted to eliminate the various membership options and instead offer racquet players a bundled threesport annual fee. That decision has proven controversial with residents for at least the last three years. At the Ocean Pines Association’s budget town hall on Wednesday, Feb. 5, Racquet Sports Director Terry Underkoffler presented the new rates with price comparisons. As proposed, the annual entrance
fee for this coming fiscal year for residents will be $295. Resident families will incur a cost of $495. The membership fee for a nonresident individual will be $370, and the rate for the nonresident family will be $590. The resident junior cost will be $70, while nonresident juniors will pay $90. The new fees are an increase from the previous year’s rates. In fiscal year 2024, the pickleball and platform resident family membership cost $295. Resident individuals paid $180. For tennis in FY24, the resident family membership was $420, while the resident individual membership was $265. To calculate these proposed prices, Underkoffler compared Ocean Pines to similar racquet centers on the Eastern Shore and up and down the coast. To determine rate increases fairly, these analyses looked at centers that, like OPA, had staff, licensed instructors, and maintenance personnel. See RACQUET Page 3
Disc golf course will get safety changes Improvements to be made to protect pedestrians out on course as others play
PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTIN MURRAY
QUICK HITTER About three inches of snow fell in Berlin Tuesday afternoon and early evening before warmer temperatures converted the precipitation to all rain over night.
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (Feb. 13, 2025) Ahead of a disc golf tournament next month, the Berlin Town Council approved changes to the course at Stephen Decatur Park to improve pedestrian safety and appeal to beginners. Eastbound Disc Golf representatives came before the Berlin mayor
Kozma Jewelry & Coins Your Custom Design Jeweler Since 1978
We specialize in creating custom-designed jewelry that is as unique as you are. Create a custom piece, update your current jewelry, or simply explore our collection.
and Town Council at the body’s Monday, Feb. 10 meeting to request modifications to the Stephen Decatur Park course in anticipation of the event. These changes will include an improved design that focuses on safety for pedestrians and non-disc golf park goers. “The general idea behind the reorganization of the layout is focused on the crossing of pedestrian walking paths,” Eastbound Project Manager Taylor Hubbard said. “Right now, the See DISC Page 4
WE BUY Gold & Silver Coins Gold Jewelry • Silver Jewelry • Silverware D.A. KOZMA JEWELERS RT 50 & 611 in the FOOD LION SHOPPING CENTER WOC 410-213-7505 • DAKOZMAJEWELERS.COM