MARCH 2, 2023
FREE
BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
Berlin mayor has ambitious goals for town Building renovations, park on Tyndall’s ’23 to-do list
CINDY HOFFMAN/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
BIG BRAIN
Students at Stephen Decatur High School learn about the impacts of substance abuse from speaker Jenalie Raphelt, a paramedic and director of events for Medical Inflatables, with the help of a larger-than-life inflatable brain and lungs. The interactive display traveled to multiple schools throughout the county this week. See story on page 11.
By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (March 2, 2023) A new town hall, a developed Heron Park, more public art, filling out the Berlin Police Department and bringing the Broad Street and William Street lift stations online were some of the highlights on Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall’s list of goals for the town in 2023. Tyndall revealed his project priorities as part of the annual 2022 report during the mayor and Town Council meeting on Tuesday. Breaking down the goals by department, Tyndall listed town hall renovations and Heron Park redevelopment under the things-to-do label for the administration. Also included in this category were researching and expanding employee wellness opporSee DEVELOPED Page 7
SHA releases Rt. 90 scenarios Leaf-free Upgrade options outlined, public weighs in with its choices of configurations By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer (March 2, 2023) Ocean Pines residents who want to get to the beach club on a nice summer day know how congested Route 90 can get. Eastbound traffic queues can extend nearly six miles on Fridays approaching Ocean City, and more than 7.5 miles Saturdays during peak times. That’s only to be expected when this two-lane spur off Route 50 is the only route into midtown Ocean City, and one of just three that connect the resort and its hundreds of thousands of weekly visitors to the mainland.
That’s why the State Highway Administration (SHA) is evaluating improvements along the Route 90 corridor between Route 50 and Coastal Highway. As part of this effort, SHA initiated the Route 90 Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study. The results of this study were released on Feb. 23. “The MD 90 Planning and Environmental Linkages Study helps us explore strategies to improve service for all those who use MD 90, from vacationers and local residents to business travelers and emergency responders,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. As part of the study, the SHA conducted an online survey of the public to prioritize projects for the corridor
that could be considered in planning and design efforts related to traffic operations, capacity, safety, pedestrian and bicyclist accessibility and emergency evacuation. The survey included proposals for additional lanes, intersection improvements and new bridges over the St. Martin River and the Assawoman Bay. A total of 386 people responded to the survey, with 85 percent of the respondents saying they would use Route 90 more often if congestion was reduced. Ninety percent of those surveyed agreed that improvements were needed along Route 90, and more than half of respondents thought that improvements were needed most along the highway at the Assawoman Bay Bridge, followed by See STATE Page 5
ditches up to residents
Days of vacuuming by OPA will end in new fiscal year By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer (March 2, 2023) Ocean Pines will no longer use the leaf vacuum truck to remove leaves from the ditches in neighborhoods in the next fiscal year, obligating residents to remove the leaves from the ditches and bag them with the rest of their yard waste for pickup. Ocean Pines will continue to send See DITCH Page 7
The Area’s Premier Physical Therapy Clinic
NOW 2 Great Locations to Serve You! Spelled Different Because We Are Different® FYZICAL-DELMARVA.COM
Fyzical of Ocean Pines 11204 Racetrack Rd, Suite 101 • Ocean Pines, MD, 21811 410-208-1525
Fyzical of West Ocean City 12472 Sea Oaks Ln, Unit 1 • Berlin, MD 21811 410-747-3522