MARCH 16, 2023
BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
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Berlin planning seeks guidance on growth Commission votes to bring in urban designer to weigh where and how to do it By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (March 16, 2023) The Berlin Planning Commission voted 6-0 on March 8 to recommend bringing
aboard an urban designer to determine how and where growth in the town should be handled. Dhiru Thadani, a Washington, D.C. architect and designer, would come to Berlin for a few days and review several aspects of the town before putting together a presentation for the town and its residents. “It’s in this year’s budget,” Berlin
Planning Director Dave Engelhart said. “We want to go ahead and at least add that consultant, engaged and ready to go … It’s a start. We want to get some deliverables out of (this budgeted money). There is some work that we (should) all do on the comprehensive plan and the growth areas in it. Are they OK? Are they still good? Or do you want to see them
changed? Things like that.” Engelhart said that Thadani could get started in a matter of weeks. So far days have been discussed but contract talks have not happened. Commission member Ron Cascio, who with Engelhart has been conferring with Mayor Zack Tyndall and Town Administrator Mary Bohlen See GROWTH Page 4
Finding firefighters tough as Pines population ages Volunteers and career staff combine forces to keep community residents safe
CINDY HOFFMAN/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Hailey Bianca awaits applicants at her booth at the Ocean Pines job fair last Saturday.
Job fair draws applicants By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer (March 16, 2023) The Ocean Pines Association has stepped up its recruitment efforts, leading with a job fair at the community center last Saturday. Those interested in working for Ocean Pines were advised of the advantages of employment with the as-
sociation, with its employee discounts golf, merchandise and children’s camp programs, according to Lisa Carson, the human resources manager for Ocean Pines. “Employees can save on the amenities they already use,” Carson said. Retirees can get discounts for their grandchildren to go to camps in See OPA Page 4
ical technicians (EMT) as well as career staff who work for the fire department to handle anything from a major house fire, of which there have been a significant number over the past few years, to checking on gas See OPVFD Page 3
By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer (March 16, 2023) Like many other communities across the country with aging populations, Ocean Pines, where the average age is 65, recruiting volunteer firefighters is becoming increasingly challenging. “This is a difficult demographic to recruit from,” said Dave VanGasbeck, president of the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department (OPVFD). Some other fire departments may be able to recruit from diverse populations that include many young families and a sizable number of high school students, but Ocean Pines isn’t one of them. VanGasbeck came from Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department, which had 435 members. “We always had a lot of young people joining the department,” he said. “We are just the opposite here; we are primarily a retirement community. The average age is 65. People that age are not joining the fire department.” Ocean Pines is a combination volunteer fire department. That means CINDY HOFFMAN/BAYSIDE GAZETTE the community relies on both volunteer firefighters and emergency med- Joe Enste signed up as a cadet when he was 15.
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