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MARCH 12, 2026
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BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
FREE
OPA director Steve Jacobs steps down Patrick Lehnerd appointed to fill vacancy on board
TARA FISCHER/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department representatives along with Ocean Pines Association and government officials pick up their shovels and formally begin construction of the department’s south side station at a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday.
South station construction begins Modern facility will include upgrades, improvements over previous firehouse By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (March 12, 2026) Construction began Monday on the new firehouse for the Ocean Pines Association’s south side, as association and fire department officials broke ground with their ceremonial shovels.
Demolition of the previous fire station began on Feb. 26 at 911 Ocean Parkway to end the building’s nearly 50 years of service. In attendance at this week’s event were fire department leadership Joe Enste and Joe Widgeon, members of the Ocean Pines Board of Directors, John Latham, Monica Rakowski, Jeff Heavner, Elaine Brady, and Rick Farr, as well as Worcester County Commissioner Chip Bertino, Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-38), and Del.
Wayne Hartman (R-38C). “This is a monumental day for the Ocean Pines community. Not just this fire department but the entire community in northern Worcester County,” Enste said. An upgraded firehouse has long been a priority of the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department. Officials say the initiative’s initial plans date back to 2001. Enste said that even then, the faSee NEW Page 17
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By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (March 12, 2026) Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors member Steve Jacobs has stepped down from the governing body this week, effective immediately. The association announced Jacobs’ resignation in a press release on Monday. “On behalf of the entire OPA Board of Direc‘His tors, we express our sincere grat- contributions to itude to Steve our community Jacobs for his dedicated servhave been ice to the Ocean invaluable, and Pines Association. His contri- we wish him well butions to our in his future community endeavors.’ have been invaluable, and we — OPA President wish him well in John Latham his future endeavors. It was a pleasure to work with Steve,” Ocean Pines Board of Directors President John Latham said. The reason for his resignation, Jacobs told the Bayside Gazette, is he is moving out of Ocean Pines to attend to a family matter. The Ocean Pines Board of Directors has seven members who serve three-year terms after their election by association members. Their terms of directors are staggered. Currently, OPA’s governing team consists of John Latham, president; Rick Farr, vice president; Monica See STEVE Page 17
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