APRIL 11, 2024
BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
FREE
Pines will sell itself at expo of amenities
No tax boost main goal in Berlin budget
Season kickoff event hopes to generate memberships
Constant rate proposed after fiscal adjustments
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (April 11, 2024) Ocean Pines clubs, amenities and businesses will have the chance to gain new membership as they gear up to welcome residents to the first-ever Season Kickoff Expo on April 20 at White Horse Park. The event will feature representatives from the community’s amenities and clubs. Ocean Pines homeowners can browse the booths, receive information on organizations like Maryland Coastal Bays or the Delmarva Chorus and sign up for golf club and racquet center memberships. “People are looking for new things to do as we come out of winter,” Communications Committee Chair Linda Yurche said. The Aquatics Advisory Committee conceived the event. In the fall of 2022, the team was brainstorming how to attract more members to the pools, the group’s chair, Gary Miller, said. “This was when COVID was still See OP Page 4
By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor (April 11, 2024) Berlin officials made it clear this week they are not planning to increase the tax rate. After introducing a tax rate of $0.8375 per $100 of assessed valuation on Monday through first reading ordinance, Mayor Zack Tyndall instructed staff to plan on adjusting the rate to the current rate of $0.8275 before the public hearing April 22. He said adjustments had been made by the council during last week’s budget work session to address the majority of the projected fiscal year 2025 shortfall. “I think the public hearing should reflect the discussion from the general fund work session so it should be .8275 per $100 of assessed value,” Tyndall said. In a lengthy budget work session last Tuesday, elected officials reviewed a proposed $13.5 million budget. Though the discussion started with a $161,000 shortfall, adSee TAX Page 5
PHOTTO COURTESY DRONE THAT UAV SERVICES
MOON SHADOW A photographer captured Monday’s eclipse with a shutter of 1/8000, using a 2000 neutral density filter with a fixed aperture f2.8.
‘Bridge’ grant funds may not involve bridge over highway Mayor, council say money to be used to find way to improve safety, access By Charlene Sharpe Associate Editor (April 11, 2024) Talk of the proposed pedestrian bridge over Route 113 highlighted a strategic plan work session in Berlin this week. Upon hearing that there was some concern within the community regarding plans for a pedestrian bridge over Route 113, Mayor Zack Tyndall stressed that the $1.2 million in grant funding the town received this spring would be used to improve accessibility. “It’s really to reconnect communities,” he said. “Is that a better crosswalk, is that better signaling… It’s
how do we overcome that. The bridge is the golden goose if we can get it but it’s not the end all be all. There are other options that are available.” In March, Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin announced Berlin would be receiving $1.2 million for “Bridging the Highway that Divides Berlin” project. An announcement from their offices said that the funding would be used to plan and design a bicycle and pedestrian-friendly bridge over Route 113, remedying longstanding lack of safe access to schools, jobs and recreation for town residents. During this week’s strategic plan work session, Councilwoman Shaneka Nichols brought up the proposed bridge and said she felt it could be tied to the “One Berlin” goal idenSee GRANT Page 5
FILE PHOTO/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
The intersection of Bay Street and Route 113 is pictured last summer after the state conducted a paving and restriping project.