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JULY 14, 2023
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
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Tram driver incentives show results City approaches full roster, because of signing bonus
STEWART DOBSON/OCEAN CITY TODAY
The curtains closed on the Sun & Surf Cinema Tuesday morning as what was left of the structure was ripped down by Absolute Demolition to make way for a residential project. The theaters sold the last tickets in September, after 51 years of showtimes in uptown Ocean City.
Sun sets on Sun & Surf Crowds trekked uptown to see ‘The Godfather,’ ‘The Poseidon Adventure’
By Remy Andersen Staff Writer (July 14, 2023) The walls of the Sun & Surf Cinema are coming down, as the complex enters its final
stages of demolition. The eight-plex movie theater at 14301 Coastal Highway was an iconic staple of uptown Ocean City, reeling in moviegoers for more than 50 years. Built in 1972 by Muriel and Reba Schwartz, of Dover, the Sun & Surf began as a twin theater, with two more screens added in 1974. Ac-
cording to Deadline, in the year that Sun & Surf first opened, the average cost of a theater ticket was $1.70, which would amount to $9.41 today once adjusted for inflation. The top 10 highest grossing movies that year, according to “The Numbers” website, included “The Godfather,” “The Poseidon AdvenSee THE GODFATHER Page 4
By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (July 14, 2023) Ocean City Boardwalk tram employee totals have jumped up since last month thanks to a $250 bonus offered to drivers and conductors. “Staffing has increased markedly since last we spoke, directly as a result of the recently enacted signing bonus,” Transit Manager Rob Shearman told members of the city’s Transportation Committee at a meeting Tuesday. Last month, the numbers were looking dismal, with just 18 drivers and 17 conductors on the payroll. The annual employee goal for the trams, which run regularly from Memorial Day to Labor Day with some one-off weekends before and after, is 25 of each. During the committee’s last meeting in mid-June, members pushed to offer some type of incentive to draw more applicants, with the effort resulting in a $250 employee signing bonus. As of Tuesday, Shearman said See NUMBER Page 4
June crime stats decline from last year Police calls continue to fall from 2021, as compliance becomes more prevalent By Hunter Hine Staff Writer (July 14, 2023) Total calls to service in the month of June have continued to decline for the Ocean City
Police Department over the past three years, with 9,285 in June 2021, 7,921 in June 2022 and 7,812 in June 2023. While citizen calls for service went up by 346 calls compared to June of last year, officer calls to service went down by 455, according to June statistics presented at the Ocean City Police Commission monthly meeting.
Both categories combine to create the total calls to service. “In terms of (the) recap from June, I think we fared very, very well,” Police Chief Ross Buzzuro said. Buzzuro broke down the OCPD’s top 25 calls to service: • Traffic stops rose to 1,469 this June, while the total last year was 1,133 and 1,002 two years ago.
• Hang-ups during 911 calls more than doubled this year with 1,089 in June 2023, 495 in June 2022 and 476 in June 2021. Buzzuro said these can be attributed to misdials. “I don’t know why the number has doubled with people accidentally (dialing) 911 on their phones, but that’s See JUNE Page 3