JULY 9, 2026
BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
FREE
Schanno gets win in Dist. 5 Narrow margin of victory holds through final count
SUBMITTED PHOTO/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
SPRINKLER SPRINT With hazy, hot and humid conditions in place throughout last weekend, this girl had the right thoughts on cooling down during the Ocean Pines Association’s Fourth of July festivities.
Committee follows budget’s ups, downs Too early to tell whether differences from last year mean anything in long run By Tara Fischer Staff Writer (July 9, 2026) The Ocean Pines Association Budget and Finance Committee is seeking additional information on several financial vari-
ances spotted during its review of the April and May financial reports. The variances included higher police expenditures and differences in overall operating costs. During the committee’s meeting last week, discussed some items they believe require follow-up with Ocean Pines staff as the fiscal year progresses. Committee member Colette Horn
asked why, per the April report, yearto-date police expenditures appeared noticeably higher than they were at the same point last year. For the law enforcement agency, this year’s year-to-date operating expense totaled $1.73 million versus $1.54 million last year. Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Doug Parks noted that See TOO Page 3
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By Brian Shane Staff Writer (July 6, 2026) Joe Schanno has defeated three-term incumbent County Commissioner Chip Bertino by 31 votes in the Republican primary in the Worcester County Commissioners’ Ocean Pines district. The final tally for District 5 was 472 votes for Schanno and 441 for Bertino, according to a final canvass completed Monday by the Worcester County Board of Elections. Schanno will go on to face Democratic challenger Vicky Wallace for the Ocean Pines district seat in the Nov. 3 general election. Wallace was unopposed in her primary bid. Online results from the State Board of Elections showed Schanno with a lead in three of four categories of balloting in the July 23 Republican primary: in early voting, on primary election day, and among provisional votes. Bertino led in mail-in votes. “I know you all had faith in me all along and I thank you. It was a challenge, for sure, but I am grateful to my family, my team and everyone in District 5 who voted for me. Up next, the general election in November where I will again be asking for your support and your vote,” Schanno wrote on his official campaign Facebook page. Schanno now hopes to join three other first-time commissioners who See SCHANNO Page 3
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