08/28/2025 Bayside Gazette

SOME LIKE IT HOT

Toy program aids young patients

Inspired by girl’s battle with cancer, Brooke’s Toy Closet opens in Berlin hospital

By Tara Fischer Staff Writer

(Aug. 28, 2025) Atlantic General Hospital has opened a new toy closet for children receiving care in the facility’s emergency department and inpatient units as part of the Brooke’s Toy Closet program, an initiative inspired by a young girl’s battle with childhood cancer.

The toy closet, located in the Emergency Department at AGH, will house playthings for children admit-

ted to and visiting the hospital.

Children will have the opportunity to pick an item from the collection to brighten up what are often stressful and scary periods.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held this week at Atlantic General, signaling the opening of the facility’s new joy-focused project.

Community members are urged to donate new toys to the supply.

The program will provide a little bit of fun to children and their families during hospital stays.

The new Berlin-based toy collection follows three others along the East Coast. The first Brooke’s Toy Closet opened in 2014 at TidalHealth

Peninsula Regional in Salisbury.

The pantry was an effort spurred by the Brooke Mulford Foundation, kick-started for Brooke Mulford, a Salisbury native who, at the time of the organization’s conception, was a six-year-old girl diagnosed with neuroblastoma. The nonprofit’s goal is to raise funds for research and provide toys for children undergoing treatment, as well as offer financial assistance to Eastern Shore families with a child battling cancer.

Brooke’s own battle tragically came to an end in June of 2017. One year later, a second toy closet was opened at Virtua Hospital in

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Tyndall looking at run for Congress

Exploratory committee will assess 1st Dist. chances

By Brian Shane Staff Writer

(Aug. 29, 2025) Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall is considering running for Congress against eight-term Republican incumbent Andy Harris and won’t run for re-election as mayor.

Calling rural Eastern Shore communities “overlooked and underserved,”

Tyndall, a Democrat, said he’s formed an exploratory committee towards a campaign for Maryland’s First Congressional District seat in the 2026 election.

“I have chosen to create a Congressional Exploratory Committee because the people of Maryland’s First Congressional District deserve a representative who is not only visible and accessible but also responsive and a partner,” he wrote. “I believe that I am the person to help bring Eastern Shore values back to Washington.”

In his statement Tuesday, Tyndall noted a “disconnect” between the

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County eyes local bill for ag solar projects

By Brian Shane Staff Writer

(Aug. 28, 2025) Solar farm developers in Worcester County would need to set aside money for decommissioning before getting their projects approved by the county, under new legislation being proposed.

The Worcester County Commissioners last Tuesday considered an emergency bill on solar energy systems that would add decommissioning bonds to the review process for major solar farm projects and legally establishes abandoned solar projects as a public nuisance. It means developers would have to get both a state and county bond for decommissioning.

Six of seven commissioners raised their hands to support the bill, which will come before the board for a final vote at a future meeting. Commissioner Jim Bunting did not express opposition to the measure, but neither did he raise his hand in support of it.

Under the bill, solar developers of projects greater than 2 megawatts –that’s enough electricity to power a small town – would have to provide detailed decommissioning and restoration plans and would require a solar developer to post a bond at 125% of the project cost, explained Jennifer Keener, the county’s director of Development Review & Permitting.

At the meeting, Commissioner Eric Fiori (District 3, West Ocean City) asked what happens if the cash set aside for decommissioning isn’t enough to cover the eventual cost. “We need to continue to work on that gap,” he told Keener.

Initial bond estimates would be prepared by an independent certified engineer and evaluated every five years, which is consistent with what other jurisdictions have done and is what the state’s Public Service Commission requires, Keener said.

Developers under this proposal would have to bond out with both the state and the county. While the state may preempt the county and ask for salvage costs to be removed from the bond value, the county’s bond would not include the cost of salvage.

Solar farm owners must notify the county when a project is slated to go dark and provide an updated decommissioning cost estimate. The county must be notified if a solar farm goes out of production for six months, and decommissioning must be completed after a year.

Projects that end up abandoned would be deemed a nuisance under county law. County officials are allowed to enter the site if they suspect a solar farm is offline.

Decommissioning is proposed to apply to major solar systems, anything over 200 kilowatts, that sell power to the grid or to others electric-

ity consumers.

However, the county’s Planning Commission, which voted in favor of the bill Aug. 7, said they wanted a developer to share decommission plans regardless of whether a solar farm sells power to the grid or is used only for on-site consumption. Whether the scope gets widened to include all solar farms would be up to the commissioners.

Also at the meeting, Commissioner Chip Bertino asked whether the proposed legislation covers remediation or decommissioning of battery units, on which state law is silent. Keener says she has not addressed battery energy storage systems in the bill.

“It’s a very sticky issue, that’s why. Nobody wants to step up to the plate,” Bertino said. “I just don’t want the county to be on the hook. God for-

bid there’s a problem with one of those battery units exploding or catching fire.”

When it comes to decommissioning and demolition, the bill does address removal of concrete pads and replacing topsoil, “but what we’re hearing from other counties is, they’re basically destroying the farmland from ever being farmland again by mixing in soil cement,” said County Administrator Weston Young.

Keener said she needs to look into that and that any changes to this bill could be part of the public hearing process.

The issue arose a month ago, when the commissioners were briefed on a proposed solar farm, a 40-acre, 5 megawatt project off Queponco Road. Commissioners didn’t like that talks

of decommissioning come at the end of the approval process, not the beginning.

Commissioners also said they didn’t want to be kept in the dark should a solar farm suddenly stop delivering power, leaving behind a field of junked metal, glass, and electronics.

Officials say cleanup for dead solar farms can be expensive because solar panels at salvage sell for pennies on the dollar, and the farmland may be deemed hazardous and plummet in value.

Under Maryland law, counties can offer feedback but can’t adopt zoning laws or regulations that would get in the way of any solar development. Ultimately, all solar farm applications go before the state’s Public Service Commission for approval, according to county attorney Roscoe Leslie.

Tyndall to explore running for Congress seat

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Shore and Washington creates issues when it comes to federal support and funding for critical projects in the areas of public safety, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Berlin recently lost out on nearly $1 million in federal funding when the government rescinded a transportation grant. The money was supposed to help Berlin study how to bridge the geographical divide created by U.S. Route 113 through town.

Public service is at the heart of what motivates him, Tyndall said in an interview Tuesday, with inspiration from his father, a lifelong firefighter.

“I really never expected to even enter politics,” he said, “but some folks said, ‘hey, look, you're, you're good at serving the community and maybe you should take a look at this.’ I enjoyed the work and the things that I could do for Berlin as a council member that's evolved over the years, to the work I can do as mayor.”

When it comes to running for federal office, election rules allow for a “testing the waters” committee, where a potential candidate can suss out their chances without actually filing as a candidate.

A candidate is no longer testing the waters when they raise more than

$5,000 and begin to conduct campaigning in earnest, which would then require formally filing candidacy, according to Federal Elections Commission rules.

Jake Day, Maryland’s housing secretary and a former Democratic mayor of Salisbury, has also established an exploratory committee but has not yet publicly stated whether he’ll pursue a campaign. Day did not respond to a request for comment for this report.

Four Democratic candidates have filed for the opportunity to run against Harris. The only one who’s raised any money is Dan Schwartz, who has about $56,000 cash on hand, according to Federal Election Commission records. A newcomer to electoral politics, Schwartz works in the field of consumer protection and hails from Talbot County, according to his campaign website.

The other three people who have filed as candidates for the First District seat include Rev. Terrence Rogers, George Martin Walish Jr., and Randi White, online records show.

Tyndall background

A Berlin native and Stephen Decatur High School graduate, the 35year-old Tyndall spent the last six years working for Salisbury Univer-

sity before starting his own consultancy in the burgeoning field of medical simulations.

Before that, he was a career firefighter/EMT with the towns of Berlin and Ocean City, having started in fire service as a cadet at age 14.

In 2013, Tyndall sued the Berlin Fire Company in federal court for discrimination and harassment. Tyndall, now a married father of two with wife Chelsea, alleged in court documents that colleagues created a hostile work environment by bullying him with gay slurs and physical confrontations. The case was eventually dismissed in late 2015 after both sides settled out of court.

Less than a year later, Tyndall won a seat on the Berlin Town Council. After an unsuccessful run for county commissioner in 2018, was elected mayor in 2020 and went unopposed for his re-election in 2024.

Tyndall won’t run for a third term as mayor when his office expires in 2028, he confirmed.

“I think many folks would agree that Berlin is doing very, very well under our leadership and the team that we've built,” he said. “A change in leadership is a good thing. … After 12 years of public service to Berlin, I think it's time to pass that baton and get a fresh perspective.”

He’s has burnished his public image of late with an appearance on CBS Sunday Morning (about Assateague Island’s lifeguard shortage) and interviews in national press about the loss of the transportation grant.

Accusing incumbent Harris of being unresponsive to constituent needs, Tyndall added that he’s engaged with issues and hears from a lot of people throughout Maryland and throughout the Eastern Shore.

“I hear the frustrations and largely I think the frustrations come from the lack of cooperation and the lack of support that, really, you look to for this type of position,” Tyndall said. “Mayors are on the front lines dealing with issues that face everybody –kitchen table issues. And Congress is really not that different.

“It might seem like it’s so much further removed,” he added, “but the issues remain the same. People still want somebody they can see in their district. You want to be accessible.”

When asked how he’d handle stepping into Washington’s tumultuous and tribal partisan divide, Tyndall pointed anecdotally to the growing number of voters across Maryland who are quitting their party affiliation and registering as unaffiliated or in-

Holiday weekend features special events in Pines

(Aug. 28, 2025) The end of summer in Ocean Pines will be celebrated over Labor Day weekend.

At the Yacht Club, enjoy live music all weekend long, starting Thursday evening, Aug. 28 with the Whiskey Graves Trio from 6-9 p.m. Great Train Robbery takes over Friday evening, with Totally Bowie performing Saturday evening and Sonic OCM on Sunday, all from 6-10 p.m. Kings Ransom rounds out the holiday weekend on Monday from 4-7 p.m. Happy Hour is daily from 3-5 p.m. with indoor/outdoor dining, an indoor bar, tiki bar, and poolside service.

VIP Tickets are on sale for Saturday and Sunday’s live music performances. Tickets are $25 per person plus tax and gratuity and include passed Hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, restrooms, and private seating on the balcony from 6-10pm. Limited tickets remain; call 410-641-7501 to purchase.

Enjoy one last weekend of swimming and poolside service at the Beach Club, open daily from 11 a.m.6 p.m. Indoor and outdoor seating are available, with live music on Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting.

The Clubhouse Bar & Grille will be open daily from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., serving breakfast and lunch. Starting this Saturday, Aug. 30, the Clubhouse will host a Tailgate party every Saturday on the patio (weather permitting), from noon-4 p.m. The weekly tailgate parties will feature college football, Bob’s famous grilled sausage and peppers, cornhole, drink specials, and more.

Tyndall looking at House race

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The state Board of Elections reports 22% of the 1st District’s 600,000 voters are independent, with 42% registered as Republican and 33% as Democratic.

“So, when I see that,” Tyndall said, “it makes me think that people are disgruntled with both sides of the major parties and maybe they're focused on more things that actually matter, right? We need more people that are focused on getting things done and not the bickering. That's what we'll bring to Washington, DC.

“Let’s roll up our sleeves,” he added. “If we have a disagreement – I always say to the council when we disagree –that's a good thing because we're able to take that feedback, construct it into something that's better for the people we serve. And as long as you're focused on that, I think that a really good work product comes out of it.”

Brooke’s Toy Closet opens for children at AGH

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Voorhees, New Jersey, according to the foundation’s website. A third was created at TidalHealth Nanticoke in Seaford, Delaware, in 2022. Now, the latest toy closet in Brooke’s honor has made its way to AGH in Berlin, following the hospital’s merger with TidalHealth this past May.

According to Brooke’s mother, Amy Mulford McGladdery, her daughter was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma, an aggressive cancer of the nervous system, in 2009 at four years old. Even at such a young age, Brooke’s passion for helping others was evident, and soon after her diagnosis, the idea for the toy closet to help other children experiencing frightening situations began to form.

“We had originally come to the

hospital in Salisbury when her symptoms started, and it was before I had a smartphone or tablet or anything to entertain her, and we were there for eight hours,” McGladdery said. “And on top of being there for eight hours with no television, no toys, nothing for her to do, she also wasn’t feeling good. So you have her not feeling good, and nothing to help her feel better. A week later, we wound up at CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia). It’s a children’s hospital, so they have child life specialists coming in and doing things. Every shift, she would get a new toy that she got to keep. Probably that first week of diagnosis, she said, ‘Mom, our hospital at home needs something like this.’ They don’t have anything to do when you’re in the hospital, not even watch TV. That was how the wheels started with it.”

McGladdery’s daughter’s diagnosis yielded immense community support, and toys and gifts started to flood in, to the point that many of the items were repeats of things she already had. Brooke began setting aside some toys to donate to other children.

Brooke’s mom added that they first began giving the items to CHOP. However, Brooke was adamant that she wanted to offer these toys to TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury, their local facility, which was lacking in children’s entertainment, to help the kids there. Brooke and her parents began saving the gifts they received, which would eventually be part of the first Brooke’s Toy Closet that opened in 2014, just a few weeks before the family moved to New Jersey to be closer to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

“We were just getting ready to move, so it was kind of bittersweet, but what better way to leave our community with this gift for everything that was done for us, to be able to give something back right before we left,” McGladdery said.

AGH’s toy closet will now be the fourth along the East Coast. Discussions about the Berlin addition began leading up to and during Atlantic General’s merger with TidalHealth, as toy collection sites inspired by Brooke are currently located at two other TidalHealth hospitals.

“When the integration conversations started happening, I knew it was something we needed to do,” said Jessica Hales, the president of the TidalHealth Foundation. “I received Facebook messages from people who worked [at AGH] that said, ‘When are we getting a toy closet?’ So we reached out to Brooke’s mom, and she was over the moon to be able to extend Brooke’s vision to Atlantic General Hospital. The wheels started turning from there.”

Toni Keiser, the vice president of public relations at AGH, found closetesq furniture at AGH’s thrift shop. The piece was then painted purple, the color associated with neuroblastoma’s ribbon, and spruced up to house the toys. The Atlantic General Hospital Foundation donated items.

As toys get taken by the kids, the idea is that the families will replenish the closet with new items. Community members are also encouraged to donate. The playthings can be taken to the hospital in person, by contacting TidalHealth Foundation at foundation@tidalhealth.org to arrange a drop-off, or shopping from the Brooke’s Toy Closet Amazon Wish List.

Hales said that the wish list is especially helpful because it’s easy, and the hospital can choose what is most needed at certain times.

“You can choose which location, and the toys will be delivered to that location. That is really convenient,” the TidalHealth Foundation president said. “And we can say what we need more of, what we need less of. Some seasons we need infant toys, some seasons we need ten-year-old

Pink Lady Golf Tournament planned for Oct. 8 at club

Event serves as fundraiser for imagine, diagnostic ctr.

(Aug. 28, 2025) The Ocean Pines Ladies and Men’s Golf Associations are once again teaming up for their annual Pink Lady Golf Tournament to support breast cancer care and research.

This year’s event is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 8 at the Ocean Pines Golf Club. Check-in begins at 8 a.m., with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Registration is $45 and includes range balls, prizes, a buffet lunch, and non-alcoholic beverages. Green fee is paid separated at the Ocean Pines Pro Shop on the day of the event.

Contests include Straightest Drive, Closest to the Pin, and a Putting Contest, with men’s, ladies, and mixed teams. The event will also feature door prizes, a 50/50 drawing, and silent auction.

The tournament supports the AGH

Foundation and the Eunice Q. Sorin Women’s Diagnostic Center. Proceeds help provide mammograms and other lifesaving measures to help local women.

Over the past 13 years, OPLGA and OPMGA have donated over $25,000 to the Atlantic General Women’s Imaging Eunice Q. Sorin Women’s Diagnostic Center.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available, ranging from Tee Sponsor to Gold Level.

The deadline to register is Sept. 15. Checks should be made out to OPLGA-9 and either dropped off with your registration form to the OPGCC Pro Shop or mailed to Donna M. Kelly, 28 Heron Isle Court, Ocean Pines, Md. 21811.

For additional information, contact Denise Stevens at 202-340-4656 or Denisestevens41@outlook.com, or Donna Kelly at 610-721-1634 or Dmk52759@hotmail.com.

Toys calm anxious kids in ER

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boy toys.”

Those interested in donating via Amazon can visit tidalhealth.org/toycloset to find the link for the wish list.

Hospital officials are ecstatic about what the closet will bring to the facility’s young visitors.

“It is a really great way to be able to support the people that need support,” said AGH Foundation Chair Emily Tunis. “So much of the foundation participated in this project, and it makes everyone really happy to know that it is going to help the patients, and it is going to go to good use.”

Donald Owrey, president of Atlantic General Hospital, added that the healthcare institution is grateful to be able to honor Brooke.

“The whole thing is incredibly inspiring, for this young girl who went through a real ordeal herself, but through that, really felt that she could help others feel some sense of joy, peace, and take their mind off what they might be going through,” he said. “We’re here to take care of folks, and people come here every day, and sometimes they’re in their darkest hour. Especially if they’re a child. To be able to … bring some normalcy to what’s not normal is good. It helps us to stay grounded. It’s people caring for people.

“That’s what healthcare is. At the end of the day, it’s one human caring for another. That comes in many different forms, and this is just another example of someone caring for someone else. Bringing in a toy that they may not ever know who will be the

beneficiary of, but it is going to have an effect. It’s very moving.”

Brooke’s mom said that she is grateful to be able to bring the toy project to another area, continuing her daughter’s legacy of optimism and joy.

“It was so funny, she had no fear,” McGladdery said. “For her to get up and do something like this, she would be like, ‘bring it on!’ She was amazing … We would be out, just having dinner somewhere, and people would come up, like a waitress would say, ‘I didn’t want to come to work today. I was in a miserable mood, but the first table is your daughter sitting there with the biggest smile on her face, and she is clearly going through way more than I could possibly even imagine, and there she was with a smile, and I’m complaining about my petty things.’

“You couldn’t help but fall in love with her. It just puts a lot of things in your own life in perspective, seeing Brooke and how she carried herself through her journey…I know she would be thrilled to know that there is now a toy closet in Berlin, too. What started as this one little idea has helped thousands of kids.”

In addition to donating new toys, community members may also make a financial contribution by visiting tidalhealth.org/donate and selecting Brooke’s Toy Closet as the designation. Furthermore, checks can be mailed to TidalHealth Foundation, 100 E. Carroll Street, Salisbury, Md. 21801.

AGH’s Brooke’s Toy Closet marks the fourth of its kind in total, and the third in TidalHealth locations.

Commissioners approve Route 589 rezoning

By Brian Shane Staff Writer

(Aug. 22, 2025) County officials this week agreed to rezone a small parcel along the west side of Racetrack Road from an environmentally protected district to general commercial zoning, opening the door for future development on the site.

Arguing before the Worcester County Commissioners in a public hearing on Tuesday, attorney Mark Cropper said the roughly one-acre parcel was wrongly zoned in 2009 as a wetlands conservation area. The commissioners agreed unanimously to rezone two of three property subsections into C-2 General Commercial from RP Resource Protected.

Cropper said the zoning error was made clearer in 2019 as the Ocean Downs casino was about to open: the county rezoned 15 properties on the same side of Racetrack Road (Route 589) as commercial lots.

Because the county’s zoning change was comprehensive, individual site characteristics – like his client’s property – were not considered, he said. He argued that it was both a zoning mistake and a change in the character of the neighborhood.

“I see this merely as a correction,” Cropper told the commissioners, “to make it consistent with the critical

area designations and the new zoning classification.”

Located across from Ocean Downs Casino on Route 589, the parcel in question is part of a 9-acre woodland property located across from the Ocean Downs Casino property. Records show Michael Lupacchini purchased the land in 2024 and the landowner is now listed as Racetrack Plaza LLC.

The owner didn’t want to rezone all 9 acres, just the 1.07-acre portion nearest to the road, so it would align with the underlying commercial zoning for the rest of his parcel.

In hearing the case earlier this summer, Worcester County’s Planning Commission split this portion into three smaller pieces – zones A, B, and C – separating the portions of land they’d be willing to rezone from the land they weren’t, according to Cropper.

At the same time, the state’s Critical Area Commission is re-doing its maps and intends to designate area C on the property as a Resource Conservation Area (RCA), though the map update is still ongoing.

The Planning Commission ultimately gave the thumbs-down to rezoning a smaller portion and said it should remain in protected status as a Resource Conservation Area.

While Cropper argued before the commissioners that all three zones should be brought into the commercial zoning district – even bringing in land surveyor Frank Lynch to testify that the zone is upland and not wetland – county staffers on Tuesday said they agreed with the Planning Commission’s conclusion.

Bob Mitchell, the county’s director of Environmental Programs, told the commissioners that county staffers don’t support rezoning the smaller

area from resource-protected to commercial. He also worked with the state to closely consider hundreds of parcels countywide that were on the bubble of environmental sensitivity, and this was one of them.

“Our contention is it should stay RCA and should not be rezoned,” Mitchell said.

Moving forward, Cropper has stated his client is going to determine how best to develop the site based on zoning and critical area boundaries.

FLAG POLE DEDICATION CEREMONY

The Town of Berlin hosted a dedication ceremony for the new flag poles at Stephen Decatur Park this month. The flag poles were gifted to the town by U.S. Navy veteran Jack Gillen, who is well known in the area for his radio background as well as his family’s hospitality legacy in Ocean City. Gillen dedicated the flag poles to Commodore Stephen Decatur, a distinguished naval hero who was born near what is today Berlin. A memorial plaque recognizing Decatur is located along the park’s walking path near the new flag poles. Officials are pictured with Gillen and his family.

Berlin to tweak home bulk pickup program

Public Works Department will offer monthly service for fee to meet demand

By Tara Fischer Staff Writer

(Aug. 28, 2025) The Town of Berlin will begin offering its residents optional monthly bulk pickups for a fee of $25, officials decided this week.

Starting in September, Berlin citizens with bulk trash to dispose of will be able to pay $25 to have the municipality’s public works team collect and dispose of it. The regular pickups will occur on the second Wednesday of each month, with a limit of four items per household.

The Berlin Town Council approved the motion at its meeting on Monday,

Aug. 25. Public Works Director Jimmy Charles said that he has received an increase in inquiries from residents asking for help in getting rid of larger disposable items, which inspired the idea for the upgraded service.

Before this week’s decision, Berlin offered two free bulk pickups a year: one in November and another in April. This practice has been shown not to align with resident needs, resulting in increased calls asking for additional collection.

As such, the town has opted to eliminate the two free pickup days and instead provide the service monthly, charging a fee of $25 to offset the small costs of fuel and other expenses incurred by the effort.

Public works will begin the regular bulk service in September for the $25

fee. November will be the last scheduled free pickup.

Charles maintained that other nearby towns, like Salisbury, Princess Anne, and Crisfield, all offer the monthly pickup options for a fee.

Per the approval, residents can call public works two to three days before the second Wednesday of each month to register up to four items for pickup. The crew will come out on the morning of the designated day. Charles requests that the fee be paid in advance, either by mailing it or dropping it off in person.

Councilman Jack Orris asked that the offering be considered to operate every quarter, at no cost, to collect data on whether a monthly bulk service is necessary.

“I would not want to charge for a year and see how it goes,” he said.

However, Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall argued that a fee should be incurred to avoid disturbing the fiscal budget.

“We have to be careful, because these decisions have an impact,” Tyndall noted. “If there is a cost, a small number of folks are using, it’s important to, not to make money, but to cover the costs of that work so that it is not then passed along as another cost in the general fund budget.”

Natalie Saleh, Berlin’s finance director, added that free monthly or quarterly bulk pickup could increase the amount of bulk coming into Berlin, overloading the trucks and increasing vehicle fuel costs.

Town Administrator Mary Bohlen said that there is a limit to avoid this situation, but that it is an issue that must still be considered when making decisions on trash collection. As such, the new monthly service will come with a small price tag.

The $25 fee is not to turn a profit, town officials maintained. The rate is designed to cover the cost of the offering, now that it will be provided regularly.

Berlin supports signing new mutual aid police document

By Tara Fischer Staff Writer

(Aug. 28, 2025) Per a mutual aid agreement passed by the Town of Berlin this week, the municipality's law enforcement team will have the authority to assist jurisdictions across Worcester County.

The Berlin Town Council agreed to sign a mutual aid agreement this week, which includes the additional parties of the Worcester County Commissioners, the Mayor and Council of Ocean City, the Mayor and Council of Pocomoke City, and the Mayor and Council of Snow Hill. The contract allows these jurisdictions to offer police aid across town lines without first needing to obtain county approval. Each visiting law enforcement team will have the same power as the local crew.

The contract reads, “It is in the public interest that law enforcement agencies throughout the State of Maryland cooperate to the greatest extent possible to provide prompt, effective, and professional police services; and whereas the federal and state government encourages law enforcement agencies to employ regional approaches to public safety, planning, preparedness, and responses to public safety needs.”

The agreement continues, “whereas, the County Commissioners of Worcester County, Maryland, and

the Mayor and Council of each municipality within Worcester County desire to enable collaboration and communication across law enforcement agencies operating within Worcester County to enhance policing services and community safety… ”

Currently, towns have agreements solely with the county. The new arrangement is instead a county-wide mutual aid agreement with all local governments, said Arnold Downing, chief of police in Berlin.

“It’s going to make our jobs a lot easier,” the chief added. “And the liability itself covers that. It allows for a municipality to ask for the help, and the helping municipality or county agency to go ahead and move forward.”

For example, during the annual Berlin Christmas Parade, other local law enforcement groups, such as those from Pocomoke and Snow Hill, come to Berlin. When these jurisdictions host their own events, Berlin’s police department attends. With the new contract, rather than first seeking approval from Worcester County, these municipalities can request the additional aid directly, and the responding team may be dispatched.

“What we do now is have an agreement with the county,” Downing said. “So, if we want to go to Pocomoke, we say, ‘County, can we go to Pocomoke?’ and the county says, ‘Pocomoke, do you want them to come?’ And we have power that way. This [contract] eliminates that.”

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Water taxi group pivots after county denial

Service to and from resort music festivals provided from multiple sites in area

By Brian Shane Staff Writer

(Aug. 28, 2025) After Worcester County officials quashed Tony Battista’s water taxi service for Ocean City’s music festivals because he was using a public boat ramp, he had to pivot.

Now, he’s teamed up with other charter boat companies and they’re ready to shuttle concertgoers between multiple private launch sites in Ocean City and West Ocean City this fall for the resort’s three big concert events.

Battista said his charter outfit, Saltwater Adventures, will team up with three other operators: Steve Butz of OC Bay Hopper, Chip Ridgely of Go With The Flow cruises, and Ron Croker of Liquid Tiki. They’ll be operating on the water for nine days a year during the Ocean’s Calling, Country Calling, and Boardwalk Rock festivals.

“It’s all looking great right now,” Battista told OC Today-Dispatch. “At the end of the day, I think it might be a better situation, and all the sourpusses can mind their own busi-

nesses. Now we can handle 1,500 to 2,000 people easily when before we were struggling to do 950 to 1,000. It can only get better and better.”

Passengers can book online or via app for a bayside pickup in Ocean City at the Food Lion at 118th Street or the convention center at 40th Street, from Ocean Pines at the Yacht Club, or from West Ocean City’s commercial fishing harbor at either Pure Lure or Harborside Bar & Grill. Oneway admission ranges from $15 to $35 depending on the length of the trip.

then ferried to the festival.

Before cementing this new partnership, Battista had been picking up passengers by himself, at first at the public boat ramp in West Ocean City on his 25-foot center consol boat and shuttling them over Isle of Wight Bay to The Angler restaurant.

‘At the end of the day, I think it might be a better situation, and all the sourpusses can mind their own businesses.’

When business boomed after the first day, he called in for a lifeline from a few other fishing boat captains. Together, they ferried about 800 people total for that three-day event in 2023.

Tony Battista

“It’s too big for any one of our companies – none of us could tackle it,”

Battista said. “I estimate we have about 18 boats, probably, total now, and that’s being conservative. Not only is it a ride, it solves a parking issue and it gives them some heritage of our area – it takes ‘em through the commercial harbor.”

Battista’s working not just with boats, but buses, too. He’s cut a deal with five hotels along the West Ocean City corridor: their guests will be picked up by charter bus at the hotel, dropped off at the boat launch, and

Worcester County parks and recreation officials, who have oversight of the boat ramp, initially supported the service, because it got a lot of concertgoers out of the snarled stream of inbound car traffic.

But parks officials also told him he couldn’t advertise there with a banner. Battista did anyway – which he calls “a mistake” – and someone called to complain.

Battista was then forced to make a formal request of the Worcester County Commissioners. They ruled against him on July 15, saying the public ramp was not to be used for a ferry site, mostly for liability reasons.

funds when the very first Oceans Calling was canceled for bad weather, “so, that was not fun,” he said),

Now, he said he’s looking forward to working with a team of operators and seeing the West Ocean City harbor come to life with potential passengers.

Getting people to the show is easy, because it’s a day-long trickle of tourists. The hard part, unsurprisingly, is when all those folks show up at the same time for their departure.

“The big problem is at 11:10 p.m. Everyone wants to leave at 11:10. I’m already completely sold out” for those departures, Butz added. “The reason why I partner with Tony and Chip, frankly, is because I can only make 68 people happy by getting them right when they leave the concert, and there’s thousands of people.”

Ridgely’s pontoon, the Salty Siren, can carry 22 passengers and three crew members at a time. Last year he teamed up with the Bay Hopper before joining up with Battista’s ferry flotilla. He called the concert shuttle service a prime marketing opportunity for his business throughout the year.

“These fishing boats will be basically used as ferries,” County Attorney Roscoe Leslie said at that meeting. “So, we’ve got boats that are not designed to be ferries, on docks that are not designed for ferries, either.”

Butz, too, had been shuttling passengers 17 passengers at a time on his four Carolina skiffs during the concerts, selling out bookings that retrieved passengers from downtown Ocean City when the concerts ended (he also had to process $11,000 in re-

“As they're getting off of their boats, they're getting some kind of pamphlet, brochure. I’ve got rack cards that we hand out. Hopefully, that comes back in the summer when they bring their families back or they're back on a bachelorette party or bachelor party,” he said.

Battista agreed. He’s already seen some return business after having run his ferry service for the last two years’ of resort concerts.

“When they go back to Arizona, Tennessee, or Connecticut, they should know about your business. You know, you're gonna have their attention for 32 minutes each day. In Ocean City, we're all in the entertainment business,” he said.

Hybrid welcome, cultural center proposed

Town Hall renovation work will force staff to relocate to building for months

By Tara Fischer Staff Writer

(Aug. 28, 2025) While the future of the Berlin Welcome Center remains uncertain, groups float the idea that a regional cultural heritage center could move into the space.

Berlin’s Town Hall building is set to soon go under renovation. While this construction takes place, town staff will move to the Main Street visitor center on Main Street, displacing groups that operate there, including the nonprofit organization Beach to Bay Heritage Area and the Berlin Chamber of Commerce. This action could be temporary or permanent, depending on the municipality's decision regarding the welcome space.

Upon project completion, Berlin’s economic and community development, currently working in the welcome center, will move to the upgraded town hall on Williams Street. The rearrangement will promote staff collaboration, with all teams working in closer proximity than they do at present.

However, personnel will relocate from the visitor center once the town hall’s renovations are finalized, leaving

the building largely vacant. Berlin officials must decide what the welcome space’s future holds.

While there is time, as the town hall’s update is not expected to be complete until next summer at the earliest, the municipality’s mayor and council hosted a work session earlier this week to hear possibilities.

Lisa Challenger of Beach to Bay Heritage Area and Melissa Reid of the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum pitched a regional heritage center.

Specifically, Challenger, Beach to Bay’s executive director, urged the town to consider a “cultural heritage interpretive center.”

“The Beach to Bay Heritage Area proposes to repurpose the existing Berlin Welcome Center into a vibrant, multi-use facility that serves as both a community hub and a cultural heritage interpretive center,” the outline reads.

“The reimagined space will accommodate non-profit organizations, small businesses, and individuals seeking hot-desk or short-term office space. It will also continue to serve visitors and residents with accessible information and resources of the region’s rich heritage.”

Key features could include adaptable office space for organizations, a hub with resources on the region’s heritage and history, exhibits highlighting sites like the Taylor House, Rackliffe

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House, the Museum of Ocean City, and Germantown School, and provide storage space, as it currently does for items used for town events.

Additional collaborators for the space could include We Heart Berlin and Radio Free Berlin.

Challenger maintained that while this type of center would not generate significant revenue for the town, it would serve a more beneficial purpose: strengthening Berlin’s commitment to the community.

“It would bring much larger value than any dollar can be placed on it, through attraction, through quality of life, through bringing in other parts of the community into downtown. And really sharing their stories,” she said. “If it’s going to come down to hard, fast dollars, it’s going to be hard to compete.”

Challenger continued, adding, “Our vision is taking the existing building and really turning it into a multi-use with office space, businesses like the radio station, and then turning the front into a real community hub of a cultural heritage interpretive center.”

The executive director added that the space would be regional, not just highlighting downtown Berlin, but also the surrounding areas. Grants may be available for building costs and exhibit creation.

the Town of Berlin has been riding “an incredible wave of success,” but that hardships cannot be avoided.

“Every boom has a bust, and we have been on a great boom for a long time,” she said. “What concerns me, unless we collectively talk about and find answers on how to land a bust, in other words, when an economic downturn comes because they always will, what does Berlin have that will safeguard what has been in the works for decades?”

The presenters assured that the building should be economically viable, and rent should be charged, but that it does not need to go to the highest bidder.

“‘I think it’s important that we keep that balance of commerce and community,” Reid said.

Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall asked what the proposed heritage center could bring that existing Berlin sites, such as the Taylor House, do not.

“We can make this kind of a cultural anchor to safeguard our history and heritage and traditions,” Challenger said. “We have a list of funders that we would definitely go after. I feel like we would have a good amount of success. This could definitely be a model for a cooperative, public-private partnership.”

Reid, Taylor House president, and Challenger emphasized the importance of maintaining a place that protects the region’s commitment to the arts and humanities. Reid noted that

Challenger and Reid said that the Taylor House tells the stories of Berlin, while a new heritage hub would include attractions throughout the region, such as museums as far as Salisbury. Furthermore, the Taylor House’s reach has limits. The facility operates seasonally, from March to October. The historic house areas can also not be adjusted for exhibit space. A fresh center would offer more flexibility and diversity in what could be highlighted. The Germantown School would be a significant focus, for example.

Worcester County Commissioner Diana Purnell was present at this week’s welcome center work session, advocating, as a Berlin citizen, for Challenger and Reid’s proposal.

Purnell urged the Berlin Town Council to consider the suggestion, as it would allow sites like the Germantown School to extend their reach and impact.

Cultural, welcome center vision discussed

“If we got a central location, and someone rolls into town and they go to the center and say, ‘I want to know about Germantown School … I want to know where it is. I want to know this about Berlin,’ you got a cohesive message in one place,” she said. “Right now, what we have in Berlin and how the growth has taken place, a lot of small towns would kill for. Heritage is number one. I think we can do that, and you need that heartbeat for Berlin. We need to work together. That’s how heritage works. It’s not a separate thing, it’s a together thing.”

The council was receptive to the proposal and maintained that they are open to considering the possibility, but that it is far too early for any type of decision to be made.

“I do see opportunity in what was presented tonight,” Councilman Steve Green said. “I see value in celebrating, remembering our past, present, and looking to the future. I do see an opportunity there to diversify some of the offerings we have in Berlin.”

As for a timeline, Tyndall asked Reid and Melissa to put together a list of potential funding sources for the heritage project, which will be formally presented at a later date. According to officials, the future of the welcome center is uncertain, pending town hall renovations, and they would like to see what is needed as the upgrade work progresses. Further review is likely to take place next summer.

The town hall renovations are expected to begin in December with an anticipated completion of summer 2026.

The town purchased the Berlin Welcome Center in March of 2011 for $357,500. The original intention was that a visitor space would occupy the front of the building, while artist studio spaces would be located in the back.

That initial plan did not come to fruition, as the Berlin Chamber of Commerce, a user of the structure, experienced frequent leadership changes, resulting in a lack of consistent vision. Additionally, the artistic

rooms were difficult to keep rented.

Since Berlin’s purchase in 2011, the welcome center has undergone a series of improvements, including to the HVAC system, roof, and floor.

Tyndall highlighted the building’s value, given its ideal location on Main Street with seven parking spaces. According to the mayor, any lease would be around $4,500. If only the front of the structure were to be rented (approximately 1,500 square feet), and the back half were to remain as storage

for the town, the lease would be $2,500.

At the work session, the idea of selling the welcome center came up, with resident Carol Rose strongly opposed. The town officials said that while that option is on the table, they would like to see the municipality hold on to it and expects that to be the case. Still, every choice must be considered. If the building were to go on the market, in the current climate, it is valued at $500,000 to $700,000 for a sale price,

Pines inspector arrested after road rage incident

By Tara Fischer Staff Writer

(Aug. 28, 2025) The Ocean Pines Association’s chief inspector with the community’s compliance, permit, and inspections (CPI) department was arrested by Delaware State Police last week following a road rage incident that resulted in felony gun charges.

Joshua Vickers of Dagsboro, Del., who has been employed with Ocean Pines for over 16 years, was arrested on Aug. 21 after a situation occurred at approximately 6 p.m. on Coastal Highway, northbound in Milton, near Eagle Crest Road.

According to a report by the Delaware State Police, law enforcement responded to an incident in which a driver was involved in a confrontation with a man, later identified as 38-year-old Vickers, who, in a fit of road rage, “yelled and allegedly pointed a firearm at the victim.”

Soon after, troopers located Vickers and his white Honda Pilot at Hudson Fields on Eagle Crest Road, and

he was detained without incident, according to the police report. During a search of Vickers’s car, they discovered a 9mm handgun in the glove compartment, a 12-gauge shotgun, and two .22 caliber rifles.

The OPA employee was arrested and taken to Troop 7, where he was charged with the following crimes: possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (felony), carrying a concealed deadly weapon –firearm (felony), aggravated menacing (felony), and overtaking/passing on the right. Vickers was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on a $30,100 unsecured bond.

According to an OPA press release, Vickers began working for the homeowners association as a member of the grounds crew. In this role, he was responsible for lawn care, sign installation, and heavy equipment operation.

Vickers moved to the compliance, permit, and inspections department around seven years ago. The CPI team addresses code violations, like unruly or hazardous yards and signage issues. The group also creates banners for OPA spaces like White Horse Park and processes permits and inspections.

Obituaries

MARIE O’CONNOR MARTIN

West Ocean City

Marie O’Connor Martin, age 87, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, at her home in West Ocean City, Maryland. Born in Washington, DC, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Frances O’Connor and Mildred (Tucker) O’Connor.

Marie graduated from Bethesda Chevy Chase high school in 1957. Following that she worked For the National Institutes for Health (NIH) for a number of years. She met and married her husband (Lloyd, sr.) in 1964. A first child (Lloyd, jr) came in 1966 followed by a brother (James D.) in 1968. When not raising children Marie helped at local schools, played on a women’s soccer team, was a member of a bowling team and eventually became a star tap dancer with a local women’s tap group (Fairfax Counties “Snappy Tappers”). When not engaged in these pursuits Marie found time for several parttime jobs and helped attend to a brother who was going through a serious illness. Marie won several awards with the Snappy Tappers and was given a citizen award by Fairfax County, VA. She was of course a homemaker for her family and also, when possible, traveled with her husband. She was of the Roman Catholic religion.

She is survived by her husband, Lloyd B. Martin, two sons, Lloyd B. Martin, Jr. (Julie), and James David Martin (Janice), a sister, Katherine Ann Wright (Terrence), and five grandchildren, Lloyd B. Martin, III, Connor Martin, Sarah Martin, Jackson Martin, and Matthew Martin. Marie and Lloyd recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas O’Connor and Robert O’-

Connor.

A funeral service will be held on Sept. 6, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at The Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. A visitation will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park in Berlin, MD. Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home.

CAROLE ANN SWEENEY

Berlin

Carole Ann Sweeney (nee Gischel) of Berlin passed away peacefully on Aug. 15, 2025 at Guiding Hands Assisted Living in Berlin. Born on June 25, 1940 in Baltimore Maryland, she was the daughter of the late Edward George Gischel Jr. and Margaret Gishel (nee Roder). She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William Daniel Sweeney.

After full lives in Baltimore, she and her husband Bill retired to their favorite place: the beach of Ocean City Maryland, moving to Berlin. Carole worked for several businesses in the area including the Worcester County Commission on Aging where she eventually ran the Ocean City Center, before retiring again. Carole enjoyed spending her days reading and caring for her beloved dogs.

Carole is survived by her daughter, Jennifer; her cherished dog Mollie; close friends Richard and Shirley Ridgell, and Julia Pitts, and treasured friends and neighbors. The family is also grateful for the caring staff of Guiding Hands Assisted Living, Visiting Angels, and Coastal Hospice.

A memorial service will be planned at a later date to honor Carole’s wishes for her ashes. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Coastal Hospice or the Worcester County Humane Society.

REC BOOSTERS DONATION

Berlin residents to receive utility bill credit

By Tara Fischer Staff Writer

(Aug. 28, 2025) Electric residential utility accounts in Berlin will see a credit of $54 on their next bill as part of a statewide energy relief refund passed earlier this year.

According to Natalie Saleh, Berlin’s finance director, the State of Maryland recently passed a bill, the Legislative Energy Relief Refund, that aims to provide customers with relief from high energy costs resulting from rising electric supply prices.

The state distributed approximately $200 million to provide this assistance to consumers. Of that, Berlin received $104,000. Saleh stated that this will be divided evenly among approximately 2,000 residential accounts within the Town of Berlin. As such, customers will see a return of $54.

According to a June press release

from the Maryland Public Service Commission on the energy refund, the group established a plan to provide bill credits to residential electricity customers through the Next Generation Energy Act (Senate Bill 937/House Bill 1035) that the General Assembly passed during the 2025 legislative session, which authorized the creation of the Legislative Energy Relief Refund. The $200 million approved for the refunds will be applied to utility bills in two phases: one in late summer of this year and the other in early 2026.

Berlin customers will find a message on their next bill that states the credit is from the energy relief refund.

The $54 is a one-time monetary assistance. Saleh noted that to comply with the law, Berlin’s financial staff had to complete a significant amount of paperwork and legwork. However, Mary

town administrator, maintained that this effort did not yield any unnecessary administrative costs. The state’s service commission outlines the terms and conditions of the refund.

“To be eligible for the first round of credits, the customer must have an active residential electric account as of

June 1, 2025, must have recorded electricity usage during the 12-month period ending March 31, 2025 (to cover the impacts of this past winter’s heating season), and must be an active account holder during the billing month in which the credit is applied to the customer’s bill,” the Maryland commission’s press release reads.

Snow Hill’s streetscape work to begin soon

By Brian Shane Staff Writer

(Aug. 28, 2025) Snow Hill says its plan to reinvigorate a downtown boulevard with a streetscape project is shovel-ready and awaiting a groundbreaking date before the year is out.

connect Green Street in the downtown with the Pocomoke River.

ple could safely take their socially distanced lunch outdoors.

Featuring pavers, trees, benches, historical markers, and even an area for a stage, a reconfigured and meandering Bank Street promenade will

All that’s left now is to hire a firm to manage the project, await a final funding push, and get to work, according to Paul Bessette, Snow Hill’s grants administrator. The hope is for a completed project by spring 2026.

Most of the project’s estimated $1 million cost has been fully funded or pledged, according to Bessette. Worcester County officials helped last year by donating about 9,000 square feet of property along Bank Street for the project. All that’s left is to bury the utility lines for aesthetics. The town applied for a $300,000 award to handle that from the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development. They already secured an earlier $150,000 award from DHCD toward the project.

Making this spot a permanent gathering space took root during the COVID-19 pandemic, when picnic tables were left at the intersection of Bank Street and Green Street so peo-

“It was blocked off with big planters and it was just a nice place where, with the restrictions people could, gather and communicate on a human level – you know, everybody knows what we were facing” with the pandemic, Bessette said.

From there, the seed was planted: some in the community wanted to keep that camaraderie going and build up a kind of transitional area from the downtown to the riverfront.

A Main Street-type of organization called Downtown Snow Hill picked up the torch and pushed the project forward with robust community support. Their motto: a place you to travel to, not through.

When it’s done, the Bank Street promenade will be multi-use: it’ll serve as a two-lane road most of the time, but it can be blocked off for artistic and social events, like Snow Hill’s First Friday, paddle boat races, or the annual Blessing of the Combines.

There also will be different kiosks and installations offering Snow Hill facts and historical tidbits, Bessette said: about the African American community, about the former industry that was here, how Snow Hill as a port city was a huge player on the Eastern Shore in colonial times, and more.

Bessette said a quick glance at the space now between downtown and the river feels more blighted than beautified. But when some vacant spaces get filled, like the town’s historic firehouse and an adjacent restaurant, there’s hope for a renaissance here.

“It’s never going to be industrial –we're not going to build ships, there's not going to be any more chicken plants on the river, or anything like that,” he said. “What's going to be on the river is people, and social activities, and I think it’s a great connection. It's just sort of symbiotic.”

Sheriff’s office, schools ink new agreement

By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor

(Aug. 22, 2025) The Worcester County Board of Education this week agreed to continue its partnership with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office by signing a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two entities.

The agreement, signed during Tuesday’s board meeting, sets the expectations of both the sheriff’s office and the school system in providing a student resource deputy (SRD) program in the coming academic year.

Following the official signing, Board of Education President Todd Ferrante applauded the ongoing partnership and the work of student resource deputies at each of Worcester County Public Schools’ campuses.

“It’s a great working relationship we have with you and your resource officers,” Ferrante told members of the sheriff’s office Tuesday. “And we appreciate what you do for our school system, how you look after our kids. We look forward to a continued relationship with you going forward.”

The MOU signed this week lays out the roles and responsibilities of SRDs and school staff, as well as

guidelines for handling complaints, interventions, arrests and more.

For his part, Sheriff Matt Crisafulli said the SRD program prioritizes the safety of Worcester County Public School students and staff.

“I also want to say that as long as I’m in this position, we will always prioritize Worcester County Public Schools, our children, and our school staff, at the top of our mission, to en-

‘I think it’s a great connection’

Continued from Page 20

Snow Hill’s Town Manager Rick Pollitt said the project already was underway when he got hired here in 2021. He said the idea was to funnel tourists down to the Pocomoke River, where a tourist destination, a paddleboat called the Black-Eyed Susan was docked.

But after a year, that boat project failed badly, mostly due to regulatory issues and prohibitive six-figure repair costs. It left Snow Hill reeling with a black eye of its own, tourismwise.

Pollitt used to be the Wicomico County Executive at a time when the City of Salisbury had its own pedestrian promenade, a former two-way

street near the Wicomico River that was closed to traffic to boost tourism and foot traffic.

He said the concept here – a connection between the business district and the river – is strikingly similar. He’s hopeful it’ll spark an economic boost.

“I don't think I've ever seen such an energetic and cohesive community spirit out of a downtown organization as I have here,” Pollitt said. “These folks really have their act together. It’s truly the concept of the rising tide, you know? It’s not survival of the fittest. It really is a community spirit hard at work downtown Snow Hill, and I am just so happy to see that.”

sure your safety, because you deserve a safe and nurturing learning environment. And my team, our team, of SRDs, will continue to provide that,” he told the board.

“I expect them to not only be in this partnership but – for our youth, for our children – to be guides, coaches and mentors as you navigate through Worcester County Public Schools.”

He continued, “So thank you for this partnership, we enjoy it, and we’re very honored to be team mem-

bers with you. And we will do everything we can to get better each day.” Superintendent Annette Wallace agreed.

“I want to thank the sheriff,” she said. “I also want to thank the chief deputy who’s also here, and Shawn [Goddard, coordinator of school safety and security] and Dr. Record [chief safety and academic officer] for their leadership of school safety. I can only see it getting better and better. We always go up from where we are, so it’s going to be a great year.”

Opinion

Redrawn 1st District won’t change results

Unsurprisingly, the national political fad of redrawing congressional districts five years before the next census to favor one political party in the 2026 mid-term elections could spread to Maryland, with Democratic Gov. Wes Moore saying he is open to the idea of remaking the First District. Moore, of course, is responding to the Texas redistricting gambit that aims to add five Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives by putting Democratic candidates and House members in districts they probably can’t win.

Ironically, Republican Congressman Andy Harris, who would be the target of a re-drawn First District, complained this week that any reconfiguration of his district to give Democrats an upper hand would be unfair ... unlike, one supposes, what’s going on in Texas.

But redrawing a Democrat-friendly First District wouldn’t be easy, even though the possible candidacies next fall of Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall and former Salisbury mayor and Secretary of Housing and Community Development Jake Day might suggest some optimism.

Although Maryland Democrats have shown they know how to gerrymander districts until they look like inkblots on a psych evaluation, there’s nowhere the First District can go that won’t leave it predominantly conservative.

Over the years, the nine counties of the Eastern Shore have been joined with portions of counties on the other side of the bay and to the north, and it has remained conservative.

All its representatives in Congress going back at least to the 1950s have been conservative or moderately conservative Republicans and Democrats.

Moore and the Democrats can cut the First District seven ways to Sunday, and Maryland will still have a conservative district, of which the Eastern Shore, or some section of it, will be a substantial part. Candidates and would be candidates should bear that in mind as they explore their options.

EDITOR ............................................ Stewart Dobson

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ................................ Steve Green

ASSOCIATE EDITOR .......................... Bethany Hooper

STAFF WRITERS Tara Fischer, Brian Shane

ACCOUNT MANAGERS ........ Mary Cooper, Renée Kelly, ..................................................................Terri French

CLASSIFIEDS/LEGALS ........................ Pamela Green

ART DIRECTOR ...................................... Cole Gibson

SENIOR PAGE DESIGNER ........................ Susan Parks

SENIOR AD DESIGNER .............................. Kelly Brown

PUBLISHER........................................ Christine Brown

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ...................... Gini Tufts

Please send all letters and other editorial submissions to editor@baysidegazette.com by 5 p.m. Monday.

MARIACHI ON MAIN

Mac Foundation seeking donations

Support will allow nonprofit to assist camps, food banks

(Aug. 28, 2025) Thirteen years ago this August, Mary McMullen – a beloved Millersville special education teacher and tireless advocate for youth athletics –passed away after a lengthy illness. She was 64.

In the years since, her family has kept her spirit alive through the Mary Mac Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to creating brighter futures for children by funding summer camp programs and supporting food banks across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Washington, D.C. region.

“Our mission is to provide opportunities for young people so they can live better lives by offering the resources they deserve and need,” said Mary’s husband, Tim McMullen, who cofounded the Foundation with his brother Don and other family members. McMullen was also a career educator and coached a variety of school sports.

This summer, the Foundation supported programs at St. Vincent de Paul Summer Day Camp in Baltimore, and Camp Ocean Pines, where Mary once served as one of the first camp direc-

tors.

Community partnerships have helped stretch the foundation’s impact. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines donated $1,000 in Mary’s memory to send lowincome children to camp, while Choptank Electric awarded a $1,200 grant to fund camp T-shirts.

Former Ocean Pines Association President Tom Terry helped secure the Choptank grant, and Bob Wolfing and John Hansberry assisted with Kiwanis funding.

McMullen also recognized board members Susan Wojciechowski, his and Don’s sister, and Lida Payne, one of Mary’s best friends and a retired Fort Meade recreation director, both of whom play key roles in supporting the Foundation’s work.

On July 14, McMullen visited Camp St. Vincent alongside John Scardina, a former first baseman for one of McMullen’s school teams in the late 1970s, to see the camp’s work firsthand.

"We spent the day there, and we saw three and fouryear-olds being given lessons in reading and math. We saw reading groups for middle school kids. We saw tremendous activities – and we just saw smiling kids,” McMullen said.

"The fact that these kids

are being given three meals a day, swim lessons, and lessons in math, English and science just reaffirmed that that's the best possible place we can be doing our work right now,” he added.

Looking ahead, the Foundation hopes to raise $10,000 during August and September to expand food bank support throughout the region.

“Once people see where the money goes and who it’s helping, they understand the impact – and their generosity makes it all possible,” McMullen said.

In 2024, the Mary Mac Foundation donated more than $32,000 to food banks and scholarship programs.

This year’s Eastern Shore grant recipients include:

• Worcester County Child Advocacy Center

• Diakonia (Worcester County)

• Mid-Shore Meals (Dorchester County)

• Bayside Shelter (Sussex County)

The Mary Mac Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN#462720845). Donations can be made online atwww.paypal.me/marymacfoundation, or by mailing a check payable to “Mary Mac Foundation” to 174 Nottingham Lane, Berlin, MD 21811. To learn more, visit www.marymac.org.

OP Ladies Golf Association marks

(Aug. 28, 2025) The Ocean Pines Ladies Golf Association celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sunday, August 24t with a Sadie Hawkins western themed golf tournament.

Ladies invited the gentlemen for a two-person scramble, which kicked off at 9am at the Ocean Pines Golf Club.

Tricinia Strong-Beebe and Ray Wankmiller came in first place, with second place going to Lisa and John McNamara, and Terri and Darin Stuiber placing third.

The ladies who came in closest to the pin were #5 Kitty Sawchak and #13 Lisa McNamara. Men awarded closest to the pin were #5 Mark Watts and #13 Dave McGregor. Ladies Straightest Drive went to #4 Kitty Sawchak, while #4 Rick Scully won Men’s Straightest Drive.

Sherrie Clifford won the 50/50, and the Best Dressed awards went to Denise and Brian

and Jimmy

Kid’s Clothing & Up Priced Items August 27th – August 30th

OPEN WEDNESDAY THRU FRIDAY 10-3 & SATURDAY 10-1

COMMUNITY CLINIC RIBBON

CUTTING

TidalHealth cut the ribbon to officially open Salisbury’s Edward Q. Wilgus Community Clinic on Aug. 14, which brings full circle the dream of a 19th century physician and opens new

in an historically underserved neighborhood. On the ribbon cutting line were, from the

Simona Eng, DO, Assoc. VP of Medical Education/Designated Institutional

TidalHealth Teaching Faculty; Kurt Wehberg, SPARK Campaign Co-Chairperson; Jake Day, Secretary, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development;

Karinnet

President/CEO; Ed Wilgus, Donor; Wes Moore, governor; Julius Zant, SPARK Co-Chairperson; Bryan LeCompte, SPARK Co-Chairperson and ohilanthropist; Susan Wilgus, donor; and Jessica Hales, Vice President, Chief Philanthropy Officer, President of TidalHealth Foundation.

First bocce tournament set for Ocean Pines

(Aug. 28, 2025) The Ocean Pines Bocce Ball Club will host its first-ever tournament on Friday, Sept. 5 and Saturday, Sept. 6 at the Bocce Ball courts located at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club.

The bracketed tournament kicks off Friday evening for two-member teams. Starting at 6 p.m., Seeds 2 and 5 will compete on Court #1, while Seeds 3 and 4 face off on Court #2. The winner of each will go on to face each other at 7 p.m., with that winner then playing Seed 1 at 8 p.m. for the two-member Champion title.

On Saturday, four-member teams will face off starting at 4 p.m., with Seeds 1 and 8 playing on Court #1 and Seeds 2 and 7 on Court #2. Seeds 3 and 6 will face each other on Court #1 at 5pm, with Seeds 4 and 5 playing on Court #2 at the same time. Competitions will continue at 6 p.m. and

7 p.m., with the final two teams facing off on Court #1 at 8 p.m. for the 4member Championship title. Additionally, registration is now

open for the Fall Bocce Ball League. The Fall League will play on Mondays and Tuesdays, starting on Sept. 29 and ending Nov. 18. Registration closes on Sept. 18. For more on the OP Bocce Ball Club or the tournament, email mgalello@aol.com.

Calendar

Thurs., Aug. 28

SUNSET PARK PARTY NIGHTS

Sunset Park, 700 S. Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, 7-9 p.m. Featuring “The Dunehounds” (jam band), sunset over the Isle of Wight Bay and free admission. https://www.ococean.com/thingsto-do/free-family-fun/sunset-park-party -nights/

OCEAN CITY TOURISM POP UP EVENT AT SEACRETS

Seacrets, 117 49th St., Ocean City, 2-5 p.m. Fun games and giveaways, OC photo ops, win smile swag and more. Download the app to play game and win swag.

https://www.ococean.com/event/oceancity-tourism-pop-up-event-atseacrets/2444/

STORY TIME: THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10:30 a.m. Songs, dancing and crafts. For ages 2-5 years. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

PLAY TIME

Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 10:30 a.m. Join in for a variety of activities and toys. Play and socialize with others families. For ages 0-5 years. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org

OC CHESS CLUB

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Enjoy a relaxing game of chess every Thursday at the library. 410-5241818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

MOBILE MENTOR

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 1 p.m. The Mobile Mentor provides one-on-one assistance for those who want to make the most of their tablet or mobile device. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

FIRESIDE CHAT

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 3 p.m. Book discussion featuring books you have read and want to share. Come find your next great read. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

Atlantic General Neurology at the Atlantic Health Center, 9714 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 3-4:30 p.m. This group is open to all caregivers and helps participants build a support system with others who understand. Heather Adkins, 410-632-0111, Heather.Adkins@worcoa.org

BOB DYLAN AND THE ROAD TO NEWPORT

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 2 p.m. Bob Dylan going electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival is part of music lore. Frank DeLucco and Harry Brett examine why he left folk to chart a new course. 410208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

Fri., Aug. 29

OC MAHJONG CLUB

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Join in for a fun morning of playing tile Mahjong. Feel free to bring your own tile set. All adults welcome. 410-5241818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

DIY BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 2-5 p.m. Come by to get a new folder or notebook and use the library’s supplies to make it your own. For ages 6-18 years. 410-6323495, www.worcesterlibrary.org

PAIRING PARTY: ART X FURNISHINGS

Bethany Resort Furnishings, 939 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Bethany Beach, 5-7 p.m. Tickets $50. Stroll through beautifully curated room vignettes with artwork from ALOC. Enjoy wine, a gourmet charcuterie spread and meet the artists. Tickets cost $50 at https://givebutter.com/ArtXFurnishing s. 410-524-9433

KIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BINGO

Fridays - Knights of Columbus, 9901 Coastal Highway, behind St. Luke’s Church. Doors open at 5 p.m., bingo starts at 6:30 p.m. Light snacks available before bingo and at intermission. 410524-7994

Sat., Aug. 30

FLEA MARKET AND BAKE SALE

Bethany United Methodist Church, 8648 Stephen Decatur Highway, Berlin, 8-11 a.m. The event will be held outdoors. Vendors, to reserve space, contact 443-641-2186, bethany21811@gmail.com.

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST, SLIGO BY THE SEA, SUMMER MINISTRY

First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City, 1301 Philadelphia Ave., 10 a.m.-noon. Pastor Rick Johns - Community Outreach & Discipleship, Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church, Takoma Park, MD. sligochurch.org/sligobythesea, 301-2706777.

SIPPIN’ WITH SLOTHS

Coastal Wilds, 34215 Peppers Corner Road, Frankford, 6-8 p.m. Music by Steve Kuhn. Cost is $40 and includes

Please send calendar items to editor@baysidegazette.com by 5 p.m. Monday. All community-related activities will be published at no charge.

sloth encounter, self-guided tour, and one complementary glass of wine. Tickets: https://book.singenuity.com/469/activity/details/2284/rates. 302-829-1548

OCEAN PINES FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

Saturdays - White Horse Park, 239 Ocean Parkway, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shop for everything from fresh local produce to unique handmade artisan goods. Also featuring family-friendly activities, music and unique shopping experiences. Open to the public, year round. 410-6417052, https://www.oceanpines.org/web/pages /farmers-artisans-market

Sun., Aug. 31

SUNDAES IN THE PARK WITH FIREWORKS

Northside Park, 200 125th St., Ocean City, 7-9 p.m. Featuring “Kittyback” (classic & country rock), activities and entertainment for the kids. Ice cream available for purchase. Bring picnic baskets & beach chairs. Followed by fireworks.

MUSIC BY SONS OF THUNDER

Bowen & Trinity United Methodist Church, 8355 Newark Road, Newark, 10 a.m. Special music by Sons of Thunder. Fellowship and refreshments following service.

BERLIN FARMERS MARKET

Sundays - Pitts Street, Commerce Street and Main Street, Berlin, May through October, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. Producers only market featuring more than 50 farmers, food cultivators, bakers, distillers, seafood, meat and more. Also featuring a petting farm (9-11 a.m.), free kids art station and live music. TheBerlinFarmersMarket.com

SEWING FOR A CAUSE

Sundays - Buckingham Presbyterian Church, 20 S. Main St., Berlin, 10:30 a.m. to noon. Learn how to sew while making a difference. 410-641-0234

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES MEETING

Sundays - Berlin Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 212 West St., Berlin, 10 a.m. www.jw.org

Mon., Sept. 1

LAST DAY TO ENTER THE LOUIS PARSONS III MEMORIAL PHOTO CONTEST

Ocean City Life-Saving Museum, 813 S. Atlantic Ave. Price is $5 to enter and $1 to vote. Category winners will be announced on Nov. 1 at a gallery event showcasing the winners. Contest details: https://www.gogophotocontest.com/oce ancitymuseumsociety. 410-289-4991

BRIDGE

Mondays - Ocean City 50plus Center, 104 41st Street, Ocean City, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Reserve a spot: Tish, 410-8043971. www.Worcoa.org/oceancity

DELMARVA WOMEN’S A CAPELLA CHORUS

Mondays - Ocean Pines Community Center, 239 Ocean Parkway, 6:00-8:00 p.m. All ladies who love to sing invited. Mary, 410-629-9383 or Carol, 302-2427062.

OVEREATER’S ANONYMOUS

Mondays - Worcester County LibraryOcean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 7-8 p.m. No dues or fees. 410-459-9100

Tues., Sept. 2

STORY TIME

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 10:30 a.m Story time geared for ages 0-5 years featuring seasonal themes designed to support early literacy skills with stories, songs and fingerplays. 410-641-0650, www.worcesterlibrary.org

PLAY TIME

Worcester County Library - Pocomoke Branch, 401 Fifth St., 10:30 a.m Play with a variety of toys and socialize with other families. For ages 0-5 years. 410957-0878, www.worcesterlibrary.org

BABY TIME

Worcester County Library - Snow Hill Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 10:30 a.m. Songs, rhymes and stories. Stay after to socialize with other families. For ages 0-2 years. 410-632-3495, www.worcesterlibrary.org

OC KNITTING GROUP

Worcester County Library - Ocean City Branch, 10003 Coastal Highway, 10:30 a.m. Do you love to knit or crochet? Bring whatever project you happen to be working on. 410-524-1818, www.worcesterlibrary.org

MASTER GARDENERS PLANT CLINIC

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 11 a.m. Master Gardener Ginny Rosenkranz talks about all things plants. Bring any questions and feel free to show your plants as well. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

CROSS FARMS POP-UP FARMERS MARKET

Tuesdays - Flower Street Field across from Henry Park, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Accepting Maryland Department of Agriculture FMNP (WIC & Seniors) Checks and Maryland WIC Fruit & Vegetable Checks. Also offering a "Produce Bucks" program, which doubles purchases for eligible residents. https://www.face-

book.com/theberlinfarmersmarket.

GREAT BOOKS DISCUSSION

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 2:30 p.m.

Featuring “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The group meets monthly to discuss selections from the Great Books Foundation. 410-208-4014, www.worcesterlibrary.org

BEACH HEROES-OC

Tuesdays - Volunteer beach clean-up group meets from 9-10 a.m., year-round. Trash bags, grippers and gloves provided. Check the Facebook page “Beach Heroes-OC” for weekly meeting locations. All are welcome.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES MEETING

Tuesdays - Berlin Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 212 West St., Berlin, 7 p.m. www.jw.org

TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY

Tuesdays - Worcester County Health Department, 9730 Healthway Drive, Berlin, 3:30-4:30 p.m. TOPS is a weekly support and education group promoting weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. 410289-4725

OC KNITTING CLUB

Tuesdays - Worcester County LibraryOcean City Branch, 10003 Coastal High-

way, 10:30 a.m.

ARGENTINE TANGO PRACTICE

Tuesdays - Experienced dancers and others interested in watching or learning more are welcome, 7-9:30 p.m. No partner required. Info: TangobytheBeach.com.

ZUMBA TONING TUESDAYS

Tuesdays - Northside Park, 200 125th St., Ocean City, 5:30 p.m. Zumba with optional light weights. zumbajoyceoc@gmail.com

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AND WELLNESS GROUP

Tuesdays - Holy Trinity Cathedral, 11021 Worcester Highway, 2-2:45 p.m. Use the weight loss program/app/plan of your choice. Free and open to everyone. 410-641-4882, www.htcanglican.org/activities.

Wed., Sept. 3

PUZZLE SWAP

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 1-7 p.m. Bring your gently used puzzles and leave with new-to-you puzzles. Don’t have a puzzle to exchange but still want one? That’s OK too. All puzzles must be in their original boxes. 410-641-0650

JUNIOR HISTORIANS

Calvin B. Taylor House, 208 N. Main St., Berlin, 4:30 p.m. This month’s topic: Historic Maps. www.taylorhousemuseum.org

RAVENS ROOST #44 ANNUAL BAR-HOP CRUISE

M.R. Ducks, 311 Talbot St., Ocean City, 5:40-10 p.m. The “Explorer” will embark at 6 p.m., making stops at Fish Tales and Teasers Bar before returning to M.R. Ducks. Cost is $40. Cash bar. Reservations: garywm1952@gmail.com. Rain date is Sept. 4.

FAMILY FUN NIGHTS

Wednesdays (through Aug. 20) - Ocean Pines Yacht Club Pool, 1 Mumford's Landing Road, 6-8 p.m. DJ, games and prizes. Food available for purchase. Admission is $3 for OP swim members, $5 for OP residents, $7 for non-residents and free for non-swimmers. Cash only. 410-641-7052, oceanpines.org

CASH BINGO

Wednesdays - Ocean City Elks Lodge 2645, 13708 Sinepuxent Ave. Door open at 5 p.m., bingo starts at 6:30 p.m. Food available before bingo and at intermission. Open to the public. 443-605-5028

KIWANIS CLUB MEETING

Wednesdays - Ocean Pines Community

Aug. 28 - Sept. 4

Center, 239 Ocean Parkway, 8 a.m.

Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Last Wednesday of the month meetings are offsite and information can be found on the website and Facebook. www.kiwanisofopoc.org.

ONGOING EVENTS

BUS TRIP TO BRANDYWINE MUSEUM

Sponsored by the Art League of Ocean City. The exhibit features 50 of Andrew Wyeth’s paintings inspired by Kuerner Farm. A visit to Kuerner Farm is also available ($12). Cost is $95 for members and $115 for non-members and includes transportation and museum ticket. The bus will leave from the ACME parking lot (94th Street and Coastal Highway) at 8 a.m. and returns at approximately 7:30 p.m. Tickets: https://canvas.artleagueofoceancity.org /classes/2630. 410-524-9433, frankie@artleagueofoceancity.org

LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION

Snow Hill library, 307 N. Washington St., throughout September. Take a selfguided tour of the library’s local history collection. For help with finding your roots or navigating historical records, contact the local history librarian at history@worcesterlibrary.org, 410-6323495.

11am-4pm Her

Friday Noon-2pm124 75th Str

Pavier/Holiday 124 75th Strreeet #103, Ocean City 3BR/2BA

Saturrdday 10am-Noon 609 Bayshor

Reither/Coldwell B 09 Bayshorre e Drive #32, Ocean City 3BR/2BA T

Saturrdday 10am-Noon 124 75th Str

Saturrdday 10am-4pm

Saturrdday 11am-1pm 11204

Reither/Coldwell B 124 75th Strreeet #103, Ocean City 3BR/2BA

Reither/Coldwell B 12430 Old Bridge Rd, W Weest OC 2BR/2BA

UNITED WAY DONATION

Worcester County Public Schools was recognized by United Way of the Eastern Shore at this week’s meeting for raising $65,632 for the nonprofit during the 2024-2025 school year. The dollars were raised as a result of employees designating a portion of their paychecks to the United Way. On its Facebook page, United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore reported the county’s public school system is among the top five workplace giving campaigns for the charity.

CLUB BANNER PRESENTED

August 28, 2025 Bayside Gazette 29

PT

DENTAL HYGIENIST

Ocean City, MD 410-213-1032

JOLLY ROGER Small Engine Mechanic. Ride Maintenance. Year Round. Wage starts at $15/hour & up based on experience. Benefits available. 410-289-4902

AMERICAN LEGION Assistant Manager, PM Shift

2 Line Cooks, Part-time. Exp. required. Apply at Post, 2308 Philadelphia Avenue or call 410-289-3166

HELP WANTED

BARBER wanted at Charlie’s Barbershop, Berlin, MD. With clientele. To rent a chair. 443-944-2240

RENTALS

YEAR ROUND & WINTER BAYSIDE CONDO

4 - 2BR/2BA FULLY FURNISHED Units. W/D, AC & parking. Starting September. Call Mike at 410-603-6120. www.mbjcproperties.com

OCEANFRONT WINTER RENTAL

2BR/2BA, furnished Condo, Avail. Oct.-Apr. Direct ocean views, balcony, parking, WiFi incl. Ideal for 2 mature adults w/strong rental history. Ocean City, Md. Contact Mary Beth 410-241-3376

Seeking YR & Seasonal Rentals! Call Howard Martin Realty 410-352-5555.

YEARLY RENTAL 319 Robin Drive Available Immediately 2BR, 1BA, Unfurnished. Dog friendly, ground floor. Ideal 2 mature adults w/strong work history. $2,000/mo. + electric. Call/text 703-819-7400

Code Enforcement Officer I or II

Full time with benefits

Starting Salary: $39,061 to $50,779 (based on experience)

The County of Accomack is seeking applications for a fulltime position of Code Enforcement/Building Inspector, in the Building, Planning & Economic Development department. The designation of Code Enforcement Officer I or II will be based on previous direct experience.

The position is responsible for enforcement of state, federal, & local laws and regulations, codes and ordinances related to residential and commercial structures, in a uniform and systematic manner. Applicants must be able to perform field work and may be assigned to do inspections in any location within the County.

Minimum qualifications: A high school diploma or GED; the ability to read and interpret building plans and specifications; Experience with enforcing building and zoning codes and ordinances; Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations. Preferred qualifications: Experience with Energov software program, ability to use mobile devices and platforms and/or bilingual capabilities. Possession of a valid Driver’s License and the satisfactory completion of a criminal history, drug screening, and DMV records checks are required prior to employment. Job description and details are available online: http://www.co.accomack.va.us/residents/job-opportunities. This position is open until filled with the review of applications to begin on Thursday, Sept 4, 2025.

The County of Accomack is committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce.

***Prime Location***

Commercial Storage Unit West Ocean City, 10’x12’ Garage Door opening with Small office and kitchen. 1,000 sq. ft. $1,500 per month plus utilities. Call 301-748-1977. Avail Oct. 1.

Commercial Space for Lease. ONLY 1 UNIT LEFT!

2-3 Units available, can be divided or joined. Approx. 1000 sq. ft. Busy major road in Town of Berlin. Call 443-880-8885 for more information.

Industrial Space Yard and Storage Shed. Approx. 10x25+/Route 90/Bishopville. Call 443-497-4200.

2 Office/Retail Spaces available in West Ocean City. Approximately 1656 sq. ft. and 1728 sq. ft. Call 443-497-4200

Classified Deadline is Monday @ 5pm

HANDYMAN SERVICE No job too small. Entrance doors, interior doors, storm doors, shower doors, drywall

RV - Lutheran Mission Society of MD Compassion Place ministries help local families with food, clothing, counseling. Tax deductible. MVA licensed #W1044. 410-228-8437 www.CompassionPlace.org

MISC./OTHER

As now slips past me, These moments, so important, Hold on, please hold me! By your loving touch, I will always know!