~ | ĈIĊ I ~ ~ | ÑĆċ ĎĎ !
J đ ċJ Ĉ ~ ĉĉ~Jĉ
| ĈIĊ I | ċIč
~ ÑĆą | } Ċąí ~ } ~ | | | ĆĆ| I~ ~ ~
www.issuu.com/oceanpinesprogress
Board readies to approve cell tower During a Sept. 20 meeting, Verizon Director Paul Plymouth discussed the timeline of the incoming cell tower to the Ocean Pines community. Police Chief Tim Robinson said Milestone Towers, the developing company behind the cell tower, is looking for board approval so they can proceed with the planning process on their end. ~ Page 19
THE OCEAN PINES JOURNAL OF NEWS & LIFESTYLES
New South Fire Station Garners County Planning Commission Approval
Board Votes to Eliminate Standing Committees, Opts for Ad Hoc Approach
By DAVID BOHENICK Contributing Writer he Worcester County Planning Commission gave a favorable recommendation to the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department South Station renovations during its meeting on Oct. 2. The OPVFD has been advocating for renovations and new construction on the south fire station, located at 911 Ocean Parkway. The project is expected to be approximately 15,000-square-feet and take 65 weeks once started. During the planning commission meeting, Joe Enste, Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department president, said the number of fire and EMS calls have about doubled since he first joined the department as a cadet in 2003. “There’s been a dramatic increase in the volume of service we’re having to provide out of this station,” he said. The new site design includes two new apparatus bays, reconfigured parking with 57 combined spots for both public and staff and a new firefighter memorial with three flag poles and a brick patio. The current site has three apparatus bays and 21 parking spaces, 13 belonging to the public and eight belonging to staff.
By ROTA L. KNOTT Publisher/Editor espite a contentious debate among directors and members over the future of volunteer involvement in the association’s governance, the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors voted Sept. 20 to eliminate most of the community’s long-standing advisory committees. The motion, introduced by Director Jeff Heavner, called for the termination of the aquatics, bylaws and resolutions, communications, environment and natural assets, golf, marine activities, recreation and parks, and strategic planning advisory committees. Heavner said the purpose of the move was to discontinue the existence of those committees as standing Board advisory committees “after due consideration in favor of future ad hoc committees and working groups that are assigned specific and clearly identified task by the Board.” Heavner argued that while the efforts of volunteers were greatly appreciated, the committees had increasingly become counterproductive. “The background is the above listed committees are purely advisory in nature under OPA’s governing documents existing at the pleasure of the OPA Board. As stated in Board resolution C-01, OPA’s governing documents authorize a Board to
T
To Page 5
| ~ | | #
}| ~ | I | # #
Ć | ~ | 3 |~ ~ } ~
October 2025
| ĉI~ | | | ĆĆ| I~ ćĊí | | } ~ | #
D
To Page 3
H U N G RY? @ oe , [@ o G Á Go¤ o G Á Go¤
County investigates OPSA fund transfer Questions about how more than $231,000 in escrow funds were taken from the Ocean Pines water and wastewater service area to cover shortfalls in other parts of Worcester County surfaced during a Sept. 16 meeting, with one commissioner demanding answers about oversight. ~ Page 30
LIFESTYLES Ghost Museum Spooks Berlin
Are spirits watching as guests climb the steep staircase to Berlin’s Ghost Museum, with its creaking wooden floors and haunting background music? Owner Alyssa Maloof wouldn’t be surprised, especially since a heavy camera on a shelf where gift shop items are sold once toppled down, although nobody was nearby. ~ Page 33