Some changes proposed in next year’s OPA budget
When Ocean Pines Association General Manager John Viola presents the latest iteration of the proposed 2025-26 budget at a Feb. 5 townhall meeting, it will have some changes from the initial version released in late December. The changes don’t affect what most OPA members care most about, a proposed $25 increase in the base lot assessment and $50 increase in waterfront rates paid by most owners of bulkheaded property in Ocean Pines. The two most significant changes in the version of the proposed budget to be presented Feb. 5 are the creation of a new Department of Food and Beverage, made possible by the signing of a lease with Touch of Italy for the management of Ocean Pines’ three food and beverage venues, and the elimination of separate membership rates for tennis, platform tennis and pickleball. The Board of Directors will be voting to approve the 202526 budget at its regular monthly meeting on Feb. 22. ~ Page 28
INSIDE THIS EDITION
Ocean Pines .............. .Pages 1-27 OPA Finances .......... Page 28-33 Worcester County . Pages 24-36 Opinion .................... Page 38-39 Lifestyles .................. Pages 44-41 Captain’s Cove ....... Pages 42-55
February 2025
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Touch of Italy to launch food and beverage ops in Ocean Pines May 1 Matt Ortt Companies vows to fulfill OPA contract until it ends April 30
By TOM STAUSS Publisher he announcement that the Matt Ortt Companies intends to fulfill its commitment to the Ocean Pines Association by operating the Yacht Club and the Clubhouse Grille through the end of April might complicate matters as Touch of Italy, awarded a five-year lease to operate Ocean Pines food and beverage venues by the Board of Directors Jan. 8, prepares to begin operations on May 1. The Yacht Club and Clubhouse Grille are closed currently, but the Yacht Club will be reopened in mid-February under MOC management and the Clubhouse Grille will reopen when the golf course is open for play,
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also under MOC management. The Ocean Pines Beach Club reopens Memorial Day weekend, and will do so under TOI control. This means that MOC will have roughly two and a half months of operational control over two food and beverage venues at the same time that TOI is preparing its Ocean Pines launch in the same two buildings. The transition may prove to be challenging, though both TOI and MOC vow to handle it as professionally as possible. One source within the OPA said that if TOI needs time to prepare the Yacht Club for its operations once MOC vacates at the end of April, a closure of the venue for a week or two could certainly be accommodated. In To Page 3