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R C Edition OCEAN PINES • WEST OCEAN CITY • BERLIN MD
December 15, 2024
Volume 1, Issue 3
Ocean Pines residents’ concerns about speeding on roads addressed by new coalition formed to protect bikers, walkers By David Bohenick Staff Writer As some residents worry about the safety of cyclists and pedestrians who exercise on busy Ocean Parkway and throughout the community, Ocean Pines officials are using $4,600 in Maryland Office of Highway Safety grant money to purchase bicycle lights and reflective bands for nighttime pedestrians. Patti Stevens is the founding co-chairwoman of the Worcester County Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition, and is also involved with the Ocean Pines Bike and Pedestrian Safety Committee. She was also appointed by Gov. Wes Moore to join the Commission on Transportation Revenue and Infrastructure Needs. Stevens has worked closely with the Ocean Pines Association and Police Chief Tim Robinson to enforce safety measures for bicyclists and pedestrians and called Robinson “a great partner.” “His workers and inspectors have identified a concern for people walking around with dark clothing,” Stevens said.
However, some Ocean Pines residents think the solution is elsewhere. She said a number of comments on the Ocean Pines News and Info Facebook group indicate a desire for the speed limit along Ocean Parkway to be reduced. The current speed limit on Ocean Parkway is 35 miles per hour. “I was in Chincoteague driving on the main road and noticed their speed limit is 25 mph. It’s been proven that reducing the speed limit by just five miles per hour greatly lowers the risk of death or injury in the event of an accident,” Stevens said. According to the Maryland Office of Highway Safety’s website, the likelihood of a pedestrian being severely injured or killed by a vehicle traveling at 20 miles per hour is 10 percent. However, that same risk to a pedestrian rises to 80 percent when a vehicle is traveling at 40 miles per hour. Robinson reported 50 cases of speeding during his monthly police report at the OPA board meeting on Nov. 23.
See SPEEDING page 2
AGH, TidalHealth hospitals announce plan to collaborate Staff Report The presidents of Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin and TidalHealth Peninsula Regional hospital in Salisbury this week signed a non-binding letter of intent to combine organizations. They plan to finalize the agreement in spring 2025, pending further board approvals and regulatory review. The AGH Board of Trustees announced the launch of a strategic partnership exploration process earlier this year. TidalHealth was
chosen as AGH’s partner because of its shared mission in serving the health care needs of the Lower Eastern Shore and Delaware residents. In a news release issued this week, AGH officials stated the partnership will improve health care for area residents. “Together, we can make advancements in recruiting and retaining top physicians, as well as invest in the infrastructure and technology that will improve our care delivery,” Doug Cook, Chairman of the AGH Board of Trustees, stated.
See TIDALHEALTH page 4
ROC Edition • Submitted
Scott Shellenberger recalls walking with his wife, Pamela, when she was struck and hit by a car on Ocean Pines’ busy roads. She died from her injuries. Shellenberger is urging Pines officials to take steps to make roads safer.
‘You can’t make people do the right thing’ Pines resident recounts sad day wife was killed while out for a walk near her home; says incident had deep impact on family, calls for speed bumps to slow racing drivers By David Bohenick Staff Writer On the morning of May 1 last year, Scott Shellenberger was walking along King Richard Road in Ocean Pines with his wife, Pamela, when a car approached. As he remembers it, the driver made eye contact with him, then the car swerved and struck his wife. She was airlifted to TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury where she died from her injuries. She was 64. The driver was charged with traffic violations. Shellenberger then wrote e-mails to Maryland Sen. Mary Beth Carozza and Worcester County State’s Attorney Kris Heiser in an effort to prevent future pedestrian fatalities.
“I never heard back from Mary Beth, but Kris Heiser replied to me and I wasn’t asking her to relook at the case, but maybe something good could come out of it because it’s going to happen again,” Shellenberger said. “She forwarded it to two delegates and Ocean Pines General Manager John Viola. I think he replied back to her saying they were looking at safety, which I think what they were looking at then was the crosswalk at Route 589,” he said. Shellenberger – who addressed the Ocean Pines Board of Directors during a recent meeting – said he believes side streets should be one-way passages and speed bumps should be installed, especially since See RIGHT THING page 3