Casino Now Open 24 Hours

BERLIN — Starting Friday morning at 8, the Casino at Ocean Downs will remain open 24 hours a day until Monday, Sept. 30 at 4 a.m.

The Casino at Ocean Downs last week gained approval from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency for its new hours of operation. Maryland voters in November approved through a referendum a gaming bill that, among other things, allows casinos in the state to operate 24 hours a day if they chose. The Casino at Ocean Downs earlier this year applied to the state gaming agency for a 24/7 operation and the application was approved.

Other casinos already operating in Maryland, including Maryland Live in Anne Arundel County, are already open 24 hours a day, but because of the seasonal nature of the resort area, the Berlin casino has only operated on a 24-hour basis on weekends thus far. However, in an attempt to take advantage of the summer season, the Casino at Ocean Downs applied for and received permission to operate 24 hours a day through the end of September.

As a result, the Berlin casino will open at 8 a.m. on Friday, May 17 and will remain open around the clock until 4 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 30.

After that, the Casino at Ocean Downs will return to an off-season schedule. Beginning Sept. 30, the Ocean Downs casino will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Monday through Thursday and will resume 24-hour operations from Friday to 4 a.m. on Monday mornings, General Manager Joe Cavilla said this week.

In another significant change expected to take place this summer, the Casino at Ocean Downs will be allowed to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. each day after the Maryland General Assembly passed compromise legislation during the 2013 session that also included an earlier sunset provision on the requirement for restaurants and bars in Worcester County to purchase liquor exclusively from the county’s Department of Liquor Control (DLC).

In March, feathers were ruffled when it was learned an amendment could be attached to a bill in the General Assembly addressing other issues related to Worcester County’s liquor laws that would have allowed the Casino at Ocean Downs to serve alcohol 24 hours a day.

The proposed change rankled the liquor license holders in Worcester, most of which are concentrated in and around Ocean City, because of the perception it would create an uneven playing field for the bars and restaurants that would still be held to the firm 2 a.m. closing time.

As a result, the license holders pushed for a concession on their behalf in the form of an earlier disconnect date from the county’s DLC wholesale operation. As part of the legislation that dissolved the old Liquor Control Board (LCB) and created the county-run DLC, the licensees were required to continue to purchase wholesale liquor from the county until July 1, 2016, at which point they would be able to opt out and purchase spirits on the open market if they so desired.

When the dust settled, the amendment was changed to allow the Casino at Ocean Downs to continue to serve alcohol until 4 a.m., not 24 hours as they originally hoped for, and the sunset date for the license holders to opt out of the DLC and test the wholesale open market was moved to July 1, 2014.

The legislation created a new class of liquor license in Worcester County exclusive to the Casino at Ocean Downs, allowing the facility to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. However, the earliest the extended hours for liquor sales at the casino could take effect is July 1, pending the issuance of the new class of license by the county, according to Cavilla.

Ocean City Weighing Humvee Acquisition For Storm Response

OCEAN CITY – Many municipalities across the country have been taking advantage of the government’s program that provides surplus military equipment free of charge, and Ocean City is looking into acquiring military vehicles to operate emergency rescues during inclement weather.

During a Police Commission meeting Monday morning, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) Captain Gregory Guiton presented the opportunity to acquire military Humvees.

“It’s free but we all know that free is never free, there is always associated costs,” Guiton said, explaining the costs will begin with transporting the vehicle to Ocean City and whatever work to be done to the vehicle afterwards, such as paint and equipment.

Guiton furthered the department is looking to receive a vehicle from the closest military base of Ft. Meade or Dover. The vehicle does not have to be limited to police use only, but could be used across city public safety departments, such as fire and beach patrol.

With two major hurricanes impacting Ocean City in the past two years, the town has relied on military assistance and their vehicles to rescue Ocean City residents from high waters. Guiton pointed out military procedure is to have two drivers and a spotter in the vehicle, and once Ocean City’s own personnel joins the rescue it leaves little room for others.

“By acquiring one and making it a city vehicle … we would have the ability to have the vehicle for these types of scenarios that seem to be happening more frequently,” he said. “It doesn’t take a lot of water for our standard vehicles to not be able to go through [high water] and a vehicle such as the military Humvees would be a bonus force to have to provide service to the town specifically during these types of weather events.”

Guiton provided research conducted on other agencies who had taken on military vehicles and their choices in customization, such as having it painted in town colors and branded and adding emergency lights or different types of caps, which would all be additional expenses.

Guiton cautioned against picking available vehicles out on the Internet and if this was a direction the Mayor and City Council wanted to move in he recommended having staff travel to the location to inspect the condition of the available vehicle to avoid repair costs.

“If you thought this is something the town would be interested in, this might be the time to at least acquire it and then put it on the back burner as far as how much you really want to invest in the vehicle itself,” he said. “The availability of the Humvees is getting less and less because people are taking advantage of getting these and it is hit or miss.”

Captain Michael Colbert added during Hurricane Sandy Ocean City asked the state for three Humvees and two deuce and a half vehicle. Due to the ongoing devastation caused by the hurricane to the north, the state was in need of those vehicles in other locations.

“In this instance, we could release them sooner … it would help us reduce our needs from outside of the area,” he said.

Mayor Rick Meehan was in favor of moving forward in acquiring a military vehicle to be used strictly for emergency purposes but added in Ocean City’s case the vehicle should be equipped with a snorkel kit to ride in high waters.

“To have one, I am not as interested in it for a parade or anything else, or to paint, I would rather spend money on a snorkel and have it has an emergency operations vehicle,” he said.

Captain Kevin Kirstein pointed out the vehicle would also have to have the right tires to get through high waters not knowing what lies underneath in flooded streets, such as during Hurricane Gloria when an excess of nails were left among the debris.

Council President Lloyd Martin was hesitant over the expenses associated with maintaining the vehicle and asked for further evaluation on the associated costs before bringing the idea before the council.

The mayor recommended the police department keep a look out for a vehicle that would suit Ocean City’s needs, and at that time bring the opportunity before the Mayor and City Council to approve staff to travel to the location and inspect the vehicle to be acquired and go from there.

Museums Open Doors To Mark Special Occasion

BERLIN — On Saturday, May 18, the museums of Worcester County will be joining thousands of museums around the world in celebrating International Museum Day, an opportunity to encourage awareness of the roles museums play in their communities.

Last year, 32,000 museums in 129 countries participated in International Museum Day. The theme for 2013 is “Museums: memory + creativity = social change.”

Here is a look at what some of the local museums have planned in Worcester County:

The Ocean City Lifesaving Station Museum at the Inlet will be open from 10 a.m.-5. Admission is free.
Choo Choo Blue, the B&O Railroad Museum’s children’s mascot, will be joining the festivities by making a special appearance at the Boardwalk tram station, just north of the museum from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In addition, the museum will be offering a 10% discount on all gift shop merchandise.
The Calvin B. Taylor House Museum in Berlin will be open from 1-4 p.m. and offering free admission.
The Julia A. Purnell Museum in Snow Hill will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and offering free admission.

The Costen House Museum, located in Pocomoke City, is planning to be open 1-4 p.m. and offering free admission.

Also located in Pocomoke City, the Delmarva Discovery Center will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission will be extended for Armed Forces members.

The Rackcliffe House, located on Assateague, will be open 1-4 p.m.

The Furnace Town Living Heritage Museum in Snow Hill will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. An archeology dig is planned from 1 to 4 p.m. Call 410-632-2032 to pre-register.

The Sturgis One Room School in Pocomoke will be open 1-4 p.m.

The St. Martin’s Church, an 18th Century Flemish Bond Church, will be hosting a. tour by candlelight from 5-8 p.m. The Maryland Wine Bar will be sponsoring the event. Regional appetizers will be on-hand and Deborah and Mike Everett will be pouring the wine samplings.

The Board of Directors will feature the architectural design plans of David Quillin, AIA, for the future comfort station, gift shop, interpretive space and amphitheater on the St. Martin’s property.

Later, on May 27, the season opening of St. Martin’s is planned with complimentary public tours from 1-4 p.m. every Monday through October. Donations are always kindly accepted. Private tours available by appointment.

Volunteers Eyed For Terrapin Count

OCEAN CITY — The Maryland Coastal Bays Program, partnering with the Terrapin Work Group, a group composed of terrapin researchers and managers, is looking for volunteers who would like to help with the third annual terrapin head count survey held from May 29 to June 1. The count is being extended this year to give more folks a chance to get involved.

The Diamondback Terrapin may be Maryland’s state reptile and the mascot for the University of Maryland, but its current population status in the coastal bays, as well as in the state of Maryland, is poorly understood. The annual terrapin head count survey is held in the Chesapeake Bay and the Coastal Bays to better understand its status in the state. Counting terrapin heads in the water as they congregate for breeding or other purposes is considered to be an effective way of monitoring population numbers. The turtles do not need to be captured, just observed and counted. The thought is to continue these observations over a period of time and departures from average numbers could point to areas of concern.

The coastal bays count will consist of surveys in all five bays including tidal creeks and marsh guts. Surveys can be conducted by crews in either motorized boats or canoes and kayaks.

Organizers are looking for boat owners who can provide the transport, experienced water people who are able to identify turtles in the water (the terrapin is typically the turtle occupying brackish/salt water, but other turtles, such as snapping turtles, may venture into those waters as well) and a person who can accurately fill out survey forms in the field, including GPS coordinates.

MCBP will provide a brief training through its website and paperwork to those interested in participating.

Locations of surveys will depend on the number of crews that are available. If you have an interest in participating in the survey, contact the Maryland Coastal Bays Program’s Sandi Smith at sandis@mdcoastalbays.org or 410-641-2297 ext. 107.

Grant Sought To Fund Stormwater Project

BERLIN — Officials this week approved the application for the latest phase of a state grant to address the ongoing problems in certain flood-prone areas of the town.

The Mayor and Council on Monday approved an application for a state-issued Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) totaling around $800,000 for fiscal year to begin an ambitious stormwater management plan that could be a test case of sorts for other municipalities across Maryland. The application, if accepted, will be the third leg in a series of CDBG requests totaling over $1.9 million.

The other portions of Berlin’s latest series of CDBG grants have been used on other important projects throughout the town including the construction of a wastewater holding pond, or lagoon, at the Five Mile Branch spray irrigation site and the complete remodeling of the public restrooms in Town Hall in the center of Berlin.

The third phase in the latest series of state grants will be used, if approved, for the beginning of the town’s multi-year, multi-faceted stormwater management plan. The first leg of that ambitious plan would improve the flow of stormwater in the area of Hudson’s Branch in general, and more specifically install a new culvert under Flower Street in an area prone to heavy flooding in even a modest weather event.

“I think we’re all keenly aware of Berlin’s flooding problems,” said Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen. “This would address all areas affected by Hudson’s Branch. The culvert at Flower Street is currently undersized and this would be a first step in the process to alleviate the flooding problems.”

Among the areas that could see initial relief from flooding by replacing the undersized culvert at Flower Street include Franklin Ave., Cedar Ave. and Maple Ave., for example. Stormwater engineer Darryl Cole explained the project needed to begin somewhere and the Flower Street culvert represented a good jumping off point.

“The improvements at that location will improve the flow further upstream,” he said. “There is a bottleneck there, and everything that happens further upstream is affected by it. There is a lot of water trying to go through a very small area.”

Mayor Gee Williams assured all of the residents of the town that starting a town-wide stormwater management plan at the known trouble spot at Flower Street made the most sense.

“This is going to be a three-year project and we have to start somewhere,” he said. “Showell Street is also at the top of the list. This is what the engineers have told us will do the most good for the least amount of money. This is not a one-time thing. We’re systematically going to fix all of the trouble areas in the town.”

Williams said Berlin has the opportunity, or the misfortune perhaps, of being one of the first to aggressively fix its stormwater management problems.

“This problem is so big all over the country and everybody is a little intimidated because they want to fix everything all at once,” he said. “We’re going to be at the front of the line. It’s not like we’re going to be able to go to other towns and ask how they did it. Other towns are going to be looking to us for advice for the next 20 years.”

The stormwater management plan is just a portion of the town’s most recent CDBG grant package. Creating the holding lagoon at the Five Mile Branch spray irrigation site was a $5 million project paid for in part by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) at $3 million, the CDBG at $600,000 and the town at $182,000. The storage lagoon covers about eight acres and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The other portion of the CDBG funds is being used to completely restore the dilapidated old public restrooms at Town Hall on William Street. Of the estimated $114,328 total cost of the project, the CDBG grant is covering $65,500.

“They weren’t the most pleasant of places to send the visitors to our special events,” said Bohlen. “They were outdated, hard to keep clean and a constant problem with maintenance.”

Bohlen explained the old fixtures were torn out and completely replaced with state-of-the-art fixtures. The old facilities were essentially demolished completely and the undersized and outdated plumbing and drainage systems were completely replaced.

“They are much, much better,” said Williams. “They are no longer a place you’d be ashamed to send your family and friends.”

One resident in attendance asked the council to install new signage at different locations around Berlin to direct visitors to the new and improved public restrooms. Williams said they would take it under consideration, but said many of the special event programs include maps of where restrooms and other town amenities are located. He also said most visitors these days are armed with smart phones that direct people where to go for public services.

Cruisin Weekend Hits Ocean City

OCEAN CITY — One of the most popular hot rod shows on the East Coast, the 23rd Annual Cruisin Ocean City returns to Ocean City this weekend.

Officially kicking off yesterday, the nationally recognized event attracts more than 3,200 customs, hot rods, street machines, classics and more from over 20 states plus Canada.

Cruisin will have more than 10,000 event participants taking part in various car shows at the Convention Center on 40th Street, the downtown Inlet parking lot and various citywide locations.

Scheduled to appear at this year’s Cruisin will be “Mountain Man” from the hit TV show Duck Dynasty. He will be at Cruisin on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 signing autographs, posing for pictures and talking about all the fun they have on Duck Dynasty.

Also joining in on the excitement from Speed Channel’s hit television show will be the host of Two Guys Garage, Kevin Byrd. He will be at the show Saturday and Sunday for meet and greets, photo opportunities and autographs. Additional entertainment includes live music by the Justin Myles Experience & Mook Jones, celebrity Stars Deejay, Cruisin Gold Deejay and more.

Another great feature activity held as part of Cruisin is the Express Auctioneers’ Hot Rod and Custom Car Auction. This year it is a two-day event with auctions yesterday Thursday, May 16 and again on Friday, May 17 inside the Convention Center. The preview will begin at 9 a.m. and the live auction begins at noon both days. For more information on the auction, or if you are interested in being a seller or a buyer, visit www.occollectorcars.com or call 443-807-8883.

In addition to the Collector Car Auction, there will be a Special Charity Banner Auction on Saturday, May 18, starting at 11 a.m., inside the Convention Center Ballroom.   

Due to the overwhelming success of last year, returning this year on Saturday night at Hooper’s Crab House in West Ocean City will be the Golden Touch Band. The concert starts at 7 p.m. and is free to everyone. Golden Touch plays a variety of 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and Motown and is sure to have you dancing the night away.

At the Convention Center, attendees will find many other vendors selling automotive merchandise along with arts, crafts, jewelry, T-shirts plus lots of other specialty items both inside and outside.

Cruisin Ocean City is open to spectators from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 17-18 at the Convention Center and Inlet Parking Lot. On Sunday, May 19, the show is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Inlet Parking Lot with the awards ceremony beginning at 3 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Convention Center. General spectator admission is $10, good at all locations, children under 14 are free with an adult.

For additional information, visit www.cruisinoceancity.com.

Scooter Driver Injured In Crash With Police Car

OCEAN CITY — A Salisbury man was hospitalized with unknown injuries early Monday morning after the motor scooter he was operating collided with an Ocean City Police cruiser stopped at traffic signal on Coastal Highway.

Around 2:15 a.m. on Monday, an Ocean City Police vehicle was stopped at a traffic signal in the southbound lane of Coastal Highway at 41st Street when it was struck by a motor scooter. The scooter’s operator, identified as Edward Thomas Johnson, 25, of Salisbury, ran into the back of the police vehicle, causing him to be ejected.

The officer involved immediately began to render aid to Johnson, who was wearing a helmet. However, the helmet became dislodged during the collision and failed to fully protect him.

As of late Monday afternoon, Johnson’s medical status had not been updated. The OCPD officer involved was also treated at Atlantic General Hospital for minor injuries and was released.

Police continue to investigate the incident. According to the preliminary investigation, Johnson was believed to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision.

OCBP To Hold Training Academy Before Season Starts

OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Beach Patrol (OCBP) starts guarding the 10 miles of beach the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, May 25, and guards through Sunfest weekend, which is usually the third weekend in September.

Residents and visitors may see beach patrol activities around town before Memorial Day weekend, but this is the OCBP’s Surf Rescue Academy, which is when rookie personnel are trained.

The first training academy begins Sunday, May 19, with an enrollment of 35 new employees, with a second academy beginning Sunday, June 16. The OCBP will be conducting one additional pre-employment physical skill evaluation, on Saturday, June 8, for appointment to the second training academy.

The OCBP is specifically looking for individuals who are available to work till the end of the season, Sunday, Sept. 22. To register for this opportunity, visit the beach patrol website at www.ococean.com/ocbp

Although the OCBP does not require any experience or previous certifications, all rookie surf rescue technicians have successfully completed the pre-employment physical skill evaluation. This pre-employment physical skill evaluation is a 12-phase, six-hour process, concluding with an interview and the offer of an appointment to one of the two Surf Rescue Academies.

During the 65-hour Surf Rescue Academy, all participants will be drug tested, participate in physical skills training and practice, attend classroom instruction, have guest presenters from other agencies and re-qualify in swimming and running. Once Surf Rescue Academy is completed, the Surf Rescue Technician (lifeguard) will have all the training and certification necessary to take a stand on one of Ocean City’s beaches.

Starting May 25, the beach patrol will be on duty every day from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  At 5:25 p.m., you will see the lifeguards signaling everyone out of the ocean. This is their way of letting the beach-goers know they are going off duty and they should cease all water-related activities until 10 a.m. the next day when lifeguards are back on duty.  

The OCBP continues its efforts to educate the public, warning of the dangers of swimming on unguarded beaches, and that the OCBP does whatever it takes to make sure people leave the ocean before making that last turn to the west, leaving the beaches for the night.

County Agency Awarded Grant To Lead Program

SNOW HILL — Worcester County Health Department officials this month announced the agency has been selected by the state to implement a regional consumer assistance program to help educate, determine eligibility and enroll uninsured residents across the Lower Shore into private health plans or Medicaid.

In the wake of mandates handed down to the states under the guise of ObamaCare, Maryland lawmakers this winter passed the state’s Affordable Care Act (ACT). Out of that legislation was borne the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, a public corporation and unit of the state government charged with the implementation of the state-based insurance exchange program.

The Worcester County Health Department announced this week it had been chosen to facilitate the state’s health care program and provide consumer assistance for health insurance to uninsured residents across the region. An anticipated $1.2 million grant will fund the new program, which includes staff who will provide face-to-face assistance with navigating the Maryland Health Connection.

ACT requires all Americans to acquire healthcare insurance from one of a variety of sources by January 2014. Some will be able to find affordable health insurance on their own, while others will likely need state assistance. The program for which the county health department will be a facilitator will help connect uninsured residents with the appropriate state programs if necessary.

The state-based health insurance marketplace will serve residents in Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties. The Lower Shore program operated by the Worcester County Health Department will employ 17 new positions.

“We are honored to be selected as the connector program for the Lower Eastern Shore,” said Worcester County Health Officer Debbie Goeller this week. “We look forward to working with our state and local partners to help people select plans offered through Maryland Health Connection.”

Education and outreach about the Maryland Health Connection will begin this summer, with open enrollment for the health benefit plans expected to take place from October 2013 to March 2014. Details about office hours, enrollment services, call center and other operations will be announced later this summer.

New Highway Pedestrian Safety Features In Place

OCEAN CITY – With a cautious eye on last summer’s pedestrian deaths and dozens of other accidents, items are being checked off a list to help make the Ocean City’s streets safer for pedestrians this summer.

During the State Highway Administration’s (SHA) annual spring meeting with the Mayor and City Council on Tuesday afternoon, SHA Assistant District Engineer Ken Cimino gave an update on the pedestrian safety campaign in Ocean City.

“As of last September, we had a long list of things we were hoping to do here in Ocean City geared towards our pedestrian safety efforts, and we have managed to complete a good portion of them,” Cimino said.

SHA has implemented “side road split phasing”, which is the assignment of right-of-way of vehicular traffic, on Coastal Highway and Robin Drive, Coastal Highway and 94th Street and Coastal Hwy and 130th Street.

“Side road split phasing will eliminate pedestrian conflicts at these large intersections where we have multiple concurrent double left turns and other movements that were happening at the same time,” Cimino said.

Starting on March 15, the SHA added pedestrian recall at 13 intersections between 59th and 17th streets between the hours of 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. In the future, this program will run from May 1 through Sept. 30.

“The pedestrian recall feature will allow a signal control, called Ped Signal, when a vehicle is at the side street, so even when the pedestrian neglects to push the button they will automatically have walk icon as they cross the roadway,” Cimino said. “We are keeping an eye on this. We are hoping it is a successful safety feature …”

SHA also installed advanced pedestrian signal timing along the entire corridor.

“What this means is when the Ped Signal comes up, pedestrians will give an exclusive, about seven seconds, to start walking across the roadway before the side road green indicator comes up for vehicular traffic,” Cimino said.

Last year there were 41 accidents on Coastal Highway and out of those accidents six occurred in the area between 52nd and 59th streets.

In that area, SHA has placed pavement marking on the curbs every 40 feet that are yellow with black lettering that state “No Pedestrian Crossing.” Also, on each side street approaching Coastal Highway in that area, signs have been installed stating “No Pedestrian Crossing” with the universal symbol for no pedestrian crossing and arrows directing pedestrians to the marked intersections stating “Use Crosswalk.”

SHA has a list of ongoing efforts currently being studied and researched, such as eliminating right-hand-turn-on-red movements at larger and busier intersections. Accident data is currently being studied regarding this action with results to be brought forward later in the summer season.

If the study shows the action to be warranted, right hand turns on red would be eliminated in six locations; Robin Drive, 33rd Street, 94th Street, 123rd Street, 127th Street and 130th Street.

Another ongoing effort is the idea of a “Road Diet” on Coastal Hwy. SHA has limited it down to two options.

One concept would have the current third vehicle traffic lane become shared between vehicles and buses and have the current bus lane become a bike lane with wider sidewalks for pedestrians. The other would have only two vehicle traffic lanes, the third lane dedicated to buses only, and the current bus lane become a bike lane with wider sidewalks for traffic.

“Right now, that project is with our Office of Highway Development that is currently going through the project’s impact review stage, to look at the feasibility of these two projects,” Cimino said. “We are hoping we will be getting that report sometime mid-summer to see what is the best way to go. They are also looking at any kind of median barriers.”

SHA’s Office of Traffic and Safety is currently working on right-of-way issues regarding the installation of a pedestrian crossing signal on 54th Street.

“Once they get cleared up. I expect the design of the pedestrian signal at 54th St., to move forward later this summer or early fall,” Cimino said.

SHA has picked a weekend in each month of May through September this summer to collect data on the initiatives being taken to improve pedestrian safety in Ocean City,

“We have gotten a lot of things done, but we have a long way to go,” Cimino said. “We will see how the summer goes. Hopefully, it will be successful and if it is, we will build off the success, and if it isn’t as successful, we will reevaluate and see what other measures to implement.”