Maryland National Guard to conduct “Operation Tourist Boom” exercise in Ocean City

OceanCity.com
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Baltimore, MD – (October 26, 2018):  The Maryland National Guard will be conducting a routine training exercise on Saturday, November 3 in conjunction with the Town of Ocean City and its local first responders. Operation Tourist Boom, mandated by Gov. Larry Hogan, will take place in the Inlet parking lot and will feature exercises including a simulated bomb detonation and active shooter drill. 

The National Guard, in an effort to validate its response plans, sought the support of Ocean City to conduct this exercise over a year ago.  Recognizing the value of testing local response, Ocean Emergency Management engaged and added additional responders to the scenario to ensure realism.  As planning continued, additional federal agencies were brought in that would normally have response requirements in the plan.

These types of events are done on a predictable basis to help the National Guard synchronize with first responders from all levels of government.

The exercise occurs during the Guard’s regular drill weekend, focused on decision-making, coordination and integration with allied agencies in a realistic training venue.  Members of the public are welcome and encouraged to come out and see their community working together.  The exercise will have over 1,000 National Guard, local, state and federal first responders. 

“It is critical for our teams to understand they don’t work alone,” said Maj. Gen. Linda Singh, the adjutant general of Maryland. “We rely on all partners from all levels of state and federal government.  This exercise is a good example of what happens when local planners work together to focus their efforts on keeping our citizens safe.”

Ocean City Oddities: Morbid Manor

Brandon Seidl
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A Morbid Manor ad that appeared on the side of the pier building in 1976. Thanks to Gerald U.

OC’s original haunted walk-through

When visitors of Ocean City’s famous boardwalk think of memorable icons from the past, the Morbid Manor haunted house on the pier undoubtedly comes to mind.

Debuting in 1975 for its first season, the “Manor” was a two-and-a-half story walk-through attraction that was made famous for its live actors, demonizing appearance, sinister sounds and effects, and Victorian-style façade with neglected exterior gardens. In short, the attraction’s artistry and details made visitors believe that an actual abandoned house was uprooted from elsewhere and placed on the pier.

It towered over the pier and was recognizable from virtually any distance on the boardwalk. It was a rather supernatural experience and scared hundreds of thousands of brave patrons during its 20-year tenure on the boardwalk. Perhaps most memorable was the tail of an airplane sticking out of the building’s top floor window, and guests from the late 1980s may recall the attraction operating under the name “Year of the Vampire” for a brief time.

“Year of the Vampire” on the Manor’s facade in the mid-80s.

The Manor was designed and constructed by legendary dark ride designer Fred Mahana who is known for his legendary work in Wildwood, New Jersey on such attractions as Hitchcock Manor, Dracula’s Castle and Theater of Blood. Mahana had a knack for making any concept a reality, despite how far-fetched it may have seemed. At the start of the Morbid Manor’s lifespan, the pier was under the ownership and management of Ocean Amusements Inc.

View from the beach in 1983. Thanks to Gerald U.

One of the scariest elements to the attraction was the talented live actors that strategically hid in the Manor and chased customers with chainsaws. At times, the actors were theater majors from colleges and universities that came to work at the attraction for the summer. Their makeup and costumes altered their appearance just enough to leave even the bravest visitor screaming in terror.

Unknown to many, the Manor was a hip place off-hours. The management and workers of the ride would often hold band practices, and other activities, behind closed doors and sleep there throughout the nights despite a lack of air conditioning and uncomfortable 100-degree beach temperatures. To those who ran the attraction, it was more than a job; it was life. And, a lot of past employees of the attraction still share their stories and pride proudly for the attraction that was basically a second home for many years.

Article published in Ocean City Today, Nov. 10, 1995. (Click to enlarge)

A Living Nightmare

In early November of 1995, a real-life horror show transpired on the pier as Morbid Manor burned to the ground. Fire crews from Ocean City, Ocean Pines, and Berlin worked tirelessly to fight the fire but were unable to salvage the famous attraction. Ironically, the ride had just undergone a large renovation the year before and both the interior and exterior were completely revamped. Although the building had a complete sprinkler system, it was reportedly shut down for the winter to prevent the pipes from freezing.

Shortly after the devastating fire, rumors began to circulate regarding the cause of the fire. Some believe it was an electrical fire. Others believe the fire was caused by sparks due to the grinding and cutting of steel for the removal of a nearby waterslide during the same time period. Firefighters completed an investigation, and they concluded that the fire did not seem suspicious, although a final cause was never publicized.

Christy Whorton poses with a charred Morbid Manor in 1995

The Legend Lives

After the Manor was destroyed by fire, an effort was made to keep the dark ride tradition alive on the pier by adding a portable dark ride called “Ghost” in the late 1990s. “Ghost” was a Barbisan dark ride from Italy that included several animated stunts and a façade that resembled a castle. After several years of being in operation, “Ghost” was renamed “Ghost Pirates” and artists added pirate and nautical imagery to the façade before it was completely removed in 2006. The next season, a Zachinni portable dark ride was added, this time called “Morbid Manor II”. The ride featured mostly metal sculptures for effects, and included very few animatronics. In 2010, the ride was overhauled with a 3-D façade, new props were added, and the ride was retitled “Morbid Manor 3-D” in an effort to attract a broader audience. Today, the ride lives on as Morbid Manor Motel with a zombie twist.

Morbid Manor 3D as it looked in 2010.

Cover Photo by Bob Hoffman

Goodbye, Planet Maze!

Kristin
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After 24 years, Planet Maze — the mini golf course, laser tag and amusements business on 33rd Street in Ocean City, known best for its big, green golf course aliens — is saying goodbye. 

The golf course sculptures will be auctioned off, for those who have ever wanted a UFO in their backyard.

Planet Maze will most likely be replaced by a five-story Hilton Tru hotel, its construction approved by the Ocean City Planning Commission earlier in the month. 

“All things change and come to an end, but there will be lots of other great things coming to Ocean City for people to enjoy,” said Rina Thaler, who owns Planet Maze with her husband Jeff Thaler and Jamie and Jeff Albright. “Our kids are all grown up and moved away, and it’s time for us to move on… It’s been a wonderful thing for our families and everyone who has visited there.” 

Jamie Albright, one of the owners of Planet Maze, expressed her gratitude to the business’s customers over the years in a Facebook post in an Ocean City Locals group.

Thank you for 24 FUN years!
Planet maze will be closing it’s doors on October 28th.

It’s been “A-mazing” hosting your parties, fundraisers, proms and family reunions. We hope we created the same great memories for all of you!
We thank all of our great staff over the years who have worked for us and we thank all of YOU for your support and visits to Planet Maze and Ocean City!

Adam Albright, son of Jamie and Jeff Albright, breaks ground on Planet Maze in 1993.

Planet Maze, which first opened its doors in 1993, consists of a Lasertron laser tag area, Lost Galaxy mini golf and a climbing maze. The business was a first job, and a choice birthday party venue, for many Ocean City locals and regulars who grew up in the ’90s and ’00s. 

Planet Maze will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday of its closing weekend, Oct. 27 – 28, 2018. 

Goodbye, Planet Maze!

Ocean City 2018 Fall Photo Blog

Kristin
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It’s the locals’ favorite time of year. 

A quiet beach, sidewalks covered in leaves, finally needing a jacket to comfortably stroll the boardwalk… It’s fall in Ocean City, and with the season comes lots to celebrate. Simple things. Not just Halloween and O.C.toberfest, although those are certainly worth celebrating in OC, too.

If you’ve got a four-legged friend, they’ll be happy to hear that they’re finally allowed back on the beach and boardwalk from now until April 30. If you enjoy exploring the small Eastern Shore towns that surround Ocean City, you’ll be happy to hear that Berlin, Maryland is all decked out for Halloween, thanks in part to the local merchants’ scarecrow contest (see photos below!). And if the thought of an off-season getaway with little to no crowds, being able to breeze through green lights without the halt of summer traffic, and spending your mornings sipping coffee while watching the October sunrise over the Atlantic makes you want to head east, down the ocean… Now might be the time to plan a fall vacation in Ocean City, or even just a weekend daytrip.

Just imagine yourself ‘shopped into these photos, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of Ocean City in the fall. And if you’re already here, submit your photos, because we love to see and share them!

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What’s open in OC?

Kristin
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As the days grow colder and longer, that’s one of the most–if not the most–frequently asked question we get: “What’s still open?” (Or, similarly, “is [insert specific business here] still open?”)

It’s an understandable question to ask. Plenty of people flock to Ocean City during the fall and winter months to enjoy off-season deals but want to make sure there will still be something to do and somewhere to eat. Plus, some businesses don’t do a great job of listing their off-season hours on their website, if they have off-season hours at all.

Read on if you’re curious as to why some businesses stay open after the summer ends. If you’re just curious to see whether your favorite haunts will keep the lights on through the winter, scroll down to “So what’s open?”

Why do some places stay open while others don’t?

Simple: for some businesses, it’s just not economically feasible to stay open when the summer crowds have long disappeared.

Many businesses also rely on J-1 student employees, who return home after the summer is over. Some can stay open year-round and operate with a skeletal staff, and are open with limited hours.

The ones that do stay open often offer off-season specials, especially on the weekends for food and drinks, to attract the locals and visitors alike. Facebook is always a great place to look for businesses posting their winter hours and deals.

Even if your favorite summertime hangout isn’t open, the winter is a great time to experiment and find some hidden jems–plus you can save money with specials and save time since there’s hardly any traffic, lines or waits.

If you come to town and still find yourself disappointed, make sure you check out what events are going on–there’s always some of those still happening, too.

So what’s open?

This isn’t a totally definitive list of businesses that stay open year-round, but please let us know if there’s a business we should add. If you don’t see your favorite amusement/eatery/shop listed on here, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s closed til May. Give them a call, or ask the Ocean City locals and regulars on our forum thread–they’re a great source for this kind of stuff.

This list was originally posted on 10/24/17 and updated on 10/23/18. 

The boardwalk – the boardwalk and beach are always open. It’s the individual stores and amusements whose hours differ. The arcades are open year-round with limited hours, but the Trimper’s and Jolly Roger rides tend to stay closed in the late fall and winter.

28th Street Pit & Pub – open daily.

45th Street Taphouse – open daily.

Backshore Brewing Company – open Saturday and Sunday 12 – 5 p.m.

Bad Monkey  – open daily.

The Bearded Clam – open Thursday through Saturday.

Big Pecker’s – open weekends.

Billy’s Sub Shop – open daily.

BJ’s on the Water – open daily.

Blue Fish – open daily.

The Bonfire – open Thursday through Sunday.

Burley Oak – open daily.

Candy Kitchen – some locations open, hours vary.

Captain’s Table – open daily.

Coins Pub – open daily.

Cork Bar – open daily.

The Crab Bag – open daily.

Crabs to Go – open daily.

Crabcake Factory – open daily, hours vary by location.

The Dough Roller – open daily, hours vary by location.

Dumser’s – open daily, hours vary by location.

Embers – open Friday and Saturday at 4 p.m.

Fager’s Island – open daily.

The Globe – open every day except Monday.

The Greene Turtle – open daily.

Harborside Bar & Grill – open daily.

Harpoon Hanna’s – open daily.

Hooked – open daily.

Horizons – open daily.

Ironweed Ale Works – open weekends.

Liquid Assets – open daily.

Lombardi’s – open daily.

Longboard Cafe – open daily.

Mad Fish – open Wednesday through Sunday.

Mother’s Cantina – open daily.

Ocean City Life-Saving Museum – open daily.

Ocean City Center for the Arts – open daily.

Ocean Gallery – open weekends, select weekdays.

Old Pro golf – indoor courses open daily.

Pickles Pub – open daily.

Purple Moose Saloon – open most weekends.

Rare & Rye – open Thursday through Sunday.

Rayne’s Reef – open every day except Sunday.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not – open weekends, select weekdays.

Ropewalk – open daily.

Rosenfeld’s Jewish Deli – open daily.

Seacrets – open Thursday through Sunday.

Shark on the Harbor – open daily.

Skye Bar & Grille – open Thursday through Sunday.

Soriano’s – open every day except Wednesday for breakfast and lunch.

Squarz Pizza – open Wednesday through Sunday.

Tequila Mockingbird – open every day except Tuesday.

Thrasher’s – open weekends, weather permitting.

Whisker’s – open daily.

See a mistake on here or know of a business that should be included? Let us know so we can keep this list as updated and accurate as possible.

This Week in OC: O.C.toberfest! Paranormal Investigations! A craft beer festival! And more…

Kristin
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Happy Monday! There is no video this week to go along with “This Week in OC” because I went out and filmed this morning when it was 50 degrees outside, my hands got numb, and everything was just too awkward to make for a decent video. So… Here we are. Here’s proof that I DID go out to film in Sunset Park for at least a minute,  where I glared at the camera and quickly decided to just take photos instead: 

And, more importantly, a few photos from a beautiful and empty Ocean City:

It also didn’t help that there is so much going on this week that I couldn’t possibly fit all of it into a two-minute video, or even remember all of it, honestly. So as not to leave anyone out, all of this week’s happenings and events are listed at the bottom of this post. 

If you’re coming for the big beer festival this weekend, be sure to take advantage of the hotel packages available — it’s finally the off-season which means you can find cheap hotel deals all around town, and these ones come with discounted General Admission OCtoberfest tickets (and some of them with a few other goodies). 

From the beer fest to the beach maze, the museum to the 10-miler… You certainly won’t be bored in Ocean City this weekend. We only hope it doesn’t rain, knock on wood. 

#ThisWeekinOC

Shore Craft Beer Fest: OCtoberfest (Oct. 27): 

Sunset Park overlooking Assawoman Bay will once again be the setting for a fabulous Shore Craft Beer celebration of the local breweries who are producing world class beer. You can’t beat the beauty of this location either, so if you want great beer and a great party with live music, get your VIP tickets, or regular admission, today.

Use the code “havefun” for $5 off each ticket.

Fall Restaurant Week (now until 10/28): Many of the great Ocean City restaurants will create special, fixed-price menus for Fall Restaurant Week and there is no need for coupons, passes, tickets, or coupons to participate – you simply choose a participating restaurant and have a wonderful dining experience at a fixed price.

Local’s Appreciation Week at the Life-Saving Station Museum (Oct. 25 – 31): This is the 9th Annual Local’s Appreciation Week, and from October 25-31st, the Ocean City Museum Society is offering free admission to locals, and all who consider themselves local when they are here visiting, to the Life-Saving Station Museum. Also 10% off gift shop purchases!

Dead of Night Paranormal Investigation (Oct. 27): On Saturday, October 27, the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum will be bringing back the popular Paranormal Event. This event, which was held for the first time last fall, will allow visitors to follow along with Dead of Night Paranormal Team and experience the spirits that occupy the Ocean City Life- Saving Station Museum.

O.C.toberfest Halloween Beach Maze (Oct. 27 – 28): Get lost in a giant Halloween beach maze at this free event. The maze is open to all ages, and there will be witches, ghouls and zombies walking around, so prepare to be spooked!

O.C.toberfest Great Pumpkin Race (Oct. 27): Build a tiny pumpkin race car and come compete at the annual down-hill race. Prizes will be awarded for speed and creativity in each division. Registration and team check-in begins at 12 p.m. before the race.

Halloween Spook-Out Party (Oct. 28): Come celebrate the spookiest time of year at Northside Park with games, arts & crafts, hayrides and much more. But most of all, don’t forget to come dressed up! There will be costume contests, carnival games, face painting, arts & crafts, hayrides, refreshments, and more! Bring one wrapped bag of candy per child for admission.  Pre-registration is not required

Seaside 10-Mile/5k Run (Oct. 27): Join in at the well known Seaside 10 Mile & 5K run that includes the world famous boardwalk, and will take place rain or shine!  Registration fees for participants.

Autumn Home & Condo Show (Oct. 27 – 28): Here is your chance to get hundreds of ideas for decorating your home – inside and outside. Get ideas about decorating, remodeling, accessorizing, renovating, and even building a home.

Swing for Youth Golf Open (Oct. 27): Eagles Landing plays host to the OC Recreation Boosters 8th Annual Swing for Youth Golf Open, scheduled for Saturday, October 27, 2018. This 4-person Florida scramble is a huge success, with sell-out crowds each year. 

Artrageous (Oct. 28): Artrageous is a high energy interactive show that combines visual and performing arts. The performers sing, dance and paint onstage, creating a living gallery that the audience gets to come onstage and walk through in the end. Ocean City has never seen anything like it!

Tickets are still available for “Artrageous: An Interactive Art & Music Experience”

OceanCity.com
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With two upcoming shows in Ocean City, “Artrageous” will benefit the Art League and Worcester County students

Ocean City, MD — Oct. 15, 2018: On Sunday, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m., the Art League of Ocean City will bring a high-energy national touring stage show to Ocean City at the Performing Arts Center. Artrageous is an interactive art and music experience for all ages that combines the visual and performing arts with audience participation. 

With grants from The Humphreys Foundation and the Optimist Club, and support from T.E.A.M. Productions and the Town of Ocean City, the Sunday performance will help fund a free abbreviated school performance geared toward younger audiences. This performance will take place on Monday, Oct. 29, and will be attended by 1,200 Worcester County middle and high school students.

Worcester County teachers have lesson plans they can use to prepare the students ahead of time for what they will see and how they will participate.

“This is the type of opportunity that can change kids lives,” said Rina Thaler, Executive Director of the Art League. “When children are exposed to the arts at an early age, it opens up possibilities they may not have considered in their lives and gives them an outlet of self expression.”

Artrageous is a troupe of traveling actors and musicians from Vancouver, Canada who banded together in the 1980s to perform and see the world. Starting with children’s puppetry theater and rising from a fire that destroyed their theater, the troupe has performed for the likes of Sir Richard Branson, Steve Forbes and General Colin Powell, and in venues and events all over the world from India to Thailand, Paris to Austria.

As people who live and breathe the arts, creativity, community and inspiration, the performers share their passion with the world in a show that focuses on art, music, theater, singing, dancing and audience interaction, all on one stage.

Audience members will witness the creativity of an artist creating a masterpiece before their eyes in mere moments. Combined with captivating vocals, intricate choreography and exciting music, Artrageous takes their audiences on a visual journey to a gallery of finished paintings, culminating in the performers inviting the audience to come on stage and join in the artmaking.

During Sunday’s show, the artists will create eight large paintings. Everyone who attends the Sunday performance will be entered in a drawing to win one of the paintings. The remaining seven painting will be available for bidding at a silent auction at the end of the show to benefit the programs of the Art League.

Tickets range from $25-$35, and are available at ticketmaster.com. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Ocean City Convention Center box office without fees. Sales benefit the programs of the Art League of Ocean City.

Ocean City History: Photos from the First Historic House Tour

Kristin
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Ocean City’s downtown is replete with old buildings, some of them dating back to the 19th century and still functioning as they were originally intended to today. On Saturday, Oct. 13, the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum — itself one of the oldest structures in town — held its first Historic House Tour, allowing visitors to step inside some of downtown’s most historic churches, bed & breakfasts and beach homes, and reminisce on Ocean City days of yore.

The tour was designed by event chairman Daphne Hurley, its purpose to raise funds for the George and Suzanne Hurley Scholarship Fund. The memorial scholarship is open to graduating seniors of Stephen Decatur High School who plan to further their education at Wor-Wic Community College, Salisbury University or the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

In addition to the scholarship, Hurley was inspired by the abundance of old and history-rich buildings that make up Ocean City’s downtown.

“You come up Baltimore Avenue and you travel to wherever you’re going, and there are all these places where I think, ‘what are they like inside? I’ve never been in there, that’s interesting,'” Hurley said. “As our footprint changes, so does our history. Before this all goes away, we wanted to give people a chance.”

Eight buildings were included on the tour, including the museum and St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church, the Atlantic House Bed & Breakfast, the Bay Breeze house, An Inn on the Ocean Bed & Breakfast, the Roberts Cottage and the Phillips’ family’s bayside home, where docents were present to give guests a brief history and tour of each location. 

The museum hopes to make the tour an annual event. Below is just a glimpse into what was featured on the first Historic House Tour, along with an inside look at what many lovingly refer to as “old Ocean City.” 

The Life-Saving Station Museum (1891)

The tour starts at the southernmost end of Ocean City at the Ocean City Museum Society’s headquarters, the Life-Saving Station Museum.  The museum itself is an Ocean City landmark of significant historical value, and the first stop on the Historic House tour; built in 1891, the structure was used first by the U.S. Life-Saving Service and then by the U.S. Coast Guard until 1964, when they moved to a new station. The original building fell into disrepair until 1977, when the Ocean City Museum Society was formed to rescue the landmark. It’s thanks to them, the Mayor and the City Council that the building was saved and moved to its current location at the Inlet. The Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum is celebrating its 40th anniversary at this location this year. 

St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church (1880)

Dating back to 1880, the first Catholic church to open its doors in Ocean City is St. Mary Star of the Sea on South Baltimore Avenue. The Baltimore Sun reported in August of that year, “Right Rev. Bishop A. Thomas Becker celebrated mass and preached a sermon Sunday morning (August 8) in the new Catholic chapel, “Star of the Sea,” at Ocean City, MD.”
While construction of the church was completed in 1880, the first Catholic services in Ocean City were conducted around 1877. Mass was held in a room at the Myers’ Cottage on Wicomico St. and the Boardwalk, where Dolle’s is now located.
The docent that was present at this stop of the tour, Newt Weaver, was baptized at the church and has been attending mass here his whole life. He recalled hiding underneath one of the pews at four years old, and his father telling him, “get out from under there, that’s where the devil lives.” The woman sitting next to Newt’s father nodded in agreement, and Newt never crawled under the pews again. 

St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church (1901)

Like the Catholic services, the first Episcopal services in Ocean City were held in the summer of 1877. The first Episcopal Church in town, St. Paul’s by-the-Sea on North Baltimore Avenue, was built in 1882. The current iteration of the church was built in 1901, after storms and vandals caused the original building to deteriorate. The first service in the new building was held on July 7, 1901, even with “its interior unfurnished and unfinished.” 
The building became the first in Ocean City to be named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
In 2013, a fire destroyed the rectory of the church and tragically claimed the life of Rector David Dingwall. In 2018, the fellowship commons was dedicated by the congregation and the community. 

Atlantic House Bed & Breakfast (1927)

In 1926, Ocean City hotel owner Josephine Hastings purchased the plot of land that the Atlantic House now sits on to build a cottage for her daughter, Florence. 
The cottage was converted to a bed & breakfast in 1987 by its then-owners, Bill and Helen Adkins. They called it the Falcon Crest. 
When the business changed hands again in 1993, it was renamed “Atlantic House Bed & Breakfast.” Today it’s owned by Gkergki and Marinella Drakos.
Vintage bathing suits were on display for the tour in one of the Atlantic House’s rooms.

The Bay Breeze (1950)

The Bay Breeze, a charming beach house on St. Louis Avenue, was designed and built by Robert “Bob” Craig in 1949-50. The home was restored between 2012 and 2016, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. 
Bob Craig served on the Ocean City Beach Patrol  for 51 years, 41 of those years as Captain, until his retirement in 1986. 
In its early days, the house’s dormitory-style upper level served as a home for its owners while rooms on the main floor were rented out during the summer. A narrow wooden ladder in the right corner of this room, just out of frame, leads upstairs.
The house is filled with historic photos of Ocean City and the Ocean City Beach Patrol. In addition to the Historic House Tour, it was also a stop on the Art League’s Sandcastle Home Tour. With all of the Old Ocean City paraphernalia that line its walls and shelves, the Bay Breeze is practically a museum in and of itself. 

Inn on the Ocean (1932)

The cottage known as the Inn on the Ocean, located on the Boardwalk at 10th Street, was built in 1932 by then-Mayor William W. McCabe and his wife Harriet. 
The oceanfront cottage became a bed & breakfast in the 1980s, and has been known by the names “Rhodes Inn,” “Annabell’s” and “The Inn on the Ocean,” as it’s called today.
The rooms retain a classic and old-fashioned atmosphere, and guests can enjoy refreshments on the porch that sits just over the Ocean City boardwalk.
Another vintage bathing suit sits on the bed of this bed & breakfast, too — a fun easter egg for guests taking the Historic House Tour. Other stops on the tour not photographed here include the Roberts Cottage on Washington Lane, circa 1940, and the Phillips House on Teal Drive, circa 1983.

Town of Berlin receives prestigious “Sustainable Maryland” award

OceanCity.com
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The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland announced on Monday that the town of Berlin, Md. was one of eight Maryland municipalities honored at the Sustainable Maryland Awards Ceremony at the Maryland Municipal League’s annual Fall conference in Annapolis. Berlin previously achieved Sustainable Maryland certification in 2012 and 2015. 

Highlights of Berlin’s accomplishments include:

  • The Town held their fourth annual “Take Pride in Berlin” event to encourage residents to get involved in their community, beginning with a “Clean-Up Day” and other community related projects.
  • The Town completed the Healthiest Maryland Business Assessment in 2017 and became recognized as a “Healthiest Maryland Business.”
  • The Town adopted a Green Purchasing Policy, which involved the explicit promotion of green purchasing and environmentally preferable products whenever possible.
  • In partnership with local environmental nonprofits, the Town has an ongoing watershed stewardship volunteer engagement program through which Berlin residents can become actively engaged in practical activities to keep local watersheds clean and healthy. 

“The citizens of the Town of Berlin continue to recognize the importance of environmental stewardship and want to continue to develop a sustainable quality of life for generations to come,” said Berlin Mayor Gee Williams III. “We continue to strive to maintain the environment and to maintain the balance of good environmental stewardship and growth. Within the Town of Berlin, we look for solid citizen involvement and we seek their support as a part of our overall collaboration of involvement between citizens and government.”

According to Mike Hunninghake, Program Manager for Sustainable Maryland, “This year’s class of Sustainable Maryland Certified communities represents significant continued progress on sustainability issues, in small towns and large cities, from all across the state. The Green Teams, elected officials, and municipal staff that have accomplished so much provide both inspiration and real-world examples for their peers to follow.”

Sustainable Maryland Certification: To achieve certification, municipalities are required to form a Green Team comprised of local residents, community leaders, municipal staff and officials; complete a variety sustainability-related Actions worth a total of at least 150 points (including two mandatory actions and two of six priority actions), and submit the appropriate documentation as evidence that the Sustainable Maryland Certified requirements have been satisfied. The Sustainable Maryland Action Menu can be seen here.

This Week in OC: O.C.toberfest Weekend #1

Kristin
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Halloween is soon approaching and so is the Town of Ocean City’s lineup of festive fun: O.C.toberfest starts this weekend. As long as the rainy-day forecast disappears by Saturday, there will be 1.) A parade of dogs in costume making their way down the Boardwalk, 2.) followed by decked-out cars Driving in Disguise and “trunk or treat”fun afterward, 3.) the Halloween Beach Maze open for its first of two weekends and 4.) fireworks to wrap up the day of spooky celebrations.

If you miss it this weekend, there are still O.C.toberfest events up ahead for the weekend of the 27th (including the upcoming Shore Craft Beer Fest in Sunset Park), but you’ll surely want to start planning your O.C.toberfest itinerary today.

 

Last Week’s News

Although H2oi rolled through Ocean City at the end of September, the controversial motor event is still on everyone’s minds — particularly, the Ocean City Police Department and City Council. Resort leaders are looking into teaming up with Atlantic City, NJ to drive H2oi guests to their motor event the same weekend, and asking for more enforcement resources from the state of Maryland in the future.

10/11/2018 | Ocean City Plans To Ask Governor For Enforcement Help; Changes Eyed To Special Event Zone Next Year | News Ocean City MD

OCEAN CITY – With the dust settled on the unsanctioned and uninvited H2O International (H2Oi) event two weekends ago, resort leaders this week reviewed the outcome and called for an even stronger police presence and more bite for enforcement in the future.

If you’re looking to sell your real estate in Worcester County, now’s the perfect time to do so, according to our real estate blogger’s report. Sales are hot, inventory is low and days on the market are few.

Finally, if you’re looking for something to do the weekend before Halloween, Ocean City’s bars, restaurants and hotels have got you covered. Here’s what you can find happening for Halloween in Ocean City. 

Halloween Parties and Things to Do in Ocean City, Maryland

Just when you think Ocean City has all but become a literal ghost town as colder seasons approach, Halloween weekend breathes new life — or death? Spooky — back into town with costume parties, drink specials and general festive fun at every turn.

 

#ThisWeekinOC

Fall Restaurant Week (Oct. 14 – 28): Many of the great Ocean City restaurants will create special, fixed-price menus for Fall Restaurant Week and there is no need for coupons, passes, tickets, or coupons to participate – you simply choose a participating restaurant and have a wonderfully dining experience at a fixed price.

Pink Ribbon Classic Golf Tournament (Oct. 19): All Proceeds go directly to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Programs.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5k Run/Walk (Oct. 20): The American Cancer Society raises awareness and funds for those affected by breast cancer through the MSABC walks. At the OC walk, there will be a 5k run as well as a noncompetitive 5k walk. Admission is $35.

O.C.toberfest Halloween Beach Maze (Oct. 20 – 21, 27 – 28): Get lost in a giant Halloween beach maze at this free event. The maze is open to all ages, and there will be witches, ghouls and zombies walking around, so prepare to be spooked!

O.C.toberfest Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade (Oct. 20): All pets are welcome at the Howl-O-Ween Parade! Bring them along in costume or just watch the festivally-spirited animals parade down the boardwalk. Prizes will be awarded. The event is free, but donations of money or pet supplies are welcome and will benefit the Worcester County Humane Society. Registration begins at 12 p.m. before the parade at 1pm.

O.C.toberfest Drive in Disguise and Halloween Parade (Oct. 20): The annual Halloween Parade starting on 27th Street on the Boardwalk, allows anyone wishing to decorate their car to ride down the Boardwalk. Vehicles will drive off the Boardwalk at the Inlet Parking Lot, where prizes will be awarded. There is no fee, but you must register and show proof of insurance to drive.

O.C.toberfest Trunk or Treat (Oct. 20): Trunk or Treat takes place on the boardwalk south of Caroline Street and north of the amusement pier. Drive in Disguise participants have the option of participating in this candy and treat give-away. The event is expected to begin at approximately 3:40pm and will last until all the treats are gone!

O.C.toberfest Fireworks (Oct. 20): Fireworks will be exploding on October 20 (rain date October 27th) over the beach to celebrate OCToberfest.

Free Outdoor Movie in Berlin (Oct. 20): Bring your chair, blanket and snack and sit back to enjoy a Halloween themed movie in Berlin. Movie TBD.

Choosing the perfect color combo for your beach wedding

Jennifer Sabini Evans
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Choosing the perfect color combo for your beach wedding

Before the decorations, before the bouquets, before the bridesmaids dresses and all the little details that’ll make your wedding *pop* with your unique touches and style… You gotta choose the color combo.

I am, and always will be, an advocate of the “do what makes you happy!” philosophy, and that totally applies to the color palette of a wedding (and everything else wedding-related, for that matter). Christmas colors in July? Go for it. Bright yellow and all shades of pink at your snowy ski resort reception? Who cares, if it’s what you really want?

BUT. If you are in the throes of planning a beach wedding, or more likely you’re recently engaged and don’t know where to begin when it comes to styling the ceremony and reception, here are a few beach wedding color combinations you might consider.

Mint Green and Coral

Vibrant • Fun •Perfect for a summer beach wedding

Pink and Burgundy


Formal • Romantic • Perfect for a fall beach wedding

Navy Blue and Blush Pink

Trendy • Elegant • Perfect for a spring or summer wedding

Champagne and Sage

Classic • Bohemian • Perfect for a spring beach wedding

Peony Pink and Indigo

Casual • Pastel • Perfect for a summer beach wedding

Lavender and Hunter Green

Vintage • Whimsical • Perfect for an outdoor spring wedding

Hunter Green and Blue

Rustic • Bohemian • Perfect for any outdoor beach wedding

The last combination, featuring hunter green and a soft aqua blue, are the colors I’ve chosen for my own wedding. They may not be the exact palette you think of when you imagine a beach wedding in the early summertime, but we want our wedding to have a rustic and outdoors-y feel that this color combo accomplishes. And, they’re just colors that we like.

Beach weddings don’t have to be limited to the classic bright blue-and-pink color scheme, unless that’s what you 100% want! Really, the backdrop of the white sand and sparkling blue ocean can make just about anything look good, especially when paired with the right decor, from pretty fresh flowers hanging off the aisle seats to fun starfish and shell accents. Just be sure they’re the colors you want to see on your bridesmaids and in your bouquets, and that the combination you choose doesn’t totally clash.

Pro tip: If you’re still working out colors in your head, use this color combinations tester to see how up to four of them will work together.

Top 5 reasons why Ocean City is awesome in the autumn {2018}

Kristin
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Hopefully you haven’t used all your vacation days, because there’s truly no better time to visit Ocean City than in the autumn. Now that the temperatures are finally dropping — literally, as of today it’s no longer feeling like summer around here! — It’s time to take a moment to appreciate all that Ocean City has to offer during this magical season. Just as we’ve done in years past, here are some of our favorite posts from the last week that remind us why OC is the best place to be all year round. 

1. The beach is all yours

What’s better than a private beach, where all you can see for miles and miles are shells and seagulls and maybe just one or two other couples lounging in their beach chairs? If you like taking pictures, watching the sunrise, taking peaceful strolls along the ocean, flipping through the pages of a book in the peace and quiet or just taking in all the beauty that the mid-Atlantic shoreline has to offer… There’s no better time to come enjoy it. 

 

2. Halloween is a week-long affair

Especially when Halloween happens to fall on a Wednesday. you can expect a week or longer of parties, costume contests and all kinds of fun for kids and adults alike. There’s even an event for pets to take part in.  If you’re lucky, you may even get to meet a haunted mermaid. 

 

3. It’s the perfect time to take a road trip and just explore

By the time Halloween is over, it’s already almost time for Winterfest of Lights… And even between those two holidays that are -big- for celebrating in Ocean City, you can always find something to do. And, you can always get there without sitting in traffic, so that’s a plus. Why not take the time to explore the nearby towns, or try that restaurant you’ve been meaning to go to? Hop in your car, head toward Ocean City and see where the journey takes you. Maybe you’ll end up at Winterfest when it opens on Nov. 15, or maybe you’ll end up somewhere totally new. 

 

4. You can fill your cup with autumn ales right in Sunset Park

Like we said two years ago… If you’re looking to dip your feet in the salt one last time, this is it. OCtoberfest in Ocean City ends with a *bang,* specifically with the annual Shore Craft Beer Fest in Sunset Park. This year, the fourth annual festival takes place on Oct. 27. It’s the best place to try all the seasonal beers that the local breweries have to offer, all while taking in gorgeous views of the Assawoman Bay and weaving in and out of vendors, food trucks and the dogs that are always present in their Halloween best (it’s a kid- and pet-friendly event). 

 

5. See a rocket launch, or take part in cool space-themed activities

It’s time for your yearly reminder that we have an entire flight facility, with rocket launches at all, just an hour or so away near Chincoteague Island. Not only are there super-cool rocket launches to see, but there’s also a full lineup of fall activities and programs this season at the NASA Wallops Island Visitor Center. 

 

Bonus: There’s always cool stuff happening nearby, too.

(Editor’s Note: I had to put a “bonus” reason because I’m always starting these lists and coming up with more numbers than I initially set out to write. Just know that I could always go on… and on and on…) 

Yes, Ocean City proper is awesome in the autumn, but if you get tired of Ocean City (how???), there’s fun fall happenings all over the peninsula. Just drive 50 minutes north to Rehoboth Beach, DE, for instance, and you’ll find a Sea Witch Festival with live music and family-friendly activities happening for the 29th annual year. 

 

Also, this may not appeal to you so much if you’re vacationing in Ocean City to get away from your home in Annapolis, but if you rarely make the venture to Maryland’s capital city, it’s worth the just-over-two-hour drive from OC. 

 

There are lots of other day trips you can make from Ocean City, but I’ll just leave you with our day trips page if that’s something you’re interested in. 

Hot sales market in Worcester County

Joanna Laslo
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Worcester County/Ocean City Real Estate Sales Market Going Strong

SOLD!
SOLD! 27 days on market.

The sales market has been very active this year.  Most notably, the months of August and September have been extremely busy with sales.

Single Family Home Sales

From January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2018, 645 single family homes were sold in Worcester County totaling $195,532,781!! 

The lowest price sold was $8,500 at 501 Bonneville Ave in Pocomoke City and the highest was $2,000,000 for 5 Pier Walk Mews in Ocean City with an average sold price of $303,151.

Condominium/Townhouse Sales

902 condominiums and/or townhouses were sold within the same first nine months of 2018 in Worcester County.

The lowest price sold was $1,800.00 at 11000 Blockade Lane, Berlin, Md 21811. The highest priced property that changed hands was a condominium in Gateway Grand at 2 48th Street unit 1706, Ocean City, Md for $1,425,000. 

Total condo/townhouse sales for the first nine months of 2018 was $290,705,923.00, with an average sales price of $322,290, bringing the total sales in Worcester County to $486,238,704.

Low Inventory

Currently there are only 1,121 active properties in all of Worcester County listed for sale. There are 407 single family homes, 99 of which are located in Ocean City. There are 523 condominium/townhouses for sale and 503 of them are also located in Ocean City. There were 1,106 fewer active listings in 2018 than in 2017.

Another indication of a strong sales market is the number of days on the market (DOM) for sold properties. Interesting that while some properties were on the market for up to 1,100 days in the past few years, this year the average days on the market was 64.23!

UNDER CONTRACT!!
UNDER CONTRACT! With only 12 DOM.

This trend is reflected in all counties in Maryland.  Many believe the wave of sales was generated, in part, by the possibility of rates hikes close on the horizon.

Whatever the reason may be, if you have been considering selling your property, this might be the right time to make your move. Please contact your local REALTOR for a free competitive market analysis for your land, home or condo.

Creature Feature: The Secret Life of the Atlantic Ghost Crab

Kristin
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In honor of the time of year, this month’s Creature Feature focuses on a tiny, seemingly harmless crustacean that was once described as an “occult, secretive alien from the ancient depths of the sea.” Perhaps it earned that description by burrowing deep in the sand above the shoreline, or for its semi-translucent and ghostly appearance. The fact that it’s described as “semiterrestrial” doesn’t help its alien-ness, but that only means it lives partly on land and partly in the water, like most amphibians do. 

But the Atlantic ghost crab is not an amphibian, nor is it an actual ghost, an alien or a card-carrying member of the occult. Rather, it’s a crab of the subfamily Ocypodinae, and it can be found along the shore of many beaches in the Chesapeake Bay region and some of the sandy, less-frequented bayside beaches of Ocean City. 

An Ocean City ghost crab comes out of its hole to look around. Photo by William Strang-Moya.

Appearance

In terms of Halloween anecdotes, he horned ghost crab is the devil to the Atlantic ghost crab’s ghost — though the horned subspecies is only found in the Indo-Pacific region, on the coast of East Africa to the Philippines and from Japan to the Great Barrier Reef.

The adult Atlantic ghost crab has a white and sand-colored body, which it can change to match its surroundings and protect itself from predators. The name ghost crab comes from its pale coloring and semitranslucent shell, in addition to its nocturnal habits. The ghost crab’s shell can reach a span of up to three inches, and males are typically larger than females. Its claws are white, and its eyestalks can rotate 360 degrees, Exorcist-style. Other species of ghost crab, like the horned ghost crab, are aptly named for the “horns” on their eyestalks. 

Habitat

Ghost crabs shelter in burrows up to four feet deep that they dig in the sand near the intertidal zone of sandy beaches, where they hibernate during the winter.

Ghost crabs are distributed in tropical and subtropical regions all over the world, though the Atlantic subspecies spans the coast from up north in Rhode Island, down south to Brazil. 

Diet and predators

The Latin name of their genus, Ocypode, means “swift-footed,” and at even the slightest hint of danger, the ghost crab will swiftly dart away from predators back into their burrow or into the sea, or otherwise flatten their bodies under the surface of the sand. Predators include shorebirds and raccoons, and Ocean City seagulls can often be found scavenging for the swift little crabs. 

Ghost crabs are omnivorous and prey on small animals like sea turtle eggs, hatchlings, and other crabs, in addition to scavenging for debris, carrion and vegetation. 

Going back inside. Photo by William Strang-Moya.

Conservation status

The conservation status of the Atlantic ghost crab is stable, although their populations are negatively affected by human activity on their beach habitats. Ghost crab burrows are considered ecological indicators for the impact of human disturbance on a particular beach. They’re not as likely to be seen on Ocean City’s heavily-trafficked oceanfront beaches as they are on emptier, bayside beaches, and our pictures were taken on the beach at Sunset Park. 

Help a ghost crab out: Humans can easily collapse crab burrows, so watch your step when you’re out looking for them. Keep from driving the ghost crabs from their natural habitat by being mindful of their shelters, and by picking up stray trash that can trap the small crustaceans (this is a nice thing to do for ghost crabs and any other living creature that uses the beach). Also, no, you can’t eat them. Stick to blue crabs for sustenance.

To end our pseudo-Halloween edition of the Creature Feature, here’s a cute video of an Atlantic ghost crab throwing sand to dig out its burrow. 👻🦀

Worcester County Recreation & Parks Teams Up With Toys for Tots

OceanCity.com
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Worcester County Recreation & Parks is teaming up with Toys for Tots again this holiday season and will serve as a public donation drop-off location. All are invited to participate by dropping off a new, unwrapped toy now through December 10 in the Worcester County Recreation Center (WCRC) lobby in Snow Hill.

“Last year our drive helped collect about 100 toys,” Program Manager Brianna Goddard said. “It is wonderful knowing that these donations go to young children in our community.”

Donate a toy and make a big impact on a child’s holiday this year. Toys can be dropped off during regular business hours. Operating hours are available atwww.worcesterrecandparks.org.

For more information on the Toys for Tots drive, call the WCRC at 410-632-2144 or email at recandparks@co.worcester.md.us.

This Week in OC: Beards, Boxing and Berlin’s Octoberfest

Kristin
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We took a brief hiatus from This Week in OC, but now we’re back and better than ever with This Week in OC: Off-Season Edition! Because even when summer’s over, there’s still things to do in Ocean City at any time of the year. 

 

Even though it still feels like summer in Ocean City. See the Facebook live below… People were wearing shorts, tank tops and even bathing suits as they bicycled the Boardwalk and strolled on the beach on Monday morning. Temperatures will stay in the upper 70s/low 80s until it cools off on Friday with temps in the 60s and weather that finally feels like fall (knock on wood). 

 

An important notice: Keeping your feet in the sand until the lifeguard’s in the stand is actually really good advice this time of year. The season is over for the Ocean City Beach Patrol, though their skeleton crew still manning the beach via ATVs along with Ocean City emergency services, and they made dozens of emergency rescues over the weekend, according to The Dispatch. Two people drowned in separate incidents at Assateague on Sunday. 

Last Week’s News

Endless Summer Cruisin’ came back to Ocean City last weekend for its 21st season, and with the annual car show came increased traffic violations. 

Increased Traffic Violations For Ocean City Hot Rods

OCEAN CITY, Md.- Hot rods and classic cars are gathering in Worcester County this weekend for Ocean City’s Endless Summer Crusin’ event. But with fast cars coming to the area, comes increased police presence as well. With the event in town, police have cracked down on traffic violations, including revving your engine at stoplights.

Goodbye, Planet Maze! The aliens at the 34th street mini golf course/laser tag business will return to their home planet to make room for a Hilton Tru hotel. 

10/04/2018 | New Hotel Approved For Planet Maze Site In Ocean City | News Ocean City MD

OCEAN CITY – Resort planners this week approved the site plan for a new five-story, 105-room brand hotel, but not before concerns from the neighbors about potential drainage issues were allayed. The Ocean City Planning Commission had before them on Tuesday a site plan review for a new Hilton Tru hotel along Coastal Highway between 33 rd Street and Hitchens Avenue.

If you’ve ever wanted to see yourself in a movie, or even just see a movie being filmed, you might get the chance next fall.

Independent thriller “To Avenge” to be shot in Ocean City next fall: Update

While director Nick Belial and his cast and crew for upcoming crime/thriller ‘To Avenge’ won’t be making it to Ocean City to shoot the movie this fall, they will be in town within a year to begin production on the feature-length film.

#ThisWeekinOC

Baddest Son O Beach – Baltimore Boxing (Oct. 12): Baltimore Boxing presents: “The Baddest Son-O-The-Beach Fight Fest.” Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the first fight starting at 8:00 p.m.

Historic House Tour (Oct. 13): Ocean City Museum Society will offer a Historic House Tour on Saturday, October 13th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Discover local history as you visit some of Ocean City’s oldest homes, hotels and other iconic sites. This is a fundraiser for the George and Suzanne Hurley Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is open to Stephen Decatur High School graduates who plan on furthering their education at Salisbury University, Wor-Wic Community College, or UMES. Tickets are $25 for members of the Museum and $30 for future members.

Berlin Octoberfest and 150th Anniversary (Oct. 13): Help Berlin celebrate their 150th Anniversary, along with their annual Octoberfest Celebrations. There will be music, food and craft vendors, the annual Fall sidewalk sale, a Beer garden, games and activities for the children and a Cornhole tournament.

Beards at the Beach (Oct. 13 – 14): The Maryland/Delaware Bearded Coalition is comprised of beard clubs from around the region. We are working together to bring a large-scale beard competition to Ocean City, Maryland with all the proceeds going to charities selected by each member club. You can go to Eventbrite and register. The clubs currently involved in the planning include Bearded Men’s Society Of Ocean City, Charm City Beard and Mustache Society, and the Maryland/ Delaware chapter of Mad Viking Beard and Mustache Club.

Free State Corvette Weekend (Oct. 13 – 14): This is the annual event for Corvette fans, with over 1200 Corvette enthusiasts attending for the road rallies, car shows, parades and other related activities which raise money for charity.

Fall Restaurant Week (Oct. 14 – 28): Many of the great Ocean City restaurants will create special, fixed-price menus for Fall Restaurant Week and there is no need for coupons, passes, tickets, or coupons to participate – you simply choose a participating restaurant and have a wonderfully dining experience at a fixed price.

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