The Courier of Ocean Pines

03/31/2025

OCEAN PINES ASSOCIATION

For Immediate Release
March 31, 2025

Ocean Pines Board vows to fight unfair county debt repayment plan

Ocean Pines Board members on Saturday pledged to oppose a proposed Worcester County plan that would require all 18,000 ratepayers across 11 service areas to repay millions in water and wastewater debt – despite Ocean Pines contributing only a small fraction of the deficit.

Worcester County Commissioner Chip Bertino, who represents Ocean Pines, said community homeowners should not be held accountable for mistakes they didn’t make. The proposal could raise quarterly bills by $32 per ratepayer.

OPA Vice President Rick Farr criticized the lack of accountability for the county errors that led to more than $9 million in debt.

“Nobody was fired or terminated for this huge accounting error that Commissioner Bertino has pointed out – and yet we may be responsible for paying it back,” Farr said.

Director Jeff Heavner thanked Commissioners Bertino and Jim Bunting for their unwavering support and said the OPA Board has a duty to protect homeowners. He also invoked a familiar pop-culture reference from the X-Files.

“The truth is out there,” he said. “It seems that a majority of the other Commissioners have been less than truthful on this subject … [and] nobody’s been held accountable for this mismanagement.”

Heavner said Bertino introduced a motion to inform county ratepayers of the situation, but the motion was defeated. He added that the proposal may violate county code.

“This is contrary to county code and seems to be against the law,” Heavner said. “The County Commissioners have an opportunity to be more truthful.

“I find it ironic that a majority … have a real disdain for Ocean Pines – yet they love our wallets and pocketbooks, not only to pay for a county screw-up, but to visit their retail businesses,” he continued.

Heavner then posed a pointed question.

“Do you want to shoulder the millions in shortfalls and debts from other service areas, which we would be paying, like Chip said, 56% for? You don’t have to answer. I’ll answer for you: Hell no,” Heavner said.

‘We need your support’

Director Elaine Brady urged homeowners to stay focused on the bigger picture.

“Don’t get into the weeds. What we need is your support,” she said. “Send emails to the Commissioners. We’ve got to fight this thing.

“We are not going to put up with it. The numbers really don’t matter. It’s the unfairness of this, and it has happened over and over again,” Brady added.

She said it’s unfortunate that the other five County Commissioners could still strongarm Ocean Pines ratepayers with a simple majority vote.

“We have to let them know that that’s not okay. They have to do what’s fair to all of us in this county – not just to their ratepayers,” she said.

Brady said OPA would continue working to spread awareness and protect homeowners. She added that Board members are already taking steps behind the scenes in case the other County Commissioners do not change course.

“We’re gonna fight back and fight back hard,” she said.

Concerns about precedent

Director John Latham echoed concerns about setting a dangerous precedent.

“The whole thing is problematic,” he said. “And what I see is that any decision made here in the near future becomes a precedent going forward.”

Latham added that the Board is committed to doing everything possible to support the community.

OPA President Stuart Lakernick agreed, warning that any new financial obligation is unlikely to disappear.

Bertino agreed, adding, “When it comes to money and government, government doesn’t let go.”

Bertino and Bunting continue to fight

Bertino closed by noting that he and Bunting have represented the community for more than a decade and remain committed to protecting its best interests.

“This is an issue where we need your help. So, will you help us?” he said.

Bertino and Bunting will host a town hall on Wednesday, April 23, at 6 p.m. at the Ocean Pines Library. A public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, at 6 p.m. in Snow Hill.

Homeowners are encouraged to contact County Commissioners and local media to voice opposition.

Emails and letters expressing opposition can be sent to:
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]

For more information, visit www.oceanpines.org.

03/23/2025

OPA food and beverage facilities temporarily closed during transition period

The Ocean Pines Association has announced that all food and beverage facilities will be temporarily closed as part of the transition to management by the Touch of Italy Group.

The Clubhouse Grille at the Ocean Pines Golf Club and the Yacht Club will remain closed for at least one week while the Touch of Italy team completes a deep cleaning, brings in any necessary new equipment, and staffs and trains the new team. The Beach Club, located oceanfront in Ocean City, is scheduled to reopen for the season on Memorial Day Weekend.

Reopening dates and new operating hours for the Clubhouse Grille and the Yacht Club will be announced on oceanpines.org once finalized.

Ocean Pines Association and the Touch of Italy Group appreciate the community’s patience and support during this transition period and look forward to providing an enhanced dining experience when the facilities reopen.

For more information, contact [email protected].

03/23/2025

Spaces still available for spring flea market

The Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department is reminding local vendors that space is still available for the upcoming Spring Indoor/Outdoor Flea Market, set for Saturday, April 5, from 8 a.m. to noon at the White Horse Park and Community Center.

Vendor spaces are available for $25 each and include one 8-foot table and two chairs. Both indoor and outdoor options are available, and spaces are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Vendors are encouraged to stop by and choose their preferred location while space remains.

The Spring Flea Market is a great opportunity for vendors to sell gently used clothing, household items, collectibles, and more. The event is free to shoppers and will be held rain or shine.

To register for a space or for more information, call the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department at 410-641-7052.

03/13/2025

Restaurant job fair set for March 20

The Ocean Pines Yacht Club and Clubhouse Grille are gearing up for the busy season and seeking energetic, customer-focused team members to join their staff.

A job fair will be held on Thursday, March 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Yacht Club, at 1 Mumfords Landing Road in Ocean Pines. Applicants are encouraged to bring a resume and be prepared for on-the-spot interviews.

A variety of full-time and seasonal positions are available, including:
-Servers and bartenders
-Hosts and food runners
-Line cooks and prep cooks
-Dishwashers
-Barbacks
-And more

With opportunities at both the waterfront Yacht Club and the scenic Clubhouse Grille at Ocean Pines Golf Club, this is an excellent chance to launch or grow a career in the hospitality industry.
For more information or to apply in advance, email [email protected].

03/08/2025

Touch of Italy to take over Ocean Pines food and beverage operations starting March 17

Ocean Pines General Manager John Viola is pleased to announce, effective March 17, 2025, Touch of Italy will be taking over management of the food and beverage facilities in Ocean Pines.

The Matt Ortt Companies was approached about the possibility of transitioning earlier than the current contract end date of April 30, 2025. An agreement with the best interest of all parties was reached. During the next several days, Matt Ortt Companies will be collaborating with Touch of Italy on transition of the management of all facilities.

“I would like to thank the Association, including the General Manager and management team, Board of Directors, and especially the residents who have supported us over the last seven years,” Matt Ortt said.

“Thank you to Matt Ortt for his service to Ocean Pines and his coordination during this process. We wish his company the best in their future endeavors,” Viola said.

Touch of Italy commented as well, commending Matt Ortt for “this generous and gracious gesture of mutual respect to help Ocean Pines and Touch of Italy to have extra time to prepare for a successful launch of operations.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to serve the Ocean Pines community and continue offering great dining experiences,” Touch of Italy officials said.

02/24/2025

WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT IN SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH

Newark, MD, February 19, 2025–The search for a new Worcester County Superintendent of Schools was officially launched by the Board of Education at its February 11, 2025, meeting. The Board of Education contracted with the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE), which will manage the process and conduct the search for qualified candidates.

In January, Superintendent Lou Taylor announced his intent to retire from the position at the conclusion of the current school year.

An integral part of MABE’s process is to seek public input on the leadership characteristics needed for qualified candidates. Input will assist MABE in developing a leadership profile, helping the organization match potential candidates with the leadership expectations of school system staff and Worcester County community members.

To that end, the Board of Education has launched online exchanges, which allow everyone to have a chance to share their perspectives and understand what’s most important to the Worcester County community.

To participate, any member of the community can go to https://tinyurl.com/WCPSSupt now through February 28, 2025.

The search for a new Worcester County Superintendent of Schools was officially launched at the Board of Education’s February 11, 2025, meeting. The Board of Education contracted with the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE), which will manage the process and conduct the search for qu...

02/24/2025

Kiwanis scholarship applications sought

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City plans to award $18,500 in total college scholarship monies to 2025 graduates of Worcester County public schools. Applications are now being accepted and are due back to Kiwanis no later than Friday, April 11. For more information and an application, see www.kiwanisofopoc.org/scholarships .

Kiwanis -- ordinary people doing extraordinary things! Kids Need Kiwanis! Kiwanis Needs YOU!

02/20/2025

Regular Board meeting, Feb. 22

Meeting materials for the Feb. 22 regular OPA Board meeting are now available online.

The meeting will be held as a hybrid of in-person and virtual, with seating available in the Clubhouse Meeting Room on 100 Clubhouse Drive. The meeting is scheduled to start at 9 a.m.

Attendees are no longer required to show ID cards to attend Board meetings. However, those who make public comments must provide their name and address.

Prior to the meeting, Board members will host a meet-and-greet with coffee and donuts, starting at 8:30 a.m.

To join the meeting remotely, use the Microsoft Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZTkxODA3NTYtNWZhMC00ZDViLTk5YWQtYjYzYjBkYTU1OWY2%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22625a6322-2b2f-40fa-94f8-d7dd44d78153%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%225fa869f5-01ad-476a-9570-540fe1ce4736%22%7d.

The link can also be found on the Ocean Pines website, under both the calendar and news sections.

If prompted, use the web browser plug-in only and not the full client.

To view the agenda and meeting packet, visit https://www.oceanpines.org/documents/20124/6309996/2-22-25+Board+Meeting.pdf/2b92093e-c293-0171-9b2f-c203f0f36107?t=1739999490787.

Following the meeting, the video will be posted to the Association YouTube channel and links will be announced on the Ocean Pines website, www.oceanpines.org.

02/13/2025

Temporary Restriction on Shellfish Harvesting in Manklin Creek Through March 1

Snow Hill, Maryland - On February 7, 2025 Worcester County Public Works crews identified and repaired a 10-inch sewer main break near the corner of Ocean Parkway and Cathell Road in Ocean Pines. The break caused approximately 1,200 gallons of sewage to leak into an adjacent marsh, which drains into Manklin Creek.

"The county immediately notified the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), which issued a public notice temporarily restricting shellfish harvesting in Manklin Creek," Public Works Director Dallas Baker said.

There are no oyster bed leases in Manklin Creek. Those who may have oyster floats or cages in Manklin Creek are strongly cautioned not to consume any shellfish from that body of water for the next 21 days.

"Closure restrictions are based on providing 14 days to dilute out any bacteria and 21 days to strain out potential viruses, such as Norovirus," Environmental Programs Director Bob Mitchell said.

MDE issued an emergency closure on February 8. The closure will remain in effect until March 1.

02/11/2025

Atlantic General Hospital Weather Announcements and Closings

(BERLIN, Md. – January 5, 2025) Atlantic General Hospital will implement our Inclement Weather Policy effective 2:00 pm today, Tuesday, February 11.

· Atlantic General Hospital and emergency department will remain open.

· Outpatient imaging, elective surgical procedures and AGHRx RediScripts at Atlantic General Hospital will remain open and as scheduled. (Staff will contact patients to confirm appointments)

· The Atlantic General Hospital Endoscopy Center will remain open for scheduled procedures. (Staff will contact patients to confirm appointments)

Atlantic General Hospital announces the following early closings for today, February 11, 2025:

· All Atlantic General Health System Primary Care and Specialty Care offices will close at 2:00 p.m. today. (Staff will contact patients to reschedule appointments or procedures)

· The John H. 'Jack' Burbage, Jr. Regional Cancer Care Center will close at 2:00 p.m. today. (Staff will contact patients to reschedule appointments or procedures)

· The Atlantic General Hospital Wound Care Center will close at 2:00 p.m. (Staff will contact patients to reschedule appointments or procedures)

· All walk-in and scheduled services including lab, imaging and AGHRx RediScripts at the Gudelsky Family Medical Center will close at 2:00 p.m. today. (Staff will contact patients to reschedule appointments or procedures)

· Atlantic ImmediCare at the Townsend Medical Center will close at 2:00 p.m. today.(Please visit your nearest emergency department)

All Atlantic General Hospital and Atlantic General Health System services will resume normal operations on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

Notice to AGH Associates:

If you are scheduled to work the night shift this evening, February 11, 2025, continue to closely monitor the impending storm and make safe preparations to report for your shifts. If you need assistance to report, please contact your immediate supervisor.

Please familiarize yourself with our Inclement Weather Policy and be sure to make arrangements as necessary. Please be safe, and use caution when driving and walking. We will continue to provide you with updates using Blackboard Connect, eLerts and on our associate intranet.

For updates, please visit www.agh.care.

02/08/2025

PINES RATEPAYERS SAVE

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has exempted residents in the Ocean Pines Sanitary Service Area (SSA) from paying the $5 monthly charge to the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund (BRF) for the upcoming year. This exemption will result in an annual savings of $60 per household in the Ocean Pines SSA.

“This exemption is due to the exemplary work done by our staff,” Public Works Director Dallas Baker said. “It’s the Public Works professionals maintaining meticulous reporting methods coupled with the knowledge and experience of our Water and Wastewater operators overseeing the Ocean Pines Wastewater Treatment Plant that make this exemption a reality year after year for those residing in the Ocean Pines SSA.”

Commonly referred to as the Flush Fee, the BRF is a dedicated fund financed by residents and businesses served by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) throughout the State of Maryland. BRF funds are used to upgrade publicly owned WWTPs throughout Maryland, with enhanced nutrient removal (ENR) technology to reduce nutrient discharges to the state’s waterways.

The Ocean Pines WWTP is equipped with ENR technology that meets the criteria for the fee exemption, which requires a maximum effluent concentration of 3 milligrams per liter (mg/l) of total nitrogen and 0.3 mg/l total phosphorous.

“The Ocean Pines WWTP sets the standard throughout the state for environmental stewardship,” Baker said. “For 2024 the Ocean Pines WWTP maintained a yearly flow at 299.5MM gallons, with an average concentration of 2.4 parts per million (PPM) total nitrogen and 0.2 PPM.”

BRF exemptions are valid for one year and must be renewed annually, and WCPW professionals maintain meticulous reporting standards to secure the exemptions annually for those residing in the Ocean Pines SSA.

02/08/2025

County office to close

Worcester County Government offices, including all five Branch Libraries and Recreation & Parks, will be closed Monday, February 17 in observance of Presidents Day. Normal business hours will resume Tuesday, February 18. The Central Landfill and Homeowner Convenience Centers will be open during standard hours of operation.

02/06/2025

CELEBRATING PIZZA
By Elaine Bean

Thin and crispy or thick and chewy. Supreme or simple. Meat lovers or veggie. No matter how you like your pizza, there’s a day to celebrate one of America's all-time favorite foods on February 9, National Pizza Day.

This year, National Pizza Day coincides with Super Bowl Sunday, when pizza consumption is traditionally as big as the game. Americans consume on average 23 pounds of pizza per person per year and more than 3 billion pizzas are sold in the U.S. each year. That average goes up for Super Bowl. The American Pizza Community, a real organization, reports about 12.5 million pizzas are ordered, baked, and delivered to football fanatics on Super Bowl Sunday.

How and why National Pizza Day actually got started isn’t known, but it probably began as a grassroots celebration among pizza lovers. Pizza itself has a rich history, with roots tracing back to ancient civilizations like the Greeks and Romans, who enjoyed flatbreads with various toppings. Today, 17% of all restaurants in the U.S. are pizzerias.

Locally, pizza enthusiasts have a variety of pizzerias to whet their appetites. Pizzas can’t get any more Italian than Serpone’s Pizzeria in Ocean Pines, owned and operated by Francesco Serpico, a native of Naples, Italy who came to America in 2006.

“In Napoli we're all about the food,” Serpico said. “We're about the quality of our food. Fresh, high-quality ingredients. Most of all, it's about the gathering. So, I feel like pizza can always bring a group of people together to have a good time.”

Serpone’s pizza is unique in the area because of the special crust and sauce, according to the pizza maker. “I always feel like a mad scientist first thing in the morning when I get a batch of dough rolling,” Serpico said. “We use the best cheese blend on the market so that also makes a difference. I use a couple different kinds of unbleached flours and oils for my dough. Salt and yeast. Very simple. Nothing too doctored up. I don't use my dough any time before 48 hours of fermentation for a more chewy, airy, crispy, and easy-to-digest experience.

“I can guarantee nobody in the area uses the same blend of tomatoes we do for our sauce,” Serpico continued. “We use a San Marzano tomato imported from Napoli that has a very distinct flavor being that it's only grown close to Mt. Vesuvius. That's why I always like to say that our pizza is a New York Style yet with a Neapolitan twist.”

Mione’s Pizza, a presence in the West Ocean City Outlets for 27 years, also has its roots in Italy. Tony Mione brought his favorite dishes with him from Sicily, which he served to loyal customers until he retired and Jerry Milite took over the business.

“We all grew up in the same neighborhood in Pennsylvania, and we all moved down here 27 years ago,” Milite said. “The Miones asked me to work for them, and slowly I partnered with them, and then bought out the rest when they retired.” (The Mione family continues to operate the pizzeria on 67th St in Ocean City.)

Mione’s serves the same pizza recipes Tony Mione brought over from Sicily. They shred their own cheese, make their own sauce, and every morning make their own dough. But the pizzeria has continued to innovate, and now serves several unique pizzas including a salad pizza, a Buffalo wing pizza, and a shrimp Marguerita pizza.

“We saute´ the shrimp, add some oil and vinegar, put on some tomatoes and light sauce and garlic and cheese,” Milite said. “And we squeeze a lime over it. That’s the Marguerita part.”

For Super Bowl Sunday, the pizzeria is doing a large pizza and wing deal, but they’ll be closing at 7 p.m. so the staff can watch the game. Milite is a big Philadelphia Eagles fan.
Pop’s Kitchen in downtown Berlin was a concept inspired by Robert and Kelli Beck in 2013 after years of success at their first restaurant location, DeNovo's Trattoria in Ocean Pines, to take their most popular items and develop a quick-serve restaurant. Pop’s website states they are a "quick serve, eat in, carry out, delivery hot spot … where we have the Power of Pizza.”

Pop’s makes their pizza dough and sauces fresh daily on premise, along with soups. While the traditional cheese-and-pepperoni pizza is the bestseller, Pop’s offers a large variety of specialty pizzas. “The most popular is the Philly Cheese Steak Pizza that has steak, green peppers, fried onions, American and provolone cheeses, and sauce. It is delish!” Kelli Beck said.

02/06/2025

OPA holds budget town hall

Video for the Feb. 5 town hall meeting on the Ocean Pines Association’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 is now online.

The meeting was held in the Clubhouse Meeting Room and virtually using Microsoft Teams. To view the video, visit https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8.

During the meeting, General Manager John Viola and Association staff reviewed the proposed budget and fielded comments from the public.

Video links for specific agenda items are as follows:

General Manager’s Budget Presentation https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=of1bLvWMJOBsPyqE&t=155

Marketing Plan https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=AcNkjx20qGx-rAw8&t=545

Strategic Plan https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=-xPzZKsMo54rjXzH&t=635

Capital Summary https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=CbqDK5mFHRw-wryu&t=677

Pricing Study https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=C1y8BxgL36YTHRnO&t=835

Racquet Sports https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=5XB_VxkCJb7IDg5J&t=892

Golf https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=kv6GCcqq7K5_2S7b&t=1977

Aquatics and Beach Parking https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=n6qIknOLSmRdOkQ8&t=2207

Bulkheads https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=8IqzuSspasfirJbB&t=2563

Recreation and Parks https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=PyeKalZ0p13Cyg-h&t=2636

Finance & IT https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=ml3Iw7-N8O_xAaBY&t=2920

Public Works https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=iygvv5BBuvH0pcb6&t=3158

Public Relations and Marketing https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=eDowLTgLsI2hxAFx&t=3340

Police https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=qVr4JEgznFFRbOa8&t=3424

Fire & EMS https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=nRWBk2wbxyYqgqYe&t=3618

Public Comments https://youtu.be/NIUC0FVS2K8?si=t040qF__G8p5fV3c&t=3840

Visit oceanpines.org. For questions, email [email protected].

02/03/2025

It’s All About…
GOOD CAR-MA

By Chip Bertino

With the recent snow and resultant salted roads, my blue pick-up truck was anything but blue as kicked-up road salt encased the entire vehicle. It looked as if it had ventured through an arctic maelstrom. A trip to the car wash was necessary.

Since the time of my youth, which is cascading further and further into the past, a trip to the car wash has always been an enjoyable excursion. I like watching my car or truck glide through each cleaning station at Berlin Car Wash where I’ve gone for years when I don’t have the time or the desire to wash my vehicle by hand in the driveway. During this time of year, the auto wash is the only option.

The car wash kindles memories of when I accompanied my grandfather when he took, on those rare occasions, his car to the wash. We stayed in the car watching the process from the inside. Experiencing from inside foamy car soap envelop us was like being on an amusement ride at Hunt’s Pier. We’d ride through the large twirling brushes on either side of us. The rinse cycle followed. Then we watched water droplets scurry off the hood and windshield driven off by blow driers blasting hurricane force heat streams.

When we exited the tunnel, inevitably my grandfather pulled off to the side apron, got out and walked around the car to inspect for possible damage. None occurred, at least the times I was with him. Then again, how would he know? The twelve-year-old ’65 Plymouth Barracuda by that time was in pretty rough shape.

Summer is optimum car washing season. It’s the time when taking an afternoon to wash and wax my car is therapeutic, even meditative, for me. It’s my version of yoga. There’s a process I follow starting with vacuuming the inside, getting into the nooks and crannies as best as possible with the crevice tool attachment. Then I pull and scrub the floor mats leaving them to dry in the sun.

After washing and drying the car but before waxing, I like to lower the windows and turn on the Willie Nelson Pandora station so I can listen to some “Willie country” during “wax on, wax off” time. The process takes about two hours which may seem like a lot of time yet the end result is so worth it. There’s a tremendous satisfaction gained when my car’s paint gleams in the sunlight and is silky to the touch. Oh, what a feeling.

The year was 1983 when I got my first car, a four-door 1977 Plymouth Volare, white with a gold vinyl top. It was a high school gift from my grandparents. A quick side note. My grandmother gave me the choice of the car or a trip to France. What young man would turn down a car? Looking back though, I’ve had many cars. I’ve never been to France.

During my first summer with that car, I washed and waxed it so many times someone advised me to be careful not to remove the paint. Ah, first love.

Many of the cars that came after didn’t receive the same level of devoted attention. Admittedly, during the years our children were growing up, whether the car was washed depended on a steady rainfall. Now that the kids are on their own, my attention often returns to how my car looks. Oddly, my driving experience improves when my car is clean inside and out. I feel better when my car looks better.

I end with this corny quote I once read, “a car wash is the foundation of good car-ma.”

© CMN Communications, Inc. 2025 All Rights Reserved

02/03/2025

Budget Public Hearing, Feb. 5

Meeting materials for the Feb. 5 Budget Public Hearing are now available online.

The meeting will be held as a hybrid of in-person and virtual, with seating available in the Clubhouse Meeting Room on 100 Clubhouse Drive. The meeting is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.

To join the meeting remotely, use the Microsoft Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZGUxMDFhODMtNzQzNS00N2M0LWJiMWYtYjE5ODU0ZTQ4ZGJj%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22625a6322-2b2f-40fa-94f8-d7dd44d78153%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%225fa869f5-01ad-476a-9570-540fe1ce4736%22%7d.

The link can also be found on the Ocean Pines website, under both the calendar and news sections.

If prompted, use the web browser plug-in only and not the full client.

To view the proposed budget, visit https://www.oceanpines.org/documents/20124/6309996/FY26+Budget+Binder+Version+6+-+1-28-25.pdf/788d2be9-7e8b-aed6-c2a9-88055d60d975?t=1738095544363.

To view the agenda, visit https://www.oceanpines.org/documents/20124/70275/2-5-25+Budget+Hearing+Agenda.pdf/3bfa7e23-0ee9-e04a-a2c8-00bd9a5eabb2?t=1738590576607.

Following the meeting, the video will be posted to the Association YouTube channel and links will be announced on the Ocean Pines website, www.oceanpines.org.

01/30/2025

OPA addresses resident concerns about dead wildfowl near South Gate Pond

State officials have collected several deceased wildfowl in Ocean Pines, which are scheduled to be tested for avian influenza (bird flu).

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed that USDA-APHIS personnel collected the deceased birds near South Gate Pond on Tuesday and Wednesday. The collected birds included:

-Eight domestic geese

-Four Canada geese

-One cormorant

-Two common mergansers

-One gull

-One grackle

-Two black vultures

While the birds have not yet been tested, the DNR emphasized that the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus, commonly known as bird flu, is endemic in wild bird populations.

Residents have been assured that outdoor activities remain safe, but DNR officials encouraged some precautions.

“Anyone who encounters sick or dead birds in the wild should avoid handling or moving them and instead report the findings to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service by calling 1-877-463-6497,” a DNR spokesperson said.

USDA Wildlife Services operators are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state holidays. Individuals calling from outside Maryland should dial 410-349-8055. Voicemails will be returned promptly.

For additional information, visit the DNR website: https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2025/01/17/marylander-hunters-and-birders-should-be-vigilant-against-avian-influenza/.

For more information, contact Ocean Pines Association Director of Public Relations and Marketing Josh Davis at 443-366-1844 or [email protected].