"The Chesapeake's Death by a Thousand Cuts"
This Maryland Public Television-produced documentary special explores
how shoreline construction is contributing to the bay's demise. MPT
examines how failure to enforce one of the state's most important
environmental laws (The Critical Area Law) is a significant factor in
the decline of the Chesapeake Bay's health. The program will be aired
at 9PM on MPT on Wednesday, February 27th.

This death by a thousand cuts is happening to the Assawoman Bay and everyday we watch it happen. Look around you and see all the new building right in Montego Bay with runoff going into the bay killing the grasses that was once habitat for aquatic life. We have a responsibility to this beautiful treasure we should be doing everything possible to protect the waters before it's too late.
The photo is Montego Bay 1972

Planning Ahead

As soon as the ground gets warm enough to plant we will be casting wildflower seeds to not only delight you, but to attract hummingbirds. You can help by reading the following website and help build a habitat for these small creatures in your yard. You may need to cut and paste the website.
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek080122.html

A message from our Council Woman Mary K. Knight

Ocean City Volunteer Fire

A lot has been reported in the local papers concerning the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Department. In fact you may have a flier on your front porch addressing the situation. I assure you that no one's safety is in jeopardy! The Town of Ocean City and the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Department are trying to work towards the common goal of a paid Chief in charge of both entities.
The Mayor and City Council have never stated that we do not want or need the volunteers. We have been working well with the volunteers with a Memorandum of Understanding for the last 9 months. We were hoping that this could stay in place while the search for the paid chief occurs.
At this time we have 75 paid employees (this number includes full and part time employees). The City is staffed appropriately to cover emergencies and the volunteers are still responding to calls.
The Mayor and City Council are working very hard to resolve these issues.
Sincerely,
Mary Knight

Information About The Bulkhead On South Ocean Drive

The public meeting concerning South Ocean Drive bulkhead and walkways will be on March 3rd starting at 6PM. Here is the address just in case.
301 Baltimore Avenue
Ocean City, Maryland 21842
410-289-8221

Here's an additional piece of information for you to consider:
Studies comparing rock and bulkheads indicate that rock is better for creatures than bulkheads. However, rock is not as good as natural marsh along the shoreline, marsh should be encouraged if possible. Marsh changes though, marshes can grow or recede and if you have a house or road and the marsh recedes, you have trouble, thats why people put rocks along the shoreline, to prevent their structures from falling into the water. Given a place like South Ocean Dr which gets a great deal of wave action, some sort of strong structure is needed to withstand the waves. It was thought, the rock would be more beneficial than the bulkhead. The rocks acan be places in such a way that the small beach will remain.

DON'T JUST SIT THERE!
You read the Sand Dollar editorial now get busy and let your legislators know how you feel. Remember that there are only 7 thousand full time residents that means that the rest of the tax- payers are disenfranchised. Some patriot said, "Taxation without representation is tyranny”. It makes no difference in which jurisdiction you live, your legislator will vote on this issue. Call or write and tell them how you feel.
For us Locals, please contact these legislators.


JAMES N. MATHIAS, JR. - Delegate
Democrat, District 38B, Wicomico & Worcester Counties
House Office Building, Room 307
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3431, (301) 858-3431
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3431 (toll free)
e-mail: james.mathias@house.state.md.us
fax: (410) 841-3414, (301) 858-3414
11941 Industrial Park Road, Unit 8
Bishopville, MD 21813
(410) 352-3096; fax: (410) 352-3087

NORMAN H. CONWAY - Delegate
Democrat, District 38B, Wicomico & Worcester Counties
House Office Building, Room 121
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3407, (301) 858-3407
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3407 (toll free)
e-mail: norman.conway@house.state.md.us
fax: (410) 841-3850, (301) 858-3850
1312 Whittier Drive, Salisbury, MD 21801 - 3241
(410) 543-9060


J. LOWELL STOLTZFUS - Senator
Republican, District 38, Somerset, Wicomico & Worcester Counties
James Senate Office Building, Room 323
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3645, (301) 858-3645
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3645 (toll free)
e-mail: lowell.stoltzfus@senate.state.md.us
fax: (410) 841-3569, (301) 858-3569
31358 Rehobeth Road, Westover, MD 21871
(410) 742-3999; fax: (410) 957-6556

Sand Dollars … an editorial from the Baltimore Sun paper 2/3/08

When it comes to property taxes, Ocean City property owners must feel like they've been taken to the cleaners. A recent study confirms they're correct.
The problem is familiar: Ocean City residents get taxed by Worcester County but get a lot of their services from the municipal government, which taxes them too. The county provides no police, fire marshal or many other services that the town provides. Altogether, property taxes would have to take a 22-cent swing (6 cents less in the city and 16 cents more in the rest of the county) to generate the $13 million difference, according to the town's consultant.
In other towns, voters could take out their frustrations at the polls. But while Ocean City has hundreds of thousands of taxpayers, it has only about 7,000 full-time residents in a county of nearly 50,000. Will the majority of county residents raise their taxes voluntarily for the sake of fairness?
They will if they're smart. Ocean City is Worcester's golden goose, and protecting the town's economic interests ought to be a top priority. Just one high-rise building generates more in taxes than the entire town of Snow Hill, the county's seat. Passing a tax differential would demonstrate to Ocean City property owners that the county cares about their welfare, too.