Bad Valve Gets 18-Hour Repair
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FEBRUARY 6, 2020 BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES FREE OPVFD must scramble for new recruits Scarcity of volunteers becomes greater issue By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Feb. 6, 2020) The Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Depart- ment, which was established on a shoestring budget nearly a half century ago, now faces mounting challenges to recruit and retain members. President Dave Van Gasbeck said area demographics have traditionally added a layer of difficulty to recruit volunteers. “We have a relatively older volunteer group,” he said. “The demographics in this commu- nity are 37 percent of the people … are over 65 [and] probably about 50 percent are part- timers. “Most of the people we’ve been getting over the last couple PHOTO COURTESY THOM GULYAS of years have been retired out of Crews work well into the early hours of Sunday morning, Feb. 2, to replace an aging water valve that failed on the intersection of Broad and West Baltimore … and other loca- streets in Berlin. tions,” he said. “They were ca- reer or volunteer somewhere See OP Page 10 Bad valve gets 18-hour repair job Water main problem proves late ’50s early ’60s,” Berlin Town Ad- was shut off temporarily in order to It’s all skate on ministrator Jeff Fleetwood said. complete the task. to be one major leak govt. The failed valve was one of four lo- “The entire time [the crew was] second floor at can fix with a little digging cated in the four-way intersection on working, people were not without Broad and West Streets. One valve water,” Fleetwood said. “They worked Berlin Fire Co. By Morgan Pilz was replaced years ago, Fleetwood around the leak for quite some time and Staff Writer said, and another two (including the when they got to the point where they By Morgan Pilz (Feb. 6, 2020) Employees of the one that failed) were replaced Satur- needed to shut water down, they did.” Staff Writer Berlin Water Resources Department day evening. The water department continued (Feb. 6, 2020) The Berlin Fire spent approximately 18 hours repair- The fourth valve was replaced to make repairs to the area on Tues- Company will install a portable ing a leaking water valve on the inter- Monday evening to avoid failure in day between 4:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., synthetic ice rink inside its facility section of Broad and West streets last the future. with detours marked for passengers for use for the entire month of weekend. “It’s unfortunate, but its aging in- traveling between Board and West March, the organization said dur- The leak was investigated at 8:30 frastructure and what the crew did Streets. Water was shut off in the im- ing a quarterly report to the a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, and a ma- Saturday and what they [did on Mon- mediate area of the construction be- Berlin mayor and Town Council jority of the work needed to patch the day] … it’s a bit proactive since it’s tween 5:30-8 a.m. last Monday. leak was completed around 4:30 a.m. been opened to go ahead and fix and The roads were expected to be “We are in the process of on Sunday, Feb. 2. replace the aging infrastructure to closed once again for repaving on See FOR $5 Page 6 “It was aging infrastructure … the avoid another issue,” Fleetwood said. Wednesday between 8 a.m. and 1 valve that failed was installed in the Water for that section of the town p.m., weather permitting. Come See Why FYZICAL of Ocean Pines Is RANKED #1 in the United States for Balance/Gait Outcomes! CHOOSE FYZICAL FIRST! 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Drainage repairs near Borderlinks Contractor replaces culvert pipes in three spots, with work slightly altering traffic (Feb. 6, 2020) Contractor Goody FEBRUARY Hill Sand & Gravel Inc. of Berlin last DRINK SPECIALS week began replacing culvert pipes under the road in the area of Border- $1.00 OFF AT HAPPY HOUR links, Harborview Drive and Clipper $ PINK CADILLAC MARGARITA.......... 8 Court in Ocean Pines. $ THE LOVE MARTINI...................................... 8 The job should last several weeks and require some slight changes to $ 50 BLUSHING MIMOSA.............................. 7 traffic patterns. $ LIME BACCHANALIAN................................ 8 According to Director of Amenities $ 50 and Operational Logistics Colby THE ITALIAN COFFEE............................. 5 Phillips, work will start in the Border- CHECK OUT OUR WINE SELECTION links area. “The culvert pipes at Borderlinks SUBMITTED PHOTO/BAYSIDE GAZETTE will take a few days to a week and Contractor Goody Hill Sand & Gravel Inc. of Berlin recently began replacing culvert pipes under DINNER SPECIALS See OP Page 4 the road in the area of Borderlinks, Harborview Drive and Clipper Court in Ocean Pines. MONDAY PARMESAN NIGHT CHICKEN OR EGGPLANT OVER PENNE CHOICE OF SOUP OR SALAD $9.95 OP weighs effluent at golf course TUESDAY Wastewater advisory cmte. tential impacts on the St. Martin River. operating condition. SANDWICH NIGHT “We’re concerned obviously about “The discharge from our plant is SELECTIONS VARY SERVED W/SIDE gets county permission to run-off going into the river,” he said. one of the best in the state,” he said. WITH PURCHASE OF A BEVERAGE $6.00 examine merits of spraying OPA Environmental and Natural “We’re not talking about discharging Assets Committee Chairperson Ken anything with pathogens.” WEDNESDAY By Greg Ellison Wolf echoed those apprehensions. Wolf said despite those initial re- PASTA NIGHT Staff Writer “Our committee is very concerned assurances, the matter requires fur- CHOICE OF SOUP OR SALAD $10.95 (Feb. 6, 2020) Although the Ocean about the St. Martin River,” he said. ther consideration. Pines Service Area Water & Waste- “We revised our charter on the basis “I’d like to know more about what THURSDAY water Advisory Board received per- that the primary focus was really on the effluent coming out of that treat- mission last month from the the health of the St. Martins.” ment plant really does to that river,” $4 BURGER Worcester County Commissioners to Wolf said clarity is still needed re- he said. “I have more questions than NEW! W/PURCHASE OF BEVERAGES Dine-In Only explore the possibility of spraying garding potential water quality issues answers.” treated sewage effluent on the Ocean prior to discharging into area water- The approach would end the prac- 1/2 PRICE Pines Golf course, the approach re- ways. tice of watering greens with drinking mains under consideration pending “I’m not clear on all the drivers water. LG CHEESE PIZZA W/PURCHASE OF BEVERAGES, TOPPINGS EXTRA further investigation. here,” he said. “Right now the golf course takes Dine-In Only Water advisory board member Stiehl said one aspect of the inves- water from the aquifer we use for Fred Stiehl said after broaching the tigation will involve assessing other water for Ocean Pines,” he said. CARRYOUT SPECIALS topic in a Dec. 11 letter to Commis- area golf courses, such as Eagle’s Stiehl said using water from the SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS $9.95 sioner Joe Mitrecic that permission Landing near the Ocean City Airport, aquifer has other ramifications. SMALL CHEESE PIZZA $6.99 was granted in early January to re- that have employed effluent for irri- “The more water you take from an TOPPINGS EXTRA search the matter further. gation purposes. aquifer the more likely it is that FRIDAY “Some of the issues are is this “What’s their experience been and you’re going to start getting saltwater going to be safe, can it be done, who’s how successful have they been?” he intrusion from the local bays and FRIED SHRIMP NIGHT going to bear the cost and how will asked. “There’s a bit of a record river,” he said. “We want to make SERVED WITH FF & COLE SLAW AND this relate to the environment?” he there.” sure we have a good source of drink- CHOICE OF SOUP OR SALAD $14.75 said. Stiehl said the Ocean Pines Waste- ing water for as long as we possibly SATURDAY Of the highest importance are po- water Treatment Plant is in optimal can.” BBQ BABY BACK RIBS SERVED WITH CHOICE OF 1 SIDE NEW! AND SOUP OR SALAD $11.95 CRAB CAKE NIGHT SERVED WITH FF & COLE SLAW AND CHOICE OF SOUP OR SALAD $17.00 KIDS NIGHT SAT. 4PM-CLOSE 10 & UNDER EAT FREE W/PURCHASE OF ENTREE SAT NIGHT SPECIAL ARE EXLCUDED • DINE IN ONLY SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY HOURS Mon 11am - 9pm • Tues-Thurs 7:30am - 9pm Fri & Sat 7:30am - 9:30pm • Sun Closed 11310 Manklin Creek Road Ocean Pines • 410.208.2782 Order On Line from FB, Web or Mobile App See Specials at: Denovos.com www.baysideoc.com February 6, 2020 Bayside Gazette Page 3 Proposed one year extension to pool passes Legacy cards bought prior Ocean Pines Association President tact the OPA Administration Mem- entiate parking and pool passes at the to May 2019 would have Doug Parks said the proposal would bership Department to take advan- beach club, a work group was formed apply to legacy coupons or cards ob- tage of the bonus year. by OPA leadership comprised of Sen- extra time to use balances tained prior to last May. Unreturned cards would expire on ior Executive Secretary Michelle Ben- “The ones that were purchased April 30, 2020 and the offer would nett, Aquatics Manager Kathleen By Greg Ellison prior to May 1, 2019 that had bal- not apply to cards purchased since Cook, Membership Supervisor Ruth Staff Writer ances on them, we felt that it was im- last May.