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BERLIN —Members of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce still have time to vote for three awards to be given at its awards and installation ceremony on[].  "We've sent an email asking all members to vote online," said Aaren Collins, executive director of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce. Links for all three awards — the 2012 New Business Award, 2012 Philanthropy Award and The Reese Cropper III 2012 Bright Idea Award — have been placed the home page of its Website, http://berlinchamber.org. Sixty businesses that have signed up to be members of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce between September 2011 and 2012 are eligible for the 2012 New Business Award. A vote for a business should be accompanied by an explanation of why the award is deserved. These businesses include new openings this year such as Sister, Si' Culi and World of Toys, but also businesses that have been in operation for years like WMDT TV 47 and Buxy's Salty Dog Saloon. The company that earns ...

BERLIN — A bottle with a message inserted inside of it that has been traveling in the ocean from Canada since 2004 was recovered Friday by staff members of Castaways RV Resort & Campground in Berlin. "Our groundsman, Roberto Santos, found the bottle while cleaning up the beach area," said Rachel Driscoll, director of marketing and events for Castaways. "I didn't know what he was doing at first, because he [Santos] walked in with this dirty plastic water bottle. But then he gave me the letter." Driscoll immediately went online to translate the letter, which was written in French. "Hello, my name is Alexandra and I am from Quebec, Montreal," began the letter dated Aug. 20, 2004. "If you wish to read and write, my address is [redacted] or this [redacted] email." "Bye, bye until next time," ended the brief letter. There was some difficulty reading text in one corner that had been worn, but Driscoll said most o...

OCEAN PINES — Ocean Pines is about to look a little more festive, as members of the Garden Club of Ocean Pines are looking for volunteers to help decorate the community with holiday-themed wreaths and swags in an annual event called Decorate the Pines. On Tuesday, Nov. 27, volunteers are asked to come to the gym inside the Ocean Pines Community Center next to White Horse Park to help make the decorations and hang them throughout the entire development. "We have a list of what all communities want," said Gail Phillipe, publicist of the Garden Club of Ocean Pines. Members of the garden club have walked around several areas of Ocean Pines and asked residents if, and where, they would like these decorations hung. Starting at 8:30 a.m., a large tarp will be placed on the gym's floor, giving the expected 50 volunteer crafters plenty of space to make combination artificial and evergreen wreaths and swags with red bows. The swags will be placed on all 75 stop signs in Ocea...

BERLIN – In a continuing effort to assist residents who experienced property damage in the August storm that flooded the town and caused several power outages, Berlin officials have invited anyone interested in a home repair loan program to visit Town Hall tomorrow, Nov. 16. According to Tony Carson, town administrator of Berlin, representatives of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development will arrive some time between 11:30 a.m. and noon to inform residents on possibilities of assistance for home repair. What is being offered is the Maryland Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program that provides low-interest loans to assist with renovations done to both exterior and interior deficiencies. "It's a half-dozen-page application. We'll have staff members to meet with residents and help them through the process," Carson said. "It's been more than two months since the storm and we're trying to gauge how many people need help," he said. C...

BERLIN – Students and instructors from Infinity Martial Arts on Route 50 in Berlin not only participated, but also succeeded in their first two tournaments late last month, an impressive feat considering the school has been open for less than half a year. "They all did so well, I was really excited to see their results. I couldn't really ask for much more," said Tim Otwell, co-owner of the newly formed martial arts school. The first tournament his class performed in was the International Taekwondo Foundation (ITF) Goodwill Championship on Oct. 20 in Anne Arundel County. Hosted by Infinity Martial Arts’ umbrella school, The Kick Connection, the tournament was the first of its type and the first ITF championship held in Maryland. The tournament drew more than 250 competitors from across the country and some even outside the United States. A single athlete came from Cuba to compete and a school of Brazilian students also competed in the event. Where th...

 OCEAN PINES – The search for a new director of the Ocean Pines Golf & Country Club is over, as resident John C. Malinowski III officially began overseeing the day-to-day operations on Tuesday. "I'm very excited to be here and meet our members. My professional and primary focus is to service our membership," Malinowski said on his first day on the job. An Ocean Pines resident for about nine years, Malinowski was introduced to golf in his early years, but didn't take any professional considerations in the sport until after his college. He was a member of the golf team of Lenoir-Rhyne College in North Carolina, and while playing at the colligate level, he also worked at the Medal of Honor Golf Course at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Va. Upon graduation, Malinkowski landed a professional position at Catawba Country Club in North Carolina. After a little more than a year at Catawba County Club, he was elected to membership in the Middle Atlantic s...

 BERLIN – To help residents become more active while also informing them of a free, countywide exercise program, the Worcester County Health Department has teamed with Berlin officials to organize the town's inaugural “Just Walk Berlin” event, taking place Saturday, Nov. 17 at Stephen Decatur Park off Route 113. "We are trying to highlight where people can go to be active in the area," said Mimi Dean, chronic disease prevention and tobacco control program coordinator of the Worcester County Health Department. Registration for the free event, a one-mile casual walk throughout the park's walking trail, begins at 9 a.m., with the actual walk starting at 9:30 a.m. County representatives will also be providing free body composition testing, diabetes prevention information and "Quit Smoking Kits" in recognition of The Great American Smokeout. "If someone wants to come and smoke while walking, they're more than welcome to. We would jus...

BERLIN – The Mayor and Council of Berlin received an order this week from Maryland Public Service Commission (MPSC) Public Utility Law Judge to allow an 11.48 percent decrease in the town’s non-residential rates effective Nov. 27, unless someone appeals the lowering of the rates 15 days from the state’s approval. Terry J. Romine, chief public utility law judge for the MPSC, ruled Nov. 8, that the state finds Berlin, even with the proposed decrease in non-residential rates, is able to fund the 10-year capital plans projects and base rate revenues will not result in a decline of service reliability or service quality. Assuming no one formally appeals the electric rate reduction, non-residential customers will begin benefiting from the lower rates in their December 2012 billing.  “The Town of Berlin is extremely pleased that the Public Service Commission, after an extensive review of our financial condition and service of reliability, has gr...

BERLIN – Last week's removal of the cracked basketball court surface in Dr. William Henry Park means the first phase of the park's renovation project is officially under way. “Weather permitting, they're ready to begin as soon as possible,” said Mary Bolen, deputy town administrator of Berlin. The job will be handled by Terra Firma of Delmarva. “We're making this as green as possible,” Vicki Pusey, president of Terra Firma of Delmarva, said. “We have ground the previous surface up, compacted it and the asphalt will be poured on top so no materials are lost.” When paving is finished, the surface will need to sit for 30 days until the courts can be opened to the public. This project is a response to residents' concern that cracks on the former surface could endanger the safety of people playing basketball in the park. That opinion came to the fore after members of the Berlin Parks Commission set up an advisory committee earlier this y...

BERLIN – Tomorrow at 4 p.m., Berlin Mayor Gee Williams will name the winners of Main Street Deli's Thanksgiving dinner giveaway after he draws three names out of a hat at Town Hall. Owner Ruth Koontz and her husband, Dave, have had a ticket box inside their store for more than a week, giving customers the chance of not having to worry about preparing a large traditional meal next week. "You're always going to have someone who needs something," said Ruth, who said she has always been impressed by her husband's charitable ways. "Dave is just a good-hearted person," she said, adding that it's not uncommon for him to perform even small charitable act such as giving change to a needy person on the street. Each meal will be a full course dinner, including a turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn and – what no Thanksgiving dinner is complete without – gravy. Also included is the winner's choice of a homemade sweet potato, pumpkin, apple or ap...