Page 38 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch September 6, 2013 Regional Digest City Bus Schedule Altered For Fall OCEAN CITY – With the passage of the Labor Day weekend and the entry into the “second season,” the town of Ocean City buses are now operating on a fall schedule. From now until Oct. 26, the Coastal Highway “beach bus” service runs approximately every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and every 30 minutes from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. In addition, an express service will also be available for Sunfest, transporting patrons directly to and from the Inlet from 9 a.m.-11 p.m. each day, except on Sunday when service will end at 7 p.m. The express bus stop will be located in the south Convention Center parking lot on 40th Street. As with the buses, exact fare of $1 perboarding or $3 ride-all-day is required. The Boardwalk tram, which does not operate during the fall season, will also run during Sunfest. The tram will run Sept. 19 through Sept. 22 from 10 a.m.-midnight except for Sunday, Sept. 22, when it will operate from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The tram fare is $3 per person, one way, per boarding. Following Sunfest, the Boardwalk tram will be closed until May 1, 2014. Minimum Wage Hike Talks Continue Attorney General Maintains It’s ‘Below The Poverty Line’ By SHAWN J. SOPER NEWS EDITOR Emergency Preparedness Month Observed OCEAN CITY – September marks the 10th Annual National Preparedness Month and the town of Ocean City is reminding residents, visitors and business owners it is now the perfect time to prepare for emergencies. National Preparedness Month is designed to educate the public to be ready with an “all hazards” approach to emergencies in their home with families, the community and in business. National Preparedness Month for 2013 is focusing on turning awareness into action by encouraging individuals and businesses to create preparedness plans. The town of Ocean City’s Emergency Services Department is encouraging residents, visitors and business owners to be prepared by taking a few simple steps. For example, individuals are urged to become knowledgeable and identify sources of information that will be beneficial before, during and after an emergency. Residents and visitors are also urged to create a family plan for emergencies including preparing an emergency supply kit customized to meet the needs of their families and pets. The key is preparing to be self-sufficient for a minimum of 72 hours, but more realistically 96 hours, without power, water service, utilities, supermarkets, gas stations and possibly even no police, fire or emergency medical services response. Coastal Cleanup Needs Volunteers OCEAN CITY – Delmarva Power is once again joining with environmental, governmental and business organizations throughout the region to support the 27th Annual Coastal Cleanup this fall. The effort aims to remove trash from beaches and riverbanks in the mid-Atlantic including Maryland and Delaware. Volunteers are needed to clean up more than 60 locations. Most cleanups will occur on Saturday, Sept. 21, while others will take place on other dates in September and October. Each participant will receive an original Coastal Cleanup T-shirt courtesy of Delmarva Power, the event’s primary corporate sponsor for 23 consecutive years. “Delmarva Power believes this annual cleanup is an environmental, educational and community event,” said Matt Likovich, spokesman for Delmarva Power, during a Coastal Cleanup kickoff news conference on Wednesday in Ocean City. “The cleanup benefits the environment, educates the public about the dangers of pollution and the importance of recycling, and brings people together to work on a worthwhile project.” BERLIN – Using a platform provided by the Labor Day holiday weekend, Maryland Attorney General and likely Democratic nominee for governor Doug Gansler late last week announced support for a renewed effort to significantly raise the minimum wage in Maryland. Early in the 2013 General Assembly session, legislation was introduced by two western shore lawmakers seeking an increase in Maryland’s minimum wage by degrees from the current $7.25 per hour to $10 per hour by 2015. The legislation failed when the Senate Finance Committee killed the bill by a vote of 8-3, but already there is a renewed interest in raising the issue again in the upcoming 2014 session. Last Friday, Gansler, who is expected to announce his candidacy for governor at any time, used the backdrop of the Labor Day weekend to throw his support behind the effort to raise the state’s minimum wage. Gansler told supporters Marylanders currently working for the minimum wage are struggling in the slowly recovering economy. “If you work for the minimum wage in Maryland, you live below the poverty line,” he said. “If you work for the minimum wage in Maryland, you have to work two full-time jobs in order to afford the average rent on a two bedroom apartment.” Gansler called on state legislators to renew the effort to raise the minimum wage in Maryland during the upcoming General Assembly session, joining a host of politicians rallying support for the increase in advance of an election year. “Clearly the time has come to raise the minimum wage here in Maryland,” he said “While the economy shows signs of recovery, too many working families are struggling.” The legislation that failed earlier this year called for an increase in the minimum wage first to $8.25 this year, followed by an increase to $9 in 2014 and $10 in 2015. Starting in 2016, the minimum wage would be indexed, or adjusted, annually to keep up with the rising cost of living. The failed legislation also called for an increase in the minimum wage for tipped employees, which caught the attention of resort lawmakers and business owners during the session, largely because tipped employees make up such a large segment of the workforce in and around Ocean City. Currently, tipped employees earn 50 percent of the minimum wage, or $3.63 per hour. If the legislation had passed as introduced, the minimum wage for tipped employees would be increased to 70 percent. While increasing the minimum wage for all employees, including a modest increase for tipped employees, is clearly a favorite among the workforce in Maryland, it could have serious implications for the business community still struggling in a staggering economy, particularly small businesses in seasonal or resort communities that walk the thin line between success and failure. Senator Jim Mathias (D-38), who serves on the Finance Committee, was among the eight senators who voted down the minimum wage hike last session. Mathias said at the time he could not support the legislation because of its potential dire implications on small businesses in his district. He said market factors and employee demand should continue to determine what the prevailing wage should be without the state mandating minimums. Delegate Mike McDermott, who represents Worcester County, also did not support the legislation earlier this year, but the House never got to vote on it after the Senate committee killed it. McDermott at the time pointed to fragile balance between making it and closing up shop for many businesses in his district. this week’s OCEAN CITY Makai Condominiums 42nd St. Bayside Sat & Sun 10-4 New Construction 2BR & Studio Condos Ben Dawson The Fritschle Group/ Condominium Realty 410-603-2205 ✏❘✡✮¤✏❛✘✡✘ CALL AGENTS FOR DIRECTIONS View more open houses at www.mdcoastdispatch.com/open_houses.php OCEAN CITY OCEAN CITY Sunset Island The Gateway Grand 67th St & The Bay Two 48th Street Open Sat & Sun Oceanfront Condos, Townhomes, Daily 10-5 Single Family Homes Fully Furnished Luxury Resort Living Penthouse Residences Terry Riley Vantage Resort Realty 443-880-0512 The Fritschle Group/ Condominium Realty 877-260-2710 OCEAN CITY The View 57th St. Bayfront Daily 10-4 New Construction Direct Bayfront 3BR/2BA Condo Dan Clayland Coldwell Banker 410-726-5108