Page 42 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch December 13, 2013 The Dispatch Forever In Memory Of Our Founder, Dick Lohmeyer (May 25, 1927-May 5, 2005) The Dispatch, Serving Greater Ocean City Since 1984, Is Published By Maryland Coast Dispatch Inc. Weekly On Friday Mornings MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 467 Berlin, Md. 21811 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd. Berlin, Md. 21811 PHONE: 410-641-4561 FAX: 410-641-0966 WEBSITES: www.mdcoastdispatch.com www.facebook.com/thedispatchoc J. STEVEN GREEN Publisher/Editor editor@mdcoastdispatch.com HOW WE SEE IT County’s Opinion On Private Sector Issue Not Needed The early work for the obvious next step in the evolution of the local liquor scene appears to be underway. Attorney Joe Moore, on behalf of an unnamed client, is seeking Berlin and Worcester County’s support for a change in the local liquor laws to allow for Berlin to have a private liquor store. The idea being the town and county need to support the measure before it can be passed at the state level. While the town’s position may be relevant, the county’s stance is not because of the obvious conflict of interest. The county is in the liquor business through its Department of Liquor Control (DLC), and a private Berlin liquor store will inevitably hurt sales at the county-owned Shore Spirits store on Route 50. To be consistent with an issue from earlier this year, the county needs to be on the sidelines here and not vocally support or oppose what is a private sector issue. That’s what happened earlier this year when the DLC pulled its retail store off Route 50 near Route 611 and relocated to the west along the south side of Route 50. Seeing the community need as well as sensing its own livelihood at stake, The Green Room, which neighbored the DLC store for years previously, sought permission from the Board of License Commissioners to expand its physical footprint and upgrade its license to include off-site liquor sales. Initially, the county was going to oppose the request with attorney Sonny Bloxom appearing before the board to state opposition. After public outcry, the county chose to not express an opinion one way or the other and the business was allowed to upgrade and underwent a major expansion. That’s the same course the county should take with the current plan to allow Berlin beer and wine licenses to sell liquor to-go. There are interested business people in town eagerly wanting to add liquor to their current beer and wine operations. It makes perfect sense because there is a void in Berlin now without a liquor store. In order for this to happen, the legislature needs to tweak the county’s liquor law, meaning the boundaries need to be amended because currently the Town of Berlin is not permitted a Class D beer, wine and liquor license. There is no reason why an amendment should not be allowed to address that unfair loophole. Berlin should have its own liquor store and whether that happens should have nothing to do with how a private license being granted will impact the county government’s sales. It’s about fairness. The Board of License Commissioners can determine how many licenses are issued, but certainly there is a need for at least one license to be permitted. The situation in Berlin is practically the same as occurred in West Ocean City. The DLC closed its store in West Ocean City. The DLC closed its store in Berlin. These moves were made in favor of a new and larger store a couple miles away. A private operator was granted permission to upgrade its license to sell liquor at the store’s former home, which just happened to share a wall with it. The county did not oppose and the board granted a license. Now, a Berlin private operator wants to sell liquor because a need has been noticed. It’s not in the same location, but it’s close by. The county should not oppose and the board should grant the license after reviewing the case. The West Ocean City case set the precedent and now the county needs to remain consistent. So long as local opposition is not robust or at least neutral, the legislature will okay the issue as a local courtesy. If local elected officials provide opposition, it will not pass and might not even be introduced. That would not be fair to private business or the citizens of the Town of Berlin. NEWS DEPARTMENT SHAWN J. SOPER News Editor Sports Editor ssoper@mdcoastdispatch.com JOANNE SHRINER Staff Writer joanne@mdcoastdispatch.com TRAVIS BROWN Staff Writer travis@mdcoastdispatch.com CHRIS PARYPA Photographer SALES DEPARTMENT TERRI FRENCH Account Executive Entertainment Editor terri@mdcoastdispatch.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Winterfest Reaction Editor: Marie Fisher’s letter of last week is quite disturbing. To be affected so deeply by colored lights because of her fear of a belief system is just laughable. Ms. Fisher, I have had it up to here with your ilk. Don’t you dare reference the First Amendment to me. I’ve read it. Twinkly lights on taxpayer-owned property, whether arranged as a row of candles or a stable, in no way constitutes the establishment of any religion. The people who own Northside Park are of all religions and ethnicities and appreciate and embrace one another. Please don’t attack such an innocent display of lights at such a beautiful time of year. No one is asking you to believe in anything greater than yourself, should you choose not to. Neither should you be threatened by those of us who do. The First Amendment also includes that pesky Freedom of Speech bit, so I will close by wishing everyone the most Holy and Merry of Christmases. D. Elliott one that is available to the public during the few weeks around the holiday season, has again surfaced and been made possible because of several variables and efforts from the Town of Ocean City. Last week, a viewer had exclaimed that she was forced to feel uncomfortable at the lights event because there were some religious displays that were exhibited as part of the Winterfest tour, which in turn made her feel this way. The viewer, although mentioning that overall, she is proud of the town of Ocean City for putting forth wonderful efforts to enable this exhibit to be made possible. I believe that the Town of Ocean City continues the annual Winterfest Lights because historically it has proven to be economically good for the town. The Winterfest of Lights display, being the festive event that it is, is collectively a light display in itself. This light display, being a conglomerate of various items related to the holiday season, may include statues, pictures and wordings that may show the presence of Christ. With such items collected and presented within the Winterfest of Lights, the Town of Ocean City is not suggesting nor reflecting any favoritism whatsoever towards any religious group at all. In retrospect, I believe that Ocean City is allowing for a multitude of many things that collectively make up what is welcomed and true to the holiday spirit regarding what the Winterfest of Lights represents. When one chooses to attend the holiday lights display here in Ocean City, the "fest experience" in my opinion is all about the overall sightings of all that is available and pronounced at the exhibit. Any items that might be in place and resemble any type of religious forum, I believe is a part of the "global exhibit" and in no way necessarily reflects the beliefs of anyone related to the Town of Ocean City. With the Dec. 6th edition of the newspaper publishing that the opinion of the concerned person submitted their thoughts onto the Mayor and City Council of Ocean City, I forward my thoughts onto these individuals accordingly as well. Douglas Antos Ocean City JEANETTE DESKIEWICZ Account Executive jeanette@mdcoastdispatch.com MANETTE CRAMER Account Executive manette@mdcoastdispatch.com ART DEPARTMENT CINDY WARD Art Director art@mdcoastdispatch.com JENNIFER T. O’BRIEN Graphic Artist COLE GIBSON Graphic Artist Webmaster BUSINESS OFFICE PAMELA GREEN Bookkeeper Classifieds Manager classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com The Maryland Coast Dispatch (USPS #015125) is an official and legal newspaper for Worcester County. Periodical postage paid at Berlin, Maryland, and additional mailing offices.. The Maryland Coast Dispatch, 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin, Md. 21811, is published weekly on Friday mornings, 52 weeks a year. Subscription rates are $75 per year, $55 for six months. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Maryland Coast Dispatch, P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Maryland 21811. Maryland Coast Dispatch offices are located at Route 346 and Graham Avenue, Berlin, Maryland. Parade Says Thanks Editor: This is a letter of thanks to all those who helped to make the 31st Annual Ocean City Christmas Parade such a success. There are many fine community parades here on the shore. The officials of those parades I’m sure echo my thanks to all the people who donate their time to make sure these parades run smoothly and provide entertainment and the seasonal SEE NEXT PAGE City’s Display Not Favoring A Religion Editor: The "Winterfest of Lights," an annual tradition that is, and continues to be an Ocean City tradition, and