1+ week, 6+ day ago (446+ words) WORCESTER COUNTY, Md. - Hotel guests in Worcester County will soon see a slightly higher tax on their room bills, but local leaders say the area remains one of the more affordable beach destinations on the East Coast. Worcester County commissioners voted unanimously this week to raise the county hotel room tax from 5 percent to 6 percent. When combined with Maryland's sales tax on lodging, that brings the total tax on hotel stays in Ocean City to about 12 percent. Commissioner Ted Elder said the county will still be below many competing beach markets. "We're the lowest on the East Coast, and we still are after that 1% increase," Elder said. "It'll help with the tourism, with the advertising and the other things that need to be done with that money. I think it's a plus for everybody." The increase follows years of debate between…...

1+ week, 6+ day ago (189+ words) Today marks 162 years since President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, and in Cambridge, that historic moment was brought back to life at the Meredith House. Neighbors gathered to listen as David Rose, the town crier, delivered the speech, echoing Lincoln's iconic words: "our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." Paul Callahan of the Talbot Historical Society reflected on the continued significance of Lincoln's legacy." "Lincoln reverted back to the Declaration of Independence," Callahan said. "Four score and seven years ago reverts back to the Declaration of Independence." David Rose helped make the reenactment a memorable experience. For George Ames of Westover, the delivery added to the impact." "The town crier. He has such a booming voice when he does these speeches and…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (223+ words) Cambridge, Md - Crews wrapped up work on two new raised crosswalks today, one on Pine Street and the other on Race Street. The goal, city officials say, is to slow traffic and keep pedestrians safe. For business owner Eddie Beasley, the closures didn't stop his customers. "A majority of my customers walk up here anyway," Beasley said. "And the ones that do drive up here, most of them don't go that far'Any kind of improvements they do on Pine Street is good for my business." Willis Duncan says the upgrades are a step in the right direction. "I think that's a great idea," Duncan said. "Anything that's going to make the community safer and that's going to bring more value to the community, I'm all for it." Downtown businesses did notice a slowdown during the installation. Jessica LaPerch said the…...

3+ week, 5+ day ago (113+ words) Cambridge Bus collides with deer CAMBRIDGE, Md. " Cambridge police say a school bus collided with a deer around 4 p.m. Thursday near Route 16 and Race Street. Dorchester County Public Schools also responded to the scene. Officials said about 12 students reported minor injuries to the school nurse. As of Thursday evening, all students were safe and had been released to their parents, according to police. The incident remains under investigation by Cambridge police and school officials. Ryan is originally from Milford, Delaware, and attended Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland where he received his bachelors in History and Media Studies." In his free time he enjoys reading, screenwriting, and watching movies....

2+ week, 5+ day ago (302+ words) The Black Lives Matter mural that once stretched across Race Street in Cambridge is now gone, covered by fresh pavement after the city completed planned resurfacing work on several streets. Pottery artist Marsha Turner, who works nearby at Vintage Venue, says the mural was impactful to the downtown area. "It was a wonderful mural, and it really brought a lot of attention to this part of the downtown where we have a large artist community," Turner said. Cambridge Mayor Lajan Cephas-Bey says the resurfacing had been scheduled long before the mural faded from view. According to the mayor, the decision was based on a 2018 analysis that prioritized which roads needed work the most. "So the road was paved because it was time for it to be paved," Cephas-Bey told WBOC. "There was an analysis report, done in 2018and it prioritized the…...

7+ hour, 24+ min ago (322+ words) WORCESTER COUNTY, Md. - Worcester County officials spent Monday morning walking meeting attendees through why their water and sewer bills are going up and what the new rates mean for each community. Enterprise Fund Controller Quinn Dittrich led an informational meeting on the fiscal year 2026 water and sewer rates. He said the main goal was to explain how the county set the new numbers and why some bills look different than they did a year ago. "The main goal of this meeting was to inform the customers of the fiscal year 26 rates that were adopted, and to show them what their bills looked like and why they looked like that," Dittrich said. "It is moving forward in a proactive fashion to keep the rates sustainable and the service areas self sufficient," he said. Worcester County Commissioner Eric Fiori said many of the…...

1+ week, 1+ day ago (358+ words) CAMBRIDGE, Md. -- More tax relief could be on the way for homeowners in Cambridge. On Monday night, city officials are expected to ask the county to increase the tax differential." City residents already receive a discount on their Dorchester County property taxes through what's known as a tax differential. It's"meant to ensure residents aren't essentially taxed twice by both the city and the county for services such as police, public works and other essentials. The current differential sits at about 7%." City leaders say they plan to ask the county to increase that break. On Monday night, Cambridge officials are expected to request a differential between 9.5% and 16%." For many residents, even the existing discount makes a significant impact. "We have such an income-compromised community," said Laurel Atkiss. "So many people live close to or under the poverty line, and we also…...