Now that fall is right around the corner, life always seems busy in our Ocean Pines community with school, football, soccer, dance classes, pickleball, farmers markets and all the activities that have us running around trying to keep up. I hope you have had an opportunity this summer to pause for renewal and relaxation with family and friends. It is also my hope that everyone in our community and their families and friends enjoyed our awesome OPA amenities this summer.  

As we have completed another election and a new Board has been seated, I am humbled and honored to be selected as President of our Association. The community has selected three new outstanding directors to work with the existing directors that have one goal, and that is to serve the best interests of our Ocean Pines community.   

This past year, our General Manager, John Viola, and his team have continued to keep the association in an outstanding financial position. We have hired a new Police Chief, Tim Robinson, to lead our Police Department; and we have hired a new Aquatics Manager, Michelle Hitchens, who has been with Ocean Pines for 11 years, to lead our Aquatics Department.   

All our departments continue to provide outstanding service to our community, along with our Police Department and Fire/EMS services. They are the main reason Ocean Pines is considered one of the safest communities in the State of Maryland.  

The Matt Ortt Companies continue to make our Yacht Club the outstanding amenity that our membership and guests enjoy – AND it was recently voted the #1 wedding venue in the Berlin /Ocean City area. Kudos to Matt Ortt and his staff for providing excellent service to all our food and beverage establishments in Ocean Pines.  

This past year we replaced more bulkheads, replaced old drainage pipes, repaired/replaced community mailboxes, added new T-docks to our marina, replaced gas pumps to our maria, a new roof for the Swim and Racquet Club, new fencing for the Yacht Club pool, new pickleball courts, improvements to the dog park, renovation of the North Gate Bridge, several miles of road paving, and updated the administration building with new HVAC systems, paint and flooring.  

Some of the priorities that this current Board will be focused on are the South Firehouse replacement, continued bulkhead replacement, drainage, golf course irrigation system replacement, and increased beautification efforts throughout Ocean Pines, just to name a few.  

I would like to thank all those individuals who volunteer their time to serve on our committees, and the Board for ensuring that Ocean Pines remains financially stable and a safe community for all our membership and their family. I wish all our membership and their families a safe fall season. 

If you want official news and updates on what’s going on in Ocean Pines, there is ONLY ONE official news source at www.oceanpines.org. On social media, search for “Ocean Pines Association” on Facebook, or follow @oceanpinesmaryland on Instagram, @OceanPinesMD on X (Twitter), and @oceanpinesmaryland on Threads.