Inlet

On July 28, 2003, THOMAS C. BARNES, beloved husband of Denyse Barnes (nee Culver); devoted father of Deidre A. Seipp, Kevin J. Barnes, Darrylynn M. Griffin, James C. and William T. Barnes.; dear brother of Mary Louise Mayo; also survived by eight loving grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday at the St. Anthony Church, Inlet, NY, at 10 A.M. Interment private. Arrangements by the family owned Ruck Towson Funeral Home Inc.

Carroll County Department of Public Works has announced road construction projects for this week. For information on the projects below, contact Carroll County Bureau of Engineering at 410-386-2171. Shoulder work: John Hyde, John Shelby and Jasontown roads from Springdale Road to Route 852; Grave Run Road from Baltimore County to the state line; Oklahoma Road from Route 26 to Mineral Hill Road. Storm drain work and paving: Stone House Village subdivision, all streets; Streamwood subdivision, all streets.

Cruisin' Ocean City in classic carsMore than 2,000 cars from 15 states roll into Maryland's resort town today for the 9th annual Cruisin' Ocean City classic car show. The cars are on view at the Inlet and 100th Street parking lots through Sunday. The four-day event begins at 9:30 a.m. today with a parade on the boardwalk from 27th Street to the Inlet. The cars also cruise the boardwalk tomorrow and Saturday morning. Live entertainment includes the Funsters' rock 'n' roll show, the Jesse Garron tribute to Elvis, Michael and the Little Professors, celebrity impersonator Tim Beasley and Cruisin Gold Deejays.

BARNEGAT LIGHT, N.J. - So much sand is being scoured by tides at the base of what is probably New Jersey's most famous beacon, Barnegat Lighthouse, that the 170-foot-tall structure is being undermined and potentially threatened. Officials contend that "Old Barney" is probably still a long way from being in danger of toppling into the sea, as its predecessor did in 1856. But the Army Corps of Engineers will spend $1.38 million to fill a 50-foot hole near the base of the lighthouse. The cause of the erosion is uncertain, officials said.

The builder of Hawk Ridge Farm has agreed to correct water runoff and grading problems at the Sykesville development this week."We received a letter from the builder Friday in which he agreed to respond to all the town inspector's demands," said Town Manager James L. Schumacher.Those demands include construction of an inlet and regrading of lots that are frequently waterlogged.Jeff Powers, builder of the development at the north end of town, has agreed to construct the inlet, a collection basin for rain water, and make sure it functions properly before he turns it over to the town, Mr. Schumacher said.

On this date in 1933, a Category 2 hurricane caused devastation and dozens of deaths from the Carolinas to New Jersey. In Maryland, waves and 70-mph winds grounded ships, demolished the Ocean City boardwalk and bridges, and cut the inlet at the southern end of town. Rising water drowned Chesapeake islands and flooded streets and crops. Baltimore lost 2,000 trees, some piers, pleasure boats and bridges. Power and phones were cut off. The 7.62 inches of rain downtown is still the city's 24-hour record.

OCEAN CITY - Two people died in swimming-related accidents Saturday night, including a 21-year-old Virginia man who drowned in the inlet at the southern tip of this beach town. Ocean City police said the man, Kaiser Barrientos of Fairfax, Va., was swimming off the rock jetty in the inlet with two cousins when he dived into the water head-first. He floated to the surface, and his cousins attempted to pull him to the rocks but were hit by a wave and lost sight of him, police spokesman Jay Hancock said.

ASSATEAGUE ISLAND - This windswept ribbon of sand is wasting away, starved by the rock jetty that keeps Ocean City's inlet open for the beach resort's multitude of boaters. Assateague National Seashore has taken such a pounding from the Atlantic Ocean that coastal geologists warn that one wicked nor'easter could begin the breakup of the northern end of this 37-mile-long island, home to world-famous herds of horses and more than 300 species of birds. The Army Corps of Engineers and the National Park Service have come up with a plan to stave off the inevitable by pumping sand from an offshore shoal onto a 5-mile stretch of beach.

While Chesapeake Bay rockfish get much of the attention this time of year, fishing from Ocean City to Deep Creek Lake is improving as the weather struggles into fall and waters cool.At Ocean City, flounder catches continue to be excellent, with some of the largest flatfish of the year being caught from just above the Route 50 bridge to the inlet -- and the first of the large fall rockfish, to 42 inches, are being caught on live-lined spot at the inlet.Croaker and spot can be found from the inlet piers and jetties along with some tautog and plenty of snapper bluefish.

Colorful parachutes and freewheeling kites will brighten the skies over Ocean City this week as the resort celebrates the upcoming summer season with four days of concerts, parades, food and fun during its fourth annual Springfest.As many as 200,000 visitors are expected for the festivities that will begin early Thursday with a boardwalk parade from 14th Street to the inlet and end Sunday evening with a concert by the Guess Who, a classic rock band."Springfest starts the party rolling," says Scott Warren, special events coordinator for the town of Ocean City.