THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

IT IS THE SUMMER OF TAPTHED LETTUCE AND MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS ON VACCINES AND VACCINE TECHNOLOGY.

JOINING US TONIGHT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH IS Dr.

WILBUR CHEN PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT THE VERSIFY OF MARYLAND SKBOOL FOR MEDICINE AND THE CENTER FOR GLOBAL HEALTH.

DOCTOR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LOTS TO TALK ABOUT.

LET'S START WITH THE LETTUCE THE PRODUCE THING WHICH I HAD NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE NOW EVERYBODY HAS.

THIS IS A PARASITE?

>> CORRECT.

SO WE CAN JUST REVIEW THAT IT IS ACTUALLY UP WITH OF THE TOP 10 FOOD BOURN ILLNESSES THAT OCCURS EVERY YEAR THE C.D.C.

HAS FOOD NET A CUTE NAME BUT THEY HAVE A SURVEILLANCE FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FOOD-BORNE AGENTS AND CYCLO SPORE RA HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MANY, MANY YEARS IT'S CAUSING THIS MASSIVE OUTBREAK.

>> Jeff: AND A COUPLE OF FATALITIES.

IS IT TREATABILITY?

>> IT IS TREATABLE.

IT CAUSES DEHYDRATION AND WEIGHT LOSS, NAUSEA, VOMITING AND ABDOMINAL PAIN AND DIARRHEA.

FOR THOSE IMMUNE COMPROMISED THAT PERHAPS CANNOT HANDLE THE CHANGES IN THE VOLUME BECAUSE OF THE DIARRHEA AND THE VOLUME LOSS THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE HAVING MORE SEVERE INFECTION AND PERHAPS THAT IS WHERE THE FATALITIES CAME FROM.

>> Jeff: WE HAVE DATA FROM THE C.D.C.

AND THIS IS NOT A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

22,000 CONFIRMED OR SUSPECTED CASES, 15 STATES.

IS THERE ALWAYS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF BACKGROUND CASES OF THIS GOING AROUND ANDTIES YEAR WE HAVE THIS CONCENTRATED OUTBREAK?

>> YEAH, YEAH.

WHEN I REVIEWED THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS IT WAS USUALLY LESS THAN 5,000 TOTAL CASES IN A SINGLE YEAR WE DO HAVE MANY CASES AND THOUSANDS OF CASES IT'S USUALLY LESS THAN 5,000.

HAVING THE 22,000 THAT IS WHY WE'RE SEEING IT IS A MASSIVE OUTBREAK FROM A SINGLE OUTBREAK.

>> Jeff: ACCORDING TO MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WE'RE UP TO 150 CASES.

>> TYPICALLY 100-2 HUNDRED CASES A YEAR.

IS IT POSSIBLE WE HAVE EHEARD THIS IS REALLY BAD DIARRHEA.

IS IT SOMETHING THAT WOULD ALTHOUGH SEND SOMEBODY TO THE DOCTOR.

I'M WONDERING IF PEOPLE MAYBE NOT IGNORED IT BUT TAKEN SOMETHING OVER-THE-COUNTER.

>> IT CAN BE SELF TREATED AND NOT HAVE THE VERY SEVERE.

>> Jeff: MAYBE WE'RE COUNTING BETTER.

>> AT LEAST IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS OUTBREAK.

PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY ALSO NOW HOLDING BACK ON PURCHASING LETTUCE OR GETTING LET TUTS WITH THEIR FOOD WHEN THEY GO TO THE RESTAURANT BECAUSE OF THE AWARENESS OF THIS OUTBREAK.

BUT FOR MARYLANDERS EVERY YEAR IT'S 100-200 CASES THEY ARE NOT SOSHIATED WITH OUT BREAKS A LOT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH TRAVEL THE HALF THE 150 AT LEAST HALF ARE ASSOCIATED WITH TRAVEL.

TRAVELERS COMING BACK AND HAVING DIARRHEA AND GETTING DIAGNOSED.

>> Jeff: I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES TALK ABOUT THIS AT THE OFFICE.

HAS IT CHANGED YOUR EATING HABITS AT ALL?

IF YOU ARE HAVING A SALAD IS THERE ANYTHING YOU KNOW TO DO TO REDUCE THE RISK?

>> MY HABITS HAVEN'T CHANGED BUT I HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE AWARE TO THE PEOPLE AROUND ME TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO HEADACHE SURE THAT THEY WASH THEIR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THEY DO NOT TRY TO CEASE EATING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

WE WANT TO WASH IT AND WE ARE COOKING OUR FOODS MAKING SURE THAT THAT IS WE'RE THAT DRINKING WATER FROM UNTREATED SOURCES.

SO FROM LAKES AND STREAMS.

SO AND WASHING OUR HANDS WITH SOAP AND WATER WHEN WE'RE PREPARING OUR FOODS.

THOSE ARE THE BASIC THINGS.

>> Jeff: REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE OUTBREAK OR ANYTHING ELSE ON THE DISEASE FRONT SEND US AN E-MAIL THE ADDRESS WILL BE ON THE SCREEN.

LET'S TURN TO VACCINES AND THERE IS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT THERE INCLUDING A NEW FLU SHOT.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS ONE?

>> YEAH, THIS IS BEING IT'S BUILDING OFF OF WHAT MODERNA HAS DONE WITH THE MRNA COVID BASED VACCINE AND NOW THEY HAVE A INFLUENZA VACCINE AND IT'S APPROVED FOR OLDER ADULTS THEY ARE THE ONES HAVING THE MOST SEVERE EFFECTS.

90% OF THE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE AMONG OLDER ADULTS.

65 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER.

>> Jeff: IS THIS THE MAGIC BULLET THAT EVERYBODY'S BEEN WISHING FOR FOR A LONGTIME THAT WE ONLY GET ONE MORE FLU SHOT IN OUR LIFE SOMETIMES.

>> WE COULD HAVE A SINGLE-DOSE I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT AN ANNUAL FLU SHOT.

THIS IS AN ADDED VACCINE THAT WILL COMPLIMENT OTHER INFLUENZA VACCINES THAT ARE SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR OLDER ADULTS SO WE HAVE A HIGHER DOSE VACCINE.

WE HAVE ADD VENT WHICH IS A SPECIAL INGREDIENT ADDED TO THE SENIOR TO BOOST THE IMMUNE RESPONSE AND NOW THE MRNA BASED VACCINE.

>> Jeff: WHAT WOULD YOU TELL OLDER ADULTS YOU GO TO THE PHARMACY FOR YOUR FLU SHOT AND THEY GIVE YOU A CHOICE.

HOW SHOULD PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IT?

>> ULTIMATELY IT DOESN'T MATTER JUST GET THE SHOT THE WORRY IS THEY WILL TURN AROUND AND NOT GET A VACCINE.

IF IT'S THE STANDARD VACCINE THEY SHOULD GET IT IF IT'S VENTD TO THEM.

NOW, IF THEY HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO TRY TO FIND A PREFERENCE I WOULD SAY I DON'T HAVE A PREFERENCE BETWEEN THE HIGH DOSE AND THE ADJUVANTED VACCINE AND NOW WE HAVE THE MRNA BASED VACCINE SHOULD BE OUT THIS FALL, I THINK I DON'T KNOW.

NOW WE HAVE THREE CHOICES FOR THE ENHANCED VACCINES FOR OLDER ADULTS.

>> Jeff: HEALTH AUTHORITIES STRUGGLE WITH FLU SOMETIMES IS A MISMATCH ON THE ACTUAL STRAIN THAT IS CIRCULATING VERSUS THE STRAIN THAT THEY GUESSED WOULD BE CIRCULATING WHEN THEY HAD TO START THE PROCESS.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A FASTER PROCESS AND IF THERE IS A MISS ONE YEAR, THIS COULD BE HELPFUL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE MANUFACTURE PROCESS SHOULD BE MUCH SHORTER, SO THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS TYPE OF VACCINE TO BE PIVOTED TOWARD THOSE MISMATCHED STRAINS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE BECAUSE THIS IS SO NEW RIGHT NOW AND THE F.D.A.

WOULD HAVE TO REGULATE IT.

>> Jeff: LET'S GO BACK A LITTLE BIT WE HAVE A VIEWER QUESTION TITLED SALMONELLA.

BUT THE QUESTION IS: HOW DOES THIS PARASITE START AND GROW?

I -- TH WE'RE BACK TO THE PARASITE AND THE LETTUCE.

THERE'S ALSO A SALMONELLA OUTBREAK ANY COMPARISONS THERE?

>> THESE ARE FOOD-BORNE AGENTS OFTENTIMES FROM AGAIN A SOURCE THAT GETS CONTAMINATED A SINGLE SOURCE WHETHER IT IS A CROP OR FIELD THAT IS BEING IRRIGATED AND OFTENTIMES WHAT HAPPENED IT'S IRRIGATED WITH CONTAMINATED WATER.

SEWAGE GOT INTO THE WATER SYSTEM AND IS IRGAITH THAT FIELD.

IN SOME DEVELOPING COUNTRIES NIGHT SOIL IS USED AS FERTILIZER USING RAW HUMAN SEWAGE WHICH IS VERY RICH IN WHAT YOU WANT A FERTILIZER TO HAVE BUT THE BOTTOM LINE THERE'S CONTAMINATION FROM SEWAGE INTO THE CROPS AND THOSE THEN COME INTO OUR LETTUCE, OUR JALAPENO PEPPERS AND OTHER FOODS.

>> Jeff: DO WE DO THAT HERE MAYBE TREATING THE SEWAGE A LITTLE BIT?

>> UNLESS THE SEWAGE BREAKS DOWN AND YOU HAVE A MISSING OF YOUR -- MIXING OF CLEAN WATER WITH SEWAGE LINES WHICH RARELY HAPPENS AND YOU HEAR ABOUT THE BOIL-WATER ALERTS IN BALTIMORE WE HAD A BOIL-WATER ALERT LAST SUMMER.

SO WE ARE VERY CONSCIOUS OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR WATER SUPPLY RELIGIONS SAFE.

AND SO WHEN WE IRRIGATE WE ARE NOT IRRIGATING WITH THE UNSAFE WATER WE ARE IRRIGATING WITH SAFE WATER.

SO IT CAN RARERY HAPPEN IN THE U.S.

IT'S BECAUSE OF A BREAKDOWN OF A PROCESS SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPENING.

>> Jeff: ANOTHER VIEWER QUESTION ABOUT VACCINES, SHE SAYS EVERY YEAR I GET A FLU AND A COVID SHOT 69 YEARS OLD WHEN SHOULD I GET THE SHOTS AND WHICH FLU SHOT SHOULD I GET AND WHAT ABOUT A PNEUMONIA SHOT.

>> SHE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED HER PNEUMONIA SHOT IF SHE HASN'T IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO CATCH UP WITH THAT.

>> Jeff: THAT IS A LIFE-SAVER.

>> IT IS.

>> FOR THE FLU AND COVID GET IT WHEN IT COMES OUT IT HASN'T COME OUT YET IT WILL BE COPING OUT THIS FALL AS THE NORMAL ANNUAL FLU VACCINES.

>> Jeff: I HAVE TWO MINUTES.

LET'S DIVIDE THE TIME WHAT WE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT NEW RESEARCH ON COVID INFECTIONS AND POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS TO OTHER LATENT VIRUSES.

WE HAVE IT ON THE SCREEN.

REACTIVATION OF CHRONIC VIRUSES NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE VACCINES COULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH LONG COVID WHAT DO YOU HEADACHE OF THIS?

>> YES, IT IS A TERRIFIC ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT IN NATURE LAST WEEK.

WHAT IT WAS SHOWING WAS FOLLOWING ABOUT 1100 SEVERE COVID INFECTIONS THESE PATIENTS OVER ABOUT A YEAR'S TIME, AND WHAT THEY SAW WAS THAT THERE WAS REACTIVATION OF CHRONIC VIRUSES.

HERP BEES, EBV, IT IS KNOWN AS THE MONONUKE LEO SIS KISSING VIRUS THESE REACTIVATE UNDER STRESS.

SHINGLES IS ANOTHER VIRUS THAT REACTIVATES UNDER STRESS.

COVID-19, THE SEVERE INFECTIONS ARE A STRESS CONDITION NOW WE'RE SHOWING THIS IS ALSO A CONDITION THAT CAN REACTIVATE THESE KNOWN VIRUSES.

>> Jeff: TODAY'S NEWS, THE PRESIDENT SIGNING AN ORDER INSTRUCTING STATEDS TO REVISE THEIR RULES ON CHILDHOOD VACCINES.

AND I IMAGINE CERTAIN STATES MARYLAND INCLUDED WILL NOT BE SUPER FAST TO ADJUST TO THAT ORDER BUT YOUR STHOTS ON THOUGHTS ON FEARS ABOUT THE LARGE VACCINE SCHEDULE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE?

>> YEAH.

SO THE VIEWERS ARE PROBABLY MARYLANDERS MOSTLY BUT VIEWERS THAT MIGHT BE AROUND THE WORLD OR THE NATION, SHOULD FEEL COMFORTED THAT THERE IS A LOT OF DATA ON ALL OF THESE ROUTINE CHILDHOOD VACCINES THAT ARE LICENSED CURRENTLY ON THE SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THEM.

SO THERE'S NOTHING TO FEAR ABOUT THEM.

EACH STATE WILL BE DELIBERATING THEIR CONGRESS PERSONS, BUT ULTIMATELY I HOPE THEY LAND ON BEING VERY FAVORABLE IN PROMOTING CHILDHOOD VACCINATION.

>> Jeff: Dr.

WILBUR CHEN PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME HIM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH JEFF.

>> Jeff: AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: NOW OUR ANNUAL VISIT DOWN THE OCEAN JOINED BY MAYOR RICK MEEHAN.

MR.

MAYOR, I KNOW IT IS ALWAYS SUNNY AND BEAUTIFUL IN OCEAN CITY BUT TODAY IT'S REALLY SUNNY AND 80°.

IT LOOKS PERFECT.

>> YOU KNOW, JEFF HEY IT'S NICE TALKING TO YOU AGAIN.

YES STS A PERFECT DAY ON THE BEACH.

THE BEACH LOOKS GREAT IT'S LATE AFTERNOON BUT PEOPLE ARE OUT ON THE BEACH.

JUST ONE OF THOSE BEAUTIFUL PERFECT DAYS IN OCEAN CITY.

>> Jeff: LET'S START WITH THE BUSINESS OF OCEAN CITY WHICH IS TOURISM, THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE OVER THE SUMMER SEASON.

ARE YOU SEEING ANY IMPACT FROM THE INCREASE IN GAS PRICES?

>> NO.

THAT WOULD BE NEIGES LINGABLE.

WE HAVE A DRIVE TO DESTINATION WITHIN 150 MILES OF THOSE THAT VISIT OCEAN CITY.

IT'S STILL REASONABLY, YOU KNOW, INEXPENSIVE TRIP AND IT DOESN'T REALLY AFFECT US IN OCEAN CITY.

WE HOPE THE GAS PRICES GO DOWN THAT IS BETTER FOR EVERYBODY BUT IT HASN'T HAD ANY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR SEASON.

>> Jeff: IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT THE BIG CROWDS OF TOURISTS TO KNOW BEFORE THEY SHOW UP READY TO HAVE SOME FUN?

I'M THINKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS?

>> PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

AND JEFF, AS I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE OUR GOAL IS EVERYBODY ARRIVES IN OCEAN CITY SAFELY AND THEY ARE SAFE WHILE THEY ARE HERE AND THEY RETURN HOME SAFELY.

WE ASK EVERYBODY THE LIFEGUARDS ARE IN THE STANDS FROM 10:00 A.M.

TO 530.

DON'T GO INTO THE WATER UNLESS THE LIFEGUARDS HIT THE STANDS.

YOU CAN TALK TO THE LIFEGUARDS FAMILIES CAN MEET THE LIFEGUARDS AND THEY WILL TALK TO THEM ABOUT SAFETY IN THE WATER.

WE WANT EVERYBODY TO OBEY THE RULES OF ROADWAY.

CROSS AT THE CROSSWALKS, USED INTERSECTIONS OBEY THE RULES OF ROADWAY LIKE YOU WOULD AT HOME WHILE ON VACATION IN OCEAN CITY.

>> Jeff: I KNOW THE TOWN IS MONITORING SOCIAL MEDIA JUST KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR ANY OF THESE GATHERINGS THESE TAKEOVER EVENTS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IS THAT BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENED IN OCEAN CITY OR YOU'VE SEEN IT HAPPENING OTHER PLACES?

>> IT HAS HAPPENED IN OCEAN CITY.

AND WE'RE SEEING IT HAPPEN ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WE'RE VERY VIGILANT IN MONITORING SOCIAL MEDIA AND FOLLOWING THE DIFFERENT SITES TO SO WE CAN BE AWARE IF ANY OF THOSE APLANNED.

WE DID HAVE A TAKEOVER EVENT LAST JULY 4TH WEEKEND THAT DID NOT OCCUR THIS YEAR WE ARE FORTUNATE.

BUT OUR POLICE HAVE A GOOD PLAN IN PLACE.

WE ARE A DISTANCE AWAY FROM MOST OF THOSE THAT COME TO VISIT SO WE HAVE LEAD TIME IF AN EVENTS IS PLANNED IN ANTICIPATION THIS PAST FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND WE HAD NOT ONLY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT MARYLAND STATE POLICE AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

AS YOU MEN SONNED WE HAVE BECOME THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE STATE POPULATION WISE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY THAT IS HERE IS SAFE.

WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT THIS PAST WEEKEND EVEN THOUGH WE HAD IN EXCESS OF 300,000 PEOPLE IN OCEAN CITY AND THAT IS ALWAYS OUR GOAL AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUR GOAL.

>> Jeff: WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE YOU ARE TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE FUN AND YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO BE SAFE AND THE OFFICERS NOW LIKE, I THINK, MOST IF NOT ALL PLACES IN THE STATE HAVE BODY WORN CAMERAS AND I'M GUESSING IN THE 20 YEARS OR SO THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THE MAYOR THE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT HAS CHANGED A LOT?

>> YES.

WE HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF FULL-TIME OFFICERS DRAMATICALLY.

WE HAVE BODY-CAMERAS ON ALL OF OUR OFFICERS.

WE HAVE A CITY WATCH CAMERA SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY THAT CAPTURES ALMOST EVERY SPOT IN TOWN.

SO WE CAN KEEP THE EYES IN THE SKY AND WORK WITH OUR OFFICERS THAT ARE OUT ON PATROL.

SO IT'S VERY WELL PLANNED.

WE'RE VIGILANT IN MAKING SURE THAT WE MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS SAFE.

IT IS A CHALLENGE.

AND WE NEED EVERYBODY TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION SO WE JUST ASK EVERYBODY TO OBEY THE LAW WHILE YOU ARE HERE.

YOU CAN HAVE A LOT OF FUN IN OCEAN CITY AND OBEY THE LAW.

>> Jeff: ONE OF THE FLASHPOINTS IS PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SMOKE A CIGARETTE, MAYBE SMOKE SOMETHING ELSE ON THE BOARDWALK ON THE BEACH IS THAT LEGAL ANYWHERE?

>> NOT IN THE PUBLIC AREAS OF OCEAN CITY.

YOU KNOW IT'S NOT LEGAL ON THE BOARDWALK NO SMOKING OF ANY TYPE IS ALLOWED ON THE BOARDWALK AND THAT INCLUDES VAPING OR ANYTHING ELSE.

YOU CAN WALK OFF THE BOARDWALK IN SOME OF THE PUBLIC AREAS.

ON THE BEACH THERE ARE DESIGNATED WHERE YOU CAN SMOKE IN THE WESTERN SECTION OF THE BEACH.

IT'S DISCOURAGED.

BUT YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE OUT ON THE BEACH PROPER SMOKING.

THIS IS FOR EVERYBODY.

IT MAKES IT JUST A BETTER SPHERE FOR -- ATMOSPHERE FOR EVERYBODY WE ASK EVERYBODY TO WORK WITH US AND ABIDE BY THE LAWS.

>> Jeff: DID I READ SOMETHING ABOUT A NEW UMBRELLA THAT PEOPLE SETUP?

>> TENTS AND UMBRELLAS.

WE'VE TRIED TO PUT REASONABLE REGULATIONS IN PLACE AS GUIDELINES FOR PEOPLE THAT CHOOSE TO BRING CANOPIES OUT TO THE BEACH.

UMBRELLAS ARE FINE.

YOU KNOW THEY ARE ON EVERY BEACH BY OUR BEACH COMPANIES.

CANOPIES ARE ALLOWED.

THEY ARE RESTRICTED TO BEING NO MORE THAN 12 BY 12 AND THAT INCLUDES THE EXTENSIONS.

THEY HAVE TO BE OPEN ON ALL SIDES SO PEOPLE CAN SEE THROUGH THEM AND EVERYBODY CAN ENJOY THE BEACH AND THEY CAN'T BE SETUP AND LEFT UNATTENDED BEFORE 10:00 A.M.

IN THE MORNING WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS ALLOW FLEXIBILITY FOR PEOPLE TO UTILIZE THE SUN SHADES THEY CHOOSE AND ALSO AT THE SAME TIME MAKE IT SO THE BEACH IS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY AND THERE'S SPACE FOR THE LARGE CROWDS THAT VISIT OCEAN CITY.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE BIG EVENTS COMING UP?

WE'VE THE FOURTH OF JULY AND LABOR DAY I HOPE IT DOESN'T GET HERE FOR A WHILE BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE FISHING AND MUSIC?

>> YEAH, THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS PLANNED FOR OCEAN CITY AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE SUMMERTIME.

DURING THE WEEK, I MEAN WE HAVE FREE ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR OUR VACATIONERS.

THERE'S FREE CONCERTS AT SUN SET PARK ON THURSDAY NIGHT.

SUNDAYS IN THE PARK WITH FIREWORKS UP IN NORTH SIDE PARK EVERY WEEK AND WE HAVE FIREWORKS ALONG THE BOARDWALK ON THURSDAY NIGHTS.

THOSE THINGS WILL KEEP HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

THEN WE BUILDUP INTO THE FIRST WEEK IN AUGUST, AUGUST THIRD-8.

THAT IS THE WEEK WHERE WE HAVE THE WHITE MARLIN OPEN IN OCEAN CITY AND THAT IS THE LARGEST HAD TOURNAMENT IN THE WORLD AND THE BUSIEST WEEK IN OCEAN CITY AS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COME HERE NOT JUST TO FISH AND PARTICIPATE IN THE TOURNAMENT BUT TO WATCH THE EXCITEMENT OF THE WEIGH-INS AT HARBOR ISLAND AS THEY WEIGH IN THE FISH.

IT IS AN EXCITING WEEK.

WE HAVE MARLIN FEST ON THE BEACH WHERE YOU CAN WATCH THE BOATS COME IN ENJOY ON THE BIG SCREEN WATCHING THEM WEIGH-IN THE FISH.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE GREAT WEEKS HERE AND WE DON'T EXPECT THAT TO BE DIFFERENT IN 2026.

>> Jeff: AND THEN THE CONCERT MULTIDAY CONCERT IN SEPTEMBER.

YOU'VE DONE THIS FOR A COUPLE OF SEASONS NOW.

WHERE IS THAT SETUP?

HE IS ARE BIG NAMED GROUPS COMING IN?

>> THIS IS WE'RE PROUD TO OFFER THAT CONCERT SERIES THAT IS THE LAST WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER AND THE FIRST WEEKEND IN OCTOBER.

THE LAST WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER IS A THREE-DAY CONCERT IT'S OCEANS CALLING AND WE'VE HAD THE BIGGEST NAMES IN MUSIC HERE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

THIS YEAR THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, GWEN STEFANI, HOOTY AND THE BLOWFISH ON THE BEACH IT TAKES PLACE DOWNTOWN ON THE INLET PARKING LOT ALL THE WAY UP TO FIRST STREET AND WE ENCLOSE THE ENTIRE BOARDWALK IS PART OF THE CONCERT VENUE.

SO IT IS A TICKETED EVENT AND IT'S FABULOUS.

THE ONLY PLACE THAT IS ABLE TO INCORPORATE THEIR BOARDWALK INTO AN EVENT LIKE THIS AND IT MAKES IT VERY SPECIAL.

THE NEXT WEEKEND THE FIRST WEEKEND IN OCTOBER WE HAVE COUNTRIES CALLING AND THIS YEAR WE HAVE SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN COUNTRY MUSIC.

LANNY WILSON, LAMBERT, CHRIS STAPLETON.

IT'S ABOUT EIGHT DAYS IN THAT TIME PERIOD.

MUSIC IN DOWNTOWN OCEAN CITY AND IT'S 55,000 PEOPLE WILL BE HERE.

AND IT IS A WONDERFUL EVENT.

AND THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A CONCERT ON THE BEACH ON THE BIG STAGES WATCHING ALL THOSE ENTERTAINERS.

>> Jeff: I KNOW IT'S ALL ABOUT SUN AND SAND AND MUSIC.

BUT YOU THOUGH, THE BUSINESS OF OCEAN CITY IS BUSINESS TO SOME DEGREE.

HOW ARE YOUR BUSINESS PEOPLE DOING IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO HIRE WORKERS FOR THE SEASON THAT'S BEEN A CHOKEPOINT IN THE PAST WHERE WORKERS CAN GET HOUSING FOR A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY WHAT ARE THE ISSUES TODAY?

>> REALLY THEY HAVE BEEN MINIMIZED.

MOST PEOPLE HAVE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES.

WE DO HAVE OUR J1 EXCHANGE STUDENTS HERE.

THE HOUSING PROBLEM HAS SEEMED TO SOLVE ITSELF.

A LOT OF UNITS THAT WERE REAPPROPRIATED ARE UTILIZED AS RENTAL UNITS DURING COVIDMYIATE GREATED BACK TO BE SEASONAL HOUSING WHICH HELPED THE INVENTORY.

MOST BUSINESSES HAVE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF HELP.

THIS SUMMER SEASON HOPEFULLY THAT WILL CONTINUE BUT THE SUMMER SEASON STARTED OFF SLOW AS YOU MAY KNOW THE WEATHER WASN'T REAL CONDUCIVE.

WE HAD THE RAINIEST MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ON RECORD, I THINK.

SINCE THEN, YOU KNOW, THE LAST FEW WEEKS THE SUN HAS COME OUT, THE TEMPERATURES, BOY, ARE RIGHT WHERE WE WANT THEM HERE AND REALLY BUSINESS HAS PICKED UP AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE EXCELLENT SEASONS HERE IN OCEAN CITY.

>> Jeff: LAST YEAR I CAME TO SEE YOU IT WAS 100° ON THE MAINLAND BUT THAT SEA BREEZE BROUGHT IT DOWN TO IT ONLY FELT LIKE MAYBE 97.

IT WAS JUST GREAT.

BUT THAT IS THE WHOLE BUSINESS OF OCEAN CITY IS THAT SEA BREEZE?

>> YOU KNOW WE HAVE OUR OWN AIR-CONDITIONER HERE ON THE OCEAN FRONT WHILE EVERYBODY ELSE IS IN THE 100° TEMPERATURES.

IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT COOLER AT THE BEACH BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT WATER THAT BREEZE COMING OFF THE OCEAN AND IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IT REALLY COOLS EVERYTHING DOWN.

>> Jeff: MAYOR RICK MEEHAN JOINING US FROM OCEAN CITY, SIR WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> JEFF, AS ALWAYS THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN IN OCEAN CITY.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FOR THAT FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

YOU CAN SEE PAST EDITIONS OF OUR PROGRAMS THEY ARE ON-LINE AT VIDEO.MPT.TV ON THE FREE PBS APP.

DOWNLOAD THAT TODAY.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]