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Ocean City Free Public Library Board of Trustees President Jennifer Shirk was honored Thursday as one of four 2023 “Women of Wonder” during a luncheon. The other recipients were Tracey Boyle-DuFault, executive director of the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce, Sandra Lockhart and Terri Mascione, both of The Branches Outreach in Rio Grande, and the late Laurie Johnson, who was the executive director of Family Promise of Cape May County until her passing in May.

The students at the Ocean City Primary School and their families really know how to dress up for Halloween, judging by the elaborate costumes for a parade Tuesday. Parents lined up to view the spectacle, as students paraded past waving and giggling and wearing professional-looking costumes that appeared to be straight off a movie set.

The thought of lounging on the beach in late October, in a bathing suit no less, would seem pretty unlikely. But on Saturday, sun-splashed skies and temps hitting the high 70s, made it very likely. As a result, residents and visitors took to Ocean City's beaches to lounge, dip their toes in the water and enjoy some beach games.

Widening areas of the Boardwalk and re-decking other areas are two ways that Ocean City would like to use grant funds if secured through the state's Boardwalk Preservation Fund. Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill in August establishing the boardwalk fund for New Jersey’s shore communities. The fund appropriates $100 million for the renovation and repair of boardwalks in beach towns across the state. Towns could apply for funds through grant applications.

Parking has been a problem for Ocean City for as long as it has been a popular vacation resort. With more and more homeowners, the issue continues to grow. Third Ward City Councilman Jody Levchuk has been vocal about problems brought up by residents in his ward about large homes without adequate parking. The other issue, he said, is residents using what was supposed to be garages as closed-in pool houses or rooms. On Thursday during a brief but busy City Council meeting, Council unanimously adopted a revised ordinance on setbacks for driveways and parking in hopes of ameliorating some of the issues with spillover parking into the street.

Talk about one-stop shopping. For anyone new to town or wanting to find out about businesses, organizations and groups, Welcome Night, courtesy of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, was the place to be Wednesday. The free annual event at the Sports and Civic Center offered attendees a place to learn about the community.

Talk about a parade of parades. Ocean City’s Halloween Parade promises spooky, kooky, creepy and a little silly when it rolls through the downtown Thursday night. The parade is free and begins at 7:15 p.m. and travels down Asbury Avenue from Sixth Street to 11th Street featuring around 30 floats, some elaborate ones at that, five marching bands and other musical entertainment and plenty of parade participants dressed in costume in celebration of All Hallows' Eve.

The Board of Education and the Ocean City Education Association (OCEA) have approved a three-year contract that covers more than 200 school district employees. Members of the association ratified the agreement Tuesday, Oct. 17. At its public meeting Thursday, Oct. 19, the school board voted to approve it.

The Ocean City Board of Education recognized two teachers and students from all three public schools for their achievements during a meeting Thursday. Primary School first-grade teacher Mary Beth Libro and high school math teacher Caitlin Jagielski were honored for their work in education.

Francis X. McCormac was many things to many people, a doting father of seven, a beloved husband, a decorated U.S. Army veteran and a friend to the many people he came to know in Ocean City, a place he called home since 2006. On Saturday, at the age of 102, McCormac passed away surrounded by his family at his Ocean City home in United Methodist Communities Wesley by the Bay. He left behind a legacy of being a highly decorated World War II hero, whose humbleness was endearing and whose sense of humor and wit amused his family and friends.