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The Ocean City High School gym was filled with athletes Wednesday, honing their basketball skills while gearing up for the unified basketball season. Unified sports allow students with and without intellectual disabilities the opportunity to play on the same team. This is the first year that Ocean City’s students have officially joined the other schools who participate in it, and the teachers say the athletes are ready.

A coastal storm Tuesday into Wednesday that predicted heavy downpours and strong wind gusts along the coast did just that and Ocean City did not escape it. But despite the rains and winds through the afternoon into the night and early hours of Wednesday, Ocean City was spared any major damage, Frank Donato, the city’s Office of Emergency Management director, said Wednesday.

What began as a fun way for Ocean City families to share an activity together outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into a popular attraction for children and their parents or guardians. It’s the Ocean City Free Public Library's StoryWalk, located in Lake Memorial Park at 407 Wesley Ave. To keep families engaged and coming back for more walks in the park, the StoryWalk program runs year-round and features a new book every few months.

A coastal storm Saturday that brought heavy rain and gusty winds churned up surf in Ocean City and eroded some of the beaches in the north end less than a year after a replenishment project. But the stormy weather meant good things for surfers Sunday who reaped the benefit of four-foot waves and lots of them.

Drew Fasy and Dominick Dougherty have been going strong with their podcast – The OCNJ Local – for close to six months now. The two friends have brought their podcast audiences episodes featuring a wide range of topics that people are talking about in the community. They now have a new and exciting look into the lives of leaders in the community, called the “Local Legends Series.” Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian was their first "Local Legends" guest.

In a sweeping change at the Ocean City Board of Education, three new members were sworn in Thursday during the annual reorganization meeting and a new interim superintendent of schools took charge.

Thousands of visitors spent the holidays in Ocean City, from ringing in the New Year with the family-friendly “First Night” events to being a spectator or taking the traditional plunge into the ocean on New Year’s Day or running in the “First Day 5K.” In short, the town was hopping and so was business.

Minutes before he and Mrs. Claus charged into the chilly ocean along with 2,400 fellow “plungers” on New Year’s Day, Santa Claus boasted that he intended to get soaking wet -- all the way up to his flowing white beard. But, truth be told, Santa was all bluster.

Where else but Ocean City’s First Night could a little over $20 get you hours of family-friendly entertainment from ice skating, to live bands, stage performances, a basketball event, magic shows, and even an orchestra? On Sunday night the sold-out event, in its 31st year, did not disappoint for revelers who chose the resort to ring in 2024. Each year the maximum amount of buttons that can be sold is 10,000. By early afternoon, the goal was reached.

From a major victory for offshore wind farm opponents, to a backpack ban and curfew to quell teen rowdiness, to a new police chief, new interim superintendent and a grisly murder, there is no question 2023 was filled with news in Ocean City. Following is a list of the Top 10 stories for 2023, according to OCNJDaily.com.