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Gregory M. Matuson did not gloss over what he believes to be the state of the times when it come to inflation, minimum wage, the stock market, politics and housing prices. Matuson, president and CEO of Sturdy Savings Bank, presented some negatives and some positives in his outlook for 2024 in a talk Thursday at the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce’s January membership meeting. Matuson covered a lot of ground during the presentation in front of an audience that filled the grand ballroom at The Flanders Hotel in Ocean City. As for the economic outlook for 2024, he said, “most business owners and executives will grow stronger this year.” He said he is optimistic about the future...

A snowstorm coated the shore Friday with a glistening layer of snow. And Ocean City was no exception. From the streets and sidewalks to the Boardwalk and the beaches, it seemed snow was everywhere.

The latest winter storm churned up more than your typical clamshells, whelks and other marine life. Littering the Ocean City beaches over the weekend were hundreds, if not thousands, of horseshoe crabs in a mass stranding. Horseshoe crabs are sea creatures that have been around for millions of years. They are not crabs. In fact, they are most closely related to the arachnid family. While they can be viewed by some as sci-fi looking, they are an important part of the ecosystem, according to marine scientists.

Ocean City’s celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. brought the community together for songs, reflection and the recognition of students for essays about MLK and a ceremony honoring two people who stand out for their contributions to the community.

Ocean City approved the final payment to settle litigation with the Klause brothers to purchase the former car lot adjacent to the Community Center. And now that the parties have closed the deal, the city is moving forward with plans to turn at least a portion of the property into a parking lot. Currently, it is just a dirt and gravel lot.

Regan Capone has grit. At 4-foot-10 inches tall, weighing in at about 92 pounds, the Ocean City Intermediate School student can soar in the air nearly 3 feet. Well, she does it with the help of her pony, Tia Maria. And it isn’t that the 13-year-old Sea Isle City resident is good at riding horses. She excels at it. In fact, Regan and Tia Maria, a Welsh pony-thoroughbred cross, just added more accolades to a long list of them over the last few years.

Ocean City’s Boardwalk becomes a veritable entertainment mecca over the summer for an assortment of singers, musicians and other street performers hustling for tips. But over the years, since an ordinance was adopted in 2017 creating some guidelines on the entertainers, namely the hours of play and locations, there have been some revisions. The latest significant change came in 2019, when City Council eliminated the use of amplifiers by the Boardwalk entertainers. Fast forward to 2024. Council introduced an ordinance Thursday night that would restrict where the performers could play, for how long and increases the cost of the license to perform.

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.