OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
FEBRUARY 10, 2023
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
CORRECTED
SIGNATURES UPDATED
OC election board fixes ‘clerical error’ on petition and adds nearly 130 names – Page 7
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County irate over school sex ed bill Shock, dismay and anger with strong letter to follow
MALLORY PANUSKA/OCEAN CITY TODAY
THERAPY DOG AND FRIENDS
The Ocean City Fire Department’s new therapy dog, Max, poses with one of his two handlers, Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician Ian Spice, left, Fire Chief Richard Bowers, right, and students from Ocean City Elementary School during his official debut Monday at the 14th Street station. See story on page 11.
By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (Feb. 10, 2023) The Worcester County Commissioners will be delivering a “strongly worded” letter to numerous state officials and politicians regarding their vehement opposition to the Maryland Comprehensive Health Education Framework bill. The legislation now being debated in the Maryland General Assembly requires the state’s health and education departments to to develop a comprehensive health education framework that includes, at a minimum, specified topics, according to the bill’s fiscal note. In turn, each local board of education in the state would have to develop an age-appropriate curriculum that is consistent with the framework. Under the proposed legislation, parents could opt their children out See COMMISSIONERS Page 4
Brand program ready to launch New logo will be popping up everywhere as ad agency, city roll out new marketing plan By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (Feb. 10, 2023) The bright yellow and blue winking OC smiley face popping up everywhere from internal marketing materials to a billboard in Times Square is about to get more ubiquitous as leaders prepare for the official launch of the resort’s new brand. While the graphic has received mixed reviews, including not-so-flattering comparisons to logos for brands such as Kraft Mac and Cheese and Wal Mart, those responsible for
the design want people to know it’s more than just a picture. “We kind of send mixed messages. Who are we? We don’t really know,” Communications and Marketing Director Jessica Waters said during an update on the impending launch of the city’s new brand during a Tourism Commission meeting Monday. “So what we’d like to do is to really start to put the brand out there so when people see the smile they know exactly that it means Ocean City, Maryland,” she continued. The OC smiley face was unveiled during a soft reveal of the brand in November. Officials with marketing firm BVK, See RESORT’S Page 3