Page 42 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch August 23, 2013 The Dispatch Forever In Memory Of Our Founder, Dick Lohmeyer (May 25, 1927-May 5, 2005) The Dispatch, Serving Greater Ocean City Since 1984, Is Published By Maryland Coast Dispatch Inc. Weekly On Friday Mornings MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 467 Berlin, Md. 21811 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd. Berlin, Md. 21811 PHONE: 410-641-4561 FAX: 410-641-0966 WEBSITES: www.mdcoastdispatch.com www.facebook.com/thedispatchoc J. STEVEN GREEN Publisher/Editor editor@mdcoastdispatch.com HOW WE SEE IT Tall Ship A Timely, Quality Attraction This week’s arrival of the tall ship is perfectly timed to coincide with the resort’s summer season winding down and the example of what a high-profile special event can do for the town. The ship arrived in Ocean City on Tuesday, but abnormally low tides in the bays prevented it from coming in the Inlet and eventually through the Route 50 Bridge and to its temporary resting place on 3rd Street. The ship remained a couple miles offshore overnight, providing some excitement for beach-goers who were able to easily see it on the clear day and watch the sun rise with it in the foreground. Come Wednesday morning around 11, the ship was escorted through the Inlet and squeezed through the drawbridge, providing some of the most magical vistas we have seen in this area. The event captured media attention from all areas and the tall ship appears to have captured the attention of many. As of Wednesday night at 9:30, there were about 200 people taking pictures of the ship on 3rd Street in advance of Thursday morning’s first public tours, which reportedly exceeded organizer expectations. When the idea of bringing the tall ship to Ocean City was first broached just last month, there appeared to be some trepidation over the logistics of how the Nao Victoria Galeon could get into Ocean City and where it would be docked exactly during its nearly two-week stay. The bulkhead between 3rd and 4th streets was eventually chosen and Ocean City had about $3,000 in infrastructure improvements that needed to be done to accommodate the enormous vessel. The paltry expense in this case is well worth it, as Ocean City received a tremendous amount of positive media exposure this week, thanks largely to the tremendous photo and video opportunities that came with the Galeon maneuvering around our unique geography. That kind of exposure and excitement is priceless, and it was a good move for the Mayor and Council to react quickly and approve this unique event. NEWS DEPARTMENT SHAWN J. SOPER News Editor Sports Editor ssoper@mdcoastdispatch.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Weighing In On School Start Move Editor: As I begin my 29th year of teaching in a Maryland public school system, I would like to respond to your first piece of "Between the Lines" from the Aug. 16 edition of your paper regarding moving the start of the school year back to the day after Labor Day. The start of the school year has been moved up around the state to Aug. 26 this year in all but two counties. Frederick and Prince George's County moved their start date up to Aug. 19. The rationale behind this is to give students even more classroom instruction time prior to taking high stakes tests that they are required to take in May. Many high school students take Advanced Placement exams the first two weeks of May. These exam dates are set by the AP testing company and are nationwide dates. Additionally, students around Maryland take High School Assessment (HAS) tests and elementary students take required state-wide tests in May. The state board of education actually moved the HSA's from early May to the end of May last year to increase instructional time. In your second paragraph, you mention statistics stating how much Ocean City would benefit economically by starting school after Labor Day. Actually, these numbers are most likely inaccurate. When the school systems move their start dates to earlier in August, they also have their school year end earlier in June. The town does not lose any available days for vacation travel. The summer break is still roughly nine weeks. It just happens to be one to three weeks earlier than under the old calendar. If anything, you have more potential vacationers and summer employees available by releasing school in early June. High school students involved in fall athletics must return home by Aug. 15, even if the school year doesn't start until after Labor Day. Also, colleges are finished in mid to late May, but resume at the end of August. By having an "earlier" summer season, more college students would be able to work more weeks in the summer as the Ocean City summer schedule would be more in line with the college calendar. The major perception that Ocean City will have to overcome is the problem of June Bugs. Families will continue to stay away as long as the high school graduates overtake the town in June with all of their craziness. In the 70's and 80's, Fort Lauderdale was a hot spot for college spring breakers. The town had enough and stopped catering to spring breakers and became more family friendly and remains so to this day. If Ocean City can clean up the June Bug issue, the earlier start and end to the school year should actually be a boon to the town and probably even a better deal for Ocean City than the current calendar. Matt Noble Ocean City and Olney which is why they are insidious. Since they have recently culminated, these changes give the appearance of being “all of a sudden.” Albeit the actions the mayor outlined to address these concerns seem reasonable and practical. Still I believe we need to remain vigilant in our expectation of Mayor and City Council to ensure these proposed actions come to full fruition. Clearly these proposed actions will not improve the summer of 2013 in Ocean City, yet it is encouraging to look toward future summers with a sigh of relief. I am wondering if Mayor Meehan has any different strategies concerning marketing Ocean City, Md. for the future. Whatever our present strategies are, they seem to have tapped into the attention of undesirable tourists. While I certainly think it is prudent to take the actions Mayor Meehan is suggesting, I don’t think we should neglect to concern ourselves about who we are inviting into our town. Ergo, the question of marketing strategies should be answered as well. Hopefully the mayor and city council will inform the residents and local businesses of their future marketing strategies. Rachel Fiorello Ocean City JOANNE SHRINER Staff Writer joanne@mdcoastdispatch.com TRAVIS BROWN Staff Writer travis@mdcoastdispatch.com SALES DEPARTMENT TERRI FRENCH Account Executive Entertainment Editor terri@mdcoastdispatch.com JEANETTE DESKIEWICZ Account Executive jeanette@mdcoastdispatch.com MANETTE CRAMER Account Executive manette@mdcoastdispatch.com ART DEPARTMENT CINDY WARD Art Director art@mdcoastdispatch.com JENNIFER T. O’BRIEN Graphic Artist COLE GIBSON Graphic Artist Webmaster BUSINESS OFFICE PAMELA GREEN Bookkeeper Classifieds Manager classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com OC’s New Marketing Direction Is Critical Editor: Thank you for your recent article, “Mayor Promises ‘Aggressive’ Plan To Address OC Concerns,” by Joanne Shriner. It is nice to finally receive a response from our Mayor and City Council on these issues. The mayor promised several significant actions will be taken to restore Ocean City’s reputation for a safe, pristine, family vacation resort, and we hope they will be implemented immediately. In response I would like to comment that I realize the sudden negative changes in Ocean City might seem overwhelming and shocking for many. However, these changes have been subtle and gradual over the past few years, Boardwalk Visits Over Editor: My husband and I have owned a townhouse in OC for over 25 years. All of our children and now our grandchildren come to enjoy the beach. I am sorry to say that due to the reported violence and problems on the Boardwalk and surrounding areas we now cook in, fish and go to the beach. Our entertainment is limited due to these problems. I think your attention should be on crime and how to continue to attract families to the beach and Boardwalk. The consequences to this problem could potentially ruin SEE NEXT PAGE The Maryland Coast Dispatch (USPS #015125) is an official and legal newspaper for Worcester County. Periodical postage paid at Berlin, Maryland, and additional mailing offices.. The Maryland Coast Dispatch, 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin, Md. 21811, is published weekly on Friday mornings, 52 weeks a year. Subscription rates are $75 per year, $55 for six months. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Maryland Coast Dispatch, P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Maryland 21811. Maryland Coast Dispatch offices are located at Route 346 and Graham Avenue, Berlin, Maryland.