Donald Wittkowski

A record number of rowers turned out on a gorgeous fall morning to compete in the Pilgrim Paddle regatta, a Thanksgiving tradition at the shore.

Yikes! Ocean City has been invaded by a gigantic CRAB. But this is not your run-of-the-mill Jersey Shore crab that has claws, beady eyes and darts along the sand while trying to avoid becoming some seagull’s yucky dinner. This CRAB is part of an army of heavy construction equipment being assembled on the beaches as part of a nearly $24.4 million project to replenish Ocean City’s eroded shoreline with 1.5 million cubic yards of fresh sand.

Before they sit down for the turkey and stuffing, Joe LaRosa Jr. and his wife, Barb, will sit down for some rowing on Thanksgiving. “She rows stern. I row bow,” LaRosa said. The LaRosas, of Sea Isle City, have been rowing together for 20 years. In what has become a holiday tradition for them, they will join with other rowing enthusiasts for the Pilgrim Paddle regatta on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 24, in Great Egg Harbor Bay in the shadow of the Garden State Parkway.

Ocean City’s jitneys will be back on the road next year after having a largely successful debut in the summer of 2022. Showing its support for the jitney program, City Council voted 6-0 at a meeting Thursday night to seek bids from contractors interested in operating the service next summer.

One is a businessman who was taught the importance of giving back to the community by his beloved late parents. The other is a coach, mentor and former educator who has influenced thousands of young lives during his 50 years as an Ocean City community leader. On Wednesday night during a gala awards ceremony, David Allegretto and Greg Donahue were recognized by the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce for their myriad contributions to the community.

Millions of dollars in road construction, flood mitigation and beach replenishment projects are some of the major improvements slated for the south end of town, Ocean City officials told local residents Saturday during a community meeting.

Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew cruised to a decisive Election Night victory over Democratic challenger Tim Alexander to win his third term in the 2nd Congressional District.

Cape May County officials are looking to a resort town in another state as a model as part of their efforts to crack down on groups of rowdy teenagers and young adults that have been disrupting the summer tourism season at the Jersey Shore.

The Ocean City Police Department has become the first law enforcement agency in New Jersey to win accreditation for a sixth time, once again giving it a highly coveted recognition of professional excellence. Harry Delgado, accreditation program director for the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, presented Ocean City Police Chief Jay Prettyman with a certificate of accreditation during a ceremony at a City Council meeting Thursday night.

Responding to complaints about rowdy teenagers disrupting the summer tourism season at the shore, three Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation that would allow police to detain – but not arrest – juveniles who drink alcohol or use marijuana in public. The bill is being characterized by one of its sponsors as a “tool” that would give police the power to essentially break up large groups of unruly teens that gather on the beaches, boardwalks or other popular hangouts at the shore.