Donald Wittkowski

They are the speedboats of rowing – open-water craft that can glide along much faster than the typical lifeguard boats ubiquitous at the Jersey Shore. Known as coastal rowing, these sprint boats could very well end up competing in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. A newly formed group called South Jersey Coastal Rowing has been pushing to get the sport sanctioned for the Olympics and is getting ready to launch a series of events this summer to begin developing a talent pool of young local rowers. In a major step toward its goals, South Jersey Coastal Rowing is in the process of acquiring six new boats – four single-seaters and two doubles – that it needs to begin holding rowing clinics and races this summer.

With the experience of three summers at the shore behind it, Carefree Boat Club of South Jersey is launching its fourth year by undertaking an ambitious expansion into the Ocean City market. The excitement will primarily be focused on the boats and water, but Carefree is also offering new attractions to make it more fun on the land for its members, including monthly restaurant trips at the shore. “Our big thing is to make the club less like a boat club and more like a country club,” said Sean McNulty, Carefree’s co-owner and membership director.

Promoting themes of unity and teamwork, Mayor Jay Gillian and three City Council members were sworn into four-year terms Friday during an inauguration ceremony that reflected a sweeping change in the makeup of Ocean City’s government. Three at-large Council seats were up for grabs in the election. Council incumbents Pete Madden and Karen Bergman and political newcomer Tony Polcini, the election winners, were also sworn in Friday. In a 7-0 vote, Madden was named as Council president and Bergman as vice president during Council’s reorganization.

Jason Kelce faced an adoring crowd every bit as tenacious as the defensive linemen the Eagles All-Pro and Pro-Bowl center encounters in the trenches during his NFL games. Hundreds of admirers swarmed him for autographs, selfies and a few precious words of conversation during his celebrity bartending appearance Wednesday in Sea Isle City to raise money for the Eagles Autism Foundation.

Michael Doebley probably knows the back bays, channels and other waterways around Atlantic and Cape May counties as well as anyone. Born in Cape May Court House, he’s been cruising around and fishing in the bays and ocean since he was a child. The professional charter captain, known as “Captain Mike,” taps his decades of experience to give anglers and nature lovers a great time out on the water with his Mighty Heron Charters based at Smith’s Marina at 910 Bay Avenue in Somers Point.

First, he hoisted a big glass of beer in a celebratory toast. Then he wielded an oversized pair of scissors to cut the ceremonial ribbon. “Let’s get this place open!” a smiling Tim Fox shouted Saturday morning while inviting the crowd inside to Yesterday’s Creekside Tavern on Roosevelt Boulevard in Marmora. Actually, Yesterday’s was already open for business. But Fox has given the bar and restaurant such a dramatic makeover since he bought it in February that it is, in effect, a brand-new place just waiting for customers to discover it this summer.

Ocean City intensified its fight against a proposed ocean wind energy farm by criticizing plans by the project’s developer to build an underground transmission line that would come ashore at the beach and run through town. During an online hearing Friday held by the state Board of Public Utilities, the city’s lead attorney accused Ocean Wind LLC of proposing a route for the transmission line at 35th Street simply because it would be the least expensive option for the company. “It appears that Ocean Wind is promoting the most economically expedient route. This is a self-serving approach at the cost of Ocean City,” City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said.

Struggling to hold back tears at times, Councilman Keith Hartzell bade an emotional farewell Thursday night while closing out his 16-year career as an Ocean City elected official. “We live in the most wonderful town, and I can’t see any other place that I would want to live. This town’s given me more than I could ever give back,” Hartzell said while thanking God in his opening prayer at what was his last Council meeting.

The Tahiti Inn and related property are up for sale for $13.5 million. The Gallelli family has owned the Tahiti Inn since 1989, but now they are weighing their options by placing the motel, an apartment building and three adjacent parcels used as two parking lots on the market.

City Councilman and local businessman Jody Levchuk is convinced Ocean City needs a lot more parking – perhaps hundreds of more spaces. However, Levchuk isn’t sure whether the city should build a new parking garage or create more parking in some other way. He calls that “the million-dollar question.” The city is expected to hire a professional consultant to conduct a parking study and provide some answers.