MediaWize

Mayor Jay Gillian and Police Chief Jay Prettyman will hold a Town Hall meeting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 22 at the Ocean City Tabernacle (550 Wesley Avenue). Topics will include New Jersey's legalization of marijuana, juvenile justice reform and police liability.

Night in Venice will return to Ocean City for the 66th time at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 24. Registration is now open to all boat and bayfront home owners who want to participate in this year’s celebration. Details follow for spectators, boat owners and bayfront home owners.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Realtors has honored sales associates from the Cape May County offices with a President’s Circle Award for their excellent sales performance for 2020, placing them in the top 6 percent of more than 50,000 agents in the national BHHS network. Sales associate Nick Marotta of the Ocean City office at Ninth Street and Simpson Avenue is one of the honorees.

Mayor Jay Gillian announced Friday that the Ocean City Police Department will sponsor a bicycle skills and safety event at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 12 in the Civic Center parking lot at Fifth Street and the Boardwalk. The event is in response to large groups of teenage bicyclists riding through town and causing trouble. "In addition to enforcing laws about unsafe riding with summonses, we also want to recognize safe riding habits by providing a constructive outlet for them," the mayor said of the May 12 event for young bikers. His entire statement follows.

Walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations will be available at Ocean City High School (501 Atlantic Avenue) this week, according to a city news release. No appointment is necessary to receive the vaccine from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. St. Frances Cabrini Church located at 114 Atlantic Ave. also will host a vaccine clinic 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, May 7.

Ocean City’s hermit crab mascot will seek his shadow in a local version of Groundhog Day at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 8, on the beach next to the Music Pier, between Moorlyn Terrace and Ninth Street. Martin Z. Mollusk has successfully predicted an early summer every year for more than four decades (sometimes, of course, with the creative use of flashlights by his handlers).

The Ocean City Humane Society will host its annual benefit skate contest on Saturday, May 15, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Skate Park. Ticket and registration details follow.

Registration began online and in-person for Ocean City's recreation programs this week. Many of the programs fill up quickly, so participants are encouraged to take a look at what’s available in advance and be ready to sign up. Registration details follow.

Ocean City has retained a highly recommended labor attorney to conduct a confidential internal investigation of allegations against Ocean City Beach Patrol employees. “Ocean City remains committed to providing all of the resources necessary to complete a thorough investigation and to ensuring a safe workplace for all employees,” Mayor Jay A. Gillian said in a news release Friday. Vanessa E. James of the firm Barker, Gelfand, James and Sarvas will interview members of the OCBP and individuals who posted anonymously to an Instagram page alleging a variety of sexual harassment offenses, according to the release.

Ocean City is moving forward with plans for summer events as the recovery from the pandemic progresses. Mayor Jay Gillian announced Friday that the city is planning to have a fireworks display on Sunday, July 4, the Night in Venice celebration on Saturday, July 24, and the 11th annual Baby Parade on Thursday, Aug. 12.