MediaWize

Mayor Jay Gillian is urging Ocean City residents to continue taking precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19, even as a vaccine is on the way. "But we still have a long way to go before a vaccine is widely available to everybody. Better days are in sight, but until then we all must continue to wear masks, avoid indoor gatherings, wash hands and do whatever we can to limit the spread of the virus – for the sake of the entire community," he said Friday in his weekly message to the public. His entire message follows.

The New Jersey Department of Health expects to begin administering the coronavirus vaccine to frontline medical workers and long-term care residents within days, with the goal of having 70 percent of the state’s population vaccinated over the next six months, according to a county press release Thursday. “Our Department of Health and Office of Emergency Management have been working closely with state officials and Cape May County is ready to begin the vaccination program,” said Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton.

As Cape May County gets closer to the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines becoming available, there are questions about who will receive the first shots. In Phase 1, when limited doses are available, the front of the line as determined by the state is healthcare workers who many have contact with infected patients or infectious materials, according to a county press release. Other essential workers and people at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness would also be in the initial phase, the release explained.

Steve Booth, sales leader of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Realtors office on 34th Street in Ocean City, welcomes Lexi Lyon as a sales associate. Lyon, who resides in Dorothy, can be contacted at 609-415-5158 or by emailing lexi.lyon@foxroach.com. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Realtors is part of HomeServices of America, the nation’s largest provider of total home services and largest residential brokerage company in the U.S. in sales volume, according to the 2020 REAL Trends 500 report.

Sturdy Savings Bank announced it has matched, dollar for dollar, every donation raised during The Arc of Cape May County’s Giving Tuesday Fundraising Event that was held on Dec. 1. Funds that were raised will be used to provide access to telemedicine programming, PPE supplies and cleaning needs to battle COVID-19, and tablets to access The Arc’s virtual programming through technology to the people they serve in Cape May County with intellectual and developmental disabilities, according to a press release.

The Ocean City Education Foundation (OCEF) purchased and donated more than 300 PPE lanyards for students and teachers this week at the Ocean City Primary School. The lanyards, which are red with white lettering to match Ocean City's school colors, help keep protective masks secure for the students and teachers.

The Cape May County Office of Emergency Management has declared a “Code Blue” severe weather advisory that extends from Sunday 6 p.m. to Wednesday 6 a.m. for all municipalities. A Code Blue advisory is issued when the temperature falls to the freezing mark or lower, posing a danger to the county’s homeless population. People needing shelter during the frigid weather should call the Cape May County Division of Social Services at (609) 886-6200, ext. 2434, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 2-1-1 after 4:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

A few things come to mind about the Deauville Inn restaurant in Strathmere: great food, a warm atmosphere and a remodel that retains the charm and touches of when it was built more than a century ago. And just in time for the holidays, the team at the Deauville Inn is offering a family-friendly brunch that is bound to be just as fun for adults as it is for children. A Holiday Brunch on Sundays, Dec. 6, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature favorite dishes and family activities.

For Ocean City resident, Ken Wisnefski, the notion of pursuing a career in TV had faded over time as he focused on establishing and growing several successful digital marketing agencies, including MediaWize, the parent company for the OCNJDaily, Downbeach.com, SomersPoint.com and SeaIsleNews.com.  However, in the back of his mind, he always hoped that some day he may have the opportunity to fulfill his dream. “I’ve been very fortunate to appear on multiple live TV segments, such as Bloomberg News, Fox Business, CNBC and MSNBC, as a guest, but as a fan of shows like Shark Tank and The Profit, I’ve always wanted the chance to leverage my background in to a similar type of show”, said Wisnefski.  “This concept has been in the works for a few years and I am excited to have the chance to give insight to businesses that can truly help them grow”. ‘The Web Masters’ focuses on Ken and his team at WebiMax, a leading digital marketing firm, with their ability to help companies overcome obstacles they encounter with their online presence.  The first episode features celebrity chef Giada DeLaurentis, who needs help with her lifestyle website, Giadzy.com. “Working with Giada was really a great experience for me.  She is an absolute superstar and a genuinely nice person as well”, exclaimed Wisnefski.  “My wife was a bit jealous that I had the opportunity to do a food tasting at her restaurant in Las Vegas during the filming, but it was truly an amazing experience”...

Members of the public are invited to participate in Mayor Jay Gillian's virtual town hall meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, to hear plans to address flooding issues throughout Ocean City. The public and presenters will participate in the meeting only remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic. Details follow on how to participate.