MediaWize

Let that be a lesson, Red Raiders. The Ocean City High School boys basketball team mounted a furious fourth quarter rally and nearly stole Friday night’s Cape Atlantic League National Division game at Mainland, only to see the comeback fall a point short. The learning experience: never get outscored 21-8 in the second quarter to your biggest rival on their home court. It kind of makes it difficult to win, even when you’ve flipped the switch and proceeded to outplay your opponent for most of the second half. Nevertheless, Ocean City (2-4) never quit and was in a position to win at the end. But Mainland prevailed, 63-62.

The Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority is replacing and rehabilitating the force mains that carry wastewater to the treatment plant on the bay at 45th Street. The work will be done on 31st Street from Haven Avenue to Bay Avenue and Bay Avenue from 31st Street to Eighth Street. Details follow on construction work scheduled for the week of Jan. 6 to 11.

Cape May County Freeholders Gerald M. Thornton and E. Marie Hayes were sworn in to new three-year terms Friday during the board’s annual reorganization meeting. Thornton and Hayes, both Republicans, defeated two Democratic challengers in the November election to retain their seats.

The Ocean City High School boys swim team started off 2020 with a 116-54 loss to conference foe St. Augustine Prep on Friday afternoon. Ocean City is now 3-3 on the season, while St. Augustine improves to 4-0. The lone winner for the Red Raiders in the 11-event meet was freshman Pat Armstrong in the 100-yard butterfly, clocking in with a time of 1:03.91.

Mayor Jay Gillian is thanking all of the community volunteers and contributors for helping to make Ocean City's First Night and First Day celebration a success. "These family-friendly New Year’s celebrations continue to get better every year, and we’re off to a great start for 2020," the mayor said in his weekly message to the public Friday.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Realtors is saluting sales associates in the Ocean City offices as leaders for November 2019. A list of honorees follows.

The well-attended Ocean City American Legion Post 524 Wednesday lunches between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. will return on Jan. 8. The public is invited to enjoy a selection of hoagies, hot and cold sandwiches, soup, salad, and dessert for $7. Coffee, soda and iced tea are available for just $1.

Caleb Schumacher, a 17-year-old senior at Ocean City High School and a member of Ocean City Boy Scout Troop 32, recently completed the requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout. Caleb built, painted and installed a flag depository box at Ocean City’s Morvay-Miley American Legion Post 524.

The holiday season is joyous for many, and what we see in the media and on TV commercials suggests warm family gatherings, loving interpersonal relationships and an optimistic view of the new year to come. Unfortunately, there is another side to the holidays. The pressures of everyday life, relationships, difficult financial situations, even the change in seasons can lead people to dark places mentally. In some of the worst-case situations, people overwhelmed and desperate and may have suicidal thoughts or even act on those thoughts. It’s important to understand the “why” of suicide, if we hope to prevent it...

Following is the entertainment lineup for Ocean City's "First Night" celebration to ring in 2020.