December 23, 2016
Dear Friends,
I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I’d like to extend a Happy Hanukkah to all who will start celebrating the Jewish holiday tomorrow evening. And regardless of faith, I’d like to wish all of you the best as we head into 2017. Please take the time to enjoy the season with your family and spread joy and good will to your neighbors and friends.
Ocean City businesses are open and the city is decorated for the holidays. Remember to visit our local restaurants, and if you are visiting family out of town, bring some favorite treats from Ocean City shops.
First Night is just a week away, and if you have not purchased admission buttons for your family, there is still time to do so. You can order your buttons online at www.FirstNightOCNJ.com or by calling 1-800-BEACH-NJ. Buttons also can be purchased in person at the City Hall Welcome Center at Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue, the Roy Gillian Welcome Center on the Ninth Street causeway, and at Stainton’s (810 Asbury Avenue).
I’m happy to report that work on the boardwalk reconstruction project in front of the Ocean City Music Pier is nearly complete, and the venue will be open for First Night events, including the popular Neil Diamond tribute. Free parking will be available at Moorlyn Terrace and Eighth Street, in addition to the free shuttles that run all night on New Year’s Eve.
Registration is also open for the First Day 5K Boardwalk Run. The race will start at 1 p.m. and race-day registration will be 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Civic Center, just off the boardwalk at Sixth Street. The course starts on the boardwalk and travels north this year.
Registration for the First Dip and First Day is also open. Visit herocampaign.org to reserve your commemorative long-sleeved T-shirt with a $20 donation to the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers. Event-day registration starts at noon at the Music Pier, and the plunge this year will go off north of the Music Pier on the beach between 7th Street and 8th Street.
City Council will hold its final meeting of 2016 on Thursday, December 29 at 1 in the afternoon. This meeting is the annual year-end meeting, and will be held in Council Chambers in City Hall. Because the date was announced at the last meeting, the second reading of a proposed boardwalk performers ordinance is listed on the agenda. But I have asked City Council to table the ordinance to allow more time for discussion with everybody who will be affected. If council votes to do so, the public hearing and second reading likely will take place at the Jan. 12 council meeting.
Because the holidays fall on a Sunday, there will be no change to the regular schedule of trash and recycling pickup for the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s.
Finally, I’d like to congratulate our capital projects manager, Matt von der Hayden, and the entire city team on helping to win a $30,000 Sustainable Jersey grant for the purchase of an electric car. We’re all blessed to live in such a beautiful place, and every little bit we can do to protect our environment and resources is important.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian
Mayor
