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Ocean City Councilman Tom Rotondi held his first Second Ward meeting Saturday, listened to a resident’s parking concerns, and laid out what he has done in the short time he has been in office. “I’ve lived on the island for 13 years. My family is growing. I have three children. My wife and I work from Ocean City,” Rotondi said during in his introduction on the Zoom meeting. The Second Ward encompasses the south side of Fourth Street to the north side of 12th Street

When Ocean City’s Ferguson-Foglio VFW Post 6650 needed a new roof, business leaders and community members got together to make sure it happened. And it was at no cost to the post. Like many service organizations, COVID-19 restrictions led to cancellations of all the events, dinners, breakfasts and fundraisers that help pay for the maintenance of the post’s building, constructed at 1501 Bay Avenue in the 1940s. Residents Brian Broadley, owner of Broadley’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning in Marmora, and Scott Halliday, owner of Halliday-Leonard, a general contracting firm in Ocean City, stepped up to help out without thinking twice. Rather than ask the post, which has 200 members, to pay back the funds, Broadley set up a GoFundMe page that went live Tuesday and has already received more than $6,000 in donations.

State Police identified two men Thursday who were thrown from a boat that washed ashore on a north end beach in Ocean City the day before. As a result of the Wednesday morning accident, Philip Azzante, 59, of Alloway, Salem County, suffered fatal injuries, according to State Police. The operator of the boat, George Boos, 73, of Thorofare, Gloucester County, was transported to an area hospital.

One person is dead and another was being treated in a case that began Wednesday morning with a boat that washed ashore without any passengers in the north end waters of Ocean City. The call came in at 11:58 a.m. and State Police Atlantic City Marine Station Troopers were first on the scene, along with the U.S. Coast Guard. “We originally responded to a call that came out as an unoccupied vessel. The details on what happened are under investigation,” said Trooper Charles Marchan. “But we have one confirmed fatality.”

The Ocean City Community Development Corp., a nonprofit entity created by the city’s housing authority, held its first meeting Tuesday with a major project to discuss on the agenda -- the construction of 10 affordable rental homes. The authority and city will work together to build rentals in areas around town, selected by the city. Rick Ginnetti, owner of the Brooke Group, the authority’s development consultant, will seek $2 million through a grant application to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to help finance the homes.

It was a moment that might cause a person to question humanity. But that moment was quickly followed by another that would restore one’s faith in humanity. Sean Beebe is an Ocean City resident well-known to locals and visitors alike. He’s an accomplished photographer, a presence on the beach, Boardwalk -- and prior to the COVID-19 outbreak -- at area restaurants and night spots. “Sean is a great guy,” friend Shane Rauner related. “That’s why so many people wanted to help him out.” Last week Beebe was grabbing a bite to eat and briefly walked away from his seat to dispose of his trash. Upon his return, a timeframe of less than a minute, his Nikon D5500digital SLR camera was gone. The trusty camera had rarely left Beebe’s side for four years. Just that brief moment of separation was all the thief needed...

Ocean City is backing Somers Point in efforts to keep Exit 30 – a gateway to both towns – open amid plans by the Garden State Parkway’s operating agency to close it and turn Exit 29 into a full interchange. Ocean City Council passed a resolution at its Aug. 13 meeting in response to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s proposal. There has been no announcement about the construction schedule and the project is pending final approval by the authority. Elected officials who represent the neighboring shore communities said the authority's plan could hurt businesses.

The original raptors that scared away pesky seagulls from Ocean City’s Boardwalk and beaches are back. Look out, gulls. East Coast Falcons, a Lodi, N.J.-based bird abatement company owned by falconer Erik Swanson, resumed the work July 19, replacing Wildlife Control Specialists LLC of Lebanon, N.J.

What began as a friendship since the sixth grade and when they were Little Leaguers together, evolved into joint ownership of a successful, iconic Boardwalk business venture in Ocean City for Jeff Sherman and Sam Koperwas. And they must be doing something right -- a lot right, actually -- because they have been in operation since 1972 with their Henry's jewelry store. Everything from baubles to engagement rings and clothing are exquisitely displayed in the store, offering customers a friendly and comfortable shopping experience.

The Ocean City Free Public Library continues to be busy with virtual programming and materials. And as the library navigates the COVID-19 pandemic, customers continue to utilize curbside pickup, as well as coming in, albeit with time limits imposed for safety protocols. Following the city’s decision to cancel events during the fall, the library board announced that through December in-house programing and events will be canceled, the Library Board of Trustees members explained during a remote meeting Monday.