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For nearly nine minutes, George Floyd laid on the ground, while a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck until the 46-year-old man was dead. Some of Floyd’s last reported words since the May 25 killing were said to be “Momma” and “I can’t breathe.” The brutality of the killing has resonated with the country as demonstrations throughout major cities continue. Protesters in peaceful and some not-so-peaceful demonstrations are serving as a message to law enforcement and communities as a whole that racism must stop. On Tuesday, peaceful protesters took to the foot of the Route 52 Causeway on the Somers Point side and made their way over the bridge to Ocean City, making the last stop at the city's police headquarters. Re-enacting Floyd’s last moments of life, hundreds of protesters kneeled, then laid face down on the street in front of the police department, for the eight minutes and 46 seconds that since-fired Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd's neck before the man died.

A fire broke out at an older single-family home in the Gardens section of Ocean City on Monday. Firefighters responded to 321 E. Surf Road at 5:11 p.m. to find the fire contained to the second floor of the house. By 5:49 p.m. the fire was under control, Fire Chief James Smith said. He said one of the occupants and a firefighter were taken to the hospital for observation.

When the Ocean City Theatre Company made the decision to cancel its summer programming in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Newtown Square, Pa., sisters Sarah and Maggie Avellino both were sad. Sarah, 10, a third-grader, summed up why it is so important for her to be involved in the OCTC productions. “Last year, when I first decided to do the Junior Company, I came in with three friends and at the end, it was the whole cast who were my friends," she said. "I am sad that I won’t see my friends this summer and sad I can’t make new ones in the cast.”

People lounged on beach chairs and sat at the water’s edge. Some tossed footballs. Others strolled along the Boardwalk on a warm, sunny Saturday. And other than wearing face masks or doing their best to social distance in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seemed just like any other busy end-of-May day for visitors in Ocean City. But, as in all other communities across the state, most retail shops in Ocean City are still closed as summer season unfolds in stages during the pandemic, per Gov. Phil Murphy’s shutdown order. There are many signs of life, though. Hotels can book reservations now and the city’s Tourism Commission is joining with the Board of Realtors to promote the resort together with a new campaign beginning June 1.

In a time when COVID-19 has hurt residents and business owners, Mayor Jay Gillian decided that the city would work hard to introduce a 2020 municipal budget without a tax increase to take some of the burden off those affected by the pandemic. On Thursday night during a remote City Council meeting, Gillian noted that when he initially presented his State of the City address in February, he unveiled a half-cent tax increase – equaling $25 additional for the year on a $500,000 home. Instead, an $80.5 million spending plan was presented with a zero tax increase to property owners. Nearly $55 million in local taxes are the primary source for funding for the budget. The city is also using $4 million in surplus funds.

A pandemic, continued restrictions on openings of some businesses by governor’s order and partly cloudy skies could not keep visitors and residents from Ocean City, where, even in this unprecedented time, families were out enjoying themselves. And on Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start to the summer season, people purchased beach tags, did some shopping -- albeit curbside pickup or takeout -- strolled the famous Boardwalk, took a dip in the surf, biked, jogged and just had a good time. “Amid COVID-19 people still came to Ocean City. A lot of homeowners and visitors helped with our virtual shopping event through the weekend and people were out on the Boardwalk strolling, taking in the fresh air, and practicing social distancing,” explained Michele Gillian, executive director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Ocean City is welcoming its guests back on Memorial Day weekend in ways that make it possible, in the time of social distancing, to still enjoy your favorite shops without leaving home. The downtown shops are offering a Virtual Summer Kick-Off Memorial Day Weekend online. Customers can enjoy a host of specials, discounts and live virtual events to view and make selections throughout the weekend.

Employees in the Ocean City School District have been working tirelessly with the help of their front line cafeteria workers to provide meals for the children in the district on free and reduced lunch since all state schools went virtual amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of meals have been packaged up, providing students with free fruits, veggies, cereals, snacks, and entrees to take them through the week during this challenging time. Parents and guardians pick up the meals at the high school during the week since school was closed due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions on March 17. During a School Board meeting on April 30, the school board and Schools Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Taylor showed appreciation for the food service workers...

Memorial Day Weekend is almost here, and I want you all to be aware of the guidelines in place to protect the health and safety of everybody in town. As per the governor’s directives and CDC recommendations: Please maintain at least six feet of space between strangers when using the boardwalk and beaches. Avoid groups of 10 or more. Look for hand sanitizer dispensers on boardwalk railings. Masks or face coverings are highly recommended. Masks or face coverings should be worn at all times in any building, while waiting in line, and when social distancing cannot be maintained. Public address announcements and signs at beach and boardwalk entrances will remind everybody of these guidelines. Hand sanitization stations have been installed at regular intervals along the boardwalk. We encourage everybody to always have a face covering close at hand, but a complimentary mask will be made available to those who do not already have one at the Ocean City Music Pier (Boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace) and at City Hall (Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue)...

The County Health Department reported a 93-year-old woman, 90-year-old woman, both from Lower Township and a 52-year-old male from Woodbine died from COVID-19. The total positive cases of the coronavirus in Cape May County is now 554 including 45 deaths. “We are mourning more good citizens of Cape May County today,” said Cape May County Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton. “Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends.”...