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Cape May County’s Recovery Initiative is making progress toward a plan to re-open the County, according to a county release. The Initiative began on April 14, when the Board of Chosen Freeholders created a Business Recovery Task Force co-chaired by Freeholder Vice Director Len Desiderio and Freeholder Will Morey. The Task Force set to work organizing leaders of various sectors of the business community, bringing in the mayors of Cape May County’s 16 municipalities, health sector professionals, state and federal elected officials and others. The Task Force has quickly evolved into the Cape May County-Wide Recovery Initiative. The mission of the recovery Initiative is to optimize and support economic recovery and the safe and thoughtful reopening of public places. “As we are now seeing with many States across the Country engaging in the reopening process, businesses are quickly learning to innovate in order to successfully operate in the present environment,” commented Morey. “That’s what businesses do to survive. Fact is, we can protect our most vulnerable population while adapting sufficiently to restore economic function to our communities.” The commitment of the Cape May County business community was broad and immediate. Local government and community leaders saw that collective action was needed to support recovery and reopening, and are pleased that yesterday New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy indicated the state is now weeks away from moving toward reopening...

The Rotary Club of Ocean City - Upper Township will hold an online program Thursday, April 30 with Andrew Lewis, of Ocean City, who will discuss his book. The author’s talk will be the Rotary Club’s first online meeting. The link for this free session will be posted on the Club website the day prior to the meeting. Lewis’s book is the story of the Bayshore community in nearby Cumberland County, ravaged by Superstorm Sandy, “where lack of recovery, sea level rise, and a state effort to buy out and demolish neighborhoods has fractured the community and foreshadowed coastal America’s sinking future.” The book details how climate change has already deepening preexisting inequality and it is a must read for all of living on the coastlines of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay...

The Cape May County Department of Health reported Wednesday that there are 323 people have now tested positive and an 89-year-old female from Dennis Township has died from COVID-19. The total deaths from this disease in Cape May County is now 21. “It’s with tremendous sorrow that we share the loss of this beloved woman. Our entire community grieves with this family and all of those who have lost loved ones during this pandemic,” said Freeholder Jeff Pierson. “This crisis impacts everyone. Those who have contracted the virus, those who need our care during this time as well as their loved ones.” Following is a breakdown of the total number of coronavirus cases and deaths for each municipality in Cape May County...

Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order Wednesday to reopen the state parks and allow county parks and golf courses to reopen. The executive order was announced during his briefing on the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in New Jersey. The order will go into effect at sunrise on Saturday, May 2. In addition, the governor noted that social distancing will still be mandated. The governor closed parks and golf courses on April 7 to further social distancing, according to the executive order...

Since shoppers can't go to what is traditionally a blockbuster annual Ocean City Spring Block Party, the merchants thought of the next best way to bring deals, discounts and unique items to patrons -- in the comfort of their own homes. The Virtual Spring Block Party is this Saturday, May 2, and will feature a nearly endless amount of possibilities for shoppers who can browse cookware, clothing, jewelry, books and more -- all online.

Ocean City is getting ready to welcome visitors back as soon as the coronavirus restrictions are lifted. The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce recently debuted its first 2020 summer season tourism commercial. Its message is a subdued, yet optimistic depiction of the potential summer season. Take a look.

Memos hung in the windows at the front of the Wawa at 110 34th Street in Ocean City direct customers to turn around and head to an alternate Wawa after two employees tested positive for COVID-19, forcing a temporary shutdown of the convenience store. In one of several memos dated Monday, April 20, Wawa officials explained that two employees who had worked at the location informed management that they had tested positive for the coronavirus.

This week is National Library Week and the theme chosen by the American Library Association is "find your place at the library.” Jennifer Shirk, president of the Ocean City Free Public Library Board of Trustees, observed that there is much irony to that. But then again, she noted, “Who would have predicted a pandemic where a majority of libraries would be forced to close their doors?” The Ocean City library has a solution to the temporary closure of the building amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on to find out how.

Jody Levchuk, whose family owns Jilly’s Boardwalk shops in Ocean City, is running for the Third Ward City Council seat and is passionate about why he wants to enter the political arena to represent a town he loves. He is running against incumbent Third Ward Councilman Tony Wilson in the May 12 municipal election, which will be conducted by mail-in ballots only because of the coronavirus pandemic restrictions. “I believe in having a thriving town from the beach to the bay. I believe in the people of Ocean City. As a businessman, I am capable of understanding about capital planning and improvements to the city,” Levchuk, 43, said in an interview...

For more than four decades, Sam Carchidi has been watching and writing about live sports events. When he wasn’t doing that, the longtime Flyers beat writer and key contributor to the Phillies beat for the Philadelphia Inquirer was looking forward to his next live sports event. That lifestyle changed dramatically about a month ago when all four major sports leagues, the NCAA basketball tourney, the pro golf tour, and virtually all other pro, college and scholastic sports ceased operations for the foreseeable future as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. For Carchidi, a summer resident of Ocean City, that has meant sheltering in place and trying to find alternative activities. But mostly, Sam is still trying to adjust to the sudden absence of athe sporting scene -- a driving force in his life. “I’m still writing a couple stories a day and its challenging to dig up topics that will keep the fans interested,” he said...