mvitale

Ocean City firefighters are helping one of their own with home repairs and even the installation of a new roof. Jimmy Leone, 69, who retired from the Ocean City Fire Department in 2005, lives at 1400 Atkinson Ave. in Somers Point. When fellow firefighters found out he was not doing well physically and couldn’t do repairs on his home, they entered a contest that would give Leone, and his wife, Constance, a new roof to their 1950 home.

A project to restore Shooting Island, a living shoreline in Ocean City, is not only the longest of its kind in the state, but it is right on schedule with the first phase completed. Mayor Jay Gillian and other officials say the wetlands restoration plan will create coastal resiliency, providing an environment for the wildlife to continue to thrive and to reduce the storm impacts along the bayfront.

All of Ocean City right now is trying to outwit some aggressive bird-brained bandits. The suggestions range from broadcasting a fake bird distress call over the loudspeaker along the Boardwalk, placing nets above the businesses to ward off the scavengers and even using dogs to push them out. Some of the ideas are novel, others were tried with some positive results. The object of all this consternation are pesky seagulls swooping in to steal pizza, ice cream, French fries and anything else they can get their hands on – claws, rather. They have been harassing innocent beachgoers and Boardwalk strollers. Now, Mayor Jay Gillian has declared war on them.

The Greater Ocean City Theatre Company (OCTC) held its 9th annual Broadway Brunch at the Greate Bay Country Club Sunday in Somers Point Sunday, where students were awarded scholarship money for their artistic talents and a person credited with the program’s success was honored. The event included a gourmet brunch, silent auction, speeches by the scholarship recipients, students who graduated this year and the 2019 Star of the Show recipient, founding board member for the Greater Ocean City Theater Company, Michael Dattilo. More than 120 people filled the ballroom. In addition to the scholarships, there was a fundraiser and silent auction with proceeds going to the theatre company...

Cape Assist partners with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey to offer funded treatment to those suffering from gambling problems and their family members. The services will be offered through the Cape Assist Counseling Department and all clinical staff have been trained to provide services. According to a report by Rutgers University’s Center for Gambling Studies, the percentage of New Jersey residents considered to have a “gambling disorder” is three times the national average. With the most recent legalization of online and sports betting, the likelihood of developing a gambling problem has increased, according to a Cape Assist press release...

Just listening to reports that temperatures would soar into the high 90s over the weekend was the perfect reason for families to head to Ocean City for a quick getaway to escape the heat and get in the water. Beachgoers, surfers and ocean kayakers enjoyed the mild water temperatures on Saturday. Others strolled along the Boardwalk, ate ice cream and pizza and checked out some shops and eateries.

The 16th Annual Chip Miller Surf Fest brought more than 200 surfers out with their families Friday morning to the 7th Street surfing beach in Ocean City to help raise awareness and funds for Amyloidosis research. It was just one of three big events planned in memory of Miller, who raised his family in Ocean City. After the Surf Fest, the fundraiser was heading to OC Waterpark for a night of food, partying and a host of rides. On Sunday, there will be a Skate Fest fundraiser held by the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation beginning at 11 a.m. at the Ocean City Skate Park.

Anyone who purchases the new home at 6 E. Aberdeen Road in the Gardens section of Ocean City will never be lonely. Guests will be treated to a gaming theater, tiki bar and pool, a Japanese steakhouse-style griddle and a lot more in this Tommy Bahama-inspired coastal retreat. “Garden’s Grand Seashore Estate,” as it is called, is being offered at $2.6 million and boasts 3,200 square feet of living and entertaining space in this five/six bedroom, 4.5 bathroom home.

Where else can you see Chubby Checker, Kate Flannery from the show "The Office," a host of beauty queens and SpongeBob SquarePants all in one place – on the water no less? Only in Ocean City. On Saturday evening, thousands of spectators watched the 65th annual Night In Venice boat parade in Ocean City unfold along the bayfront. Crowds watched in amusement as boats glided by decorated in everything from “The Greatest Show,” which was a crowd pleaser, to a “lobster boat” called “Mobster Lobsters.” There was even a boat with an ’80s theme of Ocean City's former Strand Theater.

Scattered among the modern duplexes and multi-million dollar homes, are historic treasures in Ocean City that may not be well known to the public. The old residences that date back to the Victorian era, along with historic buildings, such as the U.S. Life-Saving Station 30 built in the 1880s, will be some of the stops on the Ocean City Historic Tours presented by the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce. The tours will take place every Thursday from July 11 through Aug. 22 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Each tour is different and includes an excursion to four different historic locations which may include inns. In addition to the Life Saving Station, patrons will visit the Ocean City Historical Museum, the Bayside Center, the Ocean City Welcome Center Bird Sanctuary, and take a sightseeing tour of the city’s historic district...