mvitale

When Marie Zielinski died in a Nov. 29 fire at her 54th Street home in Sea Isle City, members of the tight-knit community came together to mourn the loss of a woman described as kind, wholesome and elegant. More than two months later, the outpouring of love and support continues to flow for Zielinski's family, the Corsos, of Sea Isle. Joining other fundraising efforts, Stainton's Gallery of Shops in Ocean City is now collecting money for the family. The funds will be taken to 1st Bank of Sea Isle City, where Zielinski's family has an account set up.

Ocean City officials are discussing ways to help the Tourism Development Commission overcome a decrease in funding that has resulted in cutbacks to its advertising budget. The tourism budget for 2019 is $620,000, down from $649,300 the year before. And it appears to be a trend with significant reductions the two years prior. The funding decline is raising some concerns among City Council, which discussed it at the last meeting. The Council members expressed hope that the city would be able to come up with new ways to generate more money for the Tourism Commission. Because of the decrease in funding this year, the commission has cut its television advertising campaign from 10 weeks to eight...

There’s nothing user friendly about the phrase “Polar Vortex.” The cold winds and snow that it brings are nothing to laugh about and are quite serious to animals and people alike. This type of bone-chilling cold swept through a large portion of the country during the week of Jan. 28 with a “warm up” finally happening during the first weekend of February. That cold turned water to ice in many places, including the bay in Ocean City. With snow falling on ice covered waters, Carlisle Events co-owner, Corvettes at Carlisle Event Manager and Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation President Lance Miller had an idea. “What would it take for me to jump into the frozen waters of the bay and who can benefit from my craziness?” he asked...

The Sons of The American Legion Squadron 524 in Ocean City is honoring and helping veterans in its own way. The organization has built up its finances and membership in the past seven years to help carry out its mission.

John Watson thought he was going to a party with his stepdaughter, Ashley Hennessey. Instead, he was moved to tears by a gesture by Ashley, and by the work of members of the South Jersey Quilts of Valor Foundation, when he walked into the Seaville Fire House on Saturday afternoon. The retired Air Force staff sergeant was greeted by about 60 quilters who joined together for National Sew Day to stitch quilts for members of the military and to present some quilts to veterans.

Promotions, new hires, retirements of two K-9s and the additions of two others were all part of a swearing-in ceremony at the Cape May County Criminal Court House on Friday afternoon. Earning a promotion, a sergeant became the first female lieutenant in the Law Enforcement Division of the Sheriff’s Office. In addition, a 58-year-old former officer with the Wildwood Police Department was sworn in as an investigator after going through the police academy a second time in his life, making this ceremony anything but typical. Not to mention retiring K-9 Hank, a bloodhound, serenading the crowd in the courtroom gallery with his howls at the sound of applause.

Ocean City resident Steven Betchner retired from Wawa in 2015 after a successful career in management. Instead of basking in retirement with his wife, Kathleen, of 25 years, to enjoy grandparenthood, the two of them decided they wanted to do something really rewarding, something worthwhile. That was when Kathleen brought up the idea of becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate For Children of Atlantic and Cape May Counties.

Caitlin Quirk is a social media maven. At just 28, she has a successful business, Bowfish Kids, located on Asbury Avenue in Ocean City, and markets herself and her store through social media platforms. Quirk, of Ocean City will host a free #GirlsGetReal Rally on Saturday, Feb. 2, at 2 p.m. in the Ocean City Free Public Library. The event is designed to help girls ages 10 and up make the best use of social media.

John Laughlin, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam in 1968, explained the significance of sending care packages to soldiers overseas. “If we had a program like this, it certainly would have helped morale,” Laughlin reflected recently. What began as a group of Ocean City American Legion Morvay-Miley Post 524 veterans making up four or five boxes of personal care items and snacks to ship to members of the military has grown to 15 packages a month. “The Coffee Express Program,” as it is called, is in its ninth year of operation.

A deep, resounding voice came from the back of the room at the Bill and Nancy Hughes Performing Arts Center at Ocean City High School, where crowds came to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy. Then, keynote speaker, Rev. Gregory Johnson, of Shiloh Baptist Church, made his way to the stage. He captured the attention of the hundreds of people who were all there to listen to the message of Dr. King during Ocean City’s 28th annual celebration. King's words resonated with those who spoke on his day, including Rev. Johnson, who recited the late civil rights leader's epic "I Have a Dream" speech from 1963.