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Local historian John Loeper gave a presentation Saturday on the fabled Sindia coinciding with the 117th anniversary of the Ocean City shipwreck. To this day, there is mystery about the ship's cargo. Was it secretly carrying a load of silver?

The Ocean City Free Public Library already attracts thousands of patrons a week, with its vast selection of books, specialty sections that cater to children, young adults and adults, and friendly staff ready to help. But with a $1.3 million project slated for fall of 2019 to do extensive renovations to the building, Library Director Karen Mahar said there will be even more reasons to visit.

Where else will $20 get a person a night of listening to bands, singing a bit of karaoke, watching a stunt dog show, catching fireworks and more while ringing in the New Year? Only in Ocean City. For just $20, families and friends will celebrate New Year's Eve with an array of family- friendly entertainment in an alcohol-free environment for First Night 2019.

Travelers leaving Ocean City from Ninth Street had better make sure they have enough fuel. As of Monday, it appears motorists will only be able to get gas in Somers Point, or on the other side of town, at 34th Street in Ocean City. Instead of gas at both the Sunoco and at Wiesenthal’s Auto Service on Ninth Street, orange cones were in front of the fuel bays.

Competition is revving up between two realtors – Pete Madden and Patrick Halliday. But it has nothing to do with house sales. The two businessmen from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices are sponsoring a holiday decorating contest that runs through Dec. 21. Both homes and businesses can participate. Madden and Halliday are hoping for some friendly competition to get the community into the festive spirit. The contest winner will receive a $250 American Express gift card.

When Ocean City High School graduate Bridget Buchanan was hired as Director of Staintons Gallery of Shops in Ocean City, she went right to work with serious goals in mind. The former manager in two stores at Tanger Outlets in Atlantic City, who grew up in Upper Township, wanted to add a bit of her expertise to the iconic Asbury Avenue landmark, when she started in May. But making sure the vendors had all they needed to display their wares or that the tables looked inviting and warm to the customer, were only parts of her mission...

In just one year, the Ocean City Juneteenth Organization, run by three Ocean City High School graduates, doubled their donations to give to area shelters. The organization made up of Brittany Battle, 31, of Highland Park, Takiya Wilson, 39, of Egg Harbor Township, and Josh Baker, 42, of Elmwood Park, hosted the Second Annual Ocean City Juneteenth Holiday Drive and Day of Service on Saturday at the 7th Street Recreation Center in Ocean City.

Any of us could fall on hard times. Brittany Battle, who grew up in Ocean City, recognizes that, and for a second year in a row, she has called upon the community to help people out, especially around the holidays. Battle, along with her sister and two of her friends who are fellow Ocean City High School graduates, are hosting the Second Annual Ocean City Juneteenth Holiday Drive and Day of Service on Saturday. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the 7th Street Recreation Center in Ocean City.

The reward of belonging to a charity such as Waves of Caring is simple if you ask its members. This Christmas, like the 24 before, the organization will bring smiles to the faces of about 150 needy children in Ocean City. Waves of Caring is a city-sanctioned charity that collects and distributes toys and other gifts around the Christmas holiday for children of underprivileged Ocean City families.

Moments after rock music filled the atrium of the Ocean City Free Public Library and Community Center Sunday, Santa Claus whirled down the steps of the Art Gallery and into a crowd of kids. He danced. He swirled. He smiled. And then he jetted off to a room where he waited to hear the gift wishes from a long line of children anxious to whisper in his ear. “I want an R2-D2 stuffed animal,” Connor Barth, 6, of Somers Point, told Santa, of one of his favorite Star Wars characters. Then Connor made sure to mention, “I’m not done with my list, though.” Connor’s younger brother, Cameron, 2, wanted toy cars and, like his brother, he also wanted Star Wars toys...