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Assemblyman Antwan McClellan has had quite a year. He got married. He was re-elected to office and he was just selected as the Republican whip, placing him in the senior leadership in the Legislature's minority party. And on Wednesday night, McClellan, 47, had yet another highlight, when he was honored for his work in the community, the county and the state as the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Citizen of the Year. McClellan, along with members of the business community, were in the spotlight at a Chamber dinner at the Flanders Hotel. In addition, there were businesses selected as outstanding. There were also special Community Award presented to Mikenzie Helphenstine, who is battling cancer. She is a teacher in Ocean City and a coach, as well as Cindy and Bob Fertsch for their autism awareness non-profit organization...

The Ocean City Fire Department added fire truck to the fleet to replace one that is more than 20 years old. After a year wait, a new pumper truck, approved by City Council for $650,000, was delivered earlier this month. Fire Chief Jim Smith said Tuesday that the department is pleased with the new and much-needed apparatus. “The apparatus committee put a lot of time and thought into designing the new fire engine,” he said. “They're constantly researching and tweaking ideas to create the best apparatus for the needs of our community.” The pumper truck is by Pierce Manufacturing Inc. of Appleton, Wisc. The department has a fleet of five engines or pumper trucks, two ladder trucks, four ambulances, a heavy rescue vehicle and support vehicles...

Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland announced the Grand Jury indictment of Tyrone Rolls, a 51 year old resident of Marmora and an Ocean City police sergeant who is currently on suspension. On Nov. 16, Rolls was indicted by a Cape May County Grand Jury on one count of Aggravated Sexual Assault, a crime of the first degree; two separate counts of Official Misconduct, crimes of the second degree; one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a crime of the second degree; and one count of Aggravated Assault of a Domestic Violence Victim, a crime of the third degree...

Residents at the Ocean Aire condos will have a much better view of the bay and won’t have the worries about the chronic flooding that has plagued the complex for years. The project began last week to elevate the 52 units in the seven-building complex eight and a half feet off the ground and above the floodwaters that rise in coastal storms and heavy rains.

Each holiday season, Ocean City welcomes visitors to the downtown to enjoy shops and restaurants with the added touch of old-fashioned charm that turns a day of gift-buying into a nostalgic escape. Large wreaths, bright red bows, garland-wrapped lamp posts and other accents create the holiday scene. City Hall, built in 1923, becomes even grander, with wreaths on the windows and adornments at each entrance of the historic landmark.

Ocean City Primary School students used their magnifying glasses, measuring tapes and bags to collect items and explore and learn all about trees in Wesley Park. The nature scavenger hunt was part of the district’s goal to further the students’ knowledge about nature, while also applying what they learned as part of the Creative Curriculum Tree Study.

This year, there were not three, but four, “Women of Wonder” recognized for their outstanding achievements and contributions to their communities. For Doris E. "Doie" Barnes, a 100-year-old retired Marine sergeant from Ocean City, she was celebrated with a special “Veterans Salute” for giving so much for her country. The other award recipients were Michele Gillian, executive director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Chase Jackson, director of the Ocean City Arts Center, and Marilyn Miller, director of the Sam S. DeVico Middle Township Senior Center.

The Ocean City Free Public Library is on its way to getting a revamped, renovated second floor, complete with comfortable new seating, a larger section for quiet study, upgraded lighting and even a makerspace. The library’s Board of Trustees met Monday for a regular meeting, where the project that has been on hold for a couple of years was discussed and may be just months from beginning. A facelift to improve the upper floor has been delayed while library officials continue to try to secure grant money to help fund the roughly $1.6 million project.

The Ocean City School District is hosting a second community forum in less than a month this Tuesday to discuss programs, curriculum, current mandates and to listen to concerns and input from the community. The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Ocean City Free Public Library Lecture Hall at 1735 Simpson Ave. Masks are optional since the event will not be on school grounds.

An open house in Ocean City on Saturday to discuss the pros and cons of an offshore wind project, proposed for 15 miles off the New Jersey coast, evoked interest, concerns, questions, opposition and support. The event was held to update the public on the status of the project, but much of the forum at the Music Pier was a question-and-answer session between the audience and the developers of the wind farm. Concerns over how the project could affect tourism, the visual impact of the massive wind turbines offshore, and what it would do to marine life, migratory birds and the commercial fishing industry were raised by several speakers.