Home Authors Posts by mvitale

mvitale

1772 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

American Legion Post 524 Honors Late Founder, Bill Cruice Sr.

Air Force Sgt. Bill Cruice Sr. passed away in July of 2020, a lifelong military man, known for being unpretentious, was responsible for significant things in his hometown of Ocean City – especially for his dedication to fellow veterans at American Legion Post 524. In honor of the veteran who reestablished the post back in 2000, the founding commander’s name will be added to the present Morvay-Miley designation. The new name will be Morvay-Miley-Cruice American Legion Post 524. On Saturday, July 3 at 1 p.m. there will be a re-dedication of the post.

Ocean City Red Raiders Capture State Baseball Title

In 2010, they got to the state championship. In 2016, the same. In both games, they did not take home the title. That all changed Sunday when the Ocean City Red Raiders baseball team defeated Pascack Valley’s Indians in a nail-biter at Bob DeMeo Memorial Field in Mercer County’s Veterans Park. Ocean City, the South Jersey Group III champions, used strong pitching and timely defense to outlast Pascack Valley, the North Jersey Group III champions, 3-2, in a marathon 14-inning thriller to win the first state baseball championship in school history.

Third Ward Meeting Focuses on Alleyway Speeds, Litter

Overflowing dumpsters from construction, speeding in alleyways and bike safety were among the many topics discussed at Third Ward Councilman Jody Levchuk’s meeting Saturday. The meeting held in the Community Center was more of a conversation between Levchuk and residents. No formal action is taken in the ward meetings.

Ocean City Chamber “Salutes” Mary McGuckin

Mary McGuckin, manager of the major philanthropic donor societies at Shore Medical Center, received the 2021 “Salute to Working Women” during a luncheon Thursday at the Ocean City Yacht Club. The honor is awarded each year by the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce. While McGuckin was selected to be the 2020 recipient, the event was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. The award recognizes women in business for their outstanding professional and personal achievements. Michele Gillian, executive director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, recognized past recipients of the prestigious award in her opening remarks. She then said of McGuckin, “Mary is such a special treasure to all of us and it really is a special day in Ocean City to honor her, and to honor...

Little Frankie Fights Cancer, Teaches Strength

Frankie LaSasso doesn’t think about the fact that he has cancer. There are times when the 7-year-old Hammonton boy wants to play the sport he loves most -- baseball--but he can’t because he has to go for chemo treatments. Then there are times, most times, when Frankie does play baseball for the Hammonton Little League team. And at all times, his father, assistant coach for Ocean City High School’s varsity baseball and football teams Frank LaSasso says Frankie never complains or asks why he has T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Instead, the little boy goes to his games, plays with his 6-year-old brother, Gino, cheers on his dad as a coach of a team heading into the state finals and his grandfather who coaches softball for Hammonton High School. “Yesterday, Frankie received three rounds of chemotherapy and all he wanted to do when we got done was go to my dad's state semi-final game,” LaSasso said Wednesday of little Frankie wanting to see his poppy coach. “The last thing he wanted to do was...

Ocean City High School Class of 2021 Endures

Strong, determined and confident, students with the Ocean City High School Class of 2021 graduated Tuesday with memorable distinction as they navigated a pandemic, hybrid learning and the ups and downs of a challenging time in history. Unlike last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when families were not allowed in Carey Stadium until the very end of the commencement ceremony, guests were once again back inside with a close-up view of their sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and other relatives, while they achieved a monumental milestone. In all, there were 320 graduates.

Ocean City Businesses Seek Summer Help

Ocean City has no trouble attracting tourists, shoppers, diners, beachgoers, Boardwalk strollers or home buyers. But getting enough workers for seasonal jobs on the Boardwalk, downtown or anywhere else in “America’s Greatest Family Resort” is another story. COVID, stimulus checks and extensions to unemployment coupled with a desire after a tough year to “chill out” on the boards, beach or somewhere else are theories for the lackluster start to filling up jobs for amusements, shops and restaurants.

Community Joins For Charitable Fishing Trip

Isabella Felten’s expression said it all when she got off of a fishing boat Sunday afternoon. She smiled as she held not only a nice size flounder, but the first fish she had ever caught. “I had so much fun. I caught seven fish. I never caught a fish before today,” the 19-year-old from West Cape May said. She and her mother, Libby Felten, were among 85 people, some of whom have physical, mental or learning disabilities or financial difficulties, for a fishing trip courtesy of the Ocean City Yacht Club and the Ocean City Marlin & Tuna Club.

Ocean City Library Facelift Still on Table

A renovation project that would improve and update the second floor of the Ocean City Free Public Library has been on hold for a couple of years, while officials seek grant money to help fund the project. The first grant proposal submitted by the city through the Library Bond Construction Act was not approved back in December of 2020. But both library officials and the city are hopeful the second application submitted this past week will prove fruitful.

Ocean City Keeps Beach Mat Program Rolling

More of the popular mobility mats will be coming to Ocean City's beaches this summer. But there will be a slight delay in getting some of them because they are on back order, City Business Administrator George Savastano said. “We are running low on mats. We have them on back order, so we are going to be getting more,” he said in a report to City Council.