mvitale

When Katie Bowman, of Ocean City, started Kookie Kids “Kids Helping Kids” five years ago, she was just 13. Katie, her mother, Jen, and sister, Kelsea, 15, along with other volunteers, bake cookies in the St. Peter’s United Methodist Church kitchen. Baking countless butter cookies during several sessions since the summer isn’t just something fun to do. Kookie Kids volunteers sell the confections at the Ocean City’s Farmers Market on Wednesdays during the summer and out of the church as well as take orders on the phone. All of the proceeds go to helping families in need.

A horse and carriage clip-clopped along Asbury Avenue while carrying visitors. Shoppers strolled in and out of stores in search of holiday gifts. And Shawn Quigley, a piano teacher in Ocean View, sat down on Saturday at his fully restored 1920 Conway piano to play some Victorian-era festive music for a socially distanced crowd. Several of Quigley’s music students stopped by to perform Christmas favorites to the delight of passersby at the corner of Eighth Street and Asbury Avenue in downtown Ocean City.

Ocean City Schools Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Taylor is keeping the district up to date on the fluid situation involving the COVID-19 pandemic and how it relates to teaching the students. On Friday, Dr. Taylor posted a letter on the website oceancityschools.org and on the district's Facebook page, detailing the changes that are being made and how the results of a pre-Thanksgiving survey given to families are being taken into account to make some adjustments at the high school, primary school and intermediate school.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses in Ocean City have rebounded from the months-long shutdown, and nearing the end of the year, the majority of them have made up lost revenue, Tourism Development Commission officials said during a remote meeting Thursday. The commission approved a $620,000 tourism budget, with $563,000 dedicated to its 2021 marketing campaign.

Residents and visitors of Ocean City may have gone on the city’s website a number of times over the years to find out about public meetings, read the Mayor’s Corner, learn about projects and even buy beach tags. But just like many things in life, after time, a bit of sprucing up, some revamping and improvements were needed. And that is exactly what the city is in the process of doing to the website. Some major changes can already be seen by visiting the site at www.ocnj.us.

Ocean City Theatre Company has found ways to continue to showcase young talents and entertain families during a time when there are no shows, no rehearsals and no ticket sales. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the theatre company has not been able to go on as usual, it is offering holiday cheer through Christmas Singing Telegrams. For a donation of $55, people will have the opportunity to choose from the Singing Telegram Songbook (Christmas Edition). The Christmas telegram will come via a video link that features a special message and an individualized performance by a professional OCTC performer.

Rob Malfitano will continue to donate to a cause that he credits with saving his life. The 13-year-old Ocean City resident, who attends the Intermediate School, was born with a cleft palate. Smile Train, a charity providing surgery for children with cleft palates, gave Rob his first corrective surgery at just 1½ years old while he was in an orphanage in China. A year later, he was adopted by Jenny and Vince Malfitano of Ocean City, and he came to the United States. On Saturday, Dec. 5, Rob, with the help of his parents, friends, business owners and the community, hosted a fundraiser at Jilly’s Arcade on the Boardwalk to benefit Smile Train. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, masks were required and other safety protocols were in place. The crowd was limited to 25 percent of capacity, Levchuk, co-owner of Jilly’s shops said. Local kids competed for the title of pinball champion at Jilly's Arcade. The event raised over $700 for Smile Train, which will be matched by an anonymous donor after Christmas, Vince Malfitano explained. And Jilly's donated play cards that enabled the children to play games for free for an hour...

Jilly’s Stores adds a seventh location to their specialty shops just in time for the holidays featuring festive decorations and gifts for the whole family. Owners and brothers, Jody and Randy Levchuk, hosted the grand opening on Friday for the store at 1014 Asbury Avenue, just a week after the unofficial Black Friday opening. “We’re excited to offer something a bit different from what you see at our boardwalk locations. We have all of our highest quality products available -- something for everyone,” said Jody Levchuk. “Not to mention we’ve turned the location into a holiday attraction visitors can enjoy, come take pictures and get into the holiday spirit.” The Silly Jilly’s Holiday Factory is the official name for the holiday season, but will transition to Jilly’s on Asbury Avenue in later months. The store will be open daily and feature some of their popular products like Official Ocean City Lifeguard gear, Jilly’s OC Originals, holiday ornaments, and even toys for the kids...

A representative of the wind energy company Ørsted made a presentation to City Council last night to provide an update on plans for an offshore wind farm 15 miles from Ocean City and the nearby coastline. I want to clarify a few things. First, Ocean City has no authority whatsoever over federal waters in the Atlantic Ocean or this proposed project. Second, our governor and president-elect are both openly committed to this type of energy and the process is already well underway. Third, the city team is doing its due diligence by working with Ørsted, federal and state regulators to get all the facts and determine our options. I will continue to communicate with all local stakeholders as the process moves forward. I will represent the interests of the people of Ocean City, but if this work is destined to move forward, I will also see how it can help us. Because the company needs an easement from a coastal town to bring transmission lines to the mainland, this could be a major source of funding for improvement projects in the city...

The Ocean City Board of Realtors held a swearing-in ceremony that was unlike any other the members ever experienced. Instead of doing a Zoom meeting Tuesday to install the officers and directors of the board, which was the original plan due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they got a bit creative. The socially distanced ceremony took place outside the board office at 405 22nd Street as fellow realtors drove by and beeped and waved. Family members, friends and colleagues drove by in cars adorned with streamers and other celebratory decorations to show their support for the realtors.