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mvitale

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Jilly’s Promises Frighteningly Fun Trunk-or-Treat

Get ready for candy, candy and more candy – oh, and lots of prizes for the spookiest costumes – at Jilly’s Trunk-or-Treat on Halloween. When Ocean City's Halloween parade was canceled due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jody Levchuk, co-owner of Jilly’s Boardwalk stores, decided to host a free event to delight children and their families from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Halloween. The event will be in Jilly’s Arcade parking lot at 11th Street and the Boardwalk and there will be plenty of free parking on the street. The city’s trick-or-treating hours are from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Halloween, so Levchuk, a city councilman, said the goal is to give families a jumpstart on the fun.

O.C. Surfers Make Serious Splash on National Stage

For the first time in history the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) held their National Championship on the East Coast and two young Ocean City surfers came home with some wins, according to a news release Monday. This pinnacle achievement contest is typically held at The Pier in Huntington Beach, California but this year the NSSA was continually denied permits there due to the pandemic. Surfers from Hawaii, California and all up and down the East Coast traveled to the Outer Banks of North Carolina where they got to experience some of the best hurricane swell and pumping conditions that the East Coast has to offer. The NSSA National Championships was held Oct. 20-24 at Jennette's Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina. 115 Surfers competed in 277 seeded slots for the National event. Two young Ocean City surfers returned home National Champions- Brynn Gallagher, who won the Open Super Girls (12&U) Division, and Cruz Dinofa, who won the Open Mini Groms (10&U) Division...

O.C. Winterfest to Offer New Shopping Extravaganza

Holidays are quickly approaching, and the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce created a new two-day outdoor shopping event to safely bring shop local and get into the community spirit. The first-ever Winterfest by the Sea will be held Friday, Nov. 13 from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Ocean City High School field located at 6th and the Boardwalk. All CDC regulations will be strictly adhered to amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are excited to bring a new event to Ocean City that encourages people to shop our Ocean City businesses in a fun atmosphere,” explained Michele Gillian, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. “We included local crafters as well to provide a greater variety of items.” Ocean City Winterfest will be an upscale shopping extravaganza. Customers can enjoy the magic of the season outside and will feature favorite local businesses and restaurants along with many local crafters in the one-stop shopping event. Gillian explained that Winterfest was in the works for a couple of years, but that the pandemic had the Chamber quickly shift how it would be put on. “The Chamber wanted to help boost our shop-local initiative and encourage people to see Ocean City as a one-stop location for all their holiday needs,” Gillian pointed out. “Originally, it was planned as an indoor event, but given the circumstances, it was changed to an outdoor event which we feel lends to the festivity of the holidays.” Gillian noted that the Chamber is currently in the process of registering the vendors...

Schools Superintendent Cautions All-Remote Learning a Possibility

Before the school year even began amid the pandemic, Ocean City Schools Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Taylor said there may be a need to shift from the hybrid learning model of in-person and virtual instruction to all remote teaching, should an uptick in COVID-19 cases arise. On Friday, in a letter posted on the district’s website, Dr. Taylor prepared parents for the possibility of going to all-remote instruction.

Time to Drop Off or Mail in Ballots

So many ways to vote in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 Election – but not so much time. With just two weeks left until the election, 39 percent of Cape May County's registered voters have already mailed in their ballots or slipped them in one of the many drop box locations in the county. Cape May County Clerk Rita Marie Fulginiti said that of 71,018 ballots issued to active registered voters, as of Tuesday night, 27,610 had already voted.

Orsted Promotes Wind Farm Project

Offshore wind developer Orsted laid out a plan during a virtual meeting on Tuesday to build a wind farm 15 miles off Atlantic City to the southern tip of the New Jersey coast, a project that would power half a million New Jersey homes and create thousands of jobs. The Zoom meeting, hosted by Kris Ohleth, senior stakeholder relations manager for Orsted, was the first of three set up amid COVID-19 to relay important details of the project to the general public.

O.C. Theatre Company to Host Fundraiser

The Ocean City Theatre Company has entertained audiences and developed talent, putting on productions, dance numbers and choral performances for 13 years. While the community has generously supported the company, located at 1501 West Ave., now, perhaps more than ever, donations are greatly needed. The COVID-19 pandemic led to cancellations of many of the OCTC’s events and programs. Now, the OCTC is calling upon those who love the shows and watching either their children or others showcasing their talents to help the OCTC by joining the company for a night of great food and music for a good cause. On Friday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. the theatre company is hosting a fundraiser outside at Luigi’s restaurant, located at 300 E. Ninth Street.

N.J.’s Lighthouse Challenge to Showcase Historic Life-Saving Station

The Ocean City Life-Saving Station 30 has been closed for all but small, private tours due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. But this weekend, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, the museum will open its doors for the Lighthouse Challenge. The event will give visitors once again a glimpse back into the building, where re-creations of maritime life, artifacts and reproductions tell a tale of those who risked their lives to save others in the early part of the 20th century.

Students Get Creative With Soapstone Art

Ocean City Intermediate School students got creative and artistic with soapstone sculptures. Art teacher Aaron Bogushefsky led the kids in an exciting assignment that showcased some very talented eighth grade students.

Flood Insurance Meeting Focuses on Safety and Savings

There are simple steps Ocean City residents can take to make sure they are getting the proper flood insurance discounts and feel secure that their homes are properly protected when waters rise. On Wednesday night, insurance agent Tom Heist, who also serves on the city’s floodplain committee, and Benny Tafoya, of the city’s engineering department, were on hand to answer resident’s questions. Heist led the virtual meeting and explained the city’s flood insurance rating and how it is important for people to make sure their homes are properly elevated, flood vents are installed, and the mechanicals are raised. The city holds a Class 4 in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System. The rating allows for discounts on homeowners’ flood insurance of 30 percent. The city’s goal is to achieve a Level 3 rating for a bigger discount of 35 percent. Ocean City. like most barrier islands, is located within a floodplain. Ocean City’s almost 7,000 policy holders collectively save more than $3.3 million a year - an average savings of about $192 per participating home. “The hard work Ocean City has done has paid off,” Heist, president of Heist Insurance Agency in Ocean City, said. He explained that the rating system is a one through 10, with the lower numbers resulting in the higher discounts. “Ocean City is a (Class) 4 which is a 30 percent discount. Sea Isle City is a Class 3, with a 35 percent discount,” Heist said. “Ocean City and Sea Isle aren’t only great in New Jersey, but national leaders.” Heist credited the Class 4 rating in Ocean City to the work of Mayor Jay Gillian and his administration toward mitigating flooding on the island with a host of projects to improve drainage by replacing antiquated infrastructure and building new stormwater pumping stations...