MediaWize

Shore Medical Center in Somers Point was awarded $550,800 in an Emergency Rural Health Care grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a COVID-19 isolation unit in its emergency department, according to a news release.

The Ocean City Free Public Library (OCFPL) will host a remote event with author Sadeqa Johnson, who will discuss her new novel, “The House of Eve,” on Tuesday Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. Johnson is an award-winning author of four novels, including “Yellow Wife.” Her accolades include the National Book Club Award, the Phillis Wheatley Book Award, and the USA Best Book Award for Best Fiction.

Ocean City and producers BRE Presents and Bob Rose Productions announced Tuesday three new shows in the 30th anniversary season of the popular Summer Concert Series at the Ocean City Music Pier. Blues musician Keb’ Mo’ (June 20), jazz saxophonist Kenny G (July 10), and Jersey Shore legends Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes (July 17) will be part of an exceptional anniversary season.

While theft of your personal belongings by the common criminal is upsetting, frustrating and inconvenient, most items that fall under this category, such as TVs, paintings and your car, are insured and can be replaced. However, the meteoric rise of home thefts by sharp practicing swindlers who steal the rights to your house by filing with the county has prompted the state of New Jersey to do more for the protection of its residents. But you can take steps to protect your home from being "stolen."

The Ocean City Free Public Library is hosting some interesting upcoming lectures, featuring sports topics such as the Phillies and golf, among other subjects.

The Cape May County Park & Zoo will cohost its annual Earth Day celebration, “Every Day is Earth Day,” with the Cape May County MUA on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The county is looking for people who have environmentally conscious businesses or organizations to be an exhibitor or sponsor of the event, according to a county news release.

Congressman Jeff Van Drew will be holding his first hearing in South Jersey on March 16 regarding offshore wind projects being built off the coast of New Jersey, with the time and location to be announced in the coming weeks, according to a news release. Van Drew also announced Friday that he will be introducing legislation that places a moratorium on all existing wind farm projects and legislation that will prohibit all future projects. In a related development Friday, the state Board of Public Utilities approved a transmission line through Ocean City that will connect the offshore wind turbines with the land-based electric grid at a substation near the former B.L. England power plant in Marmora.

The Ocean City Environmental Commission will sponsor its fourth annual Nature and Environmental Family Fun Day from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, in the Ocean City High School cafeteria. The event provides a great opportunity to get the kids out to do something educational, interactive and fun on Presidents Day Weekend.

Ralph E. Hunter was raised by a ministry family. His grandfather, father and brother pursued great heights as priests. So why didn’t Hunter pursue the ministry? “Because I love history,” Hunter said. Hunter, the African American Heritage Museum founder in Atlantic City, presented “This Little Light of Mine: The Black Church” at the Ocean City Free Public Library on Saturday as part of the annual Black History Month celebration. He also took part in the unveiling of a new exhibit, called “The Westside: Ocean City in True Color,” at the Ocean City Historical Museum.

More than 500 community members and elected officials gathered on Saturday morning to discuss the state’s development of offshore wind energy and whether there is a link to a series of whale deaths.  The forum, held at Brigantine Community School, comes after a slew of dead whales washed up along the East Coast.