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New Jersey’s push to increase the state’s minimum wage, signed into law Monday by Gov. Phil Murphy, could certainly help some workers. However, the collateral damage from the move for a $15 per hour minimum wage could also have a devastating effect on the overall economy of the state and actually hurt many workers, and local economies, opponents maintain. Higher prices, less service, reduced or eliminated employment opportunities and shuttered businesses are a few of the pitfalls predicted by business advocacy groups, chambers of commerce and local business owners. Included on the opposition side are many in Ocean City.

Cape May County Freeholder Marie Hayes is branching out. The Ocean City resident, who is marking her sixth year on the Freeholder board, is also serving on and assuming leadership roles on two prestigious bi-partisan legislative groups. She is doing so, she says, to help take her advocacy for the county well beyond the Cape.

Hey, it’s been a chilly week. On Saturday there was a warming trend, but it was still a very “chili” day in Ocean City. More than 150 folks showed up for Boy Scout Troop 32’s third annual Super Chili Bowl fundraiser, which took place on Saturday afternoon.

It’s almost time for Super Bowl LIII, which unfortunately means that as of approximately 10:30 p.m. Sunday night, we will no longer be able to call the Eagles reigning champs. Despite that, local experts and fans are not shy about sharing their thoughts on the game.

Imagine an Ocean City with tens of thousands of summer visitors, most of whom arrive by car or truck, and just one gasoline station. When the summer of 2019 rolls around, you won’t have to imagine it. A perfect storm of real estate deals, building demolitions and the unintended consequences of much-needed city improvements has left Ocean City with no gas stations on the 9th Street corridor, and just one remaining in town, at 34th Street and West Avenue.

The first new hotel project in Ocean City in more than 20 years moved a step closer to reality on Wednesday. Demolition commenced on a former garage and storage building at 10th Street and Ocean Avenue to clear the way for the construction of the North Island Inn, an all-suites hotel targeted at families planning on extended stays in Ocean City. Jorge Martinez, project foreman on the demolition job, said his five-man crew from the Vineland-based Souders Excavating should complete knocking down the building, believed to be approximately 95 years old, and clearing the site sometime next week.

All kids like superheroes, right? Well, maybe some little girls favor princesses. Either way, the little ones will have a great time at the Princess and Superhero Party coming soon to the Flanders Hotel in Ocean City. It’s the latest creative and family-friendly Flanders event with a focus on activities for children. Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite princess or superhero attire on Sunday, Feb. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon at the hotel and full-service resort at 719 East 11th Street.

Ocean City’s historic Bourse Building, a landmark at 761 Asbury Avenue for 123 years, has been sold. Real estate records indicate the building, whose lead tenant, Interiors by Joann, has been operating there since 1990, was sold by local attorney Joel A. Mott III to an investment group, Bourse Building LLC, for $1.7 million. Mott, contacted by phone in Florida just prior to leaving for a vacation, confirmed the sale Friday. He said the investment group planned to use the 6,000 square feet of street level retail space for a new women’s clothing establishment.

Longtime friends Peg Cole and Joan Lehberger, both of Ocean City, were avid participants in a small group of mahjong players, when they suddenly found themselves alone. “The others moved (out of the area),” Lehberger said, “and I think we got tired of playing against each other all the time. Peg said, ‘We’ve got to do something about this.’” That was more than three years ago. The women contacted Ocean City Free Public Library Director Karen Mahar, who backed the idea to promote the ancient “mind sport” and agreed to provide space for devotees to play the game and for interested newcomers to learn it. Ocean City is the only place in South Jersey where prospective mahjong players can learn the game for free, Lehberger pointed out.

Bike advocates are calling for the completion of a "super bikeway" that would allow them to ride from Ocean City and Somers Point deep into southern Cape May County. An informational meeting for this purpose will take place Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Somers Point City Hall, 1 West New Jersey Avenue. Bike OCNJ, Somers Point officials, representatives of the New Jersey Department of Transportation and tourism boosters are urging area bike riders and advocates to have their voices heard on the issue.