tkelly

The Ocean City High School Class of 1957 has donated a large storage case to organize and protect a collection of high school yearbooks housed at the Ocean City Historical Museum. A group of about 20 members of the Class of '57 reunited Friday at the museum to reminisce about old times.

There are no more moral victories. "I’m not going to lie to you, this one hurts,” Ocean City head football coach Kevin Smith said after the Red Raiders’ crushing 20-14 overtime loss to Oakcrest on Friday night. The Raiders’ third straight loss dropped their record to 3-3 overall, 3-1 in the West Jersey Football League’s Independence Division and put their playoff aspirations on hold for another week.

Two home games facing the Ocean City High School football team Friday night and next Friday will determine the Red Raiders’ hopes to make the NJSIAA Group 4 tournament and winning the West Jersey Football League’s Independence Division championship. Despite tough losses in the last two games, Ocean City is 3-2 overall but still undefeated in the Independence at 3-0. The Red Raiders are currently seeded fifth in the playoff race and can clinch a berth in the big dance with a win Friday night against Oakcrest at Carey Stadium. Kickoff for what is Ocean City’s Homecoming game is 6 p.m.

Ocean City and the HERO Campaign are perfect together. “It’s been a wonderful partnership,” said Bill Elliott, founder and CEO of the organization that prevents drunken driving by promoting the use of designated drivers. “There is nothing we could have wished for that Ocean City hasn’t provided." More than 1,000 participants are expected this Sunday for the Eighth Annual John R. Elliott HERO Walk and 5 Kilometer Run on the Boardwalk.

Asbury Avenue was ablaze in community outreach Friday night. The annual Open House of the Ocean City Fire Department and firefighters’ union IAFF Local 4032 attracted more than 1,000 people to the Fire Headquarters at 5th and Asbury. The free, family-friendly event gave the department and union the opportunity to show off equipment, conduct demonstrations and games that drove home the important lessons of fire safety.

The Ocean City Red Raiders football team has another tough test Friday night when they travel to Runnemede, Camden County, to take on Triton. The game, which kicks off at 7 p.m., is an intriguing matchup of division leaders in the West Jersey Football League. Triton stands atop the WJFL National at 3-0 (3-2 overall) while OC is 3-1 overall and at 3-0 in sole possession of first place in the Independence Division.

The year was 1927. Babe Ruth smacked 60 home runs as a prelude to his New York Yankees’ World Series sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Aviator Charles Lindbergh piloted his “Spirit of St. Louis” from New York to Paris in the first solo transatlantic flight. And a devastating fire of unknown origin destroyed nearly eight blocks of the Ocean City Boardwalk and surrounding areas. All three events signaled tipping points in history.

The Ocean City High School football team will not see action again until next Friday night, Oct. 12, but that doesn’t mean there is time to relax. The coaching staff is busy scouting the next opponents and studying film. Fans and boosters are gearing up for the next game. And then there is lifting, lifting and more lifting. Next Friday at 7 p.m., the Red Raiders travel to Runnemede, Camden County, to face Triton in a non-league game.

To understand the extent of the opioid addiction crisis in the United States, one needs only to speak to Sally Onesty. Onesty, of Ocean City, lost her son Tyler to addiction in March 2017, and has since become a passionate advocate in the battle against opioids. For all of Onesty’s hard work and advocacy, she is just one person. However, on October 6, the third annual “Knock Out Opioid Addiction Day” will take place statewide to raise awareness and provide information and resources for those who need help and for their family members.

Although Ocean City came out on the short end of the 38-6 score to St. Augustine Prep on Friday night, the Red Raiders acquitted themselves much better than the final scoreboard math would indicate. “I was proud of the effort,” Coach Kevin Smith said. “Our guys played hard and that is the first prerequisite of a winning football team.”