Dear Friends,
Tropical Storm Henri is expected to remain offshore as it passes by Ocean City this weekend on a track over the Atlantic Ocean toward New England. But the forecast does call for rough surf and ocean conditions that could deteriorate quickly. Please remember to swim only at guarded beaches.
An updated list is always available at www.ocnj.us/ocbp.
With many lifeguards returning to school this month, the Ocean City Beach Patrol held a special tryout on Sunday. I’d like to congratulate Bill Powell, Casey Cullen, Dylan DeWitt, Isabella Rossi, John Carney and Joseph Keefe on making the patrol. I’m told this is a strong class of rookies, and they will help us maintain staffing at an important time of the year.
The Army Corps of Engineers has been surveying the Intracoastal Waterway behind Ocean City and working with the U.S. Coast Guard to adjust channel markers to take advantage of naturally deep water.
Local boaters should be aware that marked channels have shifted in some locations, and this work is ongoing. I will provide further updates as they become available.
I want to remind everybody that the Cape May County provides COVID-19 vaccines 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. every Wednesday at the Department of Health offices at 6 Moore Road in Cape May Court House.
The county’s COVID-19 Mobile Vaccine Clinic will be in Woodbine (Ambulance Corps Building, 517 DeHirsch Ave.) 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. next Tuesday and Thursday.
The vaccinations are free and no appointment is necessary. The county offers the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which are approved for anybody age 18 or older.
Anyone age 16 or older interested in finding alternative sites to receive the COVID-19 vaccine can visit covid19.nj.gov/pages/finder to find a walk-in location by searching by zip code.
A group of doctors and hospital officials from our local Shore Medical Center provided invaluable information and insight to the city as we made decisions during the pandemic.
With the number of confirmed cases again on the rise nationwide, we will resume our weekly calls to make sure we are doing everything we can to protect public health and safety.
On Monday, I had the honor of dedicating the “Don and Pam Hepner Championship Court” at our Pickleball complex at 18th Street.
Don and Pam’s tireless efforts to promote Pickleball in Ocean City are largely responsible for the facilities we enjoy today, and I hope you all will join me in expressing our gratitude.
If you were downtown or up on the Boardwalk on Tuesday evening, it would have been hard to miss a visit from Gritty and the Philadelphia Flyers Community Caravan.
The manic mascot buzzed through the skateboard park, hopped boardwalk railings, climbed on a lifeguard stand, commandeered an electric wheelchair scooter, visited a local tennis practice and brought smiles to the faces of a whole lot of fans. It was a fun event, and we’ll be rooting for the Flyers this fall.
I hope you all have a great weekend.
Warm regards,
Mayor Jay A. Gillian
