Dear Friends,
Ocean City has a rich and diverse history, and preserving the legacy of Ocean City’s Black community is important. Our local committee was unable to put together Ocean City’s annual Juneteenth event this year, but I hope you all will take time tomorrow to honor the occasion. Juneteenth represents a celebration of freedom, but it’s also a reminder of what Blacks throughout our nation have overcome. Despite these struggles, the Black community has always been a vital part of the Ocean City family.
Starting tomorrow morning, the U.S. Life Saving Station No. 30 will be open to visitors 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The preservation and renovation of this historic landmark have been years in the making, and now the public can enjoy this public resource.
Museum staff will be able to answer questions and tell stories about the days from 1885 to 1915 when the station operated as a precursor to the modern Coast Guard. Life Saving Service stations were positioned to rescue ships and sailors in distress and to serve as places of shelter and medical clinics on shorelines that were often sparsely inhabited and remote.
The station is located at the corner of Fourth Street and Atlantic Avenue. Interactive screens will allow visitors to learn about the history of the station through a series of videos, and the site is filled with artifacts from the time and a replica of a surf boat.
I want to congratulate all of the Ocean City High School seniors who graduated on Tuesday. These students sacrificed a lot in a year filled with pandemic restrictions, and I wish them the best as they further their education and careers. Anybody who would like to watch the commencement ceremony can tune in to OCTV-97 at 7 p.m. tonight and the following three evenings (7 p.m. June 18-21).
Even though graduation has passed, our OCHS baseball team will compete tomorrow evening for a state baseball championship. Let’s wish the Red Raiders good luck as they face Pascack Valley at 7 p.m. Win or lose, the bridge lights will be lit red and white this weekend in recognition of this team’s accomplishments.
I also want to let you know about a new boat safety program sponsored by a group of local boat owners and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary – Flotilla 81. In addition to the Auxiliary’s inspections at marinas and boat ramps, this group will provide free vessel safety checks to anybody with a private slip in one of Ocean City’s lagoon or bayfront neighborhoods.
If you’d like to have your vessel inspected, send a private message to Fred Hoffman at 215-990-5200 or fredjhoffman51@icloud.com. In the message, include: your name, vessel location, name, type and size, along with your cellphone number for text notification. Coast Guard Auxiliary members will come to your vessel by land and all boats that pass inspection will receive a USCG Auxiliary “Vessel Safety Check” decal. Typical inspections should take just a few minutes per boat.
A public hearing and final vote on the 2021 municipal budget is scheduled for the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 24 in Council Chambers at City Hall. The meeting also will include a presentation on the city’s updated capital improvement plan for the next five years. Anybody who is interested in these financial plans is encouraged to attend. The public also will be able to watch and participate remotely.
I hope you all have a great weekend and Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.
Warm regards,
Mayor Jay A. Gillian
