Dear Friends,
Our Public Works Department repainted the faded yellow lines on Central Avenue in front of the Ocean City Police Department on Thursday, and they added a blue line down the center of the roadway. The new color is a show of respect for law enforcement officers, who must come to work each day prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect our community. We’re blessed in Ocean City to have exceptional public safety departments, and these men and women deserve our full support. I hope to see a thin red line added to the 500 block of Asbury Avenue to symbolize the same respect for our Ocean City Fire Department. We all should be grateful to these professionals not only for keeping us safe, but for the many other ways they serve the community.
The annual Earlier Than the Bird event is tomorrow morning 8 a.m. to noon on downtown Asbury Avenue. Free horse-and-carriage rides will be available from noon to 3 p.m. The weather forecast looks good, and the event is a fun way to get started on holiday shopping. As always, I encourage you to shop local during the holiday season. Tomorrow’s event and next Friday’s Christmas in the Downtown celebration are always a wonderful alternative to the crowds and chaos of the malls.
Everybody is invited to the Community Thanksgiving Service at 7 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 22) at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church at Eighth Street and Central Avenue. The interdenominational service offers an opportunity for the community to give thanks for all that we’re so fortunate to have.
Finally, I’d like to remind everybody that trash and recycling pickup will change for the holiday week. See the revised schedule here.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian Mayor
