Mayor Jay Gillian: Ocean Is Unlocked and Ocean City Is No. 1

Dear Friends:

Today at noon I was joined by members of City Council, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Ocean City Beach Patrol and the Beach Patrol alumni to officially “Unlock the Ocean” for the 2014 season.  The ceremony was followed by the always entertaining “Business Persons Plunge.”

Yesterday we learned that Ocean City was voted New Jersey’s #1 Beach in the 2014 New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and Richard Stockton College of New Jersey Coastal Research Center contest. In addition to Best Beach, Ocean City won first place in the categories for Best Destination for Family Vacation, Day Trip and Ecotourism.  This is the first time in the history of the contest that one town has swept first place in all of the categories.

I would like to thank the city team, City Council, the Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Development Commission for working in partnership to promote Ocean City.  The results of this contest speak volumes about how people love Ocean City.

I would like to thank the City’s team members who have worked hard to have us ready for the summer season.  This was a real challenge this year to catch up on time lost during the past winter’s inclement weather.

For your family Memorial Day Weekend might mean a trip to the beach or boardwalk, some downtown shopping, or a barbecue.  There’s time for all of this and more.

However, I hope you will take the time to join us at Veteran’s Memorial Park at 11:00 am Monday to reflect on what this holiday is really all about.  I will again have the honor to join the members of our local VFW and American Legion Posts for this annual event in remembrance of those who gave their lives so that future generations of Americans might live in freedom.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend in America’s Greatest Family Resort!

Warm regards,

Jay A. Gillian

Mayor