Dear Friends,
I invite you all to attend a town hall meeting on a potential short-term plan to use using city-owned property at the far end of Shelter Road as a transfer point for dredged material. The idea represents an opportunity to provide a substantial dredging program for Ocean City’s shallow mid-island lagoons in 2017 and to test a method that could help keep waterways dredged and navigable long into the future.
The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center at the Community Center.
Representatives of ACT Engineers will explain the new technology, and the city will solicit feedback from neighbors and residents on the idea. The meeting also will include information on Ocean City’s full 2017 dredge program and on some of the challenges with alternative ideas.
The 2017 dredge program may not be viable without an alternative dredge material handling methodology. I hope you can join us at this meeting to hear the latest. I look forward to seeing you.
Work crews lowered eight 40-foot sections of decking onto the boardwalk in front of the Music Pier today. I’m now confident that the Pier will be accessible in time for the First Night and First Day celebrations on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. We also received permits this week that will allow the construction of five new pavilions on the ocean side of the boardwalk between Sixth Street and 10 Street. These will be great additions to Ocean City’s most-iconic and most-visited landmark.
South Jersey Gas has begun installation of new high-pressure lines along Wesley Avenue from 18th Street to 22nd Street. Work will also take place on parts of 19th Street, 20th Street and 21st Street. All excavations will be restored on a daily basis, and final repaving of all areas is expected to be complete by spring 2017. Thank you for your patience as this work continues.
All lanes of the 34th Street Bridge will be closed overnight from 10 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 8) through 5 a.m. Friday (Dec. 9) to allow work crews to pour concrete. Please plan alternative routes if you’ll be traveling that night. The bridge will return to its alternating single-lane pattern on Friday.
Just a reminder: Ocean City’s Christmas Parade is tonight at 6:30 p.m. The parade will travel down Asbury Avenue from Sixth Street to 11th Street. This year’s event includes 56 entries, including five marching bands, Collegiate Miss Majorette of N.J. Erica Reichert, and, of course, Santa Claus himself. Emcee is former Miss Philadelphia, Ocean City resident and recording artist Julia Rae.
The weekend’s events also include: the annual Train Show at the Civic Center on Saturday and Sunday; free horse-and-carriage rides from City Hall noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; photos with Santa in a lifeguard boat on the boardwalk at Sixth Street noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Breakfast with Santa 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 3) at Yianni’s Café (841 Asbury) and Sunday (Dec. 4) at Sunrise Café (1200 Asbury).
Finally, a reminder to shop local for the holidays. Downtown stores will be open till 8 p.m. on Friday nights and every day throughout the month.
I hope you all have a great weekend.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian Mayor
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