Dear Friends,
Tomorrow is the first day of spring, and I’m happy to see the return of special events in Ocean City. After a year of so many sacrifices, it’ll be good to get back to some family fun.
The Boardwalk Merchants Association will sponsor two
Great Egg Hunts on March 27 and April 3. The traditional beach event moves up onto the boardwalk this year with kids collecting eggs at participating stores. Easter Sunday (April 4) will include the interdenominational
Sunrise Service, an outdoor
Dueling Pianos show and our annual
Fashion Stroll at the Music Pier.
We’re looking forward to the return of as many events as possible this year, but health and safety will always be our top priority. We may not be able to hold all of them, and some may look different. Every event that happens will be in full compliance with current public health guidelines and require masks and social distancing.
Because outdoor gatherings larger than 50 people are still prohibited by executive orders from the governor, the April 17 Doo Dah Parade will be canceled. We had been holding out hope that restrictions on outdoor events would be relaxed by this time, but the parade requires advance planning on the part of both the city and participants. The Mr. Mature America Pageant, which had been scheduled for that evening, will move to September with Barry Williams (who starred in “The Brady Bunch”) still on tap to be the host.
We will be able to host a
Comic Book and Memorabilia Show on April 10 and a
Sports Memorabilia Show on April 24 at the Music Pier, where capacity limits will be in place.
Many have asked about the Spring Block Party, tentatively scheduled for May 1. There will be an announcement about that event shortly.
The Ocean City Utilities Advisory Commission will sponsor
two virtual sessions that will explain how water bills are determined. Representatives from the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority (6:30 p.m. March 25) and the New Jersey American Water Company (April 8) will make the presentation.
The lights along the Ninth Street causeway bridges were lit purple last night in recognition of Trisomy 18 Awareness Day, and they will be lit blue and yellow on Sunday for World Down Syndrome Day. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families affected by these genetic conditions.
Finally, I want to wish a happy birthday to Juanita Moore, who turned 100 earlier this month. She is a member of Shiloh Baptist Church and a 60-year resident of Ocean City. I hope you all will join Michele and me in wishing Juanita continued health and happiness.
Warm regards,
Mayor Jay A. Gillian
