Mayor Jay Gillian
Dear Friends,
Hurricane Ernesto is moving up the Atlantic Ocean on a track far from Ocean City, but the distant storm is expected to generate rough surf and strong currents throughout the weekend and into early next week.
Please remember to swim only at guarded beaches and to follow all guidance from the Ocean City Beach Patrol. With many students and teachers returning to school, the OCBP has begun to close beaches for the season. An updated list of guarded beaches is always available at ocnj.us/ocbp.
Our Aquatic & Fitness Center pool renovation contractor continues to make good progress. The tile work for lane markers and the perimeter of the pool is complete, and the installation of new drainage pipes will begin next week. I will continue to provide updates every Friday as we work to get the pool back open as soon as possible.
The Merion Park flood mitigation contractor has completed its pipe work on Simpson Avenue and on 35th Street. Concrete work on the north side of 35th Street began today, and pipe work on 36th Street will begin on Monday. With work continuing through the summer, the project remains on target to be complete with activation of pumping stations by the end of October.
An HVAC replacement at the Ocean City Free Public Library and Ocean City Historical Museum will begin after Labor Day. The first floor of the library will be closed during renovations. Access to the second floor will be available through the elevator in the atrium.
I’m sad to report on the passing of John Huber and Toby Soifer, two people who meant a lot to Ocean City. John was a 1959 Ocean City High School graduate and later an employee of the school district here. He was a coach, volunteer and friend to many. Toby was married to Ocean City’s legendary Public Relations Director Mark Soifer and was at his side for many of the iconic special events that he created. She was a veteran of countless Doo Dah Parades, Crustacean Pageants, First Nights and more. I hope you’ll join Michele and me in extending deepest condolences to the family and friends of John and Toby.
I want to congratulate Ocean City High School junior Taylor Mulford on being crowned Miss Ocean City. I know she’ll be a great ambassador for the city at events throughout the coming year. The Little Miss Ocean City Pageant and Junior Miss Ocean City Pageant are this weekend, and more information is available here.
Tickets for the Eli Young Band concert at the Ocean City Music Pier on Wednesday, August 21, are still available. The addition of country music concerts to the lineup at the Music Pier is something new this year, and I hope you’ll get a chance to check it out.
I hope you all have a great weekend.
Warm regards,
Mayor Jay A. Gillian
