Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian
Dear Friends,
City Council yesterday approved the first reading of an ordinance that would prohibit overnight parking of construction trailers and other types of trailers and would limit the size of construction dumpsters that can be parked in the street.
Increasing the availability and convenience of parking in Ocean City will always be a priority, and I’m glad to see this measure move forward. A second reading and public hearing is scheduled for the City Council meeting of Dec. 19.
Work to expand and extend the stormwater outfall pipe at Fifth Street is tentatively scheduled to begin next week and continue through February. This work will help address flooding issues on the beach block of Fifth Street. The project will begin at the street end and progress toward the beach.
Electrical panels for the new pumping stations in the Merion Park flood mitigation project are being installed, starting at 36th Street and Bay Avenue and continuing to 34th and Bay, the base of the 34th Street Bridge and the area opposite Vernon Lane.
The pumps will be activated this month when these installations are complete. Weather permitting, base paving of the streets in the project area will take place before Christmas. Final paving is scheduled for the spring, once the refilled pipeline trenches settle over time.
I’m happy to announce that starting tomorrow, the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center will be open seven days a week with meal service and programming. I’m proud that our team has created such a welcoming and joyful place, and expanding the hours at the Senior Center will serve an important need.
The city will help our local Ocean City Ecumenical Council Food Cupboard collect donations of non-perishable food and goods from now through Christmas. I want to encourage everybody to drop off donations at the City Hall Welcome Center (Ninth Street entrance at 861 Asbury Avenue), the Senior Center or Aquatic and Fitness Center (with the Ocean City Community Center at 1735 Simpson Avenue).
Some of the things on Santa's wish list for this food drive include: canned meats, canned ravioli, canned fruit, peanut butter, jelly, microwavable rice, mac-and-cheese and meals, instant oatmeal and mashed potatoes, laundry and dish detergent, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and body soap.
It'll be plenty chilly, but I hope to see you all at this evening’s Christmas Parade. It starts at 6 p.m. and proceeds down Asbury Avenue from Sixth Street to 11th Street.
The annual Train Show at the Ocean City Music Pier is free and takes place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Ocean City Free Public Library will hold its Holiday Festival 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. More information on holiday events is available here.
The Ocean City Theatre Company’s Junior Company will perform “Anastasia: The Musical” next weekend (Dec. 14 and 15). The musical is a 60-minute adaptation of the Broadway hit specially tailored for young actors. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 14) and 2 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 15) at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets can be purchased at oceancitytheatrecompany.com.
It’s not too early to think about making plans for celebrating New Year’s Eve at First Night in Ocean City. As always, we have a great lineup of entertainment available this year. More information and admission buttons are available at firstnightocnj.com.
Warm regards,
Mayor Jay A. Gillian
