Dear Friends,

A group of mayors from shore towns met with Congressman Jeff Van Drew on Tuesday to get an update on efforts to make sure future Army Corps of Engineers beach replenishment projects get funded. He is working on multiple levels to protect this vital program, and I’m confident he’ll be able to deliver for us.

The program has been an unquestionable success across the eight miles of Ocean City beaches, since it was first launched in the early 1990s. I would like to invite anybody who doubts the effectiveness of the program to visit us to see exactly how it has created miles of wide beaches and a protective dune system.

Before the program began, there were many places where the ocean flowed under the Boardwalk or up to the bulkhead. Those same beaches are now home to healthy dunes that allowed miles of our beachfront streets to remain completely dry even when Superstorm Sandy made landfall just 12 miles away. 

But like most other barrier island towns, we do have stretches of beach that remain vulnerable to erosion and in need of replenishment. That’s why sustaining the Army Corps partnership is so important. Ocean City is due for its next replenishment project in 2026, and I will continue to work with Congressman Van Drew, state and local officials to make sure that happens.

In the meantime, we have a beautiful forecast for the weekend, and all beaches are open. It should be a spectacular way to finish up the summer season.

New Jersey American Water work to replace the sewer main and lateral service lines in Merion Park is scheduled to resume on Monday, Sept. 8. The project will start on Little Roosevelt Boulevard from Waterview Boulevard to Westminster Lane. Because the work will involve digging deep trenches, access to driveways along that stretch will be extremely limited. Residents are encouraged to be prepared to park on neighboring streets outside the project area. The work is expected to take approximately one week, weather permitting. 

The project will then move to Bartram Lane from Westminster Lane to Pembroke Lane and include a small portion of Pembroke. The project should be done before the end of September. 

I understand that residents have endured a lot of construction over the past few years, but in the end, the neighborhood will have all new and upgraded utility lines, six pumping stations for flood mitigation, and elevated and repaved streets. 

Ocean City lost two well-known members of the community recently. Caroline “Butchie” Ford and Marylyn Sye were each long-time residents, employees of the school district and other local businesses, and familiar faces throughout the community. Please join Michele and me in extending deepest condolences to the families and many friends of Butchie and Marylyn.

Local resident and Navy veteran Joe Stefano and his pop and jazz ensemble will perform a free concert for veterans and guests at 7 p.m. tonight (Aug. 29) at the Ocean City Music Pier. The group will perform classical, jazz, big band and Broadway hits and also feature singer Camille K. No advance registration is required for the public to attend this free show. It’s part of Ocean City’s monthly celebration of veterans in August.

The Ocean City Pops will perform a special concert featuring LaKisha Jones at 7:30 p.m. Sunday (August 31) at the Music Pier. She’ll pay tribute to the music of Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston. Tickets and more information are available at ocnj.us/boxoffice.  

It’s also not too late to sign up for the Ocean City 34th annual Labor Day Race on the beach at 23rd Street on Monday (Sept. 1). Visit ocnj.us/race-events for more information on this 5-mile beach run or 1-mile fun run/walk. 

I hope you all have a great holiday weekend with family and friends.

Warm regards,

Jay A. Gillian
Mayor