October 31, 2025
Dear Friends,
I want to wish everyone a Happy Halloween, and I want to thank Jen and Jeff Shirk and the entire Exchange Club of Ocean City for organizing the 77th annual Halloween Parade. Earlier in the day, it looked like it might be a washout, but the weather cleared and it was great to see so many families out enjoying another spectacular event.
I was able to join officers Mike Gray, Kayla Ricci, Joe Giordano and Ben Bethea from our “Gotham City” Community Policing Unit at the parade. Our community officers and the entire department do so much to keep us safe during these events and every day throughout the year. We’re lucky to have such a dedicated team.
Earlier in the day, I watched Senior Center team members Maryann McElroy, John Tefankjian, Jules Sardinas, Anthony Raffa, Karen Bergman, Lisa McGuigan, Lisa Thompson, Kennan McPeak and Shelley Magan entertain our seniors with a “Wizard of Oz” skit. I want to thank Karen and Maryann for putting together such a fun presentation. It was truly priceless.
Trick-or-treating will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. this evening. Have fun, but please be safe on the streets, wear reflective clothing or carry a flashlight, and follow pedestrian safety laws.
Our second episode of the “Inside City Hall” video series is now available here and at ocnj.us. This week, we’ll look at current projects that include sand harvesting on the beaches, the cleanup of our open space at 16th Street (which started today), and the bridge lights along the causeway, among other topics. This weekly feature will continue to give everyone a glimpse of what’s new in Ocean City and of some of the work behind the scenes that makes it happen.
The reconstruction of the Boardwalk from Second Street to Fifth Street continues to make good progress with demolition nearly complete. The project remains on track to be complete before the end of March.
A $1.2 million project to complete substructure repairs to the Ocean City Music Pier is also on schedule. The Music Pier is home to hundreds of shows and events each year, but it’s almost a century old. The city makes regular structural inspections to make sure the building is safe and will last for another 100 years.
Cape May County is soliciting bids to elevate Roosevelt Boulevard – the gateway to Ocean City from the 34th Street Bridge and one of our emergency evacuation routes. This important work remains on track to be completed in 2026.
I want to remind everybody that the inbound lanes of the Ninth Street causeway will be closed tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 1) from about 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. for the Trail of Two Cities 5K Race. Drivers may leave Ocean City during that time period using the outbound lanes of the causeway, but all motorists traveling into Ocean City are advised to plan alternative routes. Police will reopen the roadway as soon as they can, once all race participants are off the course.
The polls will be open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 for the general election. Voters will choose among candidates for Ocean City Board of Education, Cape May County Board of Commissioners, New Jersey General Assembly and New Jersey Governor. More information is available here.
I’m sad to report on the loss of Carmen D’Angelo this week. Carmen’s work with the Sunshine Foundation helped many children in our area. He was an Air Force veteran and member of Ocean City’s American Legion post. I always enjoyed seeing him at morning Masses and at the daily flag-raising on the Boardwalk. Carmen was part of a generation that gave so much to their country and community.
Ocean City lost another of its finest citizens, John Della Fave, this week. John was a member of the Ocean City Exchange Club, and he and his wife, Gail (Capizzi) were well-known in their home neighborhood of Seventh Street and Plaza Place.
Michele and I would like to extend deepest condolences to the families and many friends of Carmen and John.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian
Mayor
