January 16, 2026

Dear Friends,

I want to remind everyone about our annual Martin Luther King Ceremony at 12 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19 at the Ocean City Tabernacle.

We’re all living through an exceptionally divided time in our country, and this event reminds us of the importance of working together to improve our communities. 

With our Community Service Awards, we’re honoring three residents — Dr. Constance Pritchard, Sister Joelle Thren and Jennifer Shirk — who are perfect examples of Ocean City’s spirit of volunteerism. The Reverend Gregory Johnson will deliver Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Ocean City Intermediate School students will read their award-winning essays, and everybody’s invited to a free soul food luncheon after the event.

I also want to encourage everyone to participate in the Day of Service citywide cleanup before the ceremony. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Knight Building on 12th Street at 9 a.m. on Jan. 19 to pick up supplies.

There are a few other winter events coming up that you may want to mark your calendars for.

Our annual Public Safety Recognition Ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, at the Ocean City Tabernacle. This event recognizes first responders from the Ocean City Police Department, Ocean City Fire Department and Ocean City Beach Patrol who performed heroic actions in the course of duty during the year. I will be introducing a new Mayor’s Public Safety Award at the ceremony.

Registration is open for our Winter Warrior Challenge on Feb. 14. The event, now in its third year, includes an obstacle course race and team challenges. More information and registration is available at ocnj.us/race-events. 

The Ocean City Police Department is now accepting applications for its annual Citizens’ Police Academy. The program offers a chance to learn more about the operations of our department and to strengthen community-police relations over the course of 10 weeks. More information on the Academy and how to apply is available here.

Our friends at the United Methodists Communities in Ocean City are seeking donations from local residents for the “Have A Heart for Veterans 2026” campaign. They’re putting together gift bags for veterans throughout southern New Jersey. More information on how to help is here.

I’m sad to report on the loss of two exceptional women, Joleen Peterson and Nancy Southard.

Joleen was a year ahead of me at Ocean City High School, where she was a basketball and track star. She was a veteran with the Air National Guard and worked in the Family Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey. She lived her life committed to justice, fairness and compassion.

Nancy also graduated from Ocean City High School and returned to the district as a teacher. Her family runs a popular landscaping business in town. She always loved to be in or on the water at the beach and bay. Faith was always an important part of her life.

Please join Michele and me in extending deepest condolences to the families and friends of Joleen and Nancy.

Warm regards,

Jay A. Gillian
Mayor 

Sign up to receive email alerts about this weekly mayor's update.