May 22, 2026
Dear Friends,
It’s been a rough week with the loss of a young swimmer, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
If there’s anything we can take away from this tragedy, it’s a reminder to respect the power of the ocean. Every day … on every beach … there are a lot of different forces at work. Please swim only at guarded beaches. And if the guards are not on duty, stick to the shallow water.
I want to ask everyone to reflect on the memory of a promising man whose time with us was far too short. Please join me in extending deepest condolences to his family.
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If you’re like me, you’ll be happy to know that most projects are done for the season.
Roosevelt Boulevard and 34th Street are complete. The road looks great, and the new elevation will help with flooding and evacuations. The only work left is a laser survey that will be conducted before sunrise on Wednesday, May 27. If you’re traveling that night, expect some delays.
The emergency sewer main repair under West Avenue at 31st Street is done in time for the summer. Crews will return after Labor Day for final paving.
The water company work in the Gardens is done for the spring. They will be back in the fall for final paving of the neighborhood streets.
We still have work to do on four alleys at the north end, and on Fifth Street at the beach end. The water company’s contractor is also scheduled to do final paving in Merion Park where it recently completed pipeline upgrades. This work is scheduled for the two to three weeks after Memorial Day.
Our beach replenishment project for the north end is out to bid. We will update you as soon as we have a timeline. The boardwalk reconstruction projects are complete. The last piece will be 14th Street to 16th Street in the fall.
City Council last night approved a resolution to go out to bid for a new neighborhood pumping station project for 18th Street to 26th Street. This work would begin in the fall. We remain committed to providing flood relief to all areas of the city that need it.
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Our Night in Venice Planning Committee announced yesterday the theme for this year’s event: “Stars, Stripes and Christmas Lights.”
Ocean City will celebrate the 71st anniversary of Night in Venice on July 25 this year, and the dual theme will invite more creativity as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States and “Christmas in July,” the day that falls five months before the winter holiday. As always, the theme is optional.
We want this year’s celebration to be bright and beautiful. Combining two great themes will really give our participants more flexibility and more reasons to celebrate.
The committee also announced the addition of two new pageants to support the Night in Venice event. Little Miss Night in Venice and Junior Miss Night in Venice will make their debut with a crowning at the Music Pier on July 15, and the queens and their courts will preside over the Night In Venice boat parade on July 25. These events will be fun, free and open to anyone ages 8 to 11 (Little Miss NIV) or ages 12 to 15 (Junior Miss NIV). It’s exciting to see our annual Night in Venice celebration continue to grow with new elements each year. Registration is now open at ocnj.recdesk.com.
I want to encourage everyone to come to the Memorial Day Service at 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park on Monday. If it’s raining, we’ll move indoors across the street at the Ocean City Tabernacle (550 Wesley Avenue). This year’s ceremony will include the unveiling of a POW-MIA National Chair of Honor at Veterans Memorial Park and the dedication of a historical marker by the New Jersey Children of the American Revolution.
I hope you all have a safe holiday weekend as we reflect on the sacrifices of our veterans.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian
Mayor
