Here’s the weekly update from Mayor Jay A. Gillian:

January 17, 2025

Dear Friends,

I want to remind you that our annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ceremony will be held at noon tomorrow (Saturday, Jan. 18) at the Ocean City Tabernacle.

We will honor the life and legacy of Dr. King during a program that includes words, song and prayer. Rev. Paul Jerkins of Shiloh Baptist Church, Cathy DiMarco, and the Ecumenical Council Food Cupboard in memory of Regina Ralston will be honored with Community Service Awards, and Ocean City Intermediate School students Jane Heng, Grace Kane, Ava Clevenger and Darrien Mayo will read their winning essays on Dr. King’s influence. A free luncheon will follow the ceremony.

The annual MLK Day of Service will be on Monday, and volunteers are asked to join in a citywide cleanup. Now that the Senior Center is open seven days a week, we’re asking volunteers to meet at the Ocean City Music Pier before the cleanup, which takes place from 9 a.m. to noon.

A N.J. Department of Transportation contractor is tentatively scheduled to begin the replacement of the colored bridge lights on the Ninth Street causeway on Tuesday (Jan. 21), weather permitting. Traffic may be reduced to a single lane at various times during construction, which is expected to continue through most of the spring season. I want to thank the state for continuing to invest in this feature, which so many of our residents, guests and Route 52 travelers enjoy. Please use caution and patience during this ongoing work.

The forecast calls for some extremely cold weather this week. Check with neighbors, especially those whose homes may be unoccupied during the winter. Make sure heat is turned up enough to prevent frozen pipes. Please use caution on roads that could be icy.

Work on the new police substation at Eighth Street and Boardwalk is underway. Pilings have been driven. Footings and the elevator foundation are being poured, and they are expected to be done by the end of the month. Block work will begin next week. The project is expected to be complete in the fall.

Construction of a new bulkhead at Clubhouse Lagoon (off Bayland Drive) is complete. With private owners recently completing a replacement of their own, the new structure provides continuous protection around the perimeter of the waterway.

Ocean City lost one of its icons recently: Bill Fulton.

Bill was a familiar face from his work for almost four decades at the Ocean City Post Office. He had a great sense of humor and it seemed like he knew everybody in town. Those who didn’t visit the Post Office may have known him as an avid bicyclist who pedaled thousands of miles around town each year and participated in events like the OCNJ Triathlon and Tour de Tuckahoe.

Please join me and Michele in paying tribute to him and in extending condolences to his family and friends.

I hope you have a great weekend and go Eagles!

Warm regards,

Jay A. Gillian
Mayor