Dear Friends,

If you’re like me, I’m sure you’re frustrated trying to get around town through all of our road construction projects. There are a lot of roads and alleys in town that need work, and we’re committed to limiting these jobs to the spring and fall. Please know that we’ll have all current road projects completed and cleaned up in time for Memorial Day.

Work to replace utility lines, substantially elevate, improve drainage, and repave West Avenue from Ninth Street to 18^th Street is ongoing. Final paving at the intersection of Ninth and West is complete, and the roadway is tentatively scheduled to be restriped on Tuesday. Final paving from Ninth to 14^th is scheduled for the week of April 21, weather permitting. The section from 14^th to 18^th will be complete in May. 

City Council is scheduled to introduce our proposed municipal budget at a public meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 10. Anybody interested in following this important process, can watch a presentation on the budget by Finance Director Frank Donato here. 

I want to remind everybody that we are planning a neighborhood meeting at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, April 5) at the American Legion Post 524 at 46^th Street and West Avenue to discuss modified plans for improving the Crook Horn Creek Nature Trail off 52^nd Street. Anybody interested in learning more is welcome to attend.

The Ocean City Healthy Living Advisory Council and the St. Damien Parish Nurse Ministry invite the public to a free presentation on “Emergency First Aid for Bystanders.” The event will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 8 in the Chris Maloney Lecture Hall at the Ocean City Free Public Library (1735 Simpson Avenue), and more information is available here.

Ocean City Historical Museum officers John Loeper and Carol Dotts joined me on Thursday as I donated the ring arm from the carousel at Wonderland Pier to the museum’s collection. The equipment, which feeds brass rings to carousel riders, was originally part of Gillian’s Fun Deck. My grandfather, David Gillian, opened the Fun Deck at Plymouth Place and Boardwalk in 1929, and one of the original carousel horses is already on display at the museum.  

I’m sad to report on the passing of Rosemarie Fallon, who was instrumental in planning and sustaining the annual Fourth of July bike parade and other activities sponsored by the South Ocean City Improvement Association. Rosemarie was one of those unsung volunteers who make a difference in our community. Please join me and Michele in paying tribute to her and in extending condolences to her family and friends. 

I hope you all get a chance to check out the OC Con Comic Book & Memorabilia Show on Saturday and Sunday at the Ocean City Music Pier, and Girls Weekend tonight through Sunday at locations throughout the downtown.

Have a great weekend.

Warm regards,

Jay A. Gillian
Mayor