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Tag: ocean city

  • Alex’s Pizza is expanding to Jersey Shore, bringing another swirl pie to Ocean City Boardwalk

    Alex’s Pizza, the humble Roxborough shop that’s stood at the corner of Pechin Street and Leverington Avenue since 1961, will expand next year with a new location on the Ocean City Boardwalk.

    Known for thin crust pies baked with a swirl of red sauce, the restaurant passed between several owners before it was purchased and renovated a few years ago by a team of investors who grew up in the surrounding neighborhoods. The same group owns Manayunk’s the Rook bar and restaurant, which replaced the former East End Tavern on Cresson Street in 2020 and expanded to Wildwood earlier this year.

    MORE: Steve’s Prince of Steaks to open its second Bucks County location

    “Our core group grew up on Alex’s Pizza,” said Rich Ennis, one of the five partners in the restaurant group. “We see so much development going on in the Roxborough, Manayunk and East Falls areas and the last thing we wanted was for a staple like Alex’s to get in the hands of a developer and just become another rental unit.”

    During a recent trip to Ocean City, Ennis and business partner Dylan Bear started tossing around the idea of expanding Alex’s to the boardwalk. Without much planning, they checked out a few available spaces.

    “There’s not a lot of opportunity there,” Ennis said. “You have tenants that stay for a long time and people that have been vacationing there for years realize that they don’t leave.”

    The group decided to buy out the business of the former Pizzeria Eataly on the boardwalk between 12th and 13th streets. They’ll spend the next few months renovating the space and getting their menu together for an opening ahead of peak shore season next year.

    Ennis said the shop in Ocean City will tweak the original Alex’s recipe to tailor their pies for selling individual slices, which they don’t do in Roxborough. They will be a bit bigger, but they’ll still have the signature thin crust and swirl that’s also done by boardwalk titans Manco & Manco Pizza and Prep’s Pizzeria & Dairy Bar.

    “I guess the swirl has its place in Ocean City,” Ennis said. “Our pie may change a little bit, but nothing drastic. We still want to go with a light, thin crust pizza that’s a little different from your traditional boardwalk pie.”

    With a bigger kitchen, Ennis also anticipates the shop will sell smash burgers and fries that are popular at the Rook.

    In addition Alex’s Pizza and the Rook’s sit-down locations, Ennis and his partners own the Rook on 4th takeout spot in Olde Kensington and the Rook Catering Company. At Alex’s, the group is closing in on selling its 100,000th pizza since taking over in 2023.

    “I know that’s not a lot to some places like the Angelo’s and Del Rossi’s of the world, but we’re a small little pizza shop in Roxborough which has just been around for a long time,” Ennis said. “There’s a tradition of repeat customers — old neighborhood people that have always gone there for their Friday night pie. We really just wanted to bring that business back to life, which I think we’ve been able to do.”

    Bear will take the lead at the shop in Ocean City, where renovations are expected to be finished in January. Ennis hopes to keep the shop open most of the year.

    “From our experience just being down there in September and a little bit of October so far, weekends still have some pretty good traffic,” Ennis said. “I think the first season for us is going to be kind of getting our sea legs to see what makes the most sense. We envision being open on the weekends at least through the (winter) holidays.”

    Michael Tanenbaum

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  • Trump administration asks court to revoke Ocean City wind project approval – WTOP News

    The Trump administration has officially asked a judge to vacate a crucial federal permit issued for the wind farm proposed off the coast of Ocean City.

    This article was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.

    The Trump administration has officially asked a judge to vacate a crucial federal permit issued for the wind farm proposed off the coast of Ocean City.

    The move was expected, originally signaled by Justice Department attorneys in late August, but Friday’s filing provided more details on the government’s justification for reconsidering the project’s “construction and operations plan” that was approved late in President Joe Biden’s (D) presidency.

    In the filing, Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam R.F. Gustafson cited a Jan. 20 directive from President Donald Trump (R) that ordered a review of all federally permitted wind projects, in addition to halting the issuance of new permits.

    The government argued it did not adequately consider the impacts of the Ocean City project — to be developed by US Wind — on commercial fisheries and potential search-and-rescue efforts in the area.

    The Ocean City filing comes amid a broader assault on wind energy by the Trump administration. Just last week, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said at an energy conference in Italy that, “Under this administration, there is not a future for offshore wind because it is too expensive and not reliable enough.”

    US Wind is likely to push back hard to defend its project, which proposes building up to 121 wind turbines about 10 nautical miles from the Ocean City beach, enough to power more than 718,000 homes, according to government documents.

    In a statement Friday, Liz Burdock, CEO of the Oceantic Network, an offshore wind industry group, argued that the federal government is unfairly targeting previously approved projects.

    “The unlawful actions by the Trump administration against fully permitted offshore wind projects up and down the East Coast represent one of the largest, economically devastating assaults on U.S. workers, businesses, and energy in decades,” Burdock said. “Revoking a permit on an approved project after years of thorough agency review will raise electricity prices for families, jeopardize private investment, delay economic growth, and weaken our power grid.”

    She argued that the US Wind project was already drawing investment to the region even though construction has yet to begin, including by attracting a new steel manufacturing facility to Baltimore County’s Tradepoint Atlantic. The federal government withdrew a $47.4 million grant in August that would have bolstered that facility. US Wind officials said the project would move ahead regardless.

    The wind project has drawn support from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Democrats in Annapolis. But it has a passionate opponent in the Town of Ocean City. Town leaders support the Justice Department’s request, according to legal filings.

    After Biden’s Interior Department approved US Wind’s construction and operations plan, the town filed suit in the U.S. District Court of Baltimore. Now, the federal government wants to reconsider the approval — and that could render Ocean City’s complaints moot.

    “Following remand, BOEM [Bureau of Ocean Energy Management] will issue a new decision with new analysis that may significantly impact, or outright moot, Plaintiffs’ claims,” read Friday’s filing from Justice.

    The federal government argued that it has broad authority to reconsider permits it believes were issued in error. Its filing cited Trump’s memorandum, issued on his first day in office, ordering the Interior secretary to “conduct a comprehensive review of the ecological, economic, and environmental necessity of terminating or amending any existing wind energy leases, identifying any legal bases for such removal, and submit a report with recommendations to the President.”

    In a prior filing, US Wind had argued that a remand — before the court has had a chance to consider the merits of the permit and Ocean City’s complaints — would be unwarranted.

    “Federal Defendants have abruptly reversed their past defense of their own final decisions approving the Project, abandoning their prior litigation position” on a “vague premise,” read the early September filing from US Wind attorneys.

    In addition to remanding the permit back to the agency for reconsideration, the Justice Department asked the judge to vacate the Biden-era permit, rather than leaving it in effect.

    Justice Department attorneys argued that a reevaluation of the permit wouldn’t impact US Wind, citing the company’s previous comments that it didn’t intend to begin onshore construction until at least 2026, followed by offshore construction.

    They added that the project is still missing a “key local approval” from Delaware’s Sussex County, and that Ocean City has also challenged an air pollution permit issued to the wind farm by the Maryland Department of the Environment.

    “Because there would be no construction delay, remand and re-evaluation, standing alone, does not prejudice US Wind,” the Justice Department argued in its filing.

    If the old permit is vacated, the department argued that Ocean City’s litigation should be dismissed. But if it remains in effect during the reevaluation, the case should be stayed, DOJ argued.

    “Absent a stay, Federal Defendants would be forced to expend limited agency resources on litigating the merits of agency decisions that address the anticipated impacts of construction and operations that are being reconsidered and thus may not ever occur as now envisioned,” read the Friday filing.

    Tadiwos Abedje

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  • Norcross family makes $25 million bid to buy Ocean City’s Wonderland Pier boardwalk site

    A $25 million offer has been made for the former Gillian’s Wonderland Pier site on the Ocean City Boardwalk by South Jersey attorney Philip Norcross and other members of his family, a spokesperson said Friday.

    The Norcrosses’ bid for the former amusement park site is one of two that Icona Resorts CEO Eustace Mita — who owns the property — has received in the weeks since his proposal for a luxury hotel was dashed in a vote by City Council.

    MORE: Cameras to start flagging drivers who are speeding on Broad Street on Monday

    The decades-old amusement park closed in October, prompting heated debate about future development of the site.

    Mita confirmed Friday he’s received two bids. He did not identify the other potential buyer and the amount of the competing offer for the property at Sixth Street. Before the bid came in, Mita told the Ocean City Sentinel he expected the second bidder to be Virginia-based home builder NVR, Inc.

    Dan Fee, a spokesperson for the Norcross family, said in a statement Friday that Philip is interested in constructing townhomes on the boardwalk property.

    “As a long-time Ocean City homeowner who is committed to the future of the city, Phil believes there is a great opportunity to redevelop Wonderland Pier and maintain Ocean City as America’s greatest family resort,” Fee said. “The addition of new, high end townhome options will help ensure the next generation can build memories in the city, just as his family has.”

    Mita purchased the Wonderland Pier site in 2021 for a reported $14 million. Former owner and Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian, whose family ran the amusement park for three generations, sold the property to avoid a sheriff’s sale as a result of $8 million in defaulted mortgage loans. Wonderland Pier remained open for three more seasons before Gillian announced plans to close, saying the amusement park was no longer a viable business. Mita said he’s carried annual costs of $1.2 million since buying the property, putting his total investment around $20 million.

    For much of the past year, Mita sought support in Ocean City for a $150 million plan to build an eight-story, 252-room hotel at the site. Ocean City’s zoning laws don’t permit new hotels on the boardwalk, and the project would have required a variance to move forward. The proposal sparked controversy in Ocean City, where some residents claimed a high-rise hotel would diminish the town’s family-friendly reputation.

    In August, City Council voted 6-1 against a measure that would have asked the planning commission to review the Wonderland Pier site as an area in need of redevelopment. Mita, who was present for the vote, immediately vowed to sell the property and pull out of Ocean City. The council members who voted against the measure said they hoped to evaluate the site as part of a broader master planning process that would not have fit with Mita’s development timeline.

    Philip Norcross is a public finance attorney with Mount Laurel-based Parker McCay and serves as chair of the Cooper Foundation, the charitable arm of Cooper University Health Care. He is the brother of U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1st) and George E. Norcross III, the executive chairman of insurance firm Conner Strong & Buckelew and longtime political powerbroker in South Jersey.

    In February, a judge tossed out racketeering indictments against Philip and George Norcross — as well as four others — saying the charges didn’t state facts that constituted extortion or criminal coercion with respect to past business deals on the Delaware River waterfront in Camden. This week, the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller accused George Norcross’ insurance firm of a conflict of interest. Norcross denied the allegations and said the claims are an abuse of the power of the comptroller’s office.

    Mita operated the Wonderland Pier property this summer as an arcade and pizza shop. As part of his proposed hotel, he had said he would keep the amusement park’s prominent Ferris wheel, carousel and a few other rides running at the property.

    In addition to the two bids Mita disclosed, members of the community group Ocean City 2050 — the most vocal opponent of the hotel project — said last month that another investment group is interested in purchasing the Wonderland Pier property. Ocean City 2050 has touted its own vision for a scaled-down Wonderland Commons amusement park with fewer, simpler rides and entertainment options that appeal more to teenagers. The group said that plan also would include a small number of condominiums.

    Over the summer, Ocean City 2050 commissioned Rutgers University’s Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling to conduct a survey of residents about the hotel and boardwalk. The poll found people leaned against the Wonderland hotel and were especially against building high-rise properties on the boardwalk.

    Disclaimer: Philip Norcross is the uncle of PhillyVoice founder and Chairwoman Lexie Norcross. George E. Norcross III is her father.

    Michael Tanenbaum

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  • In the Shadow of a Dying Wonderland. – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Some years before Covid — a tradition started for Villanova football that continues to this day. Utilizing the Ocean City High School Fields and facilities for training camp against the backdrop of the Jersey shore and the cool breeze and the towering ferris wheel of Gillian’s Wonderland Pier.

    In my youth and not long before Labor Day in early September — were always one last chance to get down to the shore. As kids — we loved every minute. End of summer days on the beach with portable radios blasting Phillies or Eagles pre-season games marked the end of yet another successful summer season.

    When we were kids, heading to Gillian’s Wonderland Pier at the end of the Boardwalk was like an end-cap of excitement and fun. As an adult — its location marked the completion of a nearly three mile long Boardwalk romp in order to keep those lungs healthy.

    Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons.

    In 2025— after nearly one hundred years of family operation — Gillian’s Wonderland Pier finally shuddered its doors. It had been run by the (Gillian) Family since 1929. The reality of modern life is that a continued operation of the rides at Gillian’s Pier is simply unsustainable.

    In August (during an Ocean City Counsel vote) a development plan to close the Wonderland Pier into a resort and hotel was voted down. The decision almost guarantees that the property will be sold.

    It’s impossible to say whether or not Gillian’s Wonderland Pier would be better off or not as a modern resort. What is certain as it’s closed facade looms large over the Labor Day beaches of Ocean City — reminding us of nearly half a century of fun — the kind that may never return to this location.

    What is certain is that the tradition of the beginning work of a grueling college football season against the backdrop of leisure has continued yet again — with a defunct ferris wheel in the distance.

    The post In the Shadow of a Dying Wonderland. appeared first on Philadelphia Sports Nation.

    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Trump admin cancels $679 million for offshore wind projects as attacks on reeling industry continue – WTOP News

    The Transportation Department on Friday canceled $679 million in federal funding for a dozen offshore wind projects, the latest attack by the Trump administration on the reeling U.S. offshore wind industry.

    Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, calls on the Trump administration to allow work to resume on the Revolution Wind offshore wind farm during a news conference in North Kingstown, R.I., Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jennifer McDermott)(AP/Jennifer McDermott)

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Transportation Department on Friday canceled $679 million in federal funding for a dozen offshore wind projects, the latest attack by the Trump administration on the reeling U.S. offshore wind industry.

    Funding for projects in 11 states was rescinded, including $435 million for a floating wind farm in Northern California and $47 million to boost an offshore wind project in Maryland that the Interior Department has pledged to cancel.

    “Wasteful, wind projects are using resources that could otherwise go towards revitalizing America’s maritime industry,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. “Thanks to President Trump, we are prioritizing real infrastructure improvements over fantasy wind projects that cost much and offer little.”

    It’s the latest step by the administration against renewable energy sources

    The Trump administration has stepped up its crusade against wind and other renewable energy sources in recent weeks, cutting federal funding and canceling projects approved by the Biden administration in a sustained attack on clean energy sources that scientists say are crucial to the fight against climate change.

    President Donald Trump has vowed to restore U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market and has pushed to increase U.S. reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas that emit planet-warming greenhouse gases.

    California Rep. Jared Huffman, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, called Duffy’s action “outrageous” and deeply disappointing.

    Trump and his Cabinet “have a stubborn and mystifying hatred of clean energy,” Huffman said in an interview. “It’s so dogmatic. They are willing to eliminate thousands of jobs and an entire sector that can bring cheap, reliable power to American consumers.”

    The canceled funding will be redirected to upgrade ports and other infrastructure in the U.S., where possible, the Transportation Department said.

    Other wind projects are also being halted

    Separately, Trump’s Energy Department said Friday it is withdrawing a $716 million loan guarantee approved by the Biden administration to upgrade and expand transmission infrastructure to accommodate a now-threatened offshore wind project in New Jersey.

    The moves come as the administration abruptly halted construction last week of a nearly complete wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut. The Interior Department said the government needs to review the $4 billion Revolution Wind project and address national security concerns. It did not specify what those concerns are.

    Democratic governors, lawmakers and union workers in New England have called for Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to reverse course.

    Trump has long expressed disdain for wind power, frequently calling it an ugly and expensive form of energy that “smart” countries don’t use.

    Earlier this month, the Interior Department canceled a major wind farm in Idaho, a project approved late in former President Joe Biden’s term that had drawn criticism for its proximity to a historic site where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II.

    Trump blames renewable power for rising energy prices

    Last week, with U.S. electricity prices rising at more than twice the rate of inflation, Trump lashed out, falsely blaming renewable power for skyrocketing energy costs. He called wind and solar energy “THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY!” in a social media post and vowed not to approve any wind or solar projects.

    “We’re not allowing any windmills to go up unless there’s a legal situation where somebody committed to it a long time ago,” Trump said at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

    Energy analysts say renewable sources have little to do with recent price hikes, which are based on increased demand from artificial intelligence and energy-hungry data centers, along with aging infrastructure and increasingly extreme weather events such as wildfires that are exacerbated by climate change.

    Revolution Wind’s developer, Danish energy company Orsted, said it is evaluating the financial impact of stopping construction on the New England project and is considering legal proceedings.

    Revolution Wind was expected to be Rhode Island and Connecticut’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, capable of powering more than 350,000 homes. In addition to hampering the states’ climate goals, losing out on all that renewable power could drive up electricity prices throughout the region, Democratic officials say.

    Critics say climate and jobs are at risk

    Trump has made sweeping strides to prioritize fossil fuels and hinder renewable energy projects. Those include reviewing wind and solar energy permits, canceling plans to use large areas of federal waters for new offshore wind development and stopping work on another offshore wind project for New York, although construction was later allowed to resume.

    Some critics say the steps to cancel projects put Americans’ livelihoods at risk.

    “It’s an attack on our jobs,” Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee said of the move to stop construction of Revolution Wind. “It’s an attack on our energy. It’s an attack on our families and their ability to pay the bills.”

    Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, said his union is “going to fight (Trump) every step of the way, no matter how long it takes.”

    Under Biden, the U.S. held the first-ever auction of leases for floating wind farms in December 2022. Deep waters off the West Coast are better suited for floating projects than those that are anchored in the seabed, officials said.

    ___

    Copyright
    © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

    WTOP Staff

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  • Ocean City, fishing clubs and Thrasher’s French Fries sue federal government over offshore wind project – WTOP News

    Ocean City, fishing clubs and Thrasher’s French Fries sue federal government over offshore wind project – WTOP News

    Ocean City, Maryland, has filed a joint lawsuit against the federal government with other neighboring towns over plans to built a massive wind farm approximately 10 miles off the tourist town’s coast.

    Ocean City, Maryland, neighboring towns, counties, sportfishing groups, hotels, amusement parks and boardwalk staple Thrasher’s French Fries have filed a lawsuit against the federal government for approving a massive wind farm approximately 10 miles off the tourist town’s coast.

    Rendering of Ocean City morning view, contained in U.S. Wind project plan.(Courtesy BOEM)

    Last month, on Sept. 5, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, a division of the U.S. Interior Department, announced the approval of the Maryland Offshore Wind Project. It’s the nation’s 10th commercial-scale offshore wind energy project, according to the Biden Administration.

    The suit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Ocean City has opposed the project for several years. At the end of July, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management released its final environmental impact statement for the project, which the government said could support an estimated 2,679 jobs annually over seven years.

    The list of plaintiffs includes the mayor and city council of Ocean City, the mayor and town council of neighboring Fenwick Island, Delaware, and commissioners of Worcester County, Maryland, where Ocean City is located.

    Other plaintiffs include developers, hotels, commercial fishermen and seafood markets, the parent company for Ocean City’s Jolly Roger at the Pier amusement park, the Save Right Whales Coalition and the parent company for Thrasher’s French Fries.

    “Ocean City’s local economy and culture are centered around the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and are heavily dependent on tourism, recreation, and the health and preservation of the ocean and its coast,” according to the suit.

    Several of the plaintiffs described how the placement of 114 wind turbines would not only disturb beachfront views, but also cause “direct, substantial, and cognizable injuries.”

    The Waterman’s Association of Worcester County said the turbines “will become a safety hazard for their members to navigate through,” which will “reduce the amount of time they have to fish and will decrease their income.”

    The “White Marlin Open” fishing tournament is the largest billfish tournament in the world, according to the suit.

    “By placing the Project structures right where the game fish are located, the Project threatens to destroy both the fish population and the sport of large game fishing in Ocean City, Maryland,” according to the plaintiffs.

    Ocean City’s Chamber of Commerce said the project “will drive tourists away from Ocean City by degrading the ocean and marine environment, endangering marine mammals, birds, and fish, excluding fishermen from the Project area, and destroying the open ocean view.”

    According to the Chamber, surveys have shown “a significant number of tourists will likely not return if turbines are visible from the beach.”

    The suit claims the government has failed to analyze impacts on the environment, endangered species, as well as the impact on local businesses, industries and the economy.

    The plaintiffs ask the court to set aside the Sept. 4, 2024, decision approving the construction and operations plan for the Maryland Offshore Wind Project.

    An initial hearing before Judge Stephanie Gallagher is yet to be scheduled, according to online court records.

    WTOP is seeking comment from U.S. Wind.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Neal Augenstein

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  • Ocean City, Assateague Island reopen days after ‘medical waste’ wash ashore – WTOP News

    Ocean City, Assateague Island reopen days after ‘medical waste’ wash ashore – WTOP News

    Two popular beach destinations along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia — Ocean City and Assateague Island — reopened to swimmers after closing for nearly a week following reports of medical waste washing ashore.

    Two popular beach destinations along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia — Ocean City and Assateague Island — reopened to swimmers after closing for nearly a week following reports of medical waste washing ashore.

    In a message posted Friday, Emergency Services Director for the Town of Ocean City Joe Theobald said, after several days of multiple high tides and beach sweeps, it is no longer “experiencing waste washing ashore.” He added that tests show that the water levels are normal.

    “We are confident that it is now safe to reopen the ocean for swimming and surfing,” Theobald said.

    In a statement, officials in Assateague Island said ocean access to lifeguarded beaches reopened after sweeps of the beach found only “a handful of items” and nothing new in the last two days. The Oceanside Campground Beach and South Beach will reopen on Saturday.

    “As a precaution, visitors are advised to wear shoes on the beach and in the unlikely event that any medical waste is found, to contact a lifeguard or ranger,” the statement read. “We have done an intensive cleanup effort-but the risk is not zero.”

    However, the North End of Assateague Island remains closed as it had a large amount of the medical and other waste wash ashore. It is likely that it will remain closed for another week or “possibility longer,” as cleanup continues.

    Both Ocean City and Assateague Island officials said the source of the waste remains unclear. Some of the material found includes used needles, hygiene products, smoking products and miscellaneous plastics, according to a statement.

    Both beaches closed on Sunday as officials began investigating reports of “medical waste,” including needles, washing up on shore. Local officials said Thursday that they were hopeful to reopen their beaches to the public “in the next few days.”

    Meanwhile in Delaware, swimming and wading are not allowed in Fenwick Island as well as Bethany, Dewey and Rehoboth beaches. The state’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control issued a recreational water advisory in response to the medical waste washup and asked future visitors to check each municipality for additional restrictions.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Jose Umana

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  • After medical waste washed ashore, some Maryland beaches ‘hope to reopen’ oceanfront access within days – WTOP News

    After medical waste washed ashore, some Maryland beaches ‘hope to reopen’ oceanfront access within days – WTOP News

    State and local officials at oceanfront beaches from Delaware to Virginia that closed due to medical waste washing ashore are hopeful that they could reopen to the public “in the next few days.”

    State and local officials from Delaware to Virginia are hopeful their beaches could reopen to the public “in the next few days” after they had to close due to medical waste washing ashore.

    The Town of Ocean City in Maryland posted a message from Ocean City Emergency Services director Joe Theobald, saying, “Safety remains our top priority, and we hope to reopen the ocean in the next few days.”

    The announcement comes a day after the town said that “no medical waste” was found on the beach on Tuesday, but rough surf and a limited number of lifeguards continued to keep the ocean closed to swimmers and surfers.

    Theobald’s statement said that the Ocean City government is working closely with the Worcester County health department and is waiting for the results of water quality tests before opening beaches back up to the public.

    On the social media platform X, Maryland State Parks posted similar information, noting a “significant decrease in the amount of debris” being washed ashore at Assateague State Park. The agency reported that most of what continued to show up on shore were small pieces of plastic — “almost none of which is any form of medical waste.”

    But like other Ocean City officials, the Maryland State Parks’ social media posts said that rough surf and a risk of rip currents would keep restrictions — including on swimming and surfing — in place until further notice.

    “We advise beach visitors to wear shoes and use caution when on the beach/near the ocean,” the agency said.

    “As the amount of material continues to decrease, we expect restrictions to be lifted as we come into the weekend but advise visitors to monitor social media for updates, including those related to storm conditions,” Maryland State Parks said in a statement.

    Hugh Hawthorne, NPS superintendent of the Assateague Island National Seashore, expressed hope that portions of the beach might be reopened by the weekend. But, he told WTOP, “We’re not quite ready to make any firm decisions.”

    Hawthorne explained that the Assateague Island National Seashore includes 37 miles of beach, and he said it’s not possible to predict with any certainty how much of the oceanfront within the park could be reopened.

    Regarding the rough surf experienced along the coastline, Hawthorne said it’s hard to tell how the surf is affecting the trash, debris and other pollutants in the water.

    “Whether it’s bringing more of it in or whether it’s bringing less of it in,” Hawthorne said.

    While he said most of what’s been appearing on the parks’ coastline is plastic, and not medical waste, officials still strongly encourage visitors to wear their shoes during their visit.

    Hawthorne said it’s been stressful not to be able to give the public definitive answers as to when the entire park would reopen: “It’s a beautiful beach. It’s a beautiful place, and seeing it in the condition it was on Sunday and Monday is not fun.”

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  • Maryland, Virginia beaches closed to swimming after reports of washed up ‘medical waste’ – WTOP News

    Maryland, Virginia beaches closed to swimming after reports of washed up ‘medical waste’ – WTOP News

    Popular beach destinations along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia are closed Sunday to swimming and even wading as officials investigate reports of “medical waste,” including needles, washing up on shore.

    Popular beach destinations along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia are closed Sunday to swimming and even wading as officials investigate reports of “medical waste,” including needles, washing up on shore.

    Swimming is not allowed at Ocean City, Assateague Island and Fenwick Island in Maryland, as well as Chincoteague Public Beach, officials announced Sunday afternoon.

    The Town of Ocean City said that the beach patrol has closed the local beaches for swimming and urged “everyone to adhere to this closure until further notice.”

    “We will work closely with the Worcester County Health Department and other public health authorities to investigate the source of the medical waste,” said Ocean City Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald.

    He added that the situation is “serious, especially given the combination of rough seas and the current health concerns.”

    There is no estimate on when the beaches may reopen to swimming. Visitors in the area are urged to wear shoes and should be “avoiding the ocean entirely,” Theobald said.

    The Town of Fenwick Island also closed its beaches to swimming Sunday, citing reports of waste washing to shore, according to a Facebook post from the town’s government.

    The National Park Service said there are closures on the Maryland side of Assateague Island National Seashore because of the reports of medical waste.

    The North End of Assateague Island is closed to all visitors and the beaches in the Maryland District are closed to swimming and wading.

    Chincoteague Public Beach in Virginia has also been added to the closure list. All ocean-facing beaches at Assateague Island National Seashore are now closed to swimming or wading.

    Officials with the park service and with Fenwick Island echoed calls for visitors to keep their shoes on while walking on the beach.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Valerie Bonk

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  • Abandoned dog left tied to bench outside South Jersey shelter in the middle of the night

    Abandoned dog left tied to bench outside South Jersey shelter in the middle of the night

    The Humane Society of Ocean City is calling attention to a disturbing trend after they said another dog was left abandoned outside of their doors.

    According to the humane society, Ocean City Police found a dog tied to a bench in front of the shelter shortly after midnight on Thursday, Aug. 1 with a note.

    The note read in part:

    “The dog tied to the fence is a 1 year old pit, named Mello. She needs a new home, we can no longer take care of her. She is trained and lovable. She doesn’t bite.”

    As the shelter continues to search for Mello’s owner they have released surveillance video showing someone tying her up to the bench and leaving her behind.


    Humane Society of Ocean City

    The organization said this is the fourth dog abandoned outside their shelter in just the past month.

    “Our story is not very unique. Just talk to anyone at shelters in Atlantic, Cape May, Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem,etc, etc, Counties,” the organization wrote in a social media post. “People are dumping these animals like never has been seen before and we think WE as a society need to try to wrap our heads around it and figure out what the heck is going on.”

    The organization added they are bringing awareness to this situation not to shame the person but to share how impactful and sad it is to see a dog being abandoned.

    This comes just weeks after the Humane Society of Atlantic County shared a video of a man picking up a dog and tossing it over their fence. The organization claimed it was the fourth time the same man has dumped a dog at their facility.

    Cherise Lynch

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  • Officials push to make Ocean City safer for pedestrians and bicyclists – WTOP News

    Officials push to make Ocean City safer for pedestrians and bicyclists – WTOP News

    For many of us, getting away to the beach means a lot of walking and biking. Highway officials in Maryland are looking to make that safer in Ocean City.

    Making Ocean City safer for pedestrians and bicyclists in a challenge

    For many of us, a getaway to a beach resort means parking the car and doing a lot of walking and biking. Ocean City, Maryland, and state highway officials are looking to make that safer.

    “It’s no secret that in summer months, Ocean City really quickly becomes the second-largest city in the state,” said Mark Crampton, district engineer for the Maryland State Highway Administration.

    “Several years ago, the state highway folks and the town actually put up a fence in the median of Coastal Highway,” less commonly known as Maryland Route 528, the nine-mile main thoroughfare that runs from the Delaware state line to just prior to the Ocean City Inlet.

    “We had a lot of people that were cutting midblock crosswalks, and had some collisions with pedestrians, so back then, we put a fence up,” said Crampton. “That deterred a lot of it, but there’s still people who literally climb under the fence, or walk along the fence,” before dashing across the highway.

    Part of the challenge of creating safe environments for non-car drivers is that Ocean City’s infrastructure and activity levels change.

    Starting at the southern tip, “The boardwalk runs from the Inlet to 27th Street. Then you have different things in midtown, which is up through 62nd Street, where Route 90 comes in,” said Crampton. “Up north, you go to the higher-rise condos, and there’s less and less amusement parks, and restaurants, so the flavor of the town changes.”

    The state highway group works often with the Ocean City Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, which continues to look for ways to improve the walking and biking experience, in addition to its OC Walk Smart awareness campaign.

    “We’ve got a lot of pedestrian countdown signals in town,” said Crampton. “And this year, getting ready for the season, we literally painted every crosswalk up and down Coastal Highway from 15th Street to the Delaware line.”

    Ocean City and state highway officials work to improve walking and biking safety

    Some crosswalks will look different than in years past.

    “If you picture crosswalks, we have things that look like ladders or a railroad track — the more traditional style,” said Crampton. “We’re switching over to what we call ‘continentals’ — they actually look like piano keys, and those are much more visible.”

    Currently, bicyclists and buses share a lane on Coastal Highway, but Crampton says the advisory group is considering other safety options. “At some point they’re going to be seeking input from residents and users alike, to see what we can do to even further enhance it.”

    “Coastal Highway is only so wide,” said Crampton. “You’ve got so many lanes of traffic, you’ve got a median for turn lanes, so it’s a constant battle to figure out the best use of the footprint we have.”

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    Neal Augenstein

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  • Cape May County leaders issue strong warnings after chaotic Memorial Day weekend

    Cape May County leaders issue strong warnings after chaotic Memorial Day weekend

    Multiple incidents in Wildwood and Ocean City disrupted a busy Memorial Day weekend, prompting local leaders to denounce the unruly behavior that has become an annual problem for Jersey Shore communities.

    Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland suggested he may adopt a stricter approach with teens and young adults who cause problems on the boardwalk and elsewhere.

    “For those who come to our communities to create unrest, be forewarned that your bad decisions and bad actions will not be tolerated and law enforcement will use all legal measures to arrest and charge all violators,” Sutherland said. “Instead of capturing positive memories you will be issued charges to answer to and possible permanent records that will impact your future.”

    In Wildwood, officials declared a state of emergency and shut down the boardwalk early Monday morning due to “an irrepressible number of calls for service” that amounted to “civil unrest” during the weekend. The city had brought in police from other communities for assistance because there were too many complaints to respond to all of them, officials said. Most were related to crowds of teenagers and young adults. The declaration was lifted after a few hours.

    In Ocean City, a 15-year-old boy was stabbed during a brawl Saturday night on the 1000 block of the boardwalk. The teen was treated at the scene and an investigation is underway to find the suspect, police said.

    Sutherland said Wildwood leaders “took the proper action” by declaring the state of emergency.

    “Everyone in our shore communities in Cape May County can be assured that law enforcement is here to make our visitors, families and residents safe,” Sutherland said.

    Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. blamed the trend of unruly behavior on state juvenile justice reforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. The reforms, driven by efforts to address racial disparities, emphasized having police give teens curbside warnings for a variety of minor offenses to limit their mistakes from impacting their futures.

    “Wildwood will not tolerate unruly, undisciplined, unparented children nor will we stand by while the laws of the state tie the hands of the police,” Troiano said.

    Ocean City enacted local ordinances last year to empower their police to issue “breach of peace” violations for a variety of offenses. Under these laws, police can take juveniles into custody and have their parents or guardians pick them up at the station. The offenses do not remain on teens’ records like more serious crimes do, but they give police more leeway to take juveniles into custody for violations.  

    In Ocean City, Wildwood and Sea Isle City, earlier juvenile curfews and other restrictions have been adopted to discourage unruly behavior in places where crowds are most likely to gather. Measures have included reduced boardwalk and beach hours. Sea Isle City banned backpacks on its promenade after 10 p.m. during the summer and Wildwood now prohibits alcohol on all beaches and the boardwalk, regardless of whether containers are open or closed. 

    On Sunday, Cape May County Commissioner Director Len Desiderio said he’s been working with municipalities and legislators for the last three years to come up with solutions to juvenile disturbances. Last Memorial Day, Ocean City police said they received nearly 1,000 reports of misbehavior by young people over the course of the holiday weekend. The year before, there had been 869 reports of such incidents.

    “Trenton has everything backward,” Desiderio said. “So far, despite the efforts of our local legislators, our pleas for help have mostly fallen on deaf ears in Trenton.”

    Desiderio said he plans to meet with Sutherland and the Cape May County Sheriff’s Office to talk about how resources can be deployed to better support local police in problem areas. He vowed not to “let these thugs steal summer” from people who visit and live at the shore.

    The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority said the state of emergency that restricted boardwalk access on Monday morning helped with enforcing the city’s curfew and prevented serious incidents from occurring.

    Sutherland called on residents of Cape May County to continue reporting illegal activity in their communities. He said the extended police responses in Wildwood and Ocean City were effective in stopping what could been more serious injuries or property damage in both cities.

    Michael Tanenbaum

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  • Governor Wes Moore Visits Ocean City, Touches On Fast-Approaching Legalization of Marijuana | Latest News – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Governor Wes Moore Visits Ocean City, Touches On Fast-Approaching Legalization of Marijuana | Latest News – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    OCEAN CITY, Md. — A tour of Ocean City’s boardwalk lead to an insightful conversation with Maryland Governor Wes Moore on Tuesday, June 27th. We asked him about the upcoming legalization of marijuana for recreational use. 

    We also spoke with Governor Moore about local towns, like Ocean City, establishing cannabis moratoriums. Moore said he feels the people of Maryland have made their voices heard on this matter. 

    “I think the people of the state spoke very clearly last November that they wanted a recreational market opened up,” said Moore. “And we’re proud of the fact that we’ve been able to get it done and get it done quickly.”

    Moore said moving pots legalization forward at a fast pace, while being equitable and transparent was important in ensuring black market sales would not surface. 

    One thing yet to be established, however, are rules and regulations for recreational businesses. It’s why Ocean City’s mayor, Rick Meehan, said the town will take a breather for the time being. Waiting for legislation to pass while keeping an eye on any potential changes to their zoning codes. 

    “There’s a process that has to be followed, we just wanted to make sure we passed the resolution so that we would have that time and nothing would happen in the interim,” said Meehan. 

    It’s also why the town has banned on-site consumption. 

    “They[Maryland lawmakers]…

    MMP News Author

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