Non-stop activity for our police officers; crime never takes a vacation, over 200 calls for service every day last week. << MORE >>

Non-stop activity for our police officers; crime never takes a vacation, over 200 calls for service every day last week. << MORE >>

It's interesting how much goes on in this seashore community ...<< MORE >>

Patrolman Andrew Grow gets the credit ... << MORE >>

Watch your valuables on the beach and pay special attention to Night in Venice parking and party regulations. Lots of action for the OCPD last week; they averaged 232 calls per day! << MORE >>

Safety reasons mean bumping the starting time back - lagoons have filled in more than expected. The tide will be higher at 8 p.m. << MORE >>

Zero tolerance for quality of life issues - check out the Community Oriented Police unit's security survey. << MORE >>

Lots of noise and alcohol complaints this week, more than 200 calls for service each day on average for the OCPD<< MORE >>

Is he just reading the 1,300 page bill now, days after voting for it? This is all baloney - it's going to cost us money. There was NO REASON to vote for this bill. No mention here what LoBiondo got out of the deal, but it had to be something really big. << MORE >>

Stick a fork in him, folks, he's done. Remember this support on a very close vote when your energy costs skyrocket. Can anyone say Congressman Jeff Van Drew? He turned his back on all of us. << MORE >>

Wow - the newly minted police dog nabs a burglar! Caught in the act was a 17-year old juvenile. Congratulations to Deuce and his handler, John Vogt. No deadly force or conflict when this trained K-9 is on the scene. << MORE >>

The Philadelphia Inquirer uncovers the often-talked about criminal record of the charity director, this situation has always been a mess. << MORE >>

You don't have to leave your pets at home anymore! The DEP has a new director, and apparently a new pet-friendly attitude. Is it possible this man is human? << MORE >>

It's a nice thing to do, and it sure puts our nice restaurants in the spotlight. Gotta say it - why are the proceeds going to a community food bank miles away and not to our local food cupboard? << MORE >>

The police nabbed three Pennsylvania men in the incident - the OCPD suggests that if your vehicle was entered, that you contact them. << MORE >>

Is Fairness in Taxes for real - they want to cut our police force, so what do you do on a busy holiday weekend? Barney Fife and a bullet can't help them handle almost 300 calls on a Friday night. Zero tolerance for quality of life issues - noise and illegal consumption of alcohol will not be tolerated. Guess what? You need a lot of police officers to make that happen. << MORE >>

New Jersey Top Ten Beaches Survey winner!

 

        

The OCPD have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy when it comes to enforcing noise and alcohol and quality of life issues. << MORE >>

It started with an alleged fight in the area of Kingston Lane and Tennessee Avenue. << MORE >>

The OCPD is offering property checks - improve security in your home. Tip of the month - neighbors are encouraged to take "ownership" in their respective neighborhoods. Lots of good tips ... << MORE >>

She spoke from her heart and was pilloried by the radical liberal left because it didn't fit their agenda. The politically charged question and the following onslaught was despicable. Miss Prejean made get the last laugh yet - she's succeeding in spite of them. Thank God for young women with courage to speak from their heart. << MORE >>

Just how out of touch is our president? << MORE >>

Good news - she was found today. and back with her grateful family. << MORE >>

Fewer people are planning a summer trip, so they say. The real issue is a declining length of stay, and perhaps fewer day-trippers. << MORE >>

 

     On Saturday May 3rd, 2009, family and friends of Colin and Sean Randles joined the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for the 6th annual Great Strides Walk on the Boardwalk in Ocean City.  Colin and Sean both are battling CF, a genetic disease that affects their lungs and digestive system.  Members of the Ocean City Police Department joined the fight and helped support the boys whose father is Pat Randles of the Ocean City Community Policing Unit.  Colin and Sean’s mother, Whitney Randles, organized the event for "Colin n Sean's Fightin' Irish", a team formed to help raise awareness and money to find a cure for CF.
      The walk must not have been enough exercise for the family and officers involved because the following day a large group from the Ocean City area participated in the 10 Mile Broad Street Run in Philadelphia.  Chief Chad Callahan, Detective Sergeant Dennis Jones, Officer Pat Randles, and Whitney Randles joined a group of family and friends from Ocean City and all ran through the rain in the streets of Philadelphia wearing t-shirts showing their support of the Randles' boys. 
      The Ocean City Police Department would like to thank the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for all the work they do in holding the event in Ocean City and thank everyone who participated in the Broad Street Run for the team, particularly members of Exodus Gym and their trainer Carrie Merrit.  Both events were a huge success and next year even more friends and family are planning to attend.

“It’s humbling to see the support for Colin and Sean, not only from the Police Department and the community, but from the general public who don’t even know the Randles.  I observed two separate race participants approach Pat after the race and ask how they can donate to CF because of the t-shirts we wore in support of Colin and Sean.  It’s amazing to see the generosity from complete strangers,” Chief Chad Callahan said.    

        

The city's stellar traffic safety plan, including improvements to roadways, traffic enforcement and community outreach programs did not go unnoticed. Congratulations to the OCPD! << MORE >>

Police want to keep local children safe, if you need a helmet - required for children under 17, contact the Community Policing unit at the police station. << MORE >>

I don't care which Republican wins the primary, so long as everyone coalesces to beat Corzine - looks like that may happen. << MORE >>

Oh, the joy of the inaugural "Beach Openings" notice from OCBP Dept. Chief Charlie Bowman. Glory, glory summer is just around the corner! << MORE >>

Rasmussen has Can we please pick a winner and then get behind him? The important thing is to beat Corzine! << MORE >>

New Jersey just doesn't get it; but then the Garden State is so messed up that officials allow the DEP to control the funding. And then there's that brilliant governor ... << MORE >>

Such a terrible feeling when man's best friend goes missing - Please be on the lookout for Sadie ... << MORE >>

Here's your pet's chance to strut it's stuff while raising money for the Ocean City Humane Society. Lots of fun for a good cause. << MORE >>

NEWS FROM OCEAN CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & ENGINEERING ...

PLANNING DIVISION

VISIT OUR NEW AND IMPROVED WEBSITE @ ocnj.us

click on City Services, City Departments, Planning & Engineering, Planning

AT THE CITY'S WEBSITE YOU WILL FIND PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD AGENDAS,

MEETING MINUTES AND THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE PLANNING OFFICE!!

        

Last year, the owners of 9 Beach Road put up five smelly portable toilets, a hot dog steamer cart in the dunes and turned “Sugars,” a “grandfathered” beach grill since the 1940's, into Angels on the Atlantic, a day camp, without approvals from the city. That's just the beginning ... << MORE >>

Terri works with the team on injury prevention, and others in her regular classes. What could be better than yoga on the beach? << MORE >>

A meeting to discuss further viability of the famed orchestra? Express your opinion and ideas - the Pops organization is in the process of planning a long range strategic plan. << MORE >>

Celebrate Tourism Week with a day of fun, prizes, giveaways, costumed characters, and offers from local attractions. A pace car from the New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville will be on display ... check it out! << MORE >>

From the Wellness Expo to the Hearth Walk and Triathlon, the emphasis is on health. Check out the Barons game - great soccer by the beach! << MORE >>

        

GEICO loves Ocean City's clean, SAFE family image! GEICO thinks it's a great idea that Ocean City is a dry town! They love the beach and the Boardwalk. It's all good stuff. << MORE >>

 

 

The Riding School Bus - Ocean City Intermediate School May, 2009

What could be more fun than to ride your bike to school with dozens of friends and classmates? Throw in the chief of police and a few local officers, some teachers and the school principal and you have a pretty cool ride indeed.

Students at the Ocean City Intermediate School took the inaugural trip of the “Riding School Bus” bright and early on Monday morning. Meeting at two locations, First Street and the Boardwalk and 34th Street and Haven Avenue, the “it’s cool to ride your bike to school” campaign was a huge hit.

“The kids loved it, it was awesome fun,” said Sgt. Dave Hall of the Ocean City Police Department. “It was a great opportunity for them to get out and enjoy themselves and for us to stress bike safety, it was great.”

The north end group, led by Kevin Redmond, started at First Street and rode the Boardwalk to 18th Street, crossing to the school. The south end group, led by Mark Reimet, used the city’s new bike path to safely ride to school. Both groups, including nearly 100 students arrived at the OCIS within a minute of each other.

The “Riding School Bus” was just that; children riding together, with stops along the way to “pick up” waiting friends. Entire neighborhoods mobilized to join the fun as the “buses” progressed.

“It’s been so exciting, it’s like a buzz, it just keeps getting louder,” said Drew Fasy, who leads the Mayor’s Council on Physical Fitness and was instrumental in planning both the bike path and the school bus concept. “It kind of grew legs as we went along. We’ve all been very pleasantly surprised by how people have bought into it. Everyone is so excited, the parents, the kids, everyone. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Fasy said the concept stems from a federal program, the National Center for Safe Routes to School, established in 2006. The program assists communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bike to school. The Center strives to equip Safe Routes to School programs with the knowledge and technical information to implement safe and successful strategies.

“We held a pep rally on Friday in school to discuss the concept,” said Fasy. “We’ve been working on it for a while. We hoped to get maybe a few dozen kids, this has been incredible. It’s great.”

The Ocean City Police Department was instrumental in bringing the modern school bus to life. Sgt. Pat Randles visited the school to encourage the students, and explain the ground rules.

“He was great,” said Fasy. “He’s at the school a lot and he really knows how to talk to the kids. They’re tuned in; you can tell they have great respect for him. They were so excited to go bike riding with him. He explained that they had to wear a helmet or they couldn’t ride along. It’s all about safety. I learned a lot from him, I have a newfound respect for how these guys have developed positive relationships with these kids.”

“You have to protect your noggin,” Randles told the students, adding that they could not expect cars to see or stop for them. Randles told the students it was their responsibility to pay attention and be aware of their surroundings, to ride with traffic, establish eye contact, use hand signals and obey traffic laws. Using eggs, Fasy and Randles illustrated what might happen to an unprotected head in a bicycle collision, which made a big impact.

“We used humor, and it was a great visual,” said Fasy. “The big thing is safety, and we’re trying to encourage bike riding, to be safe and ride smart.”

Fasy said it’s all about being green and protecting the environment.

“It doesn’t sound like a lot, but think of each trip to school, multiplied by the number of students,” he said. “It’s one less car trip, one less trip where you aren’t spewing pollutants in the air. Each of us can make an impact on the environment. In addition its great exercise. It’s more productive and healthier to ride your bike to school. No one likes to be sick, if you exercise, you’ll be sick less.”

Fasy said local businessman Tim Richards installed a bike rack for the students at his office building at 34th Street and Haven Avenue.

“This way, the kids in the south end can lock their bikes there and get a ride to 34th Street if need be,” he said. In addition, city council amended the bike riding ordinance to allow students to ride on the Boardwalk after school after May 15 when bicycles would normally have to be off the boards by noon.

“This is a neat program,” said Fasy. “All you have to do is get your kids to the route, and they ride together. There is so much enthusiasm.”

OCIS principal Dr. Pamela Vaughan said she was psyched.

“We’re hoping to jump start the program and let the parents keep this going,” she said. “We hope the kids get hooked. People are really excited about it, it’s great!”

        

OCPD officers and their families volunteer to wash police cars!

Looks like fun- all for a good cause - Chief Chad Callahan of the Ocean City Police Department hosted the Department’s second annual car wash on Saturday, May 9th, 2009.  Several members of the Police Department and their children participated - on a volunteer basis on their scheduled day off.  No taxpayer dollars were at work. The entire fleet of police vehicles received a much needed wash, vacuum, and interior cleaning.   The car wash lasted from 8:30 AM to approximately 1:30 PM and culminated with hamburgers and hot dogs being served to all of the officers and their children. 
“It’s great to see the support from the officers and their children that participated in this annual event," Callahan said after the event.  "Given the officers hectic work schedules, it’s difficult to bring together all of the children of our officers.  This annual event does just that.  All of the kids had a blast and some needed a change of clothes after hosing down one another."

Callahan says he looks forward to the Police Department’s next community event which is the Ocean City COP Chase on June 13th at 8:00 AM sponsored by Gillian’s Wonderland Pier at Sixth Street and the Boardwalk. 

        

The airline - new to Atlantic City - plans to offer wireless on all 136 of its aircraft by mid-summer. << MORE >>

Good news for Herb Townsend - the trial run with his popular running shoes was successful - the technology is now being made available for licensing by major shoe manufacturers. The local runner used silly putty - pretty cool shoes! << MORE >>

A summer "kick-off" to send a strong message to underage drinkers that tavern owners are committed to zero tolerance policies. The new "Check Yourself" campaign encourages underage drinkers to consider the litany of punishments assessed by the State of New Jersey should the rascals get caught. << MORE >>

Good police work leads to an arrest. << MORE >>

Congratulations to Peaches - if anyone was ever born to care for animals, it's this sweet, caring woman. Was this meant to be or what? Check out this message from Peaches ... << MORE >>

Gov. Deval Patrick’s free wheels for welfare recipients program is revving up despite the stalled economy, as the keys to donated cars loaded with state-funded insurance, repairs and even AAA membership are handed out to get them to work.<< MORE >>

The program is free, and you receive a complimentary book for participating in the book discussion!<< MORE >>