Gillian answers critics
Mayor reacts to personal slight, concern over city contracts OCEAN CITY – Responding to criticisms over contract negotiations and a personal slight that was leveled against him, Mayor Jay Gillian said he has sacrificed for the community, deals in facts, not opinions, and he doesn’t do personal favors. During Thursday evening’s Ocean City Council meeting, […]
Digging in at Somers Mansion
Excavation finds Colonial items, Lenape pottery, stone tool tied to long Native American trade routes SOMERS POINT — A team of archaeologists from University of Monmouth is uncovering the past — shovelful by shovelful — on the grounds of the historic Somers Mansion. Rich Veit, a professional historical archaeologist and president-elect of the national Society […]
Take that, Redcoats! Legend a blast in Upper Township
BEESLEYS POINT — It was the shot heard ’round the world, echoed in such backwater places as Golden’s Point, that set colonists on a collision course with their British masters in 1775, sparking the Revolutionary War. Legend holds that local sisters Rebecca Stillwell Willetts and Sarah Stillwell played their part in the revolution when they […]
‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’
Ocean City High School Drama Guild stages comedic musical this week OCEAN CITY — “You can do however much preparing you want, but when it’s time to perform, it’s time to perform,” said Charlie Costal, leading man in the Ocean City Drama Guild’s upcoming production. Costal plays J. Pierrepont Finch, a window washer who works […]
Tax rate up slightly for all MRHS districts
LINWOOD — The regional school tax would rise a bit in all three sending districts, but not more than 1.6 cents in any, under Mainland Regional High School’s proposed 2023-24 budget. The administration presented the $31,445,153 spending plan to the Board of Education on March 20. It consists of a $19,642,254 general fund tax levy, […]
Health insurance, pensions
SOMERS POINT — Rising employee health insurance costs and police and fire pension obligations are driving a proposed 8.36-cent increase in the municipal tax rate in Somers Point. The proposed increase is nearly double that of any in the past decade. According to Sentinel archives, the municipal tax rate was 83 cents per $100 in […]
3-cent tax rate hike proposed in Linwood budget
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK Sentinel staff LINWOOD — “This is the first budget year that the entire budget is being driven by something the state did,” Mayor Darren Matik said March 22 after City Council introduced its 2023 budget. “We started this budget process with the intention of keeping taxes flat. Unfortunately we were not […]
Ocean City school superintendent seeks new job
Less than a year into his tenure, Dr. Friedman may be appointed superintendent in Pennsylvania school district next week OCEAN CITY — Less than a year into his tenure as superintendent of the Ocean City School District, Dr. Matthew Friedman is looking for a new job. Chris Halliday, president of the Ocean City Board of […]
‘Anything Goes’
Comedy on stage this week at Mainland Regional High School LINWOOD — About three dozen cast members, another dozen behind the scenes and an orchestra are preparing to present a silly tale of love, deception and celebrity-chasing on the high seas in “Anything Goes” this week at Mainland Regional High School. The spring musical, scheduled […]
Somers Point School District plans tax increase and staff cuts
SOMERS POINT — Plummeting enrollment combined with decreasing state aid has forced the Somers Point School District to make some tough decisions while formulating its 2023-24 budget. The $23,341,235 spending plan, which is only in its preliminary stages, includes a 2 percent tax levy increase coupled with staffing cuts, according to a presentation by Superintendent […]