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Ocean City Is Center of National Windmill Hysteria
š” Ocean City, NJ's only weekly newsletter
Kyle Scott
August 18, 2023
Last week was the first time in five months weāve missed a newsletter. A combination of vacation and a slew of birthday celebrations in the family (mine included) got in the way.
But weāre back at it this week. As summer is winding down and people head back to work and school, the offshore windmills are set to take center stage this fallā with work potentially beginning on an underground transmission line through Ocean City. So we have LOTS of updates there this week.
In the email today:
š Upcoming events
šĀ Sponsor: Knockaround Sunglasses
š¦ Flesh eating bacteria is back
š Windmill updates
š¦ The square pie has arrived at Express Pizza, and it is expensive
š©Ā All-time worst take
š Real estate update
š¶ Kidās corner
š Weather and tides
š Upcoming Events in (and around) Ocean City
August 18
Little Miss Ocean City
When: 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Music Pier
Description: Pageant for girls 8-11.
Beach Concertā Tommy Castro and The Pain Killers (Somers Point)
When: 7:00 p.m.
Where: William Morrow Beach
Description: BB King entertainer of the year.
August 19
Junior Miss Ocean City
When: 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Music Pier
Description: Pageant for girls 12-16.
Somers Point Farmers Market (Somers Point)
When: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Somers Mansion, 1000 Shore Rd.
Description: Itās a farmerās market, folks.
Concert Under The Starsā Elton John Tribute (Sea Isle)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Excursion Park
Description: Free outdoor concert.
August 20
Stone Harbor Farmers Market (Stone Harbor)
When: 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: 95th Street and Second Ave.
Description: Farmerās market.
August 21
The Fab Four ā The Ultimate Tribute
When: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Music Pier
Description: Beatles tribute band. Get tickets here.
Somers Point Kidās Concert Series (Somers Point)
When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: William Morrow Beach
Description: A concert for kids!
Family Fun Night ā Mickeyās Magical Sing-Along (Sea Isle)
When: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Excursion Park
Description: Stage show begins at 7:30 p.m.
August 22
Funtastic Tuesdays
When: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: Downtown Asbury
Description: Entertainment, face painters, balloon sculptors.
Mummers Night
When: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Boardwalk
Description: Mummers strut the Boards.
Beach Movie ā The Little Giants (Avalon)
When: Dusk (figure around 8:30 p.m.)
Where: 30th Street Beach
Description: Movie on the beach, rain date August 23
August 23
Opera Superstars of Tomorrow Presented by the OC Pops
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Music Pier
Description: After 2021ās blockbuster concert featuring four of the top opera students in the country, Maestro Vince Lee is thrilled to make this concert an annual Ocean City tradition. Tickets here.
Farmers Market
When: 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: Tabernacle Grounds at 6th and Asbury
Description: Farmers market.
Wacky Wednesday ā Taffy Sculpting
When: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where: Music Pier
Description: Sculpt your own salt water taffy. Contest is limited to 200.
Crafty Wednesday (Avalon)
When: 10:00 a.m.
Where: Avalon Free Public Library
Description: Join Miss Paige for a fun arts and crafts project. Kids of all ages welcome.
Movie Under The Stars ā Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Sea Isle)
When: 8:30 p.m.
Where: Excursion Park
Description: Outdoor movie.
August 24
Market Days
When: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: Downtown Asbury
Description: Entertainment, face painters, balloon sculptors.
LEGO Thursday (Avalon)
When: 10:00 a.m.
Where: Avalon Free Public Library
Description: Calling all LEGO fans! The library will supply the LEGOS, you supply the imagination. All ages.
Family Night
When: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Boardwalk
Description: Family-friendly entertainment on the Boardwalk.
Thrilling Thursday (Margate)
When: 6:30 p.m., movie at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Granville Ave. Beach
Description: Games followed Lightyear, rain date August 25
Also note the Ocean City Library has many events for adults and kids alike on their calendar, which can be viewed here.
You can see the full list of events in all nearby Shore towns with the following links: Ocean City | Sea Isle | Margate | Avalon | Stone Harbor | Somers Point | Wildwood | Cape May | Ventnor
Other events to look forward to: Jackie Evancho Performing with the OC Pops (August 27),Ā George Thorogood and The Destroyers (August 28-29)
š Sponsor: Knockaround Sunglasses
Just so you know we fully endorse this oneā here is my collection:
Knockaround Sunglasses are perfect for the beach, Boardwalk, and basically everything you do down the Shore. They are ultra affordable (~$30), stylish, well-made, and feature UV400 protection (the highest UV protection) built into every pair. They literally block the sun better than my $200 pair of Ray-Bans, which I now wear only rarely because Knockarounds are just better for almost every daily use.
Whatās more, they have cool collaborations will also sorts of brands, including Major League Baseball, US Soccer, and even Shark Week.
You can get up to 15% off your first order by clicking here.
š¤³ News Bits
Flesh Eating Bacteria Is Back š¦
OK, so not to alarm you. Here are the raw details:
3 people have died in NY and Connecticut from Vibrio infections
2 of the 3 cases were wound infections, 1 was a result of eating a raw oyster
all victims were between 60 and 80
Vibrio infections typically occur in warmer waters, but each year New Jersey reports a few casesā this year the Atlantic is warmer than normal which may contribute to an increase in cases
This thing mostly inhabits ābrackishā water. Generally found more inland, where freshwater mixes with salt water. I wouldnāt swim in that water. Actually, generally as a rule, I donāt swim in any water thatās not a pool or ocean.
You can also get this from eating tainted raw oysters and shellfish (there is no change in smell or taste of the oysters). But you are more likely to be impacted if you are older, immunocomprised, or in poor health.
Windmill Update š
Oh boy, do we have updates!
News: A judge told Cape May County that it must grant offshore windmill manufacturer Orsted an easement to bury a transmission line under county-owned roads.
Ocean City Is The Center of a National Political Debate āļø
Last week, The Washington Post tackled the subject with a deep, reasonably accurate view of the situation playing out in Ocean City, which will impact wind projects up and down the coast.
The article is worth reading if only because it will quickly bring you up to speed and shows how this is now a national issueā one that will likely come up in 2024 Presidential election debates.
While this is not a political newsletter, itās almost impossible to cover this next part without coming across as partisan. Iāll do my best.
Hereās 2 examples of poor coverage of the debate from The Washington Post.
1) Misleading statement
But in linking East Coast whale deaths to wind project surveys, these groups contradict what leading marine mammal scientists have concluded. āAt this point, there is no scientific evidence that noise resulting from offshore wind site characterization surveys could potentially cause mortality of whales,ā the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a statement.
Scientists have not concluded anything. What NOAA has said - very carefully, I might add - is that they canāt scientifically link whale deaths with sonar mapping offshore. That doesnāt mean the two arenāt linked. It doesnāt mean they are, either!
All we have to go on, right now, is that 2023 has seen an increase in whale deaths over already-elevated figures from the past few years.
So itās misleading when media outlets report this issue as settled science. Itās not. NOAA says as much. āAt this pointā¦ā
2) Glosses over massive tax credit
In early July, the Biden administration signed off on Ocean Wind 1ās plan for construction and operations ā a regulatory milestone for the project. In the same month, Gov. Murphy approved a bill allowing Orsted to keep federal tax credits.
For my money (quite literally), the way the state has railroaded local input and handed out billions to Orsted is a large part of the issue here.
There is just a single sentence in the whole article about the roughly $1 billion tax credit New Jersey has removed from the pockets of citizens and handed to Orsted so they can build the windmills more profitably.
The story left out the fact that the bill overturned a previous law requiring this tax credit to go to utility customers, all because Orsted threatened to pull manufacturing jobs from the state and send them overseas.
60 Minutes Story on Orsted Windmills in England ā±ļø
This is worth watching here. It shows how offshore windmill jobs have transformed a former fishing community in England.
Make sure to stick around to the end when locals say their utility bills have ādoubledā and Orsted says the solution to lowering prices is building more offshore windmills.
A New Documentary Will Investigate Whale Deaths š„
Investigative journalist Michael Shellenberger released the trailer for his upcoming documentary about whale deaths on the East Coast.
News Links š
š¦ The Square Pie Has Arrived at Express Pizza, and It Is Expensive
Walking The Boards Blind Pizza Taste Test Winner Express Pizza unveiled its long-awaited square pie earlier this month.
The brainchild of pizza guru Mike Fitzick, known for his hard-angle doughs at Bakeria joints in Linwood and Philly, the Island Square comes in limited availability with a range of traditional and gourmet toppings.
I ordered one last Friday (along with two traditional pies). Here it is, sans a piece, which I just couldnāt wait to get my arthritic blog writer hands on:
First up, the review: Very good. Deep, thick dough with an orgy of flavors (cheese, quality meats, jalapeƱo). The crust has a sweet finish, like caramelized sugar. I didnāt like it (the crust) at first, but it grew on me quickly. The pizza was very good and I ate about 6 pieces over two days, but I wouldnāt call it āoutstandingā, partially because ofā¦
The price: $46.
Look, in the next section weāll touch on increased prices at the Shore that seem to be outpacing inflation. So this complaint isnāt exclusive to Express, which this newsletter has been very kind to. But it is hard to see how this will remain anything but a novelty item, even in the cash-flush Gardens.
Alllllll of that being said, I am viscerally compelled to try the Buffalo Chicken version of the pie this weekend, so perhaps the joke is on me.
š©The All-Time Worst Take
In honor of this horrible take, here is our glorious Walking The Boards banner flying over the beach!
š Real Estate Update
Did you know Walking The Boards has a newsletter dedicated to Ocean City Real Estate?
If you would like to opt-in, just click the subscribe button right here:
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It is not often that I agree with Inquirer Shore reporter Amy Rosenberg, who generally seems to have contempt for her audience.
But, her story last week on prices at the Shore went viral locally. She heard from the Cape May tourism bureau and they report some sagging numbers:
āOur resort towns are reporting a slowdown in occupancy with midweek a problem,ā Wieland said. āSome are offering incentives to extend weekend visitors and having some success. According to some, July lodging reports are not as bad as projected and August is OK, with the end of August having some holes in the reservation charts. Rentals seem to follow the same path.
āRestaurants are reporting fewer customers, and casual and take-out options are more popular with budget-conscious family visitors. The day trip visitor is growing and pumping up the numbers.ā
This tracks. Crowds in general - especially mid-week - have been a bit light this year
How is this all impacting the real estate market? Well! Find out in our July market data report coming next week at ShoreCribs.com
š¶ Kidās Corner: Pirate Voyage Rocks
Let me give a hearty endorsement for Pirate Voyages.
My family has done this three years in a row, and it is always a hit for all kids (say, under the age of 10).
You set off on a hour-ish voyage in the bay where you encounter a real pirate, search for buried treasure, and are entertained by a quippy cast and crew telling jokes for kids and adults alike.
I wonāt spoil the trip, but if you have young kids, this is a must-do. Just be prepared to get wet.
š Weather and Tides
As always, we recommend getting up-to-date forecasts from THE GOAT of South Jersey weather, NorEaster Nick, directly on his Facebook page. You can also download his app.
Tides (9th Street):
Friday (8/18)
Low: 4:02 AM
High: 9:58 AM
Low: 3:57 PM
High: 10:04 PM
Saturday (8/19)
Low: 4:32 AM
High: 10:32 AM
Low: 4:35 PM
High: 10:36 PM
Sunday (8/20)
Low: 5:02 AM
High: 11:06 AM
Low: 5:14 PM
High: 11:09 PM
Monday (8/21)
Low: 5:32 AM
High: 11:41 AM
Low: 5:56 PM
High: 11:43 PM
Tuesday (8/22)
Low: 6:05 AM
High: 12:21 PM
Low: 6:45 PM
Wednesday (8/23)
High: 12:24 AM
Low: 6:45 AM
High: 1:08 PM
Low: 7:42 PM
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