Ocean City's Top 10 Summer Stories: Gulls, Fry Umbrellas, More

OCEAN CITY, NJ — It's been another eventful summer in Ocean City. Some of the happenings have been good, some bad and some just plain interesting.

Here are the top 10 stories from this past summer, in no particular order.

Seagull Program: First Ocean City, Then The World?

Ocean City's mayor and business administrator approached the owner of East Coast Falcons in July with urgency.

Mayor Jay Gillian and Business Administrator George Savastano wanted to try implementing the seagull-abatement program in a week. East Coast Falcons owner Erik Swanson said it usually takes six months to a year to prepare.

Nonetheless, the program seemed to work. And Ocean City officials praised how people around the country and the world have taken notice.

Former Major Leaguer's World Series Ring Found In Ocean City

In 1972, Brant Alyea won the World Series with the Oakland Athletics. In 2019, he unknowingly lost his championship ring in Ocean City.

Ocean City Named The Safest City In New Jersey

It wasn't long ago that Ocean City was named New Jersey's most "boring" city, according to MSN. But being supposedly boring has its perks, such as safety. Ocean City is the safest place in New Jersey, according to one report.

Man Killed In Ocean City Crash Was An Engineer, Father, Husband

Thomas F. Gibbons Jr., 47, was an engineer for 25 years who loved the outdoors, his wife, and his daughters, according to his obituary.

Video Shows Shark Sighting In Ocean City; Beachgoers Clear Water

Beachgoers sighted a shark at an Ocean City beach Wednesday afternoon, according to Fox 29. Ocean City lifeguards forced everyone out of the water.

Ocean City Lifeguard Exposed Himself At Beach: Prosecutor

An Ocean City lifeguard was charged with exposing himself to a female at the beach while he was working, according to the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office. Chrisopher Denn — also a teacher at Mainland Regional High School — fondled himself in front of the female without her consent, officials said.

Comets Drummer, Ocean City Resident Dick Boccelli Reportedly Dies

Dick Boccelli, an Ocean City resident and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, died in July. He was 95.

Priest Used Church Funds For Ocean City Beach House, Sex: DA

A Pennsylvania pastor misused over $100,000 in church funds on an Ocean City vacation home and men with whom he had sexual relationships, according to officials.

Ocean City Beach Now Free Of Frenchy's Umbrellas, Chairs

The public outcry has been heard: You no longer have to get fries with that at Ninth Street beach.

After nearby eatery Frenchy's supersized its beach presence with umbrellas and beach chairs, Mayor Jay Gillian announced Monday they have been removed.

Test Dummies Fly Off Ocean City Roller Coaster, Crash Into Hotel

Test dummies flew out of Castaway Cove's GaleForce Roller Coaster on April 13 and landed on a nearby roof. Park officials said the ride is safe, and the water-based dummies simply leaked and shrunk.

A deflated dummy landed on the Ebb Tide Suites' roof during the test run. Only plywood and roof shingles were damaged and repaired within an hour, according to park Vice President Brian Hartley.*

*This technically took place in April, but this qualifies for the list because of all the work businesses undergo to prepare for summer in Ocean City. And it was impossible not to include after Stephen Colbert poked fun at the mishap.

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