Ocean City

Fewer cell phone service problems experienced first holiday weekend of summer

cindy.nevitt@catamaranmedia.com (Cindy Nevitt) — Thu, 31 May 2012 22:07:20 GMT

OCEAN CITY – With the first big holiday of summer 2012 behind us, it appears there were fewer problems with cell phone service this year than there were last year. Spotty service seems to have inconvenienced more AT&T smart phone subscribers than Verizon and Sprint customers, with some AT&T users reporting multi-day outages over the Memorial Day weekend.

In some mixed-provider marriages, the malfunctioning of one’s service created problems for the other. Doug Wing, owner of Ready’s Coffee Shop on Eighth Street and a Sprint customer, said service on his smart phone was “just a little slow.” But service on his wife’s AT&T phone was nonexistent on both Saturday and Sunday, resulting in failed texts and dropped calls to him. By Monday, she was frustrated enough to visit an AT&T store, where she was advised to “reset” her phone by removing the battery and SIM card, and then reinserting both.

Brandy Bell, senior public relations consultant with AT&T in King of Prussia, Pa., responded to The Gazette’s requests for an explanation of the cell phone provider’s difficulty in meeting customer demand by email:

“Unfortunately when you have a lot of people in the same place at the same time it can cause capacity issues, much like all of the traffic on the drive to the Shore. We know this and we are throwing everything we've got at it. We will continue to have the Cell on Wheels or COW parked at Shelter Road to add capacity through the busy summer season. In addition, we have been working nonstop to improve the experience at the Shore.”

Adopt a Pet > Cheyenne

jodee.clifford@catamaranmedia.com (Adopt a Pet) — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:33:18 GMT

The Animal Welfare Society’s pet of the week is a playful, 1- year-old, gray and white, cat named Cheyenne. Volunteers loved her as a kitten and are sad that her adopter is too sick to care for her anymore. Cheyenne’s vaccinations are current for adoption and she has been spayed. Meet Cheyenne at AWS Tuesday through Friday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and Saturdays by appointment, at 40 Route 47 South in Dias Creek. Call 609-465-3403 for additional information. Animals up for adoption at AWS can also be found at Petfinder.com

Adopt a Pet > Aubrey

jodee.clifford@catamaranmedia.com (Adopt a Pet) — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:32:01 GMT

Aubrey is a young, female pit bull terrier mix who loves to be around people. She enjoys playing outside and activities. Aubrey is energetic and has lots of enthusiasm so she will need lots of exercise and stimulation. Because she is so energetic, shelter staff recommends she go to a family with older children and to a home where she will get the proper training she needs. Aubrey’s adoption fee is $95 and she is up-to-date with routine shots and spayed.

T-shirt interruptus in OC

arichardson58@aol.com (Ann Richardson) — Wed, 30 May 2012 23:00:40 GMT

Some take offense at boardwalk displays, seek city help

Ocean City police have asked a merchant to move a T-shirt from the front of a boardwalk store after a local mother found it offensive. It made reference to sex, using a word not generally considered obscene.

“It’s not OK in a family resort,” said Sally Steelman Hamilton. “We can’t have T-shirts like that on display and then call ourselves America’s Greatest Family Resort. Merchants should be on board with that or go somewhere else.”

Students, teachers honored

jodee.clifford@catamaranmedia.com (Staff Reports) — Wed, 30 May 2012 19:00:29 GMT

At a May 23 school board meeting, Superintendent Kathleen Taylor and the board honored the top male and female students in seventh through 11th grades. Each student received a certificate and shook hands with board members.

Wiring cited as cause of Beach Road blaze

jodee.clifford@catamaranmedia.com (Staff Reports) — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:12:37 GMT

OCEAN CITY- Electrical wiring in a ceiling fan in the second floor living room has been found to be the cause of a fire that destroyed an Ocean City home on Beach Road last Sunday, May 20, according to acting Fire Chief Charlie Bowman.

Board settles administrator’s contract

arichardson58@aol.com (Ann Richardson) — Wed, 30 May 2012 15:34:35 GMT

At a May 23 school board meeting, the board unanimously approved a three-year agreement with school district administrators offering an average annual salary increase of 1.865 percent.

The Ocean City Administrator’s Association, the OCAA, ratified the deal on May 9.

Limit kept at 40 mph on new causeway

arichardson58@aol.com (Ann Richardson) — Wed, 30 May 2012 10:25:59 GMT

While the new Ninth Street Bridge and Route 52 Causeway may have all the trappings of a smooth concrete superhighway, Ocean City Police say motorists best be careful putting the pedal to the metal.

The new span connecting Ocean City with Somers Point is bookended by traffic lights; the speed limit on the bridge is 40 mph. Police Chief Chad Callahan said by the time cars hit the pavement on Ninth Street the speed limit is 25 mph and police will be watching.

Marotta named 2012 Five Star agent

brigitta.scott@catamedia.com (Staff Reports) — Wed, 30 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

OCEAN CITY – Prudential Fox & Roach announced Nick Marotta, an Ocean City Battersea Office sales associate, was named by Five Star Professional as a New Jersey recipient of the 2012 Five Star Real Estate Agent award. The award winners appeared in a special section in the March issue of “New Jersey Monthly.”

Lights throughout town should be timed for traffic

gazette@catamaranmedia.com (Opinion) — Wed, 30 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

To the editor:

With BYOB behind us now, perhaps we could concentrate our efforts toward making Ocean City a little more user friendly and I have a suggestion.