Wildwood Leader

PHOTOS: Up and ready

christie.rotondo@catamaranmedia.com (Christie Rotondo) — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:08:34 +0000

High-flying kites mark unlocking ceremony

WILDWOOD--Local, county, and state officials braved strong winds and chilly temperatures to “unlock” Wildwood’s beach May 23. In conjunction with the 28th annual international kite festival, officials and local celebrities marked the unofficial start of the 2013 season.

Background checks planned for employees

jodee.clifford@catamaranmedia.com (Staff Reports) — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:00:13 +0000

WILDWOOD-- The city will now require all full-time, part-time and seasonal employees, as well as volunteers, to pass a criminal background check, members of the Board of Commissioners announced.

The ordinance was passed at a regular meeting of the board on Wednesday, May 8. It will apply to all applicants for employment with the city and all of its agencies, divisions or programs, officials said.

Hospice organization honors its patients

jodee.clifford@catamaranmedia.com (Staff Reports) — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:06:42 +0000

WILDWOOD CREST- Cape Visiting Nurse Association Hospice held its first memorial service April 24 at the Bayview Inn. They plan to make it an annual event.

“This evening focuses on remembrance and healing and taking the time to honor the patients who granted us the privilege of caring for them in their final journey,” said Mary Anne Serra with the association in a release. “The hospice philosophy does not end when the person passes away. Bereavement follow up is a part of the program and continues the vision of hope and healing for the living.”

MTV’s ‘True Life’ turned down in Wildwood

christie.rotondo@catamaranmedia.com (Christie Rotondo) — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Producer plans to film this weekend where they can

WILDWOOD- An episode of MTV’s “True Life” is set to film in Wildwood over Memorial Day weekend, the documentary’s producer said.

But on May 22, commissioners refused to grant the company, Triple Threat Television, a permit to shoot - saying they were concerned the documentary would show the island in a bad light.

“I only see negative coming from this,” Mayor Ernie Troiano said.

North Wildwood man faces drug charges

seitz@catamaranmedia.com (Staff Reports) — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:30:47 +0000

NORTH WILDWOOD- A North Wildwood man was arrested early Thursday and charged with distributing marijuana, police said.

Richard Ulbrich III, 31, was arrested and found with less than 50 grams of marijuana on him, police said. Over 50 grams of the drug were found later after police executed a search warrant at his home on Chestnut Avenue.

Wildwood commissioners: Put a shirt on and pull your pants up

christie.rotondo@catamaranmedia.com (Christie Rotondo) — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:35:03 +0000

WILDWOOD- The city is looking to clean up the look of the boardwalk and create a more “family friendly” atmosphere- by having visitors clean up their outfits.

At Wednesday’s commissioners meeting, the administration introduced an ordinance requiring shirts and shoes to be worn on the boardwalk, and banned pants or skirts worn low off the waist.

“I do believe the barometer of our community is based on the boardwalk,” Mayor Ernie Troiano said.

Quotes of the Week> May 23

jodee.clifford@catamaranmedia.com (Staff Reports) — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:30:56 +0000

“Every time we do something to help the church out, we, the people, end up paying for it…I don’t know why the city is even getting involved.”
— Eugene Sanguinetti on North Wildwood’s plan to purchase the Eighth Street Field

“I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed working every day.”
— Kevin Yecco, Wildwood Crest’s borough clerk, on his retirement.

“I wanted to play in the tournament; I wanted to do something new and different.”
— Griselda Bautista, a fifth-grade student at Glenwood, on joining the new marbles team.

Crest’s diamond to shine after project

christie.rotondo@catamaranmedia.com (Christie Rotondo) — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:06:34 +0000

WILDWOOD CREST- If the borough saw a spring rain, Crest Memorial’s baseball field used to stay so flooded that games would be canceled for days after the shower.

Now, after a few improvements, that won’t be the case, Superintendent Dennis Anderson said.

Big plans for Crest library

christie.rotondo@catamaranmedia.com (Christie Rotondo) — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:16:40 +0000

Expanded facility could be ready in 2014

WILDWOOD CREST- The Wildwoods see millions of visitors every summer, but there is only one library on Five Mile Island.

That’s one of the main reasons why the Wildwood Crest branch of the county library is moving to a new location, almost double its current size, on Atlantic Avenue, according to library officials.

North Wildwood approves $3M land purchase

christie.rotondo@catamaranmedia.com (Christie Rotondo) — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:11:27 +0000

NORTH WILDWOOD- Council voted unanimously to purchase the Eighth Street Field Tuesday, despite one resident’s plea for them not to.

Eugene Sanguinetti, who worked for the city until 1993 as a code enforcement officer, said that the Camden Dioceses is not permitted to sell the land the field is on.

Yecco to retire from Crest

christie.rotondo@catamaranmedia.com (Christie Rotondo) — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:59:12 +0000

WILDWOOD CREST- After working in city hall for 27 years, Borough Clerk and Administrator Kevin Yecco announced his retirement this week.

“I feel that the time is right,” Yecco said Monday. “It has been an outstanding career.”

Field trip for 4-H group

jodee.clifford@catamaranmedia.com (Staff Reports) — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:07:41 +0000

WOODBINE- Students from Wildwood Middle School visited a hands-on education station at the Cape May County 4-H World Water Monitoring Challenge at Belleplain State Forest.

Beach replenishment project set

jodee.clifford@catamaranmedia.com (Staff Reports) — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:53:14 +0000

A dredge could be seen in Hereford Inlet this week off of the beach near Spruce Avenue.

The city’s beach replenishment project is set to begin soon, as its north end beaches lost 150,000 cubic yards of sand after Hurricane Sandy.

Wildwood High School Senior car wash

jodee.clifford@catamaranmedia.com (Staff Reports) — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:12:16 +0000

Senior Hayley DiBiasio advertises for the Wildwood High School Senior car wash.

Thousands walk to fight diabetes

jodee.clifford@catamaranmedia.com (Staff Reports) — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:00:49 +0000

WILDWOOD- More than 3,000 people hit the Wildwoods Boardwalk Saturday morning in support of 29 million Americans with Type 1 diabetes.

The 2013 Walk to Cure Diabetes raised $119,000, well above the initial goal of $65,000, said Michael Block, co-chairman of the South Jersey Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. A final tally could more than double the projected goal.