Ocean City’s 4th Annual Earth Day Celebration Draws Record Crowds

OCEAN CITY– The environment was a warm one even though the air was cold at Ocean City’s 4th Annual Earth Day Celebration held Sunday at the Bayside Center. Over 40 exhibitors and hundreds of attendees enjoyed the festivities in America’s Greenest Family Resort. This year’s Earth Day celebration featured two new and exciting events; a reusable bag contest and the amazing mascot races.
Everyone who attended this year’s event received a reusable shopping bag upon signing a pledge to use the bags. The bags were donated from over 16 local businesses and were also part of a contest to determine the unofficial “best looking and useful” reusable bag contest. This year’s winner was Island Beach Gear located at 9th & Bay Avenues for their teal colored and beach themed bags. In a close race for second place, Superfresh’s “cow” design bag edged out Acme’s “frog” design by only three votes for second and third place respectively. The City would like to thank all of the businesses that participated in the contest and donated bags for the event.
One of the highlights of this year’s Earth Day was the first ever Amazing Mascot Races. Competing mascots included Shriver’s Mr. Taffy, Ocean City’s own Trash Buster, Scute from the Wetlands, Bobby the Boardwalk Nor’Easter from Ocean City’s soccer club, Jilly’s French Fry Guy, and the ACUA’s Super Can. Boasting weeks of pre-race training, Scute was the unofficial “one to watch” on race day. But the bragging rights would go to Bobby the Boardwalk Nor’Easter with Scute coming in a close second. A re-match of these mascots is scheduled for the Nor’Easter’s Soccer home opener on July 10th.
The Earth Day awards ceremony honored community leaders and local businesses who have contributed to a green Ocean City. The Earth Day Environmental Leader of the Year Award was presented by Mayor Perillo to Ocean City Business Administrator, Jim Rutala. “Jim Rutala created the first Earth Day event in Ocean City four years ago and has continued to have the vision and commitment for environmental initiatives throughout the City.” stated Mayor Perillo. The Mayor pointed out that Jim played an instrumental role in Ocean City installing the largest municipal solar project in the history of the State with no capital costs to the taxpayers.
Earth Day Business Leader awards were presented to Tom Heist IV from Heist Insurance, Leon Grisbaum from Berger Realty and Patrick Gill for their dedication in promoting environmental awareness in Ocean City. “Golden Brooms” were also awarded to Don Pussehl from Bay Cats and Teresa Coggshall from the OCCA for their leadership efforts in on-going clean ups to Ocean City’s beaches and back bay areas.
Earth Day Poster contest winners were also announced. Winners from the 6th grade Ocean City Intermediate School were: Sophia Talese, Tara Cates, Olivia Mac, Lily Guseman, and Eddie McLaughlin. And from Ocean City High School: Kaitlin Kirkpatrick, Carolyn Hartman, David Dwyer, and Amelia Steelman.
This year’s event also included a lecture series with speakers on the topics of native plants, solar energy and rain barrels. Sponsors for the event included the ACUA, New Jersey American Water, Atlantic City Electric, New Jersey Clean Communities, Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation, Thomas H. Heist Insurance Agency, Ocean City Home Bank, Wawa, Wonderland Pier, Playland’s Castaway Cove, Downtown Ocean City, Human Society of Ocean City, Animal House, Island Beachgear.
The week long Earth Day celebration continues with the Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweep on Saturday, April 24th from 9 am to noon. Volunteers can register and pick up supplies at the Music Pier.
For more information please call 609.525.9333.