What’s Happening in Ocean City

OCEAN CITY – History was made in Ocean City on March 13, 1975. It was a chilly winter’s day, kind of miserable really. But that didn’t stop Martin Z. Mollusk from creeping onto the 9th St. Beach and creating an Ocean City tradition.
Mayor B. Thomas Waldman and Commissioner Marilyn Moore were present to witness that Martin did, in fact, see his shadow despite considerable fog and thus summer would come one week early to this family resort. Following his successful outing, Martin conferred with the community leaders through his spiritual advisor and chef, Mark Soifer, the only person who can communicate with the crustacean.
He asked, actually he demanded, that the ceremony be moved to the first Thursday in May when the weather was more conducive to his sensitive, tropical upbringing. They readily agreed and a grand, albeit strange, perhaps even a trifle weird event was born, to be forever known as Martin Z. Mollusk Day.
Actually Martin has been quite successful in ensuring an early summer. Over the past 37 years, he has only failed to see his complete shadow once. In 1985, he saw a partial shadow and summer arrived 3 ½ days early.
Over the years, much pomp and circumstance has been added to this activity. The Ocean City High School Band gets a few hours off from class to play Pomp and Circumstance as Martin is escorted to the beach. This year his retinue will include Shelley the Mermaid, aka Suzanne Muldowney, the costumed Martin Mollusk and Dr. Frankenstein who will check Martin’s blood pressure to ensure he is healthy enough to make the creep.
Martin is now 102 years old in Hermit Crab years and resides in an assisted living condo at Old Salt on the Boardwalk. He is in good shape for his age, aggravated only by some mild arthritis in his right claw.
Martin will also be accompanied by the City’s environmental character, Trash Buster who will inspect the beach area to make certain it is pristine for the creep .The World’s Only Wind Chimes Band will perform “Brother Can You Spare a Chime,” number one on the wind Chimes Charts. The fabulous Ocean City Fish will also participate.
Waiting for Martin on the Beach will be Big Mama Llama, yes a real Llama, from Bready Farms in Tuckahoe. If she shakes her head, that means Martin has seen his shadow.
Admission to the event is free and all spectators will be given a shelled replica of a hermit crab as a souvenir of the event. They will also be asked to sing “Some Enchanted Morning,” Martin’s theme song. This psyches him up for the arduous three foot creep to the Circle of Truth in the sand.
Martin’s creep is set for 11 a.m. on May 2 at the 9th Street Beach, adjacent to the Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace. If beach replenishment pumping is taking place that day at 9th St., the event will be moved to the next available Beach. Someone will be standing in front of the Music Pier to direct Martin enthusiasts to the location.
The popular Ocean City Mile Long Spring Block Party is set for May 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from 5th to 14th Sts. on Asbury Ave. Over 350 crafters, food vendors, entertainment and more will be featured. There will be free pony rides on the Tabernacle Grounds from 1 to 4 p.m.
Parking: On Block Party Saturday, there will be free parking for meters on Wesley Ave. and all streets west of Wesley. On all Streets east of Wesley Ave., the City will be charging and meters will be enforced. All municipal parking lots east of Wesley Ave. will be charging.
(May 9) The Fifth Annual Author’s Tea sponsored by the Friends and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library will be held at the Flanders Hotel, 2 p.m. Guest author will be Theresa Anne Tull whose book is “A Long Way from Runnemede: One Woman’s Foreign Service Journey.”
(May 1) The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold its Salute to Working Women at noon in the Ocean City Yacht Club, Bay and Battersea Road. They will be honoring the OCNJ C.A.R.E. (Clean Up and Recovery Effort) Volunteers for their monumental efforts in helping the City recover from Super Storm Sandy.
While there were hundreds of volunteers that made the City’s quick recovery possible, four women were essential in the process and took leadership roles: Dottie Cianci, Karin Gleason, Maria Marinelli and Kathy Sykes. Tickets are $25 and reservations may be made by calling the Chamber at (609) 399-1412.
(May 19)The Ocean City Fire Fighters Golf Tournament is set for May 19 at the Ocean City Municipal Golf Course on Bay Ave. near the Airport with tee time at 8:30 a.m. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society: Foursomes, Shotgun Format, 12 Hole 3 Par Course, $35 per person. Luncheon to follow at noon at Di Orio’s in Somers Point included. Luncheon guest are welcome, $10. For information, access OCFDRelayTeam@hotmail.com or call Chris (609) 412-6663.