The Automobile Association of America’s AAAWORLD MAGAZINE has just selected our Doo Dah Parade in its Ten For The Road, their picks “for the Top 10 Events in the Region.” Ocean City was one of only two communities in New Jersey to be selected, the other being Cape May for its Sherlock Holmes Weekend.
Ocean City consistently wins awards as a community for its tourism, downtown and environmental achievements. It was just named as one of the most vital independent retail (downtown) markets in the nation by the Independent Retail National Leadership Summit. It has been named the number one family beach resort in the country by the Travel Channel, the number one vacation spot in the region by the Philadelphia Inquirer, one of the Ten Most Unforgettable Vacations in the Nation by USA Today, one of the top ten surfing locations in country by Surfing Magazine, the list goes on and on.
The April 16 Doo Dah Parade will be especially exciting. World renowned basketball legend, Meadowlark Lemon, will be grand marshal of the Parade. The Harlem Globe Trotter Legend will be honored during a dinner theater tribute at the Flanders Hotel on April 15. Here he will greet fans, sign autographs, pose for photos and be entertained by impersonators of legendary comedians and the Ted Prior Band. Tickets for the event are available at City Hall Annex, 901 Asbury Ave., 609-525-9300, on weekends call 609-364-4010 or email msoifer@hotmail.com.
On Sat., April 16 Meadowlark will lead the Parade that starts at noon and goes through the downtown ending at the Boardwalk in front of the Music Pier. Here he will greet fans, pose for photos and help Trudy Sales start our annual PieAsco, the massive pie in the face ceremony honoring her late husband Soupy Sales. The Parade will again feature a 500 Basset Hound Waddle, zany brigades, clowns, impersonators and bands. To enter the parade use same phone numbers or email just listed for tickets to the Meadowlark tribute.
The Ocean City Free PUBLIC LIBRARY is sponsoring a free film series every other Monday Night. City resident, Dr. Walter Brown, will present each film and briefly discuss how it relates to the over-all theme of American Heroes and Myths. Call the Library, 609-399-2434, ext. 5231 for more information.
The SOMERS POINT JAZZ SOCIETY has scheduled a series of concerts at the Library in March. Put these on your schedule if you’re a Jazz fan. Sun., March 20 at 3 p.m. the Paul Jost Quartet featuring Frank Strauss, Tim Lekan and Bob Shomo with special guest Michael Pedicin will perform a collection of Richard Rodger’s most popular compositions.
On Sun., March 27 at 3 p.m. Edgardo Cintron will bring the Latin side of Jazz to the series. On Sun., April 3 at 3 p.m., the John Pruitt Group featuring Gina Roche, will feature Brazilian jazz. The traditional Jobim-Bossa Nova will be explored as well as more contemporary styles. All concerts are free.
The Ocean City ALUMNI ASSN. will present We’ve Got Disco Fever on Sat., March 19 from 7 to 10 p.m. at DiOrio’s Café in Somers Point. It will be a night of dancing and fun as the clock is turned back to celebrate the 1970’s. Don your leisure suits, Disco dancing shoes or any fashion from the 70’s. There will be prizes for the best costumes. A $15 admission benefits the Association.
The Ocean City HUMANE SOCIETY Wellness Clinic at Shelter Rd. off Bay and Tennessee Ave. is now open additional days for appointments. Clinic hours will be Tuesdays 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday’s noon to 4 p.m., Friday’s noon to 4 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. till noon. The Society will hold a low cost Spay/Neuter Clinic on Thursdays. Spay/Neuter requires a 50 per cent deposit before scheduling. All visits to the clinic are by appointment only. The Humane Society emphasizes that clients should continue to keep their primary veterinarian. The no-kill shelter is not equipped for all services or emergencies.
THE CITY is offering free training classes beginning March 23 for citizens to become certified members of its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Participants will learn the skills necessary to assist the Office of Emergency Management during an event when a professional responder is not immediately available.
Upon completion of training, participants will have learned basic first aid, become CPR and AED certified and be prepared to assist with emergency response needs for the community, neighbors, family and themselves.
To be eligible, you must be 18 years or older and reside in Ocean City. Classes are Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Ocean City Free Public Library Lecture Hall beginning March 23 and finishing June 15. Class size is limited. Register now at www.ocemergency.com and click on City CERT Registration button. Or contact Detective Scott Morgan, 609-525-9125 . For more information visit www.citizenscorps.gov/cert.
The Ocean City ARTS CENTER is accepting entries for its annual April Juried Photography Show March 7-March18. Artists may submit up to four entries for a fee of $15 per entry. Awards will be announced at a reception, Fri., April 8. To receive an application, call 609-399-7628 or visit the Arts Center on the second floor of the Community Center, 1735 Simpson Ave.
TO SAVE A LIFE an independent film geared to the youth of the area will be shown 6 p.m., Sun., March 6 at the Ocean City Tabernacle 5th and Wesley Ave. Tickets are free, doors open at 5:30 p.m. The film is said to address the tough questions and real-life issues that every teen in America must consider. For more information, access southjerseyFCA.org/fcaCAPEatlantic or the movies website tosavealifemovie.com.
Let’s end the column with one of my poems about Nothing:
The Nothing Song
Not a thing to sing about
The birds have gone to bed-
And silence hovers inside out-
Inside and out my head…
The moon is muted as a rock
Beyond my window tree-
And in my room a digital clock
Sings nothing songs to me…
