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Leonardo Taccarino looked a bit young for firefighting. After all, the Marmora boy is just 3. But his skill at steadily holding a fire hose to extinguish a “blaze” created plenty of smiles from a crowd. Leonardo smiled and giggled as the hose shot a steady stream of water into the “burning” model size home. He may have gotten a little help from his mom, Dominique Taccarino, along with Ocean City firefighter Dan Boardman, but still, there was a little firefighter in the making. The Taccarinos joined many other families Thursday for the Ocean City Fire Department and IAFF Local 4032’s Open House.

Each year, the Ocean City Ecumenical Council helps feed and clothe those in need. The Ecumenical Council, a faith-based organization, runs the food cupboard and clothes closet in the resort. The items are shared by all churches in Ocean City to help families and individuals who are less fortunate. On Tuesday, all of the volunteers who help to provide food and clothing to 2,400 people each year were celebrated during a luncheon at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church. It was the first such affair since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ocean City Free Public Library is not only popular among families during the summer for its in-person and virtual programming, events, activities and lots of books in all forms, but year-round. And that is why the staff for the children’s section of the library has grown, explained Library Director Karen Mahar during Tuesday’s OCFPL Board of Trustees meeting. She noted that the numbers have “exceeded” the busy times in the kids' section prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically in 2019.

They gave food. They gave diapers. They gave canned goods. And the list goes on and on. The Ocean City community showed its generosity during an annual food and goods drive. The Ocean City Police Department and the Ocean City Ecumenical Council Food Cupboard worked together to make the donation drive possible. On Sunday, police vehicles were stationed in front of the Acme supermarkets at both 800 West Avenue and 3428 Simpson Avenue for the event, which is part of a nationwide program called “Faith and Blue Weekend.”

Visitors to Ocean City on Saturday weren’t going to let a little wind and rain, or a lot of rain for that matter, discourage them from having a great time at the Fall Block Party. While the morning started off partly sunny, clouds came in later and then the rains, some of them heavy. But patrons were prepared. They wore raincoats, toted umbrellas, donned caps and popped in and out of vendor tents to shop, grab a bite to eat or just browse. The downtown from Fifth to 14th streets along Asbury Avenue became an ultra-shopping, dining and entertainment experience for the thousands of visitors to the resort.

Rain or shine, Ocean City’s Fall Block Party will go on as scheduled 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. But due to the weather, the fireworks display is canceled, Mayor Jay Gillian said in a statement Friday.

Get ready for the “dog days” of fall -- this month especially -- when canines and their human counterparts will walk down the Boardwalk for the third annual “Howl-O-Ween” parade Saturday, Oct. 21. New this year, pooches will be permitted on the boards Sunday, Oct. 22, as well. The parade begins at 3 p.m. Oct. 21, with a procession from Sixth Street to 14th Street on the Boardwalk. It is being hosted by the Humane Society of Ocean City (HSOC). If it is anything like the past two years, the parade will make for a major family-friendly event and one that pet lovers will enjoy.

Ocean City will be all about delicious foods, mega-shopping, live entertainment, pony rides and, yes, even fireworks to cap off the always popular Fall Block Party on Saturday. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the downtown from Fifth to 14th streets along Asbury Avenue will transform into a block party that rivals all others throughout the country, while showcasing local restaurants, crafters and downtown and Boardwalk businesses.

Visitors to Ocean City beaches hit the trifecta on Sunday. It was sunny, temps were in the mid-70s, and it was the first day of the shoulder season that dogs were allowed on the beach. And beachgoers didn’t seem to mind some erosion left in the wake of Tropical Storm Ophelia, which battered the coast on Sept. 23, flooding low-lying areas and creating dangerous rip currents.

Tom Hambrose began riding in Bike MS fundraisers 32 years ago as a way to not only spend a weekend doing what he loves – cycling – but also making it count for others. A decade ago, it became personal. “I got a call from my sister. She was in the hospital, diagnosed with MS,” he explained. “I went from being a weekend bike rider for a cause to it being personal and a big part of my life.” On Saturday, Hambrose of Team Del Buono Bakery, was joined by 4,200 other cyclists who made the trek from Cherry Hill, Mays Landing and Hammonton to Ocean City to raise money for programs and research in hopes of finding a cure for MS.