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Lifeguards in Ocean City were busy rescuing bathers and watching over countless others who splashed in the surf over the Fourth of July weekend. Mayor Jay Gillian praised all of the lifeguards and first responders for working together to keep the residents and visitors safe.

Whether lounging on the beach, strolling along the Boardwalk or flying a kite, tourists and residents in Ocean City had one thing in mind – relaxing and enjoying the Fourth of July weekend.

They may be dueling Fourth of July bike parades, but there isn’t much competition between the two. It's just the north and south end neighbors and tourists having a great time, decking themselves and their bicycles out in patriotic displays to celebrate and relish the holiday. “It is a kickoff for July 4. Families get together for the parades. It is so neat seeing all the different generations attending the parades. It is an honor to be the mayor when I see these parades and all of the people who come out to enjoy them,” Mayor Jay Gillian said.

Turtle nesting season coincides with the busiest time at the Jersey Shore, when traffic is at its heaviest. Environmentalists want motorists to know that they need to share the road with wildlife. Diamondback terrapin season begins in May and typically goes to August. Residents and tourists will often see the female turtles as they leave the marshlands in search of sandy soil to lay their eggs.

Get ready to be wowed at a family-friendly event, courtesy of the Ocean City Pops orchestra, with two free outdoor concerts in celebration of the Fourth of July. Concerts will begin at 8 p.m. on both July 3 and July 4 on the field at Carey Stadium, which is behind Ocean City High School on the beach block of Fifth Street and Sixth Street. Bring a beach chair or blanket and get comfortable. There will also be seating in the bleachers.

State and federal authorities, along with a nonprofit organization, partnered to develop a flooding study in 13 communities and the result was a "roadmap" of key areas that need to be addressed, along with a focus on what is working. The report was unveiled by the New Jersey Coastal Coalition. It detailed a study conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Environmental Protection during a news conference in Avalon on Tuesday.

Ocean City has negotiated agreements and tentative deals with all eight labor unions representing employees in the city -- from police, fire and EMTs to lifeguards and city workers.

From honoring students who shined in academics and athletics, to the teachers who helped shape and define them throughout the year, Thursday’s Board of Education meeting showcased the top performers and acknowledged their achievements throughout the year both on and off the field.

For anyone who wants food that is not only good for you, but also delicious, cool and scrumptious, there is a new place in Ocean City that will fulfill that wish. Soulberri at 338 Ocean Ave. formally opened Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its grand opening in town. Crowds lined up to order from a menu that features tasty homemade acai bowls, fruit and veggie smoothies and locally roasted coffee drinks.

Ocean City's school district finds itself in the same position as it had been in less than two years ago – in search of a new superintendent. But on Thursday night, the Board of Education took the first step with the hiring of an interim superintendent to temporarily lead the district, which has about 3,000 students combined in the primary, intermediate and high schools.