MediaWize

All are invited to a free “Family-Friendly Nature and the Environment Fun-day” featuring zoo animals, crafts, games, music and stories. The event will be held 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 15 in the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center within the Ocean City Community Center (1735 Simpson Avenue).

The Friends and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library will hold a one-day book sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7. There will be plenty to choose from at the sale, including specially-priced books, audio books, DVDs, CDs and more.

It's not too early to start thinking about spring. Ocean City will offer a lineup of spring entertainment and special events starting in March. Details follow.

The Humane Society of Ocean City will host a bowling fundraiser to give families a night out of fun while helping shelter animals. The fundraiser will be held March 10 at 7 p.m. at Kingpin Lanes, 6622 Black Horse Pike, in Egg Harbor Township. A donation of $15 buys two games of bowling, a shoe rental and a choice of a slice of pizza, fries and a drink or nuggets, fries and a drink.

On Thursday, Feb. 13, the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce will install the new board of directors and officers during a dinner at the Flanders Hotel. The evening will begin with networking at 6 p.m. The installation and dinner will take place at 6:30 p.m.

The Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) is replacing and rehabilitating the force mains that carry wastewater to the treatment plant on the bay at 45th Street. The work will be done on 31st Street from Haven Avenue to Bay Avenue and Bay Avenue from 31st Street to Eighth Street. Details follow on construction work scheduled for the week of Feb. 3-7.

The Ocean City High School Band Booster pasta dinner will be held Friday, Feb. 7 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. Dinner includes spaghetti and meatballs, bread, salad, soft drink, dessert and coffee. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Takeout dinners are available from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The city hired Vince Lee this week as the permanent conductor of the Ocean City Pops, the hometown orchestra. Lee was guest conductor for several Pops concerts over the past two summers as the city auditioned candidates for the job. Lee debuted as a conductor at age 13 with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. During his career, he has conducted throughout the world and held positions with the New York Youth Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra and Union City Orchestra.

Mayor Jay Gillian announced Friday that the city is finalizing the capital improvements plan for the next five years and the municipal budget for 2020. The plans will be introduced to the public at City Council meetings within the next month. One project that will take place within the next few weeks will be restriping to create angled parking on the bay side of West Avenue from North Street to First Street. This reconfiguration is being done at the request of residents to create more on-street parking, the mayor said.

Ocean City Boy Scout Troop 32 will host its fourth annual Super Bowl Chili Cook-Off fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center. Prizes will be given to the top chefs for different varieties of chili based on votes received from the general public. The event is free for chef/participants, with $5 per person charged at the door for unlimited taste-testing guests.