By Donald Wittkowski
It doesn’t get much cooler than this.
Dozens of skateboarders, some iconic Ocean City businesses, a punk rock band and a white German Shepherd who’s becoming a local celebrity all came together Saturday for a good cause.
The “Skato with Kato” event at the Cape May County Skatepark at Fifth Street and West Avenue served as a fundraiser benefiting the Humane Society of Ocean City, a no-kill shelter that has been a local institution since 1964.
It was also the first organized skateboarding contest at the park since it opened last September, so organizers wanted to make it special.
“If we can help out a little bit and have a great event at the park, and the kids can have fun for a great cause, then it’s a win-win for everybody,” said Willie Fannon, the principal organizer.
Fannon, owner of the Ocean City Surf School, was happy with the turnout and the support from the local business community.
“I wanted the first event at the skatepark to be a success. We have at least 35 to 40 contestants, so it should be a success,” he said.
The event was sponsored by Surfers Supplies, the Seventh Street Surf Shop and Heritage Surf and Sport, all of Ocean City, and Downbeach Skate Co. of Ventnor. In addition, Peace of Wood of Ocean City donated a skateboard ramp as a prize, Fannon said.
The inspiration for the fundraiser was a snow-white German Shepherd named Kato. Phil Bellucci, the operations support manager at the Humane Society, adopted Kato after he had been surrendered by his previous owner.
“I was cleaning one day at the shelter and he was sitting there looking at me. I fell in love with him,” Bellucci recalled.
Bellucci originally thought Kato had injured his knee and needed an estimated $2,000 in surgery. So the idea was conceived for a fundraising event on the dog’s behalf called “Skato for Kato.”
However, Bellucci later discovered while taking the dog for walks that his knees seemed fine and he would not need surgery after all.
So the “Skato for Kato” fundraiser was changed to “Skato with Kato.” Proceeds from the event will now go toward a Humane Society fund that helps needy owners pay for their pet’s medical care.
The good-natured Kato, tugging energetically on a leash held by Bellucci’s wife, Peggy, was indeed the star attraction at Saturday’s event. He accepted affectionate pats on the head from many of the skateboarders.
The skaters, meanwhile, performed tricky moves on the ramps and dips on the park’s undulating surface. The local punk rock band Sheckles provided some thumping background music to amp up the skating excitement.
The youngest skater Saturday was thought to be Cruz Dinofa, a 6-year-old phenom from Linwood who rides for the Seventh Street Surf Shop.
“He totally has no fears. He really goes for it,” said Tim Dinofa, Cruz’s father. “He’s pretty exceptional. He’s doing things the teenagers are doing.”
Cruz, a kindergarten student at Seaview Elementary School in Linwood, started skateboarding when he was just 4 years old. On Saturday, he was decked out like the older skaters, wearing protective knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards and a helmet.
Asked why he likes the Cape May County Skatepark in Ocean City, Cruz had a simple answer: “It’s fun,” he said, smiling.
The same could be said about the entire day at the skatepark. What could be more fun than dozens of daredevils, local businesses, a punk rock band and a celebrity German Shepherd all coming together for a good cause?
Groms (10+ Under)
1. Cruz Dinofa (6)
2. Sonny Pechillo(7)
3. Charlie Beseris (7)
13+ Under
1. Jake Dinan (12)
2. Dominic Morrill (11)
3. Jason Stein (13)
16+ Under
1. Nick Brady (16)
2. Dom Monteleone (16)
3. Cormick McKee (15)
17+ Up
1. Paul Mancuso (26)
2. Jeff Dahl (19)
3. Ed Guishard (25)
Girls
1. Abby Roberts (19)
2. Sophie Whelan (10)
3. Jamie Pustizzi (40)
Winner of the Bowl Jam: Nick Brady (16)
* Winner of Best Slam: Sonny Pechillo (7) pictured in the Groms (10+ Under) section above.
