Just when you thought OCNJ Daily had written its last “unseasonably warm weather story” for the year, Mother Nature thought differently. And we couldn’t be more thrilled to write another one.
America’s Greatest Family resort enjoyed Friday temperatures that topped 70 degrees and a Saturday in the high 60s. The unusual warm-up was timed perfectly for the “Earlier than the Bird” Downtown Shopping Extravaganza which drew nice crowds to Asbury Avenue. The promotion offered special deals and discounts for shoppers who dressed in their pajamas and came out to jump start their holiday shopping the weekend before Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
Larger-than-usual crowds for this time of year were observed on the Boardwalk both days, and the beaches were dotted with families, individual sun-worshippers and surfers. A few brave souls even took quick dips in the chilly Atlantic.
Boaters also got out onto the ocean and bay, joggers donned shorts and t-shirts and bike-friendly OC’s streets were busy with cruisers.
The weather proved to be a perfect opportunity for Sean Kolins to take his six-weeks-old daughter Siena out for a stroll, one of the first times she had been out in public.
“She loved it,” Kolins said of the baby. It was so sunny the proud papa placed infant-sized sunglasses on Siena, whose mom is Sean’s wife Candice. “I could tell she enjoyed the sunshine, fresh air and sound of the ocean.”
On 11th St., Robert Simone and wife Andrea stopped on the boardwalk ramp, where Robert took a matter-of-fact approach to the mild temperatures.
“I really don’t have a comment,” he said. “The weather is what it is. We just wanted to get out and enjoy it while we can.”
Simone’s wife Andrea said that might be a lot more often in the future. “We’re from Williamstown now, but soon we’re going to be from here,” she said with a smile, referring to the couple’s recent purchase of a home in Ocean City.
John Fitzgerald was out with wife Dana, their baby and mom-in-law Janet. All four reside in Ocean City.
“Tomorrow is supposed to be windy and cold so we thought we’d get a walk in now,” Janet said.
“You never know (about the future) so we’re trying to get in a few minutes on the boardwalk now,” John said.
It’s true the future is unknown, but we’re hopeful conditions will allow us to write a few more of these before the winter sets in.
Not far away from the boardwalk or the avenue another scene was happening. Due to the fact that Ocean City recently rehabbed Carey Field with a state-of-the-art turf field, it was selected to host the Atlantic County Junior Football League Championships. The stadium was packed with enthusiastic fans and they were treated to top-notch accommodations.
The early game featured the pee-wee teams from Atlantic City Dolphins verses the Vineland Blitz. Atlantic City won 20-06.
The Junior Varsity Championship featured the Somers Point Sharks verses the Absecon Blue Devils. The game was heavily dominated by Somers Point and they won 34-07.
The Varsity game was between the Hammonton Hawks and the Atlantic City Dolphins. It was a tough fought game that could have gone either way right up to the end. The final score was Atlantic City 14 Hammonton 8.
Just yards from all the football playoff action, the Ocean City Civic Center was hosting a craft show. Vendors from far and wide came to pitch their products in advance of the holiday season. The event is usually hosted at the Music Pier, but that was not possible this year due to the boardwalk re-decking project.
The venue was bustling with activity and there were many smiles from customers and vendors alike.
It was a shining day for Ocean City in every regard. While many coastal communities get the reputation of being sleepy in the winter, it is hard to imagine any city in the region that had more going on this weekend.
