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Cris Pannullo’s winning streak finally came to an end on “Jeopardy!” Tuesday night. Although the Ocean City resident looked indestructible at times during a 21-game winning streak, his incredible run was over when he was outmatched by opponent Andy Tirrell, a professor of political science and international relations, from San Diego, California.

There is a Christmas tree in the lobby of the Ocean City Community Center with a name that reflects the generosity of the people who have placed gifts under it to help those in need during the winter. It is the “Tree of Warmth,” from the Colony Club of Ocean City. Through Dec. 20, the organization is accepting winter wear such as mittens, hats, socks, scarves and other items needed at this time of year. All of the donations are being taken to the Ecumenical Council Clothes Closet.

The Ocean City Community Center was filled with holiday cheer on Sunday afternoon when Santa, Mrs. Claus, a stilt walker and carolers in Victorian-era dress, helped kick off the celebrations during the annual Holiday Festival. Each year the event serves to showcase the center. There were activities at the Ocean City Free Public Library, Ocean City Arts Center and Ocean City Historical Museum, all under the same roof at the Community Center. The event began in the atrium, where Santa made his grand entrance, sashaying down the Arts Center steps, to greet a crowd of giddy children. “She can’t wait to see Santa,” Lauren Levering, of Marmora, said as she held her 2-year-old daughter, Eloise, who was wide-eyed and anxiously awaiting the entrance. “She loves everything Christmas and this is our first time at the festival, so we are very excited,” Levering added...

Hunter McGovern, of Pilesgrove, N.J., is just 3 and he already knows what he likes – trains – trains and more trains – especially Thomas trains. Luckily for his mom, Lauren McGovern, and his big brother, 5-year-old Connor, there were plenty of them all in one place at the annual Model Train Show, which opened Saturday at the Ocean City Music Pier and continues Sunday.

The Grinch gave Santa Claus a bit of competition Friday night at Ocean City’s annual Christmas Parade, making his grumpy green appearance on several floats. But in the end, Jolly Old Saint Nicholas aboard a horse-drawn carriage, complete with a white steed, had the last say, as he waved to cheering children in the grand finale of the festive event.

Three businessmen bought the long shuttered iconic Moorlyn Theatre in Ocean City. They will not build condos on the prime piece of real estate at Moorlyn Terrace and the Boardwalk. They will not open a gym or restaurant – like ideas of the past for resurrecting the property. Instead, they have another idea. They will reopen the theater after some renovations to return it to what it was for so many years, a theater, giving it some modern amenities such as comfortable, roomy seating and a top-quality ventilation system, while keeping with some vintage touches, from lighting to signage. The theater sat vacant for about six years, while there were changes in ownership. Brett DeNafo and his two partners, Clint Bunting and Scot Kaufman purchased the landmark theater on Wednesday from Sam Balducci, who heads Charlie Edgewater Park LLC, for $1.25 million, according to DeNafo in an interview Thursday. “We will try to get Moorlyn open in the summer,” DeNafo said. “The Moorlyn would just be movies. No restaurant. It would just be a good old-fashioned movie theater, giving people something fun to do on a rainy day.”

Sometimes you win. And sometimes you win big. For Ocean City resident Cris Pannullo, his reign on “Jeopardy!” continued Thursday night when he cruised to another major victory. Pannullo, a customer success operations manager, crushed his competition with his 18th straight win. His won $27,579 Wednesday night, bringing his grand total up to $637,923.

The Ocean City High School girls basketball team and their coach, Stephanie Gaitley, brought excitement to town Sunday morning when they stopped at seven outdoor courts, showcasing their talents with layups to benefit cancer survivors and their families.

Will Kleemeier knows there is no cure for what he has, polycystic kidney disease (PKD), which can lead to renal failure. But that doesn’t stop the 58-year-old married father of three from not only achieving his dreams, but also helping others along the way. On Saturday, he triumphantly arrived in Ocean City to complete a 3,500-mile, cross-country cycling journey that began in June, all to raise money and spread awareness about PKD in a fundraiser called Pedaling for Kidney Disease.

Carolers dressed in Victorian-era inspired clothing and sang favorite holiday classics Friday as horses clip-clopped along Asbury Avenue in Ocean City with passengers who waved while aboard carriages. Shoppers strolled out of shops with bags filled with gifts. Singer Keith Hickman serenaded the crowds from the lawn at City Hall and Santa spent some time in Mark Soifer Park to the delight of children who lined up to give the big guy their long wish lists. This is how Ocean City does its Black Friday each year that it better known as, “Our Miracle on Asbury Avenue.”