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The chill in the air is a sign. It is time to book a vacation rental. Long & Foster in Ocean City is urging renters to select their favorite spots now, before others make your perfect getaway their perfect getaway. Whether the desire is to sip cool drinks while lounging on the beaches in Ocean City or go hiking in the mountains of West Virginia, there are rentals available through Long & Foster. “People who wait until February, March or April are going to be on the outside looking in,” said Kevin Redmond, managing broker of Long & Foster’s Ninth Street office. “I would encourage people, especially now, to book earlier and earlier.”

Rob Malfitano wants other children to get the chance to experience all of the wonderful things he has in life. The Ocean City High School freshman skateboards, surfs, juggles and is a Life Scout working to become an Eagle Scout. None of it would have been possible had it not been for Smile Train, a nonprofit organization and charity that provides corrective surgery for children with cleft lips and palates. Rob, 14, was born with a cleft palate. A cleft palate, which is an opening in the roof of the mouth and the lip that can cause difficulty eating and speaking. “I have had over 21 surgeries,” Rob said in an interview Monday. “Smile Train has changed the course of my life because of the surgeries. It was so hard to eat, let alone speak and breathe. Now I skateboard. I juggle. I am working on becoming an Eagle Scout.” So, to give back to a cause that helped make his life what it is today, Rob and his family are hosting a Pinball Tournament on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Jilly’s Arcade on the Boardwalk to benefit Smile Train...

Registration is open for a new Holiday House Decorating Contest in Ocean City. The contest encourages everybody to get in the spirit of the holiday in a safe and fun way. Judges will award prizes for homes in each of the city’s four wards and for businesses. Deadline for registration is 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14. A list of participants will be posted, so everybody can see the decorated homes...

The Ocean City Music Pier stage will light up with the sights and sounds of the season as the Ocean City Theatre Company gives four performances of “Swingin’ Into the Holidays: Ocean City’s Holiday Spectacular” this weekend. Tickets are on sale now for the annual holiday show. The cast of professional singers and dancers will present a family–oriented, song-and-dance tribute to the holidays, directed and choreographed by Elizabeth Worley and Michael Hartman. Through dazzling costumes, familiar songs, special guests, toe-tapping numbers and special effects, this extravaganza will kindle the holiday spirit. Performances will be...

Christmas trees are popping up all over Ocean City's beaches for the holiday. They feature different themes, including one dedicated to the bravery of first responders and another that honors members of the military.

There was snow in Ocean City on Friday night, well, from an ice machine on a float, as the city celebrated the holiday with its annual Christmas Parade. Asbury Avenue, decked out in old-fashioned decorations, appeared to be more like a holiday movie set as families enjoyed the festive atmosphere. This wasn’t just any old parade. The number of parade goers rivaled a crowd on a bustling summer weekend.

An acre of land may not seem like much if it is out in the country. But an acre of property in Ocean City means many possibilities for the owner, especially when it is a prime piece of real estate adjacent to the Boardwalk. The property, at 821 E. Eighth Street and the rear section of 748 Boardwalk, which operated as a 140-space parking lot, was sold in November by Central Boardwalk Parking LLC of Farmington, Conn., to an investment group, Plymouth Holdings LLC, for $4.25 million.

Sometimes in life, preservationists who have an interest in saving historic sites really do win. That is exactly what happened when a group of concerned Ocean City residents, many of whom live in the Historic District, spoke out about the condition of the nearly 130-year-old home that was up for sale and pushed for its repairs. And more than a year later, after months of uncertainty about the fate of the home at 615 Wesley Ave., a family has purchased it.

At just 24, Ocean City resident Jake Brown is a budding entrepreneur. His clothing line, WoodLuck, offers an array of items for the outdoorsy type. And the clothes are selling fast. The young talent is not only keeping up with the growing business, but expanding his company, while still offering specials to his repeat and new customers. From now through Saturday, Dec. 4, Brown is offering 20 percent off of WoodLuck inventory, plus free shipping. Details follow on how to get the discounts.

Each year the Ocean City Board of Realtors holds a clothing drive to help those in need over the winter. Realtors, local organizations, business owners and residents join to generously give gently used and new items from warm coats, hats, scarves and gloves to blankets, sweaters and other cold weather items.