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By his own admission, Brian Stempin was never much of an athlete. “In high school I was more interested in the chess team and building robots,” the 33-year-old Ocean City resident said. Thus, Stempin found it amusing when friends saw his brand new USA gear and asked if he was going to be in the Olympics. Not yet, as canopy formation skydiving is not an Olympic sport for 2022 in Tokyo. The uniform represents Stempin’s selection to the elite aerial athletes of the United States Parachute team. He and his teammates will compete against the best in the word Aug. 17-20 at the World Cup of Canopy Formation Skydiving to take place in Romania.

When Dennis Noble passed away recently, Zack Barr lost more than his assistant. “Because of the man Dennis was, a friendship blossomed,” said Barr, 35, of Ocean City, who has cerebral palsy. The 56-year-old Noble was killed in a motorcycle accident in late April when his Harley-Davidson veered off Route 9 in Upper Township and struck a utility pole. Since then, a huge void has existed in Zack’s life. Now, Zack is looking for a new assistant.

St. Peter's United Methodist Church stepped in to lend its kitchen to one of Ocean City's day camps for kids. Titled “Food Science in Ocean City: the Science of Making and Baking Desserts,” the camp lets kids have fun while learning the intricacies of baking. St. Peter's allowed the camp to use its kitchen for an entire week. “St. Pete’s was incredible,” said Jennifer Phander, an Ocean City resident, retired teacher in the Middle Township district, and one of the camp counselors. “They didn’t just open their doors and let us use their kitchen, they were there for us.”

Katherine Jenkins is a classical music icon, and someone who is very accomplished performing many other different types of music. That attribute gives Jenkins much in common with the versatile Ocean City Pops Orchestra. It also makes fans wonder if they can expect pretty much anything when the Welsh-born mezzo soprano crossover star and the Pops team up Aug. 11 at the Ocean City Music Pier. “I hope so,” Jenkins said with a giggle during a phone interview on Thursday. “The aim is to have a nice evening of great music. We will touch on opera and classical, pop, Broadway and more.”

An Ocean City author and a former U.S. Marshal, Cape May County Sheriff and longtime law enforcement professional, have teamed up to tell an entertaining and informative story – and to aid a very good cause. “Jersey Lawman: Life on the Right Side of Crime” is an engaging and entertaining new memoir of James Plousis. Like any good nonfiction book, it engages and entertains the reader with “truth is more amazing than fiction” moments.

Vacationers and local residents no longer have to go to their computer or travel offshore to get their Cruise Control Gear on. The high performance active wear for men and women is a favorite of great athletes, such as the Ocean City Nor’easters soccer team, and “weekend warriors” alike. It was previously available at a number of exclusive non-local shops and online. On Monday, Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian, local business and civic leaders and a gathering of customers and passersby were on hand to watch Cruise Control founder Candice Kolins and her sister and business partner Kristen Vogelbacher perform the ribbon-cutting duties on the brand’s new retail outlet in town.

“I’m not a big 7-on-7 guy,” Haddonfield High School football coach Frank DeLano said. But there DeLano was, barking instructions to his defending South Jersey Group II champions, in the Youth Gridiron Academy’s 7-on-7 Challenge Friday afternoon at Carey Stadium. Ocean City High School was part of the action that drew six South Jersey football powerhouses to Carey.

Wiffle balls and Frisbees -- Ocean City's normal summer projectiles -- will have some competition on Friday night. Footballs will be flying through the airspace above Carey Stadium at Ocean City High School for a unique pre-season scholastic grid event. The host Red Raiders, coming off two straight appearances in the state football playoffs, will welcome five other powerhouse programs for the Youth Gridiron Academy-sponsored "7-on-7" event, free and open to the public from 4 to 7 p.m. The contest will pit the teams' offenses in passing drills against the opposing school's defenses. Anyone who spectates at a football practice or training camp will tell you the 7-on-7 drills are among the most entertaining things to watch.

Call it “porch pride.” All over Ocean City, you will find thousands of homeowners making their own statements, silently but eloquently, with their elaborate porch decorations. There are religious and sports shrines, displays of decorative flags, and of course finely manicured gardens and lawns. “What Happens on the Porch Stays on the Porch,” declares a porch sign at the Third Street home owned by Barbara and Vincent Rosica. “This is where we sit, this is where we talk, where we laugh,” Barbara Rosica said. “It’s just a very happy place. We just love being here.”

Chubby Checker, of "The Twist" fame, showed that he's still got it at 77 years old during a high-energy performance Friday night at the Ocean City Music Pier. Checker, who will also be waving to the crowd in one of the lead vessels in the annual Night In Venice boat parade Saturday evening, put on a show one might hope to see from a rocker one-third his age.