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Only a few spots remain open for a nationally recognized, anti-bullying program being offered locally. The workshop offers the opportunity to participate in a revolutionary way to respond to bullying issues. A series of entertaining and informative social skills classes will take place in Ocean City beginning May 8. Details follow on how to register.

In the highly competitive worlds of ballroom dancing, theater, film and television, Emma Slater has thrived. Her will to compete will be in evidence May 11 in Ocean City, even though the show Slater will headline then, “Ballroom With a Twist” won’t have judges or a scoreboard. “Ballroom With a Twist” is a smash hit touring stage production that brings together Slater with "Dancing With the Stars" castmate Tristan McManus and dancers from “So You Think You Can Dance?” as well as vocalists from “American Idol” in a mash-up of some of the most successful network entertainment reality shows.

Tyler Onesty, 22, of Ocean City, a graduate of Ocean City High School, was a local victim of the opioid epidemic in the United States. He died of a heroin overdose in 2017. His mother has since made it her crusade to use Tyler’s story as a cautionary tale for today’s youth, and also to raise awareness of the drug crisis and its severity. One of the vehicles for doing so is launching a fundraiser based on one of Tyler’s favorite childhood activities, playing miniature golf. The benefit will take place on Sunday, May 5, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Golden Galleon Mini Golf, 1124 Boardwalk, Ocean City.

Spring has finally sprung, and with warmer temperatures come a pair of interesting events at the Ocean City Skatepark. On Sunday, May 5, the park, located at 550 Asbury Avenue, next to the Ocean City Fire Department headquarters, will play host to “Chica de Mayo,” a girls-only skating event from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Then, on Friday, May 10, a joint event called “Night Skate 2 and Bowl Jam” is expected to attract a large crowd for a twilight skate and “Jam” in the park’s large bowl, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Are you ready for some Arena League football? The ownership group of the new Atlantic City Blackjacks certainly hopes so. With the NFL Draft just wrapping up, and the Eagles still just one season removed from their first and only Super Bowl championship, it’s safe to say local pro football interest is at an all-time high. Now, in the Blackjacks, the region has its own professional football franchise aiming to be a part of the action.

With its restaurants, guest rooms, shops, spa, and a wide array of special events humming along, the Flanders Hotel, at 719 11th Street, sometimes resembles its own city. It’s especially evident this time of year. “That’s a good way of putting it,” said Director of Operations Peter Voudouris of the 95-year-old landmark. “We’re all that and more. We’re a full-service resort hotel with a 20,000-square-foot banquet hall. That’s what we are.” After a winter season of hosting holiday events, business meetings, weddings, award banquets and the like, the Flanders wasted no time hitting the warmer months running.

Kindness is a choice. It can also be the cool choice for kids. That’s the message of Barbara Gilmour, an Ocean City resident, author, speaker, and creative voice behind Cool Kind Kid, an anti-bullying strategy that aims to re-define what is cool for kids as they encounter social situations. “The reactive measures don’t work,” said Gilmour. “Let’s provide our children with fun, engaging proactive (techniques to prevent bullying).” Gilmour’s firm, CKK LLC, offers a wide range of services and products aimed at helping students understand that using kindness is a better option than bullying, or tolerating it. The Cool Kind Kid programs teach social skills as a way to be confident and cool in situations that have the potential to go south.

History lovers, bargain hunters and the curious descended on secluded Bay Road in the Gardens section over the weekend for a peek at an earlier time. A sale on the contents of the former Kirkman estate, a sprawling nearly 11,000-square-foot property situated on a half-acre bayfront lot drew hundreds of people. They walked through the 1940 vintage main house, filled with tagged household items. Complete sets of fine china and silverware, dozens of paintings, furniture, sculptures, lamps, books, and more. It was all available. A price tag even hung from the fountain in the circular cobblestone driveway.

Just two years after its Gale Force roller coaster changed the face of amusements – and the skyline – in Ocean City, Playland’s Castaway Cove had added four new rides for 2019. The historic park is not standing pat as it celebrates its 60th year in front of the Flanders Hotel at 10th Street and the Boardwalk. “Nobody adds rides like we do on a regular basis,” said vice president Brian Hartley, who oversees day-to-day operations.

Joel Feldman has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people over the last decade about the dangers of distracted driving. One of his most recent talks was different from all the rest. Feldman and wife Dianne lost their daughter Casey in July of 2009 when she was struck by a distracted driver in a crosswalk in Ocean City as Casey walked to her summer job. He told the audience that returning to Ocean City was still too painful for his wife, and that it was difficult for him as well when he was driving into town on the 9th Street Causeway.