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Things are happening at a frenetic pace in the world of Aro Rose, the artist formerly known as Amanda O’Connor. If you haven’t yet heard of Aro Rose, it probably won’t be long before you do. The 22-year-old singer-actor, songwriter, public advocate and a 2017 graduate of Ocean City High School, will release her debut single, “Damaged,” on Sunday, Aug. 29. Her music is a tribute to her late mother, Diana J. Vega O'Connor, who was killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Does passion drive Michael Bray’s business, Passion Vines Wine and Spirit Company? “I think it does,” Bray said. “We have a passion for our products, a passion for our customers, and a passion for our community."

Volunteer umpires are a key component of youth baseball. The Ocean City Youth Athletic Association is currently in need of volunteers, age 14 and up, to officiate games in the Little League program’s 7 to 12 age group.

Positivity, perseverance and courage are elusive in today’s world. It’s hard enough for adults to face down their fears and be brave. Sometimes it’s more daunting for parents to teach their kids how to understand, learn and acquire these special qualities.  A new book by Deirdre Palm Adams, “The Adventures of Rocky: Don’t Be Afraid Rocky” (Page Publishing), makes the topic easier to broach with young children, and does so in an endearing and relatable fashion.  It tells the story of the author’s real-life dog, a poodle who doesn’t like being alone, and how Rocky dealt with the trauma of being lost on an Ocean City beach. 

Like most young ballplayers, Chase Petty dreamed of making it to the big leagues. Unlike most, Petty, a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher from Somers Point and Mainland High School, came very close to achieving the dream last weekend. The Minnesota Twins took Petty with the 26th pick in the first round of the MLB draft on Sunday and hosted him and his family for a whirlwind weekend at the draft and All-Star Game at Coors Field in Denver.

Rings, jackets and trophies. Proclamations, certificates and laudatory speeches. These are a few of the spoils of victory for the Ocean City High School state champion baseball team. Mayor Jay Gillian, members of City Council and other county and state officials honored the squad Wednesday evening in a ceremony at their home ballpark, Grimes Field.

What brings more than 100 folks to the alley behind 3rd Street on 18 consecutive Independence Days? The answer isn’t the holiday per se. It’s the Wiffle ball game that takes place in the evening prior to the fireworks and other July 4th fun. It’s kind of a Wiffle “ball” – a big party centered around that age old adaptation of baseball using a plastic ball and bat. The John Walton Wiffle Ball classic includes other activities played by families and friends, but the main attraction is getting together, laughing and enjoying the company of friends and family.

“They saw us coming!” Joe Schneider said of the fifth annual Tour de Donut. “We may have to diversify our awards with different categories now. It might not be fair to simply rate the donuts as we’ve done in the past.” The Tour, brainchild of Gardens resident Carl Wanek, is a 10-mile group bicycle ride from Wanek’s home to each and every mom-and-pop donut shop in Ocean City. It begins at Dot’s Pastry Shop at 3148 Asbury Avenue and zig-zags north to Brown’s Restaurant. This year’s version attracted about a dozen riders and sampled the wares of 11 donut shops and restaurants offering fresh donuts. A list of the winners follows.

Life hasn’t always been smooth for South Jersey’s smoothie king. But with research, consultation with friends who worked in the food service industry and lots of hard work, Joe Wallash has grown a small, one-person operated stand in the corner of a coffee shop into arguably the area’s top acai bowls and smoothie operation, Playa Bowls. Wallash, 44, took his original operation, which he called “Smoothie Shack,” and grew it to seven thriving Playa Bowl locations with an eighth soon to come. Two locations are in Ocean City.

The truism says “you only get one mom.” In Ocean City, one might add “so you better get more than one present.” That’s how it seemed on Friday as the town was abuzz with Mother’s Day shoppers and folks enjoying family time in anticipation of Sunday’s holiday.