By LESLEY GRAHAM
Ocean City has always been known for its sense of community – coming together in times of need to help friends, neighbors and strangers alike. That desire to spread joy and happiness comes in many forms and for some in town, it’s all about the rocks.
One late weekend in April, Charlene and Bruce Twiggs were out biking through their neighborhood when they came upon the rock barrier at “the gate.” The gate, as it is affectionately known to the families of 32nd Street, is a dead end barrier that prevents vehicle traffic on Haven Avenue and 32nd Street.
Charlene, who is spending her first year of retirement after 34 years of teaching, had a sudden spark of creativity when she spotted the rocks.
“I had seen other painted rocks in and around town with inspiring messages and thought it would be nice to take part in sharing a little joy as well,” she said. “Once a teacher, always a teacher, so I wanted to be able to use my creativity to beautify and inspire our sense of community.”
Bruce did the heavy lifting – grabbing some of the rocks from the gate to bring back to their house for a social distancing paint party – a few neighbors getting together for an afternoon in the backyard to be creative, paint and spread some happiness during these trying times caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Once dried and clear-coated, the rocks were returned to the gate so that all those who take the path, whether by foot or bike, could enjoy the messages and pictures on their way to or from the beach.
“A week or so later we were once again biking and we stopped by the gate to see the rocks and we were so happy to see new rocks added to the garden,” Charlene said.
It has become a little community art project in a way, said Bruce, a retired Ocean City police officer with 26 years of service on the force.
“It started as something to do to pass the time and it turned into an art therapy of sorts,” he noted. “It’s a way to bring out creativity and spread positivity without spending money. We just used some old paints we had laying around and got to work.”
Charlene and Bruce hope that as the summer progresses, neighbors and visitors alike will stop and see the painted rocks and smile, and find inspiration to add their own piece of happiness – one rock at a time.
