By MADDY VITALE
Call him a crusty crustacean. Call him, well, a mollusk. But if you like sunny days, summer and the favorite season a bit early, you may want to call Martin Z. Mollusk a friend.
For the 48th consecutive year, Ocean City’s hermit crab mascot saw his shadow Saturday on none other than Martin Z. Mollusk Day.
So, Ocean City visitors and residents, that means summer is coming a week early.
The news came during a zany event that showcases the goofy and fun side of the resort, when crowds gathered in a socially distanced way to watch as a diminutive creature made his way along a beach towel.
Each year the hermit crab predicts the early arrival of the all-important summer season. And while Saturday lacked much sunshine, there was just enough for the crab to make his rightful prediction and keep his flawless record intact.
The ceremony was emceed by Ocean City Theatre Company alumnus Angie Cocuzza. Others who joined in the celebration included Little Miss Ocean City Antonella DiAntonio, Junior Miss Ocean City Natalie Argento, Miss Ocean City Mary Grace Jamison and Mr. Mature America Jack Merritt.
Martin Z. and his wife, Mollie Mollusk, the city’s mascots, made their grand entrance down to the Ninth Street beach to the applause of the crowd.
Spectators watched as Cocuzza announced the winners of the Martin Z. Mollusk Coloring Contest. Each lucky winner received a gift bag filled with goodies from Ocean City merchants.
The winners were as follows:
Natalie Gifford, 4, Ocean City
Alexis Martinez, 7, Ocean City
Addison Bechtold, 8, Ocean City
After the program, one of the winners beamed with happiness and couldn’t wait to tell of her feelings about her accomplishment.
“It was exciting,” Natalie Gifford exclaimed.
Natalie Gifford’s parents, Erin and Ron Gifford, and her 6-year-old sister, Lillian, were there to cheer Natalie on during the special event.
Natalie’s winning artwork was of Martin Z. and Mollie Mollusk.
While it was a fun time for attendees, Erin Gifford said it was particularly special this year. Last year, the event was virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s great to be out in the fresh air. It makes me so happy that we can do things like this again,” Erin Gifford noted after the event. “Just seeing Natalie up there for the coloring contest brought a tear to my eye. It just brought back a little bit of normalcy.”
Shortly after the 11 a.m. event for Martin Z., spectators had another, but very different, thing to see.
Cars rumbled down the Boardwalk for the Modern Muscle Car Invasion. Cars from Corvettes to Mustangs and other high-performance American cars gave car buffs an eyeful.
Hundreds of vehicles were on display from Fifth Street to 14th Street until 5 p.m. Saturday.
Spectators snapped cellphone photos and shot video of the cars as they rolled down the boards.
