Martin Z. Mollusk sees his shadow and predicts the arrival of summer a week early in Ocean City, NJ.
On a cold, foggy, wet and windy day in Ocean City, the odds seemed to be lined up against Martin Z. Mollusk in his attempt to see his shadow for the 40th consecutive year on the day that bears his name.
But Martin's handlers made no pretense of leaving the arrival of an early summer to something so fickle as spring weather in Ocean City.
They brought Martin inside, under the bright overhead lights of the Ocean City Music Pier. The city's hermit-crab mascot, of course, saw his shadow, and thus he assures that summer will come a week early to America's Greatest Family Resort.
Martin Z. Mollusk Day celebrated its 40th anniversary in Ocean City on Thursday. The May 1 event is Ocean City's version of Groundhog Day.
Old Salt and Sting Ray gift shops co-owner Holly Buck delivers the namesake of Martin Z. Mollusk Day.
The unapologetically goofy event features the Ocean City High School band playing "Pomp and Circumstance" to lead a procession featuring Martin Z. Mollusk (provided courtesy of Old Salt gift shop owner Holly Buck), Shelley the Mermaid (Suzanne Muldowney, who was honored for providing 21 years of her inimitable interpretive dance at Ocean City events), Big Mama Llama of Bready Farms, the Ocean City Fish (fifth-graders Julia Wilson, Sydney Rossiter and Hannah McDowell) and a cast of other characters.
But the marquee portion of the event, of course, includes the search for Martin's shadow. Electric lanterns served as backup for the overhead lights, so there really wasn't much doubt.
In the end, it was all good. And for all who suffered through an exceptionally snowy winter and cold spring, summer truly can't come soon enough.
Old Salt and Sting Ray gift shops co-owner Holly Buck delivers the namesake of Martin Z. Mollusk Day.
The unapologetically goofy event features the Ocean City High School band playing "Pomp and Circumstance" to lead a procession featuring Martin Z. Mollusk (provided courtesy of Old Salt gift shop owner Holly Buck), Shelley the Mermaid (Suzanne Muldowney, who was honored for providing 21 years of her inimitable interpretive dance at Ocean City events), Big Mama Llama of Bready Farms, the Ocean City Fish (fifth-graders Julia Wilson, Sydney Rossiter and Hannah McDowell) and a cast of other characters.
But the marquee portion of the event, of course, includes the search for Martin's shadow. Electric lanterns served as backup for the overhead lights, so there really wasn't much doubt.
In the end, it was all good. And for all who suffered through an exceptionally snowy winter and cold spring, summer truly can't come soon enough.
