What's billed as the "world's first exhibition of maple pod fish" will be on display at Ocean City's Quiet Festival on Saturday at the Ocean City Community Center (17th Street and Simpson Avenue). The exhibit is the product of Ocean City Public Relations Director Mark Soifer's imagination ... and of a maple tree in his yard.
Ocean City's tribute to all things soothing, serene and silent — the annual Quiet Festival — takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on an appropriately quiet weekend in November.
FRIDAY, NOV. 14
Opening ceremonies are set for noon on Friday, Nov. 14 at the park across from City Hall (Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue).
The program includes a performance by the Ocean City High School’s American Sign Language Club directed by Amy Anderson, a Yawn-Along to the Tune of "Beautiful Dreamer" with Nancy Fox, a Maple Pod Toss, the reciting of the Quiet Festival Lament, a performance by the world’s only wind chimes band, the flying of paper airplanes by Ken Thorpe, a display of giant bubbles by Doug Jewell, a leaf squeeze, pin drop and the world’s first exhibition of Maple Pod Fish.
Also on November 14, there will be an open mic poetry reading at the Ocean City Library, 17
th and Simpson at 7 p.m. in meeting room 116. All are invited to read their work, listen or both.
SATURDAY, NOV. 15
There will be a many quiet events at the Community Center Complex, 17th and Simpson Ave. from 10 a.m. till noon. A Quiet Pet Contest will include Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, White Mice, etc. and this year even a chicken. Also quiet stuffed animals like Teddy Bears. Veterinarian Lee Rubin of Margate will be head judge of the contest. He is a great feature story in himself having treated tigers and other wild animals for Cole Brother’s Circus, raised an orangutan, performed surgery on Philadelphia Police Dogs and saved wild birds in Florida by removing hooks from their wings.
Also during Saturday’s program, there will be a performance by the Turtle Singers with their prize winning tortoise, Big Bart, the Snore at the Shore, a competition to honor quiet snorers, the making and flying of paper airplanes, a Yo Yo Demonstration by Doug Jewell, the Potomac Bead Company will help visitors make a bracelet or necklace to take home as a souvenir for free, Jerry Lukas will draw personalized cartoons of visitor’s favorite animal and the display of Maple Pod Fish will again be featured with free photos of the exhibit for all.
SUNDAY, NOV. 16
On Sun., Nov. 16, you’re on your own: take a reflective walk, inspect the clouds, horizon and trees, stroll the boardwalk, watch the football game with the sound turned off, fly a kite, sniff the fresh air, give your dog a tummy rub.
