By MADDY VITALE
The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Welcome Night Wednesday at the Sports & Civic Center.
The event is a longtime tradition that brings the businesses, groups and organizations, community leaders and city officials together with the community. The night opened with a ribbon cutting to celebrate the recently remodeled civic center, located at Sixth Street and the Boardwalk.
Mayor Jay Gillian, City Council members, other city officials and children joined for the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon.
“On behalf of the city, the Chamber and the community, the Ocean City Sports & Civic Center is back for everyone to use,” Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michele Gillian said shortly after the ceremony.
She continued, “The civic center is a great place for people to enjoy and seeing the children so happy is what it is all about. The city is having a nice night.”
Welcome Night attendees flowed into the Civic Center to peruse tables, pick up literature from organizations and chat with friends and make new ones.
People walked around with bags filled with information about the businesses.
The mayor remarked about what an important event it is each year.
“This is what the community is all about. The Chamber and the business community come together once a year for this and it gets everyone out,” he said. “It is a big tradition.”
Donna Frank, of Ocean City, looked around and said she was impressed by all of the businesses that were part of Welcome Night.
“When I saw it was tonight, I figured I would check it out,” Frank said, as she took literature from the Ocean City Education Foundation (OCEF) table.
OCEF President Jennifer Shirk handed information out to Frank and other attendees and said, “What a great turnout. It is wonderful to meet so many new community members and see old friends.”
Ocean City police officers and Ocean City firefighters spoke to residents. Officers gave out “police badges.”
Shore Medical Center and AtlantiCare had tables with representatives on hand to answer questions. There were restaurant and inn owners, and a host of other organizations represented at the event.
Marcia McCulley and her husband, Mark, both of AtlantiCare, had bags displayed on their table filled with information from lists of doctors to the importance of various health screenings.
Susan Pinto, of Ocean City, took a bag. “I need a new doctor,” she said.
City Councilman Terry Crowley looked around the room bustling with activity and said, “This is another great example of how the city comes together and puts events on with the community.”
