Year in Review: Life in Ocean City in 2011
From the hurricane (that wasn't) to TV fame, catch up on the year that was in Ocean City.
What do Irene, welcome centers, cookies and Elvis have in common? Each was part of Ocean City history in 2011.
This week, we brought you the year in news for schools, sports and government news. Now it’s time to recap “the rest,” the news that doesn’t neatly fit into any category but paints a picture of the year in Ocean City life in 2011.
Remember when Hurricane Irene hit in August? No you don’t — turns out Irene was a mere tropical storm when it hit Ocean City. Regardless, Irene was by far the most-read coverage on Ocean City Patch this year. Readers posted thousands of comments to our live blog and followed the storm as it made landfall. Ocean City escaped without much damage and officials took away lessons that could help the city address hurricanes in the future. And amid all that, Irene couldn’t stop one couple’s beach wedding.
Ocean City also graced the small screen this year, in both well-received ways and not. Crazy Susan’s Cookies became the subject of the TLC reality show Tough Cookies and Martin Z. Mollusk became a TV star, while It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia used Ocean City as the backdrop for a rather raunchy episode.
Ocean City saw a bit of heroics this year after a Strathmere kayaking accident left a man near death — and thankful to the emergency personnel and friends who helped him. A separate high-speed boating accident sent several people to the hospital.
The island returned to many of its notable traditions in 2011, among them the unlocking of the ocean, the Doo Dah Parade, the Quiet Festival, lifeguard tryouts and First Day at the Beach.
Also in Ocean City this year, fans mourned the death of a beloved Elvis impersonator, the city took on laser pointers this year after a man was arrested for pointing one at a Coast Guard helicopter, Mack & Manco dropped the Mack, a new welcome center opened, Ocean City saw an increase in the town’s Hispanic population, Asbury Avenue businesses struggled to compete against the Boardwalk, the curtain didn't come down on Ocean City Repertory Theater and a World War II hero finally got his due honor.
What is the one story that defines life in Ocean City in 2011 for you? Did we leave out your favorite? Let us know in the comment section below.
