dining & entertainment

Block Party Celebrates Spring

OCEAN CITY - This resort's fifth annual spring festival will spread five blocks through the downtown area from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Over 70 crafts people will be featured along with an ethnic foods festival and an antique auto show. Local merchants will hold a sidewalk sale and there will be a new car show and art exhibit. Sponsored by the city and the Retail Merchants Association, the party will extend from 6th Street to 11th Street on Asbury Avenue. There will be free pony rides for children and a variety of amusements including a ferris wheel,

is air bag jump and "ring the bell" game "Silk and Steel", a country and rock band, will perform at the corner of 10th and Asbury Avenue 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. sponsored by WSLT-WIBG Radio. South Jersey School of Baton and Dance will present a show at 8th and Asbury Avenue to 3 p.m. Local organizations will participate, including the Ocean City Human Society and Siberian Husky Club of the Jersey Shore. The Coast Guard Auxiliary and Ocean City Arts Center will be among the groups with informational booths, A Greek foods festival offering gyros, shish ke-bob and pastries will be located at the corner of 9th and Asbury Avenue. Soft pretzels, hotdogs and funnel cakes will abound.

OCEAN CITY'S spring block party normally attracts thousands to the city and this year visitors will be greeted by Martin Z. Mollusk, the city's hermit crab mascot, who will appear in life-size costume. The furry crab has become mascot, who will appear in life-size costume. The furry crab has become a favorite among children and parents alike and will distribute autographed photos. RICH the Robot from Resorts International Hotel and Casino will make an appearance at 1 p.m. Among other features will be a giant TV satellite display, free trolley rides through the area, cake sales, an art show, fortune tellers, juggler, a face painter and street musicians. Stores will be decorated with colorful balloons. Admissions to the block party is free.

Egg Hunt Draws 130 DENNISVILLE - Over 130 children ages 2-10, participated in an egg hunt at the Elementary School in Dennisville March 30. The newly formed Dennis Township Recreation Committee sponsored the hunt for over 1,100 eggs. Prizes were awarded to the winners. In the preschool-kindergarten group, the winners were Billy Penman, Tony Wetterau and Danna Haberle. The first and second grade winners were Allison Sudol, Robert Domerrau and Tina Schlenger. Third and fourth grade winners were Jason MacFarland, Doug Heim and Clayton Himstedt. Candy was distributed to all the children who participated. Also, it was donated to The Lutheran Nursing Home in Ocean View. The recreation committee expressed special thanks to Nancy Andrews, Darlene Brennen and Judy Lyons for their work on the event.

Bring Bonnets The Cape May Senior Citizen's Club meets 5 p.m. in Victorian Towers, There will be a spring bonnet celebration, Various prizes will be awarded. Appearing At Cape CAPE MAY - A Hammonton native who has received rave reviews for her performances in Atlantic City casino hotels heads up a trio booked into a local hotel this weekend. The Melanie Rice Trio will be appearing at the Gold Whale Lounge at the Marquis de LaFayette Hotel Friday's and Saturday. The trio's lead and namesake, Melanie Rice, is one of Atlantic City's rising young talents and has opened shows for Shecky Green, Susan Anton, Smokey Robinson, Rick Nelson and Bobby Vinton.

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