New Year’s Open House Theme Is ‘Storms Of Change’

OCEAN CITY – Start off the New Year with a visit to the Ocean City Mayor and City Council’s 13th Annual Open House, scheduled to be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on New Year’s Day at City Hall, located at 3rd Street and Baltimore Avenue.

The Mayor and City Council’s Open House has become a community tradition. Each year offers a different theme. This year’s theme is "Storms of Change," focusing on the major storms that impacted the resort town over the years and the changes they brought.

Numerous photos of the massive storm of 1933, the 1962 nor’easter and Hurricane Gloria in 1985 will be on display along with photos of the ice storm that froze the ocean. Despite the havoc, the storms brought some positive changes, including the creation of Ocean City’s sport fishing industry, which resulted from the inlet created during the storm of 1933.

Also featured will be exhibits from town departments and community organizations, including the Ocean City Development Corporation and the Ocean City Beach Patrol.

Visitors to the event can view the historic panels that line the hallways on both floors of City Hall. The large panels offer a pictorial history of the town. Last year’s Open House featured the first phase of the exhibits. Attendees at this year’s Open House will see the full display now that the second phase of the project has been completed.

“The Open House has become a wonderful tradition for our citizens and visitors to gather on New Year’s Day,” Mayor Rick Meehan said. “We invite everyone to stop by City Hall and take part in this tradition.”

The Mayor and City Council Open House always offers storytelling sessions and this year there will be three areas in City Hall for the sessions that will run throughout the event. Long-time residents and officials past and present will be recounting their experiences during these “Storms of Change.”

Story-telling sessions will include former Mayor Roland E. “Fish” Powell, former City Council Member George Hurley, Marion Cropper, J.D. and Sandy Quillin, Marion Chambers, Amanda Cropper, Clay Stamp, Leighton Moore and City Manager Dennis Dare                    

Outside the festively decorated City Hall, take an opportunity to tour Ocean City’s new mobile command center, OC-1. The Ocean City Volunteer Fire Department will have equipment on display, and also back by popular community demand will be the mounted police and canine units of the Ocean City Police Department.

Meehan and City Council members will be on hand to greet visitors to the Open House, where City Hall is beautifully decorated for the season.