THE WILDWOODS — This Mother’s Day it’s tea for two … or three or more at Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Waterparks, located on the Wildwood’s boardwalk, where moms are invited to celebrate their special day with an unforgettable tea party for the whole family at the beloved Tea Cups ride.

Moms visiting the classic shore side destination on Sunday, May 12, will also ride free from 11am-5pm on Mariner’s Landing and Surfside Pier at Morey’s. With more than 100 rides and attractions to choose from, the entire family can ride on one of the largest Ferris wheels on the east coast, loop upside down on the Great Nor’easter coaster, splash down one of the steepest log flumes, and much more.

From noon-2pm, families can grab a seat in an oversized English tea cup and enjoy complimentary afternoon tea with an assortment of cookies, biscotti’s, and biscuits at the Tea Cups attraction, featuring new awnings that provide guests additional shade.

Kids will have the opportunity to decorate personalized sugar cookies for mom at the cookie decorating station at the Parents Pavilion on Mariner’s Landing Pier. Also available at the Parents Pavilion is a special photo area complete with signs and props for mom and the entire family to take pictures.

THE WILDWOODS, N.J. — Local artist David Macomber completed an eight-foot by 20-foot mural (pictured right) at Morey’s Piers to benefit Hurricane Sandy relief efforts at the Jersey shore.

Macomber wanted to create something that would raise awareness as well as funds to benefit those affected by the super storm.

The mural started off as a sketch (pictured left). The first layer in the mural consisted of pictures Macomber has taken over the years of different Jersey resorts, and on top of those pictures Macomber wrote the inspiring words that Bruce Springsteen delivered at his 2008 Hall of Fame Induction:

“Rise up my fellow New Jerseyans, for we are all members of a confused but noble race. We, of the state that will never get any respect. We, who bear the coolness of the forever uncool, the chip on our shoulders of those with forever something to prove. And even with this wonderful Hall of Fame, we know that there’s another bad Jersey joke coming just around the corner.”

Macomber (right, with the work in progress) then painted over the pictures and words, a splash of colors to represent the bright and vivid Jersey Shore. He painted the words “Strength and Unity” over top to symbolize the pride all New Jerseyans have.

“The ideas of strength and unity are important to me and they are what I want to express in this piece,” said Macomber. “In these trying times, we need to come together to help the larger community. The shore is what drives our economy so in reality it affects us all.

“Although Wildwood wasn’t hit as hard as other places, Morey’s Piers seemed like the most fitting and inspiring venue for this project,” he added. “I wanted to work with the ocean as a backdrop and the feeling of winter at the shore can be haunting. This painting is the light of hope in the midst of a darker environment.”

The completed mural will be separated into about 30 segments and will be auctioned to raise money for New Jersey shore towns that were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Proceeds will be donated to Wavesforwater.org.

The Wildwood Convention Center will soon have an array of 1,694 energy-saving solar panels.

THE WILDWOODS, N.J. — The Wildwoods, one of the most popular tourist destinations in southern New Jersey, has taken a step toward environmental responsibility by installing solar panels on the roof of the Wildwood Convention Center, the unveiling of which is scheduled for Tuesday, July 24, at 11am.

As a renewable energy source, these solar panels (1,694 in total) will “reduce the convention center’s carbon footprint by 179 tons annually,” benefiting the environment as well as tourists and patrons alike. This project was successfully completed thanks to the Greater Wildwood Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA) along with state officials and representatives from the energy companies that assisted and financed the project (including Tioga Energy, Pro-Tech Energy Solutions and Energy Finance Company).

The solar panels will help decrease the amount of pollution released into the atmosphere and reduce the overall cost required to run the Convention Center, resulting in a more environmentally friendly venue adding to the progressive culture of the Wildwoods. The Wildwoods host a multitude of special events annually and is an award-winning tourist location known for its beaches, events, boardwalk attractions, and resorts.

The GWTIDA, which funds such events and tourism attractions, also operates the Wildwood Convention Center and this switch in energy source is a practical and progressive change for the Wildwood community and tourists, creating a greener atmosphere for all. The unveiling will take place in the Wildwood Convention Center’s main lobby and rooftop guided tours will be available for media. For more information call 800-992-9732 or go here. — Lindsey Appleton

THE WILDWOODS, NJ — The Wildwoods hosted their inaugural St. Patrick’s Day  Block Party last Saturday, March 17, and also received a well-earned title — a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest meat-and-potato pie.

A Guinness official was on hand downtown Wildwood where the block party took place. The 1,805-pound dish that was created in several of the Wildwoods’ restaurants and then assembled to make one large pie. The record was certified upon determining that the pie was indeed edible.

The event raised funds for a local nonprofit group to help stage after-prom events at Wildwood High School. Those interested in helping to devour the giant pie were asked for a $1 donation and received a spoon and fork in return. More than $1,500 was raised from this and the day’s other events for the group’s cause.

Downtown bar and restaurant owners, the event’s organizers, initially sought to set the record for the largest shepherd’s pie, but because the pie was made with beef instead of lamb, they gladly accepted the award for the largest meat and potato pie instead.

Miss North Wildwood 2008 Delia Marie Cannon, right, crowns her successor, Deneen Marie Piotrowski (Photo: George Capua)

The Lou Booth Amphitheater in North Wildwood (where free concerts are held throughout the summer) hosted the Miss North Wildwood 2009 competition last Thursday, July 16.

The city’s council president — and 2009 Top 40 Under 40 honoree — Patrick Rosenello hosted the event and Delia Marie Cannon, Miss North Wildwood 2008, addressed the crowd before crowning her successor Deneen Marie Piotrowski. Ashley Nicole Russo was first runner-up and Victoria Miniscalco was second runner-up.

Second runner-up, Victoria Miniscalco, 17, daughter of Genie Miniscalco, is a student at North Penn High School in Lansdale, PA. Victoria spends summers in North Wildwood.

First runner-up, Ashley Nicole Russo, 17, attends Wildwood Catholic High School and lives in North Wildwood.

According to a press release, Deneen Marie Piotrowski is 18, and is from North Wildwood. She is a graduate of St. Ann’s Regional School and Cape May County Tech School where she majored in Biology/Physical Therapy. Deneen was inducted into the National Honors Society during her junior year and served as vice-president in senior year.

Deneen will receive $500 and will take part in many Wildwoods parades and events throughout the year.

Sunny Anderson (left) is one of the newest additions to the Food Network’s popular “In the Kitchen” series with her show Cooking for Real. This weekend she will be featured in a special segment on the Food Network called “Sunny’s Summer Eats” that was filmed on the Wildwoods Boardwalk last September.
The show will run Saturday, July 11, at 9pm; Sunday, July 12, at midnight; and next Friday, July 17, at 10pm.
In the special, Sunny spends the summer eating and laughing her way through many of America’s greatest amusement parks, festivals, fairs and boardwalks — among them the Wildwoods. Sunny and her crew shot footage during the Wildwoods Irish Fall Festival, the Boardwalk Classic Car Show and Auction, several of the Wildwoods’ food establishments like Sam’s Pizza, Laura’s Fudge, Mac’s Pizza, Jumbo’s, Maui’s Dog House, and Curly’s. Her series promotes “real food for real life.”