OCEAN CITY — No flashlight was needed to help Martin Z. Mollusk see his shadow for the 53rd straight time May 1, signaling summer will arrive a week early in America’s Greatest Family Resort.
While it was only in the high 50s with a stiff breeze, the sun was shining its friendly smile on the annual gathering on the beach as part of the resort’s kickoff to the summer season.
The city’s hermit-crab mascot has successfully predicted an early summer every year for five decades (sometimes with the creative use of flashlights by his handlers).
Michael Allegretto, who emcees many of the more than 100 events the city and its business groups host every year, said Martin Z. Mollusk represents everything that’s great about Ocean City.
“He and his wife, Molly, come here every summer to hang out with us,” Allegretto said. “We certainly welcome his arrival back from his winter home to see if he sees his shadow so we can bring summer nice and early to Ocean City.”
Allegretto said the city is now transitioning from spring events and starting to focus on summer shindigs.
“So Martin Z. Mollusk Day really kind of kicks that off. We start really focusing on summer and welcoming our visitors back to town,” he said. “We want to make sure everybody remembers to come to Ocean City and have a great time.”
The event included more than a pinch of pomp and circumstance. Pageant queens Miss Ocean City Antonella DiAntonio and Junior Miss Ocean Arianna DiAntonio escorted Martin and Molly onto the beach, where a crowd was waiting in anticipation.
The DiAntonio sisters, along with Little Miss Ocean City Harper Juelg, host many of the events held throughout the spring, summer and fall as part of their duties as ambassadors for the city.
“I’m extremely excited and look forward to summer, especially since we have a lot of fun events coming up like Wacky Wednesdays, Night in Venice, and just so many fun things,” Antonella said. “The weather’s getting great, and I just can’t wait to be all together and see everyone.”
The celebrity crustacean got a full checkup from EMT Chris Medolla of the Ocean City Fire Department, which included screenings for heart rate, blood pressure and shell density. Little Brynn Flatley, 6, provided the crab.
The Cape Shore Chorus of Sweet Adelines International sang the national anthem and the Martin Z. Mollusk song, and the string band Novelties strummed out their tunes.
Meteorologist “Nor’easter Nick” Pittman was once again a special guest.
“It’s always sunny in Ocean City. They say it’s Philly, but it’s really here,” Pittman said prior to the event. “I think he’s probably going to predict an early arrival of summer.”
He said the late morning weather was right around 60 degrees with a light breeze.
“It feels wonderful out here. The sun is beating down, so I think it feels like it’s a little bit warmer than it is.”
Pittman provided a little background on the honorary couple
“So these two love crabs met back at school in 1973. They were married two years later right here in Ocean City on the 10th Street beach. So Ocean City is very, very important to them,” he said. “They were married in August, the peak of summer tourism season … and have been married for 51 years.
“I asked Molly what the secret is, and she said that they don’t have a ‘shellow’ relationship. It’s rooted in substance,” Pittman said to groans from the crowd.
He didn’t stop there.
“You know, they spend half of their year here in Ocean City, the other half where Molly grew up in Louisiana, Tepid Swamp. I guess you could say that they’re snow crabs,” he quipped.
In all seriousness, he said, “this is a wonderful tradition that Ocean City does, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
Buffalo, N.Y., residents Grace Guadagno and Alyssa Kariman were in town with friend Kaylee O’Dell from Levittown, Pa., for a wedding and stopped by to check out the event.
“I think it’s pretty great; it’s so fun,” O’Dell said, noting she visits the city often in the summer.
The Martin Z. Mollusk Day tradition in Ocean City dates back to 1974, when late Ocean City Public Relations Director Mark Soifer created the early-season promotion by declaring that if Martin sees his shadow, summer will come a week early to Ocean City.
– STORY by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
– PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
