Help Show World We're 'Stronger Than the Storm'

In a statewide show of solidarity on Friday (May 24), shore communities throughout New Jersey will participate in simultaneous ribbon-cutting ceremonies to mark the opening of the summer season.

The coordinated event is organized by Gov. Chris Christie and could be part of a world record for biggest ribbon-cutting in history.

The event will take place 8:30 a.m. on the Ocean City Boardwalk, but the city is planning a ribbon-cutting of its own a little more than an hour later. The second ceremony will take place in front of City Hall at 9:45 a.m. to mark the opening of the downtown shopping district.

The public and merchants are invited and encouraged to participate.

All the hooplah and the scissoring is intended as a symbolic show to remind people that the Jersey Shore and Ocean City have recovered from Superstorm Sandy, which made a direct hit in October 2012 and left widespread damage to much of the state's shoreline.

And if that's not enough of a reminder, Ocean City will "unlock the ocean" at noon after it opens the island. The unlocking ceremony is a century-old tradition in Ocean City at the start of Memorial Day Weekend.

Here's the list of Friday activities:

• Ribbon Cutting on the Boardwalk 8:30 a.m. Friday by the Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace. The ribbon will be stretched from 6^th to 14^th Sts. on boardwalk and cut by Mayor Jay Gillian. Merchants and the public are invited to participate. This event is in coordination with a ceremony hosted by Governor Christie who will be cutting a ribbon simultaneously in North Jersey. Other communities up and down the Jersey Shore will be holding similar events at the same time.  
•  Ribbon Cutting in the Downtown in front of City Hall, 9^th and Asbury Ave., at 9:45 a.m. Friday. Mayor Jay Gillian will cut ribbon. This ceremony will congratulate and commemorate the downtown’s quick recovery from the storm. Merchants and the public are invited to participate. The Chamber of Commerce will also commemorate the openings of 10 new businesses in downtown Asbury Avenue during the day.
•  Unlocking of the Ocean to open Ocean City beaches by city officials and annual the Business Persons’ Plunge, noon, at 9^th St. Beach adjacent to the Ocean City Music Pier. Read more about these events.