Cheer and Dance at the Beach

I just drove past the Ocean City, Maryland, Convention Center, and the parking lots are full. I mean full like a car in every parking space! Maybe we do need that parking deck.

It's the American Cheer and Dance Academy's Reach the Beach Cheer and Dance National Competitions. (Glad I don't have to say that on the radio.) I had no idea that cheering and dancing is such a big deal! They draw a nice crowd. Parking lots at the Dough Roller and Dumsers are full, too.

We needed this at the end of a week of bleak economic news -- a reminder that Ocean City's economy is resilient in the face of recession. The financial wizards on CNBC are busy talking about class warfare, can you believe it? Hyperbole! Put a lid on it, guys, we're all in this together. What we need right now is more cheerleading!

For the record, the temperature on Coastal Highway at mid-day is 42 degrees. It's cloudy, but it's not raining. Gasoline is $1.79 a gallon for regular.

The American Cheer and Dance Academy has a FULL schedule. Events continue tonight until 11 p.m. The competitions continue Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $18 for adults, $12 for children, children age 4 and under, free.

Don't forget, next Saturday is the big Ocean City Job Fair at the Convention Center. The Saturday after that is the St. Patrick's parade.