State-Wide Ribbon Cutting Marks Opening Of Jersey Shore Season

By Jim Melwert

OCEAN CITY, NJ (CBS) - Shore towns up and down the New Jersey coast celebrated the start of Memorial Day weekend with a huge ribbon cutting this morning.

As part of the 'Stronger than the Storm' campaign, one mile of ribbon was unfurled in each town; here in Ocean City it was along the boardwalk from 6th to 14th Streets.

"Ocean City is officially opened!"

Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michelle Gillian says, "This was symbolism. It was something that the governor put together, that we have a ribbon cutting across New Jersey to open the shore communities, we couldn't be happier to participate."

Gillian says they did it not only to officially open the holiday weekend, but also to put Sandy behind them.

"It's been a long winter," Gillian says. "We're here, we're open. We're so excited we have all the stores on the boardwalk ready to go, our downtown's back and up. We couldn't ask for a nicer day, the sun's out, so we're ready for the summer season."

All morning the sun battled the clouds, but just as the ribbon cutting festivities began the sun punched through the clouds. There is still some working going on here as the beach replenishment program continues they hope to have it wrapped up in a couple weeks.