By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

While winter continues to rage, the Ocean Pines Association Recreation and Parks Department is gearing up to offer spring-themed events for residents.

On Saturday, March 22, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Ocean Pines Community Center, the recreational group will offer its Spring Carrot Wreath Workshop. The crafty affair yields a price of $15 a person.

“Heat up your glue gun and welcome spring to your home with this cute and easy-to-make spring carrot wreath,” the event announcement reads. “At this workshop, participants will be provided with all of the materials to complete this easy craft.”

Those interested in attending the spring-themed activity can visit www.oceanpines.org or call 410-641-7052 for registration or general information.

Bus trips will also return as the weather warms up. On Saturday, May 10, the OPA Recreation and Parks Department is presenting their New York in the Spring trip for $85 a person to cover transportation. The occasion is part of the recreation team’s effort to bring in additional revenue and offer homeowners more services and fun activities.

“We have a lot of different programs that we are adding this year,” Debbie Donahue, the recreation and parks director, said at the community’s budget town hall earlier this month. “We have gone back to bus trips again. That was kind of taken aside since [the pandemic].”

Residents can call 410-641-7052 to reserve their seats. The bus will depart from the Ocean Pines Community Center at 5:30 a.m. and will include a fast food breakfast stop. Attendees will have from around 10 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. to explore the city on their own.

“Shop, see a show, sightsee, the choice is yours,” the event flyer says.

Earlier in the season, on Saturday, April 26, OPA rec and parks is hosting its Big Truck Day with tow trucks, fire trucks, dump trucks, food trucks, tractor trailers, and more. The announcement maintains that all trucks will include all safety features.

The event will occur from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Park. More information can be obtained by calling 410-641-7052.

Later this month, on Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the group is hosting another Paint and Sip night with the subject matter of winter birds. The class is for those 18 and older and is $27 per person. Wine and crackers are included in the price. The craft will be held at the Ocean Pines Community Center.

Attendees will follow instructor Joan Guerriero “as she teaches participants step by step how to create their very own beautiful work of art,” the Facebook announcement reads. Pre-registration is required. Those interested in participating can call 410-641-7052 to sign up.

New sessions for the Zumba Toning classes have also been added. The workout classes will be offered Tuesdays from 8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Ocean Pines Community Center from Feb. 25 to April 1 and April 8 to May 13. Ocean Pines residents can pay $40 for six classes. The cost is $45 for nonresidents. Drop-ins are also welcome for $10 each class.

Instructor Joyce Landsman teaches the Zumba sessions. Participants can register by calling 410-641-7052.

At the budget town hall earlier this month, Donahue said the recreation and parks team wants to add new programs this year to create revenue for the department. The director referenced last year’s Vienna Boys Choir show around Christmas at the Ocean City Convention Center hosted by OPA’s recreation group and said that she hopes they can work with the OC facility again for future events.

Donahue mentioned they are looking to host programs at the Yacht Club this spring and summer. She also said that her team added some new yoga and other fitness-related classes and intends to incorporate more during this next year.

“We are working on different changes and structure changes to some of our classes and programs,” the director said. “We brought in some new yoga classes and Pilates, things of that nature. We do have plans to bring in more of those classes and with some new instructors. We hope to increase class revenue with some of those things.”

More information on OPA’s Recreation and Parks Department and upcoming programs can be found on the community’s website.