Wildwood

LOOKING FOR a change of location for this summer's fun-in-the-sun family vacation? You might want to consider Ocean City. No, not that Ocean City. We're talking Ocean City, Md. A few clicks less than 150 miles southeast of Philadelphia City Hall, this Ocean City offers the familiar - but in a somewhat different setting. Visitors from the Delaware Valley will likely find the seaside town - which, like so many Jersey Shore resorts, is on a barrier island - most similar to Wildwood.

THE PAGAN stationed on a corner of Atlantic Avenue in Wildwood stood with his burly arms crossed over his belly, guarding the infamous motorcycle club's hotel-turned-fortress like a living, breathing gargoyle. Behind him, yellow caution tape and blue tarps draped the Binns Motor Inn - a signal from the Pagan's Motorcycle Club for "citizens" and nosy cops to keep out during the 2011 Roar to the Shore biker rally this month. It's the same hotel where federal prosecutors say that leaders of the Pagan's Long Island chapter at last year's rally told their minions to prepare for death or prison as they plotted a hand-grenade attack on the rival Hells Angels.

In a festival that draws its movies from the sophisticated capitals of the globe, the Downashore presence of Wildwood may seem improbable. But before you raise a "Yo!" of protest, give Wildwood, New Jersey a try. Directed by Ruth Lehman and Carol Cassidy, Wildwood is a one-hour look at what gives on the boardwalk - and under it. The movie is chiefly devoted to the mating rites of teenagers who flock to the resort in the summer and the difference between hunting for sex and looking for something more emotionally rewarding.

Wildwood scored six points in the final 24 seconds last night, four by senior guard Brendan Connor, to end its regular season with a 75-68 upset victory over visiting Middle Township, the No. 2-ranked team in The Inquirer's Top Ten. The Panthers, whose school-record 20-game winning streak ended with the loss, had trailed since the first quarter. They cut the margin to 69-68 on a basket by 6-foot-6 junior John Leahy (18 points) with 46 seconds left. But Connor (31 points) drew a foul with 24 seconds left and hit both shots.

On a night when she struggled offensively, Lana Harshaw was still heroic in keeping the Wildwood dynasty alive. Harshaw made two key defensive plays in the final five seconds to seal the Warriors' 32-31 victory over Haddon Heights in the South Jersey Group 1 girls' basketball championship last night at Cherry Hill East. Wildwood (23-2) meets the Central Jersey champion, Shore Regional, at 6 p.m. tomorrow at Toms River East. It was the fourth straight sectional title for the defending Group 1 champions but their first without all-time scoring leader Monica Johnson, who attends Seton Hall and was at the game.

Saturday's modestly attended Beach Boys show will be the last concert on the Wildwood beach this summer. City officials had already pulled the plug on two of the resort's much-ballyhooed music festivals, promoted by Seashore Events of Atlantic City. And now comes word that the last of the series - a Labor Day-weekend country jamboree starring Johnny Cash - has been scratched. The series was killed after dismal attendance for a July 5-7 "Down Memory Lane" oldies fest, headlined by Little Anthony and Chubby Checker.

COULD THE GIANT inflatable rat, a common prop at organized-labor protests, go extinct, replaced by a louder, more mobile rodent? Let's test-drive the Rat-Mobile, a new model from that old school of labor protests, Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Currently being test-driven around the city and soon to be deployed to protests, the Rat-Mobile is a converted minivan. John Dougherty, the union's business manager, said the conversion cost $14,000 and took three months.

It wasn't an ideal day for summer fun, but Wildwood did manage to attract visitors Friday as the July Fourth weekend started. For the holiday itself, the picture is mixed, with a chance of showers or thunderstorms throughout South Jersey. Clearing skies are expected in the evening.

Middle Township dominated the boards last night against the limited play of Wildwood's 6-foot-6 center Mike Emory and came away with a 46-40 victory in a Cape-Atlantic League National Division game. The win keeps the host Panthers (14-3 overall, 10-2 league) even with Bridgeton and one game behind Cape-National leader St. Augustine. Wildwood (12-4, 9-3) falls two games off the pace. "They are a completely different team without Emory," said Middle coach Tom Feraco. "He's one of the league's best players and, with him in the middle, they are very tough to defend.

After last night's state Group 1 girls' semifinal game at Nottingham High School, Wildwood coach Dave Troiano couldn't find enough people to hug or enough hands to shake. His Warriors, the South Jersey Group 1 champions and No. 7 in The Inquirer's Top 10, had just run off 12 straight points in the fourth period and defeated Central Jersey champion Keyport, 59-45, to earn a spot in Saturday's state final at Monmouth College. The victory got a monkey off Troiano's back. His teams had won two previous South Jersey titles (1986 and 1988)

LOOKING FOR a change of location for this summer's fun-in-the-sun family vacation? You might want to consider Ocean City. No, not that Ocean City. We're talking Ocean City, Md. A few clicks less than 150 miles southeast of Philadelphia City Hall, this Ocean City offers the familiar - but in a somewhat different setting. Visitors from the Delaware Valley will likely find the seaside town - which, like so many Jersey Shore resorts, is on a barrier island - most similar to Wildwood.

THERE'S A FEELING you get, walking toward the Wildwood Boardwalk at night; an anticipation that hits you all at once when that wide, eclectic, electric expanse unfolds before you. There's nothing else quite like it in New Jersey, a tourist destination defined by first kisses, cotton candy and rock 'n' roll, muscle cars and muscle shirts, a mix of Northeast Philly, South Jersey, Quebec and everywhere in-between, all aglow in neon and wedged into...

COULD THE GIANT inflatable rat, a common prop at organized-labor protests, go extinct, replaced by a louder, more mobile rodent? Let's test-drive the Rat-Mobile, a new model from that old school of labor protests, Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Currently being test-driven around the city and soon to be deployed to protests, the Rat-Mobile is a converted minivan. John Dougherty, the union's business manager, said the conversion cost $14,000 and took three months.

Eddie McWade is the hardest worker Dave DeWeese has ever seen, the Wildwood Catholic boys' basketball coach said Friday night. And DeWeese said the junior guard deserves everything he gets. McWade's hard work made him the school's third junior to record his 1,000th point as he hit a foul shot with four minutes left in the Crusaders' 66-45 win over visiting Doane Academy in the South Jersey Non-Public B quarterfinals. McWade finished with 24 points, raising his career mark to 1,000.

The Salem girls' basketball team won its high-scoring battle with Wildwood, edging the visiting Warriors, 69-67, in a South Jersey Group 1 opening-round game in which each team had two 20-point scorers. The eighth-seeded Rams were led by junior Kayla Chapman (27 points) and Tiasia Tatum (20). For Wildwood, Leishly Reyes scored 21 and Jessica Freeman added 20. Woodbury 52, LEAP Academy Charter 23 - Woodbury senior Danesha Triplett crossed the 1,000-point mark for her career, scoring 13 points to lead the sixth-seeded Thundering Herd to victory in their first postseason game in 25-plus years.

WILDWOOD - Wildwood, long one of New Jersey's most popular beaches in part because it's free, will remain that way. The city commissioners have rescinded a ballot question that would have asked voters whether Wildwood should start charging a beach fee, an idea opposed by businesses. Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. said Thursday that the city instead would start talks with Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood on the possibility of sharing services, including fire and police, lifeguarding, and beach maintenance.

Dvonne Trumbo and Flo DaSilva combined for 12 points in the first quarter. They were even better at the defensive end. "That was the game plan," Trumbo said of the pressure defense that sparked Bishop Eustace to a 57-40 victory over Wildwood Catholic on Saturday in the Jeff Coney Classic boys' basketball showcase at Rancocas Valley. Trumbo and DaSilva, junior guards, combined for five steals in the first quarter, setting the tone for the impressive victory for Bishop Eustace (11-3)

A New Jersey man has been arrested in the theft of four large flat-screen televisions from a Delaware County Walmart over a five-day period, police said Wednesday. Matthew Colleluori, 34, of Wildwood, was spotted by store security at the Marple store Tuesday attempting to leave with an unpaid item. He fled after a struggle with a security guard and drove off at high speed. His vehicle eventually crashed into two police cars as he tried to exit I-95 at Route 420. Empty packets of heroin were found in his car, according to court documents.

Stefano Okoro's coach at Gloucester High described the senior as a "program changer. " And on Thursday night, in Gloucester's 47-38 nonleague win over Cumberland, Okoro put his stamp on Lions boys' basketball history when he became the program's second all-time leading scorer. The guard/forward finished with 30 points, and his layup in the first quarter eclipsed Kevin Cunane's career mark of 1,569. Keith Gorman (1998) remains first in program history with 2,128 points. Okoro drained two three-pointers and all 10 of his free throws.