By MADDY VITALE
Organizers of the Polar Bear Plunge weekend Feb. 15-17 are looking for ways to reinvigorate some of the entertainment events, including the costume party, which doesn’t attract nearly as many people as it once did.
But one thing is certain: for the last year at LaCosta Lounge, 4000 Landis Ave., it will be a memorable time that is even better than in the years prior, they said.
During the Sea Isle City Tourism Commission meeting Oct. 10, members were discussing ways to draw more participation in the Polar Bear Weekend costume contest, which is one of the centerpieces of entertainment at the LaCosta Lounge.
James Bennett, owner of LaCosta and chairman of the Tourism Commission said the organizers were going to sit down and look at ways to revive the costume contest to attract more contestants.
“I think if we all work together, we can make it a success,” Bennett said.
AnneMarie Germanio, a Tourism Commission member and a judge for the costume contest, noted there has been a decline in the number of contestants in the costume contest.
“It is down to next to nothing,” she pointed out. “It has really dropped with participants.”
In response to that comment, Bennett said there have been about 30 contestants in recent years.
“We want 100,” he said.
For 12 years, the zany attraction, in which thousands of visitors and residents flock to Sea Isle, converge on the beaches for a cool dip, some in costume, then enjoy the night’s festivities of music, food and drinks, the fact that the event will no longer be at LaCosta Lounge, means an end to an era.
It has been a tradition for young and old alike.
Polar Bear Plunge weekend begins with a crowning of the Polar Bear King and Queen on that Friday, then comes the splash in the ocean on Saturday and partying at LaCosta that day and night.
The epic weekend culminates with Mike’s Seafood Polar Bear Run Walk for Autism created by Mike Monichetti and his family.
The run/walk raises thousands each year to help generate funds for autism awareness, advocacy and family services.
Proceeds benefit Special Service Schools, Autism Support Groups, and Families of Special Needs Children.
Monichetti said he hopes this year, especially being the last at the Sea Isle staple LaCosta Lounge, is the best and most successful fundraising event ever.
The goal is to raise $150,000 for autism causes this year.
“LaCosta is the Times Square and epicenter of Sea Isle. It is the place to go,” he noted.
Tents are spread out around LaCosta. Crowds gather after the plunge, enjoy music, the costume contest and then the following day head back there to either participate in the run/walk or just attend for the good time and to support a great cause.
Monichetti and his wife, Jeannie, have four children, Mary Kate, 20, Luke, 14, Kara 18 and Michael Jr., 16. Mike Jr and Kara have autism.
He explained that there is a reason he and his family puts on the autism fundraiser each year.
“I believe that God called on me to help raise awareness about autism and that is why I have two Autistic kids,” he said. “God has given me the strength to bring awareness to autism and this is what I do. Besides my family, raising funds and awareness about autism is my passion.”
Autism is a general term for complex disorders of brain development. Depending on the severity of the disorder, autistic people may have difficulties with social interaction and communication. Some may also engage in repetitive behavior.
Kathleen Albright the 2016 Polar Bear Queen said in addition to the entire weekend being wonderful for the community, she and other queens and kings of the event are joining forces for a Jan. 18 fundraiser at LaCosta Lounge to benefit autism.
They will also stroll down to the beach for the frigid dip on plunge day.
“We want to maximize the impact that we have for these kids,” Albright said. “We are all really dedicated to the cause and what Mike (Monichetti) has done for autism.”
“After years of Polar Bear kings and queens, we decided to pool our efforts and collectively make a larger impact for the fundraiser,” she noted.
For Monichetti, the fact that Albright is putting together a separate fundraiser for his cause has significant meaning.
To date, Albright has raised more than any other person for the cause — $23,000.
“She is a special lady,” Monichetti said.
The question remains where the Polar Bear Plunge weekend will take place next year.
Monichetti said it will be a tough decision where to hold his fundraiser.
“I will miss LaCosta. It is a perfect location and Jimmy (Bennett) has made it easy for me to put on the fundraiser. I remember him saying 12 years ago when I went to him asking where to hold it,” he said. “Jimmy said he would love to have it at LaCosta. It’s a shame it won’t be there anymore after this year. We will all miss it and have to look for another place.”
