Sea Isle City’s 2016 Patriot Day Ceremony had a huge turn-out of residents and visitors. It is reassuring to know that our nation will never forget the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001 – or the nearly 3000 people who were killed that day. As was noted during our ceremony, the terrorists thought they could break the American spirit and drive a wedge of fear into our society that would allow them to separate and conquer us – how wrong they were!
I’d like to thank each of the dignitaries who participated in this year’s Patriot Day Ceremony, including the members of City Council, Deacon Liam O’Clisham, veteran Bill Johnson, VFW Post 1963 Commander Chick Haines and the VFW Color Guard, County Clerk Rita Marie Fulginiti, trumpeter Forrest Wan and the other members of Boy Scout Troop 76, Miss New Jersey National Teenager Shannon McCool, and Henrietta Creighton, who sang an uplifting version of God Bless America. My thanks also go to all of our police officers, volunteer firefighters, and volunteer ambulance corps members, who are there for us 365 days a year.
During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Cape May County Engineer Dale Foster and Engineer Paul Nolan, from Maser Consulting, explained in detail the road elevation project that’s currently taking place along the Sea Isle Boulevard Causeway. As we move toward the second phase of that important project, which is expected to get underway very soon, I’d like to express my thanks to everyone for their patience as this significant infrastructure effort continues. To learn more about the causeway elevation project, click the link below to view the Power Point presentation that was shown on September 13 in Council Chambers.
As I have said many times before, Sea Isle City does not shut-down after Labor Day. No doubt you are aware that September is an ideal month to be here – not just because the weather is amazing, but also because there is no shortage of events that will keep your family entertained. For example, this weekend, September 17 & 18, the City’s Division of Tourism will host Fall Family Festival, which is one of our largest events of the year. Fall Festival features two-days of entertainment and activities, including hundreds of merchandise vendors, a food court, free amusement rides and other fun on Saturday, and an antique auto show, live music and free trolley tours on Sunday. Then, later this month, don’t miss Sea Isle’s annual Irish Festival Weekend on September 23, 24 & 25, when there will be live Irish music, dancing, an Irish Vendors Market and plenty of cheerful folks who will be “wearin’ the green.”
If you can be in town on Thursday, September 22, please join us as we cheer-on the participants of the 2016 New Jersey “Run For The Fallen,” which is a non-competitive run from Cape May to North Jersey held in honor of all the men and women from the Garden State who died for our nation. At approximately 2:00 p.m. on that day, a team of active duty military members will enter Sea Isle City from Avalon and continue running north on The Ocean Drive (Landis Avenue). Along the way, they will stop at several “Hero Markers,” each of which will be devoted to a different New Jersey service member who was killed in action. To learn more about this event, read the “Run For The Fallen” section of this newsletter, where you can learn the specific times the runners are expected to be at each Hero Marker and the fallen warriors who will be honored that day. I hope to see you on September 22!
This week’s “Shout Out” goes to the hard-working members of the VFW Post 1963 Women’s Auxiliary, who do all they can to support our veterans and our community.
Thank you, Ladies – keep up the good work!
Smile…You’re in Sea Isle!
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
