Last week, I had the pleasure of cutting a ceremonial ribbon at the newly opened Raffa’s Charcuterie Shop, which is located on Pleasure Avenue across the street from the Excursion Park Band Shell.
This wonderful new establishment makes beautiful cheese boards and other creations that people are sure to enjoy at parties and other gatherings – and I was very happy to welcome them to Sea Isle City’s business community!
As the summer winds down, so do many of our seasonal events – including our annual Youth Basketball League, which is run by Sea Isle City’s Division of Recreation.
The league recently had their final games, after which medals were presented to the top teams in each age group.
I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of the winning teams – and each of the players who “gave it their all” on the courts this summer.
I also want to remind all families with growing children that this longstanding tradition will be a part of Sea Isle City’s summer lineup of activities for many years to come, and we look forward to another exciting season of basketball in 2023.
Tomorrow, August 26, will mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Officer Michael “Mickey” Cullinane, who died in the line of duty while rescuing a construction worker from a deep pit that had filled with toxic gases.
To acknowledge this important and very sad date in our town’s history, the Sea Isle City Police Department will host a memorial service in Officer Cullinane’s memory at 10 a.m. on Friday at Sea Isle’s Police Memorial Park, located at 26th Street and Landis Avenue.
Obviously, being a police officer is an extremely difficult job. That being said, it is important to recognize that they are the people we rely on during times of emergencies – and any other time we suddenly may need help.
Being a police officer requires bravery, resourcefulness, and the courage to always do the right thing – no matter what the circumstances.
It also requires dedication, hard work, and a love for your community.
Moreover, police officers must constantly face the unknown – whether that unknown is a vehicle that you just pulled over for a traffic violation or, as in Michael’s case, a deep construction pit that is filled with toxic gases.
Therefore, I hope we have a large crowd of spectators on hand when we honor Michael’s memory tomorrow morning – so please be there if you can.
As we all know, Labor Day is less than two weeks away – and, for many, the idea that summer is coming to a close can make people feel sad and blue.
To those folks I say this: “Don’t forget that Sea Isle City does not close down on Labor Day!” As the banners along JFK Boulevard read, Sea Isle is a “city for all seasons” – so be sure to check out our autumn calendar of events, which will help you keep the summer fun going strong well beyond September 5.
As always, you can find our event calendar and other information about Sea Isle City at www.VISITSICNJ.com.
This week’s “Shout-Out” goes to Mary Shields, a seasonal homeowner who inspired us to host a “Shooting Stars” summer basketball clinic for children with special needs.
I am extremely grateful to Mary for working closely with our Recreation Office and making certain that our inaugural Shooting Stars event was successful each week.
I am also very thankful for all of the support this new program received from local businesses, organizations and families who saw how important it was.
Thank you, Mary – and everyone else – who showed love to Sea Isle’s Shooting Stars!
Smile … You’re in Sea Isle,
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
