Even though Christmas 2023 has come and gone, the holiday season is still going strong. Next up on many of our agendas is New Year’s Eve, which is always a great time to be in Sea Isle City!
If you have not already done so, please be sure to make your dinner reservations as soon as possible if you plan to dine out in Sea Isle City on New Year’s Eve – and don’t forget to welcome 2024’s arrival by viewing our annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show, which will be launched from the JFK Boulevard Beach on December 31 at 8 p.m.
Since the holiday season is a perfect time to recognize what we are all thankful for, I would like to express my gratitude to some of the people who made the past two weeks extra special.
First, I want to thank all of the property owners who participated in Sea Isle’s 2023 Holiday Lighting Contest, which featured eighteen beautifully decorated entries.
Additionally, I would like to congratulate this year’s winners: Patrick & Kris Lynch at 8604 Pleasure Avenue (first place); Ray and Donna Poling at 10 50th Street (second place); and the McLeer Family at 305 39th Street (third place).
My thanks also go to the members of the Sea Isle City Garden Club for once again judging our Holiday Lighting Contest, which was not an easy task this year, thanks to the amazing displays that were entered.
My gratitude also goes to First Bank of Sea Isle City and Rocky & Fred’s Creative Design Florist for providing the event’s prizes, which included $100 and $50 in cash for the first and second place winners, respectively, and a beautiful floral arrangement for third prize. Thank you all.
Another local holiday event that is definitely worth mentioning took place on December 21, when the members of AARP Chapter 710 gathered for their annual Christmas Luncheon. It is always a pleasure to spend time with our friends from AARP (who, by the way, looked especially festive in their holiday finery).
During the AARP luncheon, the group honored Tom Owings, who has served as Chapter 710’s President for the past several years. Tom recently “passed the baton” to Pattiann Ponichtera, who I am told is already doing a fine job as Chapter 710’s new president. I want to thank Tom for his many years of service to Chapter 710 (and our community in general), and I look forward to seeing him at other events in the future.
Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank the many people who donated to our 2023 Mayor’s Holiday Toy and Food Drive – and the local businesses that served as drop-off locations for that important event.
After weeks of collecting toys and food, on Friday morning I gathered with a band of merry “elves” to deliver a mountain of gifts to local families in need.
As you may have seen, this event received a great deal of news coverage, including at SeaIsleNews.com, on NBC10 Philadelphia, and on the front cover of The Press of Atlantic City on Christmas Day.
However, to fully experience the importance of this annual effort, you really had to be with us as we handed boxes of gifts to families in need.
I am so grateful that our Toy and Food Drive was able to touch the hearts of so many people during this blessed time of year – because that is what Christmas is all about!
To view pictures of these and other holiday events that have taken place since Thanksgiving, please go to the “Recent Photos” section of this week’s newsletter – and see for yourself why Sea Isle City is “the place to be” during this wonderful time of the year.
I wish you all a Happy and Healthy 2024!
Smile … You’re in Sea Isle,
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
