If Sea Isle City had an old-fashioned town crier, no doubt last week he would have been shouting “Sea Isle Boulevard is open … Sea Isle Boulevard is open!” Those are the words many of us were saying after the County opened the south side of our newly elevated causeway to traffic earlier this month.
Now, after years of construction, the vast majority of the work along Sea Isle Boulevard has been completed and traffic is flowing smoothly along the causeway’s new configuration. In the spring, a final layer of asphalt will be installed and other ancillary work will take place. However, in the meantime, we can enjoy the causeway’s “wide open spaces” as we easily drive across the wetlands.
Please keep in mind that until the causeway is officially completed later this year, it will still be considered a construction zone and therefore the speed limit will temporarily remain 40 mph. Nonetheless, that’s a small price to pay for such an important project that has elevated the causeway by 4 feet and will give us peace of mind when extreme weather conditions occur in the future.
I would like to express my gratitude to everyone for their patience and understanding as these critical improvements were made to our causeway. Thank you all!
In other news, I am happy to report that First Bank of Sea Isle City recently donated $2,500 to our Mayor’s Food Drive, which we launched earlier this month to help Federal employees who have been impacted by the recent government shutdown.
In addition to the initial $2,500 donated by First Bank, which we used to purchase small denomination gift cards to Acme Markets, the bank’s Board of Directors also purchased an additional $2,500 in gift cards to Wawa Markets and Walmart.
Then, on Tuesday, several of us drove to the U.S. Coast Guard Training Base in Cape May, where we delivered all of the gift cards along with numerous cases of non-perishable food items.
Joining us on Tuesday was City Councilman Bill Kehner, who had with him a check for $1,000 from the Cape May County League of Municipalities. When we arrived at the Coast Guard base, we were joined by State Senator Bob Andrzejczak, who had a wide variety of food items to donate as well.
It was a wonderful feeling to help the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard, because they are always there for us, keeping our coastline secure and assisting mariners in distress.
My thanks go to the Board of Directors at First Bank of Sea Isle City and everyone who has supported our government employees through the difficulties of the recent shutdown.
There’s no denying it … the winter is really here. As the temperatures continue to drop, the members of Sea Isle City’s Emergency Medical Services Division are warming the hearts – and bodies – of others by launching a “Hats, Gloves & Socks” Clothing Drive, which will help the needy during the bitter cold days ahead.
Those wanting to donate gently used or new hats, gloves and socks can bring them to Sea Isle City’s Ambulance Corps Building at 201 JFK Boulevard. For more information, please phone 609-263-8686.
If you are available on Friday, February 8, I hope you will join us at Sea Isle’s former public school building on Park Road for a free seminar called “Marijuana and Vaping: What’s Smoking in New Jersey.”
During this interactive presentation, a former DEA agent and spokesperson will discuss troubling new trends related to smoking marijuana and vaping tobacco products. Plus, representatives from numerous support organizations will also be on hand to answer questions and distribute helpful literature.
This program will be chock-filled with information that every parent and concerned resident needs to know, and a free luncheon will be served to all those in attendance. For more information about our “What’s Smoking in New Jersey” event, see the special section of this E-Newsletter or phone Sea Isle’s Municipal Alliance Coordinator Kellie Seib at 609-263-4461, ext. 1222. We hope to see you on February 8.
Smile …You’re in Sea Isle!
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
