Without hesitation, I can say that this year’s Memorial Day Weekend was a great success.
In fact, from all accounts, it appears to be a record breaker – thanks to the many people who were in town, the fantastic weather we experienced, the multitudes of beachgoers who enjoyed our shoreline, and the countless happy faces that could be seen throughout Sea Isle City.
If the 2022 Memorial Day Weekend is any indication of what to expect this summer, we all have a lot to look forward to in the months ahead!
More than anything else, it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces last weekend, as well as new homeowners and visitors who were experiencing Sea Isle City for the first time.
Even though we have amazing beaches, an abundance of wildlife, plenty of family-friendly activities, fantastic restaurants, and many great places to shop, it’s the people of Sea Isle City who make our community so special – the year-round residents, those who consider this their home-away-from-home, and the people who chose Sea Isle as their favorite vacation destination.
Another highlight of this past weekend was our annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Excursion Park, where hundreds of patriots joined us to honor the men and women in uniform who lost their lives for our nation.
I am very grateful to everyone who took the time to pay their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom – and special thanks go to our friends at VFW Post 1963 and everyone else who made the ceremony so memorable, including Bagpiper Ron Taylor, who filled the air with glorious, patriotic music.
Looking ahead, don’t miss the Green Fair/Art Fair on Saturday at Excursion Park, hosted by Sea Isle City’s Department of Community Services, Environmental Commission, Green Team, Shade Tree Committee and Chamber of Commerce.
This event will spotlight a variety of talented artists who use recycled and repurposed materials to create their artwork, and there will also be live music, environmental displays, and the chance to win a free tree for your garden.
The Green Fair/Art Fair promises to be a very interesting and enjoyable event, so please check it out on Saturday.
I hope you can also join us at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, as we dedicate 89th Street and Landis Avenue in the memory of U.S. Navy Seal David M. Tapper, who was killed in 2003 while serving in Afghanistan.
As a child, David spent a great deal of time at his family’s home on 89th Street, and I am told that he loved Sea Isle City very much.
We hope to have a large crowd on hand as we dedicate 89th Street in Petty Officer Tapper’s name, so please try to be there as we honor an American who gave his life for this country.
This summer, in addition to purchasing ice cream and bottled water from strolling vendors on Sea Isle City’s beaches, you will also be able to buy iced coffee from a new contracted vendor named Beach Brew USA, which City Council recently approved through Resolution 082.
We hope that this newest approved vendor will add to everyone’s beach-going experience – and help keep you cool and energized while you’re frolicking on the sand this summer.
Before I close, I want to ask each and every person who is reading this message to take a moment and vote for Sea Isle City in the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s annual “Favorite Beaches” poll.
We all know that we have the number one community at the Jersey shore, and a positive turnout during this poll will let everyone else know it too! It only takes a minute, so please vote for Sea Isle City today! Here’s the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/favoritebeach2022 .
This week’s “Shout Outs” go to the municipal personnel who ensured that we had a safe, enjoyable and clean Memorial Day Weekend – in particular, the members of Sea Isle City’s Police Department, led by Officer in Charge Captain Anthony Garreffi; the Division of Emergency Medical Services, led by Chief Bruce Knoll; the Department of Public Works, led by Director Jerry Rutledge; Sea Isle City’s Volunteer Fire Department, led by Chief Bryan Moran; and the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol, led by Chief Renny Steele.
While many of us were enjoying the long holiday weekend, these men and women were on the job to make certain that Sea Isle City remains a reliable and pleasant destination – and I am very grateful to each and every one of them!
Smile … You’re in Sea Isle,
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
