As we all have heard, Johnson & Johnson has developed a single-dose vaccine for the coronavirus, which hopefully will accelerate the vaccination process across our country and around the world.
I realize that many people are frustrated by the pace of vaccine distribution efforts thus far, but I encourage everyone to be patient as our nation’s health care professionals deliver vaccines to our older citizens, front line medical personnel, first responders, teachers and those who need the inoculation the most.
Even though the vernal equinox is more than a week away, one sure sign of springtime in Sea Isle City is our Environmental Commission’s annual Tree Raffle, which is now officially underway.
This year, our friends on the commission have made this “free tree giveaway” even more enticing by increasing the number of trees they intend to plant on Sea Isle City properties from twenty to thirty – which is fantastic!
My thanks go to all of the Environmental Commission members who donate their time to help make our community greener and more eco-friendly, and I encourage all local property owners to consider entering the raffle in the hopes of adding a new tree to your yard. To learn more about this year’s Tree Raffle, please see the special section in the city newsletter.
I remind everyone that March is Red Cross Month, which makes this the perfect time for each of us to acknowledge all that the Red Cross does for others. To honor and celebrate the month of March, the Red Cross invites everyone to support their mission of preventing and alleviating human suffering by volunteering, giving blood, learning lifesaving skills or making a financial donation to their cause.
My thanks go to everyone in our area who donates their time to the Red Cross, including the members of Sea Isle City’s United Methodist Church, the Knights of Columbus of Saint Joseph Church, and our local police officers who host and support Red Cross Blood Drives in Sea Isle City each year.
As the days and weeks fly by, and the summer season appears closer and closer on the horizon, I want to thank everyone for their patience as we navigated our way through another busy off-season highlighted by a variety of municipal improvement projects and roadwork.
As is the case each spring, our hired contractors and City employees will work diligently to wrap up our public projects in time for the approaching summer season. Meanwhile, please know how much we appreciate everyone’s patience as we improve our community and make Sea Isle City better and better.
And speaking of the summer, I remind everyone that even though we had to cancel many of our spring events and activities because of COVID-19, I predict that we will have a very good summer this year in Sea Isle City!
While there is still some uncertainty about crowd size capacities and other aspects of gathering in public places, I anticipate that the summer of 2021 will be much better than 2020, and I feel we can all look forward to a beautiful and enjoyable summer season ahead. So, buy your beach tags, dust off your sand chairs, and be ready for many good times to come.
This week’s “Shout Out” goes to veterans advocate Joe Griffies as he celebrates his 10th anniversary hosting “The Welcome Home Show” on WIBG Radio 1020AM each Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. Congratulations, Joe – and thank you for all you do on behalf of our nation’s military veterans!
Smile … You’re in Sea Isle!
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
