No doubt you are aware that the use of heroin is a terrible problem affecting people all across our nation – in every level of society and often in our own back yards. Simply put, heroin knows no social, cultural or economic boundaries, and education is a key component to battling this horrifically addictive drug. That’s why the Sea Isle City Municipal Alliance Committee recently joined forces with Sea Isle’s Board of Education and other partners in our community to host a pair of presentations on October 13 titled Sea Isle City Fights Heroin…What You Need To Know. Both presentations were led by renowned keynote speaker John Kriger, who shared a tremendous amount of information with audience members – including the dangers of overused prescribed pain medications, the importance of securing prescription drugs in the home so visitors can’t raid your medicine cabinet, and the ways young people are using drugs at parties and other social gatherings. Mr. Kriger also noted that addiction often begins with the use of prescription medications and ultimately ends-up at heroin’s door, because heroin is typically cheaper and easier to obtain than pills.
Sea Isle City Fights Heroin…What You Need To Know was the result of a tremendous amount of teamwork, supported by many people who recognize the seriousness of the heroin and opiate crisis. My thanks go to the members of the event’s sub-committee, who worked diligently to host the two presentations, including Municipal Alliance Committee Coordinator Kellie Seib, Sea Isle City Police Captain Thomas McQuillen, Mayor’s Assistant Pattiann Ponichtera, Sea Isle’s Director of Community Services Katherine Custer, and Board of Education President Dan Tumolo. Special thanks go to our community sponsors, who also helped make the presentations a reality, including Acme Supermarkets, Jim Bennett and Bennett Enterprises, the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization, First Bank of Sea Isle City, and Wawa Markets. Additionally, we are grateful to Cape Assist, Cape Counseling, the Cape May County Prosecutors Office, the Cape May County Department of Human Services and the Sea Isle City Police Department, each of which had representatives in attendance on October 13, who shared important literature and information with the public.
On October 20, Sea Isle City Construction Official Neil Byrne and I attended the New Jersey Association of Floodplain Managers’ 12th Annual Conference in Atlantic City, where a “who’s who” of FEMA representatives, insurance officials and Certified Floodplain Managers from communities across the nation were in attendance. During the conference, I was honored to be one of three speakers at a session titled: FEMA’s Community Rating System – A Hazard Mitigation, Financial and Political Success Story, which afforded me the opportunity to outline the hard work we have completed prior to achieving Sea Isle’s Class 5 Rating (which is the best in the Garden State) and our 25% discount on flood insurance premiums for qualified property owners. Afterwards, Neil, who serves as Sea Isle’s Floodplain Manager, and our entire City received a tremendous amount of praise for all that we have accomplished as a community. Without a doubt, other municipalities now look to us as a shining example of success regarding floodplain management because the results of our efforts clearly speak for themselves.
As we strive to continually improve our floodplain management standards, my thanks go to Neil Byrne and every home owner who has helped us reach this level of achievement. I have always been proud to live and work in Sea Isle City, but I was never more proud of our City than I was on October 20, when we were singled-out as one of New Jersey’s top-performing C.R.S. communities.
Looking ahead, please join us as we honor all of our nation’s military veterans on Friday, November 11, during Sea Isle’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Veterans Park. We all owe a debt of thanks to the countless soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, reservists and members of the Coast Guard who served our country with honor, so I hope to see you on November 11 at 11:00 a.m.
Don’t forget that Trick-or-Treating takes place on October 31 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Sea Isle City. Have a Happy Halloween!
This week’s “Shout-Out” goes to the men and women of Sea Isle City’s Public Works Department for their hard work during the past summer season. Not only do our P.W. employees ensure that our City is clean and well-maintained, they are also here throughout the year to offer support and assistance during the many special events that take place in Sea Isle City during the winter, spring, summer and fall.
Smile…You’re In Sea Isle!
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
