By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Be sure to bring your own skates. Better bring a coat, gloves, hat and scarf, too.
Sea Isle City is getting ready to introduce an all-new, family-friendly event that will challenge the age-old complaint that there’s nothing to do at the shore during the off-season.
Three roller skating nights will be held at the city’s Dealy Field hockey rink at Sounds Avenue near 60th Street on Feb. 16, March 28 and April 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“This is a fun, new event that we think families will enjoy,” city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said. “It’s a fun way to do something outdoors during the off-season.”
Free to the public, the roller skating outings will feature music and hot chocolate during what will likely be chilly nights in February, March and possibly even April.
Everyone is urged to bring their own roller skates or blades and a helmet. A nice, warm coat may be needed, too.
The roller skating night on Friday, Feb. 16 will kick off Sea Isle’s Presidents Day weekend celebration.
The headline event during the Presidents Day weekend will be the Mike’s Seafood Run-Walk for Autism on Saturday, Feb. 17. It is an annual fundraiser that traditionally draws thousands of visitors into town and benefits autism support groups, special services schools and families of special needs children.
Sea Isle is known for its lineup of family entertainment in spring, summer and fall. The February, March and April roller skating nights reflect Sea Isle’s slogan that it is “A City for All Seasons.”
Custer credited the city’s Recreation Office for coming up with the idea for the roller skating nights to provide even more family-friendly entertainment for the community.
“They do try to accommodate the community,” she said. “We try to create programs that are appropriate for the community.”
Custer noted that the Recreation Office is also working on introducing a new Easter-themed, after-school event inside the Sea Isle Community Lodge. Details will be announced later. The Easter after-school event will be focused on the children of local residents or property owners.
To register for the roller skating nights, go to seaislerec.recdesk.com or call (609) 263-0050 for more information.
