I hope you are enjoying the fantastic weather we’ve been experiencing! Even though we endured less than ideal weather conditions earlier this year, Mother Nature certainly has been smiling upon us in recent weeks.
Regardless of the weather, however, we always have great events taking place in Sea Isle City during the spring season – and I was honored to once again be part of two events this year that are especially near and dear to my heart: our annual fundraiser for Shriners Hospital for Children, which took place in March, and the Gerard A. Desiderio Heart Walk last Saturday morning, which helped raised money for Deborah Heart and Lung Center in honor of my late brother.
I am very pleased to report that both events were very successful, and that over $20,000 was raised for Shriners Hospital this year.
Donations are still arriving for this year’s Heart Walk, however the overall total amount we have raised since we hosted our first Heart Walk eight years ago is close to $90,000.
Of course, all of this is no surprise to me, because I have always been impressed by the level of generosity you find when dealing with the good people of our community.
I am very grateful to everyone who contributed to these two worthy causes and to the many other folks in Sea Isle City who perform charitable deeds in other ways throughout the year.
Thank you all!
If you plan to be in Sea Isle City this weekend, there are several events taking place that are worth mentioning, including the annual Peyton’s Promise 5K Run and 2K Walk, which will raise funds for birth defect research on Saturday morning, and the Environmental Commission’s first annual Green Fair, which takes place on Saturday afternoon at Excursion Park from noon to 2 p.m.
Also on Saturday, the family and friends of Matt Vecere will gather at 1 p.m. at Saint Joseph Church for a memorial service, which will be followed by other events later in the day that will also be held in Matt’s honor.
As you may know, Matt was a former Sea Isle City resident who met a tragic death in March after boarding Ethiopian Airline Flight 302, which crashed just minutes after take-off, killing everyone onboard.
Looking ahead, it will soon be Father’s Day Weekend, which is also Skimmer Festival Weekend in Sea Isle City. Hosted by the City’s Division of Tourism, Skimmer Weekend is our biggest festival of the summer, featuring hundreds of vendors, free amusement rides and other family-friendly activities on Saturday, followed by free historical trolley tours, live music and an Antique Auto Show on Sunday (Father’s Day).
So, please mark your calendars now and plan to be in Sea Isle City on June 15 and 16 for Skimmer Festival Weekend!
Each year, the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium hosts a “Favorite Beach” competition that includes all of the Garden State’s beaches from Monmouth to Cape May County – and this year’s contest is currently underway.
Please take a moment to cast your vote online for Sea Isle City and let everyone know what beautiful, well maintained beaches we have! Here’s the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FavoriteBeach2019
In closing, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that today marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day, which is an important date that should be recognized by each citizen in the United States – and in all free nations.
Even though a large number of the men and women who served during World War II have already passed away, including many of the brave men who parachuted behind enemy lines and stormed the beaches of Normandy 75 years ago, we must always remember that their actions helped preserve liberty in America, Europe and all around the globe.
May the memory of every member of the “greatest generation” serve as a reminder of the importance of cooperation and friendship amongst nations and a commitment to the preservation of freedom for all.
Smile…You’re in Sea Isle!
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
