This message was delivered by Mayor Leonard Desiderio during the April 26 City Council meeting:
City Council has a relatively light agenda today, but the agenda for the city workforce is anything but light. As I reported at the last council meeting, we’re preparing for the summer season; and those efforts are continuing.
This week, we’ll see new trees being planted along JFK Boulevard. As we said last year, we wanted to go with the palm trees along the boulevard as we worked to come up with a long-term plan; and I’m happy to report that the tree planting plan for the entry into Sea Isle is ready to go.
I want to thank the Environmental Commission for working with the city and proposing the plan to place crepe myrtles along each side of the boulevard, and for agreeing to pay for the trees from the city’s Environmental Trust account.
This Friday, the city and the Environmental Commission will celebrate Arbor Day with a ceremony in front of the Welcome Center. There’s no better way to celebrate the day than with the recognition of our collective efforts to ensure we have a tree lined entrance to the city. In addition to the Environmental Commission, thanks go to the Historical Society, the Garden Club, and the Beautification Committee. I look forward to seeing everyone this Friday at 12 noon.
I’d like to remind everyone that the next City Council meeting is Saturday, May 7, at 9 a.m. and will be followed by our annual Community Day. This year will be a special Community Day, as we’re back from two years of cancellations due to the pandemic.
Also making this year’s Community Day very special is the dedication of 89th Street to Navy Seal David Tapper, who lost his life serving our country in Afghanistan.
The Tapper family spent many summers at their summer home on 89th Street, and Gold Star mother Judi Tapper (along with other family members) will join us at 89th Street on May 7, at 10 a.m. to dedicate the street and honor David.
I’d like to thank veteran, and veteran’s advocate, Joe Griffies, for all of his efforts to make the dedication of 89th Street a reality. Joe brought the idea to the city and followed through from beginning to end. Joe has always been a tireless fighter for all veterans, and I want to acknowledge his work and his passion.
We’ve often said that we owe so much to our veterans, and I hope that we show that we mean it by our actions here in Sea Isle City. The fact is that none of us can ever repay the debt owed to service men and women like David Tapper, but we can remember and honor them; and try to conduct ourselves in ways that show that we value and cherish the freedom that all of our veterans have fought to provide us with.
As always, remember – we are one Sea Isle City and together we’ll be stronger than ever.
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
