By MADDY VITALE
The time has come for some friendly home and business competition in Sea Isle City. The city’s Environmental Commission is now accepting nominations for the 35th Annual Beautification Awards.
The awards will be presented on Sept.18 during the Fall Family Festival.
Local properties that have shown improvement in overall appearance, display attractive architecture and landscaping, or have maintained an eye-catching exterior, will be considered for the honor.
Residents and visitors could nominate a property he or she felt was deserved of the honor. Property owners could even nominate their own homes or businesses. Forms are available at the Welcome Center.
Annette Lombardo, chairwoman of the Environmental Commission, gave a little hint as to what judges look for in an interview Sunday.
“We look for the overall wow factor -- when someone goes by and stops to look,” she said of the importance of curb appeal.
Lombardo noted that trees and other vegetation are also top on their list. One of the goals of the Environmental Commission is to see more trees planted throughout the community.
Each year judges select the top eight properties for the awards out of 30 to 40 entries.
Winners receive coveted custom-designed plaques to display. They will also receive gift certificates to Sea Grove Nursery in Ocean View.
Winners of the Beautification Awards gather for the awards ceremony in recognition of their properties in 2021.
And over the years, Lombardo noted, that one winner on a block will sometimes inspire others, namely their neighbors.
“If someone wins, it creates some competition. “We find that it is sort of contagious,” Lombardo pointed out. “If your neighbor wins in the middle, then the neighbor on each side tries for the award. It makes the whole block look nice.”
Resident Dudley McGinty knows a lot about the awards. He has organized the event for the last 35 years.
He spoke about a new award.
“This year we are giving out a special award called, The Endless Beauty Award, for a property that still looks as well as it did when it was awarded 20 years ago or longer,” McGinty said in an interview. “There are some that look just as well as they did back 20 years or so ago and we want to recognize those properties and homeowners.”
Lombardo noted that McGinty is instrumental in making the event a success year after year. The goal of the awards is to not only honor people who takes pride in their homes and businesses, but help beautify the community overall.
“We got more than 30 entries last year,” she said. “I was very surprised and happy that there is so much interest in the awards.”
To nominate a property, submit a completed application form to the Environmental Commission by Sept. 7. Application forms are available at the Sea Isle City Welcome Center, 300 JFK Boulevard; in the lobby of City Hall, 233 JFK Boulevard; or online at
www.seaislecitynj.us (on the “Environment Commission” page).
For more information about Sea Isle City’s 2022 Beautification Awards, please phone event organizer Dudley McGinty at 609-263-3537.
