2023 is off to a productive start here in Sea Isle City, and our municipal employees are busy planning for the year ahead.
As was recently mentioned, the City’s Finance Office is fine-tuning Sea Isle’s 2023 Municipal Budget, which will be presented to City Council in February. Also, our Department of Community Services is securing a wide variety of family events and recreation activities that will offer something for everyone, and our Department of Public Works is busy ensuring that our town is in tiptop shape.
Realizing that we have experienced some beach erosion during the past several months, we will continue to monitor our shoreline and make certain that each of our beach entrances are safe and operational.
Also, in the spring, the Department of Public Works will perform limited sand harvesting operations in advance of the Army Corps of Engineers’ beach replenishment project – because we want everyone to enjoy the summer of 2023 on the beach in Sea Isle City.
We are also continuing to develop plans that will alleviate the problems that many shore towns have experienced in recent years when young people gather in large crowds and display disruptive behavior. I recently spoke with our State Legislators – who agree that we have valid concerns on this topic – and they have assured me that they are working on new legislation to curb this problem.
Nonetheless, we here in Sea Isle City plan to develop our own ordinances to address this issue (even if we don’t get assistance from Trenton on this matter). In the meantime, please know that we have not forgotten about this issue simply because the summer crowds have waned during the off season.
On Tuesday, during his State of the State Address, Governor Murphy mentioned that he has created a “Boardwalk Fund” that will provide money to communities for the upkeep of their boardwalks. Upon hearing this, I immediately reached out to the Governor’s Office to get more details.
The State will soon be forwarding that information to us, so we can learn what it entails – and how to go about receiving the funding. I will keep you informed on this issue as we learn more.
If you read my report to City Council earlier this week, you heard me mention our Youth Recreation Committee, which was recently formed to help us get additional insight on ways to improve our recreation programs.
An added bonus of meeting with bright, young minds – such as those we have assembled on this committee – is hearing fresh ideas from new sources. The concepts that our Youth Recreation Committee have shared with us so far have greatly impressed us, as well as given us renewed hope for the future.
I want to thank each committee member for agreeing to participate in this worthy endeavor, and for taking the initiative to discuss new ideas and make suggestions. I look forward to future conversations with this group regarding ways to make Sea Isle City even better than it is today.
Obviously, the winter season is the quietest time of year along the Jersey Shore – but that doesn’t mean that nothing is happening during the colder months (as anyone who attended our recent holiday events can attest). Now that the new year has arrived and the holiday rush is over, many folks are looking forward to enjoying Presidents Day Weekend in Sea Isle City as a way to “shake off the winter blues” and spend additional time at the shore.
If you have not yet heard, I am happy to report that Mike and Jeannie Monichetti have announced that they are bringing back the Mike’s Seafood Run-Walk for Autism on February 18, which is the Saturday of Presidents Weekend – and that is wonderful news!
Also, many local businesses will be open, so you can shop, dine and round out your long holiday weekend in style. So, please mark your calendars now and plan on being in Sea Isle City during Presidents Weekend.
This week’s “Shout-Out” goes to Quinn Laricks, a Sea Isle City resident and sixth grade student at Bishop McHugh Catholic School, who recently won VFW Post 1963’s Patriot’s Pen essay competition.
In additional to winning Post 1963’s “local” competition, Quinn’s essay has also won first place honors in VFW District 17’s contest, and it will soon be judged on the state level (and hopefully the national level as well).
My best wishes go to each of the students at Bishop McHugh who participated in this event, and heartfelt congratulations go to Quinn for winning first prize, as well as eighth-grader Kimberly Velasco and sixth-grader Nora McMahon, who won Post 1963’s second and third prizes, respectively.
Smile … You’re in Sea Isle,
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
