I begin this message by once again offering my congratulations to the members of the Sea Isle City Police Department, who recently received confirmation that they are maintaining their accreditation status with the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police.
This important milestone marks the fourth consecutive time the SICPD has successfully passed the accreditation inspection process – and they should be very proud of the hard work they have performed.
This past weekend was a very busy one in Sea Isle City – and I hope you were able to participate in some of the many events and activities that took place.
The fun began on Saturday morning with the Dave Farina Men’s Basketball Tournament, which brought together eight teams for a lively competition at the JFK Boulevard courts. Soon after the basketball tournament got underway, the 2023 Peyton’s Promise 5K Run / 2K Walk took place on the Promenade.
Hosted by the Laricks family, Peyton’s Promise is a fine example of the generosity and goodwill that you will find in the people of Sea Isle City.
Also on Saturday, our local Beach Patrol hosted their annual Lifeguard Tryouts. According to SICBP Chief Renny Steele, “an exceptional group of athletes tried out this year,” and our Beach Patrol is ready for another summer on the sand.
And speaking of our lifeguards, I remind all beachgoers that you should only swim on guarded beaches, and you should never enter the water unless a lifeguard is present.
In addition to the weekend events I just mentioned, there were also ribbon-cutting ceremonies at two local businesses, which I had the pleasure of attending on Saturday morning.
The first took place at Bright Spot Café, which is located on the corner of 40th Street and Landis Avenue (in the former “Shoobies Restaurant” location); and the second ribbon-cutting happened down the block at Capt’n Chucky’s Crab Cake Company, located at 4111 Landis Avenue (in the McCann Real Estate Building). I wish both businesses good luck in their endeavors, and I encourage everyone to stop by and taste their cuisine.
Another event that is certainly worth mentioning happened on Saturday at VFW Post 1963, where Commander Mark Lloyd returned many recently discovered World War II artifacts to their rightful owners.
As you may have heard, during our Memorial Day Ceremony on May 29, Commander Lloyd spoke about a collection of vintage photographs, family heirlooms, and other items – including a Purple Heart medal – that were recently found in a cedar trunk inside a private residence here in Sea Isle City.
Not knowing who those items belonged to or how to return them to their rightful owners, the gentleman who discovered them turned to Commander Lloyd for help, at which point Commander Lloyd made it his personal mission to search for the family members of the man who earned the Purple Heart and return all those items to them – and that is exactly what he did.
It was such an honor to be present at VFW Post 1963 on Saturday, as Commander Lloyd gathered with other VFW members to present the long-lost items to the family of Private Leo Weber, who was killed in action in North Africa during World War II – and it was also wonderful to see the long-lost photos and other items first-hand.
I want to thank Mark Lloyd for recognizing the importance of returning such valuable family heirlooms to Private Weber’s relatives – which clearly meant a great deal to them.
As I said on Saturday, it was no surprise that an act of patriotism such as this took place in Sea Isle City. Thank you, Commander Lloyd!
Looking to the future, don’t forget that Skimmer Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, June 17 and 18 – so be in Sea Isle City this weekend and enjoy all the fun activities we have waiting for you.
Also, mark your calendars now and plan to celebrate the Fourth of July with us (which will be here in a blink). We have many events taking place during the weekend preceding our nation’s birthday and also on Independence Day itself – including a “Junior Olympics” competition in the morning and a wonderful fireworks display, which will start at 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July Fourth.
Before I close, I want to remind everyone to please slow down and use good judgment while you are in Sea Isle City this summer, because we want everyone to have fun – but most importantly, we want everyone to be safe.
No matter if you are operating a motor vehicle, walking, running, or riding a bicycle through town, please do so cautiously and safely.
This week’s “Shout Out” goes to Jim Philips, of Hawaii, an avid Sea Isle City fan who follows what is happening in our community through this newsletter and social media. I hope you have a great summer, Jim!
Smile … You’re in Sea Isle,
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
