Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio
The holiday season is in full swing here in Sea Isle City – and I am once again impressed by the way the people of our community show how much they love this wonderful time of the year.
From the amazing array of well-decorated homes and businesses that I see all over town, to the good deeds that are constantly being performed, it’s clear that the Spirit of Christmas is alive and well in Sea Isle City.
One of the many wonderful holiday events I want to acknowledge took place on December 6, when the members of VFW Post 1963 hosted their annual Christmas Caravan to the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland. There, our local vets and VFW Auxiliary members spread holiday cheer to the residents of that facility, men and women, who admirably served our country in uniform and now rely on others to care for them – and remind them of the true meaning of Christmas.
Other seasonal events that have already taken place include the Sea Isle City Historical Museum’s Holiday Open House, which was hosted by a terrific group of people who care deeply about preserving our community’s history; the Recreation Office’s Santa’s Calling Program, during which volunteers from the Knights of Columbus “relayed” phone calls to children directly from Santa Claus himself; and AARP Chapter 710’s annual Holiday Luncheon, which brought together a fun-loving group of people for an afternoon filled with camaraderie and good cheer.
Other events included the Sea Isle City Women’s Civic Club’s annual Holiday Luncheon, which included the presentation of thousands of dollars of donations to local charities; the Italian American Club’s 2024 Poinsettia and Wreath Sale, which supports the good work being performed at the IAC; and the VFW’s annual Brunch with Santa, which delighted dozens of children and their families.
I also want to mention the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization’s annual Wreath Auction, which benefits the Chamber’s Scholarship Program. Plus, our friends at the Chamber also hosted their amazing “Winter Village” over Thanksgiving weekend, which was a fine complement to the city’s annual Holiday Parade and Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony that weekend.
Even though the events I just mentioned have already taken place, there’s still plenty of holiday fun to be had in Sea Isle City, thanks to the Live Nativity that’s planned at Saint Joseph Church on December 21, and our annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display, which will take place at 8 p.m. on December 31.
Also, if you have children who want to send letters to Santa Claus prior to Christmas Day, don’t forget that we have a special mailbox in the lobby of City Hall that can be used for all letters being sent to the North Pole – and no postage is required!
For those of you who would like to help make the holidays brighter for families in need, please remember that there’s still time to donate to our 32nd Annual Mayor’s Holiday Toy and Food Drive, which will continue through December 16.
I want to thank each of the organizations and individuals who ensure that Sea Isle City’s holiday events are successful – because your efforts make our town shine!
No matter what holiday you plan to celebrate this month – be it Kwanzaa, Hannukah, Bodhi Day, Christmas, or any other special occasion – I hope you can spend time with family and friends along the way, so you can make this a holiday season to remember.
Smile … You’re in Sea Isle!
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
