Community Day, Saturday, May 4, is a day that promises to be one of the most memorable days in our town’s history, because, in addition to the popular events and activities that take place each year on Community Day, we will also be celebrating the completion of Sea Isle City’s new Dog Park and there will be a Groundbreaking Ceremony for our future Community Center.
As it typically does, Community Day will begin with a City Council meeting at 9 a.m. on the third floor of City Hall. As always, regular City Council meetings are open to the public, and all are welcome to attend.
While Saturday’s City Council meeting is getting underway, a free Document Shredding Event will take place in the parking lot of the Community Lodge, where you can destroy unwanted documents and old files from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. This year’s Community Day Shredding Event is once again being sponsored by our friends at 1st Bank of Sea Isle City, who are “footing the bill” for the shredder truck.
At 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, I will have the pleasure of serving as auctioneer during this year’s Municipal Bicycle Auction, which will also take place in the parking lot of the Community Lodge. An array of used bicycles will be on the auction block – so please join us if you’re looking for a new set of wheels for yourself or someone you love.
One of the most popular events at Community Day is our annual “Meet-and-Greet” session in the Community Lodge, where the public can speak with city and county officials, learn about our local civic organizations, and examine a variety of first response vehicles and emergency equipment. Face painters and free gifts make the Meet-and-Greet extra fun for kids – so be sure to bring the entire family.
The annual Community Day Awards Ceremony will take place at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Saturday in the Community Lodge, where we will honor the recipients of this year’s “Do the Right Thing” awards as well as the young artists who won this year’s Beach Tag Art Contest. Also, representatives from 1st Bank of Sea Isle City will present a check for $2,000 to the recipient of their 2024 Community Partnership Award (spoiler alert: It’s Boy Scout Troop 76).
After we wrap up the awards ceremony inside the Community Lodge, we walk outside to the corner of JFK Boulevard and Park Road and unveil a bronze plaque that was created in honor of Mayor William Haffert, who was greatly criticized when he refused to allow JFK Boulevard to be developed with residential homes during what was dubbed “Haffert’s Folly.”
Then, after we honor Mayor Haffert, we will go directly to the Promenade at 31st Street, where we will unveil a second historical plaque, which tells the story of the old Ludlam Beach Lighthouse, which assisted mariners from 1885 to 1924.
Once the Ludlam Lighthouse plaque is unveiled, we will make our way to the site of the former public school building on Park Road, where we will hold a Groundbreaking Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. for our future Community Center.
As anyone who has read my past Mayor’s Messages can attest, I am extremely excited about the construction of our Community Center – and I am also very excited about Saturday’s Groundbreaking Ceremony, because everyone is welcome to physically grab a shovel and participate in this truly historic event.
Following the Groundbreaking Ceremony, we will leave the shovels in place on site until 4 p.m. on Saturday. Therefore, if you can’t make the ceremony itself, please feel free to stop by and take photos in front of the large construction sign that bears an image of our Community Center, so you will be able to say: “I helped break ground in 2024!”
After the Groundbreaking Ceremony ends, the fun will continue at the site of our new Dog Park at 7th Street and Landis Avenue, where we will have a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at approximately 3 p.m.
Everyone is invited to attend the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for this long-awaited public facility – and, of course, dogs are also welcome to be there!
As you can see, this Saturday will be filled with activities and historic events that will display what an amazing community we have – and I hope you will be able to join us every step of the way.
To learn more about what’s taking place on Community Day, please see the special sections that are included in this week’s E-Newsletter – or phone Sea Isle City’s Tourism Office at 609-263-8687.
Smile … You’re in Sea Isle!
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
