Santa Claus gives Mayor Leonard Desiderio a hand during the Mayor’s Toy & Food Drive.
This holiday season is proving to be memorable in numerous ways – from the many wonderful events that have already taken place, to the generosity I have continually noticed. It’s clear the people of our community certainly know how to make the season bright!
Since my most recent newsletter message on December 11, our town has continually been a “beehive of holiday activity,” and it’s been wonderful to see so many folks making the most of this special time of year.
For example, during the Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Friends and Family Night” on December 11, countless shoppers were able to enjoy terrific discounts at participating businesses throughout town. And who doesn’t like discounts, especially at this time of year?
Then, on December 12, the members of the Sea Isle City Women’s Civic Club hosted their annual Holiday Luncheon, during which they distributed a total of $4,500 to five charities in our county, including several food pantries, an outreach center for people in need, and a free health care clinic for the uninsured.
I want to thank the Civic Club for being such a wonderful presence in our community, just as they have been for over a century. For those who may not know, the Women’s Civic Club is Sea Isle’s oldest continually operating civic organization – and we could not be prouder of them. Thank you, Women’s Civic Club!
On the evening of December 12, our local fire department hosted a “Decorated First Responders Parade” that resulted in a fleet of well-decorated fire engines cruising through our town, from our north end to Townsend’s Inlet.
My thanks go to each of the first response organizations that participated in the parade, including our local beach patrol, EMS, fire and police departments, as well as fire companies from Green Creek, Marmora, Middle Township, Ocean View, Rio Grande, Seaville and Stone Harbor – and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, which included a pickup truck carrying Smokey the Bear.
Thank you, First Responders – you certainly know how to celebrate the holidays in style!
Following the First Responders Parade, our Fire Department completed another festive drive through town during their “Candy Cane Run” on December 20, which delivered great joy (and plenty of candy canes) to many local properties. Thank you SICFD firefighters for spreading so much holiday cheer!
Another group that knows “how to keep Christmas well” (as Charles Dickens famously said) is AARP Chapter 710 – which was evident on December 18, when our local AARP members hosted their annual Christmas Luncheon.
During that event, I was happy to present Chapter 710 with a check for $3,000 from the city, which will help them host special events for local seniors (which, to me, is money well-spent). As always, it was an absolute pleasure to spend time with our friends from AARP during their luncheon – and, to make it even more enjoyable, Santa Claus was there as well.
If you have recently driven through our town at night, you know that there are many homes and businesses that are beautifully decorated for the holidays, and among them are several properties that were entered in the Recreation Office’s 2025 Holiday Lighting Contest.
The winning properties in this year’s competition include 305 39th Street, which won Best in Show (and $100 cash); and 210 67th Street, which won the “Griswold Award” (and $50 cash) for having the most lights. Both of these monetary prizes were provided courtesy of 1st Bank of Sea Isle City.
In addition to our traditional Holiday Lighting Contest, which requires properties to be nominated before judging takes place, this year the Recreation Office added a “People’s Choice Award” to the competition, which allowed members of the public to nominate any decorated property they admire.
The top winner of the People’s Choice Holiday Lighting Award (which comes with a gift bag filled with goodies) went to VFW Post 1963. The second place People’s Choice winner was the home at 18 50th Street, which will receive a $50 gift certificate courtesy of Dalrymple’s Card and Gift Shoppe.
My thanks go to everyone who decorated their homes and businesses this year, whether you entered our Holiday Lighting Contest or not, because you helped make Sea Isle City extra-beautiful for the holidays.
In other “holiday news,” our 33rd annual Mayor’s Toy & Food Drive was a huge success – thanks to the many people who showed tremendous generosity once again. In addition to supplying nine families with toys and food, we also were able to donate food to the Sea Isle City United Methodist Food Cupboard and deliver candy to our local shut-in residents.
My thanks go to everyone who donated items for this year’s Toy & Food Drive as well as the local businesses that graciously offered to serve as drop-off locations during our annual drive: Crest Savings Bank, Dee’s Hair Salon, 1st Bank of Sea Isle City, Mrs. Brizzle’s Buns & Deli, Rick’s Breakfast House and Sands Department Store.
Also, a very special “Thank you” goes to my “elves” who organized, wrapped, packed and helped deliver this year’s donations. You’re surely all on Santa’s “Nice List!”
Don’t forget that Sea Isle City is a great place to celebrate the New Year. In addition to our terrific fireworks display at 8 p.m. on December 31, many of our local restaurants will be welcoming customers on New Year’s Eve, so make your dinner reservations now and plan to be here as 2026 gets underway.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year!
Smile … You’re in Sea Isle!
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
