Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio
The 2026 Presidents Day weekend brought many people to town, and fortunately Mother Nature was kind enough to supply us with some relatively pleasant weather that helped make the long holiday weekend even more enjoyable.
Everywhere you looked, you could see smiling faces – and from all reports, our local eateries were filled with hungry patrons in search of delicious meals, countless shoppers enjoyed an array of discounted merchandise at local retailers, and everyone seemed to have a terrific winter weekend in Sea Isle City.
Of course, the biggest attraction during Presidents Weekend was the Mike’s Seafood Run-Walk for Autism, which took place on Saturday (Valentine’s Day), with thousands of participants and spectators in attendance.
The annual fundraiser once again brought families, individuals, and enthusiastic groups of supporters together on our beautiful oceanfront Promenade, where they either raced in the 5K Run or simply strolled along in the fresh salt air during a family-friendly walk.
Afterwards, under the event’s giant tent at Excursion Park, participants enjoyed food, purchased raffle tickets for some amazing prizes, and chatted with representatives from autism support organizations – plus, there were also some “celebrity sightings” (including everyone’s favorite retired Philadelphia Eagle and local homeowner, Jason Kelce).
My thanks go to Mike and Jeannie Monichetti for once again hosting their very important (and much-loved) Run-Walk for Autism on Saturday – and for reminding everyone that Sea Isle City is a great place to have fun during the off-season, and that the people of our community are always happy to support an important cause. Thank you, Mike and Jeannie!
Looking ahead, there are several events on our horizon that are worth mentioning, including the Sea Isle City Garden Club’s annual “Green Auction” on Thursday evening, March 5, inside the Community Lodge.
During this enjoyable gathering, participants can place modest bids on a wide variety of “green” gifts, which are beautifully wrapped (and a complete mystery until the winning bidder unwraps their prize in front of the entire crowd). This event is a terrific way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day and the approaching spring season, and all proceeds support the Garden Club’s charitable efforts.
Another event we are very proud of is the City Clerk’s annual Rabies Clinic on Saturday, March 7, from 9 to 10 a.m. in the Community Lodge, where your dog or cat can receive a free rabies vaccination.
Additionally, representatives from our Clerk’s Office will be selling Municipal Dog Licenses for those who need them. The Rabies Clinic is held in conjunction with the County’s Department of Health, an organization that cares deeply about everyone’s wellbeing (including your pets).
Later in March, I will once again have the honor of hosting Sea Isle City’s annual National Vietnam War Veterans Day Ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, at Veterans Park, where we will honor all of our nation’s Vietnam War vets.
This is a very important event because (as you may know) many of our Vietnam veterans did not receive the warm welcome they deserved when they returned home from battle – and our ceremony will help serve as a reminder of how grateful our community is for their service. So, I hope you will join us on March 28 at Veterans Park as we say “Thank you” to our nation’s Vietnam War veterans.
For more information about these and the many other events that are coming your way in Sea Isle City, please go to the “calendar” page at www.VISITSICNJ.com, phone Sea Isle City’s Tourism Office at 609-263-8687, or stop-by the Welcome Center at 300 JFK Boulevard.
Smile … You’re in Sea Isle!
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
