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Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio (front, center), who also serves as Vice-Chairman of First Bank of Sea Isle City’s Board of Directors, is shown presenting a “Key to the City” to Sea Isle City Italian-American Club Women’s Auxiliary 2017 Person of the Year Liz Pane, who manages First Bank’s Landis Avenue branch. Shown with the mayor and the honoree are First Bank board members (from left) Joe Romano, David Beyel, John Curry, First Bank President/CEO Larry Schmidt, Chairman Jack Gibson, Norma Gardner and Dave Farina.

Each year, the Sea Isle City Italian-American Club distributes scholarships to local high school students heading to college. During the club’s annual Awards Dinner on May 31 at the Lobster Loft Restaurant, this year’s scholarships were presented to Sarah Gardner and A.J. Garreffi, from Ocean City High School, Mary Kate Monichetti and Lauren Moretti, from Wildwood Catholic High School, and Dean Kolonich, of Saint Augustine Preparatory School.

Liz Payne, the Sea Isle City Italian-American Club Women’s Auxiliary 2017 Person of the Year (center) is shown on May 31 with (from left) Board Member Lynda Frazier, Secretary Netta Otto, President Colleen Buch and Vice-President Joann Morelli.

Also on May 31, the Italian American Club Women’s Auxiliary presented a check for more than $7300 to the Scleroderma Foundation in honor of auxiliary member Roxanne Sortino, who passed away in April.  The money, which was collected during a fundraiser earlier this year, was presented with the assistance of Mrs. Sortino’s husband and son.

Following a successful fundraiser earlier this year, on May 31 the Sea Isle City Italian-American Club Women’s Auxiliary presented a check for more than $7300 to the Scleroderma Foundation in honor of auxiliary member Roxanne Sortino, who passed away in April. Shown presenting the check to Scleroderma Foundation Executive Director Fee Sepahi (third from left) is Women’s Auxiliary Vice-President Joann Morelli (fourth from right), President Colleen Buch (third from right), auxiliary member Liz Pane (second from right), and Secretary Netta Otto. Also shown are (at left) Frank Sortino, III, and Frank Sortino, IV.

Toward the end of the evening’s Awards Ceremony, Sea Isle City Mayor Len Desiderio stepped to the microphone to present a “Key to the City” to Liz Pane, who is the Italian-American Club Women’s Auxiliary’s 2017 “Person of the Year.” Club President Dan Otto and Women’s Auxiliary President Colleen Buch – along with other club members and First Bank of Sea Isle City’s Board of Directors – were also on hand to honor Mrs. Pane, who is the manager at First Bank’s Landis Avenue branch.

During the Sea Isle City Italian-American Club’s annual Awards Dinner on May 31, Women’s Auxiliary President Colleen Buch (at left) and Club President Dan Otto (at right) presented college scholarships to several local high school students, including (from left) Dean Kolonich, of Saint Augustine Preparatory School, Lauren Moretti, from Wildwood Catholic High School, and AJ Garreffi, from Ocean City High School. Missing from photo are scholarship recipients Sarah Gardner, from Ocean City High School, and Mary Kate Monichetti, from Wildwood Catholic High School.

“There are certain people who ask if they can volunteer or help a good cause, but Liz Pane doesn’t ask…she just jumps in and always gets the job done,” said Colleen Buch. “Liz always puts others first and herself last, and many people don’t realize that she is often behind the scenes working diligently – from First Bank of Sea Isle City, to the Italian American Club, to the Chamber of Commerce. Liz is always there for others.”

The Sea Isle City Italian American Club meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at 309 JFK Boulevard. For more information, please phone 609-263-0700 or email italianamericanclubsic@gmail.com.

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