On June 2, I had the pleasure of presiding over a swearing-in ceremony at City Hall, where two of our well-respected police officers were promoted to new positions. My congratulations go to Officer Michael Mol, who advanced from Patrolman to Sergeant, and Officer Shawn Lesniewski, who was promoted from Sergeant to Lieutenant. I am sure that both Sergeant Mol and Lieutenant Lesniewski are more than qualified to accomplish their new duties – and my thanks go to them and each of our local police officers for keeping our town safe year after year.

It is also my pleasure to congratulate the members of the Overbrook Bicycle Association, who completed their 60th annual bike ride from the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge to Sea Isle City on Saturday. For six decades, this group of enthusiastic cyclists have peddled their way to Sea Isle each June just for fun – and, along the way, they have also peddled into many of our hearts! It was my pleasure to greet Fran Dolan and the many other OBA cyclists as they rolled into town on Saturday afternoon (a day that I was happy to declare “Overbrook Bicycle Association Day), and we all look forward to welcoming them back each June for many years to come!

On Monday, I was honored to be invited to the Sea Isle City Historical Museum, where I was greeted by many Historical Society Members, who had gathered for their annual summer kick-off meeting. I want to thank all the good folks at the Historical Society for doing a fantastic job of preserving our town’s rich history – and for sharing that history with others at their amazing museum! Thank you, Historical Society!

As you probably know, we here in Sea Isle City are very proud of our nation’s veterans – including the countless women who have served in our nation’s armed forces over the years. So, when it was suggested that we host a ceremony on June 12, which is Women Veterans Recognition Day, we quickly said “yes.” I want to thank everyone who attended today’s ceremony at Veterans Park, including each member of the audience and all the women veterans who joined us at the podium – and I look forward to seeing you every year at our future Women Veterans Recognition Day Ceremonies!

You are also probably aware that this weekend our Tourism Office will host Sea Isle’s annual Skimmer Festival Weekend – and if you know what Skimmer Weekend is, you know that it is our largest festival of the year, and that it’s packed with plenty of free family entertainment. To learn more about this year’s “Skimmer” activities, see the special section in this week’s E-Newsletter, go to www.VisitSICNJ.com, or call Sea Isle’s Division of Tourism at 609-263-8687.

Looking further down the road, I hope you can join me on Thursday, June 19, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM, when I will be the “guest donut maker” at The Fractured Prune Donut Shop at 5004 Landis Avenue. I was invited to join the folks at The Fractured Prune as they celebrate their 5th anniversary in business – and, to make things even more exciting, they have generously offered to donate 100% of the sales we make during the hour I am with them to the charities of my choice. Since June 19 is “Juneteenth” (a national holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States), I decided that a portion of the money we earn that day will go to Shiloh Baptist Church in Ocean City, which has served many members of the Black community since 1912. Additionally, a portion of the profits will also go to VFW Post 1963 and Post 1963’s Auxiliary. –So please join me at The Fractured Prune on June 19 to enjoy some delicious donuts and support several worthy organizations!

Don’t forget that Flag Day is June 14 – so please remember to fly “Old Glory” all day on Saturday!

This week’s “Shout Out” goes to Colleen Crowley and Amy Schiavone, who own a new local business called “Trash Can Chicks.” The service these entrepreneurial ladies offer includes “valet trash can management,” which is a fun way to say they will haul your trash and recycling receptacles to the curb and back again on collection days (for a small fee). No doubt, this service will be very appealing to people who rent their properties and also to “weekend warriors” who can’t be here on their street’s curbside collection days – and I wish Colleen and Amy nothing but success with their new business! To learn more about the Trash Can Chicks, phone 215-680-4384 or 609-374-6135 – or pick-up one of their flyers at the Welcome Center.

Smile…You’re in Sea Isle!

Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio