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 (Valentines 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 9:00 to 10:00 AM 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 10:00 AM 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
At the start of the February 10 City Council meeting, Mayor Desiderio delivered his annual State of the City Address, at which time he said: “the state of Sea Isle City is as strong as ever.”
Following the mayor’s speech, two ordinances were Introduced with First Reading…
• Ordinance 1731, which was written to resolve a discrepancy in the language of the Fair Share Housing Agreement, to match the current language used for building height requirements in each zone.
• Ordinance 1732, which was written to implement Sea Isle City’s Fair Share Housing terms, updating the regulations governing how affordable housing units are marketed, monitored, and priced (along with other similar items).
Ordinances 1731 and 1732 will each be sent to the Sea Isle City Planning Board to be reviewed for consistency with the city’s Master Plan. Afterwards, both ordinances will have Second Reading and Public Hearing (and possible adoption) during the March 10 City Council meeting.
Each of the resolutions on the February 10 Consent Agenda was approved, including…
• Resolution 016, which re-appointed the members of Sea Isle City’s Zoning Board.
• Resolution 017, which determined that the fund maintained by the City for Lifeguard pensions is adequate to meet its obligation.
• Resolution 018, which authorized the award of a construction contract in the amount of $366,758 to South State, Inc., of Bridgeton, NJ, for the reconstruction of 31st Street and 49th Street (Landis Avenue to Central Avenue) and 75th Street (Central Avenue to Bay Avenue).
During the “Pending Business” portion of the February 10 meeting…
• Council President Tighe announced that City Council will host a Budget Workshop on February 12 to review Sea Isle City’s proposed 2026 Municipal Budget. (Please Note: Each member of City Council attended the Budget Workshop, during which Chief Financial Officer Jen McIver and Business Administrator George Savastano explained the proposed budget in detail).
• Council President Tighe asked the Administrator for an update on the Community Center’s construction process, at which time Mr. Savastano explained that work on the elevator was continuing, and that all other remaining work on the building was nearing completion.
• Councilman Jargowsky mentioned the new laws pertaining to E-Bikes, and he asked if additional signage could be added to the Promenade. He also asked if the city could expand its use of the Promenade’s sound system to further promote safety issues.
During the “Citizen Comment” portion of the February 10 meeting, two property owners stepped to the microphone. The first gentleman made the following comments…
• The city should create a moratorium to stop the construction of new side-by-side houses.
• The city should purchase empty parcels of land and convert them to parking lots and add public showers at those parking lots for day-trippers.
• Asking if the city will be complying with the State’s Affordable Housing rules (Note: The City will comply).
• Asking if lifeguards contribute to the city’s Lifeguard Pension Fund (Note: Lifeguards do contribute).
• Sea Isle City should offer discounts to seniors on water-sewer rates.
Also, a well-known Veterans Advocate spoke about events that will be hosted to celebrate our nations’ 250th birthday, including…
• The 10th annual “Flags of Liberty” ceremony, a moving patriotic tribute that will honor the memories of our deceased veterans on May 22 at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Wildwood, featuring 400 flags that draped the caskets of past military members.
• “Sojourn 250,” which includes a single American flag traveling around the world (including all 50 states) to celebrate America’s semi-quincentennial. It was added that the flag had already begun its journey and was flying over Levi Stadium during this year’s Superbowl in California.
The next regular City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 24, at 10:00 AM on the third floor of City Hall. During the March 10 City Council meeting, the City Engineer will discuss the proposed options to add shade structures to the JFK Playground.
Best regards from the members of City Council,
Council President Mary Tighe
Ian Ciseck
Frank Edwardi
Michael Jargowski
William Kehner
