Schools are officially out for the summer, and we have entered full summer swing here in Sea Isle City! It is wonderful to see our beaches, promenade, and local businesses buzzing with families ready to make lasting memories. As we welcome back our seasonal residents and visitors, I want to emphasize safety. Please remember to swim only at guarded beaches where our Beach Patrol members are on duty. Additionally, with increased foot and bicycle traffic, I urge all drivers to stay alert, drive safely, stop for pedestrians at crosswalks, and always remain mindful of your surroundings.
We have an incredible lineup of family-friendly entertainment coming up that you will not want to miss. Our seasonal events kick off at Excursion Park this Saturday, June 27, with the return of our weekly Concerts Under the Stars. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy fantastic live music by the ocean. On Monday, June 29, families can join us for our beloved annual Sara the Turtle Festival, featuring environmental exhibits and fun activities for the kids. Then, on Wednesday, July 1, we will host our first weekly Movies Under the Stars night. Grab a blanket and enjoy a feature film under the night sky.
In addition to our traditional events, we are thrilled to host our very first drone light show next week on Tuesday, June 30 at 9:00 p.m. This high-tech visual display will take place over the marsh area located to the left of the kayak launch facing Dealy Field. For the absolute best viewing experience, I recommend finding a spot directly at Dealy Field or anywhere just to the north and east of the facility. It promises to be a spectacular night for spectators of all ages.
As we look ahead to Independence Day weekend, the excitement continues to build. On the 4th of July, our annual Junior Olympics will return to Dealy Field. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. for boys and girls ages 3 to 12, and the games will officially get underway at 10:00 a.m. This is a completely free community tradition, and I highly encourage families to participate or come out to cheer on our young athletes. I want to extend a sincere thank you to the volunteers from the Sea Isle City Yacht Club, whose dedicated help makes this event possible every single year.
Later that evening, you will certainly want to secure a spot for our spectacular 4th of July fireworks show starting at 9:15 p.m. We will be launching this year's display from a barge anchored in the ocean right off 50th Street, offering great visibility along our coastline.
Following some initial setbacks involving pipeline issues and rough seas, Norfolk Dredging has started pumping sand for our downtown beach replenishment project. Crews have already successfully placed over 100,000 cubic yards of sand. We are currently tracking toward a final completion date around the middle of July. As always, this specialized offshore work is highly dependent on weather conditions, so let us hope for calm seas over the next few weeks. You can track daily progress via the live link on our city website homepage.
I have two shout out’s for today’s newsletter:
First, congratulations and a huge thank you to Jason and Kylie Kelce for another successful “Team 62 Fundraiser” to support autism. Sea Isle deeply appreciates all of Jason and Kylie’s efforts for this worthy cause, and the great spirit and enthusiasm they bring to the city.
My next shout out goes to former Sea Isle City Public Safety Commissioner John Scarpa and his wife Jana. It was great to see these outstanding citizens the other night, who have always been great supporters of Sea Isle.
Because this is our final newsletter before the holiday, I want to leave you with one final request: please fly the flag! It would be truly magnificent to see every home and business in the city displaying Old Glory as we show our collective national pride and community spirit in honor of our country's historic 250th anniversary.
Smile…You’re in Sea Isle!
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
During the beginning of the June 23 City Council meeting, the council discussed the appointments of individual council members to the Planning Board and the Tourism Commission. In accordance with city ordinance, one council member serves on the Planning Board, and one member serves on the Tourism Commission. The council came to consensus that Frank Edwardi would be appointed to the Planning Board, and Ian Ciseck would be appointed to the Tourism Commission.
Each of the resolutions on the consent agenda were approved, including…
• Resolution 083, which authorized the issuance of the ABC renewal license for the Oar House.
• Resolution 088, which authorized the execution of a shared services agreement with Ocean City for Construction Official and Sub-Code Official Services from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Resolution 089, which authorized the 2026 4th of July and New Year’s Eve Fireworks Shows.
• Resolution 091, which authorized the execution of a shared services agreement with Ocean City for Municipal Engineering Services and Business Administrator from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Resolution 093, which authorized submission of a grant application to the New Jersey Department of Transportation Municipal Aid Program for the reconstruction of Pleasure Avenue, from 85th Street to 94th Street.
• Resolution 094, which authorized the appointment of an ABC Conflict Attorney, Anthony Golowski II, of the law firm Goldberg Segalla.
• Resolution 095, which authorized professional services for Auditing and Accounting with Ford, Scott & Associates.
• Resolution 097, appointing Frank Edwardi as a Class III Member to the Planning Board (1 Year).
• Resolution 098, appointing Ian Ciseck as Council Member to the Tourism Commission (1 Year).
• Resolution 099, which authorized the appointment of Paul J. Baldini as City Solicitor for the term of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Under the pending business portion of the council meeting, council president Mary Tighe discussed the city’s noise ordinance, and indicated that it must be submitted to the NJ Department of Environmental Protection for approval. Councilwoman Tighe directed the solicitor to review the DEP’s model noise ordinance and blend it with the city’s current ordinance for review by council and the administration, after which it can be submitted to DEP for approval.
Under the new business portion of the council meeting, the council elected Mike Jargowsky as city council president for the term from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Current council president Tighe explained the provisions in the city ordinance that dictate that council members may hold the council presidency for one year per 4-year period, ensuring a rotation of the council membership in this position.
During the “Citizen Comment” portion of the meeting, several citizens stepped to the microphone to comment on various topics, including the following:
-Enforcement of the city’s ordinances regarding matters related to noise, property maintenance, trash, and construction codes.
-Complimented the Hometown Heroes banner program.
-Suggested the Army Corps of Engineers consider dredging Townsends Inlet.
-Expressed concerns about the condition of the Coast Guard Property at 82nd street.
Police Chief Tony Garreffi gave an update on the police department’s current efforts to certify officers in noise enforcement. The police have a robust action plan in place to ensure public safety and quality of life issues, and at the next council meeting, the chief will provide a report on the work of the department.
Our next City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 14, at 10:00 AM on the third floor of City Hall – and we hope to see you there!
Best regards from the members of City Council,
Council President Mary Tighe
Ian Ciseck
Frank Edwardi
Michael Jargowski
William Kehner
