In one of his many popular movies, Clint Eastwood famously asked the question: “Do you feel lucky?” After last weekend’s nor-easter – and the impact it could have had on our region – I think we can all count our lucky stars because the coastal storm we had seen coming and carefully planned for was not as severe as some forecasts predicted. 

As often happens when a storm of this magnitude is rolling-up the coastline, our municipal offices (including the Mayor’s Office) receive a variety of phone calls from people who have questions about the pending storm – including where flooding might occur and if we have any insight about the storm’s impact.  As we all know, staying informed with accurate information prior to any serious event can be the best away to avoid problems – and when it comes to foul weather, such as the nor-easter that impacted our community on Sunday and Monday, everyone can rest assured that we take storm readiness very seriously here in Sea Isle City, and our Office of Emergency Management, our first responders, and other municipal employees are dedicated to keeping everyone safe and well-informed prior to (and during) bad weather events.  

 When storms are predicted, please listen carefully when you receive a message through our emergency-alert phone system, keep an eye on your e-mail inbox for weather advisories from the city, and also check our social media accounts for helpful posts – and always remember that we are more than happy to answer your questions whenever you phone us!  After all, it was Benjamin Franklin who said: “Diligence is the mother of good luck” – and we want everyone to “feel lucky!” 

Even though we experienced less-than-ideal weather on Saturday morning, many good-hearted people still supported the Environmental Commission’s Beach Clean-up event by removing trash from our beaches and dunes – and planting dune grass that helped strengthen our dune system.   My thanks go to each of the volunteers who donated their time to beautify and strengthen our shoreline during this important event,  and special thanks go to the members of the Environmental Commission for continually caring about the ecological health of Sea Isle City and for interacting with the members of our community in wonderful ways throughout the year!   Thank you all!

As I mentioned in my last newsletter message, the Sea Isle City Recreation Office’s 2025 Halloween Parade takes place this Friday at 7:00 PM along Landis Avenue, followed by our annual Halloween Family Dance Party at Excursion Park. Then, the Chamber of Commerce will host their yearly “Harvest Classic” on Saturday at Excursion Park, where there will be activities that will entertain every member of your family. These events are a terrific way to welcome autumn’s arrival, so I hope you can be in town this weekend to celebrate the season in style! 

Later this month, the Sea Isle City Police Department will participate in the DEA’s annual Drug Take Back event from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 25, at City Hall, where the public can safely and anonymously dispose of unwanted prescription medications – and rid their homes of the hazards that dangerous drugs can present.  To learn more about this event, please phone 609-263-4431, ext. 2300, and one of our officers will answer any questions you may have.

Looking further afield, the Recreation Office is now taking reservations for their annual Trunk or Treat gathering at the Sea Isle City Library on Halloween Night – an event that seems to get bigger and better every year.  One of the challenges for people who love Halloween and live on a quiet street during the off-season is that they don’t typically get trick-or-treaters at their doors. Trunk-or-Treat offers everyone the chance to “get into the spirit” of Halloween and give candy and other treats to costumed kids on October 31 – plus, it’s a perfect place for children to fill their candy bags and make the most of this spooky holiday!  To learn more about Trunk-or-Treat or to inform our Recreation staff that you plan to bring your vehicle to the library’s parking lot and distribute treats on Halloween Night, please phone 609-263-0050.

Smile…You’re in Sea Isle!

Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio

“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises. --Abraham Lincoln