I begin this message with heartfelt words of thanks to the many participants, volunteers and supporters, who helped make this year’s “Shooting Stars” basketball clinic so memorable.  For those who are not aware, for the past several summers, our Recreation Office has hosted the Shooting Stars clinics at Dealy Field, where young people with developmental challenges were able to play basketball, make new friends, and receive a great deal of encouragement. 

As the saying goes, “it takes a village” – and that is just what is needed to make a program like Sea Isle’s Shooting Stars the huge success it is.  It has been truly heartwarming to see the amount of support the community has given to our Shooting Stars program, and words cannot express how grateful I am for everyone who has showered the players with love, support, and thoughtful gifts. In addition to the members of our Recreation Office, who have worked very hard to make sure the weekly basketball clinics are a success, my thanks also go to the local organizations that supported this year’s players in amazing ways, including the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol, the Chamber of Commerce & Revitalization, the Italian American Club, VFW Post 1963, the Sea Isle City Women’s Civic Club, and the Yacht Club of Sea Isle City. Furthermore, we are all very grateful for the support this program has received from the Mike Seafood’s Run-Walk for Autism, the Dryer Family, Paul and Carol Touey, and Mary Shields and her family (who are the event’s biggest cheerleaders). –Thank you all!

Last week, the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol hosted this year’s Tri-Resort Lifeguard Races on the 45^th Street Beach – and I am happy to report that our lifeguards from the SICBP emerged as the competition’s overall winners, defeating guards from Upper Township and Wildwood Beach Patrols. My congratulations go to all our guards who “brought home victory” that night, including our first-place winners: Danny Rogers (singles rowing), Kylie Fry, Dustin Laricks, and Andrew Torney (paddleboard relay), Mike Carolan, Bridget Kennedy, and Andrew Torney (3-mile run relay), and Conor McNamara & Pat Scannapieco (doubles rowing). –Congratulations SICBP!

Last week was a very busy week for our local lifeguards, because (in addition to keeping beachgoers safe every day and hosting the Tri-resorts Races on July 29) they also hosted the SICBP’s annual Bill Gallagher 10-Mile Island Run on Saturday night, which featured nearly 1000 athletes. My congratulations go to each of the runners who completed the Island Run, and my thanks to go our lifeguards for once again hosting this event – and for all they do throughout the summer season!  

In addition to the beautiful weather we have been experiencing, Sea Isle’s popular summer events keep rolling along.  On Tuesday evening, the Sea Isle City Police Department’s annual National Night Out festivities took place at Excursion Park, where families enjoyed games, free food, giveaways, exploring first response vehicle displays, and interacting with our local police officers, firefighters, EMT’s and lifeguards. 

I want to thank all the families and first response organizations who attended our National Night Out celebration, including the members of our Police Department, Division of Emergency Medical Services, Fire Department and Beach Patrol, as well as the members of the Cape May County Prosecutors Office, Sheriff’s Office and SWAT Team, who were also there.  Additional thanks go to the local businesses and organizations that helped make the evening a success with their generous support, including Aladdin's Beach Brew & Ice Cream, Crest Savings Bank, Cross County Connection, The Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce, Freda Real Estate, James Fudge & Salt Water Taffy, La Finestra Restaurant, The Ocean Drive Bar & Restaurant, and Sea Isle’s Volunteer Ambulance Corps. –Thank you all! 

As I said in my recent newsletter message, there is still “plenty of summer left in the season” – and I hope you are making the most of the month of August by enjoying all that Sea Isle City has to offer. Even though we don’t want to think about the summer coming to an end, I want to mention a new “post Labor Day” event that I am sure many people will enjoy. I am speaking about Sea Isle City’s first annual Decorated Golf Cart Parade, which will take place on Sunday, September 7, and will run along Pleasure and Landis Avenues. Anyone with a golf cart (aka: Low Speed Vehicle) is invited to participate in what we feel will become a fun Sea Isle City tradition, during which prizes will be presented to the best decorated vehicles in several categories. You can learn more about this new event in the special section in this week’s Newsletter – or you can phone the Recreation Office at 609-263-0050. 

As a reminder, there’s still time for children to submit entries in this year’s Beach Tag Art Contest – and the Sea Isle City Environmental Commission is still accepting nominations for their 2025 Beautification Awards. The deadline to submit designs for the Beach Tag Art Contest is September 1, and you have until August 20 to nominate a property you hope will win a Beautification Award.

Two of the many things I love about summertime in Sea Isle City is seeing familiar faces return year after year, and meeting people who are experiencing our town for the first time – some of whom travel great distance to be here.  Earlier this week I had the pleasure of meeting several families who made me smile, and I have a “Shout Out” for each of them…

The first Shout Out goes to the members of the Walsh and Barrett families, who I had the pleasure of speaking with on Tuesday. The Barretts have been coming to Sea Isle City for many years; however, their relatives in the Walsh family, who are from Belfast, Ireland, were visiting Sea Isle City for the first time – and it was a pleasure to speak with each of them, especially youngsters Max, Ana and Leo Walsh!  

The next Shout Out goes to the Boyer and Wolvin families, who I also had the pleasure of spending time with this week. On Wednesday, Pat and Rob Boyer were kind enough to introduce me to their charming grandchildren, Remy, Marshall and Aurelia – and I was very happy to speak with them all! 

My thanks and best wishes go to every member of the Walsh, Barrett, Boyer and Wolvin families – and I hope they enjoy the remainder of the summer!

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