If you were in town on May 3, I hope you were able to enjoy our various Community Day activities, which included free document shredding (courtesy of 1^st Bank of Sea Isle City), a City Council meeting, a municipal bike auction, a gathering in the Community Lodge that allowed people to speak with city and county officials as well as representatives from our local civic organizations, a town-wide yard sale (hosted by the Chamber of Commerce), and our annual Community Day Awards Ceremony.

My heartfelt thanks goes to everyone who made this year’s Community Day a success, including the good folks at 1st Bank, our friends at the Chamber of Commerce, the devoted officers at our County Sheriff’s Office, each of the representatives from our local civic organizations who shared info about “what they do” with the public, and the many city employees who ensured that Community Day was a strong reminder of what a great town we have. –Thank you all!

Additionally, I want to congratulate everyone who was honored during our awards ceremony on May 3, including the members of VFW Post 1963’s Auxiliary, who received 1^st Bank of Sea Isle City’s 2025 Community Partnership Award – and a check for $2000.  Also honored were the youngsters who won this year’s Beach Tag Art Contest: Aubrey Ganster, Santino Quercetti, Julianna Romano, and Regan Cunningham; and this year’s “Do The Right Thing” award recipients: Austin Ermold, Bernadette Delozier, Tom Delozier, Art Iannone, Bette Keller, Terry Moore, Dylan Ramirez, and Doug Williamson. 

Last week, two important police organizations literally “rolled through Sea Isle City” – and we could not have been happier to welcome them to town! On Friday, the Law Enforcement United Bike Tour passed through our community, and on Saturday the Police Unity Bike Tour was here – both on their way to Washington, DC.  My thanks go to all of the officers and the volunteers from across the Garden State who participated in those important events, which raised funds and awareness for causes that support police officers and their families.   

Even though Sea Isle City has an abundance of natural beauty, terrific places to shop and dine, and plenty of entertainment and recreation options all year long, I firmly believe that our community is an amazing place simply because of the people who call Sea Isle their home (and their home away from home) – including the many civic organizations that you’ll find here. One of those groups is the Sea Isle City Garden Club, which consists of dedicated members who not only know how to make gardens look amazing, but they also understand the importance of serving others. That’s why each year the Garden Club hosts a huge Flower Sale, which is a fundraiser that supports their various charitable endeavors. Please know that the Garden Club’s 2025 Flower Sale will take place this weekend, Friday and Saturday, May 16 and 17, at the Dealy Field basketball courts, and you can find more information about this important event in this week’s E-Newsletter and on the calendar page at www.VisitSICNJ.com. 

Also this weekend, the Sea Isle City Police Department will be playing a friendly softball game against representatives from the Vineland Police Department at 4:30 PM on Saturday afternoon at Dealy Field – and members of the public are invited to come out and cheer on our hometown team! 

I once again will have the honor of hosting Sea Isle City’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26, at 10:00 AM, at Veterans Park, where everyone is invited to gather in recognition of the true meaning of that important holiday. While many people may look forward to family barbecues and celebrating the arrival of the summer season on Memorial Day, we should not forget that it is (most importantly) a day to honor the men and women of our nation’s military who lost their lives while fighting for our country. That being said, if you are not able to join us at Veterans Park on Memorial Day, I hope you will at least fly Old Glory at your home and keep the many lives that were lost for our nation in your thoughts and prayers on May 26.

Congratulations to Ian Ciseck, Michael Jargowsky and Mary Tighe for being elected to City Council during Tuesday’s elections! I look forward to working with them and the other members of City Council, because we are one Sea Isle City and together we’ll be stronger than ever.   

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