I hope you were able to be in Sea Isle City during our annual “Community Day” celebration on May 4, because it truly was a momentous day for our town. In addition to the usual Community Day activities that took place – including the bicycle auction, shredding event, meet-and-greet session, town-wide yard sale, and awards ceremony – we also unveiled two historic plaques, officially opened Sea Isle’s new Dog Park, and broke ground for our future Community Center.

Now that our beautiful Dog Park is open to the public, it’s no surprise that it’s already seeing a great deal of use. When I drive by the park, it makes me smile to see happy dog owners throwing tennis balls or encouraging their four-legged-friends to use the park’s playground equipment. Having a safe and convenient space where dogs can run freely off-leash is a welcomed addition to our community, and I hope all dog owners will have the opportunity to utilize Sea Isle’s newest recreation facility, which includes separate fenced-in areas for large and small dogs, water stations, shade structures, waste receptacles, and a picnic pavilion that is ADA accessible.

To learn more about our new Dog Park, which was funded by the Cape May County Open Spaces Board, please go to the Recreation / Dog Park page at www.VISITSICNJ.com.

Perhaps the most memorable aspect of this year’s Community Day was the groundbreaking ceremony for our future Community Center. It was great to see so many people in attendance at the groundbreaking – even though the rain likely kept some folks at home, which is understandable. Now that the building process for this important facility is underway, we encourage everyone to stay updated on the construction process right up to the point that we host a Grand Opening Ceremony in the autumn of 2025.

To stay “in the loop” as the Community Center is being constructed, please read our “Project Updates,” which appear in each of our E-Newsletters and on the homepage of our municipal website.

Looking ahead, there are several events taking place in the coming weeks that are certainly worth mentioning, including the Sea Isle City Garden Club’s annual Flower Sale on Saturday and Sunday at Dealy Field. Not only is the Flower Sale a very popular event that helps beautify homes throughout our community, it is also a fundraiser that benefits the Garden Club’s various charitable efforts. Knowing this, I hope you will show your support by purchasing some flowers for your home this weekend – be it a tray of annuals for your garden, a hanging basket for your deck, or a pot filled with colorful blossoms that will brighten your home’s front door.

Another event I hope you will be able to attend is our annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 10:00 AM on Monday, May 27. Each year, we gather at Veterans Park on Memorial Day to remind ourselves that “freedom isn’t free” and to honor the men and women who lost their lives while serving in the United States Armed Forces – and each year I am happy to see a strong turn-out for this important event. That being said, there is always more room for spectators in and around Veterans Park, so please join us on Memorial Day to show your appreciation for our nation’s democracy and the countless sacrifices that were made over the years to preserve it.

Even with all the important events that have taken place during the past two weeks and the numerous events that are coming our way in the weeks ahead, I am certain that none of us have lost sight of the fact that the summer season is rapidly approaching.

With the arrival of summer, I remind everyone that “safety” should be a top priority for each of us. That includes safety on the water, safety on the roads, and safety while walking and riding bikes. Therefore, I ask you to please remember these important reminders…

• Accidents on the water can take place while boating, swimming, or enjoying yourself on a dock – so please take all precautions whenever you or your children are at the beach or on the bay.

• The Sea Isle City Police Department enforces all traffic and parking regulations; and drivers are reminded that they must yield to pedestrians, stop at stop signs, obey the speed limit, only park in legal spaces, and never block sidewalks or ADA accessways with vehicles.

• Bicyclists must follow motor vehicle laws, which means they must also yield to pedestrians, stop at stop signs, have lights on their bikes at night, and ride with the flow of traffic in a safe and responsible manner.

• As for pedestrians, please remember to cross our busy streets at crosswalks and don’t assume that vehicles can see you when you step off the curb.

I ask that all of our residents, property owners and visitors remind their family and friends of these important rules, because spending time at a beach resort can be very exciting, but sometimes that excitement can distract us from making safe choices – and that’s when accidents can happen. Our goal is to have yet another amazing summer in Sea Isle City, and I hope you enjoy it safely and responsibly with many loved ones at your side.

This week’s “Shout Out” goes to the good people at the Arc of Cape May County, who recently presented me with their inaugural Community Champion Award – which I was honored to receive. Arc is an amazing organization that improves the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and I have the utmost respect for the important work that they perform. If you would like to learn more about the Arc of Cape May County, please visit their website, https://arcofcapemay.org/, or phone them at (609) 861-7100.

Smile…You’re in Sea Isle,

Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio