Times Talk
Winners of the 2020 beautification awards presented by the Sea Isle City Environmental Commission.
BEAUTIFICATION AWARDS TIME
It’s that time of year again: The Sea Isle City Environmental Commission is asking you to nominate for the 34th Annual Beautification Awards.
Has your neighbor been spending the summer working in their garden? Does your favorite store have especially beautiful flowers this year? Have you worked hard to make your home stand out in your neighborhood?
The Environmental Commission appreciates and wants to honor those efforts to provide Sea Isle City with an even more beautiful landscape. It is asking you to nominate those neighbors –or yourself – for the beautification awards. These awards are for all local properties that have shown improvement in their overall appearance, display attractive architecture and landscaping, or have maintained an eye-catching exterior. Properties can be nominated by residents and visitors alike – or by the property owners themselves.
Winners will be presented with a custom-designed plaque and gift certificate to Sea Grove Nursery in Ocean View during the Fall Family Festival at noon Sept. 19 on the Promenade at JFK Boulevard.
All are invited to submit nominations of properties they feel represent the necessary traits to be considered for this award. Nominations will be accepted through Sept. 9.
To nominate a property, please submit a completed application form to the Environmental Commission. Application forms are available at the Sea Isle City Welcome Center, in the lobby of City Hall, or online at seaislecitynj.us on the “Environment Commission” page. For more information, call 609-263-3537.
Ava and Andres Edwards with Mayor Leonard Desiderio (right), and their mother Michelle at City Hall ceremony.
Ava Edwards won the gold medal in the 400 meters and bronze in the 200.
(Photo courtesy of Keri Burns)
JUNIOR OLYMPIANS HONORED AT CITY HALL
Ava Edwards, fresh off winning gold and bronze medals at the AAU Junior Olympics, was honored along with her brother Andres in a ceremony in front of Sea Isle’s City Hall on Aug. 13.
Ten-year-old Ava won a gold medal in the 400-meter race during the Junior Olympics, held July 28-Aug. 7 in Houston. She also won a bronze medal in the 200 meters and placed fourth in the 100 meters in the girls’ division of her age group.
Andres, who is 9, achieved two personal bests and ranked 20th in his age group at the competition.
“Ava is the fastest 10-year-old girl in America,” Mayor Leonard Desiderio proclaimed as he introduced her to a crowd of well-wishers. Along with the mayor, the crowd included members of the Edwards family, city councilman Bill Kehner, representatives from VFW Post 1963 in Sea Isle City, and members of Sea Isle City’s Police Department, Volunteer Fire Department, and Division of Emergency Medical Services.
“We are all very proud of Ava and Andres, and we wish them all the best,” added Desiderio, as he handed them certificates of achievement and a variety of gifts.
Their mother, Michelle, noted: “The national rankings were released on Aug. 12, and Ava is ranked No. 1 in the 400, No. 3 in the 200, and No. 4 in the 100 meters in the entire country.”
She added: “It’s been an amazing experience for Ava and Andres. We always tell them, as parents, that they have to earn things – and their hard work has paid off. We couldn’t be more proud of them both.”
Father Perry Cherubini leads members of the congregation to the beach.
A blessed wreath is placed in the surf by a member of the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol.
ST. JOSEPH CONDUCTS BEACH BLESSING, WEDDING OF THE SEA
The ocean waves were rough, but that didn’t stop St. Joseph Church from celebrating the Feast of the Assumption on Aug. 15.
Following Mass, Father Perry Cherubini led members of the congregation out of the church. They made their way safely across Landis Avenue with the help of the Sea Isle City Police Department and down to the 44th Street beach just a short block away.
Once at Sea Isle City Beach Patrol Headquarters, the crowd was led in a prayer and made their way down to the water. While the rough surf didn’t stop the celebration, it did keep Father Perry on steady ground as he opted to pass off the blessed wreath to beach patrol members for distribution to the sea.
They rowed their boat past the waves and placed the wreath on the water.
The Wedding of the Sea tradition began in Venice, Italy, around the year 1000 to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption. The tradition honors the relationship of the city and the sea, and asks God to grant success to the work of so many who have made the city a wonderful place to live.
Following this year’s blessing, attendees were invited to visit the parish’s auditorium parking lot at 44th and Central Avenue, where the parish held its first Wedding of the Sea Festival, which it hopes to make an annual addition to the beach blessing.
In addition to several food trucks on hand, there were commemorative T-shirts, free gifts, and music for the participants to enjoy.
Olivia DeRogatis was the women’s champion and finished 23rd overall from among some 600 entrants.
Kevin McDonnell was the first to finish the Captain Bill Gallagher 10-Mile Island Run, sponsored by the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol.
CAPT. BILL GALLAGHER 10-MILE RUN ATTRACTS 600
The Sea Isle City Beach Patrol’s annual Captain Bill Gallagher 10-Mile Island Run, which took place on Aug. 14, celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.
The overall top place finishers were Kevin McDonnell, 31, of Moorestown, and Olivia DeRogatis, 26, of West Chester, Pa.
McDonnell was the overall winner in 56 minutes, 34.16 seconds. DeRogatis was the women’s champion and 23rd overall in 1:08.73.
Awards were given to the overall top 10 runners, as well as the first- and second-place runners in 13 age categories. Team plaques and individual medals were given to the first- and second-place running clubs, as well as the first-place beach patrol team and the first-place corporate team.
More than 600 athletes registered to compete in the 10-mile run, 2½ miles of which take place on the paved Promenade, with the remainder of the grueling course on Sea Isle City’s beach.
The event honors Bill Gallagher, a retired SICBP captain who was the starter of the Aug. 14 race. Gallagher served as captain from 1970-77 and was inducted into the SICBP Alumni Hall of Fame in 2007.
Runners were encouraged to donate to the For Pete’s Sake Foundation, a foundation started by a former SICBP member that helps provide respite vacations for adult cancer patients and their families along the East Coast. For each runner who raised $250, the beach patrol pledged to donate $15. To join the beach patrol in these efforts, visit takeabreakfromcancer.org.
Firemen Keith Pryce, Bruce Knoll and Robert Beare worked overnight for the Sea Isle City Fire Department this summer.
SICFD OVERNIGHT CREWS HAVE QUIET SUMMER
Earlier this year, the Sea Isle City Council approved an ordinance to add overnight crews to the fire department in order to facilitate faster response times.
This new step was part of a restructuring of the current fire department. The evening firefighters were to be paid $160 each night they work, with the overall cost of the program being capped at $30,000 a month.
The Sea Isle City Fire Department is a volunteer company, so a full crew is not always on hand at the firehouse. Firefighters must go there before leaving for the site of the emergency.
The overnight crews were prepared and stationed in time for the busy summer season and are expected to continue through October. While they have not been called upon to respond to an active fire call to date, they have been helpful in a variety of other situations.
“Public safety is always our No. 1 goal,” said Katherine Custer, spokesperson for Sea Isle City.
“The department is making strides to continue to grow and do what they need to do for the community.”
The Cape May County Park & Zoo is home to a variety of new species including Gertoode the red kangaroo as part of a fundraising campaign hosted by the Cape May County Zoological Society to build new habitats for kangaroos, emus and Toco Toucans.
FALL IS A GREAT TIME TO VISIT THE CAPE MAY COUNTY PARK & ZOO
Have a wild time and be sure to explore this world-renowned Park and Zoo for a full day of family fun. The Cape May County Park & Zoo features more than 500 animals representing over 200 different species with up-close viewing, plus be sure to travel through the World of Birds Aviary, the Reptile House, the Arc in the Park Gift Shop and more! Plus jump on the carousel, hop around two great playground areas, or get a birds eye view with the Tree to Tree Adventure Park featuring an aerial adventure course with zip lines, nets, Tarzan swings and obstacles for all ages and ability!
What’s new at the Zoo? A lot! This zoo is always up to something and this summer, welcomed a variety of new species and habitats. Capybara pups were born on June 15, and are the cutest! What are their names? We’ll find out as the Zoo is hosting a naming contest and will announce the winning male and female names in early fall.
The Cape May Zoological Society is currently in the midst of a Habitat Fundraising Campaign to build two new exhibits to house Red Kangaroos, Emus, and Toco Toucans. And some of these animals are already here, awaiting their new digs! Be sure to meet Delta and Echo the new emus, and three female kangaroos Proodence, Gertoode, and Roothie! Donations are still being accepted at capemayzoosociety.org to finish the project.
“We’re looking forward to a great fall at the Park and Zoo, and excited to welcome these new species to our family,” says Park Director, Ed Runyon. “The Cape May County Zoological Society is so close to completing this fundraising goal, and once accomplished, the Park and Zoo will be able to showcase two brand new habitats and three new species for our visitors to enjoy.”
Plus the Zoo has a great schedule of special events through the fall including Night Walks, Yoga, Snow Leopard Day, Trunk or Treat and the popular Boo at the Zoo! Check the website for news and announcements, and a full schedule of events.