Times Talk
An aerial surprise for the unveiling of the new marina sign from Mike’s Seafood, where Frank P. “Cheech” Edwardi Sr. was a longtime employee.
The Edwardi family and friends at the dedication ceremony in July.
MARINA RENAMED IN HONOR OF FRANK EDWARDI SR.
The Municipal Marina at 42nd Place & the bay was renamed the Frank P. Edwardi Sr. Sea Isle City Marina on July 26 in a dedication ceremony led by Mayor Leonard Desiderio.
Edwardi, who died July 6, 2021, was the harbor master and marina supervisor from 1989 until retiring from the City of Sea Isle in 2020.
“How fitting and appropriate that Frank be honored and memorialized,” said his son, Anthony. “Having the marina dedicated to him will be a lasting memory and a benefit to the community and to the lives he touched. And for 15 years in coordination with the City and Mike’s Seafood, he helped run the Joe Distasio Special Olympics Crabbing Tournament for special needs children.”
Says his wife, Kathy: “He loved the city. He loved the fire department. He loved the marina. I mean, he built all those docks himself. He was a one-man operation. Then he would go and work for Mike’s Seafood for like 25 years. Honestly, he hardly ever slept.”
Edwardi was a member of Sea Isle City’s Volunteer Fire Department for 48 years, and from 2011-19 served as fire chief. He also owned and operated a Sunoco station on 49th Street for 35 years.
Originally from Philadelphia, Edwardi served in the Army National Guard. He was a mechanic by trade. Frank, known as “Cheech,” moved with Kathy to Sea Isle in 1968.
Frank Edwardi Jr. described his father as “a dedicated, hard-working father who always put his family first. He always had a smile on his face, always looking to try and help people. He is truly the essence of what ‘a good guy’ means. He will be missed by all but never forgotten. He was truly the best of the best.”
Shore-based shark fishing is now prohibited.
FISHING REGULATIONS AMENDED
The City of Sea Isle has amended its rules and regulations for fishing off its beaches. It now prohibits shore-based shark fishing in, on, or near the beaches and within 600 feet of the city’s beaches. The ban also prohibits all fishing by chum, vessels, and or drones, in, on, or within 600 feet of Sea Isle’s shoreline. The new rules and regulations went into effect Aug. 8.
Furthermore, persons are not to target or harvest sharks from the beach, or from any attached structure to the beach, which includes but is not limited to piers, jetties, and bridges. Additionally, it prohibits shore-based shark fishing by chumming/blood-baiting, using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), or the assistance or use of water vessels by any person working alone or with others within Sea Isle City’s limits.
“This new rule is a result of complaints we’ve received from beachgoers, and it is intended to keep everyone safe and happy on our shoreline,” said spokesperson Katherine Custer.
Violators will be fined up to $1,250 per occurrence.
The City is in the process of working with the local fishing community and the surfing community to examine long-term solutions to shark fishing.
Dustin Laricks Jr., SICBP Rookie of the Year
‘DUSTY’ LARICKS NAMED SICBP ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Dustin Laricks Jr. was given the esteemed honor of Rookie Lifeguard of the Year at the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol awards dinner Aug. 16 at Oar House Pub.
“It’s the last award given out at the dinner and it’s always the highlight of the night,” said SICBP Chief Renny Steele.
High fives and cheers abound as Lt. Chuck Gehman announced 16-year-old “Dusty” as the winner.
“Near the end of the season, I pass out anonymous ballots,” Steele said, “and the senior lifeguards vote on who they feel represented best lifeguard as a rookie: who was attentive, alert, aggressive in lifeguarding, in other words not just sitting back but taking command of the beach.”
Dusty’s father, the head of Laricks Real Estate and a lifeguard in Sea Isle from 1993-99, said he and his wife Debbie couldn’t be prouder.
“Dusty made up his mind in the wintertime that he wanted to try out, and he trained all winter in a pool to complete the swim tryout,” said the elder Laricks. “He was already a pretty accomplished runner. But he set his mind to it. He decided he wanted to become a guard and he trained.”
Steele added that Dusty “is a year-round resident of Sea Isle City, so obviously he knows the ocean well. And that always adds to a lifeguard. He knows what a rip looks like. He understands cross currents. He understands what the wind will do to the ocean. He’s an excellent surfer. So, he has a really good water sense.”
Champ (left) and Kia might have a new dog park to visit.
CITY FINALIZING PLANS FOR DOG PARK
The City of Sea Isle City could soon add to its dog-friendly reputation with a dog park. Plans are to utilize a property on Landis Avenue near Seventh Street that is owned by the city. The space known as the paint chip lot, which is leased by the City to a private company for environmental testing, will be repositioned and made smaller in order to help make way for the dog park.
“There will still be plenty of parking in the north end,” said Community Services Director Katherine Custer. “The park will have water fountains, doggy playground equipment and other amenities. We are planning an area for large dogs and also a separate area for small dogs. A gazebo is also planned for dog owners to enjoy the shade.”
The dog park would fall under the City’s capital campaign. At least a portion of the funds for the project could come from a grant from the Cape May County Open Space Board, for which the City will soon apply. The city engineer is now finalizing the plans for the park.
When Sea Isle homeowner Sue Rice heard about the proposed dog park, she was enthusiastic. “I think it’s a great idea,” she said. “It gives people something to do. And it gives the dogs something to do. Not everybody is crazy like me and walks their dogs four or five times a day.”
Two years ago, Rice and her husband, Tom, adopted two rescue dogs: Kia, a Bichon Yorkie mix; and Champ, a long-haired Chihuahua Papillon mix.
Said Custer, who recently got a Schnauzer named Zoe: “We anticipate that the new dog park will be put to very good use.”