Times Talk
Members of the 1st Bank of Sea Isle City (from left) Larry Schmidt, Mike Gardner and John Curry, Joyce Allegretto, Leonard Desiderio, Dave Farina, Jack Gibson, David Beyel, Beth Broadley and Joe Romano present the donation to volunteers from the Sea Isle City Fire Department.
1st BANK DONATES $10,000 TO FIRE DEPARTMENT
The 1st Bank of Sea Isle City donated $10,000 to the Sea Isle City Volunteer Fire Department in January for the purchase of new safety equipment for each firefighter. Chief John Mazurie accepted the check from Bank President and CEO Larry Schmidt, who was joined by Chief Lending Officer Joyce Allegretto and members of the bank’s board of directors.
“One of the greatest advantages of being a community bank is that when we hear of a need, we can respond,” said Schmidt. “Our bank was honored to purchase new protective equipment to help safeguard our courageous volunteers.”
The donation helped the fire department purchase an updated helmet for each of the volunteers. The new helmets cost more than $300 apiece.
“This money pays for our new, advanced technology helmets, which have improved eye and head protection and will better protect our firefighters,” Mazurie said. “The helmets are state of the art and are obviously very expensive personal protection equipment. We are very grateful to 1st Bank of Sea Isle City for this generous donation.”
The Sea Isle City Volunteer Fire Department is composed of 34 active volunteers. The group meets the first and third Wednesday of every month at 7:30pm.
Brian Heritage
HERITAGE ELECTED CHAMBER PRESIDENT
The Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization elected lifelong resident and business owner Brian Heritage as its new president in January. He succeeds Christopher Glancey, who stepped down in December after serving for 10 years.
“I am proud to be a second-generation business owner in Sea Isle City and it is an honor to be elected as the new president of the Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization,” said Heritage. “I look forward to continuing to promote Sea Isle City and our awesome business community while exploring additional community initiatives.”
Heritage follows in his father’s footsteps not only as the owner of Heritage Surf and Sport, but also as a surfboard shaper and as an inductee into the New Jersey Surfing Hall of Fame. With more than 52 years’ experience, he shapes every board out of the shaping room at the Sea Isle City location. Heritage also has two stores in Ocean City and one in Margate. Prior to becoming president, he was an active member of the SICCCR board of directors for several years. He and his wife, Jamie, reside in Sea Isle City with their two children, Brooke and Brett.
“We have great restaurants, shopping, activities and accommodations that make Sea Isle City the best vacation destination at the Jersey Shore,” Heritage said. “You don’t need to hop on a plane to experience your vacation, you just need to hop in the car and check out our hidden gem.”
A look at JFK Boulevard beach where replenishment is needed.
SEA ISLE BEACHES TO BE REPLENISHED
Sea Isle City’s beaches are awaiting a beach replenishment project this spring. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was awarded a $32.5 million contract for beach replenishment on the beaches in Sea Isle City, Strathmere and Ocean City. Work is anticipated to start at the end of April.
The contract was awarded to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, of Oak Brook, Ill. The company, which has handled previous dredging projects along the Jersey Shore, will dredge more than 2.4 million cubic yards of sand for the three communities. Sea Isle City’s beaches will be dredged from approximately 28th to 52nd Street and from 74th Street to Townsends Inlet. Work will begin at the south end so it will be completed in time to meet restrictions surrounding endangered shorebirds.
An estimated 510,000 cubic yards of sand will be deposited on the beaches from about 75th Street to 93rd Street in Townsends Inlet. Another 250,000 cubic yards of sand will be added from 28th Street to 53rd Street.
The last beach replenishment project in Sea Isle City took place in 2015, when approximately 1.9 million cubic yards of sand were placed on the beaches along with fence installation and dune grass planting.
For project updates, go to seaislecitynj.us.
The new lighting on the Promenade.
PROMENADE LIGHTING PROJECT MOVING ALONG
Phase 1 of the decorative lighting project on the Promenade is nearing completion. The project was originally scheduled to begin last spring after Easter weekend but was deferred to the fall to avoid inconveniencing businesses, residents and visitors during the busy summer season.
A contract was awarded to Delta Line Construction of Egg Harbor Township in the amount of $843,300. Phase 1 of the project includes the installation of nearly 20 decorative lights along the Promenade from 35th Street to 44th Street. The City opted to do this project to replace the lighting that has been on the Promenade for many years.
At press time, work on the foundations, conduit installation, light post installation and lights under the pavilion were completed.
In addition to the lighting, that section of the Promenade will also get a public address system for announcements and other necessary communications.
For project updates, go to seaislecitynj.us.
The ‘Signing of the Oar’ donation presentation (from left): Pattiann Ponichtera, Marie Peltier, Ron Kovatis, Chief Renny Steele, Shannon Wright Romano, John McCann, Mayor Leonard Desiderio, Debbie Wright, Howard Wright, Bill Kehner and Abby Powell.
SICBP DONATES SIGNED OAR TO HISTORICAL MUSEUM
The Sea Isle City Beach Patrol Alumni Association donated a lifeboat oar attached to panels signed by current and past members to the Sea Isle City Historical Museum to cap a year of celebrations surrounding the organization’s 100th anniversary.
“I am certain that this beautiful display will continually serve as a reminder of the dedication and perseverance of our town’s lifeguards and the commitment to safety demonstrated by our guards throughout the past 100 years,” said Mayor Leonard Desiderio.
In a brief ceremony in December at the museum, Beach Patrol Chief Renny Steele was joined by members of the Alumni Association including president John McCann and Howard Wright as they officially donated the display, which Wright created with his son, Sean, and wife, Debbie.
The artifact debuted during the Centennial Parade on July 11 and was dubbed “The Signing of the Oar” as many past and present lifeguards were in attendance to make their mark on the oar.
In addition to the “Signing of the Oar,” a plaque was donated to the museum that explains its history. Visitors will be able to see it at the museum, in addition to the other items that are on display from the SICBP.
The museum hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am-3pm. It is recommended to call ahead to ensure the museum is open.
The historic church on Landis Avenue.
ST. JOSEPH CHURCH UPDATE
Representatives from the Save Our Historic Church organization within St. Joseph Church have submitted a petition to the clergy as a form of appeal after receiving a “Decree of Relegation” by the Bishop of Camden, Dennis Sullivan in February. There is no timeline as to when they will hear back or when the historic church would be demolished.
“People have been so generous and I truly believe many people in town, not just those who attend the church, want to see the beautiful building remain,” said Mike McHale, who has been instrumental with the Save Our Historic Church efforts.
The historic church was built in 1884 and stands adjacent to the newer $7 million St. Joseph Catholic Church that opened in December 2011. Father Perreault and other church representatives think that the old church should be considered for redevelopment into a new “spiritual life center,” however preservationists want the building maintained and used for future events.
If you would like to learn more about Save Our Historic Church organization, please visit saveourhistoricstjosephschurch.org or join the Facebook group “Save St. Joe’s Historic Church.”
The historic plaque installed by the Cape May County Bridge Commission sits on the Avalon side of the Townsends Inlet Bridge.
T.I. BRIDGE GETS HISTORICAL PLAQUE
There’s something new on the Avalon side of the Townsends Inlet bridge, and remain calm, it’s still open. A new historical plaque was recently installed telling the story behind the building of the Ocean Drive bridges throughout Cape May County.
Search your memory from High School to when you learned of the WPA (Worker Program Administration), part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal that was signed into law in 1935. The program employed millions of people for eight years, providing work for unemployed individual during the depression. Projects around the country included roads, art projects, bridges, school and government buildings. Many of the projects, such as the TI bridge, are still in use today, some 70+ years later. The engineering company mentioned on the plaque is still in existence today operating as “HNTB.” And many of the mechanical gearing components (made in Philadelphia, PA by the Earle Gear Co.) are still in use today!
Chief Engineer for the Cape May County Bridge Commission, Lewis Donofrio, provided some more insight. “The sign was installed by Agate Construction Co. as part of the recent project which replaced the first seven spans of the original structure. This project was partially funded by the NJ Dept. of Transportation, Local Bridge, Future Needs grant program.” As a condition of the grant program, the NJ State Historic Preservation Office reviewed the project and recommended how to preserve the historical character of the bridge by installing this interpretive sign.
The sign reads: During the first half of the 20th Century, many movable bridges were erected in Cape May County linking the County’s barrier island resorts and connecting them to the mainland. Because the bridges were movable, commercial and pleasure boats could freely pass through the county’s back bays and inlets. The Townsends Inlet Bridge was one of four similar “Trunnion Bascule” movable bridges that were designed by the firm of Ash, Howard, Needles & Tammen and erected between 1938 and 1940 by the Cape May County Bridge Commission. Funding for the Townsends Inlet Bridge was provided by the Public Works Administration. The bridge is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places for its technological significance and as a “monument to the Depression Era New Deal programs to improve America’s infrastructure.”
