Dear Readers:

Wow, does it ever feel good to say that. Welcome back to our magnificent beaches, to our stunning bays, to that fresh salt air and all of the places that have become like a second home to so many – especially this past year.

As with many special events scheduled for 2020 and into 2021, the annual Mike’s Seafood Polar Bear Run/Walk for Autism that is typically held on the Sunday of Presidents Day weekend could not be held this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s that time of year again. Summer is coming up quick and you need to have a plan to keep the kids busy. Here are some camps in the area that your child or children might be interested in.

Australia is a world away from Cape May County. But you can soon experience a bit of the land Down Under when the Cape May County Zoo opens its new habitat for five red kangaroos and two emus.

“The red kangaroo is a completely new animal at the Cape May County Park and Zoo,” says Park Director Ed Runyon.

Sea Isle City boasts an unofficial new hall of fame.

It resides in the 65th Street home of Lenny and Patti DiNote, and the March inductee was its first and possibly its last.

It’s a bike.

Or maybe that’s The Bike, the signature vehicle of their son, Matt the Travelin’ Hat, who completed an epic ride for philanthropy last year.

If you happened to catch one of the Food Network’s newest programs, “Kitchen Crash,” on Feb. 3 (season 1, episode 4), you might have noticed that Sea Isle City got lots of national exposure. One of the competing family members wore a “Sea Isle City, NJ” sweatshirt that was shown numerous times. Just another reason to smile if you happen to be in Sea Isle on a cold winter night?

April 16-18
Girls Weekend
Town-wide

Now more than ever, we could all use a vacation with our closest girlfriends! Spend a spring weekend in Sea Isle City for a safe and fun experience full of shopping, dining, laughing and more! Hosted by the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization, the event features unlimited opportunities to eat, drink and shop throughout town.

As you first arrive in Sea Isle City this spring and ride through town, you’re likely to notice some new businesses that have opened their doors. With new shopping, takeout options and real estate professionals available to you, now is the perfect time to check out the latest buzz within the business community.

Chocolate lovers, rejoice! Perfect for an after-dinner treat or perhaps a before-dinner indulgence, O’Donnell’s Chocolate Martini is one of its most popular signature drinks.

Steve Martin Movies

If there’s been a better contemporary physical comedian than Steve Martin, I’ve yet to see that person.

Of course, in Martin’s case, the laughs are produced by a successful eclectic artist who has long since staked his claim on being an actor, a standup comic, a musician, an author, a playwright, a screenwriter, and a producer as well.

Easter Services in Sea Isle City

It’s been a long and interesting winter, and I’m happy to say I spent a lot of time in front of the fireplace catching up on some great books. The spring column of Beach Reads is my chance to tell you all about the books I read over the winter, especially my favorite ones that I don’t want you to miss.

Amid the ongoing effort to save the original St. Joseph Church building, here’s a look back at the church circa 1903. That was the rectory next to the church at the time.

First of all, I am writing this article in February during a 15-day stretch of no sun. It’s not “partly” cloudy, it’s “totally” cloudy. There are no leaves on the trees. The cold wind is flapping like the flags at a bitterly cold, windy Phillies night game in early April. COVID is dominating the news.

TIGHE, GIBSON, FEELEY UNOPPOSED

Mary Tighe, Jack Gibson and J.B. Feeley will run unopposed during the May 11 municipal election. The trio, running under the slogan “Committed to Community, Dedicated to Progress,” have teamed up to run together for the three open council seats.

Happy spring! We’ve weathered a winter of social distancing, and, while still not quite “normal” yet, life is significantly better with a little spring in the air – and for some of us, with a little vaccine in the arm. Yes, we’re still masked, and yes, our gatherings are still smaller than we’d like, but gather we will, regardless of our limitations.

POLAR BEAR’S YOUNG HELPER

Regan Capone, a 10-year-old from Sea Isle City, found a way to participate in the “Around the World in 80 Days” fundraising campaign that became this year’s alternative to the annual Polar Bear Run/Walk for Autism due to the pandemic.

Wow, it was just about a year ago when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. You remember life before COVID, don’t you? Maybe “Yesterday,” the 1965 Beatles classic written by Paul McCartney, sums it up. “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away.