Time Talk
Work continues on the highly anticipated community center on Park Road.
COMMUNITY CENTER PROGRESS REPORT
Progress continues toward the completion of the new community center at 4501 Park Road. The project is still on schedule for its anticipated fall 2025 completion.
“As most everyone knows, the project has moved forward swiftly, and within the next month we’re expecting the building to be closed in with the exterior walls and roofing,” Mayor Leonard Desiderio said on March 11 in his State of the City address. “We remain on schedule and within budget; and look forward to opening the Community Center to the public this coming fall.”
To date, installation of the building’s first-floor structural support system has been completed, and the garage’s concrete flooring (under the building) has been poured. The building’s cement block elevator shaft and stairwells have been constructed. The steel beams for the building’s superstructure have been installed. Masonry work and rough-out work for the building’s utilities and fire suppression system continue. The installation of insulation continues. Floor and roof decking are in place for most of the building. The installation of the footings for the building’s exterior façade has begun. Rough wiring and utility prep work continues. The cement sub-flooring has been poured on the main and upper levels of the building. The installation of the exterior walls has begun and should be completed within the next month or so.
During construction, the contractor has closed the sidewalks adjacent to the construction site along 45th and 46th streets; however, the sidewalks along Park Road and Central Avenue are open to pedestrians. Motorists and pedestrians are asked to please use caution when driving or walking near this construction site.
BEACH TAGS $25 THROUGH MAY 15
Sea Isle City’s 2025 seasonal beach tags are now on sale. The tags are currently being sold for the preseason rate of $25 through May 15. After May 15, the price for a seasonal beach tag will be $30. Beach tags are required for everyone 12 years and older from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, 10am to 5pm, except for free beach days on Wednesdays.
This year’s tag was designed by Aubrey Ganster, who drew an umbrella-carrying seagull. She was announced as the winner for the seasonal tag design in the Oct. 17 Mayor’s Message.
Tags can be purchased at the Sea Isle City Welcome Center at 300 JFK Blvd. Monday-Friday 9am-4pm via cash or check. They can also be purchased 24/7 in the vending machine in the lobby of City Hall. The vending machine at City Hall takes cash-only payments. Online sales are available through jerseycapetags.com. You may also purchase a digital beach tag using the My Beach Mobile app; single or multiple tags may be purchased and you will show the beach tag inspector your personalized QR code.
The 2025 veterans beach tags were designed by Regan Cunningham and show a patriotic Bald Eagle. One complimentary beach tag is available for active military and veterans per season. Branches of service include: U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps as well as members of the United States Coast Guard and the National Guard. Veteran tags are available only at the Welcome Center Beach Tag office.
For more information about beach tags, go to visitsicnj.com.
The check presentation: From left, Susan Ahern and Kellie Seib, of the Sea Isle City Environmental Commission; Christie Ostrander, SIC Liaison to Sustainable Jersey; and Katherine Custer, SIC director of community services, are flanked by Kristin McEvoy, director of external affairs for Atlantic City Electric, and Randall Solomon, executive director of Sustainable Jersey.
SIC TARGETS TOWNSENDS INLET PARK WITH $5,000 GRANT
Sea Isle City was one of seven communities that was awarded a $5,000 grant from Atlantic City Electric’s Sustainable Communities Grant program last fall. Together with Sustainable Jersey, Atlantic City Electric awarded a total of $35,000 in grants that will help each community to support an environmental stewardship project in its community such as open-space preservation, improvements to parks and recreation resources, environmental conservation, and innovative community resiliency projects.
“I am certain that I speak for every individual in Sea Isle City as I extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the good folks at Atlantic City Electric and Sustainable Jersey for awarding our community a $5,000 Sustainable Communities Grant,” said Mayor Leonard Desiderio. “As we do with every dollar in our municipal coffers, we will certainly put the money to good use because we understand the importance of spending funds wisely.”
As indicated in its application, Sea Isle City will use the grant money toward its Townsends Inlet Waterfront Park.
Said Desiderio: “This funding will help us maintain the park’s environmental integrity as we continue to offer our citizenry and visitors the opportunity to interact with Mother Nature in ways that enrich both the body and the mind.”
To date, the Sustainable Communities Grant program has provided $310,000 in grants to South Jersey municipalities.
Sea Isle City Police Officer Trent Markley and Mayor Desiderio with several of VFW Post 1963 Auxiliary’s officers during the auxiliary’s February meeting.
MAYOR, MARKLY, RUTTER HONORED BY VFW
At their February meeting, members of Sea Isle City’s VFW Post 1963 Auxiliary honored Mayor Leonard Desiderio and police officers Trent Markley and Grace Rutter for their unwavering support of the VFW and some recent initiatives.
Markley received a plaque at the meeting. Both he and Rutter assisted the VFW Auxiliary during the annual Christmas Caravan by providing an escort to a procession of vehicles to the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland. Each year, auxiliary members spread holiday cheer by providing the facility’s residents with truckloads of gifts.
After this presentation, Desiderio was presented with an embroidered VFW Auxiliary jacket, which, according to Post 1963 Auxiliary President Peggy Moore, was given to the mayor “to thank him for his unwavering support for the Auxiliary and Post 1963.”
“We could not do what we do without community support,” Moore said. “Thanks to the growth of our auxiliary, we are getting more and more support. We are also seeing greater attendance at our meetings, and our members are continually stepping up to volunteer.”
The VFW Post 1963 Auxiliary boasts 745 members, making it one of the largest in New Jersey. The auxiliary aims to support projects and organizations that benefit our nation’s veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. Each year, the auxiliary hosts several fundraising events to help assist in their mission, such as “Dollar Dog Day” and several gift basket raffles.
To learn more or donate to the VFW Post 1963 Auxiliary, visit vfwauxiliary1963.com.
The winning students in VFW Post 1963’s Patriot’s Pen essay competition (from left) Myka Morris, Layla Mitchell, and Nora McMahon, with Post 1963 members Peggy Moore, Terry Moore, Ellen Myers, Tom McCool, and Diane McCool.
PATRIOT’S PEN WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Representatives from VFW Post 1963 visited Bishop McHugh Regional Catholic School on Feb. 5 to recognize 34 local students who participated in this year’s Patriot’s Pen contest.
Post 1963 Adjutant Tom McCool announced the contest winners. Eighth grader Myka Morris took first place and the $300 cash prize. Fellow eighth grader Nora McMahon secured second place, receiving $200; and seventh grader Layla Mitchell placed third and was awarded $100. Each winning student also received a certificate of achievement and a medal from Post 1963. In recognition of their participation, all 34 students were presented with a commemorative Patriot’s Pen water bottle and pen.
Sponsored nationally by the VFW, the Patriot’s Pen contest invites sixth, seventh, and eighth graders to explore American history and reflect on their own experiences in a 300- to 400-word essay. Essays are judged at local, district, state, and national levels. This year’s theme was “My Voice in America’s Democracy.”
The competition extended beyond the local level, with VFW District 17 – comprising posts in Cape May and Atlantic counties – selecting Mitchell as the district’s first-place winner and McMahon as the district’s second-place honoree.
“It’s inspiring to see young students grasp the importance of democracy,” said veteran Mark Lloyd, a past Commander of VFW Post 1963 and the organizer of the Patriot’s Pen competition for District 17. “Not only do they understand how democracy works, but they also recognize that we’re all in this together – and that’s encouraging. Perhaps the future of our country is in better hands than many think.”
To learn more about VFW Post 1963, visit vfwpost1963.com.
