The month of November has flown by, and the holiday season is upon us.

As is the case each year, the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual Fall Girls Weekend just prior to Thanksgiving, as a prelude to the arrival of the holidays – and, from all reports, Girls Weekend was once again a huge success. I hope all the ladies who were in town for Girls Weekend (and all the fellas too) enjoyed the many savings, special deals and hospitality that was offered by our local business community, and that each of you will be back to continue your holiday shopping as December unfolds.

Now that Thanksgiving is here, we can all look forward to the many holiday events that are coming our way throughout the month ahead. The fun will begin this weekend with our annual Holiday Parade and Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday evening, which will be enhanced by the many activities that will be offered during the Chamber of Commerce’s Winter Village on Friday and Saturday. Then, don’t miss the line-up of other events that are planned, including our New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display on December 31. As we all know, Sea Isle City is the perfect place to celebrate the holidays – so don’t miss a moment of the fun!

In addition to being a time for celebrations, the holiday season is also a time for giving. That’s why each year my “Elves” and I host a Holiday Toy & Food Drive for families in need. I hope you will be able to contribute to this year’s Toy & Food Drive, because it’s up to those of us who are blessed in many ways to offer our help to others – including children, who may not have the type of Christmas that many others enjoy year after year. To learn how you can help, see the special section in this week’s E-Newsletter or phone 609-263-4461, ext. 1245.

While you’re doing your Christmas shopping, don’t forget that Sea Isle’s 2025 Holiday Beach Tags make wonderful gifts – and they are on sale now. Also, the Sea Isle City Environmental Commission’s 2025 “Save a Turtle” t-shirts are also currently on sale, and they too make terrific gifts – plus they come in adult and children’s sizes, so you can check-off many of the people on your Christmas shopping list with one fabulous gift. You can learn more about our Holiday Beach Tags and the Turtle t-shirts in this week’s E-Newsletter or by phoning the Welcome Center at 609-263-8687.

As you may have heard, we are moving Sea Isle City’s Police Dispatch System from our local dispatch office inside Sea Isle’s Police Headquarters to Cape May County’s main dispatch office, where all of the emergency calls that are made from Sea Isle City will continue to be handled in a fast and efficient manner. I want to assure everyone that when this move happens on December 2, it will be a seamless transition and no calls will be missed – and we can all continue to count on Sea Isle’s dedicated first responders, who will be there in a hurry whenever they are needed.

In other news, work is progressing on our future Community Center, and I am happy to report that the building’s steel frame has begun to take shape. By this time next year, the Community Center will open for business, and people of all ages will be playing basketball, enjoying civic meetings, attending fitness classes, walking and jogging along the building’s elevated track, and enjoying the Community Center in a variety of other ways. I am certain it will be Sea Isle’s most popular facility when completed – until then, keep reading this newsletter for updates, and we will keep you informed on how the construction process is going.

I hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving and a Joyful Holiday Season!

Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio