Times Talk

The Civil War Cemetery that the VFW Post 1963 will help restore.

VFW AUXILIARY TO HELP RESTORE CIVIL WAR CEMETERY

When the VFW Post 1963 Auxiliary found out the grounds at Bethel Union Civil War Cemetery in Erma, N.J., had fallen into disrepair, it sprang into action by “adopting” the cemetery.

The auxiliary will be helping to restore and maintain the physical integrity of the cemetery by working in tandem with such organizations as the Lower Township Historic Preservation Commission and the Lower Cape May Regional Builders Club, an arm of the Cape May Kiwanis Club.

“We decided we are going to beautify the grounds, and make it a little bit more pleasing,” said auxiliary president Patti Lloyd. “These are our veterans. We’re going to do everything we can to take care of them. We’re going to put flags out for Memorial Day, we’re going to put flags out for Veterans Day. And we will make sure they have the wreaths they need for Wreaths Across America.

Because of the efforts of VFW Post 1963’s Auxiliary and others who care for veterans, fallen trees from a recent storm will be cleared from the cemetery. And the post is looking into possibly restoring several of the headstones.

“We just want to make it a peaceful place for those who have passed. And we want to make it pleasing for anyone who visits,” Lloyd said of the cemetery, located in Lower Township, off Seashore and Tabernacle roads. “Even though veterans have passed, we know that sometimes their souls are still around, and their spirits are here. We want to make sure they know somebody cares about them. And that they’re being honored the way they deserve to be.”

REMINDER: REUSABLE BAGS NOW THE LAW

A reminder for visitors to Sea Isle City: The statewide ban on single-use carryout bags and polystyrene foam food-service products is in effect. This means that when you load up your cart at the grocery store with everything you need for the week, if you don’t have reusable bags, plan to purchase some … or unload the cart into your vehicle item by item.

The new regulations were set forth starting May 4 by Gov. Phil Murphy. It is the most advanced law on single-use plastic products in the country. And our vacationers are feeling the effects, especially when visiting from out of state.

The law bans the use of single-use plastic bags, regardless of thickness, in any retail establishments, including food-service businesses and grocery stores. In addition, paper bags are no longer allowed to be used by grocery stores larger than 2,500 square feet. The new regulations also restrict the use of Styrofoam products in food-service locations, meaning no restaurants can serve food out of Styrofoam products.

Sea Isle’s small-business community took the initiative to provide reusable bags at the weekly Farmers Market provided by a collaboration with the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization, the City, and the Environmental Commission. Bags are distributed every Tuesday from 8am-noon, after shoppers complete a short visitor’s survey.

For more information, visit nj.gov/dep – and remember to bring your bags into the store while shopping!

The Wedding of the Sea Procession led by the Klemick brothers.

AUG. 15 A BIG DAY FOR ST. JOSEPH CHURCH

St. Joseph Church will host a special Mass honoring the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Aug. 15. Following the Mass, the faithful are invited to join a procession to 44th Street beach. There, a ceremony of the Blessing of the Ocean will take place. Following the blessing, all are invited back to the parish parking lot at 44th Street and Central Avenue, for the second annual Wedding of the Sea Festival.

Sea Isle resident Kathleen Logan has a special affection for the Feast Day of the Assumption. For 10 years, she has invited around 25 friends to her beach house on Aug. 15. “It is believed there is a cure in the ocean on Aug. 15,” Logan says of the Catholic tradition. “When my grandmother was still alive, she’d always say, ‘Bring back some ocean water for me.’”

Says Father Perry Cherubini: “We are so excited about our second annual Wedding of the Sea Festival! This year will be even better than last year’s. Festivities will begin with Mass celebrating the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 4pm at St. Joseph’s Church. After Mass, we will process to the ocean with a statue of the Blessed Mother, and we will toss a wreath into the ocean to symbolize the unity of the land and the sea. Afterward, all are invited back to the auditorium parking lot for an old-fashioned BBQ, which includes hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage and pepper sandwiches, potato salad, tomato salad, and homemade desserts!”

The event is BYOB. Other activities include cornhole, bounce house, face painting, balloon art, and much more! Tickets are priced at $15 and children 9 and under are free. For ticket info, call the parish office at 609-263-8696.

2023 BEACH TAG ART CONTEST UNDERWAY

Kids, how would you like to design Sea Isle City’s 2023 beach tags?

Mayor Leonard Desiderio has instituted a fun, creative art contest for young people up to age 17. Until Aug. 31, kids can submit designs within four categories: Seasonal, Veterans, Winter Holiday, and St. Patrick’s Day, the last two of which coincide with when those tags are sold. The four designs that are chosen will be announced at the Sept. 13 City Council meeting.

To enter the Beach Tag Art Contest, all artwork must be submitted on an official contest template and accompanied by a contest entry form, both of which can be found on the “Departments / Beach Tag” page at seaislecitynj.us. The template and forms can also be picked up in the lobby of City Hall at 233 JFK Blvd., in the lobby of the Sea Isle City Welcome Center at 300 JFK Blvd., and in the lobby of the Sea Isle City branch of the Cape May County Library at 4800 Central Ave. Submissions can be mailed or hand-delivered to the Tax Collector’s Office, City Hall, 2nd Floor, 233 JFK Blvd., Sea Isle City, NJ 08243.

For Elise Parker Mulvaney, hearing about the inaugural contest makes her nostalgic. Her late father, Frank Parker, began collecting Sea Isle City beach tags the year he and his wife, Nora, bought a home here in 1972. He put a lot of heart into the house, which was an old bungalow. One thing he did was to feature Sea Isle beach tags in a frame. “My father was an engineer,” she says. “And he liked things neat.”

Elise and her husband Joe will be continuing her father’s tradition of collecting and displaying Sea Isle beach tags. About the art contest, she says: “I think it’s creative and great. Beach tags have evolved from moneymaking to cultural, or Sea Isle pride. And it’s just a great opportunity for the children. Hey, I’m part of this town. Joe and I got married at St. Joseph’s Church in 1983, and the beach tag that year had a heart on it.”

One of the old street signs that will be available to purchase Aug. 6.

STREET SIGN SALE SET FOR AUG. 6

When walking or driving around Sea Isle City, perhaps you’ve noticed that the green street signs have been replaced with easier-to-read signs. Feeling nostalgic for the old signs? And looking for memorabilia? You could be in luck.

The old signs will be made available for purchase by Sea Isle City property owners and year-round residents on Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Community Lodge from 8am to 2pm, or until the signs sell out. The signs will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

The process for the street sign sale will go as follows: Residents can line up outside of the Community Lodge’s parking-lot entrance. Then, at 8am, City officials will invite prospective buyers inside the lodge in groups to purchase street signs of their choice. Though nearly every street sign will be available, quantities from certain streets are extremely limited. Also, the following signs are not available: 14th Street, 26th Street, 44th Place, 86th Street and 90th Street.

“When the old green street signs were being removed to make way for our new signs, several people asked how they could acquire one or more of them, so it seemed like a good idea to make the old signs available to the people of Sea Isle City,” said Katherine Custer, the director of community services. “Other communities have hosted similar street sign sales, which were very successful. We expect our sale to also be a success, because everyone loves Sea Isle – and who wouldn’t want to own a small piece of local history for themselves?”

Custer says more than 300 signs will be on sale: “Naturally, the streets that we have the most of are Landis and Central avenues, because they are the lengthiest roadways in our community.”

The Ramirez family received the Family of the Year Award from Citizen of the Year Marie Peltier.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HONORS COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Individuals who give back to the Sea Isle City community were honored with awards from the Knights of Columbus Madonna Maria Council #3560, of St. Joseph Church on June 23 in the parish auditorium.

Marie Peltier received the 2022 Citizen of the Year award. “I never expected it,” she said. Peltier credited her father, Samuel Mostardi, for teaching her to reach out and help others. “When there is a need, I try to do good and go forth. It gives me a good feeling,” says Peltier, who also serves as Parish Council president, a lector at weekend Masses, and a Eucharistic Minister and Chairperson of the Altar Servers Ministry. Peltier is a Catholic Daughter and is a member of several civic organizations.

Peltier had the honor of presenting the Ramirez family of Sea Isle City with the Family of the Year Award. The Ramirez family are devoted to their faith. Parents Mario and Ari, and children Dana, Dillon, and infant Diego are beloved members of the church community.

Other honors went to Tully O’Clisham, Kathryn Ratchford, Margaret “Maggie” Halbruner, Shane Klemick, Anne “Chick” Flora, and Deacon Joseph Murphy.

O’Clisham was awarded the Shield award. O’Clisham is a Sea Isle City Police Patrolman and a former U.S. Marine who served in Iraq during the War on Terror. An Eagle Scout from Troop 76, O’Clisham is dedicated to caring for the safety of children. He is the only certified car seat safety technician in Cape May County.

Ratchford was named Educator of the Year. She has been noted for her compassion and positivity. She is a longtime and well-respected teacher at Bishop McHugh Regional Catholic School.

Halbruner, a recent Ocean City High School graduate who will attend Penn State University, is the Knights’ Female Student of the Year. In addition to being a National Honor Society student, Maggie was a member of the OCHS Latin Club, Peer-to-Peer Club, and track and field team.

Klemick was named the Male Student of the Year. A recent graduate of Wildwood Catholic Academy, he was a member of the school’s baseball and golf teams, served as president of student council, and was in the National Honor Society. He will attend Villanova.

Flora received the Senior Citizen of the Year award. A familiar face at charitable organizations, Flora’s involvement in the community includes past regent for the Catholic Daughters, and St. Joseph Eucharistic Minister.

Murphy was recognized as Knight of the Year for his tireless work for the parish. A retired Philadelphia police detective, he has been a member of the St. Joseph parish staff for more than 11 years.

Catholic Daughters officers (front, from left) Ruth Brown, Robin Nickson, Linda Levitsky, Margie Quinlan and Barbara Rice pose with clergy members (back, from left) Camden Diocese Seminarian Thomas Piro, Rev. Perry Cherubini and Deacon Joseph Murphy.

CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS INSTALLS NEW OFFICERS

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas was founded in 1903, and today is the largest Catholic women’s organization in the world. Following in its mission of unity and charity, the Catholic Daughters Court Our Lady of Mercy #1655, of

St. Joseph Church, has installed new officers.

The new officers include regent Linda Levitsky, vice regent Ruth Brown, financial secretary Barbara Rice, recording secretary Margie Quinlan, and treasurer Robin Nickson.

Levitsky hopes to bring more members to the Catholic Daughters. “This is a totally new role. And I did not have a previous office,” she said of becoming regent.

Said Rice: “I started as financial secretary, after four years moved to recording secretary, and I am back to being financial secretary. I just think it’s an honor and a privilege to serve as an officer of this great organization. We try to do as much as we can in the community.”

Brown says some of their good works include hosting a Fatima Rosary every year in October in Excursion Park. And Catholic Daughters obtained a state grant, helping the Sisters of the Renewal in their work with the homeless.

Nickson is a new officer this year. “I had always done volunteer work back when we lived in New York,” she said. “And when we moved down here full time, I felt it was a great way to get involved in the community. And from other people that I talked to that were in Catholic Daughters, it just seemed like such a great, loving organization, which they really are.”

Included in the many good works of the Catholic Daughters is feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and fighting human trafficking.