Smilestones
CHAMPS CROWNED IN BOYS’ HOOPS
The Orange team won the championship game in the Sea Isle City Summer Senior Boys’ Basketball League, 49-41, over the Green team on Aug. 13. A total of six teams played in the league sponsored by the Sea Isle City Recreation Department, and the title game was closer than the score would indicate. The championship team included Ryan Turner, Luke “CHETTI” Monichetti, Tommy McKenna, Jimmy Hanna, Patrick Doherty, Freddy Hanna, Judah Thomas, Cole Yocum, Colin Lynch, Jerry Stefan, Chase Moore, and Brady O’Connell. “The odds were stacked against us,” CHETTI said, “but we’re just a bunch of kids out to have fun and we won it all.”
Mike’s Seafood’s Mike Monichetti with $318 raised by Mackenna, 2, and Kylie Shea, 5.
Former Polar Bear Kings and Queens who stopped by to support the girls lemonade stand (from left): Jim Bogan, Gwen Bogan, Kate O’Brien, Mike Johnson, and Kathleen Albright.
SHEA SISTERS RAISE $318 FOR POLAR BEAR RUN/WALK FOR AUTISM
The Shea sisters, Kylie and Mackenna, raised $318 to benefit the Mike’s Seafood Polar Bear Run/Walk for Autism by selling lemonade from their stand in July. The girls had put operating a lemonade stand on their summer bucket list, and decided to donate the funds they raised to the Polar Bear Run/Walk for Autism, since supporting children with autism is very important to their family. Kylie and Mackenna’s grandfather, Mike Johnson, was crowned the Polar Bear King in 2018 for his fundraising efforts. Kylie and Mackenna were proud that they could do something on their own to support this great cause.
Bill Liddell (left), and Jack Gibson (right) flank members of the championship team. Back row: Rob Daly, Rick Leonetti, James Pearce, Zach Marttila, James Schlucter; front: Tim Galen, Tate Moll, Joe Renzi.
LIDDELL’S LEGIONS WIN LIDDELL HOOPS TOURNEY
Liddell’s Legions won the Bill Liddell Men’s Basketball Tournament championship game against The Lakeys in Sea Isle City on Aug. 14.
The champs were presented with $500 cash, courtesy of 1st Bank of Sea Isle City, by Sea Isle City councilman and 1st Bank of Sea Isle City board member Jack Gibson. Liddell’s Legions consisted of a group of friends from Pennsylvania who were visiting Sea Isle City. The Lakeys received a $100 gift certificate from Mike’s Seafood Market and Restaurant.
This was the first annual Bill Liddell Men’s Basketball Tournament. Bill Liddell is a longtime recreation volunteer who has been involved with Sea Isle City’s basketball programs for many years and who currently oversees the men’s over-40 basketball program.
KIDS RAISE MONEY FOR VFW
Pouring it on ... Ryder, 4, helps his big sister Cosette at their lemonade stand on Landis Avenue on Aug. 2. These two enterprising youngsters raised proceeds for the VFW.
BAGGO TOURNAMENT RAISES MONEY FOR AUTISM
Chloe Helms of Oaklyn takes aim in the 17th Annual Baggo Tournament conducted by The Ocean Drive on Aug. 2. More than 100 teams participated and helped to raise more than $15,000 for charities including autism awareness.
STULGINSKY BLOCK PARTY MARKS 30TH YEAR
The Stulginsky family celebrated the 30th anniversary of the “Stulginsky 4th of July Block Party” on July 31 with friends and family. The Stulginsky family has been summering in Sea Isle City since 1971, and the first party took place in 1990 at their house on 77th Street. Since then, the block party has evolved to a full day of fun for the whole block with food, dancing, and catching up with friends and neighbors. This year, Mayor Leonard Desiderio declared July 31 as “Stulginsky 4th of July Day” in Sea Isle City. Friends and neighbors of the Stulginsky family helped create a logo, custom beach tags, and a banner for the event to celebrate this milestone.
MURPHYS RENEW VOWS ON 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Joe and Linda Murphy, of Ocean City, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 27 with friends and family at St. Joseph Church, where they renewed their vows. After the Mass and renewal of vows, they had a celebration party and luncheon at the Parish Hall.
The Murphys were married on Aug. 28, 1971, at the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. Together, they have four children, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Joe began his career as a Philadelphia Police Officer, then moved on to become a detective. Linda worked as a registered nurse at Temple Hospital in the neonatal intensive care unit. The couple later moved to Ocean City. Joe became ordained as a deacon and was assigned to St. Joseph Church.
Since then, the Murphys have immersed themselves in the parish life and the incredible community of Sea Isle City. Together, the couple enjoys traveling on religious pilgrimages, going on morning walks on the beach, and watching the birds.
SEA ISLE CITY TOURISM, SEVEN MILE PUBLISHING & CREATIVE WIN 2021 TELLY AWARD
Dave and Monica Coskey of Seven Mile Publishing & Creative, the parent company of the Sea Isle Times, present Chris Oney of Sea Isle City Tourism and Mayor Leonard Desiderio a Telly Award for Sea Isle City’s 2021 tourism television commercial, “Reconnect in Sea Isle City.” The commercial was produced by Oney along with Seven Mile Publishing’s creative and video teams to help separate the City from a very crowded pack in the local tourism market. The Tellys, in their 42nd year of competition, are the premier creative competition for video projects representing all media platforms. This year, there were 12,000 entries from all 50 states and five continents around the world. The Sea Isle City project captured a silver award for regional tourism. Other Telly winners have included The Discovery Channel, Disney, HBO, CBS Interactive, Netflix, Conde Nast, ESPN, Viacom, Comcast and Sony Music Entertainment.
Dave Coskey, Monica Coskey, Chris Oney and Mayor Leonard Desiderio with Telly Award.
A FAMILY CHRISTMAS IN JULY
Every Christmas, the Crane family holds an enormous cousin Pollyanna gift exchange – dubbed a “Co-Po” – to celebrate the holiday. In December 2020, the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the family members didn’t let that deter them from celebrating. So this summer, they held a “Christmas in July” Pollyanna instead, complete with matching T-shirts and a fun family reunion weekend right here in Sea Isle. They even included aunts, uncles and significant others in the fun, totaling 32 people in the exchange and 40 people at the celebration. And it wasn’t just any old gift exchange: The participants all exchanged beach towels, perfectly appropriate for a “Christmas in July” celebration!
