Times Talk
The opening shot for Sea Isle City’s 2021 winning tourism commercial, “Reconnect in Sea Isle City.”
TOURISM COMMERCIAL A WINNER
What do the Sea Isle City Tourism Commission and actress Jennifer Garner have in common? They both were Silver Award winners in the 42nd annual Telly Awards. While Garner was recognized for a cooking demonstration program she produced, Sea Ise City was honored for its 2021 tourism commercial, “Reconnect in Sea Isle City.”
The Telly Awards are the premier awards honoring video and television programming across all screens and platforms. Established in 1979, the Telly Awards received more than 12,000 entries from all 50 states and five continents. Entrants were judged by an industry body of more than 200 experts including advertising agencies, production companies and major television networks reflective of the multiscreen industry.
The Sea Isle City production features a collection of familiar static and video shots of the City. It was created by Seven Mile Publishing & Creative, the parent company of Sea Isle Times, and produced by Chris Oney, Dave Coskey, Jake Glassey and David Pashuck. It was part of a multi-tiered campaign designed to help raise the City’s top-of-mind awareness in the highly competitive tourism industry.
Knights of Columbus award winners (from left): Ed McFadden, Lisa DiBruno, Renny Steele, Danna Ramirez Castaneyra, Leonard Desiderio, Bill and Bette Keller, Tamara Wernik Brown, and the Mulholland family (Sean, Jamie and Marie).
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS PRESENT ANNUAL AWARDS
Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio was honored as the citizen of the year by the Knights of Columbus Madonna Maria Council 3560 at its annual awards ceremony May 27 in St. Joseph Church’s Parish Hall.
Desiderio, the city’s longest running mayor, was cited for the work he did leading Sea Isle City through the COVID-19 pandemic and helping to safely open the beaches and businesses.
The first of nine awards went to Tamara Wernik Brown as educator of the year. Brown is a sixth-grade teacher at Bishop McHugh Regional Catholic School in Cape May Court House, where she has helped run various school fundraisers that have totaled more than $80,000.
Danna Ramirez Castaneyra received the award for female student of the year. Castaneyra, who is in the eighth grade at Ocean City Intermediate School, enjoys her Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) Class and likes helping people whenever she can.
The male student of the year award was presented to Matthew Morretti, a senior at Wildwood Catholic Academy. Morretti is an accomplished student and athlete who was a member of the school’s soccer, basketball and golf teams. He plans to attend Coastal Carolina University.
Sea Isle City Beach Patrol Chief Renny Steele was presented with the “Shield” award given to public safety officers who exemplify what it means to do their job well. Steele choked up a little while accepting the honor. “An award like this really goes to so many people,” he said. “I couldn’t have done what I’ve done over the years without the help of a lot of people.”
The senior citizens of the year award went to Bette and Bill Keller. Bette led the Catholic Daughters of America Feed the Hungry initiative, among other achievements, and Bill helps with her philanthropic endeavors.
The Mulhollands were awarded family of the year. Sean Mulholland, a retired state trooper, is always ready to help when needed, and his wife Jamie runs the Fourth of July Junior Olympics in Sea Isle City. Their daughter Marie, in fifth grade at Bishop McHugh, is always willing to do whatever needs to be accomplished.
Lisa DiBruno was presented with the award for Outstanding Service to Our Parish. DiBruno has been the choir director at St. Joseph Church for 15 years. She also oversees the planning of all special services at the church such as weddings and Easter.
Grand Knight Ed McFadden was named Knight of the Year. McFadden has been a member of the Knights of Columbus since 2019, when he and his wife Arlene moved to Sea Isle City. McFadden is not afraid to get things done and says that moving to Sea Isle City was the best decision he has made.
One of the banners displayed in Sea Isle City as a photo opportunity.
PICTURE THIS: BANNERS POP UP IN SEA ISLE
Sea Isle City has brightened recreational areas by placing colorful banners around the city. These banners, targeting active family areas, will provide the community and its visitors with ideal locations to take photos.
The banners, along with some new surprise signage in Sea Isle City’s playgrounds and pickleball courts, were installed before the busiest stretch of the summer. These vinyl banners will also be placed in a few additional areas throughout Sea Isle City to help enhance certain areas targeted by the city.
One banner features a basketball hoop with basketballs flying into it. Another shows a pair of butterfly wings; when the photo subject stands in the middle, it will give that person the effect of having wings. A group of wildflowers sprouts on another banner, featuring beautiful sunflowers. The last banner features a large vintage postcard sharing “Greetings from Sea Isle City!”
The banners were designed and printed by Seven Mile Publishing and Creative in Avalon. They will be in place through the end of the summer season.
“We wanted family-friendly imagery that people will want to photograph and share on social media and send to friends and loved ones to document their visit and the fun times they are having in Sea Isle City,” said Sea Isle City spokeswoman Katherine Custer. “We have created a new hashtag to go with the new banners and signage: #PlaySIC.”
The city hopes the public enjoys the banners and the memories they help to create.
40 NEW PALM TREES ON JFK
Sea Isle City took on a tropical look May 25 when 40 Christmas palm trees were planted on JFK Boulevard. The installation of the smaller variety of palm trees – which get their name from the clusters of bright red fruits they produce in late fall – represents the latest effort to create a more inviting entrance into town following the “Beach to Bay” beautification project that was completed in 2013.
In 2019, the City’s Streetscape Tree Planting Project involved the planting of 40 trident maple trees on JFK Boulevard and 35 sweet bay magnolia trees on Landis Avenue.
The magnolia trees on Landis Avenue thrived in their location. The maples weren’t so lucky. After consulting with landscaping professionals, the City was told the vast openness of the space causes a difficult environment for trees to survive. Thus, the city decided to plant palm trees celebrating “the reopening of businesses and a return to normalcy” in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Mayor Leonard Desiderio.
The palm trees were purchased with $8,000 of city funds from Island Palms LLC, of Dennisville. The installation was done at no cost by Think Pavers Hardscaping LLC, of Mount Royal, N.J., which had been responsible for the maintenance of the trident maples.
The palm trees are expected to last into the fall, when they will need to be removed. “We realize the trees won’t make it through the winter,” said Sea Isle City spokesperson Katherine Custer.
The City is working on a long-term plan for what to do after that.
“In the meantime, we are happy that people are enjoying the palm trees,” Custer said, “and that there is one more reason to smile as you enter our community.”
The palm trees planted on JFK Boulevard are expected to last into the fall.