Times Talk
NEW PLAQUE HONORS FIRST SOUTH-END DEVELOPERS
Four generations of the families of Sea Isle City’s original southern-end developers during the special plaque dedication ceremony honoring the legacy and contributions of their ancestors.
Six men whose vision and hard work helped shape the southern end of Sea Isle City more than seven decades ago were remembered with a commemorative plaque that was unveiled and dedicated June 24. More than 100 community members were on hand for the event at the 62nd Street shopping center.
The plaque recognizes Carmen V. Freda, Matthew M. Iannone, Thomas Bologno, Frank Baldini, Michael Baldini, and Peter M. Karanozinsky, whose efforts transformed a large section of undeveloped land into a thriving residential and commercial community.
“Four generations attended the ceremony and showed up for a family member they may not have known, but now they will be forever remembered in a place where it all began," said Kathy Freda, who organized the event with Alex Iannone. “This was a wonderful time to remember and honor these men and their wives and to bring these six families all together once again for a celebration of our past and of our future."
In the 1950s, Carmen Freda purchased a large tract of land stretching from 58th to 79th Street. Joined by the five men who made up his original construction team, the group developed neighborhoods of small cottages and built Sea Isle City's first shopping center, where the Acme supermarket remains today.
The six families relocated from North Jersey to Sea Isle City, where they established roots that continue through generations of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who still call the community home.
The commemorative tribute is located on the east side of the shopping plaza along Landis Avenue. The plaque is surrounded by a landscaped flower bed and hardscaped walkway, with plans to install lighting that will illuminate the memorial.
As part of the ceremony, Mayor Leonard Desiderio proclaimed the week as "Carmen V. Freda Builders Week" in Sea Isle City and presented a ceremonial key to the City to a representative from each of the six honored families in recognition of their ancestors’ lasting contributions to the community.
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR BEAUTIFICATION AWARDS
The 2025 Beautification Award winners during the presentation over Fall Family Festival Weekend.
The Sea Isle City Environmental Commission is inviting residents, visitors, and property owners to nominate outstanding homes and businesses for its 39th annual Beautification Awards.
The awards recognize properties that feature attractive landscaping and contribute to the beauty and visual appeal of the community. Both residential and commercial properties are eligible, and nominations may be submitted by anyone, including property owners themselves.
Nomination forms must be submitted by Aug. 31. Paper forms are available at the Sea Isle City Welcome Center, Sea Isle City Community Center, and the lobby of City Hall. Completed paper forms should be returned to the Welcome Center.
Digital nomination forms are available at seaislecitynj.us/BeautificationAward2026.
To be eligible, landscaped areas must be clearly visible from the street or sidewalk. Members of the Environmental Commission will judge all nominated properties.
Award recipients will receive a hand-painted commemorative plaque along with a gift certificate to a local nursery. The winners will be honored during the 2026 Beautification Awards ceremony at noon on Sunday, Sept. 20, on the Promenade at JFK Boulevard.
Contact event organizer Dudley McGinty at 609-263-3537 for more information.
E-BIKES SUBJECT TO NEW RULES, REGULATIONS
In July, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission implemented updated rules and regulations for e-bikes. All e-bikes must now be registered and insured, and all drivers must have a valid permit and helmet. Motorized stand-up electric scooters are exempt from these new rules.
“We haven’t seen an increase in e-bikes over the last couple of years, but when they first started coming out, we definitely noticed an increase then,” said Sea Isle City Police Chief Anthony Garreffi. “We have small, skinny roads in Sea Isle, so it’s tough for them to gain enough speed to cause major issues. What’s been brought to our attention the most is the lack of helmets.”
With the new rules and regulations, now all e-bike drivers must be at least 15 years old and possess a valid driver’s license, e-bike license, or e-bike permit. To obtain an e-bike license, you can schedule an appointment at a New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Licensing Center. The process includes a knowledge and vision test, 45 days of practice driving, and a road test. In addition, all e-bikes must be registered. To do this, schedule an appointment, insure your bike, provide ID and valid proof of ownership, and provide a manufacturer’s certificate of origin.
There is currently a grace period in effect for these new laws and regulations.
“We are going to take the grace period opportunity to educate people,” Garreffi said. “Since it’s now considered a motorized vehicle, we’ll enforce helmet violations and e-bikes are exempt from the Promenade and sidewalks. We will absolutely start educating people on that and step up enforcement.”
For more information, visit the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission website.
JARGOWSKY ASSUMES COUNCIL PRESIDENCY
Council members, from left: Frank Edwardi, Ian Ciseck, Mary Tighe, Mike Jargowsky and Bill Kehner.
Michael Jargowsky was elected to serve as Sea Isle City Council president during the council’s annual reorganization meeting. The councilman began his one-year term as president on July 1.
Jargowsky succeeds Mary Tighe, who completed her one-year term as council president and will serve as vice president through Sept. 30. The vice president position will rotate quarterly among the remaining council members, with councilman Ian Ciseck assuming the role beginning Oct. 1.
Jargowsky, a retired Sea Isle City police officer, joined the governing body after being elected in May 2025. Tighe, who has served on City Council since 2007, volunteered to serve as the first-quarter vice president to help support Jargowsky as he transitions into his new leadership role. Ciseck also was elected to the council in May 2025.
Tighe explained that the appointment follows a city ordinance requiring the council presidency to rotate among members. Under the ordinance, each council member may serve as council president for one year during a four-year term, ensuring that all members have the opportunity to lead the governing body.
City council meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 10am. Meetings are livestreamed from the city’s website, seaislecitynj.us, under the “YouTube (Live Stream)” icon or directly from YouTube at youtube.com/@visitsicnj8955.
COUNTY LAUNCHES HIGHWAY SAFETY TASK FORCE
Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office members at the annual Public Safety Recruitment event with students from Middle Township Middle School and Middle Township High School.
Cape May County has launched a task force initiative to enhance highway safety and reduce traffic fatalities. The initiative’s name, SHIELD Task Force, stands for Safety on Highways through Intensive Enforcement & Law Enforcement Deployment.
Because of seasonal tourism, Cape May County faces safety challenges due to increased traffic and heavily traveled highways. The task force will address this by increasing enforcement and focusing on educating residents and visitors about the dangers of speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, and aggressive driving. Additional messaging such as “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket” will be posted as part of the public awareness campaign.
The task force will identify high-risk locations through crash analytics and traffic trends. There will be targeted operations in these areas, including saturation patrols, speed enforcement, and DUI checkpoints.
On July 6, a 4-hour enforcement detail was deployed along the North Wildwood Boulevard and Wildwood Boulevard corridors, which are locations that have been identified as high risk. Twelve officers from multiple municipal police departments conducted 93 motor vehicle stops. From these stops, officers issued 48 motor vehicle summonses, 25 moving violations, and 23 non-moving violations. In addition, one individual was arrested for driving while under the influence.
This is a countywide partnership involving all Cape May County police departments, the Cape May County Sheriff's Office, the New Jersey State Police, the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office. While the task force is currently funded through partnerships, it seeks additional state and federal funding to ensure long-term operation.
For more information, contact the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.
SEA ISLE’S BEACH FILL FINISHED
The Sea Isle City beach replenishment project has officially been completed. The efforts began in early June, when construction crews and equipment arrived on the beach between 29th and 55th streets to start sand-pumping operations.
The project was completed through the Army Corps of Engineers’ 50-year beach nourishment program. The project's contractor, Norfolk Dredging Company, placed approximately 500,000 cubic yards of sand along the beach to repair critical areas eroded by the sea. Over time, erosion has taken portions of the dunes, making this replenishment project essential in preserving the shoreline.
During the operations, about 1,000 feet of beach, or roughly three to four blocks, were closed at a given time. Although the closures caused some inconvenience, the project was necessary to ensure the long-term vitality of Sea Isle City’s beaches.
"The beach replenishment project provides critical shore protection along with recreational space for Sea Isle's beaches," said George Savastano, Business Administrator. "The beaches are Sea Isle's greatest natural resource and the reason so many people want to be here. The goal of this long-term project is to maintain healthy beaches, help ensure the stability of our dune system, and maintain a healthy, resilient coastline."
Sea Isle City is among the several local towns that had beach replenishment projects this year. Ocean City, Avalon, and Stone Harbor have undergone similar projects to protect their beaches. With the completion of beach-fill operations in Sea Isle City, Norfolk Dredging has continued its replenishment efforts in Strathmere.
