Sea Isle City Reflections

The Annual Polar Bear Plunge will be held on February 16th on the Beach at JFK Boulevard. Over 1000 participants were encouraged by thousands of family, friends and fans last year and this year is suppose to be bigger yet. If you want to come to Sea Isle for a fun, frenzy weekend, the Polar Bear Plunge is a great time to be here. Weekend reservations are currently being taken. You can rent a house, condo, or the Colonnade Inn at 4600 Landis Ave. are now taking reservations. Give me a call at 1-800-648-9316 and ask for Joe at ext. 21. 

See You soon!!!

The search has begun for Sea Isle City’s new Polar Bear Queen Sea Isle City – After 13 years as Polar Bear Queen in Sea Isle City’s annual Polar Bear Plunge, Dr. Irene Jameson is ready to relinquish her throne at the age of 82. Some may say that they’ve heard this from her in the past, but this year it is definite. So definite, in fact, that the Sea Isle City Tourism Commission has already begun a search for a new Polar Bear Queen, andthey have wasted no time beginning their search.  A Polar Bear Queen Contest is currently underway to find Jameson’s replacement, and, considering the event’s popularity, a good turn-out is expected. A new queen will crowned at the next Polar Bear Plunge on February 16, 2008, and Jameson will be on hand to officially pass the baton. The contest for a new queen will serve also as a fund-raiser, and all contestants will be partly judged on how much money they raise. Twenty percent of the proceeds will go to the Make A Wish Foundation of New Jersey and the balance will support free family events sponsored by the Tourism Commission.  Interested participants must be 21 years of age, or older, and must agree to adhere to a strict “Polar Bear Queen Conduct Code.” The new queen must also follow specific guidelines, such as being willing to wear a swimsuit while riding on a throne of ice. All contestants must jump in the ocean in February because, according to Jameson, “Real queens do plunge!” Jameson, who has been the director of Sea Isle City’s Public Relations Department for 18 years, was the original organizer of the city’s first Polar Bear Plunge 13 years ago. She got the idea from her son, Robert Jameson, while he was working as a police officer in New Castle County, Delaware. At that time, police officers of the entire state of Delaware were planning a plunge to raise funds. That’s when a light bulb went off over Jameson’s head, and the glow from that bulb would lead Sea Isle City toward a new tradition. In February, 1994, when Jameson and a handful of others took their first plunge, there was only an estimated 100 bystanders in attendance on the beach. But word quickly spread and the event has attracted more and more people every year since. In 2007, the plunge attracted a record 1000 “plungers” and over 10,000 viewers. What a difference a decade has made.

On the first year of the plunge, Jameson had her husband, John, paint “AARP” on the backside of her swimsuit. That was so well received, it started the whole idea of wearing a different costume every year. Some of her costumes are even on display at the Sea Isle City Historical Museum.

“The coldest year was 2003, with snow on the beach, 33 degree ocean temperature, 20 degree air temperature and brisk winds making the chill factor single digits,” said Jameson. “Many of the plungers never returned after that year; I think some of the viewers stopped coming after that year too. However, many others have turned out to replace them since then.” Now that she is officially retiring, she has mixed emotions about passing the torch to a new Polar Bear Queen.

“I was supposed to retire after my 10^th plunge when I was 79, but I wanted to keep going into my 80’s. Now, I am sad but I am also glad, and I am sure that the Tourism Commission will do a good job selecting a new queen.  Plus, I think it will be good to have a new queen every year, so it will be more interesting,” said Jameson. Polar Bear Queen Applications can be obtained on the Tourism Commission’s website, www.seaisletourism.org, or by phoning (609) 263-TOUR.  

Six beachfront properties burned to the ground Saturday Evening in Sea Isle City. Properties between 64th Street and 65th Street burned to a char early Saturday evening. Fortunately the properties were vacant and the wind was calm or things could have been worse. Investigators are searching for the cause of this devastating blaze.

The Sea Isle City council picked a new site for the estimated 4.5 million dollar library this week, choosing an empty lot on 48th Street insead of the current site on JFK Blvd. The commission agreed that a lack of summer parking downtown prompted their decision to move the site to 48th Street where there was a former sewer plant.

According to the Cape May County Multiple Listing Service, NJ Realty is the Number 1 sales office (year to date as of 9/10/07) in Sea Isle City for the 9th consecutive year!

NJ Realty has a 19% market share with 48 units sold and #38,679,750 in total dollar volume. Additionally, NJ Realty has an astounding 35% market share in units currently Under Contract, with 14 units and $8,592,900 in dollar volume, and is #1 in current sale listings: with a 15% market share with 42 units.

This logo used by Sea Isle City will be reality soon. When you drive into the city, cross over the bridge and say “Cheese” because the Sea Isle City officials are planning to install surveillance cameras at three locations in town, including one to monitor vehicles driving over the Sea Isle City Bridge on the main entrance to town. Another two cameras would monitor a basketball court and playground on John F. Kennedy Boulevard downtown and Dealy Field on Central Ave. The safety of our children are the main objectives to these camera’s.

A transportation Committee was formed earlier this year by the new City Council, to provide a trolley service for our summer visitors. The Committee is speaking with the Great American Trolley Company, reviewing the different types of services available and determining which are most applicable to our city’s needs. Yet to be determined is the planning routes, times, costs, subsidies, etc.

A program of this type will relieve some of the congestion and transport people to the downtown business district who may otherwise avoid the area because of parking problems. The committee is confident that a Trolley service will be in place by Memorial Day Weekend 2008.

The weekend of October 20th, 2007 will be the first annual Octoberfest in Sea Isle City. Everyone will be able to enjoy a family fun day with activities for all ages. There will be a beer garden and fun for all.

Sea Isle’s new government held its first public meeting on July 24th. With five new councilpersons at the meeting, along with an interum administrator, the meeting went well. The agenda of the meeting was to discuss new and old policies along with hearing from the citizens on questions and concerns.

Overall, the meeting went very well. Items brought up for discussion were well taken, and although the members have only been officiallly in office for 24 days, they seemed concerned for everyone’s needs. The council has asked many of our taxpayers and citizens to get involved in commitees to meet and discuss and try to resolve certain concerns everyone has such as the marina district, entertainment for our youth, downtown revitalization, and changing current law with new ordiances that will help Sea Isle thrive.

   One thing I was disappointed in as a homeowner and citizen was that I was the youngest person in the audience. Being 45, and not that young, I would have hoped to see more interest in our government by the youth of our city. To thrive and compete with surrounding resort areas, we must be able to keep locals and visitors in Sea Isle to spend their money. Although my elders have many valid concerns that need to be addressed, it would have been nice to see a mixture of age groups so everyone’s concerns would be heard.

   Congratulations to our new council and I hope to see progress in the City I’ve learned to love.

July 4th is a major event in Sea Isle City, but next to that, the Sea Isle City Baby Parade comes in at a close second. Locals and tourist all enjoy the parade with contestants, floats, and costumes of small children from around the area. A fun time for all, the Baby Parade is a must see if you are in the Sea Isle area.