Not All Was Fun at Plunge

SEA ISLE CITY — According to officials, this year’s Polar Bear Plunge was a rip roaring success when tens of thousands of people came to the city this past Presidents’ Day weekend.
Not so fast, said one resident during City Council’s March 13 meeting.
Ann Organ, a resident of 39th Street, shared her observations of the winter fund-raiser.
“There are questions about the plunge and what the money is used for,” said Organ, noting that there is confusion if proceeds of the plunge benefits autism charities.
According to Council President John Divney, proceeds from the actual plunge are used by the city’s Chamber of Commerce to be used for different events.
“The bad part about the plunge, as I see it,” said Organ, “is we had people going by our house…one man, in particular, was very heavy, 300-pounds or more, in a thong. We had two people get out of the car, park their car on our street and urinate in the shower in the house next door.”
Organ told council how two men walked with a third man between them, holding him up as the trio walked down the street, because he could not walk on his own.
“My children used the jitney,” said Organ, “and there were two incidences where people got on the bus. One girl had no idea where she was and was completely out of it. She sat down in the chair and passed out. Another gentlemen, the same thing. He did not know he had to pay $2 to get on the jitney and they just let him go. He did not pass out. She did.”
According to Organ, “The plunge is a good thing. It brings a lot of people to town. We had a very enjoyable day other than watching the sights, but I think it was a little out of hand. It did not seem to have the control it had in the past. I think we need a little bit more control.”
“There were 50,000 people in town, as I understand it,” said Divney. “My conversation with the chief was that we had a very good day. We’ll let Mr. Bennett will deal with this at the next meeting.”
Jimmy Bennett and Mike Monchetti, organizers of the plunge were scheduled to make their report to council during the meeting. Due to a scheduling conflict Monchetti was unavailable. He and Bennett will make their report at the next council meeting, April 10.