Sea Isle 2/8/2006

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More than 200 chili lovers attended the second annual Chili Festival sponsored by the Sea Isle City Recreation Department on Jan. 29.
The Community Lodge was crowded as chili lovers of all ages sampled chili and then voted for their favorite in three categories.
The total number of entrants was 12.
Bottled water was provided for tasters, especially for those tasting the hottest recipes, and refreshments of warm corn muffins.
Ballots were counted by Nichole Holt and Cheryl Castor, festival coordinators.
The winners: Valerie Kirby of Valarie’s Place, regular chili; Joe LaRosa, hottest chili; and Lorye Cramer, vegetarian chili.
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If you’ve been to City Hall and noticed a new face in the tax office, it’s Paula G. Doll, the newly appointed tax collector.
Actually, she has been at work since Nov. 14, but the commissioners just made the appointment official at their meeting on Jan. 25.
Doll brings more than 20 years experience, as well as professional credentials as a certified public accountant (CPA) certified tax collectors (CTC), and certified municipal finance officer (CMFO.)
She was the tax collector and assistant controller for the Township of Cherry Hill, from October 1990 to November 2005 and municipal auditor for Bowman and Company of Voorhees, from September 1987 to September 1990.
She graduated from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.
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The Top Ten Book Club is not the only one in town, but is the only one where the members dress up as characters in the books they are reading or fly to Florida, the setting of their latest book, “Sanibel Flats.”
Talk about a reality show!
Eight members of the club did just that over the long weekend holiday in January.
They stayed in cottages owned by two of their members on Sanibel Island, a shelling paradise off the coast of southern Florida.
During their stay, they had a book discussion and pot luck diner and invite neighbors in Periwinkle Park, where they were staying.
They also took a cruise to Useppa Island, which can be reached by property owners only by boat, and enjoyed a dinner at a restaurant owned by the author of “Sanibel Flats,” a famous resident of Sanibel Island.
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Those unsightly and unsanitary blue trash cans will be a thing of the past, as SIC takes another step forward to upgrade the appearance of the promenade, downtown business district, and other area of the city.
At the last meeting of the board of commissioners, a sample was on display.
The mayor said that they plan to have the new trash cans ready for the summer.
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Interested in a spring or Easter family portrait? Would you love to have a portrait of you and your spouse?
Have you been dreaming about getting a generation portrait?
If so, the Sea Isle City Public School PTA is giving you that chance.
They are sponsoring a fundraiser with Lifetime Portraits.
The PTA is selling $10 coupons, which will entitle you to a complete professional setting and a color 10 x 13 canvas panel color portrait.
The photographer will be taking three additional pictures, which will be available to purchase, but you are under no obligation to buy.
You get the 10 x 13 with no further obligation!
These portraits will be taken the weekend of March 11 at the SIC Public School.
You do not need to be a family member of a Sea Isle City Public School student to participate in this event.
It is open to the public. To see a sample portrait, please go to the school’s office.
You must purchase and present the coupon to get photographed and they may not be purchased at the event. No coupons will be sold after March 3.
Thanks for your support.
For more information or to purchase a coupon please call Kelly Blum at 263-9070.
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Same day registration for the 12th annual Polar Bear Plunge sponsored by the Sea Isle City Tourism Commission will take place at the old firehouse building across from the basketball courts on Kennedy Boulevard from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 18.
There is no pre-registration by mail this year.
Ages 12 or older can join in and the registration fee is $25.
All registrants will receive a free Polar Bear tee shirt, entry into the Polar Bear roped off area, eligibility for the costume contest, and a $200 gift certificate.
This year, there are four categories: Best Costume, Best Family Group, Best Group and Best of Show.
The costume contest will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. under the big tent at LaCosta Lounge.
For more information, call the tourism office, 609-263-8687
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The Townsend’s Inlet Civic Center Memorial Day Indoor Flea Market, Food Court and Auction will be held May 27 at the Center located at 138  85th Street.
Table space is now available at $20 a table.
Reserve your table space now.
Applications are being accepted on a first come, first serve basis.
All proceeds benefit the Townsend’s Inlet Civic Center Restoration Fund.
For reservations and applications contact Louise Clemente at 263-3002.
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The mature adults of the Church of the Resurrection in Marmora are sponsoring a trip to the Tropicana on Feb. 15 to see the ice show “Ice Fusions.”
Package includes the show and $10.
This is a $35 value for the cost of $20.
Bus leaves the church parking lot at 11 a.m. and returns at about 6:30 p.m.
Contact Joe Cefali, (609)-624-1110
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The Sea Isle City Taxpayers Association will have their board meeting on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Public Safety Building Commissioner’s Meeting Room.