Kick Them When They’re Down

To The Editor:
An old friend of yours that you’ve known and loved for generations is dying. On the year it was supposed to celebrate its 125th birthday and after all it has done to benefit the lives of the community, it received a crippling bill from the City for over $8,000.
Everyone knows that the Townsends Inlet Civic Center was hurting and that the people have been trying to save it. This year the center dedicated, “The Year Of The Child,” but due to this devastating bill, we will have to cancel all the children’s shows including Cinderella, Buccaneer Pirate Show, The Annual Halloween Show and the annual Holiday Show with Santa.
This is not just hurting the center, this is hurting the children. The funds raised by the different events at the center by the volunteers helps to pay for the childrens’ shows and even with all those funds going towards the bill, it is not enough.
Most of our volunteers are in their 80’s and 90’s, and there is no way that they can raise that kind of money. The center is already burdened with paying over $1,000 a year in water and sewer and $400 annually for the fire inspection plus the gas and electric to keep the center running, and we’re just getting over the effects of Sandy. No improvements have been done to the Center for over two years.
One of our volunteers suggested that since the First Bank of Sea Isle is also celebrating 125 years of community service that we should write to them, so we have written a letter to the bank’s board members asking them for a donation of $4,000 to be made out to the City of Sea Isle City. Since we have never asked First Bank for anything and we are trying to keep the center alive, we are asking them to also pledge $4,000 a year to help pay for these new taxes from the city. Many of the volunteers bank there and said that they know the bank will help.
Those would like to help to save the Townsends Inlet Civic Center can make a donation in any amount made out to the Townsends Inlet Civic Center a/o 7908 Central Avenue, Sea Isle City, NJ 08243.
If you have never heard of the center, go to YouTube, Sea Isle City, must see holiday windows ,and this will give you a little glimpse into what the center is all about. Those who would like to see the center and experience it for themselves should come to the annual Shell Party Dinner Fundraiser on Aug. 24, 6-9 p.m. featuring the island restaurant’s best cuisine donated by the restaurants.
The center is offering engraved pavers with family or grandchildren’s names on a paver to help save the center. The pavers are $200 each. Our goal is to reach 100 pavers to keep the center out of jeopardy. Go to http://www.senaworld.org/ to see the pavers or visit
http://www.sicta.org/. Call 609-263-3002 to help.
The center has a long and rich history. If you would like to help save it, please spread the word.
LOUISE CLEMENTE
Sea Isle City