Upcoming Cape May County Government Events

COURT HOUSE – Check out these upcoming Cape May County government events.
Nov. 16
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Community Disabilities Awareness Day Event
Cape May County Freeholder Kristine Gabor invites the public to attend the 5th Annual Cape May County Community Disabilities Awareness Day Event on Nov. 16 at the Avalon Elementary School.
Cape May County will celebrate its 5th Annual Disabilities Awareness Day, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with an event that offers information, food, music and fun not only for people with disabilities but for all who are interested in the agencies and organizations that serve the citizens of Cape May County. The event is being held in the Avalon Elementary School at 235 – 32nd Street.
Admission is free and refreshments will be provided. There will be a Kids area, operated by School Based Youth Services volunteers and entertainment will be offered by the Cape May County String Band and dancers from the Joanne Reagan Dance Studio. Cape Regional Medical Center’s Parish Nurse Program will be offering free blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar screenings and the County Department of Health will offer flu shots on a first come first served basis. A representative from Project Prevention will also be providing free eye screenings.
New this year is the opportunity to attend a workshop within the event on Elder Care Law. Also, the winners of the 2013 Outstanding Service Recognition Award, which acknowledges individuals, organizations and/or businesses for their contributions to improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities in our county, will be honored during the event. This year’s Award is being presented to Joe Giannattasio, Coordinator for the Middle Township Clean Communities Program and to a The Blind Center of the Jersey Cape, founded by Millie Saraduke.
Exhibitors at this annual event include representatives from 60+ local and state service agencies, civic organizations, support groups, and commercial vendors specializing in products and services of particular interest to people with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information, call Paulann Pierson, CMC Department of Aging and Disability Services at 609-886-2784.
Nov. 16
Elder Law Workshop
Cape May County Community Disabilities Awareness Day
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Avalon Elementary School
Room 101
235 – 32nd Street
Avalon, NJ 08202
Eileen W. Siegeltuch, the presenter, is an attorney at Hinkle, Fingles & Prior, a firm that provides specialized legal services to seniors and families of children and adults with disabilities. Ms. Siegeltuch specializes in special needs planning and elder law issues, including planning for Medicaid eligibility and other public benefits. This free workshop will be offered at the 5th Annual Cape May County Community Disabilities Awareness Day. During this workshop, attendees will learn about ways to finance long-term care, minimize or avoid the financial hardship on a spouse and preserve assets for children. An overview of basic and critical planning steps will also be discussed.
Registration for this Elder Law Workshop is encouraged but not required. To pre-register contact: Paulann Pierson, Cape May County Department of Aging & Disability Services, 609-886-2784 or ppierson@co.cape-may.nj.us)
Starting Nov. 29
Shop Black Fur-Day at County Animal Shelter
Cape May Court House – Freeholder Vice Director Leonard C. Desiderio announced that the Cape May County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center is holding a special promotion starting Nov. 29, Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. Desiderio said, “ I invite everyone to stop by the county shelter from November 29th through December 24th for Black Fur-iday and a adopt a black cat for 75% off the normal adoption fee.”
Currently, the shelter has thirty-one cats available for adoption. “We hope this promotion will encourage people to consider adopting what are often overlooked prospects for pets. Animal shelters nationwide face a similar challenge. For many reasons, black cats and black dogs stay longer at shelters and are least likely to get adopted,” added Desiderio.
Shelter Manager Judy Davies- Dunhour sees daily how black cats are perceived by potential adopters. “Black cats don’t stand out as unique or pretty. And believe it or not, superstition even comes into play,” Davies-Dunhour said. “When two litter mates are offered together and one is black, inevitably the black one is left behind, and the other gets a home. Its heartbreaking.”
Black Fur-iday will continue daily at the Shelter through Christmas. Although the adoption fee is reduced the rest of the application process remains the same. All pets adopted from the Cape May County Animal Shelter include spay/neuter procedure, vaccinations, microchipping with lifetime registration at Home Again and a free veterinarian visit.
The Cape May County Animal Shelter & Adoption Center is located at 110 Shelter Road in the Crest Haven Complex. It is open to the public seven days a week from noon to 4 p.m. For more information call 465-8923 or visit capemaycountygov.net.
Dec. 1
11:30 a.m. “Cape May County Report”
Please tune in to see the next edition of the “Cape May County Report” on Dec. 1 at 11:30 a.m. on NBC 40.
County Hosts Community Blood Drive
Freeholder Kristine Gabor announced that the Cape May County Department of Health will host an American Red Cross blood drive open to the public on Dec. 2, 2013. The community blood drive will take place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center located at 12 Moore Road, in the Crest Haven Complex (Exit 11 off the Garden State Parkway).
Twice a year the county holds a blood drive for employees, their families and friends and encourages members of the public to donate blood as well. County employees donate on average 120 pints each year. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred. To schedule an appointment log onto www.redcrossblood.org, call Judy Startare at 609-465-1206 or email starta@co.cape-may.nj.us
Dec. 7
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Holiday Program for K-3rd Grade
Cape May County’s 4-H Youth Development Program is offering a special holiday-themed event for youth in Kindergarten through 3rd grade on Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Moms and dads are invited to leave their little ones with 4-H while they go shopping. The Cloverbud Holiday Rally will provide five hours of safe fun including: holiday-themed crafts, a group art project, lunch and a suitable afternoon holiday movie.
The event is $10 per child and will take place at the Lockwood 4-H Youth Center located on the 4-H Fairgrounds at 355 Court House-S. Dennis Rd., in Cape May Court House. To register your child, call (609) 465-5115, ext. 605, or email capemay4h@NJAES.Rutgers.edu.
Dec. 10, 2013
7 p.m.
Cape May County Office of Emergency Management
Freeholder Director Gerald M. Thornton announced that the County’s newly formed Animal Response Team or CART will hold its third meeting on Dec. 10, 2013 at 7 p.m. at Cape May County Office of Emergency Management. To-date, over 60 people have volunteered to be part of Cape May County’s first CART. Cape May County Emergency Management.
Coordinator Martin L. Pagliughi said, “Volunteers include animal care providers, animal control representatives, shelter personnel and the general public.”
The CART will assist pet owners in a disaster or weather emergency by providing shelter and care for their pets. Federal and State laws require New Jersey counties to plan for and support the needs of animals and individuals with animals during an emergency. The creation of a CART in Cape May County is just one component of the County’s Sheltering Plan.
From localized incidents such as flooding and inclement weather to catastrophic incidents such as a hurricane or terrorist attack, these events require the emergency response community to plan, train and prepare for response operations that include animals. Pagliughi added, “CART will focus on domestic animals and the safe evacuation of pets during an emergency. The goal is for the CART to have the basic capability of providing shelter for approximately 250 animals now and as many as 500 animals in the future. Also, for the county to have the ability to independently operate these shelters for 72 hours and maintain shelter operations for at least 5 days with proper requested assistance.”
The County continues to seek volunteers to help with this important life-saving initiative. For additional information or to volunteer, please call 609-463-6570.
Dec. 12
Fare Free Transportation
40th Anniversary Celebration
Training Day
Dec. 14
Santa’s Family Workshop is Coming to County Park and Zoo
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Mark your calendar and save the date for Santa’s visit to the Cape May County Park and Zoo! The Board of Chosen Freeholders invites the public to take a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus during “Santa’s Family Workshop” on Dec. 14 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. This free, family event, will also include crafts, education stations, entertainment and treats.
After telling Santa your wish list for Christmas, stroll through the zoo and see the more than 500 animals that call the Cape May County Zoo home – including our new Giraffe and snow leopard cubs. This special event is free and open to the public. So take your camera and the entire family to the Cape May County Zoo for a day of holiday fun.
The Cape May County Zoo is located at 707 Route 9 North in Cape May Court House (Exit 11 off the Garden State Parkway). The free Zoo is open, weather permitting, 364 days a year – closed on Christmas Day.
For additional information please call 465-5271 or visit capemaycountygov.net.
Ongoing…
County Seeks Volunteers to Assist in Tax Return Preparation
Cape May Court House – Freeholder Kristine Gabor announced that the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is seeking individuals to be part of the Volunteer Tax Assistance Program (VITA).
More than 750 Cape May County residents with incomes less than $50,000 received free help filing their 2012 tax returns by Retired Senior Volunteer Program members through VITA. To continue this much needed service, more volunteers are being recruited for training.
If you are able to use a computer and are available from February through April 2014, at least one day a week, you are encouraged to join this committed group. Training will be provided on Federal tax law and New Jersey tax law. All materials will be furnished by the IRS, but you are welcome to use your own laptop. As an IRS-Certified volunteer, you will be able to provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in sites throughout Cape May County. If you are interested in volunteering or need additional information, please call RSVP Director Joan Rowland at 886-3400.