CREST HAVEN – It was the day to plan to be festive Feb. 25, as freeholders approved nine resolutions permitting portions of county roads to be used for a series of local events.
West Cape May
West Cape May was among the first to get the nod for its Christmas parade Dec. 5. The miles-long parade that welcomes Santa to the borough makes use of a portion of Broadway (CR 626) and Perry Street (CR 606).
Approval was conditioned on the borough providing proof of indemnification, an insurance certificate, and a letter from the borough and Cape May Police Department that proved they are aware of the event and have a traffic control plan.
Earlier in the year, the borough was granted permission to close Myrtle Avenue (CR606) for three events.
The first will be the annual Strawberry Festival, June 7.
As the growing season progresses, the street will be closed Sept. 5 (rain date Sept. 6) for the annual Tomato Festival.
Finally, the most famous of the municipality’s productions, the annual Lima Bean Festival Oct. 10 (rain date Oct. 11) will close the street.
Strathmere
In the Upper Township seaside community of Strathmere, the Fourth of July wouldn’t be the same without the annual parade to mark the nation’s independence.
Freeholders approved the Strathmere Volunteer Fire Co. to close a part of Commonwealth Avenue (CR619) from Prescott Avenue to William Avenue from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with a rain date July 5.
As in West Cape May, the county asks for a letter of indemnification and certificate of insurance. Also, it wants assurance that the township and New Jersey State Police are aware of the event.
“Run, Forrest, Run”
As if motivated by the 1994 movie “Forrest Gump,” and the voice urging Gump on, four running events were similarly given a stamp of approval by freeholders at the same meeting.
Cape May Running Co. was given a thumbs up for its March 14 event on Beach Avenue, Cape May. There, a portion of Beach Avenue (CR604), from Perry Street to Wilmington Avenue, will be closed from 9 to 11:45 a.m. and Beach Avenue (CR604), between Jackson and Decatur streets, until 3 p.m. for their Paddy’s Day Plunge 5K event.
DelMoSports, LLC was given the nod for its April 17 Mud Hen IPA 5K that will close a portion of Rio Grande Avenue (CR 661), from Arctic Avenue to New Jersey Avenue (CR 621), to Ocean Avenue, in Wildwood, from 6 to 9 p.m.
The board then approved DelMoSports’ request for the April 18 Mud Hen 10 miler and five miler.
During the race, a portion of Rio Grande Avenue (CR661) and New Jersey Avenue (CR621), in Wildwood, will be closed from 7 to 11 a.m.
For runners who prefer warmer weather, but a more rigorous challenge, DelMoSports was permitted to proceed with its Escape the Cape Triathlon June 14.
The event begins with a plunge into Delaware Bay from a Cape May-Lewes Ferry and has contestants running and otherwise using various county roads in the Lower Township area.
The event will close a portion of Seashore Road (CR 626), New England Road (CR 641), Stimpson Lane (CR 645), Shunpike Road (CR 649) and Bayshore Road (CR 607) from 6:30 a.m. until 11 a.m.
As with similar events, the county requires assurance that an insurance certificate is provided. For the “Escape” event, it also wanted to know that Lower Township Police Department was aware of the event, and approved a traffic control plan.