As you know, turkey vultures love to roost in my neighborhood.
They are a sight to behold. They move periodically and now can be found on the rooftops of a couple of houses on Dias Creek Road, making a bit of a mess.
There’s a bare, dead, Alfred Hitchcock looking tree that I’ve noticed them roosting on behind these homes.
I’m sure the homeowners would prefer the birds would take permanent residence there, but they’ll soon be moving on.
With all the development going on, hopefully they’ll be back.
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Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital announced recently that Rose Killian has been named the Special Touch Volunteer of the Month for Jan.
Rose has volunteered at BTMH since Februray 2003 and since that time has accumulated over 400 hours of service.
She volunteers on Mondays and greets patients and visitors at the visitor lobby desk in addition to completing errands throughout the hospital.
Rose has three grown children, one son and two daughters. When she is not at the hospital Rose is an avid golfer and creates beautiful dolls from scratch.
She was presented a commemorative plaque, a Special Touch Volunteer pin and a gift certificate for dinner for two at the restaurant of her choice.
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The Sacred Ibises or Threskiornis Aethiopica joined the collection of rare and exotic birds housed in the Zoo’s World of Bird Exhibit at the Cape May County Zoo on Jan. 12.
The county purchased the Sacred Ibises from the San Antonio Zoo with donations from Art and Ruth Spillman and the zoo’s AAZK Chapter.
In the wild the Sacred Ibis is common in Africa south of the Sahara.
The Sacred Ibis was part of the Egyptian religion and was worshipped as a god.
Director Beyel said, “The birds will compliment the Aviary collection and provide companionship for the zoo’s 22-year-old Black-headed Ibis – the last one in the United States.”
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Cape May County Library’s 1st Thursday Book Club will meet tomorrow from 7 to 8 p.m. to discuss “My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult.”
Meetings are held the first Thursday of each month through June 2.
For information call 463-6359.
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Family arts and crafts will be offered at the county library for children K-grade 8.
Meetings will be held the first Wednesday of the month, tonight, March 1, April 5, May 3 and June 7 from 6 to 7p.m.
Children and parents can enjoy stories and a craft together.
Registration is required. Please call 463-6350.
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The PTA will hold a general membership meeting to approve the 2005-2006 PTA budget tomorrow at 6:15 p.m. in Elementary No. 1’s all-purpose room.
The meeting will be immediately followed by the school’s 12th Annual Student Interest Fair at 6:30 p.m.
Refreshments will be provided.
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The Wetlands Institute will join the celebration of World Wetlands Day with free admission tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Wetlandia will feature exhibits and hands-on fun, including books, crafts and activities for children.
An continuously running slide show will be set up in the lecture hall.
Brochures about summer classes will be available.
At noon a winter beach combing event will take place at Stone Harbor Point.
From 2-5 p.m. there will be a creature feature hourly, along with a turtle feeding at 6 p.m. and aquarium feeding at 7 p.m.
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Get your friends together for the inaugural Cape-A-May-Zing Race on Saturday.
Teams of four will start from the Wetlands Institute and follow clues around the county in a race to a party at the finish line.
For example, if a clue says “198 steps” it’s the Cape May Lighthouse.
Only the final clue will let participants know the location of the party.
The fun begins at 6 p.m. and costs $15 per person to cover appetizers and drinks at the party.
Call the Wetlands at 368-1211 to sign up a team.
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Movies on the Marsh continue on Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Wetlands Institute.
After a documentary or animated film, you can meet some of the animals from the County Zoo or the Wetlands’ own aquarium.
The movies are free with regular admission.
“The Little Mermaid” is the feature for Saturday.
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Marsh Music brings the best in live, eclectic music by some of America’s top musicians to the Wetlands Institute.
Laura Cortese performs on Feb. 17 with a driving fiddle, vocals, and step dance that feature an original blend of Celtic music and contemporary influence.
All shows begin at 8 p.m. and consist of two 45-minute sets with intermission.
Tickets are $8 members, $10 non-members and are available in advance or at the door.
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Indoor and family soccer will be open to the public every Sunday through March 29 at the Martin Luther King Center.
Family soccer, including all age and skill levels, will be held between 2 and 3 p.m.
Indoor soccer, for those age 10 and older, will be held between 3 and 4 p.m.
There is no fee and no pre-registration.
Simply sign in when you arrive.
For more information call the King Center at 465-8747.
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Rec baseball and softball sign ups are taking place now through Saturday at the Baker and King Centers. Ages 6-15 are eligible to play in different levels.
Fees are $35/first child, $33/second child, $30/third child and $50/13-15 year old division.
Players are required to bring a copy of their birth certificate for the Rec department to keep, along with proof of Middle Township residency.
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To keep these wonderful rec programs running smoothly, umpires and coaches are needed.
Parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters and friends are urged to sign up for a clinic.
The umpire clinic will be offered by the County Little League and the coaching clinic by MTHS coaches.
If interested call 465-8743 for more information.
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The Mature Adults Club of the Church of the Resurrection is sponsoring a trip to the Tropicana to see the ice show, Ice Fusions, on Feb. 15.
Cost is $20 Bus leaves the church parking lot at 11 a.m. and returns at 6:30 p.m. Call Joe Cefali at 624-1110.
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First United Methodist Church of Court House is seeking contributions of goods and services for its Church Street Christian School Silent Auction.
The non-profit Montessori pre-school program depends solely on tuition and contributions.
For information call 465-1466.
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With rising prices and many county seasonal workers, nonperishable, heat-and-eat food items, as well as paper goods and personal hygiene products are being collected for the United Way of Cape May County Food Pantry.
Cape May County Chamber of Commerce building on the parkway, across from the Crest Haven Complex, is the collection point.
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The Cape May County Museum was closed in January for the pathways installation and will also be closed for the month of February.
Mark your calendars though for March 15 and 16 when the Second Museum’s Winter Vintage Book and Antique Bottle Sale will take place.
Time will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Enjoy a hot cup of coffee while browsing through the many vintage books and antique bottles. Admission will be free.
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Cape May County Songwriters meet the last Wednesday of each month, 7:15 p.m., at 785 Stone Harbor Blvd.
Teens and adults may bring their music to share.
Piano and keyboards are on site.
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Next AARP Drivers Safety course will be hel Feb. 22 and 23, 5 to 9 p.m., at the Samuel DeVico Senior Center. Call Frank Anzelone at 463-0939.
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Cape May County duplicate ACBL bridge club Jan. 16 north/south:
Henry Buchianico/Barbara Streeter; Mike Bruno/Thomas Tenaglia;
Ronald Burczewski/Nancy Portland.
East/west: Harley Shuler/Edna Stevens; Bob Weber/Bob Sherwood;
Ray Buch/Karen Sylvester.
Jan. 19 overall winners: Mike Bruno/Thomas Tenaglia; Jerry Mueller/Kay Wade; Margaret Coe/Mike Mueller; Henry Buchianico/ Karen Sylvester; Mildred Keil/Roberta Moffitt; Bud Ferruzzi/Warren Nuessle.
