Cape May Mayor Warns Proposed Bill Could Threaten Beach Safety and Funding

Issue #341

May 08, 2025

In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather 

‍‍🥇 Cape May Mayor Warns Proposed Bill Could Threaten Beach Safety and Funding

‍ 💍 South Jersey’s Secret Sleuth: Chef by Day, Ring Finder by Passion

 🏪 Developer Eyes Major Coastal Project on Site of Former Coal Plant in Upper Township

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👇 Here’s what’s going on in the Cape May Local Area👇  

 May 8

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Cape May Mayor Warns Proposed Bill Could Threaten Beach Safety and Funding

 Cape May Mayor Zach Mullock cautions that a proposed state bill to exempt surfers and fishermen from beach badge fees could severely impact beach safety and maintenance. He argues the fee system acts like a self-sustaining utility, crucial for funding lifeguards and beach improvements. With many residents on fixed incomes, shifting these costs to taxpayers would be burdensome. Opposition to the legislation is growing among other coastal communities as well. Sea Isle City has passed a resolution urging state lawmakers to reject the proposal, while officials in Seaside Heights fear the change would encourage beachgoers to bypass badges altogether by simply staying close to the ocean’s edge.

 

 

South Jersey’s Secret Sleuth: Chef by Day, Ring Finder by Passion

 John Favano, known as South Jersey’s “Ring Finder,” has recovered nearly 400 rings and valuable items lost on local beaches. What began with a simple metal detector has become a passionate mission to reunite people with sentimental and high-value belongings. Although treasure hunting isn't his full-time profession—he works as a corporate dining chef manager—Favano is available around the clock to help those in need. He shares practical advice on his website for anyone who has lost something at the beach, urging people to stay calm, avoid disturbing the sand, and avoid broadcasting the loss on social media, which could attract opportunistic scavengers. Favano's mission is driven by empathy and the understanding that these items often hold deep personal meaning. Whether it's a family heirloom or a symbol of love, he approaches each recovery with care and determination.

Developer Eyes Major Coastal Project on Site of Former Coal Plant in Upper Township

 Beesley’s Point Development Group is preparing to present plans for redeveloping the former BL England Generating Station site in Upper Township. The proposal includes a 180-room hotel, 400 condominiums (286 age-restricted), and 80,000 square feet of commercial space. A CAFRA permit is pending, and final plans depend on state and local approvals. Despite market challenges, especially for seasonal hospitality operations, the development team remains committed to including a hotel. Parks acknowledged that finding a hotel partner may be difficult, but remains optimistic that the project’s environmental and recreational appeal will attract interest.The next step involves securing approvals from the Township Committee and Planning Board. Once those steps are completed, the group can submit a formal site plan for review. The team hopes to begin construction within the next 18 months.

What modern convenience, uncommon for its time, was featured in every guest room of Cape May's Mount Vernon Hotel during its brief operation in the 1850s?

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Answer to the May 7th Trivia Question

Cape May is located on a man-made island separated from the mainland by which body of water?

A) Cape May Creek
B) Cape May Canal
C) Delaware Bay
D) Atlantic Inlet

Answer: B) Cape May Canal

The Cape May Canal is a 2.9-nautical-mile (3.3 mi; 5.4 km)  waterway connecting Cape May Harbor to the Delaware bay, at the southern tip of Cape May County, New Jersey.

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