Construction Begins on State-of-the-Art Public Safety Hub in Cape May

Issue #475

October 04, 2025

In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather

 📸Local Artist Spotlight

👮Construction Begins on State-of-the-Art Public Safety Hub in Cape May

⚓Coast Guard Operations Continue Without Pay at Cape May Base

 🌑NASA Invites the World to Watch the Moon Together on Oct. 4

Cape May Local Scoop’s Events Are Sponsored By: Daisy Lane Boutique

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

 October 4

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Wendy Redelico’s Cape May Photography Brings Joy to Thousands

For Wendy Redelico, a lifelong New Jersey resident with roots in both Somerville and Cape May, creativity wasn’t a calling—it simply emerged. What began decades ago with a Pentax camera gifted by her father evolved into a passion that now connects her to thousands through stunning, phone-captured images of Cape May.

Now in the midst of personal transitions—preparing for retirement, navigating the sale of the family building, and facing the challenges of caring for a mother with dementia—Wendy finds solace and purpose in the simple act of taking a picture. Her tools? A well-trained eye, a phone camera, and just a few carefully chosen apps. With no formal training and no interest in making photography a business, her images have nonetheless become deeply recognized and cherished, especially among those with ties to Cape May.

Her photography journey is deeply rooted in personal history. Her family first discovered Cape May in the 1980s, and over the years, it became both a creative wellspring and a second home. While her family now occupies their original home, Wendy and her husband have lived above their paint store on Main Street in Somerville for 13 years—until recently deciding it’s time to move on.

Despite the casual beginnings of her photography—making handmade greeting cards, posting shots on Facebook—it didn’t take long for people to notice. Her vibrant, edited phone photos stood out. A local gallery owner reached out to buy prints. New Jersey Beach Magazine, edited and published two of her photo books, Wendy Redelico Cape May’s Star of The Sea and Valentine: My Valentine for You, and are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Wendy credits her unique visual style to a few favored filters and the emotional connection she brings to each photo. Most of her photos are taken in passing—moments framed by instinct, not planning. While she jokes about carrying 60,000 images on her phone, there’s a method behind the magic. She applies light edits, enhancing contrast and detail to give her photos a painterly, sometimes dreamlike quality. She rarely shares the specifics of her process—not out of secrecy, but to encourage others to find their own style.

The outpouring of appreciation comes from all corners. Accomplished Cape May photographer, Werner Tedesco once said to Wendy, “You’re not a photographer, you’re an artist.” This recognition thrilled Wendy. One admirer told her “Your images and colors pop off the page and take me back to another place and time.”   Many of her followers are older women, widows, or former Cape May visitors who say her images offer a comforting escape. For Wendy, those connections are the heart of it all—what she describes as a “mission” more than a hobby.

While her photography continues to gain quiet acclaim, Wendy has also started painting—a new chapter encouraged by artist friends. Though self-taught, she blends photography and painting in experimental ways, applying her phone editing skills to her canvas creations, adding another layer to her artistic identity.

Art has become her lifeline through the most difficult times: the loss of her father, and the emotional toll of caring for her ailing mother. “It’s something in your back pocket,” she says, “that lifts you up when life gets heavy.”

Though she’s never had a traditional 9-to-5 job—working instead in the family business and occasionally modeling or doing display work—Wendy has found later-in-life fulfillment in art and connection. From social media feedback to having her daughter recognized on the Cape May promenade, the joy of seeing her work resonate with others is what keeps her going.

Her message is simple but powerful: try something new. You never know what creative spark might live inside until you give it a chance.

Construction Begins on State-of-the-Art Public Safety Hub in Cape May

Cape May County has begun construction on a $21.5 million justice complex in Cape May Court House. Once completed, the complex will consolidate operations for the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, improve efficiency across departments, and support expanded training capabilities. A key feature of the development is the addition of new barracks for the county’s Public Safety Academy, with accommodations for up to 108 cadets and future capacity for more. The facility will feature state-of-the-art technology, energy-efficient systems, and modern security upgrades. It is designed to meet the evolving demands of public safety, while also reflecting the county’s commitment to responsible fiscal planning—funding the project without the need for borrowing. It is expected to be completed in 2027.

Coast Guard Operations Continue Without Pay at Cape May Base

 Due to the federal government shutdown beginning October 1, Coast Guard personnel and civilian staff at Cape May’s Training Center are working without pay or have been furloughed. While all active-duty Coast Guard members and certain civilian employees are required to report for duty under federal law, they are classified as “excepted” and will work without pay until the shutdown ends. Others—considered “non-excepted”—have been furloughed, meaning they stay home and are also unpaid. All affected employees are slated to receive back pay once Congress approves funding. The Coast Guard will maintain essential operations such as hurricane response, border security, and life-saving missions. However, the shutdown has halted any proactive measures to fund interim pay, as it began at the start of the new fiscal year—leaving no reserve funds available for initial payroll. Military retirees and beneficiaries of the Survivor Benefits Plan will continue to receive their payments uninterrupted. At Training Center Cape May, the number of affected individuals remains unclear. If the shutdown stretches beyond mid-October, employees will miss their scheduled mid-month paycheck. Payments will resume approximately two days after federal funding is restored.

NASA Invites the World to Watch the Moon Together on Oct. 4

 International Observe the Moon Night 2025 takes place on October 4, with over 700 in-person and online events planned around the world. Hosted by NASA and local organizations, the event invites people to explore the moon through stargazing, science talks, photography, and educational resources. With the moon nearly full and well-positioned in the evening sky, it’s an ideal night to appreciate lunar landscapes and learn about humanity’s past and future missions to the moon.

What was the original name given to Cape May by the Dutch explorer Cornelius Jacobsen Mey?

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Answer to the October 3rd Trivia Question

Which Cape May location is famous for being the best spot to find the so-called "Cape May Diamonds"?

A) Beach Avenue
B) Washington Street
C) Sunset Beach
D) Cape May Lighthouse Park

Answer: C) Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach in Cape May is well-known as the best spot to find Cape May Diamonds, which are actually quartz pebbles that have been polished by nature to resemble diamonds​.​

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