Cape May Recruits Enjoy Thanksgiving Away from Home in Ocean City

Issue #522

November 22, 2025

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In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather

🦃May Recruits Enjoy Thanksgiving Away from Home in Ocean City

🎅🏻Santa Meets His Match in Festive Double Feature by Local Theater Groups

🍿 Holiday Classic ‘Christmas Vacation’ Reigns Supreme in the Garden State

Cape May Local Scoop’s Events Are Sponsored By: Cape May Antiques

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

 November 22

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Cape May Recruits Enjoy Thanksgiving Away from Home in Ocean City

 For the second year in a row, Ocean City will open its arms to welcome U.S. Coast Guard recruits from Cape May for a heartfelt Thanksgiving celebration hosted by American Legion Post 524.

Fifty recruits currently undergoing training at the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May will enjoy a day of holiday festivities thanks to the efforts of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 524. A charter bus will pick them up on Thanksgiving morning and bring them to the Ocean City Welcome Center, where they will be met with a warm community greeting, including an official escort by local police and fire departments.

The highlight of the day will be a traditional Thanksgiving feast, complete with turkey, tenderloin, pulled pork, and all the classic sides, prepared by Ocean City chef and Blitz’s Market owner Dave Newman. Volunteers from the Post’s Veterans, Auxiliary, and Sons groups will be on hand to serve the meal and help the recruits feel at home during the holiday away from their families.

This event is supported by the American Red Cross’s New Jersey Region through its Operation Fireside program, which connects Coast Guard recruits with Thanksgiving hosts across the region. The Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, known as the birthplace of the Coast Guard Enlisted Corps, trains over 4,600 recruits annually in an intensive eight-week program.

The Thanksgiving gathering is a gesture of community appreciation and support for the young men and women dedicating themselves to service.

For more details about Operation Fireside, call (609) 562-3483 or email [email protected]. To learn more about American Legion Post 524’s activities, call (609) 304-3088 or visit www.legion524ocni.com.

Santa Meets His Match in Festive Double Feature by Local Theater Groups

 SPQR Stage Company and South Jersey Players are joining forces this December for a festive theatrical event in Somers Point, presenting two original short plays designed to lift spirits and entertain audiences of all ages. From December 12–14, the groups will stage Big Louie is Comin’ to Town and Magic Flowers at Studio;Space, located at 112 Woodland Ave., right across from The Crab Trap.

The first feature, Big Louie is Comin’ to Town, is a comedic holiday piece by prolific playwright Jeff Dunne. In this light-hearted tale, Santa Claus faces unexpected competition from Big Louie, a quirky character who decides to break into the gift-delivery business himself. Directed by Marlene May of Ventnor, the play features Edward Shakespeare as Santa Claus and Joe Chialastri as the ambitious Big Louie.

The second production, Magic Flowers, is a romantic short play written by SPQR’s Artistic Director, Bill Sterritt. This warm and whimsical story follows two office colleagues—Ralph and Ethel—who seem to have little in common until a chance floral purchase sparks unexpected magic beyond their office walls. Returning to reprise their roles are Erik Olsson as Ralph and Laura Cybert as Ethel.

Audiences can enjoy these two uplifting stories in one concise hour-long performance. Shows are scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12; 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14. A livestream will also be available at 2 p.m. on Dec. 13.

Tickets, priced at $20 for both in-person and virtual attendance, are available on Eventbrite. For additional information or to make reservations, contact SPQR Stage Co. via email at [email protected] or by phone at 323-793-2153.

 

Holiday Classic ‘Christmas Vacation’ Reigns Supreme in the Garden State

 As the holiday season rolls in, cozying up with a beloved Christmas movie has become a tradition as familiar as hanging stockings or sipping hot cocoa. A new survey reveals that for New Jersey residents, no film embodies the festive spirit quite like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

The study, conducted by PixlParade, set out to determine the most popular holiday movie in each U.S. state. Researchers compiled a list of 27 top-rated Christmas films using data from IMDb ratings, Rotten Tomatoes reviews, and box office performance. Nearly 2,000 Americans were then surveyed to choose their favorite film from that curated list.

For the Garden State, the clear winner was the 1989 comedy Christmas Vacation, starring Chevy Chase as the well-meaning but hapless Clark Griswold. With 20% of New Jersey respondents naming it their favorite, the film edged out other seasonal classics and nostalgic favorites.

While some fan favorites like It’s a Wonderful Life didn’t make the list, other well-known titles were close behind. A Christmas Story (1983) ranked second overall, while The Polar Express (2004) landed in fifth place. Other notable entries included Love Actually (#10), Die Hard (#11), and The Muppet Christmas Carol (#13), proving there’s something for every type of holiday moviegoer.

Whether it’s the slapstick chaos, heartwarming family moments, or endlessly quotable one-liners, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation continues to strike a chord with viewers decades after its release. For New Jerseyans and millions of others across the country, it’s the film that best captures the joy—and absurdity—of the holiday season. 

Which group of Native Americans were the first known inhabitants of the Cape May area?

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Answer to the November 21st Trivia Question

Cape May is often considered one of the best locations in the U.S. for observing what natural phenomenon?

A) Monarch butterfly migration
B) Northern lights
C) Whale watching
D) Tornado formation

Answer: A) Monarch butterfly migration

Cape May is renowned for its location on the migratory path of monarch butterflies, particularly during the fall, when large numbers of these butterflies pass through on their way to Mexico​.

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