Cape May Tour Honors Black Heritage in Landmark Redesignation

Issue #577

January 15, 2026

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In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather

🎠 Cape May Tour Honors Black Heritage in Landmark Redesignation

⚖️ Verizon’s Network Crash Triggers Disruptions and FCC Review

 👮With $55M Purchase, Netflix’s Fort Monmouth Studio Becomes Reality

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

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

 January 15

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Cape May Tour Honors Black Heritage in Landmark Redesignation

A new tour in Cape May shines a spotlight on the vital role the city’s Black community has played in shaping its rich cultural and historical landscape. Long recognized for its well-preserved Victorian architecture, Cape May was originally designated a National Historic Landmark for its impressive array of 19th- and early 20th-century wood-frame buildings. However, in 2024, the scope of that designation expanded significantly. Following extensive research and documentation, the contributions of Cape May’s Black residents were officially recognized as integral to the city’s historical significance—a milestone acknowledged by Congress. This immersive tour offers a deeper understanding of Cape May’s Black history through a walkable journey featuring the homes, churches, schools, and businesses that once served as the backbone of the community. These sites reflect generations of innovation, determination, and resilience. Visitors will gain insight into the stories of individuals and families whose legacies have often been overlooked, but are now rightfully part of the city’s honored past. Visit Cape May Mac for more information.

Verizon’s Network Crash Triggers Disruptions and FCC Review

A major Verizon network outage caused significant wireless and data disruptions for more than 1.5 million users across the U.S. on Wednesday, January 14. The widespread connectivity issue peaked around 4:15 p.m. ET, according to Downdetector, a real-time outage tracking platform. The disruption, which began around 12:30 p.m. ET, left many customers unable to make calls or use mobile data. iPhone users saw “SOS” or “SOS only” messages in their status bars—an indicator that emergency calls may still be possible but standard cellular service was unavailable. Verizon acknowledged the issue and said its engineering teams were working to resolve the problem. Though the exact cause has not yet been revealed, reports began to drop in the early evening, suggesting partial restoration of service. The outage sparked widespread frustration, especially among those attempting to purchase Bruno Mars pre-sale tickets when Ticketmaster launched access to his 40-date "The Romantic Tour" at noon local time. The timing of the outage also affected those attending live events, including an NHL game between the New Jersey Devils and the Seattle Kraken and a college basketball matchup in Washington, D.C., prompting officials to advise fans to add their tickets to digital wallets ahead of time. Despite being primarily centered on Verizon, minor disruptions were also reported by customers on other carriers, including T-Mobile and AT&T. T-Mobile stated its own network was unaffected but acknowledged that calls to Verizon users might not go through. While service is gradually returning in some areas, it remains unclear when full restoration will be achieved. The FCC has announced it will investigate the incident and take appropriate regulatory action if needed.

 

With $55M Purchase, Netflix’s Fort Monmouth Studio Becomes Reality

Netflix has finalized a $55 million deal to purchase and redevelop the former Fort Monmouth site into a 289-acre mega-studio campus in Monmouth County. The project, already under construction, will feature 12 soundstages, production offices, a hotel, retail spaces, and public attractions. Tax agreements with Oceanport and Eatontown will provide the boroughs with millions in revenue over the next 30 years. Oceanport’s approved PILOT deal is expected to bring in nearly $65 million over 30 years. Eatontown approved a similar agreement in November, which included an upfront $47 million payment. Borough officials say those funds will help address long-deferred infrastructure needs, including road repairs, sewer upgrades, and improvements to public facilities. With construction in motion and long-term plans secured, Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth is rapidly becoming a centerpiece of New Jersey’s film and TV resurgence—cementing the state’s place in the national production landscape. Completion of the full project is expected by 2028.

What historic mode of transportation once brought vacationers to Cape May in the 19th century?

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 Answer to the January 14th Trivia Question

Lucy the elephant in Margate had a sister in Cape May. What was her name?

A) Rodger the Elephant B) Ellie C) Light of Asia D) Dumbo Answer: C) Light of Asia Lucy was built in 1881, Light of Asia was constructed in Cape May in 1884 but was torn down 15 years later.

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