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Did Cape May Win the Hallmark Christmas Contest? Here’s Where Things Stand

Issue #828

October 03, 2026

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In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather 

🎅🏻Did Cape May Win the Hallmark Christmas Contest? Here’s Where Things Stand

🌧️South Jersey Shore Towns Seek Federal Aid After Nor’easter Damage

⚡Golf Cart Damaged by Floodwater Blamed for Devastating Jersey Shore House Fire

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

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

 October 3

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Did Cape May Win the Hallmark Christmas Contest? Here’s Where Things Stand

For anyone wondering what happened with Hallmark Channel’s Christmas Town Contest, Cape May remains in the running — but a winner has not yet been announced.

The popular Jersey Shore destination is one of 25 official finalists in Hallmark Channel’s Merriest Christmas Town contest, which could bring a future Hallmark holiday movie production to the winning community.

Cape May advanced to the finalist stage with its distinctive Victorian architecture, historic streets and longstanding reputation as a holiday destination.

Public voting in the contest closed Sept. 4, 2026, meaning supporters can no longer cast ballots for Cape May or the other finalists.

Now comes the wait.

Hallmark is expected to announce the grand prize winner by Oct. 31, 2026. The winning town will serve as a filming location for an upcoming Hallmark holiday movie.

Until that announcement is made, Cape May remains among the 25 communities with a chance to receive the Hallmark Christmas movie treatment.

 

South Jersey Shore Towns Seek Federal Aid After Nor’easter Damage

South Jersey shore communities are looking to Washington for additional recovery assistance after a powerful late-September nor’easter caused severe beach erosion and other coastal damage across the region.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew toured storm-damaged areas Thursday with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and state, county and municipal governments.

The Oct. 1 tour included Atlantic City, Brigantine, Sea Isle City, North Wildwood and Long Beach Island as officials worked to assess the extent of the damage and determine what federal assistance may be available.

On Long Beach Island, erosion created steep sand cliffs reaching as high as 20 feet in some locations, according to News 12 New Jersey. Other communities along the Atlantic coast and Delaware Bay were also being evaluated following the storm.

Van Drew, whose 2nd Congressional District includes coastal communities in Atlantic and Cape May counties and part of Ocean County, said through his office that federal beach replenishment work completed before the storm helped limit damage.

His office said $99 million had previously been secured for beach replenishment projects in the region. Van Drew credited those projects with absorbing some of the nor’easter's impact and said the latest damage demonstrated the need to continue investing in coastal protection.

Another $30 million is moving through the federal funding process for beach replenishment in Atlantic City and elsewhere on Absecon Island, according to the congressman's office.

Officials are now seeking to determine what additional federal recovery resources could be made available to affected communities. Van Drew has said he intends to pursue more federal assistance following completion of the damage assessments.

The congressman has also promoted longer-term federal funding for coastal protection. His office has highlighted provisions he secured in the Water Resources Development Act addressing South Jersey coastal priorities, while Van Drew has separately advocated for legislation that would establish a dedicated Coastal Trust Fund for beach replenishment and other coastal projects.

Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small credited emergency management personnel, law enforcement officers and first responders with protecting residents during the nor’easter. Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio, who also serves as director of the Cape May County Board of Commissioners, pointed to the city's recent beach replenishment project as an important source of protection during the storm.

For shore communities, the effort is focused on two tracks: securing assistance to repair damage from the latest storm and continuing longer-term projects intended to reduce the effects of future coastal storms.

Golf Cart Damaged by Floodwater Blamed for Devastating Jersey Shore House Fire

A flood-damaged golf cart was determined to be the cause of a Thursday morning fire that heavily damaged a three-story home on West Maple Avenue in West Wildwood. Firefighters rescued an unresponsive dog from the third floor and administered oxygen, but subsequent reporting said the animal later died. No people were injured. Following the fire, local officials warned residents not to charge or operate golf carts, e-bikes, scooters or other battery-powered equipment exposed to recent floodwaters.

Which U.S. figure composed a march specifically for Cape May's Congress Hall?

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 Answer to the October 2nd Trivia Question 

Cape May is part of which major U.S. metropolitan area?

A) New York Metropolitan Area
B) Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area
C) Delaware Valley (Philadelphia) Metropolitan Area
D) Boston Metropolitan Area

Answer: C) Delaware Valley (Philadelphia) Metropolitan Area​

Cape May is considered part of the Delaware Valley, which includes the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area, along with parts of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.

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