The June Caper is out and summer is officially approaching us. The beaches are getting busy, the boats are back in the water, and the calendar is packed — which is exactly how we like it.
The big news, of course, is that the Strawberry Festival is this Saturday, June 6th. The parade kicks off at the firehouse at 10am and the festivities run through the day at the Clubhouse and Main Beach. It’s one of the Cape’s signature traditions and a tremendous amount of work goes into it every year — a huge thanks to Mary Lamb and the entire festival team for pulling it together. Come out, enjoy the day, and support the organizations participating. The full details are at cscstrawberryfestival.com. (And a reminder from Town Manager Frank Tewey: additional parking restrictions will be in place during the festival — don’t make him tow your car!)
President Thor Harris covers several other important items. He gives a shoutout to the collaborative effort that restored the Swim Club path — CSCSC, CSCIA, Anne Arundel County, and the Cape Conservation Corps all had a hand in it, with Philippe Ourisson deserving particular credit for keeping that project moving. This month’s Volunteer Spotlight features Stacey Wildberger of the CCC, and the Association is also recognizing Leslie Coble from the CSCIA front office — one of those indispensable behind-the-scenes people who keeps the whole operation running. If you know someone who deserves recognition, send a nomination to [email protected].
Town Manager Frank Tewey has a few reminders as we head into peak season. Those SAND colored parking stickers are now in effect and must be affixed to the outside of your vehicle — and guest passes are not valid for trailering at Deep Creek on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays without a Cape resident present. Beach Attendants are trained and on duty for the summer, so please be courteous and cooperative with them. On the infrastructure side, the groundbreaking for the new fire station officially happened April 29th, the Deep Creek pier replacement is nearly complete, and the Association voted to purchase a mower and trailer so the maintenance crew can handle the 20+ acres of CSCIA property in-house. Finally, a reminder to leave the fireworks to the professionals — ground-based sparklers and snappers are the only things legal under Maryland law, and our veterans and pets will thank you for it. The next Quarterly Membership Meeting is Tuesday, July 28th at 7:30pm at the Clubhouse.
In Community News, Cape St. Claire Garden club wants to thank everyone for supporting their Annual Plant Sale in May. Their April and May Yard of The Month winners have been thrilled to receive their $25 gift cards from Cape ACE. Their meetings take a pause in July and August but will resume in September. More details can be found on page 6.
Looking to add a float to the July 4th parade? See the sign up sheet on page 7. All are welcome.
Cape Conservation Corps will be at the Strawberry Festival giving away free milkweed plants. They’re also running a Mosquito Bucket Challenge — free buckets and supplies will be available at the festival and at Cape Vibes. It’s a simple, pollinator-friendly alternative to pesticide spraying, and the CCC article in the Caper lays out exactly why the county’s mosquito fogging program has real limitations against the Asian tiger mosquito. Worth a read. Speaking of Cape Conservation Corps, Stacey Wildberger is June’s Cape St. Claire Volunteer Spotlight recipient. As someone who knows her well, she could win this award every month. Her steady commitment to conservation continues to strengthen the community. Please see page 8 and read all about it.
Goshen Farm has a full summer lined up. Their free Friday Night Concert Series kicks off June 26th, and there’s a Pollinators at the Apiary class on June 27th. Check their website or Facebook for details and registration.
Cape Vibes returns to Main Beach on June 27th from 4-7pm. Thanks as always to Charlie Corliss for keeping the music going.
Mark your calendar: the Maryland Primary Election is June 23rd — and yes, the Clubhouse is a polling place. The next Quarterly Membership Meeting is Tuesday, July 28th at 7:30pm.
See you around the Cape! (And at the festival!)