Calling for Volunteers, we need help at Main Beach and Lake Claire, this Saturday, June 24th from 9am-Noon (hopefully sooner if we have many volunteers).
We have received over 1,000 free native sea grasses to plant and help continue restoration of our living shorelines from our project partners at Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
We are lucky to in this beautiful community with all of the wonderful amenities. Main Beach and Lake Claire Beach have both gone through major restoration projects over the last several years, and we are being given the opportunity for additional Shoreline grasses to replace some that have been lost through natural and human occurrence. We are requesting help as a community to plant these wonderful shoreline grasses that will help prevent erosion and create habitat.
Let us know you are coming if you can with the signup genius. More hands make light work. Sign up here.
We are approaching Memorial Day weekend and with that comes the promise of even better things to come. The Strawberry Festival. Set for June 3rd, it’s THE event to attend in Cape St. Claire every year. We hope to see you there.
In this month’s Caper, Beau, President of Cape St. Claire Improvement Association, talks about being respectful to the beach attendants. They are there to help make sure that residents and their guests have a fun and safe time at the beaches and parks. If you are a boat slip holder, make sure that your boat is in the water by June 1st.. this is in your contract! The rest of his message can be found in this month’s Caper.
Frank, the Town Manager, gives a shoutout to all the kids graduating from high school, trade school, college and universities, and the like. He gives a friendly reminder on making sure your orange sticker has been affixed to your vehicles and wants you to mark your calendars for the July 4th celebration! More details in this Caper.
In Community Group news, Goshen is still holding their kayak raffle. For $5 per ticket, you can get a chance to win 2 beautiful kayaks with paddles! Be sure to get on their website for more details and a chance to win. Goshen’s first summer concert will be held on June 16th, where Sparks and McCoy and Guava Jelly will be performing. More details are in this month’s Caper.
The Garden Club’s Plant Sale was another huge success and they thank the community for their continued support. More details on mosquitos and how to help prevent them can be found in their writeup in this month’s Caper.
Don’t forget that the Cape Community Swap will be held on Sunday June 11th at 10am-2pm down at the Cape Clubhouse field. Cape Clean up will be held on July 14th and July 15th at the corner of Broadview and Cape St. Claire Road. Both are great cleaning out the house type events.
Every Wednesday through October, Cape Conservation Corps will meet at one of the three areas to remove invasive plants and plant natives. Email Stacey at [email protected] to volunteer. June 24th is their Habitat hero tour from 10am to noon. More information can be found in this month’s Caper and online.
Articles like this one, titled Gardening has taken off: here’s why the popular activity can replace your gym workout, tout not only the physical benefits, but also the sense of accomplishment & reward, as reasons why interest in gardening is growing exponentially across the country. And don’t we know it! Here in the Garden Club, we’ve added 8 new Members this year already, and we experience additional benefits such as comradery, teamwork, shared mission to contribute to our community, & perhaps most importantly, having fun together! April’s meeting began with attendees working shoulder to shoulder outdoors around three long tables, efficiently potting up a selection of local perennials, including ferns, bugleweed, & black-eyed Susan. After the potting work was completed, we enjoyed snacks and a brief meeting, and those with lucky raffle tickets won lovely plants. Along with many others, these perennials we potted will be at our Annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 20th – read on!
In the garden now, the spent blooms of daffodils and other spring bulbs can be pinched off, with the foliage left in place, unbound, until it yellows, so that the bulbs can photosynthesize to store energy for next spring’s bloom. Many gardeners plant daylilies or iris in front of bulbs to hide the yellowing foliage, and May is a lovely time to drive about the Cape and see the riot of color among the bold, ruffled irises, peonies, azaleas, rhododendrons, & fragrant lilacs.
And our Members have been out in droves admiring Cape beauty as well! Yard of the Month is judged anonymously by rotating pairs of Member judges working all over Cape St. Claire, applying these criteria: design creativity (color, texture, form), neatness, health, and overall appeal. Every Cape yard is automatically entered to win every month April – September as our judges drive through the Cape – no need to enter or nominate, and awards are given by independent judging teams without any input from our Board. The Garden Club takes pride in the impartiality of our judging process, and thanks our hardworking Member judging teams for continuing this Cape tradition. Enjoy your beautiful gardens, Capers, and keep up the good work!
What if your garden needs some help? Or if you just plain love plants? You won’t want to miss our Club’s ever-popular Annual Plant Sale on Sat May 20th (rain date Sun May 21st). Colorful annuals and hanging baskets, native and pollinator plants, tomatoes, herbs, & veggies, & flowers for every season! Growing flowers for as much of the year as possible benefits everyone, humans and wildlife alike, as studies show that providing nectar over the longest season possible, using a diverse mix of plants from around the world, is best for feeding pollinators. Biodiversity means more flowers for you & your pollinator friends – and our sale has got you covered for all of it!
Congratulations to our April Yard of the Month Winners!
It’s the Pre-Strawberry Festival issue and it’s strawberry jam packed. In Beau’s Presidential message, he keeps it short by only running to two pages (😉) but as always, has great things to say. Spring is a hectic time. In addition to normal board meetings, there have been many sessions with the Chesapeake National Recreational Area (CNRA) at the Federal Level, with local properties being considered, such as Whitehall. He gives great detail on the process thus far. Frank, the new Town Manager, has really hit the ground running. He is learning the systems very quickly and beginning to make assessments to help improve as an organization, in both the short and long term. He has conducted interviews for beach attendants, and is looking for some help regarding part-time groundskeeping for the summer maintenance of our beaches and parks.
Frank, the Town Manager, is warning everyone with the arrival to spring to slow down when driving around Cape’s roads. Also, you should’ve received your orange sticker for this year (if you paid your $10 dues) so if you haven’t received them, be sure to contact the office. Also, if you’re taking on any summer construction projects, be sure you read the building codes.
The Cape Nurse has a great write-up on Printer Claus, the Cape’s mysterious person using a 3-dimensional printer to create palm-sized colorful toys (animal creatures, lettering, lights, etc…) and placing them around the neighborhood for folks to discover. It’s been a real treat. She talks about why that act of kindness is so important for us in her great Caper article.
In other community news, Goshen Farm’s summer concert series kicks off this year on June 16th with Sparks and McCoy / Guava Jelly. They start at 6:30pm at Goshen Farm. Also, don’t forget to sign up as a member this year and to get into their free kayak giveaway. Information can be found in this month’s Caper.
Don’t forget that the Garden Club has their Annual Plant Sale on May 20th at the Cape Clubhouse field. This is a must see event for those who want to add a little green and color to their gardens. More details can be found in the Caper.
In Cape Conservation Corps news, join CCC on June 24th as they travel through Cape to visit the three 2022 Habitat Hero winners and see what they are doing to be a good steward of their land. Details on how to attend this event, see this month’s Caper. As always, every Wednesday night through October they will meet at one of the 3 areas to remove invasive plants and plant natives. Details can be found on their Facebook group page.
Saturday June 3rd, 2023, the event the entire Cape has been waiting for … the STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL. Sign up forms are in this month’s caper. Parade begins at 10am at the firehouse so don’t miss it!
Springtime has arrived and with that brings the many amazing community events. On April 1st, (tomorrow), the great Easter Egg Hunt will be happening at the Cape Beach. It’s the best family filled event.
In this month’s Caper, Beau’s President Perspective message catches everyone up to date with all that’s happening. Broadneck Council of Communities is set to host John Sarbanes, our District 3 Representative at the Cape Clubhouse on April 27th. So much discussion around the Bay Bridge study. Beaches and Parks is hiring, more information on this can be found in his message.
In the Town Manager’s message, he warns about slowing down when driving around the community. He also gives a friendly reminder on the $10 dues that are now late. Frank also reminds you to check those building codes on our website before starting any big home improvement project.
In community group news, Goshen Farm is hosting their Open House on Saturday April 15th from 10am – 4pm. It’s a family friendly event with plenty of activities for the kids. More information on this and other Goshen news is in this month’s Caper.
The Garden Club hosted their 48th anniversary dinner last month and it was a packed house! Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Plant Sale occurring on May 20th, from 8am to 2pm at the Cape Clubhouse field.
The Community Swap will be taking place on Sunday April 30th from 10am to 2pm at the Cape Clubhouse field. For a list of everything they are looking for, check out the new Caper.
Cape Conservation Corps will begin their Weekly Weed Warriors every Wednesday through October starting on April 5th. In addition, on April 21st, the WWW will host their Open House & Earth Day craft at Little Magothy Beach Park from 5:30-7pm. Stacey Wildberger also has a great write-up in this month’s Caper on leaving those leaves alone!
So much more in this issue, as well as information on the Strawberry Festival which will be on Saturday June 3rd @ 10am so MARK YOUR CALENDARS.
Spring is knocking on our door and while we get ready to throw open the windows to enjoy the spring-time air, the board is hard at work getting things done. In Beau’s message, he fills everyone in on the latest committee assignments and work being done by all the committees. His message is worth a few minutes of your time. Don’t forget that your dues were due on March 1st! $10.
In Frank Tewey, the new Town Manager’s message, he wants to thank everyone for their welcome messages. He’s excited to work hard for Cape St. Claire and the CSCIA. He also gives a friendly reminder about the Quarterly Membership meeting that will be held on Tuesday, April 25th at 7:30pm
In community news, Goshen Farm will hold their first event of 2023 on Sunday March 12th, 2023 from 3 to 5pm at the Cape St. Claire Clubhouse. Sweet and Savory hors d’oeuvres will be served along with coffee and tea. Wine and specialty coffee drinks will be available for purchase. The event is Free but donations are always appreciated.
Cape St. Claire Garden Club is getting ready for their peak season! At their March 7th meeting, they will be celebrating 48 years of gardening fellowship with their 48th Anniversary Dinner. Then at their April 4th meeting, they will be hosting the Dividing Perennials Workshop where their experienced gardeners teach the skills of digging, dividing, and re-potting mature clumps of perennials. Mark your calendars for the Annual Plant sale on Saturday May 20th.
Cape Conservation Corps will be hosting a Speaker Event for County Forester Bud Reaves. Doors open at 6:30pm at the clubhouse. Don’t forget that starting on April 5th, their Weekly Weed Warriors will meet every Wednesday through October. More details can be found in this month’s Caper. In addition, Stacey gives a great write-up on Spring Ephemerals and what it means for the ecosystem.
Saturday April 1st at 11am at the main beach … the EASTER BUNNY is coming! More information on how to sign up for this amazing event are in this month’s Caper. Tickets can be obtained from Whimsicality beginning on March 6th.
It’s been a very busy few months for the Cape St. Claire Board. The previous Town Manager resigned and the search began for a replacement. CSCIA is happy to present Frank Tewey, started on January 23rd as the new Town Manager, please be sure to send him and email or stop by the office to say Hello.
In Beau’s Presidential message, there’s a lot to unpack. For the first time since 2013, the board is at full strength of 12 members. So, a big thanks to Merissa Pimenta who will serve a one-year term, Jennifer Connor, who will serve a two-year term and Cheri Fairchild, Matt Layman, Neil Macindoe, and Kim Pollock who will serve full three-year terms, ending in January 2026! The Board then elected its new Executive Members: Mary Lamb as Vice-President, Jerome Zadera as Treasurer, and Kim Pollock as Secretary, and lastly Beau, began his 7th term as President, in his 11th year as a member of the Board of Governors.
The voting membership on January 10th, passed the Fiscal Year 2024 budget and the $10 SCBD fee increase which will allow the board to do more for all of us.
In Frank’s first Town Manager message, he says hello and introduces himself to everyone. He retired in 2019 from Anne Arundel County Police Department after completing a 34 year law enforcement career. He is an active volunteer with the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics. More details in this month’s Caper.
In other community news, Goshen Farm will be kicking off their Java and Jazz event on March 12th from 3pm to 5pm at the Cape St. Claire Clubhouse. More details on this great even can be found in this month’s Caper.
The Garden Club will be hosting Cory Stephens of Anne Arundel Lawn & Garden will be sharing their expertise at their next meeting on Tuesday February 7th. More information on this event can be found in this month’s Caper.
Cape Conservation Corps will be hosting their first speaker of the year, Bud Reeves, on March 8th, at 6:30 at the clubhouse. Project Clean stream will be on April 1st from 9am to noon. CCC is also highlighting beautiful trees around the Cape. This new series launches with a great article in this month’s Caper.
The Holidays have arrived and the Cape is awash in so many outdoor decorations. If you haven’t driven around the community to take in the many sights, you’re really missing out. This month’s Caper is where the business of the Community really takes place. In Beau’s message, he thanks for the community for really stepping up and volunteering to become a member of the board. This Caper has all of the biographies you need to vote for your favorites in January.
In addition, it’s also budget time. This Caper has the budget that you will be voting on in January as well. Make your calendars to come to the Annual Membership Meeting in January 10th 2023 at 7:30pm at the clubhouse. The board of governor’s is asking for a $10 increase to the SCBD. Please be sure you read through the budget overview to understand where this money will be going.
In addition, the community is searching for a new Town Manager. The board voted to proceed with using Aerotek in their search. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about this position, visit this link.
In community group news, Goshen Farm is holding their annual membership meeting on Wednesday January 18th 2023 at 7:30 at the clubhouse. They do offer a mix of in-person and zoom. They are always looking for volunteers and donations so see this month’s Caper to learn more.
This year contains the big color YEAR IN REVIEW spread so be sure to check it out. So many great photos of our great residents in our community.
In other community news, the Garden Club celebrates their great 2022 and look forward to 2023. They produced some beautiful wreaths which hung on the guardshack door as well as the clubhouse. Cape Conservation Corps has several great articles in this Caper about planting native trees around the community. It’s a must read.
Have a great holiday season everyone! See you around the Cape!
Mother Nature really doesn’t care about Halloween or any holiday, I’m sad to admit. So, it was a soggy Halloween night this year. Still, there were tons of kids out and the candy seemed plentiful. This also marks the transition towards the holiday season. With that brings many many community events.
Beau, in his Presidential Message, discusses the resignation of our Town Manager, Ryan Anderson. The board thanked him for his 4+ years of service. The board will now start the process of searching for a new Town Manager to lead this great community. He has much more information on this search and the transition in this month’s Caper.
Also in his message, he discusses all of the activity from the October Membership meeting. It’s budget season, so be sure to review the proposed budget in this month’s’ Caper. They also discussed updates to the beach project, final reporting, maintenance reports, and technical memo updates. They will be forming a Grants Team to apply for some grants brought to the board’s attention, in order to complete the 7 remaining community sites. Please take the time to read what else Beau has to say. There’s so much more and it’s filled with GREAT information.
In other community group news, Goshen Farm will hold their annual membership meeting on January 18th, 2023 at the Cape St. Claire Clubhouse and will be a mix of in-person and virtual. Please help Goshen reach their goal of $60,000. Be sure to help by visiting https://goshenfarm.org to help.
In Garden Club news, on October 16th, they held their very successful Harvest Dinner and a slideshow to showcase the Garden of the Month recipients this past year. Their next meeting will be held on November 8th. For more information, see this month’s Caper.
Don’t miss Cape Conservation Corps’s guest speaker this week on November 4th at the clubhouse. Speaker Jackie Specht of the Nature Conservancy will be discussing Erosion Control. In this issue, Stacey Wildberger has another great article on “Invasive Plant Species Be Gone!” Don’t miss it!
Mark your calendars for the 4th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony happening on Sunday November 27th, 2022 at 6:00pm at the Gate House. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be in attendance until 7:30 so don’t miss it! On Saturday December 10th, 2022 from 8:30 to 10:30am is Breakfast with Santa. PLEASE see this month’s Caper for how to register for this fun event. Tickets go quickly!
As the Cape braces for a rainy weekend, thanks to the remnants of Hurricane Ian, Thankfully, the Cape will not experience the kinds of devastation that Florida had. Take solace in that while we hunker down this weekend and watch the rain fall. In this month’s Caper, it’s chock full of the kind of goodness you can expect for October. In Beau’s message, he talks about the importance of volunteering and is putting out a request to sign up for many of the opportunities to be found around the Cape. If you’re interested in volunteering for the CSCIA board, feel free to email [email protected]… there are other opportunities out there so check out his full message.
In what we hope will be a monthly feature, The Cape Nurse has a great discussion on the types of diabetes and how you can avoid Type 2. It’s a great read.
In community news, Goshen Farm is hosting their Harvest Pasta Dinner on October 15th at Gloria De Church. They are asking for you to check out their Facebook page for more details. In addition, they are in the process now of holding their Fall Membership Drive and need your help! Check out this month’s Caper for more info.
The Garden Club has done a fantastic job this year of beautifying the many areas around the Cape. Among those areas are the Clubhouse, the islands on Green Holly and Cape St. Claire Roads and the Segree Memorial Garden by the library. See this month’s Caper for more information on what they accomplished during 2022. In addition, they will host their annual meeting on October 5th at 7:00pm with the Annapolis Horticultural Society. See this month’s Caper.
Cape Conservation Corps has their fundraiser night on October 19th from 5-7pm at Broadneck Grill. 10% of the food proceeds will benefit CCC. Weed Warriors will continue every Wednesday through October. See the Caper for more details.
It wouldn’t the October Caper without the many amazing community Halloween/Fall events. All the information and forms you need are in this Caper for the Halloween Happenings. On Thursday October 27th we have Trick or Treating in the shopping center and on Saturday October 22nd from 10am – 3pm, we have the main event at the clubhouse. Everything you need to attend these events is in this Caper.
Stay dry and eventually, I’ll see you around the Cape!
