CAPE MAY – The Cape May Music Festival enters its 23rd year soon, a testimonial to its resiliency and fortitude.

The festival began in 1990 at the Christian Admiral Hotel and during the next two decades its notes were played at various venues including the old Convention Hall. Today the hotel and the hall have been torn down, but the festival lives on, despite the perils of the economy and, sometimes, the weather.

CAPE MAY – Local, state and federal law enforcement and emergency management agencies will hold a full-scale law enforcement exercise May 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Training Center Cape May.

The exercise will result in road closures, areas of high traffic, and an increased presence of law enforcement and emergency response personnel in the vicinity of Coast Guard Training Center Cape May. There will also be several times throughout the day that residents may hear gun shots or explosions coming from exercise areas on base. This exercise is aimed at improving the crew’s response to an unprovoked aggressor aboard the training center.

Pancake breakfast

The property owners of Cape May Beach will hold their regular pancake breakfast on Saturday, May 19 at the Club House, 201 Clubhouse Drive, from 8 to 11 a.m. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children under 12.

Fellowship and worship service

Beginning May 19, all are invited to meet each Saturday at The Branches at 4:30 p.m. when worshippers will gather for a light meal followed at 5 p.m. by a worship service. A variety of worship styles, including contemporary and traditional Episcopal Eucharistic services, Celtic services, Taize services, will be celebrated. The Saturday Fellowship and Worship Service is yet one more ministry offered at The Branches. Other ministries include Coffee and Conversation from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays, a free lunch following Midday Prayer at noon on Wednesdays, Movie Night at 7 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month, South Jersey Legal Aid on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. respectively. The Branches is the Mission and Outreach Center of the Episcopal Churches of St. Barnabas (Villas) and St. Mary's (Stone Harbor). It is located in the Village Shoppes of Rio Grande at 2nd Street and Vermont Avenue, Rio Grande. For more information, Rev. Lisa Hoffman at 886-5960.

Community Day

Lower Township hosting its annual Community Day event on Saturday, May 19 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Lower Township Recreation Center. There will be a kids’ bike day and a bike rodeo from noon to 2 p.m. There will also be a kids’ bike auction from 2 to 3 p.m. Other attractions for this event to include: food, music, games, pony rides, face painting, community organizations and more. Come out and enjoy the fun.

Andy Lalasis featured as jazz bassist

CAPE MAY – Cape May Presbyterian Church Jazz vespers will present big band sounds from bassist Andy Lalasis and his friends on Sunday, May 20 at 3 p.m.

Lalasis has had two of the longest running gigs in Atlantic City history. The first was his stint at The Golden Nugget. He was in the "House Orchestra" and the "House Trio" working for Steve Wynn.

He then landed the gig at Resorts with Merv Griffin and his Coconut Ballroom Orchestra. Both gigs lasted in total for 20 straight years.

CAPE MAY – The Friends of Cape May National Wildlife Refuge will once again be offering free, family-friendly bird and nature walks every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at the Two Mile Beach Unit of the Cape May NWR, located at 12001 Pacific Ave. (Ocean Drive), Wildwood Crest.