If you’ve ever spent time in Cape May or other shore communities of New Jersey, you’re bound to feel pangs of nostalgia as you make your way through Janice Stridick’s eminently readable new book about the superbly painted pictures of her late mother, Alice Steer Wilson. As an artist, Wilson devoted her best talents to interpreting the appearance of famous old hotels and other subjects in the charming and historically significant community of Cape May, situated at the southern tip of the Garden State. http://bit.ly/1gB20JY

Read more: Cape May captured brilliantly

Lee Whitaker, a Haddon Heights resident who plays guitar and sings in the praise band at United Methodist Church in Pitman, is an unusually busy guy whose life is driven by his love for Christian music. The retired 33-year Merchantville schoolteacher performs songs from his new CD release, “Alabaster Jar,” Friday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m. at a free concert at Haddon Heights Community Center, with proceeds benefiting Interfaith Caregivers. http://bit.ly/170Bgwe

Crossing the river into New Jersey was also still a new notion, and so was leaving an urban life. Then two things occurred. The first: Close friends in the acting community discovered what they called a "hidden jewel": Merchantville, cheek by jowl with Cherry Hill but with a decidedly small-town vibe. The second: They unexpectedly found the house that seemed just about perfect for their new family configuration. http://bit.ly/VtTIbK