2016: | Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
This Weeks News 12/22/2016
BEACHFILL EXPECTED IN 2017: Last week
Avalon's Borough Council approved a State Aid Agreement with the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection that will result in a substantial
hydraulic beach fill project for both Avalon and Stone Harbor in 2017. Sand
will be pumped onto Avalon's beach from Townsend's Inlet, and onto Stone
Harbor's beach from Hereford Inlet. It's hoped the beach fill project will
be completed sometime in the spring, ahead of the summer tourism season.
Downtown areas of Avalon and Stone Harbor are decked
out for the holidays!
IF YOU'RE HERE over the holidays, be sure to
visit the business districts in Avalon & Stone Harbor. Both towns are
decorated with enough lights to make you feel like a kid again! And if you
need an activity for the family, consider visiting the Cape May County Zoo
(open every day except Christmas), or take in a movie at the Harbor Square
Theater in Stone Harbor--it's open every day including Christmas, when four
movies will be shown, including Rogue One: A Star Wars Story!
NEW YEAR'S EVE dining options on the Island
include Fred's Tavern (609-368-5591), The Princeton (609-967-3456), Bobby
Dee's Rock 'n Chair (609-967-3300), and The Reeds at Shelter Haven
(609-368-0100). Be sure to call ahead for reservations! If you'd like to
ring in the New Year with fireworks, check out Sea Isle City's family
friendly New Year's Eve celebration--a crystal ball drops at 7pm, and
fireworks follow at 8pm, at JFK Boulevard & the beach (Sea
Isle City New Year's Eve Celebration). Just a bit further north, Ocean
City's First Night begins at 4pm and includes concerts, comedy, amusement
park rides, and fireworks at midnight (Ocean
City First Night).
THANK YOU for making 2016 a great year! I
appreciate your business and referrals!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you & yours! May the joy &
warmth of the season be with you!
THE AVALON/STONE HARBOR UPDATE will return the
week of January 2, 2017.
This Weeks News 12/15/2016
2017 SUMMER RENTAL GUIDE: What better way
to put a smile on everyone's face this holiday season than to plan your
summer vacation now! Browse hundreds of vacation homes in every price range
in our new 2017 Rental Guide--it's a great tool to help you plan the perfect
vacation. Call or email me when you're ready to book a vacation for your
family!
View Our Summer Rental Guide To Get Started
Click above for our 34-page 2017 Summer Rental
Guide!
MORTGAGE RATES have moved up steadily since
September to an average of 4.15% according to
BankRate.com.
Despite the increase, the average rate is just a tenth of a percentage point
higher than last December, and rates remain very attractive from a
historical perspective. Take advantage--whether purchasing or refinancing,
secure a great mortgage rate now!
STONE HARBOR'S NEW LIBRARY will open at 9am on
Tuesday, December 27th! The new 9,400 square foot building stands at the
corner of 96th Street and Second Avenue, and includes indoor seating as well
as an outdoor deck to take in the view along 96th Street. In preparation for
the opening of the new library, the existing library in Borough Hall will
close December 19th.
LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS! From stocking
stuffers to fun adventures, add a piece of the shore to your holiday!
Avalon's Holiday Beach Tags (while supplies last) are
available at Borough Hall on weekdays, 8:15am to 4:15pm.
Stone Harbor's Holiday Beach Tags (while supplies last) are available at
Borough Hall on weekdays from 8:30am to 4pm, or on Saturdays at the Chamber
of Commerce Welcome Center, 212-96th Street, 11am to 3pm.
Tree to Tree Adventure Park (at the Cape May County Zoo) gift certificates.
Call 609-388-8289.
Morey's Piers and waterpark discounted tickets, available for purchase
through January 6th. Visit
Moreys Piers.
Concord Café gift card sale--buy a $100 gift certificate, get $20! Call
609-368-5505.
And don't forget a gift certificate to your favorite local shop or
restaurant!
SANTA IS MAKING HIS ROUNDS this holiday season. He'll be at the Stone Harbor Elementary School Thursday, December 15th at 6pm, where he'll visit with all children. On Wednesday, December 21st he'll be escorted through Avalon atop an Avalon Fire Department truck, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. (Call 609-967-5914 to add your house to Santa's list of designated stops!)
This Weeks News 12/8/2016
"2,000 to 3,000 POUNDS PER DAY." That's how
much food whales eat, according to Cape May Whale Watcher Jeff Stewart, who
said that the presence of whales along local beaches is driven by the
presence of bunker, on which they feed. Stewart said his whale watching
trips spotted a dozen whales off Hereford Inlet a couple of weeks ago, as
well as a 60-foot pilot whale off Stone Harbor before Thanksgiving.
Stewart's whale watching trips conclude soon, but will resume in March. For
more, see this Atlantic City Press article:
It May Be Turning Colder, But Whales Still Enjoying The Waters Off South
Jersey
STRIPERS MOVING SOUTH: Stripers, a favorite
fall gamefish, are finally moving southward. Until recently, fisherman were
making long trips to the waters off Long Beach Island and Atlantic City to
find them, but in the past few days good catches have been reported off
Ocean City and Sea Isle. As the water continues to cool the fish should keep
moving south.
Even the offseason is delightful here at the shore!
Yes, it's chilly outside, but a sunset walk on the beach will warm your
heart!
A LOT OF RUMBLING up and down the coast last
Thursday afternoon had many wondering if a small earthquake may have
occurred. But it was a sonic boom from an F-35 fighter that was cleared to
go supersonic off the Jersey Coast, according to Press of Atlantic City
meteorologist Dan Skeldon, who spoke with officials at Patuxent River Naval
Air Station, where the jet was based. The tremors were felt in Cape May,
Atlantic, and Ocean Counties. A similar event occurred along the Jersey
Coast in January.
COLDER WEATHER=WINTERIZE NOW! It's time to
have outside water lines shut off and winterized, if you haven't already
done so. Contact your plumber and schedule a visit. Foundation vents should
be closed to prevent cold air from freezing pipes in your crawlspace.
Thermostats should be set to 55 degrees to protect your interior plumbing.
PASS IT ON! If you know someone who loves
Avalon and Stone harbor as much as you do, please forward our newsletter to
them!
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Randy@RandyLeiser.com!
This Weeks News 12/1/2016
SIZABLE CROWD, LOTS OF FUN! Thanksgiving
Weekend brought lots of visitors to the Island, along with plenty of
activities for them to enjoy. From shopping, dining, and iceless ice skating
to visits with Santa and a huge parade, the entire Seven Mile Beach kicked
off the holiday season in style!
THIN BLUE LINE: Avalon visitors arriving via
Avalon Boulevard may have noticed a thin blue line painted on the roadway as
it enters Avalon. According to Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi, it's "a show
of gratitude by our residents, property owners, and visitors for the
tremendous level of public service provided to our community by the Avalon
Police Department." The blue line will also circle the traffic island on
30th Street between Ocean Drive and Dune Drive.
HARBOR THEATRE in Stone Harbor will celebrate
singer/songwriters at Troubadour Night Saturday, December 3rd, from 8pm to
10:30pm. Enjoy live performances as the music of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen,
James Taylor, and Bob Marley is celebrated. Tickets are $15 at the door.
SANTA RIDES THE RAILS in nearby Tuckahoe
through the Christmas season. Cape May Seashore Lines operates The Santa
Express several times per week, including weekends and evening trips, aboard
vintage passenger equipment. Santa greets each child on board--treat your
family to a special experience!
Info &
Tickets - The Santa Express by Cape May Seashore Lines
SPEAKING OF RAILS: Railroad tracks from nearly
a century ago made an appearance again on Sunset Beach next to the Delaware
Bay in Lower Township. The tracks once carried beach sand from a plant
before the operation ceased. Weather and tides have shifted the beach sand,
uncovering the tracks. The tracks first appeared in November 2014, after
being covered for decades.
Visitors check out freshly exposed train tracks on
Sunset Beach in Lower Township, as seen in this November 2014 photo. The
tracks were uncovered again last week by weather and tides. The concrete
ship is visible in the water in the background.
TOYS FOR TOTS: Long & Foster's Avalon office
will once again serve as a drop off point for Toys For Tots. Stop by anytime
we're open (Monday--Saturday, 9am-5pm) and drop off a new, unwrapped toy to
help brighten the holiday of a child!
THE PERFECT GIFT: Stumped for the perfect
gift? How about family vacation memories that last forever? Call me for
vacation rental ideas that will make your whole family smile!