Randy Leiser, Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc., 2997 Dune Drive, PO Box 10, Avalon, NJ 08202
toll-free: 800-967-7796 x212  |  local: 609-967-3001  |  fax: 609-967-3057  |  e-mail: Randy@RandyLeiser.com
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.
 
Holidays downtown in Avalon and Stone Harbor, NJ
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.
 
Winter Sunset Walks on the Beach
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!  Subscribe Here, or send an email to 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.
 
Railroad tracks on Sunset Beach NJ
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!