2017: | Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
This Weeks News 5/25/2017
MARKET STATS: Strong demand led to 42
sales in the month of April, up 31% over last April according to the latest
Market Minute report from Long & Foster. Available inventory has continued
to decline as sales have whittled down the number of active listings.
View the
April 2017 Long & Foster Market Minute Report
Click above for the latest Long & Foster Market Minute report!
BEACH PROJECT ADVANCING: last week beach replenishment
operations ended on Avalon's north-end beaches, and the project transitioned
to its final phase in southern Avalon and northern Stone Harbor. During this
part of the project a submerged pipeline will carry sand pumped from
Townsend's Inlet beneath the ocean, before returning to a landing zone on
the 84th Street beach. About 305,000 cubic yards of sand will be added to
beaches from 77th Street to 84th Street. As work progresses, sections of
beach will be closed during pumping, which will take place 24 hours a day,
stopping only in the event of weather or mechanical issues. The beach
project is ahead of schedule, though a mechanical failure aboard the dredge
Texas slowed progress earlier this week.
LAST CHANCE TO SAVE on season beach tag purchases! Buy your
season beach tags by May 31st and save $5 each. On June 1st the cost of a
season tag rises from $23 to $28 in Avalon and Stone Harbor. In Avalon, tags
can be purchased at the beach tag booth at Community Hall at 30th Street &
the beach. In Stone Harbor they can be purchased at the beach tag office at
95th Street & the beach.
THE TOWNSEND'S INLET BRIDGE will not open to vehicular
traffic Memorial Day Weekend, as was once hoped. Repairing the underwater
bridge support structure has proved difficult in the challenging conditions
of Townsend's Inlet, including deep, swift moving water. Rock rip rap,
placed underwater during a 1962 repair to the bridge, had to be removed to
gain access, before a trio of steel piles can be driven into place and
fastened to the structure. Work is being conducted from floating platforms
adjacent to the bridge.
IT'S TURTLE TIME AGAIN! Soon diamondback terrapins will be
seeking higher ground to lay eggs, and that means they're often seen on
local roads. Give 'em a brake! Slow down and avoid hitting turtles crossing
the road. If you wish to help a turtle, be sure to move it across the road
in the same direction it was travelling, and be sure to stay safe by
checking for traffic before entering the roadway!
THE BLUE ANGELS will be in Millville Saturday & Sunday for
the Millville Wheels & Wings Airshow. The high performance jet team is part
of a full line up that includes other military aircraft, aerobatic planes,
and skydivers. The gates open at 9am each day.
Info and Tickets -
Millville Wheels & Wings Airshow
THANK A VETERAN FOR THEIR SERVICE THIS WEEKEND! As you
enjoy a walk on the beach, an afternoon on the deck, or a barbecue with
family, take a moment to remember the veterans who made it possible!
This Weeks News 5/18/2017
GET 'EM READY! With Memorial Day
Weekend just around the corner, it's time to make final preparations for
getting rental properties ready for the season. Take a moment and make a
checklist of items. Here's a list of general items: spring cleaning; air
conditioning tested/serviced; cable & Wi-Fi service on; outside shower
turned on; barbecue grill ready with full propane tank; landscape/lawn
service established; pool maintenance service arranged; windows cleaned &
awnings installed; outside furniture on deck/patio; changeover cleanings
scheduled. Your property's unique needs should be addressed as well. Also,
make sure you've obtained the proper rental license. Need help with a
particular issue? Please call or email me!
Sunset at Townsend's Inlet! The southern tip of Sea Isle City (on the
right in this photo) is a delightful place to walk in the evening.
WEATHER AND A MECHANICAL ISSUE delayed beach replenishment
work in Avalon this past weekend. A broken anchor line forced the dredge
"Texas" to depart Townsend's Inlet for Cape May late Thursday night. The
Texas was planning to leave Townsend's Inlet at noon Friday anyway, due to
high winds and seas associated with last weekend's rainstorm. The Texas was
due back in Townsend's Inlet on Monday afternoon. As of last week, about
830,000 cubic yards of sand had been placed on the beach, with 100,000 cubic
yards remaining in this phase of the project, before transitioning to the
final phase covering southern Avalon and northern Stone Harbor.
HENNY'S RESTAURANT: Demolition of the iconic Henny's began
Monday, and crews have made quick progress, removing the landmark structure
one dumpster-full at a time. The site will be utilized by The Reeds at
Shelter Haven for 22 additional hotel rooms and a spa.
COAST GUARD VESSEL Tamaroa was finally sunk last week to
become an artificial reef about 26 miles from Cape May. Originally serving
the Navy in World War II as the Zuni, the vessel also served the Coast Guard
for decades, and made now-famous rescues during the 1991 "Perfect Storm", of
book and movie fame. After reaching its final destination, holes were cut in
the side of the ship and water was pumped in, until it gradually receded
beneath the surface. Marine life is expected to begin congregating and
growing on the sunken hull within months, and the site will eventually
become a destination for sport fishermen.
MEMORIAL DAY PARADES and ceremonies are planned in both
Avalon & Stone Harbor. Avalon's parade steps off at 9am from 32nd & Dune,
proceeding north toward Veteran's Plaza where a ceremony will occur about
9:30am. Stone Harbor's parade will begin at 12 noon and proceed eastward
along 96th Street to the Women's Civic Club, where a ceremony is planned.
This Weeks News 5/11/2017
640,000 CUBIC YARDS of sand have been
added to Avalon's north-end beaches, according to a recent update on the
beach replenishment project. About 300,000 cubic yards remain to be added
during this phase of the project. After that, work will shift to the
south-end of Avalon and north-end of Stone Harbor for the project's final
portion. The project is expected to conclude about June 20th, subject to
weather and mechanical delays.
Blue skies and gentle breezes made for a great beach day earlier this
week. There's more great weather ahead!
THIS WEEKEND brings an array of activities to the Island to
help jump start your summer season. In Avalon you'll find the Wine & Spirits
Festival, a Borough-Wide Yard Sale, and flower and hoagie sales at the Fire
Department. Stone Harbor adds the Garden Club's Plant and Bake Sale as well
as the Wetlands Institute's Native Plant Sale. See our list of upcoming
events below for more!
THE TOWNSEND'S INLET BRIDGE is still undergoing repairs.
The bridge contractor has been working to restore traffic flow, but instead
of reopening for Memorial Day Weekend, traffic on the bridge may be limited
to one lane. The emergency repair work began after an April underwater
inspection revealed a crack in the bridge structure.
HENNY'S TO BE DEMOLISHED: The building that housed Henny's
Restaurant is slated to be torn down the week of May 15th. Henny's closed in
2008, after operating its Third Avenue location since the 1930s. Third
Avenue from 96th Street to 97th Street will be closed to through traffic,
and parking restrictions will be in place, to ensure safety during the
demolition process. Stay tuned for more on the future of the site!
STREET OPENING MORATORIUMS currently exist in Avalon and
Stone Harbor to prevent newly paved streets from being "opened" for new
utility connections for a period of five years after paving. Stone Harbor is
considering increasing the moratorium period to seven or ten years, in order
to extend the lifespan of newly paved streets. The Cape May County Herald
reported that seven years seemed to be the more likely choice. Read the full
article:
Transparency Goal for Council Discussed by Borough Officials.
HOUSE PORTRAITS by Lisa Cunningham capture the essence of
your home, allowing you to display your pride & joy! They also make a
special gift for any homeowner! Check out her work at
Lisa
Cunningham Fine Art or email Lisa at
lisa@lisacunninghamfineart.com
An example of Lisa Cunningham's great work!
BLACK BEAR LACROSSE returns to Avalon again this year with
a camp from July 3rd to July 7th. From fundamentals to advanced training,
campers ages 4 through 14 will receive daily instruction while scrimmaging
and participating in contests.
Learn More - Black
Bear Lacrosse Summer Camp.
This Weeks News 5/4/2017
BEACH REPLENISHMENT WORK resumed last
weekend as the dredge Texas returned from Cape May and began pumping sand
onto Avalon's north-end beaches. The Texas underwent maintenance work and
completed a small project while in Cape May. Now that it's back in Avalon,
it is expected to operate around the clock until beach work is completed,
stopping only for unsafe weather conditions or mechanical issues. The
current phase of the project is expected to be completed about May 20th. The
final phase will entail pumping sand through a submerged pipe onto beaches
in Avalon's hotel district and Stone Harbor's north end. That portion of the
project is expected to conclude about June 20th.
BRIDGE UPDATES: 150-foot pipe piles will be installed to
support the Townsend's Inlet Bridge. Three piles will be placed underwater
at each end of one of the bridge support piers, then welded and bolted to
the support structure. Officials hope to have the bridge open to vehicular
traffic by Memorial Day Weekend.
Repair of the 96th Street Bridge is also underway, with overnight closures
expected from 10pm to 5am, Sunday through Thursday nights until Memorial Day
Weekend. From Memorial Day Weekend until June 9th, bridge closures will be
restricted to Monday through Thursday nights. Lane closures are possible,
too. The project is expected to be finished by June 9th; if it is not, work
will be deferred until the fall.
BIG BLUEFISH, AND LOTS OF THEM! That's the word among local
fishermen who have caught numerous bluefish of good size in the back bays
and in the surf. The Atlantic City Press reported that Tammie of Avalon
Hodge Podge has weighed bluefish over eight pounds, and one that was over
nine pounds.
A plume of water and sand land on Avalon's beach during replenishment
operations.
LOCALS RIDE FREE on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Sunday, May
7th! A photo ID with a local zip code will save you the $18 round-trip foot
passenger fare. The ferry ride across the mouth of Delaware Bay and back is
delightful--on any given trip you're likely to see ships, boats, dolphins,
or a sunset. To book, visit
Cape May-Lewes Ferry by Saturday, and use the code "Tourism".
THE BEST MEMORIES are made on shore vacations! Why not make
it permanent? If you'd like to find the perfect shore home, let's get
started! Call or email me--I'll listen to your needs and help you find the
ideal place for your family to enjoy!