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This Weeks News 11/27/2019

Holiday beach tags will be available this weekend! See below for details!
 
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND IS A BIG ONE here on the Island! If you've never been here on the Island for Thanksgiving Weekend, you need to experience it! The Island is packed with people, fun events, activities, holiday celebrations, plus great shopping and dining options. Whether you're looking to unwind with friends or entertaining the little ones, there's no better place to kick off the holiday season than right here in Avalon & Stone Harbor!
 
FESTIVE FRIDAY & SNOWFEST SATURDAY will make Avalon's business district come alive! An unbelievable array of holiday-themed activities will be available, including photos with Santa, Polar Extreme obstacle course, a bounce house, a soccer shoot out, and non-stop holiday music. For a full list of activities and locations, click here: THANKSGIVING WEEKEND IN AVALON.
 
WHITE CHRISTMAS--AN ISLAND HOLIDAY is Stone Harbor's celebration, with another huge selection of activities Friday & Saturday, including a Downtown Holiday Dash, a pet parade, story hour with Mrs. Claus, and photos with Santa. For the entire line up click here: STONE HARBOR ISLAND HOLIDAY.
 
HOLIDAY BEACH TAGS will be available for purchase in both Avalon & Stone Harbor this weekend, while supplies last. These annual favorites feature holiday themed images and make great stocking stuffers for the beach lovers in your family!
 
In Avalon holiday tags can be purchased at the Rescue Squad building from 10am to 4pm on Friday & Saturday, for $23.
 
In Stone Harbor holiday tags can be purchased at Borough Hall from 10am to 4pm Friday & Saturday, and 10am to 3pm Sunday, for $23.
 

Fire trucks old & new, floats, bands, and even Santa will appear in Stone Harbor's Christmas Parade Saturday evening!
 
CHRISTMAS PARADE! What a way to cap off a great weekend! The annual Christmas Parade begins at 6:30pm Saturday evening and includes bands & music, floats of all kinds, fire trucks from all over Cape May County, and an appearance by Santa! The parade proceeds north along Third Avenue toward 96th Street, then turns onto 96th Street toward the beach. Any sidewalk along the route makes for good parade viewing, and you'll be amazed at the crowd of happy onlookers kicking off the holiday celebration here on the Island!
 
BRIDGES--PLAN AHEAD! When making your way toward the Island this weekend, keep in mind the ongoing maintenance work on the Avalon Boulevard Bridge, and the alternating lane pattern restricting traffic flow. To avoid delays on Avalon Boulevard, those headed to Avalon's north end may want to allow a few extra moments of travel time and enter via Sea Isle City and the Townsend's Inlet Bridge. Those headed to Avalon's south end (or Stone Harbor) may wish to use Stone Harbor Boulevard. However, if entering or leaving Stone Harbor Saturday evening, remember that traffic will be restricted in the area of the parade route.



PAYING IT FORWARD: My son, Dan, age 13, is learning the importance of giving back. This week he volunteered his time to collect hundreds of pounds of food donated as part of Long & Foster's food drive, and then delivered it to a local food bank the next morning. Thanks, Dan! Way to go!
 
HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you and your family! Wishing you the very best, this weekend and throughout the holiday season!

 

This Weeks News 11/21/2019

The sun sinks behind homes in Avalon's Lagoon section, late on a winter afternoon.
 
MARKET STATS: The number of sales declined slightly during the month of October, while the median sale price was up significantly over last October. The number of active listings continues to decrease, and the tight inventory level has impacted the market by driving up prices. For a detailed look at the market check out the latest Long & Foster Market Minute report.
 
VIEW THE LATEST LONG & FOSTER MARKET MINUTE REPORT  |  DOWNLOAD/PRINT PDF
 

 
AVALON'S EIGHTH STREET JETTY will be repaired this winter by construction firm South State, Inc., who was awarded a $2.5 million contract by Avalon Borough Council. Work will take place throughout the winter. The jetty was damaged by Winter Storm Jonas in early 2016.
 
YOUR "BLUE MIND"--WHY BEING NEAR WATER REALLY DOES MAKE US HAPPIER: An article in Conde Nast Traveler explains what most of us feel in the presence of water--a sense of peace, reduced stress, and feelings of clarity and calm. Dr. Wallace J. Nichols wrote a book, titled Blue Mind, about the physical and psychological benefits of being near water. Dr. Wallace is quoted in the article as saying "Our oceans, waterways, and the life they contain are so much more than their ecological, economic, and educational value. They have vast emotional benefits. They make life on earth possible, but also worth living." For an enjoyable read, check out the article:
 
WHY BEING NEAR WATER REALLY DOES MAKE US HAPPIER
  
OPERATION FIRESIDE is being organized again this year, and will provide Coast Guard recruits based in Cape May with a taste of home on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. More than 350 recruits who are away from home during the holidays are expected to be hosted by local families for a home-cooked holiday meal. Operation Fireside is now in its 35th year. If you're interested in hosting a recruit, contact the Red Cross Operation Fireside Program at OPFIRESIDENJ@REDCROSS.ORG or (609) 562-3483.
 
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND is one you don't want to miss here on the Island!
 
Avalon kicks off the holiday season with Festive Friday and Snowfest Saturday, and town will be buzzing with holiday activities including letters to Santa, wine tasting, and holiday music. Check the full listing here: THANKSGIVING WEEKEND IN AVALON.
 
Stone Harbor celebrates An Island Holiday Friday & Saturday, including breakfast with Frosty, photos with Santa, a tree lighting ceremony, and a huge Christmas parade Saturday evening. Check the full listing here: STONE HARBOR ISLAND HOLIDAY.

 

This Weeks News 11/14/2019

This stunning scene illustrates the beauty of fall at the beach! Thanks to Lisa Beyrouthy for sharing this amazing photo!
 
AVALON BEACHFILL COMPLETED! 675,000 cubic yards of sand were added to Avalon's north-end beaches from 9th Street to 20th Street, before hydraulic sand pumping concluded Sunday evening. The new beach has been graded, and the dune profile restored. New dune crossovers will be constructed by the Avalon Department of Public Works after Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company completes their demobilization process.
 

Avalon's huge new beach! The replenishment project has been completed, as seen in this view of the 13th Street beach. Photo by Scott Wahl, Avalon Borough Administrator. 
 
WARM FALL DAYS gave way to a blast of cold air early this week along with a bit of rain, and even a few snowflakes. Evening lows dipped into the 20s, but more seasonable temperatures are expected over the weekend. If you haven't already done so, have your exterior water lines winterized now, before the next cold spell arrives!
 
PREPARE FOR DELAYS on Avalon Boulevard! Repair work on the Avalon Boulevard Bridge began this week, along with one alternating lane of traffic. Bridge work will continue through the winter months, break for the summer, and then resume next fall. Allow an extra few minutes when you travel via Avalon Boulevard!
 
$1.95 MILLION in federal funding was awarded for the repair of the Eighth Street jetty in Avalon. In January 2016 the jetty structure was damaged by Winter Storm Jonas. The federal grant will cover 75% of the $2.6 million repair project.
 
BRIDGE TOLLS on Cape May County's Ocean Drive Bridges will remain at $1.50, but a future increase will likely be needed, according to an article by OCNJ Daily. Toll revenue is expected to cover $2.9 million of the Cape May County Bridge Commission's $3.9 million operating budget in 2020, with the rest funded by Cape May County. According to the article, tolls on the Ocean Drive Bridges have not increased since 2009. 
 
RENTAL RATES ARE IN! Our 2020 rental rates are in, so it's time to make your vacation plans for next summer! Determine your vacation dates and your price range, call or email me with your requirements, and allow me to help you find the perfect shore retreat!

 

This Weeks News 11/7/2019

With the sky on fire an osprey returns to its nest during an early summer evening.
 
HEREFORD INLET DREDGING DECISION: After a meeting in Washington, DC, US Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt reversed the position of the US Fish and Wildlife Service that had prevented the pumping of sand from Hereford Inlet for local beach replenishment using non-emergency funding. The 2016 decision prevented Stone Harbor from using sand accumulated in Hereford Inlet during a 2017 hydraulic beachfill project; during that beach replenishment, sand was pumped from Townsend's Inlet to Stone Harbor beaches, at an additional cost of $6 million. Allowing the use of sand from Hereford Inlet will allow future beach replenishment projects to be conducted with greater ease and less cost. Attending the recent meeting were representatives from Avalon, Stone Harbor, and North Wildwood; US Congressman Jeff Van Drew was instrumental in addressing the issue and organized the meeting.
 
AVALON BOULEVARD BRIDGE WORK is expected to begin as early as Monday, according to a temporary lighted sign placed alongside the roadway. The re-decking of the Ingrams Thorofare Bridge will take two years, with work occurring during the off season only. Temporary lane closures are expected during portions of the work, with traffic flowing in alternate directions.
 
A TWO-ALARM FIRE occurred at 8811 Third Avenue last week. When fire personnel arrived on the scene fire was visible through the second floor window, and spread to the third floor, attic, and roof. The fire was brought under control in about an hour. All six condominium units were unoccupied, and no injuries occurred. Along with Stone Harbor, fire companies from Cape May Court House, Green Creek, Rio Grande, Dennisville, and Avalon responded.
 
DEER MATING SEASON leads to an increase in collisions between deer and motor vehicles. Between late October and mid-December, deer are often seen running across the Garden State Parkway and other local roadways, as bucks chase does. Deer are most active around sunrise and sunset when visibility is reduced; slow down at dawn and dusk, especially if you see one or more deer along the side of the road.
 
PLAN AHEAD FOR HOLIDAY FUN! Each year Thanksgiving Weekend kicks off the holiday season here on Seven Mile Beach, with activities all weekend long. Many are listed below!