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This Weeks News 4/30/2020
Thank you to L&F's Jennifer Gensemer for capturing this magnificent
rainbow over the 99th Street beach earlier this week. What a great reminder
that difficult roads do lead to beautiful places!
REOPENING PLANS DISCUSSED: In addition to NJ Governor
Murphy's recently released six-point plan for reopening the state, many
local leaders in Atlantic and Cape May Counties are working on a bipartisan
plan featuring reopening strategies to present to the governor. Balancing
the health and safety of the public while responsibly reopening businesses
is the goal. With lower numbers of cases in the southern portion of the
state, and the unique needs of seasonal businesses at the shore, they hope
the governor will consider their plan.
SYSCO FOODS has generously donated 17 pallets of fresh
vegetables and fruit to the Cape May County Zoo since the food could not be
utilized by restaurants. After determining which foods could be used for the
animals, several remaining pallets of fresh foods were donated to local food
pantries. Thank you to Sysco for the donation, and to the Cape May County
Zoo for ensuring that all the food was put to good use!
The Bridgeman family has bathed their three Stone Harbor motels in blue
in honor of first responders and health care workers.
THREE STONE HARBOR MOTELS, including the Colonial Lodge,
the Seaward, and the Stone Harbor Inn, have been bathed in blue light in
honor of first responders and health care workers. Pat and Laurie Bridgeman,
long-time owners of the motels, have family on the front lines. Their son
Brendan is a volunteer firefighter with the Stone Harbor Fire Company, and
Brendan's wife, Kate, is a nurse at Cape Regional Medical Center. The
Bridgeman's oldest son, Patrick, works as a pharmacist at Robert Wood
Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick.
CONSIDERING SELLING? We offer a proactive and personal
marketing plan for your home that allows us to creatively promote your home
through digitally targeted social media and email campaigns. Call or email
me and we'll discuss your goals and formulate a plan to make them happen!
THINKING ABOUT BUYING? We're taking responsible measures to
assist our clients and I would love to discuss how we can safely and
successfully achieve your goals. I'm available!
LOOK AT WHAT'S UNDER CONTRACT; LOOK AT WHAT'S SOLD. See all
the market activity below? Yes, properties are selling. Perhaps the best
reason offered by a buyer that I've heard to date: "When this is all over,
there is no place I'd rather be with my family than at the shore!"
A LITTLE BIT OF THE SHORE: No matter where you are right
now, you'll enjoy this four-minute aerial video of Avalon's beaches and
other island scenes!
This Weeks News 4/23/2020
This Weeks News 4/16/2020
After heavy winds and rain passed through, clouds dissipated as the sun
began to shine.
HEAVY WINDS AND RAIN swept across Cape May County on
Monday. In many areas trees, limbs, utility poles, and wires were felled
while deck furniture, trash cans, and other lightweight objects were blown
around. Outages occurred in some areas but power was restored quickly in
most locations.
NEED A PROPERTY CHECK? I know you can't get here now, but
I'm happy to do a drive-by check of your house. Just email or call me!
THE AVALON BOULEVARD BRIDGE will close to all traffic from
7pm Thursday until 5am Friday as new concrete is installed on the bridge
surface. This is the final stage of construction during this phase of the
project. The next phase of the project is expected to take place after the
summer season.
COAST GUARD RESCUE: A sailor aboard a 25-foot sailboat was
rescued by the US Coast Guard Friday evening about 200 miles from Cape May.
The crew of a passing tanker spotted black smoke and relayed a distress call
to the Coast Guard via satellite phone. The sailboat had experienced an
electrical fire and was taking on water in heavy seas.
A PORTRAIT OF YOUR SHORE HOUSE--there's no better way to
create a lasting legacy for generations to come...make this the year to
commission your custom house portrait painting with Lisa Cunningham! Lisa
can capture the essence of your shore home and preserve it forever. Check
out more samples and arrange for your free consultation through her website
at LISA
CUNNINGHAM FINE ART!
WHATEVER YOU NEED, from a virtual property showing to
summer rental questions to a property check, I'm here for you. Call or email
and I'll be happy to help!
This Weeks News 4/9/2020
We're all dreaming of the day when this same scene along Avalon's
bayfront will be filled with people swimming, kayaking, and boating!
LOCAL MAYORS from Cape May County towns have closed local
beaches and cancelled all community events, in response to guidelines issued
by NJ Governor Phil Murphy, the CDC, and President Trump. Avalon & Stone
Harbor beaches were formally closed earlier this week. Local officials,
businesses, residents, and property owners are united in following all
protocols in order to lessen the overall impact of the pandemic. Each day
that passes gets us one day closer to normal!
THE CAPE MAY COUNTY CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION donated
over 100 lunches to doctors, nurses, and staff at Cape Regional Medical
Center and the area's Urgent Care Centers. The meals were ordered from local
eateries who are still serving take out food. Thank you Chiefs, for
supporting our front line medical workers and local eateries!
96TH STREET BRIDGE repairs were authorized by the Cape May
County Bridge Commission on an emergency basis, to address problems with the
90-year old bascule (drawbridge) span. Repairs will be conducted during
overnight hours, and the bridge will close from 7pm to 6am, but is expected
to remain open during daytime hours. In the interim, the bridge's weight
limit has been reduced to 15 tons and the speed limit restricted to 30mph to
reduce impact on structural supports.
AT THE SHORE, VIRTUALLY: If you're missing the shore, take
advantage of virtual visits during this time! For example, take a virtual
video tour of the Cape May Lighthouse here, and enjoy a view of both its
interior, and a view of the beaches and Atlantic Ocean that it towers above!
A VIRTUAL CLIMB OF THE CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE
VIRTUAL PROPERTY SHOWINGS: With so many working from home
during the pandemic, we have found that our website views and inquiries have
increased during this time. Interested in learning more about a particular
property? I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have, and happy to
arrange a "virtual showing". Using live video via a variety of apps, you can
examine a property inside and out, including the views and surrounding
neighborhood, from the comfort of your own home! Call or email me and we'll
schedule it at a time that's good for you!
REAL ESTATE WILL BOOM: An opinion piece that appeared on
FoxBusiness.com says that real estate should boom once the pandemic
subsides. Both the economy and real estate market were fundamentally sound
prior to the pandemic, and once the coronavirus threat is gone, demand for
homes should continue, the article says.
LOW INTEREST RATES are likely to help--rates for 30-year
fixed-rate mortgages are still around 3.5%, extending buying power for
mortgaged purchases.
OUR FRIENDS WITH THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS are offering some
help to kids young and old. While they're not playing basketball games and
are at home like the rest of us, they've shared a series of great videos on
everything from exercise to music to motivation. Their videos combine
well-crafted messages with great video clips featuring the famous
Globetrotter athleticism. Check them out here:
HARLEM
GLOBETROTTER VIDEOS - AT-HOME EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
I'M HERE AND AVAILABLE TO HELP. Call or email me!
This Weeks News 4/2/2020
First comes the rain...then the rainbow!
MAYORS OF AVALON, STONE HARBOR, and other shore towns
issued a joint statement earlier this week requesting that everyone follow
the social distancing/shelter-in-place guidelines issued by state and
federal authorities. Most local beaches and boardwalks are closed, and
events have been cancelled.
WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS, VIRTUALLY. From property showings
to paperwork to closings, technology allows us to perform important
functions while following proper guidelines:
Showings are handled via live video feeds; purchase agreements and other
documents are prepared and sent electronically, and signed electronically or
via scanning and emailing; inspections are performed by inspectors who
document their findings via photos or written reports; mortgage applications
and processing are done remotely; closings are handled by title companies
either remotely, or by various "drive through" methods to eliminate contact.
Business goes on!
CASHLESS TOLLING has been implemented by the Cape May
County Bridge Commission. EZPass was installed previously on all Ocean Drive
bridges, and is still operational; for those transiting Ocean Drive bridges
without EZPass, the same equipment will photograph your license plate so
that drivers can be billed the regular cash rate via mail. As long as the
bill is paid within 30 days no fees or penalties are applied.
REPAIR WORK ON AVALON'S NORTH END JETTY continues, but
damage to the jetty was found to be more extensive than first thought. The
five month project was expected to be completed prior to Memorial Day, but
Avalon will have to decide whether to continue work into mid-June, or
suspend work and resume at a later date. The jetty was damaged by wave
action during Winter Storm Jonas in 2016.
REMOTE LEARNING has replaced school buses during these past
few weeks. Here are some great ways to entertain and educate the kids (or
anyone!)
NJ.COM - ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FREE RESOURCES FOR REMOTE LEARNING DURING
CORONAVIRUS
I'M HERE, AND READY TO HELP! Whether you're ready to
discuss your next real estate move, or you need help with something at your
shore property, please call or email me. I'm here, and ready to help!
ELTON JOHN shared some wise words as he hosted a concert
Sunday evening from his home, and they seem quite fitting: "Once we get
through these tough times, better days lie ahead."Just like getting through
the rain to get to the rainbow!