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
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This Weeks News 7/29/2021

Festival
Boats
Top: A great crowd gathered at 81st Street & the bay to watch the Stone Harbor Yacht Club's Festival of Lights Parade last Saturday evening, while enjoying food trucks, music, and a wine & beer garden. Bottom: Donna Marie Piazza Strug posted this photo collage on Facebook showing many of the boats that participated in the parade. (Great photos, Donna!) Watch a short video clip on Facebook here: VIEW VIDEO
 
A U.S. COAST GUARD RESCUE took place 69 miles southeast of Cape May on Sunday during strong winds and rough seas. Seven people were rescued from a 40-foot sport fishing vessel as seas reportedly approached 10-feet. Watch video footage of the rescue here: COAST GUARD RESCUES 7 FROM SPORT FISHING BOAT BESET BY WEATHER
  
YOU LOST IT?  HE'LL FIND IT!

John Favano is known locally as The Ringfinder, and rightly so. Favano is usually the one that gets the call when someone has lost their wedding ring in the sand on a local beach.

Using his metal detecting equipment Favano performs a grid search of the area and often comes up with the lost item. He's located numerous lost items on local beaches this summer, including rings, necklaces, and watches.

If you've lost a ring or other metal object, contact John!
 
You can find him here:

THE RING FINDERS - JOHN FAVANO
 
John Favano, The Ringfinder!
 
LOCAL ARTIST AND WRITER MONICA ZANE is a National Indie Excellence book award recipient for "Rudy Doesn't Like Roger." Zane wrote the children's book and included 37 illustrations and has been named as a finalist in the juvenile fiction category. Monica's artwork is magnificent--check out both her book and her artwork on her website at MONICA ZANE ART SHOP or stop by her studio at 37th Street & Ocean Drive in Avalon.
 
GOTTA DO IT: OFF-ISLAND TREATS! Everybody has their on-island favorites, but Cape May County is blessed with many off-island treats as well! Here are a variety of favorites to check out when you're looking for nearby options to escape the crowds, or to try while on your way to or from the shore!
Have a favorite Cape May County spot, off-island or on-island? Please let me know what it is!
 
WHAT CAN I HELP YOU WITH? Whether you're looking to buy or sell, need a contractor referral, or simply have a question, please call or email me!

 

This Weeks News 7/22/2021

Boats
Stone Harbor's Festival of Lights Boat Parade takes place Saturday night. Boats of all sizes and types will feature lights, music, decorations, and costumes. See below for details.
 
MARKET STATS: 13 sales occurred during the month of June, limited by tight inventory, while the median sale price jumped to $2,875,000. For a detailed look at the market see the latest Long & Foster Market Minute Report, below.
 
Market Report

VIEW THE LATEST LONG & FOSTER MARKET MINUTE REPORT  |  DOWNLOAD/PRINT PDF
 
AVALON NOW OFFERS LIVE STREAMING of its Borough Council meetings via Zoom.  Avalon previously used a telephone call-in system allowing remote users to listen to council meetings, but no video feed was available. The new Zoom system was set up in response to numerous requests, and last week's meeting was the first to be broadcast; recorded videos of council meetings will be posted to the Borough website. 
 
EMERGENCY DREDGING OF PRINCETON HARBOR was approved by Avalon Borough Council in response to shoaling at the westerly end of the harbor near the end of 21st Street, making navigation difficult. A $158,750 contract awarded to Trident Marine Piling of Longport calls for the removal of approximately 1,150 cubic yards of hard sand that has accumulated in the waterway. Actual dredging is expected to begin this week.
 
IT'S A BIRD...IT'S A PLANE? A banner plane made an emergency landing on the Route 52 Causeway just outside Ocean City after engine trouble occurred. Upon first experiencing the trouble the pilot jettisoned the banner and headed for the Ocean City Airport, but upon seeing a break in summer traffic on the westbound causeway, the 18-year-old pilot brought the aircraft down for a safe emergency landing, with no injuries and no damage to the aircraft. Needless to say, the sight of an airplane parked on the roadway caused quite a stir!  
 
GOTTA DO IT: FRESH LOCAL SEAFOOD! Nothing says "seashore" better than locally caught seafood freshly prepared for dinner! Unless you've caught your own "catch of the day," a visit to a local seafood store is the next best thing. Whether you want to pick crabs, grill a tuna steak, bake flounder filets stuffed with crab meat, or steam some clams, there are many local options. Here are some recommendations:
SANTA WILL BE IN STONE HARBOR THIS WEEKEND, taking a break from the North Pole. Beginning Thursday, July 22nd, Santa will make nearly two dozen appearances at local restaurants, shops, and events. Keep an eye out for the Big Guy. For the first time ever, t-shirts commemorating his Stone Harbor vacation will be available for $20 at the Stone Harbor Welcome Center at 212 96th Street, while supplies last.
 
STONE HARBOR FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS BOAT PARADE! Save Saturday night for some fun on the water, as Stone Harbor's Festival of Lights Boat Parade kicks off at 8pm. Lighted, decorated boats will depart the Stone Harbor Yacht Club heading for Stone Harbor's southernmost waterfront, then parade northward through all basins, concluding at the 81st Street Municipal Marina. Boats will feature a variety of lights, costumes, decorations, music, and dancing; docks decorated with lights and music are expected along the way. Even if you can't get out on the water to participate in the parade, you can watch it from any street-end bulkhead or take in a panoramic view of the bay and all parading boats at the Festival of Lights Viewing Party at the 81st Street Municipal Marina, while enjoying food trucks, music, and a wine & beer garden. Bring your own chairs--the Viewing Party runs from 6:30pm to 9:30pm!

 

This Weeks News 7/15/2021

fish
My daughter, Grace, below, likes to say, "I fish like a girl...try to keep up!" My son, Paul, has no problem with that challenge! Fishing is a great hobby to share with your kids. Check below for some ideas on how to "take a kid fishing!"
 
JITNEY SERVICE RETURNED to the island this past week, after a hiatus last year. The popular service resumed on Friday, July 9th, and will run 6pm-2am, Thursdays through Sundays for the balance of the summer. The Jitneys will run their predetermined route through Avalon and Stone Harbor, with a $3 fare per ride. If you'd like to pre-purchase tickets or learn more about the Jitney, download the "Jitney Surfer" app for your phone. Avoid parking hassles and traffic--take the Jitney!
 
SEVEN MILE INNOVATION LAB: Have you spotted a new metal platform in the back bay waters while boating? Seven of them have appeared in various locations behind Seven Mile Island, as part of a US Army Corps of Engineers project to improved dredging and marsh restoration techniques. The State of New Jersey and The Wetlands Institute are partners in the Innovation Lab. The platforms are being used by researchers to study waterways, shallow tidal flats, and wetlands, and to monitor recent dredging and marsh restoration projects. Boaters, kayakers, and others are asked to stay clear of the platforms to avoid disrupting data collection.
 
AVALON'S BEACHES AND BOARDWALK will close during the overnight hours until further notice as part of an executive order by Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi. According to Pahliughi the order will "provide our local police department with the necessary authority to disperse large groups of individuals who are congregating in unmanageable numbers on public property which often results in unsafe and disruptive behavior." Recently the beach and boardwalk have experienced vandalism, excessive litter, and debris during the overnight hours.
 
THE NEXT TIME you drive into Sea Isle City take note of the 38 palm trees lining both sides JFK Boulevard. 40 palm trees--including two for Excursion Park--were purchased and planted at the beginning of the summer to provide a cheerful greeting for anyone visiting town. The palm trees are not expected to survive the winter, as they don't tolerate frost, but have already put many smiles on faces of those seeing them in the city's gateway. Sea Isle City has said it plans to replace the trees during the winter.  
 
GOTTA DO IT: TAKE A KID FISHING! It's a generations-old pastime as American as "mom, baseball, and apple pie!" Take a kid fishing and teach him or her how to bait a hook, tie a knot, or clean a catch. It's a lifelong hobby that's enjoyable and rewarding whether you're 6 or 106! Here are some local options, whether you're looking to buy bait & tackle, rent a small boat, fish aboard a large party boat in the ocean, or head to the deep aboard a private offshore charter:
IT'S JULY 15TH! Make sure you make time for your "Summer Bucket List" items! Make time to make memories!

 

This Weeks News 7/8/2021

Fireworks
Old Glory waved over the bay as fireworks were launched from a barge off the beach Sunday evening.
 
WHAT A WEEKEND! Even a questionable weather forecast couldn't keep the crowds away! By all accounts, Seven Mile Island was packed over the holiday weekend, with local business owners declaring the weekend a success. Grey skies eventually gave way to sunshine and seabreezes, which kept the crowd here on the island through the whole three-day weekend. Sunday evening fireworks displays in both Avalon and Stone Harbor were enjoyed from vantage points all over the island!
 
SOMETIMES IT'S EASIER to let someone else worry about it...If you're looking for the ultimate in stress-free vacationing, why not let the Beach Setup Guy take care of hauling your beach chairs to the sand and setting them up for you? While you're at it, you can schedule dog walking services with Surf Dog Walking--meaning you're free to go to the beach while Rover gets his exercise elsewhere! Check them out at BEACH SETUP GUY and SURF DOG WALKING.
 
UNEXPECTED SHOALING has occurred in Avalon's Pennsylvania Harbor near the end of 21st Street. The Borough of Avalon will take steps to perform emergency dredging in the area. Meanwhile boaters should be aware of the shoaling and use caution in the area.
 
GOTTA DO IT: LOCAL BREWERIES! A number of local craft beer makers operate in Cape May County and produce a variety of award-winning beers. Whether you prefer to taste different brews at each brewery, or take some home to enjoy later, here are some local favorites:

REMINDER: STONE HARBOR TRASH & RECYCLING collection is still once per week, instead of the usual twice per week in the summer, due to a labor shortage. A trash & recycling drop off point is located between 80th Street & 81st Streets in the Municipal Marina parking lot on Saturdays from 8am to 4pm. Stone Harbor rental property owners: make sure you have enough trash & recycling containers to last a week--or purchase more if you don't.
 
PSA: SLOW DOWN, IT'S CROWDED! Yes, it's that time of year when the beaches, sidewalks, streets, and parking lots are full of people. For everyone's sake, slow down, especially if you're behind the wheel of an automobile. Allow a few extra minutes when travelling around the island. Better yet, roll down the windows and enjoy the salt air during your ride!

 

This Weeks News 7/1/2021

Sunrise
Ahhh! This beautiful sunrise was captured by Amy Jordan on a morning beach walk. Thanks for sharing, Amy!
 
INDEPENDENCE WEEKEND! There are lots of fun activities and fireworks planned for Independence Weekend. Details are here:  A RECORD YEAR FOR CAPE MAY COUNTY TOURISM is expected according to a recent article by the Atlantic City Press. The county's first quarter occupancy tax receipts show that overnight stays were up 12.7% over 2019, a year in which tourism revenue reached a record $6.9 billion. "All indicators are telling us that 2021 will be a good year," said County Commissioner Director Gerald Thornton.
 
AVALONMAPS.COM is a site you'll want to check out if you're interested in how Avalon looked many years ago. Avalon resident Dave Mackey has compiled a number of vintage maps of Avalon and Cape May County, offering a detailed look at Avalon's development--as well as proposed developments that didn't happen. Prints are available and make great accent pieces for your home or office!
 
LEARN MORE - AVALON MAPS
 
MARABELLA'S FAMILY RESTAURANT of Stone Harbor celebrates its 50th season, having first opened its doors in 1972. Mom Marabella first created menu items from recipes she learned from her Neapolitan mother and grandmother; today her son Angelo creates dishes based on one of his Mom's maxims: Very Fresh, Very Festive, Very Reasonable and Very Italian! Marabella's is located at 9426 Third Avenue. Check out their menu here:
 
MARABELLAS FAMILY RESTAURANT
 
GOTTA DO IT! My new "Gotta Do It!" series will run throughout the summer and will feature a different "Gotta Do It!" activity each week.
 
This week, WATCH A SUNSET OVER THE BAY! There's no better way to cap off a great day at the shore than to watch the sun go down, enjoying Mother Nature's last display of color! Catch a bayfront sunset at any of these locations: Have a favorite location for watching sunsets? Let me know where it is! Have a favorite "Gotta Do It!" shore activity? I'd like to hear about it!
 
PLAN AHEAD: STONE HARBOR FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS boat parade. Mark your calendars for the evening of Saturday, July 24th. Details to follow!
 
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! Take time to celebrate our many freedoms with your family & friends!