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This Weeks News 10/27/2022

October sunsets often bring Halloween colors. Here, the orange glow of the sun reflects off sport fishing boats moored at Avalon Marine Center.
 
THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION surveyed Cape May County beaches following the extended duration nor'easter earlier this month, according to a recent Cape May County Herald article. The Herald reports that the DEP observed major beach damage from Ocean City to North Wildwood, including dune scarping (cliffs) up to 14 feet tall in Avalon, and up to 10 feet tall in Stone Harbor. Many pedestrian and vehicle access points were closed on Seven Mile Island due to the damage. (See the next article for more on local beaches.)  
 
MOST BEACHES in Stone Harbor have reopened for pedestrian and vehicular access, thanks to hard work by the Public Works department. 81st Street to 105th Street, and 113th Street to 123rd Street are now open for pedestrian access, with only 106th to 111th Streets remaining closed due to dune scarping. Vehicular access is open at 85th, 95th, 102nd, 118th, and 123rd Streets, while 111th Street vehicular access remains closed. Most beaches in Avalon remain open, but 12th Street through 22nd Street were closed following the storm due to steep drop offs.
 
FROM MONARCHS TO WHALES, it's migration season along the coast, and Cape May County is a fantastic place to experience it all. New Jersey's geography is such that monarch butterflies and birds migrating south get funneled into Cape May County before they cross the Delaware Bay, providing great viewing opportunities. Avalon's north-end seawall and Stone Harbor Point's viewing platform are great places to scan the skies while bird watching or butterfly spotting. Whales have been plentiful just off the beach recently, with numerous whales spotted by local boats as well as whale watching trips.
 
HALLOWEEN takes the island by storm this week! Trunk or Treat and Trick or Treat are both slated to occur on the island this week, along with Boo at the Zoo at the Cape May County Park & Zoo. See below for dates and time!
 
GO PHILLIES! GO EAGLES! With the Philadelphia Phillies headed to the World Series and the Philadelphia Eagles undefeated, sports fans throughout the region are engergized! Go Phillies! Go Eagles!

 

This Weeks News 10/20/2022

Beach erosion along Avalon's beaches can be clearly seen in these photos taken by Pat McCusker. See below for more on area beaches.
 
MANY AREA BEACHES are in need of replenishment after several days of northeast wind and waves in early October stripped away sand, leaving steep drop offs in numerous places. The photos above show Avalon's beaches last week, but similar conditions exist in Stone Harbor, as well as areas of Sea Isle City and North Wildwood. Avalon Mayor Martin Pahliughi announced that an additional $8.5 million had been secured for an upcoming major beach replenishment project, bringing the total secured funding for the work up to $27 million. That federally backed replenishment project, which will include Stone Harbor, is anticipated to occur late in the first quarter of 2023, and bids are expected next month. Mayor Pagliughi reminds us that the beach and dune system did what they were supposed to do during the recent storm event. "Sand is meant to be sacrificed to protect human lives, critical infrastructure, and property."
 
MARKET STATS: The number of active listings increased to 115 during the month of September, but 28 properties were placed under contract, meaning the market is returning to a more normal four-months of supply. For a detailed look at the market, see the latest Long & Foster Market Minute report below.


 
VIEW THE LATEST LONG & FOSTER MARKET MINUTE REPORT  |  DOWNLOAD/PRINT PDF
   
PROFESSIONAL PICKLEBALL is coming to Avalon next year. The Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) selected Avalon for a tour stop next September 6-10. According to the borough, "the APP New Jersey Classic will include the top tour professionals in the world, a senior pro tournament, and an amateur division so locals and visitors can compete with each other." The event will include vendors, livestreaming, and other attractions.  Avalon opened its ten pickleball courts in 2018, and says they're the most popular recreational attraction in the borough.
 
TIRED OF THE STOCK MARKET ROLLER COASTER? How about a shore property to diversify your investment portfolio, provide you with rental income to offset carrying costs, plus a lifetime supply of family memories? If you'd like to discuss the benefits--financial and otherwise--of owning a shore home, please call or email me today!

 

This Weeks News 10/13/2022

Skyline on fire! The setting sun lit the Atlantic City skyline ablaze on Sunday evening. With just the right angle between the sun and the glass buildings, the intense orange glow was reflected back to Avalon. The southern tip of Sea Isle City can be seen across Townsend's Inlet.
 
AVALON'S ARTS & SEAFOOD FESTIVAL benefitted from sunny, dry weather, which brought a solid crowd to the event on Saturday. Near perfect conditions lasted throughout the three-day weekend, with clear skies, crisp, dry air, and gentle breezes. It sure feels like fall -- and the occasional scent of woodsmoke from a fireplace completes the feeling!
 
BEACHES REMAIN CLOSED: Avalon's north-end beaches from 12th to 20th Street, and nearly all of Stone Harbor's beaches, remain closed after northeast winds and rain from Ian caused significant beach erosion. In some areas there are drop-offs that exceed ten feet, while other areas have lesser damage. If walking the beach use caution, and follow all signage in closed areas. Stay tuned for future updates on beach restoration efforts.
 
EXTENDED PERIODS OF RAINFALL from Hurricane Ian two weeks ago helped ease drought conditions in much of New Jersey, but not Cape May County. Despite several days of rain, southern Cape May County remains in "moderate drought" status, while most of the state is now in the "abnormally dry" status. After thunderstorms on Thursday, sunny, dry weather is expected to remain through most this week, with a chance of more rain again next week.
 
BRIDGE REPAIRS are a common event around the island, and this off season is no different. The Great Channel Bridge, which carries Ocean Drive from the southern end of Stone Harbor across Hereford Inlet to North Wildwood, will receive $4.9 million in upgrades to its superstructure and fenders. The much smaller 104th Street Bridge in Stone Harbor will undergo a $464,000 repair to correct a sinkhole that has developed in one of its travel lanes.
 
CAPE MAY SEASHORE LINES is running several fall train rides aboard vintage rail equipment that used to ply the rails from the barrier islands to Camden every day. This fall's trains include Halloween Fun rides on October 15th in nearby Richland, the Wizard's Express departing from Tuckahoe Friday through Sunday, October 28th to 30th, the Ice Cream Express in Tuckahoe on Saturday, November 12th, and Murder on the Seashore Lines Express, also on Saturday, November 12th.

CAPE MAY SEASHORE LINES - DETAILS, SCHEDULES, AND FARES
 
MISSED LAST WEEKEND'S SEAFOOD FESTIVAL? Check out the Belly Buster at Carmen's Seafood in Sea Isle City this Saturday, October 15th. For $44.95 patrons can enjoy an endless supply of fresh cooked seafood on the water, as Carmen's wraps up the 2022 season. The annual end-of-season event is great for the serious seafood eater!

 

This Weeks News 10/6/2022

COLUMBUS DAY WEEKEND means another annual favorite returns to Avalon! Start your weekend with the Avalon Wine & Spirits Festival Friday evening, then follow up with the Avalon Arts & Seafood Festival on Saturday! The Wine & Spirits Festival will feature more than 200 high-end wines, beers, and spirits, plus live music, hors d'oeuvres, and a silent auction. The event runs from 5:30pm to 8pm Friday evening at Avalon Community Hall. Tickets are available at the door for $75. Saturday's Arts & Seafood Festival runs from 10am to 5pm at Surfside Park, and features fresh seafood from local restaurants, plus vendors of fine art, jewelry, crafts, and other unique items, along with live music, live streamed football, beer, wine, and kids' activities. (The Arts & Seafood Festival rain date is Sunday, October, 9th.)
 
REMNANTS OF IAN delivered several days of rain, wind, waves, tidal flooding, and beach erosion to the island this past weekend, and early this week. Northeasterly winds and waves eroded portions of the beach, leading to the closure of beach paths from 12th Street to 20th Street in Avalon. Sand dunes did their job of protecting the rest of the island. High tide cycles brought rising water levels to the back bay and into low lying streets in many areas, as strong and steady winds prevented water from receding during low tides. The upside of the significant rainfall is the potential to ease the severe drought that's been affecting South Jersey for the past several weeks. By the weekend dry, cool weather is expected again, with highs around 60.
 
OCTOBER brings with it not only cooler fall weather, but a few other practical changes, too! "No turn on red" restrictions are eased, blinking yellow traffic lights return, and parking is noticeably easier! As an added bonus, you'll probably have an easier time getting into your favorite restaurant!
 

This familiar view from the Garden State Parkway bridge entering Cape May County is now forever changed.
 
THE B.L. ENGLAND POWER PLANT along Great Egg Harbor Bay has been a dominant feature visible for decades to all those entering Cape May County via the southbound Garden State Parkway Bridge. The view has permanently changed since the large cooling tower, visible to the right in the photo above, was imploded last week. First built in 1964, the plant burned both coal and oil in order to generate electricity until a few years ago, when it was idled. The remainder of the plant is slated for eventual demolition, and the site is being considered as a future connection point for cables bringing electric power ashore, generated by offshore wind farms being developed off the coast.