News 04/18/2024

The market is still active!  

In The News:

MARKET STATS:  The number of units sold in March increased over last year, while the median sale price decreased slightly to $2,280,000.  For a detailed look at the market, see the latest Long & Foster Market Minute report: View Market Stats
 
NEW IRRIGATION REGULATIONS were approved by Avalon's council, in an effort to conserve water and avoid the need to drill a new well.  Homes with even numbered addresses may water on even numbered days, between midnight and 9am, for up to 30 minutes.  Odd numbered addresses may do the same on odd numbered days.  Newly installed lawns may be irrigated with no limit for the first 21 days, with the above limits kicking in on the 22nd day.  Flower boxes may be watered daily.
  
GET YOUR BEACH TAGS ONLINE at preseason prices!  Jersey Cape Tags manufactures beach tags for local towns and is authorized to sell them.  Tags can be shipped right to your door! Avalon & Stone Harbor full season beach tags are available for purchase online  Get 'em early and save!
 
PLANNING YOUR SUMMER FUN!  If you've already booked your summer vacation, take the next step and plan your summer fun!  Consider booking the Beach Set Up Guy so you don't need to carry your beach equipment to and from the sand each day.  And why not try something different while you're here, such as a charter fishing trip, or a private boat tour around area waterways.   Another great way to capture your memories for a lifetime is to book a beach photo session for your family!  Need any recommendations?  Call or email me!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Avalon Spring Dune Grass Planting, Saturday, April 20th.  Volunteers will gather at Avalon Community Hall at 8:30am where a brief demonstration will occur.  A light lunch will be provided for all volunteers.  To volunteer, please call Sue Keen at (609) 967-5924 or Chuck McDonnell at (609) 967-3066 no later than April 11th. 
 
Arbor Day Celebration, 48th Street & Dune Drive, Friday, April 26th, 10:30am.
 
Jazz Night, Spiaggetta Restaurant, Friday, April 26th.
 
Spring into Summer Event & Sidewalk Sale, Stone Harbor, Saturday, May 4th, 10am to 4pm.
 
Avalon Garden Club Plant & Bake Sale, 39th Street Greenhouse, May 4th & 5th.
 
Paper Shredding Day, Avalon Public Works facility, Saturday, May 11th, 9am until 2pm (or until the machine is full.)
 
Mother’s Day Candle Making Workshop by Blue Eden.  The Reeds, Saturday, May 11th, Noon to 1:30pm.Reserve your space
 
Bicycle Auction, Avalon Public Works facility, Saturday, May 11th, 12 noon.
 
Mother’s Day Brunch, The Reeds at Shelter Haven, Sunday, May 12th, 10am-3pm.  Reservations required—call 609-368-0100.
 
Bulk Trash Collection, Avalon, May 3rd to May 12th.
 
Bulk Trash Collection, Stone Harbor.  May 13th.

News 04/11/2024

A solar eclipse at the beach!

In The News:

"ECLIPSING" ALL EXPECTATIONS!  Avalon and Stone Habor beaches proved to be a great location for watching Monday's solar eclipse, as did local recreation fields, decks, and docks.  The weather cooperated for much of the event, with partly cloudy skies offering long stretches of good viewing between cloud cover.  If you missed Monday's eclipse, you can look forward to March 2025, when New Jersey will experience both a total lunar eclipse and another partial solar eclipse, according to timeanddate.com.  If you're holding out for a total solar eclipse in New Jersey, you'll have to wait until May 1, 2079!
 
96TH STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT: The 96th Street Bridge is slated for replacement in the next few years.  A majority of design work is completed, and a final design is expected to be submitted for NJDOT approval in early 2025. When construction of the new bridge begins, there will be a series of road closures for long periods of time.  Additionally, a temporary span will be constructed to carry vehicular traffic, but that fixed span will limit navigation by boats until it is removed.  Bridge construction could begin as early as 2026, with completion in 2028.  Road closures during construction are expected to be confined to off-season times.
 
WEATHER FORECASTER "NorEaster Nick" reported last week that we've had twenty inches of rain since January first.  All of Southern New Jersey has received at least double the normal rainfall amounts, with Cape May at 211%, Cape May Court House at 238%, and Atlantic City at 222%.  All that rain has eased drought concerns—currently all of New Jersey is drought free.

PREPARING YOUR RENTAL PROPERTY in advance of the busy rental season is wise, and can save you both money and headaches.  Here are some things to think about now, to avoid problems later:
 
Schedule pest and weed treatments now.  It's easier to avoid pests and weeds than to combat them later.
 
Replace all batteries in smoke detectors, CO detectors, and remote controls, if you haven't recently done so.
 
Set up you cable television and internet service, and verify that both are working.  Post your wifi username and password on the refrigerator (if either have changed, please email them to me so I can keep them on file, too.)
 
Have your air conditioning system checked and tuned up.  Ensure its in good working order before the summer heat is upon us.
 
Have any questions?  Contact me!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Clean Ocean Action Spring Beach Sweep, Saturday, April 13th, 9am-12:30pm.  Register here:
 
Let’s Play Ball—A History of Baseball in America.  39th Street Tennis Building, Saturday, April 13th, 1pm.
 
Avalon Spring Dune Grass Planting, Saturday, April 20th.  Volunteers will gather at Avalon Community Hall at 8:30am where a brief demonstration will occur.  A light lunch will be provided for all volunteers.  To volunteer, please call Sue Keen at (609) 967-5924 or Chuck McDonnell at (609) 967-3066 no later than April 11th. 
 
Arbor Day Celebration, 48th Street & Dune Drive, Friday, April 26th, 10:30am.
 
Spring into Summer Event & Sidewalk Sale, Stone Harbor, Saturday, May 4th.
 
Avalon Garden Club Plant & Bake Sale, 39th Street Greenhouse, May 4th & 5th.
 
Paper Shredding Day, Avalon Public Works facility, Saturday, May 11th, 9am until 2pm (or until the machine is full.)
 
Bicycle Auction, Avalon Public Works facility, Saturday, May 11th, 12 noon.
 
Bulk Trash Collection, Avalon, May 3rd to May 12th.
 
Bulk Trash Collection, Stone Harbor.  May 13th.

News 04/04/2024

IIt won't belong before boats large & small will be cruising local waters!

In The News:

MISS AVALON opened her fishing season earlier this week with a tog fishing trip.  The crew reported good catches up to 8 pounds, with the day's "high hook" catching three keepers, and breaking off a fourth.  Miss Avalon is fishing Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays this month. Read More or on Facebook  
 
RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY!  After 8 inches of rain and countless rainy days in March, we're ready for some sunshine.  Mother Nature did not cooperate the first couple days of April...after a bit of sunshine over the weekend, rain appeared again, with another couple of inches in the forecast.  It'll begin to dry out toward the end of this week.
 
LAUGHING GULLS ARE BACK!  The Wetlands Institute reports that the first Laughing Gulls have appeared on Ring Island, near the Institute.  Commonly known as seagulls, the iconic birds are now arriving for the summer season.  Ring Island is a marshy island behind Stone Harbor that is the summer home of thousands of seagulls.
 
SAFETY REMINDER: CHECK YOUR DRYER VENT!  When is the last time you checked and cleaned your dryer duct and vent?  Ducts or vents clogged with lint present a serious fire hazard.  While your lint filter should be cleaned before each use of the dryer, your dryer duct (which should be metal, not plastic) and vent should be checked periodically to make sure they're clear.  A buildup of lint in the duct can clog it, leading to an overheated dryer, greatly increasing the risk of a fire.  Whether you have a vacation property or a rental property, checking and cleaning your dryer duct and vent prior to the heavy usage during the season is smart.  Don't want to DIY? Call an appliance company or handyman.
 
LOCAL CRAFT BREWERIES have had a busy month!  Here's the latest:
 
Coho Brewing has been rebranded as Whale Tale Brewing.  Located on Indian Trail Road in Cape May Court House, Whale Tale Brewing features events and specials several nights a week:  www.whaletalebrewing.com/upcoming
 
Cape May Brewing Company has reintroduced their pale Helles lager "Boat Ramp Champ," describing it as the perfect brew to crack open after a day on the open sea.  Located on Hornet Road at the Cape May County Airport, Cape May Brewing's tasting room is open seven days a week beginning at noon.  www.capemaybrewery.com 
 
Slack Tide Brewing Company has its three newest releases on tap, including Penny Knot, Catch and Release 001, and Paddy's Hole, as well as several of its year-round and seasonal brews.  Slack Tide, located on Route 9 just above Avalon Boulevard, is open seven days a week beginning at noon, and this Friday at 5pm will feature Pint Night, donating $1 from every pint to the Ocean City High School crew team:  www.slacktidebrewingco.com/events  
 
UPCOMING EVENTS:
 
Easter EGGStravaganZoo, a week of Easter-related activities at Cape May County Zoo, through  Sunday, April 7th.
 
Stone Harbor Job Fair, Saturday, April 6th.  Visit participating businesses to apply in person.
 
Clean Ocean Action Spring Beach Sweep, Saturday, April 13th.
 
Avalon Spring Dune Grass Planting, Saturday, April 20th.
 
Arbor Day Celebration, 48th Street & Dune Drive, Tuesday, April 26th, 10:30am.
 
Spring into Summer Event & Sidewalk Sale, Stone Harbor, Saturday, May 4th.
 
Avalon Garden Club Plant & Bake Sale, 39th Street Greenhouse, May 4th & 5th.