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This Weeks News 10/28/2021

Four dolphins swam alongside a sailboat as it entered Townsend's Inlet, putting smiles on the crew's faces. Watch the thirty-second clip and it'll put a smile on your face, too!
 
DOLPHINS HAVE BEEN PLENTIFUL this year and have been seen frequently swimming along the beach or by boaters traversing local waters. They're still around, following the schools of fish they feed on--but always ready to take a break to swim along with a passing boat. The thirty-second clip above shows four dolphins swimming alongside a sailboat that entered Townsend's Inlet this past Sunday.
 
LOW INTEREST RATES: "ENORMOUSLY PLEASANT." --WARREN BUFFETT. That's how Warren Buffett described the current low rate environment to his investors at a shareholder meeting according to a recent Yahoo! Finance article. With thirty-year mortgage rates still hovering around 3%, and fifteen-year rates about a half-point less, it IS a great time to lock in low financing costs, whether purchasing or refinancing. Need mortgage lender recommendations? Please call or email me and I'll put you in touch with professional, experienced lenders!
 

The Avalon Fire Department conducted a fire drill in our old office last week in conjunction with the Marmora Fire Department. Firefighters practiced advancing hoselines, entry and ventilation, and more. Above, Avalon's Tower 1153 and Marmora's Tower 1550 extend their aerial ladders toward the roof of the building. The building will be demolished shortly and replaced with a new structure; Long & Foster will move into the new office next year.
 
BOO AT THE ZOO returns to the Cape May County Park & Zoo on Saturday, October 30th from 10am to 2pm. Visitors are invited to wear costumes and participate in activities, games, an obstacle course, pirate ship, and of course, candy! A costume contest will begin at 11am, followed by awards.
 
WHILE YOU'RE AT THE ZOO, look for a pair of Eurasion eagle owls that have been recently added to the animal collection. They're the largest owls in the world, with a wingspan over six feet, and can be seen in the Zoo's African Savanna each day.
 
TONIO'S PIZZA served its last pie this past Saturday, and has closed its doors for good. After 30 years in Avalon, Tonio & family have closed the pizza shop and Seafood Shack, to the dismay of customers who have enjoyed their food for a generation. But all is not lost--if you visit the Florida Keys, be sure to stop by Tonio's Seafood Shack and Tiki Bar Summerland Key, at Mile Marker 25.2, for a "taste of Avalon!"
 
RENTALS: WE'RE BOOKING THEM NOW! Vacation rentals for Summer 2022 are booking at a fast clip. Let's find you the perfect place...Don't wait--email or call me today!
 
RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS: WE NEED YOUR RATES NOW! If you haven't already, it's time to get your 2022 rental rates to me. Take advantage of the great rental market, and let us fill your property with rentals!

 

This Weeks News 10/21/2021

Smuggler's Cove, the bait & tackle shop familiar to so many Avalon & Stone Harbor boaters, was torn down last week. Aerial photo by Tim Fleming; demolition photo provided by Jayne Lare, of Smuggler's Cove.
    

         

REMEMBERING SMUGGLER'S COVE: Stone Harbor icon Smuggler's Cove closed its doors last fall, after 47 years in business. Last week demolition crews tore down the building that stood on the site since the 1940s. For me, personally, it was hard--I spent seven very happy summers working there when I was in high school and college, and was welcomed into the Smuggler's Cove family! Imagine my delight when Paul, my oldest, got a chance to work there, too, during his high school years--something I'm very glad he got to experience. Pictured: Paul on Memorial Day Weekend, 2020--the first day of the last season!

    

        
AVALON'S FALL DUNE GRASS PLANTING takes place on Saturday, October 23rd at 8:30am. Volunteers are needed! Help strengthen Avalon's dunes, which provide important storm protection to the whole island. After a morning of planting, a light lunch will be offered to volunteers at Avalon Community Hall. If you are interested in volunteering, please call Sue Keen at (609) 967-5924 or Chuck McDonnell at (609) 967-3066 to RSVP.
 
BEACH SWEEPS are also taking place in Avalon & Stone Harbor on Saturday, beginning at 9am. Help keep our beaches beautiful! Volunteers will gather at Avalon's 30th Street beach path, and at Stone Harbor's 95th Street beach. Supplies will be provided, however, volunteers may bring their own bucket for trash collection if they wish. Volunteers are asked to register in advance:

CLEAN OCEAN ACTION FALL 2021 BEACH SWEEPS REGISTRATION FORM
 
MARKET STATS: The number of sales in September increased over August, while falling short of September 2020. The median sale price increased 18% to $2,547,500 over September 2020, while the number of active listings fell to 85. For a detailed look at the market see the latest Long & Foster Market Minute Report.
 


VIEW THE LATEST LONG & FOSTER MARKET MINUTE REPORT  |  DOWNLOAD/PRINT PDF
 
"SAILDRONE IS GOING WHERE NO RESEARCH VESSEL HAS EVER VENTURED." NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has employed a fleet of five "saildrones" to collect data in the midst of storm conditions on the open ocean. The specially equipped sail-powered drones can sail through 50-foot waves in hurricane conditions, while gathering data and reporting it back to NOAA laboratories. Officials will use the data to provide better weather forecasting models. Read an article about Saildrone here:

A WORLD FIRST: OCEAN DRONE CAPTURES VIDEO FROM INSIDE A HURRICANE
 
PLAN AHEAD--SAVE THE DATE! Festive Friday in Avalon, and Stone Harbor's Island Holiday, are just around the corner! Mark your calendar for Thanksgiving Weekend...after you finish your turkey, plan on having some holiday fun on Seven Mile Island! Stay tuned for more details!

 

This Weeks News 10/14/2021

At Stone Harbor's Classic & Vintage Car Show Jim Thompson won the People's Choice award for his 1932 Ford Sedan Delivery "Deuce's Wild," presented by Jen Gensemer.  Morgan Fischer stands with dad Kevin Fischer, who won the Judge's Award for his 1956 Ford F100 Pickup, presented by Randy Leiser.  
 
GORGEOUS VEHICLES lined 96th Street last Saturday during Stone Harbor's Classic & Vintage Car Show. More than two dozen vehicles ranging from sleek Jaguars to a powerful Mustang GT gathered for the show, drawing numerous visitors. The People's Choice award was won by Jim Thompson and his 1932 Ford Sedan Delivery "Deuce's Wild," while the Judge's Award went to Kevin Fischer and his 1956 Ford F100 Pickup. Among the other unusual vehicles at the show were a vintage Opel and Lt. Lou Minchelli's retired FDNY Mack fire engine. After the show concluded many of the vehicles participated in a parade down Second Avenue. If you missed the show, watch the parade here:
 
STONE HARBOR CLASSIC & VINTAGE CAR SHOW PARADE OCTOBER 9, 2021 (YOUTUBE VIDEO)
 
CONFORMING LOAN LIMITS will increase from $548,250 to $625,000 according to Mike Mento of Prosperity Home Mortgage. Loans under the limit are underwritten to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac standards and generally carry lower interest rates than jumbo loans over the limit. Recent thirty-year fixed rate conforming loan rates were 2.875%, while jumbo thirty-year fixed-rates were 3.25%. Have a mortgage question or need to initiate a refinance? Call Mike Mento at 609-839-1203 or email him at MICHAEL.MENTO@PHMLOANS.COM.
 
AVALON & STONE HARBOR HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREAT locations will be compiled into a map for trick or treaters to use on Halloween. If you'll be giving out treats, please register your location here:
 
TRICK OR TREAT HALLOWEEN HOUSE REGISTRATION
 
FOR THOSE WHO PREFER TO TRUNK OR TREAT, head to Avalon's 30th Street parking lot on Saturday, October 23rd. Cars must be parked by 4:45pm and can't exit until 7pm.  Events include a costume parade, hayrides on the beach, cotton candy, caramel apples, and more! No registration is required for Trunk or Treat. 
 
IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN! Time to make plans to winterize your outdoor shower, pool, and irrigation system before cold weather sets in. If you haven't already, call your plumber, pool company, and landscaper to get on the schedule and protect against freeze damage during the cold winter months. Need a recommendation for a service provider? Call or email me!
 
LONG & FOSTER IS BOOKING 2022 RENTALS NOW! Property owners, please send me your rates if you haven't already done so! As soon as we receive them, we'll begin booking rentals and sending you leases! Need help determining your rental rates? Call or email me!

 

This Weeks News 10/7/2021

Standing watch over their nest, and chicks inside, are a pair of ospreys.  They're commonly seen all summer long in and around our waterways, where they hunt for fish each day.
 
THE AVALON SEAFOOD FESTIVAL is here!  The perennial favorite will take place at Surfside Park Saturday & Sunday, from 10am to 5pm. Enjoy live music all day long, plus vendors, children's games, face painting, live-streamed college and NFL football games, and--of course--the freshest seafood from the area's finest restaurants!
 
STONE HARBOR'S CLASSIC & VINTAGE CAR SHOW kicks off at 10am Saturday on 96th Street. Stop by and see vehicles of all sorts, have lunch, and browse your favorite stores at the same time! The car show ends at 1pm and a parade of vehicles will follow the show at 1:30pm. To register a vehicle for the show click here: STONE HARBOR CLASSIC & VINTAGE CAR SHOW.
 
AHHH, IT'S OCTOBER! In addition to cool, crisp weather, October brings with it a couple more off-season favorites--blinking yellow lights, right turns on red, and the disappearance of parking meters! All this, plus smaller crowds, and ocean water temperatures that are still around 73 degrees--what's not to love!
 
MIRACLE ON 81ST STREET: The Stone Harbor Museum recently produced a film about the history of Stone Harbor's African-American residents titled "The Miracle on 81st Street." The film has garnered a great response, and the Museum has arranged for a big-screen showing at the Harbor Square Theater on 96th Street on Saturday, October 9th at 12 noon. Some who lived on 81st Street and helped make the show will be there to talk and answer questions!
 
THE LAST BULK TRASH PICK UP DAY in Stone Harbor is Tuesday, October 12th. Items may be placed curbside up to 72 hours prior to pick up. As always, construction debris, hazardous waste, carpeting, and propane tanks will not be picked up.
 
THE LONG & FOSTER RENTAL ADVANTAGE: For those who own rental properties, Long & Foster provides an extensive array of services designed to secure more rentals AND support your guests while they're here. We provide extensive online marketing exposure via Home Away and VRBO as well as WWW.LFVACATIONS.COM; we accept all major credit cards; we provide owners with the option of requiring a traditional security deposit or a damage waiver plan; we have check-in locations in both Avalon and Stone Harbor; and, we have a Guest Services department that operates seven days per week during the summer season to help make your guest's vacation experience as smooth as possible. All of these services are provided to our owners at no extra cost! Ready to get started generating rental income? Call or email me!
 
ALL WE NEED ARE YOUR RENTAL RATES! Rental property owners, if we don't already have your 2022 rental rates, we need them! We're already booking vacation rentals for next summer. Don't miss out--take advantage of a strong rental market. Call or email me with your rates today!