2022:

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This Weeks News 5/26/2022

Stephen C. Ludlam American Legion Post 331 will participate in Memorial Day Parades and Ceremonies this weekend in both Avalon and Stone Harbor. Photo from Stephen C. Ludlam American Legion Post 331.
 
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IS HERE! We're all looking forward to a three-day weekend to kick start the summer season! The early forecast shows a chance of rain showers part of the weekend, with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s the rest of the time! Catch some of the many events here on the island, or the Memorial Day parades and ceremonies (see below for details.)
 
MARABELLA'S RESTAURANT has closed. After 50 years, owner Angelo Marabella has officially retired, according to the restaurant's Facebook page. The property has been sold, but future plans for it are unknown. There are, of course, other great dining options available on the island, such as Spiaggetta, which was just included in NJ.com's list of the 50 greatest Italian restaurants in New Jersey!
 
A 100-FOOT BARGE hauling scrap appliances caught fire while transiting Delaware Bay earlier this week, enroute to a recycling facility. The US Coast Guard and several commercial entities responded to fight the blaze, which burned overnight. FDNY fireboat "Bravest" was dispatched to the scene, making the trip from New York City down the New Jersey coastline, stopping to refuel in Cape May, and then transiting the Cape May Canal in order to reach the fire near Cross Ledge in Delaware Bay. The fireboat is capable of pumping up to 6,000 gallons of water per minute, and operated 20 hours on the scene, applying over 1 million gallons of water to the fire before being released.
 
THE SUMMER BUCKET LIST! It's time... grab a pencil and paper and make your very own Summer Bucket List! What would you like to be sure to do this summer? Watch a sunrise on the beach? Take your grandchild fishing?  Try a new restaurant with friends? Whatever it is, make a note of it, make it a priority, and make time for it! Summer is here..set aside time to enjoy it!
 
SUMMER TIPS FOR ON AND AROUND THE ISLAND:
 
No Turn On Red is in effect at all traffic lights on the island.
 
Stone Harbor Boulevard has been repaved, restriped, and restricted to 35mph--and a new speed bump has been added near the Wetlands Institute, so use caution. Avalon Boulevard remains 50mph.
 
Bring reusable bags with you. A new state law eliminates one-time-use bags, so you'll need your own when you go shopping for groceries or other items.
 
LAST CHANCE FOR BEACHTAGS at pre-season rates! Season tags increase after May 31st, and can be purchased in person, or online. 
 
PURCHASE AVALON BEACH TAGS
 
PURCHASE STONE HARBOR BEACH TAGS
 
WORK CONTINUES on Avalon's beach sand backpassing project, but will pause from Thursday (May 26th) through Monday (May 30th.) As much sand as possible will put in place prior to the weekend, when all beach paths will be open. Beach work will resume the morning of Tuesday, May 31st.
 
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS: Avalon's Memorial Day Parade will begin at 9am Monday, May 30th, at 32nd & Dune Drive, and proceed north along Dune Drive to 21st Street. A Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at Veteran's Plaza immediately after the parade concludes. Stone Harbor will hold a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Stone Harbor Firehouse at 11am Monday, May 30th. A Memorial Day Parade will follow at 12 noon.
 
A SPECIAL THANKS: As we enjoy the holiday weekend, take some time to reflect upon and thank those who protect and serve our country, and especially those who've made the ultimate sacrifice.

 

This Weeks News 5/19/2022

 
VIEW THE LATEST LONG & FOSTER MARKET MINUTE REPORT  |  DOWNLOAD/PRINT PDF
    
MARKET STATS: The median sale price increased to $1,912,500 during the month of April, up from $1,500,000 last year. The number of units sold decreased, held back again by lack of inventory. For a detailed look at the market see the latest Long & Foster Market Minute report.
 
SUNSHINE & BLUE SKIES returned after a week of rain & wind. Pleasant temperatures should hold through the week, and may reach into the 70s over the weekend. The ocean water temperature--which lags behind air temperatures--is still a chilly 53 degrees.
 
INTEREST RATES are up compared to a few months ago, but in a historical context they remain quite reasonable at just over 5%. Take a look at the rate chart below from Prosperity Mortgage...for most of the last fifty years rates have been significantly higher than where they are today.
 

  
BRING A SHOPPING BAG (OR TWO!) WITH YOU: A recently enacted NJ law went into effect May 1st preventing most stores from supplying plastic or paper bags to customers. Reducing waste and pollution are the aims of the law, but shoppers need to get in the habit of carrying their own reusable bags when they shop in New Jersey. If you're arriving at your shore home for the first time this season, or you're vacationing here, bring a supply of reusable bags with you!
 
NEW JERSEY BOATERS are required to have a NJ boat license when out on the water operating a vessel. Unlicensed boaters must first take a class, and then pass a boating safety test. Some classes are offered online, while others are offered in person. The US Coast Guard Auxiliary offers a series of classes. Classes from other providers are available as well.

SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING NJ BOATING CERTIFICATION CLASSES
 
WHETHER YOU'RE HERE FOR THE SEASON, or for a week's vacation, you'll find the Avalon & Stone Harbor visitor's guides useful in planning your stay. From events and activities to trash collection schedules to a list of lifeguarded beaches, there is a variety of helpful information. It's also a great way to map out a shopping trip or plan a list of restaurants to try! Check out the guides here:
 
STONE HARBOR  |  AVALON

 

This Weeks News 5/12/2022

Construction work continues on Stone Harbor's new lifeguard headquarters building at 95th Street.
 
A WINTER STORM IN MAY: Last weekend's coastal storm brought high winds, minor flooding, and beach erosion to beaches in Cape May County. As the storm passed and winds eased earlier this week local officials began assessing conditions in order to make sure beaches are ready for Memorial Day. 6ABC in Philadelphia aired this report on Monday:

NEW JERSEY SHORE TOWNS ASSESSING BEACH EROSION AFTER WEEKEND STORM
 
TWICE A WEEK summer trash collection will be in place again for both Avalon and Stone Harbor this summer, after both towns grappled with changes to their traditional collection due to rising expenses and labor shortages.
 
In Avalon, Borough Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the borough's private trash and recycling service provider eliminating the side yard return of empty containers beginning May 1st, due to rising costs. Instead, those empty containers will be placed at the curb for return by the homeowner or occupant. Avalon's courtesy trash and recycling drop off center at 15th & Dune Drive also remains available for residential drop off daily from 7am to 3pm.
 
In Stone Harbor, twice per week summer collection returns after being sacrificed in 2021 due to a labor shortage. Stone Harbor uses in-house employees to collect trash and recycling, and will maintain its concierge service of picking up and returning containers to their storage locations with one key change--they cannot be stored in fenced areas that contain pools or pets. Stone Harbor has also reopened its trash and recycling convenience center, allowing residents to drop off seven days per week at the Municipal Marina in the 300 block of 80th Street. The service is open Monday 7am to 12pm, Tuesday to Friday 8am to 12pm, and Saturday and Sunday 8am to 5pm.
 
GET YOUR SEASONAL BEACH TAGS ONLINE! Both Avalon and Stone Harbor seasonal beach tags are available at pre-season prices until June 1st. Beach tags must be worn from Friday of Memorial Day Weekend until Labor Day. Once again, tags are reciprocal between towns.
 
PURCHASE AVALON TAGS ONLINE
 
PURCHASE STONE HARBOR TAGS ONLINE
 

High winds over the weekend caused the partial collapse of the upper stories of a home under construction on Stone Harbor Boulevard. Here, crews have begun to clean up the site after storm winds subsided.
 
IS YOUR RENTAL PROPERTY LICENSED? Both Avalon and Stone Harbor require annual inspections and licensing of rental properties. Most inspections have already been completed; if yours has not been, it must be inspected and licensed prior to occupancy. Have questions or need help? Call or email me!
 
THE WETLANDS INSTITUTE'S SPRING SHOREBIRD AND HORSESHOE CRAB FESTIVAL returns on Saturday, May 21st, with a full lineup of activities and workshops. From bird walks and bird viewing to horseshoe crab lectures and back bay cruises, the Institute offers an immersive experience while learning about the local ecosystem. Festival tickets also include general admission to The Wetlands Institute on Saturday or Sunday. Tickets and more info can be found here:

WETLANDS INSTITUTE SPRING SHOREBIRD & HORSESHOE CRAB FESTIVAL
 
JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO GO!  Ready to kick off the 2022 summer season? Whether you need a week at the beach, or a permanent stay, call or email me today!

 

This Weeks News 5/5/2022

It's a sunny day on Dune Drive in Avalon! Flowers and shrubbery are in bloom across the island thanks to beautiful spring weather!
 
AVALON'S SAND BACK PASSING PROJECT is now underway. Sand is being harvested from the borrow area between 32nd Street and 40th Street and trucked to north end beaches. Over the next four weeks or so about 64,000 cubic yards of sand will be moved to replenish the beaches between 9th and 16th Street. No work is expected on weekends, and no work will be performed during the busy Memorial Day Weekend. Tide cycles and weather conditions may impact the completion date of the project, too. The borough expects to conduct a traditional hydraulic beach fill project in advance of summer 2023.
 
BOATERS BEWARE THE 96TH STREET BRIDGE remains open to vehicle traffic but its draw bridge span is temporarily inoperable. Vessels may pass beneath the bridge, but it cannot be opened for taller vessels until emergency repairs are made. Repairs are tentatively scheduled to begin May 16th and expected to take about a week. The Cape May County Department of Engineering expects normal bridge operations to resume on May 23rd.
 
GET YOUR BEACH TAGS ONLINE! Avalon and Stone Harbor seasonal beach tags can be purchased online through Jersey Cape Tags.
 
AVALON - PURCHASE BEACH TAGS ONLINE
 
STONE HARBOR - PURCHASE BEACH TAGS ONLINE
 
Tags are required to be worn on local beaches from May 28th through September 6th.  
 
BEACH SET UP GUY IS BACK for another season! Let him handle your least favorite part of visiting the beach: carrying all of those beach chairs to the beach! For a set fee (which varies with the number of items you have), he'll haul everything to the beach and set it up for you, and then break it down and haul it away at the end of the day. That leaves you free to stroll to the beach worry-free anytime, where you'll find your chairs, umbrella, and accessories waiting for you! Check out he Beach Set Up Guy here:

BEACH SET UP GUY
 
THOSE SHOPPING in New Jersey should plan to bring their own reusable bags with them, as the state's ban on carryout bags goes into effect on May 4th. In addition to banning carryout plastic bags at all locations, paper bags are banned at stores over 2,500 square feet. Foam food service products are also part of the ban, with some exceptions. The intent of the legislation is to push consumers toward carrying reusable containers with them when shopping.


 
AVALON FROM ABOVE! Check out Avalon--as it used to be--in this series of historic aerial images presented by the Avalon History Center. The images cover most areas in great detail. Scroll through and find your house or lot!
 
AVALON FROM ABOVE - GOOGLE ARTS & CULTURE
 
WE'RE IN THE HOME STRETCH! Just a few weeks until the unofficial beginning of the summer season, Memorial Day Weekend! It's time to make those final preparations to get your shore house ready for the summer...make those final decisions, make those final calls to service providers, and make everything "ship shape!"