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
2011: Jan. Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.  

November 22, 2011


HAPPY THANKSGIVING
to you and your family.  We appreciate your business and referrals--all year long!
 
23 TURKEYS and fifteen bags of food were donated by the Avalon Real Estate Agency family to the local Holy Redeemer Food Bank.  The food was already being distributed before the last bag was unloaded from the car.
 
Turkeys for Holy Redeemer Food Bank
Avalon Real Estate Agency staff members Mickey Barnow and Karen Vetter load the last of 23 turkeys into the trunk.
 
AVALON'S "FESTIVE FRIDAY!"

Activities begin at 11am on Friday, November 25.  A partial schedule is below:

11am-6pm: skating rink on Dune Drive between 19th and 20th Streets (no charge, and skates will be available for anyone who needs them.)

11am-4pm: meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Cinderella, and Mrs. Claus at various locations along Dune Drive.

1-3pm: meet Frosty the Snowman in front of Avalon Real Estate Agency.  Bring your camera!

4pm: Holiday Tree Lighting celebration begins at Veteran's Plaza, 21st Street & Dune Drive, including a magic show, stilt walker, face painting, and live music.

5pm: Santa Claus arrives via an Avalon Volunteer Fire Department fire truck.  Santa will light the borough's official tree, and pose for photos with children.  All photos will be available for free download on the borough's website.

7:30pm: A holiday concert featuring Ceol Binn with harp, guitar, and vocals will be held inside the Avalon Elementary School Auditorium.  The concert is free and open to the public.

For a complete schedule of activities, visit www.AvalonBoro.org.
 
STONE HARBOR'S "AN ISLAND HOLIDAY!"

There will be entertainment all day long on Friday & Saturday at the 96th Street Stage. A partial schedule of other activities is below:

Friday, November 25:
  Cookie Decorating, 9am-11am, Jack's Shack, 261 96th Street.
  Story Time with Santa, 11am & 1:30pm, Stone Harbor Book Shop, 261 96th Street.
  Pet Parade, 1pm, 200 & 300 blocks of 96th Street.
  Mummers String Band, 7:30pm.
 
Saturday, November 26:
  Lunch with Santa, 11am-2pm, Stone Harbor Bar & Grille, 261 96th Street.
  Ornament Making, 11am, Just Bead It, 9514 Third Avenue.
  Caroling Under the Clock with Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 6pm.
  Christmas Parade, 6:30pm.  107th & Third Avenue to 96th Street, and along 96th Street to
  First Avenue.  Includes music, floats, candy handouts, and decorated fire trucks from all over
  Cape May County.

For a complete schedule of activities, visit www.stone-harbor.nj.us.
 
November 17, 2011

ARMACOST PARK
has been the subject of discussion amongst Avalon's council and residents as well.  The borough is studying ecological improvements in the 11 acre park in order to restore it as a haven for birds.  Some residents are against any changes, saying that nature should be allowed to take its course.  Avalon officials have said they will not make any decisions until the results of an environmental study are completed.  Armacost Park lies between 71st & 74th Streets, between Dune Drive and Ocean Drive.
 
MARKET STATS: Number of new purchase contracts written in the local market through October 31, last year: 203.  Through October 31, this year: 240, up 18.2%.
 
BEACH REPLENISHMENT is underway in Strathmere and Sea Isle City.  The two towns will benefit from the $8 million joint project, which will add more than 700,000 cubic yards of sand to beaches stretching from Corson's Inlet south to 52nd Street in Sea Isle City.  The work is expected to be completed in January.
 
CAPE MAY COUNTY ZOO received three lemurs displaced by a fire in their home zoo in Burlington County.  Three river otters have also arrived at the zoo, having been displaced by flooding in their home zoo in North Dakota.  The lemurs and river otters will be on display from 10am to 3:45pm each day while they're here on loan.
 
FROSTY THE SNOWMAN will visit Avalon Real Estate Agency during Avalon's Festive Friday celebration.  Bring the kids and a camera and meet Frosty from 1-3pm on Friday, November 25!
 
A.R.E.A. CARES!  Avalon Real Estate Agency is collecting food items for our annual food drive to benefit the local Holy Redeemer Food Bank.  Care to donate non-perishable food items?  Stop by our office during business hours to drop off your donation!

November 10, 2011

YET ANOTHER CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
on Avalon Boulevard is underway now, as new sewer pipes are being installed alongside the road.  A 25mph speed limit is in effect while construction workers and vehicles navigate the worksite.
 
WARM WEATHER:  we've been treated to sunny skies and warm weather much of this week, with daytime temperatures in the sixties.  More sixty-plus weather is expected next week!
 
A GREAT YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITY for families: visit the Wetlands Institute on Stone Harbor Boulevard.  The Institute features educational and interactive exhibits, aquarium feedings, an observation tower, and the Tidepool Shop.  The Wetlands Institute is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30am to 4:30pm.
 
WINTERIZE NOW: despite the recent pleasant weather, it's time to make the annual call to your plumber to winterize your pipes.  Outside water lines that aren't "frost free" should be shut off and drained.  If you leave your house open for the winter, keep the heat at 55 degrees to protect pipes from freezing.  If you need the name of a good plumber, call or email me!
 
OWNERS, get me your 2012 rental rates!  Tenants, call or email me (Randy@RandyLeiser.com) or MaryAnn (mam@AvalonRealty.com) to find a rental property for next summer!

November 3, 2011

BALD EAGLES SPOTTED: two American Bald Eagles were spotted in the area of Grassy Sound, between Stone Harbor and North Wildwood.  Approximately 80 pairs of nesting eagles now reside in New Jersey, but most are located in Salem and Cumberland counties.    The number of eagles in New Jersey has increased dramatically; in 1973 there was only one nesting pair known to reside in New Jersey.
 
FINISHED BY THE END OF THE YEAR!  That's the word on the Avalon Boulevard Bridge, which has undergone extensive work.  A new concrete deck surface was added to the center lane of the bridge last week, and asphalt was being laid this week.  When completed, the bridge will feature a dedicated left turn lane for traffic entering Avalon, easing summer traffic tie-ups.
 
BUT WE'RE NOT DONE YET!  A portion of Avalon Boulevard will be resurfaced next spring if federal funding comes through.  The $1.1 million county project would resurface the section of Avalon Boulevard from about 500 feet west of the Graven's Thorofare Bridge in Middle Township to the bridge entering Avalon.  Work could begin in April or May of next year.  As much as $12.6 million in federal money is expected for road improvement projects in the county.
 
A TRAFFIC LIGHT CAMERA may be added at the intersection of Route 9 and Stone Harbor Boulevard.  Middle Township submitted an application to the NJDOT for cameras at its two busiest intersections (the other was for Routes 9 and 47 in Rio Grande) and is awaiting approval for them.  Middle Township will not pay for the system; instead, it would be installed by American Traffic Solutions, who would receive a share of revenue from violators.
 
LOOKING FOR great activities in the off season?  Check out the Avalon Free Public Library.  They offer great lectures, story time for kids, writing instruction, and more.  Visit www.AvalonFreeLibrary.org and view their calendar of events.
 
2012 RENTALS!  Yes, it's time to start thinking about next year's rentals!  Property owners: get us your rental rates if you haven't already done so.  Tenants: call or email me (Randy@RandyLeiser.com) or MaryAnn (mam@avalonrealty.com) to get started!