| 2013: | Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
March 28, 2013
LESS THAN 60 DAYS TO MEMORIAL DAY! Need we say more? Another season of fun in the sun is right around the corner! Memorial Day Weekend occurs Friday, May 24th through Monday, May 27th. Make your vacation plans now! If you haven't rented a summer vacation home yet, visit Randy Leiser - Vacation Rentals. If you're planning on purchasing a home this year, there's still time to close and begin enjoying your shore house this season! To preview properties available for sale visit Randy Leiser - Property Listings, then call or email me to set up a time to view your favorites!
The summer season is right around the corner!
SIGN OF THE TIMES! More than 800 Long & Foster Real Estate lawn signs were delivered to our office and they now appear all over the Island! Check them out as you cruise around!
NEW JERSEY TOURISM reached $40 billion in 2012, exceeding the previous record set in 2007. Cape May County saw an increase in tourism spending of nearly 4 percent, exceeding the statewide increase of 3 percent.
THE TOWNSEND'S INLET BRIDGE will undergo temporary repairs and is expected to reopen by Memorial Day. A portion of the roadway leading to the bridge was undermined by Hurricane Sandy, but that's not a new phenomenon. Tidal currents and shifting sands have been plaguing the bridge since it first opened in 1939, and the railroad bridge that was there prior to that suffered similar effects. The temporary repairs will include more than 1,500 tons of stone riprap and a newly paved road surface. More extensive repairs may begin in the fall, at an estimated cost of $13 million.
THE STONE HARBOR WATER TOWER will receive a fresh coat of paint in time for the upcoming season. The water tower was recently encircled by extensive scaffolding as workers prepared the surface for paint.
AVALON'S
BEACH TAG BOOTH is now open on weekends. Pre-season beach tags are
available for $21; after May 31 a season tag will be $26. As in years past
Avalon and Stone Harbor will honor each other's tags.LACROSSE PLAYERS can sharpen their skills while in Avalon & Stone Harbor by attending a Black Bear Lacrosse Camp. Black Bear will hold camps in Avalon from July 1st to 5th and August 12th to 16th, and in Stone Harbor from July 22nd to 26th and August 5th-9th. Read More
THE AVALON/STONE HARBOR UPDATE will return the week of April 8, 2013.
March 21, 2013
AVALON REAL ESTATE AGENCY JOINS LONG & FOSTER REAL ESTATE! Long & FosterŪ Real Estate, Inc., the largest independently held residential real estate company in the United States, announced that it has merged with the Avalon Real Estate Agency, the largest real estate company serving the New Jersey Cape's popular seashore vacation destinations of Avalon and Stone Harbor. Moving forward, the company will operate under the Long & Foster brand.
Established in 1962 with an office in Avalon, N.J., the company is led by Bill Soens, president and broker of record; and Paul E. Leiser, who serves as vice president, co-owner, and chief financial officer. Over the years, the team at the Avalon Real Estate Agency has become a trusted partner for local buyers and sellers, property owners, and vacation renters. The company prides itself on its dedication to enhancing the seashore experience for area rental guests and property owners, with a staff of professionals that provides year-round guest services.
"We are looking forward to joining forces with Long & Foster Real Estate, a local and nationwide leader in the real estate industry with an impeccable reputation for service and incredible market reach," said Leiser and Soens. "Backed by the powerful Long & Foster brand, our team will strive to continue meeting all of our clients' needs when it comes to buying, selling, renting, or providing tenants with the perfect vacation on the Jersey Cape."
The merger with the Avalon Real Estate Agency helps to spur Long & Foster's continued growth in the Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia region. The company is expanding its coverage and services in the vacation and property management industry along the Mid-Atlantic coastline.
Read More About Our Exciting News
PLEASE KNOW that despite the change in ownership, I'm still here, listing, selling, and renting properties just like before, along with MaryAnn. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to work with you. Please don't hesitate to email, call, or stop in for a visit!
Avalon Real Estate Agency is proud to be a part of the Long & Foster family now!
"EXTRA FREEBOARD" for new homes: Avalon's Borough Council unanimously approved an ordinance requiring an extra foot of "freeboard" for newly constructed homes. Previously, new homes in Avalon were built at one foot above base flood elevation, but now will be built two feet above that level. The new requirement is part of Avalon's ongoing flood mitigation efforts. Thanks to those efforts Avalon property owners saved more than $850,000 on their flood insurance premiums last year.
STONE HARBOR AND AVALON will be served by the 7 Mile Jitney this summer! Jitney service will begin on Memorial Day Weekend, running on weekends through June 28th, when it will begin operating every day until September 1st. Complete Schedule and Route Map
CAN'T GET TO THE ISLAND? Then check out a new app called Shore Cams for live views all over the Island! The app is available for iPhone, iPads, and Android devices, and provides numerous live views, around Avalon, Stone Harbor, and Sea Isle City, with even more new cameras to be added. Check out the waves on the ocean, the sunset over the bay, or even people walking on 96th Street in Stone Harbor! Visit www.ShoreCams.com, www.facebook.com/shorecams for more info, or download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
AVALON'S 2013 INFORMATION/RECREATION GUIDE is now available! The guide contains event schedules, a list of summer camps, plus other helpful reference information. Read More
March 14, 2013
SUMMER FLOUNDER SEASON will be 25 days shorter this year, running from May 18th to September 16th. The daily catch limit will remain at five fish per day, with a minimum size of 17.5 inches, unchanged from last year. New Jersey caught more than its quota of flounder last year, so this year's quota is being reduced to compensate.
SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING comes to Avalon, Stone Harbor, and all of Cape May County on April 1st. All recyclables can be placed in one container, including but not limited to cans, bottles, plastic, paper, and cardboard. Regular household waste should be placed in a separate container. Single stream recycling is designed to boost the recycling participation rate, reducing the amount of trash placed in landfills.
"THE ONLY BOULEVARD TO SEVEN MILE BEACH!" That's how the South Jersey Realty Company depicted what we now call Stone Harbor Boulevard in the postcard shown below. Boats plied the "canal", horses and automobiles used the new roadway, and passengers rode a parallel rail line that opened in 1912, and was later strung with trolley wire. Automobiles ultimately won, with horses disappearing first, followed by the railroad. The South Jersey Realty Company used the postcard to promote the early development of Stone Harbor and the sale of its "Highly Improved Lots" offering a "free inspection trip to Stone Harbor" for anyone interested.
This postcard was used by the South Jersey Realty Company to promote the sale of lots in Stone Harbor.
SEA ISLE CITY has earned "Class 6" status from the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System due to flood mitigation efforts undertaken by the community over many years. The improved rating will lead to discounts on flood insurance premiums for property owners. Avalon also enjoys a Class 6 rating while Stone Harbor is Class 7.
STARTING UP! With spring just around the corner you can feel the Island coming back to life! Many shops and restaurants are opening up, and each weekend brings more visitors. The Pudgie Pelican will reopen beginning Friday, and the Concord Cafe will be open on weekends. The Avalon Wawa is set to reopen on Thursday, March 14th. C'mon down!
NEW IRRIGATION SYSTEMS in Stone Harbor will have to utilize smart control systems that sense rainfall and save water. New systems installed after April 30, 2013, must meet the guideline.
March 7, 2013
"SOLDS" ARE BACK! Check 'em out! "Properties Sold" will once again appear each week. Over the next several weeks we'll include all the property sales that have occurred since we last brought them to you in our newsletter.
AVALON'S POLICE DEPARTMENT earned an accreditation from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police after applying for it the first time. The accreditation is good for three years. Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi commented, "Our community is very proud about this accreditation, and reaffirms our confidence that Avalon has a very professional police department that provides an extraordinary level of safety for our community."
WORK BEGAN on the Garden State Parkway traffic light removal, as a contractor began clearing work at Exit 11. The $110 million project will remove traffic lights, add overpasses, and speed traffic flow while improving safety on the Parkway.
COMMUNITY PAPER SHREDDING: Avalon's third community-wide paper shredding day is set for May 11th from 9am to 12 noon. Avalon property owners may bring up to two boxes of unwanted documents for shredding. The boxes should be no larger than the typical "file box" of copy paper.
THE NEXT TIME you visit the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum, take your smart phone! The museum has recently added pages to its website that can be called up by visitors using their cell phones to scan QR codes. As visitors roam the two-acre hangar they can scan the codes on various aircraft, learning about them, their use, and how they were acquired by the museum. Be sure to check out the F-14 and F-16 fighter jets while you're there!
Wintertime sunsets can be magnificent! This one's from last week, as seen from Avalon Boulevard. The oranges and yellows of wintertime sunsets will soon give way to the reds and pinks of summer!
WAWA IN AVALON is set to reopen on Thursday, March 14th, after a full renovation. To thank customers for their patience, Avalon Wawa will offer free coffee and discounted Shorti hoagies to patrons when it reopens. If you can't wait a week, stop by the Stone Harbor Wawa, which is open seven days a week as usual.
AVALON'S SEPTEMBER 11TH MEMORIAL received an "Excellence in Design" award from the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association earlier this week. The September 11th Memorial Plaza was dedicated on September 11, 2012.