| 2013: | Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
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
OUR FOOD DRIVE resulted in 24 turkeys, a carload of food and a generous monetary donation, all of which was donated to the Holy Redeemer Food Bank. The food will be distributed to needy families for Thanksgiving. Long & Foster is proud to help the community by continuing this tradition started by Avalon Real Estate Agency many years ago.
Staff members Mickie Barnow and Jacqui Arnold add to the food donated by Long & Foster friends to a local food bank.
FESTIVE FRIDAY occurs in Avalon the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 29th, and features more than 40 family-oriented activities throughout the day, including a Tree Lighting at 5pm at Veteran's Plaza. The fun continues with Snowfest Saturday the next day.
AN ISLAND HOLIDAY occurs in Stone Harbor Friday & Saturday, November 29th & 30th, and features shopping, caroling, and numerous other activities. It's capped off by Stone Harbor's hugely popular Christmas Parade Saturday evening at 6:30pm.
SHOP SMALL this year! When planning your holiday shopping, consider supporting one or more of the local merchants on the Island! Stroll the business districts and select just the right gift for that special someone! You'll find holiday beach tags, clothing, decorative items, artwork, and more to choose from. Perhaps a gift certificate to a local shop or restaurant will do the trick, or have a pound of your favorite fudge shipped right to your gift recipient's door!
IF YOU PREFER TO SHOP BIG, give me a call. I'll help you find the perfect vacation home for your family, and I'll even provide a big red bow!
EITHER WAY, while you're on the Island take a moment to enjoy the lights, decorations, activities and holiday mood of your favorite beach town!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you & yours! Best wishes for a warm and wonderful holiday season!
November 21, 2013
AVALON LIBRARY: FIVE STARS! Avalon Free Public Library was rated five stars for the sixth time by Library Journal, which reviews circulation, internet usage, and program attendance. Visit the library at 235 32nd Street or Visit Avalon Free Public Library Online.
SHARED SERVICES ANNOUNCED: Avalon will provide police dispatch services for both Avalon & Stone Harbor in 2014, while fire and emergency dispatch will be handled by the county. Stone Harbor will pay Avalon $275,000 for dispatching services in 2014, while Avalon will assume expenses for day to day dispatching operations. The new agreement is expected to save taxpayers over $1 million in dispatching expense over three years, while still leaving enough trained dispatchers available in case of multiple emergencies. Residents of both towns will continue dialing 9-1-1 for emergencies. For
non-emergencies, Avalon residents will call (609) 967-3411 and Stone Harbor residents will call
(609) 368-2111.
STONE HARBOR MAYOR Suzanne Walters will be named President of the New Jersey League of Municipalities, and will serve a one-year term. Walters will be sworn in Thursday, November 21st in Atlantic City, but a special ceremony will be planned in December at the Reeds at Shelter Haven in Stone Harbor.
GARDEN STATE PARKWAY TOLLS will remain unchanged for 2014. Last raised in 2012, projected tolls are expected to cover operating and capital costs through 2014. In addition to the Parkway bridge project currently underway over Great Egg Harbor Bay, the Parkway rest stop at mile 18 was recently closed. The rest stop facility and gas station there will be demolished and rebuilt for next season.
An osprey nest is silhouetted by vivid colors of a fall sunset over the back bays.
LONG & FOSTER'S food drive will run through the beginning of next week. We've already collected a huge variety of food to benefit the local Holy Redeemer Food Bank, but we'd like to add more! If you wish to make a contribution, please stop by our office by Monday, anytime during our business hours!
NEED A PAINTER? If you are in need of a top-notch painter (both interior and exterior), I recommend Richard Ennis of Independence Painting. I've seen the great work Richard and his crew have done - it's thorough and careful with great attention to detail. Call Richard at 609-675-4512 or email him at richardennis67@aol.com. Make your painting plans now before the spring rush!
November 14, 2013
MARKET STATS: Through October 31st of this year 289 sales occurred in the local market; the average sale price was $1,200,645. Currently, 53 additional properties are under contract with asking prices that range from $129,000 to $5,395,000, and closing dates between now and October 2014. Our Island offers something for every budget...if you've dreamed about buying your own shore property, please call me at (800) 967-7796 x212.
A BLAST of cold air dropped temperatures from a high of 52 degrees just past midnight Tuesday morning to the mid-thirties. After a couple of cold days, daytime high temperatures are expected to climb back to 60 degrees by Sunday.
STONE HARBOR'S BACK BAY DREDGING plan has been put on hold due to a lack of a disposal site, after a couple of possible sites fell through. Council has promised to continue to work on the issue, and will keep searching for a viable site.
HOLIDAY BEACH TAGS will be available in both Avalon and Stone Harbor this Christmas season. Avalon's holiday tags will be available during Festive Friday and Snowfest Saturday (Thanksgiving weekend) at the Rescue Squad building between 11am and 5pm. They will also be available at the Tax Collector's Office at Borough Hall Monday through Friday, 8:15am to 4:15pm, while supplies last. Stone Harbor's holiday tags are available now at Borough Hall, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4pm. They'll also be available soon in select retail shops. Tags in both towns will be $21 each.
WITH ALL ITS WATERWAYS, Cape May County is host to numerous bridges. Currently, two major bridge projects are underway, with one bridge being demolished and another being built. The Beesley's Point Bridge, which carried Route 9 over Great Egg Harbor Bay, is currently being dismantled. The bridge was closed in 2004 due to structural issues, and repairing it proved too costly. Spanning the same body of water, the adjacent southbound Garden State Parkway bridge will soon be replaced with a new bridge. Preliminary construction work on the new southbound span has begun. Once it is completed (about January 2016) the current aging southbound span will also be removed.
Thanks to Joe Van Thuyne for this beautiful shot!
OUR THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE CONTINUES! Stop by our office anytime to drop off a contribution, and we'll see that it gets delivered to a local food bank in time for Thanksgiving!
THE MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING CENTER is hosting a volunteer workshop at the Wetlands Institute. Volunteers will be trained to be "first responders" for stranded marine mammals and sea turtles in New Jersey. The workshop will take place Saturday, November 16 at 9am. To sign up contact Sarah Miele, Education Coordinator, at (609) 266-0538, or email edummsc@aol.com.
November 7, 2013
CONSTRUCTION SEASON! One drive around the Island is all it takes to realize that new construction is underway all over. This year, Avalon has issued 57 permits for new homes, while Stone Harbor has issued 36. Perhaps less obvious is the number of renovations that have occurred around the Island: Avalon has issued 284 permits for additions or alterations thus far this year, while Stone Harbor has issued 253.
LAST WEEK'S Seafood Festival in Avalon saw numerous local favorites compete in the Chowder Contest. This year's winners are: Sea Grille (1st Place), Golden Inn (2nd Place), and Jay's Crab Shack (3rd Place). Seven competitors also participated in a clam shucking contest. Warren Wade from Avalon Seafood won that one, relying on his twenty years of experience shucking clams. Congratulations to the winners!
STONE HARBOR'S BIRD SANCTUARY saw invasive species removed by volunteers this past weekend. Removing the invasive species allows the natural habitat to flourish in the Sanctuary, including a holly tree estimated to be 400 years old. The effort was organized by the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary Committee, led by Jack Berrigan, who worked in conjunction with the Wetlands Institute and its Executive Director Lenore Tedesco. Similar events will be planned twice per year, so if you'd like to volunteer, keep an eye out for a spring project.
VETERAN'S DAY is next week, and those interested in learning more about the area's role during World War II can participate in a history trip aboard the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. Participants will ride aboard the ferry where they will learn about Cape May's role in World War II. Once in Lewes Delaware, a trolley will take participants to the restored Fort Miles Control Tower at the mouth of Delaware Bay, which was used to defend the Delaware Bay and River during the war. The trip costs $30 for the public and pre-registration is required. Call Bob Heinly at (609) 884-5404, extension 134.
For Veteran's Day ceremonies in Avalon & Stone Harbor, see the events list below.
Thanks to Phil Bolbach for sending this magnificent sunset photo!
PRE-WINTER PREPARATIONS should be completed now! Outside water lines should be shut off and winterized, outdoor furniture cleaned and put away, and foundation vents closed to prevent frozen pipes. If you need a plumber, handyman, or other contractor, please call or email me.
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