2014:

Jan.

Feb.

March

April

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

This Weeks News 10/29/2014

---

DREDGING CONTRACT AWARDED: A major back bay dredging contract was awarded by Avalon's Borough Council last week, and work could begin as soon as mid-November. Dredging will occur around the clock except for severe weather or mechanical breakdowns. However, regulations designed to protect marine life require dredging to cease from January 1st through June 30th, and the project could stretch as long as three years. Waterways will be dredged to a depth of six feet below mean low water including Princeton, Cornell, and Pennsylvania Harbors, Third Avenue Waterway, Avalon Canal, 54th Street Marina, Oler's and Graven's Thoroughfares, Long Reach, Whale Harbor, and Sterbeck Harbor (in Avalon Manor). Property owners will have the option of having private slips dredged at their expense during the project.

ALMOST IN SPACE... Six seniors from nearby Ocean City High School waited anxiously to see their science experiment launched into space aboard a NASA Antares rocket Monday night. NASA had to scrub the launch at the last minute due to an unauthorized boat in the launch zone off Wallops Island, Virginia. The launch was delayed 24 hours, but sadly the rocket exploded shortly after liftoff Tuesday evening. The students' experiment was designed to measure the attachment rate of E. coli bacteria to lettuce leaves in space, and could have helped with the future treatment of infections in astronauts during space travel. If skies are clear, NASA launches from Wallops Island are visible from Cape May County, but this one never made it high enough to be visible.
 
THE MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING CENTER will host a Stranding Volunteer Workshop at The Wetlands Institute Saturday, November 8th. If you're interested in volunteering, contact Sarah Miele at (609) 266-0538 to register.
 

All of Seven Mile Island appears in this aerial photo, taken from a small airplane on a hazy day in 2010. North Wildwood and Hereford Inlet are in the foreground; Stone Harbor's water tower is at the center of the frame, with Avalon and Townsend's Inlet just beyond. Atlantic City's skyline is visible in the background through the haze.
 
PLAN AHEAD-THANKSGIVING WEEKEND: Mark your calendar and enjoy the fun on the Island during the Thanksgiving weekend: Ice skating, tree lighting, kids' activities, a parade, and visits with Santa! See below for specific events.

This Weeks News 10/22/2014

---

MARKET STATS: For the latest on the Avalon/Stone Harbor market, see Long & Foster's September 2014 Market Minute report: The Long & Foster Market Minute - September 2014. Highlights from this month's report: the median sale price and the number of current contracts increased this September over last, while the number of units sold and the number of new listings decreased.
 
MONARCH NUMBERS UP: More monarch butterflies have been spotted in Cape May County this year than last, according to Monarch Monitoring Project (MMP). The website contains data on the number of monarchs seen in Cape May for the past 22 years. This year's numbers are up significantly over last year, but have not been as high as 2012. Monarchs begin their southward journey from Maine in August and pass through Cape May County on their way to Mexico for the winter.
 
HAVE A KAYAK at Avalon's Kayak Park? Be sure to remove it by October 31st to avoid fines
& storage fees.


The Pudgie Pelican (from the Pudgie Pelican Café at 33rd Street & Dune Drive) looks like
he's ready for Halloween! See below for local Halloween-related events!
 
STONE HARBOR'S LAST BULK PICK UP of the season occurs Monday, October 27th. Items may be placed curbside up to 72 hours in prior to pick up. Only household items will be collected (no construction debris, oils, solvents, etc.)
 
THIS WEEK'S COOL WEATHER serves as a reminder to winterize your outdoor plumbing before the first frost sets in. Give your plumber a call now, and get on the schedule.

This Weeks News 10/15/2014

---

JUMBO FINANCING, UNDER 4%, FOR THIRTY YEARS! As amazing as that sounds, it was available from multiple lenders this week-and it's perfect if you're making a purchase on Seven Mile Island Think about it: take advantage of a broad selection of properties, reasonable prices, and lock in your financing costs for three decades! Interested? Contact me and I'll put you in touch with reliable lenders who can prequalify you, and discuss the best financing options for your situation.
 
CHOWDER CONTEST WINNERS: This past weekend Avalon held its annual Seafood Festival, along with a Chowder Contest. Congratulations to the Golden Inn on taking first place in the Chowder Contest! Circle Tavern took second place, and the Sea Grill took third. The "Shucking Showdown" contest was won by chef Warren Wade for the second year in a row. Warren will undoubtedly try for a "threepeat" next year!
 
$1 MILLION in state aid will be put toward rehabilitating the Townsend's Inlet Bridge which links Avalon & Sea Isle City. The funding is part of a "Local Bridges, Future Needs" grant from the state; the rest of Cape May County will see $1.7 million in other aid.
 
AVALON DREDGING: The Borough of Avalon held a pre-bid meeting last week, which was attended by four dredging companies. Bids will be opened at the end of this week, and a contract could be awarded at the next Council meeting on October 22nd. For a synopsis of the upcoming dredge project, click here: October 8th: Dredging Project Update; Pre-Bid Meeting Held
 
EVER SPOT AN EGRET hunting for fish in the marsh surrounding the back bay?  Get too close and they'll fly away-but observe quietly and they'll continue hunting for their dinner. Wait long enough and they'll splash their beak into the water-and they usually come up with a fish! See the photos below...
 

1 - Patiently searching.
 

2 - Splash!
 

3 - Success! Note the fish - a tasty dinner!
 
GOLDEN INN GETAWAY:  If you don't yet own your home on Seven Mile Beach but you'd like to visit in the off season, consider a Golden Inn Getaway! Packages include Golf Getaways and 'Sip & Stay' packages. Prices begin at $129 for a one-night mid-week getaway for two including breakfast. Visit www.GoldenInn.com for details.

This Weeks News 10/8/2014

---

MARKET STATS: During the first nine months of the year the average sold price in the local market was $1,349,813, up 13.4% over the same period last year. The median sold price was $1,075,000, up 17%. The number of properties sold fell 6.4% to 232, versus last year's figure of 248. If you're contemplating a purchase, please call me today!
 
FROM CAPE MAY TO OCEAN CITY, dredging has been on the minds of both bayfront property owners and boaters. An Atlantic City Press article summarizes their concerns: Lack Of Dredging Has Frustration Rising In Cape May County. Avalon's upcoming dredging project is mentioned in the article; Stone Harbor is also working on dredging plans, though they are not quite as far along as those in Avalon.
 
MORE THAN TWO DOZEN VOLUNTEERS planted dune grass in Avalon this past Saturday morning. The dune grass helps stabilize the dune system, allowing it to better protect the Island during storms or high water. Thanks to those who volunteered, despite rain showers that morning!
 
TOLL FREE TUESDAYS: Headed to the Island on a Tuesday in October? Consider travelling via the Atlantic City Expressway during a Toll Free Tuesday! Eastbound travelers will not be charged a toll on the Expressway on Tuesdays this month, thanks to the Atlantic City Alliance. The marketing group is sponsoring the program to boost mid-week travel to Atlantic City - but it is a nice bonus for those headed a bit further south, too!
 

Seagulls enjoy the beach on an October afternoon.
 
TAKE A RIDE on the newly completed overpasses on the southbound Garden State Parkway
between mile markers 9 and 11. The first time you traverse the overpasses you'll marvel at how
much they change your perspective while travelling; just a couple dozen feet of elevation provides
a never-before-seen view of the area. Northbound Parkway traffic is still flowing at ground level
while construction of new northbound overpasses begins.
 
PLAN AHEAD - call your plumber and schedule the winterization of your outdoor plumbing. Outside showers, hose bibs, and pools should all be shut down and winterized prior to the arrival of freezing weather. Although we have several weeks of beautiful fall weather ahead, it never hurts to plan ahead!

This Weeks News 10/1/2014

---

82 PROPERTIES UNDER CONTRACT: The local real estate market is still showing signs of strength, with 82 properties currently under contract. Those properties had an average asking price of $1,450,362 and a median asking price of $1,297,500. With September's numbers not yet fully reported, 35 closings had already occurred during the month, with an average closing price of $1,552,242 and a median closing price of $1,425,000.
 
AVALON DREDGING PERMITS RECEIVED: Permits for Avalon's back bay dredging project were received last week, and work could begin later this fall. The borough expects to receive bids for the project on October 17th, with work starting shortly thereafter. Dredging could proceed around the clock, but must halt during winter flounder season, which runs from December 31st to May 31st. Work could then resume after that date. Dredge material from prior projects is currently being removed from the island behind Avalon, making room for it to receive more dredge material from upcoming projects.
 
AN ANNUAL FAVORITE, Avalon's Seafood Festival returns on October 11th & 12th.  Once again the Festival will offer fresh seafood vendors, chowder contest, live music, and a chance to enjoy it all by the beach at 30th Street. Mark your calendars!
 

A fisherman concentrates on catching dinner as the late afternoon sun casts a
silver light across the water.
 
LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGE: On October 18th & 19th children under 11 can climb any (or all!) of New Jersey's land-based lighthouses for free with a paying adult.  Eleven lighthouses will participate in the Challenge, including nearby Hereford Inlet Light and Cape May Light. Night climbs will also be available at Cape May Light from 6pm to 8pm. Funds raised will help to continue the mission of preserving and restoring the historic lighthouses, while educating the public about them.  For more details visit www.lighthousechallengenj.org.
 
THE OFF SEASON is the perfect time to make property improvements. Need a deck rebuilt? Time to repaint? Ready to upgrade your appliances? Do it now while contractors aren't as busy as they are in the summer, and projects won't interrupt rentals-or your vacation time-during the summer months. Whatever type of work you might need, please call me for a recommended contractor!