2015:

Jan.

Feb.

March

April

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

This Weeks News 1/28/2015

---

WINTER STORM WARNINGS were issued for Cape May County in advance of the snowstorm that moved up the east coast this week, leaving snow, wind, and rain in its path. Locally just an inch or so of snow fell, while northeast winds caused minor tidal flooding very early Tuesday morning. For updates on conditions during storms or other weather events, visit the Avalon & Stone Harbor emergency websites. They contain updates on the latest conditions as well as helpful tips on emergency planning:

   www.AvalonEmergency.org     |     www.StoneHarborEmergency.com
 

Gray skies and fog envelop this Bayfront Avalon Manor house, and a bit of snow remains from our last snowfall. Avalon's water tower is just visible in the background.
 
VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIALS: The Golden Inn and The Reeds at Shelter Haven are both offering Valentine's Day accommodations packages, while Fred's Tavern, the Rock 'N Chair, and La Vecchia Fontana are offering dinner specials. Surprise your Valentine with a trip to the Island!
 
BEACH PHOTO CONTEST: The Avalon Chamber of Commerce invites you to "Embrace Your Beach Life" by submitting your favorite Avalon photos to info@VisitAvalonNJ.com. Three random winners will be selected Memorial Day Weekend, and each will receive an Avalon gift basket, compliments of Avalon Chamber of Commerce.
 
TIRED OF SNOW? In just four months we'll be kicking off the summer season! Put a warm glow in your heart for the rest of the winter--make your summer plans now! Call me at (800) 967-7796 x212 to get started!

RENTAL LISTINGS WANTED: Our rental business has increased significantly due to our ability to accept credit cards as payment for rental bookings as well as numerous other innovative ideas. If you have open weeks you'd like to get rented, we can help! Please email me at Randy@RandyLeiser.com or call me at (800) 967-7796 x212. Turn your unrented weeks into cash in your pocket!

This Weeks News 1/21/2015

---

MARKET STATS: For the latest stats on the Avalon/Stone Harbor market, click here:

The Long & Foster Market Minute
 

    
Highlights from the December 2014 Market Minute report: 
   -the number of active listings is 320, down 23% from last December
   -the median sale price was $1,250,000, virtually even with last December
   -the average "Days on Market" was 216, down 36% from last December
 
CAPE MAY COUNTY ranks second in New Jersey in total tourism expenditures according to County Tourism Director Diane Wieland. Final 2014 numbers are not in yet, but Wieland said that Cape May County's "Fall for the Jersey Cape" campaign and website contributed to a strong tourism performance last year. Wieland addressed a group at last week's Greater Cape May Chamber of Commerce meeting, where she said that low fuel prices, and a preference for small-town vacations (instead of cities) are likely to mean good things for the local 2015 tourism season.
 
POLAR BEAR PLUNGE: Thousands gathered in Wildwood for the 2015 Polar Bear Plunge, and helped raise funds for the Special Olympics.  Check out this aerial footage captured via drone--it offers a unique perspective on the event! If you'd like to participate in an upcoming plunge, Stone Harbor will host the 5th Annual Stone Harbor Shiver on Saturday, March 14h. South Jersey's favorite weatherman, Dan Skeldon, will MC the event.
 
DUNE GRASS PLANTING-VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Help plant dune grass in Avalon on Saturday, April 18th, 2015! Everyone is welcome to participate in this important project. Volunteers should report to Avalon Community Hall at 30th Street and Avalon Avenue, at 8:30 a.m., where donuts and coffee will be served. A brief demonstration on planting will be given. Specially designed utensils for planting the dune grass will be provided. All volunteers will then be transported to the planting sites by Avalon Borough trucks. A complimentary lunch will be served at noon at Avalon Community Hall. If there is still planting that has not been accomplished, it will resume after lunch for those who can remain. Please contact Sue Ellenberg at Community Hall, 609-967-3066 or Sue Keen at the Mayor's Office, 609-967-5924, for questions or to sign up for the dune grass planting. Rain date for the event is April 19th.

This Weeks News 1/14/2015

---

DREDGING TO RETURN SEPTEMBER 15TH:  The Borough of Avalon received a permit modification allowing a four-day extension of its dredging permit to January 4th, 2015,  in order to provide enough time to complete work in Princeton Harbor.  Dredging must now be suspended until September 15th, at which time the contractor will return to Sterbeck Harbor to resume work.
 
SUCCESSFUL ROCKET LAUNCH:  A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station this past weekend, carrying an experiment designed by a group of students from nearby Ocean City High School.  The mission will resupply the International Space Station while also delivering materials for 256 research projects.   An earlier ill-fated launch attempt from Wallops Island, Virginia a couple of months ago ended in an explosion which destroyed that rocket, and the students' experiment, which was on board.  Shortly after the failed launch, the students learned they'd get another opportunity to see their experiment sent into space.
 

Avalon's 2015 beach tag was designed by Avalon Elementary School
5th grader Lindsay Ettlinger.  It won't be long and we'll see Lindsay's
design on swimsuits all over the beach!
 
MAJOR PROGRESS has been made on the new Garden State Parkway Bridge over Great Egg Harbor Bay, and it is expected to be completed in 2016.   At the same time, the removal of the adjacent Beesleys Point Bridge is taking place.  The work zone often looks like a forest of construction crane booms, with more than ten working in the same general area.  Have a look the next time you're on your way to the shore via the Parkway.
 
NEED A WINTER ESCAPE?  If you don't already have your own place, consider treating yourself to a weekend escape at The Golden Inn or The Reeds at Shelter Haven!  Enjoy a little R&R or a sunrise walk on the beach.  If you'd prefer to have your very own place at the shore, please call me!  I'll help you find the perfect home for you and your family to enjoy all year long!

This Weeks News 1/7/2015

---

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and your family! Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2015!
 
THE TOWNSEND'S INLET BRIDGE will close on January 12th for planned repairs to the bascule section of the bridge. The work is expected to be completed by April 30th.
 
NBC 40 NEWS is no more. Effective December 31st local television station WMGM-TV is no longer an NBC affiliate. Along with NBC television programming, viewers lost local NBC-40 news broadcasts as well. While local news and sports coverage were popular, perhaps the biggest loss is that of detailed local weather forecasts provided by NBC-40's Dan Skeldon. Skeldon's forecasts were focused on the South Jersey coast and tended to be much more helpful for locals and visitors than Philadelphia weather coverage, centered more than 75 miles away. Skeldon will continue to have a presence in South Jersey--he will still forecast the weather on several radio stations, and will soon begin working for the Atlantic City Press, where he will prepare daily video weather forecasts.
 
THE FIRST SNOW of the new year fell across the Island on Tuesday. Just over an inch of light fluffy snow fell, and daytime temperatures struggled to reach 30 degrees. More frigid temperatures are expected in the next several days.
 

Snow-capped rocks along Townsend's Inlet after Tuesday's snowfall in Avalon. The snow only "stuck" above the high tide line.
 
COMING DOWN? CALL AHEAD! If you're planning a trip to the Island to look at sale or rental properties, please call (or email) me ahead of time. With some advance notice I can put your visit on my calendar, and be well prepared when you arrive, saving you time when you're here!