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RIDE THE 7 MILE JITNEY! Back again
this summer is the 7 Mile Jitney, which operates nightly from 6pm to 2am.
Jitneys run every ten minutes following a regular route from 20th Street south on Dune Drive to 80th, turning left on 80th Street then right
onto First Avenue from 80th to 83rd Street, then turning left onto Second
Avenue from 83rd to 96th Street. The jitney turns right on 96th Street, then
right on Third Avenue and proceeds back to 20th Street. The cash fare is $2
from 6pm to 11pm, and $4 from 11pm to 2am. The jitney is air conditioned and
can seat up to 13 people, and can be flagged down at any corner along the
route. Save the hassle of parking and catch a jitney!
This fisherman caught a beautiful sunset, too!
THE "TWIN CAPES," one of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry vessels
that used to carry passengers across Delaware Bay, will become part of an
artificial reef off the Delaware and New Jersey coasts. The 320-foot vessel
was mothballed in 2013 after many years of plying the bay. Artificial reefs
have become increasingly popular for boosting marine life in designated
areas off the coast. All vessels turned into artificial reefs are stripped
of harmful materials before being sunk. This past May the US Coast Guard
Cutter Tamaroa, made famous by the movie The Perfect Storm, was turned into
an artificial reef about 26 miles off Cape May.
WATERSPOUTS are a fairly rare occurrence in this area but
one was spotted over the Delaware Bay this past Sunday, and photographs of
it appeared in social media. Later Sunday evening weather radar picked up
rotational movement, leading to a tornado warning for areas of northern Cape
May and southern Atlantic Counties. For the rest of the week, clouds and
rain showers should give way to sunshine over the weekend.
SURF TEMPERATURES are up! Bathers on the beach have enjoyed
warm water, as surf temperatures of 76 degrees have been observed recently.
Steady sea breezes and warm sunshine have brought warm surface water into
the beach. Back bay waters, especially areas further from the inlets, have
seen temperatures into the low 80s.
A TOTAL ECLIPSE of the sun will occur on August 21, 2017.
Although Seven Mile Beach does not lie along the "path of the totality," we
will experience a magnitude of about 0.8, with roughly ¾ of the sun in
shadow about 2:45pm local time. Experts caution that observers should not
look at the sun or eclipse with the naked eye; protective eclipse glasses
should be worn, in order to filter the sun's light. For more on the eclipse,
visit
Total Solar Eclipse 2017: When, Where and How to See It (Safely).
This Weeks News 7/20/2017
MARKET STATS: The ratio of sold prices
to list prices increased by 4% in June in the Avalon-Stone Harbor market
versus the same month last year, while the number of new listings was down
33% versus last year. The number of units sold last month increased slightly
from a year ago.
View A Detailed Look At The Latest
Long & Foster Market Minute Report
DOLPHINS EVERYWHERE! Lots of dolphin sightings have been
reported just off Avalon & Stone Harbor beaches. Sometimes playing just
beyond the surf, and sometimes a bit further off the beach, dolphins
routinely travel up and down the beaches. Occasionally they'll venture into
the inlets or even the back bays, if following a food source. Whether you're
spotting them from the beach or from a boat, they're always a joy to see!
Several pods of dolphins swam along Seven Mile Beach last Sunday. This
pod was seen off the 96th Street beach.
"SORRY CAPTAIN, the bridge can't be opened for a couple of
days!" That's the answer boat captains heard this past Sunday when a
critical part on the 96th Street Bridge failed, leaving the bridge "stuck"
in the closed position. Automobile traffic could flow freely, but boats
needing an opening couldn't get one. The only choice? Take "the long way"
around via the ocean. At the time of this writing, new parts were on order
and expected to be installed this week, returning the bridge to normal
operation. There has been significant discussion about Cape May County
bridges recently. The Townsend's Inlet Bridge was closed to automobile
traffic earlier this season while it underwent emergency repairs, and the
Grassy Sound Bridge (linking North Wildwood to Nummy Island and eventually
Stone Harbor via Ocean Drive) doesn't open for boat traffic during hot
weather due to mechanical issues. Combined with the 96th Street Bridge,
that's three bridges surrounding Seven Mile Island with issues. Replacement
of even a single bridge is extraordinarily expensive, but last week county
freeholders discussed potentially issuing an $18 million bond, including $8
million for local bridge work.
TAKE A RIDE INTO YESTERYEAR! Historic Cold Spring Village
features its annual "Railroad Days" this weekend. Visitors will find working
model trains, garden railways, and railroad displays. Just added to the
event are historic railroad motorcars, often known as "speeders", which will
take patrons for a short ride along the historic railroad tracks adjacent to
Cold Spring Village. The tracks once carried steam trains from Philadelphia
and Camden into Cape May, and served as the main method of transportation to
and from Cape May County's seashore towns for decades. Cape May Seashore
Lines will run the trips, which will depart every 30 minutes from 11am to
4pm Saturday and Sunday, July 22nd and 23rd. Speeder car tickets are $5 for
adults and $3 for kids. (Patrons must purchase tickets for entrance to
Historic Cold Spring Village, which are $12 for adults and $10 for kids.)
Visit Historic Cold Spring Village for "Railroad Days" and take a ride
on a "speeder car" this weekend!
AVALON LIFEGUARD Erich Wolf took first place in the 49th
Annual Beschen-Callahan Lifeguard Championships in North Wildwood. Thanks to
Wolf's first place finish, Avalon finished in a three way tie for the team
championship. After a tiebreaker Avalon finished second overall.
Congratulations to Wolf and all Avalon lifeguards!
This Weeks News 7/13/2017
SECRETS OF THE DEEP: An exhibit at the
Cape May County Museum features artifacts recovered from ships sunk off the
Cape May County coast. Storms, collisions, and even enemy torpedoes have
sent dozens of ships to the bottom in local waters. Scallopers avoid the
wrecks to prevent losing their gear; sport fisherman seek out wrecks due to
the marine life that congregates around the sunken hulls. But it's divers
that visit the wrecks and occasionally retrieve artifacts from them. The
exhibit at the museum will be on display Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9am to
4pm, through October 6th.
"AVALON AWARE" PUBLIC INFORMATION SERIES: The Avalon
Library will host the upcoming "Avalon Aware" series, featuring talks on a
variety of topics of interest to the public. On Monday, July 17th Dr. Brian
Reynolds will discuss the importance of Avalon's dune system. On July 24th
Dr. Stewart Farrell will speak about the evolution of Avalon's beaches over
the past three decades. On Monday, July 31st Borough Engineer Tom Thornton
will discuss new FEMA flood maps. All sessions begin at 7pm and are free.
What a beautiful end to a summer day!
RIDE ALONG with the dolphins and Nik Pattantyus! Nik is
known for his videos recorded while paddle boarding in the ocean, and his
latest video makes you feel like you're out there too! Watch as dolphins
swim alongside and under his paddleboard!
Rolling Deep Video (Vimeo)
PHILLIES MANAGER Pete Mackanin took a three-day break in
Stone Harbor while Major League ballplayers were on their all-star break.
The Philadelphia Inquirer quoted Mackanin as saying he'd "eat, have a few
drinks, and sleep." Mackanin also added that he'll "go to the beach."
Hopefully Mackanin and the Phillies will have a better second half of the
season!
THE WINDRIFT TURNS 50 this summer! A Seven Mile Times
article by Dave Coskey in their July edition recounts the development of the
Windrift in 1967, as the Seven Mile Beach responded to growing demand for
more accommodations. (The Golden Inn was built in 1966.) Over the years the
Windrift has grown to offer several restaurants and entertainment along with
beachfront accommodations. Pick up a copy of Seven Mile Times and take a
trip down Memory Lane!
WISHING YOU a relaxing and fun-filled
Independence Day! Whether you're on the beach, barbequing with family, or
entertaining friends, best wishes to you & yours from me!