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This Weeks News 7/30/2020
Getting that perfect shot! Grace (age 11) leans outboard to capture the
perfect July sunset!
BUSY FALL SEASON EXPECTED: Many business owners are
anticipating a busy fall season here at the shore. With schools, colleges,
sports, businesses and so many other things operating virtually or on
delayed reopening schedules, shore crowds are not expected to disappear when
Labor Day rolls around. Employees and students who are able to work
virtually can do so from their shore homes, and then enjoy the fall season
at the shore when not on the clock. With an enhanced fall season likely,
local businesses hope to recapture some of the business lost during the
early part of the summer season.
WHALES & DOLPHINS continue to appear in good numbers just
off local beaches, as they follow schools of fish as their food source. For
an "up close and personal" view of a whale just off Sea Isle, check out this
video posted by Seven Mile Times:
SEVEN MILE TIMES FACEBOOK - SEA ISLE CITY WHALE VIDEO
GET OUT ON THE WATER! Time on the water is a great way to
enhance your visit to the shore! Here's another way to get out on the water:
relaxing, peaceful scenes are yours to be enjoyed when you participate in a
guided Kayak Tour or Salt Marsh Safari tour with The Wetlands Institute.
SCHEDULES & PRICING: THE WETLANDS INSTITUTE "ON THE WATER" PROGRAMS
"ALL YA GOTTA DO IS FIND ‘EM!" That's easier said than done
when fishing offshore for tuna, but it's the general consensus after several
weeks of good tuna fishing reports. Some boats don't find them, but many do.
Those that do are usually rewarded with catches of Yellowfin, Bluefin, or
Bigeye tuna. Many catches of "schoolie" tuna are in the 30- to 50-pound
range, but occasionally large ones top 200 pounds.
AVALON'S 8TH STREET JETTY is expected to reopen at the end
of this week after undergoing structural repairs. The jetty protects
Avalon's north end from storms, but suffered damage during Winter Storm
Jonas a few years ago. When work at the site is complete, the jetty will be
reopened to fisherman again, including new rod holders installed along its
length.
This Weeks News 7/23/2020
VIEW THE LATEST LONG & FOSTER MARKET MINUTE REPORT |
DOWNLOAD/PRINT
PDF
MARKET STATS: Incredible market strength continued through
June (and right into July). During the month of June, the number of
properties sold increased over last year, as did the median price. The
number of active listings continued to fall, along with the average number
of days on market. For full details check out the latest Long & Foster
Market Minute report above.
GET OUT ON THE WATER! Sure, we all love the beach! But
there's so much more to enjoy here, and getting out on the water is a great
way to experience a different aspect of life on the island--even if you
don't own a boat! Consider a private cruise aboard "Pursuit of Hoppiness,"
with Captain Doug Hopkins. Doug offers 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-hour cruises in
local waters. Whether you want to tour the Avalon-Stone Harbor bayfront, see
wildlife in the IntraCoastal Waterway, or visit a waterfront restaurant,
Doug offers a cruise to fit your needs. Contact Doug at 239-269-8006 or
DOUG.PURSUITOFHOPPINESSCHARTERS@GMAIL.COM.
AVALON FIRE DEPARTMENT'S 11TH ANNUAL 50/50 RAFFLE drawing
will be held September 8th at The Princeton. A $100 donation gets you a shot
at multiple drawings including six $500 prizes, a $2,000 prize, and a
$10,000 grand prize! You don't need to be present to win.
50/50
RAFFLE DETAILS - AVALON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
THE COMET NEOWISE is still visible and our area's low
terrain offers some good vantage points for catching a glimpse of it. It's
visible shortly after sunset, and appears in the northwestern sky beneath
the big dipper, with its tail pointing away from the sun. If the surrounding
area is dark enough, it can be seen with the naked eye, or with binoculars
or a telescope for a magnified view. Local beaches, west-facing docks, and
roadways offer a variety of viewing options. The comet is also visible in
the early morning hours before sunrise, in an easterly direction. Get your
last looks now--the comet is rapidly fading from view, and won't be visible
from Earth for another 6,800 years!
WHALE AT THE BEACH! Earlier this week a sizable whale was
spotted multiple times just off our beaches, just beyond the surf. In just a
couple of hours the whale had made appearances at several beaches between
96th Street and Stone Harbor Point, and was swimming with a pod of dolphins,
to the delight of beachgoers!
This Weeks News 7/16/2020
This Weeks News 7/9/2020
Joe Ruyak captured this beautiful, peaceful scene along the Delaware
Bay. What a great spot to enjoy a magnificent sunset!
JULY 4TH WEEKEND was a great one here on the island. Good
beach weather helped, and residents and visitors alike enjoyed swimming,
surfing, fishing and boating, and other outdoor activities, along with
family barbeques or outdoor dining.
MONDAY'S WEATHER began with typical hazy, hot, and humid
summer conditions, followed by an afternoon seabreeze. Suddenly, severe
weather warnings were broadcast locally and via media, as multiple
approaching thunderstorms caused a very strong southerly wind to fill in.
After a brief period the wind went calm, then abruptly shifted to the north,
blowing with even more force than before. As thunder and lightning
approached, severe winds blew loose objects like deck chairs, umbrellas, and
paddleboards. Stone Harbor's kayak racks at the Municipal Marina were blown
over. A video of a brief water spout just off the beach is here:
A WATERSPOUT SPINS RIGHT OFF THE STONE HARBOR BEACH
WHALE ENCOUNTERS: Numerous whale sightings have been
reported by boaters this year, and some have been seen very close to shore.
Some offshore fisherman had a surprise encounter with a whale that bumped
their 26-foot boat as it surfaced. Here's a video clip:
FISHERMEN HAVE WILD BRUSH WITH HUMPBACK WHALES OFF THE N.J. COAST
KEEP WATCHING FOR TURTLES!
As they near the end of their annual egg laying, turtles continue to
cross local roads to reach high ground. Give 'em a brake! If you're
inclined to help a turtle across the road, always move it in the
same direction it was crossing. Please make sure it's safe to do so,
and never put yourself at risk! THANKS FOR 28 GREAT YEARS, JACQUI! After 28 years of faithful service, Jacqui Arnold has retired from her spot at the reception desk in our Avalon office, completing her last shift on Monday. During her tenure, Jacqui greeted thousands of clients on the phone and in person, coordinated rental check-ins each week of the summer, and helped our office run smoothly in so many ways! We miss Jacqui already, but wish her the very best as she enjoys the next chapter in her life! Thanks, Jacqui! |
This Weeks News 7/2/2020
Last Saturday evening a fast-moving thunderstorm moved across Seven Mile
Beach. A few minutes later a beautiful rainbow revealed itself!
THE WETLANDS INSTITUTE announced its reopening earlier this
week, with daily hours of 9:30am to 4:30pm expected for the rest of the
summer. The Wetlands Institute plays a huge role in researching and
educating the public on our coastal ecosystem, and maintains a variety of
summer programs including salt marsh tours, dune and beach walks, and kayak
tours. They also offer a series of live cam views on their website,
including a close-up view of an osprey nest outside the building. Check out
the live cams and the rest of The Wetlands Institute programs here:
THE WETLANDS
INSTITUTE
BEACH TAGS will be required in Avalon beginning Friday, and
they're already required in Stone Harbor. Still need to get your tags?
Daily, weekly, and seasonal tags can be purchased at the Beach Tag Booth at
30th & the beach (Avalon) and 95th & the beach (Stone Harbor) from 10am to
4pm.
PENDING TRANSACTIONS JUMPED by a record 44% in May after
declining in March and April according to the National Association of
Realtors. Locally, 101 properties were under contract pending settlement at
the time of this writing! Buyer demand remains strong, fueled by low
interest rates, however inventory of available properties remains limited.
TIME TO GET INVOLVED? Perhaps a week at the beach isn't
quite enough? There's never been a better time to make the shore a permanent
part of your life! There's no better way to escape the stress of everyday
life--and make lifetime family memories while doing it! If you act now you
could be enjoying the latter half of the summer in your very own
place...call or email me today!
INDOOR DINING had been scheduled to resume this week but
was abruptly postponed indefinitely by NJ Governor Murphy earlier this week.
Meanwhile, virtually every restaurant on the island is offering takeout
and/or outdoor dining, so don't miss out on your favorite places.
JULY 4TH FIREWORKS were cancelled in Avalon and Stone
Harbor due to Covid-19 concerns, but if you'd like a taste of patriotic
music to celebrate Independence Day, listen to the Bay Atlantic Symphony
courtesy of the Borough of Avalon! The symphony will not be performing live,
but a selection of songs is available for listening on the Borough of Avalon
website:
A TASTE OF JULY 4TH FROM OUR FRIENDS AT THE BAY ATLANTIC SYMPHONY
WISHING YOU A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! May you spend it with
family and friends celebrating all that makes our nation great!