Trees, grass, and flowers will all be in full bloom shortly!

MARCH COMES IN LIKE A LION…and along the beach, cool weather tends to hang around a long time in the spring, due to cold ocean water.  But now that April is upon us, that “lamb” we’ve all been waiting for will soon be here!  Lawns are greening up, trees are budding, and flowers will soon be blooming!

RISING GAS PRICES may boost shore traffic this summer according to Vicki Clark, president of the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce.  “We’ve always been a drive-to destination…a 300-mile radius is our primary customer base,” Clark said at a recent talk.  Avalon, Stone Harbor, and the rest of the Southern New Jersey shore are within a one-tank radius of a huge portion of the population in northeastern states.  While this has always been a factor in the popularity of Cape May County shore homes and vacations, rising gas prices make nearby getaway destinations even more attractive.

MAKO SHARKS cannot be harvested for the next two years, in order to protect the overfished species, and allow stocks to rebound.  If caught, mako sharks must be returned to the water–live or dead–and cannot be retained.  Mako sharks have been under heavy fishing pressure for years, as they are popular with both sport fisherman and commercial fisherman.  Mako sharks often put up a thrilling fight for sport fisherman, and they are highly desirable on the dinner table, too.  The two-year mako ban applies to all Atlantic states.

THE STONE HARBOR BOAT RAMP at 81^st Street will be closed through April 15^th for repairs.  The ramp at Avalon’s Bay Park Marina at 54^th Street is the closest option for those launching or retrieving boats.

TAX FREE RENTAL INCOME?  Did you know you can rent your shore home and collect two weeks of rental income tax free?  It’s a great way to earn income to cover some expenses, while still keeping the bulk of the summer for your own usage.  If you’d like to take advantage of this great opportunity, please call or email me!

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

• Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweeps, Saturday, April 9^th, 9am to 12:30pm.  Info & registration here: https://cleanoceanaction.org/aboutbeachsweeps
• Avalon Home and Land Owners Association Community Connections.  Meet & Greet with representatives from the Borough of Avalon; presentation by Joseph Rizzuto, Executive Director of the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority.  Saturday, April 9^th, 9:30am-Noon, Avalon Community Hall.  AHLOA.com
• Stone Harbor Chamber of Commerce Job Fair.  Stop in at 212 96^th Street for a list of businesses hiring.  Saturday, April 9^th, 10am to 4pm.
• Easter EGGstravaganZOO: Meet the Easter Bunny and hunt for eggs at the Cape May County Park & Zoo.  Saturday, April 9^th, 10am to 2pm.
• Easter Egg Hunt, Stone Harbor Firehouse, Saturday, April 9^th, 12pm.
• Easter Egg Scramble, Avalon Recreation Fields, 8^th-12^th Streets, Saturday, April 16^th, 10am.
• Avalon Dune Grass Planting, Avalon Community Hall, Saturday, April 23^rd, 8:30am.  Please RSVP to Sue Keen at 609-967-5924 or Community Hall at 609-967-3066.  Rain date Sunday, April 24^th.
• Avalon Bulk Trash Collection, April 29^th to May 8^th.  Place bulk items curbside.  Note: construction and remodeling materials are not collected.
• Spring Into Summer, Stone Harbor Water Tower parking lot.  Boats, paddleboards, water sports, bikes, fishing info, local breweries & more.  Saturday, April 30^th.
• Avalon Borough Wide Yard Sale, Saturday, May 7^th, 8am-3pm, rain or shine.  Visit Borough Hall for an application or call 609-967-3446 with questions.
• Avalon Paper Shredding Day, Avalon Public Works building, May 7^th, 9am to 2pm.
• Stone Harbor Fire Company Blood Drive, at Women’s Civic Club.  Wednesday, May 11^th, 12pm.
• Stone Harbor Yard Sale, Women’s Civic Club Parking Lot, Saturday, May 14^th, 8am-2pm.

New Listings:

7888 Dune Drive, 307, Avalon, $349,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220894

7888 Dune Drive, 124, Avalon, $492,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220879

2825 Dune Drive, 1, Avalon, $1,275,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220852

320 40th Street, Avalon, $1,699,900, ACTIVE MLS#: 220829

10815 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor, $1,799,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220881

642 22nd Street, 2nd Floor, Avalon, $1,895,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220846

250 48th Street, Avalon, $2,599,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220885

301 84th Street, Stone Harbor, $3,150,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220908

275 85th Street, Stone Harbor, $3,995,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220861

141 76th Street, Avalon, $5,795,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220903

162 76th Street, Avalon, $7,795,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220899

5499 Dune Drive, Avalon, $12,500,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220864

Properties Under Contract:

7800 Dune Drive, 307, Avalon, $325,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220810

7900 Dune Drive, 305, Avalon, $335,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 214391

7888 Dune Drive, 207, Avalon, $339,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220465

572 21st Street, 2nd Floor, Avalon, $1,150,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220782

393 21st Street, Avalon, $1,495,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 214173

159 84th Street, Stone Harbor, $3,595,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220799

2488 Avalon Avenue, Avalon, $6,195,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220417

Properties Sold:

7888 Dune Drive, 107, Avalon, $299,000, SOLD MLS#: 214416

177 80th Street, 111, Avalon, $650,000, SOLD MLS#: 214007

492 20th Street, East Unit, Avalon, $1,395,000, SOLD MLS#: 220314

276 33rd Street, East, Avalon, $1,575,000, SOLD MLS#: 220163

8823 2nd Avenue, Stone Harbor, $2,425,000, SOLD MLS#: 213273

6934 Ocean Drive, Avalon, $2,875,000, SOLD MLS#: 213938

18 Sea Gull Drive, Avalon, $10,000,000, SOLD MLS#: 220915

• Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweeps, Saturday, April 9^th, 9am to 12:30pm.  Info & registration here: https://cleanoceanaction.org/aboutbeachsweeps
• Avalon Home and Land Owners Association Community Connections.  Meet & Greet with representatives from the Borough of Avalon; presentation by Joseph Rizzuto, Executive Director of the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority.  Saturday, April 9^th, 9:30am-Noon, Avalon Community Hall.  AHLOA.com
• Stone Harbor Chamber of Commerce Job Fair.  Stop in at 212 96^th Street for a list of businesses hiring.  Saturday, April 9^th, 10am to 4pm.
• Easter Egg Hunt, Stone Harbor Firehouse, Saturday, April 9^th, 12pm.
• Avalon Dune Grass Planting, Avalon Community Hall, Saturday, April 23^rd, 8:30am.  Please RSVP to Sue Keen at 609-967-5924 or Community Hall at 609-967-3066.  Rain date Sunday, April 24^th.
• Avalon Bulk Trash Collection, April 29^th to May 8^th.  Place bulk items curbside.  Note: construction and remodeling materials are not collected.
• Spring Into Summer, Stone Harbor Water Tower parking lot.  Boats, paddleboards, water sports, bikes, fishing info, local breweries & more.  Saturday, April 30^th.
• Avalon Borough Wide Yard Sale, Saturday, May 7^th, 8am-3pm, rain or shine.  Visit Borough Hall for an application or call 609-967-3446 with questions.
• Avalon Paper Shredding Day, Avalon Public Works building, May 7^th, 9am to 2pm.
• Stone Harbor Fire Company Blood Drive, at Women’s Civic Club.  Wednesday, May 11, 12pm.

Sunny but foggy!  Warm spring sunshine often conspires with chilly ocean water to create fog.  On a warm day last week, only the dunes remain visible; the ocean was completely shrouded in fog, despite warm sunshine above.

MARKET STATS:  The median sale price during the month of February increased to $2,150,000, up from the year before, as limited inventory held back sales.  For a detailed look at the market, see the latest Long & Foster Market Minute report below.

View The Latest Long & Foster Market Minute Report  |  Download/Print PDF

THE FEDERAL RESERVE increased its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point last week, in an effort to keep inflation under control.  Most mortgage rates are not directly linked to Federal Reserve rates, though they’re heavily influenced by them.  Mortgage rates had already increased in anticipation of the Fed’s move, which had been expected for some time.  Average mortgage rates reached 4.16% last week, their highest level since 2019.  While higher rates reduce affordability for those financing purchases, purchase demand could accelerate among some buyers as they try to beat future interest rate increases.

STONE HARBOR ADOPTED a $19.8 million municipal budget last week, with no local purpose tax increase for 2022.  Avalon introduced a $32.6 million budget in February which, if passed, would lead to a two-tenths-of-a-penny reduction in its municipal rate.  Avalon’s Borough Council was expected to vote on the budget this week.

CAPE MAY FIREFIGHTERS have donated used turnout gear to firefighters in Ukraine.  According to a recent Cape May County Herald article, Cape May firefighter Jackson Pyle learned that a Ukrainian-American firefighter at the Clifton (NJ) Fire Department was collecting used turnout gear to send to Ukraine.  Pyle approached his superiors and the donation of four sets of recently expired gear and three helmets was approved.  The gear will be delivered to Clifton by off-duty firefighters.  Clifton has already collected 400 sets of gear for donation and is working on getting it shipped to Ukraine.

NEED A CONTRACTOR, PLUMBER, PAINTER or other service provider?  I’m happy to pass along some recommendations for all those spring jobs.  Email or call me for some names, then get in touch with your service provider as soon as possible to get on their schedule!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Avalon Home and Land Owners Association Community Connections.  Meet & Greet with representatives from the Borough of Avalon; presentation by Joseph Rizzuto, Executive Director of the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority.  Saturday, April 9^th, 9:30am-Noon, Avalon Community Hall.  www.AHLOA.com
• Stone Harbor Chamber of Commerce Job Fair.  Stop in at 212 96^th Street for a list of businesses hiring.  Saturday, April 9^th, 10am to 4pm.
• Easter Egg Hunt, Stone Harbor Firehouse, Saturday, April 9^th, 12pm.
• Avalon Dune Grass Planting, Avalon Community Hall, Saturday, April 23^rd, 8:30am.  Please RSVP to Sue Keen at 609-967-5924 or Community Hall at 609-967-3066.  Rain date Sunday, April 24^th.
• Avalon Borough Wide Yard Sale, Saturday, May 7^th, 8am-3pm, rain or shine.  Visit Borough Hall for an application or call 609-967-3446 with questions.
• Stone Harbor Fire Company Blood Drive, at Women’s Civic Club.  Wednesday, May 11, 12pm.

New Listings:

2328 Dune Drive, Avalon, $1,650,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220678

2109 Harbor Avenue, Avalon, $3,195,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220719

Properties Under Contract:

3289 Dune Drive, 3289, Avalon, $1,450,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220661

Properties Sold:

286 33rd Street, B, Avalon, $1,300,000, SOLD MLS#: 220356

271 47th Street, Avalon, $2,100,000, SOLD MLS#: 213755

2188 Ocean Drive, Avalon, $3,500,000, SOLD MLS#: 212000

159 33rd Street, Avalon, $3,770,000, SOLD MLS#: 220111

Ospreys are moving back into the area, another sure sign that Spring is just around the corner!

MORE SIGNS OF SPRING!  In addition to an extra hour of daylight at the end of each day, another great sign of spring has appeared: Ospreys have returned to the area, and are taking up residence in many of the man-made nesting locatoins throughout the area.  Ospreys typically return to the same nesting areas year after year, so if you have a favorite pair of ospreys from last summer, check to see if they’re back in the same nest this year!

THE STONE HARBOR SHHHIVER POLAR PLUNGE takes place this weekend, along with the Pre-Shiver party at Stone Harbor Yacht Club Friday evening, Kegs & Eggs at Fred’s Tavern Saturday morning, the 12pm Shiver Parade to toward the beach, a dip in the water about 1:15pm, and a post-party at Fred’s afterward.  For details use the QR code below.  By the way, even though it’s starting to feel like spring in many ways, the ocean water temperature is still a bone chilling 41 degrees!

STONE HARBOR BOULEVARD PAVING continued this past week, and the new road surface will soon be ready for traffic.  Meanwhile, there is discussion of reducing the speed limit along the road from its current 50mph maximum to 35mph.  Cape May County has the final say over the roadway’s speed limit, but Middle Township’s Committee passed a resolution last week in support of the speed reduction.

AVALON’S SAND BACKPASSING PROJECT won’t be performed in-house by public works employees using rented heavy equipment, according to the Cape May County Herald.  Borough Administrator Scott Wahl indicated that supply chain issues have left the rental equipment unavailable.  Instead, the borough will seek a private contractor to handle the sand movement from a borrow area near 35^th Street to north-end beaches in need of replenishment.

PLAN AHEAD FOR DUNE GRASS PLANTING in Avalon!  Volunteers will plant dune grass on Saturday, April 23rd. Anyone who wishes to volunteer may call Sue Keen at 609-967-5924 or Community Hall at 609-967-3066, to sign-up. Volunteers will meet at Community Hall, 30th and Avalon Avenue, at 8:30 a.m. There will be a bagged light lunch provided at the end of the planting. The rain date is Sunday, April 24th.  The roots of newly planted dune grass eventually help to strengthen and stabilize the dunes, providing protection to the island during storms.

CLEANING SERVICES, LANDSCAPERS, AND OTHER CONTRACTORS should be scheduled early this year.  While planning ahead is always helpful, it’s even more important this year as many service providers are still experiencing difficulty finding workers.  If you haven’t already begun your search for service providers, start now!  If you need recommendations, please email or call me.

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY!  May the Luck ‘O The Irish be with you!
New Listings:

66 W. 24th Street, Avalon, $3,650,000, SOLD MLS#: 214111

Shop-A-Holics Weekend runs through Sunday, March 13th!  Check out your favorite stores in Avalon and Stone Harbor!

HAVE YOU EVER found a piece of sea glass while walking on the beach?  After years of being tumbled by the ocean, and sand rounding away its sharp edges, sea glass is a smooth lump of colored glass, with a frosted look.  Although it’s actually pollution–glass bottles discarded and crushed long ago–many people like to find and collect pieces of sea glass, and some make art out of it.  CBS Sunday Morning ran an interesting story on sea glass this past weekend:  https://www.cbsnews.com/video/sea-glass-how-trash-becomes-a-treasure/

STRIPER FISHING SEASON has opened, and early reports are good, with catches being reported in a variety of locations, including “shorts” and keepers.  Stripers must be a minimum of 28 inches, or must be released unharmed.

SIXTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK the “Storm of ’62” battered the South Jersey coast, as its northeast winds eroded beaches and damaged homes.  Many of the things we consider to be routine today, such as extensive dune systems, building new homes at higher elevations, and flood mitigation efforts, are the result of past storms.  Here’s an Atlantic City Press article on the 1962 storm and its impact: https://pressofatlanticcity.com/weather/60-years-later-the-ash-wednesday-storm-of-1962-still-an-all-timer/article_beeebeae-9994-11ec-8643-47aa85461ef6.html

A MILLION DOLLAR lottery ticket was purchase Monday evening at a Wawa in Cape May County!  The winning ticket was purchased at Wawa in North Wildwood, and matched five numbers, making it worth $1 million.
https://catcountry1073.com/1million-winning-powerball-lottery-ticket-sold-in-cape-may-county-nj/

IF YOUR BEACH GEAR weighs you down, check out the newest development for well-heeled beachgoers.  It’s the E-Beach Wagon, a soft-tired, motorized beach cart designed to carry your gear across the sand, and even hold your umbrella once parked.  The wagon is controlled by a thumb-operated throttle, and travels at walking speed, up to 6mph.  Check it out!  https://ebeachwagon.com/
New Listings:

470 Avalon Boulevard, Avalon Manor, $500,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220575

10918 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor, $1,950,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220588

10425 Corinthian Drive, Stone Harbor, $2,250,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220584

236 22nd Street, Avalon, $2,995,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220569

240 22nd Street, Avalon, $2,995,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220570

122 92nd Street, Stone Harbor, $5,250,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220541

100 105th Street, Stone Harbor, $6,675,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220564

4029 Dune Drive, Avalon, $6,995,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220538

156 102nd Street, Stone Harbor, $6,995,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220580

315 58th Street, Avalon, $9,950,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220529

Properties Under Contract:

7888 Dune Drive, 106, Avalon, $299,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 214417

187 68th Street, Avalon, $5,995,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 213774

Properties Sold:

128 21st Street, Avalon, $2,750,000, SOLD MLS#: 220015

122 92nd Street, Stone Harbor, $4,250,000, SOLD MLS#: 220216

The new Stone Harbor lifeguard headquarters is currently under construction; behind it, about a block north, is the Pebbles Guest House, which is undergoing a major renovation.

A LOBSTER HOUSE CLAM APPETIZER yielded a pearl for Michael and Maria Spressler, who were dining at the restaurant earlier this month.  While enjoying clams on the half shell, Michael discovered a pearl in his last clam!  According to a CBS-3 report, the Spresslers first visited the Lobster House 35 years ago, in February 1987.  Watch the report here:  https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2022/02/28/new-jersey-couple-pearl-the-lobster-house-cape-may/

ELECTRIC OUTAGES in Southern New Jersey fell to their lowest level ever in 2021, according to a recent Cape May County Herald article.  Atlantic City Electric has recently invested in new infrastructure to increase capacity and improve reliability, especially during adverse weather.  Newly installed utility poles are a visible sign of this investment, but other improvements include substations, switches, and cabling.  Read the article here: https://www.capemaycountyherald.com/news/fewest-outages-ever-for-ac-electric-customers/article_5ce9cd4c-958f-11ec-b471-bb784686994d.html

80 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, US Navy Destroyer Jacob Jones (DD-130) was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine off the Southern New Jersey coast, during World War II.  The Jacob Jones had been patrolling southward from New York, and the day before her sinking had picked up survivors off Barnegat from the wreckage of the R.P. Resor, a tanker that had also been torpedoed, and later sank.  The sinkings, along with others, led to the rapid construction of 15 lookout towers along the coast from North Wildwood to Bethany Beach, Delaware, including one that still stands on Sunset Boulevard in Cape May, overlooking the Delaware Bay.  The towers were built to keep watch over the entrance to Delaware Bay, and help guide shore-based artillery, in order to protect shipping on the Delaware River.  The lookout tower on Sunset Boulevard is open for tours during the summer.

WIND FARM AUCTION:  Last week the federal government announced a $4.37 billion sale of offshore wind leases for six locations off the coast of New Jersey and New York.  The sites, totaling 488,000 acres, are expected to eventually produce 7 gigawatts of energy, powering 2 million homes.  The Orsted’s Ocean Wind 1 project off the coast of Southern New Jersey is the state’s first offshore windfarm project, and could be operational by the end of 2024.  Orsted’s Ocean Wind 2 project site is adjacent to Ocean Wind 1, and together the projects could generate 2,200 megawatts.

STONE HARBOR BOULEVARD will undergo repaving now through March 9th.  The entire width of the roadway will be resurfaced, from east of Bayberry Drive to the foot of the 96^th Street Bridge.  Expect alternating lanes of traffic, and lane shifts, during the paving work.

SIGNS OF SPRING:  It’s March, and although we still have a few cold weeks left, there are encouraging signs of spring everywhere!  Here are just a few:  Avalon Hardware has reopened; Stone Harbor’s Wawa has reopened after its renovation; the Concord reopens this week.  Look for more signs of spring in the coming weeks!

WATCHA NEED?  If you need a contractor, plumber, or landscaper, or a restaurant suggestion, or just want to talk about the market, please email or call me anytime!
New Listings:

7888 Dune Drive, 207, Avalon, $339,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220465

8001 2nd Avenue, Golden Shores, Stone Harbor, $495,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220492

8201 Third Avenue, 11, Stone Harbor, $950,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220515

9717 2nd Avenue, Stone Harbor, $1,795,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 220480

Properties Under Contract:

7888 Dune Drive, 204, Avalon, $339,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220500

7888 Dune Drive, 219, Avalon, $339,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220517

7888 Dune Drive, 310, Avalon, $359,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 213728

286 33rd Street, B, Avalon, $1,249,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220356

492 20th Street, East Unit, Avalon, $1,399,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220314

1100 Ocean Drive, 204, Avalon, $1,500,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220496

319 41st Street, Avalon, $2,195,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220498

224 37th Street, Avalon, $2,399,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220506

393 94th Street, Stone Harbor, $3,775,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220486

171 113th Street, Stone Harbor, $5,195,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 214230

4316 Fourth Avenue, Avalon, $5,495,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220487

55 E. 12th Street, Avalon, $5,500,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 210819

538 42nd Street, Avalon, $8,995,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 220499

Properties Sold:

9816 2nd Avenue, 7, Stone Harbor, $600,000, SOLD MLS#: 214105

172 85th Street, Sycamore Shores, Stone Harbor, $765,000, SOLD MLS#: 213957

262 110th Street, Stone Harbor, $2,175,000, SOLD MLS#: 214442

329 93rd Street, Stone Harbor, $2,499,000, SOLD MLS#: 211085

148 95th Street, Stone Harbor, $3,500,000, SOLD MLS#: 214120

4327 Fifth Avenue, Avalon, $4,300,000, SOLD MLS#: 212012