 The vacant lot on the corner of 96th Street and Third Avenue will forever be known as the “Shelter Haven” property.  The overgrown bay side lot has been an eyesore for several years- waiting for the owner/developer to begin the new project.Â
The Borough of Stone Harbor and local organizations arranged for the lot to be cleared and landscaped for the summer. What a difference!  It’s now an attractive 1st impression as you enter Stone Harbor.
Seasonal beach tags for Avalon and Stone Harbor are discounted through next weekend. $19 until May 31st; $24 starting June 1st.Â
The beach tag booths are open every day: 30th Street adjacent to Community Hall in Avalon, and 95th Street adjacent to the lifeguard building in Stone Harbor. Either tag allows you access to the entire 7 mile beach 🙂
 The Memorial Day parades and ceremonies in Avalon and Stone Harbor were a coordinated effort with the local American Legion- Stephen C. Ludlum Post 331.
Visit the post’s beautifully restored historic building located on 117th Street and Second Avenue in Stone Harbor.  Open for tours 10am and 2pm every day except Wednesday and Sunday starting on Flag Day- June 14th, through Labor Day.
Solitude on Memorial Day weekend? Found it on the bay early this morning (just me and the gnats!)
My 4.6 mile “commute” to work is another story: walkers 3 across in the bike lane, forcing the bicyclists in to the traffic lane. I move over toward the center island, but wait…here comes a jogger running toward me (I understand the runners prefer the even pavement versus the slope close to the curb).  I try to be a good citizen and stop at the pedestrian walkways near the hotels…hoping the car behind me is in agreement. Once in Avalon, smooth sailing except for the large groups crossing the street- the “beach chair” rule applies here: if they are carrying a beach chair, it will act as a protective shield and a car will not hurt them. Another delay at 50th Street- church is over and there are hundreds of cars and people scurrying to get to breakfast. Speaking of breakfast, the next hold up is in front of Uncle Bill’s. Cars double parked, backing up, and turning suddenly if they find a spot. A few more pedestrian crossings, and I’m here. Whew!
There will be Memorial Day parades in Avalon and Stone Harbor on Monday.
The Memorial Day Parade in Avalon starts at 34th and Dune Drive at 9am. The parade travels north along Dune Drive to the 21st Street circle- Veteran’s Plaza. Ceremony to follow.
Then, ride your bike to 96th Street in Stone Harbor to see another parade at 12 noon. Starts by the bridge and ends at the beach with a ceremony.  Refreshments served after the parade at the American Legion Post on 117th Street and Second Avenue.
Girls in bikinis…in the Wawa. Today’s temperatures are a bit cool with the strong sea breeze- but the young people (AKA the “group” renters) are starting to arrive and feel the need to strip down in order to thoroughly enjoy their vacation. Sorry- no picture to accompany my post 😉
Many are bartenders, waitresses, and lifeguards for the summer-  an essential part of our business community.   Yet they do have a different lifestyle!  It works best if the young people aren’t living too close to the family tenants and full time residents.
 3 days to go- and the temperatures are cooperating.
The ocean is a pretty blue-green color, and looks inviting…for 60 degrees!
Avalon Supermarket (29th Street), Bud’s Market (83rd Street), and Clarke’s Sunset Market (108th Street) are open for business, as well as most restaurants and retail shops on the island. There are cars…and people…and lights on in houses- how amazing!Â
Hope you can enjoy some time at the shore this weekend, too.
                                               
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 “Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work we go…”
There will be a limited number of guarded beaches for Memorial Day weekend. But with ocean temperatures still below 60 degrees, I think there will be a limited number of swimmers, too!
 I have confirmed that I am not the only person who associates certain food with summer.Â
 Mack’s Pizza in Stone Harbor posted an “Open May 15th – 5pm” sign on their door several weeks ago. Who would guess that by 5:30 it would be packed?Â
The owner said one of his regular customers was sitting on the steps outside at 4:30pm. The other customers were expressing their appreciation for the return of Mack’s after a long winter! And obviously I know all of this because we were there, too 🙂
In the past,  if you saw a home on the island with a lawn, it was likely a year round residence.Â
My father treated our front yard in Avalon like a formal living room- it looked beautiful and you weren’t allowed to use it.  We didn’t dare cut across the grass, or even worse, play on it. That’s why we had a back yard (wait, thinking back, he sent us around the block to play kick the can!)
Today, many of the new homes have a grass area- even if it’s just a small patch in the front yard. Â
Bringing me to my observation…there are more landscaping trucks around town than contractor’s vehicles.  Â
The grass,  trees, and flowers distinguish us from other seashore communities. Take note of the center islands along Dune Drive in Avalon and Second Avenue in Stone Harbor- all manicured like a prized front yard.