For Thanksgiving, 3 local charities/institutions worthy of your support:
Brendan Borek High Tides Memorial Fund:  http://brendansfund.org 2170 Dune Drive, Avalon NJ 08202
Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children:  http://www.dillerblindhome.org 127 26th Street, Avalon, NJ 08202
Villa Maria by the Sea– the summer retreat house for The Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary : Â Philadelphia Inquirer article August 2014Â 11101 Second Avenue, Stone Harbor, NJ 08247
Always interesting to spend time in another beach community- especially in the off season.
We arrived to Rehoboth Beach Wednesday evening for a 2 night stay, and noticed many restaurants open AND filled with customers. On a bitter cold, mid-week night in November?
This was our third November/December visit in recent years; and I’ve been impressed each time to see restaurants and retail shops open (and thriving) year round.
I compared year round populations: Â Rehoboth Beach 1556; Avalon 1334, and Stone Harbor 886. Â Could it be that more of our year round residents “fly south” than those living in Rehoboth? Â Or is it the chicken/egg dilemma: if more Avalon, Stone Harbor hotels and businesses stayed open, would we see more visitors? Â Or, are the nearby shopping outlets (10 minutes outside of Rehoboth) the big draw? Â And if so, do we really want excessive commercial development in our area?
There is no easy answer.  I feel for the new business owners who pledge to stay open year round…only to discover the lack of help, and customers come November.
As full time residents, we make an effort support the local businesses…it helps that I don’t like to cook!
So, ride down soon. Walk the beach, shop, and enjoy a meal. Â We all benefit from your business.
Reminder:
Thanksgiving weekend is HUGE in Avalon and Stone Harbor. Â Family activities, a Christmas tree auction, music, and of course, the big parade!
Schedule of events for Avalon– click HERE
Schedule of events for Stone Harbor– click HERE
Pick up a copy of the Seven Mile Times for more details: http://www.sevenmiletimes.com
And, be sure to stop by our office in Avalon on Friday, November 28th for a Power Play Realty logo gift.
According to an article on newsworks.org, the snowy owls have returned to the Jersey shore.
Last year, there were at least 2 owls “wintering” on our island. Â I verified my sightings with blurry photographs on several posts:
https://anndelaney.com/2014/01/25/update-on-island-owls/
https://anndelaney.com/2014/01/10/more-owls/
https://anndelaney.com/2014/01/02/beach-views-4/
Yesterday after work, I walked around Stone Harbor Point. Â A bird watcher in the area posted an owl sighting on Twitter. Â But no luck.
Will keep looking 🙂
Yes, I was the yearbook editor in high school…the ultimate nerd!  Probably why I enjoy posting on my blog and Twitter now.
Last night, there was an informal reunion for my class at Wildwood Catholic High School.  35 years…yikes!
Interesting to listen to the conversations about grand children, retirement, and sadly, the death of several classmates.  Some had not been back to the area since graduation…and others never left.
We pulled out our drug store reading glasses to look at the pictures…and, laughed at the hair dos and clothes.
A diverse group, all leading full lives. Â Sister Henrietta would be proud!
A bit chilly…
The cold north west wind changes my walking routine. Â It’s a trade off: walking on the soft sand for the benefit of dunes blocking the wind.
Along the water’s edge for the turn around. Wind at my back, sun on my face, and an unexpected dolphin sighting!
This time of year, dramatic colors paint the sky at sunrise and sunset.
Streaks of pink, red, orange, and purple…often fading away within minutes.  Yet always with a unique “wow” factor.
A nice way to start my work day…
Snow Fencing
We call it “snow” fencing. Â And yes, occasionally the wooden slats are surrounded by snow (see posts from last winter!)
But the real purpose of our snow fencing is to capture blowing sand and build protective dunes along the shore front.
Take note the next time you walk along one of the beach paths- you will see the mostly buried zig zag lines of fencing from years past.