In our family, once you host a holiday event…it’s your job FOREVER.
Thankfully, I’m not a good cook (or, could that be my ploy to avoid the work??)
A big thank you to my sisters brave enough to feed our every growing group (table for 19 last night!)
Merry, merry 🙂
Color on a dreary December day…
Will you be in the Avalon area on Saturday, December 29th?
If so, burn off a few Christmas cookies by participating in the annual Dashing Thru the Sand 5K race/walk.
Registration opens at 8am inside the Avalon Community Hall located at 30th and Avalon Avenue; race time 9am. Ă‚Â $20 registration fee.
Proceeds benefit The Craig Kenneth Lozier Memorial Scholarship fund.
Santa– the life size painted, cut out version- has been an important part of Christmas for as long as I can remember.
Santa began his life of service in the early 1960’s at my parents’ first house in Avalon. He was surrounded by big, multi-colored bulbs on the newly planted shrubs. Inside that modest Golden Home rancher, 4 little girls hung their stockings on a cardboard fireplace with a plug in red bulb that magically turned the metal wheel to create “fire” .
In the 1970’s, Santa moved with our family 5 blocks south in Avalon to a larger, 2 story home with a real wood fireplace. The colorful exterior lights were eventually replaced with more subtle white bulbs, but the spot light literally remained on Santa.
In the off season, Santa hung proudly on the garage wall- watching us all come and go. Those little girls grew up and moved out, bringing back grandchildren for days on the beach. In the 1980’s, my young sons were fascinated by Santa, and maybe a bit intimidated based on our attempts to use him for improved behavior!
When my parents downsized to a townhouse in the early 1990’s, my father asked if I wanted Santa for our home.Ă‚Â Of course, I wasĂ‚Â thrilled- and Santa didn’t complain as he was forced toĂ‚Â leave Avalon and move “off shore”.
Santa loyally followed us on each move- knowing that he would be given a prominent position (with a flood light) at Christmas.   Several years ago, he gratefully moved back to the island to become a Stone Harbor resident!
Now approaching 50 years old, Santa is showing some signs of wear (aren’t we all).Ă‚Â I thought about asking an artist to do a “touch up”, but it just doesn’t seem right.Ă‚Â Ă‚Â It’s good to remember that so much time has passed- it helps us to celebrateĂ‚Â the journey.
This entry was originally posted Christmas 2008. I think it deserves an annual repeat.
Celebrating our Christmas this weekend with family out of state…and again this week with our New Jersey family. Merry, merry!  🙂
The flurry of sale activity for Avalon and Stone Harbor continues.
During the past 30 days, a total of 43 properties sold (settlement), PLUS an additional 40 are scheduled to close in the near future (many by the end of the year).
The median selling price overall was $890,000 (all categories).
The majority of sales- 29 single family homes; ranging from a small cottage over the 21st Street bridge selling for $417,000; to a large bayfront parcel on Heron Drive selling for $5,850,000.  The median selling price for all single family homes was $1,563,333.
A total of 9 condo/townhouse units sold, ranging from a 1 bedroom unit at the Concord for $280,000; to a side by side style townhouse on 29th Street for $840,000.  The median selling price was $435,000.
There were 4 multi-family units sold- all in Stone Harbor. Ă‚Â The median selling price for the mulit-unit properties-Ă‚Â $525,000.
One vacant lot sold for $675,000 at 11th and Dune Drive in Avalon.
Of the 40 properties sale pending, the median asking price is $995,000 (final selling price posted after settlement).
If you would like additional information regarding buying or selling in Avalon, Stone Harbor, please let me know. Ă‚Â I appreciate your business!
Received an early Christmas present- Thanks, Mom 🙂
Looking forward to pinning them to my beach bag- a nice thought on a dreary December day…
FEMA recently modified the flood zone designations and building height requirements for our area. These determinations were made prior to Sandy, yet are relevant as home owners look to renovate or rebuild their low lying structures.
Prior to the changes, it was rare to see a “V” zone classification in Avalon or Stone Harbor (typically limited to the inlet/ocean). Now, much of the bay area falls under the “V” classification, too.
Click on the interactive FEMA Website and enter your shore property address.  The results will display the proposed flood zone and building height requirements.
Quote from The Press of Atlantic City, Sunday 12/16/12:
“While these maps were released as information only, with final maps expected sometime this summer, municipalities can adopt the data into their zoning codes, said Ryan Pietramali, risk analysis branch chief for FEMA, on Friday. That could mean homeowners whose houses suffered damage during Sandy that totaled at least 50 percent of the building’s value may be forced to rebuild to new building codes, such as raising houses and rebuilding on driven piling”.
When I have faced difficult situations, I noticed that others around me continued on with their normal life. Ă‚Â My world felt upside down. Ă‚Â How could day to day activities take place?
Yet, that’s exactly what we did after Sandy…and in the days since the awful events in Connecticut. I don’t believe it’s because we lack compassion- more that there is little we can do personally to change a tragedy. Ă‚Â In fact that helplessness weighs on us. Ă‚Â We want to help, but wonder how, or if our efforts would even be significant.
So I will hug my grandchildren later this week (ages 5 and 11), support a local charity with Sandy Relief, and pray for peace to replace sorrow…
P.S. One of my sisters posted this last night on Facebook. Ă‚Â It really touched me:
Our town has a tradition of driving Santa around the town on a firetruck. Tonight was that night – and although our “kids” are grown – we still go out on the porch as we hear the sirens approach – and wave to Santa. Tonight though I found myself crying – for all of the families who’s lives are forever changed due to the events that have happened over the recent weeks. Especially the families in Connecticut – my children are the ages of those young teachers. It is beyond heartbreaking.
Beach Replenishment
Spotted the dredge by the Townsends Inlet Bridge (moved in from the inlet during yesterday’s storm), and employees from the dredging company on 32nd Street preparing for the arrival of heavy duty equipment.
The beach fill (for both Avalon and Stone Harbor) was approved prior to Sandy. Good news for summer 2013!
Will post updates once the project is underway.