March 2025 News

February AHLOA News

Date: March 1, 2025 | Issue: 148

President's Message

As we prepare this March 1 newsletter, Memorial Day weekend, the long-awaited awakening of our spring and summer season in Avalon, is less than 100 days away. When we get into double digits for the Memorial Day countdown, the wait doesn’t feel as daunting. Borough and non-profit planning for Spring Into Summer and all high-season programs that start in June is in full swing now. The AHLOA board has mobilized for many of our seasonal programs as well, and we are excited to be a part of three Spring Into Summer events this June. Please see the Save the Date article below for all the AHLOA 2025 events.

Once every 3 to 4 years, AHLOA sends a mass mailing invitation to Avalon property owners who are not AHLOA members to consider joining our community organization and strengthen our ranks as a voice of Avalon property owners, and to further help meet our mission to be Your Community Connection. We recently completed this periodic mailing, and within the first 10 days, have received more than 100 new members. I want to extend a special thank you to those new members reading this monthly newsletter for the first time. We sincerely appreciate your support and welcome you into the AHLOA community. The board is here to help you with questions or issues that might arise regarding Avalon, so feel free to contact us; we will try to assist you in any way reasonably possible.

In response to last month’s newsletter in which I asked for any member interest in becoming more directly involved in AHLOA as a board member, I received a number of emails expressing interest or seeking additional information. I have been in touch with all who replied and will meet with them in the upcoming month to answer questions and try to fit AHLOA needs with a member’s interest and talent.

If any other members have interest to learn more about how you can support the board and the Avalon community as a board member or occasional AHLOA volunteer, please contact us via email, phone call or website form. I will be sure to reply to you and arrange an appropriate discussion. As you might imagine, all non-profits heavily depend on the time and diligence of a disproportionately small number of members, so AHLOA would welcome more hands and hearts to help us meet our mission. Please do contact us if you have even a fledgling interest. If you are just joining AHLOA and wish to learn more how you can get involved, please contact us while we are in the early stages of planning for our next fiscal year.

Last month’s newsletter contained an alert regarding the new State-wide regulations affecting combustible landscape mulch, scheduled to go into effect on April 15. This law had a logistical and financial impact with short lead-time on those of you who rent your Avalon property. We are pleased to let you know that due to feedback received from Avalon and other municipalities, there has been modifications and relief in the State fire code. Please see the most up-to-date article below for details.

I hope to see many of you around town as you re-open your seasonal homes or return from your winter get-aways. With daylight savings time arriving on Sunday, March 9, it is a great time of year to start enjoying the extra sunshine here in Avalon.

Sincerely,

Tony Newshel

President

2025 Save the Dates

AHLOA will be busy in 2025 with both the Spring into Summer June events that we sponsor and meetings throughout the year. More detail will be provided in future monthly newsletters as each event draws near. For now, please mark your calendars, support our efforts, and enjoy your AHLOA membership privileges by attending as many of these programs as possible.

Saturday April 12, 9:00 to 10:00 AM in the 39th Street Tennis Building. At this AHLOA members meeting, Borough Administrator Scott Wahl will be joined by members of the Council Finance Committee to present the Avalon budget for fiscal year 2025/2026 and to discuss any special projects planned by the Borough for the remainder of the year. Ample Q&A time will be provided.

Friday May 30, 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Surfside Park: The Paul Green Rock Academy (PGRA) will perform in concert at the initial Surfside Park music event for 2025 which is also the kick-off of the 2nd annual Spring Into Summer ¹ Avalon-wide program. This group of musically talented middle school and high school students play regularly in the Philadelphia and Southwest Connecticut area and tour domestically and internationally as the opening act for professional bands throughout their summer break from school. Come out and enjoy their incredible vocal and instrumental covers of classic rock, and support the next generation of talented musicians who keep rock alive and well.

Saturday June 7, 6:30 to 9:30 PM at Community Hall: Join us for June Jam, our first-ever AHLOA social gathering. South Jersey band Loose Ends will play from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Doors open at 6:30 PM. Attendance at this event will be limited in order to allow for table seating and ample room for dancing. Bring dinner or snacks; beer and wine will be available for sale. AHLOA members will receive some extra perks, and although entrance tickets are free, advance registration or ticket pick-up will be required. Please save the date for this Spring Into Summer event and bring your family, friends and Avalon neighbors. Stay tuned for advance ticket logistics.

Saturday June 14, 8:00 to 11:00 AM at Community Hall: The Lions Club and AHLOA are sponsoring a joint Spring into Summer event combining the Lions annual Pancake Breakfast (fundraiser) starting at 8:00 AM with the AHLOA Community Connections program from 9:00 to 10:30 AM. Support the Lions and enjoy Father’s Day weekend breakfast before browsing information tables staffed by Borough departments and key Avalon non-profit organizations that serve our community.

Saturday August 9, 8:30 to 10:30 AM at Community Hall: This is our Annual Meeting focused on keeping you well-informed by providing an informal venue to meet with the Mayor, Borough Council, and Avalon’s administrative and department heads. The program will include the Mayor’s State of the Borough presentation followed by a brief AHLOA board election, and a Q&A period addressing attendee-provided written questions. This has become an incredibly well-received program based on AHLOA member feedback, so please plan to attend and mingle with the AHLOA board and Avalon officials while staying informed on all things Avalon.

Saturday, October 11, 9:00 to 10:00 AM in the 39th Street Tennis Building. This AHLOA members meeting on Columbus Day weekend is slated to focus on 7 Mile Island real estate and rental topics with a guest speaker presenting statistics and answering audience questions. We will provide the speaker’s name as we get closer to the fall.

Footnote 1: Spring into Summer is a shared marketing and event initiative supported in part by a grant from the NJ Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism to 7MBCA. It combines existing community events with new offerings to create a range of activities to draw homeowners and visitors to Avalon in June to grow shoulder season engagement across business and community services. Using the grant and other community-supported funding, these events will be marketed via a central focus through multiple channels.

Spring into Summer 2025 will be structured as four themed weekends, starting Friday, May 30, each with anchor events, as well as other weekend and weekday activities for a variety of ages. Events will be supported by a range of community organizations, including the Chamber, 7MBCA, Borough of Avalon, Library & History Center, AHLOA, Avalon Environmental Commission, Avalon Garden Club, and more.

Spend the Summer Working on the Beach

The Avalon Beach Patrol is looking to hire at least 20 rookies for this season. To apply, a candidate must be at least 16 years old by the summer.

There are tryouts in swimming and running scheduled for Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, June 1. Information for new applicants is available on Instagram @avalonbeachpatrol.

Also the Borough is hiring beach tag checkers for the summer. Candidates to work in a booth or on the beach must be at least 18, and weekend work is required. Estimated start date is April 5, 2025 (weekends only), with daily requirements running from April 28 through Labor Day. Information is available here under the Job Postings page on the Borough’s website.

Landscape Mulch Regulations Update

New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs, which enforces the state fire code, is clarifying its new regulations on the ban of combustible mulch within 18 inches of residential properties.

All one- and two-family dwellings are exempt, whether they are owner-occupied or rented. Dwellings with three or more units and commercial buildings are not exempt.

Concern over combustible mulch is based on fire incidents throughout the state. Last year, the Avalon Fire Department responded to two mulch fires. One was started by a discarded cigarette while the second was spontaneous and burned some siding on a house. Instead of combustible mulch, other materials to consider using include gravel, pebbles or mulch that is treated with a fire retardant spray.

Quick Hits

The Whitebrier restaurant on 20th Street is under agreement to be purchased by the Union League (UL) of Philadelphia for use by its members. A notice of the planned purchase was sent to UL members this week. Additional public information is available here on the Philadelphia Business Journal website.

Borough Manager Scott Wahl will represent Avalon as a new member of the Board of Directors of the American Coastal Coalition, a national advocacy group addressing adaptations to rising sea levels.

The Free Library is planning a British Afternoon Tea for adults on Saturday April 5, 1:30 to 2:30 PM. Enjoy of variety of teas and other refreshments while watching a documentary about the British Monarchy. Registration is required. Avalon property owners may register beginning today at this page on Library’s website. Alternatively. You can call the circulation desk at 609-967-7155. Others not owning Avalon property may register beginning March 14 based on remaining space availability.

The Avalon Tennis Committee made up of Avalon tennis players is working with the Borough to update the 39th Street Tennis Center. Renovations have begun. The interior has been repainted and new decor is planned. Exterior improvements also are planned. Several courts are expected to reopen this month.

Visit us on the Web at AHLOA.com or call 609.796.2491

The Avalon Home & Land Owners Association

Tony Newshel, President Mary Flannery, Newsletter Editor