Date: May 1, 2025 | Issue: 150

On Friday night May 30, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, the Paul Green Rock Academy (PGRA) will perform in concert at Surfside Park as the kick-off event for Spring into Summer ⁽¹⁾, co-sponsored by AHLOA and the Avalon Free Library. This group of musically talented middle school and high school students play regularly in the Philadelphia and Southwest Connecticut area throughout the year, and tour domestically and internationally as the opening act for professional bands throughout their summer break from school. Their range of music and vocals is amazingly wide, and their performances run the gambit from small band evenings at local bars to 15-20 band members covering classic rock albums and rock-oriented Broadway shows at major indoor and outdoor events.

We are expecting approximately 15 band members to join us at Surfside Park on May 30 where they will deliver on the “Rock” that is part of their name and all of their soul. As always, Surfside Park concerts are free, so dust off your beach chairs and come out and support these kids. If the weather does not cooperate, the concert will move indoors to Community Hall.

For more information about PGRA, please visit their website here. The May 30 performance is highlighted along with the entire Spring into Summer schedule at the Visit Avalon NJ website here.

Put on your dancing shoes, bring friends and family, and join your fellow AHLOA members for June Jam at Community Hall on Saturday night, June 7. Doors to the event will open at 6:30 PM so confirmed/registered attendees can check-in and then choose their table seating on a first-come, first-seated basis. Beer, wine, and water will be available for sale from 6:30 to 9:30 PM, and you are welcome to bring dinner food and/or snacks to consume at your table. This event is sponsored by AHLOA and supported in part by the Avalon Free Public Library. Performing from 7:00 to 9:00 PM will be the South Jersey band Loose Ends (Facebook page link is here.) We are arranging Community Hall with tables and chairs for everyone, including an ample dance floor near the band on stage. So please come out and enjoy our first-ever AHLOA community social.

Entrance tickets are free, and you can reserve up to 4 tickets when you complete the advance registration form at the AHLOA website here.

Registration is available exclusively to AHLOA members at the preceding website link from May 1 through May 15. If any seating remains after this 2-week window, tickets will be offered to other Avalon residents and visitors from May 16 through May 31 via the Library’s email distribution list and the Visit Avalon NJ website. We strongly recommend that AHLOA members preregister as soon as possible to ensure tickets will be available.

If you register now, we will confirm your tickets via email response after AHLOA registration closes on May 15. Please make sure to look for the confirmation email mid-May so you know your seat request was available and is reserved. If you receive ticket confirmation and are unable to attend as planned on June 7, please notify us so we can offer your seats to those next-in-line people on our waiting list. As noted above, please arrive around 6:30 PM on June 7 to check-in at the front desk and grab your preferred seating.

If you have any questions, please email us at AHLOAExec@GMail.com. If you have some time to help out before or during the event, we are scheduling volunteers in short-shifts for afternoon set-up and evening greeter table or “bartender” duties. Please let us know if you can help.

Many AHLOA Board members will be in attendance that night, and we hope to see all of you happy AHLOA rockers socializing and dancing during this early June Saturday evening!

By AHLOA President Tony Newshel

Liz Thomas, AHLOA trustee and co-founder of Thomas/Boyd Communications based in Moorestown, NJ, is joining the board of The Wetlands Institute as a first-time trustee. My wife, family and I have had the distinct pleasure to know Liz Thomas for more than 30 years. Liz and her husband Jim Kehoe are seasonal residents of Avalon, our next door neighbor here in the North end, and now part of our big, extended family. “Ms. Liz and Mr. Jim” are an integral part of Avalon enjoyment for my visiting grandchildren, and we all share in their love and kindness -- and back-yard pool.

Liz volunteered to serve on the AHLOA Board as I prepared to shift from long-time AHLOA secretary into the two-year term as president. Liz also volunteered to take responsibility for AHLOA public relations and advertising, consistent with her talents that are the focal point of her business.

Liz’s passion for non-profit organizations and her love of South Jersey were obvious as she has come to know, understand, and appreciate the work done by The Wetlands Institute (TWI website here). Liz and I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director of TWI, for several AHLOA meetings during the past couple of years, and I could tell almost immediately that Liz would be destined to get involved in some way to support Lenore with the many major projects now underway at TWI.

TWI is also welcoming back returning trustee Raymond M. Burke III of Avalon after a two-year hiatus.

The press release from TWI is available here.

The Borough of Avalon recently enacted an ordinance that amends the construction code to regulate the handling of microplastic particles and dust at all construction sites. These changes focus on taking steps to reduce the risk to the environment and public safety. The enhancements include “... the control of all airborne particles originating from the cutting or sanding of construction materials including fiberglass, plastics, microplastics …” The ordinance defines that tools used are to be equipped with attachments to capture the dust and debris to the greatest extent possible. The ordinance further defines where such activities may take place and that a tarp must be under all cutting tools to capture dust and debris and be disposed of properly. The specific changes to the ordinance can be found here on the Borough’s website.

The Borough’s semi-annual bulk-trash pick-up begins Monday, May 12. Residents may place household furnishings, mattresses etc. curbside starting Friday, May 2. Please note that “trash-picking” is unlawful, although common, because taking items from curbside technically is stealing.

Residents are encouraged to contact Habitat for Humanity in Cape May Court House about donating furniture and household items.

Construction will begin in the fall on the Borough’s 8th Street Fitness Trail designed for seniors and individuals with physical limitations. Funding is provided by the New Jersey Local Recreation Improvement Grant program.

Bridges in the Cape May County system, including the Townsend’s Inlet Bridge, are converting to EZPass and Toll by Plate as of Saturday, May 10. For information, visit this link on the Cape May County website.

Note 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.

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