July is here and with it comes some of the nicest, longest days on the beach. So, get a nice, comfortable chair and dig your toes deep into the sand because this issue of the Times is full of lots of informative and entertaining reading.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, one definition of “dawn” is “to begin to appear or develop,” using the example “a new era is dawning.” Oddly enough, that’s exactly what will happen in Avalon on July 1, when for the first time in 32 years the mayor will not be someone named Marty Pagliughi. Avalon will experience the start of a new era. Or a new dawn.

So, do you believe in coincidences?

Stone Harbor Field Day & Phillies Home Run Derby, 9am-1:30pm, Recreation Athletic Field, stoneharbornj.org

Start your holiday off right at the 82nd Street recreational fields for a fun-packed morning!

In recent years, Facebook and Twitter have been full of discussions regarding the changes that have taken place and continue to do so on Seven Mile Beach. Regardless of your stance on the island’s changes, this is one that can only be classified as a great loss: The ladies of the Avalon Civic Club, the first civic organization on the island, called it a wrap at the end of 2022.

In the center of Avalon’s business district, The Preppy Palm stands out. Its large footprint at the corner of 26th and Dune is punctuated by the palm trees flanking the doorway. Stepping through the door, loyal customers bask in the cool, crisp aesthetic and carefully curated selection of clothing, housewares, jewelry, and gifts.

Avalon Lacrosse has been a powerhouse program for decades, churning out top talent in women’s lacrosse.

While neither Avalon or Stone Harbor fields teams for Little League, Babe Ruth or midget football, girls’ lacrosse has been a mainstay and has helped develop formidable college-level talent and relationships among the girls who have played together for years.

Summer is here and that means plenty of guests at the beach house for the next few months. Entertaining doesn’t have to be difficult. As long as you have the right essentials, it can be a breeze! We stopped by some of the best stores on the island to help create a must-have list for all of your entertaining needs this summer. Happy shopping!

The Fourth of July falls on a Tuesday this year, which basically means it will cap off a five-day weekend … at least in Avalon. The theme for the weekly Friday night at Surfside Park will be Patriot Summer Kickoff. From 6:30-8:30pm, bring the family for balloon art, face painting, trivia and more.

What draws us to the water surrounding our shores?

Is the water a window, allowing us to peek at infinity, serenity, power, and grace?

Is the water a mirror reflecting light, absorbing shade, and amplifying our joy, against a horizon that never changes yet never stays the same?

Seven Mile Beach has so much to offer for those here on vacation and those who choose to live here all year-round. Here you will find the most beautiful beaches, unlimited opportunities for water sports, amazing restaurants, and plenty of things to do, rain or shine. You will also find some of the best night spots right here on the island.

Avalon’s Morey Edelman was fairly new to the area when he helped to introduce the region’s first big-box store, The Home Depot, to Cape May Court House in 1999.

Though he and his wife Ruth spent some time in Stone Harbor, Morey became better acquainted with Seven Mile Beach while setting up shop in his role as The Home Depot’s merchant buyer.

Sturdy Savings Bank was on hand for the annual kindergarten class terrapin release in June and added its financial support. The bank supported the Stone Harbor kindergarten class’ cookie fundraiser for The Wetlands Institute’s Terrapin Program by matching the funds the class raised selling turtle-shaped cookies.

Guests seated nearby on this early June morning at the ICONA Windrift were enjoying breakfast and were oblivious to the royalty in the room. It’s understandable, because the group could easily be confused as being part of a school or college reunion.

Stone Harbor Farmers Market, 95th Street Water Tower Parking Lot, 8am-12:30pm, stoneharbornj.org

Every Sunday through Sept. 3, join the community for the Stone Harbor Farmers Market, hosted at the 95th street parking lot. Come support the local businesses, selling fresh seafood, produce and more!

According to Harry Pasquito, founding member of The Fabulous Greaseband, the venue does matter to a band. “Playing in Avalon certainly feels differently,” he says. “I’d compare it to going back to your alma mater or an old neighborhood where you grew up. There’s a flood of special memories because the experience is personally archived.”

Families across the region are packing their beach bags and stocking up on sunscreen, looking forward to the relaxed days that come with summer break. Our children have worked hard all school year and, let’s be honest, we parents have worked hard, too!

The verdict is in from pickleball courts everywhere that the game is no longer just a quirky little weekend pastime played for exercise and fun. Pickleballers are playing for “pay” in global and national leagues, and the game is paying commercial dividends for investors.

Beach safety tips produce their own bible.

Timeless, accurate, and open for updates, they have the same effect as the Good Book to the congregation of tourists up and down the New Jersey Shore.

Jim and Helene Moran opened Moran’s Dockside deli, bait and tackle shop in 1988 when they moved into the Avalon Sport Fishing Center building.

Jim has had Avalon sand in his shoes since 1961, so the location for their business was a no-brainer.

Congrats Avalon Stone Harbor Schools 8th Grade Graduates