Smilestones
DECHERT NAMED REALTOR EMERITUS
Dutch Dechert has been honored with Realtor Emeritus status by the National Association of Realtors, recognizing 40 years of dedicated membership and exceptional service to the real estate profession.
A real estate agent since 1981, Dechert is the broker and co-owner of Ferguson Dechert Real Estate, Inc. in Avalon.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dechert has held numerous leadership roles, including serving as president of New Jersey Realtors and as an officer and committee chair. At the national level, he has been a long-serving director of the National Association of Realtors.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dechert is deeply committed to civic engagement. He is the vice president of the Avalon Chamber of Commerce, where he also served as president from 2004-07, and is also an active member of the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce.
LOOK WHAT THE STORK BROUGHT!
OLIVER HENRY DICKEL
BEAU THOMAS DICKEL
Emily and Steve Dickel became the parents of twin boys Oliver Henry and Beau Thomas, born on March 18. Steve works for the county and Emily works at Fred’s Tavern, her family’s business. The twins’ grandparents are Tom and Terri Hand, of Stone Harbor, and Skip and Kathleen Armstrong, of Cape May Court House. The boys loved their first summer on Seven Mile Beach.
AVALON PLAYERS’ ‘CINDERELLA’ A BIG HIT
If you were seeking a taste of Broadway as well as a glimpse into Avalon's history this summer, then you should have been at the Avalon Elementary School in July for the Avalon Players' production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's “Cinderella,” the enchanted version.
The cast delivered an amazing musical performance while preserving a precious Avalon tradition, the Avalon Players, that dates back to 1968. That's when Bonnie “Liz” Matt and Ginny Lynch joined Dennis Soens to form the Avalon Players. Soens was the driving force behind the group's formation.
Over the past 57 years, their venue has been upgraded to the modern, comfortable, and climate-controlled Avalon School – which the Avalon Community Hall was not in 1968.
The production saw great attendance over four nights in July. It’s incredible how talented these teens and preteens are. For more information, go to avalonplayers.com. Come out and support their future productions.
Tying The Knot
CAMPBELL, TARRO TO WED
Alyson Campbell and Tripp Tarro became engaged on July 2 at sunset on Avalon’s 13th Street beach – a special spot that’s been the backdrop for many great times with family and friends. They celebrated with a party on 13th Street. Alyson is the daughter of Karen and Chuck Campbell, of Malvern, Pa., and Tripp is the son of Lissa and Dennis Tarro, of Sterling, Va. The couple met in Avalon in 2021 through mutual friends. Alyson works in event production and management, and Tripp is a commercial real estate broker in northern Virginia. They’re looking forward to a lifetime of love, laughter, and more than a few nights at Fred’s. A summer 2026 wedding is planned in Malvern.
Here is the Facebook post
OUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT IS OTHERWORLDLY
In addition to our print edition, which has the largest circulation of any publication on the Seven Mile Beach, Seven Mile Times has quite a digital footprint as well. Often, we are amazed by the numbers that stories and photos about Avalon and Stone Harbor attract.
Just recently, our post for Becca Cubbler winning the Cape May Point Women’s Lifeguard Challenge attracted nearly a half-million online views. A staggering number, regardless of how you quantify it! Our post about the “Good Morning America” coverage of the Avalon Beach Patrol’s rescue of stranded sailors in Townsend’s Inlet attracted more than 200,000 views.
But perhaps the most surprising post this summer occurred in mid-August, when we posted photos from the annual Fishing with the Mayor event. The 10,000 views were more than respectable, especially in light of the number of posts on that particular day. But what “caught” our attention was the locations where the fishing views took place. Viewers were located in Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, Nigeria, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, along with the United States. Who knew the mayor had such international intrigue?