Jersey Shore Views...

Are you looking for adventure while serving your country and your community?

If the answer is yes, you might want to investigate opportunities with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGA). You don’t need a service background, nor do you have to have sea legs.

I had the privilege of meeting several members of the USCGA, Flotilla 72 at an Open House for the Rutgers University Marine Field Station in Tuckerton recently.

 I learned the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard.  It was created by an Act of Congress in 1939; the Auxiliary directly supports the Coast Guard in all missions, except military and law enforcement actions.

They explained that where ever your interests lie, and what ever skills you have, the Coast Guard Auxiliary can use your talent.

You can have fun learning new skills in the company of a very special group of volunteers. The Coast Guard Auxiliary offers a number of opportunities, but the tasks can generally be divided into three service areas:

 Recreational Boating Safety

The USCGA’s primary mission is recreational boating safety. They provide Public Safety Boating Education training and classes, voluntary vessel safety checks for boaters, visits with and educating local marine related industries, and staff general outreach to the boating public through boat shows and events.

Operations and Marine Safety

For those interested in boating, the Auxiliary offers intense hands-on training and qualification as boat-crew and coxswain. Those qualified perform regular safety patrol missions in their local area and support local boating activities on-the-water such as regattas, fireworks & fleet visits.

The Auxiliary also works closely with their active-duty USCG counterparts in many other mission areas, including environmental protection, safety inspections, security and planning, licensing and other vital roles.

Mission Support

If being out on the water is not your cup of tea, the Auxiliary also needs people with leadership, administrative and technical skills (like as web site design, computer server administration, graphic design, photography and videography, communications, public relations/public affairs and personnel services). These volunteers support those USCGA members involved in the recreational boating safety programs, operations and marine safety missions.

Learn more about the opportunities available on the USCGA website.

Special thanks to USCGA Flotilla 72 members Alyssa Buxbaum, Tony Galfo, Bob Adams and Les Brown.

Yesterday marked POW/MIA Recognition Day in the United States. It’s been celebrated for 24 years.

On that day, the third Friday in September, America honors all Prisoners Of War and those Missing In Action, those returned and those still missing and unaccounted for from our nation's wars and conflicts.

It passed with little fanfare here in New Jersey, marked with a ceremony at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Holmdel. With about 125 people in attendance, New Jersey also marked Gold Star Mothers Recognition Day, which is celebrated nationally the last Sunday in September. Gold Star Mothers is an organization of mothers whose son or daughter served and died in line of duty in the Armed Forces of the United States of America or its Allies.

Here in New Jersey, the last Sunday in September is also Parents of Fallen Military Sons and Daughters Day. This day is a tribute to all parents whose children died as a result of their service with the United States Armed Forces

Missing In Action

The figures above come from the Home of Heroes.

Please take a moment to remember all; those serving in the armed forces, those who have served, those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and those still unaccounted for.

It’s mid September and here in Barnegat the Friends of the Barnegat Library (FOL) is wrapping up its annual collection of books, CDs, DVDs, videos and all things media to be sorted and sold at its Annual Book Sale.

Donations will be accepted through September 30th and the Sale is scheduled October 8th, 9th and 10th.

The Friends of the Barnegat Library is a non profit organization. Our mission is to foster public support for the resources and services of the Library. One of our group’s largest fundraising events is the Annual Book Sale.

So if you have books, old videos, DVDs your kids don’t watch any more or CDs you’ve lost interest in, we’ll take them.

You can drop off donations at Meadowedge Park on East Bay Avenue in Barnegat. If you’re unable to bring them down, contact me via email or phone. Email Laura-G@KW.com or call 609-384-6121.

Single family home sales in Barnegat, NJ remained relatively stable in August when compared to July, 2008.  But as is usually the case when the summer season comes to an end at the Jersey Shore, new listings nearly doubled.

While July, 2008 added only 50 new listings to the Township's inventory, August saw that figure jump to 105 new listings.

Single family homes sales dropped by 2 units in August over the previous month, but when compared to sales one year ago the fall off is big.  There were 22 sales in August, 2008 ranging in price from $124,000 to $1.132M.  And there were 31 closings in August 2007.

Total inventory of single family homes for sale in Barnegat in August, 2008 was 365 units.

The good news is that since March, 2008 sales are inching up in Barnegat!

For all things real estate in southern Ocean and northern Atlantic counties, call Laura G.

609-384-6121

  Laura-G@KW.com

www.betterhomes-LauraG.com    

 ATLANTIC SHORE

The good news is that the number of new listings in these 2 shore communities dropped slightly in August, 2008.

In Little Egg Harbor Township, 76 homes were listed for sale in August, bringing the total inventory to 491.  Those newly listed homes ranged in price from $100,000 for a one bedroom condo to $799,000 for a large waterfront home. 

Home sales in August, 2008 really took a dive in Little Egg Harbor when compared to sales during the same period last year.  In August 2007, 32 residential single family units sold in Little Egg.  Compare that to only 15 closing this year!

Tuckerton on the other hand saw 6 homes sales in August, 2008 compared to 4 in August, 2008.  Some more good news in Tuckerton, one home was listed and sold in a few weeks this past month!

That just goes to show you, PRICE IT RIGHT AND THEY WILL COME!

If you'd like more information on the housing market in southern Ocean or northern Atlantic counties, please contact Laura G.  Buying, Selling or Investing, give me a call!

Laura Giannotta 

609-384-6121 or Laura-G@KW.com

www.betterhomes-LauraG.com

The good news is that the number of new listings in these 2 shore communities dropped slightly in August,2008.

In Little Egg Harbor Township, 76 homes were listed for sale in August, bringing the total inventory to 491.  Those newly listed homes ranged in price from $100,000 for a one bedroom condo to $799,000 for a large waterfront home.

In Tuckerton, new listings totaled 19, ranging in price from $179,000 to nearly $1 million.  Total inventory in the Borough of Tuckerton was 68 in August.                                                                                                                           

Home sales in August, 2008 really took a dive in Little Egg Harbor when compared to sales during the same period last year.  In August 2007, 32 residential single family units sold in Little Egg.  Compare that to only 15 closing this year!

Tuckerton on the other hand saw 6 homes sales in August, 2008 compared to 4 in August, 2008.  Some more good news in Tuckerton, one home was listed and sold in a few weeks this past month!

That just goes to show you, PRICE IT RIGHT AND THEY WILL COME!

If you'd like more information on the housing market in southern Ocean or northern Atlantic counties, please contact Laura G.  Buying, Selling or Investing, give me a call!

Laura Giannotta 

609-384-6121 or Laura-G@KW.com

www.betterhomes-LauraG.com

After reading Pattie Romano's blog, I took sometime and visited www.project2996.com.  I took several moments to remember that tragic morning, and said a prayer for the lost souls, their friends and their families.

As suggested on the website, I decided to read up on one of the victims, lest none be forgotten.  As we remember all those who lost their lives on this day 7 years ago, meet one of the victims.  I met Craig today!

"Craig Staub, 30, was tragically and innocently killed at the WTC where he worked as a Senior Vice President for Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. He was in the South Tower on the 89th floor. Craig was an investor and analyst for this Wall Street firm that specializes in Banking and Financial Services. He graduated from Boston University in 1992, Summa Cum Laude. For those who knew Craig, he was an exceptional human being full of humor, intelligence, compassion and life.

Craig met his wife Stacey in 1994 and they were married on June 25, 2000.

Their daughter, Juliette Craig W. Staub, was born on what would have been Craig's 31st birthday, September 22, 2001, 11 days after the terrorist attack.