162nd YEAR NO. 1 CAPE MAY, N.J. SERVING AMERICA’S NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK CITY WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2015 75¢

House LCMR student of the raises funds week for homeless Page B8 Page B1

Economist predicts strong 2016 tourist season Atlantic Cape VP says not to expect much job growth in Cape May, Atlantic counties

By JACK FICHTER tourist season for 2016, but offers little hope no reason it would not continue to trend upward. Perniciaro. Cape May Star and Wave for new jobs or well paying positions for Cape “The recession is over for the most part ex- “The issue really is in the summer … on a May County residents. He said 2015 seemed to cept for Cape May and Cumberland counties, weekend and for a couple of weeks in the middle MAYS LANDING – If the weather cooper- be a very good year for the tourism industry. probably the two worst in ,” said there’s nowhere to put any more people,” he ates, Cape May County could see its best ever “I think we’re headed for probably the low- Perniciaro. “I don’t see that changing for the said. tourism year, according to Richard Perniciaro, est price for gasoline that you’re going to see longer term.” Visitors may be spending more money than in vice president of planning, for a generation,” said Perniciaro said Cape May County is running the past, said Perniciaro. Cheap gasoline may research, facilities and ex- Perniciaro. out of capacity to house visitors, especially in have encouraged day trippers from further ecutive support for Atlantic Cape May County is running out of Sunny weather, after Cape May. away to drive to this area, he said. Cape Community College. capacity to house visitors. June this summer, also “They don’t build hotels anymore for the most He said to have space to accommodate more He’s the go-to guy for eco- helped the tourist sea- part; Stone Harbor built a little one, that’s about visitors, dredging back bays to build up more nomic forecasts for Cape –Richard Perniciaro, VP, Atlantic son. He said tourism has it,” he said. land on the bayside may be helpful to create May and Atlantic counties. been building since the Shoulder seasons have improved including Perniciaro predicts a strong Cape Community College recession and there was Christmastime and birding weekends, said See Economy, page A5 Tourism is using regional method for its marketing More than one city or county; idea showcases a variety of attractions By ERIC AVEDISSIAN even locally produced food Cape May Star and Wave and beverages.

Basking on sunny beaches, frolicking in the surf, sam- Record-breaking pling local delicacies at oys- revenues ter bars or vineyards, and exploring the multitude of Diane Wieland, Cape May boardwalk amusements are County Tourism Depart- some activities awaiting visi- ment Director, said the tors to the New . county is concentrating For generations, resorts in on promoting Cape May Atlantic and Cape May coun- County to new markets. ties attracted families and Cape May County, with David Nahan/CAPE MAY STAR AND WAVE vacationers from across the its year-round population Construction is progressing well on the new southbound span of the over Great Egg Harbor and Drag Chan- region and the world. of 95,000, attracts upwards nel. Once the span is complete, southbound traffi c will go onto this new span and northbound parkway traffi c will switch over to the old Tourism professionals of 850,000 visitors every want to retain those loyal summer. Most of these visi- southbound span while the northbound span is redecked. After that, the old southbound span will be demolished. customers while attracting tors come from New Jersey new ones in 2016. and the Philadelphia areas, With fierce competition with a good mix of Canadian from other states vying for tourists thrown in. Parkway bridge to be fi nished in 2016 the tourist dollars, offering According to the Cape economical accommodations May County Department By ERIC AVEDISSIAN May 2013, and is expected to conclude Work on the Great Egg Harbor Bridge and offerings has challenged of Tourism’s mid-summer Cape May Star and Wave in June 2016. includes constructing a new paral- Atlantic and Cape May coun- report released in August, Route 52 Constructors, the contractor lel span west of the southbound span. ties to work together. occupancy in the county’s The new span of the Great Egg Har- hired by the Au- Southbound traffi c will be shifted onto Promoting the southern accommodations is up with bor Bridge takes shape, a skeleton of thority, is constructing a new 3,840-foot the new southbound bridge. Northbound New Jersey shore effectively strong weekends in June concrete and steel straddling Great Egg bridge over and a traffi c will be temporarily shifted onto means expanding attrac- and July. Traffi c counts on Harbor and linking Cape May and At- new 800-foot bridge over Drag Channel. the southbound bridge while the existing tions from the usual beach the Garden State Parkway lantic counties. The Great Egg Harbor Bridge con- northbound span is re-decked. Following and boardwalk to showcas- The 1.47-mile bridge, part of the sists of two spans: the southbound span the northbound span’s re-decking, the ing natural wonders, rec- Garden State Parkway, is undergoing a opened in 1955, while the northbound reational opportunities and See Marketing, page A8 $230 million makeover, which began in span opened in 1973. See Bridge, page A2 Real estate ups, downs: Tale of islands vs. mainland towns By KRISTEN KELLEHER economy – hindered the real estate single-family homes in Atlantic County ‘It’s a great time for investors. It’s a great time for people Cape May Star and Wave markets in the less seasonal, mainland were up 15.5 percent, to 2,083 from communities. 1,804, year to date from November 2014. who are just buying into the market. There’s a lot of op- In Atlantic and Cape May counties, a There were bright spots in both coun- The closed sales of townhomes/condos bridge and the span of a few miles can ties in 2015. were up 25.3 percent, 733 from 585, and portunities for a first-time buyer or people trying to buy up. divide completely different real estate According to Jeannine Wescoat, adult community closed sales were up There’s also opportunities for people who are investors that markets. board president of the Atlantic City 16.1 percent, 159 from 137. The allure of beachfront living and & County Board of Realtors, Atlantic Despite the increase in sales, the buy a fixer upper and then they rehab it and flip it. That’s lazy days by the shore has kept the County saw increases in home sales median sales price of homes decreased island markets healthy, while the and particularly strong third quarter slightly across the board, and the av- helping our economy and our market.’ area’s challenges – unemployment rates sales in 2015. erage number of days on the market higher than the state average in both According to New Jersey Realtors –Jeannine Wescoat, A.C. & County Board of Realtors counties and Atlantic City’s struggling data, as of November, closed sales for See Real Estate, page A3 Washington Inn Open Daily through January 2nd

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