CAPE MAY COUNTY

TV

LISTINGS

VOL. IS NO. 2

WEEK OF JANUARY 9 TO JANUARY IS. 1980

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PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY THE SEAWAVE CORPORATION, P.O. BOX 0. AVALON. N.J. 0820!

Snow: The County’s Ready For It

Snow. The delight of children (especially on a schoolday), the anathema of drivers, nature's

beautifier.

Snow is many things to

many people. To some it’s an irritating imposition, to others a joyous reaffirmation of a world ■ purified. But, whatever the; reaction, it’s a winter factv

of life in Cape May County And, a host of county workers do their best to prepare for it and make it as painless as possible for

the rest of us.

The first snow of the new year and the new decade blanketed the county Jan. 4 and 5 with from two inches accumulation in the southern part of the county, to 5-1/2 inches in the northern sector, Bill Gery, county meterologist said. The snow fejl for about 26 hours from 3 p.m. Jan. 4 to 6«p.m. Jan. 5, and though the wet snow turned to slush freezing to ice Saturday night, many people seemed to wisely weather the storm bystaying indoors Cape May County gets its share of snowfall, about 20 inches per year, Gery said. But, the salt air and warming trend of the nearby ocean usually turns the snow to rain causing an early rneltoff. he added. The record snowfall recorded for the county is 34 inches in February 1888.

Gery said.

Asked whether he would venture a long range prediction for the forecast this winter. Gery said he could "make none at all." Thht’s the kind of thing you can't predict. The best thing is just to be prepared. Being prepared is a matter of pride for the Cape May County Roads DepaTtment when a

AWAY WE GO! Icy streets may have proven treacherous for drivers

butfor kids on sleds nothing could be better. Bittner Succeeds Tucker" \

AH GOP Freeholder Board Reorg anizes

snowstorm threatens. A crew of 50 men have the job of clearing some 200 : miles of county roads when snow hits. Ed Ayres, assislaflt supervisor of the roads department, said. The department keeps in close touch with county meterologist Gery who gives them a two-day lead to start making preparations when a storm is headed this way. The county mobilizes 20 dump trucks for salting . •and plowing four front end loaders and several fourwheel drive vehicles in their clearing operations Crew members typically work up to 16 hour shifts during a storm and even worked 24-hour shifts during last year's blizzard, i^yres said. When the roads departrhent gets the word that rfnow is imminent the crew begins to mobilize by running equipment checks and loading the salt trucks Salting is used to clear roads in light storms of I1/2 inches or less because plows must be raised one inch off the ground to prevent wearing down of the blade and damage to

the roads, Ayres explained Salt or a mix of washed sand and salt or calcium is effective in melting snow to temperatures down to temperatures of 22 degrees fahrenheit. Ayres said. If a big storm is expected,/the roads depart ment waits for a higher accumulation before plowing rather than layjng salt then plowing it away. Ayres sain. Snow storms are usually followed by colder temperatures the following day. he added Therefore, plowing is most effective irt preventing ice buildup The cost of c losing county roads in last weekend's storm was about $10,000. Ayres estimated Crews put in 440 hours of overtime and used abriht 80 fons of salt (d relatively small amount), the official added . The numhor ,of cars on the road gorirrally increases proportionately as a storm approaches. Ayres said. Before the storrh. people often panic and head for the grocery stores to stock up for a syige After the storm starts (Page 3 Please»

COURT HOUSE

Cheerful optimism with a tinge of sober regard for the new year and new decade marked the official organization of the Cape May County Board of

Chosen Freeholders organization meeting Jan.

3. '

About 100 persons representing various local government, county departments and the public

attended the noon meeting in which newcomer Jack Bittner was sworn in as freeholder. The Ocean City businessman's accesion to the board now places the

A PROUD DAY for new freeholder Jack Bittner and family, sons Scott and Michael and wife Jill (center). County Clerk Angela Pulvino administers the oath of office Jan. 3.

five-man complete control. Bittner defeated Democratic candidate Fl-ank Murphy to replace former Democratic freeholder Thomas Tucker. "I look forward to my term with great en thusiasm and seriousness." Bittner said at his first meeting. The freeholder also thanked the voters for their confidence in him ( . He will serve a four year term. Bittner's wife Jill and sons Scott and Mike par ticipated in the swearing in ceremony a T intend to do the best job I can." Bittner concluded. Freeholder Anthony , Catanoso was elected director of the board and Gerdld Thornton ViceDirector Catanose predicted 1980 would be "more exciting than the past 1 year" for Cape May County Action taken at the organization meeting included designation of departments to the freeholders The following

HOMEWARD BOUND on a snowy flay, one thing Cape May County re^klents can be

grateful for is mostly clear road

•c$ide oadk.

assignments were made: Administration. Public Affairs, Airport and CETA Catanoso; Revenue. Finance and Crest HavenWilliam Sturm; Buildings. Grounds. Weights and Measures and MaseumRalph Evans; Health.. Welfare and Charities, Planning Board-Thornton i and Courts. Agriculture and Public Safety, Public Works-Bittner ,— The Atlantic City Press was named the official newspaper for legal advertisements A resolution was passed establishing the mileage rate for county employees at 16 cents per mile Action levying a 1 \ mil per dollar library tax was also approved The freeholders were also assigned Director's Appointments are:

Welfare Board-Bittner. Thornton. Vocational School Board of EstimateBittner, Thornton. Kathryn Willis. Clerk of the Board. Voting member to N-J Association of CountiesBittner, Willis, and Planning Board-Bittner • Other appointments approved included Harry M Scott, professional services for audit; Pierre Payette, advertising services in Canada. Warren Carr, assistant to county treasurer; James Brooker. Sal lilacchetti. Park Commission, Florence Speck, Library com mission. F William Colt. Welfare Board; Dorothy Mack. Industrial Commission. Fred Coldren, Federal and State Funding