Pag? 6

The Herald and The Lantern

V, December

Wednesday,

3,1980

Yule Parade, Fire Co. at Odds Stop Signs

Due Village

THIS WAS the float that laancbed the Weal Cape May Commaaky Chriatmaa Parade tradition 1C year* ago. The animal event contfaiaea thia Saturday evening thru Weat Cape May and Cape May Cky. atartlng at 7 p.m.

W. CAPE MAY - A simmering controversy involving a yuletide tradition and the local volunteer fire company has broken into the open Just a fetv days before the 16th Annual Community Christmas Parade. At the heart of the matter is

timing.

The Christmas parade is always 7 p.m on the first Saturday in December. It’s no accident; there are other Christmas parades throughout South Jersey and participants can't be in two places at once. For instance, the Millville Christmas parade is always on the first Saturday afternoon in December, and some who

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perform there are also in the line of march here later that evening. * The fire company is in a unique situation. It is the only volunteer unit in thearea that has neither a fire tax nor heavy municipal funding for support. While the local company does receive some $17,000 a year from the county’s Special Services School District as rent for a school that's housed in its modem building, that money goes to pay off a recently purchased fire engine. In short, the fire company depends upon its bingo receipts to survive. Both the parade people arid firemen indicate the breaking point is near. It’s a tradition that Santa Claus rides into town atop a fire engine. The local volunteers have called for their compatriots in surrounding areas to boycott the parade — not to send any fire equipment. As of press time yesterday several fire companies had already voted. Only Cape May City firemen voted — and not unanimously — to participate (but perhaps only from the Cape May bor-

der).

The conflict goes back eight years when founding parade director Charlotte Daily supposedly was asked to reschedule the parade to accommodate the fire companies bingo night. According to Mrs. Daily, the request for a change was last minute. “I don’t know what to do," she said yesterday, in tears. "I Just don’t know what to do. But, I'll tell you this,” she continued, sobbing. "If it’s only one car with Santa Claus in it and a banner — he’s going

to be brought to town. I said that the first year, and I mean it this year... by God. those kids are looking for Santa, and he’s going to

come.''

Fire Chief A1 Noble talks of the financial needs of the company and the difficulties of providing fastresponse fire protection for the community on. a night when the streets are

Tm not doing , this for spite. I’m looking out for public safety," he said, pointing out that, anyway, fire trucks don’t make a Christmas parade; that it’s floats and other entries. But another of his comments summed up the entire situation: "That is 'sad,” the Fire Chief said Tuesday.

VILLAS — The Lower Township Committee introduced an ordinance Nov. 24 which will pave the way for stop streets requested by some residents of Bayside Village here. The measure wiM be withheld from publication and final adoption until after the state Department of Transportation reviews and approves the ordinance. That could take months. The measure was introduced at the behest of several residents who petitioned the local governing body.

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