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Birth Defects Info Due

COURT HOUSE — An upstate newspaper reported Sunday that the cause of the cluster of birth defects that hit more than a dozen families in a four-year period in southern Cape May County may never be ascertained. “The reason for a largenumber of birth defects in a small area of Cape May County may never be determined, a state Health Dept, review has concluded," the Newark Star Ledger reported Dec. 14. "The report,” the newspaper continued.

"to be made public later this week, also is expected to recommend further studies, according to reliable sources. Those studies would include the testing of local water supplies because Initial invesUgations have been inconclusive." OFFICIALS FROM THE state and coun ty health departments are scheduled to convene a press conference at the County Health Dept., Crest Haven complex, this afternoon (Wednesday at 2). At that time, (Page 3 Please)

Hepatitis Clues Hunted

COURT HOUSE — County health authorities are continuing their investigation into what has been termed an "outbreak" of hepatitis which so far this year has totaled 64 cases, mostly in the Wildwoods. According to Louis Lamanna, county health coordinator, authorities haven’t been able to pin-point a single cause for

the incidence of the disease which was almost twice the previous high rate (37 cases in 1970) and so far this year is leading all counties in the state. LAMANNA ALSO NOTED Monday that the latest lead being tracked down is outside the county, and while it is possible the common source may have been outside the (Page 3 Please)

Foster Grandparent Program to Expand?

ATLANTIC CITY - The Foe ter Grandparent Program serving the bi-ctwnty area will be receiving almoal >410,000 of which an estimated >70,000 will go toward operations on The Jersey Cape — a part of the program which may be expanded in the coming months. The >409,>38 grant comes from Action, the federal agency for volunteer service, for the Foster Grandparent Program serving Atlantic and Cape May counties thru November 1961 ACCORDING TO LOCAL FGP director Anne Rosenberg here, the Cape May Coun-

ty segment of the program involves 18 grandparents at three sites plus one staff member. The 170,000 will go toward the >2 per hour stipend each "foster grandparent" receives during his or her 20 hours of week of service to children. The seniors also receive transportation reimbursement and meals (the latter, usually provided by those who administrate the site where they are working). On the Jersey Cape. Foster Grandparents are sponsored by Atlantic Human Resources Inc., headquartered In Atlantic City, as an independent program —

Pets Have Aid Too

RIO GRANDE — There are so many agencies available to help people on the Jersey Cape that it takes a 170-page booklet just to describe them all. There is also a place to turn when it comes to help for domestic animals ■*- pets. The Animal Welfare Society of Cape May County is included within the pages of The Peoples' Guide to Service, but not mentioned — because it is so new — is the society’s neutering and spaying program.

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Donations for the upkeep of sick or injured animals whose owners cannot afford veterinarian expenses are being sought by the Animal Welfare Society of Cape May County. Checks may be sent to Jean Nissen, society president, at her home (466-4563), which serves as temporary AWS headquarters: 204 Linden Ln., Rio Grande, N J. 06242. "At this most joyous time of the year, let’s not forget our f friends," an AWS spokesperson said. "A donation of any amount would be more than appreciated, and they would thank you with a lot of tail-wagging."

The program, which has been underway now for about a month, joins other services that are available to pet owners who can’t afford to care fully for their dogs, cats or other pets. "YES, WE DO HELP people out when they have an animal that has been hit by a car or one thing or another,” commented AWS president Jean Nissen from her 204 Linden Ln. home — which is serving as the nit’s temporary headquarters. "And we do help people out with their pet’s medical bills and things like that when they can’t afford it. She was particularly proud of the society's latest offering. "We just started our neutering and spaying program. That’s a big thing for this end of the county because Ocean City’s the next one over that has one. They’ve never had a program like that here. It just went into effect the middle of November." AWS PROVIDES UP TO half of the veterinarian cost for having a pet neutered orfpayed. While the society has monthly meetings at the Social Services Center at Rts. 9 and 47 here, the Nissen home continues to serve as somewhat of a communication center for people with pet problems. Her number la 4CMS63 - but don’t be surprised if the line is busy.

separate from the state-sponsored Foster Grandparents program in operation at the Woodbine State School. THE AHR-SPONSORED grandparents in Cape May County work with children who are handicapped physically, mentally or emotionally. The three main sites are at the JINS (Juveniles In Need Of Supervision) Shelter at Crest Haven, at the Woodbine ElemenUry School, and at the Dennis Township Elementary School. "I do have some grandparents working in other sites (in Cape May County) but they aren’t bonified si*es at the moment," Rosenberg said.

"Ours is an independent program." she explained, "and what I’m hoping for is to expand into Upper Township - mostly with the schools in their resource rooms. That’s a future plan," the FGP director acknowledged. "We’re just looking into that." THE BENEFIT OF THE Foster Grandparents Program to the young recipients and society is highlighted by the fact that handicapped individuals are no longer being institutionalized except in the severest of cases. In the case of most children who are classified as handicapped, the (Page 3 Please)

SEA ISLE CITY Mayor Dominic Raffa la flanked by Ocean CKy Mayor Chester Wimberg, left, and Sea Isle Civil Defense director William Wilkin prior to the first shipment of thoosands of pounds of clothing and food to earthquake victims in Ita^v. "The need is groat and the need is now," noted Mayor Raffa, who organized the counlywide effort. Donations are still being accepted dally. Call the mayor’s office at 2S3-44SI for information. I