SOME WHO PARTICIPATED in Saturday’* lira market and parade in court House celebrating the loeth anniversary of the American Red Cross were stuffed, even before eatlng.the many kinds of food available.

Army OKs Projects To Restore Beaches

Board Opts For Teachers

Despite Advice Enrollment May Drop Next Year

by Bob Shiles

ERMA v- Although Superintendent Ephraim Keller advised the Lower Cape May Regional School Board that projected enrollment figures for the high school next year may be low enough to warrant the dismissal of two teachers, the board after more than an hour in closed session, voted unanimously last week to maintain the staff at its present level. Because of the drop in next year's enrollment, the board had been considering the possibility of reducing both the high school Physical Education Dept, and the Social Studies Dept, by one teacher each. The teachers in danger of getting their pink slips W^re physical education teacher Dave Srmth and social studies instnicftr Richard Houghton. MR. SMITH HAS BEEN with the district for five years — one year as an aide, one year as a permanent substitute and three years as a teacher. He had just been granted tenure last month. Mr. Houghton joined the staff two years ago, and won’t be eligible for tenure until next year. Mr. Keller emphasized his recommendation that the board consider' the possibility of reducing the staff had nothing to do with the teaching ability of either teacher. He noted that personalities play no part in such a decision. "When considering this kind of action you look at statistics." the superintendent said. BUT SEVERAL OF THE teachers who showed up at last Thurdays board meeting to support their comrades questioned Mr. Keller’s basis for eve* - , considering reducing the high school s .aff. William Garrisor, chairman of the Phys. Ed. Dept., presented statistics that indicate all eight teachers in his department are needed to handle the 1981-82 enrollment, which he says will be approximately

1,164 students.

In a written statement he noted his department is one of the few in the school that has a majority of its teachers teaching six periods a day. In addition he opined that the Phys. Ed. Dept, has the highest pupil-teacher ratio in the school, a majority of his staff is involved in coaching or running intramural events, and that the reduction of staff would prevent additional classes being held for students that need extra credits to graduate. CHARGING THAT THE superintendent was requesting the dismissal of Mr. Smith as a personal vendetta against the department chairman. Mr. Garrison continued that he couldn’t understand how Mr. Keller could recommend possible

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CAPE MAY — Congressman Bill Hughes (D-NJ) announced today that the Army Corps of Engineers has given final approval to a scaled-down version of the proposed beach restoration and storm protection project here. Hughes said- the Army Corps' action clears the way for Congress to appropriate construction funds for the project However, he noted that the Cape May project was not included in President Reagan's budget, so funding is uncertain at this time. "I’m pleased that the Army Corps has finally certified this project for construction," Hughes stated. "The residents of Cape May have waited patiently for many years for the government to rebuild these beaches, which it inadvertantly destroyed years ago. This action brings the federal government one step closer to repayment of that debt." HUGHES SAID the revised project approved by the Army Corps authorizes the construction of groins and other beach improvement measures in Cape May, but

temporarily deletes the erosion control and storm protection measures which had been planned for Lower Township. Earlier this year, the Army Corps had recommended that the entire project be delayed, because the Lower Township portion was not cost-effective, and the local governments were unable to commit their share of matching funds. However, Hughes protected that decision to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Har bors. Upon review, the Board has now concluded that the projects should be separated. Under this arrangement, the Cape May work can begin as soon as construction funds are made available. For Lower Township, the Army corps agreed to carry out a beach monitoring program, to gather data which may be used to justify a future federal project in the area HE IS ESPECIALLY pleased. Hughes said, that the federal government has agreed to pay the total cost of the Cape May project, which is estimated at $12 million He pointed out that the beaches were washed away as a result of the government's construction of jetties in Cold Spring Inlet to protect the Coast Guard station. The South Jersey lawmaker noted that President Reagan's budget did not recommend any funding for the Cape May project for fiscal 1982. Despite that recommendation, Hughes testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee in March in support of $175,000 to complete pre-construction work on the project. Hughes said he remains hopeful that Congress will approve the Cape May funding, which would provide for: < Page. 17 Please j

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If You Hear A Boom

W. TRENTON - Col. Ginton L Pagano, State Police Superintendent and State Director of Emergency Management, announced that a seismic experiment, utilizing airguns and explosive charges as sound sources, will be conducted off the southeast coast of New Jersey this month. The project is sponsored

by the National Science Foundation and participating in the experiment are the following institutions: LamentDoherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; University of Texas Marine Science Institute; and Bedford Institute, Dartmouth.

Nova Scotia. Col. Pagano said that it is anticipated that the seismic experiment will be heard on shore. Local police departments along the southeast coast have been advised of the experiment in expectation of telephone inquiries from the general public

Digest Wild Cats on Walk? OCEAN CITY — City officials appeared confident last week that authorities will prevent an amusement operator here from his plan to exhibit five wild animals on the boardwalk this -summer Roger Jakubowski has reportedly proposed housing a lion, tiger, leopard, cougar and cougar in 4^x8 ft. cages behind a chain link fence at his giant , s, 'd e Die walkway near Plymouth PI. Council members indicated Thursday night that federal licensing authorities, if not the Humane Society, and otherswould have the final word. It was also pointed out that Wildwood hasn't allowed any wild animals on its boardwalk ever since a lion escaped from a walkway exhibit over 40 years ago and killed a per son. Rare Fish Found SEA ISLE CITY - A rare lancet fish came ashore here last week Discovered alive in the surf by Public Works superintendent John Fox. the unusual fish died shortly afterwards. The 5 ft. 2 in long-silvery blue fish was taken to the Marine Sciences Consortium in Palermo Therf, biologists Tom Far rell and Stacey Trimble dug thru old reference bpoks. while Maureen Moore, a Consortium employee from Avalon, was on the phone to Churchill Grimes of Rutgers University, who Indicated what . it might be. The strange-looking fish, which is usually found at depths of over 1,200 feet. , has sharp teeth and two fangs It's now in the Consortium freezer Five universities have expressed interest in acquiring it. Ride Crash Eyed NORTH WILDWOOD - A fluke accident resulting rom a snapped cable pro bably caused the crash*of the UFO amusement ride at Sportland Pier here on May 23 in which four people sustained only minor injuries. That was the word from a state Safety Compliance official last week. The ride was almost over when the mishap occurred. dropping the people, all from Har risburg, about 4 ft to the platform. No apparent defects or violations were found, and the ride had been inspected 3Mi weeks earlier. Suicide in Jail WILDWOOD - Timothy J. Doyle of Ridley Park, Pa apparently committed suicide in a city jail cell here early Sunday morning, according to authorities Police said tha* the 23-year-old man, who had been arrested around lam Sunday on a diorderly person charge, was pronounced dead shortly after 4 30 p.m. after being found hanging from his shirt. An investigation is underway. ‘A Rotten Job’ LOWER TOWNSHIP ~ Mayor Thomas Clydesdale last week criticized the state for the way it conducted its recent spraying program for gypsy moths "The statedid a rotten job." the mayor said. "I think the statejtould foul up a free lunch " Wins in 2nd Vote CAPE MAY — Stephen Todd was officially seated on the Lower Cape May Regional School Board last week after soundly defeating challenger Stephen Peckiconis in the special May 26 runoff election. Both candidates seeking the one year term had tallied 113 votes in the regular April 7 school district election In the runoff Mr. Todd received 137 votes while Mr. Peckiconis could muster only 78. A total of 212 v iters wfnt to the polls. ^ The other Cape May seat on the nine- ' member board is currently held by W E (Ed) Hutchinson He won his one year term on the board in April with 121 votes rTo Close SpanCOURT HOUSE County Engineer Neil O. Clarke has announced that the Great Channel Bridge on Stone Harbor Blvd. between Middle TownshipNmd the Borough of Stone Harbor will be closed to vehicular traffic during the period from June 8 to June 12 from 8 a m. to 2 p.m for repairs.