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TTTmt&y— On Towing Underway by Ed Harnett WASHINGTON. D C. - The U.S. Coast Guard has started a review of its policy on small vessel towing and salvage, but officials are mum on whether the study is in the wake of a Reagan administration proposal to cut traditional government services in favor of private enterprise or cost effectiveness. As part of the study — which concentrates on assistance to vessels of 100 gross tons or less — the Coast Guard is seeking the views of operators of recreational boats and small commercial vessels as well as commercial towing and salvage operators. CURRENT COAST GUARD policy, ac(Page 14 Please)

DOWNED TOW PLANE, left. Is examined by crew of Coast Guard helicopter to see if assistance is needed. It wasn't, the pilot had already walked away <see News Digest story).

CAPE MAY v « COUINTY ^ \ ttniu

Vol.17 NO.28 l*tJ J»owov*Cofp. Allr.!0hHr*««rv*d

July 14,1982

Newsv Digest

The Week's Top Stories

OK Riparian Vote TRENTON — The Assembly last week o'kayed the chance for the electorate to vote in November on a constitutional amendment authorization enactment of a law permitting the state to sell its interest in riparian lands for less than fair market value The proposed amendment is aimed at assisting coastal property owners whose ' lands have been claimed by the Tidelands Resource Council. Under state constitution, the council is obligated to claim any lands that were once covered by tidal waters, requiring that the riparian property owners pay the state at today's prices to get their land back The Senate must approve the question before it can go on the ballot For Some Increase NEWARK - Although members of STEP (Stop the Electric Punch) and most Atlantic Electric customers would like to see the utility receive none of its requested $172 4 million rate increase,"^ the state Public Advocate's staff recommended July 8 that the utility receive a 'rate hike of $55 million If the state Bbard of Public Utilities, which is currently reviewing the case, ac cepts the advocate’s recommendations, the utility customers can anticipate about a 12 per cent increase in their monthly electric bills rather than a 34 to 38 per cent increase. The new rates would go into effect sometime after Sept, l

MUA Urges Public Push For Funding SWAINTON — The county stands to gain $60 million in construction funds for wastewater treatment projects during the next two fifccal years under a new state priority list released last Wednesday, and the county MUA wants to make sure the money gets here. George Marinakis, executive director, of the county Municipal Utilities Authority, announced that the Wildwood/Lower and Seven Mile/Middle Region projects had moved up on the priority list from numbers 19 and 20 to 5 and 6 respectively: "We are delighted with the higher rating.” Marinakis stated. "In this era of limited funding, we have proved that project readiness pays off. The state has looked very favorably on Cape May County." THE MUA is scheduled tq receive onethird of the state’s total federal allocation of $185 million during the funding period. More than 250 projects are on the Garden State priority list. "Because we responded immediately to the state’s request for a segmented funding plan for construction of the remaining facilities, and because we anticipated the federal cutback in funds, we have the (Pagfe 14 Please)

Noise Code Has ‘em Hollering

by Jacob Schaad Jr. CAPE MAY — After hearing' the sometimes loud expressions of proponents and opponents, City Council last Tuesday passed a new, tougher anti-noise ordinance. Mayor Arthur Blomkvest and Coun-

music and other sounds off the streets of Cape May, prohibits loud noises that are "plainly audible" at a distance of 50 ft from the building from which they emanate, fit describes noise as sounds coming from radios, phonographs, hi-fi and stereo sets, television, musical in-

“The character of the town is at stake” * * * “If people live in a commercial area they must pay the consequences”

cilman Adrian Capehart voted for the ordinance. Councilman Harry Gilbert abstained, calling for a study that would result in a more definitive law. The ordinance, designed to keep loud

struments "or any other sound producing instrument." * FORMER AND PRESENT city officials joined tavern owners and private citizens (Page 15 Please)

A Safe Bet on Higher Rates?

WILDWOOD - If 24-hour gambling becomes a reality in Atlantic City, Jersey Cape residents can bet their monthly electric bills will skyrocket. At least that’s the view of E. Warren Garretson of Erma. The president of STEP (Stop The Electric Punch movement), he told public officials and members of the business community gathered recently in city hall here to oppose state legislation which would permit round-the-clock gambling in Atlan-

tic City (see separate News Digest stories). "THEY CLAIM one of the reasons they need the increase is because of the high cost of providing electricity to casinos.” Mr. Garretson said of the electric utility The STEP spokesman added that while he believes the rate hike battle before the state Board of Public Utilities is going in favor of the consumer, he was emphatic in his assertion that approval of 24-hour gambling would reverse the trend

Gambling Vote Off

TRENTON — Assembly Speaker Alan Karcher, D-Middlcsex, deckled last week against scheduling for vote a bill that would permit 24-hour casino gambling in Atlantic City on weekends — stalling action on tht controversial legislation until the Legislature returns from summer

The Speaker refused to permit the lower house to vote on the bill, sponsored (Page 14 Please)

— Help Send A — Kid to Camp WILDWOOD - The Community Service Center here is seeking donations to send youngsters to the Salvation Army's CampTecuseh in North Jersey, August 6-13.' It cost $l(jo to sponsor a child for "the one-week cqmp, contributions are tax deductible Those^ wishing to contribute money or the name of a youngster whom the camp could benefit should contact Curtis Miller, center director, at 522-02^ A total of 19 Jersey Cape' youths attended camp the past couple of years, Mr Miller said, noting that as a result of the first year's camp attendance, a youth group was formed at the local center.

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COUNTY FAIR begins Thursday and continues thru Saturday at the 4-H Fairgrounds, Dennisville Rd. Here’s a scene from last year’s Lamb Auction; this year's fair is featured in Cape May County Magazine ... opposite Page 14. BIENVENU! You can get a French lesson and more on Bastille Day, July 14, in Wildwood Page 27

Too Many People & Not Enough Jobs

by Hob Shiles Controlled growth No more subsidized housing. Fewer variances for building on undersized lots Increased efforts to encourage commerce and industry to locate in the county's largest municipality. All are steps Lower Township Committeewoman Peggie Bieberbach believes must be taken now if the township is to 'escape the urban blight that has taken hold iiT)so many other communities. /"If building continues to go on as it has the last 20 or 30 years, there will soon be no Such thing as open space except in areas that totally can’t be built upon because of the condition of the land.” the committeewoman told the Lantern during alrecent three and a half hour interview. "I THINK THE building industry went wild here in I>ower Township, and I think now is the time to do something about it thru the township's land use development plan " The most art’^ulate member on the local governing body when it comes to developmental issues, Ms Bieberbach contends that her interest in land develop-

ment goes back at least to 1977 "I could see then that everytime one turned ardund there was another development going up." she said, emphasizing that the accompa nying influx .of residents created the need for new schools and additional municipal services, and local taxes increased as the municipal (budget) went up yearly "Some people say the more homes that are built the more ratables come into the community," she said "But they don’t take into consideration that these are not

Bieberbach

“...I think we’re going to have urban blight”

the type of ratables needejl to generate a good balanced budget To keep taxes' down, you don't need a lot of extra homes or single family res'idences," the Commit teewoman added TM NOT OPPOSED,to building* I'm for controlled growth." But Ms Bicberbach's idea of controlled growth calls for a taboo on residential development - at least for the time being. '.‘I don't think we need more residences for now. until wq get more commercial and industrial business in the community We have to at least balance out the ratables and help the people that are already here to get some kind of a tax break." she said Only two major industries in the area Everlon Fabrics and the magnesite plant (the latter shutdown after recently reopen mg) provide employment for a substantial number of people, the Commit let w oman went on "We have built thousands and thousands of homes in the last 20 £ears yet. what in dustries have come into the area'' For thousands and thousands of homes we (Page 15Please)«