i (INK OF THE nicest things about living in a community like ours is the (’hnstmas Spirit generated by' residents and merchants alike in decoration of their hbmes and shops Some businesses which are already decorated are the t'rix}i I’avillion (always driginah’ Hoys B&IO, Fred's Tavern, shofrs on the Wharf ablaze with lights, and Seashore Home Supply with its big-city, animated figures in the

window

. The boro also deserves crfdit for its contribution to the' festivities The huge

A HEARTFELT Christmas greeting to l^onard Scymanski. and other members of the Cape May County Library's Reference Division without whose help this column would never appear This department has settled more family disputes (fights and bets) than the Philadelphia Library Association has in 20-plus years of marriage They are unfailingly polite, conscientious and helpful If you have a.ddnnybrook going, call-465-71 g and they'll give you the exact answer immediately or call you

Slews Notes from-

Seven Mile Beach Mtllen Rowland 168-2294

Christmas tree and all the . back within minutes.

accompanying lighted ibreots make it ;■ real treat to drive through town these evenings (hie no longer has< to leave the island to find gifts flft the person who has everything Both the At Home' shop in the (i a 11 r y a n d , A u n t Abigail’s” across the street have sections for the most diseriminating buyer and recipient They also have stocking staffers for thdke of us with grand children who must make few funds go a long way

In W. estimation this ik

one of the ‘most valuable services the county provides and it’s a lot cheaper than divorce (The price is

right — it’s for free.)- * WHILE SHOPPINt the Women’s Civic boutique, we were assU

. by two of Stone Harbor's most beautiful women — Peg Schaffer and'Marie Spence. Peg was all excited by the wedding she had just attended. On Dec. 5, Michelle Ann Mehan,

NewsDigest

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daughter of Mr*. Paul E; Mehan and the late Mr. Mehan, became the bride of Brian Leigh Strauss, son of Mf. and Mrs. Eric Strauss of Levittown. Pa., at Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia. —(Given away by her brother, Paul E. Mehan. Jr., the bride wore white satin brocade with fingertip veil and pearl-lwaded headpiece Ffer bouquet was Cal la lilies. Her attendants were: Maid of Honor, her sister Nicole Mehan. and bridesmaids, Jeanne of Meadowbrook and CarolGallagher of Philadelphia, John Grum of Havertown was best man and the ushers were Val Wilson and Jack McMahon of Philadelphia. Bridesmaids wore rose taffeta with headpieces of tea roses and flower girl Sheila Dallahan of Morrisville, Pa. wore pale pink moire with tea roses in her hair. THE RECEPTION was held at Mendenhall Inn, not far from Longwood Gardens, and appropriately decorated for the holiday season with masses of pink

pers' survey to determine what is needed to bring more business to the downtown Asbury Avenue area Another Tax

1 V

WtLDWOOD \ public hearing will be held later this month on {^proposed new tax on merchants, not Urexceed $50, ' which would be used to advertise the city (Jeeafl City is expected to levy a similar tax • /

Restoration -

The Reef'

(KIOANCITY The Army Corps of Engineer^wants public comment on a proposal by the locjjd Artificial Reef Committee to construct n 70-acre sportfishing r£ef made of old tirps about 4'^ miles off MUrSt .] Write the District! Engineer, Depart- , ment of the Army. Philadelphia District, Corps of Engineers! CustomHouse-2D and Chestnut SJs . Philadelphia, Pa . 19106. before Dec 20 dames Decline TRENTO^ Poor weather early in the season, followed by mid-summer recession and Atlantic City casinos took their toll on the huimess of amusement games along resorj boardwalks this summer Bill Tregor, dhief of the State Bureau of Amusement Game Control, said recently that the industry grossed aboul'45o million this past summer, about 10 per cent less than the yeaf before Fishing Pier- ' From Page 11 size is 105 x 1.15.feet and conUfins approx imately 54,175 square feet of beach area. Local, attorney Eric Gaver, who’s representing the j property owner, said Saturday that his client hopes to begin con- • struct mg the pier this Spring, possibly opening by summer He previously M'ated that the fishing facility will "provide good clean recreational activity." adding that there’s not one facility like it in lldwer Township ACCORDING TO Leszczynski, he's been working to obtain state and federal permits for the project since he purchaser! the property in M977 He told zoning board members, last month that he believes the business, to be operated by himself and his immediate family, will "benefit the community as much as anybody ’ While most nearby residents have spoken In favor of the proposal, some have voiced objections because of the potential for noise and traffic problems. These concerns will adressed when the plan comes before.the local planning board for site pian review. *

(From Page 1) clqde the dune areas, part of which lie in Lower Township, have been turned down previously by federal authorities because the cost-benefit ratio for the project does not meet the criteria set by the Army Corps of Engineers. To fall within the Corps standards, this environmentally sensitive area would have Iq be wed more for recreation or other, purposes directly benefiting the public The current Cape May.beach restoration effort covers the area from Cape May Inlet to the city’s Third Avenue Jetty. Two years ago, plans to reconstruct the .meadows area .were eliminated from the proposal to make the whole project fundable based on Corps criteria. HUGHES HAS reportedly been an extremely successful proponent of beach restoration projects^Last year he was able to convince the House Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development to restore about $2 million in shore projects that was omitted in the Reagan Administration's recommended budget: "The government owns up to the fact that the erosion and flooding problems are due to the Army Corps putting the jetty in for the canal,” Clydesdale said, "but there's nothing they want to do about it. "I feel sorry for the people in Cap<? May Poipt,” the mayor continued. "The dunes are building up, but if there’s a flood, they'll be cut off from the mainland."

and red poinsettias. The groom, who is a graduate of Temple. University, got his Law Degree at Jxiyola University in New Orleans and is currently assistant district attorney for Philadelphia. The bride graduated from Merion Mercy Academy in Pennsylvania, holds a B.A. from Temple and also obtained her Master of Arts Degree there in Speech pathology. She is presently a speech pathologist with CORA in Philadelphia. Michelle is the granddaughter of Mrs. John J. Mehan, Sr. of Stone Harbor and'(sentimental .note for long-time residents) gCeat granddaughter ofikthe late Michael Lennonj. Stone Harbor’s* first cnief of police who also acted "in loco parentis" to every kid in the borough. Mike’s great granddaughter and her groom are honeymooning in St. Anton, Austria, will be I i v i n g i n Philadelphia and vacationing here. Delores Mehan. mother of the bride, is a partner of Shelter Haven Realty along with the . bride's uncle Jack Mehan and Bill Schaffer. THE WOMEN'S Civic Club of Stone Harbor will be holding its Christmas Gqt Together on Thursday at 12 noon at the Whitebrier Inn, 260 20th St. in Avalon. This annual affair is open to members and their guests only and reservatins are required. Manager Joe Brophy goes all out on this Dutch Treat event. • • • THE ANNUAL outdoor Christmas lighting contest has begun. Sponsored by Stone Harbor's Chamber of Commerce, three categories will be ^considered: Best D^prway, Best Grounds, and: Best Overall. First pladP winners in each division will be guests of the chamber at its Jan. 17 dinner meeting at Henny's. Second-place win : nets will receive prizes and third or Honorable Mention winners recognized. JUDGING will be done by non-island, impartial experts. This year they'll be Mayor Thomas Clydesdale and his wife, Alice, of Lower Township and the'new principal of Middle Township High

School, John McVey and his wife Ann Marie of CMCH. Judging will be done from 7-9 p.m. on Dec. 29. Only those who have submitted-an entry blank (available at Seashore Home Supply) will be considered eligible, so sign up to ensure that your contribution to the seasonal beauty of the boro is on Uie lipl of homes to be visited. WE LEARNED from the student publication "Avalon Courier" that the • Elks Lodge in North Wildwood is holing a "Hoop-Shoot" for school kids aged 8-13. The contest for both boys and girls will be scored on the best out of 25 shots. Individual school winners will compete in Wildwood on Dec. 18. Contributor. Amy Pfanstiel reported that first-graders receive an award for reading five books, learned a new game, "Frog on a Rock," , and are getting instruction on how to get along with their peers. She also reported on an animal act which had performed at the school and pupils were taught to reward small Animals, rather than rebuke them, to hasten

their training.

Amy also described the visit 5th & 6th graders

made to the Cape May County Jail on Dec. 2. The students talked with three inmates and in Amy's words "learned a lesson about .behavior...not to steal, or do anything against the law." ON FIRST MOVING down here we were told by long-time residents that the first thing we should do would be to join the Realty Owners Assoc, of Stone Harbor. That advice was right on target. We have’ just received the Fall News • Bulletin from President F. Wm. VanNess and it has clarified so many questions in our mind. It stressed the importance of Ted’ Pain’s message on Riparion Rights (you can check with his office at Borough Hall to.see if your rights are endangered) and assured us that less than 10 percent of properties in the borough will be affected. It also pointed out the position of the Zoning Board of Adjustment on video games in this area and discussed a feasibility study on. a conceptual theme for 96th St, between 2nd and 3rd Aves. This group is our watchdog — it I more than pays to support

them.

Dorli Word SAFETY LOCKS are demonstrated by Ocean City police patrolman Richard Buck to Audrey Kemenosh, police cadet who served as a tour guide at Ocean City’s second annual Open House.

Appraisals-

GRIM REMINDER of the dangers of drug a ed by Ocean City police cadet Keith Johnso . 100 persons attended the second annual Open Department.

Doris Word Hlustrated in a display being arrang- ‘ detective John Tacarrino. Some off the Ocean City Police

(From Page 1) tax bills, in early June, until Aug. 15. The Appraisal Surveys contract provides that it and the city solicitor will defend the new assessments in hearings before the board. The new appraisals, which should represent the price the property could be sold for, average 218 per cent higher than the previous figures. "Seashore property, in general, has appreciated at a greater rate than property in other parts of thfcjiounty," said Supple. The state requires properties to be assessed at 100 per cent of market value and provides that municipalities must reassess when the ratio falls below 85 per cent. THIS REAPPRAISAL was ordered two years ago. Assessments reportedly were only 52 per cent of market value this year. Cape May's last appraisal was conducted to Appraisal Surveys Inc. in 1975 and took effect for the 1976 tax year. It reappraised Stone Harbor, Wildwood and West Wildwood last year, Cape May Point in September, Sea Isle City last month, and sent new figures to Wildwood Crest property owners last week, according to Supple.