Vol.19 No.5 ®1*M s*owov* c«t>. ah r«»*fv»d. February 2,1983

Magnesite Workers New Agency Get 8 More Months ^1*“

Erosion Hurts Avalon Beaches AVALON — Beach erosion described as "progressively worse rapidly" has hit some borough beaches, according to Yvonne S. Ballenger, chairman of its Environmental Commission. To add insult to injury, borough officials say vandals are destroying barricades and signs erected to warn the public about hazardous, abrupt beach dropoffs. Beaches at 8th, 10th, 11th, and 21st street (where photo at right was taken) are said to be among the worst. Ballinger said $700 worth of dune grass donated by the Home and Landowners Association w^ lost at 8th Street last weekend. ‘Tm terribly cohcemed," she said. "It’s worse every weekend." News—^ nippct Weeks L-ZIgCal Top Stories

Close Call ERMA — A cor hit a utility pole on Seashore Road Sunday, knocking out electricity, traffic lights and dtble ser vice only 1 Vj hours before the peginning of the Super Bowl XVII. Powef was restored in an hour The driver, Susan Pezzi, 19, of Erma, escaped serious injury She reportedly was charged with careless driving

Sniff, Sniff COURT HOUSE - While methods being used to clft r the courthouse of noxious fumes seems to be working, the building remained closed early this week pending results of State Health Department tests taken Monday According to buildings and grounds superintendent Harry Kehr, the freeholders will use the results ^leased yesterday to determine when to allow county employes to return to work in the building.

How’s Business COURT HOUSE - Local merchants will participate in a survey this week to determine what areas should be targeted for economic assistance through the federal government.

Pay Hikes Opposed OCEAN CITY — In spite of opposition that may lead to a public referendum on proposed management salary Increases, City Council last week approved a 1983 salary ordinance that raises union and management salaries from 9 to 14 percent. Under the agreement, the municipality's 18 management employes receive salaries ranging from $23,878 to $50,000, which council contends it’s legally bound to grant.

More Moped Rules TRENTON - The state Assembly last week voted 880 in favor of legislation re (Pa«e» Please)

By Joe Zelnlk The last contingent of employes at the Harbison-Walker Refractories plant may get more work closing the plant this year than they received in regular production the last two years. The magnesite plant at Cape May Point in Lower Township will be permanently closed sometime before Oct. 31, end of Harbison-Walker's fiscal year But between March 1 and Oct. 31, according to a management source that asked not to be identified, most of the 80 hourly employes laid off last July will be called back to use up inventory and ship stored magnesite. Most reportedly worked less than eight months in 1981 and about six months in 1982. Production Manager Raymond W. McCoy of Cape May refused to confirm details of the plant's closing. BUT OTHER SOURCES said inventory included two tanks with 2,500 tons of slurry, used to make magnesite The same source said a two-to-three year-old pile of about 5,000 tons of magnesite has to be redried before it can be shipped. The source said the 5,000-ton pile had been rejected as inferior by previous customers, but would be accepted by Bethlehem Steel for its plant at Sparrows Point, Md., reportedly a prime user of the local plant's magnesite. Three of four silos contain 3,000 tons of magnesite, the same source said, GETTING THE PLANT back into pro duction apparently will take some time because it had been "winterized." the source said, and water lines drained

Boilers will have to be reactivated and tested Four Harbison-Walker officials from Pittsburgh met with about eight management penonnel at the plant at 1:30 Tuesday, Jan 25, followed by a session with of ficials of Local 110 of the Uni'ed Steelworkers oi America at 2:30. But they gave no informatioh on pensions, severance pay, etc. a HARBISON-WALKER offijrtalfcin Pitt sburgh told the Herald a«d l2ln«m_.the plant would operate until "talk sdmnikr, when it will be closed permanently. "We don't know what we re going to do with it," they said They said they had already been approached by an Avalon realtor. Donald M Kelly, executive director of the Cape May County I» iustrial and Economic Development commission, said he contacted McCoy last year to advise him of a state-administered federal pnv gram of “technical assistance and low interest loans to help companies adversely affected by foreign imports " Kelly said McCoy "was interested and said he'd forward the information " That was the last Kelly heard, he said. "We know this (closing) was coming for years." said Kelly But the commission learned of last week's announcement by reading it in the newspapers, he said. (Page 28 Please i

By Bob Shiles DIAS CREEK — The Cape May County Mosquito Commission will buy two $150,000 helicopters to fight its number one enemy, "Aedaas sollicitans." the salt marsh mosquito. The county freeholders will receive bids on the choppers at 2 p m Feb 15. Owning the aircraft will save considerable dollars over the previous system of leasing the equipment on a yearly basis, according to commission Supt Judy Hansen. "In two to two-and-a-half years we’ll be able to recoup the cost of purchase," she said, noting that the purchas^price will be picked up by the county whiWan additional $41,000 covering pilot salary, insurance, fuel, maintenance and fringes will come out of the commission's 1983 operating budget The two helicopters will be available for use in the commission's spraying and research surveillance programs 10 months of the year In addition to commission needs, they will also be available for aerial

WILDWOOD — Corn chouder. ham steak with raisin sauce, au gratin potatoes, green beans almandine, roll and butter, fruit cup and beverage. Sound like the menu in a top-notch restaurant 7 It wak the opening day dinner of the Wildwood Housing Authority Congregate Services program Full-course dinners 365 days a year are a .highlight of the program at Sandman Towers, public housing for some 90 economically disadvantaged senior citizens. Goal is to prevent or delay a move to nursing home facilities by those who are finding it difficult to live independently The program provides dinner; transporta tion to stores, doctor, etc , and homcmak ing services TEN PERSONS are participating and paying a tee based on a sliding scale accor ding to income. "This is not a freebie." said Linda Hankin, program coordinator. "They feel better when they are paying for it " The program received an $8,000 grant from the state last fall Meals, prepared and offered at cost by Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital 10 miles away in Court House, began Jan 17 "Without Burdette Tomlin, 1 couldn't have done it,” said Mrs Hankin (Page 28 Plpase>

support in case of an emergency ACCORDING TO HANSEN, one of the helicopters will be equipped for spraying while the second will be used primarily for surveillance and "Syater management efforts Over the past few years the commission has had to reduce the amount of area it can spray due to increasing cost of leasing choppers As an example, Hansen explain ed that in the mid-70's a helicopter, pilot and fuel could be obtained for $90 an hour In 1982 the aincraft. and pilot, without fuel, cost $295 an httur The estimated cost for 1983 would have been about $340 an hour In 1982 the commission leased a copter from Cordoba Helicopter of Hightstown for 315 hours It was used from April ! to Nov l at a cost of just under $100,000 HANSEN SAID that if leased the air craft should be available for at least 500 hours At the 1983 rate, this would cost about $170,000 (Page 28 Please;

County to Buy Choppers For War on Mosquitoes