Cape May at Christmas is full of Glad Surprises! See inside.

Gas: Not No, Not Yes

ERMA — Natural gas service to the Cape May County Airport Industrial Park? “We don’t like to say no,” South Jersey Gas Co. president William F. Ryan said last month at a reception introducing the new firm to the county. “But let’s get one winter under our belt," added James L. Walker, manager of Industrial Services for South Jersey Gas, at a meeting of the county Economic Development Commission last week. “ONE TEST IS our ability to serve in the winter time,” he said. “We’ll measure closely and have a better handle on our weak spots.” A. H. (Rick) Childs, the county agency’s executive director, said that, in the mean-

time, the county has converted the heating of its three water and sewer pumphouses from electric to propane gas, as a costsaving measure. Walker said the decision on extending natural gas service was “a judgment call. “Expansion of service will be a priority thing with us,” said Walker, “but extensions have to be cost-effective. “WE ARE INTERESTED," he said. “One of the first words out when we started to acquire (New Jersey Natural Gas) was gas service for this industrial park. But we have to be aware of the real world.” That “real world" — how many firms would convert and use how much gas — is “being surveyed right now,” he said. “We’re surveying now,” he said, “but

the proof of the pudding will come” when Firms are asked to sign commitment letters, agreeing to convert to natural gas. “Only then would we know if there would be enough revenue. “WE ARE DEEPLY in the throes of recalculating under our methods the real cost in dollars,” he said. “I personally think the cost to serve and revenue could match. He added that “turnover” and "longevity” of the firms at the industrial park would be another factor. “Will everybody stay here?” he asked. Childs said that, in addition to the airport, the county has six departments at the park and there are 27 outside businesses. The county has 153 employes there, outside firms 431, he said.

DorU Ward

DOWN — You'd be depressed too. if you were a turkey 48 hours before

Thanksgiving.

Jobs Lured Fish Grant

News—^ Digest ^Stories Interested Parties SUNSET BEACH - “We have a number of people who are interested,” a spokesman for Harbison-Walker Refractories said of prospective buyers for the 123-acre magnasite plant site here. The company, he confirmed has no actual price tag for the property, but wants at least $1 million. The spokesman declined to name the interested parties. “There’s been a lot of talk back and forth,” he said. Everlon Layoff ERMA — Everlon Fabrics Carp., a major employer in the county airport in(Page 14 Please)

By JOE ZELNIK A promise of new commercial fishing industry jobs for low-and moderate-income persons apparently won Cape May County its 1500,000 grant under the federal Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program. Unlike Ocean County, which won a similar $377,000 grant a year ago, the county placed little emphasis cm “private leveraging” that would encourage loan applicants to have a private investment, presumably from banks. None of the details of the new program

have been worked out, but officials were slated to meet today with the State Department of Community Affairs, which awarded the grants. James J. Smith, principal planner with the county Planning Department s$id formal applications probably will not be accepted for four months and money might not change hands for six months. But, he said, pre-application letters of interest are welcome now. SMITH TOLD the county Economic Development Commission last week that the major issues to be resolved include ap-

pointment of a loan selection committee and decision on whether local banks or the county treasurer will oversee the financial part of the project. Also still to be determined are guidelines on the amount of the individual loans, the interest rates that will be charged, and the length of payback period. All these are county decisions, by the board of freeholders in the final analysis. The county will use the money for a revolving loan fund. Joseph Gates, deputy administrator of (Page 14 Please)

■mm Early Deadline COURT HOUSE — He Herald and Lantern office will be dosed Thursday and Friday for the Thanks giving holiday. Tomorrow, Nov. 21, is the deadline for news and advertising for next week's issue.

It’s Wayne; No, It’s Pickles

By NANCIE WEKEL TUCKAHOE - What do Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Spiderman, Pickles the Clown and Rich the Robot have in common? Wayne Brown, alias

Wayne Andrews. Wayne, 24, has been perfonning as one or more of these characters for 15 years, be earns his living making people laugh. An entertainment consul-

tant, Wayne, who grew up in Wildwood is experienced beyond his years in the art of entertaining. He has performed since the age of nine, first with his two brothers and a local magi-

cian named Mr. Mack, then as a replacement for Mr. Mack after his death. As a teenager, he was one-half of the Jerry and Wayne act, performing (Page 14 Please)