Herald & Lantern 7 December '83

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Under ‘B, ’ Better GM a License

MIAMI BEACH — More than 50 senior citizens attended last week's Lower Township Committee meeting to find out why bingo and penny-ante card games were banned at the township-operated Joseph Millman Center here. . The answer they received could send a chill through the ranks of service clubs, fire companies and churches that depend on games of chance for fundraising. Apparently, Lower’s Solicitor Bruce Gorman explained, a member of a local fire company, disgruntled by state gambling regulations imposed on the volunteers, “blew the whistle" on the local Knights of Columbus who also sponsored bingo to help finance some of their other activities. The state Legalized Games Department began an investigation of sorts, Gorman added Its scrutiny eventually fell on the township community center, he continued, so Committeeman Thomas Clydesdale, who oversees Millman operations, was obliged to ban gambling there, regardless of how harmless or small the stakes. “LOWER TOWNSHIP is on the map this week," Gorman told the seniors last

Wednesday night, “because of all the gambling going on. Now we have to legalize everything.” A number of social and civic clubs meet at Millman. Other groups and churches routinely or periodically host bingo and card parties in their local halls. “Technically,” Gorman said, those games are illegal. “I don’t seriously think the township police are going to put out a lot of effort checking on this,” he added, noting, however, that the state Legalized Games Department might. “Tbe law does state that you can’t play bingo for money or prizes without alicense,” Township Cleric.Qaudia Rammer advised. Organizations that wish to raise money from gambling are required to obtain a license through the township for nightly $5 state and $5 township fees. There also are quarterly licenses. SENIOR CITIZENS' groups can obtain a special license with no fees but that license prohibits monetary bqjs and ali but nominal prizes, she explained. - “Any bonafide club” at Millman is eligi-

Point Resists MAC Proposal-

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“While the proposed scheme may possibly benefit the few, monetarily...,” the club maintained, approval of a lease for MAC would adversely affect Point residents, the local environment and the

public.

“THE GENERAL PUBLIC would be forced to pay to visit what is now a public structure,” argued the civic club. Since the lighthouse is located in an environmentally sensative area, moreover, its tourists could threaten the local sand dunes, bird sanctuary and state park, the club

contended.

The park is currently understaffed and could not handle more tourists to the lighthouse, Mrs. Jarvis said. Furthermore, she continued, any additional tourist traffic would be unbearable for Point

residents.

“It won’t bring anything (good) to The Point,” she insisted. “Anyway, we’re

against it.

“The whole thing is,” Mrs. Jarvis continued, “Cape May and its very active city manager want to extend their tourist season (at The Point’s expense).” “That just simply is not true,” countered Beitel. “The lighthouse is in quite serious jeopardy of becoming abandoned.” Although Mrs. Jarvis complained that the Point’s 250 permanent and thousands of summer residents would be overwhelmed by the additional traffic caused by opening the lighthouse to tourists, Beitel pointed out that Cape May Point State Park currently draws 250,000 tourist a

year.

If tourism threatens the local environment, he noted, that threat has existed, judging from the present volume of park visitors. The public may be able to “see” the lighthouse free of charge now, he added, but those sightseers can not really tour the historic tower because admittance is prohibited. Since MAC volunteers would serve as lighthouse guides if the lease is approved, the park staff would not be strained; its employes would not be used, the MAC president explained. “OUR THINKING IS somewhat along the line of running trolleys from Cape May...,” he continued, adding that, with more than 30 passengers aboard each vehicle, traffic and parking congestion would be proportionately reduced. “It would be a tough case to prove, in my opinion,” Beitel said of opposition on the traffic angle. Ultimately, the decision about whether MAC can restore the lighthouse and operate it as a tourist attraction rests with the Coast Guard. That decision could be announced within the month, Capt. Donald Ramsden, comptroller for the Third Coast Guard District, reported. MAC’S lease request, he said, “has been held in abeyance” qntil the Coast Guard acts on a “prototype agreement” regar- ^ ding the proposed operation of the Hudson City Lighthouse by a mstorical organization there. A ruling on that agreement is expected in less than £ month, Ramsden

a. It’s a way of presei ving an historical ucture without expending public ds,” he added, referring to the Hudson y proposal. / I’m familar with the players involved,” captain continued, referring to the

local dispute. Twice stationed at the Coast Guard base in Cape May, Ramsden is also a city property owner who is building a house on Hughes Street, he said. “We will not do anything until we’ve heard from everybody and heard everybody’s point of view,”, the officer assured. So far, he added, he’s heard from the civic club, two of its members, MAC and Congressman Hughes. “Hughes' position was, basically: T would hope you would consider the views of all the people in the area,' ” Ramsden recalled, “which we intended to do anyway.” “It's always a judgment call — if we’re hearing a vocal minority or a broad-based view," he reflected. Conceding that environmental factors might make the Point lighthouse “a special case,” Ramsden said the proposed MAC lease will be reviewed by his staff’s environmental and legal experts before a decision is announced. “Please be assured that we will not act precipitously,” he concluded.

Parking Ponders CAPE MAY — City school officials will hold a public hearing 10 a.m. Dec. 17 on city council’s proposal to lease land north of the elementary school on Lafayette Street for summer parking. Hotel and guest house owners have been asked to subsidize a trolley that would link the proposed lot with the business district. The abandoned railroad depot on Lafayette Street and property between Lafayette and Broad streets are also being considered for possible parking sites.

Payment Delayed WILDWOOD — Pleasantville lawyer Steven D. Scherzer called “hysterical” city council’s decision last week to table action on a $15,000 voucher for representing Mayor Earl Ostrander in a lawsuit be filed against council earlier this year. Councilrnen balked at approving the voucher because it was submitted in Scherzer’s name but most of it itemized payments due his senior partner Rudy Westmoreland.

Passenger Killed

SOMERS POINT - Eric Newman, 23, of Fourth and Wesley avenues, Ocean City, was killed and an Upper Township cabbie injured early Friday morning in a one-vehicle crash near the former Dunes nightclub on Ocean Drive. Reportedly driving at high speed, cabbie William Brown HI of Ventnor Avenue, Marmora, lost control of the cab on a curve; it became airborne and rolled twice. Both men were thrown from the cab. Brown, who was walking along the road when police arrived, was treated at Shore Memorial Hospital for minor injuries and released.

ble for a special seniors’ license, Gorman added, stressing that bingo and card games at the center have “to be for fun” in the future. “All you have to do is come down and fill out the paper,” he said of the license applications which Rammer volunteered to process after the meeting. “If you want a regular license," the solicitor advised, the township also issues applications for those allowing profits but requiring fees. “How are we going to raise money for Dekelcols Net Victor

the squad's equipment?” a spokeswoman for the Lower Township Rescue Squad Auxiliary asked Gorman — a question whose answer should interest other nonprofit and charitable organizations in the area. Those Organizations and the rescue squad would be required to obtain a license to operate games of chance for profit, the solicitor replied. Since he also serves as attorney for the squad, Gorman told the auxiliary leader: “I’ll see that you get the license.”

CAPE MAY — The first pairing last week in men’s volleyball pitted two evenly matched teams as Eckel’s Diesel battled Dekelco. In the first game Dekelco jumped off to a commanding lead at 10-4. Eckel’s regained service, however, and reeled off 9 points to take a 13-12 lead. Dekelpo then tied the score at 13-13.

Marriage For Moir

STONE HARBOR - The engagement of former local resident David John Moir to Kristina Helene Keller of Havertown, Pa., has been announced by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Keller. Moir is the son of Mr: and Mrs. John A. Moir of 255 104th St. He is a gradute of Middle Township High School and received a biology degree from Lafayette College. He is employed by United States Surgical Corp. of Norwalk as a technical sales representative. Miss Keller is a graduate of Haverford Township High School and holds a biology degree from Lafayette College. She graduated magna cum laude in Occupational Therapy_^ffom Temple University in 1981. She is employed by United Cerebral Palsy of Delaware County as occupational therapist for the infant a-nd preschool programs. The marriage will take place March 24, 1984.

Eckel’s stiffened its defense, regained service, and went on to win 15-13. In ‘ game two it was Eckel’s turn to jump in front for an early 5-1 lead. Dekelco battled back to tie things at 5-5 behind the serving of Harry Thomas. Despite the excellent net play of Eckel’s Chuck Howard, Dekelco’s John Baker, and Bob Hawley's serving kept racking up the points for Dekelco as it went on to win 15-11. In the rubber game Dekelco could never coordinate their defense as Eckel’s 'won convincingly 15-5. KEEN'S PLUMBING took on the struggling Wrecking Crew in the final match-up of the night. In game one Keen’s fine ali around play was too much for the wrecking Crew to handle as they bowed out at is-?: Keen’s Plumbing took a 10-2 lead over Wrecking Crew in game two and never looked back as it again downed the Wrecking Crew 15-7. Keen’s never gave the Wrecking Crew a chance in the final game Keen's had built an early 4-2 lead and held serve when Tim Kowalski came up to serve. The Wrecking Crew defense crumpled as Kowalski reeled off 11 consecutive points to carry his team to an easy 15-2 win.

All-Stars For CAL

Not surprisingly, Cape May County high schools are well represented on the football all-stars for the Cape-Atlantic League 1983 The offensive team includes Bruce Fournier, Lower Cape May, %t end Bill Osborn, Wildwood, quarterback; and Tim Edwards, Middle Township, running back. On the defensive team are: Jeff Brady, Middle Township, tackle, and Sean Brennan. Lower Cape May, defensive back Singled out for honorable mention were: Barky Lutfdholm, Ken Brown, Hartmut Ortmann, Dan Browiv John Porter, Frank D i G i 1 i o , and Mark. Halbruner, Lower Cape May, Steve McKaig. Mid die Township v Greg Car-* daci and Biri Glenn, Wildwood.

Infonnation Solves Crime!

Callers Remain Anonymous^, Reward ■k