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Herald Sc Lantern 15 February *64

Limit Higbee Beach Use

That Disturb

Bv E. J. DUFFY

HIGHBEE BEACH — Hunting, trapping, birdwatching, horseback riding and other recreation disturb migrating and resident birds at the Wildlife Management Area along Lower Township’s bayfront. So say the authors of a proposed management plan for 613-acre tract operated by the state Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife. The 68-page plan has “been reviewed by all of the state departments," a DF&W spokeswoman confirmed, and was forwarded to county officials

for comment. Elwood Jarmer, Cape planning director, wants to know which of several possible solutions the state expects to use in solving problems cited in the plan. County planners will meet to discuss it at 3 p.m. Feb. 21 in the basement meeting room of the county library main branch. Mechanic Street, Court House, he said. According to the proposed management plan, birdwatchers, hunters, trappers, beachgoers, horseback riders and drivers of off-road vehicles either disturb migrating birds, which use the preserve to feed and rest, or flocks that routinely nest within the tract. The plan authors propose to either restrict access to certain sections of the tract or to limit the number of people allowed to pursue each type of activity. Hunters and dogs could be banned altogether if the site staff sees them as a substantial threat to the preserve wildlife. WARREN KELL, a state nongame zoologist and one of the authors of the plan, noted Friday that the staff would first decide “if they (visitors), in fact, pose a problem” before determining which of the solutions should be used. “Many of the problems that we have, have never been addressed,” he said, adding that the proposed plan “is not set in

stone.”

More than 200 species of birds, 36 species of mammals, 19 amphibians, 24 reptiles and 11 fish species have been sighted at the Wildlife Management Area, including three resident and 13 migratory' species listed on either the state or federal lists of endangered and threatened wildlife. Situated along the fall flight paths of the endangered Bald Eagle, Osprey, other birds, and insects like butterflies, the tract

is a haven for birdwatchers.

s Birds?

. Profiles of uses at the site show that birdwatchers represented 87.4 percent of its 1,946 visitors from Sept. 7 to Nov. 24, 1981; hunters accounted for €.9 percent of the total. Between May 31 and Nqv. 23 last year, 1,693 people visited the tract. Forty-three percent of them were sunbathers or swimmers. Jetty fishermen represented 19 percent of the total with birdwatchers at 15 percent, hunters at seven percent and horseback riders at six persent, the latest profile shows. ACCORDING TO THE managemem plan, birdwatchers disturb the'migrating wildlife and damage vegetation. Hunters also disturb the migrating birds and pose a danger to other visitors during hunting season ; illegal hunting has been a problem at the tract along with camping, fires and alcohol use Visitors, walking their dogs, and drivers of off-road vehicles menace the nesting sites of terns or plowers that staffers have been trying to restore, note the plan authors, while horseback riding conflicts with other uses of the beach and causes erosion in restricted areas. Dogs may be banned from the beaches during the summer. Horseback riding and driving could be limited to certain sectors of the tract, the authors suggested. “The Higbee Beach area was purchased in 1978 (for $1,033,705), primarily because of the endangered species that utilize the area, aad to protect the critical habitat,” wrote the authors. “Higbee Beach was the first major area in the nation to be purchased with federal Aid to Endangered Species monies.” In 1981, site managers began efforts to establish a population of the endangered Eastern Tiger Salamander with a breeding pond. Some 600 immature salamanders were released in the woodland during 1962 and 1983. 11118 winter, the managers will be trapping adult salamanders to gather information on their breeding and adaptability at the tract. With a projected 1985 budget of $62,000, the small staff plans to construct an island sanctuary for Least Terns and a snake hibernaculum with available equipment and material, erect platforms for Osprey and nest boxes for Southern Gray Tree Frogs a fid Wood Ducks.

News Digest (From Page 1) Council Rejects Tvoo WILDWOOD — City council confirmed five of Mayor Earl Ostrander’s nominees for department heads last week but rejected Thomas Parsons as director of tourism and the mayor’s brother, Wilbur, as director of public safety. The mayor named his brother police chief in October but the city’s new administrative code considers “chief’ as another name for the public safety director. Since Wilbur didn't get council confirmation for that job, Capt. Ralph Sheets was appointed temporary head of the force. Tax Hearing Friday

AVALON — Borough council has scheduled a public hearing Friday on its proposed $4,646,679 budget for 1984. The budget represents a $316,679 increase over last year and projects a local purpose tax of 33 cents for every $100 of assessed valuation. An Avalon homeowner, whose property is valued at $100,000, would pay $330 a year in local purpose tax if the budget is adopted. Dig Deeper

NORTH WILDWOOD - City council introduced a proposed $6.3 million 1984 budget that includes a 20 percent tax hike. That means city property owners will pay an extra 17 cents for every $100 of assessed valuation, increasing the current tax rate to about $1.04 per $100,; assessed valuation. The owner of a

property assessed at $60,000 will pay $622, $106 more than last year, if the budget isadopted. Goal: Greenbacks

OCEAN CITY — Recreation Director Donald Pileggi said the city will apply to the state for a half-million-dollar Green Acres low-interest loan for recreation improvements. Work on the “very ambitious” projects wouldn’t start until 1985, he said. Devilish Mix

TRENTON — If you’ve got a Duncan Hines cake mix with the lot number 3116C2A on the top of the box, throw it away or return it to the store. So advise state health officials wbo say that particular batch of Deluxe Devil’s Food Cake Mix contains dangerously high levels of the cancer-causing pesticide EDB. Greasy Fingers?

WASHINGTON - U^. Energy Secretary’ Donald Hodel agreed last week to compile heating oil statistics for an investigation into why prices have soared 25 percent in New Jersey since December Both the Federal Trade Commission and the US. Justice Department agreed earlier last week to launch the probe at the request of Gov. Thomas Hr Kean. The average retail price is currently the highest ever, $1.28 a gallon.

PARTING GIFT — Virginia Oler, retiring as clerk of the Borough of Avalon, receives presentation' from Mayor Rachel Sloan at borough council session.

Heating Oil Probe Asked by Hughes

WASHINGTON, D C. - Congressman Bill Hughes (D-NJj has asked the Monopolies Subcommittee of the Housex.Judiciary Committee to investigate the average 25 percent increase in the cost of home heating oil. “While homeowners watched the thermometer drop during the coldest December in history," Hughes said, “it is apparent that the major oil companies warmed themselves with thoughts of rising profits. “THAT TYPE of ‘pay or freeze' attitude has had a devastating impact on the millions of Americans who are still jobless, living on fixed incomes, or otherwise stn&gling to make ends meet," Hughes said. In a letter to Judiciary

Exercise

Bars Uiven WILDWOOD - A second set of submersible parallel bars has just been donated by the Evening Membership Department of the Wildwood Civic Club for the Socialized Water Interest Movement,‘Inc., at the Joseph Von Savage

Memorial Pool here

Chairman Peter W. Rodino Jr. (D-NJ), Hughes said that the virtually lock-step price increases of the major oil companies during the recent weeks smacked of collusion and pricefixing. “This is not 1979, the year of the oil embargo," Hughes said. “This is not ' 1974, the year that OPEC quadrupled its export prices. “This is 1964, the year of an oil glut and generally falling petroleum prices," Hughes continued. “Yet. since only mid-December we have seen the wholesale price of home heating oil surge an average of 25 percent to the highest level in history.” BASED ON a canvas of home heating oil dealers in his southern New Jersey Congressional District, Hughes said that before Christmas, wholesale heating oil prices were between 81 and 83 cents per gallon, but have increased at the rate of about a penny a day until now, when wholesale prices are between $1.02 and $1.07 per gallon. On tj»e retail level, home heating oil is now between $1.15 and $1.30 per gallon, or even higher, compared to under a dollar per gallon in December.

These in-water bars are most useful for therapy to stroke victims and others who are muscularly impaired. Upon hearing the plea for the bars by Anne Regan, founder of the Cape May County Chapter of S.W.I.M., Elizabeth Hey wood, chairman of Community Welfare for Wildwood EMD, started the wheels rolling^owards the eventual purchase of the second set of bars. One oi the object* vf Evening Membership Department of Ahe Civic Club is to aid in community welfare and charities. The chairman (president) of the Wildwood EMD is Mrs

Annette Jackson.

Party Helps Dimes March

Jim lannone, chairman

of the Cape May County Democratic Party, recently held an event at his home for the March of Dimes. Super Bowl Sunday raised 2 18, which was donated by

e Ian nones on the March

of Dimes Atlantic City telethon Peb. 10, 11 and 12. Mr. and Mrs. lannone * supplied refreshments for their guests, who paid an "admission fee" for the pleasure of watching the game together. The admission fee was a donation to

the March of Dimes.

See Coupon on 50 OFF

There was also a raffle in which the prizes were

• -baseball autographed by irk

the whole New York Yankees team and another baseball autographed by

— - -- - # Yogi Berra and his son Classiti0d Page # Dale, who plays for the Pit- *••••••••••• ts burgh Pirates.

Boro Gerk

Honored

AVALON ^ Virginia Ola- was recognized by the mayor and council upon ha retirement as clerk of the Borough of Avalon Mr?. Oler waked fa the borough for 20 years, beginning in 1963 as the assessa’s clerk. She also held the position as deputy tax collector and zoning board secretary. In 1967 she became municipal clerk as well as registrar of vital statistics and continued in these positions fa 164 years. The bordugh Officials noted that Mrs. Oler has been of great service and will be greatly missed. MRS. OLER came to Avalon with her parents as a young girl and moved here in 1963. She was married to the late William Ola, who also worked fa the borough. She went to Kensington High School and Fleisba’s Vocational School in Philadelphia, Pa. and held certificates in property |ax administration and real property apC raisal from Rutgers niversity Extension Division. Before working for the borough she worked at Leeds and Northrop Co. of Philadelphia fa 104 years and the American Shores Co. of Philadelphia. Mrs. Oler is enjoying retirement in her newly built home in Court House.

Sifenup Slated For Tots

COURT HOUSE - Middle Townsh.p kindergarten registration will be held 9 a m.-3 p.m. Monday. March 5, in the Administration Building. 126 S. Main St. Parents may park on the lot behind the building for convenience Parents are encouraged not to bring their children, as all examinations, etc. will be given during the pre-school screening. Parents are urged to pick up registration forms at the Administration Building prior to registration These may be completed in the quiet of the home and will speed the registration process March 5. Requirements f6r registration are as follows; Child must have reached a will reach his a ha fifth birthday by Oct. 1; parents must display proof of age with birth or baptismal certificate. Parents must present proof of the DPT, Polio, Rubeola, Rubella, and mumps immunizations signed by a physician, if proof of immunization is not available at time of registration it must be presented before entry into school in September. All kindergarten children will be screened during August 1984. A fetter describing the purpose, procedure, date, time and place will be distributed at the kindergarten roundup.