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Vol. 20 No. 34 19S3 Smwom Carp. AH right* r»Mrv*d. AugUSt 22, 1984 r "VT ! ,* " Z. "CI*- '.'nr. V"^ ■ **"""*

,4 Wonderful Place, But... O State's Highest Alcoholism Rate

By JOE ZELNIi. How do you picture Cape May County's typical year-round resident9 Laid-back? Counting his profits during the tourist season and enjoying the solitude when it's over? Retired and living the life of Riley? Nope. Under stress, says James F. Huber, executive director of the Cape May County Council on Alcoholism. And, too often, hitting the bottle. THE COUNTY LEADS the state in its resident population p<y -capita addiction rate (mostly alcohol) knd in its fatality rate for drunken driviM, said Huber, and that's one reason he came here from Union County last October — the challenge. "There's an awful lot to do," said Huber. "I'd like to know why this place everybody thinks is wonderful has the highest c-

addiction rate in the state," he said. "It's wonderful, but we may pay a helluva price for it. "Part of the problem probably is that the population is constantly under stress, from a high influx of tourists in the summer, and the terrific differential in seasonal income That's stressful." A SECOND REASON, Huber thinks, is the "high proportion of retired people, second only to Ocean County in the state, and the state is second only to Florida. "As people live longer," he said, "they ffevelop alcoholism and addictive problems." Huber said a look at 1980 Census statistics show that the county's retired population is "fairly affluent. And when one has more money to spend and leisure time, problems develop." THE ALCOHOLISM Council expects to double its funds in the next fiscal year and

increase programs, starting next month with a focus on the schools The basic $25,000 grant from the state Division of Alcoholism will remain unchanged But added to that are: • A $3,500 grant from the state Division on Highway Safety to aid the county's task force on drunken driving. • A $4,000 federal grant for a program called Stop and Think, with money to be used for in-service training for junior high school te.-'-hers. • A $10,400 ALLOCATION from the state's new tax on liquor. The council, at the request of county freeholders, will develop a plan for a resource center that will make materials on addiction available to county individuals and groups Undecided is whether it will be in Crest Haven, where the council is, or at the county Library Building. (Page 20 Please)

NO g't BlVATE Ml H? *"I0EMS Orbm „ 0 ' Doru Ward WHAT'S THAT LEAVE? — Barred from three activities at a private rondo, Alison Rice decided to take a swim instead. She's the 11-year-old daughter of Rose Rice ot Stone Harbor.

News— ^ — DigeSt TopTstories

1,208 — 425 COURT HOUSE - Joanne Oxley, spokeswoman for Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital, posted final results Monday of last week's voting by members of the hospital foundation on changes to the medical center's corporate organization and bylaws. Counting proxy ballots, she said, 1,208 voted for the changes and 425 against them. Friends of Burdette, a consumer group, campaigned against the proposals supported by Burdette 's board of governors. No Dumping COURT HOUSE.)- Gravel pits in Middle Township will not bt used as dump sites for 200,000 cubic yards of organic material from the wetlands if township committee has its way.-The committee decided last week to amend a health ordinance apd prohibit such dumping by potential contractors at the county Municipal Utilities Authority wastewater treatment facility at the former Menhaden plant on Rio Grande Boulevard. No Swimming SEA ISLE CITY — Resort officials banned swimming in the 42nd Street Canal last week because of suspected high bacteria levels linked to sewage water escaping from mains under repair State environmental officials ordered the city to repair a 90-year-old pipe that collapsed last month. Canal businessmen and boat owners have complained, however, that sewage runoff into the (Page 20 Please)

County Eyes Cumberland Switch Colleges, Save Money.

By JOE ZEl.NIK Cape May County's got em Atlantic and Cumberland counties want em And if the county plays its cards right close to the vest — it could save a half million dollars a year What the county has us thousands of peo pie who want to take college courses, but no local college Most of them go to Atlantic County College where they have been paying the same cost as Atlantic County residents — $29 per credit hour CAPE MAY COUNTY then pays a chargeback." an out-o.'-county student fee that makes up for what Atlantic County pays for its own students. That is cijTently $66 per credit hour and cost the county $787,876 50 last year It'^ believel to be th» fastest-growing item in the ceunty budget, expected to hit a million dollars this year "It's our biggie " conceded a county official A few county college students go to Cumberland County College, which has beer advertising "bargain tuition rates" in its ads in the Herald and Lantern. The tuition is $31 per credit hour, the

state ceiling. But Cumberland has a $29 per credit hour chargeback which cost the county only $26,930 last year. COUNTY OFFICIALS, one eye focused firmly on chargebacks, is negotiating to increase the Cumberland County College presence It's about as close as Atlantic to the southern part of the county, but further for the northern part ' Pagt 22 Please

~JF' \ ^ .7 Don, Ward WE DID IT! — Kimberly Sviben of Del Haven. Janice Cooper of Cape May Court House, and Margaret Romano of Cape May Point celebrate graduation from the Practical Nursing program at the county vo-tecb- school last week. A new program with Cumberland County College will give them college credit toward an RN diploma.

Don't Go Thirsty to Sunset Beach

By E J. DUFFY "Water, water, everywhere Nor amy drop to drink. " — Coleridge SUNSET BEACH — Sightseers at this popular tourist stop in Lower Township

share the poet's complaint from "The Ancient Mariner" with Marvin Hume, owner of the bayside Sunset Beach Gift Shop Local officials, though, blame each other for the water shortage here. They have different solutions to the problem that will solve itself in a few weeks when most vacationers leave. But the problem will return with them next spiring unless something is done beforehand. Hume convinced county freeholders this past spring that portable toilets had to be installed near his shop at the foot of Sunset Boulevard to accommodate the thousands of daily tourists who visit the concrete wreck, Atlantus, or collect "Cape May Diamoods" here. ? Told the county could not supply the site with water, Hume paid $4,000 to connect a pipeline with Cape May Point's hydrant nearby so the sightseers could use the gift shop restrooms. THAT WAS OKAY WITH Point officials

but the City of Cape May, which provides water to The Point, objected and the tap to Sunset Beach was turned off under orders (Page 63 Please-

— Early Deadline —

Therewill be an early deadline for news and advertising for the Sept. 5 isa$K of the Herald and Lantern b&tifee of the Sept^ Labor Day News items And ads will have to be at the newspaper's office, 106 N. Main St. in Cape May Court House, by 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30. tt; —

Another County Bank Change

It's getting more difficult to know which bank is which without a scorecard The latest upcoming change, announced last week, means Citizens United Bank, N.A., of Vine land will disappear into the bowels of the Trenton-based New Jersey National Bank. Citizens has 27 branches, including West Cape May and Woodbine, and total assets of $246.6 million. Susan Dyckman, manager of corporate communicatiaos for New Jersey National, said it plans no staff changes and will "absorb the entire Citizens bank system."

Citizens employs 350, she said New Jersey National, she said, will have 82 branches and assets of $1.6 billion after the acquisition, which is expected to become effective Oct. 1 The price for Citizens was $30 million. Dyckman said New Jersey National was a "central Jersey" bank before this acquisition, which now gives it offices in every southern and central New Jersey county. Dyckman said the acquisition means Gtizens' customers "will be able to (Page 63 Please)