CAPE MAY COUNTY ^ A grain

Vol. 20 No. 42 October 17, 1964 r* ".'J

News--^ niopcf vveeks Top Stories a Lower Woman Wins NORTH CAPE MAY - Local homemaker Marion E. Newmeyer, 67, played $1 one-armed bandit for a halfhour Thursday afternoon and came away from Atlantis Casino Hotel with a $149,194 jackpot. The wife of retiree El don NeWmeyer, she is the mother of two, grandmother of seven and greatm gradmother of six. $200,000 in Sand CAPE MAY — City council found out last week that $200,000 from Uncle Sam will arrive in the next few weeks to fortify 3,000 feet of dunes south of Second Avenue. The money was awarded from the Federal Emergency Management Act to restore the storm-damaged dunes and protect low-lying properties on Mount Vernon Avenue and in West Cape May. Council decided to await arrival of the money before authorizing engineering work Final Bell WOODBINE - U.S. District Judge Stanley Brotman has ruled that the county MUA offez to compensate local homeowners for any depreciation of their properties caused by the new county landfill here seems the best way to settle the homeowners' suit against the MUA. They had asked county freeholders, the (Page 18 Please)

JtfjA 1 •>! * » Doris Ward

ITS THAT TIME To you it's work; to them it's fun. Raking leaves on Mechanic Street in Cape May Court House are Joey Bukowski. left, 2-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bukowski. and Jacob Boyle. 4-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Shensky.

County Mailing Called Political

Democratic freeholder candidate Peggie Bieberbach has charged her Republican incumbent opponent, Gerald M. Thornton, with using county taxpayers, money to pay for a "definitely political" mailing to more than 10,000 countyresidents. Letters explaining county services were sent to about 5,500 veterans and 4,800 senior citizens over Thornton's signature. "If Mrs. Bieberbach were familiar with county — government, she would realize that this is normal, routine business," said Thornton. "These programs have been in existence for years," said Bieberbach, "and from what I've been told, this is the first mass mailing that has ever gone out." ■

"We've been trying for some years to get a mailing list," said Thornton "We only found out (this method) some months ago." THE MAILING LISTS came from the First National State Bank of New Jersey which has a contract to process county tax bills. Because some veterans are eligible for a $50 property tax deduction, and some senior citizens are eligible for a $250 tax break, it is possible for First National's computer to print out mailing labels for those categories of taxpayers. George R. Brown III, county tax administrator, said First . National, which does the county's tax bills for about $1,000 a month, Has had the ability to print the labels for about six years. He was unaware

that the county had bought separate mailing lists which, he said, normally would go through the Board of Taxation. "It would be highly irregular if they (county departments) were dealing on their own." he said. "I would expect it to go through this office. I thought it was used exclusively for the Tax Board." THE COUNTY PAID about $120 for the veterans' mailing list and something less for the senior citizens, officials said. The letters to veterans were printed by the county's Public Affairs Department, according to its assistant director, Louis A. Rodia Jr. He said it was difficult to . estimate the cost. The letter to senior citizens were printed on a copy machine in the Department on , (Page 18 Please)

The Last to Hear •»

Adieu, Pierre Payette

* . By JOE ZELNIK COURT HOUSE — They met by chance in romantic Montreal. The friendship grew to a partnership sealed, with a contract. There were some very good years. Then came the disagreements, the words of anger, the hurt feelings, and, last month, an incident that could not be forgiven. Last week the relationship ended the

way one out of two marriages in this country Expire . The Board of Freeholders voted not only to cancel Pierre Payette's contract effective Dec. 31, but to instruct the county's tourist promotion man in Montreal "that he is not to perform any additional services for the County of Cape May." In other words, 12 weeks vacation with pay. The motion to ax Payette was made last

week by Freeholder Gerald M. Thornton and seconded by Ralph W. Evans. They said it was a policy decision by Freeholder Director Anthony T. Catanoso, who heads public affairs. They referred questions to him. He was vacationing in Italy. Like some spouses, Payette was the last to hear. Still answering his office telephone, "Bon jour, Cape May," he was (Page 18 Please)

Bieberbach: ~ 7 Years Experience

- Peggie Bieberbach 's recipe to win the office erf county freeholder includes one part her government experience, one part public distaste for the county MUA (Municipal Utilities Authority), plus a pinch of desire for a watchdog in county government.

"Tony Catanoso (who leaves the board in January) is the only freeholder who held a public office before becoming freeholder," said Bieberbach. "I am bringing almost seven years of experience with me." (One of her Republican opponents, Herbert "Chuct^ Frederick, in May completed a four-year term as mayor of West Wildwood.) , Democrat Bieberbach was a member of Lower Township Committee from Jan. 1, 1978, to June 30 of this year, and was mayor ( elected by the three-member com: mittee) f^rjhe last 18 months. "I SERVED WITH a Republican majori-

ty for three of those seven years "she added. "There's no such thing as a Republican or Democrat once you take office. You're supposed to be a freeholder for all the people of the county." That's not the way she feels the present board operates. "It's strictly Republican," she said. "You can see it by the things going on. Upper Township got mooey to replenish the beaches to Strathmere, but Sea Isle Qty is not getting the money." Sea Isle City's three-member commission is 2-1 Republican, but, Bieberbach said, "It votes Democratic, and there is a split." (Page 34 R lease) - : W

-The Freeholder Race -

ED. NOTE: Four candidates are seeking two positions on the five-member Cape May County Board of Freeholders, which manages county government. The part-time jobs pay $15,000 a year. The current board is allRepublican. The Herald and Lantern this week profiles the Democratic challengers. Next week, the Republican incumbents.

■ PEGGIE BIEBERBACH

Downs Aims . Criticism, Pen at MUA

The Herald/Lantern Interview I z**

Rodney J. Downs is running for county freeholder as a political unknown, for a minority (Democratic) party, and with almost no campaign funds. But he's got a secret weapon: poetry Downs became famous (infamous?) a year ago when he wrote "Changing Parties," a long poem that began: "A Republican I have been for 25 yearr. To change my party nearly brings me to tears. AD because of -a lady named Pat. I am becoming a Democrat." He also spent $140 of his own money to have his attack on Democrat-turned-Republican Pat Peterson published in the Herald and Lantern. She lost her bid for re-

election to Middle Township Committee. This year, threatens Downs, another poem. Subject: the county Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA). "I'M GOING TO GET a good one on the MUA if I can get the information," be said. "I want the truth; no make-believe stuff." Downs seems to be banking on public dislike of the MUA to carry him into the freeholders' office Nov. 6. "The main thing I'm against is the MUA wasting money," said Downs, 66-year-old owner of Rod's Seafood in Green Creek, Middle Township. "1 feel that if they did away with it and

* took these governments grants and gave em to the municipalities and let them do it, they'd save millions erf dollars." DOWNS MENTIONED $26 million that "disappeared for a survey, and all they have is a stack of paper that they're doing (Page 34 Please)

' ' *M ' X " . \ RODNEY J. DOWNS