_ * .*• , 3 Herald & Lantern 21 November '84 ^

Tourist Center Dispute Simmers From Smoulder * *

BY JOHN DONOHUE SEAVILLE - There may be a peaceful settlement coming in the smoldering dispute over who's going to run the Seaville tourist information center on the Garden State Parkway. It's being"all straightened out," Anthony Catanoso told fellow freeholders, . who cheered the news last week. Later, Catanoso said, he and Ken LeFevre, state deputy commission of Commerce and Economic Development, accidently met in Trenton. "We bumped into each other on the parking lot while we were getting into our cars, and I asked him, 'What's gonna happen with this thing?' "He (LeFevre) said it was a misunderstanding. He told me everything will turn out all right. /We really didn't talk at ledgth about it. It was just ode of those things where you run into somebody. The conversation only lasted a few seconds," Catanoso said. The dispute surfaced last month between the state's Highway Authority, its Commerce Department, and the county Chamber of Commerce. FOR 18 YEARS, the chamber got free space at the Seaville service stop, courtesy of the highway authority, to operate a tourist information center for the county.

The arrangement enabled the chamber to charge its participating members $30 a season to display their advertising brochures there But then the Marriott Corp., which operates a Roy Rogers restaurant on the premises, struck a deal with the highway authority and the commerce depart ment's Travel and Tourism Division. The pact called for the state agencies and Marriott to operate their own joint version of tourist information centers along the Parkway, with a heavy dose of casino literature. In Seaville, Roy Rogers plans to «tay open yearround, but the county chamber, in Aug. 27 letter by Robert Patterson, executive director, told the highway authority. "We, of course, are not prepared financially to keep that information center open all year round." That didn't fit Marriott's or the state agencies' plans, so the partners began taking over like unwanted inlaws. The chamber protested that, to do business at the center under the partners' terms, would cost chamber members $200 a month instead of $30 a season. VICTORIA SCHMIDT, who heads the commerce department's travel and tourism arm, was singled out few criticism. She left town as the controversy became a public . issue.

LeFevre confirmed Fri- , day that he ran into Catanoso and that the matter will be settled peacefully. LeFevre is Schmidt's boss and a former Atlantic County freeholder. "I'd really rather not comment on what exactly will be done until Victoria Schmidt gets back next week. She's on a European vacation. She left right when this whole thing started," LeFevre said. "I want to wait until I have a chance to talk with . her because this is7 her department, but I'm sure this can be worked out with all the parties- involved," he added. Sounds like a little bit of a personality clash? "Well, yes, I think that might have something to do with it, and the whole thing was blown out of proportion," LeFevre said. "You (press) people were responsible for that," he laughed. "You're part of the problem, but I just feel certain this can be worked out in a reasonable manner." LeFevre indicated that the problem was not so much with Victoria Schmidt, but elsewhere. "SEE, WE'RE dealing with the parkway authority, and it's not just Cape May County. You don't know the problem we had on the upper end of the parkway with literature promoting New York," he added. "I mean, here we were, promoting them with, 'I Love New York' stuff in New Jersey. We had a hell of a time getting that crap out of there,' LeFevre continued. "So, it's not just Cape May County. This (local) controversy is actually small potatoes that was blown way up," he concluded. As to how county tourism businessmen regard the Atlantic City casinos as a competitively-sore subject, LeFevre said'}. "Yes, I understand that. There is no reason in the world why this can't be settled to everyone's satisfaction."

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Conference Night Set COURT HOUSE - The annual Parent Conference Night will be held at Middle Township High School Wednesday evening, Nov. 28. According to John McVey, principal;, teachers, counselors, and administrators will be available to meet with parents 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Parents interested in speaking with any of their children's teachers should call Mrs. B levins in the Guidance Office between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to arrange an appointment. Various academic departments will also have informational centers set up in the school. Parents may stop by and discuss curricular and cocurricular activities and the academic expectations established for the students. If an appointment is desired, call according to the published schedule.

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