Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 3 |uly '85 69

News Digest i From Page 1> for water next year as they now do if borough council adopts a rate increase as expected next month. It would hike minimum quarterly water bills for 10,000 gallons from $14 to $28 with $1.30 charged instead of 85 cents for every 1,000 gallons more. New rates would go into effect Jan. 1. Council has tentatively approved the rate hike as part of a proposed August ordinance that would also merge water and sewer departments. On The Horizon BEESLEY'S POINT - Atlantic Electric plans to replace three 250-foot chimneys at its B. L. England Generating Station here with a 475-foot stack to reduce unacceptably high sulfur dioxide concentrations caused by low-pressure "downwashes" about 20 times a year. Only small craft can operate in nearby Great Egg Harbor Bay, but the company's talking about turning the stack into a lighthouse to make it more appealing. If designs are approved, the $17 million stack would be built in late 1987.

Whale of a Study STRATHMERE - Upper Township officials are expected any day to sign a contract with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), authorizing a $100,000 study of Whale Beach — to determine its hazardous portions and those suitable for development. Ocean Drive (county Route 619) links this Upper Township resort with Sea Isle City over the beach. The flood-prone stretch is about two blocks wide at its widest section and much of that is wetlands. Boy Rescued From Pool WILDWOOD — Susan D. Butler, 17, of Philadelphia rescued William Starks, 4, of Irvington from the Rose Marie Manor swimming pool last Wednesday and Kevin Sgroi of Forked River administered CPR while city Patrolman Nicholas Dinatle summoned help. The boy and his cousin were sailing a toy boat in the pool around 1:20 p.m . when the youngster fell in. Police said no lifeguard was on duty at the pool, New Jersey and Lincoln avenues. The motel owner. Robert Knox, said swimming wasn't allowed Wednesday and that the gate was closed but unlocked. Pay Boosts COURTHOUSE — As promised last week, the annual salaries for two county road and bridge departments promotions: Harry A. Gilbert, a Cape May city councilman, was bodSted to $29,500, from $26,154, as road supervisor. Edward J. Ayres of Erma went from $26,102 to $28,498 in Gilbert's former position as superintendent of bridges. Plans For Pier WILDWOOD CREST - Mayor Frank McCall said last week that public response will be sought on plans to replace the deteriorating Crest Pier with a community center and a small mall. The question of replacing the pier goes to voters in the November election. McCall said the Ocean City firm of Edwin N. Howell & Associates has been hired to develop preliminary plans. More Charges DEL HAVEN - Middle Township police last week filed three additional charges of sexual contact against suspected pedophile Jack C. O'Neal O'Neal, 66. of Lafayette Avenue, a respected community figure, was arrested June 15 and charged with seven instances of sexual contact with children eight to 13

Fire Squelched COURT HOUSE — Employes of Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital contained a smoky fire in the institution's utility area last week until Middle Township Firemen reached the scene. The fire started in ductwork of a heavyduty dryer used to launder mops. Kin to Sue Police NORTH WILDWOOD - Relatives of three persons killed and three injured in an automobile crash at 21st and Atlantic avenues July 9, 1984, last week announced they will sue the police department for permitting cars to park too close to the intersection where the crash occurred. Mark J. Garofalo 22, of Langhorne, Pa., was found guilty of the deaths; he was sentenced and fined on June 7. Cyntcyd Study COURT HOUSE — State environmental officials have approved construction on 10 more housing lots in the 39-lot Cynwyd subdivision off Shadow Lane where seven homes have been built and another is und^r construction. According to county Health Officer Louis Lamanna, though, current monitoring probably wouldn't detect septic system pollution of local groundwater there for several years. He wants to revise the water monitoring program and that could determine if developer John W. Wright can build on the remaining 21 lot?.

Borough Bonding ? AVALON — Bond ordinances adopted by borough council last week appropriate $226,000 for sewer lines to undeveloped lots on Dune Drive, $62,000 to rebuild and repair streets after sewer and water line installations, $125,000 for Public Works equipment, $50,000 to rebuild six tennis courts and $415,000 of the $655,000 needed to build a new fire house and renovate the Public Safety Building. Approval for the two buildings is pending from the borough Planning Board and state Department of Corrections, respectively. Back to Court SEA ISLE CITY - Resort commissioners plan this week to appeal Superior Court Judge Philip Gruccio's recent decision that lawyer Michael Testa is entitled to be reinstated as city solicitor or compensation for his removal and replacement by Dennis Quinn. Commissions decided to replace Testa after their inauguration May 21. They're scheduled to work out a settlement with Testa on July 30. Changing CAFRA? TRENTON - Slate Sen. Frank Pallone has introduced a bill that would allow the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to control shorefront developments of four or more housing units, or commercial buildings with more than 50 parking spaces under proposed changes in the Coastal Area Facilities Review ACT (CAFRA) of 1973. Now the DEP can only rule on housing projects that exceed 24 units, or commercial properties with 300 or more parking spaces. As proposed, the new CAFRA regulations would apply to developments between the waterfront and the first public street inland. Probing Fatal Crash BEESLEY'S POINT - Atlantic City police began an internal investigation last week after State Police charged city Patrolman Brendan Connell, 24. of Margate Avenue here, with drunk driving during a fatal July 28 crash on Route 9 in this Upper Township Community. Holly G. Davison. 20. of Buffalo Road, Somers Point, was pronounced dead at the scene. Connell was admitted to the intensive care unit of Shore Memorial Hospital with multiple injuries.

Sentencing July 10 OCEAN CITY — Galvanus Smart-El, 47, is scheduled for sentencing next Wednesday for the Nov. 4 murder of his ex -girlfriend. Luch Tiernan, 37, inside her Haven Avenue home. County jurors last week found him guilty of the fatal stabbing but not guilty of attempting to stab Tiernan's son, Shawn. Also . identified as Gerald J. Bonds. Smart-El faces a minimum 30-year prison sentence. He reportedly rejected a plea bargain with a 10-year maximum term for aggravated manslaughter. Charged With Arson SEA ISLE CITY - William Jones. 33, of Park Drive, Bellmawr, was released on 10 percent of $25,000 bail last week, charged with the April 2 arson at Harbor Place condominiums. 383 43rd St.. where he owns one of the six units, according to police. A reputed associate of mobster Raymond "Long John" Martorano, Jones surrendered to Sea Isle police. Martorano's serving a life sentence for the December 1980 contract slaying of Philadelphia roofers' union president John McCullough.

Fund Drive Planned CAPE MAY - The Cape May County Task Force on Drugs and Drunk Driving is organizing a fund-raising and publicity campaign to finance a planned war on substance abuse. Efforts will include a telethon in August and benefits with top name and local performers. The task force will solicit business support with help from concerned Citizens Awareness Publications of Old Bride. William Hevener, director of the task force, said part of the funds will finance a publication explaining alcohol and drug abuse which will be distributed door-to-door to 100,000 households in the county. Applying for $350,000 VILLAS — Lower Township plans to apply for $350,000 to rehabilitate about 400 homes here between Bayshore Road, Greenwood and Bates avenues. Township Manager James R. Stump announced Monday night. Deferred state loans would allow homeowners to repay the cost of house repairs without interest when they sell their properties, he said. A public hearing on the program is scheduled 1 p.m. July 17 in the Township Hall, 2600 Bayshore Rd., Villas. Within The Month NORTH CAPE MAY - Lower Township Manager James R. Stump told councilmen Monday night that he expects bids within the month to correct drainage problems in Bayshore Estates and repair several subdivision roads. Council voted 4-0, with Councilman David F Brand Jr absent, to award McCarthy paving of Woodbine a $177,097 contract for supplying material and services to resurface 84 township streets this year. Movin' Up ERMA — Michael Bolicki resigned as assistant principal of Lower Cape May Regional 's Richard M. Teitelman School here last week. With three years on the job, the Upper Township resident was recently granted tenure. He's leaving, however, to become principal of a school in Maurice River Township, Cumberland County, according to a board member I\o Tutus, Again ERMA — For the second year in a row. Lower Cape May Regional (LCMR) school board last week turned down Joanne Reagan's request to use the district high school auditorium for a recital by students from her dancing studio. Reagan, a Cape May City school board member, wantd to reserve the auditorium for several days next June. Last year. LCMR's board voted against Reagan's request to reserve the auditorium for a 1985 spring recital.

Daylight Heist WILDWOOD CREST - Natale Masciantonio, 75, of Philadelphia, was robbed of his wallet and $70 in the 5600 block of Park Boulevard one morning last week. The suspect was described as white, about 5' 10", with short black hair who wore red jogging pants, a green pullover sweatshirt and headband Debate Abate COURT HOUSE — Abate, a pesticide used by the county Mosquito Control Commission that has been deemed potentially harmful to wildlife, has been banned by New York State for all but emergency use, Ruth Fisher, of South Dennis, told county freeholders last week. The kill ratio of Abate is higher than a bacterial agent used in New York. A Mosquito Commission spokesperson said Abate is the most effective with least impact on the environment. $8.7 Billion Budget TRENTON — New Jersey's $8.7 billion 1986 budget went into affect Monday, four days after Gov. Thomas Kean signed it into law — minus $143 million approved by the state Legislature. The budget includes $2.6 billion for state schools, a $240 million increase over 1985. It also includes $150 million for toxic waste cleanup, $25 million for hiring 2,000 more police and $140 million of a $190 million surplus for tax rebates. Bill Too Weak? WASHINGTON - A bill that Congressman James Florio (D-N.J.) claims would weaken the Superfund program for clean-up of toxic dumps was approved by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce subcommittee last week. The bill extends the Superfund program for five years, and gives it $10 billion. Florio charged it also gives the Environmental Protection Agency too much discretion on the time for cleanups.

' See Coupon On s' I I Classified | !Pase/^ 50* ! oif. j Problems Mount ( From Page l ) "It sounds like they're getting raw sewage somewhere." said Dillyn. DILLYN SAID and Lamanna confirmed . that the county checks the plant's effluent weekly and it tested at less than 2 MPN (the smallest measurable amount) on June 19 and June 26. "We will watch _ this closely." said Lamanna, "but one high reading is nothing to worry about." He pointed out that those locations are within a quarter-mile of the outfall line, an area in which primary contact recreational activities are prohibited It was not possible to determine if that area, is. in fact, posted against water sports. THE COUNTY continues to post Stone Harbor's backbays at the entrance to Stone Harbor marina and the lagoon at Stone Harbor Manor. Despite their names, they are in Middle Township. They have had consistent high bacteria counts; 1,600 and 926, respectively, last week. Also still posted is the 42nd-43rd street area in Sea Isle City. North Wildwood had readings of 540, 240 and 220' near its sewage treatment plant outfall line. Ocean and Delaware Bay water testing turned up the usual high numbers in Lower Township near its sewage treatment plant outfall line Town Bank, plus a 1,600 MPN ( 50ris the state maximum ) in the waters off Ocean Street in Cape May. Lamanna said that occurred after a heavy rain and probably was a result of storm drain runoff.