64 _____ Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 28 August '85

News Digest ( From Page 1 ) Vinci Deals

ATLANTIC CITY — Further indication that the state Attorney General is looking to fry bigger fish: the state last week dropped 14 of 15 charges against former MUA Chairman John Vinci in return for his cooperation in a probe into alleged corruption in the county. Vinci pleaded guilty here last Friday to conspiracy before Superior Court Judge Michael Connor. Maximum sentence: one year and a $100,000 fine, with sentencing postponed until after Vinci testifies. County grand jury indictments in February 1984 placed Vinci at the nucleus of an MUA kickbacks scheme. Charges against Vinci's wife. Mary, were dismissed last December. Romney Sues COURT HOUSE - Romney East Associates last week filed suit against the Middle Township Sewage Commission for turning down a hookup application by Samuel Stokes of Philadelphia for his lot in the 19-lot subdivision. The commission voted 3-2 againsV the application July 16. consistent with its olicy of permitting no additional sewage flow to its overloaded sewage treatment plant. Romney East includes Court House Realtor Thomas J. Repici. developers William H. Tozour Jr. and David Kerr. Realtor Roger Soens and masonry contractor Marino Cosenza. all of Avalon. The firm had asked the commission for "a special, closed meeting" to discuss the problem, but was invited instead to a public meeting and never came. Wawa Plans Tabled COURT HOUSE — Wawa has tabled its current application for a convenience store on South Main Street, according to Middle Township zoning officer Carol Nicoletta. The chain might submit a revised plan for review at the township planning board's Sept. 26 meeting, she added. By tabling the application, Wawa representatives cancelled their appearance at least week's planning board meeting, where they were to seek final approval to build a store at 16 S. Main St. Residents of the area have opposed the proposed Wawa. citing traffic and aesthetic concerns. (jetting Tough COURT HOUSE - Middle Township Sewage Commission agreed last week to » take steps to place liens on delinquent accounts more than two years past due. An interest amnesty period ended Aug. 1 with $2,229 paid by persons who were » spared paying interest of $232.74. according to clerk Jeanne DeVico. But there are still 16 accounts owing a total of 54,473. she said. They run the gamut from - $102.56. to $1,351.68. ' So They Exaggerate COURT HOUSE — This newspaper last week reported that Sheriff's Officer Harold Cooper of Grejn Creek, assigned patrol with the department's new horse, had completed a 10-week Mounted Academy course in Philadelphia In the mail came an anonymous note saying Cooper is a correctional officer and attended the academy for three days. Sheriff James Plousis responded that — Cooper is indeed a correctional officer with about five weeks' police training compared to 12 for a sheriff's officer And. Plousis said. Cooper was certified for a 10-week course, but actually took ^ four-five weeks, having received about five weeks' "anatomy and grooming" credit for his nine years' riding experience. Lost License I WILDWOOD — Nino's Lucky Club lost its liquor license last week for at least 150 days, ending a long-running battle with city and state officials. According to the consent order corking the bottles, the Atlantic Avenue nightspot can reapply for its license once minority owners Joseph and Phyllis Ponzio sell their

interest in the club. Joseph Ponzio and his son, Mark, were accused of assault on two state policemen assigned to the ABC. The officers said they were investigating whether intoxicated patrons were being served drinks when the alleged assault ; occurred June 14. There was no word from majority owner. Nedwin Randall, if he plans to buy the Ponzio's 49 percent share. Lost License II WILDWOOD — Owners of the Quo Vadis, 4200 Pacific Ave., lost their liquor license for 36 days last week for knowingly serving a minor and then ; disposing of his drink when investigators approached, the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control announced last week. Part-owner Louis Scarlata was accused of taking the drink of a 20-year-old New York man and throwing it out the window when ABC agents identified themselves, according to an ABC report Stroke Claims Judge ERMA — Superior Court Judge Charles W. Sandman Jr.. 63. died of a stroke in Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital at 1 1 : 45 a.m. Monday, a nursing supervisor confirmed. He was admitted Aug. 18 after an apparent stroke at his Erma Park home. Lower Township. The former Congressman, state Senate majorityleader. acting governor and local lawyer suffered for years from an irregular heartbeat. Shelter Overwhelmed DIAS CREEK - "If you had been up there, you would have really wondered what kind of people we have out there." Cass Clark, president of the Animal Welfare Society, told Lower Township officials Monday night. She was referring to the society's shelter here and the abandoned animals that overwhelmed volunteers Monday to the point of tears. Tourists and county residents alike are dumping unwanted pets, including newborn kittens, in record numbers, she complained, calling for local ordinances to penalize offenders. Positive II) TOWN BANK — Boaters on the Delaware Bay spotted the badly decomposed body of Dr. Harold L Green, a Somers Point cardiologist whose rented, single-engine plane crashed into the bay about a mile off here on Aug. 8. Papers, found in a wallet on the body, belonged to Greei^but a positive identification Thursday awaited dental records. $ 500,000 Bail CREST HAVEN — Jane Sinclair. 39. formerly of Monterey Avenue. Wildwood Crest, was transferred to the county jail on $500,000 bail last week. She was charged with stealing 550,000 in Sterling silver from her mother's Bergen Countyhome while awaiting a Sept. 16 trial for plotting to kill her in Cold Spring Cemetery on Oct. 22. 1983 to collect an inheritance. Sinclair's husband. Alfred Pallanta. 43. pleaded guilty to related charges this month and is scheduled for sentencing Friday. Also awaiting trial in the case is John D'Ambrosio. 57. of Marlyn Drive. Rio Grande. Dies in Crash OCEAN CITY - John Larkin. 20. of Long Island. N.Y.. died Aug. 19 from head injuries suffered in a three-car auto crash the day before. Police said Larkin was a passenger in the second of two cars waiting at a traffic light at Bay Avenue and 14th Street when it was rearended by a third car. driven by William Dunn. 24 of Millville. The impact forced the second vehicle, driven by Steven Sickel. 19. of Woodbury, into the first car Trapped in the wreckage. Larkin was the only person seriously injured: five other people were treated and released from Shore Memorial Hospital. Somers Point. n

Taxi, Please OCEAN CITY — Five youths were charged with taking a cab ride last week — without the owner's consent. Police said four city juveniles and one fromn Pleasantville stole a privately owned 1970 National Cab on Aug. 20 and drove it to Birch Park Road in Northfield, Atlantic County. Police from four communities surrounded the area and apprehended the youths. Let the Music Play STRATHMERE - The state Division of Alcohol Beverage Control last week temporarily blocked an Upper Township Committee decision to ban music at the bayside bar of the Deauville Inn. The : committee clamped the restrictions on the outside bar two weeks ago, after residents complained of loud music. Club's owners appealed the decision and the ABC temporarily stayed the township's action. Decision Left to SIC SEA ISLE CITY — Superior Court Judge Philip Gruccio said last week the city must decide between Michael Testa and Dennis Quinn for solicitor. But the city owes Testa $9,206 for breaching his contract May 21. and $70 an hour for cases he was handling at that time, if the city chooses to appoint someone else to handle those cases, the judge ruled. Testa was replaced after the May elections, when two new commissioners were elected and made several personnel changes. Mayor Michael McHale said the city will appeal the decision, since it doesn't want to pay Testa for work Quinn will do. Tee Shirt Troubles WILDWOOD — Mayor Victor Di Sylvester last week told city council he has received 68 complaints about tee shirt retailers on the boardwalk charging too much for their merchandise, verbally abusing customers, charging state tax on exempt items, and general swindles. The mayor said most of the complaints were against 27 of the 60 stores that sell shirts. He said complaints will be referred to the state Attorney General's Office for possible criminal action. Crash Injures 2 DENNISVILLE - Ethel Depty. 86. and her husband Milton. 83. of Delray Beach. Fla . were injured last week end when the car their daughter was driving was rammed from behind at Routes 47 and 557. state police said. Beatrice Thompson. 68. of Cape May was attempting a left turn onto Route 557 when a car driven by Williamn H Sload. 37. of Glenmoore. Pa., hit her car. Ethel Depty was treated for a broken arm at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital: her husband was treated for chest and nack pains. Police charged Sload with driving under the influence of alcohol. Ethics Board Meeting AVALON — Rev Robert Scott, chairman of the borough's Board of Ethics, said Monday it will meet in closed session today at 10 a.m. at Borough Hall to discuss whether Mayor

m Rachel Sloan violated the Sunshine Law by meeting with some Planning Bord members at her hoouse June 29. Rev. Scott said the group will hold its first meeting because former Councilman James Busha. who is leading a recall petition against Sloan, asked the board to investigate the matter. County Prosecutor John Corino has already rulled the meeting did not violate the Sunshine law. Recall Committee AVALON — Former Councilman James Busha said last week he will begin a committee to assist his recall petition Irive against Mayor Rachel Sloan. He said the movement is growing too large for one person to handle. When announced at a press conference at his home Aug. 14. Busha said the recall effort was not spearheaded by a committee. He said an "informal group of residents" spurred the movement. Blue Lau- Referendums OCEAN CITY — City Council last week narrowly approved two referendums for the November ballot — one for partial and one for open Sunday sales. Council was scheduled to complete a list of permissible openings during a work session last night. Some businesses, which would remain open under the modified closing, include grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, pharmacies, bike and marine equipment rentals, •hotels and motels. Charged with DWI OCEAN CITY - Police last week charged Brendan Hickey, of Newtown Square. Pa., with driving while intoxicated after a three-car crash July 27 that killed his two passengers. The crash occurred on the Route 52 bridge. Twelve others were injured in the collision, which, police said, was caused when Hickey 's westbound vehicle suddenly cut into oncoming traffic. He was also charged with failure to wear a seat bait Bridge RepairS TRENTON — Gov. Thorns Kean signed a bridge repair bill last week, which will provide funds for six county bridges. Included in the package are: 21st and 25th Street bridges over Avalon Canal. Avalon; Elmira Street Bridge. Cape May and West Cape May; Middle Thorofare ' and Mill Creek bridges. Lower Township; and Great Channel Bridge. Middle Township and Stone Harbor Pinelands Bond on Ballot TRENTON — Voters will be asked in November to approve a $3-million bond issue to help Pinelands communities cope with rapid development, under a bill signed last week by Gov Thomas Kean. Dennis and Upper townships would be among 19 communities in six counties that would receive aid. The municipalities, picked because 90 percent of planned growth in the Pinelands is predicted for those areas, will receive the aid to help preserve the Pinelands and to ease the burden of economic development that would otherwise fall upon those communities.

PRE-MED PROGRAM — Five college students took part in a pre-med orientation at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital, under the guidance of Dr. Robert Beitman. The students accompanied physicians on rounds, observed in surgery, and conferred with department heads. The students, with Dr. Beitman (right), watch as Louis Goodkin of Millville is prepared for a CAT scan. Students are. from left: Jeffrey Gordon. Caroline Kamper. Nancy Sachar, Richard Battista and Corbett Wilkinson.