Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 4 September '85 59 — ^ J^piciiiuci nj

' » 3 The Wildwoods • ^ K 'r I "'0"' X fc r— F^J~ ^ | 889-01 38 T =F

The beaches are open. The kids are back in school. Labor Day is behind us. All seems right with the world, at least our little part of it! This is the time of year that normalcy begins to creep back into our lives. We've made it through yet another summer. It doesn't seem possible, but in retrospect, it wasn't so bad after all. Each spring, we greet the impending season with a bit of excitement and certainly with a degree of trepidation. Each Labor Day finds us in the same position, anxious for the peace and quiet of the offseason, but yet somewhat apprehensive because the change is so rapid and so sudden. Living and/or working on the Island is a bit like existing on two different planets. One is overpopulated, congested, and runs at full tilt 24 hours a day. The other is a barren, semi-deserted landscape where only the wind runs full tilt 24 hours a day. Even the sea gulls find its offering too meager to "stick around." THE CHANGE in seasons — tourist, that is — must have an effect upon any creature that calls Five Mile Beach home. Unquestionably, t h(e~ disproportionate swing in seasons certainly wreaks havoc upon our collective psyche. In mid-August, all locals complain about the long lines outside the more popular restaurants and clubs. Two weeks later, and barely into September, it is difficult to locate a restaurant that is open, let alone one with a semblance of a line at the door. I seem to remember a psychological survey done a decade ago by a group of psychiatrists convening in Wildwood. The survey, if my memory serves me well, seemed to indicate that indeed stress and various anxiety disorders afflicted many Islanders. If any readers remember the same survey being conducted, please give me a call as I would like to obtain a copy of the results. If I hear from no one, I will assume the survey is a figment of my imagination. I will attribute the lapse to too many summers and I will casually allow the subject to drift away "quietly. Style Show, Card Party A V ALON - The Women's Civic Club will present a fashion show and card party 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Sept. 18, at Community Hall, 30th and the Beach. Fashions are through the courtesy of the Cross Country Shoppe of Stone Harbor under the direction of Betty Flynn, manager Guests are requested to bring their own cards. Dessert and coffee will be served. For reservations contact co-chairmen Reba Raebum or Jayne Reddie, 368-1453 or 967-4305.

WHILE ON the subject of tourism and impact, I had the occasion to speak with quite a few motel owners this past week and it is apparent that the brief closing of the beaches created a flurry of cancellations. While the over-all effect of the closings is not considered devastating by the owners, each stated that the shortfall was felt. Obviously, a shortfall in the lodging industry creates reduced revenue in the restaurant and retail industries as well. It was a bad situation, but it could have been much worse. The closings could have been longer or perhaps worse, they could have occurred in the early part of the season. On a positive note, several of the motel owners I spoke with said they have every intention of compensating those who felt it necessary to forego their vacations due to the beach closings. These foresightful owners, rather than simply refusing refunds on deposits for lodging, are crediting the amount paid to a vacation package for the fall. IT IS AN excellent PR gesture which benefits both the business owner and the chagrined vacationer. The dozen or so owners who have developed the concept report far less anger and much more understanding from affected tourists. Perhaps it's time for all segments of the tourism industry to band together and promote a fall fling, touting our clean, free beaches. With attractive room rates and restaurant specials it could turn into an excellent late season weekend. With all of the negative publicity so enthusiastically carried by the Philadelphia media, one would think they would just as enthusiastically carry the positive coverage on their channels. It's worth a try. If nothing else, a tremendous amount of good-will could be generated. I NOTICED in the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce's list of nominations for business beautification awards that two Five Mile Beach establishments were mentioned. Silen's, located on Pacific Avenue and operated by Barry and Pat Rasmussen, received a nomination and Duffinetti's in the Crest, owned and operated by Trish and Ed Cettei, received the same. The improvements are obvious and certainly warrant mention, but more importantly, the Rasmussens I and the Cetteis are two of I the finest young business couples on the Island. Each has energetically ap1 proached their business endeavor and their professionalism shows. Each couple comes from a family of successful business owners and it's a pleasure to see the tradition continue. It would be nice to see a "deadlock" in 1 the voting and each establishment be declared a winner in the remodeling beautification category. ON THE BIRTHDAY

scene, a very Happy Birth- | day should be extended to Ryan Bums, who recently I turned 7 years old. Ryan < was feted at a birthday I celebration last Saturday on his parent's dock along < the inland waterway. Ryan i will be attending the second grade at Philip Baker < School in Wildwood Crest. i A "real" birthday was i observed in the Bradshaw 1 household recently. Grocer 1 Bradshaw and his enter- i taining wife Lori (Cesar) Bradshaw celebrated the I birth of their second child, i a daughter. Ashley. This talented pair, who have ap- ; pea red in many local night < spots as the headline at- < traction, seem pleased with < their quartet status as a < family. A trio just wasn't enough. Only time will tell if they are determined to i assemble an entire I ensemble. i AWAITING A birthday < are Jim and Lynn Illing. Jim, who was responsible for introducing FROZEFRUIT into the I lives of many of us who i have a passion for this i gourmet "popsicle", can I be seen making his ap- I pointed rounds in a cold i sweat. It seems that the 111- i ings are expected their | first. I Both parents are ready and anxious, but the newest Illing is taking his/her time mi and the words "past due" I rattle Jim a bit. Perhaps by J the publication of this arti- | cle, the wait will be over. ■ I'll keep you posted. Final birthday note. Sort ■ of! I had occasion this past I week to sample a piece of I birthday cake baked by 5 Joyce Gould. Outstanding. | Everybody knows Joyce, ■ as she is one of the most I civic-minded individuals in I Wildwood Crest. When 5 something needs to be | done. Joyce volunteers to ■ do it. When a committee is I needed to address an issue, I Joyce again volunteers and ■ usually will chair the I committee. WHEN THE 75th An- | niversary celebration of ■ Wildwood Crest was being 1 discussed, Joyce I volunteered her time and 5 organizational ability. The | entire months-long ■ celebration was a resoun- | ding success and Joyce ■ deserves a tremendous J "pat on the back" for her I efforts. As Joyce rarely seeks | praise for her efforts, I am ■ certain that I'll be on her I "list" for this conveyance I of appreciation, but she * deserves it! It was a job | well done and the com- ■ munity appreciates the | effort. Back to the birthday 1 lead-in to this accolade. It I seems that amid all of the 2 activities that Joyce in- | volves herself with, she | somehow finds the time to I be a very successful pastry I and cake maker. This past ! week offering was the first | "goodie a la Gould" that I ■ have sampled. I was I impressed. But what should one ex- ■ pect from someone who has I the courage to tackle a ■ strawberry cream, double | layer, golden pound cake in I the midst of coordinating I an entire community's Dia- I mond Jubilee? I NEVER MISS the op- j I

portunity to mention Doris Ray's dance classes held at the Wildwood Recreation Center. Registration for this fall's classes is underway with two remaining dates available for signtomorrow and Sept. 9. If you are interested in dance or have a child who be. by all means report to the Wildwood Center at 243 E. Rio Grande Avenue and register. Classes are available for children up to the age of 4. Another class slated for children up to 13. Adults are welcome to attend the several offerings open for adults and of course, senior citizens are encouraged to attend and discounts are honored. The registration sessions will be held on each of the mentioned days from 4:30 to fr30 and further information may be obtained by contacting the Wildwood Rec Center, 522-5837. I KNOW I gave up mentioning politics several columns ago. but I just can't resist making brief mention of the battle shaping up for the Assembly seat. A real humdinger is in the making with Guy Muziani pitted against challenger Ray Batten. This regional election will certainly carry some Ml H ■! ■■ Hi ■■ ■■ Hi I

local flavor as both men have had political involvement in the City of Wildwood. With No local elections brewing, we can expect a lot of "Atlantic Restaurant Chatter" about this one. The professional polling predictors seem silent on this one. I guess we have seen too many election eve surprises of late and them seem a little "gun shy". So far. I must close this week's column with an amazing conclusion. Not that my conslusion is amazing, as they generally aren't, but the subject is. Those of us who stroll Five Mile Beach daily are witnessing an ever increasing number of Monarch butterflies. DURING THE next few weeks, the numbers will increase and the reason I find amazing. The butterflies are on their annual migration and their path takes them along the Wildwood's beaches every year at this time. Every year! Not that they are so longlived that they remember their way. The butterflies so casually making their way through our yards are 10 or 12 generations removed from their ancestors that made the journey last fall. The fact that these seem-

ingly mindless creatures possess such a strong inborn instinct is in itself amazing, but the fact that such a fragile "critter" can accomplish the feat is doubly amazing. ^During the next few weeks, as your problems mount and your tasks seem insurmountable, take a moment's respite and look out the window. On a good day, you can see hundreds of Monarchs passing along the coast in barely an hour's time. On a bad day. you might see just one, but it is nevertheless a singular miracle and when put into the grand perspective of it all makes your personal * despair a bit easier to handle. Red Cross -v Adds Trips COURT HOUSE - "Fun-on-Wheels", the County Red Cross Chapter's fundraising bus trips has added two additional trips, "outlet shopping" in Lancaster Pa.. Wednesday Nov. 6, and Radio City all new Christmas show Thursday, Nov. 21. For reservations call 398-1488 daytime only.

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