1 g Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 18 September '85

i m The Wildwoods » ^ ^ ' /" ' X m ^ Thorny Parsons # A. 1 1 1.-013:

The Borough of Wildwood Crest, the , Wildwood Crest Tourism - Commission, and the Wildwood Crest Diamond Jubilee Committee are | pulling resources and coordinative efforts to bring this year's Municipal 75th Anniversary to a resouoding and splendid conclusion September 20. 21 and 22 have been designed as Seafarer's Weekend and it should be an enjoyable time for all. The highlight of the activities will be a spectacular fireworks display along Sunset Lake not just another

fireworks display, but one synchronized to music! It is the hope of many business owners that rather than simply being the culmination of the Dia mon'd Jubilee, the Seafarer's Weekend wil become an annual tradition. THE TOURISM industry needs "special weekends" in the off-season to promote

its product and it is good to see Wildwood Crest promoting this one. Cape Mayhas done an admirable job with its Seafood Festival and Victorian Weekend Thousands of tourists flock to the neighboring community to the south simply to participate and experience the "special weekends" This is probably an area that the South Jersey Tourism Council should explore. A regional affair could be more adequately funded and mor? widely promoted. The entire month of October would be an excellent time; the weather is usually cooperative, the rooms are available, the rates are right, and most assuredly the industry could use the business and the economic shot in the arm. TWO STORIES of vehicular interest, both involving a considerable degree of luck: The first is a congratulatory statement directed at Trish Cettei. Trish was the lucky winner of the brand new Cadillac offered by the Wildwood Crest Fire Department at its recent Cadillac Dinner. Usually seen driving about in her van. the family Bronco, or Ed's dune buggy. Trish will most assuredly look great puttering around the Crest in her new "Caddie". Congratulations! THE SECOND "car comment" actually concerns a van and a considerably greater amount of luck that

i Trish Cettei exhibited. Leo Giuiiano. who has long been noted as the ! gentleman who maintains his vans in pristine condition. is now the owner of a brand new van with the spare tire and rear bumper located in the front seat. It seems that Leo was caught in a traffic jam along Bayshore Road and a car approaching from the rear failed to stop. One minute. Leo was enjoying his favorite opera via cassette and the next minute he was lying in the back of his van. pushed across incoming traffic, off the road, and 100 feet along a vacant parking lot. Fortunately, very fortunately. Giuiiano was not injured. When I last spoke with him. he was still shaken up. but grateful for the obviously HUGE amount of luck that he possesses. The only after effect is that every time he hears Beverly Sills hit that rare high "C" he cringes and ducks for cover. THE ED HERMAN-led Wildwood City Council seems to have rankled a few state official's nerves and unnerved a few business owners when they unanimously rejected the State Fire Code Ordinance. Despite the city solicitor's opinion, or perhaps as a result of the city solicitor's opinion, stating the council had no choice in the matter, Wildwood Council has cast the entire matter into a state of limbo

and in effect invited state action concerning the matter. THE STATE offers local municipalities the right to inspect properties within the boundaries of their municipalities. This is accomplished through the local fire department. Absent a local inspection agency, the state will order the Department of Community Affairs to perform the task. In New Jersey, approximately one percent of the municipalities have asked the state to inspect properties. Wildwood seems to be among those in the minority. at least on a temporary basis. Mayor Victor DiSylvester. it seems, is siding with the majority of municipalities and emphatically stating that inspection should be local. Fire Chief Ernie Troiano concurs. The business community overwhelmingly supports local inspections. Not because they are in search of preferential treatment or special favors, but simply because it is easier to deal with a local inspection group. IN THE BOROUGH of Wildwood Crest, the inspections are done locally with Al Beers heading up the inspection team. Beers is one of the most qualified fire code inspectors in the state. He is now studying for his Master's degree in Fire Protection Management. Beers does an admirable job. but what is more, he does a cooperative job. He knows just about every business owner in the Crest and works with the various owners in resolving their deficiencies. The words "works with" are important. Don't expect ever to work with a state official. Both types of inspection accomplish the same end. but working with an inspector who lives and/or works in "town" certainly makes matters much, much easier. HEARD FROM Charlie Mathis the other dav. It is ALWAYS good to hear from him. Absolutely nobody knows more about Wildwood entertainment tidbits than Charlie He mentioned the Wildwoods attempting to bring the Miss America pageant to the Wildwoods. Good idea! Only trouble is that a dozen or so knowledgeable people will probably find a hundred or so reasons why it would never happen and simply drop the subject without so much as the slightest attempt. PAGEANT MOGUL Al Marks keeps threatening to move the pageant. Let's give him a place to move it to. They are talking about expanding Convention Hall. Maybe they are serious this time, and the Miss America pageant would certainly be an excellent reason to consider the move seriously. According to Charlie M. the pageant was held here in 1932. Any solicitation efforts would then be geared to "bringing back" the Miss America pageant. If the Wildwoods were successful. there would certainly be no shortage of national publicity. Of course, we would have to bring back Bert Parks. No offense meant towards Gary Collins, but to really complete the coup, Parks would have to return. THE WILDWOODS. a

decade or so ago. were the official hosts for the Miss N.J. pageant. Held in Diamond Beach, tlje Miss New Jersey pageant attracted a great deal of media attention and interest. The pageant was lost to Cherry Hill, of all places, in the 1960 s. It is time to retrieve this promotional plum also. Two years ago. the Wildwoods did almost that! Through the efforts of the Wildwood Jaycees a solicitation attempt was being made and interest was being generated. Attendance had been dropping off at the Cherry Hill pageant, and rumor was rampant that another site was being discussed. ONE MEETING led to another, and yet to another. Other community leaders became involved, representatives of several business organizations got involved, and before you know what had happened, nobody was meeting anymore. The Greater Wildwood Jaycees make up an excellent organization and perhaps should renew their efforts to return the Miss New Jersey pageant to OUR sandy shores! Imagine a spring Miss New Jersey pageant and a fall Miss America pageant for the Wildwoods. Nothing could be finer, except maybe the aquarium, but that is a personal statement reflective of my strange interests. Professionally, I realize that the two pageants would place the Wildwoods in a most enviable position ; All the more reason to go after them! Joyce Berrien is being welcomed into the Wildwood City employe fold as the new Recreation Director. Replacing Bob DePeso. Berrien brings to the Center City facility years of experience and an enthusiastic attitude. As the department rebuilds it is good to see many of the programs that DePeso started continuing. As with any community service program, volunteers are always needed. If you want to become part of the Wildwood Recreation Program, give the recreation department a call. The number is 522-2362. and the staff certainly will be glad to hear from you! THE WILDWOOD Divi sion of the Cape Human Services has your number and they would like very much to give it to you. Your systolic and diastolic number, that is. Every ^ Wednesday between 10 and noon, representatives of the agency are at 117 W. Davis Avenue offering FREE blood pressure checks. Avail yourself pf this excellent service. High blood pressure at any age is a problem and it's good to know that there is an active agency taking an interest in YOUR health. While at the community center, inquire about the other very valuable services that it offers. It's a busy, busy place; you can plan a family, lose weight, gain weight, learn about nutrition, and many more USEFUL things. I'll even inquire about having copies of the Herald delivered to the center so that you'll have something to read while you are waiting to have your BP checked!

NEW LOAN OFFICE — Eleanor A. Hack, newly appointed consumer loan office of Cape May County Savings and l.oan Association, is shown with llerh llornsby. president of association. Automohile loans are expected to he most popular. She will also handle home imp- ovement. home equity and student educational loans, as well as the credit card program. Mrs. Hack lives in Green Creek with her husband Frederick and daughter Tracey Ann.

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