4 Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 1 January '85 — -

* By Charles P. Lamey Jy

Old Flame (RCA) is a f&e collection of countrytinged pop for chanteuse Juice Newton. As can be expected, her delivery is upbeat and her band yibrant without being overbearing, making this another album which should please her manyfans. Newton remains one of mainstream pop's most engaging performers. The biggest surprise in the latest installment of The Starship's erratic career is that an inane tune such as "We Built This City" could be such a massive hit. The album it was pulled from. Knee Deep In The Hoopla • Grunt i. is equally as insipid with lackluster playing. weak material, and no sense of adventure. It's hard to believe The Star-

ship have sunk to drivel such as this. LAST YEAR Sheena Easton left her squeaky clean pop image behind for a more sultry approach which perfectly suited her voice. Do You (EMI) continues in that same direc- 0 ' tion. but with mixed results. The main problem stems .from a too clinical production, which detracts from Easton's consistently strong singing. There's enough here to satisfy pop fanatics, but Easton has the ingredients to do something better. Despite their unlikcly moniker, 10.000 Maniacs' debut, The Wishing Chair (Elektra) is a wonderful collection of modern folkrock. Thanks to a full, dynamic guitar base, the

band produces colorful textures that would stand on their own even if Natalie Merchant's distinctive voice wasn't in front. 10,000 Maniacs are worth checking out. \ ONE OF 1985'S nest has to be the latest from Los Angeles' The Long ityders. State of Our Union (island) is a treat from start to finish, with melodic tunes with political leanings, delicate arrangements, strong, passionate vocals, and aggressive playing. It's e&y to spot the influences of The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, and Rockpile, yet The Long Ryders' commitment and honesty are so strong they'll surely stand on their own. Don't miss The Long Ryders; they're one of America's finest. DR. DEMENTO. via his syndicated radio show, has been turning people onto pop music's most absurb novelty tunes and now, • thanks to Rhino Records (1201 Olympic Blvd., Santa ., Monica. CA. 90404), he'll be able to reach even more people. Rhino has just issued six albums of Dr. Demento coif lections covering the 40s, 50s. 60s, 70s. 80s, and Christmas novelties. The artists range from Spike Jones to Weird A1 Yankovic and most of these tracks will have listeners doubled over with laughter. As the good doctor says. t "Stay demented".

i \ __ HEIRLOOM HANDIWORK - Peggy Delia Porta, left, of Petersburg, president, and Beth Polvino of Cape May, vice president, admire fine work on a quilt at a meeting of the South Shore Stitchers. The quilt guild meets 7 p.m. on the third Monday of the month in the public meeting room of the Upper Cape Library. Route 631. Petersburg.

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Historic Ventures Associates, of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., gave another glimpse of what they are planning for the Antiquity-By-The-Sea complex at Beach and New Jersey avenues to the city Historic District Commission last week, and the commission liked what it saw. Unveiled were preliminary plans for a lobby, or reception building that will front on New Jersey Avenue. and a building linking the Evening Star and Morning Star buildings on Beach Avenue. The reception building will have generally Victorian lines with a clap-board-like exterior and a porch and a bay window. The building connecting the two villas will consist of a three-story high glass bay that will join a stucco facade. BECAUSE Historic Ventures is applying for tax credits that are available for the restoration of historic structures, the U.S. Department of the Interior must approve the plans. William Fusselbaugh, 3d., representing Historic Ventures. said the federal agency frowns on any attempt at replicating Victorian architecture of the two villas, and had rejected initial plans for the project. But Fusselbaugh said the state Historic Preservation Office reviewed the new plans, ^nd recommended them to the feds. Commission member Frank Kohler, who said he was "one of the most vocal against the first concept," called the new treatment "much more pleasing. " KOHLER SAID HE agreed witn^he dictum that the buildings should not be an attempt at pseudo-Vic-torianism, but be compatible with the surroundings . ' ' The commission gave its approval conditional on the developers returning with more detailed plans in about two weeks. ( The building linking the two villas will have a lobby, stairs, a lounge, and a mezzanine as well as hydraulic elevators that will accomodate handicapped persons. Commission alternate member Tom Carroll said ' that while he was "sort of indifferent" to the treatment I of the buildings, be was "pleased" with the overall project, and didn't want "to do anything to give these people more headaches."' THE TWO VILLAS originally stood on Ocean Street, but were moved to their present location some years ago. Carroll said that instead of being outstanding examples of Victorian architecture, they were "very modest summer accomodations in their day. It is ironic the lengths to which people are going to preserve them." The villas are part of a $6 million conversion of a 96- I room hotel complex into a 69- room hotel-condominium complex that will include the Peter Shields restaurant. SANDRA MILLER president of Vintage Homes Association, said last week that the group was pleased with the success it had

working with the city's Department of Civic Affairs on the lighting of the official Christmas tree on Dec. 8. Miller said the event held at 7 p.m., at the Victorian Bandstand in Rotary Park was attended by more than 200 people. Mid Atlantic Center for the Arts, Miller said, joined in the occasion, bringing spectators in on its trolley and providing refreshments. After Rev. Forrest Spriggs, of Cape Island Baptist Church, gave a blessing and led the crowd in carols, coffee, tea, cider, and cookies were served in the Welcome Center. "I thought it was a nice unity effort," said Miller. "I think everyone was pleased. We are thinking about maybe buying a live tree that can be planted next year." IN A RELAXED project under the coordination of vice president Tony Bevivino, Vintage Homes collected enough 510 donations from its mtembers to prepare 29 food baskets to help needy families for the holidays. Th>? baskets were distributed with the help of the county Human Resources Center, and some residents of Victorian Towers. An additional $100 the group collected was given to Rev. Cass Shaw, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, to be used by the church's food bank. "This is the kind of thing we want to get into," said Miller, "more community service kinds of projects where we can do something to bring the community together." BUILDER FRANK KOHLER stepped down from his position as a member of the Historic District Commission last week to present a plan to protect the house of Tom and Ann Clark, 1521 Beach Ave. Kohler said the Clarks went to build a 24-inch reinforced concrete wall along the fence line on both the Beach Avenue and Brooklyn Avenue sides of their house as a barrier against flood damage. Kohler said the lawn will be built up and graded

behind the wall, and another concrete wall will be constructed beneath the porch and covered with cedar shakes. In the past two years. Kohler said, the house has been damaged twice by water that washes over the seawall on Beach Avenue. As a result of Hurricane Gloria, Kohler said the house's heating pipes and electrical wiring were washed away. The commission approved the plan. THE COMMISSION also approved Kohler's plans to refurbish both the interior and exterior of a duplex that he owns at 1152-54 Washington St. Kohler plans to install a modern kitchen and bath; demolish two dilapidated sheds in the rear and replace them with a 12-by-1 4-foot timber deck. He also plans to repaint the house which was built around the turn of the century "possibly with two shades of gray." ^ WAYNE HOUSTON of 913-15 Madison Ave., obtained commission approval to replace his tin roof with brown asphalt shingles. "I hope this doesn't signal open warfare on tin roofs," said Tom Carroll, who approved Houston's proposal. "This is a plain little double house, and it won't take much away from it," said Carroll. "But tin roofs are very important architecturally.'.' In an election that followed the meeting of the commission. Herman Hirsh was re-elected chairman, and Frank Kohler was re-elect-ed vice chairman. TOM CARROLL urged his colleagues on the commission to intercede for him with members of City Council. "I would like to be a regular member of this board," said Carroll. "I have been an alternate for more years than I can count, and we're still short one member." Carroll said there are "others interested in serving, and I don't think we should ignore talented people."

CROCHETING — A broken wrist is no handicap for Mary Andersen of North Wildwood as she instructs Jessie Taggard of the Crest in making a hat at the North Wildwood Senior Center. Anyone over 60 is invited to come to the center and participate in the activities ther;. Andersen is the director of recreation for the Office of Aging. ,