4 * Herald - lantern - Dispatch 15 January '86

^ ' 1 « J The Wildwoods • ^ k * =. X A ^ Thomas Parsons Mam ir~«agg

It all started during the Thanksgiving Season. If you remember, I stated that it was a tough week to do a column. Little did I know that each succeeding week would be progressively more difficult until it happened: TYPOPHOBIA. I just couldn't plink another key. I missed two regular columns and was subsequently berated by numerous Herald addicts. Some seemed to think I fell off the edge of the Earth. Wishful thinking, perhaps. Others who have the Herald mailed to them in distant places called to see if the Wildwoods had fallen off the face of the Earth. Again, wishful thinking, perhaps. NO SO, JUST my distinct inability to sit down and pen the plaudits of our fair communities. I can't even blame it on a vacation, as my person was rooted in Cape May County for the duration of the holiday season. Writer's block, no other excuse. When I first started doing the column, somebody told me that the first 100,000 words should be a breeze then I would have to start to earn my money Perhaps, as early December saw my column exceed the 100,000-word level and it has been downhill ever since. WELL. NOT to fear, I've c regained my bearings and am looking forward to breaking the quartermillion word barrier. The turning point was when I received an anonymous call from a reader who asked if I was interested in yet another "Pat Visalli story'"- I said "Of course", and then realized how much I enjoy doing this weekly ditty. On with the show, I've got a lot of words to go. and

will begin with a different Visalli story. A Trentonoriginated news story has carried the news that Joseph Visalli will receive Governor Kean's nod to fill the seat of Superior Court Judge for the Family Division. That is good and long awaited news. VISALLI. WHO was the local Bpr Association's choice for the position the last time it became available, was edged out by the late Charles Sandman. This time around, "Judge Joe" seemsJo be the oddson favorite • Visalli has plied his profession on several local municipal benches, and it is obvious that the Superior Court seat couldn't be entrusted to a more competent and dutiful barrister. We wish this Wildwood Crest resident the best of luck as he treads the confirmation waters necessary for final approval of the appointment. NEWS FROM the Wildwood Crest Ambulance Corps indicate that the recent "used fur" sale was a resounding success. The membership would like to extend a sincere note of appreciation to all who attended the event and supported the cause. Exact figures from the sale are unavailable, but rJim Maguire (who has '.been a member forever) stated that is was an excellent fund-raiser and the corps hopes to make it an annual event. Maguire stated that the sale drew patrons from every community south of Sea Isle City. One lady, who traveled from Avalon, while sorting through the selections, found an exquisite fur that she had "traded in" seven years earlier. It still had her monogram in the lining.

To her chagrin, it looked as spectacular as it did years before and some lucky attendee purchased it for a fraction of the original cost. Who says there aren't bargains around anymore! Watch for next year's sale. SPEAKING OF fur, a bit of it was flying recently in the Nesbitt Center in Wildwood Crest. It seems that a newly organized civic group, Crest Priority One, surfaced to challenge the elected officials' handling of the sewage problems within the borough. Unfortunately, while the cause is laudable, spokesperson Harry Greiner wouldn't divuldge the size or roster of the new membership and this most certainly polluted his presentation. Obviously, the Crest officials aren't going to give much credence to an organization until they know to whom they are speaking. Mayor Frank McCall stood his ground and stated that the borough is doing everything conceivable to correct the situation and anticipates a sound and operable system by the Memorial Day influx of tourists. YOU HAVE to believe the mayor. In fact, you have to believe any politician who says the problems 1 are being addressed, 1 because they really don't ' have much of a choice. The 1 beach shut-down this past 1 August was a stark 1 reminder of the economic devastation that could be 1 wrought upon our tourist business if the situation oc- 1 curs anew. No politician worth his | salt would ignore this issue, 1 and when officials say they are addressing the issue, 1 they are. After all, their i jobs are in jeopardy if the 1

"Beach Closed" signs are posted along our sandy shores this summer: Crest Priority One may have dropped the ball during the initial round, but if any beach problem occurs this spring/summer you can bet that tenacious residents such as Greiner will be breathing down a few elected officials' necks. IT SHOULD BE noted that two Wildwood Crest business owners are branching out and attempting to till the fertile turf being opened in Rio Grande. Wally Lerro, owner of the Monterey Motel and the Four Winds Condominiums, and John Patitucci. owner of the Crown Motel, are seeking the necessary approvals for the construction of a Ponderosa Steak House adjacent to the 7-11 along Rio Grande Boulevard in Middle Township. This is interesting in that it shows the continuing trend of "Islanders" who are capitalizing on the newly found commercial district in Rio Grande. Dr. Benzell. who began the turn of events with the construction of the Rio Village Shoppes, maintains a Wildwood Crest residence. HAMMER'S BAKERY, long as Island institution, boasts a mall shop in Rio Grande. North Wildwoodian, Frank Balestriere has teamed up with Ralph Grassi. Crest resident, and they have created the RobNest shopping plaza just north of the Rio Grande light on Route 47. And there is more to come, at a later date, to be sure, as to "spill the beans" now would be a breach of confidence. But suffice it to say, several other "Islanders" will be making the trip to Rio Grande with increasing frequency as the ground work is being laid for several outstanding projects. WHILE IN THE "business mode", have you ever been to Antlers in North Wildwood? If you haven't, then you'd better hurry, because a change is in the offing. It has been noted that a request to change the liquor license has been tendered to the City of North Wildwood by a firm called Dreams, Inc. Could it be that 17th Street in North Wildwood will lose an "Antlers" and gain a "Dreams"? I'll see what info I can dig up and continue with the tidbit in a later column. I JUST HAVE to wish Elsie Suplee a Happy Birthday. This former Unemployment Office staff member recently turned a very active 80 years old. As an avid bowler and a supporter of the cause for the Marie's Flowers team, Elsie was dutifully feted at a celebration ho6ted by the Monday Night Women's League. To Ms well wishes and notes of praise, I add my own; Happy Birthday, Elsie! • • • Congratulations to Danny Bradley on his recent graduation from the State Police Training Academy at Sea Girt. Bradley is a

member of the Wildwood Crest Police Department. Also graduating from Sea Girt as president of his training class was Islander Harvey Roach. It is a distinguished honor to represent a class and as with Bradley, we wish him the best of luck. Roach is a member of the Wildwood Police Department. Wildwood Police also announced the appointment of several new officers. Two of the newest additions to the force are Billy Cooper and Steve Long. If you are old enough to remember black and white television. I am certain that you remember "No Time For Sergeants". Well, the opposite must be true in the Wildwoods as our Island now may boa§t three new ones: Rockey DiSylvestro has been promoted to Sergeant on the Wildwood Department, and in North Wildwood Bobby Harkins and Marty Riley are climbing the ranks and now wear three stripes. Congratulations! QUICK NOTES: Happy Birthday to the twins; Megan and Jessica Fitzgerald. It was the big one, their 6th. I can't leave out their brother, Adam, the young lad with the biggest bedroom in Wildwood Crest. Happy Birthday, belated as it was the last week of December. Karen Sinsheimer, also of Wildwood Crest, is celebrating another birthday. The date of the occasion is Jan. 10 and it will be her "30- some thing" birthday. Happy Birthday, Karen! A FINAL NOTE, which is really where I started. It is the 15th sequel in the Pat Visalli story. This anecdote revolves around a Pocono's

vacation. As I have stated before, everything Pat does carries with it an incident. He is just that kind of guy. As almost everybody knows Pat, it has become somewhat of a civic duty to report on his latest "you won't believe what happened" story. Here's another... It seems that Pat, et al, had rented a cottage in the Poconos for a delightful season of skiing. The cottage, which had a new hot tub, attracted Pat's attention. When the group took possession of the vacation spot, Pat's only wish was to fill the large hot tub. THAT HE DID. He filled, and he filled, and he filled. Much to the chagrin of all others in attendance, Pat V. ran the well dry as he filled the pleasure pool. The remainder of the weekend was spent using chlorinated, hot tub water for the other necessities of life. They "flushed" with hot tub water and they washed with hot tub water. They did everything with hot tub water, as the well remained dry. It was a Spartan existence, but at least Pat had his hot tub. I assume Pat received the brunt of the guest's frustrations throughout the weekend. They, I am sure, felt certain that had they filled the tub, they could have done so without running the well dry. Probably so. Pat Visalli is one of the finest gentlemen around, but you can never forget that he is "that kind of guy" Keep watching for the next installment as I am certain that there will be one. When all else fails, and our Island falls asleep, my phone is sure to ring with another Pat V. amusing anecdote.

Pumping Stations to Cost $779,600

SWAINTON - With the i award of a nearly $800,000 contract for the construe- v tion of the Court House and s Crest Haven pumping sta- g tions, the Cape May County r Municipal Utilities Authority has assembled c the last piece in its con- c struction of the wastewater c treatment facilities for the t Seven Mile Beach/Middle i Region. v "This was an important r step at this time," / CMCMUA Executive ( Director George Marinakis t said when the award was B made at a recent meeting, "since all contracts must j be started within one year t after the award of grant t funds or we could lose a c portion of our (federal) £ grants." f THE $799,600 contract £ awarded to RAC General ? Contractors Inc. of Medford was almost $300,000 under the engineers' estimated cost of the job and more than $100,000 below the next lowest bid. Grant funds for the construction of the Seven Mile Beach/Middle Region wastewater treatment plant , were part of a $28 million award announced

in January 1985. The ocean outfall pipe already under construction at the time of the grant announcement and is complete. THE ADDED facilities covered by the award include the regional secondary treatment plant and the conveyance facilities to the wastewater treatment plant with Sea Isle City, Avalon, Stone Harbor, the Haven complex and the Court House portion of Middle Township. Marinakis said the prois still eligible for additional grant funds under the innovative technology cateogry if the U.S. Congress decides to continue of the construction grant program beyond fiscal year 1986.

LOWER TOWNSHIP Applications are now being accepted for positions on the following Boards/Commissions: . • Incinerator Authority • Solid Waste Advisory Council • Community Standards Review Board (Senior Citizen needed) • Recreation Commission All applicants must be residents of the Township and able to attend night meetings. These are volunteer positions with no salarv. Applications are also being accepted for: • Secretary to the Board of Health • Secretary to the Community Standards Review Board Applicants must be able to type, accuracy not speed, important. Applicants must be residents of trie Township and available for night meetings.