4 Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 12 February '86

-cw Middle Township IHilBfflB! Abn

The Middle Township Chamber of Commerce unanimously voted to oppose the proposed township mercantile license at its montly meeting Feb. 3 in the presence of guest speaker Mayor Mike Voll. In a surprise move. Voll informed the group that after the study of the proposed license was finalized, < he felt that it should not be implemented at the present time. Voll presented the Chamber with a Certificate < of Award for its ac- ! complishments over the past two years. He gave the "State of the Township" i address before the group. It basically listed the ac- 1 complishments of the i township committee since i he became mayor three years ago. IN OTHER matters, the chamber is looking into ways to clean up the graffiti from the high school overpass. Scalfo Electric Inc. (Henry P. Scalfo, > representative ) of ' 1 . Vineland, became the newest member. This business is working locally 1 on the electric installation at the waste water treatment plant. We wish Lindsy Schumann of Court House a very "Happy Birthday!"^ Shei is 7 years old and a first grader at Elementary School 1. Dave Blood, director of guidence at Middle Township High School, recently attended a conference entitled "Children With Cancer" at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, aimed to upgrade the counselor's ability to deal with any type of situation IT WAS High School Orientation Day at the Middle School Jan. 31 as representatives from the high school visited, the * school's eighth graders to expose them to the teachers, requirements, and proficiencies. MTHS counselors Mary Joe DeH'Orefice and Ron Kiahusch. along with administrators Phil Ex ley and Bob Prnkethman. and teachers Joe Steady. Tom Wallace. Chris Bailey, and Joe Trombetla made

presentations and spoke to the students in small groups to help prepare them for scheduling this month and to tell them of the basic requirements of high school. THE SCHOOL'S eighth graders also visited the VoTech Career Center, where they had lunch, the same day. Half the students visited the center in the morning while the remainder went in the afternoon. Joe Oslrowski coordinated that part of the program. Middle School counselor John Kaighn. with Blood, coordinated the high school's portion of the orientation. MTHS Principal John McVey and Middle School Principal Edmund Webb, with Middle School counselor Marilyn O'Neill also assisted. THE CHILDREN from the Vo-Tech Child Care Center program took the children, ages 3 to 5. to the Court House Fire House to see the Community Helpers at work as Fire Commissioner Blood and Capt. Carl Chambers gave a presentation on what a fireman wears, the drop, roll, and cool procedure, and the story of how the fire truck got its siren. All the children received junior firefighter badges. Mike Douglass, who received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Widener University in Chester. Pa. in December, is working with the IRS as a special agent on tax fraudul. He is a graduate of MTHS and the son of Fred and Ruth Grosse of Court House. THE NEW JERSEY District Kiwanian Governor's Dinner was held at Urie's Reef and Beef Restaurant Jan. 29. There were 116 Kiwanians representing the Court House. Villas. Cape May. Northfield, Ocean City. Somers Point . and Wiidwood clubs. John Lucca. district governor, was the guest speaker. Ed Hutr chinson. lieutenant governor from this district, was the master of ceremonies. THE MTHS KEY Club will sponsor a Valentine Dance at the high school 8 p.m. tomorrow. A disc jockey and refreshments will be provided. The selection of a king, queen, prince, and princess will take place. The Court House Kiwanis Club will sponsor a trip to the Atlantis Casino Tuesday, Feb. 18. The bus leaves Cape May County Savings and Loan in Court House at 6 p.m. Call 465-4331 for reservations. AFTER DISCUSSING the tragedy of the space shuttle, the students of Nancy Rosenberg's and Pam Sherman's transitional first grade class at Elementary School I expressed their sy mpathy for the students of Christa McAuliffe's class in a very special way. Each child illustrated his or her version

of something cheerful. Hearts, flowers, houses, smiles, and rainbows were some of the pictures that they drew in order to cheer up Mrs. McAuliffe's class. The children also signed a card that was sent on behalf of the entire class. s The 27 member MTHS Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Dane DuFour. performed in the Teen Arts Community Concert Program at the Ancora Psychiatric Hospital Feb. 1 THE MIDDLE Township Recreation Department will sponsor a trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show on March 11. The bus will leave Jamesway Plaza at 1 p.m. For required reservations, call 465-3520.

Singles Meet RIO GRANDE - ! Meetings for Christian singles are held 8 p.m. every Friday for Bible study and fellowship. They are open for teens to 90s. divorced, widowed, or never married. For further information, call Lou Ann at 522-5207. Harrah's Trip SWAINTON - A casino trip to Harrah's Marina in Atlantic City will be held for the benefit of the Holy Redeemer Visiting Nurse Agency will be held Thursday. Feb. 27. Bus will leave the old 76 House parking lot 12:30 p.m. and Marmora parking lot 1 p.m For information and reservations, call P Foley. 967-3830.

Essay Test Features Conserving MAYS LANDING - The Cape-Atlantic Soil Conservation District is sponsoring an essay contest in conjunction with the New Jersey Association of Conservation Districts, the State Soil Conservation Committee and Rutgers University. This year's topic is "How Soil and Water Conservation Helps Make New Jersey & You Perfect Together". Brochures have been sent to all public and private schools in Cape May County. For further information, contact the local school district or the District Office, 1200 Harding Hwy. here. 625-3144. LOCAL AWARDS will be presented by the CapeAtlantic Soil Conservation District for Grades 4 through 6 and 7th and 8th categories. There will be three prizes awarded in each group - All essays must be received at the office here no later than April 4. All awards will be issued before the end of the school year. Murrel Gets Army Medal OCEAN CITY - Sgt Keith A. Murrell, son of Richard and Barbara Murrel of 4351 Haven Ave., has been decorated with the Army Commendation Medal in West Germany. The medal is awarded to individuals who demonstrate outstanding achievement of meritorious ser^yce in the performance of their duties. Murrell is an administrative specialist with the Aschaffenburg Military Community. He is a 1975 graduate of Ocean City High School.

m ' " . Jj RpBwim • na^mr .i Y a * Don. Ward RETIREE HONORED — Thomas Naigle, left, was presented a lamp Jan. 15 by Wiidwood Crest Fire Chief Gus Olson. Naigle received the lamp, and a certificate of appreciation from Crest Mayor Frank McCall. at a dinner honoring him for his services in the Fire Company from 1937 to 1985.

The Budget— : ,

(From page 1) The Prosecutor office's own salaries went up 10 percent, from $750,221 to $825,738. A JOB THAT doesn't exist — secretary to the freeholder-director — continues to receive annual budget increases, just in case, apparently. The post was created by the freeholders in December. 1983 and the 1984 budget allocated $15,000 in pay and $2,500 in expenses. Although some persons were interviewed. the job has never been filled, some say because the freeholders couldn't agree who to give it to. One complication: the freeholder-director was Anthony T Catanose in 1984, Gerald M. Thornton in 1985, and Sturm this year. But the job stayed in the budget and was increased to $21,200 plus $3,500 in expenses in 1985. This year, the nonexistent person would get the same 5 percent raise as other employes and go to $22,260. with expenses the same. "I don't know what the other freeholders think." said Sturm, "but I don't think it's needed. " He said he's reserved the right to change his mind. MAJOR "empire-building," to quote a freeholder who does not want to be named, occurs in the budget for Industrial and Economic Development. That department, headed since last October by Walter S. Sachs Jr.. went from salaries and wages of $41,268 last year to $310,877 in 1986 And its "other expenses" category climbed from $12,285 to $92,870 Much of that hike represents a paper shift to Economic Development of airport maintenance, safety and security. But those departments spent $246,301 last year and Economic Development is increased by $350,194. so there's still a hike of $103,893 MINT "empire-building" continues to Consumer Affairs. It was established in September of 1980 and as late as 1983 was still a one-man department — Mark Diederict of Villas — with a total budget of $17,722. 1 In 1984x1 went to two persons and its budget to $tt,927. Last year came a third person and a budget of $51,339. And this year's budget provides for a fourth person and totals $72,354. Both Diederich and Sturm agreed that the $25,860 increase is more than one per additional person should cost They referred questions to Freeholder Ralph Evans, who could not be reached. DIEDERICH said formal consumer complaints to the department totaled about 250 in 1983. doubled to about 500 in '84 when the staff doubled, and stayed "about the same" last year. Diederich's investigator (he also has a clerk-typist). C Joseph Tracy, has been on leave of absence since last fall when he was named business agent of Local 1983, the union that represents county employes. He is not expected to return to the Consumer position. The county's Recreational budget reveals an interesting dichotomy. The appropriation for Historic Cold' Spring Village, acquired in December. 1984. is up

by 40 percent, going from $149,755. But the Park Commissioned; decreased by $76,058, or 12 percent. PARKS LOST seven persons in August when they were accused of marijuana possession on the job. And the county has not replaced, most of them. "We felt we didn't need em." said Freeholder Ralph Evans, who heads Parks. "We just made the guys work a little harder." The Parks Department also requested $87,000 for capital improvements plus money for one van and one truck. It got $33,640 and the truck. Most of the money apparently will go for recreational equipment for county Park South in Del Haven Plans to pave the county park road in Court House and to start a "five-year-plan" apparently are postponed. ADDITIONAL COST of this year's expected move of the courts to the airport in Erma for two years show up in a couple places one wouldn't expect to look. There is a 45 percent increase in the Sheriffs office for "regulation," and part of that $114,853 increase is for four additional persons to handle the anticipated work load resulting from that move Sturm said. And telephone operations are up by 38 percent with much of its $18,270 hike set aside for two additional, part-time telephone operators at the airport. The other half of the Sheriff's job — "correctional" — has a 38 percent increase of $228,034. and that. too. represents new hires. ALSO FAR IN EXCESS of the county budget's overall 6 percent increase is the Treasurer's office where a $77,420 hike in salaries will provide for at least two new positions, a junior accountant and a data processing programmer, according to Sturm. It represents a 29.5 percent increase. The administration of the Welfare Department is up 19 percent, from $720,025 to $860,298. v There is a whopping 354 percent increase in funds allocated to "alcohol treatment programs." It was a $25,000 item last year, is $113,550 this year. But some of that is due to moving budget line items under one umbrella. There also is a new allocation of $33,000 for the intoxicated driver resource center. The county has the state's highest alcohol addition and drunken driving fatality rates in the state, based on its resident population. THE PROPOSED BUDGET also has one "unknown." Although the freeholders boosted their insurance funds for general liability insurance by 20 percent over 1985, to $988,000. Sturm said he expects that "will be amended, and not downwards." The county is considering some additional "self-insurance" as its new insurance broker. Charles Pessagno of New Jersey National Associates Inc.. struggles with placing the county's insurance. Municinal insurance is difficult to find and the county's problems reportedly are compounded by a poor "experience rating." the result of frequent iawsuitsl Freeholders have kept their discussions about this problem behind closed doors.