4 Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 28 May '86

Doris Word WVAKD-WINNKRS — These Stone Harbor students designed a stress-relieving product, wrote a press release and designed television, magazine and radio commercials for it as part of the slate Department of Education's "Cognetics" exposition at Glassboro State College on April 29. They won the highest honor possible, the "Toward Satori" award. From left are Jennifer Sherwood. II; Suzie Fisher. II; Dale Fickett. II ; Jennifer James, in. and Kristen Buff. 12. Absent is Dennis James. Dogfight Lands in U.S. Court

(From page 1) FREDERICK IDENTIFIED Cape May restaurateur George Fite and Mason, president of Astro Aerial Advertising, a banner towing company headquartered in Pitman, as having "a history of safety problems." , "He's ridiculous." replied Fite to the accusation. "We're getting penalized for something we didn't do." "Our planes will be flying by tomorrow." said Mason on Friday after announcing that his lawyer filed suit against Cape May County Airport, the Board of Freeholders, and Frederick. "We did everything we possibly could to avoid a suit against the county." said Mason. MASON SAID he acted to protect himself from being sued for breach of contract by a number of his advertising clients. The season for aerial advertising begins on Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day. Mason said. Fite. who owns and operates the Winchester Inn. at 513 Lafayette St.. in Cape May. has towed banners for three years out of the airport where he leases a hangar. Unlike Mason. Fite flies his own plane and tows banners to publicize restaurant and a gift shop adjacent to it. "I'M A ONE-MAN operation." said Fite. "I fly once or twice a day in a Super Cub that I keep in top shape. I fly up the beach as fas as Ocean City and return over the Garden State Parkway and the inland waterway." Flite flys a longer season than the banner towing companies putting his plane and banner in the air from March 1 through November. "We get a lot of customers from Stone Harbor, Avalon and Ocean City." said Fite. "People tell me they see my banner and had to come down to the restaurant." In addition to not being able to advertise the restaurant. Fite said the airport ban on towing wastes the 1250-a-month he spends on insurance to cover the towing. MASON. WHO HAS BEEN towing banners from the airport for four years, normally has four or five planes flying banners during the summer season. Mason said county officials attempted to stop his towing business in 1982. but the FAA intervened in his behalf. Mason released a copy of a letter frffP Robert B. Mendez. manager of the FAA New York District Airports Office. The letter, dated April 25. waS addressed to Freeholder Frederick. In it. Mendez said, "Banner towing is a recognized Aeronautical activity, and as such, should be^ allowed to conduct operations at your airport." If the county wishes to impose limitation on Mr. Mason's operations for safety reasons, Mendez wrote, they would have to coordinate them with the FAA.

"WE WOULD EXPECT the county to begin negotiations with Mr. Mason immediately, or articulate to us valid, nondiscriminatory reasons for not doing so," wrote Mendez. "That's exactly the position we have taken — the safety part of it," said Frederick, when questioned about the letter. Frederick said he notified Mendez early in the week of the ban on Fite and Mason. "He (Mendez) said if our complaints are verifiable to send him a letter and he would have their Philadelphia office verify them," said Frederick. "He said there would be no problem if that was the case." FREDERICK SAID the county "is not banning banner towing. But because of safety violations and a recent death, we feel it's in our best interests not to continue the operations of that gentleman ( Mason. > "We may reconsider our position with the Winchester if there are no safety problems." said frederick, "but not until we can verify it." In an earlier conversation. Frederick said airport records showed there were safety problems with both men. Asked if he could be specific about instances of unsafe operation Frederick said, "No, I can't. It's in litigation and may hurt our case. " Mason said he has plans to expand his towing business at the airport. "IT'S A SHAME the way it's being operated," said Mason. "And that these people would go to the extent of risking the loss of federal funds the airport receives to deny someone the right to do business. " Mason said he was unable to find out the results of closed-door meeting the freeholders conducted Thursday afternoon about the matter. "I called Delventhal (county solicitor Harry A. Jr. ) and he wouldn't even tell me if they voted 'no.' " said Mason. "I know they voted 'no.' " "Mason did not contact me," said Delventhal when asked about Mason's remarks. "We did receive a notice from his lawyer." Delventhal said he could not comment further "because the matter is in litigation." MASON SAID he intended to file a formal complaint with the FAA sometime this week. A banner towing fatality occurred last | summer when a teenage youth got his leg tangled in a banner that was being lifted, and subsequently fell to his death. The youth was an employe of Astro Aerial Advertising. Fite said The FAA investigated and they said it : had nothing to do with airplanes," Fite said.

felN/A7/fw5fcrr (From page 1) 20 years, drought is so severe that fire could travel through soil and cause roots to erupt into a full forest fire, according to Carol Owen, division fire warden with the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection. Burning Decision WASHINGTON, D.C. - Lawrence J. Jensen, assistant administrator for water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, would not commit the EPA last week to a decision on the proposed test burn of toxic chemicals 150 miles off Cape May. Local representatives traveled here to ask an EPA delegation to ban the burn. Jensen's supposed to make his decision this week, however. 1 Of 21 SWAINTON — Superior Court Appellate Division judges have upheld Judge Michael Conner's December 1984 dismissal of 20 charges against PQA Engineer Co. president John H. Sykes in connectionw ith an alleged county MUA kickback scheme. PQA was the MUA's chief consulting firm 1972-'84. Connor dismissed 21 counts against Sykes from a February 1984 county grand jury indictment. The state Attorney General's office appealed that decision and won reinstatement of a conspiracy charge, for renting a condominium from former MUA chairman John Vinci.

Helping Hands COURT HOUSE - About 100 Middle Township residents took part in the "Hands Across America" campaign to help the hungry and homeless Sunday in Cherry Hill. Middle Township High School's Art Club, directed by art teacher Mike Wamberg, presented Mayor Michael Voll and "Hands" coordinator Sandra Lochten, with banners to commemorate the local commitment to the national effort. Governors Grounded Gov. Thomas Kean and Delaware Gov. Michael Castle missed last Wednesday's dedication for 25 miles of Delaware Bay beach as what has been hailed as "the first shorebird preseve in the Western Hemisphere." They were to arrive by helicopter, but a weather report warned against such flights. An additional seven miles of Delaware beach will comprise the preserve, where migratory birds can eat horseshoe crab eggs on pit stops between South and Central America and points north. 3 Hurt in Crashes DIAS CREEK - Emily Clough. 21, of Pennsville was listed in guarded condition at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital after her car allegedly crossed the centerline of Route 47 here May 20 and ran into a dump truck driven by Ralph Moore, 60, who was unhurt. George Albertson, 81, of Avalon and Joan M. Latch-McKnight, 29, of Ocean View were treated and released from Burdette after their cars collided at the intersection of Route 47 and Springer's Mill Road here.

Fire Burns Duplex NORTH WILDWOOD - Fire damaged an unoccupied duplex on W. 19th Avenue, owned by Anthony and Clementina Curcio of Philadelphia, last week. It took about 35 firefighters 10 minutes to control the blaze, which gutted a first-floor living room. Smoke and heat damaged the rest of the building. More Charges WEST CAPE MAY — Already jailed on murder charges, Richard J. Redden, 23, of E. Magnolia Avenue, Wildwood, was

indicted last week for stealing two handguns, $800 in cash and $1,000 in jewelry from a Central Avenue house in North Wildwood on Feb. 20. He's being held on $2 million bail for the fatal Feb. 28 shooting of Wayne Miner, 18, of Wildwood and wounding Ferdinand Sowers in his Sixth Avenue home here. Redden is also charged with a Feb. 9 murder in Philadelphia. Indicted for Robbery NORTH WILDWOOD - Anthony M. Iwanicka, 23, of Wheeler Street, Philadelphia, was being held in the county jail last week in lieu of $25,000 bail, charged with the April 7 robbery of First Jersey National Bank, New Jersey Avenue. He was indicted last week. Responding to a reported disturbance April 8 at Season's restaurant, E. Schellenger Avenue Wildwood police took Iwanicka info custody with a large amount of money Police said they recovered $4,310 from him of $4,600 he allegedly took from the bank. Wife Indicted WILDWOOD — County grand jurors indicted Lucille Farley, 55, of E. Main Street, Whitesboro, last week on one count of death by auto for killing her husband, Charles, 87 , when crashing her car into a utility pole April 20 at Garfield Avenue and Park Boulevard. She also faces charges of drunk driving and driving with a revoked license in Wildwood Municipal Court. She's free on her own recognizance. Indicted for Robbery NORTH WILDWOOD - James C. Roy, 24, of W. Poplar Avenue, Wildwood, was being held for $50,000 bail last week in county jail for robbing a Wawa store. Fourth and New Jersey avenues here, of less than $100 on April 23. He was wanted then for failure to honor probation requirements. Earlier this year he was placed on three years' probation for taking a video cassette recorder from Wildwood Police Department. Last week, he was indicted for robbery, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, unlawful possession of a weapon, and escape. Shiver Me Timbers SCHELLINGER'S LANDING - Commercial fishermen in the county and other parts of South Jersey would be eligible for $5 million in low-interest revolving loans if state legislators approve a bill passed 5-0 last week by the state Assembly Economic Development and Agriculture Committee. Owners of commercial and sports fishing vessels could receive up to $100,000 each for boat and equipment repairs or related business expenses. Administered by the state Fisheries Development Commission, the loans would be one percent below the prevailing prime interest rate if approved. Aramingo Buy-out STRATHMERE — New Jersey Water Co. is on the brink of a $10,080 buy-out of Aramingo Water Co. here, according to Upper Township Mayor Daniel Beyel. He said an agreement of sale has been reached and only paperwork remains. Renovation of Aramingo's old facilities could result in public water for Whale Beach, Marmora and Sea vi lie. Wagner Resigns COLD SPRING — Lower Township's elementary school board last week "accepted with regret" the resignation of board member Joseph F. Wagner of North Cape May. He was board president until last month's reorganization meeting when Ralph E. Bakley Sr. of Cold Spring was elected to replace him. Bakley called Wagner "a good board member" and thanked him for 11 year's service. The board will appoint someone to complete one year of Wagner's term during its June 17 meeting, according to Nancy H. Bailey, board secretary.