Herald NEWS It's DI GESTS Inside. Sharing or State? It's Your WILDWOOD CREST — An ordinance that would have handed the borough’s admin- Year-Round istration and enforcement of the Uniform Guide. Construction Code to the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) was tabled until Feb 7, said Borough Administrator Kevin Yecco. That alternative to the Joint Construction Offi ce of the Wildwoods, may not be necessary if the island’s municipalities can unite to form a “true shared service,” where one town would be the lead agency January 31, 2007 PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY THE SEAWAVE CORP. and handle personnel, budgeting, and overall Vol. 43 No. 5 Copyright 2007 Seawave Corp. All rights reserved. 1508 Route 47, Rio Grande NJ 08242-1402 responsibility. Yecco said there have been “heated negotiations between the municipali- ties” but no fi rm decision has been made. If no clear path is set by the Feb. 7 commis- Wal-Mart Set sioners meeting, Yecco said the commission- ers may act on the ordinance and the DCA would take control April 1. For Opening Get Free Tax Help By Late May COURT HOUSE — Both the county library here and the Avalon Free Public Library will By AL CAMPBELL be offering those 60 and over free income tax assistance and advice on preparing returns. COURT HOUSE — Well, Wal-Mart watchers, (Page A12 Please) start the countdown. The nation’s largest retailer will be gearing up to open “before Memorial Day Weekend,” said Tom Juliano, of Grande Properties Devel- Special Svc. opment. “It’s been a long time coming,” Juliano told Middle Township Planning Board Jan. 25. District Has Along with attorney Jeffrey April and planner Timothy Michel, Juliano appeared before the board to seek fi nal site plan approval, and also Fewer Pupils needed variances to allow different color and By CHRISTINE COTE size signs on fi ve shops that will be located in the Wal-Mart section of the shopping center. CREST HAVEN — With 289 students, the The board granted all variances after a pro- county Special Services School District still Christopher Borkowski longed discussion. has 11 students less than anticipated when Special Olympics New Jersey athlete Gerald Arntz (4) of Yale Bulldogs B shoots and He said all necessary permits needed from the budget was prepared for the 2006-2007 scores against Monmouth All Stars team Jan. 27 at Wildwoods Convention Center. Floor the Department of Transportation were se- school year. hockey competition was held throughout the weekend. Statewide, over 15,000 athletes cured. This does not mean a decline in the num- participate in 22 Olympic-type sports in over 150 year-round competitions. Given it will take 90 days for the retailer ber of children with special needs, according to stock the store and hire employes, which to Superintendent Barbara Makoski; it is the would indicate the gears are, or very soon will result of more students staying in their own be in motion. districts. ‘Just the Beginning, Again…’ Other stores that will open close to that And that is a direct result of pressure from Wal-Mart include: the federal government, more than “districts For Wildwoods, Says Banker * Fashion Bug, which will relocate from keeping back students,” she said. its present site in Rio Grande Plaza next to Since enrollment has not hit the 300 mark, By LAUREN SUIT the late 1980’s early 1990s in a “crash.” But, Peebles. one classroom teacher and two aides had to be he said, when the convention center opened * 5 Guys Famous Burgers and Fries. This laid-off, said Makoski. A staff member who was WILDWOOD — Will the Wildwoods’ 2007 its doors in 2002, “a signifi cant amount of will be its fi fth location in the state, the closest moved from the media center to a classroom tourism season be better for business? Are activity both in development and appreciation” being in Somers Point. has stayed there, and the media position has buyers still thinking of purchasing second started to return. * China Pavilion, a Chinese restaurant. not been fi lled. homes? “There was a new view of the island,” he * Sally Beauty Supply. This will also be its Her intention to move the music teacher into According to Jay Ford, president of Crest said. “And when you looked at the facility, fi fth store in New Jersey. Two others of its a classroom did not happen though, Makoski Savings Bank, “It is just the beginning, again you had to think how could people not want stores, in Hamilton and Princeton, are also said, so the school’s music program remains for this island,” gesturing to the venue, the to come here.” located near Wal-Marts. unchanged. convention center, as an example of what the In order to keep those people coming, Ford * Quiznos Subs, which formerly operated in She has been in charge of what is one of community can accomplish. said, the 2007 season would depend highly on Rio Grande Plaza. eight schools of its type in the state since “Who would have thought that we would weather and the price of gas. The Wal-Mart sign on Route 9, at the bypass July 2005 and last year, she said the numbers have had all this?” he asked members of the Ford credited the “great weather” for the from Route 9 to Railroad Avenue, contains fi ve looked good, with enrollment over 300. Wildwoods Chamber of Commerce on Jan. success of the 2005 season. While 2006, he spaces to announce those fi ve stores that will Last year’s graduating class was 25 and this 25. said, had “some not so great weather week- share its space. year it will be 40 and fewer students “across Ford noted that he considered the town in (Page A7 Please) For patrons of all those stores, Middle Town- the board” are seeking services here, even ship codes dictates 884 parking spaces, while (Page A7 Please) 839 were already in place, and had been previ- Enrollment Declines, Risks Jump; ously approved. A variance was unanimously approved to allow that reduced number of Pets’ Oxygen College Discontinues Kids’ Program parking spaces. Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext By CHRISTINE COTE Trustee Albert Monillas, who serves as 28 or e-mail: [email protected] Masks Added county school superintendent here, asked at COURT HOUSE — The decision was made the meeting if local schools had been notifi ed months ago, but the word is still getting out: about the cancellation because they are getting Surrogate Will To Rescue Rig there will be no Kids College this summer. calls about it. By AL CAMPBELL It was mentioned briefl y at Atlantic Cape Owens explained that the college had Seek Reelection Community College’s Board of Trustees meet- stopped notifying students through the schools COURT HOUSE — Cape May County Sur- COURT HOUSE — Three local veterinarians ing Jan. 23, held at the campus here. a while back and had not thought to tell them rogate W. Robert Hentges has announced that made an unusual donation to Middle Township Patricia Owens, dean of continuing edu- of the change, and said it has been on ACCC’s he will be a candidate for re-election later Ambulance Corps, Inc.: pet oxygen masks. cation and resource development, told the Web site. this year. Those assorted masks are designed to Herald last week that after the 10-year-old When it was originally created, Owens said, The announcement doubtless will affect fi t creatures as small as ferrets and as large program ended last August it was decided not the program was intended to bring potential numerous parties consider- ponies. to continue it. (Page A7 Please) ing a run for the surrogate’s Deb Rue, president of the all-volunteer orga- position when it appeared nization, believes the squad to be the only one Is New Cape Meadow View Shocking? that the 35-year veteran in the county to have such masks. Constitutional Offi cer might The masks will be carried on the ambu- By JACK FICHTER and ditches. not seek an eighth term. lance that responds to all structure fi res to aid Formerly, most of the meadows were hidden Hentges was fi rst elected both fi refi ghters and other victims, human or WEST CAPE MAY — Some residents driving from views by strands of trees, honeysuckle to the Surrogate’s position animal. along Sunset Boulevard have found the view of vines and Phragmites reeds. in 1972. Oxygen masks designed for human use, the Nature Conservancy property and Lower At a Jan. 24 West Cape May Borough Com- Last month, he was unani- HENTGES due to their shape, are not very effective in Cape May Meadows somewhat shocking. mission meeting, Mayor Pam Kaithern said mously voted to receive the Gill C. Job Memo- providing oxygen to family pets involved in a While it may appear there is enough cleared she has received phone calls from residents rial Award from the Constitutional Offi cers fi re, she said. space for a shopping center, the U.S. Army expressing concerns about the project. She Association of New Jersey, presented yearly Pet masks are designed to fi t over their Corps of Engineers are building ponds on the said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nature for distinction in service. snouts, and have a rubber ring that creates a property. Conservancy, and the state Department of En- Hentges made his announcement during seal that enables the pet to receive pure oxygen West Cape May Commissioner Peter Burke vironmental Protection (DEP) were restoring a the course of interviews with the Herald for a into their nose and mouth.