163rd YEAR NO. 36 CAPE MAY, N.J. SERVING AMERICA’S NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK CITY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 75¢ House Adm. Allen of the to speak in week MAC series Page B1 Page A5 ‘It’s been a family thing my whole life. My dad was a lifegaurd, my brother and my sister were lifeguards, my aunts and uncles and cousins were all guards, so I always was around it. My mom loves it because I have like 60 Threat to visa brothers and sisters. We have an awesome group of people and our whole entire beach patrol is like a big family.’ –Annie Regan, Wildwood Beach Patrol program may Lifeguarding harm tourism forges bonds Wildwood, Ocean City fi ll jobs with foreigners for a lifetime By ERIC AVEDISSIAN instead of foreign workers Cape May Star and Wave with H1-B visas. The White House is exam- C A P E M A Y C O U R T ining possibly expanding the Area beach patrols share HOUSE — Each year, J-1 order to eliminate the J-1 Summer Worker Travel SWT program, the J-1 In- similar experiences but (SWT) foreign exchange stu- tern, Trainee, Camp Coun- dents arrive in New Jersey selor and Au Pair programs. Sarabeth Henne/STAR AND WAVE and work in seaside resorts Preventing foreign ex- each has own personality Annie Regan of the Wildwood Beach Patrol. and other industries, supple- change students from work- menting the workforce and ing in Cape May County spending months experienc- would be devastating eco- ing American culture. nomically, both in the region Although this program and the country, according brings thousands of seasonal to Denise Beckson, director workers to the country, and of operations and human provides a boost to Cape resources at Morey’s Piers May County’s businesses, in Wildwood. all that could be changing. “It’s really just going to On April 18, President impact New Jersey tourism Donald Trump signed the significantly, and tourism Buy American, Hire Ameri- nationwide that’s heavily can executive order, which involved in this program,” advocates higher wages and Beckson said. “If we’re not employment rates for U.S. compelling for people to workers while enforcing and come and visit because we administering immigration don’t have the shoulder laws. season or our hours are too Although Buy American, short or we can’t keep up Hire American spared J-1 and offer new products or visa SWT, White House ad- more rides, if we can’t staff visers want to eliminate the things, we may not stay as cultural exchange program, relevant as a vacation des- according to a Wall Street tination.” Journal report. Morey’s Piers employs The order would give 1,500 people, with 745 of preference to Americans for skilled technical jobs See Visa program, A9 David Nahan/CAPE MAY STAR AND WAVE A member of the Cape May Beach Patrol competes in the surf dash event during a South Jersey Lifeguard Chiefs Association CBS3 brings team competition this summer. The 15 beach patrols in the association have many similarities but also have their own personalities. By SARABETH HENNE mentally and physically challenging,” to spotlight what’s Special to the Star and Wave Steele said. “We break them down as a unit and build them back up as a OCEAN CITY — Their shared goal unit. Because they go through this, is making the water safe for the hun- everybody on the patrol, when they cool in Cape May dreds of thousands of tourists who graduate, has respect for what they’ve fl ock to the shore each summer, but been through because they’ve been Cape May Star and Wave and Wave, showing copies the 15 beach patrols in southern New through it, too. I think that’s the most from the late 1800s from Jersey have personalities as distinc- important tradition we have.” CAPE MAY — CBS3 the museum, acknowl- tive as the shore towns they protect. While the lifesaving skills are im- brought its 4 p.m. to 6:30 edging its role as the na- Few active guards know that better portant, that’s only half the battle, p.m. newscast live to the tion’s oldest weekly resort than Renny Steele of the Sea Isle City according to Steele. He says he looks Washington Street Mall newspaper. Managing Beach Patrol. for candidates with quality character on Sept. 1, which included Editor Jack Fichter told Steele, 67, has been guarding the and a “high social IQ.” prerecorded segments Washington the Cape May beaches since 1968 and has been “We hold lengthy interviews, and on the Cape May Light- Star and Wave covered captain of the SICBP for more than the reason we do that is because house, Congress Hall, the inauguration of Abra- 30 years. In his 47-year career, he we’re very particular about the type the Chalfonte Hotel, the ham Lincoln. has learned that each beach patrol of individual we bring on the patrol,” Emlen Physick Estate, the Mayor Chuck Lear was “has its own personality and culture.” he said. “We’re looking … (for) people county zoo, the Cape May- interviewed by Washing- “I think Sea Isle has a very close- who have good people skills, (and) Lewes Ferry, the Original ton and anchor Jessica knit (culture). There is a lot of bond- who can communicate with the pub- Fudge Kitchen, whale Dean. Lear noted a mayor ing that goes on. Everybody has lic, who will represent Sea Isle and watching boats and the in the 1970s had the fore- everyone’s back, they care about each the beach patrol in a positive light.” Cape May Star and Wave. sight to work to preserve other,” Steele said. “That’s the kind of Steele said if he had to sum up “The history behind the historic homes. thing that makes Sea Isle different.” lifeguarding in one word it would be this town is something to “I think there are a Their rookie camp, a weeklong “brotherhood.” talk about,” CBS3 anchor million other mayors that boot camp-style course designed to Ukee Washington told would trade places with ascertain who is suitable to patrol A family affair viewers. me,” he said. Sea Isle’s shores, is another attribute A segment showed the A new CBS3 web cam- that sets the patrol apart from the 14 The Thiess brothers of the Ocean Cape May Lighthouse’s era was unveiled on the others in the South Jersey Lifeguard City Beach Patrol are a literal testa- original Fresnel lens from roof of the Montreal Chiefs Association, covering 40 miles ment to that. David Nahan/STAR AND WAVE 1859, now on display at Beach Resort Inn. The and about 700 guards from Brigantine Bryan Thiess and his brother, Renny Steele of the Sea Isle City Beach Pa- The Museum of Cape May segment included an in- to Cape May Point. Shanin, are among the most ex- County, along with a Civil terview with owner Larry “One of the traditions that we trol says each beach patrol ‘has its own per- War fl ag. have is our rookie school. … It’s very See Beach parols, Page A8 sonality and culture.’ CBS3 profi led the Star See CBS3, Page A4 Washington Inn the wine bar OPEN DAILY Dine After Nine... 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