Herald Newspapers Marks 40 Years

RIO GRANDE — The Herald Newspapers quietly marked its 40th anniversary Aug. 17.
That milestone meant 40 years of homegrown journalism, informing readers, first in Avalon and Stone Harbor, then countywide, of news that was important to them.
It provided a forum for letters and opinions, and more recently, it provides Spout Off, in print and on line, allowing the community to vent frustrations and congratulations in a forum unique to a weekly publication in this county.
There is no better time to mark such a momentous occasion than during National Newspaper Week, Oct. 7-13.
Publisher-Owner Art Hall and his wife, Patricia, are the newspaper’s second family owners, having purchased the Herald from founders Dr. John and Jane Cunningham of Avalon in 1979.
From Volume 1 Number 1 on Thursday, Aug. 17, 1967, the Herald has followed its goal, through several owners, publishers and editors, to keep Cape May County readers informed about their communities and county.
Annually, Hall has printed a Statement of Purpose: The Cape May County Herald’s news pages exist to accurately cover and impartially analyze events and trends which impact the lives of our readers.
“We believe that facts are facts, not points of view. In reporting the facts, independence is essential, as we cannot sacrifice our credibility in order to avoid offending an advertiser, a political figure or others known or unknown. We recognize that truth is sometimes painful and thus doesn’t always please everyone.”
If anything, reviewing pages of local history spanning four decades shows that names and prices may change, but concerns remain the same.
The banner headline of the first edition was for an Avalon meeting to accept bids for expansion of the school, expected to cost $200,000.
Advent of the new publication won praise of Avalon’s Mayor Edgar V.H. Bell and Commissioners W. Daniel Keen, Ellsworth Armacost.
“We extend to the publishers of this weekly newspaper our sincere wishes for its success and our expectations that the Avalon Herald will always serve the best interests of our fine community,” Bell stated in an advertisement.
The paper’s first editors were Edward J. Gargan and Edward C McClain. Sales Manager was Paul Davison.
From a newspaper composed in home offices, the paper moved into its “new” Herald Building, Oct. 4, 1968 at the corner of 28th and Dune Drive, Avalon, a structure contracted through Tozour-Kerr Builders.
Ever a publication to use the latest computers, the Herald announced “The IBM computer typesetter is used to turn out all the copy…”
Antiquated though that was, it was a milestone in publishing at the time. Today’s Herald still uses the latest computers to write stories and compose advertisements, and place both on pages that are electronically sent to a printing plant in Lancaster, Pa.
Through the decades, the Herald’s pages recorded the achievements of citizens, political and sports, religious and educational.
On Dec. 28, 1968, Whitesboro’s own Stedman Graham, executive director of Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro, Inc. was a record setter:
“Middle Township Rallies to Defeat Capers, 78-70. Graham Scores 43 points to set school scoring record.
“Stedman Graham sparked the victory for Middle with a new school single-game scoring record of 43 points, Graham, last year’s most valuable player in Cape May County, meshed 14 field goals and converted 15 of 20 foul shots for his record-shattering total.”
Freeholders in the Republican-dominated county were also preparing for the return of Dr. Leon H. Schuck, namesake of the County Health Department’s Moore Road headquarters, and Joseph W. Rixey Jr. to their fifth and third terms respectively in January 1969.
“Dr. Schuck is likely to be renamed director of the board,” the paper reported.
Advertisements in the paper also monitored the changing times.
A Shop Rite ad on July 21, 1970 announced, “Rib Roast, 85 cents a pound.” “(Brazilian) Lobster tails $1.99 a pound.”
For the budget-minded, there was a lunchbox bargain, three eight-ounce loaves of bread for $1. Frying chickens, whole for barbecuing, were 27 cents a pound.
Real estate was on the rise in July 20, 1978’s paper; a three-bedroom rancher was selling for $43,900. It was on a 150-foot square lot five minutes from Avalon at Avalon Boulevard and the Parkway.
Also in that edition, on the back page, Jamesway, “The more store,” hawked its summer goods and touted accepted credit cards, “Master charge and BankAmericard.”
Through the years, the Herald has always experimented with ways to deliver the news in a form readers want.
On April 3, 1985, the paper announced “the publishers…are proud to present Cape May readers with the Cape May Herald-Dispatch.
“The Herald-Dispatch will circulate exclusively within the City of Cape May, and will have that town’s affairs as a major focus. It will be published Wednesdays, and there will be no charge for the newspaper.”
Even more unique than the publication was its method of delivery: A 1930 Ford Model A mail truck whose “aaah-oog-gaah” heralded the beginning of this newspaper.
In addition, a separate Lower Township Lantern edition focused its news on the growing Township of Lower.
Eventually, those publications were merged into one united Herald Newspaper.
Editor Joe Zelnik became a Herald icon when he arrived in 1983, and assumed the role of county watchdog.
Rarely did Zelnik miss a freeholder meeting from his arrival until his departure earlier this year, due to health reasons.
To be sure, there were many times when the board likely wished he had stayed away.
An Atlantic City Press story of Feb. 10, 1986 reported, “The county freeholders will begin tape recording both their public and private meetings this spring, Freeholder Director William Sturm said this weekend…Joseph Zelnik, editor of the weekly Cape May County Herald, questioned Sturm about the propriety of the freeholders’ frequent closed-door sessions. The Herald has been highly critical of the freeholders’ posture with regard to the Open Public Meetings Act, and has implied that the freeholders abuse the right to hold private meetings.”
Zelnik also pressed for release of minutes of closed sessions of the freeholders, something that had seldom, if ever been done prior to those requests.
Zelnik also continued pressing county and state officials for establishment of a community college in this county.
He was unrelenting in his goal, as obstacle after obstacle attempted to block the college, from environmental reports of Eastern Tiger Salamanders to inter-local agreements with college officials.
Not every public official consistently held the paper in high regard. Many despised the establishment of Spout Off, which allows readers to anonymously publish gripes and complaints.
On March 21, 1990, “Miffed by this newspaper’s “Spout Off” column, Middle Township Mayor Michael J. Voll threatened a “news blackout against the newspaper” March 13 “unless its policy regarding the column changes.”
The policy never changed, and continues to this day. Elected officials still call to complain that the column is unfair since it does not allow the accused to know his (or her) accuser.
A defining moment for the Herald came in the early morning hours of July 24, 1988 when an arsonist started two fires inside the recently-relocated office of the newspaper to the former Green Terrace Restaurant, 1508 Route 47 South, Rio Grande, from an office on North Main Street in Court House.
Offices were temporarily relocated to three store fronts in LeRic Plaza as construction began on a two-story, 9,400-square-foot building at 1508 Route 47.
Approved by Middle Township Planning Board Oct. 27, 1988, the public was invited to tour the new offices on Oct. 18, 1989. Court House Architect Louis DeLosso and Linda Viventi of DECO Associates designed the building. General contractor was Baruffi and Hall of Wildwood.
In that time of flux, the paper’s employees voted 12-8 to join the Newspaper Guild, Local 10 on Dec. 19, 1988.
Bargaining began, but no accord was reached, and a second vote was subsequently held in which sentiment swung against the union. To this date, the paper remains non-union.
Many Herald employees remained for decades, their names becoming synonymous with the publication.
They include Editor Emeritus Joe Zelnik, and National Advertising Manager Beth Huber, both of whom joined the newspaper in 1983 along with former General Manager Gary Rudy and John Dunwoody, former advertising manager.
Other long-time employees include Janet Seitz, classified advertising; Jean Zimmerman, legal advertising; Nancy James, bookkeeping; and Al Campbell, managing editor.
At one time, the Herald went to court to retain Middle Township’s legal advertising, something that was challenged by Gazette Leader Publications. Superior Court Judge John Callinan ruled that printing, in the law, meant more than “mere application of ink to paper,” and took into account the Herald’s home office in Middle Township.
The Herald’s Christmas edition is widely regarded by readers as a collectible item since it contains reader-submitted stories, poems and photos dealing with the season.
The latest addition to the Herald is its Internet Web site: www.capemaycountyherald.com which makes news and photos available worldwide 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Web site recently won a first-place award from IFPA, the Independent Free Papers of America for its design.
That is only a fraction of what took place in the Herald’s first 40 years. Imagine what the future holds in the next four decades!
God willing, we will remain to report it, week to week, day to day.