Daily News from New York, New York • 51

Or 2 0 HARD CONTACT LENSES VI C3 P3 News photos by Keith Torrie Barbara Stunder at the controls of tram en route to Manhattan. Available in 16 Fashion Colors Eye Examination Included BAUSH LQMB S0FLENS CONTACT LENSES By RICKI FULMAN Each cabin attendant wears a walkie-talkie to contact the console operators in case of an emergency. "If the tram were to get stuck, we would have to climb on top to release the brakes," says Manne. "That would be scary, but we've all been trained to do it." Each of "Dave's Angles" is single. They are quick to point out that the working hours are not the best for a social life.

The shifts, which run from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. (that's considered best); and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., are assigned on the basis of seniority.

Eye Examination Included pk ARBARA, WHO LIVES on Long Island, nas 10 waKe up ai a or a.m. 10 mane the 6 a.m. shift. Mary Alice notes that attendants are required to clean out the 10 Popular Styles From Which To Choosel tram after the last ride each night on the 10 p.m. run, on the 2 p.m.

shift during the week and the 3:30 a.m. shift on weekends. No one seems to view the tram as a permanent Job. They could be promoted eventually to console operator, but they don't look for that. Meanwhile, they're all enjoying swinging high over the East River and not being chained to desks.

"It's very relaxing to look at those views," beams Barbara as she pushes the magic button to take her back to Roosevelt Island. INCLUDING A SPECIAL GROUP OF WANTED FRAMES AND SINGLE VISION GLASS LENSES 7s( and 2nd Division Only fHEY CALL THEMSELVE "Dave's Angels." They operate the tram from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island, making from 30 to 40 of those three-minute crossings daily. It's a job with a view, and they love it. You don't have to be female to be one of the cabin attendants, their official title. In fact, "it's equality all the way," emphasizes Dave Ozerkis, president of the V.S.L.

Corporation, which staffs the tramway operation. Actually, there are more men, "because we have more male applicants," he says. There are 30 employes (all members of Local 30 of the Operating Engineers) six mechanics; four console operators and 20 who interchange jobs as cabin and station attendants. Of the cabinstation attendants (tley sell tokens) six are women. Linda Stuber, 21, explained that she changed her cabin attendant job for a position as station attendant "because I don't want to work up there In the winter.

It gets too cold. The other women cabin attendants don't mind, they say, because there is a heater in the tram." Barbara Stunder, 25, who got her Job last November, loves meeting people. "It never gets boring," she says. "It's mostly the residents who go back and forth," she says. "I become like a neighbor.

I get to know their names, their kids and all about their jobs. The other day, one girl, a regular rider, told me about her new job, because I was the first person she saw after she'd gotten it and she wanted to share her good news. That's what makes the job so rewarding." Barbara smiles and says hello to everyone as they board the tram. "People are surprised by that," she grins. "It's an extra of the ride." On weekends, the tram is usually filled with visitors who ask the cabin attendants what there is to see on the island.

"So we direct them," says Manne Rico, who lives on Roosevelt Island. "This job also allows you to go to school while you're working, because of the way the shifts are arranged," she says. "And the salary is 6.11 an hour, or $248.88 a week, which helps." Clothes are provided: five sets of uniforms plus a winter jacket. "The sizes are standard," groans Linda, who alters hers, for a better fit. "It's up to us to keep people calm," says Barbara.

"Of course, the regulars get over their nervousness." There's no real problem with commuters making passes at these angels. "They're scared their wives will-yell at them," says Barbara. "The uni- form puts them off," says Mary Alice McKenna, 21. There have been few emergencies. Barbara recalled that a woman fainted on her She gave her smelling salts to revive her.

Professional Eye Examinations Prescriptions Filled Complete Line of Fashion Frames Lenses Tinted Lenses Duplicated Manhattan f0 leumgtonAve.R E. 60th St 751 6652 ConiIA Madison Ave E. 42nd St 697 1838 West 34th St. 7th Ave 695 8720 OichardS DelancySt 674 1986 BtooMyn: Kings Plaia Mall 951 S800 Staten Island: Staten Island Mall 698 6E66 Oueens: Oueens Center Mall 592 5200 StemwaySf. 31st Ave 274 3500 Jamaica Ave.

1 63 1 St 557 8484 Massapenua: Sunrise Mall 516 795 3030 COHEN'S Fashion Optical v4 L. to Cabin attendants Mary Alice McKenna, Linda Stuber, Manne Rico and Barbara Stunder watch the tram go by..