The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 40

C-14 THE RECORD. TUESDAY. DECEMBER 30. 1986 40 Scarce snow, less cold cash for ski resorts see what it was like," said Pandrea, who lives nearby and called to see if there was any snow. "The beginner hill is closed, so I tried the advanced and nearly killed myself.

Siding's okay so far." At Vernon Valley Great Gorge in Vernon, 2,000 skiers whisked down 13 open trails yesterday, said Julie Mulvihill, a spokeswoman for the ski area. The other 37 trails were not ready for yet "Everyone knows that we're not Vermont, but more and more skiers know that we make snow," she said. "Over the years, we've come to depend more and more on snow making." "It's not our worst December. I think it's about average," Ms. Mulvihill continued.

"But I agree with Ray Schank that if we got a foot of snow, we'd have a lot more skiers." By Jeffrey Pag Staff Wrtttr ROCKAWAY Ray Schank surveyed his trails at the Craigmeur ski area and should have scowled. The chair lift should have packed two skiers to a seat but was mostly empty. Seven hundred skiers should have been gliding across the snow, but there were fewer than 150. Ski rentals were down, lift fees were down, ski lessons were down. Schank needs snow the way a farmer needs sun and rain.

"But what the hell. It's a beautiful day," he said. He did not scowl; he smiled. It was beautiful in many places yesterday, and where it was not beautiful, it did not snow, either. It was 30 and cloudy in Anchorage and Montreal and Bismarck, ND.

It was 19 degrees and fair in Portland, Me. Even in Buffalo to which snow-shovel makers turn to recoup their losses elsewhere in bad years there has and a member of the North Jersey Weather Observers: "It's just the beginning of the official winter season. With the heart of winter ahead, it doesn't mean we're in for a tragic ski season. If there's no snow on the ground Jan. 29, then they're in trouble." It's not just that almost no snow has fallen.

Craigmeur, like almost every ski area in New Jersey and southern New York, makes its own snow, but for the snow makers to work, the temperature has to be 28 degrees, with 40-percent humidity. This combination has not occurred with regularity. But it did Sunday night, and Schank had a crew running the snow machines all night long. "It's a geometric progression," he said. "For every degree you can drop the temperature, you double the snow." But even though two of Schank's four trails were covered with snow yesterday.

the hill was not covered with skiers. People "get up in the morning and look out the window," said Schank. "If they see an inch or so that they have to shovel off the walk, they won't even call us. They just get in the car and come here. But if they don't see any snow, they figure there's no snow here, either, and they stay home." The same holds true, he said, when there is a surfeit of snow.

"Too much," explained Schank, "and they tune in the weather and the guys on the radio tell them to stay off the roads, so they stay home. "Advanced skiers just get in the car and go. Beginners are more cautious." At least one novice, Greg Pandrea, shot Schank's argument down yesterday. As the sun shone and the snow refused to fall, Pandrea, who never went skiing in his life, skied. "I thought it was time to try it out and been just 4.8 inches of snow this month.

More than 68 inches fell in Buffalo during December 1985. Snow has fallen in northern New England and the Rockies, but ski areas in California and the Midwest have been hurt by little snow. Some slopes in Idaho have yet to open for the season. And some ski areas in the Sierra Nevadas east of San Francisco have closed temporarily for lack of snow. Walter Zamorski, weather specialist at the National Weather Service at Newark International Airport, said North Jersey has had slightly higher-than-normal temperatures this month.

In December 1985, the airport recorded 4.6 inches of snow. This year, snowfall has measured at 2.3 inches. But North Jersey weather specialists said it's too early to say that local ski resorts are in for a disappointing season. Said Glenn Schwartz, a meteorologist This article contains material from The Record's wire services. Commuter rail line's revival pushed Mobile rabbis reaching out to lapsed Jews FROM PAGE C-l and what Kurdock called "kiss-and-go" stops, where commuters could be dropped off.

Kurdock said the railroad is willing to run a special train in the next few months to show officials the lay of the tracks and the possible locations of train stations. The excursion "would depend on how much interest there is," he said. Butler Mayor Claude C. Post is among those lobbying legislators and railroad officials for the resumption of passenger service. "This end of Morris County and Passaic County is rather difficult to get out of," said Post whose town was once the terminus for Susquehanna passenger service.

The numbers of new homes planned in the area make the railroad a necessity, Post said. "If they materialize, the road systems we've got up here now won't do a damn thing," he said. "It would be a great thing to be able to hop on a train in this area and go to the city." every public meeting he attends. Kurdock said the railroad is not interested in operating passenger service. "We're in the freight business.

That's what we do, and that's what we know how to do," he said. But he said the Susquehanna would be interested in allowing NJ Transit or some other agency to use its tracks for passenger cars. "There is a lot of talk and a lot of people looking into if he said. "We are fully willing to cooperate with those people or agencies." Some engineering problems on the line may have to be overcome before the service could resume, Kurdock said. One is the line's bolted rails, which can make a passenger ride noisy and bumpy.

"In commuter service, they sometimes want to go to welded rails for higher speeds and smoother rides," Kurdock said. Another problem would be where to put stations, which include stops with park-and-ride lots think Jews are happy to see us because they know this work has to be done, and we're here to doit." Rabbi Yisroel Brod muters to midtown Manhattan from the Bergen-Passaic area use automobiles a higher proportion than any other area. The study found that auto commuters wanted good public transportation before they would consider leaving the driving to someone else. Reilly sees two possibilities for the Susquehanna service: Passenger trains from the west could be routed onto NJ Transit tracks in Hawthorne and run to the Hoboken terminal, where passengers would transfer to PATH trains for New York. The second possibility would be to run the trains through Paterson on Susquehanna tracks to Wee-hawken, where passengers would switch to buses for the ride through the Lincoln Tunnel to the Port Authority terminal.

A similar bus service, known as the Susquehanna Transfer, operated between 1939 and 1966. Reilly said the Hoboken plan is the better of the two proposals, since east of Hawthorne, the Susquehanna's tracks have too many grade crossings, which slow train and automobile traffic. "If you drag out the trip too long, you are going to discourage people from using it," he said. The talk about resuming passenger service on the Susquehanna stems from the revival of freight service on the line this fall. Robert A.

Kurdock, vice-president of the Susquehanna, says he is asked about passenger service at almost FROM PAGE C-l north and west. "There would be no duplication of NJ Transit rail service, and you would be serving an area that needs alternative service the most" Reilly said. "It would give the commuters a fast run." The proposal would do little for Bergen County commuters, said Thomas W. Casey, transportation coordinator of the Bergen County Transportation Coordinating Committee. "In Bergen County, our need for a commuter rail service is on the West Shore line," he said, referring to a line in eastern Bergen County on which commuter service was dropped in 1959.

County officials have been seeking to reactivate passenger service on the West Shore line. Casey said New Jersey counties may find themselves fighting for limited funds for rail service and that the money should be invested where it would provide the best return. The rapid growth in upper Passaic County should increase demand for rail service there, Passaic County Planning Director James Rogers said. "It would require a fairly extensive study to see if it's feasible and what the ridership would be," he said. A study released in November by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey found that one third, or 34 percent, of all com Clamming ban in Cape May waters way.

The waters are closed effective today and will remain off-limits to clammers until further notice. Staples said the Division of Water Resources closed the waters because fecal colliform bacteria in the waters have reached unsafe levels. He said the contamination was caused by a dredging operation that stirred up the sediments containing the bacteria. TRENTON The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection yesterday banned the taking of clams from certain waters in Cape May County because of water pollution. DEP spokesman James Staples said the area in question is bordered by Avalon Boulevard, Seven Mile Beach, Stone Harbor Boulevard, and the Garden State Park New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, where there are large Jewish populations, says the American Jewish Committee, a Manhattan-based Jewish advocacy and research group.

This year in Bergen County, Friends of Lubavitch helped install nine huge outdoor Hanukkah menorahs in Englewood, Engle-wood Cliffs, Tenafly, Woodcliff Lake, Paramus, Hackensack, Cresskill, Bergenfield, and Du-mont. The nonprofit group also visits hospitals, nursing homes, and homebound people weekly, and it runs adult education and youth activities. Founded in Russia Founded 190 years ago in Russia, the Lubavitcher movement is now based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, with branches in 23 countries on six continents. In Israel, a "Mitvah Mobile" is a common sight, and they even drive to front lines of battle with tanks and troops. "I think Jews are happy to see us because they know this work has to be done, and we're here to do it," Rabbi Brod said.

Particularly during the Jewish holidays, many young Jews raise questions about intermarriage, rituals, and abortion, and they need a place to turn, he said. Rabbi Brad's talks on these themes invariably refer to the To-rah, which Lubavitchers say is neglected by less-religious Jews and which they feel must be passed from one generation to another in an aggressive, challenging way. "Jews have to be guided by To-rah," said Rabbi Brod. According to the Torah, for instance, abortion is forbidden except when the mother's life could be endangered by the birth. Rabbi Brod said that any other stance is unacceptable, and Lubavitchers are upset with large Jewish organizations that have other views.

Greeting shoppers Yesterday, cradling menorahs, boxes of Hanukkah candles, and brochures outside a Fort Lee supermarket, the rabbis said hello to shoppers who appeared to them to be Jewish. A woman in designer cowboy boots showed no interest in responding. A man in a leisure suit returned a holiday greeting but refused Rabbi Weiss's offer of a me-norah. An older man pushing a shopping cart scowled. But Beverly Nusbaum of Fort Lee was appreciative and welcomed a free menorah from the rabbis.

She had misplaced hers. "It's late, but I'll put it up for the rest of Hanukkah," she said. The rabbis also say they invite passers-by into their van, where they offer a small brass menorah and candles. Other visitors receive teftilin to wear. TejUlin are small leather boxes containing scriptures physical reminders of Judaic culture, which the rabbis hope will inspire lapsed Jews.

More than a decade ago, a cadre of Lubavitchers began canvassing Bergen County. Rabbi Weiss recalled that a woman once refused to open her apartment door. Instead, she asked him to slide Hanukkah candles under her door, one at a time. "At least that sort of thing doesn't happen any more," he said with a laugh. "More and more people are open to exploring their faith." a illlit 1 mm mm si mm tm it i i arm mm tn it Hi Garden State Plaza celebrates 1987 with fantastic values and special holiday hours! Court says standard for aid to homeless was applied unfairly FROM PAGE C-l Open New Year's Eve 10a.m.

to 6p.m. Open New Year's Day 11a.m. to 6p.m. tor up to three months in a motel room. "The family had to leave the motel, and where she is now, I don't know," said Semel, who is trying to contact her.

"Hopefully, she'll be able to get some money J. I retroactively because of this decision." Earlier, after being forced to leave the trailer park where they were living last February, Ms. Diegidio and her children had moved into the Save Our Sisters shelter in Teaneck. She applied for welfare, but the money didn't come for five weeks. Meanwhile, the state agreed to provide Ms.

Diegidio up to six weeks' rent for a security deposit on an apartment she could afford, but she couldn't find an apartment in Bergen County for $400 a month or less. The family left the Teaneck shelter May 30 after Ms. Diegidio argued with another resident who had thwarted her efforts to find one apartment The Diegidios then moved into the Jade East Motel. Noting that Ms. Diegidio had searched diligently for an apartment Administrative Law Judge Diana C.

Sukovich ruled last June that the Diegidios were in an "imminent state of homelessness" over which they had had "no control or opportunity to plan in advance." But the welfare director overruled the judge, saying that no emergency existed because Ms. Diegidio had actually been homeless since the family was evicted from the trailer park in February. ZJ GARDN STATC PLAZA MACY'S. JCPENNEY AND 120 FINE STORES. RESTAURANTS AND SERVICES.

LOCATED AT ROUTES 4 AND 17. PARAMUS. NEW JERSEY. TAKE EXIT 160 NORTH OR EXIT 163 SOUTH OFF GARDEN STATE PARKWAY. David D.

Forman Panel's ruling favors homeless.