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A DONATION to "Help Sove Our Zoo" hi offered by little Rk Kavi'er of CooperaburR, Pa. He and hia parent* spent part of their vacation at the County Park Fair last weekend, a fun-filled two-day event which helped raise funds for maintenance of the Children's Zoo at the park. While hundreds followed young Ravier's example, monies are constantly needed to support the zoo.

‘Till Death Do US’ Nearly Does Review hy l.ibby Demp Forrest Even before Hill Sterfitti* comedy "Till Death Do Us" begins, the audience is givfen a taste of what's to«ome. There are bright spots in the thrfee-act, eleven-scene comedy that'relies on too mu£h profanity, too many characters, and too many unnecesaary lines—but Mr: Sterritt unfortunately suffers from a compulsion to suffocate his audience rather than aflow it to relish those rarer moments ONE OF THE BEST SCENES WAS Scene three of Act One It lasted approximately 15 seconds and while its timing was uneven compared to the 10 overly long other scenes, it was one of the more memorable moments of the play There arc some firfe performances, but the actors haye been handed a wordy, tedious script that restricts their improvisations. Able to rise above the script arc Peter Muller as Benny Russo, an uncouth fowl-mouthed macho type who shares an apartment with the play's male lead Bruce Caslor nnd Laura Ferber. another of the apartment's subletters, who aspires to become a writer, and spends her time making copious notes on what is happening around her ESSENTIALLY, THE PLOT IS AN INSPIRED one The wealthy daughter Lee l^yton of a gravestone % manufacturer advertises a job opening she has in mind. She recruits a potential bridegroom who agrees to 'work'' ,two months for $20,000 while she lines up daddy's hacking of her wedding The bridegroom she chooses is to be replaced shortly after the ceremony by her lover Michael Murphy, who she feels daddy Fran Hoffmann would disapprove of. ALL THIS BliLDS I P FINALLY TO what should havei>een a very funny final scene when bride (in wedding gown> and bridegroom (wearing briefs only) are united in holy matrimony before the preacher. If Bill Sterritt had resisted the temptation to go on and on from there, the audience might have come away more satisfied Director Guy l)c Poisson no doubt had a job on his hands trying to bring all the elements together Oh. well, he tried

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Who Would Poison a Dog? by Ruth A. Wanberg TYiere are sick people in this world and one of them lives in Avalon. My sleep was disturbed by the ringing of my telephone. It was 1:21 a m. I answered quickly A woman's voice said. "I'm going to poison your dog,” and then immediately hung up. I continued to hold the phone. What should I do? Call the police? ... theSPCA?... I put the receiver down and tried to comfort my five month old baby who also was v startled by the call. The dog referred to is a family pet^of nine years, a small terrier named Dack. I checked, he was sleeping quietly in his bed. The only time he has gone out in the last six months is on a leash with my husband or my son. In fact, this is the first summer that my son has been allowed the responsibility of walking Dack. and he has done it quite proudly. / And now?? / Hbw do you tell an innocent five-year-old that during his daily walks, he will probably meet an unstable woman who wants to kill his dog? A much more disturbing thought^Ue already has met her. Ruth Wanberg is an Avalon resident ^ . G Government Uses Double Guideline

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In Counting Population

EDITOH'S NOTE - Recvntly on brhalf o( the county govern inn body, Freeholder Thornton presented a itatement calling upon the federal Economic Regulatory Administration (ERA) to be "gaMed by reason and fairness" In establishing proposed revisions to the gasoline allocation program, which would be pressed into service in limes of national energy shortages by Freeholder Gerald Thorton The purpose of this testimony and our major concern are the proposed rules regarding the "unusual growth adjustment" proposed by ERA and the applicability of those rules to Cape May County. The basic problem with the proposed rules is the premise that growth would in all cases, be best determined by an arbitrary fixed period of five months — from October 1978toFeftiiary 1979. THIS MAY BE TRUE FOR SOME cases but certainly not for all. In Cape May County, for example, population increases tenfold — from 80,000 to 800,000 - due to the summer seasonal resort nature of the area. Campgrounds alone account for some 40,000 of the population in the summer but are completely vacant in the winter months.

Allocation of funds for regional facilities such as sewer systems, water supplies, solid waste and Iranspbrtalion are teased on summer population, not winter population This allocation methodology has been accepted by N.J Dept, of Environmental Protection and the US. Environmental Protection Agency. THUS. IN'THIS SITUATION it is senseless to apply an arbitrary time period to assess growth. In our opinions methodology should be adopted where any five month . period could be used depending on the {oral situation. The 1980 census indicated that Cape May County has experienced a 34 percent growth in the past decade while the recent additional growth due to the Atlantic City Casino development is just now being reflected in'construction, traffic and other economic indicators. To experience another shortfall in fuel as occurred during the tourist season several years ago fn South Jersey would be economic disaster. That it coulft happen would be bad enough that it could happen due In an arbitrary fuel allocation system would be unconscionable...

At 45, Social Security . Growing Still & Changing

thru Dell on Brooks WILDWOOD - As Social Security celebrates its 45th birthday this month, it’s a time for both reflecting on the past and looking ahead. How has the program changed and improved over the years? And can it be counted on to continue to help people meet their basic economic needs in the future? For some perspective of how Social Security has served succeeding generations, let’s consider someone-we'll call him Jim-who is now 45 and members of his family. JIM WAS BORN in 1935 when the Social Security Act became law and might be considered part of the “Social Security generation.” Jim entered the world in the midst of a severe depression. Millions were out of work, and .there was almost no income security. There was little public aid w hen a worker became old, disabled, or died. Much of the resporfeibility for care fell on families, friends, and ^private organizations witnlimited resources. THE ACT Changed all thai It set up an old-age program that grew into what we _ now know as “Social Security," as well as public assistance and unemploy mentinsura nee.

The first monthly benefits were paid in 1940 when Jim was in kindergarten. By then the Act has been amended to also pay certain dependents and survivors. The top payment then was only $41.20 fnr a worker and $82.40monthly fora family. It was a start. DISABILITY protection was added in the late 1950s--about the time Jim started working and married. He had.twochildren, and while they were.growing up, the family had- the assurance that benefits would be paid if Jim bfecame severely disabled or , died. Fortunately. neither event happened. Medicare was enacted when Jim reached 30. It now helps pay medical bills for most older people as well as disabled people who have been getting cash benefits at least two years. STILL ANOTHER major improvement in Social Security took place in 1975 when Jim was 40. The first automatic benefit increase went into effect as‘a hedge against inflation. There have been yearly increases since, including a 14.3 per cent hike in June. Payments are tax-free. At 45 in 1980, Jim has reached a milestone of sorts. Both children are grown and no longer

dependent. They have joined some 114 million other working Americans who regularly pay into Social Security. Their tax money helps pay for benefits now going to more than 35 million people nf all ages. Payments toa family may reach as high as $1,100 a month-a far cry from the $82.40 maximum in 1940. JIM’S PARENTS just retired and joined those benficiarics. And a grandparent who became • entitled in 1958 is still gcttjng checks. For the first,time, Jim begins to thin* ahead to his own retirement at 65. Until recently, the year 2.000 seemed ages aiMr. Now it’s only the end^Hhe next decade. Right now, Jim may have mixed feelings about Social Security. On one hand, he can see how the monthly chefcks and Medicare for his parents, grandparents, and other older relatives have given them a sense of independence and dignity. And without those benefits, it would be up to Jim and his brothers and sisters to provide some or all needed support. Instead, the Social Security taxes Jim and his children and other working relatives now pay help supply this support more indirectly.

BUT JIM ALSO sees the rising cost of paying for Social Security. And then there arc the scare stories in the news about the program going broke. He begins to wonder whether he can depend on bcncfiLs later. ^ With regard to program stability, social security is constantly and carefully examined by experts in and out of government. The conclusion is always the same: Social Security is something you can count on - today and into the next century. THESE EXPERTS do state that changes in program financing and other aspects of Social Security will be needed to keep it on a steady course. This is the way it’s always been with social security. The program has changed many times since 1935 in resprtnsc to evolving patterns of worlf family relationships, and economic conditions. And it wffi continue to do so in future years. Like Jim, Social Security is at a crossroad. And the big question is not whether benefits will be paid to Jim in 2000, or to his children a quarter centiu7 later. The key question is how can we improve and strengthen social security?