The Herald and The Lantern

Wednesday, December l». !«■>

Window displays reflect Christmas past and present in shops on the Cape May Mall.

Needed—A Yuletide Resolution in W.C.M.

The decision by the West Cape May Volunteer Fire Co. to boycott the 16th Annual West Cape May Community Christmas Parade watt clearly not in the spirit of the yuletide season, and was rcgretable. The decision by a few other nearby fire companies to join in with the requested action was unfortunate. This is not to say that the borough firemen are wrong in their wish to have changes made in the parade so that it doesn't interfere with their fund raising efforts. But the action of not being a part of their home community's annual holiday event smacked of the disgruntled child taking the only baseball bat home because the other kids in the game won't give in on some aspect of the game.

been set by tradition and necessity, and in-, volves scores of parade participants who make such events part of a circuit - going from one parade to another, often (as is the case here) two in the same 24-hour period. It is, therefore, next to impossible to change. On the other hand, the time and date of the firemen’s bingo game is also fixed and can and has led to decreased revenue over a period of time when the weekly game is changed. THE PARADE IS A very important annual event for thousands of people of all ages. It is a very worthwhile tradition that should be protected. The bingo games are also very, very important to the continuation of an excellent fire company whose personnel,

LIKE MANY SUCH disagreements that come to the public eye, this one is not as clearcut as it appears. There are personalities involved; perhaps even politics. The disagreement between key personalities in the issue go behind the parade and bingo night once a year. Be that as it may, such controversies should not be allowed to snowball into a media event. There are ways that even very hard feelings can be assuaged. Collectively such efforts are called compromise. Granted, cool heads and tact are necessary. The time of the annual yuletide parade has

JohnH. Antfrut II

PHoow **74311 for Mows or Arfvorfltlng

MADilNIS *

FIRST CALL FOS^SHELP 729-2255

Q. This may sound funny, but my daughter is 16 years old and has never been inoculated for DHT or polio. Is there any clinic wv could go to and get these inoculations? A. Yes there is: Wildwood Community Center offers inoculations to all children. For further information call 522-0231 Q. My brother has been very worried about his. physical condition. He feels he may have cancer. Although his condition has not been diagnosed as cancet, he is still worrying. Is there anywhere he can call for a second medical opinion? A. Yes. When in doubt about a medical opinion there is a toll free number for a second opinion -1-600-638-6833 Q. I have a ll-year-old son who was in the Cub Scouts in Pennsylvania. I am interested in getting him into the Boy Scouts in Cape May County'"as this

program does so much for boys. A. In Cape May County, the Boy Scouts executive for the Bay Sea District of Southern New Jersey Council is Peter Hausman, 886-4333. We agree that Boy Scouting is a great program for youth especially when you figure it costs $30 a boy per year in the Boy Scouts and $10,000 a year if that same boy was in trouble with the law and had to be taken care of by the state. We have a strong scouting program in Cape May County and Mr. Hausman has been very helpful. First Call For Help is interested in getUng you the help you need when you have a social service problem which you can not solve. This is not an emergency hotline for Fire, PoUce, or Rescue. This service is free and confidential. If you have a question for the First CaU For Help column write to David G. Quinlan Jr.. First CaU For Help. P.O. Box 222, Social Services Bldg., Rio Grande, N.J. 06242 or call 729-2255 (726-CALL).

equipment and facilities have collectively led to a lowering of local fire insurance rates. The solution to this controversy would seem to be one of the changing the place, not the time. . L Why can’t the parade form further in the community so as not to interfere with the ability of bingo players to get to the game at the fireball near the edge of town? It would appear that if the borough elementary school on Fifth Ave. and Moore St. became the staging area, the parade could form just as easily—more safely, being off a main artery. AT THE SAME TIME, traffic from Lower Township heading into Cape May could enter via Seashore Rd. Broadway, Central or Learning Ave. -Elmira St. thereby not coming into contact with the parade route at all. This is one possible solution. It may not be the answer, but it is certainly an indication that there are other ways to solve a difficult situation before it becomes ugly and nasty. Hopefully the 17th annual West Cape May Community Christmas Parade will see Santa arriving atop the West Cape May Fire

engine—where he belongs.