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The Herald and The Lantem

Page 26

. Cold Spring ■* January 1981 The countryside along New England Road west of Bayshore Road for, more tharyfc years has provided a picturesque interlude on walks and rides, but it was only a few days ago that I got off the beaten path (for New England Road is the way to Higbee Beach and its popular stretches of secluded Delaware Bay dunes where the mating call for man and beast is not an unknown cry.) • Entering- an open field, its winter cover crop frozen in the earth, I traverse half way 'round the acreage along the western fenceline til reaching the woods at the rear of the field, about three football field-lengths from the old roadway. Since moving to the county three years ago from Cape May's closet, Victorian confines, I have become acutely aware of open fields and farmland. Our home is across Soc's Lane from an li-acre field. It’s owned by a Cape May woman — who has my continuous admiration for not

Wednesday, January 21,1981 r —* :

selling or sUb-dividing what has been of late a soy bean field. The seasonal changes of color and texture in a field, esp®ally between plowing jjfnd harvest, are something to watch. On this day, in this field and woodland off New England Road, I am amazed by a new perspective. The fencelines separating a half-dozen farmers' fielctt

competition for sunlight. Farmers are either too fttupid or too smart to attempt to alter the lay of the land by leveling and filling. They have, foi* the most part, left that yp to the developer — the guys who nowadays leave standing a few token trees in a tract because they can get more money for wooded lots (it has something to do with amenities, according to the

Country Note

are defined more by unpruned trees, tangles of vines and a myriad of other wild vegetation in winter’s earthen hues than by varied fences of wire and wood that supposedly keep cattle and horses in, and man out Back here, off the beaten path, the lay of the land is noticeable, obvious. Anyone who says the Jersey cape is flat has never had the opportunity to traipse thru contiguous acres of active farmland where fields slope gently up from natural ponds, encircled by hoary trees stooped and tangled in

real estate agents.). A new perspective from the end of the field: Here, by the edge of the woods, through an opening in the fenceline, an old .armhouse (now the home of young lawyer Eric Gaver) back on the roadway takes on more meaning, its recently shingled cedar roof giving a fresh look to the ancient house. By this time in my delightful discovery — it’s more meaningful if you share the important things — my son has caught up with me, our meandering explorations of nature

dovetailing for the moment. He is eleven, I forty ; but our .thoughts are simultaneous and similar and visceral: We are Indians, or soldiers of a Colonial era, at the edge of the thicket, cautiously peering across the field at this chunk of whiteness!, which despite its linear regularity is in harmony with the'contrasting natural surroun-

dings.

The solitary house does not intrude. Even with its wide, 2 Mi-story mass, it is far less glaring than the small spent hunting shells (macho man’s droppings) which colored plastic cases mark the spots near where some little furry or feathered creature met the hand of homo sapiens, extended in explosive force. The grounded cartridges, which here and there dot the perimeter of these fields, return us to reality. As a akein of Canadian geese angle over, barking their secret meesage fhgh above the fenceline, I am glad the only weapon between my son and me is a

walking stick.

—John A.

The Pinelands Plan

Protecting More than Trees

One of the most significant news events of late was the signing in Washington, D.C. last Friday by outgoing Secretary of the Interior Cecil Andrus of the Pinelands Management Plan. But the cabinet official’s signature won’t tan end to the controversy, often bitter, that s been as much a, part of the plan as pine • trees are of the 1.1 million acres of South Jersey which the plan seeks to protect. The plan's overall impact on the State of New Jersey and the County of Cape May will be much more important than the effects it will have oh such forested Jersey Cape municipalities as Upper and Dennis Town- * ship, where the greatest restrictions on development in this area will be felt. MUCH OK THE CONTROVERSY that has arisen involves the so-called Home Rule concept (upon which' we editorialized last week). In this vein, the agrumpnt is that the people, thru their elected representatives, should have more of a say in developing the plan than they did or will. Another major contention by those opposing the plan is that it is too strict, that it doesn't provide enough space for housing development, especially in those areas which will he impacted by the

population boom as the result of the Atlantic City casino gambling lure. In our view, however, approval of the plan in its present form represents one of Brendan Byrne’s greatest achievements as governor and as politician. Once again, as is so often the case, it took someone from outside the South Jersey environs to realize the worth of one of its greatest natural resources — and do something about it. As would be expected in such a major undertaking, the final plan represented a compromise. As such, it neither totally pleased nor entirely provoked those on either side of the fence (usually referred to .simply as pro-developers and environmentalists). * . BUT THE PINELANDS is much more than meets the eye. The so-called Pine Barrens are more than great stands of pine and oak; more than unique tree frogs and wild orchids; more than an ancient natural oasis in the midst of the nation’s biggest megalopolis. For beneath the surface, literally and figuratively, lies a reality of tremendous importance to millions of people. A resource of paramount need, it is water. Pure water, that increasingly in years to come will be of utmost importance to the

nation’s most densely populated state. While we here on the Jersey Cape have all but been exempt from the concerns of millions of other Delaware Valley residents faced with the mid-winter continuance of a drought — we are not immune to the need for a good, reliable potable water resource. IT ISN’T DROUGHTS SO MUCH AS salt water intrusion that is — or should be — of concern to us here on the Cape, especially those who call the barrier islands and resort communities home. Within the not too distant future, the major wells serving most of Cape May County will have to be relocated inland, undoubtedly to the area of Belleplain State Forest. And — especially if the Jersey Capepopulation continues to grow at its present pace — it will be within the lifetime of many readers that the major fresh water source for most all of South Jersey, including Cape May County, is even further inland -r- the Pinelands. That is why, more than any other reason, the Pinelands are crucial for all of us. Basically, they should be preserved, protected and cherished. Not built upon. —The Herald

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LANTERN

reader \ iorum

What It Takes To Coach Team by Suzanne McKinley I am writing in response to an article published in your newspaper on Jan. 7. The article is entitled "Sideline Shots" and was written by The Old Sport, I often read his column and feel that his opinions on high school girls basketball are too harsh. The Old Sport seems to feel that if there are women coaches available to coach the girls, then this should be the case. Of course he is entitled to his own opinion although I feel that it was unnecessary to single out a specific school. Middle Township. He. stated that Middle Township has at least two capable women coaches on the staff who hive nothing to do during the winter season. He then suggested that their talents be used to replace our coach. I feel that this is an insult U> Mr. Penman in that it questions his abilities. I have played for the Lady Panthers for four years and I am convinced that no other coach, man or woman, could have done more for me, both on and off the court, than Mr. Penman has in those years. It doesn't take a man to coach boys or a woman to coach girls. It takes a caring, patient, dedicated individual to coach a team. Suzanne McKinley Is a resident of Avalon'.

'SO MBP ME. OiEF... THIS IS THE PERFECT APPOINTMEMTI'