riyM opinion

The Herald and The Lantern

Wednesday, February 25, 1*81

Cold Sprtn* February IMI ■ IX nW tell you about my bathroom wmdow, actual |\ i hr View, f'.'orn it ovrrlonkinK the fields And. I here v reajly more than fields to see there is a real panorama to behold, it* dimension* stretching from directly outaide the window*ill to the distant trees which form. an uneven line of demarcalion between early and sky a rural horizon l\ THI UlRKGfWWND ot this country view is the top of the large lilac hush in front of our house Lilacs nod old houses to together, and our property ts hlessd w ith a couple of mammoth hushes whose fragrant blooms compete in season with (he flowers of the wisteria, mpek orange and honey locust There really isn f a competition, it’s a progression of heavenly scents, each distinct each seemingly more beautiful as early spring evolves In sanguine panoplies to summer s fullblown majesty We re still, of course, several weeks away from those smells, but you can st* the lilac leaf buds now, just outside the window, sheathed in what looks

something’ like pearjut skins They seem ready fot spring I know f am BEYOND THMIlac. you can^jusTsee a few branches of locust dipping in the breeze This particular tree is too young to-blosscrtn, but the parent from which this one iof many) sprung represents a < different story The older tree*(-cor-rectly known as a black

OH WELL, across Soc's Lane the soybean field begins Last summer's drought really did it in. decimating the crop and giving the field a straggley appearance Now there's some kind of cover crop on the field, to hold down the soil and provided green manure this spring. I’m not certain of the cxacfvariety of grass, just gs I’m not

Country Note

locust) pulled 'a real surprise last summer I kept smelling this beautiful aroma and couldn't deter mine where it was coming from I looked all over for the source, examing to <w avail trees throughout the -neighborhood and m the nearly clump of woods Then one day I happened to look up and there, at the top of the big locust by our .driveway were the flower clusters Their shape blended in so closely with the pale leaves, that I didn’t realize the tree was flowering, (’loser examina fioh revealed the flower clusters on lower branches as well Talk about feeling stupid.

V

sure of the kinds of trees that border one side and the rear of the field. I do recognize a willow by the duck pond on the property of the late Joe and Kthel McPherson, across the way adjacent to the field Here and thei-e a few cedars dot the open exk panse between the ^McPherson property and me stream beyond. And • • past that comes a much larger field — it was in lima beans last summer. AMID THE BARE winte£ branches of the trees along Bayshore Hoad you can just make out the shape of a. house or two; most conspicuous is the large white one which is the

Georgian style home of Greg Ogden, the architect. The view from my window is alive and in the ; sense that its components are living and. as weather permits, growing. The tiny creatures in the soil can’t be seen from my window^ but I know they are therei though certainly not as evi-' dent as the Canadian-and snow geese that occasionally fly over the rooftop THE BEAUTY from my bathroom window is indeed something to behold It's a room with a view. You RnowNike the kind whichcommand a higher price when attached to motels o*

condominiums.

Lawmakers will tell you that you can’t legislate for beauty; that something like historic prtAervation districts only fli^when they

to the%conomic

i Weenie to

are tied

benefits which!

onwers. neighborhoods and communities fortunate enough to have these architectural amenities. I for one feel we should zone and plan with beauty foremost in our minds; witji the belief that everyone has the to unobstructed sunshine. to picturesque naturalness, to a room with avie *' . - John A.

Gov’t I.Q. Test

How writ in/ormed'are you about your government?^ fhur quit prepared by the N J Taxpayers Asan. it on the subject of state and local government. If you answer 12 or more correctly, consider yourself well informed. If you miss- more 1 than 3. you need to brush up,on New Jersey government NEW JERSEY Sr LOCAL GOVERNMENT Q(JIZ Multiple Ohotce- Select words or numbers which correctly complete the statement • 1 The number of executive departments currently in New Jersey State Government is; (a) 20 , (b)l5 (018 <d)19 2 The present New Jersey Constitution was adopted in: (a>1776 <b>1844 (01947 . (d)1979 3 Membership in the New Jersey Senate numbers: v <a>2! (b)40 (035 (d)100 4 Membership in the New Jersey General Assembly numbers > a i ho <b)60 (021. (d)100 5 The majority party in both houses of the New Jersey legislature is:' 1 a) Republican < h) Democrat < 01 ndependent (d) Liberata r i a n 6 The number of State legislative districts in New Jersey is: 'a »25 l)'62 IO100 (d)40 7.*The total annual percentage increase in authorized spending permitted under New Jersey s municipal budget cap law with various modifications is e ia)l% (b>5% (010% (01/2 the annual inflation rate 8 The State agency charged with reviewing proposed fond issues and annual capital request is the: ia i Delaware Basin Commission (c)Economic Policy Committee i hr Watchdog Committee" (d)Commission on Capital Budgeting & Planning 9 The tax which produces the. most revenue in the overall New Jersey State-local tax system is: • a) sales (h)personal income , (olocdlreal property f (d (corporatipn income

cape mAY COUWTV

Herald

TV V» » a » r ( erpor ■ I ion John II. Andrus II William J. Adams , Ronnie Rrina

p.o. llo« • Atakm. NJM202 Editor Advertising Director General Manager

narrrll kopp PuMijhpr Phone 967-3312 For News Or Advertising Information DEADLINES

News & Photos. Thursday Advertising • Friday - 3 p.m. Classified Advertising Monday-Noon Nrither par1kl|rollnK adtrr1l«rrt nor thr pnblUhrrk ot thr IIKKAI.I) AM) I.AVT>:HN nrtl bp rnpankibk or liahlr for mklnformallon, mitprtau Itpograpblral error4, rir. in ant ittor Thr editor rrtrrtft thr rtiffct to rdit ant Irllrr or artklr* tuhmitlrd for puhlka-

ioarer I

Township I

■LANTERN

P.o. Boa Ml

VlUai.N-i mmi

10. The number of 4-year terms which a New Jersey Governor is allowed to serve is: (a )2 consecutive (b)l (c)unlimited (d)4 True or False—determine whether the statement is right or wrong. 11. New Jersey is one of 8 slates which does not have a lieutenant governor T F 12. The General Assembly has the sole power to impeach the governor in New Jersey. T F British Seagull 387

13. AH 567 New Jerey municipalities are subject to the 5< * ca P m ^

T F

14. New Jersey’s rank among all the states in per capita property tax burden in the five highest. ^ ^ 15. The legislature may override the governor’s veto of a bill by a simple majority vote in each house.

ANSWERS: I d.4 a 7 b 10 a 13 F J.c 5 b S.d li t 14.T 3.b 6.d 9 c I2.T 15.F

The Birds and the Bees

By Ima Byrd ‘l've been flying along the South Jersey coast for a long time and believe, me. things are getting mighty bad for birds and other creatures. You might be wondering why I call myself British Seagull 387. AcUially there are no other birds just like me. I’m one of a kirid. But if 1 called myself British Seagull No. One and man found out that I was almost extinct, he might set about trying to preserve me. Everyone knows thaj once that happened, I’d be doomed. As it is. things are getting more and more difficult for us Sure there are a few friendly folk who tos? us some crumbs but, for the most part, the outlook is bleak. TRY TO SEE IT FROM A bird’s point of view. Except for some beautiful mounds in Avalon, the dunes have almost disappeared. It’s sure strange the way things happen. For instance, in Stone Harbor, a few years back, the state made the borough stop shooting off fireworks on the Fourth of July down near the bird sanctuary and Point. State officials said those fireworks might hurt the endanged Least Terns nesting nearby. But now, it seems that Stone Harbor insist they can keep on developing the Point because, they say, there's no wildlife left down there. That seems like a contradiction and just doesn't make sense — at least to a Tern.

Well, the fireworks went, but some two-legged varmint got the crazy ided that the birds needed their own warning device. The next thing we know they’ve got a siren right smack near the sanctuary. That 21-acre stretch; of undeveloped land must be driving some people plum loco. NOW I HEARD THAT'A certain official was makirtg jokes about our nesting habits. .! tell you that without a proper place, it’s difficult to settle down and do our thing. iHumans seem to be able to nest anyplace, but birds that’s another story. And just when we think we've got all our problems licked, those big clunking machines that sterilize the beaches cpme lumbering down the sands and swoom up all our potential. If you think the birds are the only ones feeling cynical and bitter about their future, you should talk to the bees. But do it quick, before those big winged spray cans unleash their poisons. In between the chemicals and progress, someone forgot to tell the world how important we are. Remind me sometime to tell you $bput the birds and the bees. NEXT WEEK — Featherless Bipeds.

reader's forum

Rate Hike Plea Heats Him.Up by Vincent McMahon

Now that Atlantic Electric is requesting another rate hike, I think we should all write letters of opposition to the Public Utility Commission in Newark./ lot of letters is better than one.

The PUC has the authority to grant or reject the hike. I don't scr why

must pay for air conditioning when many don't have it. Why must we pay for some one else’s air conditioning? Let’s flood Newark with letters protesting the increase, and stop it-now. Vincent McMahon is a resident of Villas.