21

opinion

H««il<l* Un»» 31 March »a

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Thoughts on Miracles. by Viney Endicott / fenow that spring is here because I pouched her pussy-willow paws And felt within my heart Cod's laws. you see I've lived enough to know That under all the winter's snow A golden daffodil yyill grow; The crocus will come forth to brave The ice that thought to^make its grave Since time began thus they behave; When we can find God everywhere A nd every seasonjs a prayer, W<» humans too should bt» aware!

viewpoint ( New Jersey Needs A Real TV Station

• Ann CnnninKham The article 'by New Jersey Public Television’s spokesperson in the Marcli Hefald and Lantern gfve South Jersey residents more reason to be dissatisfied than they had before The suggestion that we instruct our legislators to insist local cable companies provide enough channels so that South Jersey viewers can have the same variety the tot of the state enjoys is not the answer. If we could dial either' Channel 12 or 23. how many viewers would the NJ Network have? The writer has ifr nored the primary reason a N J public network was instituted - to throw a tap to irate New Jersians whp'were pressuring their representatives because their state, one of the most populous in the union, had no VHF tv station. DEPRIVING US OF THE MANY entertaining and informative programs on Channel 12 and substituting second rate shows and amateurish news programs wasn’t what most of us would call a boon to New Jersey. And, if I understand the contents of'the article correctly, it is only South Jersians who are affected — just another item in the long list of injustices the southerp section of the state ertdures Is it any wonder many South Jersians would like fo secedef * The real problem iSh’t that we are being cheated, by Public TV An educational channel isn’t a' proper substitute for a state-wfde commercial station. Relying, as it must, on funds supplied by governmental bodies and private donations, no public channel can compete with Commercial stations, and they shouldn’t be expected to. Diluting the financial resources of educational tv by setting up unnecessary channels inlhesame viewing area is

defrauding the public. SOUTH JERSfANirWEREN’T UNHAPPY with the content* «f;Channel 12 programming — most of us wish we sW cou^d get it. What w« desperately need is a New Jersey commercial station. We are grossly uninformed about what i£ going on'in our state. Our legislators should demand a tv channel for New Jersey. If we can get New York stations an cattle in Cape May County, surely there must be soihe way a real New Jersey station could reach most of us While we learn more than we want to know about the Philadelphia public school problems, laws made in Harrisburg, the Philadelphia City Council, Pennsylvania politicians, traffic tie-ups and criine we hear little ■about New Jersey. V/e get the annual spring forecasts from shore Realtors oflsummer rentals, passing mentions of Atlantic City and New Je^ey politicians who hit the national news. WHO KNOWS WHAT’S HAPPENING in Trenton? North and South Jersey might as well be as far apart as California and Florida for all they know of each other’s problems. New Jersey can get along fine, without public tv. It is the absence of a statewide commercial channel . which makes its residents 4 so.ill-informed and makes It easy for state officials td cbver up •corruption, mismanagement, poor judgment and- every' other misdeed 0 /* * \ The 8 million people in New Jerfcey r are not being served well by the FCC Jane Ann Cunningham of Avalon Is former publisher of the Herald, v « '

British Seagull 387 Spring’s Spark & Sparkle

by Irma Byrd

I saw a squirrel today. He came off his tree bobbing, searching the green tufted grass for treasures. Upside » down he turned around.^this all-rounded fellow, moving backward, sideward into a forward motion with the

season of daffodils and life. *

1 stretched my wings and flew out across »he*wooded area to Ihe siea There was something in the air today, some kind of magic that sent the winter chills scurrying underground forcing tiny shoots to explode the ground

with millions of eruptions.

• v Soorf the fields would be covered with the fresh smell of Vlover Dandelions would flower forth in tiny sunrays dotting the landscape ^nd setting the stage for barefcet and

lazy days •

The ocean riever looked so wonderful, moving away from the grey hung over look of winter and taking on a blue tinge of tomorrbw rjppling with sunshine.and move-

ment. v

IT F-EI.T MKE THK FIRST DAY OF SPRING, blit the

calendared spring had already sprung.

In the heart of a bird, spring comes at different times of the, year It is.measured by that magic feeling I spbke of, that uplifting spirit that tells you the world is yours and

you are part of it,

Humanp call it a peak experience, but birds call it flying high. Today I was flying high-,I was filled with the poetry

of the earth, sky and sea, and the words of the Midnight , 1 Gull. I flewwey out over the ocean marveling at its bbauty and vastness. My Cyes took in the clduds, jammed into a

lltl

corner them-

the sky waiting for the next wind to arrive to toss tem/into patterps, set and drifting lazily on to nowhere. I Nad a human friend, Rachel DuBois, whq |ives‘in Woodstown She told me thilt once, when she \ifos little, she sat on a hillside hear her hotpe apd stretched her body down into the earth. For a long whil£ she was part of the earth ,and no longer Rachel DuBoi,s'. As she merged into the ground, she spotted a turkey buzzard flying in right toward her. The big bird flapped in for a landing and sat right oh hej chest looking deep into her eyes. For just a - moment there was communication, a realization that both < buzzard and human belonged to Ihe same planet, the same universe. The buzzard; realizing sherwas no*, part of the« ground, took off and flew away. My friqpd never forgot that experience, and I like to think that the buzzard never

forgot it eitheK

A LOT OF MY BIRD FRIENDS think I’m stupid for bothering-with humans. They tell me to stick to birds and let humans alone. But I just can’t accept that. I feel a deeper current running throughout tfle universe, a current that runs swift and clear for each one of us, a brotherhood or birdhood that unites man and beast into a glorious oneness • N

(Page 23 Please)

reader's forum • - Concerned About Density, Parking

' By Paul C. Rowland J The'Stone Harbor Zoning Board of Adjustment is scheduled to render its decision, 8 p.m. April 2 in borough'hall, on the four variances requested by David Diaco fdr new condominiums. Fearing the density-»not just in this spot but other areas of towfvrwe consulted a holed architect who has been in on the planning of shopping malls. We were told

planners generally figure on the basis of one acre per 100 cars. Granted shopping centers need more parking spaces thaivresidential areas, but in many places in the borough such areas Abut dne another. * j How many acres have we left in this town to provide adequate parking? ./ Paul Rowland Is a resident of Stone Harbor.

Salmon Proves Peterson Wrong

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LANTERN

H (• Both** ( oldSpring. N J «2M

by David Coffey Middle Township Committeewomans (Patricia Peterson istatement that she isn’t supporting Charles Leusner in his race for Township Committee because he is employed fulltime* is an insult to all American citizens and elected officials who hold jobs. Is her thinking so backward that she feels only the independently wealthy or self-employed are entitled to hold pnblic office? FREEHOLDER ED SALMON teaches at Millville High School affd was elected the Mayor of Millville with ovelrSO per cent of the vote. It should be noted that'he was elided mayor while a teacher arid a coach—a job

which demands more than the average teaching hours. He is one example of the many working individuals who serve their communities as elected officials. Mrs: Peterson should stop insulting the basic concept of America—that opportunity is open to ail, whether rich or poor, self-employed or employed. A person should not ortly be given the chance to serve, but also to help advance one’s self and one's community. David Coffey is a Court House resident. •Editor’s note—Mr. Leusnei* is*a Middle Township high school teacher, pastime paid township publicity man, and the local Democratic Party leader.

e’s Vague & Forgetful

by ioan Horvath

Perhaps (he taxpayer^ of Middle Township should chip,in to buy CommiU^ewoman Pat Peterson a dictionary. She seems to^Have forgotten the meaning of the

words Integrity and.ffiyality..

If Mrs Peterson had,reservations about Mr Leusner’s - candidacy, why’was she one of the first signers of his petition to run. then switch her support to his opponent Iselfemployed real estate^salesman John McMahonl? If her integrity prevented Wr from supporting Michael Voll in,the l»81 Primary' Election, why did she offer Jo

support him in the Geqeral Election? AS FOR LOYALITY/both Mr. Voll and Mr. Leusner • campaigned hard for Mrs. Peterson during her last two campaigns when sentimeht against her was strong. Yet, in turn, Mrs. Peterson works against her supporters for

very, vague reasons.

It appears that Mrs. Peterson’s integrity changes to. suit her qwn ends. It appears that Mrs Peterson’s loyalityMs only to herself. Who would trust someone who “bites the hand that feeds them’*? Joan Horvath lives In Rio Grande