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34 editorial Yet Another Idea to Help Ease Erosion

Over the years there have many ideas on how to stem beach erosion on the Jersey Cape Many readers will remember the late Cmdr. Lee Whetstone's idea of artifically extending the natural shoals, the thought being to provide an underwater breakwater to rob stormtossed waves and currents of their power before they reached the beach. Thousands upon thousands of signatures of residents and vacationers and visitors were gathered on a petition advancing this idea. The documents went as far as Washington, D.C. Ironically, today the shoals Whetstone had his eye bn are accreting naturally — even as talk Of the Army Corps of Engineers' eventual involvement in a massive beach replenishment project between Cold Spring Inlet and South Cape May supposedly comes closer to reality. ... There have also been less vocal, more private ideas; such as the thought of simply leveling' the first block of the beachfront and, in effect, starting from scratch. More or less, giving the forces of nature their due and having the populace retrench further back. OVER THE YEARS, engineers, politicians bureaucrats, and laymen have all Had to go at it Usually what goes up to counter the angry surf are last-minute, sfop gap devides which even though unproven, nevertheless give a modicum of supposed protection. At least enough for developers to come in and build homes and condominiums in very precarious places (as any old timer of the Jersey Cape can attest to). . I_ast week, The Herald reported on a new idea, an artificial seaweed advanced by a chemical engineer from Delaware whose polyproplyene Seascape fronds have been pressed into service on such tough proving grounds at Cape Hatteras. The initial word from one local resort citizen-official indicated skepticism — not with the idea, but the possibility of the government bureaucracy ever accepting such a relatively simple and inexpensive idea as using plastic seaweed to help trap sand and tame

BUT HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL, and we all know that the best ideas are usually the most simple. This certainlyUsn't an endorsement (although veteran sportsman and, longtime Jersey Caper Boyd Tyler reported months ago in his column that the plastic seaweed had built up the beach at Hatteras). What this is, is the suggestion that the Cape May County Beach Erosion Committee — which has been around for a number of years — take a serious look at the possibility of planting some of this artificial stuff at several locations along the diverse ocean and bay shores here. Just to see what happens. r- NOTICE TO Letter Writers Opinions for our Reader's Forum should: • Be signed by the writer and include the writer's address and phone number l/etters can be printed anonymously, but the newspaper must have writer verification • Deal with one topic or issue in an accurate, nonlibclous manner

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And All that Follow “There they lay,'the blue and the gray; the same rich, young American Blood flowing out (n little rivulets of crimson; each thinking he was in the right." • —A Union Soldier, surveying the carnage after the Battle of Champion Hill in Mississippi, May 1863. Quoted in The Civil War by Shelby Foote (Random House).

7 asked.for all things, that I might enjoy life; I was given life, that I might enjoy all things...." From “Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier,” clipped from a newspaper by Dr. John Ellis Large.and quoted in his t book. Think on These Things. (Harper). “Our dead brothers still live for Its, and bid us think of life, not death — of life to which in their youth they lent the passion and glory of the spring. As I listen, the great chorus of life and joy beings again, and amid the awful orchestra of seen and unseen powers and destinies of good and evil, our trumpets sound once more a note of daring, love and will." From the 1884 Memorial Day Address of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (1841-1935), son of Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894), the physician, poet, novelist, and philosopher. The younger Holmes served with bravery as a Union officer in thp Civil War, and, in time, became a fanrous Justice of the United States Supreme Court, noted for his liberal opinions. "He bdlieved in respecting human rights more than property rights.” —R. Leslie Chrismer

Herald A lantern 26 May '82

Keep Surfing Beaches Open by Allen & Bonnie Wolf Regarding the proposed ban on surfing in Avalon; as parents of young surfers and as the co-directors of the Southern New Jersey District of the Eastern Surfing Association, we appeal to you and all residents of Avalon — please do not take the surfing benches away from the youth of Avalon. j The Eastern Surfing Association/SNJ District is a fullfounding member of the United States Surfing Federation; an allied member of the Amateur Athletic Union of the U.S. (AAU) and an affiliated member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) — our United States Olympic Committee membership application is currently pending. WE PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY involved with the sport of surfing in South Jersey for over 20 years. Our directorship of the SNJ District of the ESA has us in constant contact with over 200 surfing members of our association in South Jersey. We are proud to be able to contribute our ‘ me and energy to such a fine group of youth. One would think that any municipality would be equally as proud of the fact that they do provide access to surfing beaches. A surfihg athlete asks little or nothing from tne area in which they reside, merely access to a God given resource — our Ocean! The closing of surfing beaches will do nothing at all insofar as helping to improve the society in which we all live. We are dealing here with our youth; all of whom are our future for tomorrow. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF needing a surfboard, surfing is an affordable sport for your youth. It is an individualistic sport that places the enthusiast in contact with one of nature's greatest forces — our ocean!' Should a surfer desire to compete, they are given that opportunity through,membership in our association and through this membership they have an opportunity to receive an’invitation to participate in the West Coast Surfing Championships and on to the United States Amateur Surfing Championships (and even on to the World Championships). Also available in South Jersey at many of the schools and colleges in the area is the opportunity to'compete on the interscholastic level through membershfc with the National Scholastic Surfing Association. All sports have their fair share of complications, but no city anywhere will ever /ind a sport, such as surfing, that has as little or no drain on their budget! To insure the continued development of the youth’of Avalon, please leave a 15-year percedent intact — keep Avalon's Surfing Beaches Open! Allen Sc Bonnie Wolf are from Arnold, Md. and Ventnor. N.J.

A Good Suggestion by Carol Troiano I read with great interest the article in the edition, May 12 where Middle Township Committee candidate Charles Leusner suggested the use of 911 as the number for calling emergency services such as Police, Fire, and Ambulance. This is an issue which I totally agree with. It would provide a faster response time, make it easier to remember the number, and increase our Crime Prevention Program. I applaud his comments and hope they can be implemented. Carol Tftiano is a Rio Grande resident.

Telephone Lottery To Fund Beaches?

by Anon E. Mous There is a way for the State of New Jersey to eliminate beach fees forever. If a new State lottery was initiated where people from all over could use their telephones to pick a number , the cost of playing the number could be added to their phone bill and the money raised from this source could be used to cover beach expenses such as lifeguards, beach police and beach maintenance. The State would then control the beach employees. They w6uld be classified as part-time Civil Service workers. The workers would not have to answer to corrupt local politicans who now hire and fire as they please. The employees being civil service would not be responsible to any "wishy-washy" union and job security would prevail REMEMBER THE TERRIBLE MESS the City of Wildwood cheated in 1977 when over 60 lifeguards were unjustly fired and fined for a "job" action?" In Sea Isle City the same year a captain of the Beach Patrol, with an excellent record, was relieved of command because someone with political influence wanted their relatives to run the beach. These situations could be cured if the beaches were state controlled. Lifeguards, beach police, and maintenance personel would be hired by their ability and experience not because they "knew" someone in City Hall New Jersey Bell Telephone could help tremendously by joining forces with the State of New Jersey Lottery Commission Pennsylvania. New York and Delaware could also use the Beach Fee Telephone Lottery by dial-

ing I-609-Lottery, then dialing the selected number, for example, 2-2-2. People who don’t normally buy lottery tickets would be inclined to donate in this way, (besides, there is always a chance of winning). The telephone bill would be the receipt for the winners and a record of the lottery numbers picked throughout the month. NEW JERSEY BELL TELEPHONE should charge for this service; say 25 cents a pick. The cost of the pick would be 50 cents, telephone charge 25 cents, total 75 cents a pick. It could be daily or weekly lottery. It would please most people, I think. Those opposed to gambling could ignore the Arvice. Anyone who does not use the beaches could also ignore the service. If this program could work it would end all debates on beach fees. After all, the word has been out for a long time that Beach Fees may be unconstitutional. If this is true all collected fees would have to be refunded to the people who paid them. (What a mess that would be). If the Federal Communicaiion Commission would allow this idea and New Jersey Bell Telephone agreed; this plan could work. Remember, taxes would not increase. If you like this idea clip this article from the newspaper and mail it to your Congressman, State Senator, tv channels. Bell Telephone, or anyone you think might like the idea. I think it would work and it is worth a try. Don’t you think? Anon E. .Mous is O Jersey Cape resident who wishes to remain anonymous.