reader's forum — (From Page 2IUByrd's birds had kept their eyes open they would of noticed that there are almost 9,000 Democrats in Cape May County and we have been growing in numbers each year. IN ADDITION. MY RECORDS SHOW there are more than nine active local Democratic clubs in various municipalities and over 18 elected officials that are Democrats including our well-respected and very popular Congressman Bill Hughes. Maybe if Ms! Byrd’s birds were not flying around on cloud nine and instead flew over the courthouse to look over some records, they may have noticed the Democratic party in Cape May County is alive and well. James lannone lives in Sea Isle City. Board Should

Meet In Evening by William McClory A tremendous disservice is being done to the public in Cape May County by the County Vocational Board of Education. The Cape May County Vocational Board of EMucation, who are five members appointed to their positions and not elected, have consistently refused to conduct their meetings at a time convenient to the public when people can voice their opinions. Instead of having their meetings at a time when most boards of education in the county and in the rest of the state have their meetings, which is at 8 p.m., this board of education prefers to have its meetings at l in the afternoon. By having the meeting at 1:00 P.M., the board of education can be assured that not many people will attend, and therefore not many people will be able to question the policies they develop that affect children, the tax rate, programs, and employees in the district. I believe it is time that the public demands that the Vocational Board of Education establish meetings in the evening so that the public can attend and be part of the process, not separated from the process. William McClory is a resident of Woodbine. Input at Important Time is Hampered by Debra Moreland Not yet being able to predict fully the impact that the federal budget cuts are going to have on public education I am watching with trepidation the recent accounts of area schools intended cutbacks in programs and staff. It is more imperative than ever for the public to be aware of the impact that such cutbacks are going to have on the services to and the scope of their children’s education. It is paramount that parents and community members attend local board of education meetings in order to become better aware and informed. However, I have recently become aware that not all board of education meetings are conveniently scheduled for the public’s access. Out of all of the school’s in Cape May County, the Cape May County Vocational School is the only school system that schedules its public meetings at 1 p.m. — a time when a large segment of the interested public is unable to attend and is therefore virtually "boxed out" of the opportunity to be informed of as well as to voice concerns about this county asset. THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM TOO is feeling the burden of the federal budget cutbacks, and at a time when specific programs and staff members are being eliminated, the public is unable conveniently to question "Why that program?” or "Why that service?” It is difficult for me to justify how a Board of educa- * tion, appointed by our elected county freeholders with our own County superintendent of schools as a member on that board, cannot schedule their meetings so as to make them more accessible to the public. What is the big deal of insisting on mid-afternoon meetings when people have already expressed a genuine interest to make the meeting time a more convenient one? It seems that positive growth and direction will result only with cooperation and mutual effort. Debra Moreland is an Ocean City resident. Concerts Scheduled

COLD SPRING - Jim Albertson, 1980-82 president of the New Jersey Folklore Society, will be presenting a concert scries of folk songs and stories for people of all ages at Historic Cold Spring Village this summer. the concerts will take place at 8 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday evening throughout t h e summer( JuAlbtrUon ne 22 through Labor Day).

THE CONCERT • material will include New Jersey Folktales and songs, American folklore,, songs of the sea, old time music and old world heritage gathered from a wide range of sources. Albertson is a folk performer who for many years was active as a teacher of speech arts, oral interpretation and theater arts and as an actor and director for community theater projects. Tickets to the concerts are available at Historic Cold Spring Village, 731 Seashore Rd., Cold Spring 08204, or by calling 884-1810.

Highlight No. 2 Old House Tour Editor's note: The 34th Annual Old House Tour will be Saturday and Sunday. July 10 and II. Historic.struc tures in Upper, Dennis and Middle Townships will be featured the first day; those in the Greater Cape May Lower Twp. area, the second. Tour hours are 10 to 4 each day. Some of the tour offerings are highlighted in this continuing series, written by a member of the Tour Com mittee. Call 884-8628 for more Information. Last week the tour route was traced from the northern part of the county, with mention of the buildings to be opened in Upper Township. This week, the route of the July 10 tour in Dennis Township will be covered. DENNIS TOWNSHIP Cape May County has retained many aspects of the past in its old buildings. In certain places these structures are clustered in areas that have been set aside as historic districts. Such is the state-designated Historic District of Dennisville, founded in 1726. Dennisville, one of the county’s earliest settlements, was originally a shipping port; later it was the site of shipyards. Schooners built here acquired a world-wide reputation for their sturdiness. Another early Dennisville industry was the "mining’’’ of cedar logs from trees buried in nearby swamps. This cedar furnished roof shingles for buildings of colonial Philadelphia, including Independence Hall, and mined shingles remain on county houses today. A GROUP OF CHARMING homes on Main St., Dcnnisville surrounds the First United Methodist Church (1870). Visitors may leave their cars and go on foot to visit the church and homes. The Women’s Society of the church will have luncheon items at the nearby Social Hall (1896). Houses to be opened here include the Nathaniel Holmes House (1750-1822) with beautifully carved mantels in the later section; the Belle Carroll House (1810) and the Hanna Williams House (circa 1757) both showing much of the old ways of living; the Cpt. John Douglas House (circa 1835) restored by its artist-

owner; and the Rushnell House (1B30) showing the present owners’ loye of flowers. A short distance away, on Fidler Rd.. is the James Stiles Place (1875). Originally measuring 16 x 18 feet, it now includes a recent addition built with old lumber and hardware. Not too far frotn Dennisville on Rt 47. is the South Dennis Methodist Ch|fffh (1870). a typical small country church surrounded by old trees. FOUR BUILDINGS open July 10 are on the National Register of Historic Places The Woodhine> Brotherhood Synagogue (1896) was built as a com munRy effort in a rural haven created for Jewish refugees in the past century Calvary Baptist Church (1853) is on the comer of Rt 9 and Seaville Rd. in Den nis Township. Farther south, in Middle Township, is the John Holmes House (circa 1776) a beautiful former residence on Rt. 9, SWainton, now used as the County Historical Museum; and on Rt 9 in Cape May Court House, the Old Court House Building (1848) has been placed on the National Register in recent months

Dorli Ward EARLY WEDDING gown is arranged by Dawn Greek at the Historical & Genealogical Society’s county museum in Swainton, where a wedding gown fashion show was but one of several open house special events last Saturday.

CG Graduation Invitation CAPE MAY - The public is invited to attend recruit graduation exercises held 11 a.m. each Friday on board the Coast Guard Training Center Parade Grounds. Guests are asked to be seated 10 minutes before the ceremony begins. The recruits will pass in review and perform a brief manual-of-arms drill. The Training Center band will also be performing. Simon Play At Gateway SOMERS POINT - Neil Simon’s comedy, "The Last of the Red Hot Lovers" is set to open today, Wednesday, June 16, at South Jersey Regional Theatre’s Gateway Playhouse here. The play will have performances through Saturday, July 3 and one matinee performance Tuesday, June 29. For information and reservations call the SJRT box office, 653-0553.

Learning's Run Opens Season

COURT HOUSE - Learning’s Run Botanical Gardens opened for its fifth season Tuesday. The woodland gardens provide the. visitor with the opportunity to enjoy quiet tranquility, with beautiful flowers and landscaping. Wide earthen paths serve to guide the visitor from one beautiful garden to another. Spread over 20 acres, the gardens provide an interesting variety. AN EVENING GARDEN incorporates shades of blue with white, and it is difficult to coUnt the number of different’flowers in the English Cottage Garden. There are other gardens where shades of gold or pink are highlighted. Those with landscaping interests would be particularly interested in the novel Knoll Garden, the lot^ Serpentine Garden by a ,pond, a Comer Garden, 6t perhaps the Down Jersey Garden. At trail’s end dried flower arrangements are displayed by Emily April! m the Cooperage, a bam built in 1730 by a whaler, one of Cape May County’s first settlers. The gardens have been developed on property dating back to a 1695 deed, whep Christopher Learning first settled his 320-acre plantation. Early history is highlighted by a log cabin, barn and shed built by Aprill. There is a vegetable and herb garden by the cabin. MUSIC OF THE 1600s and 1700s is sometimes heard drifting through the gardens. The “Per Chance” musicians visit the garden occasionally to play an early form of the flute, the recorder The Learning’s Run uotanical Gardens are located on Route 9, Swainton, between Avalon (Exit 13 Garden State Parkway) and Sea Isle City Boulevard, and are open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 15-Oct. 20.

LOG CABIN, replica of a 17th century structure complete with vegetable and herb gardens. Is among attractions at learning's Run.

When you walk Into a branch office looking for a loan...

you're looking for a good listener, an open mind and someone with ’ the authority to move fast on your loan request.

You're looking for Marine.

iTWoi* Offices throughout Cope May County