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Herald l< Lmtem 8 December '82

Readers' Forum — Growing Number Close to Home Are Suffering By Shirley l>ock \ ' Despite th* glitter and lights which give the appearance (rf holiday basiness as usual, a growing number of people if Cape May County are really suffering — from cold, hunger and privation Additional hundreds are undoubtedly hurting, unseen by afeenc ies until some extreme crisis alerts us all to their P«ghl THIS REPORT of suffering close to home, with appeals to give generously to help those who suffer, brings to my min<0 the Defense Appropriations bill now in the U.S. Congress While people lack food, shelter, medical care and educa tion. Congress is being asked to approve funding for two new enormously expensive nuclear weapoas systems, the MX and Pershing liras well as 100 B-l bombers Their cost will surely depfete further the funds for human'services and commit us An continually escalating, military expenditures for years to come . Those who care about suffering people in Cape May County and all across the U.S. should let their congressmen know of their opposition to these expenditures of their tax dollars They need to>know our priorities. Shirley Lock reuldes in Went Cope May. Faithful to Leader, Entire Committee, % By Ruth J. Hart Election is over I know, but I feel as alternate leader of Lower Towaship I owe not only the voters, but the entire , Republican Executive Committee, an explanation -t have served as a committeewoman for 7’v years and the last 5* 2 years as alternate to leader Maurice Catarcio. I feel I have done rhy job faithfully, not only to the leader but to the entire committee In the last election, some chose to either forget the party lines dr not work at all. I believe in following what I was elected to do. and that is support all Republican organize tion candidates. This I did wholeheartedly. Before I was hospitalized and evOn since I have returned home. I have been harassed by some vicious rumors that I would like to take over the helm as leader of the executive committee Rest assured this is not true now or in the future I sincerely hope the rumors will cease now. I wirtb to thank District 14 for its support in the past and hopefully in the future in any endeavors I may undertake Ruth Hart lives In the Villas Recruits Delighted By (iertrude M. Reiss "Operation Fireside” this year, succeeded in promoting a program in cooperation with the United States Coast (iuard Training Center in Cape May to have groups of recruits entertained in the homes of Cape May County families on Thanksgiving Day v*. Cape May County Chapter of Red Cross waswiltKpleas ed with the response of local families to the varioiR" church and neighborhood groups requests for host families to extend their hospitality to the young*men and women in the training program * The recruits were delighted with the opportunity to meet local people and enjoy the home like atmosphere for this holiday We would like to thank eyery one who~*so graciously cooperated in this endeavor and hope the ongoing plan for ' a similar Christmas pay activity will be just as well received by the community > Oertrudc Reiss is chairperson for Service to Military Families. Cape May Chapter. American Red Cross.

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Joseph R. Zelnik

Editor

Bonnie Reina

General Manager

John Dunwoodv

Advertising Coordinator

Darrell Kopp

Publisher

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II Was A Very Nice Holiday l Had All The People Who Used To Givp Me Handouts Over To My Place for Thanksgiving Dinner

Capital Comments Aware Public Preferred To Kerosene Heater Ban By Senator James Hurley A special state commission investigating fire safety laws in New Jersey recently proposed a statewide ban on the use of portable kerosene heaters. I will oppose any legislative attempt to prohibit the use of these space heaters. Scientific evidence indicates that these heaters, which are in use in thousands of homes in New Jersey, are safe if operated properly. - The new generation of kerosene heaters have a number of safety' features including automatic shut-off devices. In 1980, the consumer Products Safety JCommission studied kerosene heaters and determined trat there was no proof they are unsafe and should b^faken off the market- ^ INSTEAD OF banning space heaters, tMFstate should focus its attention on educating the public in the way to operate them safely. I have sponsored one bill to alert the public to one polen „ tial danger in operating these heaters — using high sulfur grade fuel. Under my bill, retailers selling kerosene With a high sulfur content would have to place a warning on the tank that the fuel may not be suitable for use in space heaters. Other legislation has been introduced to require safety warning labels on all portable kerosene heaters sold in j New Jersey. ENACTMENT INTO law of these two bills, along with other steps to increase public awareness of the precautions to take in using space heaters, should adequately protect residents from the risk of fire. Portable kerosene heaters have become enormously popular in New Jersey as a means of saving fuel costs. I BELIEVE government has a responsibility to protect residents from unsafe product''.. But in this case. I am convinced the commission overreacted Under state law. kerosene heaters are prohibited in apartment buildings. And individual comhiunities hive a right to bdn these heaters if local officials believe conditions warrant it. But an outright state ban on portable kerosene heaters is unnecessary and virtually unenforceable. (Sen. Hurley represents Cape May County and much of. Cumberland County.)

A Thrilled Newcomer

The State We're In Conservation Key To Water Needs

By David F. Moore > With Mother Nature uncertain about holding back on New Jersey rainfall and with reservoirs being watched nervously although they remain at normal levels, the first annual meetings are. under way to update this state's Water Supply Master Plan. Meetings remaining are tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in the Freeholders’ office in Morristown; Dec. 10 at 1:30 p.m. in . the Ocean County Administration Building. Toms Riverf and Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. in Warren Hills Regional Junior High School, Washington, Warren County. THE DEPARTMENT of Environmental Protection plans no major changes in the plan, but it wants to focus public attention on the proposed modifications it does have. At the same time, the Delaware.Rivpr Basin Commission is in the throes ol winding up inputs for the draft environmental impact statement for the Merrill Creek Reservoir planned for Harmony Township. Warren. County, by utijity .companies to augment (he Delaware River during low flow periods. The scheme is to pump surplus water from the river during high flows, and store the water for release when needed. THAT’S SIMPLE enough, but the situation grows murky and downright confusing wjjen the reason for the utility companies’ concern with river levels is examined. It’s to keep the river high enough so that on some dry day a choice won't have to be made between continued withdrawal of drinking water for places likes Trenton and Philadelphia vs. having to shut down electric power plants / because the river will be too low to provide them with cool- . ing water without endangering potable supplies. There's a much-publicized plan to divert Delaware water at Point Pleasant, in Bucks County, and pipe it cross-country to provide extra cooling water for a 'Philadelphia Electric Company nuclear power plant being built along the Schuylkill River. A number of Pennsylvania communities have been heard from, claiming that they also need that Delaware River water to pad out their potable water supplies. TO ME. FISCAL and water conservatives (one and the same) seem to favor small steps to meet water supply needs on a priority basis starting with the smallest and least expensive and least environmentally destructive projects. Fiscal and water liberals opt for spending big chunks of public money for big, capital-intensive projects so that no one need worry about a drought ever again. Proponents of Tocks Island Dam fit the liberal category, as do the Point Pleasant boosters. Point Pleasant can only be described as a plumber's nightmare, with little certainty that its nuclear plant beneficiary will ever be completed. The winds of fate are blowing against nuke plants nowadays. Opponents of Point Pleasant feel that it’s unneeded. and that the Merrill Creek Reservoir would lose its charisma without it. Opponents are in court now. trying to derail the Point Pleasant project. IT ALL COMES DOWN to better planning and land-use controls. That would go a long way toward meeting water needs, along with good water conservation practices. Much of the water supposedly needed now in New Jersey is to keep leaky pipes filled in aging cities which are being allowed to lose populations to the suburbs, where more water is then needed too. Water, like gasoline, would be handled differently if it were more rare, and hence more expensive. Spending money we don’t have in our fiscally strapped governments to build projects we don’t really need seems utterly foolish. (David F. Moore is executive director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.)

What’s That Steady Murmur?

By Joe Zelnik A steady murmur on my first night in Cape May sent me from room to room, concerned that the electricity was running. Turned out to be the ocean. Imagine, hearing the ocean 24 hours a day, seven days a week! That may be no thrill to most of you, but I’m a newcomer to whom sound of ocean means in-season^rcnTof at least $450 a week. Newcomer, but not/a total stranger.-I’ve been working my way south on tha-Jersey shore for a dozen years. When I came frbm wester^ Pennsylvania to the Delaware County suburbs of Philadelphia 16 years ago. water was strictly for drinking. I BECAME a pool person for relief from the summer heat, but I wanted no part of the shore: wall-to-wall people; hot, sticky sand, and water filled With squiggly creatures. * I had an arrangement with things in the ocean: I wouldn't eat them and they wouldn't eat me. Gradually, my attitude changed.^Under pressure from the kids, Ocean City and its bp^pmfelfc' became a oneweek summer routine. Five years ago. I moved a few miles south to Stone Harbor. a block or so closer to the water, and the week's vacation doubled Cape May? I sang about it in Henny’s: "On the way to

Cape May, I fell in love with you. On the way to Cape May, I saw my dreams come true." And, like every other summer vacationer to the north, I drove to Cape May on rainy days, clogging its streets while I sought a parking spot. Sorry. NOW, FATE, providence or something has brought me to Cape May County to live and work. Even the weather seemed to go out of its way to make my arrival joyous. The summer-like temperatures were a mixed blessing. Unpacked cartons littered my home while I did the obvious, walked the beach in the unseasonable weather. I have been overwhelmed by the friendliness everywhere. My first day on the job, I rode the circulation truck for 10 hours as two hard-working young men left bundles of Heralds or Lanterns at every spot in the county where people gather, except a couple cemeteries. (Everyone was so nice I even decided to write this happy column and postpone my caustic comments on how difficult it is to get a telephone from New Jersey Bell.) Many have warned me that the novelty of being by the sea will wear off and I. like they, will go months without viewing it.-1 doubt it. ■ It’s great to be here. Thanks for having me. And let me hear from you. Zelnik is the new editor of the Herald and Lantern.