Herald & Lantern 27 April '83

39

Our Readers Write

Hall Questions Are Answered

To The Editor: During the campaign in the race for mayor of Avalon, my opponent has raised questions concerning Avalon Community Hall He has stated that he will ‘find the fun ding for a new roof and a new floor " He has recently questioned why the bleachers have been removed without •consultation" with anyone I feel that if others have these same questions, the answers should certainly be well publicized, which is the purpose of this letter. First, the funding to upgrade the hall does not have to be found It has already been provided for in the current capital budget. Further, a study has shown that we do not need to spend money for a new roof and floor. There have been leaks from the air conditioning system, not the roof Specifications have also been drawn for the renovation and refinishing of the floor, for a new ceiling, new lighting, and drapes; This upgrading is being done within the existing budget, and no new funding ‘which translates into taxes) Is needed. Hudson Was English To The Editor Congratulations on your April 20 edition, which I enjoyed very much The coverage on Cape May’s Tulip Festival left little to be desired Not to quibble, but to set the record straight, lest some of our youth be misinformed: Henry Hudson was identified as “another Dutch explorer " This might be misconstrued It might better be said. “Another explorer for the Dutch." As you must know, Henry Hudson was an English navigator and explorer On one of his four famous voyages of discovery, he did sail in the employ of the Dutch company, but he was an Englishman My one-quarter English background prompts this, and also to help prevent misunderstandings by the reader Success to you and your staff Keep up the good work JIM MO LAUGHL1N Cape May Court House Jaycees Gave Time Freely To The Editor: We of the "Wildwood First" team would like to thank the Greater Wildwood Jaycees for having sponsored the "Meet the Candidates" evening at Wildwood High School on April 19. The Jaycees’ efforts in coordinating and moderating this program are to be commended We are fully aware of how many man hours went toward putting this night together and. as in the past, the Jaycees gave freely of their time. Our only regret is that more of the candidates did not see fit to attend This type of forum is the only way for the public to evaluate a candidate and find out where he stands on specific subjects and issues. Special thanks go to Steve Wade, Henry Salt and William Kemp as well as newspaper. TV and radio per sonnet who also gave their time and took part in this most informative evening JOSEPH SALERNO Campaign Manager Wildwood First Team Improvements Within Rights To The Editor. In the interest of good reporting. I feel it is time to voice my opinion Because a family member is involved in politics, over the past few years my husband and I have been bearing the brunt of unfounded public accusations and innuendos The improvements that are being.made on our property on Miami Avenue, are all being done within our legal rights We have the highest respect for proper procedure and have thoroughly done our homework in regards to any restrictions It should be pointed out to any interested parties that the township has taken it upon themselves to use our property for drainage, to which they have no legal easement. However. Robert Fothergill was contacted and told that he has our cooperation in this matter of trying to find an amicable solution Before public comment is voiced, those doing the voic ing should do some investigation research Then they would know what they are talking about MRS. JAMES CLYDESDALE Erma

SECONDLY, the bleachers referred to weren't "removed." They are currently at the borough yard undergoing needed safety repairs, sanding, and panting I am proud of our recreational program, one of the finest in the area ' Over the past four years, we have hired a full-time recreation director, built the Sport Fishing Center, renovated the Hlh Street Recreational Area, established a pre school program, expanded activities for senior citizens, and initiated a cultural arts program Currently, we are about to install a "fitness cluster, which will be entirely funded by non-borough dollars Teen-age dances are also being scheduled I welcome any questions from Avalon residents as to these projects, or any suggestions as to other recreational possibilities

RACHEL II SLOAN Councilwoman Avalon

Good Reading— A RIVILW by Owen Murphy

The Aristos By JOHN FOWLES (All of the books reviewed in this column are available at the Cape May County Library.) In the last twenty years, John Fowles has emerged as one of the most respected of modern novelists His books not on ly sell quite well but increasingly receive the kind of critical acclaim that would warm any author's heart The Aristos, however, is not rf novel and it was published way back in 1964 It is a fascinating book, what Fowles calls "a self portrait in ideas". You can o^en it anywhere and^start reading The Aristos is full of Fowles' thoughts (A) pun intended) about every aspect of life. HE'S ARRANGED his ideas in categories and numbered them, so that the book has a biblical look to it. The Aristos is a kind of journal that overflows with stimulating thoughts It’s a bonus for those who enjoy the novels of John Fowles and a treat for anyone who likes original thinking All of the following quotations are by the author. John Fowles We are designed to want with nothing to w-ant, we are like windmills in a world without wind Genius, intellect, health, wisdom, strength of will and body, good looks - all these are prizes we draw in the lottery that takes place before our birth Money is the makeshift human lot tcry that half compensates those who were unsuccessful m the first cosmic lottery. Tears wept on enemy graves are often peculiarly sincere; we mourn our own now homeless energy

An anxiety is a lack that causes pain, a game'is a lack that causes pleasure Every evil suppressed creates a new situation in which another evil must appear Money-ohsessed societies produce hollowmen They produced dissatisfied men because power to buy is as habit forming as heroin; one is dead before one has enough They produce guilty men ‘ because too few have too much, and too many are savage'y punished for their innocent poverty and ignorance Most marriages recognize this paradox: that passion destroys pas sion That we want what puts an end to wanting what we want This is the Midas Situation , Fathers and mothers no longer see their children as children as they grow, they see them increasingly as rivals in the enjoyment race What is more, rivals who seem bound to win Goodness is action, not intention to act The monetization of pleasure the inability to conceive of pleasure except as being in some way connected with getting and spending The invisible patina on an object is now its value, not its true intrinsic bcatuy

Many people grown in years are really adolescents mimicking adulthood Social pressures arrest them at a stage of pseudo adulthood and im pose on them a mask they first assume to look adult — and then wear forever afterwards

TL’I.II* tH'EEN — Anne Reagan. II. of ( ape May looks very much the Tulip (Jueen. a title she won in last week's second annual Tulip Festival in ( ape May.

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County Library by K.Uhleen Dufty

-WEATHER WISE What would people ever do ^ If the skies were always blue, /»\ If the sun were always out What would people talk about? Or if Spring remained all year What would poets have to cheer, On the other hand suppose Winter froze and froze and froze Think of the monotony Wrapped in such consistency. j , Wouldn't folks feel they'd been tricked With no weather to predict? ' Where would conversation start If there was no weather chart! by Viney Wilder Endicott

The number of single parent families has in creased rapidly over the last decade The Bureau of the Census reports that nearly one in five children now being born in the United States will live at least part of his or her life in one-parent homes To correspond with this trend there has been a rise in the number of books and materials written for children ami young adults helping them to deal with separation, divorce or the loss of a parent MANY OF the books are factual or counseling types of non-fiction but many of the titles are novels helping the readers to identify and work out their problems us mg fiction as a vehicle The Day the laving Stop ped A Daughter's View of Her Parent's Divorce utilized a young girl's jour nals and many of the letters she wrote to and received from her parents, relating the history of her parents’ marriage and the effects their divorce had on her and other mefnbers of the family Ho\p to Get It Together When Your Parents Are Coming Apart is written for teenage youth and gives lips on how to cope with the many problems that can occur before, during and . after a divorce and uses an tinformative comforting style How to Live with a Single Parent discusses such special problems as less household money, fear ol the surviving parent's dying. the "double standard in dating relationships, and remarriage with techniques on coping with these situations Mv Parents Are Divorced. Too and Your Father's Not Coming Home Anymore contain dialogues with teenagers who discuss their parents' separation and divorce; how they found out about it. their feelings, and how they cope with custody, visitation and remarriage along with my rad of emotional problems thtfse situations engender

The Boys and Girls Booh About Divorce is written for young children with the author offering advice on their level while address mg such emotional stales as guilt, this being the most prevalent emotional state among children who believe they are at fault when parents separate NOVEI-S WHICH help deal with problem situa lions unique to one-parent families and allow iden tification and entertain ment from which they can learn and gain comfort Chinns and the Weirdos by Kin Hiatt centers on a young girl whose mother is divorced for a second time and the problem the daughter has in accepting the idea of her mother's dating again Father Every Few Years by Alice Bach tells the story of a young l>oy whose real father deserts him. and then his adoptive father walks out leaving 11 §car ojd Tim angry and confused as he tries to sort out his life with his mother It's Not the. Find of the World by the most popular children's writer of the day. Judy Hlume, tells a story from the perspective of a 12 year old girl who is surprised and upset at her parents’ separation even though her parents had been fighting a lot and tries various techniques to bring them back together Mv Mother Is Not Mar ned to My Father by Jean Davies stars an II year old Cynthia and her younger sister who are finding it hard adjusting to I heir parents’ divorce, seeing their father only on weekends and with his new girlfirend. and meeting their mother's dates Win Me and You Lose by Phyflis Anderson plot centers dn custody battles, with Matt unsure of which parent he would like to live with, chooses his father, whom he hardly knows For help jn selecting a Ixiok on this topic, consult with your Young Adult Librarian at the Cape May County Library