26 Our Readers Write

opinion

Mural Was Intended as Gift

To The Editor: It is with great appreciation for the coverage afforded by your newspaper over the past year to the projects and programs of the Cape May County Art League that I write in response to a letter in your Dec 21 issue;by W. Wallace Smith of Avalon. The letter praised Cheryl Crews-Lynch for her work on the outdoor mural painted in Cape May this past summer and dedicated to the community in November during New Jersey Arts Week. The opinions are shared by everyone who has seen the work and been involved in the planning and execution of the project. The last paragraph of Smith’s letter, however, would make it seem that the artists who were involved 1 in this project "expect” something in the way of financial reward for their work. This is not the case as I am sure "Ms. Crews-Lynch would agree,.and it is for this reason I wish to re-emphasize the original intent and goals'of the Not If, But Who To The Editor: Walter Sachs, president of the Cape May Point Tax payers Association, accused me (Dec. 21 letter to editor) of being very insensitive to my Cape May Point neighbors. From his letter, he doesn't seem the least bit worried about his Middle Township neighbors. If he will really sit down and read what is going on, he will find that eventually the Magnesite Plant will become an incinerator, maybe not by Lower Township, but by most of his elected officials who make decisions affecting not only their constituency, but their neighbors' well-

being.

The county MUA does not think the idea is such an abhorrent solution, as long as it can profit by it. I.,know personally what it’s like-living next to an incinerator. For most of my life, one of my neighbors was the Northwestern Incinerator in the Roxborough, Manayunk area of Philadelphia. I know.nQhe problems that the people in dial area have had ifi thejiast and are having right now. / Science and technology have corne a long way since the Northwestern Incinerator was built. Digging a^big hole in the ground is not progress. "Die question of the incinerator has come down to: not if it should be. but, who should run it and when. From the county’s past track record (MUA, airport, recycling — all .flops), my vote goes for Lower Township. We've proven we can run our own Municipal MUA. sewage treatment, waste disposal and a successful recyling program very well. We’ll do one hell of a job for all of our neighbors, disposing of their trash. MRS. LINDA MERRILL

Villas

Township of Lower

Cape May County Art League's Victorian Village Mural and Park Project. In March of 1983, as newly-appointed director of the Art League, I proposed to thynembership that we undertake an outdoor mural project that would raise the visibility of the arts, artists, and the League in the community; that would be designed and executed by League members and involve as much as possible members of the community so that in the end it would take on the spirit of a community-based artwork. Cheryl Crews-Lynch volunteered to design the work and take on the lion’s share of the execution of it with the assistance of League artists Barbara Knipple, coordinator of the project, Mary Federici, Maryann Cannon and Shirley Firak with the added help of Charles Bernard who sealed and primed the wall. ESch of the artists involved had some role in designing a portion of the work and spent numerous hours with paintbrush in hand helping to execute it. It could never have been accomplished if there had not been thiS'"teamwork” and had the Art League not taken the initiative to propose and clear the way for it through city council, the HDC and the Shade Tree Commission, then solicit the donation of materials from MAB Paints in Wildwood, the donation of the space from Stewart Grey on behalf of the owners of the Victorian Village Plaza and scaffolding from a local

builder.

It is a fact that as artists we often work long and hard over the course of many years and find little financial reward for our efforts. It is also a fact that the sense of satisfaction in the creation of beauty, the self-worth in ac-. complishing what would seem an impossible feat, and the recognition afforded to us by those who see and appreciate what we do is a form of payment that should not go unnoticed. As members of the Cape May County Art League, the artists who took part in the design and execution of the mural, from inception of the idea to the completion of the work, intended the project as a gift to the citizens of Cape May County and to the many visitors from around the world who would pass by during the summer months, take a look, muse perhaps on who did this fine work, and come away knowing that artists and the arts are a vital forfee in the community. 0 Although I would agree with Smith that “thanks do not * put food on one’s table,” I feel it is imperative to remind him that “man (the artist) does not live by bread alone.” The members of the Art League thank all those who participated in the project, who gave of their time, effort and talents so willingly. As one of those involved, I feel I can state with some certainty it is through this “giving of our communal talents" that we have all received payment

enough.

JUDE BURKHAUSER

Director

Cape May County Art League Cape May

Wrong Circus— : ED. NOTE: Gunther Gebel-Williams of the Ringling " Bros, and Barnum & Bailey Circus was inadvertently identified as Joe Zelnik in this space last week).

Herald & Lantern 4 January'84

Blood Drive Success On behalf of the Cape May County Chapter of the American Red Cross, I would like to thank you for your efforts in promoting the Gift-of-Life Blood Drive on Dec. 21. One-hundred and forty-seven people came to the Methodist Church Social Hall.to donate blood, resulting in 133 productive units. The recruitment efforts, lead by Tina Remy and the chapter volunteers, may not have been as successful without your cooperation and support. Donor recruitment is often a difficult and frustrating task. But, knowing that your efforts can literally save someone’s life is indeed gratifying. On behalf of all those hospital patients in Cape May County and through out the Penn-Jersey Region whose lives will be crunched, thank you. • KAREN BRADLEY Director of Blood Services * Cape Mpy County American Red Cross Renovation Aids All"’ To The Editor: When individuals renovate and improve their properties, they not only make'an investment for themselves, but also for the community where their properties are located. Unfortunately, the return of such an investment by the individual (excepting businesses to a degree) comes in the sale of the property, but the investment for the community reaps a profit daily for its residents. Hats off to the property owners on Mechanic and Main Streets, Cape May Court House. True, you are helping yourselves However, whether you know it or not, you’re helping the rest of us here much more. ED ROSENBERG Court House

To The Editor: Concerning upping the image of Lower Township, I would suggest the name be used as only “Township of Lower" on all township stationery, tax bills, sewer bills, etc., all newspapers, periodicals and all advertising. I am sure the above title would help solve the discussion with all businesses taking notice and being thanked for their cooperation. Township Committee could follow through with an ordinance on same. VINCENT MC MAHON Lower Township

.Except for Orthopedists-

CAPE MAY COlWTV

fifralii

Joseph R. Zelnik Bonnie Reina Gary L. Rudy John Dunwoody Darrell Kdpp

Editor General Manager Advertising'Director Special Promotions Director Publisher

*S*Owo*« Corp 1983. All rig*Tt. Ail pfop«n r right! (o' -u •Mir* content! o( fhu publication ihall be the properly oi the SeaoOve Corp N» port hereof may be reproduced without prior writiwt content DEADLINES News & Photos Thursday Advertising FridaV.* 3 p.m. Classified Advertising Friday - 3 p.m. [ 46S-5055 For News Or Advertising Information ] Neither perttripatinK ad>rrtit.nr» nor the ptiblbbrn of the HKHM.lt AND I.A.VTKRS »ill be responsible or liable Tor mhuilormalioa. mtipnaU. l\pocraphiral error*, eif.. in ant Urne The editor revert ev the rifftil to edit ant letter or article* submitted for puMica-

Tou nthip

LANTERN

Cape May Court House. N.J. tmoM

4

It’s Going td Be a Better Year

By JOE ZELNIK

\

This column should get fetter in ’84 because I got a tiny tape recorder for Christmas. I wanted one because I frequently get column ideas while driving. At my age, it’s either write ’em down or they’re gone. Do you know how dangerous it is to try to scratch a note to yourself onto a soft banana while going 55 miles an hour on the Garden State? -* Not that using a tape recorder is all that safe. I’ve had a number of dose calls trying to record with my left hand while steering with my right. I’ll probably hook it up to the headlight dimmer switch which I operate with my left foot. As ideas come and go, I’ll just hit the switch. So if you see a 76 Olds blinking its lights at.you, ignore it. I’m just thinking. THE TAPE RECORDER was a last resort. I would have preferred to hire a sort-of secretary to accompany me in my car and take notes. I went so far as to run an ad in our classified section: “Wanted: Attractive woman; should be able to .drink, dance, cook and write, in that order.” That didn't get off the ground because I never found anyone with a compatible schedule and interests. The tape recorder is not the only electronic device in my car. When I moved last month, economics dictated that I went from two telephones to one. That left me with an extra phone which I plug into the car’s cigarette lighter. It doesn’t work, of course, but no one knows that. Idea is to impress people. If I’m stopped alongside a lady in a Mercedes at that two-minute light on the Parkway and Stone Harbor Boulevard, I engage in an animated conversation. In the winter, they can just see my lips rrtoving. But I’m looking forward to summer when I can lower my window and shout things like, “Sell 10,000 shares!" or “What’s the take at the casino today?” or “Gas up the Learjet, Dimitris, we leave for Cannes at noon." This should improve my prospects with the opposite

sex, especially with the type of women I’m attracted to: gold diggers. A BETTER COLUMN is only one of a number of improvements we intend this year. There will probably be an edition in French for our French-speaking readers. Or is it our French-reading speakers? Comme ci comme ca. As a public service, we intend for our issues in January, February and March to be somewhat smaller than they were in June, July and August. That is because research by Dr. Robert Beitman (opposite page) has found it healthier to read this newspaper by daylight rather than artificial light. Since there is less daylight in the winter, we will be doing our best to make it possible for you to read the paper faster for the next few weeks. Since namas make news, but not everyone does something newsworthy each week, we are considering publishing the height and weight of all county residents, about 30 of them a week. ALMOST CERTAIN is a new invasion of privacy we’ll call “Bedtime.” V|e would simply report the customary bedtime of prominent people: Georgette Bond-Shirley, 11:25; Sam Stubbs, midnight, Michael Voll, 8:30. Our major improvement tlifc year, though, involves the Circulation Department which, too often, leaves stacks of this newspaper top side down. There are always some people. newcomers, who don’t realize the paper is free to our friends. So, they twist their bodies horribly in an effort to read the paper while passing through checkout lines There has been an epidemic of stiff necks, herniated disks, and venerated vertebrae. An orthopedic boom resulted and a seven-story clinic to house orthopedic surgeons is on the drawing boards for Woodbine JuncUon convenient, not coincidentally, to the proposed Motorsport Park for sports car road racing. Starting next week, then, all stacks of this newspaper will be top side up. Goodbye, stiff necks. Tough luck, orthopedists.