t 99 i opinion Herald & Lantern 18 July '84

Our Readers Write Edna Avenue Speedway

To The Editor: It's jiot ffly way Of doing things to get results, but it seems my tries are exhausted in Lower Township by the local police. It seems that rather than protect us, they are hfelping the maniacs driving down Edna Avenue speedway

rather than protect the residents and the innocent children. * After over a year visiting the police chief, I was visited by two gentlemen who had finally put up two signs, one at each end of Edna Avenue: "25 M.P.H Speed Limit, Watch Children." But these signs don't mean a thing, just ornaments to most drivers, at least 25 of which I copied their license number, providing I could get their numbers at their 35 to at least 50 m.p.h. speeds. The problem is the easement or cross way that goes through between McKinley and Edna avenues which is half way down Edna Avenue and can't be seen by most motorists. Even at 25 m.p.h , a motorist could barely stop in time to prevent hitting or even killing one of these children going from our street to the other on bikes, scooters, etc. AFTEB SEVERAL VISITS from the police department, after being told by the police chief he didn't have the time or the men to do the job, he finally offered the use of radar by a police car. One car which continuously speeds on Edna Avenue darned n6ar killed a small brunette girl, age about 5 or 6, and was stopped by the police car at Weaver and Edna avenues. After a couple of minutes with this lady driver (about 90 percent of these speedsters are young ladies) she went on her way, only to come back a couple of hours later, speeding more than ever. Many of these drivers give me the thumbs-up, thumbs to the nose, etc. when asked to slow down. In another case, a blue V. W. always speeds up and down Edna Avenue. I gave the police her license number and was told by a policeman that he knew them, meaning the two young girls in the V.W. A motorcycle just guns it up both ways on Edna Avenue. I was told by a policeman that "he only makes a lot of noise." He's right in a way, for the noise can be heard blocks away, before you actually see him. He goes so fast (giving me the thumb) that I can't get his license number off the small tag. These incidents are still happening. My next door neighbor looked up and down the street before backing out of her driveway, and before she knew it, a car came down Edna Avenue and darned near hit the car. Before she started out there were no cars in sight. This is how fast they come down Edna Avenue. A lot of drivers are not used to stopping at the "Stop" sign at 4th and Edna Avenues. THIS IS A SITUATION that has got to be stopped before I have to go to the police chief and say, "I told you so." I'm sure if the chief doesn't have the men. like he says, he would more than pay the wages of any policeman giving out some tickets to these speedsters. I'm sure the word would get around to obey the signs. I may get some harassment from the Lower Township Police, but I have repeatedly told them that I intend to prevent a mangling or even a killing, not wait until it happens. even if I have to go to higher sources to curb any fatal incidents. EDWARD F SICKLE Villas Do you have an opinion on this subject? Write a letter to the editor, Herald and Lantern, P.O. box 430, Cape May Court House, N.J. 08210.

No Sex Quarrel To The Editor: The smartest avenue to take when confronted with the hysterical hyperbole contained in the June 20 letter written by Jim Willis to the Herald/Lantern is to ignore it since, as Shakespeare wrote, it is "full of sound and fury signifying nothing." Willis, who does not indicate any rank, has taken the option of replying to my letter without any authorization or official sanction, and further seems to demonstrate that there is a problem in reading and understanding, for I specifically stated that "I would have no quai rel with the sex matter" in my letter. Furthermore, I would have voiced the same opinion of the promotion if a male person were similarly promoted and it were made known that he was facing a triple coronary bypass, or a double corneal implant, or any medical or physical condition which would render him unfit for 100 percent duty for a period of months. • WHEN I SHOWED the original article and my letter to my wife, her responses were <1) "I didn't know that the government issued maternity clothes," and (2) "If she is on the reviewing stand, she would stand out from the crowd." Now that is real sexism, one woman to another I think that Willis should remember that he and all others in the services are slurping at the public trough, and as long as citizen/taxpayers are contributing to their well-being, they are rightfully subject to criticism, regardless of their dedication. I have over the period of 70 years had the highest regard for the Coast Guard, but I didn't know until now that its ambition was to increase the population rather than to save lives at sea. FOWLER H STRATTON JR Avalon Worked Together To The Editor: On behalf of the members of the Rio Grande Fire Company, I wish to thank all who helped at the tank truck disaster on July 3, at the Wildwood Water Works in Rio Grande. Those names listed below are being singled out. but may not be all who helped. A special thanks goes to Green Creek Fire Co.. Cape May County Airport Fire Co.. Cape May Coast Guard Base Fire Co.. Erma Fire Co.. Villas FireTo , Cape Mav Court Fire Co. State Highway Ro id Dept.. Middle Township Road Dept.. Middle Township Police Dispatchers, Middle Township Police. Rio Grande Rescue Squad, Lower Township Rescue Squad. Cape May County Communication Van. Sawyer Fire Equipment, Wildwood city officials. Middle Township Officials, and county and state agencies which showed up. Whatever I asked for from the police dispatchers. I got within a short time, which made our job that much easier All agencies worked together to avert what could have been a real disaster. As chief of the Department. I also wish to thank flie members of my own fire company who did a superb job. RALPH J PORCH Rio Grande Volunteer Fire Co

v.-"- Rrralil ) Published Every Wednesday By P.O. Box 13* The Seawave Corporation Cape May Court Hoase, N J. mit Joseph R. Zelnik • Editor Bonnie Reina General Manager Gary L. Rudy Advertising Director John Dunwoody Special Promotions Director Parrel! Kopp Publisher Soowov* Corp. 19M. All riahti reiorvod. All property rights for the •ntlro contents of this publication shall bo tho property of the Seawave Corp. No port hereof may be reproduced without prior writen ^ DEADLINES News & Photos *, Thursday Advertising Friday — 3 P.M. Classified Advertising Friday — 3 P;'M. { 465-5055 For News or Advertising Information j Neither pert iriiMtinic ad»erti»rr» nor the |iuhli.her« of the llf.H 11.11 INI) LANTERN v. ill be rr.|»>n.ihtr or liable for mi.informsli.oi mi.print.. It popraphieal error., elr. in sn> i«ur. The editor merte. the right to edit an) letter or article, .ulimilteil for publication. , Wosorr Toerssabfp lantern y Pabitabod Erery Wednesday By *.0. Box 4M ^T^tea ware Carporti— Cape May Cart Hoa»r, NJ. m tnjj ,

n rsri — "I Found Out Very Early On, Malcolm. That You Don't Have To Worry About Income Taxes If You Don't Have Any Income."

Lookin' and Listenin' First Windmill

By DOROTHY D. FREAS A farm in nearby Goshen was the site of the first windmill in Cape May County, built there by Jesse Springer almost 200 years ago. In the early days, sun, wind and rain were used to avoid "energy crises." Who know then what those words meant? Windmills were part of the answer, as was water running steadily through a river or creek and turning a huge wheel. Springer moved later to Dyer's Creek, now called Dias Creek, and there he built a special windmill — so unique that he took out a patent on his invention. It had a revolving top, so that it turned to face the wind, and the attached blades then continued spinning even after the shifting wind changed its direction. WHEN SPRINGER died about 1831, a son, Samuel, moved to the farm and took charge of the mill which operated until the late 1860s The mill sawed lumber for vessels that the Springers built. Boat builders and farmers living nearby brought their logs to be cut. Matthew Marcy. who had a shipyard on Fishing Creek, had a contract for the mill to cut his deck beams. Trees were sometimes cut into several beams, 28 feet long and a foot square. A vessel built about 1848 on Dyer's Creek was a large one. having a "house" rather than a small cabin on her main deck The Springer brothers had earlier built a seagoing fishing sloop, and used it for themselves for deep sea fishing for a season. AROl'ND 1820. quite a number of windmills could not be seen around the country side One mill, in Seaville, only stood a year before it blew down in a windstorm. A couple of them were located near there, one close to the Ocean View railroad station. Designs have changed drastically, but the principle of the use of wind as an energy producer, is still with us. A few windmills can be seen today and they are useful as well as quaint additions to the landscape.

-Women Found Humorless — Should Have Been Iacocca

! By JOE ZETNIK S. S. of Nummy Island writes: Last Wednesday you reported that Walter Mondale would hunor your request and name Charo as his vice presidential candidate Twenty-four hours later he picked Geraldine Ferraro. What happened, smart alrck?" Answer: Please note that I was only off by four letters, and there was a full moon the night the decision was made. Besides, 1 never said I was perfect. This simply shows that Fritz, as I*chll him. needs a hearing aid worse than Ronald Reagan. First he thought I said Cher. Now Ferraro. I THINK THE DEMOCRATS are making an awful mistake The American people will never vote for a person who manufactures that Italian sportscar, the Ferrari. It goes twice as fast as our legal speed limits. What does that tell you about Gerry, as I call her, and respect for the . law? If Mondale had to have an Italian auto maker, why i couldn't it have been Chrysler's Lee Iacocca who makes a responsible Dodge'' After some of the phone calls I got from women objecting to last week's column, I've reconsidered my < preference for a woman on the ticket. I now question « whether women have the sense of humor necessary to hold high office. EVEN WOMEN are concerned. I've already heard from | wives of local Democrats who say they don't want their < husbands riding in long limousinses with Gerry. They I remember all the trouble that resulted when policemen i and policewomen started sharing squad cars. i My guess is that this presidential election will result in a j tie. Members of every married couple will cancel out each other — every man voting for Reagan-Bush, every woman

for Mondale-Ferraro. (Singles wont' vote; they'll be standing in line outside singles bars waitingjte the polls to close and the fears to open. > A tie vote in November will divide this country along lines of gender and could result in critical national problems: secession, civil war. women refusing to make their husbands' lunches, etc. Women are responsible for this entire mess because of their principal character flaw- fickleness. TAKE MICHAEL JACKSON. Sales of his new album, "Victory," are said to be trailing far behind "Thriller." Why° He got rid of the white glove. The women loved Michael when he wore the white glove. They thought it covered a wound and they gushed with sympathy and yearned to nurse him back to health Actually, of course, the white glove was a mere symbol, part of the Jackson costume that! originated. I've been wearing too short pants for years.ever since I decided to become a journalist despite its low wage scale People used to make fun of my pants - "floods" they called them. Now they want to know where I buy them. BUT THE WHITE SOCKS and white gloves were the real trademark. I've been wearing white socks since I was 12 and got athlete'<t*foot. I was treating it with a salve which only didn't do any good, but caused the fungus to spread to my left hand. So I had to wear a white glove, too. I was being Zaberized one night when one of the Jacksons I think it was Jesse — came in to have his photo taken with Ed and Ayne. Jackson saw me surrounded by newspaper groupies and thought they were attracted to my star quality rather than my journalistic reputation. He rushed back to Michael who, in no time at all, appeared in short pants, white socks and the white glove. Success followed. Him, not me.