Herald & Lantern 19 September '84

Our Readers Write Appeal Gets Quick Action

To The Editor: On Aug. 20, 1 attended a meeting of the Lower Township Council. James Stump, our new manager, and four members of the council were present. Robert Fotbergill was away that evening. I presented an issde which I felt was an ever present

danger to those traveling on Bay Drive south from Villas to North Cape May, a dangerous "S" curve passing over Cox Hall Creek with an open access to the creek itself on both sides of Bay Drive. I felt it was important that a barrier be placed on both sides of the road, not wily as a deterrent, but also a warning of the dangers of the creek. The problem was taken under advisement by the council and Stump with a promise that something would be done. Well, three short weeks later and the work has been completed. I want to thank Stump, the council and the Lower Town crew for the prompt, and efficient manner in which they handled the installation of this all-important barrier. It can certainly only make Bay Drive a safer road on • which to travel. ROSEMARY FERRIS Cape May Beach

Feed Minds To The Editor: God created man and woman with the touch of his hand ; soon children were born everywhere throughout the land. A baby is born, the child sees nothing. Soon, the child sees, hears and speaks. That's when the parents teach the child the good things in life — or maybe the bad thing* That's when people who care help teach that child the good things in life. So what are we driving at? I was trying to arrange a field trip^Q Washington, D.C., for the kids in the 4-H organization. IT WAS A DISASTER. Why? Not enough tickets were sold for the chicken dinner at S. A. Wade Tavern. Many organizations give children candy, toys, etc. at holiday time. While this is fine and commendable, we feel that we have an obligation to feed the minds of children. Those of us who can, must help those less fortunate than we are. Especially children. They are our hope and our future. So, the next time someone asks you to help a child, please don't refuse. The happiness you bring to the child ^Kwill be something neither one of you will ever forget. N JIM COYNE (Jimmy Dee) Wildwood Register , Vote To The Editor: Across the country, an effort has been set into motion to register women to vote before the Oct. 9 deadline, and encourage them to go to the polls on Nov. 6. As a local member of the Women's Vote Project (a nonpartisan coalition of statewide women's groups), we encourage all New Jersey citizens to exercise their right to vote. The New Jersey Women's Vote Project, working through local women's clubs, business and professional organizations, and political interest groups, urges every citizen to remember his single vote does count! Please register by Oct. 9 and vote on Nov. 6. Your rights depend BARBARA L. CHOJNACKI > Cape May County Branch American Association of \ University Women \ They Read It Here To The Editor: The Wildwood Crest Tourism Commission wishes to express its thanks to the Herald-Lantern for publicizing the musical programs that were presented at the new Gazebo Park in Wildwood Crest. The programs were well received and folks in the audiences told us they had read the performance schedule in the Herald-Lantern. Many thanks for a job well done. JOHN B. GOURLEY Entertainment Chairman Wildwood Crest Tourism Commission

Letters Weljcome The Herald and Lantern welcome letters to the editor on matters of public interest. Originals, not copies, are requested. Writers must sign name, address and phone number. Welcome Joyride One of Cape May County's longest running columns begins in the Herald and Lantern this week. Joyride IHi written by Libby Demp Forrest of Cape May, yas bprn as just plain Joyride in the mid-1950s in a chain oT Philadelphia weeklies. It became Joyride II in June of 1975 when it first appeared in what was then the Cape May County Times. Forrest was reared in Philadelphia and studied journalism and' creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania. Her free-lance work has appeared in the Philadelphia Bulletin, Philadelphia Inquirer, Discover Magazine, Atlantic City Magazine and the Camden Courier-Post. Joyride IU will appear on the op-ed page weekly.

Rx Health Watch — by Dr. Robert C. Beitman

The following is one of the many responses which came back from readers after our last column: Dear^Dr. Beitman: I juft received word from my sister oq the west coast that her mother-in-law has \ been devastated by the "sudden" death of her son, J Clarence. It turns out that ^'wfien my sister asked "how come he died?" she was told he died of cancer. It seems he had previously had surgery for a tumor of the spine which was malignant, and be was wheelchair bound for two years until his death. None of our family in the east knew these facts until now. This is because Clarence's second wife thought it was something dirty. She decided that she did not want ^anyone to know she "had to live with a contaminated lump of flesh". Giarence died in his early

60s. His mother is in her late 80s and his only child, a daughter, is 39. The daughter asked why she was not notified of the illness prior to his death. Actually, she wouldn't even have known he had died except that his mom insisted that she had a right to be told. My sister feels terrible for her mother-in-law, who was cheated out of seeing ber son prior to his death, let alone knowing his state of health. I am sending a copy of your Health Watch article to the involved members erf the family, particularly to his second wife who kept this all a secret. Perhaps she'll be jolted from her ignorance. Thanks for the article. Many thanks. People only "see" and or "know" what they want to. That's life. I would comment that a closed mind can't be opened even with a blasting cap. — C.K., Cape May

Joyride III By Libby Demp Forrest

Dear #1 Son, I never thought the day would come that you'd go off to college. We planned for it and saved for it; we filled out the applications together. 1 guess I thought the day would come sooner or later — bow could I have known it would come this soon? % Forgive me for feeling sentimental — weepy. Seeing you go off, well prepared, excited, eager, shows I did a better job getting you ready than I did for myself. I'm not ready. I used to think the years between kindergarten and high school were moving slowly. I now know they passed more swiftly than a summer day, more rapidly than a shooting star. » - I SEE YOU in my mind's eye boarding the school bus for the first time. Apprehensive about going off to junior high. A new experience. Was it really six years ago? As you stripped your room to carry off to college, I felt like saying, "Stop. Stop. Don't take those posters down. Your mirror too? The yearbooks from high school? All the junk from the drawers?" At least you left behind the window shades. Every friend who stopped in to say so long brought a share of the past. "Hey, remember when we used to fight walking borne from the basketball court? Remember the time I punched you I got so mad at you?" Or, "Remember the time we got sent to the school office because we were fooling around and I pulled on your shirt and the sleeve came off?" THE NIGHT BEFORE The Hubby and I drove you to college, there was the party of old friends who came to wish you well. And then they carried down the back steps all the boxes and suitcases, and packed them into the car "You sure you haven't forgotten anything?" they asked as they stuffed the trunk. In the early morning, you and The Hubby and I started driving to college. You sat quietly in the back seat listen ing to your music on the walkman, and The Hubby and I sat up front listening to our music onjhe car radio. Once in a while some of your music wafted out to mix with our music, and the discordance seemed to give a little meaning to the moment. WE DROVE BY familiar milestones, and every shop or place seemed to tell a story back to me. We passed the big mall and it feminded me of the day before school started a few years back when we stopped there to get the copybooks. In the dorm you liked everything : The view overlooking the parking lot, the desk with the broken drawer, the chair 1 would have thrown out if it had been around the house And so we parted outside the dorm, me hugging you with all my might. I watched you stride quickly toward the building, raring to go. You never once looked back. Red Cross Honors 2 Blood Chairmen

Amidst the hectic summer of vacations and holidays, the Red Cross saw two Cape May County cities recognized for outstanding participation in its blood program. Avalon and Sea Isle/ City's blood programs both reached over 100 percent of their goals for blood collections this summer. This accomplishment, at any time of year, deserves praise, but since the summertime blotx} collections are frequently very low, this "going over goal" helped alleviate many problems for area hospitals. Friday, Sept. 7, Marjorie Jones, Avalon blood group chairman, and Tina Remy,

Sea Isle City blood group chairman, each received a trophy and certificate for their outstanding leadership and participation with their respective blood programs. ' "Our communities were so supportive and came through when we needed them the most," stated the chairmen. « The Red Cross, as the steward of voluntary blood donations that serve the blood needs of 120 million Americans, relies on responsible community individuals such as Ms. Jooes and Ms. Remy to help maintain an adequate blood supply for local communities.

Lookin' and Listenin' Cape May County's Cowboys? - _ * ' » » A _ ■■ II ■ .1 ,L« I. ,L. AMvhnv UMIllH Wmva ihIa 1L _ i ■ ■■ ■ . ■■ ■ ■ — ride his into com- '

By DOROTHY D. FREAS Looking to the vast lands of our West in the 18th century; there were no cowboys. Hie name usually symbolizes those who tend the huge herds of cattle now grazing west of the Mississippi River: 7Vi million cows in Nebraska, almost 5 4 million in Missouri, and Texas alone with over 13 million. Of course, many of the larger ranches are now mechanized, but there is still need for the cowboy. In Colonial days, the cattle herds of Cape May County . area were very sparse compared with those of present day western ranches. ^ One owner cut the ears a certain way, another differently, using slits, triangles and notches, before the cattle

were turned loose to graze along the beaches and meadows. Along the ocean and the bay, the beaches on the land side were rimmed with green grasses, bushes and trees. These were the favorite sdmmer feeding grounds for the cows. IN THE FALL, at "round-up," the cowboys were busy, marking the young cattle, and getting the whole herd together, to return them to winter quarters. There were some saloons along the coast, inns where stockmen nfet buyers, and the taproom was available to the cowboys. Their leisure hours were few, so each filled those times with his choice of relaxation Records reveal many fights and numerous midnight parties. With ample consumption of apple-jack, often a

mandeer the occupants, and after more liquid refreshment, he would stumble into a corner to sleep for hours DURING BOTH WARS - 1776 and 1812 - many animals were stolen by the British. Often an armed launch raided the Cape May shores of lower Delaware Bay, and the men aboard stole cattle, usually butchered on the beach, lo tike back to their ship for food. A few cowboys were suspected of helping the raiders, but most of them were booest and aided the Cape May Militia to prepare a lively reception for the British, by the use of hidden guns along the shore. The cowboys, whether of our West, or here in Cape May, tried to protect the herd. t . I « -