^ Herald & Lantern 19 December '84

Our Readers Write Strangers Denude Area To The Editor. Have you driven up Rt 9 lately*? If so, you've probably seen the ruthless destruction of many.of our beautiful red cedars < I sa'y " our ' ' because those of us who live here and pay our taxes have the right to enjoy the beauty that God gave this countryside ) It is being destroyed by those who sit in their plush offices in Trenton and issue their senseless edicts. This cutting of our cedars is one more example It is particularly hard to take because those search and destroy" orders are being grven by people who don't even know where Cape May County is A few years ago 1 had occasion to call one of these state department offices and when I said I live in Ocean View, he said. "Where is that'' Near Newark?" These cedars that have beautified our area for 200 years 'and that were planted by the birds' were one of the few remaining attractions here There was no valid reason for molesting them The reasons I was given when I stopped my car the other day and asked why they were being mutilated were varied and vapid The man who attempted to defend their destruction end- . ed by saying. "Anyhow, not much attention is paid to Rt 9 by us since the parkway went through " Not much attention"' I agree Though my next fact is not pleasant to report, here it is Two dead animals have lam on Rt 9 for the past seven days and nights Apparently slashing our beautiful trees is more fun than scooping up •carcasses A phone call to me last night reported that the destruction of our cedars is continuing northward along this road Evidently because we are peace-loving and long suffering citizens, strangers feel free to come down here and denude our area One of the workmen took time out from sawing a tree to say he hopes to live down here when he retires My answer was. "You'd better hurry up before you and the rest of the State Highway Department and others who have no respect for anything make this a completely barren land0" There are a few besides myself who care Let's hope they'll stand up and be counted. MRS HERBERT FRANCIS CAMPBELL Ocean View MUA ^Band-Aid' To The Editor: * Well. I see that the infamous M.U.A has scored another goal against us poor helpless taxpayers who have no power to stop this juggernaut from running us into the/ground I refer to your report that the so called "Pipeluy Newsletter" of the MUA suddenly has been restored tddife after a transplant of something akin to a baboon's heahL When one of the Freeholders mentioned recently that the nfeukeys at the MUA were running the zoo. he was more right than he realized It is impossible to cure the situation with the "Band-Aid" approach with which the MUA is singularly blessed". Nor is it possible seemingly to stop them from spending so much money < that s all they seem to have to brag about ) all based on plans and specifications of a discredited engineering firm, and their borrowing based solely on the tax ratables of the area Ain't it interesting, also, to see that our noble Sen. Hurley also has his feet in the public trough? Mirabile Dictu' FOWLER H STRATTON, JR. Avalon (f s ) ft va*- ( N t J -A v fUralo v •

Joseph R. Zelnik Bonnie Reina Gary L. Rudy John Dunwoody DarreiS Kopp 1 35

Editor General Manager Advertising Director Special Promotions Director Publisher

Skwom Corp 1984 All »ghll 'ittivtd All piopcrty nghtt lot lh» entire content* of thit publtcotion tholl be the property of the Seowo«e Corp No port hereof moy be reproduced without prior writDEADLINES News & Photos Thursday Advertising Friday — 3 P.M. Classified Advertising Friday — 3 P.M. 465-5055 For News or Advertising Information V-illwr peninpetinp tdiritern nor the puhlinhen of thr Hl rt Al l) AM) U3T1.R> will br mpunciblr or liable- fur miMnformation mi.pnn*. ttpueraphiraJrrmrw.rlr man. i..ur TW rdilio rrwmn. thr rvthltnrdit an* Ictirr or arttrln •uhrtullr.l for publication /' llwrr Town* kip c LANTERN V 3 PuMiehed Every Wednesday By Tbe Seaweve Corporation / , ' P Q Boa 430 Capo May Court How., NJ OttlO r

the SOVEREIGN STATE of AFFAIRS DAVID BOYD

| Solution to Salt Intrusion?

To The Editor: - . Louis La manna, the county Wealth officer, is to be commended for his program of testing the water of privately ; owned wells in Villas ' Reportedly, preliminary results showed great cause for concern' because 45 hf 257 wells tested contained amounts of chionde in excess of the state safely limit of 250 milligrams per liter <mg/l). What is hot being tested is the amount of sodium chloride (salt i in the water Also the state safety limit for sodium chloride (50 mg/1) is not being publicized CLAY SUTTON, environmental program administrator I for the county, is aware of the problem, but is apparently only giving it lip service and not much of that He refused to discuss the situation at a meeting of local, county, and state officials during a conference concerning Cox Hall i Creek contamination The Cox Hall Creek pollution problem has been on-going for eight years and still no solution has been submitted Will the problem of salt intrusion in water supplies take as long0 I hope not because the ingestion of excessive amounts of salt is .one of the leading causes of hypertension, stroke, kidney failure, and cardiac problems, among others. People in Villas are probably, unwittingly exposing themselves to the above diseases ancFeven death by drinking the water Prompt action, not words, is required. State and federal grants should be solicited to come up with a long-term solution to the problem IT IS INTERESTING to note that approximately onefourth of thrwells tested were contaminated and the tests are not yet complete The general public is not being made aware of the severity of the problem. Results are not being publicized. How many of the wells tested were borderline to the 250 mg/1? The contaminated number could increase suddenly. My well tested 1285 mg/1 in September 1983 and in September 1984 the reading was 1330 mg/1. A neighbor, who is a cardiac, had a reading of 25 mg/1 in March 1984 and in September 1984 it was 210 mg/1. ^ It is evident that salt water intrusion is fast overtaking us His well is in excess of 200 feet deep, so apparently deeper ^vells is not the final answer I AGREE WITH Deputy Mayor Joseph Davis that a water system is the only solution. It would be costly However, it is also costly to the individuals to sink new wells with no assurances that they would produce good water or how long it would last. . Estimated costs of new deep wells to the 47 individuals noted on the initial survey would be approximatelv $160,000.

It is- even more costly to Jose a life! Mayor Fothergill says of the problem, "I assure you we are concerned and we will be working on -it." I think he should have said " ... we are working on it." PEOPLE IN VILLAS should take action by calling or writing, their local, county, state, and federal representatives; by writing to editors and other news media; by sigqing petitionsAy arguing and griping ; and by organizing in groups •ttTshow their concern .and to urge prompt action p Organizations in the area such as AARP; NARFE, other retiree organizations; The Heart Association; medical professional organizations; Disabled Veterans, etc should muster their efforts and show support to the cause c. , Sincerely. HARRY F SANKEY Glenolden, Pa. ( Villas homeowner ) A Fine Band To The Editor: As a music lover and a parent of a child in the Middle Township Middle School Band. I would like to congratulate the band and its director. Richard Sterling, on their fine performances in the Middle Township and Lower Township Rotary Christmas parades. These young people performed and behaved in a professional manner which makes them a credit to our community. Unfortunatley. a majority of the public is not aware of their many accomplishments In the last several years, the symphonic, wind and stage bands, composed of sixth! seventh and eighth graders, have won top honors in competitions held in Williamsburg, Va., and Hershey, Pa. In the spring, these young musicians will again travel to Williamsburg for competition In addition, the Middle School Marching Band has won first place in the band division at the Lower Township Rotary Christmas Parade for the last three years, also winning the Rotary Governor's Trophy in 1983 Sterling, through his expertise and dedication, has installed m these fine young musicians a love and appreciation for music which will remain with them for years to come Thank you, Mr. Sterling, and much success to you and your band in the future Keep up the good work. MRS WILLIAM H. WALDREN Cape May Court House

-Something for Everyone — Inexpensive Gift Suggestion

By JOE ZELNIK For those of you who can't afford a home computer, a Betamax, a Colt. 357 Magnum or 14-karat gold, it is still possible to come up with a meaningful gift at Christmas Consider forgiveness. Forgive your trashman for crushing the lid on .your garabe can, the mechanic who charged you $49 for a $25 job, the cop who gave you a ticket, the beautician who thought you said Linda Gray when you said you wanted to look like Linda Evans. Forgive the welchers, the slow-pay. the no-pay. the Chapter lis. the bankrupt, the guy who borrowed five bucks and never paid it back. Forgive your lawyer. Forgive your neighbors for having rotten kids, letting their dogs run loose, parking in your space, making noise when you're trying to sleep. FORGIVE YOUR FRIENDS for being busy, for not calling or writing, for putting somebody else first, for talking endlessly about their children. Forgive the person who lied to you. Forgive the person who told you the truth, and it hurt. Forgive the pessimists and the optimists and the embezzlers and liars and incompetents and people that sell you stale donuts. Forgive your mother-in-law and father-in-law. Forgive grandpa for bad driving, for his rough beard, for not paying attention. Forgive your ex-wife for hating you, for looking better than ever, for dating a man with more money and sophistication, for looking happy. Forgive your ex-husband for ignoring you, for losing weight, for marrying a younger woman and taking her on vacations, for being successul. FORGIVE YOl'R SISTER for borrowing your sweater for being slimmer, prettier and conceited, for being your *

father's favorite, for flirting with your man. Forgive your brother for teasing, for swiping your copy of Hustler, for getting taller than you, for being your mother's favorite, for moving away. Forgive your daughter for not changing the cat litter or doing the dishes, for playing the stereo to loud, for too much makeup and not enough common sense, for bad taste in boyfriends, for being selfish. Forgive your son for not cleaning his room or taking out the garbage or walking the dog or picking up the tools or being respectful or responsible. Forgive your stepmother for being loved by your father, for wanting to be nice, for giving up. Forgive your stepfather for marrying your mother, for trying to be boss, for giving up. FORGIVE YOUR MOTHER for being cold, or too mushy, for not understanding, for being too busy, for sticking her nose in your business, for being critical and manipulative. Forgive your father for not caring, or caring too much for favoring your brother or your sister; for being cheap, and broke ; for not being able to make everything turn out all right. Forgive your wife for being extravagant, for lack of attention, for placing the kids first, for forgetting your birthday for not wanting sex tonight, for putting a little weight on her hips, for not being your mother, for getting old. Forgive your husband for not earning enough money i t for being thoughtless and boring, for slowing down, for not shaving on Saturday, for losing his hair, for beer breath for forgetting your anniversary, for sneaking a glance at that young waitress. If there are some on this list you do not need to forgive for anything, thank them. And if you know of anyone who is alone this Christmas give em a call