Herald - Lantern Dispatch 19 March '86 51

Our Readers Write Correcting The 'Diatribe' To The Editor: I wouldn't ordinarily respond to a letter like Mary Baxter's March 12 diatribe against my views on the Lower Township Incinerator Authority, but I feel compelled to correct her "factual" remarks. On Feb. 4, the authority called a closed session to discuss the selection of a new secretary. I personally received a phone call from Ronald Burgin on Feb. 16 informing me of its decision. LEE STANTON called my home Feb. 17 and left a message with my husband stating he had just heard of the authority's decision, and expressing that he was very sorry. On Feb. 20, Stanton called and again expressed his feelings concerning the decision. He requested that I call him back. Stanton called aglin Feb. 27 ( the day after my letter appeared in this newspaper). I spoke with him and he reminded me that he had first suggested me for the job and wished I had kept it. He alsohoped the authority's decision would not affect our friendship. SO BAXTER'S FACTS are incorrect. The first call I received was from Burgin. 12 days after the closed session. The calls she referred to as unanswered by me were well after the fact. Both calls were from Stanton. I still maintain my original position on the matter and I suggest that Baxter check her facts more carefully. I further fail to see how she can be an "expert" or "factual" spokesperson for the authority when in the 15 months I was present, she only attended one meeting. ROSEMARY FERRIS dipe May Beach Precedents (From Page 50) ter and Cass Clark concerning themselves with undersized lots, they should be more concerned with planning for the future of the township. Apparently, he fails to acknowledge or. perhaps, understand that the promiscuous granting of variances and permits has a direct bearing on the future of the township, and is directly attributable to the aforementioned problems plaguing Lower Township taxpayers. GRAN'TINGOF the variance sends a direct message to council that Ute request by the planning and zoning boards to "grandfather" undersized lots should be denied. Further. the archAic precedents (some 38 years old) submitted by the township planning officer to the zoning board to be used in decisions for granting variances, should be scrapped. They are irrelevant and detrimental to the future of our township. The element of time produces constant change. Our present zoning laws were written with this in mind. Those requesting strict compliance with these laws, and expressing objections to their abuse, are the individuals demonstrating interest in the future of the township. Cass Clark and the undersigned, in their capacities of president and vice president of the Lower Township Taxpayer's Association, represent these individuals and will continue to do so, God willing. MARY T. BAXTER Vice President Lower Township Taxpayer's Association

The State We're In (From Page 50) the aquifers are only now becoming subjects of legislative concern. Aquifers have already come in for some protection. For example, the Pinelands Protection Act is geared to protect the Cohansey Aquifer, an estimated 17 trillion gallons of underground water seeping slotfly toward the Atlantic Ocean in a layer several hundred feet thick. Its recharge area runs from Camden County to Middlesex County and covers the part of New Jersey southeast of that area, more than 1.5 million acres! Other aquifers are much smaller, lots of them gravel J and sand deposits stemming from glacial times. , Thousands of wells, like so many drinking straws, reach down into these various aquifers, not unlike a multitude of f{ children sharing the same soda. \ Therefore it is critically important now. late as it is, to • find. map. identify and protect the remaining key places | where aquifer recharge takes place. i THE LEGISLATION I mentioned, introduced by Assemblywoman Maureen B. Ogden of essex County ( A-l 141 ) and Senator Peter Garibaldi of Middlesex County (S-452), would require the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to define and map those recharge areas, so we at last will know what to protect. It would also have DEP publish model ordinances designed so towns can protect those areas, when identified, from the twin ravages of pavement and pollution. (The Ogden measure was approved by the Assembly in late February). If these bills pass (and I hope they do), and if towns are smart (I hope they are!), recharge areas will be protected. Otherwise, the state will certainly have to step in and do the jobs the towns don't do. The economy of this state we're in is at stake here. It's a chance for towns to make home rule really work!

MarchAs soon as February dies This imp comes helter-skelter wise -» Upon the stage to play his part And keep us guessing from the start; His bag of tricks he pulls with ease Assisted by suspense and tease, Two clowns who follow him about With whom he could not do without. And if perchance we'd take a peek Or otherwise his motives seek He'd probably end up in a rage And shout and storm across the stage: Politely we must wait his whim Until we've seen the last of him, Have patience though, my weary friend, This act fast draws unto its end; The bag of tricks, the clowns and all Are headed for an awful fall. And March toward his exit reels For April is upon his heels. — By Viney Endicott

From The Principal By Stanley Kotzen " PrifKipjl, lower C apr Mav Regional Hi*h School

It is budget hearing time and the start of campaigns for school board elections across the state of NewJersey. When you consider the process of public involvement in education in this country it is truly one of the great success stories of the American democracy. The fact that participation in school issue elections is often appallingly low cannot detract from the success of the process. We are the most educated society the world has known, and the fact that our system of public education is so heavily dominated by local control is an impressive accomplishment that only a democracy can provide. OF COURSE, we are a part of a statewide system of schools and our operating rules and regulations must adhere to many state and federal guidelines in exchange for financial support. but for the most part the day-to-day functioning of our schools is the domain of local control. Boards of education, composed of concerned citizens who reside within the school district, are the real source of influence on the path education will take in any given community. These groups are the ones who meet in public at least once a month to decide policy and approve expenditure of local tax dollars. THEY SET policy, hire staff, approve the curriculum, and maintain the physical facilities of the schools. Every three years they face the public for election and each year they make a public statement of the cost of education in the community. They don't get a dime for their efforts, and in many cases they go quietly about their many chores in anonymity. This is the time of Ex they become recizable and spend many rs explaining the nature and the extent of the school for the coming year. THE SYSTEM works, and in the light of citizen reviewboards to monitor police and civilian versus military control of the military, it is important that it does. This ii not even to hint at the prospect that education in this country is free of controversy. What is significant is that our system of local control has survived all the efforts thus far to modify it. There are often calls for a national curriculum and federalization of education, but for-

e tunately these cries have s fallen on deaf ears, s CERTAINLY THERE v are inequities in education r and children in some states i- are drastically short - n changed by comparison, but >f the system we now have f permits a local community to put its own stamp on the n quality of education receivs ed by its most precious t resource — its children, f Our current and continue ing system to educate our s youth in this country works. 2 It doesn't always work as f well as any of us would like. However, it does provide us an opportunity to direct the course of our schools by i electing our neighbors who will ultimately determine i the extent to which any comi munitv values education.

loyride III «£ By Libby Demp Forrest \J JJ" J "Woufe you pass the kleenex?" I sniffled to No. 2. "I have to blow my nose again." "That makes two of us." No. 2 sniffled back as he passed the tissues. It is aptly said that misery loves company. No. 2 and I last week shared companionship of the flu Together we shared tissues, organge juice and all the cold remedy commercials on TV. WE WATCHED, sneezers, coughers and headache sufferers. "Watchirg them makes me feel even sicker." observed No. 2. "I know what you mean," I said as we watched a typicafr sinus victim describe her symptoms for the camera We watched her tell how she felt before taking a cold pill. "My head aches and I keep sneezing." she said. "I feel miserable." WE COMMISERATED with the sinus victim, then watched her swallow a pill. Next scene she was smiling. "I feel grea*, now," she told the camera. "I can breathe again." No. 2 and I were unimpressed. "I saw her on a cereal commercial a couple of months ago," No. 2 sniffed. "She's not a real person." "Now I really feel rotten." I said. I pulled myself out of my chair and dragged myself into the kitchen. I carried back two glasses of ginger ale. "1 feel like I'm going to float away," No. 2 said. "Me, too," I said. "Liquids and bedrest. I'm going back upstairs and lie down." I STAGGERED up the stairs and fell into bed A couple of hours later I staggered downstairs again and brought another round of orange juice. "Have I missed anything?" I asked No. 2 who was stretched out on the sofa. "You missed four game shows." No. 2 reported. I settled back into my chair and stared at the TV Back, on the TV was the sinus sufferer who changed from curly pops to natural fiber a few months ago "There she goes again." said No. 2 "That's the fourth time today." WE WATCHED a husband and wife in bed together. The wife slept peacefully while the husband sneezed and coughed all night because he wasn't using his wife's brand of nighttime medicine "I know the husband." No. 2 said. "You do? y asked. "Yeah," said No. 2. "He also has a dog. I've seen him in dog food commercials " I

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