opinion

, Our Readers Write Middle Needs Rational Plans To The Editor: With the upcoming availability of sewerage services in its most populous sections, Middle Township is poised on the brink of a new wave of development. Therefore, zoning and planning practices will be crucial to both the businesses and residents of the township. We must effectively plan for the zone of that new development now if we are to avoid the piecemeal and largely reactive policies of the past — policies which will spell disaster in the future. Now is the time to determine the types and numbers of businesses which will complement the characteristics of our communities. Members of our planning and zoing boards must actively direct new development and not simply consider each project as an entity unto itself. THE QUALITY OF LIFE here will certainly deteriorate if development is not considered as part of a balance with existing conditions — such as architecture, traffic, community life and safety — as well as with the environment. The wise planner realizes that long-term positive growth is achieved only if the area remains attractive to future development. What we are offered here and now is the opportunity to determine whether the future of Middle Township is motivated by the fast-buck, short-term approach to development or the long-term, rational and sensitive approach. If I am elected to the Middle Township Committee, I will support the latter. ANTHONY DEVICO III Cape May Court House 'Bemused* by Stratton To The Editor: Having read with interest John Merrill's articles, in particular the April 16 column about Gen. Robert E. Lee, I was bemused by anApril 30 letter of "unpleasantness" by Fowler H. Stratton of Avalon. It is rather odd that Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman didn't find it appropriate to hang Lee by the neck until dead. I can't help but be curious about the expertise of the letter writer and just what part his surely illustrious family played in the Civil War. Before someone yells "foul," may I state that my great grandfather, Capt. H. Whitney Chatfield, had the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) post in St. Augustine, Fla. named after him. He was killed in battle with the 17th Connecticut regi- * ment at Dunns Lake, Welaka, Fla. On Feb. 5, 1865. RICHARD CHATFIELD St. Augustine, Fla. (ED. NOTE. This newspaper also received a postcard • from Florida last week on this subject, depicting a 12-foot alligator R. E. Bell of Jacksonville wrote "We are prepar ing a receptionrcommittee for those who would have liked for Robert E. Lee to be hung ") pHyalirv'GlTOnil Joseph R. Zelnik . Editor Bonnie Reina General Manager Gary L. Rudy Advagwng Director John Dunwoody Special Prorflftns Director. Darrell Kopp Publisher Corp 1966 Al noh: A» pro omnr r^l*. lor rfc. •».,« (oMawi o » pvbWorwr. ikol bo iho prop# ol Iho N° poMborooi mo 1 bo I»pro<»»<od DEADLINES News & Photos Thursday Advertising Friday — 3 P.M. Classified Advertising Friday — 3 P.M. 465-5055 For News or Advertising Information Mail Subscription: Yearly, S40; Six Month, S20 Call 465-5055 For News, Advertising or Subscription Information | — oof lb. poKl.U^r. lb. HIKU II »M> ltNT»H> 'iW no» ST rl«b< •» mtU m, b«« — wtlHr. — b-oo^l for

Berry's World ...so get involved in politics. Do some time in * Washington. THEN make your BUNDLE. " Will Stratton Cause South to Rise Again? To The Editor: A recent letter from an ill-advised reader (Fowler H. Stratton of Avalon, April 30) concerning the Civil War has been circulating around town here, much to the chagrin of locals and former residents of the north. There are those who are descendants of the Union Army . who deserted. We all get along very well, and feel pity for the hate-filled hauteur who wanted Robert E. Lee hung. We surely would not do such a thing to the "South" Jersey scoundrel. There are those, I must admit, that speak of a dash of tar and feathers. Are George Washington and the signers of the Declaration of Independence traitors, as he has accused Lee of being? I rest my case. I believe Stratton could do with a little rest, rather that running around like a blind dog in a meat market. I'm hoping this does not cause The Souttrtb rise again. ROBERT K. TREES St. Augustine, Fla.

Doyle Calls For Debate To The Editor: I see where Freeholder Ralph W. Evans is now saying what Anna Long of Woodbine has been saying about the run-around given her and other Woodbine residents by the Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA). When the Woodbine dump was planned, the MUA was supposed to buy all homes within a 2,500 feet buffer zone. This is an election year. Where was Evans when these residents were fighting the MUA before the Pinelands Commission? This also goes for Freeholder William E. Sturm Jr.; now he says it just struck him after four years of Hell for these people. These two gentlemen were aware of the residents' problems. They always say the MUA is an autonomous body, but yet the freeholders appoint all members! Sturm is asking for an update so he can assist these people, but the freeholder's attorney, Harry A. Delventahal Jr., tells these people to bite the bullet. THE FREEHOLDERS HAVE been aware of this problem since day one. Why did the MUA buy the home of _J Mayor Ernest Materio of Woodbine? His home was in the same buffer zone. Good question — I know, do you? Judge Stanley Brothman told the MUA to try to sit down and plan a buyout with these people. State Sen. James R. Hurley did not help these people with their problem. Why? Because he is on the MUA ) payroll as a consultant in advertising and news releases, which I think is a conflict of interest. I DARE HURLEY to deny these statements. I approached him to speak or appear at the Transfer Station protest. Anything that concerns trash or sewage. Hurley ducks, including the proposed toxic dumping in Cumberland County, which could affect us all in this county (outside interests come first). And Ralph Evans will promise you wonders and give you blunders. As a Democratic candidate for freeholder. I would like to debate Evans on the MUA one-on-one. This may call for another probe. I am asking Evans to put his body where his mouth is. Where was Evans when he was needed by these people? Too late, people are wise to him. Documented letters can be produced. Only one elected official came forward to help with this issue, Assemblyman Guy F. Muziani. TTiere will be more questions to ask Evans on this. So. he'd better do his homework. ELMER DOYLE Eldora (ED NOTE: Doyle is a Democratic Candidate for freeholder.) Do you have an opinion on this subject? Write a letter to the editor, P.O. Box 430. Cape May Court House. N.J. 08210

-Don't Blow My Cover Silver Fox Goes Golden

By JOE ZELNIK You may have read that a crackdown on youthful offenders is imminent. Cape May Police Chief Harry A. Stotz Jr. is thoroughly fed up with out-of-town parents dropping off their kids in his city at 7:45 p.m.. where they proceed to scare older people until 10 p.m., when their parents pick them up. I, who can see all sides of every issue, can understand why parents would rather have their kids scaring strangers than neighbors. IN ADDITION, the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control says it will use undercover agents in the Wildwoods to snuff out (or is it sniff out?) rowdyism during Senior Week. Actually Senior Week is a couple weeks; one for Protestants, one for Catholics. Since no teenagers are permitted to read this adultrated column, I will not be breaching police security or revealing our strategy if I tell you I have been recruited as an undercover teenager. This will require some minor changes in my appearance. My wrinkles will be removed and my white hair goldened by my wife, who does that sort of thing for a living (call 465-5556 for an appointment). AND MY FLAB should be rearranged into muscles after a couple hours at Muscle World. I chose it over Cape Gymnastic World at the Jersey Cape Racquet Club because the county is acquiring the club soon. If the workout doesn't work, I don't want to have to get in line to sue the county. ( Incidentally, would all of you who think the freeholders paid at least $250,000 too much please stop calling me? You're tying up our lines and people can't get through to place classified ads.) After those minor adjustments have given me the appearance of a teenager, I should have no difficulty with the emotional and intellectual changes. I'm really just a big kid at heart. "Childish," my wife puts it. SINCE I'LL BE SHIFTING back and fourth from Cape f May to the Wildwoods to Seven-Mile Beach, I've had to settle on one disguise that will be accepted at all those

locations. So, I'll be the unique combination of a surfing-preppy-Don Johnson. (You match the image to the town. ) I was going to disguise myself as a Piney and entrap the visitors by offering to buy them beer. But nobody could tell me what a Piney looks like, except they have a lot of mosquito bites. I remember being a teenager and should have no trouble mixing in with those hoodlums who are viciously breaking our no-biking and no-skateboarding laws. I PREDATE skateboards, but I once rode a bike downhill as fast as it would go. I was a high school sophomore and a senior girl who really knew her way around had finally agreed to show me the way. Her parents were away for the evening and I was in a heckuva hurry to get to her house before she changed her mind. My bike hit a bump, I flew off, knocked myself out and broke my nose. Top that. I can certainly empathize with senior week hooliganism. When I was their age, I drank beer (Budweiser), read Playboy, drove too fast (in my '56 Chevy), and went steady. I don't want to tell you when all this was going on, but I can give you a hint. The Communists we were killing then were in Korea. THIS IS NOT TO SAY I have done all the things the rowdies do. I never hung from the balcony of a three-story motel because I'm afraid of heights and my arms are too weak. And I never dove into a motel swimming pool from several stories above because I didn't learn to swim until about 12 years ago. I prefer to enter a pool by way of those steps at the shallow end. I'll have to ask those of you who see through my disguise not to blow my cover. Don't risk ruining one of my sting operations, such as enticing law violations by shouting, "C'mon, you guys, let's go skateboarding!" But you can probably find me later off duty, at an ice cream parlor. I'll be wearing purple and yellow Jams and probably be the only "kid" eating a rocky road sundae with malt on top. Real kids drink their malt.