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The Herald and The Lantern

Wedneaday, November I*. IMO

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A Beachhead To he Avoided by Jamrt Harley The Department ’ of Environmental Protection s Division of Coastal Resources has bought itself a Shore Protection Master Plan for MOO.OOO which, like most master plans, is intemled to answer questions Hut the Shore Protection Master Plan raises more "tyiestions than it answers And the Division of Coastal Resources does not appear willing or able to answer them In response to the following questions at a recent public hearing, I received fatuous smiles and uncomfortable squirms, but not one answer •What is the legislative authoruation for this plan? •Why were bond funds spent on it if this was not authonred in the appropriations bill (which it was not)? • If the Dune and Shorefront Protection Act giving the state power to prohibit rebuilding of storm-damaged structures or condemn sound buildings does not pass, how will this affect the recommendations in this plan 9 •Where will the state get the money for acquisition of all this shore property 9 Green Acres bond money? •Why did the Division not submit the five-year plan to spend the $20 million in £7B beach protection bond money, as required by the legislature 9 YOU MAY HAVE GOTTEN AN indication by now that I think the Division of Coastal Resources has fudged a bit in putting together this expensive, ambitious and somewhat frightening plan Ido What it all boils down to is a classic question: Who is running this show 9 In other words, who determines what state policy shall be toward shore protection, conservation ami the expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars? Is it the legislature, or is it the bureaucracy? The bureaucracy namely, the Department of Environmental Protection, through its Division of Coastal Resources has determined that it will embark on a campaign of throwing hundreds of millions of dollars at the beach in the hopes that the o^ean will stop washing sand away, regulating residences and businesses out of existence along the entire Atlantic seaboard of New Jersey and. in the process, building for itself an empire of unprecedented size and power , . AND IT HAS DECIDED To DO all of this without so much as tipping its hat to the legislature, or to the public Thus, the state is set for yet another confrontation tart ween a bureaucracy run amok and a legislature whose iqHjonty often has trouble agreeing on what its own role

729-2255

Q. My husband died recently, and now most of the time, feelings of loneliness and fear overwhelm me. I guess I never realized how secure my husband made me feel, I know this is a period of adjustment I will have to go through but it has been very difficult for me. Can you help? A. There is a program called H.O.P.E. that acts as a support group for widowed persons to help them get through and out of this difficult period. You should contact Tom Johnston, who is the coordinator of the project. He can be reached in the Surrogates Office at 4657111 ext. 226-A, Monday through Friday. 8:30 a.m. to 12:30p.m.

+ + + First Call For Help is interested in getting you the help you need when you have a social service problem which you cannot solve. This is not an emergency hotline for Fire. Police, or Rescue. This service is Confidential and Free. If you have a question for the First Call For Help column, write to David G. Quinlan. First Call For Help. Social Services Building. Rio Grande, N.J. 08242, or call 729-2255 or 729-CALL.

Voting’s Over, But Posters Hang On

I know already who I want to win this skirmish. I'd like to hear who you're rooting for If this year's elections were any indicator, I think I already know the answer to that one. too But you tell me As/iemblyman Jame» R. Hurley (R. Cape Cumberland) in minority leader in the lower state house.

by Vincent McMahon Election is over. It’s time illegally placed poster on trees and utility poles in Lower Township should be removed. Such litter makes the township look depressed and rundown. These eyesores show a lack of pride in the community, and posters on utility poles are in violation of a township

ordinance. Why is that ordinance and others not enforced? They do cost taxpayers’ money to enact. The posters also cause loss of votes as many taxpayers don't like such roadside litter. Vincent McMahon, a resident of Villas, Is a crusader against litter in Lower Twp.

Addressing Improved Health Care Together

The election is over, the issues remain; the vote is in, satisfying the needs identified during the campaign and before is a continuing concern. On the Jersey Cape, and especially the southern region, health care is

dressed. Their replies also showed there is more than one direction which can be taken in meeting the numerous facets of health care. Recall these statements: Health care is a constant problem in a county where you

And we need more doctors in this area, more specialists. We shouldn't have to run out of town to Atlantic City or Philadelphia to have specialized services done by professionals, doctors. I think this is an area that a doctor would want to live in; it’s a beautiful area. And I think there's plenty of business for the different types of

. .our political leaders and would-be leaders on the county level

consider expanded health care a concern that needs to be addressed

an issue, a need, and a concern. As part of our election campaign coverage, the Herald and the Lantern interviewed the various candidates for countywide and district offices on a number of issues. One of the questions asked the county freeholder candidates was whether they believed the health care system in the county was adequate. The responses of the candidates to this and another question involving senior citizens show that our political leaders and would-te leaders on the county level consider expanded health care a concern that needs to be ad-

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have the numbers of senior citizens that we have. We have an excellent facility, and it's being taxed very hard in Burdette Tomlin Hospital. One of the biggest problems we have is a shortage of doctors, dentists and people in health-related fields in the private sector. To me, the answer to that ... has to be addressed at a federal and state level. There are very severe limitations placed upon the numbers of students that are accepted in medical schools. Many times ... that profession is controlling the supply of those that would like to enter it. Every doctor I know has got all the practice he can handle. And, the only way I can see it be improved upon is an increase in the number or amount of facilities that are equipped to train people in this field. ■Freeholder Bill Sturm Mr. Sturm's Republican associate on the Board of Freeholders also saw a need to relieve some of the pressure on the Jersey Cape's only hospital: With Brink'tie Tomlin now. I think, maybe a couple satellite areas in the county — especially in the southern part, maybe an emergency area where we can lake senior citizens in case ol heart attacks ... may be a big help; which we are, I’m sure, going to start exploring in the next year or so. -Freeholder Ralph Evans Their Democrat opponents in the recent election addressed two specific health care issues: the need for longterm health care facilities/services, and a need for more physicians/specialists. The unsuccessful challengers for political office had at least one thing in common with the successful incumbents: Their view on the need for medical doctors:

doctors. -Candidate Michael Voll Mr. VolTs running mate had an idea on how to bring more health care professionals and facilities into the county: What's wrong with the county going out and trying to recruit young doctors; going out and trying to recruit nurses? And what's wrong with trying to put some dollars together, some people together, and some resources together to plant the seed to build some additional health facilities in Cape May County... I've read a recent study ... which indicated we're going to have a dire shortage of doctors in Cape May County within the next 10 or 15 years. This is something we have to address ourselves to right away. -Candidate Charles Town The two Democrat candidates for county office had visited the county’s only hospital during their campaign. They came away from that health care institution with an understanding of a particular health care need. But it is interesting that each had a different approach to a solution: ...We have a dire shortage of nursing home beds in Cape May County. Last week, I spoke to two members of the Burdette Tomlin Hospital staff — social workers there ... and they just kn>>cked their heads against the wall trying to get senior citizens into nursing homes (the Medicadetype). -Mr. Town I know there's a need for more beds and more nursing hbmes in Cape May County. I don’t feel they should be placed in nursing homes just to die. I feel that we need some more reasonable, decent, affordable senior citizen (Page 31 Please)