Sep 1985 - On-Line Newspaper Archives of Ocean City

^The Sentinel-Ledger
t, ^ *** —
/editorials/comment
getting
the respect
Page Pour
Tuesday, September 3,1985
where to go/
what to do
\ off the bookshelves
Tuesday, September 3, 1985 Page Five
by Robert Baggs, director Ocean City Public Library
SnpiUn b, ««« city .nl.l «e WiiMf
£Vw 'It can't be the old excuse about being so close
ito the h forest t you can't see the h trees, After f all,, ll
'" elected officials as well as residents and
vacationers surely know that the biggest attrac-
' tion at the Jersey Shore is the shore itself That's
why businesses have been built up along boardwalks
from Ocean City to Cape May; and why
\ motels, condominiums and private homes are
built, unfortunately, as close to the beach as
possible.
We're referring to the way we treat our most
precious natural resource the ocean, which
. literally bathes our shore, providing residents
i and countless visitors with one of nature's
greatest recreational attractions, to say nothing
of a businessman's delight
And the way we seem to treat our ocean is
largely with contempt; certainly little respect.
How else can you explain the fact that for six
days late this summer the beaches in the Wildwoods
were closed to swimming because of the
human wastes overflowing from antiquated
municipal treatment plants. Or the fact that.
closer to home, a partial sewer ban has just been
imposed in Sea Isle City because that resort's
treatment facility consistently violates state
quality standards for effluent.
Here in Ocean City, thankfully, the sewage
treatment plant is relatively modern and, while
it too is approaching capacity — as lots of
development in little space continues — it is,
nevertheless treating wastes to a degree which
authorities and taxpayers past settled upon as
most optimum.
Unfortunately, what was considered optimum
a few years ago may not be the best for the
money today — and the green tides we seem to
be experiencing every summer may be a clue to
that.
It hasn't been definitely established, but some
believe the organisms that end up the ingredients
of green tide feed off the nutrient rich, albeit
treated, effluent once it disperses in the sea
following discharge; once it gets beyond the end
of the discharge pipe and the chlorine residual is
dissipated.
Maybe we need a treatment system that
provides maximum treatment of human waste —
whatever the cost. Obviously our neighbors to
the south need to maintain the antiquated
ims they ^a^f unUl^thty, too can become
irt of the county Municipal Utilities Authority
treatment system.
All of us need to give maximum consideration
to our ocean — what we put into it and what we
build by it.
Support your local poet
Here's tow two youngsters, about the same age, view
Ocean City:
Schools opening, drive extra carefully
QCBANQTY
Ocean City Is your vacation
Shortly after Labor Day before the school par ends, discourage horseplay — The Council reminds
You can swim In the ocean-
more than a million New The New Jersey State which often results in tragedy parents that school bus riders
Pack your bap and leave right now—
Jersey students will be Safety Council, expressing when children run or are are
And bring your sun ten lotion...
greeted by M.OM teachers and
ppedestrians
who must be
concern for the safety of the pushed into the pam of on-
1,m Bdministrstorg as they
taught to walk in front not
students who will be traveling veling coming vehicles.
rdeceofRoeeDiSctascio.OceanCtty begin the new school year
behind the bus when crossing
to school or athletic events*,, 'Pie Council also recom.
which la expected to cost in
fee road.
urges parents to remind their mends that passengers follow
As I sit amongst the people on sandy warm beaches
excess of $4 billion.
Motorists are cautioned to
children of safety rules ttiese basic rules while on
I look into the ocean
At least 325,000 of the
stop or slow down as required
especially at bus stops. board;
I see the waves crashing ever so soundly ...
returning students will ride to
when approaching a school
Stay seated... no fighting ,
I see the seagulls swiftly flying through
school each day In 12,500
bus flashing red lights and be
The Safety Council believes don't throw things inside the
the deep blue sky...
school buses that will travel
alert for children crossing the
parents should teach children bus or out of windows.., never
t see the tun bring forth its rays of warmth
more than 100 million miles
street especially in a school
to keep out of the roadway and lean out the windows. zone.
and happiness
I hear the breeze whistle in the hollowness of my
ear
I hear the seagulls chirping ever so gayly
Heel the sunshine beating softly on my face
I feel the breeze of a shadow looking over roe Protecting children from abuse
But most of all I see the children big and small
Black and white, I see them laughing and crying,
By State Senator nationwide.
walking and running..]
JAMES B. HURLEY
background cheeks. These center. In addition, owners of
Gov. Thomas Kean has
(R-Cape, Cumberland)
checks will ensure mat those day care centers would be
And we share one thing, a dream, my dream, your dream,
established a special Child with a past history of subject to criminal history
everyone's dream, we live in everyone's dream every day Between 1983 and 1984. theAbuse
and Neglect Task violence, neglect or ex- checks.
number, of cases of child Force to alert the public to ploitation of children are not The new state budget,
America's
abuse reported in Cumthis
danger and preventive allowed to care for which took effect July 1, In-
Dream berland and Cape May measures parents can take to
" StaetySmmen,!!
youngsters.
cludes an additional $40
counties rose more than 50 protect their children. The
granddaughter of Agnes P ftiynfen, Ocgm Qfy i
million for the state Division
percent. Cumberland County task force also Is advising The bill would, require of Youth and Family Ser-
had an Increase of reported state and local agencies on checks of current and vices, the agency responsible
cases from 779 In 1983 to 1,121 how to handle cases of abuse, prospective employees at day for handling child abuse
in 1984; In Cape May County Recently, the Senate passed ore centers, state group cases. The money will be used
The Sentinel-Ledger the figures Increased from 500 a bill that would require homes, county shelters for to hire 600 additional em-
MUM IiK riHiM k Hmtfttl I Crtiuil Fiiulf RHM
in 1983.to 774 in 1981. public and private employees county schools of ployees, t
By
These two counties in mydirectly
Involved in caring for
state psychiatric-
district are not alone in ex- children to have criminal
THE SENTINEL-LEDGER
periencing a dramatic rise in
child abuse cases. Statewide, OCEAN CITY GOVERNMENT——
• OMlltitllaimJ«U|ll*M Inc
HviM L fifttn "TOI
reports of child abuse almost
MAYOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT
vi
HKInsirMI Ocean city N J Mils
doubled between 1963 and
, * Eilsbllihea 1111 I
1984. Last year alone, 44,368
Jack Bittner Henry 6. Knight
Phono No lldlinsill USPSNo *J7240
cases of abuse were reported lBSweetwaterCt. 2217 Haven Av.
Entered at PoitOlflcaal Ocean ciry N J OIJJ4
ai Kcond ctau matter
to the State Division of Youth 399-6111 (City Hall) 399-5555 (Work)
and Family Services.
399-6204 (Home) 399-4646\