I just caught sight of a rosy autumn sunset over Old Lower Shore Road and was again struck by how grateful I am to Barnegat's Zoning Board for voting to preserve it. It was clear on Tuesday, September 9 that our Zoning Board is committed to steering clear of politics and public opinion. For many months they listened to experts on both sides of the issue. Then they listened to the citizens they represent and ruled in what they felt was our town's best interest. Even Maria Capriotti, who was singled out in newspaper reports as casting one of only two votes in favor of Cingular's application, clearly takes her position to heart and had agonized over her decision before casting the vote that she truly felt was in the best interest of her fellow citizens. We cannot ask for more.

I also cannot express how grateful I am to my neighbors and to the citizens from all over town who followed this issue through eighteen grueling months of meetings and testimony, because they strongly felt that opposing this application would preserve a priceless piece of our past, protect our citizens and recreational activities in the present, and more effectively plan for our future when we might choose to correct a dangerous intersection and provide a welcoming entrance and parking lot for one of our important recreation areas.

Barnegat is fortunate to have a number of devoted citizens who regularly attend our public meetings. Far from being Ògadflies,Ó a term that doesn't do anyone justice, these people are intelligent and concerned men and women, experienced in a variety of professions, who care enough to try to insure that the actions of our local government are what's best for the citizens of Barnegat. They may not always agree with our governmental leaders and they may not always agree with each other, but it doesn't escape me that the biggest thing that all sides have in common is a passion for what is best for Barnegat and when you're trying to solve problems, that's an important starting point.

Hopefully, in the coming months, we'll hear reports on how Barnegat's government and concerned citizens are working together to write a more comprehensive and protective Cell Tower Ordinance, to find a more appropriate site for Cingular's cell tower and to establish a better process for choosing future sites for all cell towers. And now, relieved of the specter of a cell tower looming over Lower Shore Road, perhaps those who fought to preserve the area will work with the people who enjoy the Lower Shore fields and with our local government to create better parking and an even better place for our kids and adults to play. I'll consider myself lucky to be counted among their number.