When people ask me where I live, I reply "Red Lobsterville".  I say
this because the only restaurants that seem to do well ARE the chains.  I
have lived here now for five years, coming from Monmouth County.  I
miss good pizza, and small family-owned restaurants.  There have been some
wonderful little restaurants in the village that dont make it because
the mentality in this town is set to corporate chains.  When I want a
good bowl of pasta, I dont want The Olive Garden.  I want The Hot Tomato
or Bella Vista.  When I want Seafood, I want Gregory's or Jack Baker's,
NOT Red Lobster.  Sadly, I am the minority.
  
  For hardware I go to Ken's if at all possible. NOT Home Depot or
Lowe's.  For cold cuts I go to Mid-Shore Meats or Lenny's.  Can I tell you
how much I DREAD going to the Fischer Blvd Shop-Rite due to the
overcrowding of the store?  Yet, I feel punished, when, by going down the
street to FoodTown I have to pay MUCH higher prices to avoid the throngs of
people at Shop Rite.   Why do residents not care about small
businesses? Because they are not FROM here, that's why!  I am part of a minority
here.
  
  When I moved here from Monmouth County, I called this town Toms
River.  I live in the East Dover Section.  I address my mail Toms River.  To
me,  the only people concerned with the Dover Township name were those
abdicating the East Dover section for the expensive tract developments
in North Dover.  In reading all these arguments, however, I do agree
that the Post Office, Municipal Offices And Schools should be the ones to
change their names, and give us a mailing address of Dover Township. 
Which brings me to another question.  Isn't Dover Township in South
Jersey?  Aren't we really Township of Dover?  I'd like clarification on
that one.
  
  One other thing regarding ratables.  Only in this Township would you
see self-storage businesses, closed restaurants, and dilapidated motels
less than a mile from the bridge into Seaside Heights and Lavalette. 
We are a Seashore Community.  What are we thinking here?  Route 37 is
one of the most ugly and unsightly highways I have ever seen!  This is a
town that has money.  If Asbury Park can revive itself, why cant the
Mayor and Council be a bit more choosy when approving businesses for this
highway, ESPECIALLY down by the bridge!  It's an embarassment and noone
seems to care.  Leave the name alone.  We have enough Wawas, and we
have WAY too many pharmacies.  If you want to revitalize Downtown, make it
a UEZ.  And as for Toms River Fest, I've never seen a more poorly
executed, (with exception to the transportation) impersonal, chopped up MESS
in my life.  It was indicative of the Township itself.  You have a lady
selling beaded bracelets under a tent next to a guy selling
hottubs?? Have they never been to a County Fair?  That festival had no
local flavor whatsoever.  A good idea that failed again.  Not
money-wise, but let me tell you it WASN'T FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  Christine Cuozzo
  East Dover