Watchers

Here are some organizations concerned about keeping waterways clean and usable. American Littoral Society studies conservation of marine life and its habitat in the coastal zone. Of the society's 8,000 members nationwide, 3,500 are from New Jersey. The group publishes a newsletter, sponsors field trips and meetings and lobbies in Trenton. "We are the voice of the fish," said executive director Dery Bennett. Information: 201-291-0055. New Jersey Public Interest Research Group monitors implementation of the Clean Water Act in New Jersey, lobbies, conducts independent research and field investigations, maintains watchdog projects and has filed lawsuits against violators of water discharge permits.

PHOENIX - From the sandhill crane to the red-faced warbler, rock stars of the birding world have spawned a tourism industry in Arizona that draws birders from around the world. "It's one of the two or three best places in the United States to look for birds," said David Pashley of the American Bird Conservancy. "Arizona makes a lot of money off of bird-watchers going down to the southeast corner of the state. " More than 140 bird species are found in southern Arizona, and birding festivals take place year-round throughout the state, including Yuma and in northern Arizona's Verde Valley.

Despite sophisticated radar equipment that can be used in predicting weather days in advance, the National Weather Service sometimes has difficulty keeping an eye on what's happening locally - a tornado here, a golfball-size hailstone there. For three years, the Weather Service in Philadelphia has solved the problem by enlisting the help of and training about 800 "spotters," volunteers who are trained to keep a lookout for rough weather. The spotters phone the Weather Service if they see large hail, ominous cloud patterns, extremely heavy rainfall or tree limbs falling in high winds.

The moon was an amber disc on the horizon at three minutes before midnight, and as it rose above the glittering lights of Manhattan it shimmered on the black surface of Hudson County's Kearny Marsh. A siren sounded faintly in the wind. "You can almost see the ball in Times Square," joked Sandra Sherman, 38. Her companions said nothing, but they knew what she meant. At exactly midnight, the fourth annual World Series of Birding would begin, and 25 bird-watching teams were poised and ready to embark on a marathon race around New Jersey Saturday to see who could spot the most bird species in 24 hours.

All one needed to know about the stock market last week was evident in the final 60 minutes of trading Friday, when the Dow Jones industrial average erased a 400-point deficit, gained 300 points, then settled for a 128-point drop. The week was crazed and frightening, for world leaders and for the smallest investors. It capped eight trading days resulting in almost 2,400 points erased from the Dow. The world watched. Experts, genuine and would-be, had opinions. Like the following: MONDAY Dow was down 369.88 points to 9,955.

Warminster Township police are using balloons and Tootsie Rolls to help eradicate crime. In an effort to promote community involvement in Warminster Neighborhood Watch, township police released scores of helium balloons on Tuesday night and later distributed candy to children in the township. The proceedings were a show of support for the fourth annual National Night Out, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. "I figured the kids would have a good time, and it would get them to realize things about crime prevention," said John C. Sparks Jr., a crime- prevention officer.

Larry Bird left Terre Haute, Ind., where he played his college basketball at Indiana State University, eight years ago. But there are few places, if any, where Bird is more revered than at that city's "Larry Bird's Boston Connection. " A former Sheraton Inn, it has served as a virtual shrine to Bird since reopening on May 1. The family dining room, called the "Boston Garden," contains a wealth of Bird memorabilia. Three walls are covered with magazine covers picturing Bird shooting, dribbling, passing, rebounding and at the free throw line.

By the time "merry widow sisters" Kathleen Jackson and Marlene Connors waved farewell to the royal newlyweds, the women already had made plans to meet for the next royal get together. Jackson, a Londoner who now resides in Los Angeles, and Connors, who still lives in North London where they grew up, had been camped out along The Mall between Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square for more than 25 hours by the time Prince Andrew and his bride of one hour, the former Sarah Ferguson, waved goodbye from a balcony on the palace's south side.

Five years ago Barbara Maycock didn't own a decent pair of running shoes. She didn't even run - not even for fun. Today she not only owns a few pairs, she's out buying a new ones every three months. And she's way beyond entering the one-mile fun runs. Somewhere and somehow during those five years Maycock turned into a competitor. Not only became a competitor, but became one of the most promising female biathletes in the South Jersey area. "I used to think running three miles was an eternity," said Maycock who now runs 40 to 50 miles a week and bikes up to 150 miles each week.

THE SOUTHERNMOST spot on our Jersey Shore list is also the only non-island. (It's actually a peninsula.) But if you're coming from the north, you'll still have to cross a bridge to get to it. And that feels seashore-y enough. Kids might lament Cape May's lack of roller coasters and other scream-worthy opportunities. But grown-ups and families craving a quiet time with a dash of history will find what they're looking for among Cape May's tree-lined streets, Victorian architecture and beachfront resorts.