November 6, 1994

MARGE ROUKEMA hates to be called a token. But as the only woman to represent New Jersey in Congress, she bears the responsibilities -- and burdens -- of that distinction. "I do feel that obligation as the only woman in the delegation," she said in a recent interview. In a year when more women nationwide are running for seats in the House of Representatives than ever before, the dearth of women seeking Federal office from New Jersey troubles Mrs. Roukema, who is a seven-term Republican from Ridgewood, and other women involved in politics.

The brochure for the Council of New York Cooperatives 14th annual housing conference next Sunday is filled with the usual seminars and workshops: "Preventing Pigeon Problems," "Lobby Renovations" and "Challenges in Mortgage Refinancing." Because of the recent scandal involving vendors' paying kickbacks to managing agents, however, several of the 76 courses look like something from a police academy catalog. "Preventing Fraud and Kickbacks" is an example. "Detecting and Curtailing Criminal Activities" is another. "It is the thing that is new this year, and it is concerning a lot of people," said Marc Luxemburg, a lawyer and president of the council. "It's certainly emerged as the current topic of the moment." The conference is being held from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. at Hunter College in Manhattan. Preregistration is required. The cost is $60 a person for those living in co-ops or condominiums that are members of the Council of New York Cooperatives and $85 for professionals affiliated with the organization. For others, the cost is $150. Some discounted tickets are also available. For more information, call (212) 496-7400.

In the final days of probably the meanest, ugliest race in a mean and ugly election season, Virginia feels like a country at war with itself, and it has nothing to do with whether people personally like Senator Charles Robb, or his challenger, Oliver L. North. By now, most people say, they are sick of both.

WHATEVER the exact outcome of Tuesday's midterm elections, the mandate for members of the next Congress is clear, based on the oratory and advertising of Campaign '94: They must push hard for a balanced budget, cut taxes and protect -- utterly and absolutely -- the sanctity of Social Security and Medicare. They must get tough with welfare recipients, make crime a top priority, hold the line on social spending and keep the Government out of the health care system while repairing its flaws.

THE Hacklebarney Farm in Chester is straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting -- if you can see past the scores of roaming families out for an autumn day. There are the white Victorian farmhouse, the weathered red barn and, beyond, a pumpkin patch spreading up the hill fringed with rows of apple trees. Several times a week, Robert Jacobson, a member of the fifth generation of his family to work the Morris County farm, strides over to the 1851 barn, swings open the doors and revs up the little cider mill. After the bins of russet and McIntosh, Ida red and winesap apples are washed, they tumble down a chute to be met by the roar of a mill that grinds them into an applesauce-like mash.