Prison Farm Planned Off Parkway

COURT HOUSE — A county prison farm, modeled after the state facility in Leesburg, may soon be operating on property located directly adjacent to the correctional center at Crest Haven off the Garden State Pkwy. here. ^freeholders were scheduled to pass a resolution yesterday giving Sheriff Beech Fox the go-ahead to pursue the farm program that will use inmates to provide produce for the correctional center’s kitchen.

ACCORDING TO THE sheriff, the pnv gram calls for inmates who qualify to be permitted to farm the land adjacent to the center’s exercise field. "The program will start small and expand next year," Mr. Fox said. It is hoped, he said, that after becoming established the program can save taxpayers dollars by providing the bulk of seasonal produce to the correctional center, Crest Haven, the JINS shelter, and other county facilities. APPROXIMATELY A half-dozen inmates will take part in the farming at a

given time, Fox said. He noted that the participants are selected from a predesignated pool and then screened. "I see no problem in security," Fox said, noting that the farming program will be conducted during the same period the ex ercise y6rd is being used. This allows for the same number of guards to be used to monitor activity in each location The County Extension Service has been working closely with the sheriff’s Department in an effort to establish a viable program.

$64 Million Expansion Eyed

Expansion projects to cost almost $64 million which would add 169 betls at two hospitals serving the Cape May.County area are awaiting approval by the -Southern. New Jersey Health Systems Agency. Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital, Court House, has a $24,036,400 plan to add 68 beds, replace non-conforming beds,

upgrade ancillary support and service departments, and upgrade the energy plant. Proposed date for completion of the project is Sept. 1, 1983. THE APPLICATION is scheduled for review by the Cape May County HSA Advisory Council July 8, but it was announced recently that the advisory group, having failed to have a quorum for four months.

was suspending meetings until September. The ultimate decision on the application for a certificate of need is up to the HSA in Bellmawr. Shore Mejorial Hospital, Somers Point, has a $35,815,850 project to add 101 medical/surgical beds and expand ancillary and administrative services. Target 0ate is Nov. 30. 1984.

News Digest

The Week's Top Stories

Crime Top Topic WILDWOOD — Although the future of the VA Hospital proposed for Camden and currently receiving back-burrter status from the Reagan administration was discyssed, the top topic of gubernatorial hopefuls in town Saturday for the annual VFW Convention was crime in the streets Democrat candidate James Florio called public safety "the all-pervasive issue that will cut across all others in this campaign;" while Republican Thomas Kean promised to "rewrite the juvenile justice system and restore the death penalty." ( <See story inside). Gypsy Mosquitoes? LOWER TWP. A Member of the township Environmental Commission harf called upon this municipality and others to look into the possibility of utilizing the County Mosquito Commission to battle the gypsy moth. According to Environmental Commission member Dick Ewing, the Mosquito Commission has the men and equipment to spray entire areas, not just partial sections. and that such spraying could probably be accomplished more cheaply than thru the state Mayor Removal OK WOODBINE Former Mayor Tom Levin was legally removed from office while he was on an extended vacation last summer. Superior Court Judge Nathan Staller ruled last week. Levin, who was t-ehioved from office by the Borough Council after missing council meetings for eight straight weeks, was in Hawaii at the time of his removal last August. A month later he filed suit seeking reinstatement and back pay on the grounds state statute governing the borough commission form of government didn’t specifically require mayoral attendance at meetings. In finding to the contrary, Judge Staller opined that to rule otherwise would require interpreting state law to mean the mayor had no obligation to attend any municipal meetings durihg his term in office Hit-Run Suspect COURT HOUSE- Mitchell Hand, 19, of Hereford Ave., reportedly surrendered to authorities last Wednesday afternoon in connection with the death of a 29-ycar-old fisherman who was struck by a vehicle and killed pround 1:30 a.m. the previous Sunday on the Rt. 109 canal bridge approach, Schellenger Landing. According to police, Hand has been charged with death by auto and leaving the scene Killed was James Seaver of Newport News, Va., a crewmember aboard the fishing vessel Dolphin, who sustained several broken bones by the impact Lower Township authorities had predicted an apprehension in the case, ap^ parently due to a partial description of the hit-run vehicle based upon pieces of headlight found at the scene Gasoline Spill WILDWOOD — Firemen from five communities. the Coast Guard, federal Environmental Protection ^Agency and a private recovery team w^re all called into (Page 17 Please)

State Urging Anglers to get Hooked on Tax

TRENTON — The New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife is urging all New Jersey anglers to lend their support to the proposed expansion of the Dingell/Johnson (D-J) excise tax bill now before Congress. This legislation (Senate Bill 546, sponsored by Sen. Jennings Randolph. D-W.* Va . the House versipn, H R. 2250, sponsored by Rep. John Breaux, D-La.) would extend the present 10 per cent excise tax on certain fishing equipment not now covered by th€ present law IT WOULD ALSO IMPOSE a new tax at a rate of 3 per cent on boats under 25 feet in length, outboard motors; boat trailers; depth recorders, and other fishing gear. Excluded from the proposed tax would be boats over 25 feet in length, boats used for

commercial fishing; sailboats; kayaks; canoes, and hydroplanes Purpose of the legislation is to provide additional funds for the enhancement and improvement of both salt and freshwater fishing. Already a major portion of New Jersey's fisheries research, management, and fisheries environmental protection efforts are being financed through funds received under the D-J Program, according to a state spokesman. This program, known officially as the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act. has been operating since 1952. "THERE IS NO QUESTION that this proposed legislation is a matter of great concern to New Jersey fishermen," said Russell A. Cookingham. director of the New Jersey Division of Fish. Game and

Wildlife. "However." Cookingham said, "this bill would go a long way towards correcting what many salt water fisherman have perceived os a general inequity in the manner in which funds are allocated between saltwater and freshwater projects under the existing D-J forpiula.” THE ORIGINAL Dlngell/Johason bill provided New Jersey with $309,500 annually. The proposed bill would just about triple this amount and provide New Jersey with the necessary funds to generate an overall improvement in fishing opportunities. "In essence," Cookingham said, "the D-J bill is essentially a user tax designed to make available (without resorting to other forms of taxation) the needed funds

for the support of programs for the exclusive use and benefit of both the salt and freshwater fisherman " UNDER THE PROPOSED legislation, states would be required to allocate the increased monies received from the D-J ex pansion bill between fresh and salt water fishermen in that state. Cookingham said that New Jersey marine anglers, who greatly outnumber freshwater fishermen, would benefit from nearly $7 out of every $8 received from the expansion bill SINCE NEW JERSEY has approximately five times as many marine anglers as freshwater fishermen, he noted, the amount of funds allocated to enhance salt water fishing could be as much as three 'Page 17 Please).