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* Poll Shows Strong Support for College

By JOE ZELNIK Local adults have sent county government a clear message: They want a community college in the county. ^Hf?SNEWS Iplv DIGEST nf //7 / The Week's // // // ^op Stories For Free, Take COURT HOUSE — Have no fedr; there will be a black bear at the county zoo. sooner or later. The Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton made the free offer in January, but the problem is the estimated $7,500 cost of a pen. County Parks Executive Director Leon Fulginiti has sent 150 letters to "zoo lovers" appealing for donations. "It'll be a success." he told this newspaper. "If not, we'll have to dig it out of the budget somehwere. I haven't tackled anything I couldn't finish." Going for Seven NORTHFIELD - U.S. Rep. William J Hughes of Ocean City Monday announced he'll seek a seventh term. Democrat Hughes, 53, was first elected in the postWatergate Democrat sweep of 1974, defeating the late Charles W. Sandman. He represents the 2nd Congressional District which includes Atlantic, Cape May. Cumberland and Salem counties and a portion of Gloucester County. An attorney, he is chairman of the House Subcommittee on Crime. Bank Robbed NORTH WILDWOOD - A cleanshaven. white male in his early 20s escaped with $4,600 after holding up the First Jersey National Bank/South branch at 22nd and New Jersey at noon Monday, according to North Wildwood police. They said the holdup man "displayed no weapon," and apparently discarded "an article of clothing", a block away. (Page 61 Please)

A higher education survey form published in this newspaper March 26 brought 338 returns, more than double the anticipated response. And many of the replies used space at the end of the form to express strong feelings about the lack of local higher education opportunities. They ranged from one person's "Help!" to another's lengthy conclusion: "A community college is a very necessary step for our children and granchildren. The cultural benefits would be tremendous. This would bring new jobs here."

THE POLL OF ADULTS is one of three needs surveys being conducted by Foxgill Consultants of West Chester, Pa. for the county Community College Proposal Review Committee That eight-month-old committee is charged with recommending to the freeholders how to meet the county's higher education needs. * Dr. N. Dean Evans of Foxgill has completed a poll of 1,750 high school juniors and seniors and is almost finished with a survey of business, industry and the

professipns. EVANS SAID HE CHOSE this newspaper for the adult survey because of its "wide visibility." The paper con- - tributed a page of space. Evans has^ assumed a random telephone sample also would be necessary, but the surprisingly heavy return apparently eliminates the need for that. "'.1145 is an excellent response." said Evans. "It is a sample that easily can be (Page 4 Please)

DorU Ward FISHING PARTNERS — Trout season opened Saturday and Paul Buchanan of Avalon took along granddaughter Mary Wagner, visiting with her parents from Salem, Va. They tried their luck at Dennisville Lake, but no word on their success.

County's Child Abuse Rate: High and Growing

By GREGG LAWSON Cape May County has one of the state's highest child abuse rates; reported cases have doubled since 1983 and the number of substantiated cases has risen steadily. Summer tourism is believed to be a factor in the high rate per thousand children, but, officials point out, the number of substantiated incidentSjjs as high in January as in August.

Where to Call To Seek Help Some common signs of child abuse and neglect are malnourishment or a neglected appearance and failure to attend school regularly. Abused children often are fearful, quiet or unusually withdrawn, have no reaction to pain, are wary of physical contact initiated by an adult, are disruptive and suffer from a chronic lack of adult supervision. Suspected child abuse can be reported to the DYFS District Office, Route 9 and Rio Grande Boulevard. Rio Grande, by calling 886-1105, or by calling the Child Abuse Hotline. (800 ) 792-8610 Families under stress or in crisis who want to know what services are available to them can call the Governor's Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect Family Helpline, (800 ) 453-1000. Anyone with questions concerning DYFS can call the DYFS Citizen's Action Line, (800 ) 331-DYFS. Citizens interested in both foster care and adoption can call Foster Care Recruitment, (800 ) 222-0047*

Reported cases went from 500 in 1983 to 774 in 1984 to 1,012 in 1985. Substantiated cases climbed from 209 in 1983 to 264 in 1984. Although the figures for 1985 have not yet been released by the state Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), over 400 cases were opened last year. , ABUSE AND NEGLECT of children under the age of 18 takes many forms: burn ing, beating, excessive yelling, incest, rape, forced prostitution, failure to provide attention or warmth, adequate food or shelter Its victims often suffer permanent physical and mental scars that keeps them from being independent, productive human beings. It can also lead to delinquency, crime, drug and alcohol addiction. According to the county Citizens Advisory Board, which works with DYFS' district office to assess management and service needs, there may be several reasons why the county has one of the highest rates. "THE COUNTY is ninth (of 21) in the state foi*single-family households, first in unemployment, eighth in public school dropouts, ninth in teenage pregnancy, twelfth in adult alcohol abusers, thirteenth in overcrowded housing," said Denise Bisese, of the board. "All of these factors could account for it." 3,'We're also second in juvenile arrests, but I'm not sure that has a bearing." she added. (Page 16 Please)

16 School Districts Elect on Tuesday By E.J. DUFFY

Doctors, carpenters, teachers, bookkeepers, dentists, businessmen, salesmen, police and firefighters are among more than 60 candidates vying for school board seats in 16 local districts Tuesday. Even a fighter pilot, a graphic artist and a former prisoner of war are in the running. 'Contests are in Lower Township, Lower Cape May Regional, Middle Township, Ocean City, Upper Township, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and Woodbine.

Polls close at 9 p.m. but voting begins 3, 4 or 5 p.m. depending on the district. Besides selecting candidates, voters will be asked to approve budget questions on each ballot. Following is a list of candidates, budget questions and polling places. An asterisk ( •> after a candidate's name indicates he or she did not return this paper's March 11 postage-paid questionnaire by April 7. AVALON Board president Brian B. Campbell, 39. an Avalon Real Estate Agent, fire company lieutenant, secretary-treasurer and vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, is standing for reelection to one of two threeyear term as is incumbent Dr. William F. Robinson, a dentist, who was appointed to the board last spring. Challenger Jane W. Narringan. 33, past president of the Home and School Association, a bookkeeper-homemaker, also is seeking a three-year seat while Suzanne E. Keen. 38. an assistant manager for N.J . Bell, stands unopposed for the unexpired one-year term of former board member William Soens. Current Expense: $1,101,669 (see Letters to the Editor). Capital Outlay: $141,000 (for asbestos removal at the Ocean Drive elementary school and replacement of the school board secretary's office). Palling place: the elementary school. 5-9 • p.m. (Page 4 Please)

COUNTY profits as borrowing overtop. Page 41. "G" is for genealogy. County library, page 20. A NEW appreciation of old fabrics. Antiques, page IB. A SPRING preview of scholastic track, baseball and Softball. Sports with Sue Mckinley, page 46. HICKORY Island: a journey back into history, lersey Cape Historically, page

Budget Set For Adoption COURT HOUSE — Freeholders were slated to adopt the county's 1986 budget last night, too late for this newspaper's deadline. It totals $45 2 million of which $30.1 million (67 percent) will be raised by local taxes. The tax rate will increase ninetenths of a cent per hundred dollars of assessed valuation to 42.7 cents For a typical home assessed at $100,000. the county tax bill would be $427 Since 1980 (see chart above i. when the county budget totaled $25.5 million, it has increased by 77 percent. That's an average .(Page 16 Please)