Fresh Food Biz
If you wanted to get a box of South Jersey farm-fresh fruit and veg but weren’t quite sure you could eat enough to justify a regular CSA subscription, a Hammonton local has another option for you. Anne Pape, whose family owns Pleasantdale Farms, has launched a service called Farm Fresh Fix, which packages up fruit and vegetables from local farms into boxes and sells them online and at pickup locations (currently at the Atlantic Cape Community College campus in Atlantic City and Mays Landing). A big box of 8-12 lbs of fruit and vegetables sells for $12.95, while a smaller ‘snack’ box of 4-7 lbs is $6.95. The company has three goals – reduce food waste, increase access to fruit and vegetables in a food desert area and help people eat more fresh food. Pape is applying to be able to accept food stamps and looking for farm and distribution partners. Read more about Pape’s project via The Press of Atlantic City.
Hard Rock
Executives from the Hard Rock Atlantic City project gave a few more details about their plans yesterday at the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority’s board meeting. They plan to begin construction in August and open by Memorial Day 2018. They are also applying to be designated an Entertainment-Retail District, making them eligible for CRDA tax benefits and a grant (and could eventually send a portion of sales-tax proceeds over to CRDA, which needs revenue sources – details on how the district works are here). The Walk and Tropicana’s the Quarter are existing Entertainment-Retail District projects. The last one approved by CRDA was Revel, which didn’t work out so well for anybody. Separately at the meeting we learned that Harrah’s wants a chunk of its CRDA money for a new celebrity-chef restaurant (it will feature a chef that is already part of the Caesar’s complex, they said), and CRDA Chairman Robert Mulcahy is unapologetic about awarding an insurance contract to South Jersey power-broker George Norcross. The contract has no maximum compensation limit, although another bid submitted by a rival did have such a cap (CRDA officials said the new contract has already saved them money, but did not give details).
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In the rest of the news from yesterday and this morning, the Pinelands Commission has set a hearing date on another pipeline proposal, NJ Reps are trying to persuade President Trump to preserve the income-tax deduction, three men were arrested in Atlantic City after allegedly bringing $1 million of heroin into the city, the Egg Harbor Township summer concerts start next Friday, this is a great piece on the looming big-dollar showdown between the NJEA and Steve Sweeney, read this feature on AC’s first-time homebuyer program, Sister Jean’s Kitchen is moving a few blocks north in Atlantic City, and Stockton University said yesterday there was a “continuing pattern of sustained, positive growth for the tourism industry” in Atlantic City the first three months of the year. All that and more below:
Garden State Seeks to Regulate Hospital Protocols for Sepsis–New Jersey could become one of a handful of states to require hospitals to follow strict protocols for addressing sepsis, an extreme reaction to infection that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and — for nearly one in three patients here — death. The state Department of Health has recommended changing the infection-control regulations that pertain to hospitals to mandate that they adopt evidence-based protocols and train staff to quickly identify and treat various levels of sepsis, officials announced Monday. Sepsis, or blood poisoning, can result from any type of infection, but long-term damage can be avoided with proper treatment. www.njspotlight.com
Electronic Data are Government Records in New Jersey, Court Rules–In a unanimous victory for open records, New Jersey's Supreme Court has ruled that information in electronic databases are a public record. The court on Tuesday found that Galloway Township in South Jersey had wrongly denied access to email between its town clerk and the chief of police. PhillyVoice
Atlantic County Police Train to Improve Mental Health, Disability Response–As police actions and responses become more heavily scrutinized and reviewed, law-enforcement officials said training to address cases that involve people with mental and behavioral health issues can lead to more positive outcomes for everyone. Sgt. Tracey Thompson, of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, led a program Tuesday for county officers and officials on how to better address these populations in a county- and statewide effort to destigmatize mental illness and be proactive in responding appropriately. Press of Atlantic City
CRDA Chair Unapologetic About Awarding Insurance Contract to Norcross Firm–The chairman of the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority made no apologies Tuesday about the recent awarding of the authority’s insurance brokerage contract to a firm headed by South Jersey Democratic power broker George E. Norcross III. The contract, awarded unanimously at a March meeting to Conner Strong & Buckelew, contained asterisks in the places where maximum compensation was to be provided. Philly.com
Pinelands Commission Sets Meeting Date for Comments on Southern Reliability Link Pipeline–The New Jersey Pinelands Commission has set a date and location for a special meeting to hear public comments on New Jersey Natural Gas' proposal to build a high-pressure gas pipeline through northern Burlington, Monmouth and Ocean counties. The meeting will be July 26 at the Pine Belt Arena at Toms River North High School in Toms River, Ocean County. Burlington County Times
Christie: FBI Nominee Will Remain my Bridgegate Lawyer–Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday that the lawyer who has represented him in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal will remain his attorney “unless and until” he gets sworn in as FBI director. President Donald Trump said earlier this month that he would be nominating Christopher Wray, whom Christie described as a “great lawyer and good friend,” to head the FBI. Courier-Post
Kids Get in on Some of the South Jersey Fishing Action–Lots of fish were caught last weekend and the earlier part of the week, and with school out for the summer, kids are getting in on the action. Shore News Today
Low-Income Seniors Can Get Vouchers to Buy Fresh Produce–Produce vouchers for low-income Atlantic County residents 60 years and older will be available on a first-come, first-served basis starting July 11. The vouchers, distributed by the Atlantic County Division of Intergenerational Services, allow recipients to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables at participating farm markets through October. Press of Atlantic City