Page 2 • Wednesday , January 3 , 2024 • The Hammonton Gazette
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Hammonton Gazette
OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 NOTICIAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 OUR TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 FAITH FOCUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 CIVIC NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 HAMMONTON ’ S HISTORY . . . . . . 27
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT . . . . . . 31 WHAT ’ S HOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 MIND GAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 CLASSIFIEDS / LEGALS . . . . . . . . . 35 REAL ESTATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 SCORECARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 hammontongazette . com
The Hammonton Gazette ( USPS 018984 ) is published weekly , Hammonton Gazette Publishing LLC , 14 Tilton St ., Hammonton , NJ 08037 . Periodicals Postage Paid at Hammonton , NJ . Subscriptions are available for $ 40 per year for New Jersey addresses & $ 50 per year for residents for out-of-state addresses . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The Hammonton Gazette , 14 Tilton St ., P . O . Box 1228 Hammonton , NJ 08037 . Call ( 609 ) 704-1940 for more information .
OBITUARIES
John E . Kelley , Sr .
John E . Kelley , Sr ., 74 , of Hammonton , N . J ., passed away Tuesday , December 19 , 2023 . John was a proud United States Marine Veteran and served his country in the Vietnam War . He was a member of the Marine Corp . League in Vineland , N . J ., the Williamstown American Legion # 252 , the Cumberland County Riders and the Hammonton DAV # 66 . John worked as a truck driver and dispatcher for over 20 years with MIT and Dana Transportation .
John is predeceased by his parents , Eugene F . and Dorothy E . ( nee Barnell ) Kelley ; and his son , Paul Kelley . He is survived by his loving wife , Kathleen Kelley ; his son , John E . Kelley , Jr .; daughters , Tina Ann Greene ( Bryan ) and Melanie Kelley ; sisters , Regina Kelley and Myra Kapoulas ( George ); and brother , George Kelley . He is the loving grandfather of Christopher , Trevor , and Alexander John .
Relatives and friends were invited to attend his viewing Tuesday , January 2 , 2024 from 6 p . m . to 8 p . m . at the Marinella Funeral Home 102 N . Third St . Hammonton , NJ 08037 . Funeral services will be held at Wednesday , January 3 , 2024 at 10 a . m . at Marinella Funeral Home . Burial will follow in Atlantic County Veterans Cemetery 109 NJ-50 , Mays Landing , N . J . 08330 . In lieu of flowers , donations may be made to the Semper Marine Detachment # 205 2041 West Landis Ave . Vineland City , N . J . 08360 . To leave a condolence , please visit marinellafuneralhome @ gmail . com .
Arrangements entrusted to the Marinella Funeral Home .
HAMMONTON FAMILY EYECARE
Complete Eye Care For All Ages
www . hammontonfamilyeyecare . com 80 S . White Horse Pike • Hammonton • Tel : ( 609 ) 567-7479
Kristin Guglietti / THG
Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel with his dog Storm celebrate Noon Year ’ s Eve on Dec . 31 .
Hammontonians looking forward to 2024
Phyllis Ruggerio
Phyllis Ruggerio , 99 , of Hammonton N . J . passed away peacefully Thursday December 28 , 2023 at Royal Suites Health Care in Galloway Twp . N . J . Phyllis was born in Philadelphia and raised in Camden , N . J . and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School . She was a retired secretary from Ancora State Hospital where she worked for many years .
She is predeceased by her parents , John and Mildred Gredone ; her husband . Anthony T . Ruggerio ; son , Bruce T . Ruggerio ; and grandson , Tony Ruggerio . Surviving are her children , Roy Ruggiero and his wife , LeeAnn of Hammonton , N . J . and Patricia Ruggiero Markham and her husband Howard of Roanoke , Va . She will be sadly missed by her grandchildren , Paul Ruggerio and his wife Lauren , and Lindsey Ruggiero Medio and her husband Scott ; as well as her great grandchildren , Ellie , Rian and Harrison .
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing Thursday January 4 , 2023 from 9 a . m . to 11 a . m . at the Marinella Funeral Home 102 N . Third Street Hammonton , N . J . and services to be held at 11 a . m . Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery 2398 Rt . 70 Cherry Hill , NJ . To share a condolence , please visit marinellafuneralhome . com
Arrangements entrusted to Marinella Funeral Home .
Joseph Frassetto
Joseph Frassetto , 88 , of Elm , NJ passed away December 30 , 2023 after a short illness . He was born at home in Hammonton , N . J . and was a veteran of the Army where he served during the Korean War . Joseph was a resident of Elm for most of his life and was a Union Laborer for the Local 172 before retiring in 1997 . He was quiet man who loved his wife , family , working in his garden , and bowling in his weekly league .
He is predeceased by his parents , Salvatore & Mary ; wife , Ruth ; brothers , Lawrence , Domenic , and Ferdinando Frassetto ; and sisters , Caroline Marazzi , Angelina Juliano , Catherine DeMaio , Mary Mazza , Rose Vassallo , Jeannette Albano , and Anna Tappen . Joseph is survived by his children , Donna Mae Frassetto Bruno ( Joe ) of Hammonton , N . J ., Joseph Frassetto Jr . ( Kathy ) of Buena , N . J ., and Larry Frassetto of Hammonton , N . J .; grandchildren , Tiffany Travia ( Joe ) of Hammonton , N . J ., Joshua Bruno of Hammonton , N . J ., Joelly Frassetto ; and great grandchild , Isaiah Travia .
Services will be held at the convenience of the family . To share a condolence , please visit marinellafuneralhome . com Arrangements entrusted to the Marinella Funeral Home .
ST . VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY FOOD PANTRY
Open : Thursday afternoons : 2 p . m . to 4 p . m . and Thursday evening : 7 p . m . to 8 p . m .
Located at Third and French Street in the St . Joseph Convent basement . Must bring valid ID , proof of address and proof of income .
Contact Ed Muller at ( 609 ) 412-4604 . Donations welcome .
The Birnbaum and Rizzotte families rang in the new year at the town ’ s blueberry drop .
community safe .
Nicole Butterline attended the event with her parents , Gabriela and Eric and her sister , Briella . Butterline enjoyed the summer festivals in town like the Mount Carmel Festival .
BLUEBERRY , From Page 1
“ Cardboard Arena is just taking off ,” Ben Ott said . “ We just had our one-year anniversary with the game store and for our board game tournament so we ’ re pretty excited just to see it go .”
Tyler and Emily Fischer also attended the Blueberry Drop . What Emily Fischer liked about 2023 was starting massage therapy school and will be graduating .
“ I ’ ll start working in 2024 so I ’ m excited about that ,” Emily Fischer said .
Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel saw that a lot more people attended the city events participating in various offerings .
“ I think that the prior couple of years with COVID going on , people were still more reserved , didn ’ t go out and do things ,” Friel said . “ But it brought more people to local things . We had a lot more of our residents come out to community events that we ’ re having and it ’ s a great thing .”
Friel is looking forward to having more officers join the Hammonton Police Department and coming up with some new and progressive ways to make the
Hammonton Revitalization Corporation ( HRC ) board member Jim Paul Bacon attended the event with his family . Bacon saw a lot of growth both personally and professionally .
“ We set some goals . We didn ’ t get to complete them all but we ’ re looking forward to 2024 to finish those goals that we set in 2022 ,” Bacon said . “ In 2024 , we are en route to accomplish some and we ’ ll do the best that we can to get the other ones .”
For Bacon , his family is looking for a bigger house . In addition , he is looking forward to growing their business , Flowers Cleaning Service in Hammonton .
The event draws from the surrounding area as well . Mays Landing resident Miguel Ruiz attended the Blueberry Drop with his family . What he liked about 2023 was that he ’ s happy to be alive and prospering , working and taking care of his family .
What Ruiz is looking forward to in 2024 is a better economy
Mohammed Fuad / THG and country .
“ A little bit more unity between everyone and a little bit of God in everyone ’ s life ,” Ruiz said .
Emily Fischer is looking forward to in 2024 is getting more organized and creating better habits .
As the clock struck 12 , the big blueberry hanging above town hall descended and lit up to an excited crowd . The event concluded with a large fireworks display lighting up Hammonton to officially ring in the new year .
Mohammed Fuad / THG
Benjamin Ruiz ( left ) and Miguel Ruiz celebrate the new year .