Page 2 • Wednesday , January 4 , 2023 • The Hammonton Gazette
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Hammonton Gazette
OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 NOTICIAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 OUR TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 FAITH FOCUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 CIVIC NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 HAMMONTON ’ S HISTORY . . . . . . 33
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT . . . . . . 37 WHAT ’ S HOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 MIND GAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 REAL ESTATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 SCORECARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 www . hammontongazette . com
The Hammonton Gazette ( USPS 018984 ) is published weekly by Gabriel J . Donio ( Publisher ), Hammonton Gazette Publishing LLC , 14 Tilton St ., Hammonton , NJ 08037 . Periodicals Postage Paid at Hammonton , NJ . Subscriptions are available for $ 25.00 per year for New Jersey addresses & $ 30.00 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
HAMMONTON FAMILY EYECARE
Complete Eye Care For All Ages
www . hammontonfamilyeyecare . com 80 S . White Horse Pike • Hammonton • Tel : ( 609 ) 567-7479
Dominic “ Tip ” DiDonato
Dominic “ Tip ” DiDonato , 91 , of Hammonton , passed away at his home on January 1 , 2023 surrounded by his loving family . A lifelong resident of Hammonton , Tip learned his legendary work ethic from a young age , having purchased a 20-acre blueberry farm with his brother John at the age of 12 . Tip graduated from Hammonton High School in 1949 . He served in the Marine Corps from 1952-54 , stationed in Japan during the Korean War , during which time his brother John sold the farm and bought a four-lane bowling center . When Tip returned from the service , they grew and expanded the business , adding more lanes and a cocktail lounge , until a fire destroyed everything in 1966 . Underinsured , Tip and John , through grit and determination , rebuilt the business from the ground up , laying the foundation for what today is DiDonato Family Fun Center .
Tip was a man of great integrity who always gave back to the community . He was a longtime member of the Chamber of Commerce who received the “ Nice Going Award ” in 2014 . Tip was once again honored by the Chamber in 2022 when the family business was awarded Industry of the Year . Tip served in local , regional , and national Bowling Proprietor organizations . Having always been an ardent fan of sports who made the All-Atlantic County baseball team in high school and played semi-professional ball upon returning from his military service , Tip supported youth athletics by sponsoring local teams for 70 years . A devoted family man , Tip beamed with pride for his three sons and their families . He never missed an event for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren . Tip is responsible for inspiring his family ’ s work ethic , often quoting his Class of ‘ 49 motto : “ Climb though the rocks be rugged .” Tip spent 58 wonderful years with his loving wife Phyllis . They were always the life of the party , especially in the basement of their Hammonton home and at the shore on their boat and later on the back deck of their home on the water in Ocean City .
Tip was predeceased by his devoted wife ; Phyllis ( nee Chiappine ), and is survived by three loving sons , Donny and wife Tracey , Steve and wife Debbie , and John and wife Gigi ; grandchildren , Christina Dillon ( Drew ), Matthew , Erin , and Zachary ; great-grandchildren , Luke and Filomena Dillon ; sister , Mary Jane Short of Vero Beach ; brother-in-law , John Calderone , who was more like a brother ; and many nieces and nephews who he treated like his own children . Tip was also predeceased by his parents , Dominic and Marina ( Galletta ); and brother , John .
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a viewing on Thursday , January 5 , from 6-8 p . m . and Friday 9-11 a . m ., at the Marinella Funeral Home , 102 N . 3rd St , Hammonton , N . J . A service will be held 11 a . m . Friday at the funeral home . Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery , 248 S First Rd . Hammonton , N . J . 08037 . Donations may be made in Tip ’ s memory to the Hammonton Little League , care of The DiDonato Family , 1151 S . White Horse Pike , Hammonton . To share a condolence , please visit marinellafuneralhome . com
Arrangements made by Marinella Funeral Home
Lorraine S . Smith ( nee Schmickel )
Lorraine S . Smith ( nee Schmickel ), 96 , of Folsom , N . J . passed away Saturday , December 31 , 2022 . Lorraine was a lifelong resident of Folsom . She graduated from Hammonton High School in 1944 and went on to work for Bell Telephone from 1944-1954 . Lorraine married Marine S / Sgt George Smith in 1952 at Zion Reformed Church . She held many positions over the years , secretary of Folsom School Board and Folsom Boro Welfare Director for 31 years , 1956 – 1987 . Lorraine was a member of the Folsom PTA , the Zion Reformed Evangelical and St . James Lutheran Church , Charter member Folsom Vol Fire Co . Ladies Auxiliary , and a 68- year member Eastern Star Lodge Dewey Chapter . She will be remembered as kind hearted and caring . Lorraine was the loving wife of 56 years to the late George R . Smith Sr . She and her husband shared much joy in the many years of presenting large Christmas displays in their front yard that were loved by all . Many years of happiness were shared with family and friends traveling , entertaining , boating , and auto racing . Later years spent enjoying the company of her family and aides who assisted in her care .
Lorraine is predeceased by her grandson , Ryan Horton ; her parents , Frank and Katherine Schmickel ; and her sisters , Eleanor Macrie and Dorothy Schellhas . Survived by her children , Patricia Horton Zellers , Glenn Smith ( Rhonda ), George R . Smith , Jr . ( Maryann ); Loving grandmother to ; James Horton IV ( Morgan ), Lindsey Miller ( Robert ), Tiffany Lind ( Stephen ), George Smith III ( Stacy ), and Victoria DeLaurentis ( Joseph ). Great grandmother of ; Rylie and Reagan Horton , Robby and Rocky Miller , Harper and Hadley Lind , Taylor and Carson Smith , and Joseph and Nicholas DeLaurentis .
Family and friends are invited to attend her viewing Wednesday , January 4th , 2023 from 6 p . m . – 8 p . m . and Thursday from 9:30 a . m . -10:30 a . m ., all at the Marinella Funeral Home , 102 N . Third St . Hammonton , N . J . 08037 . Funeral services will be held Thursday , January 5 , 11 a . m . at St . James Lutheran Church 1341 Mays Landing Rd . Folsom , NJ 08037 . Burial will follow in the church cemetery . In lieu of flowers , donations may be made to the St . James Lutheran Church Building Fund 1341 Mays Landing Rd . Folsom , NJ 08037 . To share a condolence , please visit marinellafuneralhome . com . Arrangements made by Marinella Funeral Home
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St . Joseph Academy is located on Central Avenue in downtown Hammonton . Friday , December 30 , 2:51 p . m .
Three-car accident
by Gabe Donio
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON — A three-car accident at the intersection of S . Egg Harbor Road and Harborwood Drive at 5:34 p . m . on December 14 led to the drivers of two vehicles being transported for medical treatment and charges for a third driver , Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said .
Friel said vehicle number one and two were traveling eastbound on S . Egg Harbor Road and vehicle number three was traveling westbound on S . Egg Harbor Road .
Vehicle number two , a white 2009 Suzuki FX4 operated by Shonda Miller , 50 , of Hammonton was stopped , waiting to make a left-hand turn into Harborwood Drive , Friel said . Vehicle number one , a gray 2023 Hyundai Elantra operated by Steven Heckmann , 30 , of Egg Harbor City was approaching vehicle number two and struck it from behind , pushing vehicle number two into the westbound lane of travel , where vehicle number two was struck by vehicle number three a green 2002 BMW model 530 operated by Myrna Santiago , 62 , of Hammonton , Friel said .
Police , fire and EMS personnel responded to the accident , Friel said , adding that Miller and Santiago were transported by EMS for medical attention .
Heckmann was charged with the following motor vehicle violations : careless driving , reckless driving and uninsured vehicle , Friel said .
Friel said Officer Renzo Mendoza was the arresting officer .
This report is comprised of arrests and investigations made by the men and women of local enforcement . All suspects and arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law .
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Mary Ruth
Szalejko ( nee Brown )
Mary Ruth Szalejko ( nee Brown ), 98 , passed away peacefully Wednesday December 28 , 2022 . She was born in Philadelphia , Pa . and lived most of her life in Collings Lakes and in Hammonton from 2007 to 2020 . Mary loved going to the Casinos , watching QVC , visiting her neighbors , dinners with family and taking trips to see her sister and brotherin-law in Chicago .
Mary is predeceased by her husband , Louis Szalejko ; her son , Joseph Vodopija ; and her sister , Jean Reice . Surviving are her children , Denise Rizzotte and her husband Anthony of Hammonton , N . J ., Steven Vodopija and his wife Janet of Pa ., and Louis D . Szalejko and his wife Doris of Deptford , N . J . Loving grandmother of Louis Vodopija , Cece Alicea , Steven Vodopija ( Michelle ), James Vodopija ( Jen ), Maryann Cavanaugh , Joanne Taylor , David Vodopija , Scott Szalejko , Kieth Szalejko , Kimberly Rizzotte-Boggs ( JC ), Tony Rizzotte and Michael Rizzotte . Also , 19 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren .
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing Wednesday January 4 , 2023 from 9 a . m . - 10:30 a . m . at the Marinella Funeral Home 102 N . Third St . Hammonton , N . J . 08037 . A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a . m . at St . Mary of Mt . Carmel Parish St . Joseph Church Third & French Streets Hammonton , N . J . Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum Harding Hwy Mays Landing , N . J . To share a condolence , please visit marinellafuneralhome . com Arrangements made by Marinella Funeral Home
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 .