Two local college students
paying their own way
The Hammontonians
who shaped the town
It’s chocolate time
at area convention
FUGITIVE SURRENDERS
p. 15
p. 23-34
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Volume 23 • Issue 4
by Gabe Donio
p. 41
www.hammontongazette.com
Charged with vehicular homicide for Feb. ‘18 death of Joseph Bellace Sr., 67
$1.7M for Frog Honoring Dr. King’s legacy
Rock’s ‘back 9’
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—Samuel
Sepulveda, who became a fugitive
after being charged with vehicular
homicide for a February 18, 2018
crash on Route 206 in Hammonton
that killed Joseph Bellace Sr., 67, of
Hammonton, turned himself in to
the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s
Office on January 17, Hammonton
Chief of Police Robert Jones said.
According to Acting Sgt. Jason
Rigby, the case will be the first ve-
hicular homicide based on a driving
while under the influence for drugs
rather than alcohol that the Ham-
monton Police Department has
ever done.
“He turned himself in on Thurs-
day [January 17] to the prosecutor’s
office,” Jones said.
Jones said law enforcement offi-
cials had been looking for Sepul-
See POLICE, Page 14
Plus hundreds of thousands of
dollars in sewer lines and drip
by Stephen Pistone
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
Mento named pres.,
Attanasi v.p. by cty.
HAMMONTON—Town council held a special meeting on January 14,
during which it was originally scheduled to vote on a bond ordinance that
would appropriate $700,000—$600,000 of which would be used to fund
See COUNCIL, Page 3
by Franki Rudnesky
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—The Ham-
monton Board of Education held
its monthly meeting on Thursday,
January 17, presided over by
board president Sam Mento III,
who was recently appointed to the
role by Acting Executive Atlantic
County Superintendent of Schools
Robert Bumpus after the board
failed to elect a president or vice
president at the 2019 reorganiza-
tion meeting.
Mento called the meeting to
THG/Stephen Pistone. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Skating Ctr.: Next
generation’s fun
(L-r) Stockton University Assistant Director of Student Development Lauren Wilson, Marketing Specialist Nick Zebrowski
and Support Specialist Sarah Kosch made Valentine’s Day cards for local veterans during Stockton’s Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day of Service on January 21 at Kramer Hall.
School board assembles
See SCHOOL, Page 12
by Stephen Pistone
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—Approxi-
mately three years ago, Rollway
Skating Rink (131 S. Second Rd.)
was purchased and renamed Ham-
monton Skating Center (HSC). It is
now owned and operated by Nick
Mazeika.
After it was purchased, the
nearly 50-year-old facility under-
went an extensive renovation and
rebranded itself as an affordable
destination for family fun that in-
cludes more than skating.
“We’re multi-dimensional. It’s
not just lacing up the skates on a
Friday night; it’s more of a whole
family fun center,” Mazeika said.
Parks & Rec. held
reorg mtg. Jan. 15
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
Courtesy Photo
The 2019 Hammonton Board of Education except for Folsom rep. John Thomas. Back row: Ray Scipione, John Lyons,
Michael Pullia, board president Sam Mento III, board vice president Thomas Attanasi and Waterford Twp. rep. Al Pan-
gia. Front row: Barbara Berenato, Kelli Fallon, Erica Polito and Linda Byrnes.
SUBSCRIBE TO The
HAMMONTON—The Ham-
monton Parks and Recreation
Commission met on January 15 at
town hall and nominated Louis
Cappuccio as its chairman for
2019. A motion to nominate Cap-
puccio was made by commission
Gazette • SUBSCRIBE NOW! • CALL 609-704-1939
member Sam Rodio Jr, seconded
by Paul Ordille and passed unani-
mously.
Cappuccio’s first order of busi-
ness in the new year was a request
for a vote on a co-chair. Commis-
sion member John Iacovelli made
a motion to nominate Paul Ordille,
seconded by Councilwoman
Brooke Sacco and passed unani-
See PARKS, Page 4
by Michael Rizzotte
See SKATING, Page 4