Page 2 • Wednesday , January 17 , 2024 • The Hammonton Gazette
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Hammonton Gazette
OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 NOTICIAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 OUR TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 FAITH FOCUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 CIVIC NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 HAMMONTON ’ S HISTORY . . . . . . 27
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT . . . . . . 29 WHAT ’ S HOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 MIND GAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 CLASSIFIEDS / LEGALS . . . . . . . . . 33 REAL ESTATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 SCORECARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 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
Alfred E . Bermel
Alfred E . Bermel , Sr ., 87 , of Hammonton , N . J . passed away Monday , January 8 , 2024 after a sudden illness . Al was born on December 22 , 1936 in Newark , N . J . and was the oldest of five children born to Edward and Evelyn Bermel . He graduated from Barringer High School and enlisted in the U . S Navy to proudly serve his country during the Korean War . After being honorably discharged from the Navy , he worked for Bell Telephone and then went on to take over the family business . Al was the owner and operator of Bermel Quality Plating & Son from the 1970 ’ s to 2005 when he retired to enjoy life . Before settling in Hammonton , Al lived most of his life in Northern NJ . Al was a proud member of the Hammonton American Legion F . A . Funston Post 186 . Al was strong willed and stubborn at times , but he also had an enormous heart and wonderful sense of humor . He was generous , loyal , and always willing to help out a friend or family member . He was clever and full of knowledge that he gained through all of his life experiences .
Al is predeceased by his wife , Margaret ( nee Murphy ) Bermel ; his parents , Edward and Evelyn ( nee McLean ) Bermel ; and brothers , William and Edward Bermel . He is survived by his son , Alfred E . Bermel , Jr . and his wife Kathie ; his brother . Ronald Bermel ; and sister , Barbara Bermel . Al is the loving grandfather of Alfred E . Bermel , III , Kylie Pillsbury , and Rhiannon Pillsbury and great grandfather of Hunter and Kaiden Bermel .
In typical Al fashion , there are no services planned and certainly no pomp and circumstance . Services and cremation will be held privately . A celebration of life will occur with details to be determined . In lieu of flowers , donations may be made in Al ’ s memory to the American Legion at Legion . org or to the Hammonton American Legion F . A . Funston Post 186 . To share a condolence , please visit marinellafuneralhome . com
Arrangements entrusted to the Marinella Funeral Home .
Joseph F . Caruso
Joseph F . Caruso , 102 , of Hammonton , N . J . passed away peacefully at home on Saturday , January 6 , 2024 . Joseph was born in Hammonton and was a lifelong resident . He worked for Perrone Door for over 30 years . Joe was a member of the Hammonton Police Reserve and the Artisans Order of Mutual Protection Assembly # 19 .
He is predeceased by his loving wife , Matilda Caruso ( nee Varsace ); his parents , Antonio and Lena ( nee Otario ) Caruso ; and his sisters , Marie Merlino and Elizabeth Girolo . Joe is survived by his son , Anthony J . Caruso ( Shirley ); grandchildren , Dawn R . Bushnell ( Paul ) and Carrie A . Caruso ( Tim Carder ); great grandchildren , Jordyn and Dominic ; and great great grandchild , Joey . As well as his extended family Bob and Patricia Vukicevich .
Relatives and friends were invited to attend his viewing on Friday , January 12 , 2024 from 10 a . m . to 11:30 a . m . at the Marinella Funeral Home 102 N . Third Street Hammonton , N . J . A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 12 p . m . at St . Mary of Mt . Carmel Parish-St . Anthony Church 285 Rt . 206 Hammonton , NJ 08037 . Burial followed in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery 248 S 1st . Rd Hammonton , NJ 08037 .
Arrangements entrusted to the Marinella Funeral Home .
John R . Morano
John R . Morano , 93 , of Hammonton , NJ passed away on Thursday , January 4 , 2024 at his residence . John was born and raised in Hammonton and was a 1948 Graduate of Hammonton High School . John worked alongside his family at James Morano and Sons Paper and Cleaning Supply Company . He was a member of the Hammonton Kiwanis Club for 43 years .
John was predeceased by his daughter , Johanna Morano ; his grandson , Christopher Domenico ; his parents , James and Jennie Morano ; his sisters , Mary Thurston , Carmella Washburn , Rita Farrell and Gladys Pilman ; and his brothers , James , Michael , Anthony , Rocco and Ralph . John is survived by his wife , Margaret " Marge " Morano ( nee Mossop ); his daughters , Janice A . Paine and Kathy Domenico ; three grandchildren , Glenn and Stefan Paine and Ryan Domenico ; and many nieces and nephews . At the request of the family funeral services and burial will be private . Arrangements were entrusted to Carnesale 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 .
Dan Russoman / THG
Hammonton High School boys basketball coach Joe Martino ( left ) talks with St . Joseph Academy boys basketball coach Paul Rodio prior to the start of the game played between the two teams on Jan . 12 . Hammonton went on to earn a close 60-58 victory for its fifth-straight win .
Man arrested for possession of firearm
by Mohammed Fuad GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
. HAMMONTON — The Hammonton Police Department ( HPD ) reported incidents involving a disturbance call , stolen vehicle tags and an unlawful possession of a firearm , according to Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel .
HPD received a call from an individual who stated that a male was sitting in a pickup truck with a gun threatening people behind a residential property . This occurred at the 300 block of Fairview Avenue
Margaret M . “ Marge ” Morano
Margaret M . “ Marge ” Morano , ( nee Mossop ), 86 , of Hammonton passed away peacefully on Monday , January 15 , 2024 . Born in Atco , N . J . she was a lifelong South Jersey resident . Marge was a longtime member and past treasurer of the Hammonton Sunshine Foundation , a member of the New Jersey Advisory Council for 17 years , a 4-H Leader , and former president of the PTA .
Marge was predeceased by her husband , of 68 years , John Morano ; her daughter , Johanna Morano ; her parents , Charles H . and Elizabeth Mossop ; her grandson , Christopher Domenico ; and her brothers , Charles H . Mossop , Jr ., Walter J . Mossop and George Mossop . Marge is survived by her two daughters , Janice A . Paine and Kathy Domenico ; her two sisters , Betty Giralo and Helen Cavallaro ; her three grandchildren , Glenn Paine , Stefan Paine and Ryan Domenico ; and many nieces , nephews , cousins and friends .
At the request of the family funeral services and burial will be private . Memorial donations may be made to the Hammonton Sunshine Foundation , PO Box 164 , Hammonton , NJ 08037 .
Arrangements entrusted to Carnesale Funeral Home .
Deborah A . Rogers
Deborah A . “ Debbie ” Rogers ( nee Rodio ), 63 , of Franklin Twp . NJ passed away Sunday January 7 , 2024 from a battle of 10 years from cancer . She was born in Vineland , N . J . and raised in Nesco , N . J . and graduated from Oakcrest Regional High School in 1978 . After graduation she worked for Lenox China , Wawa and for the last 17 years she was a Security Sgt . for Cape Atlantic Community College in Mays Landing , N . J . Debbie loved to crochet , play the guitar , listen to music and really enjoyed life .
She is predeceased by her parents , Salvatore and Anna Rodio ( nee Patten ). Debbie is survived by her loving husband of 41 years , Donald J . Rogers ; her daughter , Stacie Rogers and her husband Mark Dante of Millville , N . J .; brothers , Salvatore “ Jim ” Rodio , Jr . of Mays Landing , N . J ., Fred Rodio , Sr . and his wife Virginia of Atco , N . J .; sisters , Patricia Eppler and her husband Tom of Hammonton , N . J . and Donna Celentano and her husband Tom of Port St . Lucy , Fla .
Family and friends were invited to attend her Church Viewing on Saturday January 13 , 2024 beginning at 9 a . m . with Funeral Services held at 11 a . m . all at Calvary Chapel of Hammonton 660 S . Egg Harbor Rd . Hammonton , N . J . The family has requested donation in Deborah ’ s name to Atlantic County Animal Shelter 240 Old Turnpike Pleasantville , NJ 08232 To share a condolence , please visit marinellafuneralhome . com .
Arrangements entrusted to the Marinella Funeral Home .
on Jan . 15 at 5:03 a . m .
Officer Travis Hoffman responded to the location and approached the residence , observing a silver pickup truck parked in the rear of the property . Police ordered the subjects out of the vehicle and a loaded firearm was located underneath the driver ’ s seat .
The driver , Juan Velazquez III , 33 , of Vineland , N . J ., was placed under arrest for unlawful possession of a firearm . Velazquez III was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon , possession by a person not to have weapons and possession of a prohibited weapon .
Velazquez III was transported to the Atlantic County Justice Facility ( ACJF ), pending court appearance in Atlantic County Superior Court ( ACSC ).
The occupant of the vehicle , Bristin Andino , 33 , of Millville , N . J ., was found to have over $ 15,000 in active warrants . Andino was placed under arrest and was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia . Andino was turned over to Millville Police Department for processing and lodging .
Corporal Kyle Ambrozaitis responded to a residence in the area of Second Road and Ninth Street in reference to an irate male standing outside of a residence arguing with a subject inside of a vehicle . This occurred on Jan . 11 at 1:17 a . m .
Bobby Mendezjustiniano , 36 , of Mullica Twp ., N . J ., was having an argument with a male subject . Mendezjustiniano had active traffic warrants in the amount of $ 2,500 . Mendezjustiniano was placed under arrest and was found to have two $ 1 bills containing a crystal-like substance believed to be crystal meth and two Ziplock bags containing residue of crystal meth .
Mendezjustiniano was charged with two counts of possession of controlled-dangerous substance ( CDS ), unlicensed driver , driving while suspended and failure to wear seatbelt .
Mendezjustiniano was transported to ACJF on the outstanding traffic warrant and will be appearing in ACSC on the new charges . Officer Daniel Norcross con-
See HPD , Page 4