Stay healthy with
these helpful tips
p. 16-20
Gazette Deputy Journalists Clooney, Damon and more
publish first articles
battle to save precious art
p. 21
p. 31
GRAPE ST. FUNDING OK’D
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Volume 18 • Issue 7
www.hammontongazette.com
by Lauren Bucci
Gazette Staff Writer
HaMMONtON—a special
meeting of the Hammonton town
Council was held on february 10
to discuss the funding for a major
town project on Pratt, Grape,
Packard and Second Streets.
Council passed two ordinances
Marandino Construction awarded contract; will begin in spring
authorizing the issuance of negotiable bonds in the principal
amounts of $5,200,000 for sewer
main replacement and $1,700,000
for water main replacement.
these projects will be completed
on Pratt Street from egg Harbor
road to fourth Street; Grape Street
Officer injured
in car accident
by Gabe Donio
Gazette Staff Writer
HaMMONtON—an on-duty
officer who was driving the Hammonton Police Department’s
D.a.r.e. Pt Cruiser back from
his duty at the Hammonton High
from egg Harbor road to Liberty
Street; Packard Street from Grape
Street to route 54 (Bellevue avenue) and Second Street from Vine
Street to Cherry Street, according
to the agenda and the town engineer.
according to council, state fund-
ing for the project will come from
both the New Jersey Department of
transportation (NJDOt) and the
New Jersey environmental infrastructure trust (NJeit).
an
NJDOt grant in the amount of
$343,641 will be used for Pratt
Street only and the balance of the
Pratt Street project along with the
project cost for Grape, Packard,
and Second Streets will be covered
by the NJeit in the form of a loan,
Mayor Stephen DiDonato said following the meeting.
funding for the project is avail-
See GRAPE, Page 12
School (HHS) Hop sustained injuries when his car collided with
another vehicle on the White
Horse Pike, Hammonton Police
Captain Nick Salvatore said. the
accident occurred at 11:39 p.m. on
february 7, Salvatore said.
Tom Gribbin talks
indoor rec. plans
by Paul J. Macrie IV
Gazette Staff Writer
HaMMONtON—During the
January 27 Hammonton town
Council meeting, councilman
thomas Gribbin discussed his
preliminary idea for an indoor
recreational facility, which would
See INJURED, Page 10
potentially include an indoor
swimming pool and track. the
proposed facility is a vision Gribbin feels would benefit residents,
especially since there isn’t an indoor swimming or soccer area in
the town.
it was an idea Gribbin suggested during his election cam-
Another sellout at the Eagle
See GRIBBIN, Page 3
Minimum wage
hike local impact
THG/Paul J. Macrie IV. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Town council discussed Grape Street repairs at its meeting on February 10. The road has several areas of concern,
including the “dip” at the intersection of Grape and Packard streets.
by Paul J. Macrie IV
Gazette Staff Writer
HaMMONtON—this year,
New Jersey increased its minimum wage to $8.25. it will affect
all businesses in some way, but
small businesses could feel the
impact the most. the minimum
wage hike is good news for employees, but business owners will
need to find a way to overcome an
increase in labor costs while maintaining a respectable profit.
in Hammonton, farms and the
service and food industry will be
affected by the minimum wage
New Republicans
announce slate
by Lauren Bucci
Gazette Staff Writer
THG/Gabe Donio. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
The Eagle Theatre’s marquee announced that the final night for Footloose was sold out. The next show at the Vine
Street playhouse will be the Vagina Monologues. Following that show will be Next to Normal, which opens in March.
SUBSCRIBE TO
HaMMONtON—the Hammonton United republican Club
announced its town council candidates for the June primary election
at their second meeting on february 4 at annata Wine Bar.
Councilman Michael Pullia an-
The Gazette! ONLY $20 FOR 52 WEEKS! CALL: (609) 704-1940
See WAGE, Page 10
nounced that the club’s three
founders, former councilman
Steven furgione, former councilman Michael torrissi and Dr. Otto
Hernandez would form its slate.
Creating a more equalized town
council with council members who
can counterbalance one another
was a major focus for the candi-
See REPUBLICAN, Page 4