Fenway’s
picks of
the week
Crafting w/ Pinelands
Cricut
Perspective
p. 25
p. 6
Presidential Profiles
featured
p. 19-24
Is ‘Picard’ worth
all the hype?
p. 35
MORE VEHICLE BURGLARIES
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Volume 24 • Issue 8
www.hammontongazette.com
Patrols stepped up in residential areas; Chief: ‘We need your help’
by Gabe Donio
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
Department have begun in response to an in-
crease in vehicle burglaries, but Hammonton
Police Chief Kevin Friel said police need the
public’s help by making locking vehicle
doors a daily occurrence to thwart would-be
thieves.
“I implore residents to please take the extra
moment to ensure that your vehicles are
locked. We’re aware of the vehicle burglary
problem in residential areas, and we’ve
Board honors HHS football team
HAMMONTON—Increased patrols in
residential areas by the Hammonton Police
stepped up patrols in those residential areas
in the overnight hours, but we need your
help. Please make sure your vehicles are
locked. When these individuals encounter a
Teachers receive
board honors
See POLICE, Page 2
by Franki Rudnesky
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—On February
13, Hammonton Board of
Education held its monthly
meeting, in which there were
presentations for the Hammonton
High School (HHS) football team,
district Teachers of the Year and the
Student Safety Data System.
Board president Sam Mento III
called the meeting to order. Board
members Thomas Attanasi and
John Lyons were excused from the
Officials discuss
2020 road work
by Joseph F. Berenato
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
by Joseph F. Berenato
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—Hammonton
has long been known for its multi-
generational family enterprises.
For William Donio, that enterprise
is education law.
Donio is the solicitor for the
Hammonton Board of Education.
His father, Samuel A. Donio,
started representing the school dis-
trict in 1974.“He had been repre-
senting the town of Hammonton
See DONIO, Page 10
THG/Joseph F. Berenato. To purchase
photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Env. Commission
hears applications
by Joseph F. Berenato
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—The Ham-
monton Environmental Commis-
sion held its monthly meeting at 7
p.m. on February 5 in town hall.
During the meeting, Bernardo S.
Peralta Jr. of 779 Central Ave. ad-
Right: Hammonton Board of Edu-
cation solicitor William Donio.
dressed the commission looking
for shade tree recommendations.
Peralta had originally removed
several trees in conjunction with
the installation of a solar array.
“Now that the trees are no
longer there, during the summer-
time, the front of the house where
the thermostat is gets warm, so the
SUBSCRIBE TO The
See TREE, Page 12
ager Robert Vettese talked to The
Gazette regarding the process for
the upcoming projects.
“Definitely roads will be resur-
faced. We’ll probably have to ask
for a contract from Adams,
Rehmann & Heggan and Associ-
ates to go out and survey some of
them, just to make sure of the
Taste of
the Town
March 8
See ROAD, Page 4
by Joseph F. Berenato
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—The Hammonton
Education Foundation will hold its 17th
Annual Taste of the Town on March 8
from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Gymnasium A of
Hammonton High School.
“Picture yourself walking into the high
school gymnasium, set up and decorated
for the hoedown, and all the way around
the perimeter of the gym are local restau-
rants and vendors that set up and are serv-
ing food. There’s a coffee station and a
drink station ... You get a nice variety of
food, and you can’t eat it all,” foundation
president Joanne Pullia said.
Lori Calderone, chairperson for the
Taste of the Town committee, said that
each event has had its own theme.
“Last year we did a sock hop theme.
Years before, we’ve done, like when the
Gazette • SUBSCRIBE NOW! • CALL 609-704-1939
See TOWN, Page 3
Donio solicitor
for last 25 years
THG/Franki Rudnesky. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Hammonton High School football players and coaches were honored at the school board meeting February 13
for their WJFL Royal Division and NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 championship titles.
HAMMONTON—Continuing
the work from last year, the town
of Hammonton is eyeing several
more road projects for its 2020
Roads Program.
Hammonton Public Works Man-
See SCHOOL, Page 4