Kessler site owners makes announcement
p . 16
Who ’ s Hungry ? Annual Mega Menu & Dining Guide
p . 25-40
Who will take home an Oscar on Feb . 26 ?
p . 49
Wednesday , February 22 , 2017
Volume 21 • Issue 8 www . hammontongazette . com
LOCAL THEFT SPREE
by Gabe Donio
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON — Police are cautioning residents to lock their
HAMMONTON — The planning board voted in support of Ordinance # 004-2017 during its meeting on February 15 . If approved by mayor and council , the newly-introduced ordinance
Police : Lock cars , call in suspicious people
vehicles at all times and be on the lookout for suspicious people in their neighborhood in the wake of
Board supports zone restrictions
by Stephen Pistone
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON — The Public Works & Transportation Committee and Water & Sewer Committee ( PWTC / WSC ) discussed an ordinance that would reinforce would amend Chapter 175 , Article XIII , Section 155 of the town ’ s land development ordinance for the Highway Business ( H-B ) zoning district to remove a subsection pertaining to the proposed development of hospitals and several other health care facilities in the H-B zoning district .
See PLANNING , Page 3
Public Works Dept . time off discussed
by Stephen Pistone
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER certain policies for essential employees of the Public Works Department during their meeting on February 16 .
The ordinance discusses restricting vacation , personal and comp time off between the dates of December 1 and March 15 . Additionally , the reinforcement
See PWTC , Page 4 a local theft spree that occurred last week , Hammonton Police Lt . Kevin Friel said .
THG / Stephen Pistone . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .
Brian ( left ) and Jack Tomasello ( right ), of Tomasello Winery , hold a Tastings . com 2016 World Wine Championships gold award and the 2013 Palmaris Cabernet Sauvignon wine that won the award .
Thefts of money , wallets and a checkbook from numerous vehicles in the driveways of homes
by Stephen Pistone
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON — Most towns are fortunate to have one winery nearby . Hammonton residents have the privilege of being able to visit five , all within an eight-mile radius of each other .
Hammonton ’ s three wineries in were reported to police last week , Friel said . In addition , police were notified of a theft of hundreds of dollars in tools and equipment from two separate properties dur-
See POLICE , Page 2
Agriculture leaders honored
Courtesy Photo
On February 15 , the Atlantic County Board of Agriculture held its meeting at NJM on 12th Street . At the meeting , local grower and garden center owner Ron Fisher was honored with a lifetime achievement award for his 20 years of service to the board . The Fiocchi Family , of Lee Rain Inc ., was honored with the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award . August C . Wuillermin and David O . Wuillermin were given the Outstanding Service to Agriculture Award . NJM hosted the dinner event and provided the meal . Pictured above are NJM Personal Lines Supervisor Dana Rodriguez , NJM Commercial Lines Representative Francesca Padilla , Ron Fisher , David O . Wuillermin , Lee Fiocchi Jr ., Lee Fiocchi III , Todd Fiocchi and NJM ’ s Director for Building Services Frank H . Galloway III . Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson provided proclamations for the honorees . NJM was also honored by the Atlantic County Board of Agriculture for hosting the event .
Wineries expanding in town , nearby
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town ( Tomasello Winery , DiMatteo Vineyards and Plagido ’ s Winery ) and two directly across the border in Winslow Twp . ( White Horse Winery and Sharrott Winery ) collectively create a culture of wine connoisseurship that rivals any other area in the state of New Jersey , and it is a culture that thrives 365 days a year .
See WINERY , Page 10
14th Annual Taste of the Town Mar . 5
by Stephen Pistone
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON — Prepare your palate for the Hammonton Education Foundation ’ s ( HEF ) 14th Annual Taste of the Town event . On Sunday , March 5 , more than two dozen food vendors will flood the Hammonton High School gymnasium , offering samples of all the town ’ s culinary offerings .
All proceeds of the event go to the HEF , who will then use the money to help fund projects at the Hammonton School District . HEF president Frank Rudnesky has been a member of the HEF for the past 10 years and will be attending his first Taste of the Town as pres-
See TASTE , Page 16