Page 2 • Wednesday , February 28 , 2024 • The Hammonton Gazette OBITUARIES
Stacie Deborah Rogers
Stacie Deborah Rogers , 36 , of Millville , N . J . passed away Sunday February 18 , 2024 . She was born in Vineland , N . J . and graduated from Delsea Regional High School in 2005 . After graduation she worked for Wawa as a food and beverage manager .
She is predeceased by her mother , Deborah Rogers ( nee Rodio ); and her grandparents , Salvatore and Anna Rodio . Stacie is survived by her husband , Mark Dante ; and her father , Donald J . Rogers . Also her aunts , Patricia Eppler and her husband Thomas of Hammonton , N . J ., Donna Celentano and her husband Tom of Port St . Lucie , Fla ., Rose Rogers of Cape May Court House , N . J ., Dee Manin of Seaville , N . J .; her uncle , Sal Rodio Jr of Mays Landing , N . J .; Fred Rodio and Virginia of Atco , N . J .; her Grandfather , Donald E . Rogers of Cape May Court House , N . J .; and many cousins . Stacie had a love for all animals and loved her dog , Daisy and two kitties .
Family and friends were invited to attend her Church Viewing on Saturday February 24 , 2024 at 10 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 Stacie ’ 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 .
LWQA outed
COUNCIL , from Page 1 Associates bladderwort study . Bachalis went on to state that the committee was ignored by members of council , asserting those not specifically mentioned failed to share documents , provide feedback and even inform the public .
Bachalis said that regarding meeting in town hall monthly , there was no such requirement . Since its inception and for years after , the committee had met in the Canoe Club . The committee met for a time at town hall but later returned to the Canoe Club stating ample notice was given to the public . This led to another argument that the committee did not have regular participation from the public . Bachalis defended his position stating that it was not a requirement in the function of the committee , but the community did in fact attend and participate and included a Gazette reporter at each meeting .
Bachalis concluded that Oliva failed to make a case for dissolution . He also reiterated that the committee simply serves in a strictly advisory role , continuing that the council routinely exercised its authority in rejecting or threatening to reject the committee ’ s advice . He concluded his argument by shifting responsibility to the council .
“ The reasons put forward for the elimination of the Lake Committee by Councilman Oliva are all totally without merit , and the real responsibility for a perceived unsatisfactory condition of the lake in 2023 lies squarely with the members of this Council , not the committee ,” he said .
Oliva sat silent during the public comment section , waiting to address reasoning for the move during discussion following the motion . After the motion was made to dissolve and the mayor opened the floor to council discussion Oliva detailed reasoning for the suggested move while responding to some of the statements Bachalis made earlier .
Bachalis delivered a more impassioned response , while Oliva ’ s explanation was more pragmatic in nature . After opening his explanation with confirming his commitment to continued application of science to the issues at the lake nor was he advocating for a vast reduction
in the number of volunteers and individuals who are able to assist the community , he went on to detail his reasoning for the shift of responsibilities to Parks and Recreation Commission . Oliva stated that he was advocating to move that responsibility from the LWQA Committee to the Parks and Recreation Commission for a number of reasons .
Oliva reported that the LWQA Committee does have seven full-time members and three alternates . One of those alternates has not been filled for a number of years . There ’ s also a specific representative from the Parks and Recreation Commission serving a one-year term . That also went unfilled last month . He added that they haven ’ t had anyone in the last six months , having an individual who had previously stepped down .
The LWQA Committee had challenges with attendance and record keeping in 2022 . At the end of 2022 , that prompted Oliva to have discussions with the mayor recognizing that there are challenges and some issues . Oliva believed the move would be a resolution to those challenges . Oliva sought to work on 2023 to see if they improve record keeping and attendance .
It was concerning to Oliva that last year , the LWQA Committee had 59 percent attendance rate , which is the lowest of all of our warrants and commissions . The Parks and Recreation Commission had a 90 percent attendance rate , which is the highest . And while Bachalis noted specifically Oliva ’ s lack of attendance , Oliva said his attendance for those meetings would not have impacted the percentage since he was merely the council liaison .
Records were also an issue . There were multiple issues with meeting minutes being approved , or meeting minutes being tapped stating that there were four months worth of meeting minutes that were to be approved because they were not approved for the summer .
As far as the meeting locations is concerned , Oliva felt the choice of location could have helped .
“ I know that there ’ s no requirement to meet in the council chambers as opposed to [ other locations ], but I believe
Jaime Wuillermin / THG
Instructor Widmer teaching self defense skills to the Young Dragons class ( ages 4-6 ). Also assisting were three junior black belts as part of their Leadership Development Ryan Wetzel , Julia Gullo and James Raso .
that that creates a challenge for public engagement ,” he said .
Oliva said those numerous issues and concerns prompted the conversation with the mayor . That was why at the beginning of the year , the committee members whose terms were up and open positions were not reappointed immediately in January , knowing this discussion was going to come .
The LWQA Committee has had members of the committee continue to meet . Only four members had consistent attendance .
“ There are only four of the nine members of the committee that have had 75 percent attendance . So , what I personally thought was that if four members attend 75 percent of the time , and we ’ d have half of those members who we put them on Parks and Rec [ then ] we now had nine advocates , 90 percent attending advocates working for the lake , as opposed to four 75 percent or better attendance for the Lake . That would be better for the town - that would be better for us ,” Oliva said .
That conclusion was shared by four of the seven council members Monday night . The addition of a letter shared by Councilor Sam Radio , written by Parks and Recreation Chairman Lou Cappuccio also served to reaffirm the decision by the majority of council .
In the letter sent to council by Cappuccio of the Parks and Recreation Commission expressed that the commission unanimously agreed to take on the LWQA Committee responsibilities should the council approve the ordinance to add two additional members to the commission .
While the vote to dissolve the LWQA Committee passed 4-3 the ordinance to add the additional two members from the LWQA to the Parks and Recreation Commission passed 7-0 , effectively ending the heated debate on the LWQA Committee ’ s existence .
Search warrants and DWI arrests made
by Kristin Guglietti GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON — There were two smoke shops that had search warrants served on them on Feb . 23 at the White Horse Pike .
“ We affected a search warrant for items from both places ,” Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said .
The smoke shops were located at the prime block of N . White Horse Pike and at the 100 block of S . White Horse Pike .
Friel did not offer further information on the warrants and referred The Gazette to the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office .
In other police news , there were two DWI arrests .
The first one was on Feb . 24 at 3:11 a . m . at S . Egg Harbor Road and Bellevue Avenue .
Officer Travis Hoffman was responding to an erratic driver complaint . The caller reported that the accused vehicle was failing to maintain travel multiple times . Hoffman observed the vehicle traveling westbound on S . Egg Harbor Road crossing over the center line and conducted a motor vehicle stop at Orchard Street and West End Avenue , Friel said .
The driver was identified as Jose Vazquez Acosta , 40 , of Buena , N . J . The officer observed a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from within the vehicle , Friel said .
Vazquez Acosta was placed under arrest , transported to police headquarters for processing and charged with the following motor vehicle violations : driving under the influence , reckless driving , careless driving , failing to maintain lane of travel , failing to stop or yield to stop sign and open container of alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle .
Vazquez Acosta was released as per John ’ s law pending a court appearance at Hammonton Joint Municipal Court .
Hoffman was the investigating and arresting officer .
The second DWI was on Feb . 25 at 4:11 a . m . at S . White Horse Pike and Seventh Street .
Hoffman received an erratic driver call . The vehicle was located in a parking lot in the prime block of N . White Horse Pike , Friel said .
The driver was identified as Brien Woolford-Council , 28 , of Ewing , N . J .
Hoffman detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from Woolford-Council ’ s breath and person , Friel said .
Woolford-Council was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters for processing and charged with the following motor vehicle violations : driving under the influence , careless driving , reckless driving , failing to inspect the vehicle , failure to make repairs and reinspect and failure to comply with motor vehicle inspection laws .
Woolford-Council was released as per John ’ s law pending a court appearance at Hammonton Joint Municipal Court .
Hoffman was the investigating and arresting officer .
This report is comprised of arrests and investigations made by the men and women of local enforcement . All suspects and arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law .
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