Fenway’s
picks of
the week
Pepperoni bread Shrek coming
contest March 30 to life at HHS
p. 48, 64
p. 23
Grand night for
St. Joseph High School
p. 27-42
Getting lost in
the snow...
p. 53
$2.4M MORE FOR SCHOOLS
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Volume 24 • Issue 10
www.hammontongazette.com
by Gabe Donio
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—according to New
Jersey Department of education website
NJ.gov/education, the Hammonton School
District will receive an additional
State aid increases again for coming year
$2,394,946 in state aid this year, represent-
ing an 11.48 percent increase in aid.
Hammonton Board of education Presi-
dent Sam Mento iii said the funding would
help the district maintain and grow pro-
grams and activities for its students.
He also detailed the funding breakdown
and stated that the district will realize a $2.2
million increase.
“When you look at the numbers being re-
St. Joe ‘62-’63 football team honored
ported, Hammonton received $2.39 million
more than last year from the state. We as a
district have to look at all our sources of in-
come such as grants, choice and tuition from
74-year-old local
man assaulted
by Gabe Donio
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—at 3:55 a.m.
on february 28, the atlantiCare
Satellite emergency Department
contacted the Hammonton Police
Department regarding a 74-year-
See SCHOOLS, Page 8
old male who had been assaulted,
friel said.
Police responded and spoke
with the victim, a resident of the
100 block of Peach Street who ad-
vised that he was at his apartment
when a Hispanic male knocked at
his window, friel said.
Fitchett sworn in
as tax collector
by Joseph F. Berenato
THG/Joseph F. Berenato. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
St. Joseph High School (SJHS) Wildcat Gala and St. Joseph Hall of Fame Dinner was held on February 29 at Lucien’s
Manor in Berlin. The school’s first football team for the class of 1962-1963 were inducted into the school’s hall
of fame. Pictured (left to right): the Rev. Allain B. Caparas, Salvatore “Sam” Mento, Lloyd Wimberg, Ben Massara,
Martin T. Durney, Mike Macri, Rick Pistone, Jeff Longo, John DeLucca, Ron DeStefano, Rocco Santora and SJHS
Director of Advancement Anthony Apreda. More pictures and article covering the event inside.
School officials on
turf, field house
by Joseph F. Berenato
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—School offi-
cials spoke to The Gazette about
two upcoming Hammonton
School District projects.
the first would see a major
overhaul of the fields used for
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON—Council held
its regularly monthly meeting on
february 24 at 7 p.m. in town hall.
During that meeting, Mayor
Stephen DiDonato introduced
resolution #031-2020, appointing
See POLICE, Page 8
Deborah fitchett to the office of
tax collector.
Councilman thomas Gribbin
administered the oath of office to
fitchett, who stood on the dais sur-
rounded by her husband and
daughters.
fitchett’s term will run from
March 1, 2020 to March 1, 2024.
See COUNCIL, Page 3
field hockey and soccer.
“We are out for bid for two arti-
ficial turf fields. they will be lo-
cated directly behind the high
school,” said Business adminis-
trator/Board Secretary Barbara S.
Prettyman.
School board president Sam
Mento iii provided further details.
Historic Preserv.
Comm. holds mtg
G azette S taff W riter
HaMMONtON— the Historic
Preservation Commission held its
monthly meeting on february 26
in town hall.
Several topics were discussed
during the meeting. among them
were digitizing efforts for a state
survey of historic places in Ham-
monton completed in 1980. Chair-
person angela Donio noted that
parts of the survey were used to
create a booklet for a self-guided
walking tour for Hammonton’s
sesquicentennial celebration in
2016.
SUBSCRIBE TO The
See HISTORIC, Page 12
THG/Joseph F. Berenato. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
On February 24, Councilman Thomas Gribbin (left) administered the oath of office for tax collector to Deborah
Fitchett, who was surrounded by her husband and daughters.
Gazette • SUBSCRIBE NOW! • CALL 609-704-1939
by Joseph F. Berenato
See FIELDS, Page 10