Legally Blonde coming
to the HHS stage
p. 15
Pullout celebrates 75 years
of St. Joseph High School
p. 23-38
Rodio Tractor holds
annual games
p. 18
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
KESSLER RENOVATIONS BEGIN
Volume 18 • Issue 10
by Gabe Donio
Gazette Staff Writer
H a M M O N tO N — K e s s l e r
Medical arts Complex, once the
site of Kessler Memorial Hospital,
has begun the transformation into a
medical mall that Community
Healthcare associates (CHa) LLC
Managing Partner e. Stephen
www.hammontongazette.com
New windows installed, new elevator for former hospital
Kirby said would eventually house
a surgical center and medical offices. Bloomfield, N.J.-based CHa
purchased the building from the
former Kessler Memorial Hospital
for $2.6 million in 2011.
CHa owns the entire former hospital property, which includes the
hospital building and land, the
parking lot on Central avenue and
the White Horse Pike (route 30),
and an adjacent house and property
on Central avenue with frontage on
Hammonton Lake. Kessler Memorial Hospital closed its doors in
March of 2009 after providing
medical care to the greater Hammonton area for nearly 50 years.
the property is now a tax ratable
after nearly five decades of tax-exempt status.
in an exclusive interview with
The Gazette, Kirby outlined the
plans for the building and com-
mented on the work that is currently being done, as well as future
improvements.
in the last two weeks, Kirby said
the process of replacing all of the
windows in the building has begun.
the total cost of the window re-
Schools receive Scout working on trail project
state aid figures
See KESSLER, Page 12
Giralo: expenses up, revenue down
by Gabe Donio
Gazette Staff Writer
HaMMONtON—School officials received the state aid figures
from the state last week, and have
begun working with the administration and professionals on creat-
ing a budget. Hammonton Board
of education President Joseph Giralo said the aid was not enough to
offset additional expenses in the
school district’s budget during an
interview with The Gazette.
“it’s a $45 million budget with
High school PAC
continues to grow
by Paul J. Macrie IV
Gazette Staff Writer
HaMMONtON—for more
than a decade, the Hammonton
High School (HHS) Performing
See SCHOOL, Page 4
arts Center [PaC] has been home
to numerous events and shows.
Since the high school moved its location to Old forks road in 2002
and a brand-new performing arts
facility was constructed, it has
THG/MarySusan Hoffman. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Christina Tomasello from Girl Scout Troop 30910 is working on a “Silver Project,” which involves her planning, organizing and completing a trail project at Hammonton Lake Park. Tomasello’s project involves her measuring, mapping
and marking the walking/running trails at Hammonton Lake Park and Smith Tract. Tomasello plans to install trail
markers on three separate trails, which will be made from pressure treated lumber. For more information about the
project or to make a donation e-mail [email protected] or call 567-5879. Tomasello is pictured with one
of the trail markers and Environmental Commission Vice Chair Terri Caruso Cafiso.
Reality stars make stop downtown 11th annual Taste of
the Town is Mar. 16
See PAC, Page 3
by Paul J. Macrie IV
Gazette Staff Writer
HaMMONtON—the Hammonton education foundation will
have its 11th annual “taste of the
town” fundraising event at the
Hammonton High School main
gymnasium on Sunday, March 16
from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. it will be
sponsored by Susquehanna Bank
and 26 vendors will be present at
the event, as attendees can sample
various food items offered from
the area businesses.
each year, the Hammonton education foundation prepares
months in advance for its most significant fundraising event. all the
hard work and dedication from the
members of the foundation and
others that contribute have made it
Solar array system
approved by board
by Paul J. Macrie IV
Gazette Staff Writer
THG/Lauren Crescenzo. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Cathy Nesbitt-Stein and daughter Vivi-Anne were at Paul Morris Danexplosion on March 1. The two have been on
several episodes of “Dance Moms” reality show. Mitchell A. Finke, freelance choreographer and director, was also
in the studio. Finke and Nesbitt-Stein taught classes, answered questions and met with fans inside the Bellevue Avenue dance school.
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HaMMONtON—On february
27, the Hammonton zoning Board
of adjustment held its regular
meeting at town hall. During the
brief meeting, the board was presented with one application. applicant Lisa Monaco was seeking a
The Gazette! ONLY $20 FOR 52 WEEKS! CALL: (609) 704-1940
See TASTE, Page 10
use variance to permit construction
of a solar array system in a residential district for Block 1901, Lot
18.01, zone rr at 760 N. Chew
road.
first Power and Light, a solar
and renewable energy company
based out of Bridgeport, Pa., had
two employees representing the
See ZONING, Page 14