The Hammonton Gazette 03/16/16 Edition | Page 5

Pascale Sykes Foundation seeks to help fund Main Street businesses Page 4 • Wednesday, March 16, 2016 • The Hammonton Gazette FOUNDATION, from Page 1 dation works hard to provide grants, launch business initiatives and serve the overall good of the family. Since their formation, they have invested more than $10 million towards social service programs in southern New Jersey. in October 2015, they launched the New Jersey Heartland program as part of their South Jersey economic initiative. the program focuses on promoting the attractions, benefits, resources and what their website refers to as “hidden treasures” in atlantic, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties. foundation President frances Sykes said she believes that through programs such as these growth is possible. “these counties are places that people want to live in; they have the most potential to grow. We are working to really highlight that these are destination areas. Building from already existing small businesses is very important. We want to help with whatever it is they want to do. Maybe relocate to a bigger location or expand,” Sykes said. On the afternoon of March 9, local business owners and community leaders gathered at tomasello Winery for a special meeting regarding the development and marketing of Main Street communities that included the financing options they have at their disposal. Members of the Pascale Sykes foundation, Masterpiece advertising, New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC) and former United States Congressman and Philadelphia eagles tackle Jon runyan all addressed the crowd about the importance of continued development in the area. Bus driver injured in accident BUS, from Page 1 ered in front of the atlantiCare Satellite emergency Department, tomasello Winery, Wawa and a/t auto Clinic as rescue crews worked on removing tomasco from the bus. Hammonton Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dan Blachford and Hammonton High School Principal thomas ramsay were on the scene of the accident. “the bus operator was stuck in the bus due to the damage to the vehicle. She was removed from vehicle by the Hammonton Volunteer fire Department and atlantiCare eMS, taken to the adjacent atlantiCare emergency Department and airlifted to Cooper trauma Center in Camden,” Salvatore said. tomasco was the only person on the bus, Salvatore said. according to police sources, tomasco had picked up the bus from the garage at the Hammonton Middle School at the corner of fairview avenue and Liberty Street and was going to the Hammonton High School located on Old forks road to begin her afternoon run. the accident is being investigated, Salvatore said. “they are investigating possible mechanical failure as the cause. the accident is being investigated and nothing has been determined,” Salvatore said. Officer Charles Sbarra iii is the investigating officer, Salvatore said. alan rosenzweig serves as vice president of Strategic Marketing at Masterpiece advertising. He and his company, in conjunction with the NJ Heartland initiative and various other groups, work to ensure that people are aware of all the great — and free — opportunities around them. “We want to connect with restaurants, with distilleries and wineries and businesses, and we want to help you promote it. the only thing that needs to hap V