The Hammonton Gazette 03/18/15 Edition | Page 6

Page 6 • Wednesday, March 18, 2015 • The Hammonton Gazette The Hammonton Gazette “The Paper of Record” Gabriel J. Donio, Publisher Gina rullo, Editor-in-Chief Dan russoman, Sports Editor Benny Mendez, Staff Artist Marysusan hoffman, Paul J. Macrie iv, Michael hozik, Donna Brown, Joseph Bruno, Brittany Mauro, Lauren Bucci, Lauren crescenzo Staff The Hammonton Gazette is located at 233 Bellevue ave. to reach a staff member, call 704-1940 or fax at 704-1938. the mailing address is P.o. Box 1228, hammonton, nJ 08037. eDitoriaLs The Hammonton Gazette is published Wednesdays, by The Hammonton Gazette, Inc. Copyright © 2015. All rights reserved. ISSN 1093-6181 spending situation At their meeting on March 12, the Hammonton Board of Education passed a $44 million budget with a $410,000 increase in spending that will result in a 3-cent (based on the post-revaluation tax base) increase in the school tax. Voters approved a referendum several years ago that led to a major renovation of the Warren E. Sooy Jr. Elementary School. For years, the debt service on the building was absorbed by the district, but in recent years the taxpayers have seen increases related to the work that was done on the element ary school. With plans to continue renovations at the Hammonton Middle School without a referendum but out of the budget, as well as a possible expansion to athletic facilities at Hammonton High School, we feel it is again time to caution about government spending at a time when the taxpayer is stretched to the limit. Renovations to classrooms and other educational areas of the middle school should remain of paramount importance, but every other building project can be classified a “legacy” improvement and an extravagance. We’re sure we’ll hear many excuses about why these projects should be done, but in reality, unless the board is talking about renovations to academic areas of buildings, all other projects are just about spending taxpayers’ money to take care of a few while disregarding the impact on the greatest number of people. Public schools exist to educate students. Academics come first, then extracurricular activities like sports. Our taxpayers have already spent far too much on extras like the original fieldhouse, and yet were still willing to back projects like the renovation of the elementary school. As budgets are created and decisions about spending are made in the coming year, the board should remember that there is a reasonable limit to the public’s generosity when it comes to the school district. That limit should not be tested. Feeling the loss Hammonton is a close-knit, family town. It’s a true community. Often, those family ties are taken for granted. Days, weeks, months and years go by, and the bonds between family and friends are accepted as something that will always be. At times we can forget the power of those bonds, and the way we are drawn to each other in ways large and small. When we lose people, it is impossible to ignore the connections, because a vital link in a lengthy chain has been broken. We have seen and felt those connections in the last few weeks, with the passing of so many people who had so many connections to Hammonton and beyond the borders of the town. Certainly the families and the friends of the people who passed have felt the loss most profoundly. And yet, because Hammonton is a special town where people care deeply about their extended family, coworkers and neighbors, the loss has also been felt throughout the community. In thousands of moments in recent weeks, people took time to remember a number of local people who left their mark on the town and its residents. We grieved the loss of these individuals, who came from many different walks of life, but were a part of the local scene, in some cases for a time span that was measured in decades, or generations, not merely in years. As we grieved, we celebrated their lives, and the impact they made in the time they were here. Hammonton will miss them. to the editor: Letters to the eDitor Thank you to our Hammonton Police force. On a Friday night a couple of weeks ago, due to my own fault, my security alarm went off. It was 1 a.m. and I happened to be alone at the time. A.S.G. called immediately and asked if I needed police assistance. I wouldn’t feel safe without it and two policemen arrived almost at once. They first checked every possible entry on the outside of my property and then came inside to check everything. Once in the house they quickly found my front door, which I had closed but forgot to lock, had somehow opened by itself just enough to set off my alarm. The policemen were so compassionate in my plight, kind, polite and considerate of my feelings that I was moved to write this letter. To all policemen everywhere, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You and our U.S. servicemen and women are the true heroes that put their lives on the line for us every day. Thank you and God bless you always. Joann cappuccio Mathes hammonton PersPective/March 24 event By now it is hoped that you have heard about our economic development initiative to create a countywide strategy and action plan. Atlantic County government in conjunction with the Atlantic County Improvement Authority (ACIA) is working on this effort with AngelouEconomics, a nationally renowned economic consulting firm from Austin, Texas. We welcomed the AngelouEconomics team to Atlantic County this past January and promptly introduced them to community members and key stakeholders through a series of events that included a press conference, eight subject-matter focus groups, a municipal officials meeting, and a business reception. Some may question why the county is getting involved now and taking a leadership role in economic development. The answer is simple. Economic development was previously led by the CRDA and other state authorities that no longer have the legislative funding or mandate to do so. Thus I have appointed the ACIA as the countywide lead for economic development to help fill this void with an emphasis on collaboration, partnership and job creation. An important element to the success of this plan is the input and participation of the public. The plan needs to accurately reflect our vision – of those who live and work here. This is our opportunity to determine the direction we pursue as we diversify our economy and rebrand Atlantic County as a region with a strong technology-based economy in addition to a center for hospitality and tourism. National experience demonstrates that economic development is most effective and sustainable when it is locally driven by a strong public-private partnership that builds on the economic assets, resources, needs and aspirations of the region. To that end we have formed the Atlantic County Action Now steering committee with the intention that it will become a self-sustaining regional planning entity that pro- motes cooperation and job creation. To help solicit public input for the preparation of this plan two surveys were developed by AngelouEconomics in cooperation with the steering committee – one for residents and another for businesses. Each is available at: www.atlanticcountyactionnow.com. We also encourage residents and business owners to attend our economic development public forums. Approximately 100 individuals shared their ideas and suggestions during the first forum held on February 26 at Atlantic Cape Community College in Mays Landing. Now we want to hear from you, Hammonton! The AngelouEconomics team will be in Hammonton later this month where we will hold the final public forum which is being hosted at the beautiful Eagle Theatre on Tuesday, March 24 from 6-8 p.m. The Eagle Theatre is located at 208 Vine St. All are invited to attend. Angelos Angelou, Principal Executive Officer, will serve as moderator. To those who may contend that this is “yet another plan,” I can assure you that this is an action plan, not one that will sit untouched on a shelf. Our goal is to have a draft by July with a September roll-out. We are committed to an aggressive timetable. I hope you will consider participating by taking our survey (www.atlanticcountyactionnow.com) and also attending the public forum. Atlantic County can certainly benefit from the experiences of the residents and businesses of Hammonton who have so successfully revitalized their downtown and immediate surroundings. I look forward to seeing you on March 24. Special thanks to the Eagle Theatre for generously hosting this event. Dennis Levinson atlantic county executive Mays Landing, nJ The Hammonton Gazette welcomes letters to the editor that are no more than 800 words long. All letters must include the name of the author and an address and telephone number for verification. Letters should be mailed to The Hammonton Gazette, Editorial Page, P.O. Box 1228, Hammonton, NJ 08037. Letters also will be accepted via fax. The fax number is 704—1938.  Or by email to [email protected]. Deadline for all submissions is 2 p.m. Monday. The Hammonton Gazette reserves the right to edit any submissions. The opinions expressed in letters, perspectives or in guest columns do not necessarily reflect those of The Hammonton Gazette.  The Gazette is not responsible for factual errors in letters, perspectives or in guest columns. The Gazette retains the right to refuse any submission or advertisement.