Happenings from
downtown Hammonton
p. 16-17
Articles and tips for
living healthier
p. 18-24
Learn more about the
Methodist Church
p. 25
SCHOOL TAX INCREASE: 5.3¢
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Volume 18 • Issue 12
by Lauren Bucci
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—At its regular
meeting on March 13, the Hammonton Board of Education approved a school district budget for
the 2014-2015 school year for submission to the county. The total
general fund local tax levy will in-
www.hammontongazette.com
Broken into two parts 3.34¢ for operational, 2¢ for Sooy renov.
crease from $16,212,385 for the fiscal year 2013-2014 to $16,506,429
for the fiscal year 2014-2015. The
proposed budget will mean a twopart tax increase for the taxpayers
of the town. There will be a 3.34cent tax increase for the operating
budget and an additional 2-cent in-
crease for the Warren E. Sooy Junior Elementary School renovation
debt, Hammonton Board of Education President Joseph Giralo said
after the meeting.
A full budget will be voted on at
the May board of education meeting, the date of which has been
changed from Thursday, May 8 to
Wednesday, May 7.
Board
member
Manny
Bermudez and board solicitor
William Donio were absent from
the meeting. Amy Houck sat in as
solicitor for Donio.
Board member Barbara Berenato
reported that the district is entering
into a lawsuit due to being underfunded by the New Jersey Department of Education by $11 million.
“We are going to be starting a big
lawsuit because we are still severely underfunded by the depart-
Jacobs charged Fundraiser a delicious success
with luring
by Gabe Donio
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
PLEASANTVILLE—Joseph
Jacobs, 60, of Hammonton was
charged with luring, a second degree offense, by the Pleasantville
Police Department (PPD) on Feb-
See SCHOOL, Page 12
ruary 27, according to a report
from the PPD released to The
Gazette by the Atlantic County
Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the complaint-warrant from the PPD, Jacobs allegedly tried to lure an underage
juvenile, who was not named, into
Town receives $10K
grant for refunds
by Gina Rullo
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—On March
13, Sustainable Jersey representatives announced Hammonton had
been awarded a Sustainable Jersey
Small Grant in the amount of
See LURING, Page 4
$10,000. Hammonton is one of
eight municipalities in New Jersey
to receive a Sustainable Jersey
Small Grant at the $10,000 level.
“Hammonton is extremely
grateful to Sustainable Jersey and
PSEG for providing us with the
grant to help fund our new Water
Legally Blonde takes the stage at HHS
See GRANT, Page 3
THG/Paul J. Macrie IV. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Lisa Cacia, Catherine Giardino and Salvatore Cacia from Cacia’s Bakery at the 11th Annual Taste of the Town on
March 16. Cacia’s Bakery was one of the many participants in the tasty event.
dors comprised of different establishments in the area, along with
by Paul J. Macrie IV
live musical entertainment courGAZETTE STAFF WRITER
tesy of area students.
HAMMONTON—On March
Hammonton resident Claudia
16, the Hammonton Education Coultier has been attending the
Foundation had its 11th Annual fundraising event since its incep“Taste of the Town” fundraiser tion 11 years ago. Coultier enjoys
event at the Hammonton High everything it has to offer.
School’s main gymnasium. The
“The camaraderie is what I like
theme of this year’s celebration about this event above all else. It is
was “A Taste of the Big Apple.”
just wonderful and all the food that
Attendees of “Taste of the is offered is fabulous,” Coultier
Town” had the opportunity to said.
enjoy food samplings from 26 venSee TASTE, Page 10
March 29 town lake
cleanup discussed
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
THG/Lauren Crescenzo. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Hammonton High School students performed the musical Legally Blonde on March 13, 14 and 15 at Hammonton
High School’s Performing Arts Center.
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HAMMONTON— During the
regular meeting of the Hammonton
Environmental Commission on
March 12, the members of the
board discussed final plans for the
2014 Hammonton Lake Park
Cleanup, scheduled for March 29.
Arbor Day 2014 activities were
also mentioned, along with an update on the 2013 ANJEC [Associ-
The Gazette! ONLY $20 FOR 52 WEEKS! CALL: (609) 704-1940
ation of New Jersey Environmental
Commission] Open Space Grant
involving the installation of interpretive signs, trail markers and a
housing-type structure for map
signs located in the Hammonton
Lake Park’s Smith Tract.
In the correspondence section of
the meeting, Chairman Robert Reitmeyer announced that the commission received $150 from
Michael Hogan Photography,
See COMMISSION, Page 14