Page 2 • Wednesday , March 27 , 2024 • The Hammonton Gazette
Police arrest two for DWI
BY KRISTIN GUGLIETTI GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON — Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel reported two DWIs and one disorderly person conduct charge .
On March 18 at 9:01 a . m . at the 200 Block of S . White Horse Pike , Corporal Kyle Ambrozaitis observed a subject traveling eastbound on Rt . 30 near Broadway .
The subject made an improper lane change and failed to signal a turn into the shopping plaza , Friel said .
Ambrozaitis approached the vehicle and identified the driver as Dominick Attino , 56 , of Camden , N . J .
Attino appeared very nervous and Ambrozaitis detected strong odor of marijuana emanating from his person . Attino had watery bloodshot eyes and had been asked if he smoked marijuana . He replied at 7 a . m . prior to operating his motor vehicle , Friel said .
Approximately half a pound of marijuana was located in his vehicle .
Attino was placed under arrest for operating under the influence and transported to police headquarters for processing and charged with the following motor vehicle violations : driving while under the influence , open container of cannabis in a motor vehicle , failure to signal , improper lane change , careless driving and reckless driving .
He was released as per John ’ s law pending court appearance in Hammonton Joint Municipal Court .
Ambrozaitis was the investigating and arresting officer .
On March 22 at 8:04 p . m . at Second Street and Bellevue Avenue , Officer Travis Hoffman stopped a vehicle for disregarding a traffic controlled device . Joseph Kroberger , 36 , of Wenonah , N . J . showed signs of impairment , placed under arrest , transported to police headquarters for processing and charged with the following motor vehicle violations : driving under the influence , refusal to submit to breath testing , careless driving , reckless driving , open container in motor vehicle and disregarding a traffic controlled device , Friel said .
He was released as per John ’ s law pending court appearance in Hammonton Joint Municipal Court .
Hoffman was the investigating and arresting officer .
On March 23 at 5:34 p . m . at prime block of S . White Horse Pike , there was a police call for a disorderly person at a food establishment .
Patrol responded and Hoffman identified the subject as Lesly Duverglas , 49 , of Mullica Twp .
Duverglas was placed under arrest and charged with disorderly conduct pending and released as per John ’ s law pending court appearance in Hammonton Joint Municipal Court , Friel said .
Hoffman was the investigating and arresting officer .
This report is comprised of arrests and investigations made by the men and women of local enforcement . All suspects and arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law .
Fire Dept . hosts Fish Fry
Jaime Wuillermin / THG
Hammonton Independent Volunteer Fire Co . No . 2 held their 12th Annual Fish Fry Dinner on March 22 .
TREES , from Page 1
pressed worries about the manner in which trees had been planted . Public Works Manager Robert Vettese represented the town at the meeting . During the conversation , Vettese emphasized that the committee should refrain from asserting that the trees had been planted incorrectly until they had gathered more information . Dan Bachalis , Chair of the Environmental Commission , mentioned that the commission had substantial evidence backing their assertions but provided only conjecture about the planting process .
The objections voiced at the meeting were that the trees would become root bound , a condition that occurs when the roots of a plant have outgrown the container or space in which they are planted . This argument was dispelled as professionals interviewed for this article explained that the breaking up of the concrete found at the base of the downtown trees now exposed the roots to soil outside of the original container .
The commission also argued that the trees are being planted with the burlap still intact and tied around the tree . This concern was in opposition to the professionals interviewed who unanimously agreed that the process of the burlap left in place and the loosening of the rope are industry standards as best practices for tree planting .
According to the mayor , he feels confident not only in the process but especially in the provider himself .
“ We ’ re talking about a guy with 45 to 50 years ’ experience putting trees in the ground ,” Di- Donato said .
Cappuccio ’ s experience extends beyond the decades of working in the nursery and landscaping business . He also served as the town ’ s shade tree commissioner , a position responsible for overseeing tree maintenance , removal and planting . In the late 90s he served on the Board of Agriculture . Cappuccio is an active 18-year member of the Parks and Recreation Commission , serving as commissioner of the board for the past 12 years .
“ Louis has been planting trees since he was a kid , his father was in a nursery as well . By now if there was an issue , he would have seen it at other jobs . I trust Louis impeccably ; I think he ’ s a tremendous landscaper . I was happy that he was the low bidder , to be honest with you , because I thought we were going to get a sharp job . And he did that ,” Di- Donato said .
The added years of expertise were something both the mayor and several on the council were thankful for . Historically , the town has had three or four different trees in various holes around town and they kept dying . While several issues could have been
Carina Cafiso / THG
Women from St . Mary of Mt . Carmel Parish gathered at St . Anthony of Padua Hall on last week to make palm crosses . Above : Standing ( l-r ): Kathy Macrie , Carol Clements , Pat Criscillo , Paulette DiMeo , LouAnne Jones , Reenie Dalley , Carol Falciani , Susan Fognano , Sally Picucci , Josephine Sassano , Kim DeCicco and Barbara Zinno . Seated ( l-r ): Kelly Jiampetti holding Esperanza , Carol Effinger , Louisa Bruni and Josepha Mohr . Left : Reenie Dalley , Carol Falciani and Louisa Bruno .
Officials say trees were planted correctly
PARTNER from Page 1 not going right . I want to fix things and I ’ ll put in whatever hours it takes to get it right and to meet a deadline . I never want to disappoint . Another fundamental of ours is honoring commitment , which I take to heart personally and professionally ,” Feigin said .
While reflecting on her journey , Feigin said her 30 years of hard work resulted in this new opportunity at ARH .
“ It feels like nearly 30 years of hard hard work are resulting in this awesome opportunity . I ’ ve been at ARH for two years now and we ’ re a great fit . The first night I came on the interview with Rich and George everything they were telling me sounded great , almost unbelievable . But after I ’ ve been here for two years they weren ’ t pulling my leg . Everything they promised and everything the company stands for — all of the values , and fundamentals that Rich and the team the cause including over saturation of water and salt build up , Cappuccio ’ s commitment to the job includes extended oversight of the trees for the critical period of time following planting .
DiDonato said the origin story of the trees downtown started with remaining dollars from a state grant . In the end of 2023 approximately $ 30,000 remained in the balance of the second year of grant money .
“ We get $ 125,000 from Neighborhood Preservation Program every year . It is a four-year grant from the state . We were in the second-year last year . And we had about $ 30,000 left in the account around Thanksgiving . We had to use it or lose it ,” Di- Donato said .
The mayor said that the town pulled the benches in and considered using some of the money to recondition them . They gathered some prices on materials . Early indications were that the project would cost about $ 3,000 to $ 4,000 dollars , maybe $ 5,000 dollars including labor .
But at the same time , the mayor suggested looking at addressing the troubled and deuterating trees downtown . DiDonato suggested paying for the benches from town funds and using the remaining grant money for the trees . The town secured quotes for approximately 46 trees to replace existing ones . Those quotes came in under the
See PLANTING , Page 4
Carolyn Feigin named a partner at ARH
have implemented here align with how I operate . Professionally I ’ m proud of where I am and I thank them for seeing it in me ,” Feigin said .
Feigin ’ s dedication to ARH is evident not only in her words but also in her actions ; she exemplifies the company ’ s fundamentals .
With leaders like Feigin , who personifies this ethos in her every endeavor , the future is filled with promise .