Page 4 • Wednesday , March 29 , 2023 • The Hammonton Gazette
A tradition continues : Altar Rosary Society weaves palm
PALM , from Page 1 and people just start weaving . They ’ re all different , they ’ re all unique because everybody has their own style . Some people just weave like Carol or Pat will so they like to put them there . People have doors so they put them in doors and they pay more for it . They ’ re very interested in making sure that the graves look nice for the holiday ,” Criscillo said .
The remaining palms that haven ’ t been sold by Palm Sunday are sold after mass service at both St . Anthony of Padua Church and St . Joseph Church , according to Sassano . With a Spanish mass service being held at 12 p . m ., the palms are bought out if there ’ s enough and both Criscillo and Sassano describe the Spanish people loving the palms so that the priest can bless them from the lobby . About 150-200 pieces of palm leaves are sold every year and anyone is invited to participate in the palm weaving .
As mentioned before , Carol Effinger brought the idea about 35 years ago and while about 25 palm leaves were prepared for the first event , she didn ’ t expect the large number of people waiting or knocking on the door to purchase the palms .
“ The first time , we had about 20 to 25 done and everybody came over to buy them and they stood at the door and were knocking on the door way before it was time for us to tell them to come in and we had 50 to 200 people waiting and here we have 25 little things at that time and now , we have more ,” Effinger said .
Anyone that is interested in weaving or purchasing arrangements can contact Carol Effinger at ( 609 ) 561-6633 or Pat Criscillo at ( 609 ) 892-5487 .
arrange and make them into a special item and then we ’ ll put a cross or a bow , sometimes we have more things but they ’ re all different ,” Sassano said .
The palms are arranged by prices depending on the size as Criscillo described that “ the bigger and the more work put into it , the costlier it is .” They are sold in increments of $ 5 , ranging from $ 5 to $ 40 . Both Criscillo and Sassano put the completed palms on their doors like a Christmas wreath , with Criscillo mentioning that some have had the palms on their doors for more than 20 years .
“ Some people have mausoleums
THG / Mohammed Fuad . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .
Volunteers ( l-r ) Carol Falciani , Bonnie Vettese and Dottie Cappuccio weaving palm .
PWTC meeting focuses on stormwater management
PWTC , from Page 1 Zuber and Public Works Department Head Scott Rivera applied for and received $ 75,000 in combined grant funds to assist the town in meeting new requirements by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection ( DEP ) regarding stormwater management .
Councilman Steven Furgione asked how that grant money would help the town transition from Tier B status to Tier A status , and Zuber replied .
“ We haven ’ t gotten the primers yet , because we just did the simple form that we filled out for the money . Once I get that , I can share that with you ,” Furgione said .
Herrmann also said that he would work with Zuber regarding revisions to the town ’ s stormwater ordinances to come into compliance with new regulations adopted by the Pinelands Commission .
“ I know you need to introduce this ordinance at least by title this month ,” Herrmann said . Zuber replied . “ I think that it has to be adopted by April
18 ,” Zuber said . Herrmann continued . “ If you can authorize ARH or me for a notto-exceed number of , say , $ 2,400 , I can work with [ town solicitor ] Mike Malinsky with the stormwater ordinance and the lot-grading ordinance to get those revised and done ,” Herrmann said . Furgione inquired further . “ How many changes are we going to need to make to our stormwater ordinances ?” Furgione said .
Herrmann replied that the changes would be “ substantial .”
“ We ’ ll know more and fine-tune that for Monday ,” Herrmann said , referring to the town council meeting of March 27 .
Public Works Manager Robert Vettese noted some of the changes .
“ For lot grading , it used to be up to an acre , but now it ’ s every plot that has a singlefamily home has to do stormwater recharge ,” Vettese said . Herrmann continued . “ Now , every time I get an application , I ’ ve got the engineer calling me , and I say this is not Mark Herrmann saying do this ; I can ’ t help you out ,” Herrmann said .
Councilman Edward Wuillermin inquired how the stormwater elements of the town ’ s master plan would be affected , particularly
See HERMANN , Page 16
THG / Mohammed Fuad . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .
Pat Criscillo ( left ) and Carol Effinger ( right ) hold a finalized palm decoration .
THG / Mohammed Fuad . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .
Anna Luisa Bruni ( left ) and Sally Picucci ( right ) weaving palm .
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