News from the
Chamber of Commerce
p. 18-19
St. Joe welcomes
new students into NHS
p. 25
Celebrating the start
of bubble season
p. 39
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
REMEMBERING 2 LOCAL LEGENDS
Volume 19 • Issue 13
www.hammontongazette.com
Gibase was family man, gifted businessman Matro’s loves: Family, farm & town
by Gabe Donio
Gazette StaFF Writer
HaMMONtON—Frank “Chick” Gibase
Jr., a gifted, visionary businessman and entrepreneur whose successes included Gibase
Shoes, Village Shoppes, the Donut Factory,
Chick’s travel & tours and Grey Lines
tours, along with others in other areas,
passed away suddenly on March 11 at home
surrounded by his loving family. Gibase was
83.
according to his obituary, above everything else, Gibase was a family man. When
asked, he would say his greatest accomplishment was “his wonderful wife and four great
by Gabe Donio
Gazette StaFF Writer
HaMMONtON—Friends and family remembered the life of Gaetano (Jim) James
Matro, a lifelong farmer, chairman of the
Hammonton zoning Board of adjustment
and longtime active member of Hammonton
First, who passed away on March 8 at the age
of 78 surrounded by his loving family.
in the weeks since his passing, family and
friends have provided an outpouring of support and memories of Matro. Mayor Stephen
DiDonato, a member of Hammonton First,
recalled Matro’s commitment to his family,
his business and his community.
3 Republicans, Hunting Easter eggs on a chilly day
1 Democrat running
by Gina Rullo
Gazette StaFF Writer
HaMMONtON—according
to Hammonton town Clerk april
Maimone, three republicans and
one Democrat have filed to run for
town council in November.
Councilman Michael Pullia will
be joined by Hammonton Board
of education member Joseph Giralo and Hammonton United re-
See GIBASE, Page 12
See MATRO, Page 10
publican Club President Otto Hernandez.
Former town councilman rock
Colasurdo is running on the Democratic slate.
Hammonton First Councilmen
tom Gribbin and edward Wuillermin are both up for reelection this
year. Hammonton First does not
have to file until later this spring.
according to Mayor Stephen
DiDonato, his organization will
announce in about a month.
130 attend meeting
held at Driscoll’s
by Gabe Donio
Gazette StaFF Writer
HaMMONtON—approximately 130 people, mostly growers
from the blueberry industry in and
around Hammonton, attended the
first of three “twilight Meetings”
that provided agricultural information in a presentation provided by
the Philip e. Marucci Center for
Blueberry and Cranberry research
and extension, which is a substa-
Stockton chronicles garment industry
See DRISCOLL’S, Page 14
THG/Paul J. Macrie IV. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
County meeting
elicits public’s ideas
Lyla Cassidy and Isabella Shillito playing an egg on a spoon relay game during the Woman’s Civic Club Easter Egg
Hunt on March 28.
by Paul J. Macrie IV
Gazette StaFF Writer
HaMMONtON—On March
24, the third and final public forum
in soliciting input for the creation
of the atlantic County economic
Development Strategy, also known
as atlantic County action Now,
was held at the eagle theatre on
Vine Street in Hammonton. atlantic County executive Dennis
Levinson and angelos angelou,
the founder and principal executive
officer of angeloueconomics,
were the head speakers of the
forum, as they listened to 40
county residents in attendance who
Zoning bd. approves
two applications
by Paul J. Macrie IV
Gazette StaFF Writer
THG/Paul J. Macrie IV. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Stockton University graduate student Janeen Wilson interviewing former garment worker Susan Fognano on March
25. See related story, Page 10.
ON SALE AT 70+ LOCATIONS • SUBSCRIBE TO The
HaMMONtON—On March
26, the Hammonton zoning Board
of adjustment held its meeting to
address two applications that were
on the agenda.
Before regular business commenced, there was a moment of silence for former board chairman
See COUNTY, Page 3
Gaetano Matro who passed away
earlier in the month. James Matro
assumed a position on the board as
a regular voting member, while
Michael Messina will be the chairman for the remainder of the year.
the new vice-chairperson for the
zoning board is William Brinkerhoff, and Benjamin Ott is the new
non-recording secretary.
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