Page 2 • Wednesday , April 7 , 2021 • The Hammonton Gazette
TAB LE OF CONTE NTS
The Hammonton Gazette
OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 OUR TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 FAITH FOCUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 CIVIC NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 HAMMONTON ’ S HISTORY . . . . . . 35 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT . . . . . . 43
WHAT ’ S HOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 MIND GAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 HOROSCOPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 REAL ESTATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 SCORECARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 www . hammontongazette . com
The Hammonton Gazette ( USPS 018984 ) is published weekly . The Hammonton Gazette is located at 14 Tilton St ., Hammonton , NJ 08037 . Periodicals Postage Paid at Hammonton , NJ . Subscriptions are available for $ 25.00 per year for New Jersey addresses & $ 30.00 per year for residents for out-of-state addressess . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The Hammonton Gazette , 14 Tilton St ., P . O . Box 1228 Hammonton , NJ 08037 . Call ( 609 ) 704-1940 for more information .
OBITUARIES Frank A . Scola
Frank a . Scola , 80 , of Hammonton , N . J . passed away Sunday , March 28 , 2021 with his loving family at his side .
Frank attended St . Joseph elementary and High School . He was devoted and dedicated to his family and loved being with his grandchildren , thomas F . Donio , Kyle F . Muller , ethan F . Muller and Giavanna Rose Fox ; family and friends . He loved the companionship of his furry friends .
Frank graduated from Spring Garden institute of automotive training and owned and operated his own car and truck repair service . He also attended many Mack truck leadership seminars and- worked as an auto Service Supervisor at Shanahan Motor Freight and Lo Bionodo Motor Freight . His knowledge of cars , buses and trucks kept friends and family on the road .
Frank loved to be fishing , hunting ( in his younger days ), telling stories of his youth , baseball and his love for all things italian , years as alter server , classmates and his faith . His support and volunteerism for the Knights of Columbus Council # 3471 and St . Vincent Pallotti Council # 680 ( 4th Degree ) will be remembered . He was treasurer of Pallotti Council # 3471 , member of the color guard for St . Vincent Pallotti Council # 680 , and an usher at St . Joseph Church . Frank was a member of St . Joseph High School Wildcatters and was inducted into the St . Joseph High School Hall of Fame . He was also the Grand Oak twins Condominium association President .
Frank is predeceased by his parents anthony and Jennie Scola , and his sister , Roseanna Donio . He is survived by his loving wife , Joann Scola ( nee DeNucci ); his daughters , Kimberly ann Fox , Melissa ann ( Fred ) Muller and Deborah Lynn ( tom ) Donio ; his sister , Carmela Santora ( nee Scola ) and brother , angelo “ Beebe ” Scola .
Family and friends attended his viewing Wednesday , March 31 , 2021 from 8:30 a . m . - 10:30 a . m . at the Marinella Funeral Home 102 N . third St . Hammonton , N . J . a mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11 a . m . at St . Mary of Mt . Carmel Parish St . Joseph Church 3rd & French Street , Hammonton , N . J . entombment followed in Greenmount Cemetery 124 S . First Rd . Hammonton , N . J . in lieu of flowers , donations may be made to Knights of Columbus Pallotti Council # 3471 , P . O . Box 5 Hammonton , NJ 08037 . to share condolences please visit www . marinellafuneralhome . com . arrangement entrusted to the Marinella Funeral Home .
Nenita D . Brennen
Nenita D . Brennen , 65 , of Hammonton passed away peacefully on tuesday , March 30 , 2021 with her family at her side in atlantiCare Regional Medical Center , Mainland Division .
Born in Bulacan , Philippines she lived in Hammonton for 41 years . Nenita recently retired from the Hammonton Center Nursing & Rehabilitation Center where she was a nurse . She began her nursing career in 1983 , a career she enjoyed and was proud of .
Nenita is survived by her loving children , inez Steur and her husband Ryan ; Christopher Brennen all of Hammonton , her two adored granddaughters , MeLeah Steur and Maia Steur ; and the father of her children , Francisco Baluyot . arrangements made by the Carnesale Funeral Home , Hammonton . ( www . carnesalefuneralhome . com )
William “ Bill ” Stojanov
William “ Bill ” Stojanov , 48 , of Cedarbrook , N . J ., passed away on april 1 , 2021 surrounded by family .
Bill was born to parents John and Catherine Stojanov , on august 26 , 1972 in Philadelphia . Bill graduated from St . Joseph High School in Hammonton , N . J ., in 1991 . afterwards , he joined the family business “ Stojanov Brothers Painting ” full-time . With his work ethic , Bill successfully helped the business prosper and grow exponentially over the years , which has resulted in stability for his entire family .
Bill was known for his outstanding work ethic , dedication to his family and endless generosity . He worked tirelessly every day to run a successful company . He had an immense amount of knowledge when it came to painting and hanging wallpaper . He was a mentor to many coworkers and family . He sacrificed everything so that he could provide his family with an outstanding life . they are eternally grateful . everywhere Bill went he tried to spread kindness and joy to those around him , always putting others first . He was genuinely a good person and the greatest husband and father one could ask for .
He married his high school sweetheart and love of his life , Christine Stojanov , in June 1997 . He was the proud father to his three children , Johnny , Haydon and Hannah ; loving grandfather to aubrey and emilia ; and loving son to John and Catherine . He was also a beloved nephew , uncle , cousin and friend to so many .
Relatives and friends are invited to meet his family Wednesday morning april 7 , 2021 9:30 a . m . to 10:30 a . m . at the Costantino-Primo Funeral Home , 231 W . White Horse Pike , Berlin , NJ 08009 . Funeral Liturgy 10:30 a . m . Cremation and interment of ashes will take place privately . Due to the current regulations , face masks must be worn , and attendance will be limited to follow all COViD-19 guidelines . Visit costantinoprimofh . com for lasting condolences .
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HaMMONtON — the police department received a call of an erratic driver heading westbound on S . egg Harbor Road toward the downtown area at 9:16 p . m . on March 22 , Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said .
HaMMONtON — The Gazette interviewed Chief Kevin Friel about the impact of the novel coronavirus ( COViD-19 ) on local law enforcement and the community at large .
“ it definitely threw all of our nation ’ s law enforcement for a bit of a loop … We usually deal with perpetrators . Here we were dealing with an invisible virus that impacted our town , state and nation ,” Friel said .
Friel recalled how the members of the police department had to begin wearing PPe ( Personal Protective equipment ) every day .
“ there was a heightened awareness of the sensitivity of the public and first responders ,” Friel said .
Lawrence Joseph Smith Jr .
Lawrence Joseph Smith Jr . “ Larry ,” 40 , of Williamstown , N . J . and formerly of Collings Lakes , N . J . passed away peacefully at his home on Monday , March 29 , 2021 .
Born in Vineland he was a lifelong South Jersey resident . He formerly worked at DeVal Pools in turnersville .
Larry is survived by his wife , Nicole Marie Wentz ; his three daughters , Haley Long ( albert Long iii ), Brianna Smith and Mia Smith ; his grandson , albert Long iV ; his parents , Lawrence J . and Marcia ( nee Merlo ) Smith Sr .; his brother , Kyle Smith ( Jess ); his mother and father-in-law , annette and Bruce Hall ; his grandparents , Helen Merlo and Carmin and Kathy Fuscellaro and many other relatives and friends .
Memorial donations may be made to the Children of Larry Smith Jr ., c / o Republic Bank . arrangements made by the Carnesale Funeral Home , Hammonton . ( www . carnesalefuneralhome . com )
HAMMONTON FAMILY EYECARE
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www . hammontonfamilyeyecare . com 80 S . White Horse Pike • Hammonton • Tel : ( 609 ) 567-7479
THG / Joseph F . Berenato . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .
The Easter Bunny carefully disembarked from a helicopter after arriving outside of the Apron Cafe at Hammonton Municipal Airport . Saturday , April 3 , 12:04 p . m .
Festa charged with DWI
by Gabe Donio
Gazette StaFF WRiteR
Friel said the vehicle was a 1996 white Chevrolet that was stopped at the intersection of 12th and Washington Streets . the driver was identified as elliot Festa , 63 , and he was found to be operating the vehicle under the influence , Friel said .
Friel said Festa was placed under arrest , transported to police headquarters for processing and issued the following summonses : Driving while under the influence , reckless driving and consumption of alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle .
Festa was released as per John ’ s law pending a court date in Hammonton Joint Municipal Court , Friel said , adding that the arresting officer was Officer travis Hoffman .
Friel on COVID-19 one year later
by Gabe Donio
Gazette StaFF WRiteR
COViD-19-positive residents began to be listed so first responders could know where they were living if they had to respond to a call for aid , the chief recalled . as information was disseminated about how to deal with COViD-19 , there were different reactions from residents .
“ it created a concern or panic among some of our residents about wearing masks ,” Friel said . the experience of the past 12 months has taught Friel several lessons , he said .
“ i ’ ve learned a couple things . One , you can try and prepare for things but you can ’ t prepare for everything . When it ’ s something you can ’ t prepare for , you have to adapt . We dealt with the pandemic , with social injustice , with
See FRIEL , Page 18
DON MASCIOLI ( 609 ) 685-9371 ( cell )
JOHN CONNAHAN ( 609 ) 602-8111 ( cell )
Master HVACR Licenses 19HC00196900 , 19HC00487200