by Joseph F . Berenato GAZETTE STAFF WRITER

HAMMONTON — The Hammonton Environmental Commission heard testimony from two tree removal applicants at their monthly meeting on April

12 .

The first applicant was Antonio Illiano of 109 Poplar St . The application requested the removal of five trees with no replacements ; according to the application , the trees are starting to rot due to mold and present safety concerns .

Commission Chairperson See COMMISSION , Page 8

by Mohammed Fuad GAZETTE STAFF WRITER

HAMMONTON — Rise Again Animal Rescue was co-founded by Hammonton resident Ekaterina “ Kat ” Sedia in January 2023 . It is a foster-based rescue , where the

by Gabe Donio & Gina Rullo GAZETTE STAFF WRITER

HAMMONTON — According to documents received by The Gazette as a result of an Open Public Records Act ( OPRA ) request made by The Gazette on March 23 , 2023 , Mayor Stephen DiDonato signed a Letter of Intent ( LOI ) dated December 5 , 2022 for the municipality ’ s purchase of the former Wells Fargo Bank at 236 Bellevue Avenue for $ 675,000 . DiDonato also signed an agreement of sale for the bank dated February 28 , 2023 , which included the purchase price of $ 675,000 , according to documents obtained by The Gazette .

Also on March 23 , 2023 , The Gazette made an OPRA request animals are placed in foster homes in private residences . Along with Sedia , she is joined by the rescue ’ s president and co-founder Danielle McKibban , vice president Patty Lafferty and Dana Gregg .

As of now , the rescue is currently caring for cats and get their animals from shelters , where

for “ all votes regarding the acqui- See TOWN , Page 12

HAMMONTON — The Hammonton Lake Water Quality Advisory Committee held their monthly committee meeting at

See LAKE , Page 3

THG / Candice Atwell . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .

Ellie Daiton and Jason Umosella attended Saint Joseph Academy prom together on April 13 . The annual junior-senior formal dance was held at Brigalia ’ s in Sicklerville . More pics inside . there are cats that may need medical and veterinary care . Sometimes , there are cats with special needs , young kittens that haven ’ t done well in shelter environments .

“ Basically , we look for animals who are mostly at risk with either death or euthanasia in the shelters

Today ( BEST ) event at Stockton University

GAZETTE STAFF WRITER

Kramer Hall on April 13 . This is the first BEST event since the COVID-19 pandemic

HAMMONTON — The Greater Hammonton Chamber of Commerce

and we ’ ll also take cats from local shelters , where local people go and drop feral cats off to get neutered or vaccinated and most of the time , they ’ re released back . If any of them are friendly or have kittens , they usually turn to rescues so this is basically what we are doing : mostly at-risk cats ,”

See CHAMBER , Page 14

by Mohammed Fuad GAZETTE STAFF WRITER

Sedia said .

The rescue focuses on specialty care for the cats and if they can ’ t find a home , they ’ re at risk for euthanasia in shelters if they don ’ t have the room or funds to take care of those that need the extra care or the room to place them in .

See ANIMAL , Page 4

THG / Mohammed Fuad . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .

Greater Hammonton Chamber of Commerce President Ben Ott ( middle ) with the BEST series speakers Adam De- Marco ( left ) and Tara Zane ( right ) at the Chamber event on April 13 .

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