Tips for staying healthy
this spring
p. 27
A trip to Waco and
Magnolia Market
Local businesses support
Cruisin’ MainStreet
p. 43
p. 16-20
BUS ACCIDENT CUT POWER
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Volume 22 • Issue 19
by Gabe Donio
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—Students at-
tended classes at Hammonton Mid-
dle School on May 8 even though
there was no electrical power fol-
lowing a school bus accident at
www.hammontongazette.com
HMS lost electricity after bus struck poles; school held
6:37 a.m. that knocked down two
utility poles, Hammonton Police
Chief Robert Jones said.
According to Jones, a Hammon-
ton School Bus exited the Ham-
monton Middle School, at which
point either the driver lost control
or there was a mechanical failure,
Jones said.
“The bus went off the road and
onto the sidewalk, then struck an
electrical utility pole and then con-
tinued on, striking a second pole.
Both poles came down,” Jones
said.
Mary Witcraft, 60, of Hammon-
ton, was the driver of the bus, and
Paula Vegas, 49, of Hammonton,
and Brenda Sutherland, 57, of
Hammonton, both bus aides, were
on the bus, Jones said. There were
no children on the bus at the time
of the accident, Jones said.
Outdoor seating HHS holds its annual prom
at Taco Bell OK’d
by Stephen Pistone
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—The planning
board unanimously approved a
waiver of site plan for the addition
of a 437-square-foot outdoor patio
section at Taco Bell during its
meeting on May 3.
See POLICE, Page 10
Present during the meeting on
behalf of the applicant, Hammon-
ton Investors LLC, were Brian
Cleary, project manager for The
Pettit Group LLC, and attorney
Robert Nasuti, of Summerwood
Corporation. The waiver of site
plan for Block 4604, Lot 29.01,
Zone GW-2 at 117 S. White Horse
Budget for schools
has 3.95-cent hike
by Stephen Pistone
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—The board of
education adopted the 2017-2018
school district budget during its
meeting on May 4. The board
voted on two finance items under
Resolution No. 17 05 PH (W),
See PLANNING, Page 10
which laid out the budget.
The budget was introduced on
March 16, when it was announced
that it would result in a total tax
levy of 3.95 cents, equivalent to an
increase of 3.06 percent and an an-
nual average increase of $89 for
the average Hammonton home-
See SCHOOL, Page 4
THG/Joseph Bruno. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Immigrants take
citizenship pledge
The Hammonton High School Promenade was held on May 5 at the high school. The prom was held at the Sheraton
in Atlantic City. Gemma Giralo and Josh Donovan (left) and Nick Arena and Alyssa Caporale (right) were among the
promgoers for 2017. For more pictures, turn to Page 21 and 24.
by Stephen Pistone
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—Twenty-
three men and women from 16 dif-
ferent countries entered town hall
chambers on the morning of May
3 as immigrants but exited as
United States citizens after a nat-
Ceremony
held at town
hall on May 3
uralization ceremony hosted by
the Superior Court of New Jer-
sey’s Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage
‘Day in the Park’
salutes military
by Tania Rivera
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
THG/Stephen Pistone. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Chinese immigrant Sen Hei Wong (second from right) shakes hands with retired Superior Court Judge Michael
Donio (second from left) as she receives her naturalization certificate during a naturalization ceremony at town
hall on May 3. The ceremony was hosted by the Superior Court of New Jersey’s Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage (Vic-
inage 1). Superior Court Vicinage 1 Assignment Judge Julio Mendez (left) and Superior Court Judge Nelson Johnson
(third from left) also participated in the ceremony.
SUBSCRIBE TO The
HAMMONTON—Come cele-
brate and honor Hammonton’s mil-
itary with the Historical Society of
Hammonton (HSH) on Sunday,
May 21 as they host a ‘Day in the
Park’ Celebrating Our Heritage
and Honoring our Military, Past
See CITIZEN, Page 3
and Present from noon to 5 p.m., at
the museum, located on 333 Vine
St.
A Veterans Photo Display will
take place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. ti-
tled “Saluting the Military – Those
Who Have Served and Are Now
Serving.” HSH President Anne
Marie DeCicco has been working
on this project since last year.
Gazette • $20 FOR 52 WEEKS • CALL 609-704-1939
See HSH, Page 14