Lions Club welcomes new
officers, honors members
p. 24
Chamber Awards
Banquet held
p. 25-36
Taking a look at
Young Hollywood
p. 43
HHS TEACHER SUSPENDED
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Volume 18 • Issue 22
by Gabe Donio
GAzette StAff Writer
HAMMONtON—Kevin
Arena, the former Hammonton
High School (HHS) Marching
Band Director, has been suspended
with pay, Hammonton Board of
education President Joseph Giralo
said in a statement.
Giralo released the following
www.hammontongazette.com
Kevin Arena is suspended with pay; was previous band director
statement to The Gazette on May
22:
“the Hammonton School, District takes its responsibilities very
seriously regarding the health,
safety and welfare of our children.
Although we do not comment on
specific personnel matters, Mr.
Kevin Arena has been suspended
with pay pending the completion
of an investigation. in discharging
our responsibilities we immediately remove any staff member alleged to have acted inappropriately
until an investigation can be completed,” Giralo said in the statement.
Arena was the HHS Marching
Band Director immediately before
former HHS Marching Band Director Jason Koenig, who resigned
from his position on April 22, and
was charged on May 1 by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office
with the sexual assault of a 16year-old student.
Koenig turned himself in at the
Atlantic County Courthouse on
May 5. His resignation was accepted by the board on May 7.
Last year, Koenig replaced
Arena as the marching band director, Giralo said.
“Mr. Arena did not apply [for the
position],” Giralo said.
Asst. water plant DiDonato, Bagliani’s Market honored
operator Ott resigns
by Gabe Donio
GAzette StAff Writer
HAMMONtON—During the
town council meeting of May 22,
it was announced that Hammonton
Water Department Assistant Water
treatment Plant Operator Michael
See ARENA, Page 2
Ott, who had been hired by the
town in 2013 for his certifications
regarding the municipal water supply, was resigning to take a new
position in Monroe twp., New Jersey. the Hammonton Water Department has been undergoing a
multimillion dollar treatment of its
Swim club opens
for the 2014 season
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GAzette StAff Writer
HAMMONtON—the Hammonton Swim Club, located on
Berwyn Avenue, opened for the
season over Memorial Day weekend.
As the local swim club opens to
families, friends and single par-
See OTT, Page 10
ents in the area, there have been
additional renovations performed
to the facility, as well as the hiring
of a new manager/coach.
treasurer of the Hammonton
Swim Club Bob Curatola discussed the remodeling at the swim
club in a recent interview with
The Gazette.
THG/Lauren Crescenzo. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
On May 20, the Greater Hammonton Chamber of Commerce presented Dominic “Tip” DiDonato with the “Nice Going
Award.” DiDonato is pictured with his wife Phyllis. Bagliani’s Market received the Business of the Year Award. For more
photos and complete event coverage, see Pages 24-36.
Memorial Day observed locally School board invokes
See SWIM CLUB, Page 10
‘Doctrine of Necessity’
by Lauren Bucci
GAzette StAff Writer
HAMMONtON—the Hammonton Board of education passed
a resolution invoking the Doctrine
of Necessity to allow the board to
take formal action in regards to
health insurance coverage at its
special meeting held on May 22.
Conflicts of interest in regards to
the topic exist for the six of eleven
board members who have immediate family members employed by
the Hammonton district, making a
quorum prohibited under the
School ethics Act, according to the
addendum.
invoking the “Doctrine of Necessity” makes it possible for the
board to explore and take formal
action on health insurance cover-
Electric, gas change
on hold for town
by Gabe Donio
GAzette StAff Writer
THG/Lauren Crescenzo. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Left: Danielle McManus, Bella Parise, Sophia Parise and dog Susie, all dressed patriotically, attended the Memorial Day
Ceremony in Veterans Park on May 26. Right: VFW Post 1026 Program Director John F. DeLucca addresses the crowd. For
more photos and an article on the event, see Page 14-15.
SUBSCRIBE TO
HAMMONtON—During the
May 19 meeting of the Hammonton town Council, interim Public
Works Manager/Business Administrator Jerome Barberio announced the town would not be
The Gazette! ONLY $20 FOR 52 WEEKS! CALL: (609) 704-1940
See SCHOOL, Page 4
moving forward with an electric
and gas aggregation program that
would have used a third-party
provider for delivery of electric
and gas.
“it seems that it could potentially
be a long, drawn-out process where
we may not get what we want . . .
See ELECTRIC, Page 4