BALLOT INSIDE
p. 42
What a year in high
school sports
p. 27-42
Elton John is larger than
life on the big screen
p. 51
2 CARS HIT IN DRIVEWAY
Volume 23 • Issue 23
by Gabe Donio
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—At 4 a.m. on
June 1, police received a call of a
motor vehicle collision that oc-
curred when one car drove across
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
www.hammontongazette.com
Parked cars damaged when another car hits them
a residential lawn and struck two
other cars that were parked in a
driveway of a home at the corner
of Bellevue Avenue and Liberty
Street, Hammonton Police Lt.
Kevin Friel said.
The vehicle was operated by
Anna Hernandez, 20, of Hammon-
ton, who was operating a vehicle
traveling west on S. Liberty Street,
Friel said.
“At the intersection of S. Liberty
and Bellevue Avenue, Ms. Her-
nandez failed to stop at the inter-
section, jumped the curb, and
Local cancer walk Christine Deskovic named
raises nearly $25K 2019 Eagles Cheerleader
by Stephen Pistone
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—The Ham-
monton Cancer Foundation (HCF)
hosted its annual Walk for Our
Neighbors fundraiser at Hammon-
ton Middle School’s (HMS)
William T. Capella Field on June
1. More than 300 people regis-
tered to participate in the night-
time community walk to honor
local cancer victims while raising
approximately $25,000 for the
Temple Beth-El
celebrates 85 yrs.
in Hammonton
See CANCER, Page 12
by Stephen Pistone
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—Eighty-five years ago, a small group of individuals
gathered inside an apartment located above the former site of Malinsky’s
department store in downtown Hammonton.
It was here where Rabbi David J. Seligson, of Ventnor’s Beth Judah
See POLICE, Page 3
by Stephen Pistone
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—Local resi-
dent Christine Deskovic was re-
cently named to the Philadelphia
Eagles cheerleading squad for the
2019 season.
A 2013 graduate of St. Joseph
High School (SJHS), Deskovic
decided to pursue a spot on the
squad due to her experience with
dance and gymnastics at her fam-
ily’s gymnastics center Flyers’
Academy, as well as her shared
passion for the Philadelphia Ea-
gles.
“Seeing that fanbase be so ded-
icated to that team was really
crazy and really inspirational, and
now that I’m a part of it is really
just amazing,” Deskovic said.
With an extensive background
in cheerleading, dance and gym-
nastics, Deskovic said her athleti-
cism played a key role in her being
Walking in memory of loved ones
See TEMPLE, Page 10
Courtesy Photo
Christine Deskovic, of Hammonton, has been named an Eagles Cheerleader.
named to the Eagles’ cheerleading incorporated a fitness round into
squad.
the competition, which was a re-
“This year, they were really ally exciting little changeup from
looking for athleticism. They even
See EAGLES, Page 4
Honoring the dead
of the Civil War
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
THG/Stephen Pistone. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
The Hammonton Cancer Foundation (HCF) hosted its annual Walk for Our Neighbors fundraiser at Hammonton Middle
School’s (HMS) William T. Capella Field on June 1. Anna Samanic and friend Nicole Schwab walked together. They
walked in memory of Samanic’s mother Michele who died in 2015.
SUBSCRIBE TO The
HAMMONTON—As Memo-
rial Day weekend passed, most
shifted their attention back to their
normal routine, but one local
group remains dedicated to pre-
serving the tradition of Decora-
tion Day (May 30)—the original
Gazette • SUBSCRIBE NOW! • CALL 609-704-1939
day dedicated to honoring the na-
tion’s war dead, which dates back
to the American Civil War.
The Sons of Union Veterans of
the Civil War’s (SUVCW)
Colonel Louis R. Francine Camp
No. 7 is the local chapter of a na-
tional organization that continu-
ously strives to preserve, honor
and commemorate the service of
See CIVIL WAR, Page 8
by Stephen Pistone