Page 4 • Wednesday , June 7 , 2023 • The Hammonton Gazette
Hammonton Cancer Foundation Walk
by Mohammed Fuad GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON — Cancer survivors , families and other residents came out on a sunny morning for the Hammonton Cancer Foundation ( HCF ) Walk for our Neighbors event at Hammonton Middle School ( HMS ) on June 3 .
HCF held this event as the Hammonton Lions Club started the walk in honor of a HMS member , Linda Salvati , who passed away from cancer , where the proceeds were donated to the HCF . After the Lions Club stopped holding the event after two years , HCF continued the event and has been running for 10 years , according to President David Mauriello .
Mauriello stated that while the HCF collects and donates all the funds , they have used the funds to support various charities and groups the last couple of years such as South Jersey Cancer Fund , South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition , Inspiring Life Together and Toast Pink .
The event began with Mauriello welcoming everyone to the event and thanked many people and
Superintendent Robin Chieco on $ 4.7M expansion of ECEC
ECEC , from Page 1 pandemic and that was to assist schools with learning laws that were restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide additional professional support , according to Chieco .
“ We needed more space at the WES building and the easiest additions to add , based on the architect ’ s recommendations , were to add on at the ECEC
CANOE , from Page 3 lake monitoring by Stockton University as they began weekly sampling in March and will continue through the fall . They will perform bench scale mushroom work in the spring while transitioning from bench scale to kiddie pool scale mushroom work in the summer and then continue that wherever in the fall .
Bachalis brought up an issue regarding whether geese are causing the contamination on the lake , to which he mentioned that it ’ s the septic systems of humans . He brought up an incident regarding Egyptian Geese being on someone ’ s property and to remove the geese as others felt it ’ s causing the contamination , to which they were removed but the result remained the same .
Bachalis mentioned that next year , the committee is looking to put together a grant to re-do a lake management study to get a full characterization of the lake and update
groups for their support , which included the Hammonton Board of Education , Superintendent Robin Chieco , HMS Principal Dr . Kimberly Rudnesky , the Hammonton Police Department and Volunteer Fire Company , the Lions Club , Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society , ARH Associates ( Adams , Rehmann and Heggan ), Joe and Andrea Flood , AtlantiCare , Dance Magic , Virtua and Maple Leaf Physical Therapy as well as members from the cancer groups and foundations .
New Jersey State Assemblyman Brandon Umba and New Jersey State Senator Jean Stanfield were in attendance to issue a proclamation to the HCF . The Hammonton High School ( HHS ) Chorus sang the National Anthem prior to the event . Mauriello then began the walk by having cancer survivors start with the inaugural lap followed by their families .
Mauriello is a 28-year cancer survivor , having been diagnosed right out of college and it was very important to him to get involved with helping other people , especially for causes like this . He credits the support system he had to get through it but is aware others are not as lucky so the walk and the foundation are trying to provide
building . The space is actually needed at the WES building and the way we will free up space at the WES building is to make sure all the preschool students are located at the ECEC building , so their class size is smaller ,” Chieco said .
As a result of the construction project being paid through funds used from the ARP ESSER grant and the HBOE ’ s capital reserve
Dan Bachalis on lake , birds
their management techniques . Bachalis is working to include Hammonton Lake and an area in Nesco , N . J . that was identified by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection ( NJDEP ).
Bachalis concluded the presentation with the second part , which presented over 100 bird species that exist in Hammonton . Bachalis described the traits and attributes of each species as well as their habitat and history . Bird species include eagles , American robin , pigeons , starlings , blue jays , northern cardinals , vultures , mockingbirds , owls , crow , barn swallow , woodpeckers , finches , chickadee , osprey , goose and many more .
For anyone that has any questions regarding Hammonton Lake or any lake water or environmental issues or concerns can reach Dan Bachalis at info @ townofhammonton . org or dtgbacelis @ comcast . net . that support to those in need .
“ I was fortunate , I had a great support system and family to help me so I was able to get through it but there ’ s so many people that can use just a little help to get through a tough month , be it electric bills or rides to treatment or medication costs and these are the things that we hope to help with ,” Mauriello said .
HHS Culinary Arts Instructor Louis Caruso is a cancer survivor and was honored to be a part of the event . Caruso was humble and emotional to be here and noted the importance of giving back , especially when others were there to give back to him during his time of need .
“ Being a survivor , getting the chance to give back to other people . The people that are in this event , they gave back to me in my time of need . You ’ re at your lowest and absolute darkest hour and these people , in what they do to help others , it ’ s just amazing how you don ’ t realize that you ’ re not alone because when you get that horrible news , your whole life changes . To come out here and celebrate , not just life , but for all the people who unfortunately did not get to be as fortunate as me and to help and support their families
funds , local taxpayers will not be impacted from a tax increase through the project as a result of the remaining funds being paid through the capital reserve .
Prettyman stated that the HBOE chose to use the federal funds from the ARP ESSER grant rather than recurring costs so that it didn ’ t impact future local taxpayers . Prettyman added that the school district could have
THG / Mohammed Fuad . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-1940 .
Lou Caruso , Franki Rudnesky , Kim Rudnesky , Nadine Ryan , Marchell Conway and Lauren Conway at the Hammonton Cancer Society walk on June 3 . alone ,” Caruso said .
Caruso emphasizes that events
Michael Rizzotte and Dave like the walk helps bring people Birnbaum both participated in the together and to ensure that not event with their families , sporting everyone is alone , especially with a pink Jam Masters shirt . This is those stricken with a disease like Rizzotte ’ s first time participating cancer . in the event as he is walking for a “ It just brings you all together to loved one . Birnbaum participated realize that you ’ re not alone and in the event in support of friends that you ’ re there for each other and families affected by cancer or because it ’ s a horrible disease and are going through a difficult time . you don ’ t realize what it takes
“ It ’ s the best cause you could from you . I can tell you that it does possibly be a part of . Fighting bring you humility and it makes cancer is one of the most important you realize that what you think is things we can do as human important in life isn ’ t ,” Caruso beings ,” Rizzotte said . said . chosen to go to a bond referendum and have the taxpayers to either approve or disapprove a bond referendum .
“ If you don ’ t have the local funds to do a project like this , you have to look for funding sources and a bond referendum is one source of funding and we opted to use our federal funds and some of our capital reserve instead of going to the taxpayers and asking them about a bond referendum or asking them to approve a bond referendum ,” Prettyman said .
There will be no need for new teachers , administration and staff to be hired as ECEC currently has the entire staff and faculty when the school district hired additional staff when ECEC underwent a preschool expansion and will remain the same , according to Chieco .