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Local businesses support
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p. 18-26
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Wednesday, June 18, 2014
ROAD CLOSURES COME JUNE 29
Volume 18 • Issue 25
www.hammontongazette.com
Mayor invites businesses, residents to June 19 meeting at town hall
by Gabe Donio
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—Seeking to
hear any concerns about major
road closures throughout the town
for approximately 1,200 cyclists
competing in the first-annual
Challenge AC Triathlon on June
29, which will be held during the
blueberry harvest and on the same
day as an estimated 10,000 people
attend the Red, White and Blueberry Festival, Mayor Stephen DiDonato has called for an unofficial
public meeting in the council
chambers at town hall at noon on
June 19.
[For a complete list of road clo-
sures, please see page 53.]
DiDonato and Councilman Sam
Rodio will be present at the meeting, and Councilman Thomas
Gribbin will be conferenced in via
telephone, DiDonato said. All
three will answer questions regarding the road closures, the
race’s impact on the town, and the
impact on local businesses and
residents as well as the Red,
White and Blueberry Festival, DiDonato said.
Hammonton Police Chief
Robert Jones, Lt. Mark Fiorentino
and Det. Sgt. Edward Slimm, who
have been coordinating efforts regarding road closures for the
Challenge AC Triathlon, will be
present to answer questions as
well, DiDonato said.
“We want to discuss concerns
from the business or residential
community on the routes that are
affected by the AC Challenge
Triathlon on June 29,” DiDonato
said.
Specific road closures will be
discussed during the meeting, and
Blueberry fest. Farm markets busy as weather warms
returns June 29
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—For the 28th
year, the Red, White and Blueberry
Festival will be held in Hammonton as the blueberry harvest begins
to pick up in earnest. It is hosted by
See ROADS, Page 2
the Greater Hammonton Chamber
of Commerce. It will take place on
Sunday, June 29 at the Hammonton High School grounds on Old
Forks Road, just off the White
Horse Pike (Route 30). The festival
hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Farm markets: a
fun summer stop
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—Summer has
arrived and Hammonton farm markets are ready for business to increase as local produce begins to
arrive. In fact, some of the local
See FESTIVAL, Page 14
markets that sell flowers have had
an initial surge of business activity
during the spring. Each farm market specializes in something different to try to separate them from the
rest, and continue to draw in customers on a daily basis.
Ron’s Gardens, located on 276
MainStreet brings business consultant to town
See MARKETS, Page 10
THG/Paul J. Macrie IV. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Taylor Rizzotte and Alex Doyle stand beside the Jersey Fresh Strawberry display at Glossy Fruit Farm Market, located
on Rt. 206.
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—On June 9 at
the Eagle Theatre, Business Consultant Marc Wilson presented a
free workshop for local business
owners called “Doing Business in
a GAFA World.” GAFA stands for
Google, Amazon, Facebook and
Apple. Wilson discussed topics
such as the proper way in market-
ing a business website, five musthaves for small businesses, building a business Facebook page,
having a mobile-enabled website,
review sites such as Yelp and Trip
Advisor, creating a QR code and
an interactive session on how to
create a digital marketing campaign.
The emphasis of Wilson’s presentation was showing business
Open space grant
topic of discussion
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
THG/Paul J. Macrie IV. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Business consultant Marc Wilson met with El Mariachi Loco owner Roberto Diaz on June 10. Local businessman Frank
Foy is pictured in the background.
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HAMMONTON—On June 11,
the Hammonton Environmental
Commission held its regular meeting at town hall. The agenda included final details of the 2013
ANJEC Open Space Grant, with
installation of the interpretive signage and the posts along the
See WILSON, Page 4
Smith Tract area at the Hammonton Lake Park, preliminary preparation for the annual Green Day
event on Saturday, September 13
and five tree removal applications
were discussed and taken action
on at the conclusion of the meeting.
During the committee report
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See BOARD, Page 12